Phoenix Phire

Nix's aura fluctuated from silver to emerald flames. The silver flames announced their arrival like a flashbulb, they would linger for a half minute before darkening to emerald again.

"Silver is the higher flame Nix. according to Severance, you need to choose one to dispell." Fajii stood next to him, holding his hand while watching the colors change back and forth.

Nix nodded while gritting his teeth, "I'm going to focus on pushing the emerald flames away."

An instant later, a wave of emerald flames exploded outwards from the altar. The flames surrounding Nix turned lighter. Fajii placed both hands on his chest, ignoring the flames that licked at her arms, she used Scorched Earth to push the Emerald flames away from the silver. The flames started out mostly mixed together, but as pockets of the same flames flowed together when the accumulation had reached a certain point, the effect would be a massive wave of flames.

/Alpha Team: Semmi: Any chance you can warn us about those flame waves?

/Alpha Team: Fajii: Maybe, no more than a moment or two warning.

/Alpha Team: Semmi: Good enough.

Wind stared down the tunnel, an image could be seen running towards the altar room.

/Alpha Team: Wind: Incoming, one mob, east hall.

Wind stood flat against the wall and waited patiently. A tall thin mage with the same Gemini heritage as Elune approached. He carried a long wooden staff with a large dual-colored stone mounted on top.

[First Strike]

Wind has scored a critical hit on Li Deux.

Semmi noticed her chain skill lit up and promptly activated it.

[Critcal Chain]

Semmi has followed up Wind's strike with a critical hit on Li Deux

[Critcal Chain]

Wind has followed up Semmi's strike with a critical hit on Li Deux

[Critcal Chain]

Semmi has followed up Wind's strike with a critical hit on Li Deux

[Critcal Chain]

Wind has followed up Semmi's strike with a critical hit on Li Deux

/Alpha Team: Fajii: Flame!

Wind jumped back toward his hiding places just as emerald flame roared down all four halls.

Li Deux has been slain.

/Alpha Team: Pon: What a crock of shit... What's the range of Gemini skills?

Wind smiled happily to himself while looting Li Deux.

/Alpha Team: Semmi: At least 50 meters I guess. We'll have to test it later.

/Oasis System Message: Ownership of the Gemini Temple in Inuit is being challenged by Inferno.

/Alpha Team: Semmi: Hey... We aren't challenging ownership!

Pon stared down his hall, shadows formed at the far end and started moving toward them quickly.

/Alpha Team: Pon: Westside, three mobs.

/Alpha Team: Semmi: I'm clear on the south. Need help?

/Alpha Team: Pon: Yes.

Semmi checked her hall one last time and then sprinted towards the west hall.

Pon targeted the group and let his favorite spell fly.

[Fire-Nado]

Sigi Fenal has been caught up in a whirlwind of fire

Myogi Boon has been caught up in a whirlwind of fire.

Weylan Berai has been caught up in a whirlwind of fire.

Semmi targeted the archer who was spinning in Pon's flames.

[First Strike]

Semmi has scored a critical hit on Myogi Boon

[Critcal Chain]

Wind has followed up Semmi's strike with a critical hit on Myogi Boon

[Critcal Chain]

Semmi has followed up Wind's strike with a critical hit on Myogi Boon

/Alpha Team: Fajii: Flames!

Semmi and Pon dived for cover, as emerald flames roared down the halls.

Sigi Fenal has been slain.

Myogi Boon has been slain.

Weylan Berai has been slain.

Pon whistled softly and started looting the corpses. Semmi gave Pon a quick wave and then started back to her station at a trot.

/Team Alpha: Pon: There's some really nice loot dropping.

/Team Alpha Semmi: Everything attacking us is named. There hasn't been a single garbage mob.

********************

Delyn stared at the notification in Parliament. He was sitting with Raine Xai when it was posted. "You going to send a troop to investigate?"

Raine shook her head. Her dark blonde hair was worn up in a ponytail, she was wearing her signature brown leather armor. "I have no interest in making an enemy out of Nix."

Delyn raised an eyebrow, his apprentice seemed to have been affected by the human's influence. "Our territory has been invaded and one of our assets is being challenged."

Raine looked up from the docket she was working on. "Nix and his group are all 50 level first tiers. Most likely they are exploring and ended up activating it by accident. Besides, an abandoned Temple that once was the cause of an entire clan disappearing isn't really an asset, at least not one I'm willing to fight with him over."

Delyn didn't comment. Saigon and his cohorts had been wiped out by something devastating, somehow it was related to Nix. The Xai Clan had lost a lot of good people, but the loss had been accompanied by unity and peace. Something the Xai Clan hadn't had since Raine's father had passed.

[Whisper: Umi Strom to Raine Xai] Is the Xai Clan investigating the infraction into our territory?

[Whisper: Raine Xai to Umi Strom] We are not. The temple is long abandoned and not worth the trouble of facing off against 75 votes whenever we want to push a docket through.

[Whisper: Umi Strom to Raine Xai] You make a good point. We will hold our forces as well.

Raine finished working on the docket and then submitted it. She sent Nix a message asking for his support. "Clan Strom is not investigating either."

"Clan Dar is investigating. Tura Dar probably blames Inferno for his son's broken legs." Delyn knew Tura Zen Dar very well. He was an arrogant fool who was incapable of teaching his son's proper manners. Clan Dar was small, but they could put together an elite group of a dozen or so fighters.

**********************

"Where would you be going Serai Del Tali?" Sai Tali happened to catch Del putting her gear on, the exact gear she would use for special missions.

"Just for a ride Grand Father." Del Tali bowed her head in greeting.

"I see." Sai walked around to the front of her horse and grabbed its bridle, Del rode an ugly, shaggy horse from the Ice mountains near their home. What it lacked in looks, it made up for in speed and ferocity. "Do not trespass into Fir'Dhassi lands, Del."

Del froze in place, her pale face blushing. "I... Grand Elder, the Inferno Guild has helped us on many occasions since their arrival. The release of the war prisoners. The return of Isla Fra'sa and they saved our apprentices from Saigon Xai."

Sai glanced across the camp to where one of the former captives was sitting. Cora Tali had returned from the Inferno Guild stronger than ever. Her spirit break had been healed to the extent that it was stronger than it had been originally. Cora had also received an Air inheritance. Sai was the person responsible for vetting their recruits. He had personally examined Cora on a few occasions while she was approaching training age. There had never been even the slightest hint of Air talent in her. She returned from Inferno overflowing with Air ability. Sai shook his head slightly, a ranger with Air ability, she would stand above the others of her generation.

He glanced back at his grandaughter. "Fine... you and I will both go. However, we will not attack the Fir'Dhassi. I cannot let ourselves be caught up in conflict because Inferno wants to explore Inuit."