Phoenix Phire

Nix waited patiently on his fountain seat in Isla'Fairbal while his team assembled in the Gemini Temple. This time he wasn't stealthed and took a few minutes to enjoy the relative peace of the market square. The weather reminded him of late fall, nowhere near as cold as Fraya'Selene but rather nice for exploring.

[Whisper: Nix to Hyai] There's a chance that members of Inferno could be targeted while in the Parliament Courtyards. Could I get you to take Morti with you whenever you are wandering around?

[Whisper: Hyai to Nix] Sure hun, but you're paying for all the food he asks for.

[Whisper: Nix to Hyai] Deal. Be safe.

All four members of Alpha Team appeared on the platform at the same time. Fajii spotted him right away and hugged him close.

/Alpha Team: Semmi: It's pretty here, and not freezing cold.

/Alpha Team: Wind: What are we doing here boss?

/Alpha Team: Nix: Remember when Cora suffered a spirit break? One of her options was to become a blood sister.

/Alpha Team: Semmi: I remember, apparently she thought that choice was worse than death.

/Alpha Team: Nix: I uncovered a conspiracy by that faction to kill Hyai and replace her with an identical doppelganger.

/Alpha Team: Fajii: Someone wants to hurt Hyai?

/Alpha Team: Pon: The f*ck you say?

/Alpha Team: Wind: No way...

/Alpha Team: Semmi: I see... We go in and burn everything to the ground and kill anything that moves.

/Alpha Team: Pon: I like that plan. Where's their HQ?

/Alpha Team: Nix: North of here a bit, in a place called the Blood Temple.

Semmi brought up her hud map and had to zoom out quite a bit before finding it.

/Alpha Team: Semmi: That's pretty far to the North Nix. We'll have to procure some means of travel.

/Alpha Team: Nix: There's a private portal that requires an entrance token, lucky for us one of their high ranking members gave me one.

/Alpha Team: Pon: This person still alive?

/Alpha Team: Nix: Somewhat.

/Alpha Team: Fajii: Going to buff everyone.

[Flaming Rock Wall]

A weightless rock wall is now protecting the group.

[Charred Rock Blade]

The group's weapons now pulse with the power of Scorched Earth.

/Alpha Team: Nix: A few notable things about Oasis vampires. They're fast and agile, but very susceptible to fire. They are stronger after dusk but aren't afraid of daylight. Questions?

/Alpha Team: Pon: It's a temple right? Are we gonna take it afterward?

/Alpha Team: Nix: Unsure yet. Let's play it by ear. We could jump right into a fight, so be ready!

The group gathered hands and used the token to access the Blood Temple. An instant later they appeared next to a blood crusted altar, the coppery smell of blood hung in the air. A pale Ain'Dhassi sat on the throne a few meters away, her red eyes wide with shock.

Nix raised both hands and a dozen barbed emerald strands plunged into her torso, they exited her back splattering her throne with blood, before wrapping around her body. She screamed in agony when he yanked her off the throne.

[First Strike]

Semmi has scored a critical hit on Morana.

[Critical Chain]

Wind has followed up Semmi's strike with a critical hit On Morana.

[Balefire: Advanced]

White-hot flame erupted from Pon's hands and slammed into the Blood Queen, she struggled to get loose but was completely bound by Nix.

[Critical Chain: Rock Slam]

Fajii has followed up Wind's strike with a critical hit on Morana.

[Critical Chain]

Semmi has followed up Fajii's strike with a critical hit on Morana. Morana has entered a state of extreme vulnerability.

[Execution: Advanced]

Nix dropped half of the flame strands and struck with a singular razor-sharp strand.

Morana has been slain.

Nix stepped back, her dead body hovered in the air for a moment and then turned into three different clouds of red mist.

/Alpha Team: Wind: That seems unfair...

[Tide of Flames]

Nix targeted all three clouds of blood mist, instantly causing them to flee in separate directions.

[Dragon Eyes]

Nix's eyes changed from yellow to deep orange.

/Alpha Team: Nix: Divide up! I'll take the middle one.

/Alpha Team: Semmi: I'll go with Pon after the right cloud.

/Alpha Team: Wind: Come on Fajii, we'll take left.

Nix sprinted after the blood cloud, he chose the middle one because its thermal signature was much brighter than the other two. He followed it closely, easily keeping track of it even when walls separated them. He slowed when he noticed it had stopped.

[Summons: Ducky]

[Summons: Ea'Shadai, Cal, Tor]

"Stay close, we are in the enemies lair." Nix pushed Ice Flame into his Archon blade and stepped into the large circular room that Morana had fled to.

There were no torches in the room, but the darkness didn't bother Nix at all. Looking closely, he could see the slight outline of an Ain'Dhassi in the cloud.

[Aura Ignition: Gemini Flame]

The round room looked to be a dead-end, there was only one hallway leading into it, the floor was wet and sticky beneath Nix's feet, a casual glance told him that it was blood.

"You will die here, Mortal." A cold voice spoke from the cloud, "this is my blooding chamber."

Three square pools were cut into the floor, they were filled to the brink with blood. Nix felt a shiver run down his spine.

[Summons: Blood Walkers]

Some of those slain in the blooding chamber has answered Morana's call.

Nix cursed when the nearest pool started bubbling and three blood-covered walkers started lumbering toward him. "Stay in the Air, Ducky delay them while I get rid of the other pools"

[Peaceful Dreams]

Ducky has lulled a Blood Walker to sleep.

Ducky has lulled a Blood Walker to sleep.

[Tides of Flame]

Nix targeted the far pool. Immediately the stench of burnt blood filled the air. Morana screamed angrily when one of her pools was instantly vaporized.

Tor has scored a critical hit on a Blood Walker.

/Alpha Team: Fajii: Our cloud has been killed. On our way back to the central chamber.

[Critical Chain]

Nix has followed up Tor's strike with a critical hit on a Blood Walker.

A Blood Walker has been slain.

[Tides of Flame]

Nix quickly targeted the second pool. While it burned beneath the tides of flame, he spammed the remaining pool with his hardest-hitting skill.

[Balefire Burst: Advanced: Gemini Flame]

[Balefire Burst: Advanced: Gemini Flame]

[Balefire Burst: Advanced: Gemini Flame]

Morana solidified when the third pool was destroyed, a long-bladed black sword sliced at Nix, he managed to block most of it but took a small amount of damage.

You have resisted Cursed.

You have resisted Bloodbath.

/Alpha Team: Pon: Ours is down also, we're coming back.

"BASTARD! WHY HAVE YOU ATTACKED ME?" Morana screamed when a dozen barbed Gemini Flame strands stabbed through her.

Nix stared at her, not scared of her anger or the blood-red eyes. "I'm Nix, the Guild Leader of Inferno. It was you who sent Kedric after me. Did I break the rules by not playing along?"

[Incinerate: Gemini Flame]

Nix has placed Morana in a prison of flames.

[Tides of Flame]

Nix targeted her while holding her in place with his strands.

[Blood Shield]

Morana has called a blood fiend to shield her.

A blood fiend has been slain.

Her image faded again as a scraping sound made the floor rumble. She fled into one of the destroyed pools.

The blood walkers returned to their original forms, splashing on the floor the moment she left.

/Alpha Team: Nix: Join me, she has fled again.

Nix stared at the stairs that appeared in the evaporated pool. The stench of rotting flesh was unbelievably bad.

/Alpha Team: Nix: You guys are going to love this.