Chapter 30 Crafted Mask (1/2)
[Command: Attack My Target]
Twenty Vila came up out of the water, instead of running around to the riverbank they scampered up the thick bridge beams like spiders, claws gouging into the hard timber as the moved upward toward the man with the wolf mask.
Nix pulled his rifle and took aim before firing repeatedly, his Aviente stopped a hundred feet off the ground and hovered in place.The crowd around the masked man instantly scattered, some people going as far as to jump off the bridge to avoid the gunfire.
He tried to turn and run back toward town, but the push of people rushing out caused him to give up immediately. He ran toward the rail just as the first Vila leaped onto the bridge. A moment of panic saw him try to summon his beasts but instead the nightmarish creature clamped onto his face and bore him to the ground.His screams were drowned out by the vicious growls of a half dozen predators tearing him to pieces.
Nix landed immediately.
[Command: Defend Me]
The Vila surrounded him when he dismounted, right away that created an empty space around him.No one wanted anything to do with the beasts surrounding Nix.He pulled the mask off the man, he was average looking and could have easily passed for a college kid.A partially severed forearm had a familiar-looking device on it.
Nix picked it up and examined it for a moment.”Not good.”He stepped back onto his mount and quickly gained altitude.Kryn, the docks and most of the ships were now ablaze.The flames reaching hundreds of feet into the air.He headed along the coast, away from the flames. After a few minutes, he landed and activated Deep Blue.
There was a small crowd of Aquarions huddled around the cottage when Nix appeared among them a few moments later.Zhava's thin face smiled pleasantly at him when he approached.
”The Aviante has hatched Nix.”Zhava was kneeling on the sand, pulling bits of eggshell off of the slimy white manta.
Nix stepped forward and picked it up gently before walking toward the surf.”Going to do you a solid by cutting down the sand travel a bit.”Although mantas could thrive on land and sea, they usually hatched either in or very close to the water.He knelt down and held it in the surf, slowly its tiny wings began to flap as it moved towards deeper water.
All the Aquarions were smiling excitedly, apparently, the hatching of an Aviante was a good omen.
Nix caught the Aquarion leader's eye when he turned back toward the cottage.”Need to talk Min.”
Mina nodded and followed him back to the cottage.She was wearing the two-piece swimsuit he had made her.She closed the door behind her and took a seat on the couch.”You seem troubled Nix.”
”Just a bit.”He sat the device and the wolf mask on the table in front of her.
”You found him?”Min picked up the artifact and then froze in place.
Beast Master Bracer
Enables the training of
the Beast Master Skill and
may be used as a stable for
twenty beasts. Custom made
for Zenic.
20/20 Enhanced Wolfmen
Crafted by Alpha
If Aquarions cursed, Nix would have expected to hear it now.Min's teeth were clenched and her brows were furrowed.
”Nix...This is being crafted by someone.”
”It would seem that way,”Nix agreed.”My question would be, how many has he made?”
”The materials to make the Ricoli artifact are quite rare, I have to assume that this is also the case for the Land-Beast version.”
”What if it's not?”Nix turned over the wolf mask and examined it.Then he handed it to Mina.
Wolf Mask
Hides the identity of
the wearer.Provides heightened
night awareness. Custom
made for Zenic
Crafted by Opaz
”It provides another clue.”Mina handed it back. ”Is that a tailored mask?”
”Yes,”Nix added it to the enhancement slot and then chose himself for the first block. ”Opaz used a standard wolf pelt for the material.Let's see what it does with an enhanced wolfman pet.”
”Can you tell the level of Opaz's tailoring skills?”
He didn't need to make the recipe first since he already had an example.The recipe would be made automatically once the first one finished.”It's high, but that isn't the troublesome part.”
Enhanced Wolfman Mask
Enables Nightvision, enhanced
hearing and +5 to all stats.
Custom Made for Nix.