Chapter 121 Power Vacuum (1/2)

”We sure about the numbers?” Nix leaned against the rail of his houseboat. He had invited Semmi over to discuss her findings.

Semmi nodded. ”Nine guilds in the last three days, bringing the total to sixteen.” She had been tasked with finding out as much information as she could on the mass exodus to Oasis.

Nix whistled softly, ”how many more are preparing?”

”Most of them.” Semmi glanced up at the three Arch-Winds that were enjoying the sun on the top deck. ”Oddly enough Resolute will be staying for at least a year.”

”Sulane said that?” The new world held too many unknowns at this time, Nix was curious but not willing to let it distract them. With the unprecedented growth of Inferno, they could start pushing harder in Mermaid City.

Semmi nodded, ”I spoke with her in person. Perhaps we should consider using one of the tokens and sending an advance team.”

”Maybe... ” Nix ducked into his bedroom and changed into his fatigues. It was tradition training garb for the Mariner course.

”Still at it?” Semmi hid her approval, Nix was training alongside the new recruits in the Mariner course.

”Yes, six hours every day. Then into the Embassy for blade work with Chiba.” He grabbed the rest of his things and waved at Semmi. ”Keep gathering intel, and have the guild work on moving up the Embassy tower.”

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

”Cadet Jackass, what would you do in this situation?” A small dark-skinned woman with an extremely loud voice yelled at Nix. She gave all the trainee's nicknames, some of the nicer ones were Idiot, Dum-Dum, Shit-for-Brains, Dickless, Sombitch, and Shithead.

Nix studied the 3-D image of the battlefield. ”I'd fall back. In this cas...”

”I didn't ask you why Jackass, I asked you what!” She zeroed in on one of her favorites, a white-haired man she had labeled Brain-Dead. ”Care to add something Brain-Dead?”

”I'd use the tanks to hold the line, then move the rest of the troops west in a flanking maneuver.”

The Mariner Instructor frowned at the student. ”At least I know you have the right name.” She turned back toward Nix. ”Explain your answer now Jackass.”

”Fall back and take the high ground. With that secured, the enemy will break themselves trying to take it back.”

She turned back toward Brain-Dead. ”You'd lose your tanks trying to hold a line? Who is going to heal them while the clerics are heading west in your flanking move?”

Brain-Dead didn't bother to reply, instead, he stared at his feet and hoped the woman let him off.

She glanced up at the sky. ”Looks like we have the noon sun. Who feels like running?” It was a rhetorical question that she asked every day. Brain-Dead had mistakenly tried to answer it the first time she asked. ”Put the backpacks on Pussies. Time for some roadwork.”

She slung on her own backpack and adjusted the weight. ”Display your stats for me.” She walked by each of the cadets, adding weight based on their strength stat. She stopped at Nix, unlike the other cadets, his stats would rise the more he used them. His strength had been 92 when he started the Mariner course, now it was at 96. She added a bit more weight and moved on to the next person.

Three hours later a weary Nix exited the Training instance. He lingered for a while, talking with the Knights and sharing mutual complaints about the evil Instructor. Nix compared notes on battle positions with the genius of the class, a strikingly attractive woman with a black mohawk. Her real name was Lolazi, but the instructor had aptly labeled her Dickless.

Nix headed straight for the heated pools in Shae's elemental world. Soaking in them after a hard day of training seemed to restore his strength. He entered and was making a bee-line for the hottest pool when he heard Shae's voice.

”Try a cooler pool today Nix. I want to talk to you while I tend to my garden.”

He found the Salamander a minute later. She had branched out a bit in recent days and had decided it was okay to wear colors other than red. Today's color was a very light shade of green. Her version of tending the garden was to eat all the ones that were ripe.

Nix laughed when he saw her put a handful of them in her mouth. ”You are developing a pepper problem Shae.”

The slim redhead smiled sweetly at him. ”It's only a problem if I run out!”

Nix undressed and waded into the nearby pool. This was one of the cooler ones that Rhy would sometimes use when she visited. ”I thought you were going to tend the garden?”

Shae shrugged while walking toward him. ”Change of plans.” She let her green dress slide down and puddle on the ground.

[Aura Ignition]