Chapter 123 Setting up the Raid (1/2)
[Flame Throw]
The crusted pot glowed slightly as green flames licked at the insides. Nix picked up the scraper and continued cleaning. ”Can't leave a pot on the fire all night and expect things are just going to wash off.” He rinsed it off and grabbed for the next one.
The pot cleaner kept working diligently, after finishing off the last one he moved on to the much easier stack of dishes.
”I do like a man in suds.” Hyai's voice spoke from the entryway. She was dressed in her work uniform, even though it was still very early.
Nix glanced up from his work at the sink. ”Hmm, food for thought.”
Hyai moved beside him, pausing long enough to kiss the back of his neck, a clear exception to her strict rule about public displays of affection. ”I'll rinse hun.”
Between the two of them, they finished the rest of the party clean-up in a relatively short amount of time. Hyai made them both breakfast and they enjoyed some quiet conversation at the small table in the kitchen.
When Nix left the Kindled Spirit a short while later, the sun was just starting to rise. Hyai sent him off with the promise that there would be some nice 'payback' coming his way.
Derva was the only Acolyte present when Nix entered the Palace of Fire and Air. She bowed deeply when she saw him. ”Good morning Champion,”
Nix returned the courtesy, ”no need for such formalities Derva.”
The slender woman offered him a smile. ”Going to see Shae?”
Nix shook his head. ”I've some important business with Rhy.”
As if hearing her name, the Air Nemesis appeared before them an instant later. ”Impressive Nix, I thought for sure that last night's activities would have kept you in bed for a few more hours.”
Nix bowed slightly. He was beginning to understand Rhy. Although her coal-black eyes seemed cold, her personality was much different. She would laugh and frolic with the other air creatures for hours on end. Unexpectedly, she had grown very close to Shae. ”I could use your help Rhy, an Ice Spirit friend of mine is seeking to become a Lord of Ice.”
”You seem to have a fairly wide variety of elemental friends.” She lay a hand on his shoulder and extended a wing enough to pull him closer.
”Hmm. I do seem to know my share.” He pushed back the feathers that were grazing his ear.
”I will help. Is this where you received your 'Ice Blessing' ?”
Nix had shown Rhy his stats before, so of course, she would have seen it. ”Yes, the Ice Spirit from Cyphix. Her name is Shi.”
”A Fire Lord with an Ice Blessing.” She nodded her acceptance. ”You are definitely a unique person Nix. Let's do the raid first, then I will assist your friend.”
A short while later, 20 of Inferno's finest were gathered in the holding area of the 69th floor. The raid had a limit of 20, so Jun Li and Semmi had carefully considered what was needed.
[Raid Sheet: 69th Floor]
Healers: Tess, Gypsy, Pinkie, Wylie, Saji
Tanks: Sharl, Banz, Jun Li
Crowd Control: Sila, Fajii, Nix, Rhylia
DPS: Chael, Ronnie, Wind, Semmi, Pon, Shae, Milat, Mina
/Inferno: Nix: Semmi will give us a brief. After the raid starts, and we leave the prep area, I want everyone to summon all of their Spirit Companions. With the Vilas and our Aquarion friends, it should give us enough firepower.
/Inferno: Semmi: With just our Aquarion Spirit Companions, we'll gain twelve more fighters. I think we can shock Resolute.
/Inferno: Semmi: I'm sending everyone the Raid brief, I had to pay some serious credits to get one of the members of Resolute to give us the set-up. Please read and then we'll discuss strategy.
[Raid Brief]
The 69th-floor raid takes place in a large valley nestled nicely inside of a dense jungle. It's about an hour hike through the jungle to arrive at the river basin. We can expect to be attacked several times by random creatures of different strengths. In fact, Resolute was wiped on the hike during their last attempt. This part is no joke.