Chapter 195 The Caisong Artifact part one (1/2)

Nix led Inferno back to the 12th-floor staging area.

/Inferno: Nix: I want all hands on deck, Alpha Team, and our Aquarion members. I want everyone prepared to enter the last stage even if they don't meet the requirements. If you're a fighting member of Inferno, then report to the 12-floor staging area.

/Inferno: Semmi: Understood boss, we're on our way.

/Inferno: Jun Li: Can we get Alpha Team into the last stage?

/Inferno: Nix: Just about everyone in the guild shares a spiritual bond with one of our Aquarion allies. Perhaps we can summon them in, doesn't hurt to try.

/Inferno: Jun Li: Are we going to unbank?

/Inferno: Nix: If the last stage is 'one and done,' then I'm going to have someone attempt it. If they don't get booted out, I'll give the green light. It won't be mandatory, though.

/Inferno: Ronnie: Who is doing 12.5?

/Inferno: Jun Li: 12.5 is a ten-person instance. Here's the raid sheet.

Banzi: Tank

Sharl: Tank

Nezbit: Heals

Sajana (Pinkie): Heals

Sila: CC

Rhylia: CC

Zhava: DPS

Dalton: DPS

Darsi: DPS

Chael: DPS

/Inferno: Nix: If you aren't in this raid, stay here and prep for 12.6. Lunch will be here in about an hour. It's going to be a long day, but a good one.

[1100 hours: 12th Floor Staging Area]

/Inferno: Sharl: We're going in, keep my lunch warm.

/Inferno: Ronnie: Good luck, sis.

[Whisper: Jun Li to Nix] The sixth stage is a 5 person group instance. Are you going in?

[Whisper: Nix to Jun Li] Yes. How big is the last stage?

[Whisper: Jun Li to Nix] It says, 20 people. I'm trying not to freak out Nix...

[Whisper: Nix to Jun Li] No worries, Inferno doesn't know how to fail.

[Whisper: Jun Li to Nix] Who should I put on the next group?

[Whisper: Nix to Jun Li] We need a fast and strong group. You, me, Ronnie, Milat, and Tess on heals.

/Inferno: Jun Li: Here's the group that's doing the 6th stage.

[Raid Sheet for 12.6]

Jun Li: Tank

Tess: Heals

Nix: CC

Mina: DPS

Ronnie: DPS

Nix sat patiently on the floor next to Mina and Milat. He could tell that Milat was angry with her, but he wasn't voicing it. Lot's of familiar faces continued to arrive via the 12th-floor staging platform. Hyai, Shae, and Fajii came through together, their hands filled with boxes.

”Lunch is here. Come on, Min.” Nix pulled her up and walked toward the three women carrying boxed lunches.

Hyai was already passing them out when he arrived; she smiled when she saw him. ”The bottom one is for you, Nix.”

”Let me help.” Nix grabbed the remaining boxes and started handing them out; the last one had his name on it. ”This one different than the rest?”

Hyai nodded. ”Of course, I made it just for you.”

”Thanks, that's sweet.” Nix handed her a small stone from his inventory. ”I want you to have this. It's a Djinn that dropped from the Gemini Temple.”

Djinn: Fire Lord

Description: A powerful Fire Ally

from the Gemini Temple.

Hyai examined the stone, her lips curved in a smile. ”For my protection?”

Nix nodded. ”I know you'll be safe, but it pays to be prepared.”

”Thanks.” Hyai stowed it away and then started equipping her gear.

”What are you doing?” Nix watched as she put on some worn Red leather gear, an open-faced helm with horns completed the picture. He had never seen her wear armor; it made her legs look longer.

Hyai pulled out a long red staff with a ruby set into the end. ”All hands on deck, Level 47 Fire Mage reporting for duty.”

/Alpha Team: Semmi: Your mouth is open Boss.

Nix closed his mouth and blinked a few times. ”Thank you for your support.”

”I will fight for you and my friends.” Hyai gave him a sexy smile.

/Alpha Team: Wind: Damn... Was she that hot yesterday?

Nix nodded, ”if I need your help, I won't hesitate.”

She broke her own rule and leaned in for a quick kiss. ”We have a nice vacation planned once we get through this.”

Nix opened his boxed lunch, the smell of roasted venison distracting him. ”We do?”

”Yes.” Hyai waved and moved toward the next group.

Sharl and her team finished the 12.5 in just over an hour. Nix and his team took a moment to congratulate them and then moved into the sixth stage.

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

[1215 hours: 6th Stage]

/Inferno: Jun Li: Scout around Nix.

/Inferno: Nix: I'm on it.

Nix stealthed and swam off of the platform. There was only one hall, so he kept near the ceiling as he moved down it. The corridor opened into a large rectangular room that had two exits on opposite walls. There was a large control panel with a half dozen levers. Both doors had bars across the doorways.

[You've changed to group chat]

/Group: Nix: Follow the hall; there's a control room and two exits.

The rest of the group entered the control room a few moments later.

/Group: Jun Li: Who is going to operate the levers?

[Summons: Ducky]

/Group: Nix: Mina will do it.

The Aquarion leader looked a bit surprised at the nomination but nodded in agreement. Her and Nix already discussed Mina's Sea-Beast stable; she absolutely couldn't afford to lose any beasts in this instance.

/Group: Mina: I'm on it.

/Group: Nix: Open the west gate, and I'll scout it out.

Nix moved to the door and waited while Mina started activating levers, it opened almost immediately, and Nix flashed through with Ducky following behind.

The next room was filled with a dozen Sea-Beasts and one Matriarch. There was one barred exit on the far side of the room.

[Tides of Flame]

Nix ignored the shark-like beasts and attacked the Matriarch directly.

[Flashblade]

His sword stabbed deeply into the Aquarion's side. He slashed her a half dozen times while her beasts went into a fire-induced frenzy. A minute later, he pulled the Ricoli artifact off the corpse's wrist; nothing was left alive in the room.

/Group: Jun Li: You fighting stuff, Nix?

/Group: Nix: Just a Matriarch and a handful of sea-beasts. Nothing to worry about.

/Group: Jun Li: The east side door is open, we'll leave Mina here and go through.

/Group: Nix: I'm at a barred gate, go slow Min, I'll call out when it opens.

Nix waited several seconds, the sounds of gates opening and slamming shut could be heard in the distance, finally, his door opened also.

/Group: Nix: That's it!

Nix entered the next room, there was a stairway going up. It opened out onto a huge balcony, on the far end he saw Jun Li and her group enter.

/Group: Jun Li: Three Water Lords on the platform below.

/Group: Nix: Awesome, I love those things.

There were two open gates behind the Water Lords, two separate groups of Aquarions were randomly walking in and out of the room.

/Group: Jun Li: Try moving two levers at a time now, I'll tell you when to start and stop.

/Group: Mina: Okay. I'm ready.

The first group of roaming Aquarions exited through the open gate.

/Group: Jun Li: Now Mina!

Nix didn't hear any doors moving, after about five seconds the door they were watching slammed shut.

/Group: Jun Li: Stop! Now wait a moment, don't touch those two levers again.”

The second group came into the room and then tried to exit through the closed gate when they couldn't get out they turned and exited the room through the door they entered through.

/Group: Jun Li: Now!

Immediately the gate slammed shut, completely isolating the three Water Mages in the room below.

/Group: Jun Li: Stop! That's perfect.

/Group: Nix: Can you join us? Or are you stuck?

/Group: Mina: Stuck.

[Sniper's Nest]

Ronnie has settled down into a stable firing position.

Nix swam down from the balcony, having no fear of three Water Lords. ”Ducky, charm the far left one.”

/Group: Jun Li: We'll take the far right, make your move Nix!

Nix raised one had and six emerald flame strands shot out to encircle the middle Lord's waist, pinning his arms to his sides.