Chapter 208 - Demon Army (1/2)

Bael Strom ignored Nix's smile and continued. ”This sort of thing is a big part of dha.s.si culture, not just the Fir'Dha.s.si.”

/Alpha Team: Semmi: Is Nix still buzzing?

/Alpha Team: Wind: Unless he's suddenly best friends with Bael.

Bael Strom found Alpha Team in the Parliament Market place buying supplies for Loki. Immediately he had invited them to the Autumn Festival. The festival was an annual event that moved to different locations every year. This year it would be held in Inuit, and the Inferno Clan had received a special exception to attend.

/Alpha Team: Semmi: Boss, why don't you put off answering until you feel like yourself again.

[ALERT: ARCHON FLASH IN THE VICINITY OF TYSTA LAKE]

/Alpha Team: Nix: Jun Li and Chael, report to Parliament ASAP, we'll meet in the North Courtyard.

[Chael and Jun Li have joined Alpha Team Chat]

/Alpha Team: Nix: Arm up, we are investigating an Archon Flash at Tysta Lake.

/Alpha Team: Semmi: Tysta? That's the Izzin Territory.

[Whisper: Nix to Vyona] You okay Shipwright Vy?

[Whisper: Vyona to Nix] Nix! Yes, we are fine, there's a bit of a disturbance near Spiro. We've sent people to investigate.

[Whisper: Nix to Vyona] I am investigating the matter also.

[Whisper: Vyona to Nix] Captain Aveck is in charge of the squad, he's no longer answering messages.

[Whisper: Nix to Vyona] I'll handle it from here and will notify you as soon as I discover anything.

Alpha Team only had to wait a few minutes before Jun Li and Chael arrived.

/Alpha Team: Nix: Thanks for coming. In we go.

[Create Breach: Tysta Lake]

A moment later the group of seven appeared on the partially frozen sh.o.r.es of a huge lake. The sound of cracking ice and running water could be heard everywhere.

/Alpha Team: Semmi: Wow... This place was under a dozen feet of ice not long ago.

Small bits of green could be seen sprouting out from the sh.o.r.eline. The lake was relatively calm, with the exception of large chunks of ice crashing against each other. The temperature was much warmer than it had been during Alpha Team's last visit.

/Inferno: Nix: All Available Fighters standby at the Gemini Training Yard, non-mandatory deployment possible in a few minutes.

[Detect Disturbance]

A holo of Lake Tysta popped up in Nix's view. There were five cities located on the sh.o.r.es of the lake. An area near Spiro was marked with a red X.

/Alpha Team: Nix: That's close, mount up.

Nix summoned Flash and climbed into the saddle. He waited a moment while the rest of his group did the same. Flying was too risky. He pushed the black horse into an easy canter and started towards Spiro.

/Alpha Team: Nix: Ten minutes and we'll be there.

/Alpha Team: Semmi: You have wings now Nix?

/Alpha Team: Nix: Yep.

/Alpha Team: Jun Li: Really? Let's see!

/Alpha Team: Nix: Later.

/Alpha Team: Pon: Can we get wings?

/Alpha Team: Nix: You'll have to enter the Solomon City Academy as a trainee. Or be an elemental.

/Alpha Team: Wind: How do we do that?

/Alpha Team: Nix: I believe Fajii and Pon may already qualify based on their elemental cla.s.ses of Earth and Fire. Don't worry about the training, Breach Commander Mtui will get all of you in.

/Alpha Team: Semmi: Nix is the best.

/Alpha Team: Wind: Can we have Vooni train us?

/Alpha Team: Nix: She has to move her current group through the 3rd Phase, then she will.

”Here!” Nix pulled up and dismounted, immediately he sensed the coppery scent of blood. ”d.a.m.n... be careful!”

[Summons: Ducky]

[Summons: Fey]

When his companions arrive, Nix sent Fey into the sky to scout the surrounding area and Ducky to find the nearest Izzin. His scimitar appeared in his hand, the blade glowing light blue from the Ice Flames he pushed into it.

Ducky reappeared a few moments later. ”Tunnel Nix, and some blood.”

Nix muttered a cussword, ”show us.”

They followed Ducky for a few minutes until she led them to a large hole in the ground.

/Alpha Team: Pon: That's not a tunnel, it's a f*cking crater.

/Alpha Team: Jun Li: Was that always there?

/Alpha Team: Semmi: No way to know, this was under a dozen feet of ice last time we were here.

The hole was a perfect circle, approximately 30 feet across. It went straight down into the earth, the end wasn't visible.

[Balefire: Burst]

Nix shot white flames down the hole, the fireball went about thirty meters before impacting with the ground.

/Alpha Team: Semmi: How come it's always underground?

Nix spotted a gooey tar-like liquid on the splattered around the edge, immediately he stepped away from the edge.

[Dragon Eyes]

/Alpha Team: Pon: s.h.i.t... I recognize that.

/Alpha Team: Wind: Yep, it's demon blood.