Chapter 217 - House On Fire (Part Two) (1/2)
[Thirty miles South of the Gladis Hub: 2100 hours]
A half dozen white tents blended in with the ice-covered landscape of the Northern Polar region. Hyai had taken out four large rocks and superheated them before placing them in a steel pot. It was as warm as any campfire.
Cyan shared a large fur blanket with the Innkeeper, the Chief Acolyte was far from being cold. ”He would have run through here sometime before the first morning. He started at sundown and ran through the night so that he would be strongest when the temperatures were the coldest.”
The pilgrimage had to face quite a few difficulties during the day. A wandering group of Aquarions jumped out of the snow and attacked them within an hour of their start. Mid-Day saw them stumble onto a rare White Polar bear, outside of Morti, it was the biggest bear anyone from Inferno had ever seen.
Wylie was snuggled up close to Banz, the Ice Temple champion wasn't cold but she pretended to be. ”He carried his water and alternated between walking and running. There was no real rest, nor did he possess any talents for Ice or Fire at the time. ”
Hyai had gotten to know several of the acolytes during the long day. She was surprised to learn that Nix regularly dropped off clothes and supplies for the Temple. She shook her head in amazement, all of these women had come from King Brahm's harem. ”Hopefully, he's somewhere nice and warm right now.”
Nix moved to the next pillar's room, a female Aquarion was drawing herself a bath when the door opened and shut quickly. The first indication she had that anything might be wrong was when a half-dozen strands of Gemini flame punched through her chest and yanked her backward. She disappeared through a breach that Nix opened up. He took a few moments to ransack her room before moving to the next.
As the Gemini Temple Lord, he had decided to use the 3rd level instance as a prison of sorts. The Breach he opened should be the courtyard right in front of the pyramid... probably. He took out the leather pouch that Darsi had given him and took out another Black Hand artifact.
The other three pillars remaining on the floor were tempting targets, but Nix decided not to push his luck. He reasoned that if he killed everyone, then he wouldn't be able to set the house on fire. He placed fire traps on the walls opposite of the three pillar doors. The first floor of the House should have a binding stone, ”d.a.m.n it... Why am I doing s.h.i.t the hard way?”
The first floor of Greater Houses held the Foundation member rooms and one other very interesting item, The House Binding Stone. Nix had never seen a binding stone, but he a.s.sumed it would look like a gating platform. You could port into the house from just about anywhere.
The binding stone ended up being just what he thought. It was a large round stone about three feet across and six inches thick. He was tempted to try and move it, but it didn't budge when he made the attempt. Nix went over his plan. Open a breach behind the stone, and then use balefire to set off the traps on the second floor. That would set off a chain reaction that should spring the ceiling traps he placed on the first floor. When the Foundation member rushed out of his room, Nix would slap a Black Hand on him and send him through the breach.
Nix muttered quietly to himself, ”it's a good theory. I don't even want to think about how many different ways this could go sideways.”
[Summons: Ducky]
Nix held a finger to his lips, indicating stealth. ”Watch my back.”
[Create Breach: Gemini Temple: Lower Level]
A gentle wave pushed outward in all directions from Wind's shoulder, and then all h.e.l.l broke loose. Zeryn's eyes widened in horror, a deafening shriek burst from her lips as she ran mindlessly for the door. Beta and Chiba were so surprised that neither responded for a moment. Pon guessed what would happen when the King showed up and he kicked a table in front of the door to block it.
[FIre-Nado]
Zeryn and four of her friends were pulled into a whirlwind of fire, their screams of terror, however, did not subside.
From the way that Chiba reacted to the mages presences, all of Alpha Team understood that she was the primary target.
[First Strike]
Semmi has scored a Critical hit on Zeryn.
[Critical Chain]
Wind has followed up Semmi's attack with a critical hit.
[Critical Chain: Balefire]
Pon has followed up Wind's attack with a critical hit.
[Critical Chain]
Semmi has followed up Pon's attack with a critical hit.
[Critical Chain]
Wind has followed up Semmi's attack with a critical hit.
Zeryn has been mortally wounded.
[Double Backstab]