354 The Second Blade part four (1/2)

Chiba bowed slightly. ”Rest assured; we will do our best Master.”

Elena nodded slowly. ”One last thing, many parts of the Armory are meant for larger groups. Yellow torches indicate small groups of 5-10. Blue torches mean that you will need 20-30 people to complete safely.”

The gating platform sent the group to a small staging area where they took a few minutes to prepare for the inevitable conflicts to come.

[Summons: Morti]

[Summons: Ducky]

Nix greeted his companions, both of the Qi demons immediately climbed on Morti's back.

Ducky favored the demon hybrids with a smile. ”So nice to see you again. Uta isn't here?”

Rabi shook his head. ”He's teaching the course in Loki still.”

[Whisper: Nix to Chiba] How does the head of your Order reside in Everspire?

[Whisper: Chiba to Nix] The Spellsword Order has spread across all the planes. Colonial has no Spellsword ranked higher than me. Initially, my motivation for moving to the higher planes was to find other members of our Order.

[Whisper: Nix to Chiba] What do you gain from this advancement?

[Whisper: Chiba to Nix] A second blade.

[Whisper: Nix to Chiba] Dual wield?

[Whisper: Chiba to Nix] I can already dual wield, but not with two Spellswords and not without penalty.

[Whisper: Nix to Chiba] Let's do it then.

[Whisper: Chiba to Nix] How did you learn the new blades?

[Whisper: Nix to Chiba] Must be the excellent instruction I've been receiving from you.

[Whisper: Chiba to Nix] Teach your lovely master at once!

[Whisper: Nix to Chiba] Maybe... Let's get going.

/Inferno: Nix: Anyone in the Great Desert region?

/Inferno: Jun Li: What are you doing here, Nix? Thought you were in Dhou.

/Inferno: Nix: I was. We jumped into a quest that has a backdoor into the Eidengal Amory.

/Inferno: Jun Li: Think you can open the door from the inside?

/Inferno: Nix: Going to send Ducky to look for the exit.

/Inferno: Jun Li: I'll bring some backup and meet her there.

The staging area was a square room that exited into an archway. A long hallway lined with yellow torches led away from it.

/Alpha Nix: Rabi, you're in front. Morti, you'll be behind him.

/Alpha Rabi: Are we expecting traps?

/Alpha Nix: No idea. Ducky, I need you to start searching for the exit.

/Alpha Ducky: If I find it should I let Jun Li in?

/Alpha Nix: Contact us first, the entrance is probably guarded. Be careful.

/Alpha Ducky: Understood.

Nix watched as Ducky walked away from them, her steps seemed casual, but the distance between her and the group widened very quickly, and within a few moments, she faded from view.

After a few minutes of walking, the hallway finally ended in a large room that was nearly fifty meters wide and a hundred meters long. There were dozens of tables set up in exact rows, artisans of all shapes and sizes were busying working their craft.

The group entered the room from the south hall; there was an exit directly opposite of them to the north. Two additional doors at the East and West also exited into yellow flamed hallways.

Chiba whistled softly. Everyone in the room seemed to be a named boss.

/Alpha Nix: This is a giant workshop like the Gladis Hub use to be.

/Alpha Chiba: We should take one and see what happens.

[Summons: Shadai, Cal, and Tor]

Nix's Arch Wings appeared in front of them, their sharp eyes darting around the room. The ceiling was several meters off the ground and more than high enough for them to stay airborne. ”Morti is tanking, we'll try for single pulls, but you never know.”

In the first row of tables, there were three possible targets—Indir The Alchemist, Pulz Bor, a jeweler, and Qu Winz, a tailor.

/Alpha: Pull the Tailor Rabi, we'll see how lucrative this room is.

/Alpha: Rabi: Ok.

The team retreated into the hall and waited.

Rabi has [Quartered] Qu Winz.

Qu Winz has been crippled.

The jeweler chased Rabi back into the hall, one leg dragging behind him as he left a trail of blood.

When he arrived in the hallway, Morti turned him around and swatted him in the face with a massive paw.

Qu Winz has been stunned.

Nix has cast [Incinerate] on Qu Winz.

Gil moved to one side and slammed both of his maces into Qu Winz.

Qu Winz has been permanently crippled.

[Viper Strike]

Sasi has landed a critical strike on Qu Winz.

Chiba has initiated the [Elemental Masterpiece]

Each successive Elemental strike scores double the damage of the previous one.

Chiba lands a critical strike with the element of Silver.

Nix lands a critical strike with the element of Fire.

Beta lands a critical strike with the element of Shadow.

Qu Winz had been slain.

A spool of platinum tread has been added to your inventory.

”Wait here.”