372 The Titan Serpent Clan (1/2)

/Inferno: Nix: Assassins in the Nescari Fortress, anyone close needs to come now.

/Inferno: Ducky: Fey and I are here!

/Inferno: Nix: I have to stay close to Scarlett, join me, and we'll find Morti.

Nix has cast [Daisy Chains]

Dark Blade has been stunned.

Rip Fang has been stunned.

Nix has activated [Storm Rider].

An instant later, Nix appeared behind the original assassin with his red scimitar in hand. He slapped a black hand on him, and then leaped away when he sensed sudden danger.

Rip Fang has resisted Daisy Chains.

Rip Fang has activated her Bloodline. [Titan Asp]

It struck faster than Nix could move, an enormous black head sunk long fangs deep into his flesh as it clamped down around his back.

Nix has resisted terror poison.

[Aura Ignition: Emerald Flame]

Rip Fang is immune to fire.

”F*cking shit.” Nix swung his blade at the snake's body, but it twisted him to avoid the strike. Quickly he reversed grip and stabbed through his own shoulder, the blade pushing easily through the flesh as it impaled upward through the snake's mouth and out of his head.

Rip Fang has received a [Fatal Strike].

The black snake hissed loudly, a noise that made Nix's ear's ring as it morphed back into a human shape. Nix sliced through the assassin's neck before it could attempt any life-saving measures.

Rip Fang has been slain.

Ducky has [Charmed] Dark Blade.

Nix glanced up to see that two of his companions join him; Scarlett and Mortimus flanked them. The big War Leader growled when his eyes caught the assassins.

”Serpent Clan.” Mortimus's voice was filled with dread, ”are you poisoned?”

Nix shook his head. ”Question him, Ducky, I don't care if he dies.”

Ducky nodded and placed a hand on the assassin's shoulder. ”Sorry about your friend.”

The assassin watched her with beady black eyes. ”She was incompetent. None of us were supposed to change, no matter what.”

”I see. That's too bad. You are much smarter than her.” Ducky's voice was soothing to the ears. ”Will you get in trouble for letting your target slip away?”

Dark Blade shook his head. ”I don't have a target; my mission was a distraction.”

Ducky's blue eyes stared at the assassin. ”He's resisting Nix; anything further will probably kill him.”

”Doesn't matter. I want to know why they are here.” Nix summoned his three Arch Wings, Shadai healed his wounds while the two archers fanned out and covered the area.

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

Yena nodded in agreement; the alchemist had been tasked with keeping an eye on the cubs. Even though they were on the Fortress grounds, someone needed to keep an eye out. ”It might have taken ten years if Nix hadn't pushed things along by throwing that fight.”

Dresa didn't reply, but she silently agreed, Jaro had been in no hurry.

/Nescari Fortress: Scarlett: Assassins in the Fortress!

”Let's go!” Dresa quickly extracted herself from the dense thicket they had been hiding in; a hissing sound caused her to dodge to one side, the arrow blurred by her and sunk into Yena's left eye.

Immediately she rolled to one side and drew her weapon; an instant later, a second arrow struck her in the throat, knocking her back into the brush.

Three stealthed assassin's padded passed them a few seconds later; two were armed with bows while the third held twin daggers. The knife-wielder stopped one of his companions when she started heading into the thicket to check the bodies. ”No time. Kill the white cub; if we have time, the black one is a bonus.”

Yena groaned while easing her friend off of her; blood streamed down the left side of the alchemist's face as she struggled to open her bag. She broke open a small vial and poured half of it directly around the arrow still lodged in Dresa's throat, the rest she used on her own wound before struggling to her feet and staggering out of the brush.

/Titan Clan: Yena: They've broken the perimeter and are going for the cubs.

Yena notched an arrow on her bow and headed toward the clearing; an instant later, a thundering roar shook the glade.

”GET BEHIND ME!” Morti reared up and then slammed his big paws onto the ground.

[Ground Pounder]