411 The Greater House of Inferno part three (1/2)
”F*CK!” Vooni knew many Aquarions, however, the inherent weakness of the stable owner variety prevented most of them from becoming Archons. She flung the corpse of the mage to one side and equipped her shield.
Most stables were filled with water creatures and would be useless on both land and air. This Aquarion possessed a reptilian-hybrid stable, much like the Vilas that Mina used. They were slightly smaller and not enhanced like Mina's but there were forty of them.
Vooni has activated [Dragon Roar].
When the creatures scattered in all directions, Vooni charged the remaining Aquarion. The first water mage managed to effectively ground her with a [Heavy Water] spell. The second Aquarion was starting to panic, the [Heavy Water] spell that her companion used would wear off soon.
Vooni cut the distance between them in half, before the water creatures swarmed her again. Although not particularly dangerous to a top-end Tank, their sheer numbers made them troublesome.
Vooni has activated [Aura Burst]. The dragon descendent's aura erupted outward in all directions, scorching the pests attacking her.
Vooni has resisted Heavy Water.
A flash of black and the armored tank was back in the air, a moment later her target was split vertically from head to crotch as the razor-sharp halberd slammed down on her head and then continued its path all the way to the ground.
/Alpha: Nix: Well done, Captain.
Vooni looked up to see Vy and Nix entering her room. In her head, the archon trainer still referred to him as Pon the Magnificent. They enjoyed a close relationship that had developed a familial tie when she started seeing Rico.
/Alpha: Vooni: Could have used your help a minute ago.
/Alpha: Nix: Didn't want to spoil you too much. First or second room?
/Alpha: Vooni: First.
Nix paused long enough to rid the dead Aquarion of her ricoli artifact, when he offered it to Vooni she shook her head so he stowed it away for the Inferno Aquarions.
The trio headed toward the door Vooni indicated and were just about to exit when Chiba stepped through it.
/Alpha: Chiba: The rooms rotate if you spend too much time, I've already cleared the three rooms this way.
Nix swore under his breath. ”Of course.”
Chiba was wearing her ring once again, the old ugly face wore a look of grim determination. Anything associated with the planar trials brought out the swordmaster's serious side.
/Alpha: Vooni: We should move faster, follow me.
The group ran single file through three empty rooms before finding one that no one had cleared.
/Alpha: Nix: I think we are supposed to stay here.
/Alpha: Vy: Five doors.
The room was pentagon-shaped with pair of torches on every wall. It was larger than any of the rooms that had previously been cleared and was tiled with black marble.
/Alpha: Chiba: Yep, this is it. Check these out.
The rest of the group joined her at the center of the room where five pictured tiles could be seen. An iridescent salamander, a black dragon, crossed silver swords, feathered black wings, and a golden crown.
Vooni bent slightly and touched her hand to the dragon tile. ”I'm glad we are finally raising this house.”
Chiba nodded in agreement. ”Why now? With everything else we have going on?”
Nix gave them a sly smile. ”No reason.”
[You have been summoned by Shae]
”Oops! Gotta go.” Nix disappeared with a wave, leaving the group staring at each other.
/Alpha: Chiba: Where did Nix go?
/Alpha: Vy: Shae must have summoned him.
Nix appeared a moment later in a room of fire. Flames licked at the walls and ceiling, making them glow, Shae wielded two flaming swords while trying to fend off three fire archons.
”Thanks for coming!” Shae slammed both swords into the head of the nearest fire archon, sending it flying toward the far wall.
Nix saw the problem immediately. It was similar to the issue Shae's Fire group had during her Archon training. Most fire creatures were immune to fire damage, so battles against other flames beasts were often drawn out and would sometime end in stalemate.
Nix pushed Black Ice into Wrath and sent a dozen strands of Ice fire into the closest Archon. The beast screeched in surprise at the pain of the ice-cold flames.
Nix activated [Storm Rider] and appeared directly behind his target while dropping his strands. The Black Ice blade stabbed through the creature's torso causing it to flail helplessly while it was lifted completely off the ground.
A Fire Archon has been slain.
While Nix was finishing off the first Fire Archon, Shae used her flame swords to bludgeon a second one toward him. She beat it back slowly, the booming sounds of her blades striking rock-like flesh echoed in the room.
[Storm Rider] [Rockfist]
Combination Successful.
Nix appeared next to the second Archon, he grabbed it by the waist and slammed it headfirst into the floor. In a frenzy of blows, he hammered against its face until the creature's flames burned out.
A Fire Archon has been slain.
Shae managed to corner the last Archon, her frustration was evident as she wacked away at it with her swords. Through sheer will, she managed to push one of her flaming swords into the shoulder of the Archon.
Nix flashed toward her, placing both hands on her shoulders.
[Air Burst]
The creatures shoulder blew apart, wailing in misery it attempted to shield itself with its remaining arm but died with a pitiful wail when it was impaled by a Black Ice Lance and pinned it to the wall.
Nix turned back toward Shae, only to be enveloped in a super-heated embrace. The redhaired salamander took out her frustration by squeezing him tightly.
”How many rooms was this Shae?”
Shae finally released him but maintained a grip on his hand. ”This was my third room. The first was filled with water creatures, that was nice. The second room was a group of Air Wraiths.”
Nix squeeze her hand and pulled her toward the exit. ”The rooms are shifting, so we might have to search a bit to find the others.”
”Were you with them when I summoned you?”