Chapter 575: Frozen Eidengal (1/2)

The gate that Inferno had worked so hard to unlock several months early no longer existed. A thick sheet of ice covered the gate and the walls it attached to. Pon and Nix had to tunnel under several meters of snow even to find it.

”What do you think?” Pon leaned against the iced-over gate. The entire city had turned into a giant block of ice. The cold radiating from Eidengal would have been problematic for anyone not versed in fire.

”Before we went to the Bone Fortress, Gideon witnessed Khione mentioning Eidengal.”

Pon frowned at the mention of the Ice Goddess. ”Did they know we were coming?” The old man held up one of the spear-like objects they pulled out of Nix's Shadow Raven. It was approximately two meters long and as thick as a man's wrist. Both ends were tapered to a sharp point. ”Taking us out from that kind of range is impressive as hell. Think about it; the wind, visibility, and the speed we were moving.”

Nix considered what they knew. ”The snow in Eidengal was much worse than anywhere else in Everspire. Alpha team was taken out of the air in a manner that could only be called quick and efficient. With our victory in the Bone Fortress, Eidengal should be filled with powerful allies.”

”Hey, Nix... You know what this thing looks like?” Pon handed Nix the spear. ”Me and my Gramps had to pull something like that out of my dog's gums once. It looks like a quill. You know, from a porcupine.”

Nix turned it over in his hands. ”Don't those have barbed ends?”

Pon nodded. ”I'm not saying it matches exactly, quills are softer, and you have to cut off the tip before pulling them out. When you do that, the barbed end retracts.”

”Pon... You're a fucking genius.” Nix motioned for him to follow and started trotting down the tunnel they burned through the snow.

Pon's old face creased into a grin. ”About fucking time someone notices! Where are we going?” The fire mage scrambled to keep up with Nix, who had decided that the easiest way to travel through the deep snow was underneath it.

Nix used his aura to melt through the snow as he headed due west toward the ocean. ”Let me know as soon as our hud is usable.”

They ran for nearly five minutes before all communications were restored; Nix wasted no time in opening up a Breach to the Gemini Temple.

”Pon!” Semmi's voice called out to the old mage as soon as they appeared on the platform.

/Inferno: Nix: You around Ronnie?

/Inferno: Ronnie: Sure. What do you need?

/Inferno: Nix: Library access.

/Inferno: Ronnie: Give me two minutes, and then you can port here from the Gemini platform.

/Inferno: Nix: Thanks. Can you meet us there, Tai?

/Inferno: Tai'Qui: Of course.

”How the fuck did you survive?” Wind was mildly irritated that Pon had managed to survive, but he expected that sort of thing from Nix.

Pon's face looked like it might split open. ”I relied on experience and my heightened reflexes. Right, Nix?”

Nix gave him a deadpan look. ”That's right. Why didn't you three return?”

Jun Li brought up her hud and displayed her status. ”Some sort of death penalty. We cannot engage in combat for two hours.”

”That's a new one. Come on, let's head to the library.” Nix stepped onto the Gemini platform and a moment later arrived in the Greater Library of Haven. The click of Ronnie's heels made the entire group turn.

[Whisper: Wind to Nix] One of your better ideas.

[Whisper: Pon to Nix] I'm guessing you had a crush on a librarian growing up?

Nix ignored the chatter and waved at Ronnie. He had made the sexy librarian outfit for her months ago. Hip hugging black skirt with a slit up one side, and a buttoned-up white sleeveless shirt. It was Dalton who made the heels. When the dark archer wore her hair up, she was a schoolboy's wet dream. ”I just need a table; for now, once I figure out what we are dealing with, we can research it.”

Ronnie favored him with a sexy smile. ”Walk this way.”

Nix grinned when Ronnie purposefully swung her hips as she headed toward a round table in the corner. ”Pretty sure I can't walk that way.”

Pon chortled loudly but covered it up when Semmi glanced at him.

A breach opened over the platform, and two people stepped out; both Tai and Deidra had arrived. Nix was just placing the projectile onto the table.

Semmi whistled. ”Is this what killed us?”

Pon nodded. ”Hey, where's your gear, by the way?”

Wind scowled at the question. ”Still on our bodies, we were forced to recover here, and we arrived with only underwear.”

Jun Li blushed slightly. ”Elune scrounged up some clothes to wear.”

Semmi squeezed the old man's hand. ”All my stuff, Pon! You're going to get it back for me, right?”

[Whisper: Nix to Pon] Hey fucknut! This is where you say yes!

Pon nodded slowly. ”Don't worry, Sem. I'll get it back.

Deidra picked up the projectile, running her fingers down the length. ”It contains the ice element; its hardness is similar to steel.”

Tai nodded in agreement. ”I've never seen anything like it. These were used as ranged weapons?”

Nix nodded and opened up his Necro Crafting interface.