Nix stretched his arms slightly, causing Shae to shift slightly, her soft red hair tickling the side of his face. Aki told them to rx for an hour while she prepared the Ashobel, the group was sitting in the booths at the Inn. The Smander had fallen asleep almost immediately; it was an ability that they had inmon. Nix didn''t sleep; however, instead, he was looking at their group. There was no telling how strong Neptiphago really was. If she were able to gain even a small portion of her dragon strength, the fight would be horribly short and one-sided.


    [Whisper: Raka to Nix] I won both of my Nomad battles, tomorrow I will fight cio''s son for the leadership of the n.


    [Whisper: Nix to Raka] I''m concern about the Ashobel. The Heart of Winter has been able to control everyone around it, including Neptiphago.


    [Whisper: Raka to Nix] Neptiphago probably loosened one of the bindings as some sort of bargain to try and regain her strength.


    Nix nodded to himself, ording to his information, that was the most likely scenario.


    [Whisper: Nix to Raka] We are going to kill Neptiphago; when that happens, the Heart of Winter might try something. What kind of being was it?


    [Whisper: Raka to Nix] Its name is Khione. It''s an Ice creature like me, although no one is sure exactly what kind since it used a human form when we captured her.


    [Whisper: Nix to Raka] And it took 25 dragons to defeat her?


    [Whisper: Raka to Nix] No, it took 25 dragons to bind her once she was captured and subdued. Entire armies were destroyed during the fight.


    [Whisper: Nix to Raka] I would have killed it then. Why bind it?


    [Whisper: Raka to Nix] We tried, she wouldn''t die.


    [Whisper: Nix to Raka] This feels like I''m cleaning up someone elses mess.


    [Whisper: Raka to Nix] Do you need my help?


    [Whisper: Nix to Raka] No. Rest and prepare for tomorrow''s battle. Good luck.


    [Whisper: Raka to Nix] Thanks. You too.


    Nix woke Shae with a gentle shake.


    /Gemini: Nix: It''s time. Let''s go.


    /Gemini: Chiba: Bringing in Morti?


    /Gemini: Zinu: Who is Morti?


    Nix exited the Inn and waited for the rest of his group to catch up.


    [Summons: Mortimer]


    [Summons: Ducky]


    Ducky and Morti appeared right next to each other, immediately Ducky hugged the Cave bear''s neck.


    /Gemini: Zinu: Your Titan cub is named Mortimer?


    /Gemini: Nix: Yes. Why?


    /Gemini: Zinu: We can talk about it after.


    Nix nced at his team, he wished for a few more Gemini sses, but it would have to do.


    Tank-Morti


    DPS-Chiba: Swordmaster: Gemini diator


    DPS-Locas: Ranger


    DPS-Shae: Smander/Archon


    CC/DPS-Nix: Fire Mage: Gemini Lord


    CC/DPS-Floyd: Gemini Trickster


    CC-Ducky


    Heals-Zinu: Cleric


    /Gemini: Chiba: Too bad we''re facing one boss instead of a dozen, we''re a bit heavy on CC.


    /Gemini: Nix: A bit. I''d bring in my Arch Winds in, but we''re fighting in an enclosed space. They''d be at a disadvantage.


    **********


    "We have intruders!" Tipha eased herself out of the healing basin and instantly donned her gear. An ice ax appeared in each hand.


    Aki was just finishing putting the Ashobel in ce; she had no problem moving therge white-furred bodies. "It''s Nix. We failed to capture him, and he was able to retreat."


    "Six enhanced Archons can''t deal with that group?" Tipha scowled at the Aquarion, she wasn''t fully healed yet, but her rms had gone off as soon as Nix and his group started down the tunnel to the Infusing chamber. "Nevermind, the two of us will finish them. Have the rest of our squad cut off their retreat."


    Aki nodded. "As you wish."


    A few minutester, Nix and his group entered the room. The Ice armored Knight faced them, Aki was next to her with a single de drawn.


    "I am Neptiphago; perhaps you''ve entered this city without knowing who the Master was."


    "No, I am hunting you," Nix admitted.


    Tipha scoffed when Nix''s aura med on, the red-haired fighter next to him also lit up her aura. "Two fire creatures won''t be enough."


    "Let''s talk for a wh..."


    [shde]


    Nix pushed lightning into his scimitar and scored a deep cut into Tipha''s armored shoulder, causing her to drop one of her axes.


    Nix hasnded a significant strike.


    [Balefire: Burst]


    Shae aimed at the Knights feet, shing in she struck with both des while Tipha was still stunned.


    [Double Strike]


    Shae has scored a critical hit.


    Morti lumbered in and swatted Tipha with a gigantic paw before mping down on her arm and pulling her towards the group.


    [Dual-Chain]


    Floyd has followed up Nix''s attack with a significant strike.


    [Dual-Chain]


    Chiba has followed up Floyd''s attack with a significant strike.


    [Ice Harbor]


    Tipha has used Ice Harbor to break the chain skill.


    [Ice Block]


    Tipha''s free hand morphed into a giant block of Ice, and she mmed it into Morti''s face. When she tried to repeat the blow, a dozen emerald strands of fire circled her arm and yanked it backward.


    Nix pulled the opposite way that Morti was pulling.


    [Lance: Gemini me]


    Nix has scored a critical hit.


    [Trueshot: Burst]


    Locas has scored a critical hit.


    Locas has scored a critical hit.


    Locas has scored a critical hit.


    [Viper Strike]


    Floyd hasnded a significant attack.


    [Ice Shield]


    Tipha is immune to stunning attacks for 20 seconds.


    [Winter''s Edge]


    A st of cold air moved in all directions.


    Nix has been slowed.


    Morti is immune to control effects.


    Floyd has been slowed.


    Ducky has resisted slow.


    Zinu has been slowed.


    Shae has been slowed.


    Locas is out of range of Winter''s Edge.


    Chiba shed toward Tipha only to find her feet suddenly encased in Ice. She slid towards the Ice Knight who managed to break Nix''s strands and stab downward at her with a blue-colored dagger.


    The swordmaster easily blocked the attack but felt her body instantly freeze in ce. She watched helplessly as the dagger descended toward her again.


    [Bewitched]


    Tipha stopped her attack a moment before she injured her long lost friend. "Are you okay, Zel?"


    Tipha has resisted Bewitched.


    A roar of anger escaped the Ice Knights lips as her quarry escaped before she could strike, her ice-blue eyes immediately found the culprit.


    Ducky had her silver bow up and was shooting arrows at Tipha; most of them were missing. She stepped backward when Tipha charged her but didn''t retreat. With Morti and Nix fighting, they''d never let their target touch her.


    A dozen Emerald Strands encircled the legs of Tipha, causing her to stumble slightly. Morti mmed both paws into her back, knocking her to the ground.


    "ENOUGH!"


    [Ice Barrier]


    Tipha has thrown up an Ice barrier between her and her foes.


    The Ice Dragon bared her teeth at the Gemini group, her breathinging in great gasps while her blood sshed on the ground. She unstoppered arge potion. "You cannot bea..."


    Her words were interrupted as a razor-sharp de sliced across her back.


    Aki hasnded a critical hit.


    Tipha is immune to the secondary Ice damage of the Tundra de.


    The Ice Dragon leaped away, dodging a follow-up attack. "You treacherous Aquarion bitch! I shall free you of your mortal chains!"