314 The Desert King conclusion

Sharl pointed to the blurred outline of the large beast. "Follow my lead."

The Naga teen nodded happily. "I won't let you down."

/Inferno: Jun Li: Move to the bottom of your steps and wait for everyone to get in place.

Nix considered summoning Ducky but decided that this sort of wide-open fight wasn't really her style. "Sharl is the priority on heals, if things get difficult I will use CC to delay.

Shadai nodded. "I will keep both of you safe."

"All of you stay in the air, but don't approach the other platforms." Nix pushed flames into Wrath and waited.

The stairs leading up to the elevated platforms were all the same, a single flight of wooden steps with no rails. There were no supports or braces visible, they hovered in the air connecting the ground to the platform.

/Inferno: Jun Li: Odds are there is a good reason why Tobias and his crew failed here. We'll take things slow and figure it out as we go.

/Inferno: Semmi: Pay attention to every detail.

/Inferno: Jun Li: Walk up your steps and proceed to the edge of your platform.

Nix walked slowly up the steps and waited at the edge, a red lion stared at him from the center, its baleful yellow eyes burrowing into him. "Of course."

/Inferno: Nix: Got a red lion on my platform.

/Inferno: Pon: Scorpion.

/Inferno: Semmi: Damn... A huge ass snake. Does anyone want to switch?

/Inferno: Ronnie: Not sure what ours is, looks like one of Mina's Vilas, only bigger.

/Inferno: Sharl: No change with the center boss.

/Inferno: Jun Li: Go!

[Storm Rider: Thunderfist]

Combination attempt successful

Nix appeared beside the giant lion and slammed his fist into the side of its neck.

The Red King has been stunned.

Nix targeted the entire platform and set down his AE.

[Tides of flame]

A deafening roar echoed in the Arena as the Red King charge Nix, its red fur burst into flames causing its health to rapidly drop. It reared up on its two back legs and swiped at Nix with a giant paw.

A moment in the air followed by the impact of the arena floor told Nix he'd been knocked off the platform.

/Inferno: Jun Li: We just reset. What happened?

/Inferno: Nix: Got knocked off the platform.

/Inferno: Jun Li: Everyone back on the steps.

/Inferno: Sharl: Center boss never changed.

Nix muttered curses while he returned to the edge of the platform. "I should root it first, round two will be different."

A hand on his shoulder caused him to look up. Tor's smiling face hovered close to him. "Keep at it!"

Nix stood back at the edge of the platform, the Red King's malevolent eyes seemed to taunt him.

/Inferno: Jun Li: Go!

[Flame Root: Fury Flames]

The Red King roared in pain as it was encased in white flames.

Nix raised two hands and a dozen strands of emerald flames impaled the red lion.

[Air Burst]

Nix's target exploded outward, sending bits of flesh high into the air.

The Red King has been slain.

Nix chuckled. "Like it?"

/Inferno: Sharl: Big boss just turned into an enormous red lion, engaging.

/Inferno: Nix: My targets down, coming to help.

Nix leaped down from the platform, he could hear the steady strum of Cal and Tor's bow as he sprinted to Sharl's position.

[Copyright: Red King]

A second red king leaped on the back of the first, Sharl took advantage of the distraction to slam her shield in its face.

[Shield Bash]

The Red King has been stunned.

[Storm Rider]

Nix appeared behind the Red King and slashed at the back of its legs.

The Red King has been slowed by forty percent.

/Inferno: Semmi: Snakes down, on our way.

The Red King shimmered for a moment and then morphed into a blurred image that could no longer be targeted.

/Inferno: Sharl: Boss reset.

/Inferno: Jun Li: Everyone off the platforms.

/Inferno: Ronnie: What are we doing wrong?

/Inferno: Semmi: Let's talk it through. The smaller mobs are too weak to walk them down slowly.

/Inferno: Jun Li: There must be an order of kill.

/Inferno: Semmi: Anything you notice about fighting the main boss?

/Inferno: Sharl: Can't turn him at all, he doesn't hit hard in lion-form.

/Inferno: Floyd. The blurred image is facing a different direction now.

Nix glanced at the main boss, you couldn't make out its features, but it was definitely facing the NE platform.

/Inferno: Nix: Facing NE now, could the order be randomly chosen by the direction the boss faces?

/Inferno: Jun Li: Again then. Take down the NE first, no one kills their targets.

/Inferno: Sharl: I'll let you know if there are any indicators.

/Inferno: Jun Li: Round 3. Go.

[Flame Root: Fury Flames]

The Red King has been bound in place

[Flame Snare: Fury Flames]

The Red King has been slowed by forty percent.

Nix waited without attacking further. Although there was a small dot (damage over time) on both snare and root, it wouldn't be enough to kill the lion quickly.

/Inferno: Jun Li: Our target is down, heading toward the middle.

/Inferno: Sharl: The boss didn't rotate this time.

/Inferno: Jun Li: Reset. Everyone off their platforms, let's meet in the middle.

Nix found Fajii in the crowd and offered her a drink from his canteen. She thanked him with a smile. "How's the snake fight?"

Fajii snuck a quick glance at Semmi and lowered her voice. "Semmi is scared of snakes."

Nix laughed at her expression. "Are you?"

Fajii shook her head. "I don't like the dark."

Nix stared at her for a moment, not sure if she was being serious.

She squeezed his hand slightly. "You?"

"Spiders," Nix admitted. The big ones are fine, but the small ones that crawl on you when you're sleeping creep me out.

/Inferno: Sharl: The boss shifted again. Now it's facing the SE platform.

/Inferno: Jun Li: Is it just random? Maybe we're on the wrong path.

/Inferno: Semmi: Anyone notice any change in your targets?

/Inferno: Pon: It's a lock!

/Inferno: Semmi: What?

/Inferno: Pon: What happens in with a combination lock when you go to far?

/Inferno: Jun Li: You reset it. We already did that twice.

/Inferno: Semmi: No we didn't. Originally it was facing Nix's platform.

/Inferno: Sharl: That's right, when his target died it turned to Junie's platform.

/Inferno: Semmi: It if rotated after Nix's target died, but didn't on the last fight then Nix's target must have to be first.

/Inferno: Nix: I think the old man is on to something. Let's reset it twice more and get the main boss back to its original position.

/Inferno: Jun Li: Everyone back to their platforms.

Resetting was as simple as retreating from your platform. After trying it the first time, the boss turned to the SE platform.

/Inferno: Jun Li: Again.

After the next reset, the boss returned to its original position, while Inferno stood ready on the steps.

/Inferno: Jun Li: Nix you'll go first, call out any directional change Sharl. If we have the pattern down, it should be my platform next.

Nix stood on the steps waiting. The Red King eyeing him with malice filled eyes. "Feels like we've been here before. Did you eat Tobias when they were here?"

/Inferno Jun Li: Go.

[Thunderfist: Flame Throw]

Combination Attempt Successful.

Nix punched the Red King in the chest and then bathed it in emerald flames.

[Incinerate: Balefire Burst: Execution]

Triple Combination Attempt Successful.

Mortal Strike

The Red King has been slain.

/Inferno: Nix: My target is down.

/Inferno: Pon: Holy crap, that was fast.

/Inferno: Sharl: The Lion boss is back, he shifted to face Junie's platform!

/Inferno: Jun Li: Okay we're next!

[Storm Rider]

A flash of lightning struck behind the Red King and Nix appeared there an instant later.

[Thunderfist: Comet Strike: Meteor Storm]

Triple Combination Attempt Successful.

Nix has landed a Significant strike on the Red King.

/Inferno: Sharl: The hell was that Nix?

[Dual Chain: First Strike]

Sharl has followed up Nix's attack with a Significant strike.

/Inferno: Jun Li: Our target is down.

The Red King shimmered for a moment and then a reptilian head burst out of Lion's shoulder, the two heads snapped at each other before turning their eyes back to Sharl.

/Inferno: Sharl: It just turned toward the SW platform.

[Dual Chain: Thunderfist: Comet Strike: Meteor Storm]

Triple Combination Attempt Successful.

Nix has followed up on Sharl's attack with a Significant strike.

/Inferno: Sharl: Nix...

[Ghost Step]

Jun Li appeared at the side of the Lion-Reptile.

[Champion Strike]

Jun Li has followed up on Nix's attack with a Significant strike.

/Inferno: Jun Li: How are you doing combo attacks Nix? Colonial doesn't have them.

/Inferno: Nix: I guess Everspire does. Activate two skills at the same time.

[Shield Bash: Sudden Slash]

(Sharl) Combination Attempt Successful.

Sharl has followed up on Nix's Attack with a Significant strike.

/Inferno: Sharl: Heh... Boo-ya.

/Inferno: Pon: Our target is down!

Nix was just moving in for a slash on the stunned creature when a giant armored pincer pushed out of its side and snapped shut on his arm.

"F*ck!" Nix kicked the amputated arm that was still gripping Wrath, sending it off to one side. He circled the beast and pried loose his fingers from the hilt.

/Inferno: Pon: Loose something Nix?

[Balefire: Firestorm]

(Pon) Combination Attempt Successful.

Pon has landed a significant strike on the Red King.

/Inferno: Nix: Cheap imitation.

/Inferno: Sharl: It shifted to the last platform.

Nix moved in quickly, dodging the scorpion claw that snapped at him; he twisted to avoid the reptilian head that turned to attack and was forced to retreat.

/Inferno: Nix: It's a Manticore. Semmi's target is going to become the tail.

An instant later its tail disappeared and a long green snake appeared in its place. It hissed loudly at Nix, striking at the empty air.

/Inferno: Jun Li: Go all out.

Nix waited for a moment, with two scorpion pincers snapping shut on either side and the hissing snake tail, it was difficult to find an opening.

[Copyright: Desert King]

Floyd morphed into a copy of the Manticore, he closed both pincers around the Desert King's snake tail before biting into the creatures back with both heads.

[First Strike: Backstab]

(Wind) Combination Attempt Successful.

Wind has landed a significant strike on the Desert King.

Nix raised his left hand and a half dozen strands of white flames sunk their barbed tips deep into the Desert King. He focused for a moment and then pushed lightning into the Fury Strands. The strands lit up and crackled with the power of lightning, but didn't explode. The smell of burnt flesh and electricity filled the air. Nix noticed the health of the Desert King plummeting quickly, however even with a mana stone, his own mana only lasted a few seconds before the flame strands fell away and he was forced to retreat.

/Inferno: Pon: Mana all gone Noob?

Nix nodded dizzily before pushing flames into Wrath. "Still got my sword though."

The rest of the Desert King fight was uneventful, it died with a loud roar that was followed by a distant rumbling. The entire section of the Arena slid open to reveal a wide passage.

A return token has been placed in your inventory.

Return Token: Binds on Pickup, No Drop

Description: Activate token to return to the Lost City.

Nix picked up the red chest and stowed it into his inventory.

/Inferno: Semmi: We ever open the chest from the Puppet guy?

/Inferno: Nix: Nope. We'll knock them both out in a bit.

The small group walked through the open passageway. It was a winding tunnel that took a few minutes to walk through. In the end they stepped through an Archway into the bright sun of the Great Desert.

Welcome to the Lost City of Eidengal.

You have succumbed to your wounds and died.