415 The Greater House of Inferno part seven

/Alpha: Semmi: Does Chiba have an Archon form?

/Alpha: Nix: Yes, but we probably won't see it today.

/Alpha: Wind: Why not?

/Alpha: Nix: Because Chiba is Chiba.

The eight members of Inferno watched as the battle started. No one really understood the Spellsword Master. A stunningly beautiful goddess who walked around under the guise of an ugly old crone. Although she was close to Beta and Nix, even her closest companions didn't understand the complexities of Chiba.

[Bull Rush][Shield Slam]

Combination Interrupt! [Simple Evasion]

Chiba flowed easily around the shield, her blade flicked into the armored eye slot of his helm before she darted away.

Tokar has been partially blinded.

/Alpha: Vooni: Perfect... It's already over, that's the eye on the sword side.

[Ghost Step][Avoidance][Parry]

Triple Combination Successful.

Chiba flashed in while her opponent attempted to keep her in sight by circling. She side-stepped a sword thrust and moved behind Tokar. The tank responded by spinning with a shield strike but was too slow to stop the silver blade that stabbed into the back of his knee.

Tokar has been slowed by 30 percent.

Vooni applauded in appreciation. Chiba was fighting smart, staying safe while targeting the weak points of heavy armor.

Tokar has activated [Blood Rage].

A red glow enveloped the armored fighter, his strength and speed seemed to jump several levels, rushing in, he slashed horizontally at Chiba's torso. The old woman bent backward, her body arching like a bow while the blade sliced harmlessly through the air above her.

[Earth Slow: Dragon Master]

Tokar has been slowed by 70 percent.

"Using rage in this sort of contest..." Chiba clicked her tongue and moved away quickly. Tokar was forced to pursue, even slowed, rage gave him advantages in strength and agility. As rage counted down, his movements became more and more desperate.

[Dust Cloud][Sword Throw]

Tokar slammed a canister onto the ground, sending a cloud of dust in all directions, he paused until it enveloped Chiba then he threw his sword at her.

The Spellsword emerged from the cloud a moment later, Tokar's sword held in her off-hand. "Clever ploy."

[Shadow Dance][Sudden Strikes]

Combination Successful!

Chiba appeared next to Tokar, striking waist-level with both blades. The tank defended one side with his shield and the other with a spear that he equipped. The spear was tapped aside by a silver sword and his own weapon stabbed into the armored shoulder joint of his shield arm.

Chiba moved away as the shield clattered onto the ground, leaving Tokar with only a spear as rage finally expired.

/Alpha: Pon: Sure looked like it.

Nix watched but didn't comment. Chiba had also picked up Spell deflection extraordinarily fast.

Tokar frowned at his shield laying on the ground. With his left arm hanging useless, he was stuck with just a spear. The dizziness and fatigue that comes when Blood Rage expires slammed into him. After fighting with a shield his entire career, he felt exposed without it.

[Ghost Step][Master Strike]

Combination Successful!

Chiba darted in, swaying to one side to avoid the spear throw her opponent attempted, she lunged forward with a single thrust, her silver blade stabbed under Tokar's chinguard and through his throat.

Chiba has inflicted a mortal wound.

Tokar has been slain.

[Winner: Chiba]

Chiba saluted Tokar's corpse with her silver sword, just it faded from sight. "Thank you for the lovely time."

Chiba's wrinkled face creased in a wide smile. She waved at her guildmates as she walked toward them. "That's three! We should hurry, Nix and I have training tomorrow."

/Alpha: Vooni: Well done, Chiba.

/Alpha: Semmi: You made that look effortless.

/Alpha: Pon: Enough applause, I'm next!

Nix frowned at the robed man standing on the platform. The temptation to break the lever off and beat him with it was nearly overwhelming. Instead, the Inferno Guild leader faked a smile and pulled the lever for the fourth time.

A moment later, his face broke into a wide grin when his own image appeared in front of him.

/Alpha: Nix: Now we are talking.

/Alpha: Pon: You cheated! Pull it again!

/Alpha: Semmi: Let's see... Well... Who should we match you up with?

/Alpha: Pon: Punk... Why bother? He has too many strengths. Just pick one of them.

Nix nodded to himself and walked to the center of the courtyard; Ducky, Fey, and Shadai followed along. He paused a moment to summon Cal and Tor, his Arch Wind archers.

[Whisper: Wind to Pon] I just realized that Nix has an Army.

[Whisper: Pon to Wind] It's impressive when you see them all at once, and that's without his Titan cub.

/Alpha: Nix: I wish Morti were here.

/Alpha: Ducky: Me too.

/Alpha: Pon: The hell for? You plan on fighting all of them?

"Tough looking group." Nix glanced at Ducky who was carrying Sphinx: Soup on her shoulder. "Preferences?"

Ducky shook her head. "Doesn't matter."

Fey chewed on her lower lip while she studied the group in front of them. "How about that fire mage?"

Nix found the person she was referencing. A rail-thin man wearing red leather armor. The Inferno Guild leader pointed the mage out. "Nathryn Xu."

"Begin."

Nathryn has activated his bloodline. [First Form: Flame Archon]

Orange colored wings sprung out of Nathryn's back and he soared into the sky.

Nix nodded in approval. "I like it. Get em guys."

Fey morphed into her Drakon form and shot into the air. She quickly gained on the fire mage who decided it would be best to retreat. Cal and Tor kept pace with her, both had their bows out and were already firing steadily.

Ducky stood next to Nix, she stared up at the air battle, her silver bow held in one hand.

/Family: Ducky: Can you bring him this way? That's too far for me to shoot.

/Family: Fey: Yes, sorry.

True to her word, Fey forced Nathryn toward them. Ducky raised her silver bow and started shooting at him.

/Family: Ducky: Let me shoot him a few times before you do anything, Nix.

/Family: Nix: I know.

Nathryn had his fire shield up to defend against the archers. Although he was immune to Fey's flame, her teeth and tail would present problems if she caught him.

/Alpha: Chiba: Apprentice? Shouldn't you attack or something?

/Alpha: Pon: Punk has too many options. Can't decided what to do.

/Family: Ducky: Fine, I'm out of arrows anyway.

/Family: Fey: Going to turn into a Phoenix and come up here? Or should I ground him?

/Family: Nix: Ground him.

Fey accelerated and caught up to the mage, he changed course and banked away from her.

Fey has used [Tailwhip].

The silver drakon's tail slammed into one of the Archon's wings, sending him spiraling toward the ground, Fey banked and followed.

Nathryn has been grounded.

/Alpha: Wind: It's like a bunch of cats playing with the same mouse. Hurry up! I want to fight.

Nathryn has cast [Fire Blast][Volcanic Ash]

Combination Successful.

Nix is immune to fire damage.

Nix is immune to fire damage.

When Nix was within 10 meters, he skidded to a stop and activated [Desert Basilisk].

The Basilisk lay coiled, its yellow eyes staring at the Fire mage. It struck an instant later.

[Petrify]

Nathryn has been turned to stone.

/Alpha: Vooni: Oh, I like that one!

/Alpha: Semmi: Is he dead now?

Nix dropped the basilisk form and walked toward the stoned mage. There had been no declaration of the winner, so he wasn't sure what to do.

[Whisper: Pon to Nix] No wonder you've been nerfed. They should nerf you three or four more times.

/Alpha: Chiba: Try breaking it open, Apprentice.

Nix pushed Fury flames into Wrath and sliced horizontally at the statue, the sonic blade pushed completely through, slicing the stone mage in half.

Nathryn has been slain.

[Winner: Nix]

The group clapped politely when Nix returned from the courtyard, even though he hadn't really done much.

[Whisper: Pon to Wind] We have to get stronger, so we can help him at the end.

[Whisper: Wind to Pon] Agreed.

/Alpha: Nix: Okay. Let's finish this up.

No one followed Nix back to the platform this time. Those who hadn't been picked were crossing their fingers. He felt a bit nervous pulling the lever one last time. Although they had already won four, two of the battles were hard-fought. He sighed in relief when he saw the image.

/Alpha: Nix: It's Vooni.