Chapter 98: Arrival

Styx says, "how much longer?" he is in private chat with Umbra. Umbra is leading the invasion squad twenty fresh players who have all completed their rank zero trials. 

Frey says, " Be patient they are trying to move as fast as they." Umbra is using [Void link] a skill she has wanted to practice for a while now. In Styxs' hand appears a bust of Umbra which He and Frey are using to talk to her. On her side, they are directly transmitted into her head. Seh is the only of the voiders who got this skill. 

Umbra says, "Soon maybe an hour at most. The monsters are no joke." That is implied that they are also being target by players. One of them had managed to kill her some player parties have realised that Styx and Frey are impossible to kill so they suicide ganked her. 

Styx is relaxing looking over the ridiculous Commissions they have to do. Lucky for them Medium Bunz refused to be assigned commissions. This hill which she nearly died on means that Sunken Reef chooses which high and medium commissions it will undergo. Given how long a commission takes to complete they have only a few more days before they have to start. 

Lordo and Eclipse are wandering trying to see if there is any way to peer over the large thatched wall of the encampment. 

Styx stands up pulling out his weapons, then in response to his movement, a dagger made of crystallised light cuts him. Styxs' fast reflex means SoulStealer grazed the man's chin instead of his neck. 

SoulStealer leaps backwards do a flip and cartwheel. Shurikens of fire, fly in every direction but at SoulStealers' dodges are unpredictable and highly effective at against range attacks. Styx says, "Stop Frey save your energy he is mine." Frey had unleashed a torrent of spells in a short time she wanted to kill SoulStealer before Styx made his stupid declaration. She knows her man has been leaving the assassin clue towards their location.  Styxs' fascination with SoulStealer comes from the class the man got. Styx could build a whole squad around it. 

SoulStealer says, "Your funeral buddy!" Oozing arrogance and dripping confidence SoulStealer strolls around. His crash course in combat dynamic the study of human combat by Archer Starling. Has turned him into a more deadly killer just on his way here he had killed over fourteen players. Some harder than others all higher level than him. The Birghtlord has even manifested his weapons. Gone are the days where he has to follow Thousand Styles around like a love-struck puppy. Now he does so because he is commanded, maintaining his relationship with Thousand Styles Miles is important to the old man for some reason. Thus getting revenge for him is but one of the plans he currently has in the works. 

Styx says, "You are far too loud to be telling that Puto Cabron." Styx weapons that had been steadily growing out of arms finally rest. Thirsty for blood his weapons buzz at an ultra-high frequency. The two men move to a sort of clearing where Freys' typhoon of fire has razed the old and rotting trees. The ashes are kicked up by SoulStealer as he walks into THE PIT!

SoulStealer says, "How did you know?" He should have been able to get him as a level eighteen SoulStealer is three levels higher than Styx. Styx drags his blade kicking some ash of his own. 

Styx says, "You are too loud, too slow and too stupid hombre." Styx phases out not from skill but as a natural function much like Frey. He can completely phase out of the physical realm unlike her though who enters the spirit realm. Styx sort of dances between the psychical realm and the Netheralm. 

SoulStealer says, "CHE! You are not the only one with tricks." With a wave of his hand, he melds into light shattering his physical form. The standoff beings, Frey, Eclipse and Shadow watching from the edge of the ash pit. 

---Message from Eclipse to Esame'el---

/Eclipse - We have one here the same one from last time. 

/Esame'el - is he alone?

/Eclipse - same as the first time he attacked 

/Esame'el - Record the fight and sed tit to Tatiana and SKY Ocean Hunter

/Eclipse - why not ask Styx to do it he will get more details. 

/Esame'el - Reef Business please get it done. 

---End of Mesage---

The wind has died down leaving only the crackling sounds of burning wood in the ash pit. Both Styx and SoulStealer are trying to find the other. SoulStealer hardly moving at the first sign of Styx he will lunge and kill his hated foe. Styx wanders about in the edge excited to fight SoulStealer. His eyes glistened as they catch a hint of nothing. This is why Styx is so interested in SoulStealer. Everything in the physical realm has a spiritual counterpart. This is how he is able to navigate without appearing halfway through a tree or wall. Everything except SoulStealer and is directly linked to his new class. When they first encountered SoulStealer he was just a normal Syphon. Styx smiles noticing him is difficult but not impossible. The distinct lack of spirit where SoulStealer is hopefully standing is like noticing that there are no birds in a forest. 

Unfortunately, this vision of SoulStealer isn't clear or even an outline of the man. It looks to him like scratches that you have to squint to see on glass. Everyone watching is breathing slowly the tension rising with each passing second. Frey holding her Shuriken firm in her mind to try still the galloping of her heart. Shadow seems especially focused looking at the whole it for any sign of the both of them. 

Several minutes go by the two fighters are concentrating at their maximum this fight will be decided in the first ten strikes. Ten strikes then it's all over gripping his weapons stiffly SoulStealer stares into the barren ash pit. A single flake Ash that moves unnaturally shall perish. 

"They all shall perish," says Tatiana. The reinforcements have finally arrived. Ten teams of three each a fighter, a defender and a healer. Tatiana and Medium Bunz had created these simple teams to allow her team members to learn the ins and outs of command. Even if they will never be professionally strong she needs to be able to leave to act independently and investigate without fear of death. Cantos systems are using a form legacy servers as they are not the original creators of the source code or hardware responsible for Odyessy. According to her grandfathers' letter, this means she can be granted access by raising her noble level in-game. The only problem is that the information she wants is hosted in some of the most heavily fortified nations in-game. The one she knows of is somewhere in The Osmium Empire. 

Tatiana first assigns two teams each to Omnicronlyre, Azula, Koraa, Boa-bob, and, Lelo. Tatiana says, "Alright I will command directly the five of you and you guys will command the teams you are responsible for." 

Koraa says, "I not too comfortable with commanding." This is odd as she is a half titan though more human than titan she still stands head and shoulder above the new recruits. Hearing her sound so small won't do her group any good.

Tatiana says, "We must learn to do things that make us uncomfortable. We are up against the greatest powers in the world. They have not even started to move yet we aren't even worth the effect to step on. Steel yourself, learn to do things that you once thought impossible because that is the only way we will succeed." Tatiana has always had a flair for the dramatic, it is what makes her such a compelling streamer outside of raw skill and relentless brutality. 

Boa-bob says, "Hell Yeah The Sea Cloud Striders will make history today!" He is most excited at getting a general overview of the guild and its goals. The disconnected missions and spreading of the forces thin across the Red Iron now make sense to him.  One has to see the forest for the trees in order to understand.

Omnicromlyre says, "Yes boys let's get it!" at her request every member of her team is a hunky male. Each of them have their own qualities that Omnicronlyre can take her time admiring and commanding. 

The newly restocked Sea Cloud Striders moves out. The Chapter is particularly impressive is each Leader is some kind of half-Colossal. As she has been levelling up Tatiana skin has become increasingly blue noting her frost-giant heritage. Beside Tatiana is her cousin is a half-Abyssal just as tall as other Colossals her marking are distinct and eye-catching as they go all down her body. Thundering beside her is the heavily armoured sentient tree flok called Boa-bob, as a warden and a Half-Mtimkhulu he is a perfect synergy between race and class. Following closely behind is the shy and power half-Tano her form would put an amazon to shame. Slender, strong, and, sumptuous she is the picture of controlled power. Where Koraa is subtle and held back Azula is bodacious and her bust and hips protrude like any proud Titan female. 

With a powerful force following Tatiana leads them further North into the most dangerous side of the Island...