n

n

nGideon swore under his breath.

"The city has been taken over by an Ice Nemesis named Bhalachi?

"

nArtemis nodded.

"The earth spirits that serve as city guards are a hold-over from Hierophant, the Earth Dragon.

"

n

"F*ck.

" Gideon knew that if Nix were here, he'd know exactly what all of this meant.

"How does Bhalachi control the Earth Spirits?

"

nArtemis shrugged her bare shoulders.

"I was invited here by Hierophant many years ago. He gave me dominion over these woods. Although, as you've seen, the occasional straggler from the city does make their way here.

"

n

"I need to enter the city.

" Gideon kept his face expressionless; without a doubt, she held the key to getting him in.

nArtemis's lips curved into a slight smile.

"You would join your friend's battle? From what you've said, he had been brought here to deal with things.

"

nGideon nodded in agreement.

"I would.

"

n

"The Ice Nemesis in charge of the city represents a danger to my woods. He often sends his minions here to test me.

"

nGideon did his best not to cringe when she cupped his face gently and kissed his forehead.

nYou have received the blessing of Artemis, Goddess of Wood.

nYou have learned Binding Barbs.

nBinding Barbs Wood Multiple targets up to 5.

nDescription: Barbed vines wrap around your target,

nholding them at bay.

nDuration: 45 seconds. Cooldown: 2 minutes.

nYou have learned Thorn Armor.

nThorn Armor Wood Self-Only.

nDescription: Deadly thorns erupt

nfrom your armor, causing your enemy

ndamage when they land a strike against

nyou.

nDuration: Unlimited.

nYou have learned Wild Nectar.

nWild Nectar Wood Self-Only.

nYour attack rating is increased by

n200. Your health and mana regeneration

nis increased by 20 percent.

nGideon waited until she stepped away before sighing in relief.

"Thank you, Artemis.

"

nArtemis handed him a small package wrapped in a giant leaf.

"As your strength grows, you will continue to unlock new abilities.

"

nYou have received the Cloak of the Forest.

nCloak of the Forest: Wood Element only.

nDescription: A shimmering cloak that blends

nin perfectly with your surroundings.

n 1000 Ac.

n 200 to ATK rating.

n 50 to All Stats.

nEnhancements: First Strike.

nEnhancements: Perfect Camouflage.

nYou have earned a New Title: Forest Assassin.

nForest Assassin

nDescription: All combat in

nwooded areas double your

nchances to score a critical hit.

nBonus: 100 to Dagger skill. Off-hand damage

npenalties are eliminated.

nArtemis lay her hand on his head.

"Go now; none shall bar your way.

"

n****************

nAfter meeting up with Shae and Rhy, Nix decided to skip the safe house and do some scouting. The trio walked cautiously down the streets of Elementia.

nThe Northwest section of the city was barricaded by a wall of Ice that sealed off any entrants, except for those willing to walk through a stout looking command station. It was a two-story building made from white stone. Two guards with ranged weapons stood on top, carefully watching anyone that would approach.

nDirectly across from the station was the Tempered Blade, one of Elementia's Inns. Although the same Inn was in the exact place in every Dragon City Nix had been in, he noted that this was substantially bigger at five stories.

nThey rented a room with a view of the station and studied the layout of the Northwest sector.

nRhy took a few minutes to form an air barrier that would stop anyone from listening in; when she finished, she took a seat on the edge of the rooms only bed.

"Thank you for coming, Nix.

"

nShae didn't bother to hide the pleased look on her face.

"I can't even say how happy I am that you are here.

"

nNix gave them a deadpan look.

"Wait... Does this mean you guys aren't paying me?

"

nShae nodded.

"No payment.

"

n

"None,

" Rhy agreed.

nNix made a face at them and continued.

"I'll have to get into the Infusing chamber. I'm fairly certain that all of the Earth Spirits are the product of animation.

"

nRhy glanced out the window; two of them were in view.

"Why?

"

n

"They're exactly the same, as a Taxidermist and an Animator, I recognize that they're made from the same template. It's really advanced, though, far greater than anything I could do.

"

nShae pursed her lips while she considered the theory.

"How are they all Earth spirits? The resources needed for something like that seems a bit...

"

n

"Incredibly vast? Yeah, I'm not sure yet how it's being done.

" Nix took a seat in the rooms only chair and leaned back against the desk.

"Most of the Dragon Masters from the fallen cities had some sort of exit strategy in mind. Hierophant obviously brought Dyrekstad into this seed world; it seems like he was one of the smart dragons.

"

nShae watched him; she could see that he was planning something.

"I don't like you going in there alone.

"

n

"Scouting mission only Shae, when I get the information I need, I'll return so we can plan an assault.

"

nRhy stood and walked toward him, her hand held out.

"Take this. It will help you find Wilo if you get close.

"

nNix took the small jewel in his hand. It was small and round like a marble, inside was the tiny image of a city. It reminded him of the snowglobes his mother use to collect when he was younger.

"What's this?

"

nRhy smiled fondly.

"Wilo makes them and gives them to her friends. She uses a tiny bit of her Air essence to make these. This is one of three.

"

nNix held it up to his eye.

"She made this? Who has the other two?

"

nShae nodded in reply.

"Ronnie and King Lubo.

"

nNix did a double-take.

"The King?

"

n********************

nA few minutes later, Nix engaged his stealth package and slipped out of the room. He approached the command station cautiously; there was no guessing what sort of anti-trespassing devices the guards might have. Hierophant had obviously upgraded quite a few of the options. Somehow he must have tied in the guards to the City Security Menu.

nHe slipped through without any concerns, he no longer needed to sneak since his Netherbreak Armor had been upgraded with the sound suppression camouflage. A large wall hid the spot where the entrance gate was located, the gate itself was removed and replaced with a black ice barrier.

n

"Shit.

" Nix already knew how black Ice worked but didn't really have a quiet option for cracking it open.

nForced to pause, Nix considered the issue. Sonics turned Ice into black Ice, so the person who cast the black ice barrier most likely had a second element.

nNix focused on Wrath and pushed Air into it.

nSpellsword Ability Unlocked: Sonic Blade

nNix pressed the tip of the blade against the barrier, cringing at the loud noise it made as he pushed quickly through. One slash and he stepped in, the long ramp down to the Infusion chamber would have been dark had he not possessed thermal vision. The floors and walls of the corridor were much warmer than the Air inside of it; the effect made it look like a summer day to Nix's sight.

nHe took a few seconds to close the hole he made in the barrier; it was a regular ice patch; if someone came down, they'd notice immediately. He pushed Ice into Wrath until the black Ice blade emerged, then he lay it against the patched barrier and concentrated on feeding more Ice through the blade.

nThe end result after several tries ended up looking like a block of lumpy black Ice, from a casual glance it would pass inspection.

nThe temperature in the corridor dropped several degrees as Nix made his way down the ramp, he swore under his breath when he saw the first of the bodies.

nThey were laid out in two parallel rows. A long tendril, slightly thicker than Nix's arm, ran the length of the rows on both sides. Each body was connected to the tendril by the smallest of threads, some of the threads were bright, while others were dim. As he walked down the line, it was evident that the dark strands were connected to corpses.

nHe lengthened his stride and then broke into a run, at the end of the two rows were two enormous crystals, the two tendrils were obviously siphoning into them. Nix could feel the presence of Air in the nearer crystal.

nA glance up the line showed bodies too large to belong to Wilo. Nix took out the 'snowglobe' and held it in the Air; it pulsed slightly when pressed against the large air crystal.

"F*ck... I'm too late.

"

nWhisper: Gideon to Nix Are you in Elementia Nix?

nWhisper: Nix to Gideon Gideon? The hell are you doing here?

nWhisper: Gideon to Nix I've come to help.

nWhisper: Nix to Gideon I could use some help.

nNix's glance fell on the Interface and then to the raised platform where a long-dead dragon corpse was still present. Hierophant must have brought the city to his seed world while he still possessed a reasonable amount of strength. A plan started to form in his head.

nWhisper Nix to Gideon Report to the Tempered Blade, Rhy and Shae are in room 308. I'll be there in a few minutes.

nA quick glance at the Interface told him when he needed to know. The city was operating in preprogrammed mode; they probably didn't have the Dyrekstad Master Key.

nWhisper Nix to Shae On my way back, Gideon is here and will be helping us.

nWhisper: Shae to Nix Really? How did he get in?

nWhisper: Nix to Shae No idea. This operation requires more people. I'm going to need Leva, Ronnie, and of course, the King.

nNix gathered his thoughts as he made his way back to the Inn. They'd have to move fast.

n