Phoenix Phire

Chapter 97 - Mystery Map (part Two)

Tess stepped behind Mori, both her hands glowing with purifying white light.

[Holy Ward]

A holy light envelops Mortimer

Morti slammed a big paw into an Undead soldier that was digging his way out of the ground, its entire upper half was torn away and turned into a projectile.

[Turn Undead]

A Zombie Archer has been laid to rest.

/Inferno: Jun Li: Damn, Tess is our only true cleric. All other healers focus on keeping Tess and Morti alive!

Nix raised both hands, a dozen strands shot out and locked down a half dozen undead.

/Inferno: Semmi: Skellies coming your way guys. Dozens of them!

[Turn Undead]

An Aquarion Risen has been laid to rest.

Tess stayed behind Morti, tossing her Turn Undead spell whenever she got the chance. She shouted at her guildies. "Skeletons are immune to fire but weak to blunt force! Swat them down Morti!"

"Yeah! It's swatting time!" The big bear rumbled but sat on his big butt and starting swiping at everything with his enormous reach. Each blow of his huge paws creating bone dust as he laid waste to them.

Nix put his hilt away and charged in also, his fists blurring as he crushed skulls and collapsed ribcages. The fight went on for several minutes with Morti taking the lion's share and Nix backing him up. The rest of the melee fighters fought on the fringes making sure they weren't surrounded.

The tide of skellies continued, but they were unable to overrun Inferno. Finally, the battle started to lessen, Nix was flashing from fight to fight, making sure to cover Morti's openings.

[Leviathan Speed Buff is in effect: Extended Fight]

Darkness formed on the backside of the enemy line, a black cloud that swirled with evil. Two glowing red eyes stared at the group, his head thrown back as a burst of evil laughter caused everyone to look up. A giant robed skeleton with a black crown stepped from the cloud.

/Jun Li: Lich King! Leave him to Morti!

"LICH KING?" Morti roared in anger and charged the undead being. Although the Lich was seven feet tall, he was dwarfed by the Cave Bear.

[Absolute Challenge]

All nearby enemies must attack Mortimer for the next 90 seconds.

Nix followed close behind the charging bear, the Lich seemed to vanish for a moment and then reappeared with a black scythe that sucked the light out of the air and cast a shadow over both of them.

[Dwell in Darkness]

Mortimer is immune to Curses.

Nix has been cursed. All stats have been decreased by half.

Nix has been snared.

Nix has been slowed.

Nix raised his hands and a dozen emerald strands landed on the weapon, the tremendous strength of the Lich King dragged him across the rocky soil despite Nix digging his heels in.

[Holy Touch]

Saintess has cured you of all dark curses.

/Inferno: Tess: Get me an opening!

With his curse lifted, Nix's strength surged again and he yanked the scythe to one side, off-balancing the Lich King. Morti reared back on his hind legs and slammed two huge paws into the ground.

[Ground Pounder]

Lich King Navi has been stunned.

Tess slid between Morti and Nix, the two of them moving to one side as she closed in with both hands glowing.

[Turn Undead]

Lich King Navi is too high a level to be slain by Turn Undead.

Lich King Navi has been critically injured!

Mortimer's gigantic jaws clamped on the scythe, the two of them managed to wrest it from the Lich's grasp.

/Inferno: Semmi: The red stone on his weapon, it's his Phylactery! Shatter it!

Nix dropped his strands and raised the weapon high over his head, he slammed the crystal onto the ground. A blinding flash of red saw Nix blown sideways.

You have been slain.

"NO!" The Lich King screamed in agony, a black fire erupted from his dark robes and started to consume him. "I'll take your corpse!" He started raising arms while moving toward Nix, a moment later a giant black form descended on him.

[Lich King Navi has been slain]

Morti snuffed the air but didn't move. The Lich's skeletal arms and legs could be seen sticking out from beneath Morti's butt.

/Inferno: Jun Li: That's a new one.

[Ressurection]

Saintess has offered to resurrect you. Do you accept it?

"Yep."

Nix walked over to his own corpse and looted it first before turning back to Morti. "Awesome job Morti."

"Are you okay?" The big brown eyes were filled with worry. "My abilities were on cooldown, so I sat on him."

Nix laughed at the broken mess that the Lich King had become, Morti was definitely not a lightweight. "Get up so we can loot him."

"Okay." Morti moved to one side and sat down once again.

/Inferno: Nix: Don't drop your guard.

Nix bent down and placed a hand on the Lich King.

[A tiny spark of black fire still exists. Do you wish to preserve it?]

"Yes."

You have received the crystal of Necrofire.

You have received the key to the Death Temple.

You have received the Grim Reaper. (Broken)

You have received the Support Skill: Darkness (Rating Cost 5)

/Inferno: Jun Li: Woah, I've never heard of that one. Link everything Nix.

/Inferno: Nix: Sure, take a look.

Necrofire: Crystal

Description: A fire

that steals life force, handle

with care.

Portkey: Death Temple

Gain Access to the Death Temple

on Mystery Island.

Grim Reaper: Scythe

Description: An over-powered

edge weapon, unfortunately, it's

broken. Only the handle still throbs

with dark power.

Darkness: Scroll

Type: Support Skill

Description: Use of Scroll and

gain the Darkness skill.

(Rating: 5)

/Inferno: Nix: Anyone interested in the Crystal? If not I'll take it back for Shae to examine.

/Inferno: Semmi: Darkness is likely to be some sort of Crowd Control skill right?

/Inferno: Jun Li: Could be...

/Inferno: Nix: That would be my guess. Any takers?

/Inferno: Semmi: My stealth takes up too many points, I can't afford it.

/Inferno: Ronnie: Too creepy for me.

/Inferno: Nix: I don't need another CC.

/Inferno: Jun Li: I'll take it.

Nix tossed the dead blade, there was nothing special about it. He held the broken handle in his hands.

/Inferno: NIx: It's powerful, I can feel it.

/Inferno: Jun Li: Sure... but it's broken.

Nix gripped the handle tightly and cleared his mind, focusing on the emerald flames he pushed the green flame toward his hands. After a few deep breaths, an emerald green flame blade emerged from the handle with an evil hiss.

/Inferno: Semmi: Careful Nix.

Nix let it flame out and quickly stowed it away.

/Inferno: Nix: Okay, Zhava and Semmi, find us something to explore. We'll stay here for now, although it feels too exposed.

Morti lay down while they waited, Nix leaning heavily on him while they talked quietly. "I did good right boss?"

"You were very fierce Morti, everyone thinks so."

Morti laid his head down and closed his eyes. "That was very tiring... Wake me if I need to swat stuff Nix."

Nix used his fingers to scratch the soft fur on the back of Morti's head. "A short nap will do you good."

A few minutes later the scouting team reported in.

/Inferno: Semmi: There's a platform here with a triangular-shaped door. The message says it requires a portkey.

/Inferno: Nix: What about the corpses?

/Inferno: Semmi: Still lots of them, nothing is moving around though.

/Inferno: Ronnie: I'm going to stick close to Morti until we leave this place.

/Inferno: Nix: We're on our way.

NIx and Morti led the way to the spot the scouting team marked on the map. Ronnie was sitting on the bear's very wide back, both of them seemed to be enjoying it quite a bit.

Semmi and Zhava were waiting patiently on the raised stone platform when the main body of Inferno caught up with them.

On the platform was an enormous stone triangle, a few feet off the ground Nix could see a slot for the portkey.

/Inferno: Nix: Everyone get up on the platform, please.

Without waiting any further, Nix inserted the portkey. Immediately their world flip-flopped in darkness, a moment later they were standing in a circle of lit torches.

"Guests? Welcome then." A soft, but masculine voice spoke from a large throne overlooking the courtyard that they were standing in. A dozen undead denizens held up torches all around them. "Please feel at home. You are never leaving this place."