By the time Nix arrived back at the Inn a few minutes later, Gideon was sitting quietly with Rhy and Shae. The guild leader of Salamander seemed very pleased to see him and shook his hand excitedly.

"I'm glad to finally have found you, Nix!"

Nix grinned slyly, "the stowaway makes an appearance."

Shae welcomed him with a hug, holding onto his hand after she released him. "How'd it go?"

Nix glanced at Rhy, his face free of expression. "Bad. There are lots of Air and Water Elementals that have already been drained of their essence."

Rhy's dark eyes stared at him. "Is Wilo one of them?"

Nix nodded slowly. "I think so. I didn't find her corpse, but the receiving crystal gave me an indication that her essence has already been drained and stored."

Rhy's eyes shone with emotion; she paused for a long moment. "Whatever you need, Nix, we have to set this right."

"Thanks... It's bad, but I haven't given up on her yet." Nix smiled encouragingly, "we may still turn things around before it's all said and done."

The silence went on for nearly a minute before Shae gestured to Gideon. "He picked up the Wood Element."

Nix studied the assassin carefully. Gideon seemed the same, but the proof was his presence in Elementia. "You followed us through the tunnel."

"I did," Gideon admitted.

"Good. I'm going to need your help." Nix patted him on the back. "You took a risk; truthfully, I like things like that. Taking chances often times yields unexpected results.

Gideon's thoughts moved back toward Artemis, the overly friendly Goddess of the Woods. "You got that right."

Nix brought out three Orion puppets and sat them on the bed. "We're going to need Inferno's strongest elementals. I need names."

Shae and Rhy glanced at each other. "Pon," they both spoke at the same time.

Nix nodded. "Yep, Pon, the Magnificent is on the list. Keep going, need four or five more."

Shae pursed her lips as she considered the options. "Fajii, Milat, and Mina."

Rhy nodded in agreement. "Ronnie isn't far behind them."

"I need Ronnie actually, so let's include her. Is Nether considered an Element?"

"Yes, it is." Shae's warm brown eyes showed her amusement. "Finally going to expose your trump card?"

Nix frowned at the redhaired Salamander. "Who says I have a trump card?"

"Don't you?" She replied.

Nix didn't answer, but instead took a seat on the floor. "I'm going to need everyone's armor."

Shae clapped her hands excitedly. "You learned some new stuff!"

Nix laughed at her expression. "Maybe."

A few moments later, three separate sets of armor were laid on the floor in front of him. Shae was leaning over him, her red hair falling against the back of his neck. "Do me first!"

"Um... Some space Shae." Nix examined the three different armors. He'd already worked with Nether Breaker Armor when he did Bali's.

Nether Breaker Armor: Leather

+100 to all Stats

+2000 to AC

Immune to Nether Effects

Immune to Control Effects

Dark Wind [Air Only: Growth Type]

+ 500 to Air Abilities.

+ 500 to Flight Speed.

+ 200 to all Stats.

+ 1000 AC.

Special Effect: Nether Wind.

Fire Archon [Shae Only: Growth Type]

All Fire Abilities are doubled.

+300 to all Stats.

+3000 AC.

+ 500 to Mana Regeneration.

+ 500 to Health Regeneration.

Nix shook his head at the Archon Armor. "This is really good. Going to put a Camo-Overlay, then on to the good stuff." Nix started the queue while the three other occupants moved away and pretended they weren't staring.

[Shae] [Camo-Overlay] [Camoflauge Fabric V] [ Fire Archon Armor] [ Ice Dragon Leather] [Lamia Leather] [Black Orion Puppet]

Nix studied the Overlay queue. "Sorry, Shae, but I'm going to enhance your Fire Armor with some Ice Dragon leather."

Shae smiled widely from the other side of the room. "Whatever you think is best, Nix."

Nix studied the layout for another moment and then selected the Craft Icon.

[Critical Crafting x2]

Archon Emperess: Shape Shifter Set [Shae Only: Growth Type]

Description: This armor is the [Archon Emperess]

Orion Shape-Shifting Set.

All ambient sound

within one meter of the wearer is

completely suppressed.

All Fire Abilities are doubled.

+500 to all Stats.

+5000 AC.

+ 1000 to Mana Regeneration.

+ 1000 to Health Regeneration.

+300 to Speed.

+200 to Lightning Resistance.

Enhancement: Complete Camouflage

is activated at will.

Enhancement: A poison counter is added to

each successful attack.

Bonus: Wearer is Immune to Poison

Bonus: Wearer is Immune to Ice Damage

Special Effect: [Ice Breath]

Nix set up the next queue and activated the crafting icon.

[Gideon] [Camo-Overlay] [Camoflauge Fabric V] [ Nether Breaker Armor] [Ice Dragon Leather] [Lamia Leather] [Black Orion Puppet]

[Critical Bonus] [Phase Shifter]

Forest Stalker: Shape Shifter Set

Description: This armor is the [Forest Stalker]

Orion Shape-Shifting Set. [Gideon only]

All ambient sound

within one meter of the wearer is

completely suppressed.

+ 3000 to Armor Class

+ 200 to all Base Stats.

+200 to Speed.

+ 200 Poison Resistance

+200 to Lightning Resistance.

Enhancement: Complete Camouflage

is activated at will.

Enhancement: A poison counter is added to

each successful attack.

Bonus: Wearer is Immune to Ice Damage

Immune to Nether Effects

Immune to Control Effects

Special Effect: [Phase Shifter]

Nix glanced up at the excited faces. "Gotta wait until everyone is done."

[Rhylia] [Camo-Overlay] [Camoflauge Fabric V] [ Dark Wind Armor] [Ice Dragon Leather] [Lamia Leather] [Black Orion Puppet]

He took one last look at the queue and then activated it.

[Critical Crafting]

Shadow Raptor: Shape Shifter Set [Rhylia: Growth Type]

Description: This armor is the [Shadow Raptor]

Orion Shape-Shifting Set. [Rhylia only]

All ambient sound

within one meter of the wearer is

completely suppressed.

+ 750 to Air Abilities.

+ 750 to Flight Speed.

+ 300 to all Stats.

+ 3000 AC.

Enhancement: Complete Camouflage

is activated at will.

Enhancement: A poison counter is added to

each successful attack.

Bonus: Wearer is Immune to Ice Damage

Bonus: Wearer is Immune to Poison

Special Effect: Nether Wind

Nix nodded in satisfaction and then handed the armor back to their respective owners. "The three of you will be the assassin team. Your mission is simple; Kill Bhalachi, the Ice Nemesis."

Shae activated the shapeshifting armor and morphed into a black Orion feline. "You can add shapeshifting to armor sets?"

Nix nodded and took note that Shae's Orion was quite large. "The Orion is an ice creature. It has thermal vison, ice immunity, and enhanced Speed. It's the perfect form for hunting an Ice Nemesis."

Gideon whistled softly and then activated his shapeshifter set. He stalked across the room to stand in front of Nix. "What's the plan?"

"We're going back to the control room. I'm going to take control of the city, while the three of you wait for the Nemesis to make an appearance."

Rhy finally gave in to the temptation and activated her shapeshifter set. The black feline rubbed her head against Nix's leg like a four hundred pound house cat. "Then what?"

"Shut down the Earth Sentries, gather our team, and go from there."

Shae changed back into her human form and sat on the edge of the bed. "How long will it take you?"

Nix shrugged. "No more than a few minutes. However, when the Guards go down, you can bet that the Bhalachi will make an appearance."

Rhy chose this moment to change also and sat next to Shae on the bed. "How is this city operating?"

"I'm missing a piece of that puzzle, but I can say that Hierophant may be dead, but he has enough bone marrow left to supply the city with its basic needs."

Gideon was the last to change back; he was smiling widely at the three Inferno members. "This is the kind of stuff you guys do? From now on, I want in!"

Nix let his expression become serious. "You three are to remain stealthed until the Ice Nemesis appears. No matter what."

Shae nodded. "Understood."

****************

Ten minutes later, the stealthed group arrived back at the lumpy Black Ice barrier. Nix entered the same way he had before and then waited until the rest of the group entered before he closed it up.

"No more talking from here on. Gather next to the dragon corpse and wait." Nix approached the city interface and opened it up.

[Dyrekstad System Operations]

1. Security

2. Power Grid

3. Transportation

4. Master Key.

Nix was already comfortable using the dragon city interfaces. "Display all sub-menus.

[Dyrekstad System Operations]

1. Security

a) City Controller (Hierophant)

b) City Shields (Disabled)

c) City Gating Privileges (Disabled)

d) Earth Sentry Company (Enabled)

2. Power Grid

a) City Utilities Power

b) Greater House Power (Disabled)

c) Residential Power

d) Business District Power

3. Transportation

a) Mark V Thrusters (Disabled)

b) Orbital Stabilizers (Disabled)

c) City Levitators (Disabled)

4. Master Key.

a) Annonymous (Disabled)

b) Intercity Communication (Disabled)

c) Direct Control (Disabled)

d) City Links (Disabled)

"Open Security Interface, City Controller."

[Dyrekstad System Operations]

1. Security

a) City Controller (Hierophant)

b) City Shields (Disabled)

c) City Gating Privileges (Disabled)

d) Earth Sentry Company (Enabled)

Dyrekstad City Key is not present.

Inferno Master Key override is in effect.

[A message has been sent to Hierophant regarding your actions. He has three minutes to answer.]