Phoenix Phire

/Trials: Nix: Don't CC anything on the platform, we'll use it to drop AoEs.

/Trials: Jun Li: Incoming Northside.

Five scorpion hybrids charged forward. Their lower half resembled a large, black scorpion, but the top was a human torso complete with arms and head.

Nix has initiated [Daisy Chain].

Lightning flashed and all five mobs froze in place.

/Trials: Nix: Grabbing one.

A half dozen strands encircled the nearest hybrid, Nix yanked backward and the scorpion landed on the platform in front of them.

Morti's big paw swatted the human head, resulting in the creature being spun around.

A scorpion hybrid has been stunned.

Ducky has established [Perfect Domain].

/Inferno: Ducky: For the next ten minutes, I'll bring them up one at a time.

Jun Li circled behind the hybrid and attacked its armored carapace.

Jun Li has attacked with [Gladiator's Thorn]

Jun Li has landed a significant strike.

[Dual Chain: Slashing Blades: Nix].

Nix has followed up Jun Li's attack with a significant strike.

[Dual Chain: First Strike: Jun Li]

Jun Li has followed up Nix's attack with a significant strike.

Morti reared back on his hind legs and slammed both paws down on the target, the carapace cracked open with a noise that sounded like a gunshot.

A Scorpion hybrid has been mortally wounded.

A Scorpion hybrid has been slain.

Ducky beckoned the next one with her finger, obediently it hopped on the stage.

The trials group burned through the first wave and then the next one. On the third wave, the first-named opponent spawned, along with a dozen trash mobs.

/Trials: Ducky: Leave the named for me.

/Trials: Nix: Got it.

After getting their feet wet with the first few waves, the group decided to push things along. Nix wrapped up two mobs in emerald strands and slammed them onto the platform next to Morti.

[Ducky has charmed Ripsaw the Scorman Sniper].

[Titan's Challenge] All opponents must attack Mortimer for the next sixty seconds.

The Titan cub sat on his large behind and started swatting everything that approached, Nix used his strands to pull mobs towards Jun Li where they would finish them off before Morti had a chance to launch them off the platform.

/Trials: Nix: Let Morti take the load for a while, he's getting bored fighting singles.

"Take a paw!" Every swipe Morti took resulted in the target being tossed in the air like a ragdoll. The Titan cub gave a running commentary as he swatted non-stop through the next two waves. "Here's one for you... Ooo. Left paw..."

/Trials: Lucid: This is crazy, I haven't had to heal him once.

/Trials: Nix: Morti's tanked dragons, handfuls of garbage mobs are like dried leaves to him.

After six waves, a brief lull in the action allowed the group time to catch their breath. Lucid made a good impression on both Jun Li and Nix.

/Inferno: Jun Li: We should recruit Lucid. With that carapace armor, she's more like a paladin than a cleric.

/Inferno: Nix: I'm not against it. We can chat with her after.

Morti was still sitting on his behind. After several minutes of multiple groups, he was panting a bit. "We done? Where's the big boss?"

Lucid was maintaining her place directly behind the Titan cub. "Not quite yet. Thank you for your hard work."

Morti turned his big head toward the scorpion. "I like your pincers."

"Thank you, Morti." Lucid's voice was filled with humor.

[Ducky's charm has been removed]

Ripsaw the Scorman Sniper has been augmented

Ripsaw the Scorman Sniper has activated [One-Shot]

Morti moved between Ripsaw and the Sniper, the shot impacted the thick hide of the Titan, taking away a chunk of his health.

Jun Li looked around the area. "What's going on?"

Ducky's blue eyes were scanning the skies. "There!"

Nix has activated [Dragoneyes].

A blueish humanoid creature with long elegant wings glided in circles overhead. Nix swore under his breath, they didn't possess any real ranged damage. "What is that Ducky?'

The Water Witch shook her head. "It's a water creature, almost looks like a Nereid, but they don't have wings and are usually female."

/Trials: Nix: Kill the sniper, then we'll worry about the Nereid.

A dozen strands of emerald flames pierced the sniper's chest.

Seyath the Nerrialle has cast [Wings of Woe]

Jun Li has resisted Woe.

Nix has resisted Woe.

Morti is immune to control effects.

Lucid is immune to control effects.

[First Strike] Jun Li had landed a critical strike on Ripsaw the Scorman Sniper.

[Critical Chain: Execution] Nix has followed up Jun Li's attack with a significant strike.

[Dual Chain: Double Strike] Jun Li has followed up Nix's attack with a significant strike.

[True Shot] Ducky has landed a critical strike on Seyath the Nerrialle.

Nix used his blade to sweep the back of the sniper's legs, as soon as he went down Morti reared back and slammed him with both paws.

Ripsaw the Scorman Sniper has been crippled.

[Finishing Blow] Jun Li has landed a significant strike on Ripsaw the Scorman Sniper.

Ripsaw the Scorman Sniper has been slain.

Nix frowned at the flier circling overhead. Ducky had her silver bow out and was plinking away. Mostly she missed, but every once in a while, she would hit her target.

/Trials: Jun Li: Damn. Can we even kill that thing?

/Trials: Nix: I'll bring it down.

/Trials: Jun Li: How? Your strands won't reach that high.

Nix has activated an innate ability. [Phoenix: Totem Enhanced]

The screeching cry of a predator filled the air, as the air around the group superheated to an uncomfortable level.

The red-orange bird flapped its wings, slowly gaining altitude while the sky around it burned. The effect on the Nerrialle was instant, the water creature went into full retreat.

Nix has activated [Flaming Arrows]

Nix has landed a critical hit on Seyath the Nerrialle.

Nix has landed a critical hit on Seyath the Nerrialle.

Nix has landed a critical hit on Seyath the Nerrialle.

The Phoenix banked and came around for another attack, it was obviously much faster than the larger water creature.

Jun Li watched the rain of fire that seemed to instantly encompass the Nerrialle. She almost felt pity for the water creature who was doing everything it could to escape.

Nix has cast. [Rend]

Seyath the Nerrialle's wings have been damaged, his flying speed has been slowed by forty percent

/Trials: Ducky: Can you stop attacking for a moment Nix?

/Trials: Nix: Huh?

/Trials: Ducky: He wants to give up.

Jun Li shook her head slightly. "Give up? We're in a trial."

/Trials: Lucid: As long as we can finish the trial, I am okay with it.

The Phoenix landed a few meters away from the group. Nix understood that the heat from the Phoenix was uncomfortably hot. "Sorry, I don't have perfect control over these flames yet."

A few moments later the Nerrialle landed, his beautiful blue feathers were scorched in several places. He bore a notable resemblance to the Arch Wings.

Morti put himself between the Nerrialle and Lucid while both Jun Li and Ducky closed in.

/Trials: Nix: Our first priority is Lucid finishing.

Seyath the Nerrialle has offered you a [Spirit Bond]

Nix shook his head. "No. I cannot accept." Instead, he pointed to Jun Li and motioned for her to come forward.

/Trials: Nix: Want another spirit companion Junie? It looks like he's the CC type, I think it has two elements; Water and Air.

/Trials: Jun Li: A CC companion would be nice.

Seyath the Nerrialle has offered Jun Li a [Spirit Bond].

A thing glowing web appeared between Seyath and Jun Li, it brightened for a moment and then faded completely away.

[Scorpion Trial of the First has been completed]

The air around Lucid grew heavy as her carapace darkened substantially and her size increased by nearly a third.

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

/Inferno: Semmi: You guys win?

/Inferno: Ducky: Yes.

/Inferno: Chiba: I expected nothing less from a group that Nix is in.

/Inferno: Wind: What's that blue feathered thing following you?

/Inferno: Ducky: That's Seyath. He likes being called Seya. He was the boss in the last wave.

/Inferno: Semmi: And instead of killing him, you thought you'd bring him back?

/Inferno: Nix: Yep.

/Inferno: Jun Li: Pretty much.

/Inferno: Semmi: Both the wolf and the lion trials are already completed. Tautius has asked that we join him when the last trial is complete.

[Whisper: Nix to Jun Li] We should be cautious about bringing Seyath to Haven until we understand him more.

[Whisper: Jun Li to Nix] I agree. Doesn't it seem like our trial was too easy? One boss in the last wave? Not even a very strong one.

[Whisper: Nix to Jun Li] Don't complain about things being easy...

[Whisper: Jun Li to Nix] Right.