/Guildchat: Nix: Hyai, please check the guild roster against the noncombatants currently in Sea World.

Nix summoned Fey, then immediately drank his invisibility potion, and activated the icon before climbing on her back.

/Inferno: Nix: Junie I'll leave coordination of fighters to you. Remember that those five Matriarchs probably have at least 20 Sea-beasts they can summon.

Fey leaped into the air and started climbing rapidly.

[Command: Stealth]

Fey disappeared from sight.

/Inferno: Pon: Shit, a stealthed mount?

/Inferno: Filamina: The Souza Accord will hold the center, Junie.

/Inferno: Jun Li: Captain Wylie, I want you to shift west so you can protect the town if they decide to start destroying things.

/Inferno: Jun Li: Sharl, Banzi and I will hold the right side. DPS and casters will provide us with fire and heal support.

Nix was already high into the clouds when the first Aquarions were approaching the shore.

/Guildchat: Hyai: All non-combatants are accounted for Nix.

/Inferno: Pon: Sweet heavens. What is that thing?

/Inferno: Filamina: Careful Nix, that's a Manta Prime! It almost certainly has an ice attack.

The Manta in question was three times bigger than the standard white mantas. The Water Lord was standing majestically on its back. There were also two other passengers, both Matriarchs.

Nix leaned closer Fey's back and whispered. "Dive right at it, when we get close, show them your fire breath!"

Fey extended her wings and then banked into a dive. "What then?"

"Carpet bomb the enemy whenever you get the chance," Nix pulled his legs under him and crouched on his knees.

Shonie moved from her hiding spot behind the Kindled Spirit. When she heard the alert go off, she decided it was a good chance to complete her mission. Her guild master had sent her to Glory Island to scout out Inferno. No one really knew anything about them. Salamander regularly flamed them in the forums, but they couldn't be trusted. The Resolute Guild was looking for a strong, reliable ally, and the upstart Inferno guild was growing fast.

Shonie stealthed and climbed her way up to the roof of the inn, then she turned on 'Live Stream.'

At the same time in the Fire Palace, Shae sat unconcernedly on her Throne. Her acolytes were huddled around her looking worried. Dervi stood away from the rest, her Fire Staff was ready in her hand. "Highness... shouldn't we help them?"

Shae's light brown eyes stared at her Acolytes. "You aren't ready. I want you to move to the door and watch. You should have a nice view."

Fey steepened her dive, moving impossibly fast while Nix used his strands to anchor himself in place. The Prime never saw them coming. Thirty feet from their target she let the Manta have her flames at point-blank range.

[Fire Breathe]

Nix leaped from her back, hiding in the flames as he slung himself at the Water Lord.

[Aura Ignition]

The Water Lord used an instant shield to protect himself and the riders, but the Prime was heavily damaged. There was a flash of green just before Nix slammed into the trio. He wrapped his arms and legs around the stunned Lord as a half dozen emerald tentacles encircled each of the Matriarchs. The four of them bounced off the Manta and plummeted toward the ground. The painful shrieks of the Water Lord and his companions rose above the din of battle.

Fey banked away and immediately stealthed again. Nix had told her to stay at range with her AE attack, but first, she wanted to kill the Prime. She banked hard towards the wounded Manta. A near-deafening sound silenced the battlefield as Nix and the water creatures slammed into the ground, throwing a huge cloud of dust into the air.

*Water Lord Azure has been stunned*

*Matriach Sorba has been stunned*

*Matriarch Vel has been stunned*

Unseen in the dust-filled air, Nix locked a death grip on the Water Lord, using all of his strength he pulled and twisted the water creature's head while his legs were anchored around its waist. The Lord was not trying to fight back, his only concern was escaping. The two matriarchs were trapped in the emerald tentacles the smell of burnt flesh permeated the air as the Emerald flames continued to swirl around Nix. Finally, after several seconds Nix's aura finally burned out and he staggered to his feet.

[Combustion]

Nix's wounds began to heal, while the dust finally settled. The two matriarchs were charred to a crisp.

"Nix!" Filamina had run toward him after dealing with the last Matriarch. She came up short when he tossed something on the ground.

Nix smiled and drank a mana potion while kicking the object he had dropped. The Water Lord's head and several inches of vertebrae had been torn from its body. He booted the head toward the enemy line. "Fey!" He looked toward the air for his mount. "How many matriarchs are still alive Min?"

"None." Mina called one of her Vila and jumped nimbly on its back before riding back to her people.

/Inferno: Nix: They are retreating toward the eastern shore. Do not pursue.

/Inferno: Jun Li: We have them on the run Nix.

The Glory defenders had first taken out the manta mounts of the invaders, leaving them on foot. The Aquarions were in full retreat as they ran for the eastern coastline.

/Inferno: Nix: Now Delphi! FIRE!!

/Inferno: Jun Li: Fire?

A moment later the roar of hundreds of cannons brought everyone's attention to the east bay. The entire Glory fleet was present as their 56ers roared to life. They fleeing Aquarions had run straight into the lion's den. Cannon fire tore through the line, blasting through flesh and landscape while causing the ground to shake like thunder.

/Inferno: Wind: Holy shit...

/Inferno: Nix: One more round, then pursue and wipe out everything.

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

In the aftermath of the battle, Nix walked toward his Aquarion allies. They had taken much of the load during the fight. He could see that several of them were down. One of Mina's Vila was following him, "Did Mina assign you to protect me?" The vila just stared at him while shadowing his every step.

Mina was kneeling on the ground next to two of her allies, they had both died from their wounds. She stroked their pale faces while murmuring something quietly. Nix waited off to one side until she had finished.

"How many Min?"

Mina turned at his voice, "we lost two." Her pale features looked impossibly sad, she took a quick look around the battlefield before unsummoning her beasts.

Nix grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently. "What happened to the other three Matriarchs?"

"I killed them." Mina clung to his hand for a moment before stepping closer and embracing him.

Nix stroked her head softly, taking down three matriarchs by herself was impressive. "I'm glad you are okay."

/Inferno: Ronnie: Gross Wind... what is that thing?

/Inferno: Wind: It's the Water Lord's head. Going to have it made into a totem for the dock!

/Inferno: Jun Li: Casualty report, please.

/Inferno: Tess: All guild members have been rezzed. Two of our Aquarions friends have been killed.

/Inferno: Wylie: I lost four knights.

/Inferno: Rose: I rezzed Pon three times.

/Inferno: Pon: Why mention that?

/Guildchat: Nix: Non-combatants may return to Glory.

/Glory Island General chat: Nix: All visitors may return to the town area. Because of clean-up requirements, the Ferry will be leaving for the mainland in thirty minutes. No overnight guests will be allowed tonight. Thank you.

An hour later the members of Inferno and the Souza Accord were gathered on the beach in the Sea-World. Nix was sitting on the warm sand between Pon and Mina. Jun Li and Wind were seated across from them.

The old mage had wounded two of the matriarchs badly before their creatures had torn him apart. "Why are your Vilas so strong now Mina?"

"I put all of them through the companion trials at Dunham's Cove." Mina's voice was soft and low, it had been a while since she had lost anyone.

Nix had noticed that her Vila seemed heavily armored and quite a bit larger then he remembered. "That was good thinking Min."

"Why did an Aquarion force single us out?" Jun Li had been thinking about it since the battle ended. "We had just stopped a major offensive in Lohai and suddenly we are attacked?"

"Good question. Seems like it shouldn't be a coincidence." Nix opened the Island menu, the expansion had another hour left.

"It's because of us." Mina knew that sooner or later her people would come after them. Breaking off from established traditions wasn't allowed. The Souza Accord was the number one enemy of the Aquarion race. "I'm worried, next time the force could be much greater."

Nix nodded in agreement, "they didn't send enough. We should prepare a suitable reply."

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

Shonie stood at the rail of the ferry as it left Glory island. She had wanted to stay and speak with the Inferno leaders, but she understood the need for recovery. She had streamed the entire event, the forums were lighting up in response to the short but very decisive battle. The Aquarion assault force should have been more than enough to pillage Glory island, the reality was something completely different. Glory was a haven for hidden powerhouses, the Nemesis that protects the island didn't even bother to come out.

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

Over the next four weeks, Glory would continue to grow. The guild city had been upgraded shortly after the eastern expansion had finished. A few days after that, Nix had used his upgrade token to upgrade it to level three. Level three Cities came with wall options and cannon emplacements. More shops applied to come to the island, these were carefully perused by Semmi before being handpicked.

Inferno would continue to make small excursions into Mermaid City. Shae would finish another month of Fire-based gear, with this it was decided that it was time to advance their Mermaid City mission.

The officers of Inferno had set up two important appointments. One was to meet with the leadership of a guild called Resolute. The other was a highly secretive meeting with the Kingdoms of Neptia, Valis, Trifelez, and Berma. Only Nix and Jun Li knew what their agenda was.