Alpha team waited patiently in the holding area as the match between Dotha and Lariat was underway. Una and Raine were both fawning over the awesomeness of the King, while the rest of the group watched the fight. Almost immediately, the Dotha Team lost one of their sword experts.

Chiba frowned slightly when Milamber appeared a few meters away, but she didn't look at him. The holding area was separated into four sections by an energy barrier; this kept teams from fighting between matches.

"Ellisand?" A male voice called over from the Dotha area.

Unexpectedly the old fire mage answered. "The fuck do you want?"

Wind shook his head at the sword user. "You lasted nearly a minute. Impressive work..."

Nix smiled at his teammates, Chiba was an odd duck, but she was their duck. He squeezed her hand and motioned toward Milamber. "Who's this clown, Master Chiba?"

Chiba shrugged slightly. "Not really sure, ignore him Apprentice, and focus on those still fighting."

Nix nodded and immediately returned his attention back to the two teams, still fighting.

"Chiba..." A cruel laugh escaped the Dotha swordmaster. "Wasn't that the name of that mutt I killed?"

Pon moved to the edge of the containment area, his old face pressed close to the energy barrier. "Why the fuck are you yapping, little dog?" He glanced over his shoulder toward Wind and used two fingers to flash the 'L' sign at Milamber. "Remind me what this means again? LOO..."

"SUH..." Wind finished before the pair started laughing.

Milamber scowled unhappily, his face darkening as two of his more of his team joined him in the holding area.

Pon shook his head sadly. "Too bad, little dog. It appears that being pathetic is contagious."

Wind nodded sagely. "Good luck in the next round."

/Alpha: Una: They held back too much, and it backfired.

/Alpha: Nix: The Necromancer didn't really do anything. I need to get a message to Ronnie.

/Alpha: Pon: We win the next round, and we'll be in the finals tomorrow.

Nix brought up the guild interface and quickly sent a written message to Ronnie.

Ronnie,

I need some intel on Necromancers, specifically what kind of uses they may have for a dragon body. There's something odd going on, but I'm not sure what.

Nix.

/Alpha: Nix: Do you think Dotha plans on becoming a dragon?

/Alpha: Una: I'm not sure. Necromancers generally have no tolerance for the living. It's not like he can enslave the dragon bodies and turn them undead.

Alpha team watched as Lariat dismantled what was left of Dotha and advanced to the next round.

/Alpha: Una: We face Lariat in the next round, and Hades will take on Team Dotha. Here's the scouting report for Dragon Spawn Lariat's team.

Hilo: Ranged DPS: Ranger

Buchot: Melee DPS: Rogue

Visa: Healer/Tank: Dark Knight

Goth: DPS: Fire Mage

Viceroy: Tank: Guardian

Lariat: CC: Wood Elemental/Fire

/Alpha: Nix: Don't show anything this round that you didn't do last time. We win this match, and we'll end up fighting someone we've already beaten once.

/Alpha: Pon: I love this kind of shit. No matter what, I'm starting some fires in the finals.

/Alpha: Una: The Dark Knight is an off-tank class that heals by siphoning life from their target. They can redirect the stolen life to their team.

/Alpha: Cheap bastards...

/Alpha: Nix: Yep. Let's change things up and get that CC out of there right away. Chiba and Pon can distract the Tank. Wind, I want you to pretend you're targeting the cleric but then take out the rogue.

/Alpha: Pon: Snaking it up again?

/Alpha: Nix: Nope. Gonna do some melee damage first.

[Whisper: Nix to Raine] Got any special attacks that do a lot of damage?

[Whisper: Raine to Nix] I have a leap attack that is very effective against a stunned opponent. Can I get a boost?

[Whisper: Nix to Raine] A boost? My favorite thing.

Alpha Team appeared in the arena a few moments later, all eyes on the torch overhead.

/Alpha: Nix: Stealth up and spread out.

[Dragon Eyes]

All of Alpha team disappeared from sight and promptly moved in separate directions. Lariat team stared in disbelief for a moment. Lariat glanced at the rogue on his side, who shrugged and shook his head.

"I protest!" The Dragon Spawn looked toward the judge's seating area, three dragons in human form. "No spells should be allowed until after the start."

The middle judge stood up, she was the only female of the group and reminded Alpha Team of their close ally Tai'Qui. "This would be considered a preparation spell and may be used since it is non-offensive in nature."

[Hardened Blade]

Raine's blade has taken on a diamond edge.

/Alpha: Pon: Heh... Fucknut.

Lariat scowled, and his eyes glowed as he activated his own thermal vision. His face immediately turned red when he caught the thermal image of the old man giving him the finger.

The torch went off a moment later.

Lariat has cast [Fire Net]

Nix is immune to fire spells.

The charging Nix appeared next to Lariat faster than the dragon spawn could have believed. He dipped one hand toward the sand floor of the arena and threw an uppercut skyward. "SHOR-YU-KEN!"

[Ashobel Strike]

Nix has landed a crushing blow on Lariat.

An instant later, Nix half-turned and caught Raine's foot when she leaped toward him; he flung her into the air as high as he could before turning toward the Dark Knight.

[Basilisk]

The desert viper flashed toward the Dark Night.

Rain shot into the air, her hand gripping her sword and lowering it when she hit the apex of her leap.

[Wrath Strike]

Her blade pierced completely through the armored chest of the prone Dragon Spawn, pinning him to the ground as her hilt impacted his chest.

Raine has delivered a mortal strike.

Lariat has been slain.

"Bastards!" The Dark Knight's hands glowed black as the Basilisk closed on his position.

Visa has cast [Nether-Siphon.]

Nix is immune to Nether spells.

The Basilisk ignored the casting and closed the distance. [Petrify]

Visa has been turned to stone.

[First Strike][Backstab][Gutted]

Triple combination successful.

Wind has landed a significant strike on Buchot.

Wind has landed a critical attack on Buchot.

Buchot has been slowed by 40 percent.

[Sniper Strike][Arrow Burst]

Hilo has landed a critical strike on Wind.

Hilo has wounded Wind.

Hilo has wounded Wind.

[Miss]

[Vacuum][Null][Wind Tunnel]

Una has summoned Hilo

Hilo has been silenced.

A pocket of air formed around the ranger, locking him in place as he spun around faster than the eye could follow.

[Unbalanced Chain: Ice Spear]

Pon has followed up Wind's attack with a mortal strike.

Nix fangs punched through Bochot's leather armor a moment later; his long coils wrapped up the panicked fighter.

[Unbalanced Chain: Master's Parry][Beautiful Blade]

Chiba has followed up Pon's attack with a mortal strike.

Buchot has been slain.

Chiba's second blade flashed out and removed the head from the nearby statue.

Visa has been slain.

/Alpha: Una: Stand down, they have given up.

Nix glanced up at the torch that had gone out before checking his team.

/Alpha: Nix: Great job... flawless win.

/Alpha: Una: Thank you for the hard work.

/Alpha: Pon: Shoryuken? Really?

/Alpha: Wind: That was old-school, Boss.

/Alpha: Nix: Had to be done.

A few minutes later, they found themselves back in the holding area while Team Dotha faced off against Team Hades. With the possibility of elimination looming over their heads, Dotha pulled out all the stops and quickly put down Hades.

/Alpha: Pon: The Necro has necro-fire also.

Nix shuddered; a moment later, Raine's cool hand rested on his neck. "Creepy, right?" Dotha had reanimated the slain Durox during the fight and used him to fight his own people.

Raine's pretty face smiled as she leaned forward slightly. "Please finish me quickly if that happens to me."

Nix nodded in agreement. "Same here. How was the boost?"

Raine shrugged slightly, her lips curved in a smile. "I think you could have tossed me higher."

Since Alpha team already had two wins, they watched the next match that pitted Dotha against Lariat. Neither team held anything back; in the end, it was the dual swords of Milamber and Raya that finished the match. Chiba watched the fighting with interest, one hand around Nix's shoulders as she pointed out both strengths and weaknesses of the two sword users.

/Alpha: Nix: You've caught up and passed him, Master.

/Alpha: Chiba: Yes, I have. In tomorrow's final, kindly leave him to me.

Nix handed Chiba a small black disc.

/Alpha: Chiba: A black hand?

/Alpha: Nix: Yeah. I've got something special in mind.

/Alpha: Una: The finals will be tomorrow at noon. Us versus Team Dotha. We've already faced them once, and we've seen most of their strengths.

/Alpha: Nix: Go all out. Save Milamber for Chiba. I don't care who takes care of the rest of them.

Several hours later, the group was enjoying a relaxed dinner at Una's compound; Fey and Ducky were both present.

The skinny mage was sitting next to Nix, every once in a while she'd glance at him. "I'm going to fight tomorrow?"

Nix nodded while he cycled through his inventory. He had Fey bring several of his puppets so he could do some experimenting. "Yep. I'll summon you, Ducky and Morti."

Ducky clapped her hands excitedly. She was sitting next to Raine, talking to her on occasion when the Fir'Dhassi had a question. "This is for the wildling dragons? What are you doing with the second one?"

Una motioned to Nix with her wine glass. "Whatever Nix wants. I will only claim the first."

Nix shrugged slightly. "Not sure yet. It could be used for resources or even held for Tharaka."