Pon coughed painfully while blinking dust from his eyes. "Sem?"

"Here." Semmi's voice sounded from nearby. "I'm okay. Fajii is freeing us."

The old mage squinted in the darkness; he could see the dim glow surrounding the Scorched Earth mage. "Should I melt my way out?" magic

/Alpha: Wind: Please don't. This place has been shifting and collapsing constantly.

/Alpha: Semmi: Fajii is strengthening the area around us. How long, Fajii?

/Alpha: Fajii: Half an hour.

/Alpha: Pon: How are any of us still alive?

/Alpha: Semmi: If I were to guess, I'd say the Bone hardening we were awarded. Alfie said it would make even you stouter.

/Inferno: Fey: Alpha team?

/Inferno: Semmi: We're trapped, but Fajii will free us.

/Inferno: Fey: We'll continue rescue operations then. Let me know if you require help.

/Alpha: Pon: Fey is running things?

/Alpha: Wind: Guess so. Just about everyone else is down.

/Inferno: Nix: We're back!

/Inferno: Pon: Punk Bastard! Did you get him?

/Inferno: Nix: Does a bear shit in the woods?

/Inferno: Morti: Yep. I think so.

/Inferno: Nix: We got him.

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

[Let me try one more time, Nix]

Nix scowled at the black object in his hand. He'd been given the Key of Chaos and the Ball of Enigma when he completed the Well of Du'Wei. He thought perhaps the ball has some real use; it did not. "Fine. You have to sound mystical or sometimes funny if you want people to buy it."

[And people will believe me?]

Nix nodded and leaned back in his chair. "If you can't get it right, I'm leaving you in the river." The Inferno leader recast his line and placed his fishing pole across his lap.

[I understand. No more shaking, please.]

"How about a rub? Like a genie lamp?"

[I've never been rubbed. Please be gentle.]

"Now you sound like a pervert." Nix rubbed the ball with the palm of his free hand. "Will I catch a big fish today?"

[You have a thirty-two percent chance of catching a rare Golden Bass today.]

"Really?"

[No. You told me to make things up. The rubbing was much better.]

Nix chuckled and sat the ball down. "This could be your calling, Enigma."

/Go Fish: Semmi: Are we late?

Nix looked up to see Semmi and Jun Li approached with fishing poles in hand. It had been two days since the Fall of the Keep, the graveyards from the Tempest and Tribunal Burroughs were a few hours from resetting.

A warm breeze coupled with the river's slow trickling sound left a calming effect on the fishing trio. Mortimer, Soup, and Fey adorned the far riverbank, taking advantage of the morning sun to warm themselves.

/Go Fish: Semmi: Hey, Nix. What's that ball for? /Go Fish: Nix: It's Enigma. He's an Oracle.

/Go Fish: Jun Li: What?

/Go Fish: Semmi: Really?

/Go Fish: Nix: Yes. Rub it like a genie lamp and then ask a question.

/Go Fish: Jun Li: He's teasing us.

/Go Fish: Nix: Nope. Give it a try; just start off easy.

Nix handed the black ball to Semmi, who immediately rubbed it.

"Who am I?"

[You are the brilliant and talented, Semmi Dow.]

Semmi's pretty face creased in a wide smile. She immediately rubbed it again. "Will my friend Junie ever find a man?"

[She already has.]

Jun Li's face blushed deep red; she tried to cover the fact by rebaiting her hook. "Are you really going to listen to that thing?"

Semmi laughed at her friend's expression before rubbing it a third time. "What's his name?"

[I'm not allowed to share secrets of the heart.]

The blonde officer wrinkled her nose at the ball before glancing up at Nix. "Can I keep this?"

"No." Nix held out his hand and left it there until Semmi returned Enigma.

/Go Fish: Jun Li: Can I try?

Nix nodded and handed it to her.

Junie rubbed the ball tentatively. "Will we defeat Khione?"

[Inferno and its allies will destroy the Goddess of Winter.]

Jun Li smiled happily at the ball before giving Nix a sly glance. "How many wives will Nix end up with?"

[Calculating... Nine.]

Nix frowned at Enigma. "Remember our chat about the river?"

[Recalculating... Impossible to determine.]

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

[Bone Fortress, 1430 hours Ice Faction: 0, Undead Faction: 5,000]

/Inferno: Pon: Doesn't that number seem high?

/Inferno: Duran: All of the original fallen have been restored.

At exactly 1400 hours, the smoking pile of rubble that had been the Keep vanished from the five Burroughs' convergence and was replaced with a small stone building.

Nix led the officers inside. It was the control room that housed the Spectrum. "Didn't expect it to reset to here."

Semmi studied the control menu. "Training grounds?"

Nix nodded. "We'll make adjustments and use it to strengthen our forces."

Semmi whistled softly. "Remove the borders and create a central training ground where you are instantly revived when defeated in combat."

Nix displayed all the sub-menus. "There are also extensive climate and terrain controls."

Congratulations to the Undead Faction for their Victory over the Ice Faction.

All members of the Undead Faction will receive the following awards.

Blessing of the Undead.

Bone Weapon. Eidengal Residence

Eidengal Knighthood.

All members of the Inferno Guild will receive the following awards.

Skeletal Mount.

Bone Crow Promotion.

Improved Fortitude.

Improved Elemental Resistance.

Advanced Holographic Interface.

Bone Fortress Crafting Tree.

Tier 9, Bone Hardening.

Additional Rewards have been given based on individual contributions.

You have received the Crown of Bones.

You have received the Book of the Undead.

You have received the Monarch's Soul.

You have received the Bone Fortress Keys.

/Inferno: Pon: What do you think Trifecta got?

/Inferno: Nix: Am sure they got boned. Losing these kinds of things is always bad.

Nix stepped out of the control building and displayed the descriptions on his rewards.

Blessing of the Undead: The Lich King form is now part of your permanent abilities.

Bone Weapon: Based on the weapon type you prefer. [Bone Hilt x 2]

Eidengal Residence: Based on your contribution to the war. You now have a home in the residential section of Eidengal. [House Key]

Eidengal Knighthood: For your contributions to the cause, you've been Knighted. This comes with several benefits depending on your rank.

Skeletal Mount: A bone horse, tireless and combative by nature.

Bone Crow Promotion: This order promotes your [Shadow Raven] to the next tier.

Improved Fortitude: Resistance to controlling effects have been significantly increased.

Improved Elemental Resistance: Resistance to elemental damage and/or effects have been significantly increased.

Advanced Holographic Interface: A new and improved version of the HUD interface.

Bone Fortress Crafting Tree: A catalog listing of Bone Fortress Crafting skills, you may choose one. This does not count against your standard Crafting tree.

Tier 9, Bone Hardening: This is the highest tier available; you have bones of steel.

Crown of Bones: While wearing this Crown, you are recognized as the Undead King, with all the benefits and penalties that come with it.

Book of the Undead: 100/100

While wearing the Crown of Bones, you may scribe names within this book.

Monarch's Soul: Higher tiered creatures will recognize your potential.

Bone Fortress Keys: You are now the Bone Fortress's Caretaker and may return whenever you wish.

/Inferno: Nix: Binding Points are open. Inferno members return to Haven.

/Inferno: Duran: Thank you, Nix. Everyone from my faction will return to Eidengal. When can we expect your visit?

/Inferno: Semmi: Give us a week.

/Inferno: Duran: Very well. Thank you, my friends.

Return to your binding point? [Haven]

Nix waited until the crowded field emptied out. There were a lot of things he wanted to adjust in the Bone Fortress. He planned to bring in the Titans that had been training in the Gemini Temple, as well as their AirPower.

"Yes."

A moment later, the last occupant of the Bone Fortress vanished.