/Inferno: Jun Li: We all in the house?"

/Inferno: Semmi: A bit crowded, but yes.

Nix walked into the kitchen, "Home Security, lockdown the house."

Lockdown has been activated.

Nix ran to the front windows and looked out. A large image of a turtle settled over the home and a large portion of the property; it sat down and slowly retracted its head and limbs.

Your Turtle Home has been secured.

Ronnies dark face squeezed next to his. "Looks like the immediate property is secured also. Can I have this place Nix?"

"Um... No."

Black rain fell from the sky like a plague, every window in the turtle home had a face pressed up against it as Inferno watched trees and gra.s.s wither up an die before them.

The rain lasted for nearly an hour, a brief lull in the storm was followed by multiple strikes of black lightning. Great bolts of blackness struck the ground, tearing large wounds in the land. Black craters formed after these strikes and dark creatures of all shapes and sizes crawled out of them.

/Inferno: Pon: The f*ck kind of curse is this?

Dozens of the creatures approached the home and were stopped by the turtle s.h.i.+eld. They slammed against the barrier repeatedly for several minutes before giving up and wandering away.

/Inferno: Semmi: These creatures are all pretty small Nix. I doubt they represent much danger to us.

/Inferno: Nix: We'll stay for now. The rain may start again. s.h.i.+t...

/Infenerno: Semmi: What?

Nix walked over to the coffee table where he kept a written account of his Ionova employees. He found Tintin's account. "I have a gatherer team that might be out in this."

Nansu's head popped up when he said, gatherer. "What are they after?"

Nix glanced back at the sheet. "Agaricus. Know what that is?"

Nansu nodded and brought up the hud on the coffee table. She brought up the local map and zoomed in. "It's a type of mushroom. It grows almost entirely in caves."

Nix cursed and walked through the crowded room into his bedroom. Rummaging through his trunk he pulled out a second halter.

/Inferno: Nix: You're with me old man.

Pon nodded and started gearing up.

"Looks like there are some caves east of town." Nansu considered the distance for a moment. "Would have taken fifteen minutes to reach town if they are on foot."

Nix shook his head. "Not enough time."

He walked back into the living room and handed Pon a halter. "Use Flash for this one."

Pon nodded.

/Inferno: Nix: Three volunteers to wolf it up?

Nix pulled out one of his three Dire-Wolf puppets and waited.

/Inferno: Ronnie: Oh h.e.l.l yeah.

/Inferno: Bali: Me, me!

/Inferno: Nansu: I'll come. I should be able to find them.

/Inferno: Nix: You sure Nan?

/Inferno: Nansu: Yep. I even know what Agaricus smell like.

/Inferno: Nix: Pick up your puppet and follow me.

Nix led the trio into the bedroom and had them lay down comfortably.

Ronnie laid back on the pillow, her dark eyes were dancing. "Three women in your bed at once Nix. This a record?"

"Focus." Nix waited until all three were animating the Dire Wolf puppets.

/Inferno: Nix: This is the most advanced puppets I can make. They are Emperor level Dire Wolves, although they require a lot of effort, if you need to sacrifice them to save a life, do not hesitate.

/Inferno: Ronnie: Understood Nix.

/Inferno: Bali: Got it, Commander

/Inferno: Nansu: Yes sir!

Nix walked through the living room again and exited the front door with Pon and the Dire Wolves close behind.

"Holy c.r.a.p." Nix slowly looked around the area. His immediate property had been protected from the scourge but everything else had withered away. the smell of decay was heavy in the air.

[Summons: Nightmare]

His demon horse appeared in front of him a moment later. Nix patted her head gently and jumped into the saddle.

[Aura Ignition: Emerald Flames]

Nix flames caused Nightmare's aura to light up also. The two of them stood motionlessly as green and orange flames licked at them.

/Inferno: Pon. F*ck... You b.a.s.t.a.r.d Nix, I want one of those.

/Inferno: Nix: I'll give you her next foal.

/Inferno: Pon: Really?

/Inferno: Nix: No. Are you wolves ready?

/Inferno: Bali: Yep. What's this self-destruct icon?

/Inferno: Nix: Activate it and see.

/Inferno: Bali: Really?

/Inferno: Nix: No. Let's ride.

"On me!" Nix turned Nightmare eastward toward town and let her run. Flash and the three Dire Wolves were hot on her tail.