The ghost brothers soared through the sky atop a flying stingray, its shimmering purple light trailing behind. Balzu, the elder brother, piloted their steed, a Nix named Pursunix. Meanwhile, Zebul, the younger sibling, sat perched on Pursunix, engrossed in his smartphone.

"Any word from the boss?" Balzu inquired, breaking the silence.

"Seems they ran into trouble dealing with Therasus," Zebul replied, eyes still fixed on his screen.

"Think we should lend a hand?" Balzu pondered aloud.

"No need. Nox handled it. Took down Therasus," Zebul informed.

"Not bad for an Otherworlder," Balzu remarked with a smirk.

"He's supposed to be one of the top ten. Figured he'd manage," Zebul shrugged.

"Fair point. So, what about this Locci character?" Balzu pressed.

"Just got the info. Let me track him down with Trackbeel," Zebul said, summoning his Nix with a wave of his hand. "Come forth, Trackbeel."

A magic circle materialized before Zebul, conjuring forth a colossal fly with an elongated tail tipped with a menacing stinger. Zebul presented the image of Locci captured by Andre, prompting Trackbeel's eyes to illuminate with a vibrant purple glow. However, the light soon dimmed, leaving them puzzled.

"Hmm, strange. My Trackbeel usually traces anything with an image, but it's coming up empty with Locci," Zebul remarked, furrowing his brow in confusion.

"There's a possibility. Perhaps Locci has undergone some changes. Evolved, if you will," Balzu speculated, his tone tinged with uncertainty.

"That could explain it. Hold on, let me try another approach. Trackbeel, [Soul Arrow]!" Zebul commanded.

The stinger at the end of Trackbeel's tail glowed brightly before launching a purple arrow into the air, its trajectory pointing towards a distant island.

"[Soul Arrow] homes in on the closest soul's information. Looks like Locci is on that island," Zebul explained, watching the arrow's flight path with keen interest.

"Know anything about the place?" Balzu inquired, turning his attention to the task at hand.

"Not much to tell. It's overrun by a group of Otherworlders," Zebul replied with a dismissive shrug.

"Then that's where we're headed," Balzu declared, nudging Pursunix in the direction of the island.

Touching down on the island, the ghost brothers found themselves in the midst of the Otherworlders' stronghold.

Their arrival didn't go unnoticed, as Thomas, the island's leader, stepped forward to address them. With a commanding presence, he summoned his Nix, Morrock.

"Who are you lot? This is our island. If you're planning to visit, you should make an appointment first," Thomas asserted, his voice carrying the weight of authority.

"We're not here for leisure. We're seeking a specific Nix," Zebul stated firmly, presenting the image of Locci on his smartphone. "Have you encountered this Nix?"

Thomas examined the image with a stern expression, his gaze locking onto Locci's unique necklace before his features hardened with recognition.

"You seem familiar with this," Balzu observed, his tone serious and unwavering. "Provide us with information, and we'll depart without incident."

"The image I just saw? Doesn't ring any bells with me," Thomas replied, his tone guarded.

"He's not lying, but something's off," Zebul remarked, his voice tense with suspicion.

"We're not here to dance around. Spit it out if you've got intel," Balzu demanded, his patience wearing thin.

Thomas smirked, a glint of defiance in his eyes. "Maybe I do, but why should we spill to you? You trespass without invitation and demand favors."

"We represent Apollon. Crossing us is unwise," Balzu warned, his voice steely with authority.

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"Apollon, huh? Funny coincidence. We're with the World Union. Makes us foes," Thomas retorted, his smirk morphing into a determined scowl. "Gear up, folks! Nixes at the ready! It's showdown time!"

"Underestimating us just because we are showing up with rare-grade Nixes," Balzu muttered, a hint of irritation in his voice.

"I'll handle the leader. You take care of the rest," Zebul declared, leaping off Pursunix's back.

Thomas wasted no time springing into action. "Morrock, [Earth Prison]!" he commanded with authority.

Morrock bellowed, summoning four towering pillars of earth that erupted beneath Trackbeel, ensnaring it within their rocky embrace.

"Morrock, [Groundpulsion]!" Thomas ordered, his voice booming across the battlefield.

Morrock unleashed another mighty roar, causing the earth prison to shatter in a powerful explosion.

Thomas surveyed the aftermath, confident he had neutralized Trackbeel. However, to his surprise, the Nix was nowhere to be seen.

Without warning, Trackbeel materialized behind Thomas, its stinger tail poised to strike. With lightning reflexes, Thomas dodged the attack and swiftly raised a shield to block the incoming blow.

Zebul grinned, offering praise. "Impressive. Otherworlders have quite the edge with their physical prowess and combat instincts, but you're outmatched today. Trackbeel, [Ghost Tail]!"

Despite Thomas's successful block against Trackbeel's initial strike, a ghostly tail materialized out of thin air, slamming into his stomach with surprising force.

Thomas fell to the ground, clutching his wounded stomach, his glare fixed on Zebul. "C-coward," he managed to spit out through gritted teeth.

"Consider it a lesson. In our line of work, fairness isn't always the game plan. Why bother tangling with Nixes when their masters are easier targets?" Zebul retorted, his tone unapologetic.

Without command, his Morrock went berserk after seeing Thomas getting injured, but Trackbeel easily defeated it with a barrage of tail strikes.

Grimacing, Thomas recalled Morrock and reluctantly surrendered. "Finish me," he demanded, his voice strained with resignation.

"I won't. Count yourself fortunate. Killing humans doesn't sit well with my boss's budget. Now spill everything you know about this Nix," Zebul insisted, brandishing the image of Locci once more. "And don't even think about hiding anything. My brother won't hesitate to wipe out every Nix in your arsenal."

"I'll talk. Please spare them. But first, why are you looking for it?" Thomas stammered, his curiosity piqued despite the pain.

"None of your concern. Just spill it," Zebul demanded, his gaze unwavering.

"Truth be told, I've never laid eyes on that exact Nix from the picture, but I did recognize the necklace. I had a hunch your target might have evolved. This Nix conquered a dungeon on this island before departing," Thomas revealed.

Zebul turned his gaze towards Trackbeel, whose eyes shimmered with light. After a moment of consideration, he nodded. "You're telling the truth. Brother, our mission here is complete. Trackbeel has gleaned a clue about Locci's whereabouts."

Balzu directed Pursunix to Zebul's side and stated, "Then let's move. We can't afford to let that Nix slip through our fingers."

Without sparing another glance at Thomas, Zebul leaped onto Pursunix. With a powerful beat of its fins, Pursunix ascended into the sky, carrying the ghost brothers away from the island.

Thomas struggled to rise, but his comrades rushed to his aid, lending him their support.

"Boss! Boss! Hang in there! We'll get you patched up!" one of his comrades urged urgently.

Gasping for breath, Thomas inquired, "Is everyone else okay?"

"Everyone's fine, boss," came the reassuring reply.

"That's a relief..." Thomas murmured weakly. As darkness threatened to engulf him, a single word echoed in his mind, a name spoken by Zebul moments ago. "Locci..." With that, Thomas succumbed to unconsciousness, his thoughts consumed by the mysterious name.

---

Locci floated above Dragonland's beach, surveying the peculiar landscape below. The barren terrain, devoid of snow and dotted with rivers of lava, stood in stark contrast to the cold climate typically associated with Winterhold. Despite the desolate surroundings, a distant forest caught his attention, beckoning him with an inexplicable sense of purpose. Instinct told him that this verdant oasis amidst the desolation held the key to his destination.

As Locci made his way towards the forest, a formidable sight approached him in the form of a flying Nix. This majestic creature, known as Agnarax, was a red dragon adorned with vibrant orange markings. As Agnarax soared alongside him, Locci couldn't shake the feeling of insignificance, not only due to the Nix's imposing size but also an instinctual understanding of its formidable strength.

Despite his initial trepidation, Locci stole glances at Agnarax and became convinced that the Nix flying at his side was of legendary-grade caliber. Fortunately, Agnarax showed no signs of hostility towards Locci. In fact, it actively deterred aggressive Nixes that harbored ill intentions towards him, serving as a protective presence during their journey.

"Are you here to guide me?" Locci asked, attempting to establish communication with the majestic creature.

In response, Agnarax emitted a gentle rumble from its colossal maw before nodding in confirmation.

A sense of relief washed over Locci as he realized he had a guardian. With this newfound assurance, he openly admired the awe-inspiring form of the legendary Nix. It was his first encounter with a creature of such legendary stature. As he gazed upon Agnarax's majestic presence, he couldn't help but feel a profound sense of admiration and wonder.

Locci and Agnarax descended into the forest, eventually landing atop a gigantic tree where a massive bird nest awaited them. This colossal nest was large enough to accommodate Agnarax's impressive size, providing a secure landing spot for the duo.

"You've reached your destination, Locci Snowstar," a feminine voice echoed through the air.

Locci turned to see a colossal peacock with three pairs of wings before him, its size rivalling that of Agnarax.

The majestic peacock offered a slight bow before introducing herself, "I am Quallure, the Wind Elemental Envoy. The Father has tasked me with informing the members of the Fateless Three about their circumstances."