My suspicion proved correct. The savants couldn’t heal themselves.

It was a dire weakness and one I was ruthless in exploiting. Time and again, I charmed the fire slugs and sent them against the savant mage, and despite my foe repeatedly wresting back control of the creatures, I was able to inflict an infinitesimal amount of damage each time.

Inevitably, he fell.

Your minions have killed a savant mage.

You have reached level 105!

The mage’s death sent the acolyte and scholar into a frenzy, and for a time, fireballs and revealing light spells filled the cavern. In response, I broke off my own attacks and gave the glittering orbs sailing overhead my full attention. Anytime one appeared too close, I repositioned.

Not unexpectedly, the two savants failed to find me.

When the pair finally gave up, I resumed my assault. Notably exhausted, the savant scholar barely put up a fight, and it was not long before he, too, went the way of the mage.

Your minions have killed a savant scholar.

You have reached level 106!

Elated by my successes, I turned my attention to the last savant. Charming the five slugs closest to the tiny island, I sent them surging across the molten lake to the acolyte. But before the creatures could draw close enough to use their fire-breathing spells, the magma elementals stirred to life and waded into the lava, rock fists clenched and held at the ready.

Sensing an opportunity, I redirected the slugs to attack the elementals. Obediently, the bespelled creatures bathed the two in fiery flames.

It did not stop the elementals.

Ignoring the flames wreathing them, the acolyte’s guards wadded deeper into the molten lake and hammered large, stone fists into my minions’ squishy bodies.

The fire slugs stood no chance.

Your minion has died.

Your minion has died.

…

My assault was over almost before it began.

Rocking back on my heels, I considered the elementals and the quick work they’d made of the slugs. The pair were returning to the tiny island, their job done. They moved slowly but surely, seemingly unfazed by being knee-deep in lava.

How much health did that little maneuver cost them? I wondered. Narrowing my gaze, I inspected both creatures.

The target is a level 150 magma elemental. It is uninjured.

The target is a level 151 magma elemental. It is uninjured.

“Well, that’s just peachy,” I muttered, realizing the magma elementals were immune to fire damage.

It left me in a bit of a quandary. I could send more charmed fire slugs to attack the savant, but I expected the result would be no different the second time around. While the acolyte’s rock guardians were about, there would be no using the slugs against him.

I had to get rid of the magma elementals first.

My gaze slid back to the two creatures. They were back in their original positions and loomed like frozen statues behind the savant. Perhaps, charming them will work…

Summoning psi, I extended tendrils of my will towards the closer of the pair. But no sooner had I entered the creature’s mind than I was met by an opaque wall and firmly rebuffed.

You have failed a Mind check! You are unable to wrest control of your target from its master.

My mouth dropped open in shock at the Game message. It was far different from any I’d received on previous failed charm attempts, and it implied that the magma elemental’s mind was already dominated.

My gaze flickered to the savant acolyte seated negligently on his black throne. He was obviously the elemental’s ‘master.’ He hadn’t reacted to my mental assault, though. Had my spell gone undetected? Possible.

Shrugging, I tried again.

And again.

And again.

Ten times, I attempted charming one of the elementals, and ten times I failed.

Finally, my shoulders sagging, I admitted defeat. My telepathy skill, even boosted by mental focus, was insufficient to overcome the acolyte’s hold on the elemental.

Drumming my fingers on my leg as I considered my next move. I still had over thirty foes in the sector, and the three most powerful were impervious to my mental attacks. To kill the acolyte and elementals, I would have to choose a different tack entirely—and that meant getting close.

First, though, I would have to deal with the fire slugs. That’s easy enough.

I couldn’t use the slugs to kill the elementals or the acolyte, but I could use the elementals to kill the slugs.

Charming the next group of fire slugs, I sent them racing towards the island.

~~~

Your minion has died.

You have reached level 107!

A few minutes later, every fire slug in the basin was dead. The elementals had considerately slain them, and best of all, the Adjudicator seemed to have granted me full credit for their deaths.

Now I had only three more foes to deal with.

My gaze fixed on the tiny island and the nether portal’s three guardians. It hadn’t escaped my notice that I was ill-suited to face off with the magma elementals.

The pair’s rocky exterior would be difficult—if not impossible—to penetrate. And while at close range I might find some chinks in their hides, I had to wonder if there was going to be anything beneath soft enough for my blades to cut into. I shook my head. Sparring with the elementals was going to be a losing proposition and to be avoided if possible.

The acolyte, on the other hand, would not do well in a physical confrontation. After observing the fire slugs’ assault, I knew the savants had high magic resistance, but I doubted they would be able to shrug off physical attacks as easily.

The only problem would be getting to the acolyte. The elementals made for formidable guards.

But were they willing guards? I wondered.

What would the mind-controlled elementals do if their charge was dead? Celebrate their master’s death or attack his slayer? There was no way to tell. I bit my lip, considering my options.

I didn’t fancy being stuck on the tiny island with two angry elementals. I would have little room to maneuver and until I figured out how to deactivate the dome protecting the exit portal, I wouldn’t be able to leave the sector either.

But I didn’t see that I had much choice. I had to take the attack to the trio.

My gaze drifted to the entry chamber. Time was slipping by too. Sooner or later the mantises would appear. Best get this done before they arrive.

Decided, I turned my attention to the magma outcroppings sprinkled about the basin. They were my only means of crossing the lava. It would be an arduous journey but manageable nonetheless.

Slipping closer to the edge of the basin, I prepared myself to enter its molten depths.

~~~

For my entry point into the basin, I chose a spot opposite the direction the acolyte and two elementals were facing. The red dome was between me and my targets, and through its hazy glow, I could just make out the back of the acolyte’s black throne.

The lava lit the basin floor too brightly for me to stay hidden while crossing it, and the only way for me to escape the acolyte’s wrath was to go unseen and unheard.

Slipping over the lip of the basin, I touched down lightly on the steep slope leading to the molten lake. Despite the sharp gradient and loose rocks, it appeared navigable. Moving with care, I began descending.

Unfortunately, the slope was not all that stable, and not even five steps into my descent a boulder broke free.

I froze, and my head whipped upwards to study my distant targets.

They hadn’t moved.

Still, I kept my gaze fixed on them, alert for the slightest hint of danger as the rock continued to tumble down the slope, the sounds of it scrapping preternaturally loud to my own ears.

Gathering momentum, the boulder continued accelerating until it bounced free and splashed into the lava. I winced at the noise, but once again there was no reaction from the acolyte or elementals.

Finally daring to breathe, I let myself relax.

In hindsight, I realized my foes were too distant to hear anything. The lava’s incessant bubbling was loud enough that even my own sharp hearing would’ve had trouble picking out the sound of the boulder’s fall.

All the same, best I avoid doing that again, I told myself drily. Redoubling my caution, I resumed my descent.

~~~

A few minutes later, I reached the bottom of the basin.

Warning: the ambient heat is approaching dangerous levels. If you remain in the vicinity, your body will suffer damage.

I dismissed the Game message wryly. I didn’t need it to tell me what I could already sense.

This close-up, the heat exuded by the lava was palpable. It assailed me in waves and would only get worse once I stood atop the lake. Already, my thin cotton clothes were drenched in sweat.

About ninety yards separated me from the central island. There were multiple outcroppings between though, and with two-step, I foresaw no problem getting to the island—except managing the raging heat, of course.

Let’s do this fast and quick.

Dashing forward, I kicked off a large boulder and went airborne. I flashed over the red-hot lava and, a moment later, was crouched on the flat top of an outcropping.

You have failed a physical resistance check! Due to the harsh environmental conditions, you have been afflicted by heatstroke. Your health is degenerating by 0.5% per second.

The scorching heat hit me like a physical blow. The skin on my hand, my knee, and the soles of my feet—everywhere I was in contact with the rock—boiled and blistered. The only surprise was that my newbie clothes remained intact, it was weathering the heat better than I was.

Steadfastly, I blocked out the pain—before I reached the island it would only get much worse—and turned my attention to my targets. Their positions remained unchanged.

Again.

Rising to my feet, I repeated my jump, this time using two-step. Eschewing the smaller, jagged outcroppings in between, I landed on another smooth surface six yards away.

Your health is at 98% and dropping.

Once more, my leap went unnoticed. The damage to my body was mounting though, and I’d barely begun my crossing. I have to hurry this up, I thought, eyeing the Game message in concern. Wiping away the sweat dripping down my nose, I kicked off again.

Your health is at 96% and dropping.

Your health is at 94% and dropping.

Your health is at 92% and dropping.

…

Damage messages scrolled steadily through my vision as I leapfrogged from one outcropping to another, but I didn’t dare stop to tend to my injuries.

My steps had begun to falter and, once or twice, I had almost fouled my landing. Worse yet, dizziness was setting in, and I was struggling to concentrate. It was taking everything I had just to make my jumps.

Pausing to heal did not bear thinking about.

Your health is at 74% and dropping.

…

…

Your health is at 30% and dropping.

Eventually, after what seemed like an eternity, I touched down on the tiny island.

My insides felt as if they had been scorched dry, and simply breathing hurt. I ached to suck in a deep lungful of the blessedly cooler air, but I was painfully aware, too, that my foes were less than twenty yards away.

My body’s needs, as urgent as they were, would have to wait.

Lowering myself gently to the ground, I scanned the surroundings through eyes gone red and swollen. The crossing had left me half-blind, but I could still see well enough to pick out features in the terrain. My gaze fixed on a boulder larger than its companions.

There. The rock in question was about nine feet away. I can make that, I thought with grim determination. Planting my elbows in front me, I dragged myself across the ground towards it.

The magma rock beneath me was warm—hot even—but its temperature was nothing compared to the lava’s and ever so slowly, the raging heat inside me dissipated. By the time I reached my destination, the ambient temperature dropped further, warranting another—more welcoming—Game message.

You are no longer afflicted by heatstroke. Your health is at 20%.

You are hidden.

A quiet sigh escaped me. I’d made it. And now, finally, I could heal myself. Squeezing my eyes shut, I began spinning psi.