The Heart of Fire (126 page)

(
NOTE
: You cannot heal after this combat. You must continue this quest with the
health
that you have remaining. You may use potions and abilities
to heal lost
health
while you are in combat.)

If you manage to defeat the drecko, turn to
660
. Otherwise, turn to
664
.

820

The ledge curves round the dark spire of rock, widening into a bridge that spans the chasm and the shimmering magma lake below. At its opposite side, the dwarf city continues
– its walls, smooth and undulating like melted tallow, rising up into a myriad of towers, columns and grey stepped terraces.

The goblins have now reached the bridge, their small hunched bodies swallowed by its vastness. You are about to pursue when a familiar wail reaches your ears. Virgil pulls you down behind a
boulder.

‘Our friend returns.’ He sheathes his blade, extinguishing its light.

A second later and a black cloud fills the cavern, howling with the pained cries of the damned. The goblins skid to a halt, pointing and gesturing towards the looming shadow. For a second, they
seem torn by indecision – to head back or continue to the other side. They choose the latter, throwing themselves into a sprint.

‘They’ll never make it,’ remarks Virgil dryly.

You follow the wind demon as it spins across the city, its reckless momentum ripping through columns and towers, shattering walls and smashing through the sides of buildings. The broken chunks
shower through the air, most of them swallowed by the demon’s gaping maw to be ground to dust inside its whirling stomach.

With an ear-shattering shriek, the demon flips into a dive. As it speeds back into the chasm a clawed hand pushes out of its flanks, grabbing the side of the bridge. There is a loud echoing
crunch as the claws dig deep into the stonework, halting its descent and flipping it around onto the topside of the bridge.

The demon lands on two splayed feet, staggering slightly as it finds its balance. Dust and smoke billow from its flared nostrils, laboured breathing thundering in the sudden, expectant
silence.

The goblins stand frozen like statues, their necks craned back to take in the frightening visage. Then, as one, they turn and run, bawling in terror as they scramble back across the bridge.
Their efforts prove futile – the demon sweeps its black fingers in a wide swathe, picking them up in one swift pass. You can hear their screams as the goblins are flipped into the air, then
sucked into the hungry, crushing vortex.

Virgil shifts next to you. ‘We should go back; find another route, before it’s too late.’

You glance sideways at him, reading his fear.

‘But we have to cross,’ you state harshly, trying to sound more confident than you feel.

The witchfinder glares at you beneath his brows. ‘Your demon-side makes you rash.’

‘Then learn to read us better. Look.’ You nod towards the bridge.

It is clear from the demon’s demeanour that the creature has become weakened. Its shoulders are stooped, its body heaving with short, ragged breaths. It looks tired, drained of energy. . .
a wind that has blown itself out.

Virgil’s frown deepens. ‘Even so, we can’t defeat it. We should look for another way.’ He twists around, taking in the sweeping walls of the canyon. Several other bridges
are visible through the smoky haze, jutting out from different levels of the city.

You shake your head. ‘And waste time? This demon will be forever hunting us. I’d rather face it on my terms.’

You start forward onto the bridge, ignoring Virgil’s angry curses. As you get closer to the demon, you break into a run. The creature gives a blustery snort, expelling more ash from its
turbulent innards. Two eyes, like orbs of lightning, flare into being amidst the darkness.

You pick up speed, your wings snapping back from your body. The leathery membranes bulge as they fill with wind. Then you kick off from the bridge, your fast-beating wings driving you towards
the demon. It is time to fight:

Special abilities

If you manage to defeat this abyssal monster, turn to
789
.

821

Quest: The Black Library

(
NOTE
: You must have completed the orange quest
The Abussos
before you can access this location.)

You put your shoulder to the large bronze door, pushing against the rubble that has piled up behind it. Beyond, through the whirling dust, you glimpse broken statues and more debris. You step
through the doorway, clambering over the loose mounds of rock. Virgil follows, the glow from his swords spilling out to illuminate the chamber.

The atrium is high-ceilinged, its walls and vaulted roof carved with intricate scenes. In several places the carvings have melted, as if exposed to heat or some powerful magic, distorting the
figures into unsettling demonic shapes.

The statues that litter the chamber all show dwarves, captured in various poises of pain and suffering. Titans, you quickly conclude – the dwarven warriors that could change their bodies
to stone. Virgil walks over to one of the figures, standing at the head of the party. The portly warrior appears to be trying to pull a spear from his chest, the dark metal still lodged in the
stone.

‘The dwarves were fighting each other,’ he states, running a finger along the shaft of the spear. ‘This is runed metal.’

You notice some ragged clothing amongst the ashes, embroidered with silver runes. ‘I thought their enemy was Barahar and his sword, not each other.’ You pick up a dwarf helm, which
has the blade of an axe lodged in its visor.

At the other side of the room, blocks of stone have been stacked together to form a makeshift barricade. Most of the stone has been scorched by magic or chipped by weapons. Beyond the barricade
there is a passageway leading away into darkness. Its mouth is choked with broken stone. As you approach, you hear a bang and then a scuffling sound coming from the depths of the building. A series
of wet-sounding hisses echo along the passage. They quickly grow in volume, headed in your direction.

‘Looks like someone’s home.’ Virgil puts his back to the wall, swords raised to strike.

A moment later and a creature scampers up onto the rocks, its gruesome form illuminated by Virgil’s blades. It has no skin, only muscle and sinew, glistening with a sheen of wet blood. The
head is almost human, but instead of a mouth it has a trailing beard of tentacles, each one ending in a small mouth of snapping teeth.

As it stops to sniff the air, you see another pair of the creatures bounding along the passageway, running on all fours. The moment they reach the room, Virgil is upon them in a flurry of
slashing blades. ‘Let the shroud take you, demons!’

Blood sprays from their wounds, but the demons show no sign of pain. Instead their tentacled-teeth latch onto the witchfinder, tearing through his clothing to get at the flesh beneath. You leap
to his aid, slashing frantically through muscle and tendon in an effort to draw their attention. It is time to fight:

Special abilities