The Heart of Fire (129 page)

If you manage to defeat this cold-hearted sorceress, turn to
543
.

833

You dive through the archway, rolling across the uneven surface of books and broken rock. Above you the giant eel arches its long body, stretching back to reveal bloated scaly
flesh glowing with arcane runes. Then it proceeds to make a disturbing series of choking sounds, the ribbed folds beneath its lower jaw bulging and contracting. The noise intensifies.

Suddenly the head jerks forward, belching a storm of pulpy missiles in your direction. You dodge out of the way, hearing the dull splatter of paper and digestive fluids break against the wall.
As the creature’s head rears back to take another shot, you beat your wings and take flight, aiming yourself at its scaled body. It is time to fight:

Special abilities

If you manage to defeat this over-sized trash compacter, turn to
554
.

834

For defeating Erkil, you may now help yourself to one of the following special items:

As a warrior, you may also take the following:

The stone is carved with powerful runes, allowing you to transform yourself into an elemental titan. While this item is equipped, the titan has the following special abilities:

Stone skin (co)
: Instead of rolling for a damage score, you can activate
stone skin
. This lowers your speed by 2.
Stone skin
can
be removed at any time by winning a combat round, and choosing not to roll for damage. While in
stone skin
:

Trample (co)
: Instead of rolling for a damage score, you can
trample
. Roll 3 damage dice and apply the result to each of your opponents,
ignoring
armour
. You can only use
trample
once per combat.

If you are
hexed
then you have gained an extra reward, turn to
615
. Otherwise, return to the quest
map
to continue your journey.

835

Determined not to let the imp escape you sprint after it, beating your wings to give you added momentum.

‘Wait! Let it go!’ shouts Virgil. ‘It’s a shadow scamp. You’ll never catch it!’

Ignoring the witchfinder’s protests, you continue your dogged pursuit of the thief. Just as you are about to finally grab a hold of it, there is a loud popping sound and it vanishes
– only to reappear several metres ahead of you. The imp glances over its shoulder, giving another titter of laughter. You realise that this wily rogue will be harder to catch than you first
thought.

To catch up with the thief, you will need to complete a
speed
challenge:

If you are successful, turn to
860
. Otherwise, turn to
736
.

836

Team battle (advanced): Krakatoa

(
NOTE
: You must have completed the team battle
Issakhar
to access this challenge.)

The ground buckles as a fist of rock punches up through the red granite. You pull Virgil away from the grasping fingers, noticing that their knuckled joints are riddled with carved runes. The
hand makes another futile grab then disappears back through the hole, taking more of the ground with it. A bellowing screech comes from below, causing the hall to shake and tremble.

‘Keep moving!’ You stagger towards the open doorway, stone and dust showering around you. Another booming roar rattles your teeth, moments before the ground explodes once again. This
time two fists break through, ripping apart the stonework and taking hold of the crumbling rock. The floor tilts, throwing you onto your stomach. The doorway – and your freedom – slope
out of sight. You are sliding backwards, scrabbling for a handhold. Next to you, Virgil mutters something under his breath – a curse, or a prayer, perhaps.

Then the last of the granite breaks up and you are falling.

Directly below you is an island, dominated by some giant of a monster. You glimpse molten-glowing eyes and a body of black stone. Your wings stretch outwards, catching the thermals as you drop
through the raining stone. You manage to slow your fall, wings beating furiously as you tumble down onto the island, sweat and dust stinging your eyes.

Virgil
.

You look around frantically for the witchfinder. Then you catch sight of him – a pair of legs, kicking desperately from the jagged hole above you. Virgil is clinging to the edge.

You are about to go to his aid when a giant column of rock stomps down inches from your face. Bubbling lava spills from the cracks in the black rock, seeping around boulder-sized toes. You
scramble backwards, eyes lifting to the colossus that towers into the haze.

The demon is nearly twenty foot tall, its open chest a raging furnace of flame. The creature lifts its huge fists above its head, preparing to bring them down and crush you. Even with your agile
reflexes, you doubt you could avoid such an attack. You watch helpless as they prepare to descend, mouth still agape at the enormity of this hellish apparition.

Then something drops from above, cutting a frenzy of vivid white lines. Virgil has landed on the monster’s nearest shoulder, stabbing his blades furiously into the rock. Molten liquid
gushes from the wounds, venting hissing columns of steam. But his efforts appear in vain.

KRAKATOA CRUSH!
With a roar like an avalanche the giant lurches back, swatting the witchfinder away as if he was nothing more than a pestering gnat.

In a tumble of coat tails, Virgil goes flailing over the magma lake, grasping for his hat as it is lifted away.

You spring to your feet, wings snapping outwards once again. Running to the edge of the island, you hurl yourself across the broiling, rock-encrusted waves. You snatch Virgil seconds before he
hits the magma.

Then a huge fist comes sweeping around from out of nowhere. You feel the force of the blow against your side, smashing you and Virgil across the lake towards a curved wall of rock. You brace for
impact, crashing straight through the black stone and out the other side, onto another floating island. When you finally slide to a halt you see Virgil hovering several metres away. Currents of air
ripple around his body, supporting him as he floats above the lapping waves. Slowly, his body is lowered to the rock. His eyes are closed but he is still breathing.

Before you can reflect on this apparent miracle, the ground heaves and rolls. You twist around to see the giant pulling itself onto the island, its upper body dripping with rivulets of magma.
You draw your weapons, wondering desperately how you can overcome such an immense adversary. Turn to
610
.