157

Fear of being consumed by the approaching fire-storm prompts you to take swift and decisive action. You step into the well and begin a long descent through a column of glimmering azure light. You feel the diamond in your pocket glowing warmly and you sense that, in addition to your Platinum Amulet, it is protecting you from the rigours of this journey into the unknown.

Looking down through the curtain of shimmering light, you can see the roofs of ziggurats and towers rising up to meet you. Gradually you slow to a halt and find yourself standing upon a circular dais of basalt rock atop a large, flat-roofed building. Several yards away to your left you see a squat tower, and to your right, standing at a parapet, you see a horny-skinned creature with wings that glimmer like folded sheets of gold leaf. Your pulse races when you recognize this creature to be a Lavas, one of Naar’s deadly minions. The Lavas is peering idly at the view beyond the parapet and is unaware of your arrival, yet you are reluctant to leave the shimmering beam for fear that it may see you and raise an alarm.

If you possess Assimilance and have attained the rank of Kai Grand Guardian or higher, turn to 72.

If you possess Assimilance or Grand Huntmastery, turn to 174.

If you do not possess these skills, or if you have yet to attain the required level of Kai Mastery, turn to 140.