The two flame wolves lunged from both sides, molten fangs snapping. The desert air rippled with heat.
Lin slammed his palm into the sand, activating Heat Sink. The world seemed to slow as warmth rushed into his veins. His muscles stopped aching. His breath steadied.
Crystal whispered, "You've got maybe ten seconds of this. Make it count."
"Got it."
---
First Counterattack
The first wolf leapt. Lin ducked under it and swung his club into the glowing rune at the pillar's base. Blue light burst from the ground, freezing the wolf mid-air like a bug in amber.
The second wolf landed behind him, snarling. Lin rolled aside, tossing a handful of sand into its molten eyes. It hissed and staggered back.
Elara fired an arrow tipped with frost magic. The arrow struck the wolf's chest, dimming its flames. Nyra followed with a wind blast, scattering embers.
The Fire Tamer watched with mild amusement, arms crossed. "Not bad, rookie. But this is only a taste."
---
Villain's Power
He raised his hand. The pillar runes flickered and died. The frozen wolf shattered, then reformed, flames burning hotter. The second wolf split in two, creating a third with a screech of fire and air.
Lin's jaw dropped. "Oh come on! This isn't even fair!"
Crystal: "He's using a Control Core. Basically a cheat code. He can respawn his minions as long as he channels his mana."
"Can I do that?"
"Nope."
"Great."
---
The Gamer Thinks
Lin ducked a swipe from the nearest wolf, thinking fast. Fire. Respawn. Mana channel. His eyes darted to the glowing red gem embedded in the Fire Tamer's gauntlet. It pulsed every time the wolves reformed.
"Bingo," Lin muttered.
He sprinted sideways, weaving between the wolves like a parkour runner, Heat Sink still active. "Elara! Shoot the gem in his gauntlet!"
She blinked. "What?"
"The gem! Hit it now!"
Elara spun, loosing three arrows in quick succession. The Fire Tamer swept his cloak up, fire shielding him. Two arrows incinerated mid-air, but the third grazed the gem. The glow flickered.
The wolves howled, their flames dimming for a heartbeat.
Nyra gasped. "It's working!"
---
Lin's Plan
"Crystal," Lin hissed. "What happens if we overload the gem?"
"Boom. Big boom. Probably knocks him out. Probably knocks you out too."
Lin grinned. "I like those odds."
He sprinted toward the nearest rune pillar, kicking up sand. "Nyra, funnel all your wind at the gem. Elara, ice arrows on my mark!"
The two women nodded.
---
The Turnaround
The Fire Tamer raised both hands, conjuring a tornado of fire around him. "You think you've figured me out?" he growled. "You're still a child playing my game!"
Lin skidded to a stop just outside the firestorm, Heat Sink burning his veins like molten lava. "Yeah, well, I'm a gamer. And gamers learn patterns."
He slammed his club into the sand, activating the runes again. This time the blue light formed a funnel — a spiral path directing Nyra's wind straight at the Fire Tamer's gauntlet.
Elara's arrows followed, striking through the gaps.
The gem flared, cracks spiderwebbing across its surface.
"Now!" Lin roared.
---
Cliffhanger
The gem exploded in a burst of white-blue fire, throwing everyone backward. The wolves dissolved into sparks, vanishing.
Lin hit the sand hard, HP dropping to single digits. He groaned, spitting out grit. "Ow…"
The Fire Tamer staggered, cloak smoldering, gauntlet shattered. He looked at Lin with something like respect — and fury.
"You… you dare…"
He raised his bare hand. Flames burst from the ground, forming a wall around them, cutting off Elara and Nyra.
Crystal's voice hissed. "Lin. He's dropping the kid gloves."
Lin dragged himself to his feet, swaying. "Great. Round two."
To be continued…