Magnus had two days to work with.

It wasn’t much time, considering what they needed to accomplish, but he thought it was more than enough. The rough outlines of the plan were already in his head after discussing it with Mia and the others. Now, it was just a matter of refining it into something actionable.

Fortunately, Magnus’s mind made the task much easier than it would have been for anyone else. The first step was pinpointing exactly where to launch his attack to bring down the magma chamber.

He didn’t need to return to the depths to figure it out. While he and Marcos hadn’t explored all the branching paths off of the main chamber, Magnus had seen enough to estimate its size. That was why, in the present moment, he stood in his room, gazing around at the stone walls and wooden floor. But that wasn’t what he truly saw.

In his mind, Magnus had overlaid reality with a vivid hallucination of the magma chamber. It was like stepping into a frozen image. While parts of it were blurry or indistinct—places he hadn’t explored—it was clear enough to serve his purpose.

Hmm, alright. If I had to guess…

His thoughts shifted, and it was as though he had teleported. One moment, he stood at the chamber’s entrance; the next, he appeared at the far end, standing at the edge of a massive molten lake.

This seems to be the central point. Everything flows through here, one way or another. And it’s also where the rules seem… the loosest.

He looked up at the ceiling, observing just how bizarre a magical location could be. Directly above the magma lake, the ceiling didn’t appear solid. It bubbled and rippled more violently than the molten pit below as if it were made of a viscous liquid instead of stone. Streams of molten material cascaded down, while others flowed upward or sideways, defying gravity. The crisscrossing streams looked like decorations, twisting and overlapping in chaotic patterns that stretched across the chamber ceiling.

Their movement defied reason, and the scene felt like a visual representation of what happened when magic ran wild. Here, the very idea of logic seemed to collapse under the weight of unrestrained power.

And that makes this the perfect place to strike. The source of this chaotic instability—if I hit it hard enough, the equilibrium of self-replicating magic holding this place together will shatter. And when that happens, the whole thing should come crashing down.

Now, Magnus just needed to determine where the magma chamber was in relation to the surface. It sounded complicated, but for him, it was surprisingly straightforward. His mental map functioned much like the maps you’d find in games, relying on x and z coordinates. Its starting point was Arlcliff City, marked as (0,0). Essentially, it was like a GPS, but one he had to fill out the map of himself.

The only limitation was that it didn’t track the y-coordinate, meaning it didn’t account for elevation or depth. However, in this case, that was an advantage—it allowed him to pinpoint the exact spot on the surface directly above the magma chamber, deep underground.

Alright, if I align my mental map with the valley’s actual map, the knight tasked with luring the Nullfang should position themselves just northwest of the lake. Here, maybe? Does that line up on your end, Basker?

[That does seem accurate, Master. However, I would recommend they perch atop the hill further west of that position. It would give them a better vantage point to spot the Nullfang as it emerges.]

Hmm? Oh, you’re right. I didn’t notice that area. Good eye, Basker.

[Thank you, Master.]

And so, Magnus’s planning continued over the next two days. He spent most of his time in his room, only stepping out for meals or when his mind needed a break from running at full speed. With Basker’s assistance, he even skipped dreaming to maximize his focus.

The only person who stopped by during this time was Mia. Her visits were brief—just to check on him. While Magnus didn’t have much to show since his planning was entirely mental, his mind often drifted back to their previous conversation about her oath. It lingered like an unresolved thread, but every time Magnus tried to address it, Mia redirected the conversation or promised they’d discuss it later.

In the end, he chose not to press the matter. As much as she seemed intent on avoiding the topic, she wasn’t wrong—they couldn’t afford any distractions with the Nullfang looming. A single misstep could get them killed.

•

Year 348 of the Great Sundering Era, 1st Month, 26th Day of the Mistveil Cycle.

The day arrived swiftly for those unaware of what Magnus, Mia, and the others had been planning. But for those directly involved, each moment had been a slow and deliberate buildup to this point. Now, Magnus stood with the group around the wooden table and map inside the open tent. This time, he was front and center, his expression serious and sharp as he laid everything out.

"That brings us here," Magnus said, pointing to a marked spot on the gridded map before looking up at the others.

"This is where we strike and put an end to all of this. We kill the Nullfang before it has a chance to kill anyone else." He went on to explain the plan in full, outlining every role and contingency.

When he finished, Mia took over and scanned the group before asking, "Any questions?"

"Nope, I get the gist," Gerald said, with his hands on his sides as he smirked at Magnus.

"I have to admit, though, kid—I'm impressed. You made this sound a lot more plausible compared to how you pitched it two days ago." Magnus straightened up from where he’d been leaning on the table, giving Gerald a half-hearted shrug and a faint smile.

"That’s what I was supposed to do."

"Well, no point in dragging this out," Galven chimed in, rolling his neck with a sharp crack and rubbing at the tension with one hand.

"We need to get this done before nightfall."

"Right," Magnus agreed, stepping away from the table. He gestured to Mia as he continued.

"Mia, I’ll ride with you. We’ll split off as we approach the lake. Gerald, Marcos, Galven, and Hazel, you’ll head to your positions and prepare for the ambush. The timer starts the moment you feel the ground shake." As Magnus finished, Hazel raised a hand, his brow furrowed.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"And what if we don’t? What if the plan fails, and you… well, don’t make it back?" The question hung in the air, halting Magnus in his tracks. He turned to Hazel, his expression faltering for a brief moment. There was a flicker of conflict in his eyes before he finally responded.

"If you don’t feel any tremors half an hour after I go beneath the water’s surface, call the plan off," Magnus said firmly.

"At that point, your only options will be to either face the Nullfang head-on or leave the valley on foot and head back to Arlcliff City. All you can do then is hope Larter Village and the soldiers left behind here survive long enough for you to return with reinforcements." With that, Magnus stepped out of the tent and made his way to the wooden stables. Mia gave the others a quick gesture of good luck before following after him.

"Sorry about that, Magnus," Mia said as she caught up to him.

"It’s fine," Magnus replied, his voice quieter.

"It’s a fair question. Honestly… I’m not even sure this plan will work or if we’ll be able to kill this thing. If I die..." His words trailed off as they reached the open stables. Mia signaled the stablehand, who began preparing a horse for them.

"Don’t think about that," Mia said firmly.

"If you feel like your life’s in danger, just run. You’re not a soldier—you’re not obligated to risk your life for others." Her words hung in the air, a reminder to prioritize himself. Magnus nodded, but as practical as the thought was, something tugged at the back of his mind.

Can I really afford to run from a glitch? If I don’t handle them, who will? Nothing in this world—magic or otherwise—can stop them. And with each one that appears, this world inches closer to disaster.

But then again, didn’t that make his survival even more crucial? How grand of a scale did a gitch have to reach before it was his problem to deal with whether he liked it or not?

"Magnus? Did you hear me?" Mia’s voice cut through his thoughts. Magnus blinked, looking up to see her already on the horse—the same brown-coated one he and Marcos had ridden into the village before.

"No sacrifices, got it?" She said, reaching her gloved hand toward him. Magnus stared at her hand for a moment before nodding. He took it and climbed onto the horse behind her.

"I got it," he muttered. Mia’s grave expression softened, a hint of relief visible.

"Good. Let’s get moving." The horse began to gallop, rushing out of the outpost’s front gate and toward the path leading down to Larter Village. The others would soon depart on horseback as well, though they’d take different routes. As they rode, the rough stone and dirt paths began to smooth out into the meadows and farmlands surrounding Larter Village.

Magnus broke the silence, his voice firm.

"Remember, Mia. When you’re acting as bait for the Nullfang, do whatever it takes to get its attention and make it chase you—but don’t attack it. No matter what, we can’t risk it unlocking any more null states than it already has."

"I remember," Mia replied, her tone steady. It wasn’t long before they reached Larter Village. Without stopping, their horse galloped through the streets and out onto the path leading to the lake at the far end of the valley. As they neared their destination, Magnus shifted, placing his hands on Mia’s shoulders and standing up on the horse’s back.

"Alright, this is where we split off," he told her.

"Your position is just northeast of here."

"Got it. Good luck, Magnus," Mia responded.

With that, Magnus leaped off the still-moving horse, before kicking off the air with a sharp burst. A shockwave rippled around him as he propelled forward, hurtling through the air in the same direction as the path they had been following. He glanced back briefly to see Mia veer off, her horse cutting through the meadows toward her designated position. She was heading to where she’d act as both lookout and bait for the Nullfang when it surfaced.

Turning his focus ahead, Magnus continued kicking off the air, his movements making it look as though he were flying just a few meters above the ground at incredible speed. The world blurred around him as he angled upward, boosting off the air again to gain altitude. Moments later, the familiar sight of the lake came into view. Its crystal-clear surface shimmered, as beautiful and reflective as the first time he’d seen it.

Now that I know what’s beneath it, it’s a lot more nerve-racking.

Still, he didn’t let the thought distract him. With a series of rapid air jumps, he reached the lake’s center, where the tunnel leading to the magma chamber lay hidden below. Without hesitation, Magnus dove into a freefall, plummeting headfirst toward the water.

The impact slowed his momentum as he plunged into the lake, the chill of the water soaking through his clothes. But there was no urgency—he didn’t need to breathe, allowing him to function underwater as easily as on land.

He aligned himself with where the tunnel should be, even though it wasn’t visible from the surface. With a sharp kick, he began propelling himself forward, cutting through the water in bursts. Each movement of his legs sent him shooting ahead like a torpedo, though the water’s resistance quickly slowed him down. Repeating the process, he moved with a rhythm that let him traverse the water just as effectively as he moved through the air.

As Magnus descended, the water around him began to warm, a clear sign that he was approaching his destination. The deep, hazy blue of the lake gradually gave way, and the dark outline of the tunnel came into view.

I can handle the pressure with my body, but the heat is another issue altogether.

With that thought, Magnus began visualizing ice elementrix, cooling the water around him to regulate the rising temperature. Within seconds, he reached the edge where the lake bed ended and the tunnel began.

Just like before, the tunnel loomed ahead, an abyss of pitch-black darkness. There was still a hint of that fear sitting at the corner of his heart, but having already traversed this way once, it was a lot easier the second time around. Plus, compared to when he and Marcos floated down in a mana construct, propelling himself directly made the descent much faster, even with the added challenge of multitasking his visualizations.

So, soon enough, he saw it—the faint light refraction signaling the magma chamber’s presence.

There it is. I guess that means the easy part’s done.

As Magnus reached the branching tunnel, he navigated quickly toward the magma chamber’s entrance. Bursting from the water, he sent a spray of water flying that immediately evaporated into steam as he landed on solid ground. The only thing left wet was his clothes.

The moment his feet hit the ground, his eyes darted around, scanning for any sign of the Nullfang. But the chamber was quiet. No sign of movement in the magma or anything coiled around the stone stalagmites littering the chamber floor. All he could hear was the constant popping of molten rock and the faint, rhythmic flow of magma through the ground and walls.

Hmm, where is it? This plan’s useless if the Nullfang isn’t in the chamber when it collapses. If it’s not here, it might resurface somewhere else entirely—not where we need it.

Clicking his tongue, Magnus leaped into the air with enough force to crack the ground beneath him, leaving an imprint of his foot behind. Bounding nimbly between hanging stalactites and dodging molten bubbles bursting from the ceiling, he landed near the bank of the magma lake.

"Alright, this is where it surfaced last time. Guess I’ll have to call it out." Magnus already had a plan in mind. He raised his right hand, and with a thought, sparks of electricity danced between his fingers. In seconds, the sparks erupted into arcs of lightning, coating his hand entirely and buzzing so loudly it grated against his ears. Bracing his electrified arm, he covered his ears with his free hand and clenched his fist.

The discharge surged outward, a burst of raw power that arced through the chamber like a storm. The warm, orange-tinted walls turned a stark, electric blue as bolts reached even the ceiling. Then came the crack—a deafening thunderclap that shook the entire chamber. Fragile stalactites shattered and rained down, some disintegrating into the magma below. The sound echoed through every tunnel and branching system connected to the chamber.

After a few seconds, the roaring stopped, and the lightning dissipated. Lowering his hand, Magnus uncovered his ears, his burned fingers marked with singed skin. By all means it should have been far worse—his entire hand should have been ruined—but the damage was minimal, and as [Perfective Regeneration] kicked in, it would be even less severe next time.

But his focus wasn’t on the pain. His attention snapped to the sound that followed: a slow, grinding scrape of something against stone. Then came the unmistakable low hiss.

There you are. Always no-clipping through the world, making it impossible to hear you coming.

Magnus turned his head, his gaze locking onto the Nullfang coiled directly behind him. Its eyes burned with intent, its tongue flicking in and out in a display of menace. As it stared him down, the haunting music he’d heard during his escape with Marcos began to creep back into his ears, faint but unmistakable.

Well, I’ve drawn it out. Now I just need to destroy the chamber before it kills me. Easy enough…