The thirtieth floor announced itself with a wave of scorching heat that hit them as soon as they descended the stairs. The chamber before them was dominated by a massive pool of bubbling lava, islands of obsidian providing the only safe passage across.

  "Well, this looks pleasant," Billy drawled, wiping sweat from his brow. "Remind me why we're doing this again?"

  "The rewards, the challenge, the glory," Zen replied with a slight smile. "Take your pick."

  Aoi stared intently at the lava pool. "Something's moving beneath the surface."

  As if responding to his observation, the lava began to churn more violently. A massive form rose from its depths—a humanoid figure composed entirely of molten rock, standing easily twenty feet tall. Droplets of lava fell from its body, sizzling as they hit the stone floor.

  "A lava golem," Zen identified. "Similar in principle to the jungle golem, but with a rather different elemental affinity."

  "You don't say," Billy muttered, drawing his weapons. "Any particular strategy for this one?"

  "This should be easy," Zen said confidently, stepping forward. "Aoi handled the last guardian. This one's mine."

  The lava golem roared, a sound like an erupting volcano, and hurled a glob of molten rock toward them. The three warriors scattered, diving behind obsidian outcroppings as the projectile exploded against the wall behind them.

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  "Anytime you want to make your move, partner," Billy called out, firing a burst from his Tommy gun. The enchanted bullets struck the golem but seemed to pass through its molten body with minimal effect.

  Zen raised a single hand, his expression one of perfect concentration. "Fire is chaotic, destructive, consuming," he said, his voice taking on a rhythmic quality. "But water... water is patient, persistent, transformative."

  A sphere of water began to form above his palm, growing rapidly until it was the size of a wagon wheel. Unlike normal water, this liquid gleamed with an inner light, magical energy infusing every molecule.

  "Water against fire. A tale as old as time," Zen continued. With a gesture like a pitcher throwing a baseball, he launched the massive water sphere directly at the lava golem.

  The two elemental forces collided with a deafening hiss. Steam filled the chamber, temporarily obscuring vision, but when it cleared, the outcome was decisive. Where the lava golem had stood was now a statue of hardened volcanic rock, frozen in mid-motion, its internal fire extinguished.

  "Elemental counter," Aoi noted with approval. "Simple but effective."

  "Sometimes the classic approaches work best," Zen replied, lowering his hand.

  Billy approached the frozen golem cautiously, rapping his knuckles against its now-solid surface. "Cooled it right through. Nice work."

  "The water was magically enhanced to exponentially increase its cooling properties," Zen explained. "A normal volume of water would have merely aggravated it."

  "Speaking of aggravated," Billy pointed toward the far side of the chamber, where the next staircase awaited. "Shall we continue before anything else decides to join the party?"