CN1 - 9 - Freeze Steam

After a few more minutes of climbing, he crested a peak and found himself overlooking an amazing landscape. He knew it had to be what he was looking for: the Lava Lagoon. Several of the slopes of the mountain met here, forming a deep, broad basin filled with lava. At least two hundred lengths across, the simmering lagoon glowed yellow and red and orange. A waterfall of lava poured into the far end, sending up constant sprays of steam and smoke.

Kopaka looked around, wondering where in this bubbling wasteland a mask might be hidden.

Then he noticed a small, craggy island jutting out of the center of the lagoon. Was the heat making him see things, or was that the gray shape of a Kanohi mask sitting on the island?

(...)

Time for a new plan, he thought. If I can’t go straight across, maybe I can go over.

Changing his focus, he concentrated on the steam in the air over the lagoon. He aimed his ice blade toward it.

ZZZZZZZT!

The particles of moisture in the air froze solid, forming together into an icy bridge reaching over the first section of the lagoon.

ZZZZZZZT!

ZZZZZZZT!

Kopaka felt his energy draining away as he pointed his blade again and again. But when he was finished, he smiled with triumph. His ice bridge stretched all the way across the lagoon to the island!

Now all I have to do is go get that mask, he though, stepping onto the near end of the bridge. He hurried forward a few steps, then paused. What was that sound?

Drip... SZZZZZ!... drip... SZZZZZ!... drip... SZZZZZ!

Glancing down, he saw with alarm that the bridge was already melting away.

“No!” he cried, pointing his blade toward it to refreeze it.

But it was no use. As fast as he could refreeze one section, another melted. Within seconds the middle part of the bridge collapsed into the lagoon. Kopaka barely had time to leap back to shore as his section of the bridge collapsed, too.