"TIRO... DUET!" shouted Tomay.

"Tiro Duet?" said Sloan.

The javelin broke free of the ribbons, impaled Sloan through the side, and went into Tomay directly beside her. Despite the wound, a tremendous rifle appeared before them, more a cannon than a rifle, but even bigger than a cannon, like a piece of artillery from an old world war. Tomay grabbed the vast, broad butt of the rifle and Sloan reached for it too, channeling her magic into it. The barrel of the cannon lit up with a yellow orb that built and built until the hammer fell and sparked the magical energy.

Heavy power burst forward. It zoomed over the lava and the rocks and scored a direct blow on the Buddha wraith. The light enveloped it entirely, devolving it into a black outline in the white swath. The lava rippled away from the blast in viscous waves.

The wraith cried out, and its cry sank beneath the continued roar of the cannon. It disintegrated to dust and cubes.

(Chapter 35)