### 46

Your caution is well placed. As soon as the door creaks open, a bolt of fiery energy screams over your head and explodes with a tremendous ear-splitting crack against the stairs behind. It was launched from a tube of glowing crystal, supported on the shoulders of two reptilians, kneeling in the corridor ahead. Their long jaws fall open in shocked surprise when they see you rise to your feet and run towards them, your weapon drawn ready to strike.

Crocaryx: COMBAT SKILL 12 ENDURANCE 38

These creatures are immune to Mindblast (but not Psi-surge). Owing to the speed of your attack, ignore any ENDURANCE point losses that you sustain in the first two rounds of combat.

If you win the combat, turn to 241.