The effect was instant.
Black fire burst from the dragon construct, leaping free from its flapping wings and sending heat racing through the lair, drying out the sky.
The air around grew warm, and then hot. Dry leaves and wood popped, smoked, and burst into flames. The smaller monsters, insects in the surroundings, instantly died from the heat, and the bigger ones felt the uncomfortable heat and began to shift away from the dragon construct that hovered so high above.
The fighting had stopped momentarily as the mind stalk apes shifted their attention away from the fleeing Magus to the black fire above them.
The bigger apes commanded their monsters to turn their attention on Vacuse, and the air was suddenly filled with the clash of magic, but most of it was burned away before it could reach him.
Vacuse was hesitating.
