The golem’s hand slammed down, splitting the air with a thunderous crack. Elara’s breath caught as Gilvanis vanished—only to reappear in a blur, darting between the creature’s stone fingers.
He twisted midair, landing on its knuckles, then sprinted up its arm. Elara’s hands clenched, her voice trapped in her throat as she watched him climb, the golem’s other hand already sweeping toward him.
Her gaze followed his path, catching something odd about the glowing sigils on the golem’s body. Some pulsed with steady light, while others remained dark. Frowning, she turned to Kael, who was already watching the battle.
“Hey, Kael,” she wondered, “Why do only some of the golem’s sigils light up?”
Kael glanced at her, a flicker of surprise crossing his features before being replaced by a look of approval. “Well spotted, Alira,” he said, nodding in appreciation.
He turned his attention back to the golem, his eyes narrowing as he studied the creature’s form. “We believe that the sigils are the key to defeating this creature,” he explained, his voice low. “If we strike a sigil with enough force and damage it sufficiently, it stops glowing.”
The pieces of the puzzle fell into place as she thought it through. “So, the dark sigils,” she said slowly, “someone has already damaged them?”
Kael nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Precisely,” he confirmed. “It’s our working theory, at least. If we can target the remaining active sigils and deactivate them, we may weaken or even disable the golem entirely.”
She tore her gaze away, refocusing on the battle. The massive stone golem loomed over the battlefield, its right hand reaching to grasp Gilvanis.
But he was too quick. He leaped into the air, landing deftly on its arm. His feet found purchase on the rough stone, and in one fluid motion, he twisted, raised his bow, and nocked an arrow.
The arrow glowed gold, its radiance pulsing brighter with each second. Gilvanis’s eyes narrowed, locked onto a glowing sigil on the golem’s arm.
With a powerful twang that echoed across the cavern, he released the arrow. It shot through the air, striking the sigil dead center. The point of the arrow sank deep into the stone, embedding itself firmly.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the glow of the sigil began to flicker and fade. The light dimmed, sputtering weakly before extinguishing entirely.
She watched as Gilvanis landed gracefully on the ground, his feet barely making a sound as he touched down. Without missing a beat, he sprinted away from the golem, putting distance between himself and the massive creature.
Tirn rejoined the fray, his axes flashing in a deadly dance as he diverted the golem’s attention. Each strike against its legs sent shockwaves through the cavern, the clash of metal on stone echoing deafeningly. Elara winced at the force behind each blow, imagining the toll on both Tirn and his weapons.
Across the battlefield, she spotted Esme—battered but undeterred. Blood streaked her face, mixing with sweat and dirt, yet she pressed on. Dented armor and scrapes did nothing to slow her as she swung her massive hammer, each strike cracking against the golem’s leg in a relentless effort to bring it down.
Her gaze drifted to the Blackwood siblings, standing just beyond the golem’s reach, weapons ready. Unlike the chaos around them, they remained still, watching intently. A thought struck her—were they waiting for Tirn and Esme to weaken the golem before making their move?
As the battle raged, questions raced through her mind. Would Tirn and Esme’s efforts be enough? Uncertainty gnawed at her, heightening the tension. Tirn’s axes bit into the golem’s stone legs, chipping away its defenses, while Esme’s hammer struck with relentless precision, deepening the cracks with each blow.
Despite the chaos, admiration stirred within her. Tirn and Esme fought with seamless coordination, their determination unwavering against the odds.
A new sound cut through the fray—the strumming of Slynn’s lute. She turned, eyes widening as a shimmering blue light enveloped Esme and Tirn. The ethereal glow infused them with renewed energy, their movements sharpening. Esme’s hammer struck harder, Tirn’s axes sliced cleaner—their attacks now bolstered by the magic woven into Slynn’s melody.
She turned to Kael, her lips parting to ask about the strange effect. “Kael, what is—”
A sharp voice cut through the cavern before she could finish. “Keep clear!” The command echoed off the walls, urgent and unmistakable.
Her head snapped up, her gaze drawn to the hole she had emerged from moments earlier. There, flying out of the opening, was Ignatius himself, his staff pointed directly at the stone golem. His ropes billowed around him as he soared through the air, the tip of his staff glowing with an intense light.
Lines of runes appeared beneath the massive creature, forming a complex pattern on the ground. The symbols glowed with an eerie crimson light, pulsating with energy. The runes seemed to writhe and shift as if they were alive, each character locking into place with an audible click that resonated through the cavern.
Tirn and Esme sprinted out of the newly forming circle. Elara recognized the spell—she had seen him use it before, albeit on a much smaller scale. The anticipation and urgency in the air were palpable.
The golem, seemingly aware of the impending danger, moved. Its massive stone limbs creaked and groaned as it attempted to step out of the circle, but an invisible force held it in place. The creature’s struggles grew more frantic. Elara could see Josephine holding out her hands toward the golem, her fingers trembling with the strain of maintaining whatever skill that is keeping the golem from moving.
As the last lines of the spell connected, completing the pattern, a pillar of flames erupted from the ground, engulfing the golem in a searing inferno. The heat was intense, the roar of the flames drowning out all other sounds in the cavern. The brilliant light cast dancing shadows on the walls, creating a surreal, almost nightmarish scene.
Amidst the chaos, she heard Ignatius’s cackling laughter. It was a sound she had not heard from the older man before, and it unsettled her slightly—a glimpse into the mage’s apparent enjoyment of the destruction he had unleashed. She watched as he continued to fly, propelled by the force of his own descent, until he collided with the crater Tirn had created on the far wall of the cavern.
The impact was jarring, and for a moment, she feared for Ignatius’s safety. But as the dust settled, she saw him slowly slide down the wall, his robes tangled around his face, muffling his ongoing laughter. Despite the seriousness of the situation, she couldn’t help but find a touch of humor at the sight.
The sudden appearance of Isolde emerging from the same opening as Ignatius pulled her attention from the mage. In her arms, she carried the unconscious form of Velma. With a grace that belied the urgency of the situation, Isolde soared through the air, her body twisting as she approached the far wall of the cavern.
Isolde’s feet contacted the vertical surface, her body absorbing the impact. She stood there, defying gravity, her stance unwavering as she scanned the cavern. The display of agility and strength impressed Elara; she marveled at Isolde’s ability to maintain her balance while holding Velma.
As Isolde’s eyes locked onto Krill’s position behind Elara. Without hesitation, she leapt down from the wall, landing with a soft thud on the cavern floor. Velma remained cradled in her arms, unmoving, as Isolde sprinted towards them, her strides purposeful and urgent.
Kael caught Elara’s attention; she noticed a subtle change in his demeanor as he saw Isolde approaching. She saw the tension in his shoulders ease slightly. He took a few steps towards Isolde, as if drawn by an invisible force, before catching himself and turning his attention back to the roaring flames that still engulfed the stone golem.
Her focus snapped back to Isolde, who was striding forward with large, quick steps, her feet now pounding against the cavern floor. The intensity of her movements conveyed a sense of urgency that immediately set Elara on edge.
Behind her, she heard Selly’s shocked voice cut through the chaos. “Is that Velma?” she asked, disbelief and concern lacing her tone, as she caught sight of the unconscious form in Isolde’s arms.
Krill let out a string of curses, his frustration clear. “Slynn, help me regenerate more mana,” he commanded, his voice strained with the weight of the situation.
“Of course,” Slynn replied, his fingers already moving to the strings of his lute, his voice steady despite the chaos swirling around them.
As Isolde drew closer, a sudden movement caught Elara’s eye. The stone golem, still wreathed in flames, burst from the inferno with shocking speed. Josephine, who had held it in place, stumbled back, her control shattered.
Elara’s breath hitched—the golem was heading straight for Isolde. Arthur’s cry rang through the cavern. “Since when can it jump?!”
Kael reacted instantly. Eyes locked on the golem, he sprinted, legs driving furiously to close the distance. Elara’s heart pounded as the golem hurtled downward.
It struck the ground with a thunderous impact, sending a shockwave through the cavern. Dust and debris exploded into the air, blinding her. She couldn’t see—had Kael reached Isolde in time?
Frozen, her mind raced. Her hands trembled, fear knotting in her chest. Each second stretched unbearably as she strained to see through the swirling dust, desperate to know if they had survived.
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As the dust settled, her eyes widened at the sight before her. Kael stood tall, his shield raised high above himself, protecting Isolde from the stone golem’s massive form. The shield had transformed, projecting a larger, arcane version of itself above them. The golem crouched on the shimmering blue surface, its weight bearing down on Kael.
Isolde took a moment to glance at Kael. Then turned, running towards Elara and Krill, Velma still cradled securely in her arms.
Kael let out a strained grunt, his muscles trembling under the immense pressure of the golem’s weight. Yet he held strong.
Tirn and Esme approached the golem from opposite sides. The blue shimmer of Slynn’s buff still clung to them. Tirn’s axes gleamed with a newfound intensity, while Esme’s hammer radiated with red power.
She watched as Esme leapt onto the shimmering surface of Kael’s arcane shield, landing between the golem’s massive legs. With a fierce cry, she raised her hammer high above her head; the weapon glowing a fierce red. In a powerful, downward arc, she brought the hammer crashing against the inner side of the golem’s leg; the impact reverberating through the cavern.
The golem stumbled, thrown off balance by her strike. Esme held her ground, stance wide and ready for its retaliation.
Tirn sprinted toward the golem’s right arm, eyes locked on his target. As he leapt, a geyser of flames erupted beneath him, launching him skyward. Fire coiled around his feet, forming a platform that carried him higher.
With a roar, he raised an axe, its blade glinting in the firelight. At the peak of his ascent, he swung—burying the weapon deep into the golem’s shoulder. The axe bit into stone, anchoring him.
The golem thrashed, trying to shake him loose, but Tirn clung on, muscles straining. He reached for his second axe—just as a violent jolt sent it flying. The weapon spun through the air, vanishing from reach.
Elara’s breath caught. Tirn was hanging on by a single grip, his second weapon lost.
Isolde rushed past, Velma cradled in her arms. Elara’s instinct was to check on them, but before she could move, Ignatius’s voice rang out across the cavern.
“Alira!” he shouted, his tone urgent. “Fetch Tirn’s weapon and bring it to him!”
She sprang into action, eyes locking onto the spinning axe. Her eyes locked onto the flying axe, tracking its trajectory through the air. She focused her mind, picturing herself above the spinning weapon. In an instant, she felt the familiar tug of her Voidwalk ability, and the world around blurred.
She materialized above the axe, her right hand outstretched. As her fingers closed around the handle, the momentum of the weapon yanked her arm forward, pulling her off balance in the air. The force of the axe’s flight was immense, dragging her along with it.
She gritted her teeth, tightening her grip on the handle. With another focused thought, she Voidwalked again, this time appearing at Tirn’s side on the golem’s shoulder. Despite the abrupt change of place, she kept her balance on the unstable surface.
Tirn’s eyes widened as she appeared next to him, his axe in her hand. Without a word, he reached out and took the weapon from her. She couldn’t help but notice that the force that had nearly pulled her arm from its socket mere moments ago seemed to have vanished. The axe no longer dragged her along with it, as if the momentum had been left behind in the void.
She crouched on the golem’s shoulder, her fingers digging into the rough stone surface as the creature thrashed beneath her. The world seemed to tilt and sway with each violent movement, and she nearly lost her balance, she fought to maintain her precarious position.
Beside her, Tirn gripped his second axe tightly, his knuckles turning white with the force of his hold. With a grunt of effort, he plunged the weapon into the golem’s stone arm; the blade sinking deep into the unyielding surface. The axe joined its twin, both weapons now embedded in the creature’s limb.
His face was a mask of determination as he pulled his legs up, his muscles straining with the effort. Elara watched in awe as he thrust his legs downward, using the strength of his entire body to generate a powerful downward force.
The axes, anchored securely in the golem’s arm, moved. He dragged them through the stone, his muscles bulging with the strain. Two paths emerged in the wake of the weapons, the sharp blades cutting through the intricate sigils that adorned the golem’s surface.
Sparks flew as the axes tore through the stone, the screeching sound of metal against rock filling the air. Elara couldn’t help but flinch at the noise, her ears ringing with the harsh, grating sound.
As he continued to drag the axes downward, the golem’s movements became more erratic. It thrashed and bucked, trying to dislodge the unwelcome intruders from its arm. She tightened her grip, her fingers aching with the effort to hold on.
The paths left by the axes grew longer; the sigils shattering and crumbling under the relentless assault.
The golem’s left arm rose, its hand poised to crush Tirn. Elara’s heart leapt into her throat, fear gripping her as she watched the impending blow. But just before the hand could connect with Tirn, a chain wrapped around the golem’s left arm, the metal links clinking as they tightened around the stone limb.
At the same moment, a hammer impacted the arm with a resounding crack. The force of the blow pushed the golem’s arm off course, causing it to miss Tirn.
Her hand moved to her belt, her fingers closing around the hilt of her dagger. She plunged the dagger into the golem’s shoulder; the blade sinking into the stone surface. The weapon provided an anchor, helping her to keep steady as the golem thrashed beneath her. She clung to the hilt, her arm straining with the effort to maintain her grip.
As the golem’s movements grew more erratic, her gaze fell upon the chain that had wrapped around its arm. The metal links drew taut, the tension in the chain palpable. Following the length of the chain, her eyes landed on Isolde, who stood on the other side of the golem, her hands gripping the end of the chain.
A volley of arrows struck the golem’s left arm, the projectiles embedding themselves into the stone surface. Despite the impact, the sigils etched into the arm remained lit, their glow unwavering. The arrows, while impressive, were not enough to disrupt the intricate patterns.
As she clung to the hilt of her dagger, her mind raced with the possibility of replicating Tirn’s slide down the arm. The blade of her weapon had sliced through the golem’s stone shoulder with surprising ease, suggesting that it could be an effective tool in it. However, a flicker of doubt crossed her mind as she remembered the agreement she had made with Esme and the others.
She had promised to not actively participate in the fighting, refraining from directly engaging the enemy to avoid taking a portion of the experience points. It was a deal she had accepted. But now, faced with the opportunity to make a difference, to contribute to the fight, she found herself at an impasse.
Before she could delve deeper into her internal struggle, Esme’s voice rang out across the battlefield. “Alira!” she shouted, her tone urgent and commanding. “Try to do the same as Tirn!”
The words struck her like a bolt of lightning, cutting through her hesitation. With Esme’s blessing, with her explicit permission to act, she felt a surge of determination. She focused her mind, picturing herself on the golem’s other side, near the highest point of the sigils on its arm.
She Voidwalked, materializing exactly where she had envisioned. Without delay, she plunged her dagger into the stone. She gripped the hilt tightly, preparing to drag the weapon downward as Tirn had done.
But as she attempted to generate the necessary force, she struggled. Her muscles strained, her arms trembling with the effort, but the dagger remained stubbornly in place. She gritted her teeth, pouring all her strength into the task, but her own power was not enough.
A strange sensation crept over her, the air above thickening as though the weight of the sky itself were pressing down. Elara froze, her breath hitching as the invisible force bore down on her, threatening to crush her where she stood. Her eyes widened, pulse quickening, as she scanned the space around her, searching for the source of the unseen pressure. What was happening?
Instinctively, she tightened her grip on the dagger, both hands now wrapped around the hilt in a desperate attempt to maintain her hold. The weight bore down on her, making it difficult to breathe, but she refused to let go. She clung to the weapon, her knuckles turning white with the strain, as the mysterious force continued to press her towards the ground.
As the oppressive weight bore down on her, she slid down the golem’s arm, her dagger slicing through the sigils that adorned its surface. The blade cut through the patterns with surprising ease, leaving a trail of shattered symbols in her wake.
She gritted her teeth, her muscles straining as she continued her descent, her dagger never faltering. As she sliced through the final sigil, the oppressive weight lifted entirely. She felt a sudden sense of weightlessness, her body no longer crushed by the mysterious force. But before she could react, she fell, plummeting towards the ground below.
She hit the ground hard, her back slamming against the unyielding surface of Kael’s arcane shield. The impact drove the air from her lungs, leaving her gasping in pain and disorientation. A sharp, radiating ache spread through her body, making it difficult to even think, let alone move.
For a moment, she lay there, her mind struggling to catch up with the chaos around her. Slowly, she forced her eyes open. Her vision swam, but as it cleared, she saw the stone golem crumbling before her. The once-imposing figure, so full of menace and power, was now disintegrating, its massive form breaking apart piece by piece.
A mix of awe and dread filled her as she watched the golem collapse, its enormous chunks of stone tumbling toward the ground. Panic surged within her—she had to move, to escape before the falling debris crushed her. But her body, battered and bruised, resisted her attempts to rise. She groaned in frustration, willing her muscles to cooperate as she struggled to push herself up.
Just as the shadow of the falling rubble loomed over her, muscular arms suddenly wrapped around her, lifting her from the ground in one swift motion. She gasped as Tirn pulled her into his embrace.
Tirn took a running leap off Kael’s shield, his powerful legs propelling them both away from the danger. They landed with a solid thud on the cavern floor, Elara still clutched tightly against his chest. Without missing a beat, Tirn turned and sprinted toward safety, ducking under the shimmering blue barrier as the golem’s remains continued to rain down.
Elara clung to him, her heart hammering in her chest. The sound of cracking stone reverberated through the cavern, a deafening reminder of the destruction unfolding above them. She could feel the vibrations in the ground as the golem’s massive form shattered into lifeless rubble, scattering across the floor like a grotesque avalanche.
Despite the terror of the moment, a part of her marveled at the sight. The creature that had seemed so indestructible just moments ago was now reduced to a heap of inert stone, its power extinguished in a matter of seconds. The sheer finality of it was both awe-inspiring and terrifying.
As the last of the debris settled, an eerie silence descended over the cavern, broken only by the labored breathing of her companions. Their chests heaved with a mixture of exertion and relief, the tension of the battle slowly ebbing away.
She glanced up at Tirn, his face still set in a mask of grim determination. His eyes, which had been blazing red with a fierce intensity moments before, were now back to their familiar dark brown. A wave of gratitude washed over her—though she could have voidwalked to safety, it was a comfort to know that an ally had been there to protect her.
Kael stood tall near them, his arcane shield still raised high above them. The shimmering blue light of the barrier pulsed steadily, a testament to his unwavering focus. His muscles strained with the effort of maintaining the protective spell, but his stance remained unyielding, a silent guardian in the chaos's aftermath.
Elara let out a shaky breath. The reality of what had just happened slowly sinking in. She was safe.
You and your allies have defeated Imperfect Stone Golem [Level 299].
You have earned 33100 Exp.
You have leveled up to level 50.
You have 20 unspent Stat points
[Dungeon Completed: Crystallized Caverns]
You have successfully conquered the Dungeon. Your skill and determination have not gone unnoticed.
Special Reward Unlocked:
[Class Roulette lvl 1]: Token of Specialization
Description: The Token of Specialization has been added to your [Class Roulette lvl 1]. This token allows you to lock in a specific class archetype (Healer, Warrior, etc.) during your next spin. Once activated, your next spin of the roulette will be guaranteed to land on a class with the chosen archetype.
Token: 1
