Chapter 76: Sanctuary of Restful Purification — Final Battle (2)
Chapter 76: Sanctuary of Restful Purification — Final Battle (2)
It was true that golems ruled the world in the future of Golemophia, but their average level was not particularly high.
The reason they managed to defeat a level-9 powerhouse like the Saint was not quality, but quantity.
In other words, overwhelming numbers.
Because of that, each individual unit could be treated lightly.
At least until three days had passed.
Crackle!
While frantically enduring the enemies’ attacks, I swallowed the black sphere of lightning hovering in my hand.
《Because of [Sin: Gluttony], your body has now acquired the same nature as the filthy lightning of Sue’je that you just consumed!》
The sensation of my entire body turning into lightning spread through me.
Even though this was the second time, the pain was still difficult to endure.
But it was tolerable.
—Abnormal lifeform causing errors detected. Eliminating.
A golem whose hands were blades sliced through my neck and waist in one motion.
My body split into three pieces.
Yet I did not die.
Because my body had already become lightning.
It immediately returned to its original form as I grabbed the golem.
Crackle!
Lightning spread violently in every direction.
The electric current instantly damaged the mana cores and circuits of the non-living army, causing mass malfunction.
—Hostile lifeform detected.
A large humanoid golem stepped forward, trampling the twitching bodies of its fallen allies.
—I will eliminate you.
Its arm extended as it swung.
The steel hand pierced through my abdomen.
Lightning surged backward through the arm and electrocuted the golem.
—…Ineffective.
Perhaps it was protected by elemental resistance magic.
Even while staggering, it sprouted spikes from the arm that had pierced me.
“…That doesn’t work on me either.”
Since my body was lightning, I simply slipped aside and released electricity at full output.
The thunder surpassed its limit.
Ignoring its elemental resistance magic, the lightning burned the humanoid golem completely.
Another victory.
Now the moment had come.
《Congratulations! Your Soul Rank has increased and you have reached Level 4!》
Finally.
A wave of exhilaration filled my chest.
《Through relentless combat, your Vitality has increased by 3!》
My vitality was now 11, even without using Ghoul Mobility.
This was why reckless combat had its rewards.
It was a moment to savor the changes in my body, but there was no time.
—Commence firing!
—Exterminate!
The monster army that had been observing me cautiously unleashed their attacks.
Bullets fired from their uniquely designed body parts.
The basic mystic of mage-type pure mana casters—
[Mana Bullet].
Even though it was only first-tier, it had countless applications.
Mana bullets hammered my body relentlessly.
My entire body was lightning, yet pieces of it were gradually being chipped away.
《Warning: If you keep taking hits like before, you will die.》
I knew that.
Even at level 4, I was far from immortal.
I could not endure every attack.
Crackle!
While enduring the barrage of mana bullets, my body nearly torn apart, I gathered violent lightning in both hands.
Just as my left eye was struck and half my vision vanished—
I hurled the violently writhing black lightning skyward.
The lightning shot upward before falling back down.
Rumble!
A lightning strike charred an unlucky puppet black.
Electricity spread across the area.
—All units. Eliminate that bizarre intelligence!
A few golems and puppets protected by elemental resistance mystics continued firing mana bullets.
“Ahaha…!”
Laughter spilled from my mouth again, just like Sue’je.
Welcome, pain.
You nourishment of valuable results.
《Remaining Vitality: 70/100》
《Remaining Mental Energy: 60/100》
《Recommendation: It is time to retreat.》
I wanted to.
Honestly, I wanted to fight here for three days straight.
But mental energy had limits.
And I could not retreat alone.
The golems would not kindly wave goodbye.
“My comrades will arrive soon.”
I just had to endure until then.
I scattered lightning from both arms.
Mechanical screams erupted everywhere.
—Monster! Stop!
While controlling my mental energy and fighting carefully, a quadrupedal golem approached.
Its face had a hole resembling a speaker.
More precisely, its upper body was human, but its lower body was a horse.
《Centaur-Type Elite Combat Golem (Level 5)》
《A troublesome golem that absorbs the energy emitted by opponents, doubles its power, and fires it back. Destroy that ridiculous body immediately!》
—Your power does not work on me!
“Hmm. Why do you speak so cheerfully?”
—Because the wizard who designed me and my brothers had such a bizarre personality!
“I see. My condolences.”
—Thank you for understanding, but you must die now!
Lightning poured from the cheerful golem’s face like a waterfall.
Stronger lightning than my Black Lightning Bloom.
This was why I wanted to encounter an elite combat golem before retreating.
Crackle!
Electricity collided midair.
The violent clash between divine lightning granted by an Evil God and an imitation created by magic.
In pure power I was weaker.
But I possessed a mystic that controlled lightning.
Using Black Lightning Bloom, the two lightning forces entered a stalemate.
—What!? Why is it evenly matched!?
“Because this is called a Mystery. A golem like you can only use abilities installed by a mage.”
The centaur golem’s lightning began being pushed back.
Pouring all my will into controlling it, my lightning finally pierced its head.
—Aaaaah… huh?
Then the lightning was absorbed through the speaker-like hole.
—Oh! I forgot I have absorption ability!
“You didn’t know? I thought you were pretending.”
—Haha! Now die!
Just as the cheerful golem tried to fire lightning again—
The message I had been waiting for appeared.
《Congratulations: Growth-type Mystery [Black Lightning Bloom] has evolved to Tier 4.》
I immediately activated the upgraded mystic.
—Huh?
The lightning gathering in the golem’s face suddenly flowed back inside its head and raged violently within.
Once Black Lightning Bloom reached Tier 4, even distant lightning could be controlled.
“This is the end.”
—Impossible!!
BOOM!
The centaur golem exploded violently.
“You spoke strangely, but you were a worthy opponent. Farewell.”
—I’m still alive!
Looking closer, the golem’s head rolled across the ground.
Perhaps the mana core near its brain protected it.
I stored it in subspace as loot, then drank some of my own blood to restore my body.
—Enemy causing fatal errors confirmed.
—Extermination commencing.
Soon, two non-living enemies appeared.
Level 7.
Two levels stronger than the cheerful golem.
I immediately turned and ran.
They pursued instantly.
With my fragile agility-1 legs, escape was impossible.
—Capture complete.
A puppet with three heads and six arms seized me.
—Exterminate.
The memory of the unbearable pain when the Large Magic Book devoured me flashed through my mind.
But this time I was not alone.
“Made it in time!”
Just as an ogre-type golem was about to crush me with a hammer—
Bartimir arrived and kicked its ugly face with both feet.
A powerful strike from a demon who had absorbed countless negative concepts.
—…What!?
While the golem staggered, Bartimir hoisted me onto his back.
—Let the stars shine!
Astrimia’s aura wave swept through the golems.
Ding.
Lucius’s divine healing mystic enveloped my body.
Pain vanished.
Vitality recovered.
“Asmi!”
Pendrick smiled and unleashed three waves of aura.
The golems faltered.
While the swordsman bought time, Lucius extended his hand.
“O Arteine!”
Crackle!
A translucent white barrier formed before the enemies.
A defensive mystic that could block several attacks.
“Let’s go!”
Knowing one’s limits was essential for explorers.
The Moon Expedition immediately retreated instead of continuing the fight.
Crash!
The level-7 golems shattered the barrier quickly and chased us.
The non-living army rushed forward now that my lightning had stopped.
Pendrick cut down bird-type golems descending from the sky.
“Asmi, light the third star!”
—Okay!
Stars appeared along Astrimia’s blade.
The first star.
Dubhe.
The second star.
Merak.
And the third—
A radiant blue light enveloped our party and Lucius.
Phecda.
A star that generated a protective barrier around the skin.
Thud!
Sharp enemy hands struck my face.
Mana blades pierced Pendrick’s heart.
Heavy jaws bit Lucius’s shoulder.
None of it worked.
The barrier blocked one fatal attack.
“Good!”
Bartimir kicked away golems with his petrified legs and cleared a path.
Crackle!
My body had recovered enough to release lightning again.
The nearby non-living army collapsed.
Our retreat became easier.
“Shall we jump again?”
“Please.”
“Here we go!”
Each time Bartimir leaped, I called down lightning strikes toward the enemies’ heads.
Because Lucius constantly restored my Mental Energy, I could use Black Lightning Bloom without restraint.
After running for a while—
“You have come quite far.”
A familiar voice.
A white buckler flew through the air.
It struck two pursuing level-7 monsters before returning to its owner.
The one who displayed a shield technique rivaling a heroic commander—
Saint Seraphina.
She dashed forward and smashed a three-headed puppet with her spear shaft.
“Is everyone alright?”
“Thank you, Saint. We almost weren’t.”
Behind us, a long road carved through the monster army showed the path she had taken.
“You nearly went to Arteine.”
“I came this far because I knew you would save us.”
“So it was all planned.”
Seraphina calmly destroyed an ogre-type golem and pointed behind her.
We immediately ran toward the temple.
Still riding on Bartimir’s back, I scattered lightning behind us before stretching comfortably.
“Ah. That felt refreshing.”
Warm-up complete.