Guardian (2)
I stared in bewilderment at the guardian that had risen so boldly. Its form resembled the golems straight out of any fantasy tale—humanoid, but several times larger than a person. According to StarlightPrincess's explanation, it was a being infused with a spirit.
Why the hell did it suddenly...? But more than that, the problem was how it had appeared out of nowhere. Or rather, "awakened from sleep" fit better. The piles of stone that had been inert just moments ago had assembled piece by piece and stood up.
Giiiing— The guardian, made entirely of Oriharukon, stared straight at me. It had no eyes, but the slight tilt of its head confirmed it.
That thing... I backed away stealthily, my gaze fixed on the center of the guardian's chest. There, embedded more vividly blue than anywhere else, was something eye-catching—almost like a ball.
A core? A vague memory surfaced. When I'd slain Mad Dog and faced the guardian, SwordTasteStar had mentioned targeting the core in its chest. To do that, I'd need to sever its legs first. Its massive size worked to my advantage.
If push comes to shove, go straight for that core...
Clank! Clank! ...That would be ideal, but when has life ever been easy? Like donning armor, its chest was suddenly covered in more Oriharukon. Its body was now far thicker than before. Not like it was bulking up or anything.
My head spun already, but I barely steadied my mind. No. I can do this. I beat the sword-tooth tiger, didn't I?
The guardian didn't seem to have pegged me as an enemy yet. But it was poised to strike at any moment. The fact that it had hidden the core so thoroughly screamed caution.
"Kyuuuuwuuu..." Wonmo bristled her fur, on high alert. She must sense the danger. She'd trembled at the chicks chasing her earlier, but now she was putting on her fierce beast act. Maybe she figured she could handle just one.
Still, avoiding a fight was best, so I tried inching backward. That's when—
[Ggggrrrrk—] Thud! It took a mechanical step forward. At the same time, surrounding Oriharukon chunks clung to it like magnets. Looked like the core acted as a magnet, drawing in the ore around it.
Thoom! Thud! Thud! The Oriharukon guardian strode toward me. Even judging by eye level alone, it towered far above the tiger, so tension was inevitable.
I scrutinized every odd movement while steadying my breath. As my breathing stabilized, the mana in my body circulated smoothly.
[Ggggrk—] The moment I circulated mana, it emitted a bizarre noise. Then it lifted a massive leg and slammed it down.
Thoom! The ground shook with a thunderous roar. But what followed left me stunned.
Krrunch! Spikes erupted from the floor, lunging at me. Not terribly fast, but the shock froze me momentarily.
"Wh-what the hell?!" I somehow shook off the paralysis and dodged. The spike grazed past by a hair.
A ranged attack from the guardian? Totally different from the sword-tooth tiger. This fight wouldn't be easy.
Have to close in anyway. I gripped my sword and shield tight. First, follow SwordTasteStar's tip. Humanoid monsters' bipedal stance was both strength and weakness—one leg gone, and mobility tanks.
"Kyuaa!" While I sorted my thoughts, Wonmo charged bravely. But given the size difference, that was less bravery and more recklessness. Before I could even flail in panic, her attack landed first.
Bonk! An adorably pathetic body slam. It didn't even faze the guardian. I winced watching it, but the guardian's reaction was weird. It ignored Wonmo completely, plodding silently toward me.
Doesn't bother with weaklings? Not sure, but it had no intention of attacking her. Its slow, heavy swings meant she wouldn't get stepped on anyway.
Grgggrk— The stubbornly advancing guardian slowly raised both arms. Sensing danger, I darted right.
Ggggrk— But its movements tracking me were off. Its waist twisted at an unnatural angle—nearly 180 degrees when swinging its arms down.
Kaboom! Massive arms plunged into the ground. Simultaneously, spikes surged up again, aiming for me. Slow motions, but the attacks triggered fast. No room for carelessness.
Now! Again, its actions were sluggish. Right before it launched an attack was my window.
Hummm— Mana shimmered like heat haze from Cheonma's sword. One strike to sever a leg—then it'd lose balance for an easier takedown.
Grgggrk— A grinding like rocks rubbing echoed. It was lifting a massive leg.
"Kyuuuwu?!" Wonmo, mid-attack on that leg, startled and clung on. Still ignoring her. I switched to the planted leg before it could stomp. Its slowness made it easy to reach.
Up close, it's huge. My head barely reached its crotch. But big meant big openings. I circulated mana faster. The aura on Cheonma's sword intensified. One slash, and done.
Just as Wonmo-clung foot was about to stomp, I swung from inside out, per Gallery advice, putting full power into it.
Yes! It connected...!
Shooooosh! Right as I smirked triumphantly, something unforeseen happened. The rising aura was sucked straight into the guardian's leg—like water into a sponge, gone in an instant.
Krak! Worse, Cheonma's sword didn't even fully cut. It lodged halfway in. Sure, the aura vanished, but this was a sword that cleaved hard wood like tofu. Right—Oriharukon absorbs mana...! That explained it. One trait: it hardens temporarily upon absorbing mana. I'd dismissed it as irrelevant since it was "temporary," overlooking it while focusing on empowering the sword. A critical blunder in this crisis.
Thoom!! The guardian's foot slammed the ground hard. I spotted it and raised my shield preemptively, yanking Cheonma's sword free mid-motion.
Kaboom! Spikes erupted around its foot, sending a shockwave. Good thing I angled the shield down, or it'd have been dire.
"Kragh!" Not that it blocked everything. The impact hurled me back. I kept my head up mid-flight to avoid a head smash, per SwordTasteStar's post: even if rolling's tough, protect the head to minimize secondary damage.
Thump! Just before hitting, something gently cradled my head. Soon pain exploded in my back, but intact skull meant I was okay.
"Ugh... thanks."
"......"
It was Ppareumbo who'd caught my head. He replied with his usual blank expression. I steadied my ragged breath from the back slam.
Wonmo? Where's Wonmo? Rising, I scanned for her. Hope that blast missed her.
"Kyuuuwu! Kyukyu!" Found her soon enough. Somehow atop the guardian's head, scratching cutely—but it didn't budge. Utterly oblivious to her.
What the...? Even weak, ignoring something on your head is odd. As I tilted mine, the guardian turned to me.
Grgggrk— Its chest plate opened, exposing the blue core. Like baring its heart—what? Then—
Hummmm— The core's glow intensified. Blood ran cold. Dodge no matter what. Or die.
I bolted up and dove aside. Hummm! The core flared brighter than floating light magic.
Kaaaa! A laser straight out of a comic blasted out.
Kaboom!! It narrowly missed. The devastation was clear: crater like a shell hit. Even Oriharukon couldn't absorb that raw power.
"Hah... hah..." Panting, I gawked at the pit. Direct hit? No survival.
Clank! Clank! The core re-covered like armored. Can't spam that, huh.
Did it fire back my absorbed mana? Only hypothesis fitting. Groaning, I stood. First time mana use felt restricted. Silver lining: only external mana absorbed.
Means I can still enhance my body... And I had Cheonma's sword. Plenty of chances. Slow and steady, weak points would show.
"Ppareumbo. Can you slash that thing?"
"......"
He shook his head. Even claw-master like him struggled with Oriharukon. Makes sense—its thickness could just shred his claws.
[Ggggrrrk—] Thoom! Thud! Approaching again with eerie sounds. No eyes, yet pinpointed me. But ignored head-clinging Wonmo. Felt like it "sensed" without sight, like a person.
Not confirmed yet. Needed closer test. I quieted my breath. It raised an arm—same attack incoming. Chance.
No aura—just Cheonma's sword...! As it swung, I slipped between its legs. Full power inside-out slash on right leg. Mana boost made every muscle twitch vivid.
Shrick! Leg severed clean. Cheonma's sword for the win. Balance shattered.
Thoom! It toppled forward instantly. Wonmo on head freaked. Not enough—core intact, it'd keep moving. Kneeling now, easy to mount back.
Tap! Leapt high, landed light. Gripped sword reverse, raised high. Pierce to core side, done. Aura risky for penetration, so body mana only.
"Haaah!" Shout and downswing.
Krraang!! Rock spike from its back gut-punched me.
...Huh?