Clash with the Colossal Golem
Sergeant: Baek Jaesung 22
I finished up my business and returned to where the rest of the team was. The post-battle rest felt sweeter than honey; most of them weren't even paying attention to us as they lounged around. Even after clearing out the hordes of scrap golems nearby, no monsters were immediately threatening our safety.
"No enemies around, right?"
I called out to Han Seungjin, who was diligently keeping watch ahead even at a time like this. His earlobes were red as if he'd smeared them with rouge—probably because his stamina from the earlier fight hadn't fully recovered. His breathing was shallower than usual too.
"Hoo! Ah... Jaesung."
"What, you that startled?"
"Ah, I was lost in thought for a sec."
"I'll take over. Go rest."
I'd had plenty of rest myself.
"Ah... sure."
The guy glanced back at my face a few times before heading off.
Was there something on my face?
I scratched my cheek, but nothing came off on my hand.
We spent the night camped with 4th Company. Saying it like that sounds kinda fucking lewd.
We just bunked down together. Come dawn the next day, we split right away.
"It's already the third day since we entered the dungeon."
Hwang Cheolmin's voice lacked energy. Unlike civilian dungeon raids, doing this as a military op felt... unrewarding, somehow.
Plus, with no clear idea how many more monsters we had to kill to fully clear the place, it was like hacking away at an endless mountain with a single sickle.
"Everyone, buck up. Let's push hard again today."
The company commander clapped to rally us. Not that it really helped.
"Move out."
We started marching again. Still, the past two days of hunting seemed to have paid off—the number of monsters visible around us had noticeably dropped compared to day one.
If the other companies had been culling them at our pace, the dungeon might've been cleared already.
We tidied up the occasional scrap golem as we headed toward the residential district. It was the sector in our zone with the most monsters left. To fully conquer the dungeon, we had to clean this place out.
"Fewer than last time, sure, but plenty still lurking. Stay sharp, everyone. Day three of scouting is prime time for complacency."
The company commander didn't skimp on warnings right up to the end. We plunged back into the residential area.
This time, monsters blocked our path faster than before. Guess those scrap-headed bastards had some rudimentary learning ability after all.
Kreeeak!
Ten scrap golems faced us head-on from the front, with even more pouring in from all sides.
"Break through before they encircle us!"
No matter how much "enlightenment" they'd gained, the combat power gap was clear.
The company commander charged like a human tank, smashing the scrap golems to pieces. That flimsy blockade of just ten couldn't hold for even ten seconds.
"Go!"
Our company's pace shifted into high gear. The commander and Hwang Cheolmin cleared the path ahead, while Han Seungjin and I blasted skills in every direction. Rina and Jang Gun-gi mopped up the stragglers we missed.
Our teamwork was flawless. After three days of real combat, we'd reached the level where we read each other's intentions perfectly, covering weaknesses like some outside party.
We reached the heart of the residential district in a flash. We'd taken down what felt like nearly a hundred monsters en route, yet golems still swarmed us from all sides.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Suddenly, heavy footsteps boomed from ahead. Not the scrap golems' clatter—this was several times heavier and more ponderous.
"Another monster type? Atmosphere's off."
Hwang Cheolmin glanced toward the sound as he spoke. He was right; the vibe was ominous.
The worthless scrap golems that had sacrificed themselves to block us suddenly pivoted toward the noise, like they'd glitched out en masse.
"Look over there!"
Rina pointed to the right arm of the crossroads—the source of the racket. A massive robot was ambling toward us leisurely.
"Whoa. Most golem-like one we've seen yet."
Hwang Cheolmin whistled in admiration. True, the others had been more like junk piles than golems. This one was the real deal.
The hulking golem, exuding menace, stood over five meters tall just in body length. A humanoid covered head to toe in jagged steel plates, helmet-like headgear, and a single red glow like an eye on its face.
Its massive arms and legs matched its bulk, venting heat from joints with every move. Humanoid shape, but arms freakishly long—nearly three meters—compared to its torso. Like a mechanized cyclops.
The company commander muttered softly.
"Boss monster?"
Spot on vibe. After massacring all those minions, yeah, boss time.
As the giant golem advanced, the scrap golems parted to either side, clearing a path. Almost human-like behavior.
"Kill it here?"
Rina asked. Scrap golems everywhere. Focusing on the boss meant dealing with the small fry too.
But backing off now? Who knew when we'd see another boss. Our goal: clear the dungeon ASAP.
The commander's call was soldier-quick.
"Take it down now. Draw aggro!"
No sooner said than he charged the giant.
"Rapid Charge!"
Fearless, ferocious rush. Blue mana rippled around him like heat haze.
Even watching from behind, it felt like a freight truck barreling down. A machine without emotions might still feel dread witnessing that up close.
But the giant didn't flinch—instead, it thrust out a massive hand to meet the charge head-on.
Powerful mana cloaked the golem's fist too. Defense fit to stop a raging truck?
BOOM!
Ear-splitting explosion echoed everywhere, like a bomb. Actual blast too—mana clash. Yet the commander didn't budge an inch amid the flames.
The giant retreated slightly, drag marks under its feet. A musclehead martial artist might die of shame from that alone.
The commander charged again. The golem, unfazed, reset its guard. No emotions made it rational in moments like this.
BOOM!
Their second clash sparked the idling scrap golems into action toward us.
They couldn't approach the commander hammering the giant with overwhelming presence, so they targeted us instead.
Not a smart move. Wisest here would be to run.
Holy Gauntlet.
Watching the commander's fiery fist-rush made me itch to punch. Plus, with scrap golems swarming, close quarters it was.
"Chain Spear."
Rina summoned a chain spear too.
Kreeeak!
A scrap golem swung a sluggish junk fist at me.
Hard to even get hit by accident. If I took that with eyes open, I'd deserve to drown face-first in a puddle.
Dodged the punch, then Holy Gauntlet to the neck. Crisp clang like hammering scrap, head whipped around.
Behind!
Another from the rear. Sensed it by presence alone, twisted to deflect. Evaded and extended a kick simultaneously.
True Kick
Rotated my body, channeling torque into the toe, slamming its toughest spot—the abdomen.
Tough against physical hits, but not True Kick's power.
It cratered inward, rocketed back, bowling over three more behind. One shot, four down.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
Han Seungjin wielded a Darkness Saber mercilessly on the machines.
"I'll back up the commander!"
Rina extended a hand toward the giant. Her Chain Disaster was infamous as a boss-killer.
Four chain bundles erupted, binding its arms and legs.
"Nice assist!"
The giant strained against them with its bulk. But Rina's chains weren't ordinary.
"Chain Drain!"
Energy siphoned along the chains to her. Deadly in a 1v1. Reason one it was boss-killer tier.
Giant slowed; commander kicked its fist—not just any kick, mana-infused.
No fancy KHC footwork, just brute-forced mana for max destruction.
BOOM!
One arm bent grotesquely. Rina's chains tightened harder.
I lightly smacked approaching scraps while spectating the boss hunt. Could jump in, but wanted to see a 5-rank hunter in action. He'd finish without me anyway.
Their duel was ogre-on-ogre: fists colliding, kicks crossing.
"Pain of Chain!"
Rina's chains morphed to thorny whips, lashing out. But boss-grade steel skin blocked them.
Each clash: horrific screeches like poisoned dogs, sparks flying everywhere.
Screeeeech!
"Haaah!"
Commander swung a mana-condensed punch. His roar hinted at the power—like toppling a mountain.
Giant countered with its mech arm. Hunter vs. boss devolved to raw power struggle.
BOOM!
Fist clash birthed a massive blast. Guarding scraps staggered from shockwave alone. Destructive energy tore the air, chaos reigning.
"Urachacha!"
But the commander was 5-rank elite. His mana fist pierced the giant's guard despite its windmill build. Power balance shattered in an instant.
High output brute force vs. refined focus—the gap was vaster than it looked.
Ultimately, skilled human overwhelmed the monster's primal might.
BOOM!
The giant knelt. Commander's blows fully penetrated.
With their boss down, scraps started slinking away, eyeing us nervously.
Mopping up the demoralized remnants was easy. We cleared about two hundred monsters that way.