Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Abandoned Mine (5)
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It would have been wonderful if it had all been unnecessary fuss, but these things always hit the mark in the most infuriating way.
Beron, who had stepped forward to boost the expedition team's morale only to become the guinea pig instead, was feeling it in his bones.
"Way too damn tough...!"
A warrior who had reached the Golden realm could unleash destructive power on an entirely different level.
To put it bluntly, a Silver warrior was just a stronger, faster Bronze at best, and that wasn't far off.
But a Golden warrior could truly cleave rocks with a sword and slice through steel.
No matter how rock-hard a mere clay golem seemed, if it crossed paths with Golden, it would split in two.
That was how it was supposed to go.
But it wasn't.
Kagak!
The blade that plunged into the elite clay golem's arm with such momentum ground to a halt again, barely advancing.
It would have been a serious wound on a human, drawing plenty of blood, but to the clay golem, it was just a minor breakage.
The fact that it withstood multiple strikes from a Golden warrior made calling it "elite" more than justified.
"Beron! Fall back for now!"
Alon shouted urgently.
"This damn thing—"
Beron, determined by his pride to smash this golem no matter what, had to bite back his words and pull away.
He had forgotten for a moment because his vision was so narrow, but he had charged at the massive clay golem. This elite one had suddenly popped up to interrupt him.
Whether he was fighting the elite or not, the other clay golems behind it kept marching forward, showing no respect for a one-on-one duel.
Buwoong!
The fist of the original target—the massive clay golem—slammed down right where Beron's upper body had been moments before.
At the same time, the elite clay golem's shield whipped toward him in a crossing strike.
He dodged both by a hair's breadth, but chills ran down his spine all the same.
"I said fall back!"
"Tch!"
Alon yelled again, and Beron clicked his tongue as he retreated.
The heavy-footed nature seemed common to all clay monsters; the elite didn't pursue him.
It simply matched pace with the other golems and resumed its slow advance.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Heavy steps, but slower than a normal person's walk.
However, Beron hadn't charged all that far, so the distance wasn't great.
There wasn't much time to discuss countermeasures.
"At least they're not terribly fast. Top-tier Silvers should be able to react."
"Reacting's pointless if we can't hurt them. We still have to step up and block them ourselves."
"...True."
"It would've been better if they just had high attack power. Why'd it have to be defense-focused freaks?"
Alon's face twisted as he traded quick words with Beron.
Monsters rivaling Golden were common in ruins. That was why every expedition needed at least one Golden as minimum firepower.
Besides, this wasn't even a proper Golden—it was just a monster. If it had appeared "normally," there'd be no issue. They could just beat it down leisurely.
The problem was that the current situation was anything but normal.
Regular clay golems that even low-end Silvers could at least hear coming were mixed with massive ones twice as strong, swarming like a pack.
Even that many would have been a handful.
But with elites thrown in?
In a scenario where they were already outnumbered, if the key leadership got tied down, it would be a catastrophe.
If there were just one or two elites—
"Not even that—there's more than one."
Sachet muttered, the corner of her eye twitching.
Looking closely now that she'd noticed, the elite clay golems were clearly distinguishable from the regulars.
Regulars looked like roughly molded human shapes, but elites were intricately sculpted, fit to sell for profit.
Unfortunately, they were dotted throughout the front ranks of the clay golem legion.
Who knew how many more lurked in the unlit rear.
Even assuming these were all, there were already more elites than the expedition's leadership.
"What a crazy ruin."
Akanksha spat bitterly and glanced at Sachet.
Sachet shook her head with a wry expression, as if to say there was no helping it.
Akanksha bit her lip hard and addressed Alon and Beron.
"No more time now. You don't plan on dying here, right? We've agreed."
"What the—!"
"..."
Beron glared, but his overt hostility was weaker than usual. His heart resisted, but his head knew better.
The more rational Alon went without saying.
He knew what the best move was in this situation.
The treasure, halved from the start due to the deal with the earth fairies, shrinking further brought tears of blood.
But without borrowing the church's power now, they'd lose even that. No mere washout—this was annihilation.
The earth fairies were in the same boat, hence the prodding.
"...Hoo."
Alon let out a heavy sigh and turned to Galen.
"Supervisor."
"Yes."
"We formally request your support."
"Gladly."
Galen, who had been watching with arms crossed until then, nodded immediately.
He wanted to quip about how quickly they'd made up their minds, but on the other hand, it was a relief they'd decided now.
There was still some distance to the lead golems. If they'd waited until allies and enemies were tangled, it would have been messier.
Uncrossing his arms, Galen's left hand held a spirit now shaped like a round ball.
Flick!
Galen pitched the spirit low like a pitcher from underhand.
The water blob didn't fly far, plopping to the ground before rapidly expanding there.
Swoooosh!
As if unfurling a body that had been tightly coiled.
The water giant, with only an upper body, stretched on the dirt floor.
"...!"
The expedition members gasped.
Galen had been deliberately kept out of fights, and all he'd shown during exploration were a few water spirit bullets.
He had made a water golem, but it was just for shooting those bullets, and inside the passages, he hadn't made it too big. Bigger than a person, sure.
That alone had marked him as a "competent water mage" who handled clay golems easily, but nothing more.
Now, in the open cavern without spatial limits, the water giant revealed its true form, overwhelming just by size.
The massive clay golems that had seemed so threatening looked like dwarfs before it.
And that's exactly what happened.
Hwooooong!
Its arms, naturally spread outward upon manifesting, now swept horizontally.
The massive water pillar surged forward at high speed—like a localized tsunami.
Kwaaaaang!
Like bowling pins scattered by the ball.
All the clay golems in the path of the giant's right arm were flung away in ruins.
Regulars, massive ones, elites—all treated equally.
The giant's right arm exploded in the merciless blow, flooding the area, but the spirit had plenty of water stored within.
"...Heh."
Alon let out a deflated chuckle watching the giant casually regenerate its arm.
"I thought we were in dire straits just now. Suddenly feels safe."
"Not wrong, but don't get too complacent."
Akanksha voiced admiration mixed with concern.
"I've taken a direct hit from that thing."
"...You've been hit by that?"
"Sparred a few times. Hurt like hell, but I endured. Considering the elite golems' defense..."
"Not a big blow. Just shoved back by the weight. A living thing would've felt pain, but these don't."
Galen admitted coolly and continued nonchalantly.
"So just keep hitting until they break. It works plenty on the others anyway."
"Fair point. Even if we can't take the elites, clearing the rest reduces the threat a lot."
"Lilia and I will handle the front. You four take left and right."
"Got it."
"We'll take the right!"
The clay golems were closing in from three sides, encircling the treasure-room-backed expedition.
The front had been temporarily swept by the water giant, but not the flanks.
With the plan set, humans and earth fairies split to the sides swiftly.
"You two, stay out of direct combat and watch the rear."
Galen cautioned the two priests.
"They're swarming head-on, but these things originally pop up from the ground. An attack from behind would be trouble."
"We'll keep watch!"
"But... we won't just be spectators again, right?"
"Treating wounded later is better than matching a Silver warrior now. Isn't that a priest's role?"
Galen had asked for veteran priests because they could handle surprises themselves, not as frontline fighters.
Dismissing the priests' sheepish reactions, he sent them to the safe center.
Now only Lilia remained by Galen's side. She smiled with her eyes.
"Brother seems pretty relaxed still?"
"Because I am, for now."
Galen shrugged.
Each spell was its own unique system, not sharing mana with others.
Earth Bind was beginner level, so negligible.
Water Flow Manipulation, Spirit Creation, Phantom Flame Burst—all had unique mana pools, all at Golden realm.
Galen's effective power was like three Golden mages together.
And he'd barely fought getting here, using only a bit of Spirit Creation mana.
With power to spare, of course he was relaxed.
"If the golems keep spawning infinitely as my mana runs dry, then I'll worry."
"Still a ways off?"
"Fortunately."
"Then, can I ask one favor while you're relaxed?"
"Of course."
"Give me one elite clay golem!"
"Pardon?"
"I mentioned it once before..."
Lilia trailed off, glancing around before peeking at the right-wing earth fairy lines entering combat, then whispered.
"Remember when I sparred with Akanksha and said it felt all tingly?"
"Ah, yes."
He'd succeeded in learning Earth Bind, while she just got the feeling and whined.
"Felt it breaking a few golems earlier... They have some similarity to earth fairies?"
"Really?"
"Slow, heavy, tough. Made with ancient magic? They fight like warriors. Not using earth power exactly... but the vibe's similar!"
"So it might help?"
"Yes! Real combat, no pressure to hold back! So, can I have one?"
"Not a big ask—why so hesitant?"
Galen smiled and pointed ahead.
The water giant swung its arm again.
Kwaaaaang!
The golems that had pushed forward relentlessly were crushed and flung back once more.
Whether it was one from before or not, anyway—one elite clay golem left untouched.
"Watch the mud."
"Thanks!"
Flashing a bright smile, Lilia dashed off swinging her radiant sword.
Galen smirked and glanced at his status window.
Whether from smashing multiple golems at once or hitting strong ones like elites...
[????]
[Progress to first acquisition: ???%]
Ever since breathing the ruin's air, the status window had been all question marks. Now the text was a bit more legible.
Maybe Lilia wasn't the only one getting those tingles.