86. Quicksand Desert (4)
Special golems had to possess the unique abilities of the beasts they were made from. Those that were simply larger and stronger were called reinforced golems.
Even so, reinforced golems could output 1.5 to 2 times the power of a 3rd class Gigant, making them a huge boon to their forces. The moment the dwarves discovered a large magic stone capable of producing a reinforced golem for the first time, their morale surged back to life.
Sabina didn't know how to fight while holding back. Once battle began, she poured everything she had into slaying the beasts, consuming massive amounts of Odd. And since she'd been at the front lines for days without time to recover, she'd completely burned out today.
Before they set off again, Chieftain Yulih came looking for Wayne.
"Hmph! Wayne!"
"You're here?"
Yulih smacked his lips like a man with something to say.
"What's up?"
"Could we talk for a moment?"
"Sure."
The two moved to a nearby wall. Yulih hesitated before speaking.
"Why did you save me?"
"...?"
"I badmouthed you, called you a shameless exploiter who only used us dwarves. I even sowed discord between you and the dwarves."
"I know."
"What? You knew, and you still saved me?"
Wayne chuckled.
"Of course it pissed me off. But putting myself in your shoes, I get it. After leading the dwarves as chieftain for twenty years, seeing everyone listen to me—a non-chief—must've felt like I'd stolen your position."
Chieftain Yulih sighed heavily.
"You're right. For the past twenty years, I've struggled to keep our dwarves alive in the Sierra Mountains. But food was scarce, the orcs were strong, and our dwarves were divided, so we lost so many in battle."
Remembering the fallen dwarf warriors, Yulih couldn't hold back his tears.
"If I'd had our ancestors' legacy, I could've saved more dwarves. But the ancestor spirits chose you, Wayne—a human—instead of me, a dwarf. I still don't understand why!"
Yulih wiped his tears and asked again.
"Why did the ancestor spirits give their legacy to you, a human?"
He seemed genuinely puzzled. Instead of answering, Wayne turned the question back on him.
"What do you think you would've done if the ancestors' legacy had come to you?"
"Obviously, I'd unite all the dwarves and reclaim our lands!"
"Humans wouldn't just hand them over, so you'd go to war."
"Of course!"
Yulih nodded vigorously.
"Then even more dwarves would've died. Hell, your race might've gone extinct."
"What are you talking about? A dwarf with the ancestors' legacy would be strong!"
"Humans are stronger! Steel Golems are bigger, but their performance is on par with 3rd class Gigants. How would you handle 2nd class Gigants? And 1st class Gigants match the power of ten 2nd class ones—how about those? The Empire alone has tens of millions of people. Add in all the other kingdoms—how many is that? And how many dwarves are there?"
Yulih's face darkened rapidly. Even gathering every dwarf in the Sierra Mountains, they might barely reach twenty thousand. There were dwarves in the Redrock Mountains too, but not more than in the Sierra. Even all the dwarves on the continent wouldn't amount to a single kingdom—maybe a mid-tier fief at best.
"See? That answers your question, right?"
"Then what do you think we dwarves should do going forward? Or if you were a dwarf, what would you do?"
Yulih repeated the exact question the dwarf smith Aelga had once asked him, now directing it at Wayne.
"First off, uniting all dwarves? I'm all for it. That's how you build strength. Then inherit the ancestors' legacy, produce tons of golems, and protect the dwarven heritage."
Yulih tilted his head.
"That's it?"
"'That's it'? You have no idea how hard that is? Look no further than your ancestors who settled the Ratan Desert. Without the legacy, they got pushed out by humans, right? The Valhalla Gate in the Sierra Mountains wasn't original—it was built by those ancestors. They knew how to make Steel Golems too. But they didn't focus on preserving and passing down the legacy. They just fought humans and got chased all the way to the mountains."
Yulih bit his lip. He couldn't find a counterargument. It was fact, and the dwarves had lost as a result.
"But I won't let that happen. Strong dwarves are great, but not to fight humans—for equal footing with them."
"Equal footing?"
"Yeah. Humans are partners to collaborate with and build a future together. Never something to reject."
"...?"
"Just watch how I run my territory for now. Tens of thousands of refugees are heading there soon. But I won't discriminate between humans and dwarves—everyone gets a fair shot. And I'll defend the territory so no other humans can push us around."
Hearing this only muddled Yulih's thoughts further.
"Honestly, I still don't get this 'relationship' you're talking about. So I'll watch and see."
"Good! That's enough. You'll figure it out in time."
Wayne possessed the memories of King Karian and King Bras, recalling how humans and dwarves had coexisted and cooperated in ancient times. That's why he was confident.
Human-dwarf harmony is great, but first we need power!
Wayne climbed back into Chromide. He needed to fully master it before moving on. And catch an S-rank beast too.
Two weeks passed.
They acquired 49 magic stones for Steel Golems and 5 for reinforced golems. And finally, they reached the labyrinth's center.
"Whoa! It looks like a pit from hell!"
A pitch-black hole about 200 meters wide yawned in the center, its depths impossible to gauge.
"Wayne! What is this hole?"
"This is the labyrinth's exit. Once a day, massive winds blast upward. Ride them out, and you'll hit the desert."
"This heavy Steel Golem will fly on the wind?"
"Yep! A massive whirlwind. But time it right—one shot only. Mess up, and you're falling forever."
The dwarves swallowed hard.
"Don't worry too much. Just jump when I say."
"Got it, Wayne!"
Wayne boarded Chromide.
"Where are you going?"
"To catch an S-rank beast."
The dwarves looked shocked.
"What? Alone?"
"Yeah."
"Wayne! We'll come with you!"
"Appreciate it, but you can't help. Can't block its area attacks barehanded."
Gigants might manage, but without them, the dwarves were vulnerable to AoE. And the nearest S-rank nest was a salamander—flame specialist.
"I'll go with you!"
Sabina boarded Artemis. She was more than welcome. Wayne hadn't fully adapted to Chromide yet, so soloing an S-rank would be tough even for him.
Good. But stay back and just shoot arrows.
Got it! Finally a real fight! Hehe!
Wayne was a bit worried about Sabina.
This was the lair of the S-rank beast, the salamander. Karaz, the flame-spewing right-hand man of King Bras, had made his special golem from the red magic stone of a salamander caught here. But he'd died fighting a giant, rendering his flame golem useless, and with the salamander vanishing, the lineage ended.
It's been so long—maybe a new one's spawned? That hope drew them here.
Lava dripped from the ceiling like raindrops, and a searing river of molten rock encircled the nest. Salamanders, as fire beasts, loved such places for laying eggs.
Damn, the heat makes red Odd useless!
Even trying to scan, the lava and hot rocks everywhere rendered red Odd pointless.
They searched for a while but found no salamander. Time for another S-rank nest a bit farther away.
Aw, nothing here. Let's go.
Wayne turned to leave with a smack of his lips.
Yeah, we'll have to try another ne—
"Grrr! Grrrrr!"
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Sabina, stop!
Wayne's Odd Eye caught a crimson shape clinging upside-down to the ceiling. Salamander! About 12 meters long—not huge for an S-rank. But its flames could melt a 2nd class Gigant if they hit right.
Back up slowly! I'll take the front!
Whoosh!
But her arrow was already flying.
Splat!
"Kieeeek!"
The arrow lodged in the salamander's shoulder. No major damage, but it started spewing flames from its nose, mouth, and ears. It raced across the ceiling toward Artemis.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Dodge!
Whoosh! Thunk! Whoosh! Thunk!
Sabina fired in rapid succession; both hit. Her archery was impeccable. The problem? The beast's insane durability. Arrows burned to ash on its body, wounds healing instantly in its flames.
"Keeeek!"
It leaped from the ceiling, slamming down on Artemis.
Boom!
Urk!
Wayne dashed in at the last second, yanking Artemis aside. The salamander's forepaw gouged a 2-meter-deep, 5-meter-wide crater instead.
"Kuaaaah!"
Fwoosh!
It opened wide, blasting flames at both Gigants. Instinctively, Wayne shielded Artemis. A 2nd class Gigant wouldn't last long against those flames, but Chromide could hold a few seconds. Wayne poured out red Odd, white Odd, and yellow Odd for flame resistance.
The layered Odds formed a barrier around the Gigant, softening the blaze somewhat.
The problem was...
Shit, it's too hot!
The Gigant held, but the pilot inside didn't. Wayne shoved Artemis behind a wall and bolted the opposite way.
The salamander paused its flames, inhaling sharply. Wayne drew the Queen Sword from his back.
If I can just close the distance...
Fwoosh! Fwoooosh!
Realizing Chromide endured its flames, it unleashed even fiercer ones. Wide area, undiminished power—Wayne couldn't approach and hid behind the opposite wall.
Sabina, you okay?
Fucking hot.
The salamander didn't pursue. It moved to the center, atop a bubbling lava geyser—perfect vantage to roast anyone approaching.
Layer more Odd?
Wayne coated himself layer by layer, then wrapped the green Odd controlling the Gigant. He charged the nearest pillar toward it.
Vreeeeem! Thud-thud-thud-thud!
The Gigant accelerated insanely.
Whoa, why so fast?
Fwoooosh!
He ducked behind a massive pillar. Ignoring the ongoing flames, Wayne focused on the Gigant's movement.
Ah! Spraying Odd inside for control causes delay. But coating the whole Gigant in Odd eliminates it!
A brute-force method. Other pilots would laugh. But for Wayne, Odd quantity wasn't the issue—it unlocked Chromide's full potential. Coating the entire Gigant in green Odd would multiply consumption several times. Chromide already guzzled more than a 2nd class, plus the full-body coat? Even more.
Max combat time: 15 minutes?
Even with his Odd-transcended body, full performance on this pseudo-1.5 class Gigant lasted too short. But Odd could be increased; finding the method was key.
Catch that thing first, think later!
At Chromide's boosted speed, six seconds to stab its forehead. Could he survive the flames that long?
Maybe 3-4 seconds max... not enough!
But he couldn't wait forever. If only his arms wouldn't melt, it was worth a shot.
"Dwarves are strong!"
Huh?
Ten Steel Golems charged in.
What are you doing? It's dangerous!
Yulih shouted, wielding the chieftain's hammer.
"Steel Golems! Form a wall!"
"Form a wall!"
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
They lined up in two rows of five.
"Dwarves do not retreat! Protect Wayne from the enemy!"
"Advance!"
"Waaah! Valhalla!"
For the king's glory!
For the king's glory!
The Steel Golems shielded themselves with weapons and arms, charging the salamander. The dwarves followed in formation behind.
Sssss!
The salamander sucked in the air sharply. It blasted flames at the orderly advancing golems.
Sabina fired arrows from the rear, peppering its face. The flames weakened briefly on hits, then roared back.
Damn!
The first row's golems melted heads first, then weapons, arms, bodies, legs. As the second row advanced, Chromide passed alongside.
"Wayne! Follow us!"
Chromide leaped behind the golems and pushed forward.
The second row melted too, leaving only torsos and legs in seconds. If they fully liquefied, the dwarves behind were toast.
No time to think. They'd bought seconds—now Wayne had to end it.
I'm going!
He shot sideways, accelerating. The salamander's head whipped around, flames erupting at him.
Fwoooosh!
Thud-thud-thud!
"Argh!"
Flames singed Wayne's clothes and fur directly. 4 seconds. 3. 2.
Just a bit more!
Then—the flames cut off. The salamander inhaled desperately.
But Chromide loomed right in its face.
"Gr... grrr?"
The salamander shuddered.