Endless Deaths Against the Guardian Golem
"Crazy..."
"Whoa!"
The two men widened their eyes at the appearance of what had to be a ten-meter golem. But for Hanbit, it was less surprise and more sheer bewilderment.
Why the hell is that thing here?
The golem's entire body was made of special stone. Three blue crystals embedded in its chest glowed brightly.
"Is a monster like that even allowed?"
"Isn't it thrilling? A raid with just three people—pure romance!"
Kim Jaeha and Avant-garde's reactions were still polar opposites, as expected. But the truth was different from what they assumed.
"That's not a monster. It's a Guardian Golem, a magic tool."
"A magic tool? That's a magic tool?"
"I had no idea something like that existed...!"
Guardian Golems existed in various forms throughout the world. True to their name, they were typically used to protect something.
"Let's divide roles. You two buy some time."
"Oh, this is gonna be fun!"
Whatever the situation, their task was clear. At least Hanbit knew how to neutralize the golem, which was a relief.
"Looks tough to smash. Maybe just pull aggro and run?"
"Even running's gonna be insanely hard. Don't even think about breaking it."
It wasn't impossible to destroy the golem. It just required bringing the entire vanguard team—and even then, it'd be a struggle. The orthodox method offered the highest chance of success right now.
Ping!
At that moment, the slowly moving golem's gaze turned toward them.
"I'll leave it to you two."
"Of course! Time to show you my combat skills aren't half bad!"
"Hold up. You know what that thing is, right? Got any countermeasures?"
Kim Jaeha, gripping his hammer, glared at the golem. Hanbit had only one answer.
"It's way faster and stronger than it looks. Forget dodging once you see it..."
Boom!
Hanbit's words were drowned out by a massive roar.
"What the...?"
A crater in the ground ahead, and the golem was gone. The stunned pair whipped their heads around. But it was no longer on the ground.
"Coming from above!"
Avant-garde's shout came just as a huge shadow loomed overhead. The moment everyone's eyes turned skyward.
Kaboom!
The golem's massive fist slammed into the earth.
***
Boom!
Kaboom!
"Fuck, this is bullshit!"
A curse slipped from Kim Jaeha's lips as he respawned. Death count: 25. Make that 26 after the last one.
"To think something that incredible was here!"
Thud!
Avant-garde, respawning a beat later, let out an exclamation of awe before charging back at the golem. His death count was only 6 so far.
"How'd he dodge that?"
Kim Jaeha recalled the previous moment. When the giant golem smashed down, only the two of them died. Hanbit had slipped away faster. And soon after, a message arrived.
[Bro, try using the golem's feet and the terrain.]
Boom!
Kaboom!
Kim Jaeha stared blankly at the golem rampaging and demolishing everything.
"...How the hell do you target its feet?"
The advice was simple, but unrealistic. You'd get pulverized before even getting close.
Raw destructive power, speed, enemy detection—flaws were hard to find.
Kaboom!
Suddenly, the golem swept both arms across the ground.
"Ugh!"
Kim Jaeha's eyes squeezed shut, sensing death again. But.
Grind!
The arm that should have crushed him missed by a paper-thin margin.
Thud!
Avant-garde entered Kim Jaeha's view. His twin swords, gripped in both hands, were tearing into the golem's shoulder joints.
His high stats made his movements clearly superior—at least by player standards.
"Fall back for now...!"
Thud!
A giant hand engulfed Avant-garde mid-warning. Something burst, and he vanished.
Kaboom!
The follow-up ground pound squashed Kim Jaeha like an ant.
"What a fucking maniac."
Respawning in the zone, Kim Jaeha sighed in vain. He'd never been so one-sidedly slaughtered; even his pride wasn't bruised.
"It's unreal, right?"
Avant-garde, already there, sounded genuinely impressed. His beaming face made it impossible to argue.
"Unreal, but at least we're holding aggro. We'll keep repeating till Black Dragon does his thing."
"I don't think the golem agrees?"
"Huh?"
Grind.
The golem, staring at them, turned its back. As if searching for another foe.
"Guess we need to grab its attention more firmly. Let's think of ways to control its movements."
Avant-garde readjusted his grip on his twin swords. But Kim Jaeha, hammer over his shoulder, still saw no openings.
"I'd love to, but at my speed, I can't even approach. One step in range and I'm dead."
"Obviously. You'd need a full vanguard party for a shot. I'm barely dodging on instinct."
Kim Jaeha, and even Avant-garde's specs, fell far short against the golem. All they could do was sense danger on instinct and exploit tiny gaps.
"I'll pull its focus as much as I can. Dying doesn't stick anyway!"
Thud!
Avant-garde kicked off boldly. Leaping high toward the golem's back without hesitation.
Clang!
His swords screamed like they'd hit an iron wall. He pivoted, seeking weak points.
"Whew."
Kim Jaeha exhaled deeply, watching. His heart burned with one desire: to help the man who'd pulled him from hell.
Right now, he just wanted to curse his own pathetic skills.
Boom!
Kaboom!
Avant-garde dodged attacks by a hair, moving frantically. His joyful combat stood out more than the shattered terrain.
"Instinct, huh..."
For Kim Jaeha, instinct had always meant survival. He'd lived for real stakes until now.
Compared to that damn company and department head, fighting the golem was almost better. At least he could swing back.
The thought hit him.
"Let's do this."
Gripping his hammer tight, Kim Jaeha charged forward. Reaching the golem's attack radius.
Whoosh!
It reacted faster than he'd braced for.
"Ugh!"
Spotting the motion, Kim Jaeha dove flat. A massive arm whistled overhead.
"Whoa, that worked."
A subtle thrill tinged the accidental dodge.
"One more!"
Just as he rose, Avant-garde's warning rang out.
Whoosh!
Another huge shadow plummeting from above. Kim Jaeha raised his hammer to block somehow.
That instant.
Pop!
Yellow threads erupted from the golem's elbow. Its descending fist veered slightly off.
Kaboom!
The punch grazed Kim Jaeha, smashing the ground. Avant-garde, airborne, had dozens of threads scattering from his swords.
Drip!
The struck golem twisted immediately, then stomped down.
Kaboom!
Shockwave spreading with deafening noise. Kim Jaeha, shoved back, yelled instinctively.
"Dodge!"
The golem shifted as he warned. Avant-garde plummeted defenselessly right in front.
It swung its leg at him.
Thud!
Snapping to, Kim Jaeha kicked off. He smashed his hammer into the sloped ground under the golem's right foot.
Kaboom!
The full-force blow shattered the layered stone beneath. The golem's swinging leg wobbled right after.
"Hup!"
Avant-garde, midair in guard stance, seized the chance.
Skree!
Twisting, he poured power into his swing. The leg's surface scraped, speed and momentum dropping fast.
"I'll hold its attention! Keep this up!"
"Got it!"
Shing.
Yellow light clung to Avant-garde's twin swords as he ran. Launching from the shoulder.
Slash!
His blade trail left afterimages, carving the neck.
Shwick!
Slash!
A few seconds at most. In that blink, dozens of strikes.
Rank 4 skill: Tangle Swordsmanship.
Kaboom!
The barrage didn't deal meaningful damage. But it was enough to seize the golem's gaze and aggro.
Boom!
Boom!
On the ground, Kim Jaeha hustled, swinging his hammer everywhere. Each footfall collapsed earth, subtly upsetting the golem's balance.
Shing.
The assault repeated for a bit. Then the golem's head swung toward Kim Jaeha.
It froze without attacking, radiating eerie menace.
"New pattern. Or is it thinking?"
Avant-garde, back on the ground, still looked thrilled.
Strength that rendered plans meaningless. Rare chance to clash endlessly, with no death penalty.
Gulp.
Mana potion down, he gripped his swords again.
"Our combo's working. We can last ages."
"I'm just digging holes."
"You're remaking traps every time. Sharp eyes make it possible. Black Dragon should signal soon..."
Crackle!
Sparks flew from the golem's chest. Its massive frame froze briefly. One of the three cores had gone dark.
Ding!
[2 left. Won't take long—hang in there a bit more.]
Hanbit's message followed. The golem stirred right after.
Grind.
Turning its head slowly, unchanged from the start.
But they wouldn't stop slamming the wall.
"I'll engage first!"
Thud!
Avant-garde, swords ready, kicked off—more energized by the message.
Grip.
Kim Jaeha clenched his hammer. His role wasn't flashy.
But it was essential. He steeled himself and stepped forward alone.
"Let's go till the end."