"My Lord! The passageway isn't big enough for both the Giant Metal Bugs to walk side by side. Why don't you let the Beetle clear a path for the Scorpion?" Miner suggested.
I looked at the Rhinoceros Beetle Miner was seated on. There is a colossal curved horn where the nose should be. Its massive body and metal armor made it perfect for effortlessly plowing through hordes of zombies in narrow, confined spaces.
"Good idea! Let's swap our mounts. The Golem Miners will get on the Scorpion while Harkin and I will ride the Beetle at the front. The Giant Metal Scorpion can handle any undead that managed to get past the Beetle's charge and protect you. However, if they manage to crawl over the Scorpion's back, I advise against wasting their experience by killing them. Instead, use your pickaxes to push them down for the Scorpion's Stinger and Claws to eliminate them." I instruct.
"Aye, my Lord!" Miner replied, and then the Miner Golems got off their Beetle while Harkin and I got off the Scorpion.
Standing on the ground between the two Giant Metal Bugs, I noticed the Scorpion was excited to get some action. It snapped its formidable iron claws and wagged its tail with a serrated harpoon-like point on the stinger that could pierce flesh and bone effortlessly. Even the Beetle was rearing to ram into something.
"These two deserve names," Harkin suggested as he noticed me admiring the Bugs.
"The Beetle is Heracles, and the Scorpion is Zoro." I declared, and the two Bugs shivered.
"They seem to like their names," Harkin said as he went over to pick up his Stone Sword and Stone Shield from the remains of the Zombie Dwarf he had killed. "He won't be the only dwarf serving the Necromancer, but I doubt they will have any loyalty, so there is a chance I can convince them to join us," Harkin suggested, his voice filled with hope and determination.
"What if they refuse?" I asked, but Harkin didn't want to say the answer out loud.
"We waste time by talking about what-ifs. Let's get on with it." Harkin replied.
I nodded, and then we both got on to Heracles, and the Miners got on Zoro. I mentally commanded the Bugs to head into the passageway, big enough for Heralces and Zoro to move one behind the other. I wondered why the Imps made them so wide and tall. Then I remembered their body shapes changed drastically after reaching the Bronze Rank. Maybe their new forms require more room.
As we descended, we encountered two dozen Skeleton Warriors made from Imps blocking the passageway 50 meters ahead. They were silent, like statues, but their eye sockets lit up with an eerie green fire as they sensed our presence. Their claws and fangs glowed green, indicating they were coated with a deadly poison. Without hesitation, they rushed toward us, their speed and agility far superior to those of the Dwarf Zombie that had come at us before.
"Have no fear! Rock and Metal are immune to their poison." Harkin reminded me.
I mentally commanded Heracles to charge at the skeletons like a bowling ball hitting pins. The Giant Metal Rhinoceros Beetle went from 0 to 60 km/hr within four seconds. Half of the Skeleton Warriors managed to get out of the way by jumping and clinging to the ceiling of the passageway. Heracles rammed into twelve skeletons who couldn't dodge, causing them to shatter into pieces due to contact with the iron armor, body mass, and momentum, which their bones couldn't resist.
Heracles shivered as Ten '+' signs appeared above his horns. Even after I bought him from Timun, the Interface still showed error messages when I tried to study his details, but another screen appeared before me.
[Heracles has slain 12 Skeleton Warriors and acquired 13200 EXP from them]
[Heracles has achieved 5000 EXP to Rank Up to Stone]
[ERROR! Evolution tree has been denied to creatures created through the Interface]
[Heracles has Ranked Up to Stone]
Harkin and I had to get off as Heracles' iron-clad body began to rust and shatter. Although he didn't physically increase in size, his weight had doubled. Intricate beetle designs adorned his armor with their horns locked in combat. A massive inverted horn now rests on its head, which extends over the horn on its nose. Eight more '+' signs appeared over his horns.
"Lord, look at Zoro!" Harkin requested.
I turned around to see Zoro using his serrated harpoon stinger to strike the skulls of six Skeleton Warriors still clinging to the ceiling. The movement was so fast that it seemed like a blur. The other six managed to fall on its back, but the Miner Golems followed my instruction and pushed them off with their pickaxes so that Zoro's claws and stinger could end them.
[Zoro has slain 12 Skeleton Warriors and acquired 13200 EXP from them]
[Zoro has achieved 5000 EXP to Rank Up to Stone]
[ERROR! Evolution tree has been denied to creatures created through the Interface]
[Zoro has Ranked Up to Stone]
Zoro's once-imposing iron carapace had begun to rust and was now shedding its outer layer. The Miner Golems jumped to the ground and rolled away, allowing Zoro's new form to emerge from his old shell. His scorpion tail had split into two, each one moving independently. The previously rigid claws had transformed into a shape reminiscent of a giant crab claw. The new iron armor featured intricate designs of scorpions battling each other with their claws and tails.
Even though I can't control their evolution, their hidden abilities are already overpowered. So, it's a trade-off.
"Let's stop for a minute. I need to check some details." I order.
I used the Interface voice commands to see the EXP calculations and Level Up requirements for the first two Ranks.
[Combat EXP Calculator:
Clay Rank (100) + Monster (1000) = 1100 EXP
12 Clay Rank Monsters = 13200 EXP]
[EXP needed for each Level Up
Level 1 - 10 - 500 EXP
Level 11 - 20 - 1,000 EXP]
5000 EXP was deducted to get Zoro and Heracles to Stone, and 8200 EXP got them to level 19 from 11. Just 1800 EXP or two more Undead Clay Rank kills to reach Iron Rank.
I then ordered the Interface to show me my Golem's Evolution Tree, a visual representation of the potential paths and upgrades my Golem could take. It displays several branches, but all are blurred out, indicating they are inaccessible. I assumed the branches and requirements would become clear only after my Golem reached the pinnacle of the 10th Level.
"Lord! Focus on moving forward, or you will lose the initiative," Harkin pointed out.
I nodded and mentally ordered Zoro and Heracles to charge ahead at full speed.
We encountered ten more groups of Clay Rank Warrior Skeletons made from Imps, totaling 240. I instructed Zoro and Heracles to evenly split their kills so they could rank up together and reach Level 39 Steel Rank. Zoro now has four Scorpion tails, which are dripping green venom. His head now resembles Megatron from the Michael Bay movies, which slightly creeps me out because he can now make an evil smile.
Heracles is now four times heavier than his weight at Clay Rank. The inverted horn has split into two, resembling a Triceratops, and a second smaller horn appeared behind the big one on its nose.
I assume Heracles will keep getting more horns, and Zoro will get more scorpion tails as they rank up.
After taking stock of all the changes, Harkin pointed forward. Undead Imps were blocking the entrance to the lair, and we could see a thousand more beyond it.
"Lord, let's dismount and let the bugs charge in first, then we will follow in to take down the survivors to Rank Up," Harkin suggested.
"That's a good idea, but the Miner Golems will stay on Zoro," I say aloud for Miner to hear, and he acknowledges the plan.
Harkin and I leaped off Heracles, who screeched like a train trying to make a sudden brake as he charged at over 100 km/hr towards the army of Undead Imps waiting to ambush us. I heard the zombies among them scream as Heracles plowed through their horde without stopping. Zoro followed into the breach, impaling and bisecting the skulls of the Undead.
The Imp Lair was bathed in an otherworldly glow emanating from the Sun Stones growing out of the ceiling, as Timun had mentioned. These mystical stones were responsible for nurturing the unique flora and fungi that thrived in the depths of the Underworld. The lair was vast, spanning an area equivalent to a football stadium. Despite Toru's claim that the walls would be adorned with Mana Crystals, such splendor was absent. Maybe they had already been mined by the Undead Imps or resided within the Camp of the Heroes Church outside the Ruin. Despite this disappointment, it was too late to retreat. I reluctantly reconciled with the fact that the experience points earned from battle would serve as compensation for our short expedition.
Hundreds of Zombie Imp Mages within the Undead horde unleashed deadly fireballs and shadow balls at Heracles. Unfazed by their attacks, Heracles stood firm as if the magical onslaught was a barrage of harmless water balloons against an impenetrable tank. Sensing the imminent threat posed by the long-range attacks on our Golem Cores, I mentally commanded Heracles to turn around and swiftly charge at the Mages, intent on neutralizing the most dangerous adversaries.
Harkin trailed behind Zoro, who followed Heracle's charge against the horde, numbering over 1200. Harkin unleashed his fury with a thunderous roar, swiftly severing the heads of four Zombie Warrior Imps who were knocked over by Heralce's charge.
[Harkin has slain 4 Skeleton Warriors and acquired 4400 EXP]
[Harkin has achieved 5000 EXP to Rank Up to Stone]
[Harkin has gained access to the Golem Evolution Tree
If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
Conditions have been met for one Evolution branch]
[War Golem (Stone Rank):
The Golem can access a special path by possessing the Battle Master's Knowledge Skill.
The Golem will be gifted + 500 ATK and + 500 SPD with every Rank-up along this path.
Any close combat weapon held by this Golem will deal double the ATK damage]
[If the evolution tree is skipped, there will be an automatic Rank Up to Warrior Golem (Stone Rank), unlocking more combat skills related to the class]
[As the Golem Summoner, you have full control over your Golems]
[Warrior Golem - 'Harkin' has evolved into a War Golem]
Harkin's new form is 5 feet tall, but I noticed that the Mana Tendrils in his arms and legs resembled the limbs of extreme bodybuilders. He swung his Stone Sword, which easily shattered two Skeleton warriors in one swing. He then ran to the next Undead Imp to relieve the weight of its head before dashing to another one to bash its skull with his Stone Shield.
The increase in his speed stat has turned Harkin into a formidable warrior. Meanwhile, my adversaries managed to evade my strikes, swiftly regaining their footing. I was locked in a fierce struggle against two formidable Zombie Warrior Imps, feeling the weight of their relentless onslaught. Thankfully, Rachel's message arrived amid this chaos, offering a glimmer of hope and a potential solution to our predicament.
[Let Warrior take over combat control of the Golem. You can watch him work his skills without lifting a finger]
[Yes!]
I mentally commanded Warrior to take over his Golem body for combat. Suddenly, my avatar turned into a killing machine, slashing the critical weak points of two Skeleton Warriors without much effort. However, three Skeletons made from Hunter Caste Imps rushed toward Warrior, who created a Greatsword out of Mana and used the Whirlwind skill to bisect them all.
While Warrior continued with his attacks, I focused on the EXP and Ranked Up notifications.
[Warrior has slain 5 Skeleton Warriors and acquired 5500 EXP from them]
[Warrior has achieved 5000 EXP to Rank Up to Stone]
[Warrior has gained access to the Golem Evolution Tree
Conditions have been met for one Evolution branch]
[Mana Warrior Golem (Stone Rank):
The Golem can access a special path with the Mana Meditation and Mana Weapon skills.
If this path is chosen, the Golem will receive + 500 MP.
Its current Stone sword and Stone shield will be replaced with a Mana Sword and Mana Shield, which can be exchanged for any other Mana-created weapon skill, even during battle, without a cost.
Using Mana weapons will not deplete the Golem's MP. The ATK & DEF stats of the Mana equipment will be directly linked to the Golem's remaining MP. It will decrease if the MP is used for other skills.
If the Golem's MP is reduced to 0, a penalty will be implemented, which denies access to the Mana equipment until MP is restored to its maximum value.
Additionally, advancing through the ranks of the Mana Warrior line will grant an additional 500 MP with each rank up]
[If the evolution tree is skipped, then the Golem will automatically Rank Up to Warrior Golem (Stone Rank), which will unlock more combat skills]
Just one evolution option? Why am I complaining? It's perfect!
With this, I can use this Golem to use the Spelltomes!
Chimeramancy and Soulmancy, here I come!
[Warrior Golem - 'Warrior' has evolved into Mana Warrior Golem!]
The Warrior's Golem body glows white as it grows from 4 to 5 feet tall. The regular equipment has been replaced by Mana versions that glow bright blue. I noticed that the total MP increased by 500 from the evolution and 400 from the four MP-based skills, which leveled up ten times. As a result, the ATK stat of the Mana Sword is now 910, and the DEF stat of the Mana Shield is also 910. Adding the Golem Race Level-Up Bonus gives an additional 1000 DEF. So now the Warrior has around 2000 DEF in total, which will keep rising as he gets +200 DEF leveling up in Stone Rank.
I was initially envious of Harkin's War Golem, but then I witnessed Warrior easily switching to the Mana Greatsword and slicing the Undead. He quickly switched to two Mana Shields to block long-ranged Fireball attacks from Zombie Mages. The Mana Shields absorbed the flames and transformed into a Mana Greatsword. But this time, it glowed orange, burning everything it touched for ten seconds before returning to normal.
The Mana Shield absorbs Elemental Magic and adds Elemental damages to the Mana Weapons. That's so cool!
It didn't take more than a minute for Harkin and Warrior to eliminate ten more Undead Imps each and rank up to Iron. Both grew to 6 feet tall without further changes to the body. Then they defeated 50 each to rank up to Steel and grew to 7 feet tall. They had to stop there because Zoro and Heracles had taken care of the remaining Undead. I noticed that Zoro had two extra scorpion tails, and Heracles had two new horns that grew sideways from his cheeks and curved inward. The designs on their metal armor looked far more detailed and glowed with a silver light.
"My Lord! Zoro and Heracles have killed over 600 Undead Imps each. They both have broken through to Silver Rank!" Miner exclaimed as he came over to me and Harkin.
I immediately took back control of the Mana Warrior Golem to respond.
"That's great! But are there any Mana Crystals here?" I asked, hoping for some good news.
"We looked around for Mana Crystals while you were Ranking Up and found the Necromancer." Miner revealed.
"Where was he?" I ask.
"Follow me," Mine requested. Harkin and I followed Miner to a lower level beneath the Imp lair. It was a nursery filled with hundreds of dead infant Imps whose lives were cut short before they had the chance to mature. There were two Zombie Dwarf corpses among them. Harkin went over to inspect each one and noticed something.
"Zombies bit them. But their skulls have been caved in by pickaxes." Harkin deduced.
"We found them eating the Infants and gave them mercy," Miner explained, and I noticed his pickaxe had dried blood on its tips.
"Harkin, I have a question. Would their souls have reverted to Clay Rank?" I ask.
"Yes, but the Undead can't access their memories at Clay Rank. By Bronze Rank, they get back all their Memories." Harkin explained.
"Well, I have a Soulmancy Spelltome and the Mana to capture three Clay Rank Souls. These two and the one you took out before. We can revive them as Golems in the Dungeon." I offer.
"Lord! That would be kind of you," Harkin replied with gratitude. Then he asked Miner. "But where is the bastard Necromancer who did this to them?" Harkin asked.
"There is a second nursery. We found the Necromancer hiding beneath a mound of infant Imp corpses. He didn't have much Mana in him to do any high-ranking spells, so we were able to capture him. But I instructed the other Miners to speak in English to avoid slipping any details about the Dungeon and our Lord," Miner informed.
"Then we should do the same," I instructed Harkin, who nodded.
Miner then guided us to the second nursery, where I found a pale, white-haired young man in black robes pinned to the floor by one of the new Miner Golems. His victim didn't have the strength to get free from his weight.
"GIVE IT BACK TO ME YOU DAMN ROCK!" The Necromancer screamed in Falaran as he stretched his arms towards the Spelltome in the other Miner Golem's hand, who was toying with him by waving it just a bit out of his reach.
"Is that his Necromancy Spelltome?" I asked Miner.
"Yes, my Lord!" Miner replied. "When we pulled him out from among the bodies, he used a spell to raise the infant Imps and attack us. We dealt with them, separated the Spelltome from him, and came to get you," Miner explained.
I looked around and noticed the spots on the ground where the Miners crushed the Undead infants. Two Male Humans caught my attention. They were lying against the wall in the corner, still breathing but unconscious. One wore a medium armor chest plate, and the other wore a leather jacket. But their limbs had been amputated and cauterized. Neither had seen sunlight or eaten properly for days.
"Who are those two?" I ask.
"Not sure, but one whispered in Falaran, where the Necromancer was hiding before passing out," Miner explained.
"I think they were adventurers captured by the Imps and kept here to eat later when their minds are weakened. It makes assimilating their Human Minds easier for the Leader Cast Imps. But their limbs were taken to prevent them from escaping or maybe eaten as a snack," Harkin reasoned.
"Can they be saved?" I asked.
"They will need the help of a Holy Mage. But Valgrind and Pearl won't be regrowing limbs until they reach Gold Rank. These two won't last that long without constant support, and we don't owe them anything," Harkin pointed out.
"You are right. Let's interview the Necromancer and find out what happened to the Mana Crystals," I replied.
"Lord! Let me have a word with the bastard first," Harkin requested, and I nodded.
Harkin slowly walks over to the Necromancer and studies his face.
"What is your name and rank?" Harkin asked in Falaran.
"Are you a Falaran Soul in a Golem?" The Necromancer asked with a surprised voice.
"I am the one asking the questions here!" Harkin warned in an angry voice.
"I am Talon Gorma, Steel Rank," He revealed.
"Gorma? Isn't that the name of Falar's Royal Chef family?" Harkin asked.
"Everyone knows that," Talon replied with a bit of anger.
"Are you also a Chef?" Harkin asked, and Talon spat on the ground.
"I was one, but I was blessed with a large Mana Pool because of my skills in infusing Mana into the food I prepared, which restored the Mana of those who ate my dishes. The King decided my Mana Pool was too great to be wasted in a kitchen. So he gave me to the Church to become a Spelltome user." Talon explained.
I bet there was another reason to kick him out of the Castle.
"Now tell me, why did you turn the Dwarves into Zombies?" Harkin asked.
"Those Dwarves refused to obey my commands to kill the Imps. So I turned them into my Undead so that they couldn't refuse my orders anymore," Talon reasoned with a deranged tone, and there was some madness in his eyes and voice.
Harkin wasn't surprised by it and just shook his head at the loss of his kind for a stupid reason.
"Why did you need to kill these Infant Imps?" Harkin asked.
"Why? Isn't it obvious? They are Imps! They are the spawn of the Demon King and need to be eradicated to the last babe!" Talon declared like a fanatic.
"Who ordered the attack on the Imps in this Ruin?" I asked Falaran to change the subject.
"Another Golem who knows Falaran? Is your Golem Summoner a Dwarf or a Human from Falar?" Talon asked.
Harkin slammed his Golem fist near the man's outstretched hand, leaving spider web cracks on the floor. Talon flinched and retracted his hand before revealing, "The Hero of Ages, Phil Sin, ordered the Spelltome users of the Church to wipe out the Imps in this Ruin."
Phil Sin? So all the Humans in the camp near the ruins are Spelltome Users?
"I want to know why Phil Sin ordered it!" I ask.
"Phil Sin warned us that the Dungeon Lord would return soon and wanted to prevent him from amassing a new Imp army. The Church knows that some Imps desire to serve the next one, and since this Ruin is the closest to the Dungeon, the Imps became our first target. Because we can't allow the new Dungeon Lord to regain control of the obelisks like the last one," Talon explained.
"But they made a deal with the Heroes Church to exchange Mana Crystals for Humans. Why would you break that deal so soon? Unless you weren't serious about it in the first place?" I asked, which made Talon go silent for several seconds.
"How do you know that?" Talon asked, and I did not reply. Then he answered, "You are right! It was an excuse to enter their ruins and scout their strength. We couldn't have done it without the help of a stupid Human Imp who even let us into the Imp Lair and offered us a feast to celebrate the deal," Talon said and started laughing.
Brock's Imp brother must be that fool.
"What happened to all the Mana Crystals in here?" I ask.
"In a storage ring. The Imps had mined and stored over 1000 Mana Crystals to exchange for 1000 Humans. I will tell you where I hid it if you let me go!" The Necromancer offered.
Interesting!
"Did you bring 1000 Humans with you?" I ask.
"Of course not! However, one of the Spelltome users can cast illusion magic and create 1000 fake humans." Talon revealed.
Such a tome is dangerous in enemy hands but would be very useful in mine.
I noticed none of Talon's fingers had a ring, nor did he have a pendant or any other visible jewelry. I doubted he would have tossed it away randomly in the Imp Lair. So it still must be nearby. Or maybe inside him? Could he have swallowed it?
I remembered what Timun did with the Dimensional Key when he fled the Underworld.
"I doubt the fool would have had the foresight to hide it somewhere else. Miner! Check his asshole," I order in English.
"Aye, my Lord!" Miner said as he went over to disrobe the Necromancer.
"What the hell are you doing!" The Necromancer asked with a terrified voice as he thought of something different.
"Calm down! He is just checking your asshole for the ring. You can squeeze it out, or my Miner will use his pickaxe to pluck it out the hard way." I inform, and Miner strokes the Necromancer's butt with the tip of his pickaxe.
"No! NO! No! STOP! I will give it to you!" The Necromancer yelled before squeezing his eyes shut to shoot out a ring with a fart. It bounced on the floor before Miner grabbed it.
I wanted to recoil in disgust, but Golems have no sense of taste, smell or touch. So why should I care where it was?
"My Lord,1000 Mana Crystals are inside the ring," Miner confirmed in Falaran.
"You got what you wanted! Now, let me go!" Talon demanded.
"Your friends who are sleeping outside the Ruin. Do they know you are in here?" I asked.
"Of course! They will come after you and your Golem Summoner if I don't show up at dawn," Talon warned.
"Is that so?" I asked in Falaran and then looked at the two amputees. I added, "I have an Imp who will happily take on your identity."