After a second strike with the pulsating pickaxe the skull and core of the crystal golem shatter into dozens of pieces. While I killed the golem rather quickly it was at the expense of early half of my spiritual energy. Most of my spiritual energy was spent maintaining the blood pool to fend off and distract the other three golems.

I allow one of the golems past the manipulated blood and fight it in the same manner as the previous one. I finish off the golem with more precision than the previous one. I don't have enough energy to fight the next two in the ways I did the previous one. It takes around one eighth of my energy per golem to kill or distract them. At this point I have to share one eighth between the two, so I absorb the blood back into the pickaxe and begin to take on the two of them.

If I can kill one using the spiritual pulse attack then I can face off against the other one like I had been doing originally, but the golems aren't very easy to defend against. I take the initiative and charge straight for the crystal golem standing to the right. I leave a large opening, but using the much larger pickaxe and stronger force from the raised pickaxe I finish the golem in one strike. The pointed pick cleaves a way into the golem's skull before a large surge of spiritual energy strikes at the core ending it's artificial life.

The second golem however does not waste the opportunity I left it. It's sharp claws swipe towards my flank tearing out a fair amount of flesh. Tearing below the ribs the claws leave a gash in the large intestine, but injuries are rather useless when I possess healing potions. I swivel to the left to face the golem whose right claw is covered in bright red blood. I maintain my stance and carry my pickaxe with my right hand while my other hand brings various red vials from my bag. The first potion I use is a thick dark green liquid which stops the bleeding around my wound after pouring it on. The next two are variations on normal healing potions that I quickly drink to stem internal bleeding and increase cell regeneration.

The wound wasn't fatal, so it shouldn't hinder me too much in combat. With my previous experience of one versus one fights against these golems I understand that most of my time will be parrying it's strikes and having my attacks be parried. Though the blood flow was staunched by my potions I can't be sure on the wound's long term effects. Rather than try to defend too much I go on the offensive. Repeatedly striking for the head of the golem my weapon is consecutively repelled, but the golem won't stay on the defensive either. Lowering it's center of gravity the golem charges forward and lunges with both claws hoping to impale me with it's claws.

"Counter chance!" I yell out in excitement. While I am by no means hot-blooded the excitement from a high risk battle gets to me.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

My attack is slightly awkward, but takes full advantage of the opportunity placed before me. It's my turn for revenge against the ugly little rock that injured me earlier. A pickaxe is not the best weapon to use in this sort of attack, so I transform it into the shape of a spear. With my hands in front of me pointing the blood-red spear towards the charging golem I thrust the spear forward while bracing my feet. The power of a counter comes from using the power of the opponent against them. The attack I am doing now is no where near as powerful as my attack against the previous golem I killed, but the golem is currently charging me with reckless abandon.

The sharp point of my spear surges forth through the crystal skull of the halfling golem. The speed of the golem rapidly slows as small pieces of it's head begins to splinter into dozens of pieces. My weight is much higher than the crystal being and my stance holds strong under the pressure being placed on my arms. Pushing the stunned golem onto the ground I lift the spear before plunging it down shattered head piercing the core.

"Kaaa." I release a mix of pent up breath and a long sigh. After the appearance of the four golems I was filled with tension, but a meeting with death was avoided with the distinct help of my weapon. I sit down cross legged and begin to meditate to restore my spent spiritual energy.

After the brutal encounter and my brush with death I spent nearly one hundred percent of my spiritual energy. I also received a rather dangerous injury. Spiritual energy can be, and is often used to heal wounds. Most do it subconciously due to a use of skills. Many warriors have passive abilities to restore damage outside of combat, and priests have skills to heal. Both of these use a diluted form of spiritual energy like battle qi or mana. Of course this also means I can heal my own wounds with spiritual energy, but to completely heal a wound would require a larger amount of energy as I have not been trained nor do I have the help of system assist. The most I can do is stimulate cell growth to heal wounds rather than completely forcing cell regeneration which is what priests do.

After five minutes of meditation the green slime slides off my flank onto the ground revealing a pale patch of skin. The potions I drank earlier seemed to have done their effect to the greatest possible extent that they were able to. I don't move forward immediately as my spiritual energy is no where near restored.

Next