The world flashed white, blinding Jinyoung. When he could finally see again, he was alone. There was no horizon and there was no ceiling.

The black shrine was still there. More of its text in some unfamiliar script was visible and it glowed weakly.

QUEST: The PATH of the STARS

OBJECTIVE: Complete one of the following:

- 500 Perfect Dodges or,

- 50 Perfect Parries.

REWARD: 1 CLASS SKILL point

Dodges and Parries were part of every cadet’s training. They required precise timing and, when performed properly, they left your enemies open for counterattack. But Perfect ones were practically unheard of. They required perfect reflexes and knowledge of your opponent. Enough so that you could predict their movements.

Summoning… GOLEM.

From nonexistent rubble, a large humanoid golem rose up roughly twice Jinyoung’s height.

“Oh, shit.”

image [https://i.imgur.com/N3aCzlo.jpg]

Cadets started training against golems at the Academy in their first year. Elemental mages could summon them relatively easily and dispel them if needed. Most first years started off against clay golems. They moved slowly and were susceptible to most physical weapons.

The wood golems were weak against blunted weapons which tripped up anyone who hadn’t faced them before. Most third-year or senior cadets faced off against a few of them. They were difficult at first, but it was simple once you overwhelmed them with numbers.

But Jinyoung was facing a stone golem. And a big one.

GOOD LUCK.

For something so massive and heavy, the golem moved quickly. It swung its tree-trunk limbs like battering rams. Jinyoung dodged the first one, but it left him off-balance. He saw the next blow before he felt it. But he definitely felt it.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

It was barely a glancing blow, but the impact knocked him off his feet and sent him tumbling. By the time he stopped himself, he was 10 feet away from the golem.

The golem righted itself. Turned its body and slowly lumbered its way toward Jinyoung.

He only had the shortsword the Academy had outfitted him with, but assuming he could properly parry an attack, it wouldn’t matter what kind of weapon he had. At least with a parry, he could deflect some of the momentum coming his way. With a dodge, if he screwed up the timing he’d end up taking another glancing blow. Not to mention, 50 was better than 500.

“Parries, it is.”

He wasn’t speaking to anyone in particular. Certainly not the stone golem which slowly stepped towards him purposefully. Unnervingly.

Once it had gotten close enough, it pulled its massive fist back and swung a boulder-sized fist at Jinyoung. His sword came up quick and with a CLANGGG!! Jinyoung was able to deflect the blow away from him. Just as quickly, the golem carried its momentum through and brought its other fist around.

Gotta get the timing right.

This time, it wasn’t a clean clang but a horrible SCREECH! Like the sound of steel being dragged across the pavement.

Before the golem could make its next attack, Jinyoung [dashed] away, putting some distance between himself and the monster.

Jinyoung had misjudged the timing. The golem takes a second to wind up for the first strike which gives him enough time to figure out how to parry the strike. But he tried to parry the second strike the same way and..

He looked at Hana’s damaged short sword. It hadn’t been in the best condition to begin with. But now, it looked like it had been put through the shredder. He had maybe four more shots with the sword before it gave out completely.

Perfect Parries: 1/50

Perfect Dodges: 0/500

“Shit.”

***

Once word reached the Academy, the proctor was joined by four other players including instructors. They moved quickly through the abandoned subway station until they reached the incursion.

When the cadets first reached him, he was a bit disappointed. He expected them to finish within an hour or two, but it’d been nearly half a day. That was when he realized their number. Then the looks on their faces.

The presence of a mid-boss was one thing, but an incursion was another entirely. They taught the students at the Academy what incursions were, but it was all theory. Some players had gone their whole lives without encountering one. And those who did, learned to avoid them.

But this thing that they’d found in the depths of the incursion. That was something else altogether.

Shrines weren’t uncommon in dungeons. Players who were lucky enough to come across them received a blessing. This could be healing, extra strength or bonus abilities for a limited time. With the right shrine bonus, even cadets could clear a dungeon.

The proctor laid his eyes on the obelisk and knew immediately. This wasn’t a shrine.