"Level 100? That's no joke. What do we all average? 56?" Elora asked, her voice tense as they got ready to attack. The golem stood immobile, a looming figure of stone and fury, as if it were toying with them, patiently waiting for their first move. Its massive body towered over them, and for a moment, the silence in the hall felt almost mocking, as if the golem enjoyed the tension it created.
As the group prepared, the realization that magic wouldn't work against the golem struck them hard. "Alright, mages, you'll need to switch to support roles," Asher instructed, his voice firm and authoritative. "Protect yourselves, but focus on buffing the physical attackers. We need to maximize our damage output while minimizing risks."
Freya nodded, his expression resolute. "I can boost your attack power and speed. That should help us close the gap and hit harder."
"Good thinking," Matthew chimed in, her hands already weaving through the air as she conjured protective shields around the mages. "I'll enhance your defenses and also add some extra buff while you're at it."
Evelina, still holding her bow, prepared her arrows, each one lined with a faint glimmer of energy. "I'll keep shooting and provide cover for anyone who gets too close. We need to keep it distracted while you guys handle the heavy lifting."
With their roles established, the group took a deep breath, and Asher nodded at Matthew, signaling him to make the first move.
Matthew charged forward, his axe gleaming with an dark red aura as he closed the distance between himself and the golem. "Here we go!" he shouted, launching a powerful overhead strike aimed at the golem's head. The golem, sensing the attack, suddenly moved, its massive arm swinging down in retaliation.
"Watch out!" Finn yelled, diving to the side as the golem's fist smashed into the ground where Matthew had just stood, sending shockwaves through the hall. Dust and debris exploded into the air, obscuring their vision for a moment.
[Quick Shot]
[Snipe]
Evelina quickly drew an arrow and released it, striking the golem's knee with precision. The arrow lodged itself in the stone, but the golem barely flinched, its glowing red eyes still fixed on Matthew. "It's like it didn't even feel that!" she exclaimed, frustration creeping into her voice.
"Stay on the move!" Asher shouted, rushing in to support Matthew. He swung his own weapon, aiming for the golem's side while dodging another massive swing. The golem seemed to relish the challenge, adapting its movements as they attacked, its body shifting with unexpected agility for such a massive creature.
[Backstab]
Asher's daggers clashed against the golem's rocky skin, sparks flying as he struck. The impact resonated through his arms, but he quickly followed up with a series of rapid strikes, trying to find a weak point. "Keep hitting it! We need to wear it down!"
[Heavy Assault]
"Right!" Finn shouted, dashing in with his spear, aiming for the golem's exposed foot. "We need to destabilize it!" He thrust forward, his spear piercing the stone. For a moment, it seemed like it might work, but the golem responded with a brutal kick, sending Finn sprawling across the ground.
"Freya! Get him up!" Asher called out, rushing to Finn's side. She placed her hands on him, casting a quick healing spell that glimmered around him. "You okay?"
"I'm fine," Finn grunted, pulling himself up. "Just give me a second."
Meanwhile, Aiden had positioned himself behind the golem, watching the monster's movements closely. "Now! Everyone push it back!" He shouted, channeling energy into a red aura that began to swirl around his sword.
Matthew took the lead again, yelling, "Let's go! Now!" He charged in, striking the golem once more as Asher unleashed a wave of shadow energy, pushing against the golem and momentarily disrupting its stance.
The golem reeled slightly, but quickly regained its balance, turning its furious gaze towards Asher. "Uh-oh," he muttered, realizing he had caught its attention.
[Multi Shot]
Evelina, quick on the draw, fired another volley of arrows, aiming for the golem's head. This time, one of her arrows struck true, hitting the golem's forehead and causing a crack to form in its stone surface. "That's it! Keep aiming for the cracks!" she shouted, encouraging the group to focus their attacks.
[Shadow Walk]
Rey stopped, looking at Jett with a raised brow. "Didn't you see the extra info on their status?"
Jett shook his head, frowning. "No... what extra info?"
Rey sighed, realizing Jett hadn't noticed what he had. "Possessed corpse. That's what was written on the status of the king and his soldiers. It means the king was already dead for a while, but I'm not exactly sure when."
The realization settled over Jett, and the pieces clicked into place. That actually made sense. The king hadn't been in control for some time. He had been nothing but a puppet, and someone or something had been pulling the strings.
"You could've said something earlier when I tried to avoid taking him out. Now all my abilities have been nerfed," Rey sighed, clearly frustrated as the new information had come too late to be of any use.
While Rey was venting, Cedric remained unusually restless, deep in thought, pacing slightly as if something still weighed on his mind.
Jett noticed this and asked, "What's the matter, Cedric?"
Cedric stared at Jett for a moment before something clicked in his memory. He muttered to himself, 'He still has the last fragment.'
"The crown... you still have it, right?" Cedric asked, his voice more urgent now.
"Of course I do. Why do you ask?" Jett responded, curious, as he reached into his storage space and retrieved the crown.
"Try wearing the crown," Cedric suggested, his tone calm but serious.
Both Jett and Rey exchanged confused glances, not entirely sure if Cedric was joking or had finally snapped under the pressure. But the intense look in Cedric's eyes told them otherwise: he was dead serious.
Jett hesitated for a second, but then, with a shrug, he placed the crown on his head. As soon as it touched him, a series of notifications popped up before his eyes.
[Title: The Tyrant Who Stole the Crown]
[Title: King Slayer]
[All penalties have been suspended.]
Before Jett could react, Rey felt something strange beneath him.
"What the..." he muttered as the bed beneath him shifted. Startled, he jumped off just in time to see the bed spring up, revealing the entrance to a secret underground tunnel.
"You guys think they're down there?" Rey asked, a mix of hope and concern in his voice.
Cedric glanced down the tunnel, his expression unreadable. "Only one way to find out," he replied, taking a deep breath before stepping toward the dark, mysterious path.
*
*
*
Let's go