The Golem Mage

684: Options.

684: Options.

Arthur slid across the ground, dragging his sword into the earth to cushion the force propelling him backward.

As he raised his head, his vision was filled with Legion’s spear piercing through the air, hurtling directly toward him.

Legion grows more serious about the fight, the more minutes he spent surviving, and Arthur found himself being pushed around the training hall with little chance to recover.

Though they were in the same cultivation realm, but there was no denying that Legion’s superior experience and countless battles gave him a decisive edge in the spar.

Arthur could only dream of matching that level of mastery.

Bang!

Arthur raised his sword just in time, using its broad blade to deflect Legion’s strike to the side, the sheer force behind the spear sent tremors through his arm as he deflected it, and he felt a searing laser slash past his ear, missing by mere inches.

Gritting his teeth, he steeled himself and launched a low left hook, as his fist glowed with metal element lights, but as his fist neared its target, it was stopped cold by a round light shield that materialized from Legion’s right-hand guard.

The block was effortless, and Legion used this opportunity to take a step back to free his spear from its awkward position.

In one fluid motion, he spun, using the momentum to swing the base of his laser spear toward Arthur.

Caught off guard, Arthur failed to react in time to the counterattack, and the strike smashed into his jaw, sending him sprawling to the ground.

While struggling to rise back in time Arthur froze when he felt the tip of Legion’s spear press against his neck.

The weapon thrummed with pulsating energy, as if it were eager to just be unleashed.

“I dare you to make one stupid move,” Legion warned, his voice cold and unyielding.

The glow of his eyes through the T-shaped visor seemed to pierce into Arthur’s thoughts, as though reading his intentions.

Arthur gulped, feeling the weight of the warning.

Moments earlier, he had considered casting a defensive spell to push Legion back and buy time to regroup, but the faint, almost mocking smirk visible under Legion’s helmet and the sheer audacity of his challenge told Arthur it would be unwise to try that.

Though he had clearly lost, but Arthur knew he had gained invaluable insights and experience from the fight, for him, this defeat was anything but wasted.

After all at the start of the fight, every move Legion made forced him to go on the defensive.

However, as time passed and Legion toyed with him, Arthur began to understand a few patterns, got his shit together and began to send out some counters back at Legion.

While none of his attacks landed, but he managed to exchange a few moves and familiarise himself with such intensity before Legion decided to crush his arrogance by channeling more energy into his spear.

The increased intensity left Arthur struggling to keep up, as each strike was forcing him into a tighter spot.

Even now, his hands are still trembling from the strain.

Finally with the battle ending he broke off the merge spell, and the golem dissolved into starlight, retreating into his space pouch.

[Ding!]

[Level Up: Legion]

[Level 99]

“You did well,” Alec said, his compliment so unexpected that Arthur froze for a moment, questioning if the person before him was truly Alec.

Alec rarely praised them, especially after they had been so thoroughly outclassed.

What Arthur didn’t realize was that Alec’s acknowledgment stemmed from two reasons.

First, Arthur had forced Legion to get serious, something that rarely happened, second, Arthur had unwittingly pushed Legion into leveling up.

Though Alec knew Legion was close to leveling up before, but it would have required slaying many demonic beasts in the beast world to reach the threshold, yet, his battle with Arthur had tipped the scales.

“By the way, from my observation, you should have no problem matching a normal Peak Tier 5 Mage in battle power when merged with your golem.” Alec added

“How is that possible when I still couldn’t even defeat Legion?” Arthur asked, his disbelief evident.

“Oh, don’t even try to compare, Legion isn’t your average Tier 5 mage, he’s a genius among geniuses if you’re trying to categorise him ,” Alec replied absentmindedly.

The two clansmen in the training room alongside him could only smile wryly.

Alec’s offhanded remark felt like an indirect declaration that they themselves were among the “normal” mages Alec mentioned.

Brandon kept his thoughts to himself, unwilling to voice his frustrations, however, Alec’s next words snapped him out of his brooding and left him utterly stunned.

“Tell me, Brandon, are you ready to finally craft your own golem?” Alec asked with a small smile that immediately made both Brandon and Arthur cringe.

Though Brandon felt overwhelmed and genuinely appreciative of Alec’s question which means he is willing to help, but there was just something about that smile that felt… off.

It wasn’t a warm or genuine smile, it was the kind of smile that seemed to say, ‘I’m going to work you to the bone for the favor I’m about to grant you.’

“Yes,” Brandon replied, accepting the offer despite his reservations.

After all, both Arthur and Agnes had seen significant power boosts after Alec helped evolve their golems.

He didn’t want to feel left out, and he truly needed a proper companion golem.

While Brandon had crafted a few basic golems in the past, but none of them made him feel real connection.

He needed expert advice, and at this moment, Alec was undoubtedly the best expert available.

“Good choice, you shall be my first experiment.” Alec said, his smile growing even more unsettling after what he just said.

[Pay 1,000 system points to summon the Ancestral Golem Knowledge (Y/N)]

Alec extended his hand, trying to summon the ancestral book given to him by his grandfather along with the God-Tier Golem Scroll, and the system’s notification popped up, but Alec didn’t hesitate to choose the Y.

Such a small amount of system points was inconsequential to him, he could earn ten times that in a single night, so without hesitation, he confirmed the payment, and the golem book materialized before his outstretched right hand.

“System, scan for the golem most suitable for Brandon,” Alec commanded.

[Pay 5,000 system points for the scan (Y/N)]

Once again, Alec selected yes without a second thought.

And the wind picked up, flipping through the pages of the book.

It first stopped at the Rock Golem section, pausing briefly, before turning again to the Wood Golem section.

This time, it stopped at a specific variant of the Wood Golem, one that seemed to resemble the Wood Golem used by the Fourth Elder.

Enforced Rock Golem – Tier 4 (250,000 system points)

Mutated Wood Golem – Tier 4 (250,000 system points)