Chapter 115 - Flame Golems
Hands appeared on the flaming rings, each portal seemed to be getting forced open my the lava textured hands.
"What are those?" Elliot gasped in shock.
"Those are called the Flame Golems," Connor said. "I saw two guarding the Cauldron of Infernal Flames."
"Two? Two guard such an important artifact?" Lance asked. "If the artifact is guarded by two of them, what can these four do?"
"Strike Alert Warning!"
"Strike Level, Beta to Alpha."
"All Adventurers on standby, please proceed to the gate!"
A strike that is found between two power levels, will have the word "to" in the middle. This would mean that the power levels are neither the two, but in between them.
"A Beta to Alpha with just four beasts," Lance scoffed and shook his head. "They're even at the same level as Palace Knights."
"Those dudes with the speed and defense?" Ed groaned. "Man, they were terrible to handle."
"These beasts aren't special because of their speed nor defense," Connor said. He fired a flame shot at one of the arms that was coming out of the portals, cutting it off.
"Nice!" Ed grinned. "Connor, keep doing that."
Connor pursed his lips and pointed them at the hand. When Ed turned, he saw the arm had almost finished regenerating, making him curse out loud.
"This is gonna be tough," Connor said.
"Don't worry, the Adventurers from Colleau are coming," Frost said. "Our small city is rarely visited by Strikes."
"What level can you withstand?" Lance asked.
This made Frost gulp and look away, "Err, Gamma?"
"Great," Lance chuckled in pure dismay. "Well, we can handle this."
Another portal had appeared above the other ones. It was larger by the other four by at least thrice their size.
Instead of a hand, a tentacle burst out of the flaming portal. The body followed it, making everyone shake their heads in disbelief.
It was a gigantic flaming squid with wings made of fire. One of its tentacles alone could destroy an entire house with one strike.
"We'll take that huge thing," Midnight said. "It's cold and dark here. In favor for my powers."
"Are you sure you don't need our help?" Lance asked. "I mean, it's better if we stick together."
"That thing will wipe this tiny city with one strike," Luck said. "The prisoners aren't even done evacuating, let alone the citizens. We'll drive the beast away. Y'all take care of these four and that goblin."
"Goblin?" Elliot creased his forehead. Luck deadpanned and rolled his eyes, tilting his head to Levitican's direction. "Oh, that guy."
"Yeah, whatever. Are you ready Mid–"
"Seafood!" Midnight growled, already in his morphed form and blasted himself from the ground. He tackled the squid with his now large build.
A pitch black half man, half lion with large wings that stood 15 feet tall against a flaming kraken. It was a sight to see.
Midnight tackled the kraken, completely removing the beast from its portal. He used his sharp nails, digging them into the kraken's head, and throwing it into a distant location.
"I will eat you!" Midnight growled.
"Why is he like that?" Elliot grimaced. "The gentle Midnight is screaming in a deep and raspy voice that would remind anyone of a lake beast with sore throat."
"The full moon's approaching, so…" Luck trailed off. "We don't usually let him morph within the week but seeing as, this is an emergency."
"We can't stop that," Elliot sighed.
"I better hurry up before he tries to eat the kraken," Luck said and whistled.
'Harmonious Lift.'
The air surrounded him and lifted him from the ground, giving him the ability to fly and rush to Midnight.
"Now that introductions are done, let's fight!" Levitican yelled. He raised his short arms, commanding the golems to attack.
"Why did I even let the dragons go home first?" Hope groaned and reverted to his human form. His dragon form may be his original form, but after he was transformed into a human, whenever he morphs, it would slowly consume his mana.
And him depleting his mana would be a problem considering he fight in the front lines. He could use a boost from Connor, but he still needed some to attack and defend. He couldn't just let himself take all of Connor's attention.
"Everyone!" Ripple yelled to the citizens of the city. She took out her daggers and assumed an offensive stance. "Let us defend our city! Adventurers of Colleau, let's fight!"
Her signature ripples in the air appeared, the woman who conjured them blasting into each of the ripples, rapidly attacking the golems. Each ripple felt like a magnet for Ripple. She could dash into a desired wave in an instant, as if she was teleporting.
The mages from Colleau also fired whatever the magic they could fire. Their combined attacks could barely able to take down a golem, making Lance sigh and decide not to expect much help from them.
He glanced at Elliot who nodded at him, allowing him to take charge.
"Everyone, assume positions," Lance ordered. "Frost, cover me. Colleau villagers, cover Ripple. We will take the front lines and eliminate them. Levitican does not seem to attack, let's take this chance."
Elliot ran to one of the golems with Ed, with Connor and Hope battling the last golem.
"Everyone, after you finish your golem, assist the group closest to you," Lance commanded. "The battle starts now!"
He was the first one to attack, using his Black and White Annihilation skill right off the bat. The golem roared while its upper body was slowly vanishing.
"Their weakness is their Golem Stone. Once it breaks, or removed from its body, it will cease to activate," Connor said. "I remember the Priestess telling me that."
"That easy?" Lance tilted his head, showing off the dead golem he was battling. "Frost, I'll assist Ripple and–"
Frost had to tap his shoulder and point at the lower limbs of the beast who still stood tall. The gut started to reform, the torso regenerating and lastly its head.
"But I literally obliterated it," Lance groaned. "Why can it still do that?"
"The placement of their gems aren't located on the foreheads like other golems," Connor yelled. "Each Flame Golem has different place where they store their gem."
"Then I'll destroy everything," Lance said and raised his sword once more. "Black and White Annihilation!"
The golem cut its right leg off, throwing it away before the burst of energy reached it.
"That's its gem!" Frost yelled and targeted the leg. "True Frost!"
Her shot was swift. It was fast and would explode into a burst of ice crystals if it hits its target. This would definitely be the end of the golem.
But then, a pair of hands grew from the leg, just where the knee was. It used its palms to leap and avoid Frost's arrow, making the Ranger drop her jaw in bewilderment.
"They could regenerate that quick?" Frost scoffed. Lance and her watch the foot and the hands regenerate to the 12-foot tall golem in shock.
Lance took his sword and fired multiple crescent-shaped attacks. "This is going to be a very long day."
Meanwhile, Elliot and Ed had trouble fighting the golem. Their skillset were in huge disadvantage against the beast, considering they were close-range combatants and their elemental attacks were not as widespread as Lance's.
"We just need to locate its gem," Elliot said. "If we could do that, then we win."
"But how can we locate it?" Ed mumbled, his face was showing no signs of amusement.
"Let's launch attacks and analyze where it would protect the most," Elliot said. "Then let's test it if the part is really where it hides its gem."
Elliot dashed to the side, drinking a potion to replenish his MP. "Supreme Malevolence! Lotus Blast!"
"Eternal Chaos Strike!" Ed casted on the other side.
The golem was confused for a moment. It was facing eight slashes with a flower burst on one side while a powerful slash in the other.
As a golem, it took out its hand and raised it, making sure that it will not get hit by the incoming attacks.
Seeing this, Elliot leaped up, recoiling his sword as he prepared for an attack. "Hasty Aspire!"
Elliot dashed through the golem's raised hand, hearing a cracking sound from the golem's closed palm. It fell on its knees and growled, falling face first on the floor.
'Flame Golem killed.. +5,000XP.'