City of Desire

"Golems," I whispered with my heart beating fast.

There are rows and rows of them. All standing in formation. There are many types of them, including aerial, with only a few being humanoid.

It's clear that there are different types of golems here, each serving a different purpose.

I counted and found there are sixty of them. All look threatening but powerful. Especially the biggest one in the center, tall, thick, humanoid, holding a massive staff.

They are not the only golems; there are more, two more.

It's clear from a single look that they are a grade above the sixty. The only one who could even come close is the leading golem of the sixty.

Behind the two is the building. No, there is something else in there, right in front of the building.

Something purple and blue is floating. I can't see it clearly due to my eyesight still not working clearly from the glow.

Still, I tried for a few seconds before turning back to the huge building. It's really enormous; nobody would expect such a massive structure to be present deep within the mine.

It's a nine-story tower, red and blue, with the emblem of the head on the entrance, similar to that of the door.

It is also an emblem that seemed to be on every golem.

I want to go there immediately, but I couldn't. There is a large screen in front of us, with lines of text and the head's emblem.

"What does it say?" I asked.

"Inheritance Trial One: The Trial of Command,"

"The weapons and knowledge of Tarragon's Forge are not for the Kings, Conquerors, or the Ambitious. It is for those who can stand against the annihilation."

"Prove your worth, defeat the Forgeband," he said out loud.

"So, we have to fight it?" asked General Azalia. "Yes," he replied, turning to the thin man.

"What are Gaurus Class, Mesei Class, and Hataer Class?" he asked. "It means Grade III, Grade IV, and V," he replied.

"These golems are Grade V golems, and fighting them is the first challenge. We could use one hundred and twenty people from Lv. 20 to Lv. 40," General Azalia said.

"The challenge will adjust its strength according to it," he informed.

I barely seemed to listen; my mind kept ringing with them being Grade V golems. Meaning each one of them has the strength of an Lv. 40.

There are sixty of them. I mean, what kind of strength would I have if I could gain sixty Lv. 40's.

I wouldn't have to worry about the enemy at all.

"We have three days to finish the challenge and three attempts to do it. If we fail, teleportation would be activated, and this place would disappear," he stated, bringing me out of my thoughts.

"Fuck!" cursed Jon.

"We will get those as long as we finish the two challenges. Each challenge will also open three floors of the building, but to enter it, we will pass the two additional challenges as well," he replied.

I sighed, hearing that.

This could change things, but I wish I had more time. Three days is not much to plan and prepare. We have to; it's the only time we have.

"Translate it on paper," I said to him. It didn't take him long, and I read it before handing it to others.

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"What do you think?" I asked the soldier. "The rules may seem straightforward, but they are not."

"It is a challenge of command and says, 'Prove your worth, defeat the forgeband.'. If it had been a simple defeating of the Forgeband, we would have needed to just defeat it."

"I believe this challenge will be looking at something more. It is something they kept for the future generation to aid them against incursion; they would want to hand it over to someone capable," the soldier replied.

"I agree, we should choose the best people for it. Instead of just the most powerful," added Azalia.

"Then it's a good thing we have our best people in Panar," I said, and she nodded with a small smile curving her lips.

…

Orok Uram

"I hate this. I want to see what is inside," said Dina, looking at the stone gate at a distance.

There was a brightness before those dense runes disappeared, and that huge gate appeared at a distance.

I would be lying if I said I am not interested as well, but orders are orders.

"I, too, wonder what is inside? They have been digging for it for over half a year," added Sasyr. "Our job is not to be curious; it is to keep an eye on things and guard all the entrances," I replied.

I know it wouldn't stop their curiosity, but it would at least focus them on their job.

"Is everything good?" I asked Dina, and she sighed. "Yes, everything is calm; not even an ant had gotten through the entrances," she replied exaggeratedly.

A few minutes passed, and nothing happened; nor did I expect it to.

The Army has the whole cave locked down, with my men securing the immediate area. If anything were to happen, then it would happen from the gate.

I had just thought that when the gate suddenly opened, General Irab walked out.

He stopped, and his eyes focused on me.

"Colonel, come, they are asking for you." He said. For a moment, I wondered whether he was talking to me, but he was.

"Colonel, you have to tell us what you see inside," said Dina as I walked toward the gate with many questions in my heart.

Why are they asking for me only?

There are many senior officers in the cave, maybe because I am present here.

"Come," he said as I reached the gate. I nodded and stepped inside.

As I did, I nearly froze at the sight of what was on the other side. "Are those golems?" I couldn't help but ask. In the course, they have taught us about them.

Though most are used for utility, these do not appear to be used for anything other than war.

There is also that massive building behind them. I had imagined many things when I saw the gate, but never in my wildest thought did I expect to see such a huge building in here.

Though I didn't expect the golems either.

I quickly controlled my emotions and turned to the people.

"Lord Silver," I bowed before turning to the woman. "General," I greeted and nodded at the rest.

"What do you think, Colonel?" she asked, looking forward. "I believe they are golems, General," I replied carefully. I don't know why they have called me.

"Can you fight them?" she asked, surprising me. I didn't answer immediately and looked at them.

"I don't know, General, but if you order, I will," I replied. I do not think I could fight those monstrous things, but I will follow the orders.

She didn't say anything, but I could see a small smile lighting up the corner of her lips.

"You and your men are going to fight them," she informed me, and my heart shuddered, not for me, but for my men. I am willing to fight, but I don't want my men with me.

"Their strength will be adjusted to yours, Colonel," she added, reading what I was thinking.

It made me feel relieved immediately. I may sacrifice my life, but I don't want any harm to come to my men; there is so much for them to live for.

"Though it won't be an easy battle. It will be the most difficult battle you have fought and also the most important one."

"You see, Colonel, we need those golems, and we could only get them by defeating them. You know, the enemies we face and how tremendously useful such a force could be," she said.

I understood very well.

Two kingdoms of undead, monsters, different nobles in the region, and those coming from outside. We are surrounded by threats from all sides.

"My men and I will give our all, General," I promised. To that, she sighed.

"We do not have information about them for you, Colonel, aside from the fact that they will adjust to your strength when you fight them."

"You will have three chances and three days to defeat them, or the whole thing will disappear, and so will our chance to defeat our enemies."

I nodded and looked at the golems; there are sixty of them in multiple types.

Some look like monsters, others are humanoid, and some are completely different. I feel scared when I see them, but since it is an order, I will have to fight them.

"Gather your men, one hundred and twenty of them." She instructed.

"Any advice on who I should choose, General?" I asked. "No, it will be your prerogative. The only thing I will say is choose the people who are capable of dealing with the unexpected," she replied.

A few minutes later, I was out of the gate, and immediately, I felt the eyes of my men on me.

"So, what is it?" asked Dina as I reached them. I looked at her before turning to Dorv and handing him the list of men I had prepared inside.

"Gather them immediately," I ordered. Half of them are in the caves, but the other half are in the city.

He looked at the list, which contained ninety of my people and thirty of Lt. Colonel Bandstone's, including herself. We have trained with her and fought alongside her men for months against the monsters.

She is also the most tenacious warrior I have come across, and her shield warriors would be complementary to ours.

"Are we going to fight?" he asked, turning to me from the list. I nodded.

"What are we fighting, Colonel?" asked Dina, becoming excited. "You will know soon, Captain," I replied. There are three chances, and General wants us to do our first attempt as soon as possible.