Chapter 82: [82] The Dreamer’s Epilogue
At first, Ark thought it would have been too late for Olivia. There was no realistic way for his summons to get to her on time, and the golem’s foot was already far too close.
But when he saw her rise out of the mess, he immediately felt relief flood him as he let out a laugh.
"That is it! That is the type of fiery spirit a player needs to have!"
He glanced at Esau, watching as the lizard man wrestled with a golem. He had taken quite the blow, but the golem was down, and he was chugging down health potions.
Even though he was not particularly strong, he was no newbie. While Olivia had brute strength, Esau had experience that had been sharpened by years spent in Eden.
And even if he was in trouble...
’He would have to fix his own messes.’
There was no way Ark would risk his life to save someone who wanted him dead. Especially since he was no longer useful for his plan.
He turned his attention away from them and focused back on the hulking monstrosity before him.
With Inquisitor and Jenna aiding Olivia, he was left to handle the boss monster with only half his forces.
"Are you guys ready?"
Of course, they could not respond, but Mountain slammed the base of his shield into the floor, while Sumo did the same with his axe.
"Then let’s go!"
Ark charged forward, chains rattling around him as his Kusarigama soared through the air, reaping the lives of golems.
The golems tried to form a wall in order to block him off from the boss, but a well-placed fireball was enough to bite a hole within it.
Balls of earth raced through the air, each one shattering the floor as Ark ducked and dodged, evading all their strikes.
The battlefield became a mess of dust, flying limbs and projectiles which whistled through the air.
The entire laboratory had been transformed into a war front.
Ark leaped right at one of the golems, reaching its face in a second. The Kusarigama flashed, digging into its eyes and causing sparks to cascade into the air.
As he was landing, Mountain was waiting for him. The knight raised its shield, and then, using his monstrous strength, he launched Ark back into the air with it.
Ark tugged on the thick chain of his weapon, pulling the blade closer to his body, then he twisted his arms, causing the blade to spin faster and faster and faster.
Soon, a wall of chains and blades had formed around him, a serpentine hiss filled the air as he descended right into the midst of the golems, massacring one after the other.
Sumo was moving like a phantom, cutting through the golems with surgical precision, all while Mountain jumped in front of all heavy attacks.
Soon, the golems had all been destroyed, and the path to the boss monster had been cleared wide open.
There was only one problem...
"I’m running low on mana..."
Ark could feel an emptiness inside him, something akin to hunger, a feeling that told him of just how low his reserves had gone.
He stared at the orb that was near the foot of the boss monster, then his gaze sharpened.
If he wanted any chance at beating that boss, then he needed to get his hands on it!
Ark heaved a breath, and then the chains in his hands vanished. The thick, solid staff of his scythe filled his hands with comfort as he lifted the curved blade, spinning the weapon around himself.
And then he charged.
The crystal golem stared at him as he approached, but at first it did nothing. It simply shifted its position, so that I could see them clearly.
’What sort of abilities does it have?’ Ark mused as he observed the monster, his feet moving so fast that they were a blur.
He was running in a wide, circular arc around it, trying to figure out just what its weakness was.
He already knew that its armour would be near impossible to breach at his level. Not only was it far too hard, it was also too thick for him to do any meaningful damage.
But did it have any other special abilities?
He glanced at his undead, their azure glowing eyes meeting his own, before he nodded.
And then they sprinted into action, the three of them charging forward in a triangular formation. But the moment it became clear that they were going to attack, something shifted in the air.
The golem’s head suddenly glowed brighter, and it felt as though all the oxygen in the room was being sucked into a vacuum...
Only that this vacuum was the monster’s head.
"What is it trying to do—!"
The realisation hit Ark like a speeding truck.
"MOUNTAIN, MOVE!!" Ark screamed as he and Sumo jumped to the side. But Mountain had been leading the charge, meaning he was the farthest ahead, and with his bulky armour, he was far slower than them both.
VVWOOOOSH!
The golem’s crystal body grew brightly, and then a stream of orange flames suddenly gushed out of its eye, bubbling forward like liquid fire.
Mountain raised his shield, but he didn’t even manage to last a second before he was reduced to ash.
[Your summon has been destroyed]
But the golem did not end there....
[Golem Refresh Initiated!]
The flames kept pouring out. The boss monster disregarded its allies, the fire dismantling the newly formed golems as it chased after Ark.
"Damn it!" He hissed as he watched the pillar of fire catching up with him. While he had to run around, all the golem had to do was move its head to get him!
He did not have much mana, so re-summoning Mountain was unwise. His higher ranked spells like rewind were also out of it.
Ark increased his pace, and yet it was not enough. The fire kissed his clothes, he felt warmth encapsulate him, just before his cloak was set ablaze.
He felt searing pain fill his body as he jumped into a barrel roll, trying to avoid being swallowed.
And then the fire came down—
But just as he was about to be consumed by it, Sumo appeared by his side, kicking him out of the way.
Vwoooosh!
[Your summon has been destroyed]
Ark immediately took off his burning cloak and discarded it into his inventory. Hopefully, it would prevent it from being entirely destroyed.
He let out an angry hiss as he stood to his feet, staring at the monster.
The golem had finally ceased its barrage, but the after-effects had been devastating.
There were concentric patterns all over the floor, courtesy of its attack.
The patterns had not just been burned into place, it had melted the floor as though it were ice, leaving puddles of molten earth all around.
The golem took a massive step forward, staring at Ark, and then small red dots appeared all around his body, before focusing on his forehead.
"Lasers?"
The golem’s chest suddenly sprang open like a cabinet, and Ark felt a shiver run down his spine, as missiles rushed out from within it, the projectiles more bountiful than rain...
"Just what the fuck was the Dreamer thinking?!"