CHAPTER 58: THE GOLEM

Velia and Mira stopped in front of me suddenly for some reason. "Everything okay Roku?" Velia asks with a concerned expression on her face.

"Yes, no need to worry." I assure her before she turns back around.

Velia usually doesn’t worry about things but lately after some of the fights she’s seemed a bit different. Almost as if she’s grown a bit from when I first met her.

"I’ll trust you Rokuro, better not be lying to me." Velia says with more of a serious tone in her voice.

She wouldn’t understand if I told her about Rika, the girl in my head that isn’t always the most sane person. Especially lately.

I know she can read my thoughts since she’s in there as well but usually there isn’t much of a comment on it. Only when I’m being a perv or overthinking in battle is when she appears the most.

Going back to the abyss or that all white room is probably the best bet if I want to get answers from her. Rika talked to me the most in there so if I can get back there... That’d be best course of action.

Creeeeek! Velia pushes the door open to the next floor ahead of us. It had more of a stone like appearance this time for the door, covered in some old vines and a couple of flowers.

[19] The Protector.

I followed behind them onto the next floor and honestly this place was probably one of the most beautiful floors we’ve been on. A variety of flowers were all throughout a grass field with a nice blue sky above us.

This floor didn’t feel like it was hostile in the slighter but it’s the final one before the boss floor. There’s no way that it’s something easy since we just came from a peaceful floor before this.

"The floor of the golem really is the prettiest!" Mira shouts with excitement.

Velia draws her sword as usual and begins looking around. "Where exactly is the golem?" Velia asks curiously.

Rumble! Rumble!! In the distance rocks begin forming as the ground continues to rumble around us. Eventually taking on the form of a relatively big golem.

One like in those old stories that I read back when I was younger. It was made of grey rock with some vines going across its chest. Blue dots which appear to be its eyes were glaring right at us.

Looking over at Velia with her sword out it kind of made me wonder what a sword would do against rock.

Unless there is something special about her sword that I don’t know about, it’ll be useless against a monster like the golem. Rocks from a place like this don’t strike me as something that would be cut by a sword.

I look down at my fists. Will I even be able to do much with my strength here? It’s completely different from a blade so maybe it is possible.

My power is a lot different from Velia’s blade and can definitely do a lot of damage. It was even enough for me to handle an undead dragon.

Clench. I look back up towards the golem while preparing for what awaits us.

The pain that I’ll probably feel from punching a damn rock is going to be a lot at first I imagine but sometimes it’s needed. Rika doesn’t need to help me with this fight, at least I’m hoping she’ll stay out of it.

I can’t get stronger with her taking over to help in these battles.

I’m caught off guard when I notice Velia is already rushing towards the golem, she was definitely moving quite fast. Her speed was one of her biggest strengths, alongside her swordsmanship.

That smile was also back on her face once again, the pleasure of fighting against monsters is still something I don’t get.

Clang!!! Her blade rang with each hit against the golems body, the sound of metal on stone was quite rough. It was a repeating motion too as she kept on striking the golem before stepping back to avoid an attack.

"You just going to watch Rokuro?" Mira asks with curiosity in her voice.

"I plan to help, she just surprised me is all." I answer while preparing to help.

The wind blew past me as I rushed towards the golem, my fist cocked back and ready to strike the moment I reached the golem. I was able to focus just enough for the power to kick in where I needed it.

Crack!!!! I felt an initial shock go through my hand at first as my fist connects with the golems stone chest, but it began to crack after a moment.

A burst of power shooting right through it before it takes a few steps back, focusing on recovery.

My understanding of this power is definitely a lot better than it used to be so it’s getting a lot easier to use. I’ll enjoy the practice during this fight quite a bit.

I’ll admit that the punch still hurt a bit since I punched a piece of rock after all. The damage was still a lot on the golem though which is what matters here.

"There’s my assistance." Velia says softly while still smiling.

That menacing smile on her face is definitely something...

The ground begins to rumble once again as if an earthquake is happening all around us, but that was far from it being the case. I stood there baffled for a few seconds as I notice that the golem formed armor around its body.

Making a chest piece from some other rocks and even some pauldrons. I didn’t think golems were capable of such a thing but I was wrong.

Golems just don’t have much interaction usually. They guard in some worlds and remain dormant in others.

Oh you decide to talk now instead of answering me about what’s going on with you. Would be nice to get some answers from you once in awhile Rika.

Pervy Rokuro wants answers from me, hahaha. Maybe one day.

"Rokuro watch out!" Velia shouts.

Tumble. I just barely roll out of the way as the golems giant fist goes past me. I didn’t realize that it pushed up on me out of nowhere.

Must’ve gotten some confidence after making the armor for itself. It wouldn’t matter since its arm was still lingering in front of me.

Its hand got caught in the ground where I was originally standing, how lucky for me.

I reel my arm back and punch for the middle of its arm. Bam!! Crumble!!! Pieces of its arm started falling onto the ground after I punched right through it.

The power I put into the attack was enough to break its arm without any sort of problem. STUMBLE!! The ground shook as it stepped back a few meters again.

Its arm starts to form once again but Velia is already attacking it relentlessly, slashing left and right. I didn’t hesitate with this either, I lunged forward and put power into both of my fists this time.

1, 2, 4, 8, 10. Hitting the golem over and over again as it keeps falling back with each attack. The stone was cracking all over its body while Velia starts to strike at its weak points.

Her blade was cutting through the spots I weakened with ease, making it even harder for the golem to recover.

You should just finish the golem off already, it was never a hard fight to begin with.

I really do wonder how you ended up like this Rika, how you ended up inside of me with this kind of mentality. Surely you must’ve been unstoppable in your time before whatever happened to you.

I’m sure it sucks being behind the wall watching everything unfold but I didn’t put you there. Sort out whatever problem it is that you’re having lately please.

I take a few breaths in and out before channeling the power into my right hand. It was strange feeling everything shift throughout my body into one spot.

A red glow starts to form around my right hand as I cock my hand back once more.

"Ooooo! I can’t believe he’s got even more power!" Mira says without thinking, the excitement bursting out of her.

Shatter!!!! Crumble!!!!! I slam my fist into its chest once again and a surge of energy goes through its body before it completely exploded into a bunch of smaller pieces.

Small pieces of rock were all that remain from this golem, a for with a lot of durability but not enough strength.

This wasn’t the boss fight so I guess it doesn’t really matter at the end of the day. He wasn’t really much of a protector for the boss ahead of that’s what he was supposed to be.

Or am I really that strong that it didn’t matter in the first place?

"Bravo! I’m so happy to see you two excelling like this!" Mira shouts as she rushes over.

The excitement she has constantly kills me.