Chapter 36: Adapt Or Fall

    The towering golems moved with deliberate, terrifying precision. One lifted both arms high and brought them down in a devastating double-handed smash. KRA-KOOM! Stone shattered against the courtyard, sending debris flying.

    "Vanguard, shift right!" Laris ordered. "Encircle it while it''s down!"

    The Vanguard moved, spreading out to surround the golem. Swords and spears struck its exposed back with a series of sharp THWACKS and CLANGS, splintering its stone armor.

    At the rear, Arkanos observed with his sharp gaze, catching every misstep. "Adapt or fall," he muttered. "This is the test of your worth."

    The defenders, locked in a stalemate with their assigned golem, shifted as Kael adjusted their formation. "Rotate! Fresh shields to the front!" he shouted. The front line seamlessly stepped back, replaced by reinforcements.

    THUMP! THUMP! The golem struck again and again, its blows growing slower as the defenders'' relentless counterattacks targeted its weakened joints.

    Esten''s flankers darted in and out like a swarm of hornets, each strike aimed at glowing runes carved into the golems'' surfaces.

    "Here!" Esten called, pointing to a crack radiating faint light. "Target the core!"

    BOOM! A final strike from Esten''s blade severed the rune, causing the golem to crumble into a heap of lifeless stone.

    The Vanguard let out a cheer, but their victory was short-lived.

    "Focus!" Laris snapped. "There are seven more!"

    As the battle raged on, the knights'' movements grew sharper, their coordination more seamless. The sound of steel on stone... CLANG, CRUNCH, THUD...

    Could be heard as the warriors of the empire proved their mettle.

    Back at the elevated platform, Arkanos stood, his presence a reminder of the stakes. The test against the eight stone golems had truly begun.

    The battle continued with intense ferocity, the knights pushing their limits as the eight golems pressed them hard.

    The knights fought valiantly, their movements growing more desperate yet more precise as the minutes dragged on.

    Seraphine''s expression softened briefly as she watched a group of weary knights double-teaming a golem''s arm, one hacking at the stone with a battle axe while another jabbed at its glowing joints with a spear.

    "They''re learning," she murmured, a hint of pride in her voice. "Even through exhaustion, they''re adapting."

    Arkanos didn''t respond. His gaze was fixed on the battlefield, his sharp eyes catching every mistake, every falter.

    Another golem fell with a deafening KRA-KOOM, its shattered remains scattering across the courtyard. The knights let out ragged cheers, but Arkanos silenced them with a single command.

    "Focus. There are still two more. Do not waste your breath celebrating yet."

    By now, the knights'' movements had become sluggish, their breathing labored. The mud pit training had drained their stamina, and now, every step felt like trudging through quicksand.

    Seraphine''s voice was low as she spoke to Arkanos. "You''ve pushed them to their breaking point, your Majesty."

    "Good," Arkanos replied coldly. "They need to learn that war waits for no one, not even the tired or the weak. Only those who endure deserve to stand."

    The final two golems were the largest yet, their glowing cores pulsing like fiery hearts. Laris raised his blade, his voice hoarse but resolute. "Vanguard, with me! One last push!"

    "Defenders, hold the line!" Kael shouted, forcing strength into his voice despite his trembling knees.

    Esten led his flankers in a coordinated assault, their strikes targeting weak points.

    THWACK! CRACK! BOOM! The sound of weapons colliding with stone rang out like a thunderstorm, each blow a testament to the knights'' resolve.

    At last, the final golem crumbled, its glowing core shattering with a blinding flash. KRA-KOOM! The courtyard fell silent, except for the labored breathing of the knights and the faint clinking of their armor as they lowered their weapons.

    Arkanos stepped forward, his cold gaze sweeping across the training grounds. "Knights, form ranks. Now."

    The knights, battered and exhausted, scrambled to obey, lining up in uneven rows.