I’ll Be the Boss Myself - 2

I’ll Be the Boss Myself

Vol-2

Chapter 51: Donnie’s Growth

Calling it a battle was not entirely accurate. Against the overwhelming strength and speed of the Eagle-Headed Golem, Little Donnie’s attacks and defenses were little more than a joke. Naturally, he was no match for the construct. Forget counterattacking. Even the fierce wind pressure generated by the giant axe left his cheeks stinging painfully.

The scene unfolding before them resembled less a fight and more a desperate struggle for survival.

One pursued. The other fled.

The Eagle-Headed Golem locked onto the tiny yet agile creature before it, each swing of its massive axe unleashing a roaring gale.

Contrary to the common belief that golems possessed power but lacked agility, the construct’s beast-like lower limbs and fluid movements made it every bit as swift and nimble as a living creature of flesh and blood.

Horizontal sweeps. Vertical cleaves. Diagonal slashes. The heavy axe crashed repeatedly into the ground, exploding stone and dust into the air while deafening thunder echoed throughout the hall. Little Donnie looked like a lone boat tossed amidst a raging storm, forever on the verge of capsizing.

Boom! The giant axe slammed down once more onto the exact spot where Little Donnie had been standing a split second earlier. The solid stone floor shattered as easily as tofu, leaving behind a crater nearly two meters wide while fragments of rock scattered everywhere.

Little Donnie rolled awkwardly across the ground, narrowly escaping the strike by the thinnest margin. He could even feel the pressure of the blade’s wind scraping across his back, cold sweat instantly soaking him. Yet that brush with death seemed to awaken something inside him.

Being dragged back from the brink by Nolan had shocked the fifteen-year-old boy fully awake, shaking him free from the fear and tension that had gripped him moments before. In their place emerged astonishing battlefield instincts and reaction speed utterly unfitting for someone his age.

The golem’s reverse-jointed hind legs granted it not only immense strength but terrifying mobility as well. Every explosive push against the ground allowed it to cover several meters instantly, giving it unrivaled advantages in straight-line charges and short-distance bursts.

Little Donnie noticed this very quickly. He stopped trying to outrun the golem in a straight line and instead began exploiting the one advantage he possessed.

His size.

When he first joined the Rosenberg Guard, Hank had nearly driven him away for being too short. But now, his still-underdeveloped frame actually reduced the chances of being hit by such a gigantic opponent. Using scattered rubble and the uneven terrain of the hall as cover, he constantly changed direction, rolled, halted abruptly, and darted away again like an agile dancer performing atop the blade of death itself.

Collapsed stone pillars. Falling debris from above. Everything became part of his stage. He resembled a nimble monkey dancing around a rampaging bear. Again and again, relying on razor-sharp instincts and remarkable agility, he escaped the descending axe by mere inches.

Watching from afar, Vivi and Renee felt their hearts seize repeatedly. Several times they were certain Little Donnie was about to lose his head, only for him to slip away from danger at the final possible instant.

Even while dodging frantically, Little Donnie shouted toward Nolan, “Brother Nolan, I can still keep going! Focus on finding the circuit!”

His breathing came in ragged gasps, breaking up his words, yet his voice remained astonishingly firm.

Circling around a massive stone pillar near the center of the hall, Little Donnie narrowly avoided another sweeping strike from the golem. Somehow, he even found enough spare energy to turn back and pull a face at it.

“Over here, idiot!”

Nolan had already been preparing to step in and relieve him, but hearing those words made him stop in place. A trace of approval flashed through his eyes.

Little Donnie’s growth was happening even faster than he had anticipated.

This kid really does have talent.

An ordinary warrior would have had their courage shattered by the very first strike. Yet not only had Little Donnie endured, he had rapidly adapted under overwhelming pressure and found a way to survive.

That sudden burst of growth bought Nolan something invaluable: enough time to focus entirely on sensing the golem’s internal workings.

“This kid’s impressive…” Vivi muttered in amazement. She had never expected the usually carefree Little Donnie to possess such sharp combat instincts.

Romina silently nodded as well. The way she looked at him now carried a hint of genuine recognition.

Nolan immediately sat cross-legged on the floor and closed his eyes. He immersed his entire consciousness into sensing the surrounding elemental flow.

As the wielder of Mountain’s Resonance, he possessed the trait Earth Affinity. Within this earth-element subplane, that affinity had been magnified countless times over. In his perception, the physical world vanished completely, leaving behind an endless ocean of yellow-brown elemental particles. And within that sea of light, a massive humanoid outline churned violently.

That was the Eagle-Headed Golem.

With every swing of its axe and every burst of movement, the Omnipotence Core known as “Korlotis” frantically absorbed earth elements from its surroundings, converting them into the energy that powered its colossal body. Huge torrents of elemental energy surged into the golem like raging rivers before flowing through its intricate magitech circuits to drive the massive construct. The more the golem attacked and charged, the more violent and distinct the elemental flow became.

Several minutes later, just as Little Donnie narrowly escaped yet another sweeping strike, Nolan’s tightly shut eyes snapped open.

He had finally unraveled it.

The incredibly complex web of elemental pathways had been completely reconstructed within his mind.

“Renee!” Nolan called out sharply and clearly. “The circuit starts from the core in its chest, flows into the central nexus, then splits into three separate loops! One goes upward directly into the head! Another branches left through the left arm joint before flowing back downward! The last goes right through the right arm joint and down again!”

“A… reflux-style energy guidance system?”

Renee, whose mind had remained in an intensely focused state the entire time, instantly understood Nolan’s meaning. This type of complicated energy circuit maximized efficiency to the greatest possible extent, but it also meant the structure was far more complex and contained many more nodes.

“Exactly.” Nolan nodded. “I’ll help draw its attention too. The more power it outputs, the faster the energy circulates, and the clearer the nodes should become. The rest is up to you!”

The moment he finished speaking, Nolan sprang to his feet, drew Mountain’s Resonance, and charged directly into the battle.

“Little Donnie! I’ll switch with you!”

At the same time, Little Donnie’s condition had indeed become increasingly dangerous.

Under the golem’s relentless pursuit, he was gradually reaching his limit. His stamina was draining rapidly. Several times, delayed reactions caused him to be grazed by flying debris, leaving bloody cuts across his body. His breathing had become heavier and heavier, sweat soaking through the lining beneath his armor. Yet he still clenched his teeth and endured in silence. He did not possess Renee’s overwhelming magical talent. Nor did he have Sister Vivi’s agility. And he certainly lacked Brother Nolan’s strength and vast knowledge. The only thing he could do now was use his own body to buy time for his companions. That was all he could offer.

Because he believed in the beautiful future Nolan had described to them. He wanted to help Brother Nolan. He wanted to help everyone. He wanted to help his homeland too. Every young boy carried a dream of becoming a hero.

So he had to do whatever he could, even if it meant holding on for one more second. Even if it cost him his life. That pure and unwavering determination allowed him to surpass his limits again and again.

But courage and willpower alone could not completely bridge the massive gulf in strength between them. The stone chamber was not endless, and most of the obstacles inside had already been destroyed by the golem.

Now, nothing remained between Little Donnie and the monster pursuing him.

—

In the end, courage and determination alone could not fully bridge the overwhelming gap in strength.

The Eagle-Headed Golem’s attacks never weakened in the slightest. It was like a tireless machine built solely for slaughter. Every swing of its axe, every crushing charge, carried cold and absolute killing intent.

Boom! Another vicious downward strike smashed into the ground, carving out yet another massive crater.

Little Donnie had only just dodged the previous attack and had not even managed to catch his breath before the golem’s next movement followed immediately after. Its thick, beast-like hind legs exploded with force as the enormous body twisted at a bizarre angle, the giant axe sweeping horizontally in a deadly arc that sealed off every possible escape route.

A dead end.

Little Donnie had been driven into the corner of the hall with nowhere left to retreat. He watched the icy gleam of the axe grow larger and larger in his eyes beneath the flickering firelight as the scent of death enveloped him once more.

He wanted to run. But his right leg burned with agony, refusing to obey him. This time, he truly could not dodge.

Yet there was no fear in Little Donnie’s eyes. Instead, they shone with fierce resolve. He gripped Darkpiercer tightly and raised the blade horizontally before his chest, planting his feet firmly as he prepared to block the attack head-on. He knew perfectly well that he could never stop it with his own strength. Even in the best-case scenario, his left hand would be crippled. More likely, his entire arm would be severed.

But if he could buy even one more second for Renee to locate the nodes, then it would all be worth it.

“Come on then, you giant pile of rocks!” he roared, ready to face his fate.

Just as he braced himself for the inevitable impact, a tall figure descended like a divine soldier from the heavens, charging in from the side.

Clang!

An even louder, harsher metallic explosion erupted through the hall. A gigantic broadsword, several times wider than before, slammed violently against the side of the massive axe with crushing force. Blinding sparks exploded through the darkness.

The tremendous collision knocked the axe off course, its blade barely scraping past Little Donnie’s body.

Boom! The axe crashed heavily into the wall beside him, causing the entire hall to tremble. Flying stone fragments sliced a thin cut across Little Donnie’s cheek.

But he paid it no attention. He could only stare blankly at the broad back standing before him, solid and immovable like a mountain.

It was his lord, Brother Nolan.

Holding the fully transformed greatsword form of Mountain’s Resonance with both hands, Nolan firmly blocked the remaining force of the strike, shielding Little Donnie completely behind him.

Without turning around, Nolan spoke in a calm, steady voice that carried clearly into the boy’s ears. “You really do have talent for battle, Little Donnie. You lasted two or three times longer than I expected.”

Only then did he glance sideways and smile at the stunned boy. Beneath the flickering flames, that smile felt indescribably reassuring.

“But you don’t need to carry everything alone. When you can’t hold on anymore, you should shout for help. There’s nothing shameful about that. If it were me, I’d do the same.” Nolan paused briefly, his voice becoming gentler yet even more powerful. “Because we’re companions.”

Companions…

Those simple words surged into Little Donnie’s heart like a warm current.

Looking at Nolan’s dust-covered profile, he suddenly felt his nose sting as his eyes uncontrollably reddened. It was like a child who could grit his teeth and refuse to cry after falling down, only to break into tears the moment a parent gently asked, “Does it hurt?”

That was what it felt like to finally have someone to rely on.

“B-Boss…” he choked out, unable to find the right words.

“You’ve already done well.” Nolan patted him on the shoulder before turning back toward the golem, his greatsword resting before him. “Leave the rest to me.”

With a low shout, Nolan charged forward to meet the golem head-on.

Little Donnie stared blankly at his back until Vivi finally rushed over and dragged him back into the safety of the corridor. Only then did he snap out of it. He wiped his face hard, smearing away both tears and blood, then silently began recovering his strength.

Nolan’s Dawn Aura emitted a warm glow in the darkness, slowly restoring Little Donnie’s injuries and exhausted stamina. Yet the boy’s eyes never left the man battling the Gold-tier golem at the center of the battlefield.

Not far away, Romina had heard every word Nolan spoke. She looked at the man who had stepped forward without hesitation to protect his companion, then at the battered young boy whose eyes had regained their light. A complicated emotion flickered through her gaze.

Companions…?

For Wood Elves, who valued kinship and their people above almost everything else, the word carried extraordinary meaning.

This man was completely different from every human she had ever met.

He was powerful and knowledgeable, confident yet mysterious. Leadership naturally radiated from his every action, yet he also valued loyalty and friendship deeply enough to place himself in danger for the sake of others. Someone who treasured companions like this…

Surely he couldn’t be a bad person.

Watching Nolan charge across the battlefield, the final traces of suspicion and wariness in her heart quietly faded away.

Meanwhile, at the center of the battlefield, the rhythm of combat shifted entirely the moment Nolan took over. The way he “held aggro” was completely different from Little Donnie’s desperate survival through sheer reflexes. If Little Donnie had been a gazelle fleeing from a savage beast, his escape filled with danger and uncertainty, then Nolan was an experienced matador facing down a raging bull.

Years of constant battle had given him vastly superior combat experience. His understanding of strength, timing, and battlefield rhythm far surpassed Little Donnie’s.

More importantly—

He knew the Eagle-Headed Golem’s attack patterns like the back of his hand.

Against the golem’s massive, devastating attacks, Nolan did not keep his distance with constant high-speed movement the way Little Donnie had. On the contrary, he deliberately remained within the golem’s attack range at all times, subtly neutralizing its mobility advantage. Doing so meant facing a far greater frequency of attacks, but it also allowed him to focus more efficiently and conserve stamina. A high-risk, high-reward technique reserved for true experts.

Nolan stood with his legs slightly apart and his center of gravity lowered, the greatsword angled toward the floor. His entire body resembled an immovable mountain as he carefully observed every motion of the Eagle-Headed Golem.

The giant axe came crashing down with a howl of wind, yet Nolan merely shifted his body slightly to the side. The blade passed just inches from his nose before obliterating the stone at his feet.

When the golem spun into a sweeping attack, Nolan advanced instead of retreating. Lowering his body, he slid beneath the axe handle while his greatsword carved a shower of sparks across the golem’s lower leg.

Every attack was evaded with the smallest possible movement and the least wasted effort, always at the razor-thin edge of danger.

Nolan simply understood the Eagle-Headed Golem too well.

In his previous life, he and his companions had wiped in this dungeon over a hundred times while farming it. He knew every skill, every motion, every tell. He could predict the next attack even with his eyes closed.

These war machines created by the Tyrians possessed immense power and terrifying defense. Within certain elemental planes, they could even fight endlessly without exhaustion.

But their weaknesses were equally obvious. Their attack patterns were relatively simple. Again and again, they repeated only a limited number of moves.

If this had been an Eagle-Headed Golem in its prime, its overwhelming power and extreme speed would have compensated entirely for those flaws, leaving Nolan no chance to react before being crushed into dust. But this version was heavily damaged, with deteriorated magitech circuits. Against a “veteran player” like Nolan, it no longer seemed quite so invincible.

If Little Donnie’s battle had been a thrilling dance with death, then Nolan’s combat resembled a deadly waltz where elegance and violence intertwined as one.

Now it was time to show true skill.

Chapter 52: Captain’s Decision

“Good thing this is only an Eagle-Headed Golem. If it were the ‘Sky-Patrol Golem’ powered by wind elements instead, we’d probably all be dead today.”

Even while battling the construct, Nolan still had the spare attention to mock the situation inwardly.

The Sky-Patrol Golem was the evolved form created when an Omnipotence Core absorbed wind elements. Though it lacked the raw strength and defense of the Eagle-Headed Golem, it possessed flight capabilities and vastly superior mobility. More importantly, its attacks were bizarre and unpredictable, every move branching into dozens of variations, each variation spawning even more derivatives. Trying to memorize its patterns was impossible. With their current team composition, only Romina would even be capable of threatening something like that. The others probably would not even be able to touch it. They would simply become helpless targets. That was the true nightmare for melee fighters. At that point, forget dismantling nodes. Surviving at all would already be a blessing.

The thought flashed briefly through Nolan’s mind, but his movements never slowed for even an instant. While maneuvering around the golem, he also launched several counterattacks to test its defenses.

Once again, he evaded a crushing downward strike before seizing the opening. His greatsword swept upward violently and slammed into the golem’s chest.

Clang! The sharp metallic impact sent vibrations through his hands as powerful recoil surged back into his arms.

A layer of icy blue magical shielding suddenly materialized over the golem’s chest, effortlessly blocking the strike. The attack only produced ripples across the shield without leaving so much as a scratch behind.

“Tch. Tough as hell.”

Even Nolan could not help grimacing.

Though the construct had been severely weakened, its defensive capabilities remained absurdly high. That strike had not been his full strength, but he had still used seventy or eighty percent of his power. Yet he could not even break through its defenses without using one of his true trump cards.

Ridiculous.

Nolan immediately abandoned any further attempts at direct damage and focused entirely on evasion instead, firmly keeping the golem’s aggro centered on himself while creating the safest possible environment for Renee’s investigation.

Time passed second by second. Within the hall, only the howling of the giant axe cutting through the air and the thunderous clashes between stone and steel remained.

Renee sat with her eyes tightly closed, her small face tense as beads of sweat slowly formed across her forehead. Her spiritual power spread outward like countless invisible tendrils, carefully following the directions Nolan had provided as it probed deep into the golem’s immense and violent energy circulation system. It was a raging ocean composed entirely of pure earth elements. Violent torrents of energy surged through the magitech circuits like rivers of molten force. Every pulse sent sharp pain through Renee’s spiritual senses.

Within those turbulent currents, she needed to locate the densest and most concentrated “whirlpools” of energy.

Those were the magitech nodes.

For an elementalist who had only recently stepped into Silver rank, this was an incredibly difficult challenge. But Renee refused to give up. She thought of Brother Nolan’s dependable back. She thought of Little Donnie charging forward without fear. She thought of the trust in Sister Vivi’s and Captain Romina’s eyes.

She could not become a burden to everyone else. Clenching her teeth tightly, she pushed her spiritual power to its absolute limit.

One node.

Then two.

Then three…

Under Nolan’s guidance and constant suppression of the golem, the hidden nodes buried within the raging energy currents gradually became clearer and clearer within Renee’s perception.

Finally, just after Nolan executed an extreme backward bridge to narrowly evade another diagonal slash, Renee’s voice rang out from behind him, filled with both relief and excitement, “My lord! I found them! I found all the nodes!”

That fast?!

Nolan was both shocked and delighted.

Based on his experience from his previous life, an ordinary Silver-rank mage would need at least half an hour to reverse-engineer every magitech node within such a complicated energy network.

Originally, he had estimated that if Renee managed it within twenty minutes, it would already count as extraordinary talent.

But now, less than ten minutes had passed since the battle began.

This girl’s talent was even more terrifying than he had imagined. He had truly struck gold.

“There are eleven nodes… no, twelve!” Renee’s voice sounded weak from the immense concentration and spiritual exhaustion, but her words remained remarkably clear. “They’re located at the right elbow joint, directly above the eye socket of the eagle head, three inches below the center of the torso, the inner side of the left hind knee…” She spoke rapidly, accurately listing the positions of all twelve nodes without missing a single one.

Only after finishing did she finally exhale deeply, feeling as though her entire mind had been hollowed out. Her body swayed weakly, the back of her robe completely soaked with sweat.

Vivi, who had remained by her side the entire time, reacted instantly and caught her before she could collapse.

“Well done, Renee!” Nolan praised her loudly without hesitation.

He raised his greatsword horizontally and forcefully blocked yet another attack from the golem, his body sliding several meters backward from the impact.

“Vivi! Captain Romina! It’s your turn now!” Stabilizing himself, Nolan shouted toward the corridor entrance. “Next, I’ll go on the offensive and create as many shield downtime windows as possible. Take the opportunity when it appears!”

The moment those words left his mouth, Nolan’s entire presence transformed.

If he had previously resembled a steady reef enduring endless waves…

Now he became a sword drawn from its sheath, sharp enough to pierce the heavens.

Aura of Conviction!

A golden halo erupted outward from Nolan, instantly enveloping every ally present. Warm and powerful energy flowed into their bodies, invigorating their minds and spirits.

Divine Infusion!

Blazing holy energy flooded Nolan’s body. A faint layer of golden flames ignited along the surface of the greatsword Mountain’s Resonance.

“Come on, big guy!” Nolan roared furiously.

This time, he no longer dodged. Instead, he charged directly into the Eagle-Headed Golem’s attacks and unleashed a storm-like barrage of savage assaults.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Greatsword and battle axe collided again and again. Every impact exploded through the empty hall with deafening echoes and showers of dazzling sparks.

The Eagle-Headed Golem was forced to directly confront the tiny human who had suddenly become overwhelmingly aggressive. Its core output intensified. Its attacks grew faster. Heavier. More violent. Each collision left Nolan’s hands numb as the muscles in his arms bulged violently, veins protruding beneath his skin.

Yet he never retreated even a single step. If anything, he grew fiercer with every exchange.

While firmly resisting the golem’s offensive, Nolan also watched Vivi’s movements from the corner of his eye. He deliberately coordinated every clash to guide the golem toward positions favorable for Vivi’s infiltration.

Vivi understood immediately. Without disappointing his expectations, she moved like a silent leopard, slipping through the gaps between the golem’s attacks and quietly circling behind it.

Her movements were astonishingly agile. Using the protruding stone ridges along the construct’s body, she climbed rapidly upward and reached the broad shoulder of the golem in only a few swift motions before concealing herself there.

An opportunity!

The instant Nolan saw Vivi in position, a sharp light flashed through his eyes. He abandoned all evasive maneuvers and poured every ounce of strength into his greatsword. Then, facing the giant axe descending straight toward him, he launched the fiercest frontal clash yet.

—

The intensity of the battle rose to an entirely new level the moment Nolan began launching direct counterattacks.

His health steadily declined under the repeated strain of those violent head-on collisions. But Nolan paid it no mind. These injuries remained completely within his tolerance.

Meanwhile, the Eagle-Headed Golem detected the tiny insect lurking behind it. Abandoning its clash against Nolan, it suddenly twisted its massive body and swung one gigantic arm toward the back of its own neck.

“Now!”

Nolan kicked off the ground violently, unleashing every ounce of strength within him without reservation.

Divine Infusion.

Aura of Conviction.

Assault.

Every skill capable of increasing his offensive power activated simultaneously.

For the first time, Nolan’s savage strike forced the golem to recognize him as a major threat. It had no choice but to abandon its previous action and meet him head-on. Greatsword and battle axe collided once more with devastating force.

BOOM—!

This clash surpassed every previous exchange. Even the unknown metal edge of the giant axe, gleaming with icy light, chipped beneath the impact of the elemental holy sword.

There were no tricks. No finesse. Only pure, brutal force crashing against force.

Nolan’s plan was simple: pressure the golem into direct confrontation and create as many openings as possible where the magic shield weakened or failed.

For the first ten seconds, the two sides appeared evenly matched, locked in complete stalemate.

But the moment Assault, his burst skill, expired, Nolan immediately began losing ground in terms of raw strength.

The crushing force combined with the immense weight of the battle axe shattered the stone floor beneath his feet. Spiderweb-like cracks spread rapidly across the ground as Nolan was forced onto one knee, the bones in his arms groaning painfully.

The Eagle-Headed Golem seemed to have completely identified Nolan as the greatest threat before it. Its icy blue eyes locked firmly onto him while torrents of earth-element energy surged throughout its body, causing yellow light to glow from every seam in its frame. It continued pouring on more force, determined to utterly crush the tiny creature daring to resist it.

Nolan felt as though his flesh and bones were struggling against a descending hydraulic press. His arms trembled beneath the unbearable pressure.

The gleaming edge of the axe moved closer and closer toward his shoulder, slow yet unstoppable.

The sharp blade bit into the flesh of his right shoulder. Warm blood instantly flowed out, staining his armor crimson. Still, Nolan gritted his teeth and held firm. Within his elemental perception, the golem’s power output had reached maximum capacity.

This was the perfect opportunity.

“Brother Nolan!”

Little Donnie, who had only just regained part of his strength, watched anxiously from the side. Without even thinking, he grabbed his sword and rushed forward. Rather than attacking uselessly from the front, he darted beside Nolan and braced his longsword sideways against his shoulder, as though carrying an impossibly heavy sack.

Then he slammed himself against the side of the descending battle axe.

“Move… damn you!” The boy’s furious roar echoed throughout the hall.

Little Donnie planted his legs firmly, every muscle in his body tightening to the limit as his flushed face twisted with effort. A beast-like howl burst from his throat.

His contribution was little more than a drop in the ocean, yet it successfully halted the axe’s relentless descent for a brief moment.

The sharp edge of the axe and the sword he used to brace it both cut deeply into his shoulder, but Little Donnie seemed incapable of feeling pain anymore. He simply clenched his teeth and shared the terrifying pressure alongside Nolan.

And in the instant the two of them created this fleeting opportunity through sheer desperation—

Vivi and Romina moved simultaneously.

“Hah!”

Hidden behind the golem’s neck, Vivi let out a sharp cry and drove her black dagger downward in a reverse grip toward the location Renee had identified earlier.

Her target was the node above the hawk-head’s eye socket.

Clang!

Her first strike was repelled by the fading blue magic shield. But unlike before, the shield flickered weakly and unstably, nowhere near the durability Nolan had encountered earlier.

The golem had diverted most of its energy toward overpowering Nolan, leaving its autonomous magic shield critically weakened.

Vivi had anticipated this. Without hesitation, she adjusted her angle and twisted her waist, swinging around the golem’s side like a pendulum.

Gripping the dagger with both hands, she concentrated all her strength into a single point and launched a second strike.

Crack! The weakened magical barrier shattered instantly. The black dagger pierced deep into the node without the slightest resistance.

At the exact same moment Vivi succeeded, three arrows glowing with green light screamed through the air from the far side of the hall.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The arrows flew in a triangular formation and struck with astonishing precision, simultaneously hitting the nodes located at the golem’s right arm joint, torso center, and left hind knee.

Three muffled explosions merged almost into one.

Four nodes had been destroyed nearly simultaneously.

Streams of yellow-brown magical energy burst violently outward from the shattered nodes like floodwaters breaking through a collapsed dam.

“We did it!”

Joy flashed across Vivi’s face.

But before she could celebrate, Renee’s anxious voice rang out suddenly, “No! My lord! The destroyed nodes… they’re repairing themselves rapidly! The magical pathways inside it haven’t fallen into disorder!”

The moment Renee shouted those words, Nolan’s mind buzzed violently as forgotten memories resurfaced.

There was another condition required to cripple the “Korlotis” core through node destruction.

All the nodes had to be destroyed within an extremely short timeframe. About fifteen seconds. If only part of the nodes were destroyed, the core’s self-repair mechanism would immediately activate. The damaged nodes would regenerate quickly, rendering all previous efforts meaningless.

Damn it!

The intensity of the battle had clouded his judgment so badly that he had forgotten such a critical detail.

“Shit…” Nolan forced the word out through clenched teeth. “Vivi, Donnie, fall back first! I’ll hold it here. We’ll think of another way…”

Right now, the golem had him completely pinned down. He could not free himself to coordinate anything. Little Donnie was in the same situation. The two of them were trapped like meat on a butcher’s block.

This plan… was going to fail.

“No! This is our best chance! Let me try!”

Just as despair began sinking into Nolan’s heart, Romina’s cold yet unwavering voice suddenly rang out from behind them.

She inhaled deeply. And the aura around her changed completely. The calm green eyes that had remained composed the entire time now burned as though stars themselves had ignited within them. Her massive bow drew into a perfect full moon.

Arrow.

Draw.

Aim.

Release.

Every motion flowed together so quickly that they blurred into a single phantom-like sequence.

Thrum! Thrum! Thrum! Thrum!

The vibrating bowstring no longer sounded like individual notes. The rapid succession blended into a fierce and stirring battle hymn.

In less than two seconds, eight arrows formed an airtight storm of projectiles and shot toward the remaining eight nodes on the golem’s body like a raging tidal wave.

Peerless precision.

Unmatched rapid fire.

At this moment, the Ranger Captain from Forest Home finally revealed the smallest glimpse of the terrifying talent that would one day make her a legendary powerhouse.

Chapter 53: Korlotis

Eight arrows tore through the darkness like bolts of death, each streaking unerringly toward its target. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! A chain of explosive impacts thundered through the hall.

Romina’s signature archery technique, Forest Tempest. With the power of a single archer, she unleashed the equivalent of an entire squad’s volley. It was nothing short of miraculous.

Six fixed nodes positioned across the golem’s torso and limbs were destroyed in rapid succession, erupting into clouds of yellow-brown magical mist.

But just as the final two arrows were about to strike, disaster struck.

With most of its nodes destroyed simultaneously, the Eagle-Headed Golem’s internal energy circulation fell briefly into chaos. Its massive body lurched violently. That single movement was enough. The last two arrows, which should have struck with perfect precision, missed by a hair’s breadth at the final instant, skimming past the edges of the nodes instead.

Nolan stared in disbelief.

Romina’s accuracy had been so absolute that even the slightest shift had ruined the shot.

“Damn it!” Romina cursed under her breath.

“No good! There are still two left! Three seconds until recovery!” Renee cried out anxiously. The nodes were repairing themselves far faster than she had expected.

“I’ve got it!”

Still hanging upside down from the golem’s neck, Vivi noticed the missed shots the instant the construct moved.

The remaining two nodes were far apart. One sat above the golem’s left arm, while the other was behind its left knee. There was no time to wait for another volley.

But she was the finest Nightingale in Veli City.

Without hesitation, Vivi lashed her fluffy tiger tail around a protruding stone ridge on the golem’s neck, anchoring herself in place. Then she released her legs completely and swung downward like a pendulum.

As her body dropped, she drew a specially modified rapid-fire crossbow from her waist, one personally improved by Master Leus.

“Break already!”

With a sharp cry, Vivi pulled the trigger the moment her body leveled parallel to the ground.

Thwip! Thwip! Thwip! Three compact bolts fired point-blank into the node above the golem’s left arm.

A violent torrent of magical energy exploded outward instantly, whipping Vivi’s hair wildly through the air. At the same moment, Renee, who had remained seated in the rear directing the battle through elemental perception, completed her final chant.

Her tightly shut eyes snapped open. Her pale face was drained from spiritual exhaustion, but her gaze shone with startling brilliance. She raised one slender finger and pointed toward the final remaining node, the farthest one, hidden behind the golem’s left knee. A vast, crushing pulse erupted from her small body, completely disproportionate to her size.

In this world of pure earth elements, the surrounding mana resonated joyfully around her, surging to answer her call. The energy gathering around her formed the most powerful single-target spell she had ever cast.

“O sovereign spine of the earth, foundation of all creation, heed my call… Hahl’s Deepstone Spear!”

The moment her clear, resolute voice fell, dense earth-element mana began converging violently before her. A savage two-meter spear of solid stone burst from the ground.

Whoooosh!

Renee thrust her hand forward.

The spear emitted a deep, resonant hum before transforming into a streak of yellow light, ripping through the air toward the final node.

BOOM!!!

The earth spear struck with devastating precision.

The last node behind the golem’s knee exploded instantly. The Eagle-Headed Golem’s colossal body convulsed violently. The streams of unstable magical energy pouring from the destroyed nodes suddenly ceased, like floodgates being slammed shut. The visible surges of mana reversed direction and were sucked violently back into the golem’s body. The icy blue glow in its eyes flickered wildly. Blocked and chaotic mana currents rampaged through its interior with nowhere left to flow. Cracks rapidly spread across its once-immovable stone shell as internal pressure built uncontrollably. Dust and shattered rock rained from its body in torrents.

Nolan and Little Donnie both felt the immense pressure on their shoulders suddenly vanish. The gigantic axe that had nearly crushed them lost all power, leaving only the weapon’s physical weight behind. And for two warriors, that was no longer enough to matter.

The Eagle-Headed Golem’s self-repair process halted instantly.

Frozen in the posture of pressing its axe forward, the construct stopped moving entirely. The blue light in its eyes faded at last into lifeless gray.

The Omnipotence Core had finally entered a state of total paralysis.

“Hah… hah… hah…”

Deathly silence filled the hall, broken only by the group’s ragged breathing.

Little Donnie and Renee collapsed onto the ground at the same time, drenched in sweat.

Vivi released her tail grip and landed lightly, catching herself with both hands before standing upright again. Grimacing slightly, she rubbed the sore base of her tail.

Romina let out a long breath, lowered her greatbow, and gently helped Renee to her feet before walking slowly toward the others.

Nolan’s thighs ached from strain. He crouched slightly to step away from the suspended axe blade. He looked at the blood still running down his shoulder, then at the equally battered Little Donnie beside him. Finally, his gaze settled on Romina standing near the corridor entrance.

A chill ran through him at the thought of what could have happened. If Romina had not insisted on joining them… if not for that monstrous rapid-fire archery technique of hers… this operation truly might have ended in disaster.

Under normal circumstances, the Eagle-Headed Golem was never meant to be fought at all.

Like the stonegate before it, this encounter was originally designed as a test of intellect and deduction. The intended method was to decipher the ancient runes hidden within the wall carvings along the corridor, revealing a command phrase capable of temporarily granting control authority over the golem. Once activated, the construct would enter an absolute defense state, allowing players to pass safely. But if they had done that, every ounce of the golem’s energy would have been redirected into its magical barriers. With the strength their current team possessed, obtaining the Omnipotence Core hidden inside would have been impossible.

That was why Nolan had chosen the hardest and most dangerous path instead.

He had relied too heavily on the experience from his previous life, always assuming everything remained under control. In the end, a single overlooked detail had nearly dragged the entire team into catastrophe.

Thankfully, his companions had been extraordinary enough to turn the situation around.

At least the scare had taught him a valuable lesson.

Nolan slowly stood amidst the wreckage of the battlefield and let out a self-deprecating laugh.

Then he nodded toward Romina, who was still catching her breath. “My thanks, Captain Romina. If not for you, my greed might’ve cost all of us dearly today.” The words were completely sincere. Without her astonishing eight-arrow barrage in that critical moment, there was no way they could have succeeded.

Romina blinked in surprise. She had assumed the “greed” Nolan referred to was his decision to risk this dangerous expedition for the sake of the Fountain of Potential. But after the life-and-death teamwork she had just witnessed, her impression of Nolan’s group had changed completely.

He was a lord, wasn’t he? If his “greed” was for the sake of protecting his territory and companions, then how could that possibly be wrong? Weren’t the Wood Elves the same, willing to sacrifice everything for their people and forests?

And… his physique really was exceptional too. Even among Wood Elves, few could compare.

Nolan…

The more she looked at this human, the more pleasing he became in her eyes.

—

Romina shook her head, her tone noticeably gentler than before. “There’s no need to blame yourself. Perhaps my being here today was the Hunter God’s guidance. If it means saving my people, then helping you is only natural.”

She had witnessed everything just now. Nolan throwing himself into danger to protect his companions. Little Donnie risking his life to shield the others. The tiger-girl’s astonishing agility and the elemental mage’s keen perception had left equally deep impressions on her. Though she was not a woman of many words, the sharp eyes of a ranger captain missed nothing. Her opinion of Nolan’s group had risen several degrees again.

“Your companions are impressive as well,” she added.

For the first time, she smiled faintly and inclined her head in a subtle bow, the instinctive gesture Wood Elves used to show acknowledgment toward someone they respected.

Elves were already renowned for their beauty, and Wood Elves, sharing the same lineage while carrying a distinct wildness, possessed even more striking figures and far less conservative clothing.

That brief smile and graceful dip of her head made Nolan’s heartbeat quicken despite himself. Fortunately, nobody seemed to notice his awkwardness.

“Guidance, huh…” Nolan quickly shoved those distracting thoughts aside and picked up the conversation to hide his embarrassment. “I prefer to believe people shape their own fate.”

Ever since learning the truth behind the original storyline, he had never been fond of words like destiny or guidance.

“Still, thank you for helping us.”

Vivi came hurrying out of the corridor after checking Renee over and confirming she was unharmed. The first thing she noticed was Romina talking with Nolan, which made her puff her cheeks slightly in displeasure. But the moment she spotted the blood still seeping from Nolan’s shoulder wound, her expression tightened with worry. “Nolan! Are you alright?”

“Just a flesh wound. I’m not dying anytime soon, so don’t worry.” Nolan waved it off casually.

“That’s blatant favoritism, Vivi!” Little Donnie complained loudly while wrapping a bandage around himself. “I got hurt too! Why are you only worried about Lord Nolan?”

Even Renee, who was still recovering nearby, couldn’t help laughing at that.

Vivi’s face turned bright red instantly. “Th-that’s because…” she stammered while glaring at Little Donnie. “Because Sister Anna specifically warned me before we left! If Nolan gets injured, she’ll come after me when we get back!”

“Anna, huh…” Nolan recalled Anna’s perpetually serious face and sighed helplessly. “Then let’s just not tell her. Otherwise she’ll nag me to death once we return.”

As he spoke, he took bandages and medicine from the pack Vivi handed him and tightened the wrappings around his shoulder to stop the bleeding.

“Alright, enough fooling around.” Nolan stood and rolled his sore arm. “We’ve only got about two minutes. Let’s deal with this big guy first.”

He walked toward the motionless golem and placed a hand gently against its stone body.

Closing his eyes, he focused carefully.

Though the construct had collapsed from overload, the core inside it, Korlotis, still emitted faint but unique energy fluctuations as it attempted self-repair.

After a short moment, Nolan opened his eyes. “I found it. The core’s located beneath the junction between the head and chest, around here.” He pointed beneath the golem’s neck.

Then he leaped upward, stepping along protruding ridges in the stone body before landing atop its broad shoulder in two quick boun