Activating his Mana Vision, Ryan reluctantly embraced the strain it placed on his eyes and mind, desperate to unravel the mystery of the golems. To his surprise, their bodies appeared to be composed of the same mana-negating material as the maze walls, rendering his vision ineffective in penetrating their exterior.
Undeterred, Ryan shifted his focus to the wisps of mana that emanated from the golems, particularly when they utilised Earth Magic.
And since they were able to use magic...
"They must have a mana core. That should be their weakness!" Ryan exclaimed, hopeful that he had stumbled upon a breakthrough. However, before he could delve further into his revelation, Wayde's curt dismissal cut through the air, dampening his excitement.
"Of course they do. They're golems, idiot!" Wayde retorted, his frustration evident in his voice. The unstable and desperate mage's dismissive response stung, but Ryan refused to be discouraged, determined to continue his investigation.
With renewed focus, Ryan allowed his latent instincts to guide him, trusting in the innate intuition that had steered him on the right path thus far.
'So, they have a mana source within their body, suggesting they can be defeated if that mana source is depleted. But how can we do that?' Ryan thought to himself as he continued manoeuvring defensively, splitting his mind into two.
One part of his mind focused on evading the relentless onslaught of attacks flung his way by the golems, blocking those that he couldn't predict or react to in time. The other part of his mind delved deeper into the problem at hand, searching for a way to overcome their seemingly invincible foes.
'In the maze so far, trying to see the flow of mana didn't get me anywhere. I had to use my senses and feel the mana around me,' Ryan pondered, drawing upon everything he had experienced, observed, and learned since his unexpected arrival in Aria.
As Ryan delved deeper into his exploration of the situation, his connection with mana abruptly grew stronger. It was as if in the heat of the moment, he was able to unlock something new.
Something amazing.
Transcending the boundaries of his physical form, Ryan, no longer conscious, entered an astral state in which he became one with the swirling currents of mana that permeated his surroundings. As he did, his body remained in a combative state, relying on pure instincts and reflexes to continue evading the golems' attacks.
It was as if his body had been put on auto-pilot, and his consciousness spread in all directions using mana as a vector.
Mana Projection!
With each passing moment, Ryan's perception expanded, granting him a heightened understanding of the maze and the golems that threatened him. He could sense the ebb and flow of mana within the maze's walls, pulsating in harmony with the very fabric of the labyrinth.
It was as if the maze itself was a living entity, its essence interwoven with the essence of mana.
In the Mana Form, Ryan also observed the golems' connection to the maze's mana. Threads of energy flowed from the maze, intertwining with the golems' bodies, infusing them with power and resilience.
The golems were not mere constructs; they were extensions of the maze, its guardians forged from the very essence that coursed through its intricate pathways.
He was wrong about everything.
The golems didn't have mana cores and also weren't separate sentient entities that were telepathically connected; rather, they were a part of the maze itself.
Understanding the interplay between the golems and the maze, Ryan realised that he needed to disrupt their connection to the source of their strength.
He also couldn't help but think to himself, 'Who's the idiot now, Wayde?'
-
Drawing upon his deepening affinity with mana, he focused his will, manifesting ethereal tendrils to sever the threads that bound the golems to the maze's energy. But the golems responded with a surge of power, their attacks growing more ferocious and relentless.
It was as if they could sense what Ryan was attempting and went berserk.
Feeling the weight of the golems' assault, Ryan's consciousness reconnected with his physical body, snapping back into the present moment. His instincts continued guiding his body as he dodged and weaved through the onslaught of attacks.
"Why did they suddenly go wild and become even more powerful?" Wayde's voice pierced through the chaos as he struggled to fend off the relentless assault of the three golems he was facing.
Ryan remained silent, his mind racing as he assessed the situation and searched for a solution. Delving into the depths of his experience and creativity, he began visualising a way to damage the golems' internal composition, crafting a strategy that relied on a risky but audacious move.
Focusing his energy, Ryan steeled his resolve and tapped into the wellspring of mana around him. Threads of mana coalesced, forming a concentrated sphere of pulsating energy in his outstretched hand. The golems hesitated as they sensed the surging power emanating from Ryan.
In that fleeting moment, he saw an opportunity - a chance to unleash his new technique.
Drawing upon his affinity with mana, Ryan burst towards the nearest golem before striking it with an open palm. As his hand made contact with the golem's unyielding surface, a torrent of mana surged through his arm. He unleashed a concentrated wave of mana, passing right through the golem's exterior and crippling it from within.
Silence enveloped the battlefield as the golem froze in place.
The once-implacable force had been defeated by the ingenuity and dexterity of the young mage.
And moments after, the golem collapsed to the ground, becoming nothing more than a pile of rocks.