As soon as Ryan's hand made contact with the jade, a surge of information flooded his mind. A spell—Life Drain—unraveled before him. It was a powerful technique that allowed him to drain the life force from other creatures and refine it into pure vitality, strengthening his body and restoring his health.
Without hesitation, Ryan directed his attention to the glowing magic crystal nearby. He could feel the crystal's potent energy, just waiting to be tapped into. Closing his eyes, he chanted the spell that had imprinted itself in his mind.
"Life Drain."
Immediately, a tendril of energy reached out from Ryan's hand, connecting with the magic crystal. The crystal's mana pulsed wildly, but Ryan's control over the spell was firm. The energy flowed into him like a warm current, and he could feel his broken bones mending, his wounds closing. The pain in his chest faded, replaced by a surge of strength and vitality that made him feel renewed.
His body was healing at an incredible rate. Muscles that had been strained relaxed, and the sharp ache in his ribs dulled as the cracks in his bones sealed. Within moments, he was back to his full strength, as if the injuries had never happened.
But there was no time to bask in the feeling. Across the room, Seraphina and Scarlet were still locked in a fierce battle with the massive earth golem. They were doing everything they could to hold the creature back, but it was clear the fight was taking its toll.
Ryan clenched his fists. I should have bought a defensive item, he thought bitterly. But there was no use dwelling on that now—he had to help.
With his body fully recovered, Ryan charged back into the battlefield. He quickly assessed the situation: the golem was massive and difficult to damage with conventional attacks, but he had an idea.
"Magic Missile!" Ryan shouted, summoning glowing projectiles of pure mana. He directed them toward the joints of the golem's legs, hoping to weaken the creature's balance.
The missiles hit their mark, exploding on impact and causing the golem to stumble slightly. The creature groaned, but its movements became more sluggish.
Ryan then activated Gravity Manipulation, feeling the familiar rush of power as he lightened his body and sped across the battlefield. He aimed for the area where he sensed the highest concentration of earth mana—the golem's core. It was hidden deep within its chest, heavily guarded by layers of rock.
"We need to hit the core," Ryan thought, his mind racing. He leaped toward the weakened spot, using his enhanced speed to his advantage. As the golem's balance faltered, he shouted to his teammates. "Seraphina! Scarlet! Now!"
Scarlet reacted instantly, her hands igniting with powerful flames. "Phoenix Flame Art!" she yelled, sending a massive torrent of fire toward the golem's legs. The flames roared as they licked at the golem's rocky exterior, weakening its defenses.
At the same time, Seraphina raised her sword, channeling wind magic through the blade. "Gigantic Wind Blade!" she cried, releasing a colossal slash of wind that sliced through the air and struck the golem with precision.
The golem staggered, its glowing eyes flickering as its attention was momentarily split between the two girls' attacks. This was Ryan's chance.
Using Gravity Manipulation, he launched himself into the air, practically flying at an incredible speed toward the back of the golem's neck. His eyes narrowed as he reached the weak point, knowing exactly what he had to do.
In one swift motion, Ryan pulled out an alchemical grenade—a volatile device he had crafted earlier. With practiced ease, he threw the grenade at the golem's exposed core, watching as it lodged itself between the cracks of the stone.
"Let's finish this," Ryan muttered, plunging his sword deep into the core with the help of Gravity Manipulation, making his weapon impossibly heavy.
A deafening explosion followed. The core of the golem cracked under the pressure, shattering into pieces as Ryan's sword plunged deeper. The earth golem let out one final groan before its body crumbled, the massive frame collapsing into a heap of broken stone.
Ryan landed on his feet, his heart racing, but a sense of relief washed over him. It was finally over.
The three of them stood amidst the rubble, breathing heavily from the intensity of the fight. Scarlet wiped her brow, a faint smile of satisfaction on her lips. "We did it," she said, her voice full of relief.
Seraphina nodded, lowering her sword. "That was… something else."
Ryan, catching his breath, smiled. "Good teamwork. Now, let's not waste time."
He reached into his pack and pulled out three bottles, handing one to each of them. "Mana replenishing potions. We'll need these after that battle."
The trio drank the potions, feeling their mana and strength returning. Once they were refreshed, they made their way to the chest sitting at the far end of the room. The chest was large and ornate, with intricate carvings of dragons and mythical creatures on its surface. When Ryan opened it, the golden glow inside illuminated their faces.
Inside, the chest was filled with gold, glittering gems, magic scrolls, and weapons—enough treasure to make any adventurer envious.
"Looks like we struck gold," Ryan said with a grin.
They divided the spoils evenly, each taking what they needed. Ryan picked up a particularly interesting magic scroll, tucking it away for later study, while Seraphina and Scarlet inspected the weapons and gems.
Once the loot was settled, they sat down together, the weight of the battle finally lifting.
"That golem was tougher than I expected," Seraphina remarked, stretching her arms.
Ryan chuckled. "Yeah, it nearly got me a few times. But we worked well as a team."
Scarlet smiled softly. "We're getting stronger. We'll be ready for whatever comes next."
Ryan nodded in agreement. They had survived the golem, and with the treasure they had earned, they were one step closer to their goal.