Over the next hour and a half, I endured three more grueling trials, the final one pitting me against two hulking hobgoblins and a regular goblin. Dispatching them had been no easy feat. My limbs felt like lead, and my breaths came in ragged gasps as I collapsed onto the ground, staring up into the blinding midday sun.
"Should I continue?" I muttered to myself, the words barely audible over the pounding of my heart. My body screamed for rest, but I couldn't shake the sense of purpose driving me forward. For now, I waited, letting my breathing steady as I anticipated the familiar notification.
After what felt like an eternity, the message finally appeared, hovering in my vision like a taunt. Do you wish to continue?
Clenching my fists, I steadied my resolve. "Yes," I whispered, pressing the prompt with trembling fingers. My will firmed as I forced myself to my feet, gripping my battered sword with both hands.
The ground shook. A colossal stone figure materialized before me, its heavy steps reverberating like thunder. It had to be at least ten feet tall, its body made entirely of jagged, uneven rock. There was no mistaking its nature. "A golem," I said, naming the creature as it loomed over me like a moving mountain.
I knew hesitation would be my undoing. Tightening my grip on the hilt of my sword, I charged forward, closing the distance to within two meters. With all the strength I could muster, I swung the blade at its torso.
Ting!
The sound echoed sharply as the blade rebounded off its hardened exterior, leaving behind only the faintest chip. My heart sank, and I barely had time to process my failure before the golem retaliated.
Its massive fist descended in an arc, impossibly fast for something of its size. Instinct took over as I raised my sword in a desperate attempt to block the blow. The impact was catastrophic.
The force sent me hurtling through the air like a ragdoll, my body spinning uncontrollably. Pain shot through me as I collided with the ground, rolling and tumbling until I finally came to a stop, flat on my back.
Dazed, I blinked up at the sky, the edges of my vision swimming. I forced my head to turn, and there it was—the golem. Its towering form was rushing toward me, each thunderous step shaking the earth beneath it.
I gritted my teeth and tried to move, ignoring the searing pain coursing through me. My mind raced as I struggled to come up with a strategy. My sword was useless against its stony hide, and I couldn't take another direct hit.
As the golem closed the gap, I knew one thing for certain—this was going to be a fight for survival.
Climbing to my feet, I was surprised to find that my sword had somehow survived the devastating impact. Its blade, though worn and dulled, was still intact. Not wanting to relive the harrowing experience of being hurled across the battlefield, I resolved to play smarter this time.
As the golem thundered toward me, I stood my ground, waiting until the last possible second. Then, with a sharp pivot, I dodged its massive fist, positioning myself behind the towering creature. My eyes scanned its stony surface, and that's when I saw it—a shiny red gem embedded in the nape of its neck.
The gem was about 5 centimeters in diameter, glowing faintly against the dull gray of the golem's body. My mind raced with questions. What is that? Could it be its weakness? Before I could consider further, the golem turned with surprising speed, swinging its fist toward me once again.
I narrowly slipped out of its range, my mind still fixated on the gem. It had to be important; it was too conspicuous to ignore. But without any knowledge of its purpose, all I could do was speculate while evading the golem's relentless attacks.
Minutes passed, my blade proving ineffective against the creature's rock-hard exterior. It was clear: direct attacks wouldn't work. My only option was to target the gem.
Resolved, I leapt forward, closing the distance and entering the golem's attack range once more. I baited it into swinging, narrowly dodging its massive fist, then darted behind it, locking my gaze on the glowing red gem. This was my chance.
Gripping my sword tightly, I activated [Sword Aura], channeling what little energy I had left into the blade. The faint, shimmering aura enveloped the weapon, bolstering its cutting power. With a deep breath, I raised the sword high and swung it down with every ounce of strength I could muster.
The blade struck true, sinking into the gem with a satisfying crack. But halfway through, I encountered resistance, as if the gem itself was fighting back. Undeterred, I pulled the sword back and swung again, the impact sending a sharp vibration up my arms. Cracks began to spiderweb across the gem's surface, but it still held firm.
Time was running out. The golem was already turning, its massive body pivoting to face me. With a final burst of effort, I raised my sword for one last swing. This time, I poured everything I had into the strike, the blade glowing brighter than ever. The resistance gave way with a resounding shatter as the gem split in two.
For a moment, everything stood still. Then, the golem let out a low, guttural groan as its movements slowed. Its massive body began to tremble, cracks spreading across its stony surface like a fragile vase on the verge of collapse. I stumbled back, clutching my sword, and watched as the creature crumbled to the ground, the once-mighty behemoth reduced to a pile of rubble.
I exhaled heavily, my chest heaving as I tried to process what had just happened. That gem... it had been the key to defeating it. But why? And what kind of force had given the golem life? Questions swirled in my mind as I stared at the remains of my fallen foe, a mix of relief and curiosity settling over me.
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