Despite my nerves, I focused on the task at hand and directed my palm towards the Golem's left knee.
I remembered my time as a Knight, where I excelled in archery and had confidence in my aim.
But back then, my arrows were always weak and ineffective against powerful foes.
Now, as a Magician, I finally had the power to fight back.
The Golem's thunderous stomps sent my heart racing, knowing that one wrong move could result in my demise.
But I took a deep breath and unleashed the Lightning Bolt.
A blast of magical energy flew like a piercing thunder, heading straight for the Golem's knee.
The impact caused the Golem to stumble and collapse onto the ground with a deafening thud.
However, it continued to crawl towards me, its intentions clear - to destroy me.
But with its weakened state, it was easier for me to aim for its crippling points.
I directed my palm towards its head, determined to end this battle before it could crush me with its massive hand.
As the Golem's hand closed in on me, I cast another Lightning Bolt that successfully put a hole through its head.
Its glowing yellow eyes faded as its body froze, like a statue.A few moments later, it disintegrated into a pile of small stones.
My screen lit up with a notification from the System, confirming my triumph over the monstrous creature.
My hand shook as I held it poised towards the rubble, ready to strike again if necessary.
Suddenly, Zeta materialized beside me, his face adorned with a satisfied grin.
"Another one vanquished. Only eight more to go," he reminded me.
Taking a deep breath, I braced myself for what was to come.
"Summon more, this time. I want to obliterate them all," I challenged him with confidence.
Zeta's expression shifted, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"I can summon up to eight of them, but be warned - you will be at the mercy of these Golems." I nodded, fully aware of the risks involved.
"I can handle it. Let me face them."
"There's a fine line between bravery and foolishness, Alstair," Zeta cautioned.
"I am both brave and foolish," I retorted, eager to prove my worth to the System and return to my home.
Zeta fell silent for a moment, then flashed his mischievous smile as if daring me to back down.
"Very well... Such bold words, but I sense a great deal of foolishness within you, Alstair."
With a wave of his hand, he summoned two formidable entities to serve as the gatekeepers for the Golems.
Stepping back, I quickly strategized my next move.The Golems appeared, their eyes fixed on me with murderous intent.
I took aim and unleashed a barrage of eight Lightning Bolts, successfully striking five Golems in the head while three missed their mark.
As they crumbled to the ground, I redirected my attack towards the remaining three Golems charging towards me.
But to my horror, the spell wouldn't activate?!
Frantically, I tried casting it again and again, but nothing happened!
It was then that I realized I had depleted almost 70% of my Mana Power by continuously casting Lightning Bolt.
The remaining 30% was being used to activate my Magical Barrier, leaving me defenseless.
With the Golems getting closer, my heart raced and I started running aimlessly.
The ground shook with every thunderous step, and I could feel the shadow of the Golems' giant legs looming over me.
Reacting quickly, I jumped out of the way just as the Golems' legs slammed down where I had been standing.
But before I could celebrate, I felt a sharp pain in my back as one of the Golems' jabs hit me, throwing me into an old house rooftop nearby.
The impact was brutal, and my vision blurred as I lay on the rooftop, my back in excruciating pain.
My Magical Barrier was heavily damaged, and I knew I wouldn't survive another hit from these monstrous Golems without it.
>Mana Power: 27%
>Caution! You can't cast Magical Barrier due to low Mana Power
>Possible Lightning Bolt Casting Spell: 3
As I stand under the collapsed rooftop and amidst the debris of a wooden wall, I survey the disastrous state of my surroundings.
The brokenness around me reflects the shattered state of my own mind.
The ground trembles beneath my feet, a sign of the approaching danger.
Three Golems loom in front of me, their murderous intentions clear in their heavy steps.
I consider my options, the weight of my depleted Mana Power heavy on my shoulders.
If I take a moment to let my Mana Regeneration skill restore my energy, I could activate my Magical Barrier and protect myself.
But that would leave me vulnerable with no Mana Power left for casting Lightning Bolt.
On the other hand, I could use my remaining Mana Power to cast Lightning Bolt and defeat each Golem individually.
However, the stakes are high.
One wrong move could mean my death, as I have no backup plan without Mana Power for recreating my Magical Barrier.
My mind races, searching for a solution.
The tension in the air is palpable as I struggle to make a decision.
The consequences of each action weigh heavily on me.
I am alone, with only my own thoughts and abilities to rely on.
"What should I do?!" I mutter to myself, the weight of the situation bearing down on me.
There is no easy way out, and every move could be my last.
The second I see the System notification, my survival instinct kicked in.
There's only three Golem left to defeat for me, so I can return to the home!
I choose to fight back despite my Magical Barrier had inactivated!
I hurriedly run from the debris house, running through the street way around the tower under the giant stomp of the Golems that gradually become near.
From my slight observation, I see those three Golems chasing me from northwest, One Golem at the front while the other two in the behind.
Those three Golem run aggressively, jumped the houses that preventing their way just to shorten their distance with me.
I run with my breath getting shorter, until I arrived at the tower where there's no houses placed near there.
As I took breath with fast heartbeat, I aim the Golem in the front, approximately around 80 yard from my position.
The daunting step and the movement of Golem's gigantic hand almost crushing, but I keep my focus on my aim.
I hurriedly cast the Lightning Bolt, shooting the white-blue magical thunder that strike through the Golem's knee until it fall.
The two Golem behind fall since getting stumbled over the Golem who fall first.
Those two Golem are easy to aim since they are not on running, so I cast Lightning Bolt two times that easily destroy their head consecutively.
>Mana Power: 5%/100%
>Caution! You can't cast Magical Barrier due to low Mana Power
>Possible Lightning Bolt Casting Spell: 0
Only one Golem left, yet my Mana Power is exhausted.
The remaining Golem crawl its way to reach me, crushing all the houses debris that closing its way.
It's easy for me to aim its head, but I can't shoot it out because my Mana Power is not enough.
I hurriedly run, tries to extend the distance between me and the remaining Golem, but the damn Golem crawling faster than I thought.
The sound of the Golem's hand that crawled aggressively along with its constant shaking made my heart beat so fast.
I quickly run under my low breath, but the shadow of the damned Golem become near not as I expected at first.
>Mana Power: 9%/100%
>Caution! You can't cast Magical Barrier due to low Mana Power
>Possible Lightning Bolt Casting Spell: 1
Ah, yes!
As I check the System in a slight, The moment I had waiting for had come!
My Mana Regeneration passive skill had fulfill my requirement to cast only one Lightning Bolt in this critical occasion.
The gleaming bright yellow light from Golem Eyes' focused on me, along with its gigantic hand, tries to grasp me.
I know it will be useless if I run like hell to evade it because the Golem's distance is to near and I had lost momentum to run.
All I can do is aim the Golem's head with my right hand, concentrating on casting the spell despite my hand still shacked due to the weight of this death and life condition.
My hope so high as the magical beam with white-blue light of Lightning Bolt flies fast to strike through.
But alas, my Lightning Bolt missed!
The damned Golem managed to evade it by quickly tilt its head, so the Lightning Bolt only hit half of his face, but it doesn't destroy the Golem effectively.
My fear quickly increasing as the Golem's hand succeed to grab my body brutally.
I shouted my pain as the Golem squeezing my body, feels every part of my bone in my body cracking so hard.
Even though the Golem's power halved because of getting damaged heavily, its grip still damn painful that almost made my body entirely crushed.
>Mana Power: 0%/100%
>Alert! Your health point is currently 12%/100%
>Caution! You can't cast Magical Barrier due to low Mana Power
>Possible Lightning Bolt Casting Spell: 0
These damn System constantly give me a notification about how nasty my current condition is while I'm obviously understand how severe my body was.
Despite my crippling body and painful shouting, I crawl in the dark of my situation, which lead me to point out one of the System's notification about Fragment of Souls Item.
>Fragment of Souls:
>Fragment of Thunder Warrior Souls* x1
*Utilized it for increasing magician power or casting Lightning Bolt for once
All I can read is the opportunity to cast Lightning Bolt, even for once, which is the only matter in my critical condition.
I clicked the item on System's notification, that immediately manifested into a Fulgurite gemstone in my right palm in less than a second.
> Cast Lightning Bolt!
The System's notification come as I gripped the Fragment of Thunder Warrior Soul until it cracked, the interlink of Soul between me and the Golem become heated, which lead to the chained explosion of Lightning from the right hand of the Golem until it utterly destroying the Golem's head.
I fall along with the debris of crushed giant palm of the Golems, surrounded by deafening stumbled rock that initially the part of Golem's body.
> Defeat 9/9 Stone Golems
> You get Topaz Gemstone (x5)!
> You get Fragment of Golem Souls (x2)!
> You get Healing Potion (x5)!
> You get Mana Potion (x5)!
> You get 15.000 Monster Diamonds!
Lots of notification on the System, but all I care first is the Healing Potion.
The moment I took the Healing Potion from the system, I hurriedly drunk it all in one gulp.
Thankfully, the crushing pain in my body immediately gone.
My breath gradually stable, but my heartbeat still pumped due to the adrenaline.
"Succeeding on cheating death... Interesting.", Zeta genuinely praise me while appeared right in front of me.
"Whatever, Zeta. I'm survived and won the System. That's all the matters.", I replied flatly while standing up, reading the System's notification regarding new item I get.
I generally understand about Healing Potion and Mana Potion that will greatly help during my battle, but I'm more interested on other two item related with Magician Attribution.
To amplify my powers as a magician, I make use of the Fragment of Golem Souls initially.
Reflecting on the previous battle, I've come to the realization that it would be prudent to retain one Fragment of Golem Soul in my inventory system, in case any unforeseen circumstances arise in the next battle.
> Mana Power increased 150 point!
> Mana Damage increased 150 point!
> Magic Barrier defense increased 150 point!
Wow, the surging strength within my body and soul has greatly amplified.
I sense my body becoming weightless and my mind becoming more acute.
Yet, I yearn for more!
There awaits a Topaz Gemstone to be bestowed upon me!
Without hesitation, I place the Topaz Gemstone into the vacant slot on my Sorcerer's Bracelet.
>You Activated The Soul of Earth!
>You Unlocked New Magician Spell!
>Active Skill:
Lightning Bolt
Gaia Endowment*
>Passive Skill:
Magic Barrier
Mana Regeneration
Health Regeneration
'Gaia Endowment - enhance physical power for Magician who used it, requires Mana as long the skill is activated', I mumbled, reading the description of my new skill after successfully attributed The Soul of Earth.
The moment I activated the new spell, I can feel the surge of power in my body.
I'm surprised when I lift a huge rock from the debris of building is light with this power!
I even can run very fast with stable breath with this new skill!
Amazing!
However, this new skill requires amount of Mana that can quickly depleted my Mana if I used too much heavy physical activities.
I should use this skill wisely since as a Magician, I'm still relies on Magician Spell for defeating my enemies.
The latest notification from the System caught me off guard, causing me to pause for a moment.
My rank as a Magician had increased?
I couldn't believe it.
But how?
"Alstair, you activated two Magician Souls on your Sorcerers Bracelet. That's the requirement for the System to raise your Magician Rank," Zeta suddenly replied, putting an end to my confusion.
"So this means the System has recognized my abilities," I stated confidently, showing my determination to embrace my new life as a Magician with this peculiar system.
"Don't get ahead of yourself, boy. This is only the beginning," Zeta warned, stepping forward and surrounding me with a wave of dark flames emanating from his body.
I knew that if Zeta had any intention of harming me, I would be burnt to a crisp in an instant.
As the black flames inched closer to my body, the world around me started to darken.
All I could see was Zeta's skull-like face, with his piercing blue eyes shining with both beauty and threat.
"Follow the System. Become the Supreme Sorcerer and you can have whatever you desire, Alstair. It's your only option, unless you want to die a miserable death as a failed Knight," Zeta's words echoed loudly in my mind.Closing my eyes,
I felt like I was being swallowed by an endless void.
When I opened them again, I found myself lying in a hospital bed, dressed in patient clothes and hooked up to an oxygen mask and IV.
Turning my head to the side, I saw a middle-aged woman looking at me with tears in her eyes.
As soon as she saw that I was awake, she burst into tears of relief and hugged me tightly.
It was my mother.
I was grateful to have survived Zeta's torturous trial, so my mother could see me alive and well.
"Thank God... Thank God you're safe, son," my mother repeated over and over, her tears of relief pouring down her face.
Seeing my mother's relief and happiness, I knew that I had made the right choice by following the System and embracing my destiny as a powerful Magician.
My fingers trembled with curiosity as I reached for the System general stats in front of my mother.
The game-style window appeared, its display only visible to my eyes.
My mother, unaware of its existence, sat beside me.
As Zeta's words echoed in my mind, I couldn't deny the reality of my Hellish experience in the Supreme Sorcerer's System.
Trapped in its grasp, my sole purpose was to fulfill The System's demands.
I was a slave to the System, but I had no other choice if I wanted to provide for my mother and sister.
Despite the physical toll it took on me, the power of a Magician coursed through my veins, keeping me strong and fit.
I removed the oxygen mask and sat up, catching my mother's surprised expression.
"Alstair...why did you take off the mask? You need to rest," she scolded, worry etched on her face.
I reassured her with a calm smile, gently removing the IV from my hand."It's okay, Mom. I can't afford to stay here any longer. The insurance won't cover my injuries from saving a random child, not my duties as a Knight."
My mother hesitated, still holding onto the money she had saved for my medical expenses.
But I knew we couldn't afford to waste any more money on this hospital stay.
"Keep the money, Mom. I can pay the medical bill and this mess. Let's go home," I urged, standing up and taking her hand.
Suddenly, I felt her hand grow hot and sweaty.
Panic set in as I noticed her pale face, struggling to breathe.
Without a second thought, I caught her as she fainted.
The fever and sweat on her body made me fear for her life.
I called out for help, my mind haunted by the thought of losing another loved one.
"Mom! Please wake up! Mom!"
No response.
My mother lay unconscious in my arms, and the fear of losing her consumed me once again.