Realizing they could no longer hide, Rian, Ria, Lucas, and Brunok charged out into the open. The Noktus figures and the Altechnan weapon merchants were startled and drew their weapons in unison, but they were thrown into confusion by the surprise attack. The enemy consisted of human warriors and Blood Elves who used dark magic.
Rian drew his greatsword and charged forward. His blade swung with powerful momentum, easily shattering the enemy's defense.
Rian: "I don't know what you're plotting, but it ends here!"
Rian's greatsword flashed and split into twin blades. He wielded them alternately, swiftly overwhelming the Blood Elves. Each time his swords swung, they flashed with light and effortlessly pierced the enemy's defenses.
Meanwhile, Ria withstood the enemy's magic attacks and quickly prepared a counter. She wove a spell of ice and fire from her fingertips, scattering the enemy's formation.
Ria: "Bit-gwa Eoreum-ui Gyeolgye-yeo, jeokdeur-eul mukkeora!" (Barrier of light and ice, bind the enemies!)
Ria's magic froze the Blood Elf warriors, temporarily sealing their movements. Immediately after, Ria threw a fireball, causing the frozen enemies to explode, leaving only the remains of elves in their place.
As a Battle Mage, Lucas plunged into the center of the battlefield, using both magic and his sword. He cast a defensive spell with one hand to protect his allies while unleashing a powerful electric shock with the other to attack the enemy.
Lucas: "Don't underestimate me! I'll end this here!"
Lucas dodged an opponent's attack and countered with his sword. Lightning sparked from the tip of his blade, piercing a human warrior's armor, and the warrior collapsed in an instant.
Brunok began to provide covering fire from the rear, aiming at the enemies. He moved with agility, picking off the foes that were trying to defend against Rian and Lucas one by one.
Brunok: "One down, two down... I'll take you all out."
Brunok switched his firearms, felling the enemy warriors in succession. His marksmanship was high, and the enemy's formation slowly began to crumble.
But at that moment, a Blood Elf who appeared to be the leader began to summon a golem with magic. The golem was a terrifying creature of massive metal and stone, a form Rian's party had never seen before. As the golem was summoned, the ground trembled and a giant shadow fell over them.
Blood Elf: "Hmph, to think you could fluster us this much... But it's over now. Golem, smash them all to pieces!"
Rian rushed the golem, swinging his twin blades, but when they struck the golem's body, they only produced a sharp clang, failing to even leave a scratch.
Rian: "Damn it, this thing… my greatsword isn't working?!"
Rian's twin blades bounced right off the golem's hard metal body. The golem swung a giant fist at Rian, and though he managed to dive out of the way, a massive shockwave swept through the area.
Ria continuously launched ice and fire magic at the golem, but its metal body seemed unaffected by the spells.
Ria: "Magic isn't working either! Just what is this golem?"
Lucas also approached with his sword to find a weak point, but even the power of lightning could not penetrate the golem's tough armor.
Lucas: "Neither twin blades nor magic... this is insane! It's not taking a single scratch on its hard shell!"
The golem swung its massive arm, cornering Lucas against a wall. Lucas cast a magic shield to block the attack, but he was thrown back by the powerful impact, momentarily losing his balance and falling.
Brunok aimed his gun at the golem and fired repeatedly, but the bullets either ricocheted off its metal surface or left only minor dents.
Brunok: "No way... It's not taking any damage!"
Stunned by the golem's overwhelming defense, Rian's party had no choice but to fall back. The golem blocked Rian's twin blades with one hand and rushed Lucas with the other, continuing its assault.
Rian: "This isn't working. We can't block it with light weapons. We need to find another way!"
Brunok: "We're all goners if this keeps up!"
They were baffled by the power of the golem, something they had never seen before, and found themselves in a situation where their attacks were no longer effective. Ria quickly looked around, desperately searching for a breakthrough.
Ria: "That golem's power must be maintained by magic. We have to sever that magic! Lucas, if you and I combine our powers, we should be able to stop it."
Lucas nodded at Ria's words and made his decision.
Lucas: "Alright, I'll draw its attention as much as I can. Rian, Brunok, support us!"
Rian and Brunok reformed their lines and prepared to attack. Rian took a deep breath and said.
Rian: "We can't give up. This time, we will win."
Rian, Ria, Lucas, and Brunok each took their positions and assumed their battle stances once more. They now had to form a new plan and work together to find the golem's weakness. The tide had turned against them, but Rian's party would not back down. They were prepared to fight to the end to protect Elysium.
******
Episode : A Blazing Resolve
Rian, Ria, Lucas, and Brunok were fighting with all their might to defeat the powerful golem before them. The golem boasted a defensive strength they had never faced before, deflecting all their attacks. Rian's twin blades, Brunok's bullets, and Ria's magic were not a significant threat to it.
Ria quickly wracked her brain to find the golem's weakness.
Ria: "This isn't working! We have to cut off its magical energy."
Lucas agreed with her words and nodded.
Lucas: "Alright. I'll draw its attention as much as I can. Let's you and I break its magic barrier together."
Lucas cast a powerful fire spell and advanced toward the front of the golem. The flames that erupted from his fingertips engulfed the golem, emitting a brilliant light. At the same time, Ria used ice magic to try and restrict the golem's movements.
Ria: "Bul-gwa Eoreum-ui Gyeolgye-yeo, jeog-eul bongswaehara!" (Barrier of fire and ice, seal the enemy!)
As Lucas's fire and Ria's ice magic combined, the golem's metal body began to crack from the extreme heat and cold. The golem flinched, its movements becoming unstable, and Rian, not missing the opportunity, raised his greatsword high.
Rian: "Time to end this! Take this!"
Rian swung his greatsword with all his strength, and his blade, radiating a powerful energy, began to cleave through the golem's body. The moment the greatsword pierced the golem's core, the golem collapsed with a massive tremor. The enemies were stunned and fell back, and the tide of battle began to turn in their favor.
Rian: "We did it! Now let's find out what they were plotting."
The party quickly got their hands on the enemy's transaction ledger. In it, the Noktus's dangerous plans and their major deals were recorded in detail.
But just then, the last remaining golem suddenly began to move. The golem, which they thought was defeated, attempted to self-destruct, sending metal fragments flying in all directions. Ria had moved closer to investigate the golem's remains, and in that instant, the golem exploded.
Ria: "Look out!"
With a loud explosion, a multitude of metal fragments flew toward Ria. Rian, who saw it from a distance, rushed desperately toward her, but the fragments were already about to hit her. Rian was too far away to reach her, and the situation became critical.
Lucas made an instant decision. It was something he would never have considered before, but he felt he had to protect Ria. There was no time to hesitate. Lucas threw himself in front of Ria, shielding her with his body.
Lucas: "Ria, get down!"
As Lucas's body covered Ria, the metal fragments pierced his back. Lucas let out a pained scream, but he bent over, determined to protect Ria to the end. When Rian reached them, Lucas was already on the ground, bleeding.
Rian: "Lucas! You crazy... are you okay?!"
Lucas managed a faint smile and nodded.
Lucas: "I'm... okay. Because I protected Ria..."
Ria's eyes filled with tears as she saw the wounds on Lucas's body.
Ria: "Why... why would you do that? It was so reckless..."
Lucas: "I don't know... I just felt like I had to. That I had to protect you all..."
Lucas's wounds were deep, but they had missed his vital organs. However, he was still bleeding, and the party knew they had to get back to the Altechnan palace in a hurry. They supported Lucas and quickly headed for the palace.
On their way back, they happened to meet a Cleric returning from the holy site. As soon as she saw Lucas's condition, she understood the situation and, without hesitation, began to chant a prayer of blessing.
Cleric: "May the grace of the divine be with you, to heal your wounds and protect your body."
The Cleric's blessing enveloped Lucas's body, and his wounds began to heal rapidly. Lucas, exhausted from the blood loss, pushed himself up and offered his thanks.
Lucas: "Thank you... I'm alive thanks to your help."
Cleric: "The divine will may have led you here. May its grace be with you on your path ahead."
Lucas looked at the wounds on his body and made a vow. He realized that this wound was not a simple injury, but would become the most important badge of honor in his life. He felt that this meeting was not a mere coincidence but the will of the divine, and he gave thanks in his heart.
Lucas: "This scar will be proof that I protected something. And if it is the divine will, I will continue this fight."
Rian, Ria, and Brunok watched Lucas's resolute figure and nodded. They reaffirmed their own resolve and gathered their strength for the battles to come. The mission before them now felt greater and heavier, but they would not give up. Their journey to protect Altechna and Elysium was just beginning.