NOVEL NEXT Chapter 76 His Flame Never Waver
Although devoid of substantial evidence, Tyler sensed that something was amiss with these two creatures.
It was difficult for him to dismiss as mere coincidence the appearance of two identical monsters, both in appearance and attributes, at the exact same location and time.
Setting this aside, considering that the monsters in this world were known to have a tribal concept and that there were two Granite Golems present, he wondered how these stony lumps reproduced.
Ignoring the matter of reproduction and assuming that stone could indeed produce stone, or perhaps through some other means, Tyler questioned the legitimacy of the data indicating "0 years old, Level 36."
Could it be that powerful creatures' offspring were born with more than one level?
Tyler set aside these questions for a moment to address the more pressing core doubts.
He recalled the basic information of the "Undead Wolf," which had a skill slot of 1/1 at Level 9.
Comparing it to himself and the surrounding cavaliers, Avril, and Elle, everyone who possessed a combat profession had at least one skill.
However, these Level 36 Granite Golems lacked any skills, which was difficult to justify.
More perplexing was the fact that, despite having no skills, the golems' magic energy was steadily decreasing, while their endurance was continuously increasing.
This led Tyler to believe that the Granite Golems were recovering endurance by consuming magic energy.
Since endurance could be recovered by merely taking a short break, it shouldn't typically require the consumption of magic energy—unless…
Unless the Granite Golems were incapable of recovering endurance by resting and did not belong to the conventional category of "living creatures."
·
Eliminating all improbable options, Tyler believed that whatever remained, no matter how bizarre, was the path to the truth.
He returned to the cavalry and loudly shared his deductions with everyone. "Captain Laidell! These stone golems are likely not monsters! They are summoned beings!"
However, upon hearing Tyler's words, Laidell and the other soldiers looked puzzled, as they were unfamiliar with the concept of summoned beings.
"They move by consuming magic energy! If we exhaust their magic energy, we win!" Tyler explained in simpler terms, and everyone instantly understood.
Laidell didn't question how the hunter from Ira Village knew so much; any effective strategy was welcome.
"Attention, everyone! Cease your attacks! Take turns distracting the enemy!"
Laidell issued the command to employ the new "kite-flying" strategy from horseback. The cavalry had an advantage in both speed and agility compared to the Granite Golems.
Even when the golems rolled into balls to move faster, they could not match the warhorses' mobility.
In the vast open valley, Tyler and the cavalry's seven warhorses ran circles around the two stone golems, who could not utilize their strength and were toyed with relentlessly.
·
Tyler observed the Granite Golems' magic power gradually being depleted. Once it reached zero, their endurance consumption rate dramatically increased. All they had to do now was wait for the golems' endurance to run out, and victory would be theirs!
(There is indeed a problem. No dizziness after their magic power reached zero... They must be summoned beings.)
Tyler watched closely, knowing that if the golems were indeed summoned, they would have to confront the hidden summoner—a far from favorable development.
The Granite Golems were still being led on a wild goose chase by the cavalry, but just as everyone had grown accustomed to this leisurely tactic, an unexpected event occurred.
The Bloodstained Golem grabbed the Uninjured Golem and hurled it at a terrifying speed.
The Uninjured Golem transformed into a massive projectile, instantly killing a cavalier with a resounding "bang!" and leaving a gruesome, unrecognizable mess.
Tyler, who could see the Granite Golems' status information, witnessed something even more terrifying: the magic energy of the two golems, which had supposedly been depleted, had somehow been fully restored.
·
Had Tyler not known this was not a game, he would have certainly thought that these two Granite Golems were cheating. The sensation of being lost in a vast ocean assailed him once more.
"I can't do this anymore!"
The first to break down among the troops was a soldier closest to the deceased. He spurred his horse and fled without looking back.
Owing to his actions, Laidell's barely maintained morale crumbled in an instant.
"Save me!"
"No!Don't chase me!"
"I don't want to die!"
The soldiers scattered in panic, their original formation long gone.
Witnessing this scene, Tyler knew that victory was hopeless. He immediately turned to find Elle, intending to take her and flee as far as possible in the chaos.
However, an even more desperate situation quickly followed.
At some point, two more Granite Golems had appeared on both the north and south sides of the canyon, sealing off the narrow escape route.
With no other choice, the fleeing soldiers were forced to turn back – now, the Gudetown Cavalry found themselves surrounded by the Granite Golems.
Observing the identical attributes of these four Granite Golems, Tyler was certain that they were magically driven summons, with a hidden mastermind controlling everything from behind the scenes.
The sudden replenishment of magic in the bloodstained and uninjured golems was undoubtedly the work of this summoner.
·
Now, The path at the bottom of the canyon was blocked, and climbing the cliff would make them sitting ducks. Tyler and the cavalry were truly checkmated.
(Is there really no way out?)
(No, there must be a way!)
Until the moment of death, Tyler refused to give up.
Upon careful observation, he noticed that the undamaged golem, which had just been thrown like a cannonball, had lost 300 life energy points – this was "friendly fire" damage inflicted by the golems upon each other!
If Tyler could somehow provoke the golems into continuing this line of attack and inflicting mutual damage, there might still be a chance to defeat them.
Regrettably, the soldiers of the cavalry had lost any semblance of composure. Screaming and pleading, they focused only on escaping through the gaps in the golems' defenses.
Even Laidell, the captain, had become preoccupied with saving himself at the expense of others.
"Everyone, charge to the north! One of us is bound to break through!"
Leading the charge, the other soldiers followed suit as soon as they saw Laidell's actions.
But would the Granite Golems simply stand by and watch them flee?
Employing their previous tactic, the golems hurled their comrades like cannonballs. Accompanied by two thunderous "boom!" sounds, the entire Gudetown Cavalry was crushed into pulp and completely annihilated.
·
Now, all four Granite Golems turned their gaze upon Tyler.
It was as if four Grim Reapers were staring at him.
But even so, the flame of Tyler's determination did not waver.
Tyler noticed that the two golems thrown as cannonballs had collided upon landing, inflicting nearly 800 points of massive damage to each other!
It was here that Tyler saw his chance to survive.
At this moment, Elle, who had been hiding in the shadows, galloped to Tyler's side on her horse.
"Judging by your eyes, you seem to have a way to turn the tide?"
Elle appeared calm, truly befitting of an assassin.
"It's unlikely we can turn defeat into victory, but at least we won't let them win so easily." Tyler smiled.
In this dire circumstance, his mood had become strangely light.