Lord Of Puppets

(Standart golem.)

(Hammer golem.)

(Blade golem.)

(Hammer golem.)

(Spear golem.)

Thauma once again activated new group of the training golems….. But this time it was different.

It wasn't just 6 golems, no.

It was a small army of golems that also included standard model golems.

(In order to see how far I can go, I cannot show myself any form of mercy.)

(I need to try and hit my limit.)

(Activate.)

(Training set.)

(Order.)

(Lethal combat.)

(Begin.)

As soon as the command were given, all of the golems started instantly moving, with the crossbow golems instantly taking initiative as they all aimed and got ready to fire their weapons.

({Earth Wall}.) – and as soon as they fired, Thauma deployed a wall of earth, blocking the crossbow bolts with ease.

(Counter attack.)

({Arcane Ball}.) – Thauma quickly got over the wall and fired off a sphere of mana that flew towards the crossbow golems and collided with them, blowing up and hitting three golems.

(Mana flow stable.)

(No rampaging mana detected.)

(Continue fighting.)

Blade golems rushed in towards Thauma from behind, forcing the puppet to quickly dodge their attacks and then place its hand on the ground.

({Earth Stab}.) – Thauma unleashed a stalagmite that grew from the ground, impaling one of the puppets and stopping in the tracks, allowing Thauma to quickly rush in at the second puppet and tear it apart.

However, as Thauma focused on the blade puppets, the hammer golems came and wrecked the stone wall, before moments later the spear golems tried attacking the dungeon master, forcing it to quickly back away, dodging the first attacks, before then using its own arms to block the second wave of attacks.

({Enchantment: Block}.) – and none of the spears attack managed to dig into the dungeon master body as it used a enchantment to block the attacks before then countering with series of punches, knocking away both spear golems.

But after dealing with one way of spear golems, another came, forcing Thauma to quickly retreat and then tried to counter attack the same way it did before, only for the blade golems to quickly step in, forcing Thauma to back away again and then quickly raise up its guard, protecting itself from the incoming bolts by using its own arms as shields.

"…"

(Dealing with multiple opponents at the same time.)

(Not recommenced to hold back as much as possible.)

(Use enough strength to eliminate the targets.)

(Standard golem on the move. Will attack.)

(Crossbow golems are reloading.)

(Close combat?)

(No.)

(Use magic. Don't get surrounded.)

[Earth Magic: Stone Bullets]

Thauma fired off a barrage of stones at the blade golems, stopping them in tracks, but not the hammer golems as they managed to get close enough to try and attack Thauma, forcing it to use its other remaining arms to grab their hammer arms and then pulling the golem closers, using pair of hammer golems as living shields against the second pair of hammer.

After blocking the hammer golems attacks, Thauma stopped using magic and used all of its 6 hands to quickly rip apart parts of the hammer golems bodies to make sure they were out of the commission, before then being forced to quick retreat.

"!?"

But Thauma retreated way too many times in row and before it realized, it was already getting way too close to the wall, alarming the puppet as it realized it screwed up.

(Can't retreat anymore or I will be trapped.)

(Need to break through!) – thought Thauma as it unleashed another {Arcan Ball}, hitting and blowing up one of the hammer golems before then rushing at the second one and then instantly ripping it apart.

But right after destroying the hammer golem, the standard model golem had finally managed to get close enough try to and attack Thauma.

The golem swung its giant fist, trying to crush its master, but Thauma was able to grab and stop the golem attack, before then tossing aside the fist and making it go right past.

After countering the attack Thauma went for the counter attack and landed three stabs with its claws….. But it was nowhere near enough to destroy the standard golem as it then tried attacking again, forcing Thauma to quickly leap backwards, dodging the attack, but ending up getting attacked from behind by the spear golems, catching Thauma off guard.

(Mistake. Focusing too much on the most powerful foe.) – thought Thauma as it quickly ripped apart the spear golem with its claws and then tried going after next one.

"!?"

Only to stop as it realized that the crossbow golems had fired.

Instantly Thauma used the remains of the spear golems to try and block the volley of crossbow bolts, but unfortunately only blocking some of them.

(Weapon.) – Thauma quickly grabbed the broken spears and began throwing them at the crossbow golems, hitting some of them, but not managing to take even half of the hit golems down.

(Not enough power and didn't aimed properly.) – thought Thauma before then being forced to deal with another spear golem, distracting the dungeon master in the worst possible timing as the second standard golem struck it down from behind, knocking Thauma who then quickly leaped at the nearby blade golem and ripped it apart.

(Didn't managed to use enchantment in time. Need to get used to casting it as much faster pace.) – thought Thauma as it ripped off blade golem arm and then throwing it at the standard golem, stabbing its chest, but not stopping it as it then slammed down both of its arms, wrecking up the area but not managing to hit Thauma as it dodge the attack.

(I can take on standard golems attacks.)

(I can damage them and destroy them.)

(But if I focus on the standard golem alone, other golems will attack me.)

(The main problem are the crossbow golems.)

(They should still have some bolts left.) – thought Thauma as it.

(…. This is good.)

(This is perfect!)

(Not everything is going as planned!)

(This is real battle!)

(A battle that can wound me!)

(Yes….. This needs to be like from that "time".) – thought Thauma as it remembers its past battle when adventurers army barged into the dungeon master room.

(But I cannot let it end the same way it did back then.)

(I'm already taken on some damage, but so what?)

(If it necessary I will lose all of my limbs and even half of my body if it means I can grow.)

(….)

(….)

(Now…. How do I deal with them.)

(I can use much more mana than before, but just firing off spells non stop will just drain me out of mana.)

(Then physical combat is way to go?)

(With my 6 hands and high physical power I could deal with multiple golems at the same time….. But this way the damage will stack up…..)

(…)

(No.)

(This is not my limit.)

(Not yet.)

(I can still fight and still have strength to do so.)

(What I need instead is to think.)

(My weapons.)

(My body. Earth magic. Arcane magic. Enchantment magic.)

(In which way I could possibly use it to destroy many enemies at the same time or gain some advantage against them.) – thought Thauma as the hammer and spear golems started attacking it, forcing the dungeon to start fighting them.

(Arcane magic is best at long range, while earth magic is at the close and mid-range.)

(As for the enchantment, it can be only used on myself.) – thought Thauma as it ripped off the hammer golem arm and then used it as a weapon, killing the disarmed golem before then smacking other golems with the said arm until it broke down.

(A weapon would have been good.) - thought Thauma as it launched itself against spear golem and ripped it apart, before then stealing its spear arms and then using them as weapons against other golems, smacking and stabbing them until the weapons broke apart.

(Not this.) – thought Thauma as it rushed at the blade golem and ripped off its blade arms before then using said blade arms to destroy blade golem, fallowed up with the dungeon master starting to fight against its golems once again while using the blade golems arms….. Only for the blade arms to shatter after receiving impact from the standard golem attack.

(This isn't it either.)

(Hammer golem arms…. I've already tried them just few moments ago.)

(Crossbows?)

(No.)

(I don't have time to reload them.)

(There is no suitable weapon for me here....) – thought Thauma as it started getting by standard golem, forcing the dungeon master to retaliate and try to destroy the golem, only for the blade golems alongside crossbow golems to launch their own attacks against their master, forcing it on the defense once again.

(Maybe I should just focus on enchantment? My claws are strong enough already to rip apart the golems.) – thought Thauma as it ripped apart the blade golem.

(I need fire power.)

(What if the explosions fails?)

(What if the beastman survives the bomb attack?)

(I need something that could penetrate his defense.)

(Or at least keep him in place.)

(Something that will be able to quickly deal with standard golem could at least posses some chances against him.)

(But can the current me do it?)

(I know I'm strong and this test should be considered finished and completed.... So does that mean that this body isn't perfect?) – thought Thauma as it ripped apart the hammer golem and then used its arms as weapons, smacking the standard golem in the face, before then raising up its guard and blocking golem attack, fallowed up with series of strikes that destroyed half of the standard golem head.

(Or am I missing something?)

(Maybe I don't know how to bring the full potential of this body yet?)

(…)

(No. It isn't it either.) – thought Thauma as it grabbed the standard golem by its arm and dragged it, using the standard golem body as shield against second standard golem attack.

(Magic, weapons, body.)

(Magic, weapons, body.)

(Magic, weapons, body.)

"…"

(Magic…..Weapon….. Body?)

"!"

In moment of distraction Thauma was suddenly struck at full power by the standard golem, knocking

"…"

(Maybe I'm looking wrong at it?) – thought Thauma who was still lost in its thought, resulting in the blade golem managing to strike Thauma from behind, before then getting its head snapped by the dungeon master retaliation.

(Should I just focus on one thing?)

(No.)

(Maybe I'm not looking at all the cards I have?)

(….)

(No. This isn't it.)

(Those are ALL cards I have and can use during combat.)

(My other talents and skills revolves around crafting.)

(There is no way I could...I could…..)

"…"

(Wait…..I can?)

"!"

(I CAN!) – thought Thauma as it quickly reacted to the hammer golem attack and then quickly grabbed the creature, fallowed up with Thauma throwing the hammer golem over its shoulder, launching it straight at the other incoming golems.

(How could I not see something as simple as that?!)

(Again!)

(A mistake!)

(Again!)

(An error!)

(I can craft!) – thought Thauma as it put down its arms on the ground.

(Earth magic allows me to manifest earth, control earth and bent it to my will.)

(Use the golem application and combine it with earth magic.)

As the standard golem was about to strike down Thauma, a giant fist like object emerged from the ground and smashed against golem, shattering on the impact.

(Unstable. This isn't it!)

(But it worked!)

(I can combine my crafting with earth magic!) – thought Thauma as it tried again and again, creating different arms of different sizes and shape, with each fist shattering on the impact, forcing Thauma to retreat and gain some distance before then trying again.

(This isn't it! This one isn't it either!)

(Am I making them too fast?!)

(Or maybe I'm not using enough mana?!)

The standard golem got ready to attack once again….. But then, the next fist that was sent flying ended up slightly damaging the golem, resulting in Thauma instantly noticing the change.

"?"

(It damaged it?) – thought Thauma as it was attacked by spear golems and crossbow golems, landing some hits on the dungeon master who then quickly retaliated and began rushing towards nearby crossbow golems that tried to attack their blade with blades, only for the Thauma to quickly disarm them and use their weapons against them.)

(But the arm broke apart!)

(How did the…..No.)

(It isn't a failure!) – thought Thauma as it once again put its hands on the ground the moment, fallowed up with the barrage of earth mist manifesting once again from the ground, hitting the standard golem and over as it ran towards the dungeon master.

Each strike slightly damage the golem, but after each strike, the damage dealt increased over and over.

(Power alone isn't it!)

(The fist shatters from its own impact! Reducing the damage dealt)

(It doesn't need to have all the defense.)

(More mana!)

(Solidify!)

(Imagine!)

(Structure!)

(Blueprint!)

(Implant and combine it all.)

(And use the earth magic to combine it all!)

[Earth Magic: Manifestation: Earth Fist]

In instant, a fist of earth flew out of the ground and struck the standard golem in its chest, dealing massive amount of damage to the golem and even managing to stop its tracks.

"…"

(Ha…..)

(Ha...)

(Haha…hahah…)

(HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!)

(STUPID!)

(IDIOT!)

(PERFECT BODY MY ASS!)

(THE PROBLEM WAS ME!)

(I'M IDIOT HERE!)

(I'M IDIOT THAT DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO USE MY OWN ABILITIES!)

"…"

(A error….. That I'm welcomed to receive.)

(I guess I still have a lot of research to do. )

(Yes…..I need to research this and use this.)

(And this test is far from being over.)