The truth was, its base offense and defense were untouched. Its abilities were intact, none of its attributes diminished. We weren't just fighting a weakened opponent; we were up against something far beyond our capabilities. But what other choice did we have? We had to play the game, no matter how stacked against us it was. So we played it the best we could.
My role was clear: deal as much damage as possible. Dungeon Master 07 was the tank, confronting the guardian head-on, keeping it distracted while I did my work from a distance. He was tougher, more resilient, perfect for close-quarter combat. Not that I envied him. It was brutal work, and he was struggling, but so was I. This battle was way out of my league. I had no business being here. Dungeon Master 07 had warned me before we entered the chamber, and in some ways, I regretted not heeding his advice. But without me, he'd lack the firepower to bring this guardian down.
Even though I couldn't rely on my curses, I was still a damn good cryomancer. My intelligence attribute was ridiculously high, giving me an insane amount of M.P., and with my staff, , I had a bonus 1,500 MP. Then there was my saving grace, the skill [Mana Reservoir], which granted me a total bonus of 5,211 MP. Coupled with my base MP, I had a grand total of 9,043. That’s a lot. Yet, against that freak, it felt like nothing.
***
Suddenly, a halo spread outward from the guardian, expanding slowly at first but quickly picking up speed. Dungeon Master 07 activated a shield to protect himself, while I, with no pillar to take cover behind, erected a barrier using [Unbound Sorcery]. Not just one, but two. And it was the right call, because the first barrier shattered almost instantly. The second one strained under the pressure before the attack finally ceased.
But just because that attack ended didn’t mean we were out of the woods. The guardian began what looked like a dance in mid-air, and my heart leaped in my chest as I recognized the attack it was about to unleash. Without hesitation, I unleashed a salvo of Frost Lances, hoping to disrupt it, but I was too late. I saw the dots of light surrounding it, and just like Dungeon Master 07, I knew what was coming next.
We ran for our lives.
I didn’t dare break visual contact with the guardian. That mistake had cost me over 300 HP before, a cost paid with a single kick. Had I not been for [Enhanced Physique] and Dungeon Master 07’s quick intervention, I’d be dead. I saw the dots of light shootout, not as a rain of needles, but more like a school of fish, each needle swimming through the air toward us. No that's not it. Not toward us, toward me.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck! Why me, all the way over here?" I cursed, erecting a large ice wave as I ran. Everywhere I went, the wave rose with me, high enough to block the incoming needles. This attack was like my [Frost Nova Convergence], acting like a heat-seeking missile locked onto a target. The worst thing you could do was stay in one place. The needles would overwhelm any barrier, setting off like mini-explosions upon impact with any obstacle.
The noise was deafening, a cacophony of searing heat and crashing explosions. The smell of burning filled the air. "Fuck, fuck, fuck!" I cursed again, making a mad dash for the remains of a collapsed pillar. I dove behind it, hoping it might act as some semblance of cover.
It calmed down. I peeked out and just as I did, a lance of light streaked past, missing my head by less than an inch. I even felt the heat as it passed by.
Immediately, I pressed myself as small as possible against the pillar, praying it would hold against the guardian’s relentless hail of lances. The pillar shook under the onslaught, but for now, it was holding. It was at that moment that Dungeon Master 07 slid beside me, his breath ragged and labored. "For the love of all that is truly holy, tell me we're closing to the end of it," he panted, wiping a streak of sweat and blood from his brow.
I took a cautious peek around the pillar, my heart hammering in my chest as I scanned the stats of the guardian. The numbers flashed before my eyes.
—
[Project MC-13AA Interface]Name: FIA
Race: Mechanical Construct
Model: Project MC-13AA
Title: Dungeon Guardian
[Status]M.A: 11,745 / 39,745
V.D.F: 2,820
—
"We're just a good combo away from stripping it of its defensive film," I said, a spark of optimism igniting in my voice, the most I'd felt since we got trapped in this damnable place.
"One combo away..." Dungeon Master 07 mumbled the words, as if weighing the feasibility of it in his mind. I could see the gears turning, the strategy forming, but the doubt lingered in his eyes.
"How are you holding up?" I asked, noting the strain in his posture, the way his armor, what little remained of it, seemed to weigh him down.
"Miserably," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "Little to no HP or SP left, and I'm completely drained of MP. My abilities are still there, but my fatigue percentage is dangerously high. To be frank, in the state I'm in, I really don't want to get anywhere near that thing."
So that’s why you joined me here instead of drawing its attention away like you’re supposed to. I kept my thoughts to myself, understanding his hesitation. I could hardly blame him; he looked like he’d been through hell.
His once-imposing form now appeared battered and broken. The white and golden armor that once gleamed brightly was stripped away, reduced to mere scraps clinging to his frame. His greatsword, once sharp and mighty, was dulled, its blade nicked and worn. The triangular shield had lost its shape, barely recognizable as a tool of defense. His graying golden hair, usually combed neatly back, was ashen, singed at the edges. His eyes were bloodshot, and his face was contorted into a permanent frown, a grimace that hinted at probable internal injuries. He looked like a man barely holding onto the threads of life.
"I'm sorry," he muttered, realizing how much he’d been venting. "How are you holding up?"
I glanced at my own stats, grimacing at the numbers. "Not looking good either," I admitted, just as I heard the faint whirring of the guardian's wings. I took another peek at the suspiciously silent freak, only to have a hail of daggers rain down toward me. I ducked back behind the pillar, making myself as small as possible.
Wanting to really tear that mechanical construct apart, I asked, "you think I could have you overworked again?"
"You're already had this old man overworked, since what, at least twelve minutes ago," he quipped, though his voice grew more serious as he added, "You have a plan?"
"I think I have a plan," I replied, the urgency of the situation fueling my determination. The guardian was relentless, trying to bust us out of our cover. I quickly outlined my idea, and with a simple nod, Dungeon Master 07 rolled with it.
He reached for a crystal pendant around his neck. "How are you holding?" he asked, a question he’d already posed but clarified this time, "HP-wise."
I took a sip from the healing gourd at my side, the liquid inside tasting like coconut juice, sweet and refreshing but that was all. I handed it to him, watching as he took more than just a sip, he practically gorged himself on it, letting out a moan as if the mere act of drinking from it restored him. But I knew better. The gourd’s healing was limited to me alone. Besides, I had already drained it of its full 1000 HP quota.
"You're sure you're alright?" he asked again, handing back the empty gourd.
"Yes," I said, my eyes drifting to the pendant in his hand guessing it was the reason for which he asked. "You’ll need it more than me."
"Mh," he sighed, then said, "Alright," as he clenched the pendant tightly.
The moment the crystal shattered, a rune appeared above Dungeon Master 07’s head, pulsing with a warm, golden light. It was beautiful, almost divine, sending waves of healing energy cascading over him. But after a few seconds, the light dimmed, the rune dissolved, and the sight before me remained grim. The 500 HP it bestowed did little to change his battered state. It was barely a drop in the ocean for a high-level paladin like him. On me, these 500 MP would’ve been a different story.
"You don't happen to have an MP version of that artifact left, do you?" I asked, hope dwindling in my voice.
"Unfortunately, I’ve used them all up already."
"Sigh, I see... Then make sure to not mess this up for me," I said, my voice carrying the weight of our dire situation.
"That was my line," he replied, a faint smirk touching his lips. He hefted his greatsword and shield, taking a deep breath before exhaling loudly. With a surge of resolve, he threw himself into a charge at the guardian.
And there he went, charging headlong toward the monstrous construct that awaited us both.
Dungeon Master 07 raised his shield, preparing for the hail of light attacks that the guardian unleashed at the sight of him. The onslaught came fast, streaks of searing light cutting through the air toward him. Just as they closed in, he made a sudden, deliberate move, sidestepping and twisting his body in a series of rapid evasive maneuvers.
He managed to evade most of the attacks, his movements surprisingly agile for someone in his condition. However, a few of the streaks were unavoidable, forcing him to block with his shield. Despite the questionable state the shield was currently in, it held up. Not on its own. It was Dungeon Master 07’s Damage Cushioning ability at work, absorbing and distributing the force, but he clearly felt every bit of it.
Surviving the onslaught, Dungeon Master 07 adjusted his stance, his eyes narrowing as he calculated his next move. I had told him to give me an opening, a chance to deliver a final, powerful blow. But what he chose to do next made me question his judgment, or perhaps his sanity.
He hurled his great sword with all his might, throwing it like a spear toward the guardian. The guardian, swift and nimble, easily evaded the sword’s trajectory, twisting in midair with almost mocking ease. Immediately, it retaliated, summoning spears of light above its head and raining them down upon him, as if to taunt him by using his own tactic against him.
Dungeon Master 07 bolted to the left, circling around the guardian as spears of light rained down from above. He managed to dodge most of them, but some left him with no choice but to block.
This time, however, he didn’t use [Damage Cushioning]. The result was catastrophic. His shield bent, chipped, and with the final spear, it shattered completely, taking his entire arm with it. The scream that followed was harrowing, filled with a pain so raw that it echoed through the chamber.The guardian, sadistically, prepared to strike again. But before it could, Dungeon Master 07 activated another ability.
The great sword he had thrown earlier came flying back at an astounding speed, striking, at a perfect angle, the guardian from behind. The impact sent the guardian hurtling toward Dungeon Master 07, who, with a scream, met it with a merciless punch. The sound of the blow reverberated across the room like the collapse of a heavy boulder. Without hesitation, he grabbed the guardian by the neck, his rage-filled scream filling the air as he hurled it across the room with all his remaining strength.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
The guardian crashed into a corner formed by a collapsed pillar and the wall, the impact sending dust and debris flying. Its VDF still active, it was impervious to damage, but for a few seconds, it was clearly shaken. Just as it began to recover, preparing to unleash another attack, I knew this was the moment. Dungeon Master 07 had provided the exact condition I had requested.
I swept in, gripping Impotence tightly in both hands. The magic circle at the staff's tip flared to life as I closed the distance, nausea threatening to overwhelm me. I skidded to a halt when my staff tip was just within reach of the guardian, who was now cornered with walls on either side and me in front. Its only escape was upward, but I wasn’t about to allow that.
With a fierce shout, I unleashed my magic. The magic circle spat out a powerful beam of ice, peppered with shards that blasted toward the guardian. It was the strongest attack I could muster with the little MP I had left, boosted by the ice elemental enhancing effect of Impotence. I poured everything into this last attack. I watched my MP plummeting toward zero. The sight might have been despair-inducing had I not noticed that the guardian's VDF was dropping just as rapidly.
—
[Project MC-13AA Interface]Name: Fia
Race: Mechanical Construct
Model: Project MC-13AA
Title: Dungeon Guardian
[Status]M.A: 9,825 ? / 39,745
V.D.F: 723 ?
—
"Come on!" I urged, pushing harder.
—
[Project MC-13AA Interface]
[Status]M.A: 9,825 ? / 39,745
V.D.F: 315 ?
—
"Die already!"
—
[Project MC-13AA Interface]
[Status]M.A: 9,825 ? / 39,745
V.D.F: 37 ?
—
After what felt like an eternity, the guardian’s VDF finally reached zero. I didn’t stop, I kept blasting it with everything I had, to the point my MP drained to nothing. My mind was set on one goal: ending this once and for all.
For another three seconds, I unleashed my beam on the now-unprotected guardian until the magic circle vanished, leaving me standing there breathless and empty. I stood there, staring at the cocoon of ice that encased the mechanical monstrosity, thinking it was over. But my [Identification] skill told me otherwise.
The cocoon shattered, revealing the guardian, now walking toward me with a cold, detached fury. Its wings were caught in the ice, but it didn’t care. It tore itself free with a sickening sound, like metal being ripped apart, and charged at me. There was no hesitation, no pause, just a relentless drive to tear me into pieces.
I backed away, not daring to turn my back on the abomination. I was defenseless with no MP, no energy left. I was as vulnerable as a snail without its shell. The guardian forged a sword in its hands, a weapon meant to cleave me.
Desperation clawed at my throat as I raised my staff in a futile attempt to block the incoming blow.
Impotence was extremely sturdy, it held but the impact sent me to my knees, the sword cleaving deep into my shoulder. I screamed, the pain unbearable, my vision blurring as blood filled my mouth. The taste was metallic, sharp, and bitter. The guardian retracted the blade, preparing for another swing. This one would end me.
But before it could dawn its blade, Dungeon Master 07 came charging in, his sword raised like a lance. He barreled into the guardian with all the force he could muster, pinning it against the wall with a ferocious impact that shook the room.
Dungeon Master 07 roared, driving the blade deeper into the mechanical construct. With its protective film shattered, the guardian was finally vulnerable to actual damage. As he plunged the sword deeper, inflicting more damage, the construct swung its own weapon at him. Dungeon Master 07, reacting with a survival instinct honed from countless battles, released his grip on his sword to catch the guardian’s arm in mid-swing.
He tried to wrench the weapon from the construct’s grasp, but it clung to its sword with a tenacity that rivaled his own. With a sudden, brutal strike, the guardian’s other arm connected with Dungeon Master 07’s already bloodied face, sending a spray of crimson into the air. He staggered back, only to meet the construct’s follow-up punch with a ferocious headbutt, the impact echoing like a hammer striking an anvil. The guardian reeled from the unexpected assault, and Dungeon Master 07 seized the opportunity, his target now shifted—he aimed for the guardian’s head. A sickening thud reverberated through the chamber as his head smashed into the construct’s, momentarily disorienting it.
Not wasting a second, he grabbed the guardian’s sword, finally prying it free from its grasp. He raised it high, intending to impale the construct with its own weapon, when suddenly, the sword vanished from his hands, dissipating into thin air as if it had never existed. What should have been a lethal strike turned into a metal-bending punch, which he delivered with a scream that echoed his frustration and desperation.
"Die, die, die already!" he bellowed, voice hoarse and raw with effort. Each word was punctuated by a fierce stab with what remained of his greatsword. The blade sank into the guardian's form, again and again, each strike driving the construct further back until it was pinned against the wall. Dungeon Master 07 stabbed it once, twice, three times, with unrelenting fury. By the seventh strike, his strength began to wane, the exhaustion of the relentless battle catching up to him. His arm trembled, drooping lifelessly as he took a step back, panting heavily.
He cast a glance back at me, his bloodshot eyes silently asking for confirmation.
I didn't need to appraise to see the truth. The guardian was on its last legs, its components barely holding together. Still, I used my identification skill to be sure, and the display confirmed what I already knew:
—
[Project MC-13AA Interface]Name: Fia
Race: Mechanical Construct
Model: Project MC-13AA
Title: Dungeon Guardian
[Status]M.A.: 9,123 ? (Mana Unavailable/Circuit Compromised) / 39,745
V.D.F.: 0 (Construct Vulnerable)
Condition: Heavily Damaged [Running at 6% capacity]
(Archangel Arsenal lost, core functionality compromised)
[Material Composition]- Unmeltable Iron
- Refined Manacyte
- Voidstone
- Alloyed Manacyte
- Shadowglass
- Mystic Alloy
- Volcanic Ore
- Aetherium Thread
- Stormsteel
- Dragonite
- Adamantite Filament
- Phantomsteel Lattice
- Arcanite Inlay
- Soulbound Circuitry
- Theric Core
- Entropic Alloy
- Soul Receptacle
- Cognitive Core
- Empathy Module
- Sensory Grid
—
"It's—" I began, intending to tell Dungeon Master 07 that we were "that" close to victory, but the words caught in my throat as I heard something that froze me.
A sound—no, a voice emanated from the guardian. Dungeon Master 07 and I both turned toward it, watching in horror as the construct did something it hadn’t done during the entire fight. It spoke.
"You...will...not...defeat...me," it began, its voice a garbled mess that defied description. It wasn’t robotic, nor was it anything remotely humanoid despite the guardian’s outward appearance. The words were a cacophony of noise, distorted and eerie, like a symphony of broken instruments struggling to harmonize, yet somehow forming coherent speech. It was neither male nor female, just a chilling, unnatural presence. "I...am...to...be...STRONG...IMMORTAL...ETERNAL."
"What the—" I wasn’t sure if I had spoken aloud or just thought the words, but before I could process what was happening, an explosion erupted without warning. It was blinding, a searing bolt of lightning that crackled through the air, illuminating the chamber with an electric brightness. The next moment, everything was swallowed by darkness.
[Level Up Interface]Experience requirement met.
Congratulations! You've Leveled Up!
Attribute Points Earned: 10『Expand』
[Level Up Interface]Experience requirement met.
Congratulations! You've Leveled Up!
Attribute Points Earned: 10『Expand』
[Level Up Interface]Experience requirement met.
Congratulations! You've Leveled Up!
Attribute Points Earned: 10『Expand』
[Level Up Interface]Experience requirement met.
Congratulations! You've Leveled Up!
Attribute Points Earned: 11『Expand』
[Notification]
Congratulations! You've Unlocked a New Ability.Skill Name: Blood Oath
Effect: Allows the user to tie their fate with a target, sharing lifeforce seamlessly between them.
Description [Identification Lvl. 10]:
[Notification]
Congratulations! Your Frostbinder Master title has evolved.Title Name: Frostbinder Sovereign
Description [Identification Lvl.10]:
Title’s Bestowed Enhancement:
[Notification]
Congratulations! Your Hexed Frost Sword Conjuration skill has evolved.Skill Name: Curse Sword Conjuration
Description [Identification Lvl.10]:
[Notification]
Congratulations! Your Hexed Frost Lance Conjuration skill has evolved.Skill Name: Cursed Lance Conjuration
Description [Identification Lvl.10]:
[Notification]
Congratulations! Your Ice Magic lvl.10 has evolved.Skill Name: Ice Elemental Arcane
Effect: You have transcended traditional ice magic, entering the realm of elemental mastery, with newfound efficiency and complexity in your arcane craft.
Description [Identification Lvl. 10]:
Skill’s Bestowed Enhancement: