Ale, like the other candidates, stood alone inside his arena bubble.

  The air felt heavier here, filled with mana — like even time was moving slower inside the magical circle.

  Suddenly, a glowing point appeared in front of him.

  It shimmered like a star about to explode.

  A portal? he thought, frowning.

  No. This wasn’t a normal summoning.

  It was a dimensional rift — a link to an advanced space-time storage realm.

  A magical waiting zone where artificial creatures were kept until released.

  The point pulsed. A soft blue light burst from it.

  Then, slowly, three shapes began to form.

  These weren’t simple stone golems.

  Their bodies were made of dark red terracotta — smooth and polished in some areas, cracked in others.

  Ritual patterns and decorative slits were carved into their surface, glowing faintly with orange light.

  You could see a flame inside each one, pulsing like a heart, powering them from within.

  They were hollow, and you could hear it with every step: a soft echo, like wind passing through a jar.

  Ancient gears were embedded in their shoulders, hips, and elbows, turning slowly and making a steady click-clack sound as they moved.

  Their limbs were joined by black metal chains acting as tendons, vibrating with tension.

  Their faces? Smooth and simple — just two black holes for eyes, no mouth, no nose.

  But on each forehead was a mystical symbol, carved deep into the ceramic and glowing faintly with mana.

  In their hands, each held a wooden sword — old, worn smooth like a child’s toy... but clearly enhanced with magic.

  They were small — just about four and a half feet tall.

  Childlike.

  And yet, a low, dangerous feeling radiated from them — a sharp contrast to their almost cute appearance.

  Around Ale, a few candidates relaxed.

  Some even smiled.

  But Ale felt a warning scream in his mind.

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  It’s a trap. They want us to let our guard down.

  He moved into a defensive stance right away.

  The golems stood still for a moment.

  Then suddenly, their eyes lit up — bright red — and a hot breath escaped their bodies.

  The flames inside flared up, and their gears spun faster.

  The sound of tightening chains echoed through the air.

  And then — they attacked.

  The golems charged at Ale, their small feet pounding frantically against the ground.

  Their jerky, almost clumsy movements made Ale smile at first.

  But that smile vanished the moment he realized how fast they were.

  And worse… how precise.

  They’re fast. Too fast for piles of stone…

  In an instant, all three were already on him.

  The first leaped high into the air, reaching a surprising height.

  Its wooden sword raised above its head, aiming straight for Ale’s skull.

  The second came in at mid-height, arm outstretched like a spear, going right for his chest.

  The last one stayed low, dashing just above the ground like a stone hound, aiming to sweep Ale’s legs out from under him.

  Three attacks. Three angles. Perfectly timed.

  Ale had just a split second to react.

  But it was enough.

  Interesting… he thought, calm despite the tension. Not so dumb after all.

  He raised his hand in one swift motion, and the magic answered immediately.

  The ground trembled.

  Grains of sand rose into the air, swirling around him as if drawn by some invisible force.

  In a heartbeat, they compacted, forming a curved barrier — soft like leather, but dense like a crashing wave.

  Sand Wall.

  The three golems struck almost at once.

  The first sword slammed against the top of the barrier, deflected in a burst of dust.

  The second slid along the curve and was stopped cold.

  The last one hit the bottom with a dull thud, unable to break through Ale’s shifting defense.

  Predictable, Ale noted. Fast, yes… but not smart enough.

  The sand still quivered from the impact. Ale placed his palm flat against the barrier.

  — “Pierce my enemies.”

  His eyes flared with focus.

  — “LACULA.”

  Three spears burst out of the wall at once.

  The first struck the high golem in the shoulder, sending it flying backward.

  The second pierced the mid-level one through the chest, shattering it in a shower of reddish shards.

  The last one hit the lowest golem in the leg, pinning it to the ground in a crackling cloud of dust.

  Ale didn’t wait.

  A wooden sword lay on the ground, dropped by the first golem. He grabbed it without slowing down.

  — “DURARE.”

  The blade darkened, vibrated softly, and shimmered with a mineral glow.

  The wood, now strengthened by magic, rang like living steel.

  The golems were already trying to stand again, their gears clicking and turning as they struggled to coordinate.

  Too late.

  Ale rushed forward.

  One clean strike to the chest of the first golem.

  He spun and smashed the second in the head with perfect aim.

  The last one tried to crawl, its broken arm reaching for Ale…

  A brutal backhand finished it off.

  The flames in their chests flickered one last time…

  Then went dark.

  Silence returned.