“Guys, stay alert for Earth Golems. They could emerge from the ground at any moment,” Cedric cautioned, prompting everyone to scan the floor for any signs of an ambush.
Ethan’s senses were on high alert, his [Predator’s Instinct] sharpening his awareness to a razor’s edge. Suddenly, he felt a surge of danger—a tingling at the base of his skull that signaled an imminent threat. “Watch out!” he shouted, his voice cutting through the stillness like a knife.
“Clang!”
A massive Earth Golem burst from the ground, its attack colliding with the Holy Dragonian Blade in a deafening clash.
“Huala, gulu…!”
The Earth Golem began to crumble under the overwhelming force, its guttural cries echoing as it fell apart.
“Phew! That was a close one. Good job, Ethan,” Cedric said, relief evident in his voice.
“More incoming!” Yona shouted, her bow already drawn and aimed at the advancing enemies.
Ethan quickly used Appraisal:
[ Appraisal:]
[ Earth Golem (Earth Elementalist)]
[ Power Level: 13 ]
Ethan and Marcus took the lead, running side by side, their breaths synchronized as they prepared to face the massive Earth Golems head-on.
The ground beneath them trembled with each thunderous step of the golems, and the oppressive atmosphere within the cavern seemed to weigh heavily on their shoulders. Despite the tension, both of them felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through their veins, sharpening their focus.
As they closed in on the hulking forms of the Earth Golems, Ethan and Marcus activated their damage-dealing skills in unison. Ethan’s blade crackled withfiery energy, blue flames licking along its edge as he activated his [Azula Sword Strike] skill onto his weapon.
Beside him, Marcus’s sword began to glow with a fierce, crackling electricity as he activated his own skill, [Thunderstream Greatsword Strike].
Together, they were a formidable force, each attack amplified by the power coursing through their bodies.
The Earth Golems, towering nearly five meters tall, moved with a deliberate, menacing grace. Their massive arms, as thick as tree trunks, rose high into the air. With a low, rumbling sound, they summoned enormous boulders out of thin air, the rocky masses materializing with a flash of Earthen magic.
The boulders hovered for a moment, suspended in the air, before being hurled toward Ethan and Marcus with terrifying speed.
The boulders flew toward them in quick succession, each one a potential death sentence. The first boulder whistled through the air, aimed directly at Ethan’s chest.
He sidestepped at the last possible second, the boulder grazing past him so closely that he felt the rush of wind against his face. The ground where he had been standing exploded in a shower of debris as the boulder impacted with devastating force.
Marcus wasn’t far behind in his reaction. The second boulder hurtled toward him, and he spun out of its path, the rocky missile missing him by mere inches. The boulder crashed into the cavern wall, sending chunks of stone flying in all directions. Marcus’s eyes were wide with adrenaline, but his movements remained fluid, driven by instinct and training.
The Earth Golems, undeterred by their misses, continued their relentless assault.
Ethan and Marcus dodged each of them by hairs breath.
“Let’s spread out!” Ethan suggested, and Marcus nodded in agreement. The two charged forward, splitting up to cover more ground while Yona and Lenora provided ranged support to distract the golems.
“Fire Crow’s Fury!” Lenoa cried out, unleashing a volley of fire attacks, forming shapes of ferocious Fire Crows that erupted into cawing crows as they struck, searing the golems’ stony hides.
“Arcane Seeker Arrow!” Yona followed up, her arrow shimmering with magical energy as it homed in on the golem’s weak point, striking with pinpoint precision.
Ethan leaped into air using [Inferno Leap] to disrupt their formation as usual.
With the impact, the Earth golems scattered but grew even more enraged. They charged furiously toward the nearest targets.
One of them barreled toward Iris’s position, but Cedric and Yona quickly intervened, diverting its attention to Cedric.
With a determined glare, Cedric raised his spear and unleashed one of his powerful spear techniques: Flameburst Explosion.
The spear’s tip struck the golem, igniting with a destructive fiery essence that erupted upon impact, leaving the Earth golem with a massive, smoldering hole in its chest.
As they cleared the horde of Eath Golems, another horde appeared from once again from underground.
Once again, they began to destroy the Earth Golems who were using various Earth elemental abilities such as, Earth wall, Earth Spike, Earth Swamp etc. However, with perfect teamwork, they cleared the 5th floor in fluid motion. They triggered a few monster drops and kept them inside their bags.
Clearing this single floor took hours, a clear indication of how fierce the battle had been.
After a short break, they prepared to venture deeper. With Ethan’s abilities, they were committed to conquering the entire dungeon. His versatility—combining offense, defense, and the ability to sense danger—made him indispensable to the team.
The others didn’t mind; in fact, they were thrilled. The chance to level up and enhance their skills alongside him was a powerful motivator, pushing them to grow stronger together.
Ethan secretly activated [Skill Absorption] multiple times during their encounters, targeting the Earth Golems and silently extracting their abilities. He was careful, ensuring that his actions went unnoticed by the rest of the party. The Earth Golem’s skills intrigued him, and he knew they could give him a significant edge in future battles.
The results were more fruitful than he anticipated. Each absorbed skill proved to be a powerful addition to his arsenal.
Active Skills:
1.Earth Spike (E): Ethan could now summon sharp spikes of earth from the ground, impaling enemies and creating a formidable barrier against oncoming attacks.
2. Earth Wall (E): With a simple motion, he could raise a solid wall of earth, offering protection or trapping enemies within a confined space.
3.Rock Boulder (E): Ethan gained the ability to conjure and hurl massive boulders, smashing through obstacles or enemies with devastating force.
4. Earthen Thorny Domain (E): This skill allowed him to transform the surrounding ground into a treacherous domain filled with jagged earthen thorns, making it nearly impossible for enemies to advance without suffering severe damage.
Passive Skills:
1. Earth Perception (E): This passive skill heightened Ethan’s awareness of the earth around him, allowing him to detect vibrations and movements with remarkable accuracy.
Ethan equipped all of these abilities, bringing his total to 8 active and 4 passive skills. Yet, despite his growing arsenal, he sensed that he was still far from reaching his true potential. Each skill he absorbed seamlessly engraved itself into his soul, without causing any strain or disruption, a testament to his unique talent.
After taking a short rest to regain their strength, the group proceeded to the 6th floor. The atmosphere grew tense as they entered a vast chamber teeming with Earth Golems. The room was filled with the rumble of shifting stones and the ominous clatter of heavy footsteps.
The Earth Golems, towering and seemingly impenetrable, gathered in swarms, ready to crush any intruders who dared to challenge them. Ethan could feel the earth beneath him vibrating with their presence, and he knew that another intense battle was about to begin.
They continued their relentless grinding, always watching each other’s backs and coordinating their attacks with precision.
As time passed, they began to clear each floor one after another, with Ethan leading the charge thanks to his vast Mana Reserve.
– 6th Floor Cleared: 4 hours
– 7th Floor Cleared: 6 hours
– 8th Floor Cleared: 7 hours
– 9th Floor Cleared: 9 hours
A day and a half had gone by since they first entered the dungeon. Now, they found themselves on the 10th floor, battling the final Earth Golem of this level.
“Thunder Stream Strike!” Marcus roared, his greatsword crackling with electric energy as he swung it with all his might. The blade cleaved through the golem’s stony exterior, the combined force of his strike and the party’s efforts bringing the massive creature crashing to the ground, where it shattered into a pile of rubble.
Breathing heavily, Marcus and the others stood amidst the aftermath, sweat dripping from their faces. The rocky terrain around them was littered with the broken body parts of countless Earth Golems, while deep scars and craters marred the ground, a clear indication to the ferocity of their battle.
They were all utterly exhausted, their bodies and minds drained from the intense battles. Even Ethan, who usually held up well, was feeling the strain. His Mana reserves had dwindled significantly, and the physical and mental fatigue was beginning to take its toll. However, the rewards had been well worth the effort.
Ethan had gained numerous Earth elemental skills, greatly diversifying his already impressive arsenal.
Ethan quickly summoned the system panel, eager to make some adjustments and distribute his newly earned attribute points. The recent battles had pushed him to the next level, and he was now at level 13.
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
