Chapter 33

Chapter 33

Thwack-.

Thud-.

Dojae’s kick landed squarely on the Red Oak’s head.

All that could be heard from the creature’s mouth, now twisted 180 degrees, was a series of gurgling sounds.

Monsters are monsters after all.

Its tenacious vitality is something you can’t ignore.

“Ugh.”

A sigh of dissatisfaction escaped Dojae’s lips.

Because the Red Oak didn’t die in one hit?

Or because the Red Oaks kept pouring out endlessly?

Neither.

Right now, the Red Oaks are the least of Dojae’s concerns.

Hunting nonstop without rest wasn’t particularly difficult.

His stamina was already laughably beyond what could be called normal.

It was simply…

This was the reason.

– Quest arrival!

Whirrrr-.

– Quest Arrival!

Whoosh-!

– Quest arrival!

– Quest arrival!

– Quest arrival!

…….

No matter how many times I dismiss and swipe away the notifications, new quest alert messages keep flickering before my eyes.

“This is annoying.”

Normally, I’d welcome a quest notification.

But not this one.

Its content was anything but helpful.

[Quest]

– Type: Sub (Elatra)

– Content: Hunt Red Oaks after equipping Golem Armor. (Achievement Progress: 0/100)

– Restrictions: None

– Reward: Elatra’s Praise

– Failure: None

Elatra’s Quest.

Her quests kept arriving one after another, and it was more than a little annoying.

What’s more, the quest initially stated that failing would result in the golem’s eye being taken away, but after I kept ignoring it, the penalty disappeared and a reward appeared.

But that doesn’t mean I’m going to wear golem armor.

No way was Doja going to do that.

Just Elatra’s praise?

Maybe if it were bonus stats or a magic stone.

It actually makes me feel like I’m losing my mind.

– Quest arrival!

“Enough. Stop sending them!”

Dojae couldn’t take it anymore and shouted.

Then, as if hearing Dojae’s voice, the notifications fell silent.

“Phew. Finally stopped.”

Swish-.

Another Red Oak had breathed its last.

Red Oaks lay scattered behind Dojae.

Even the most fierce fighters would lose all will to fight at this point.

Those already in the rear had begun fleeing, and those in front slowly backed away.

Pop-.

– Quest arrival!

“Ugh, seriously!”

Just when I thought it had stopped, another quest arrives.

‘Fine, I’ll do it. I’ll wear whatever you want.’

Dojai, completely defeated by the relentless quest notifications.

Feeling stressed enough to develop a neurosis, he decided to cast the Golem Armor.

Last time, he was swept up in the emotion of slaughter, but this time, he thought it would be different.

‘So what’s the quest this time? Checking quest.’

[Quest]

– Category: Main

– Content: Another great being gazes upon you. The great being wishes to speak with you. Should you refuse the great being’s summons, you must surrender your heart.

– Time Limit: 1 minute (Time Remaining: 59 seconds)

– Reward: Recognition from the Great Being

– Failure: Golem’s Heart Destroyed

“Huh?”

This is different.

This isn’t Elatra’s subquest.

A new being has appeared.

Is this one a god?

Judging by the precedent of the Witch of the Mind’s Eye, Elatra, it might not be.

Moreover, they might not be friendly.

Just look at her—doesn’t she only wish for the Daeja to grow stronger?

[Do you accept?]

Time limit: 1 minute?

That’s long.

There’s no need to hesitate.

The operation to drive the Red Oaks north can be considered nearly accomplished.

Above all, if my heart is destroyed, I’ll just revert to being a mere F-rank anyway.

So I intend to meet every last one of these lunatics who think they can just take and give as they please.

“Of course it’s yes.”

***

Bubbling-.

Tap tap tap-.

‘Lab? Research room?’

The first thing that caught Dojae’s eye were bottles filled with colorful liquids.

Some were boiling without any flame, while others emitted a white glow.

‘Those are…’

Next, he noticed the golems.

Golems of all shapes and sizes stood attached to the walls.

He could tell they were golems because they resembled Dojae’s own creations.

‘Especially the one in the center…. It’s practically a miniature version of that giant from the dungeon.’

The golem positioned right in the center among the many.

A golem clad in dazzlingly refined metal armor covering its entire body.

Its appearance matched that giant from the dungeon whose heart he had obtained.

“Heh heh heh. She gave you quite a hard time, didn’t she?”

At the sudden sound of laughter, Dojae swiftly turned around.

And as he reached for his sword to assume a defensive stance…

‘Where’s my sword?’

The Hapiqueen’s Pulum he had been holding just moments ago was gone.

Moreover, the moment Dojae saw his own hands, he couldn’t contain his shock.

‘My hands…!’

It was covered in scars.

Becoming a Golem Sorcerer had given him a healthier body and fair skin.

But these hands now reminded him of his former, frail self.

“Why are you so startled? They were your hands all along.”

Lifting his head, he saw a white-haired old man standing there with a kind face.

Not a trace of malice could be found in his appearance.

Dojae relaxed and asked.

“Who are you?”

“Heh heh. How pleasant. I am the alchemist, Altin Flodot. Welcome to my workshop.”

“Altain Flodrot… an alchemist?”

“Heh heh heh. Indeed. The colossal statue you saw. I am also the one who created that colossus.”

Doja’s eyes widened.

This old man, Altain, is the one who created the armored colossus!

The light that emanated from the colossus settled upon his heart as a golem’s heart, and thanks to that, he could grow stronger.

There were so many things he wanted to ask, so many things he wanted to know.

“You seem to have much to say. But unfortunately, time is short. Come here for a moment.”

Altein beckoned Dojae to come before him.

The small circle before him was densely inscribed with runes, the language of magic.

“We’ll begin right away. It might sting a little.”

“Huh? What…?”

Whoosh-!

As Dojae stepped into the center of the circle, brilliant white flames surged violently upward along its edges.

The flames rose higher still, reaching all the way to Dojae’s hairline and blazing fiercely.

“Gah!”

Incredible pain struck his entire body.

Dojae clenched his teeth and groaned.

It wasn’t the heat of the flames.

The energy flowing deep into his skin delivered a pain that pierced every single one of his cells.

“Heh heh, didn’t I tell you it would sting?”

The moment of agony, which felt like an eternity, passed.

When he opened his tightly shut eyes, a new message appeared.

[New Skill Acquired.]

[Passive Skill ‘Golem’s Nerves’ added.]

“Gasp, gasp…”

“To penetrate the causality of dimensions, it cannot be helped. Understand.”

Dojae glared at Altein once before checking the skill information.

[Skill]

Skill Name: Golem’s Nerve

Level: Max

Type: Passive

Description: Allows control over the mana bundles connected to the golem’s core. Range, intensity, and speed are determined by the core’s mana reserves.

Effect: All Stats +100

Mana Cost: 100 + α

“What is this skill?”

His voice came out slightly gruff, as if the shock of pain still lingered.

Altein spoke instead with a tone of amusement.

“As always, you’ll have to figure it out for yourself.”

“How irresponsible of you. All of you.”

Doja glared once more.

His defiant gaze implied, Couldn’t you be a little kinder?

“Understand this. I came to meet you, defying cause and effect. Everyone’s already in an uproar. Especially our witch lady—she’s glaring at me like she wants to kill me. Heh heh heh.”

Altein said, glancing away.

Then he continued speaking.

“Thanks to that, I could only see you for such a short time. Ah, don’t worry about her. I’ll calm her down. Now, using the golem armor shouldn’t cause any trouble.”

As Altein finished speaking, his form slowly began to fade.

Now that he finally had someone to talk to about himself.

Doja urgently asked.

It was the very first question among the countless ones flooding his mind.

“Just tell me one thing! Why me?!”

Altain shook his head.

Then, his eyes, which had been narrowed like slits, suddenly widened as he spoke.

“Wrong. You should know why you must become strong, not why it’s you.”

“Then I’ll ask it that way. Why must I become strong!”

“You are the chosen adversary… The fragments of betrayal have already begun to appear before you.”

“What do you mean…!”

Altein’s form vanished completely.

He could no longer hear his reply.

Whoosh.

The room began to dissipate like smoke.

Dojae vanished from Altein’s workshop, his curiosity only deepening.

***

“Chuuk! Kwi-ga! Humans have appeared! Our tribe will all die!”

“Chu-chik! Our tribe will die too! We need a priest! Give us a priest!”

The Red Oak generals bellowed at the top of their lungs.

But the great chief, Kuga, sat silently, giving no answer.

“Chu-chik! Speak! Kuga, answer!”

Thud.

Kuiga struck the floor with his staff.

It was the skull staff made from the bones of a human who had once descended from the mountains, killed by dozens of Red Oaks.

“Shh. Be quiet.”

At Kui-ga’s words, the generals clamped their mouths shut.

The more he prayed to the gods, the stronger Kuga grew, reaching a point where even a horde of generals couldn’t touch him.

“The time has come. I shall give you the priest. Shh shh.”

“Chuik! Chuik!”

“Chuik! Chuik!”

The generals rejoiced at Kui-ga’s words.

A short while later.

The priests of each tribe appeared.

“Chuuk! Kui-ga! The priests look strange! What have you done?”

The priests’ appearance was shockingly emaciated.

Given the Orc race’s nature, even priests possess innate muscle.

Yet every priest looked like nothing more than skin stretched over bones.

“Chu-chu! All is the will of the gods! Everyone, go forth and fight!”

After dismissing the dissatisfied generals.

Kuiga lifted the crystal orb brought by the priests.

“Chu-chu! It is complete!”

A black aura swirled within the crystal sphere with tremendous force.

As if it might shatter at any moment.

[It’s woefully inadequate… but it should be good enough for entertainment.]

Crack-.

Cracks appeared in the crystal sphere, and soon it shattered, unable to withstand the swirling vortex of black energy.

Whoosh.

The black energy released from the crystal sphere was sucked straight into Kui-ga’s nostrils.

“Sniffle sniffle? Gurgle!”

Kui-ga writhed in agony.

Thud-.

Finally collapsing to the floor, Kui trembled violently for a long while.

Suddenly, his entire body stiffened and froze.

As if nothing had happened, he slowly rose to his feet.

“Huh huh. Huh huh huh…. How long has it been since I felt this flesh….”

The Kui that rose again spoke human words, astonishingly.

And without a single snort.

Gulp-!

“Hear me, my servants! Prepare for the Holy One’s descent upon this land!”

Puhwaaah-!

Kui-ga’s voice, filled with ferocity, pierced the minds of the Red Oaks.

Simultaneously, black smoke erupted from his body and shot skyward.