The territory of the Earth Golems was vast.
The Sun blazed mercilessly straight over the head, and yet here a comforting coldness remained.
Jagged boulders towered in crooked angles, and narrow pathways twisted like dried-up riverbeds. Vines slithered over the cracked ground, and thick moss blanketed the rocks, giving the place an eerie stillness—as if time had stopped moving.
Igaris stepped cautiously over a root-covered slope, his eyes scanning the terrain. Despite the heavy, looming atmosphere, not a single Earth Golem revealed itself.
"Strange! But the map said they should be here."
"Don’t worry," Evernight said with a teasing tone, "They’re indeed here. Just shy."
Igaris narrowed his eyes. "You mean they’re hiding? Disguised as these giant rocks?"
"Smart!" she cooed, her tone mockingly sweet. "But then again, I wonder—why do you make such foolish decisions sometimes?"
His brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"
Evernight stopped in front of a massive, moss-drenched boulder. She ran her fingers slowly across its surface as she confessed:
"Like how you expose your secrets so easily. Forget the Sun God’s Shine incident... Why do you keep telling me so much? Is it trust? Or arrogance? Do you believe this bond of ours will chain me to your side forever? That I wouldn’t gut you in your sleep and take everything you’re hiding?"
Her hand clenched into a fist, and a pulse of faint necrotic energy seeped into the stone, causing it to tremble faintly beneath her touch.
Igaris didn’t speak immediately. A faint breeze stirred the vines around them, whispering like ghosts between the rocks. He met her gaze, calm but firm.
"Because, I know you won’t kill me," he said quietly, "Don’t ask me why because even I don’t know that."
"Fufufu... You say really stupid things sometimes. Oh, well see, how everything plays out. We have enough time after all."
Evernight chuckled, stepping away from the boulder as if dismissing the idea—or storing it for later.
And from deep beneath the earth, a low rumble echoed. The stone she had touched began to shift.
An Earth Golem opened its glowing amber eyes.
Then slowly, it rose from the ground—dust and vines falling away as the mossy surface cracked and shifted.
The massive creature of magic and earth emerged, standing nearly 10 meters tall. Its body was forged from slabs of ancient stone, pulsing faintly with runes that glowed deep orange like magma veins beneath a rocky crust.
Igaris looked up, awe gleaming in his eyes. Though it couldn’t compare to the overwhelming presence of the Fire Dragon he’d once glimpsed, the Earth Golem before him felt like a mecha carved by nature itself—raw, ancient, and Earthly.
The idea that such a being could function without flesh or organs, yet move with such force, fascinated him. How did it think? Did it feel? Was there a soul buried deep within that stone shell?
But there was no time to ponder. The creature was awake—and furious.
A massive stone palm descended like a meteor, slicing through the air with a deafening roar. Its speed defied its bulk, a terrifying reminder that the Golem was no mere walking boulder.
The impact shook the ground, sending chunks of rock flying in every direction. Stone slammed against stone, a sound like the earth groaning in pain.
Igaris and others had split apart just in time, rolling away from the crater where they’d stood only moments before. The shockwave knocked over several vine-covered stones nearby, revealing more shapes beneath.
Other Earth Golems perhaps, disturbed by the battle.
"Looks like we woke up the king of the hill," Igaris muttered, brushing dust off his clothes, eyes still locked on the towering guardian.
Evernight grinned, "Perfect. Let’s see if you’re worthy of taming something , My Liege."
"Oh? You’re challenging me?" Igaris smirked, stepping forward. "Very well. Let me show you how it’s done—alone."
It was time to let them know he wasn’t overly depended on them.
He dismissed the Silver dagger in his hand. It was useless against the hardened shells of Earth Golems anyway.
Besides, he didn’t need to kill them.
He only needed to touch them.
With a gust of wind, he activated [Gale Wings], launching himself forward like a bolt of air, targeting one of the smaller Earth Golems at the edge of the group. The massive one behind them could wait. Picking off the weaker ones first was the smarter move.
The targeted Golem reacted fast, raising its stone arm and bringing it down in a crushing slap aimed to flatten him.
The others also began closing in, looming over him like boulders on legs, their expressions unreadable. But he swore he saw amusement in their shifting faces of stone.
In mid-air, Igaris was vulnerable, exposed to all angles.
But right before impact—
He burst to the side, invoking [Gale Wings] a second time. Like a blur of wind and momentum, he zipped past the falling palm, avoiding it by mere inches.
Then another attack came. And another.
Each swing of stone and crushing stomp he narrowly avoided, weaving through the chaos like a leaf on the breeze.
To them, he must’ve looked like an annoying fly.
But this insect had a plan.
[Six Directional Sense] pulsed in his mind, outlining each incoming threat in his periphery. It was like a sixth sense for danger, warning him from every direction—above, below, behind.
"Left swing... roll. Backstep... now!"
He moved with precision, his breathing steady, his mind focused. This wasn’t just evasion—it was art.
And once he found an opening, he’d strike.
He just needed a single touch.
Evernight, Quirky, Iron, the White Tiger, Fiery Lion, and the fire spirits all watched from a safe distance.
None of them intervened.
They simply stood there, captivated.
The wind danced wildly around Igaris as he weaved between the Earth Golems with fluid grace, like a performer on a battlefield stage.
His movements were clean, sharp—almost mesmerizing.
His army looked on in silence, drawn in by the sheer brilliance of his actions. Admiration flickered in their eyes—especially the fire spirits, who whispered excitedly among themselves.
Even Evernight had to admit it that he had an incredibly sharp mind and adaptable instincts.
She crossed her arms, letting a slight smirk tug at her lips.
"Not bad," she murmured.
But it wasn’t enough to impress her completely.
She had seen enough prodigies in the past. Heroes, generals, even princes, she had seen all cut down before they reached their prime.
A prodigy meant little if it didn’t survive long enough.
Her expression remained calm until—