Igaris was struck by one of the boulders hurled his way.
The one who threw it was the massive, hill-sized Earth Golem.
His body split apart on impact, torn into multiple pieces. Blood and fragments scattered across the moss-covered ground.
For some reason, Evernight’s heart clenched at the sight.
"Is he dead? He should be. Then... does that mean I’m free? So why do I feel reluctant?"
Conflicting emotions surged through her mind like a storm.
But no, she shook the thought away.
He couldn’t be dead. Not that easily. She could still feel the faint pulse of their soul bond.
And just as she hoped, his body began to reform—pulled together by invisible threads of energy, stitching the pieces back with unnatural precision.
But he wasn’t unscathed.
Igaris gasped for air, his body trembling.
The excruciating pain of being torn apart was still fresh—he felt every nerve scream as his form reassembled.
Yet he didn’t collapse.
Using the iron will he had forged through bitter loneliness, he forced himself to calm down.
He clenched his fists, steadied his breathing, and stood up once more.
Evernight’s eyes widened. She could feel it—his pain, his unyielding resolve. And for a moment, it resonated with her own.
"What... are you?" she whispered, eyes fixed on the trembling boy who refused to stay defeated.
Igaris steadied his breath, then conjured a fireball in his palm.
Enough holding back. These creatures need to learn their place.
With a calm yet deadly gaze, he activated [Gale Wings], lifting himself high into the air. At the same time, he channeled more energy into the fireball, forcing it to compress tighter and tighter.
The orb began to emit a low hum, vibrating with barely-contained power. The very air around it shimmered from the intensity.
His expression remained cold and emotionless as the fireball reached its peak—its apex potential.
Without hesitation, he dove it toward the earth.
"Buzz. Buzz. Buzz..."
The blazing sphere of compressed destruction hurtled downward with terrifying speed, amplified by gravity and raw magical force.
The ground exploded as the fireball struck.
The earth split. Flames surged in every direction. The explosion resembled a missile detonation—crater-forming, deafening, and absolute.
The Golems barely had time to move before the blast wave hit.
Even those who dodged the core impact were flung through the air like ragdolls, their massive bodies scorched and melting from the infernal force.
Stone cracked. Vines sizzled. The forest trembled.
And at the center of it all, Igaris descended in the smoke, flames dancing around him like a wrathful spirit.
"Had enough?" Igaris said coldly, his voice calm and unwavering as he gazed at the broken Golems scattered across the battlefield.
Evernight stood silent, unable to form words.
The Golems, too, were frozen. Their glowing eyes flickered erratically, dimming as if on the verge of extinguishing.
Only the largest Earth Golem rose—slowly, heavily—its massive form towering once more. It stared at the human before it, confusion and disbelief swirling in its dim eyes.
Just moments ago, he was no more than a buzzing insect.
Now... he stood like a force of nature.
What shocked the giant most wasn’t the destruction, but what came after.
The human, no this terrifying creature walked over to the fallen Golems, touched their broken forms, and with a flash of radiant light, they vanished.
Moments later, they reappeared—restored, whole once more.
And then... they knelt.
Obedient. Submissive. Loyal.
Before their new master.
The massive Golem’s chest rumbled with something like awe, perhaps even fear.
"Who exactly are you, human?"
The deep, gravelly voice echoed across the rocky clearing. The Earth Golem had spoken in clear, native human tongue.
Igaris’s eyes narrowed, caught off guard. "You can talk?"
"Of course, we can," the Giant replied, its tone calm but resonant. "Some of us, at least."
Evernight, standing nearby with arms crossed, didn’t even flinch. "It’s natural," she said casually. "Higher-tier beasts develop partial intelligence once they mature. Not human-level, but enough."
Igaris nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on the towering creature before him. "I see..."
His voice grew colder. "Now, do you still intend to resist? But I must remind you nothing will stop me from reaching my goals."
The Giant Golem tilted its massive stone head, studying him with glowing crimson eyes that flickered like slow-burning embers. There was no hostility in them now. Only curiosity, and perhaps, a touch of reverence.
"No. You have proven yourself stronger than us. I yield to you willingly."
Igaris said nothing, his presence silent yet comanding.
"But..." the Golem continued, its tone shifting to caution, "I must warn you—this will not go unnoticed. The Mountain King might be watching from afar. He will not take kindly to your intrusion."
A faint gust passed through the vine-covered canyon, brushing against Igaris’s cloak.
He raised an eyebrow. "Then let him come. He cannot scare me. No one can."
Afterward, Igaris stepped forward, his palm glowing faintly as he reached toward the towering Giant Golem.
There was no resistance.
A warm pulse of magic surged through his body as the acquisition completed.
[ Acquisition Successful ]
[ Soul-binding Successful ]
[ Species: Mountain Golem ]
[ Power Rank: Elite -9 ]
[ Abilities: Rock Boulder Throw ]
As the data appeared before him, Igaris felt a subtle shift in his body, and his inner world trembled and expanded.
[ Your Power Rank has increased: Elite -6 ]
He exhaled deeply, feeling the raw strength coursing through him. The smaller golems he’d acquired earlier didn’t have any unique abilities. They just had just brute force and endurance. But this one... this was different. It possessed one ability.
With that in mind, Igaris placed a hand on the creature’s mossy surface and declared, "From this day forward, you are not nameless."
He paused for a moment, then gave it thought.
"I’ll call you... Granitus."
A small tremor rippled through the golem’s body, as if acknowledging the name with pride. A faint glow emanated from its core, and Igaris held his breath as a new system message flashed before him.
[ Granitus has accepted the name. A unique bond has been formed. ]
[ You have Acquired: Rock Boulder Throw as return ]
[ Rock Boulder Throw: User can manifest Rock from Earth elements and throw it to the target.
A grin crept across Igaris’s face. Things were progressing faster than he had anticipated.
"Now then..." he whispered to himself, glancing toward the mist-covered peak in the distance. "Only one step closer to challenging the Mountain King."