Chapter 62: Fall of Goliath and the Energy Core

The creature, made of iron and steel and standing over four meters tall, towered over the group of Hunters who dared to challenge it.

The Goliath X-01 had broad legs and arms armored with rectangular plates. Its waist was surprisingly slender, consisting of several beams forming a supporting frame that connected the torso to the lower body.

The chest was wide, with shoulders tapering upward, while a faint blue glow emanated from beneath the two plates covering the chest. That was where its energy core was located.

The head of the Goliath X-01 resembled a demon’s mask carved from a block of iron: a ferocious gaze, a powerful jaw, and two red eyes already actively scanning its targets.

"Watch out for its attacks." Varyn stepped forward. "The Goliath X-01 is capable of both long-range and close-range attacks."

Step.

Kreyn stood beside her. Neither of them was in a hurry to activate their mutations yet.

"What about explosions?"

"We have no information on that. It’s unlikely it possesses anything like that."

"Alright."

Tremble.

With a tremor, Kreyn’s arms shifted into mutated mode as he turned to Norma.

"You must wait for the right moment and create a path for Groza straight to its neck. Do you understand?"

"WHAT?" Norma shouted, waving her fist. "What makes you think I’ll listen to your orders?!"

Varyn extended her right arm as it transformed.

"No. He’s right. An electrical overload could shut down the Goliath X-01 for a moment. If we can knock it to the ground, victory is ours. We’ll create that opening for you, just don’t miss it."

Norma was ready to argue with Kreyn forever, but now she nodded obediently.

"S-Sure. I’ll do it."

Varyn gave a nod.

"Great."

Then, the two of them surged forward, heading straight for the Goliath X-01.

Groza, for her part, stayed by Norma’s side. She gulped, glancing at her gauntlets.

’I can do this. We won at Crooked Horn, so... One robot can’t stand up to us!’

Crack!

At that very moment, the Goliath X-01 thrust its left arm forward, as if taking aim. It shuddered as it split in two, its fist lifting up to reveal a wide muzzle.

BLAST!

The shell, capable of piercing right through a tank, tore through the gusts of wind, crashing down on the two Hunters.

Kreyn and Varyn jerked sharply in opposite directions, continuing to run forward.

A pillar of sand rose upon impact as the ground trembled beneath Kreyn and Varyn, but they didn’t stop.

’Unfortunately, my eye is useless against you, but... how about brute force?’ Kreyn stared at the Goliath X-01 before leaping forward.

BAM!

His boots slammed right into the robot’s knee. He believed that striking a weak spot would cause the robot to lose its balance.

"Agh...?" Kreyn blinked, staring at the dented metal plate. "Is that all...?"

Crack!

An iron fist slammed into Kreyn from the left, knocking him aside. He rolled across the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust, as the Goliath X-01 aimed its cannon-hand and immediately fired an energy blast. It wasn’t as powerful as a shell, but it was much faster.

Kreyn got to his feet, watching the amber orb flying toward him, one that would tear him to pieces upon explosion.

"Damn it!" He created a crimson barrier, hoping it would protect him.

Tremble!

At the last moment, the stone columns appeared in front of him, blocking the energy blast - only shards shattered against Kreyn’s barrier.

He turned to look at Norma, who gave him a smug look, as if saying: ’You owe me now, loser!’

Kreyn had no time for that as he turned toward the Goliath X-01, which continued on its path. A long sword emerged from its right hand. The blade was wide enough to slice through rock in a single swing.

Still, there was no fear in Kreyn’s eyes. On the contrary, he merely smirked, glancing slightly to the left.

Whoooooosh!

Varyn leaped forward, swinging her sword in a wide arc at the back of the robot’s knee, a spot not protected by armor plates.

Sparks flew before her narrowed eyes as her sword sank halfway in.

"Come on!" Varyn growled, clenching her jaw.

With one last tug, she managed to pull her sword free just as the Goliath X-01’s blade was already coming at her.

Varyn’s eyes widened as she managed to block the attack at the last moment.

The impact sent her flying backward with even greater force than it happened to Kreyn, but she achieved her goal - the Goliath X-01 lost its balance.

The robot, weighing several metric tons, leaned on its right leg and collapsed forward. Its damaged knee couldn’t withstand such pressure.

"Now!" Norma exclaimed as the stone columns rose, forming a staircase for Groza straight up to the robot’s neck.

Without hesitation, Groza rushed forward, leaping from one column to another.

Still, her heart was pounding as the Goliath X-01 was already trying to get back up.

What if she failed? What if she didn’t have enough power to burn the Goliath X-01’s system from the inside?

These thoughts made her look at Kreyn, perhaps seeking his support.

She found it, almost.

His eyes, once again - two abysses that seemed to peer into her soul as his lips began to move.

From that distance, Groza couldn’t hear what he said, but she understood everything.

"Kill it."

With a new surge of energy, Groza leaped off the last column as her gauntlets sparkled, filling with the power of lightning.

The Goliath X-01 spotted Groza. Its eyes flashed a menacing red, and its jaw opened wide, preparing to fire a laser at her.

But it was already too late.

Tap.

Groza landed on the Goliath X-01’s shoulder as her hands slammed into its neck, unleashing the full power of her and her gauntlets’ lightning upon the robot.

Two abilities sharing the same element struck a single point, melting the iron plates and causing the giant robot’s entire body to shudder.

Groza unleashed her lightning bolts until the light in the Goliath X-01 went out and dark plumes of smoke began to rise from its neck.

THUMP!

The Goliath X-01 crashed to the ground as Groza leaped aside at the last moment.

Immediately, Kreyn dashed past her on the right as he and Varyn leaped onto its chest, tearing off two protective plates.

"There it is!" Varyn’s eyes widened as a blue glow fell across her face.

The Goliath X-01 was overloaded, but its core was still functioning, and very soon it would allow the robot to power up again and continue fighting.

Two thick red wires connected the core to the Goliath X-01’s body.

Kreyn and Varyn exchanged glances as they nodded simultaneously.

SLASH!

With two precise swings, Varyn cut the wires as Kreyn leaped forward, grabbing the core with both hands.

The chest chamber filled with sparks, but that didn’t stop Kreyn for a moment as he pulled the core out of its socket.

"Got it!"

Varyn reached out her hand to help him climb out.

Not knowing what would happen next, the three of them moved as far away from the Goliath X-01 as possible, fearing the robot might explode as a last resort.

But even a minute later, it just lay motionless on the ground.

"We... Did we win?!" Groza’s eyes filled with joy.

Even Varyn smiled, breathing a sigh of relief.

"It looks that way."

Kreyn, in turn, looked at the core in his hands and at something else:

[The third suitable ingredient has been found.]

[The Complex Creation has become possible.]