Chapter 123: Leveling Up (3)

The stairs led down into the darkness.

Zaid walked ahead of Erick and John, while Valia remained on his shoulder in her spiritual form, still processing the energy she had gained earlier.

As they descended, the atmosphere began to change.

The air grew drier—much drier.

John ran a hand across his face. "It’s so hot," he muttered.

Erick looked down, frowning. "We’re underground—why is it so hot?" Beads of sweat fell to the ground, staining the sand beneath them.

Zaid didn’t answer. He could sense a strange presence inside this place. But it was an unusual presence. It wasn’t that of a beast, but something heavier and strangely ancient.

’Are they the Golems?’

They finally reached the second floor. The scene before them was completely different from that on the first floor.

There were no rocks or dungeon-like caverns here. It was a single, gigantic room filled with desert sand.

There were no wolves, no corpses, and no trace of any hunters. Just a vast expanse of sand.

The ground stretched as far as the eye could see.

In the distance...

Something moved.

The sand began to rise. First a few centimeters, then a meter. It rose several meters in an instant.

The sand piled up on top of itself until it formed a massive, six-meter-tall humanoid figure.

Seven... and finally eight meters.

The golem slowly raised its head. Two yellow lights shone on its face.

John took a step back. "What the hell? That big and imposing?"

Erick gripped his sword. "Are these the Sand Golems?"

Zaid narrowed his eyes. "They’re part of the Golem family, but if I’m not mistaken, they’re Dungeon Guardians."

Erick frowned. "What’s the difference?"

"The level," Zaid replied. "Golems are usually level 11 or 12. These are level 16 or 17."

"That’s a big difference."

The creature raised a massive arm. Sand began to condense around it, forming a hammer-like mass.

Zaid moved. "Get back!"

The blow landed right in front of them.

BOOM!

The ground exploded. A cloud of sand engulfed the entire area.

John was thrown backward. Erick could only partially block the impact, but he was still dragged several meters.

Zaid was unaffected. Although the sand struck his body, it failed to move him.

"That’s not Level 17 power," Erick muttered angrily.

It had been the ability. Although it was relatively slow and easy to dodge, it came with terrifying force.

Zaid got excited. "Leave it to me."

The guardian raised his arm again.

This time, Zaid vanished. He ran across the sand, drawing the guardian’s attention. The guardian’s fist swung at him again, but Zaid leaped over his limbs and ran until he appeared right in front of his face.

The fist struck.

BOOM!

The guardian’s head was crushed. A huge amount of sand was sent flying, and the guardian staggered several meters.

However, its face reformed.

Zaid frowned and nimbly landed on his shoulder. "Sand Regeneration. Just as I suspected, they’re Guardians," he muttered.

Zaid jumped back when he realized that the guy had started targeting him and was lashing out at himself in an attempt to kill him.

"Can we kill him?" John asked.

"Killing him is possible," Zaid nodded. "But they’re absurdly tough."

Erick frowned. "Can the sword pierce him?"

"I think it’s best to use our fists. They have a natural resistance to bladed weapons," John said, looking past the golem. "But we can make our way to the door on the other side—that’s the easiest way to get past this floor."

Zaid nodded. He’d seen that door as soon as he walked in; it was at the far end of the floor. A ridiculously large stone door that was currently closed.

"I see—that’s why they’re here. They’re guarding the door to the third floor," Zaid nodded in understanding. He’d been wondering how there could be Guardians in this place; now it made sense.

While they were busy figuring out what to do, a cloud of sand began to rise.

Zaid frowned.

John and Erick clenched their fists.

"Don’t tell me..."

Another Gate Guardian appeared. And then a third, a fourth...

More than twenty. They were everywhere in front of them, and it didn’t seem like they were all that were coming out.

The first guardian charged at them.

Zaid fought back. He raised his hand and struck the guardian directly on the fist that had turned into a hammer.

BOOM!

Zaid rolled backward to break the impact, digging trenches in the ground with his feet. His retreat bought Erick, John, and Valia enough time to close in and surround the guardian.

Erick and John ran through both of its enormous arms and struck it in the chest.

Valia set her entire body ablaze. She rose up like a powerful C-Rank and immediately attacked it, slashing at its face with her claws.

The first strike didn’t faze the guardian much, but Erick and John were sent flying backward. The second strike, however—Valia’s attack—completely shattered his head and sent him staggering backward. Even without a head, he managed to steady himself.

Swosh!

The sand regeneration began to take effect, and the damage he’d sustained started to heal.

However, Zaid suddenly shot forward from where he was standing and focused his attacks on the chest. He didn’t attack with his daggers, but with the full force of his fists.

BOOM!

He struck the chest, and a burst of sand erupted from its back. Zaid attacked several more times, battling against the sand’s powerful regeneration. His Boxing Spirit talent activated repeatedly against the colossus’s body.

BOOM!

With a boom, the golem fell to its knees, and Zaid’s final blow shattered its head.

Zaid leaped backward to avoid being crushed as it fell to the ground.

"What do you think?"

"My sword isn’t doing much damage. This guy has Rank D resistance or higher," said Erick.

Zaid nodded. "I can tell,"

"Didn’t it give any experience?" John asked.

Zaid shook his head. "It’s not dead."

"It isn’t?" He was puzzled.

"No. It won’t recover just yet, but it’s not dead."

"..."

They fell silent.

"I don’t think it’s worth killing them," said Zaid. "They’re very resilient and have that sand-regeneration ability that will make it hard to kill them. Let’s just run through them."

Erick and John nodded immediately.

"I agree."

Zaid nodded and looked at the numerous gate guardians.

"I’ll distract them. Try to run to the other side, taking advantage of any gaps that open up along the way," said Zaid.

The nearest guardians charged at him. There were two of them, and they blocked a good portion of his view.

Zaid darted forward to meet them.