Chapter 84: Iron

Ethan stayed on the ground for a few more moments, spitting dirt and forcing air into his lungs when he checked his timer again.

[Time Remaining: 1:09:41]

He glanced towards the two golems who were still in battle stances and forced himself up.

He didn’t use Death control. He didn’t summon another undead. Not because he couldn’t, it was simply because he decided not to.

He already had less than a thousand energy points and summoning another undead would just mean that he couldn’t handle one monster.

As far as he knew, the iron golem should be enough. It was just one rank above it. Plus, all handicaps had been removed as they were in a wider chamber now so Ethan had no reason to lose. As long as he played smart, he could be able to beat it, and save a little energy while he was at it...

"Okay." He looked at both monsters for a moment... if he was going to beat this thing he needed a strategy.

’The iron golem is an armoured beast so logically speaking, if I want to defeat it i have to aim for the joints.’

That was the first thought that sprang in his mind. Technically, if the C rank was how he thought of it to be, it should have a few weak points in the joints as all armor had gaps in the joints to make movement easier.

’Then again, I’m not really sure that’s the case here...’

As far as he knew, he had never really seen anything that confirmed his theory... he never noticed any soft flesh in his golem’s joints, and never saw it protect any of it during a battle.

’Still, i gotta make it work somehow...’

Time was ticking. He needed to think of something fast.

He turned to the golem. "Attack. Keep it busy for as long as you can, and disengage once it prepares for a follow up."

It moved...

The collision felt like two steel bars slamming against each other, as Ethan’s golem followed through with a right hook and evaded a kick that would have knocked it over.

In the narrow chamber, every missed hit had been met by a wall. Here, Ethan’s golem could sidestep a full pace and let a downward strike shatter against the floor instead of its skull.

The impact cratered the floor, and Ethan steadied himself as a mini earthquake moved through the chamber in a low rumble...

"Press. Don’t let up even a single bit."

His golem rushed after it, caught its hand and pulled. Then —

**BANG**

It elbowed the C rank with a force so strong, it actually staggered a few steps back.

The golem stepped in but Ethan realized he had made a mistake...

The c rank recovered quickly, and sent a kick right into the side of his golem.

Metal screamed, and the beast was sent hurdling into the wall.

His golem didn’t stay for long as it rushed towards the C rank in a burst of dust and stone, leaped and came down with crushing force that formed a crater into the ground.

**BOOM**

The chamber shook as it fell silent for a brief moment.

Then from the dust cloud, the C rank dashed out, sliding to a stop in the other side of the chamber.

When Ethan tracked it, his eyes widened.

"Wait a minute..."

Though the C rank kept its stance, Ethan could see that something was wrong.

Its elbow joint was busted...

The joint had several cracks on it, and it creaked whenever the golem moved.

A grin slowly formed on his face. So he was right... the joints were a weakness.

He activated Death Link.

"Don’t let up. The elbow joint is cracked. New plan. Every other attack should be aimed at a joint. Go!"

The golem dashed towards it and Ethan through the link saw how the C rank changes postures to protect the injury.

"On your left."

**BANG**

His golem went for a strike directly towards the shoulder of the beast and when the hit connected, the C rank staggered in a way that told Ethan that attack did a lot more that he thought.

"The hands. Wreck them."

His golem took one arm and sidestepped, wrenching it backwards while the C rank was still recovering...

The beast tried to use its other arm, but Ethan’s golem caught it too. It place a leg on its back and pulled, wrenching both joints at painful angles.

Metal screamed, and just when the C rank was about to retaliate...

**CRAACCCKK**

Both arms had been torn off.

The right side had its arm torn from the elbow leave the stub of its upper arm hanging uselessly while the side lost its arm from the shoulder.

Ethan smiled. "Now we’re getting somewhere..."

His golem charged and started punishing the C rank with blows upon blows, taking advantage of the fact that its enemy now lacked hands to pound it mercilessly.

It turned left.

"Right."

**BANG**

It turend Right.

"Left"

**BANG**

To him, the C rank had no way to counter leaving it open in so many places...

That was what he thought until the beast did something unexpected...

**BANG**

A kick... it delivered a kick raising its legs to a height Ethan didn’t think was possible.

"What the—"

His golem staggered. Thankfully it was fast enough to guard. But that guard cost it.

When it brought its hand down, its left arm hung uselessly. It was cracked all the way from the wrist to the elbow and looked like any movement would make it fall off.

"You have got to be kidding me..."

Just when he thought of something, the enemy had pulled another trick up its sleeve— it resorted to using its feet...

"The fuck, that’s not supposed to be possible."

The enemy rushed again, delivering a flurry of kicks that his golem found hard to guard against.

Twice, a kick landed on its neck, and Ethan was forced back to evading...

He gritted his teeth. This shit had gone on long enough...

He turned to the golem and gave one command. It rushed towards the rank C and —

**BANG**

It took a kick to the face. For a moment, it looked like Ethan’s golem had lost but just then, his eyes snapped wide.

"Now!"

The golem grabbed its leg and wrenched, twisting it sideways in a motion that tipped the enemy off balance.

"Up!"

It vaulted the beast upwards and slammed it on the ground hard enough to crater it.

"Destroy it!"

What followed was an ugly beating delivered by a weaker machine that refused to back down...

**BANG**

The golem slammed a fist into the jaw of the enemy; the impact, cracking both the jaw and its wrist with a sound that came like a gunshot.

It didn’t stop.

**BANG**

"Again!"

**BANG**

"Again!"

**BANG**

It continuously pounded the C rank until its hand was completely busted.

When the golem disengaged, the c rank shuddered and tired to stand.

**BANG**

His golem ended it by stomping on it so hard, its face caved in.

The light in its eyes slowly dimmed and when Ethan saw it, he let out a shaky breath..

```

[Death Energy: 968/1200]

```

"Wow..."