Lord Of Puppets-Chapter 143 – Dungeon Raid – Part 14.

(We are again at the stalemate.... And so far, each time it had happened, I would lose.) – thought the nervous golem as once again it was surrounded from all directions, while everybody was waiting

(God dammit.)

(If I finished up earlier dealing with the adventurers from before.... No. It wouldn’t work.)

(Even if I did come here earlier, they would just use that single B-rank adventures and few other adventurers to deal with the golems.... Situation would be the same.)

"..."

(Then what about hidden path?)

(That place will be far less spacious and.... No.)

(They will also have easier time hitting me with spells. I will be an easy target.)

(Not only that, I don’t know their goal.)

(What if they don’t share the goal as Garmfon kingdom? What if the elven kingdom wants to destroy me?)

(Leaving this room is far too dangerously.)

(...)

(Think. Think.)

(C-ranks are dangerous, but just single B-rank adventurer has enough power to kill me.)

(There is also the problem that the moment I try to pull something on the C-ranks, the B-ranks will instantly go and rescue them.)

[Options]

[1 – Arcane Magic – I can unleash explosion of magic.]

[2 – Create golems with Earth Magic – Increase the numbers on my side.]

[3 – Charge straight at the enemy without carrying about anymore – Focus only about destroying the enemy.]

(Option 2 out of the questions.)

(The golems I would make wouldn’t last long enough for me to wipe out C-ranks.)

(Option 3... No. Too reckless. Enemy has way too much damage power.) 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

(Even if I were to somehow win against B-ranks by sacrificing my body, C-ranks will just finish me off.)

(Then Arcane Magic? I could unleash [Arcane Explosion].... But they are wary of my magic and that spell does use up a bit of mana.)

(....No.... All 3 options are out of the picture.)

(But if I just stick to my usual strategy, the damage will just pile up and I die.)

(They are also keeping a safe distance in case I unleash another [Earthly Forged Blade – Crown].)

"..."

(What do we do now?) – thought Adam.

(I want to kill the fucker, but my attacks aren’t strong enough.... No. They are.)

(They are dealing damage to the fucker, but not critical amount.) – thought the man as he exchanged gazed with Markus, signaling the young man to not attack yet.

(....I agree.... Attacking now is bad idea.) – thought Markus.

(The most problematic parts about that fucker are his arms and earth magic.)

(....No....)

(This ain’t those things.)

(That bastard is thinking entire time.... I’ve fought bastard like these.)

(Monsters.)

(The one that can think.... And could even outsmart humans when looked down upon.)

(....Should we.... No. Aiming for the legs won’t cut it.)

(Being way too close to the ground while that bastard specializes in earth magic could be fatal.)

(Especially that blade thing.)

Both sides learned something about their opponents throughout the whole fight and right were completely wary of each other.

The adventurers knew that the golem was durable and its posses’ deadly enough attacks that could kill them at any moment.

While on the other hand Thauma knew that if it doesn’t reduce number of enemies soon and quickly, then it defeat will inevitable.

"..."

"..."

"!"

The one who made the first move was Thauma.

The golem launched towards the ground and put its hand down, alarming all adventurers who instantly backed away, thinking that the hail of earthly blade will be launched at them.

"..."

"?"

"Eh?" – however, nothing had happened and the adventurers just stayed confused.

"...Did.... Is he fucking with us?!" – shouted a heavily armored adventurer.

"!"

"DON’T!" – shouted an injured warrior with two swords.

"He is maybe aiming to fire that thing from before!"

"He is right." – said the crossbow wielding beastman.

"..."

"Idiot." – said Markus as he started up chanting a spell.

[Wind Magic: Wind Blast]

Markus unleashed a wave of violent wind that came crushing right into the golem, landing a hit.

"?!"

"He didn’t protected himself?!" – said surprised tank.

"LONG RANGE ATTACKS! NOW!" – shouted alarmed Markus as in the very next moment, a spiked ball and crossbow bolts flew at the creature, hitting it.... But even so, not making the creature react one bit, which only alarmed adventurers gathered.

(Why is not even trying to defend itself from the iron ball!? It has extra hands and-)

"!"

"HE PREPARING A BIG SPELL!" – shouted Markus, alarming the adventurers as some of them tried to instantly rush at the golem.

"DON’T GO YOU FUCKING IDIOT!" – shouted the elven swordwoman.

"WHAT IF HE PLANS ON FIRING THAT SPELL AND HE IS JUST BAITING US!" – shouted the elven girl, alarming the adventurers who were now unsure what to do, while any long-range attacks had stopped.

(Fuck! What is he planning?!) – thought panicking Markus.

(Is he preparing a big spell?! Or is he really just setting up a trap?)

(We can’t now even fucking fire attacks.) – thought Markus as he instantly chancel his spell preparation.

(Mana detection isn’t my strong point....)

"..."

"Mana...."

"!"

"Hey! Adam!" – shouted Markus.

"What?!" – replied the berserker.

"Golems! How do they operate again!?" – asked the young man.

"...What.... Mana!" – replied a bit confused man.

"Then what happens if that guy uses up the mana!? Does it just dies?!" – asked Markus.

"YES! WE ALREADY-"

"!?"

(Wait!) – thought Adam, instantly realizing what the young man was talking about.

"Fucking knew it!" – shouted Markus.

"THIS BASTARD CAN’T USE MAGIC NON-STOP! OR HE WILL RUN OUT OF MANA AND JUST DIE!" – shouted Markus, spreading the information around.

"..."

(Shit.) – thought nervous golem upon hearing the young man’s words.

"Wait.... So, he IS faking it?! He is pretending so we will jump him?!" – said impatient Elizabeth that tried rushing at the golem once again, only for the female elven knight to step it.

"Please wait!" – said the elf.

"What if he really can fire off big spell!? We don’t know how mana it has!"

"Yea.... We can’t tell right now.... But at the same time, this guy is smart ass." – said Markus.

"He knows he can’t do that, or he could end up being fucked."

"If he does fire something, he could end up becoming either easy target or just kill himself!"

"...So we attack!" – said the injured tank.

"IDIOT! DON’T!" – shouted elven swordwoman.

"She is right!" – said Adam.

"Cornered beasts are the most ferocious!"

"If that guy gives into the desperation, he can fire it off!"

"..."

(Although I say that.... I can’t fight much longer myself.) – thought Adam.

([Berserk] not only somewhat corrupts the user mind, but it also puts some physical strain on my own body.)

([Berserk] does give me a boost of energy and allows me to ignore this strain much easier.... But I was already in ’berserk’ state for far too long.)

(I can feel.... My body getting tired and painful....)

(At this rate I will tap out.) – thought Adam.

(Should I deactivate it? But if I do then.... Shit. It could give him opening.)

Even when realizing the golem main weakness, the adventurers did not dared to make a move or even attempted at attacking the golem from afar, as they were preparing for any form of attack that the golem could launch at them.

True. Firing off a powerful magical spell would endanger the golem’s life function.... But at the same time, the adventurers realized that the creature was more than enough desperate to fire off attack that could threaten its very own life.

But at the same time, it could be just a bluff.

A bluff that is meant to make adventurers rush in and get hit by [Earth Magic: Earthly Forged Blade – Crown].

This was a pure mind game.

Who will figure out who?

Who will outsmart who?

Who will predict what will happened in the very next moment?

Wrong move could mean instant death for anybody right now.

However, there was a problem.... And this time the one who are now in the solid disadvantage were the adventurers.

Reason?

Time.

The golem body is made of flesh and bones.

It doesn’t need to rest, eat or sleep.

But the adventurers do.

This stand off could last for hours and adventurers mind would just waver and grow tired.

Not only that, some of them were injured and needed a threatened.

Some had some first basic aids added to them, but they still had fresh and bleeding wounds.

And since both the supports and baggage carriers were annihilated, there will be no more healing magic or extra healing potions.

Obviously if enough time passes, the adventurers outside may end up getting worried and entering the dungeon.... But what if the dungeon created new monsters? There could be a possibility of brand-new monsters being born.

"!"

(Wait! But we have a messenger! It should had warned them about traps!) – thought Adam, remembering the messenger that was sent before to warn the adventurers about the dangers of the dungeon.

(Honestly, we can kill the boss monster, but we don’t know how many other losses we will have.)

(But if we bring spare C-ranks and some D-ranks, we will end up finishing the golem for good!)

"..."

(But..... Something still feels.... Off.)

(Dammit! I can’t bloody tell!)

(Is that guy bluffing or not!?)

(....And if he is not bluffing..... Then what sort of attack he is planning to fire that straight up makes him stop in place?)