Felix was poking at a glimmering piece of sigaldry when the far door opened again. This time the darkness disgorged seven more constructs, each a head taller than the seven foot Steel Golems. Those in the lead were made of a translucent material that was filled with a haze of bubbling vapor. They were broader across the chest and arms, with thicker legs and wider feet. The stomped into the whitestone room, multi-hued Mana vapor boiling within their frames, swords and shields in all of their hands.
Voracious Eye!
Name: Glass Golem
Type: Construct
Level: 72
HP: 7100/7100
SP: 5400/5400
Lore: Golems are constructs built in the image of the mortal Races and designed with complex sigaldry to mimic them further. Most Golems have a measure of autonomy, as dictated by their sigaldry, but are almost always under the ultimate control of a mage. Glass Golems are made of glass imbued and tempered with Mana vapor.
Strength: Need more information
Weakness: Need more information
Glass Golems? Magic glass, clearly. Felix watched them file into the room, neither rushing nor dawdling. They prowled and spread out, as if they considered him dangerous. His Affinity pinged off of their Aspects, a strange music returning to his senses. Advanced Minds and complex Spirits. Their Bodies feel strong, even from here. Thisooh, what is this?
As the group spread, a Golem in the rear stood out. It was made of a similar transparent material, except with large plates of red-gold metal formed to its body, almost like armor plating.
Voracious Eye!
Name: Orichalcum Golem
Type: Construct
Level: 76
HP: 7904/7904
SP: 5900/5900
Lore: Golems are constructs built in the image of the mortal Races and designed with complex sigaldry to mimic them further. Most Golems have a measure of autonomy, as dictated by their sigaldry, but are almost always under the ultimate control of a mage. Reinforced with orichalcum, this style of Golem is a powerful combatant.
Strength: More information needed
Weakness: More information needed
"Now this is more like it," Felix said with a grin.
The enemy engaged.
The leading Glass Golem reached him in seconds, and Felix slipped aside of its vertical chop. He pushed off the ground, cracking it and sending his knee hurtling into the Golem's midsection. He felt it crack, but the constructs only reaction was to smash Felix with its shield. Felix dropped low, the tall Golem missing him by over a foot, and launched a right jab into its knee. The joint bent, shattering like the glass it was and letting loose a boiling steam of Mana. He would have done more, but his Perception twinged and Felix threw himself into a forward roll, narrowly evading another glass sword.
He rolled to his feet and immediately parried the blows of three more glass blades. The Golems had lagged behind on purpose, choosing to surround him instead. Felix dodged what he could, but several of the glass longsword cut through his tunic and trousers, and one left a thin gash on his right thigh.
"Tch," he hissed. They were strong enough to break through his Armored Skin. "I guess I have to take you all seriously."
Unfettered Volition!
Felix moved like a whirlwind, slipping between their thrusts and slashes in unerring precision. He reached out and grappled with one of the Golems, grabbing their left arm at the bicep. Flaring his Strength, he tore it clear off. Glass tinkled and purple-blue vapor billowed out. He spun, still holding the arm and the shield attached, using it to block three oncoming strikes before hurling it into the face of the fourth Golem. It stumbled back, unbalanced and cracked from the impact.
It never recovered.
Felix leaped atop it and pushed his Affinity and Intent. Within his core space, a symbol gleamed with blue-gold light and Mana streamed from his core into his channels. Sounded by his Affinity, Felix's Intent shaped the Mana into the pattern he desired. Virulent green vapor burst atop his hands, mingling with his fists as they lifted into the air. It all took less than a fraction of a second. Felix brought both of his fists down on its chest.
The Glass Golem exploded beneath him.
Corrosive Strike is level 49!
Corrosive Strike is level 50!
Journeyman Tier!
Congratulations! You Have Reached Journeyman Tier with Corrosive Strike!
You Gain:
+10 STR
+10 PER
+10 END
Corrosive Strike is level 51!
Yes!
He had finally, properly activated a Skill without using the System. Felix had fought off and on, trying to utilize his Intent and Affinity to achieve that result. He'd only managed weak versions before, unable to access the entirety of his Skills' power. And this time the Skill felt stronger than ever before.
Distracted by his victory, he was caught off guard by a Glass Golem as it tackled him.
"He's going to die!" Vyne said. He'd watched the man fight through the press of the Glass Golems, but it was hopeless. He was fast and strong, but their blades moved too fast. Vyne already saw crimson staining the whitestone. He didn't want to watch a man perish because he didn't know his limits. "Stop the Golems!"
"He called it on himself, Vyne," Nevia said. She was scowling at the pile of Glass Golems. They couldn't even make out his figure anymore, so tightly did they press him. "Not her fault if he dies."
"This is a training facility, not an execution chamber," Vyne grumbled before marching himself to the attendant. The woman was sweating, busily tweaking shining parts of the array before her. Each touch sent shimmering trails of magic into a part of the array. "You have to do something. Stop this."
"I can't," she said. Her eyes flicked between the glass and the array. "He asked andand don't you know who he is?"
Kylar looked up at that. "Who?"
Beyond, the chamber filled with a sudden, brilliant blue-white fire.
Okay, he thought. Okay, not quite as easy as I thought.