The stones shot freely toward Mike. They came out of nowhere. Mike did not hear them and neither did Ice. She only stood there watching since she could not do anything else.
The stones raced at Mike. There were about three large stones and a few smaller ones. The first two missed, but the third one hit Mike directly, followed by the smaller stones.
Mike was thrown back and landed right in the water of the small lake.
"Argh."
Mike sank beneath the surface and stopped thinking. Underwater, he equipped his sword and jumped out of the lake. A small burst of water splashed upward as he leapt. He landed on the ground with an elegant motion.
"Who did that, you bastard!"
Mike looked around and saw the attacker. Ice also called out to him.
"Mike! A stone golem!"
A stone golem?
Mike watched as the golem formed itself. It had no face, just stones. One large stone in the center that seemed to be its body, another stone above serving as the head, two smaller stones as legs, and two long sharp stones as arms.
It raised one of the sharp arms and aimed directly at Mike.
Then it fired.
Mike held his sword defensively but chose to dodge instead. The stone shot into the ground. Mike had rolled just in time.
"That was close. A few more centimeters and I would have had a hole in my stomach."
Mike sighed. "Again."
He pointed at the golem's head with his arm and ran forward. Mike jumped right in front of the golem and struck with all his strength. He smashed the stone that served as its head. It split in two.
Immediately the stone golem collapsed, its pieces turning to sand.
"Done?"
Too early.
In front of Mike stood another golem. Larger, sturdier. It seemed to be the older brother and it looked furious.
The golem rushed at Mike. Built the same as the first one, but stronger. It stood next to Mike in an instant and swung its stone arm. Mike rolled forward and barely escaped the hit.
He quickly got up and slashed with his sword at the arm stuck in the ground. It broke in half.
But he did not notice the other arm. Mike realized too late that the golem was winding up for a second strike.
A direct hit.
The blow slammed Mike into the ground. He felt the impact but, as always, lost no HP.
Buried under stone, Mike swung his sword forward and destroyed the other arm as well. It shattered.
Mike climbed back up, dizzy on his feet, but Ice hit him with a burst of healing energy. Mike felt his strength return instantly. Maybe the hit had hurt him more than he thought, but why did he still see no HP?
Mike aimed at the center of the stone golem and dashed forward. With a quick slash, the golem shattered as well.
Mike stood in a small hill of sand and looked at Ice, sweating heavily.
"Phew, done."
But he froze when he saw Ice's face. She looked pale and terrified, pointing behind him.
Mike did not even want to turn around. He already knew.
"Another one…?"
Behind him stood about twenty stone golems, all as large as the previous one.
Mike looked at Ice and tightened his grip on his blade.
"Ice, run!"
But Ice stood her ground and equipped her sword from her inventory.
"No… I will fight."
Mike knew immediately they would lose.
But without his HP ever dropping, he could not die.
He did not know what would happen, but he was ready to charge into the horde of golems.
Suddenly, the ground shook slightly.
It was not the golems. They were standing still, waiting for their turn.
No.
"Mike, look. The shadow tigers!"
It was Mike's loyal soldiers, the shadow tigers.
"That is good. That is very good."
They charged straight past Mike toward the golems as if they instinctively knew their mission.
The battle began.
Mike and Ice decided to fight too since Ice wanted to level up. They targeted the wounded golems. Ice delivered the final strike repeatedly until the battle was won.
Mike noticed that his group of shadow tigers had shrunk.
He closed his eyes and thanked them silently.
Ice seemed satisfied as well.
"Mike, I got this," she said.
Ice showed him a glowing white shard.
"What is the description?" Mike asked eagerly.
"A shard used to craft a long range staff," Ice said in a proud voice. She seemed excited.
Mike grinned.
"Long range sounds good. Maybe you should switch to ranged combat."
Ice grinned back.
"I will think about it."
But their conversation was cut short as the valley shook.
Behind them, something enormous began to form.
The sand was turning back into stone.
A gigantic golem rose from the remains.
"That is bad."
The shadow tigers looked at their king and bowed. They seemed to know this would not be a simple fight.
The group charged at the giant golem.
The golem swung a massive human shaped hand and slammed it into the ground. The earth shook violently. Many tigers were hit.
It hurt Mike to see so many lost with one strike.
But he still had enough groups left. They rushed in and attacked the golem's feet. Some climbed up its legs.
Mike looked at Ice.
"Good. I am going to run in now!"
Ice nodded and waited for her moment.
Mike ran forward and immediately drew the golem's attention.
It struck the ground repeatedly, but Mike kept running and dodging every attack.
When he was close enough, Mike jumped.
The golem opened its huge hand and slapped him out of the air.
A direct hit.
Mike flew into the ground and crashed hard. He saw blood drop. Then a system window appeared before him.
(You have received enough damage. Your HP bar will be completely removed. It will be replaced with a durability bar. You can upgrade it after receiving enough damage.)
"My HP?"
Mike sat up inside the small crater he had created.
He looked up and saw his shadow tigers fighting bravely.
He saw Ice fighting near the front, dodging a strike. She would not last long.
Mike stood and ran again.
Right at that moment, Ice shattered one of the golem's legs.
The giant fell slightly, now low enough for a finishing blow.
Mike leapt forward with his sword ready and landed directly on the golem's head.
This time it exploded into blue pixels.
Mike fell to the ground and landed on his feet.
(Stone Golem defeated. Item received: Golem Dust. Can be used for the Endless Flame.)
Mike exhaled and looked at Ice.
"Ice, that was crazy. Well done."
Ice turned red and looked embarrassed.
"Th-thank you."
Mike looked at the remaining shadow tigers and closed his eyes.
"You are free. Well done."