Chapter 9: Fort Granda

[The first sand golems that were ever created led to an instance we called "The Rise". Many have already forgotten about this event as the higher-ups covered it so well that many even doubt such an instance has even happened. And even more, have vanished into thin air for speaking about it. But I remember. I remember the real cruelty that they can unleash when they aren't wrapped up in chains and their cores limited. The horrors, the revenge... I tried to warn my close friends about it, but no one listened, and those that tried to learn more about it disappeared. The Temple Lords know I retained those memories they tried to erase, but they let me live. Knowing full well that no one believes me! Calling me crazy. Saying I have gone insane. Maybe I have... But one thing I know and it is that no one can keep those man-made monsters chained up forever! Eventually, they will escape our clutches and rebel. Hear my words!] - excerpt from a demented Golem Shaper's last notes.

...

Stepping inside the dome the system cried out. His core was burning from the poisonous mana. He felt sluggish and disoriented. The high mana density was similar to Crystal Growth´s but only much more putrid.

[High level of polluted mana detected!]

[Time till core corruption: 1m 4d 3h 46m 10s]

The time was much higher than before, and Oberon could only speculate why, it was probably a mixture of his system rank up, grade change, and the origin cube.

Slowly scouting his surroundings he noticed that the plant life was denser than ever. It was as if #11077 stepped into another biome. The place was dim as if the sun was barely shining through a thick mist of fog.

The ground was mushy with some kind of dark green moss. Building-sized skeletons and large stone and metal ruins formed the terrain. It was even raining slightly, but no clouds could be seen.

Oberon silently walked around the place avoiding all and every creature he could see. He wasn´t very familiar with this place, so he approached with extreme caution.

The new environment made the golem excited and at the same time frightened. A weird emotion. It was a nice change, from all the sand, but it didn't feel right to have any sand around him. Crystal Growth was a sight to behold, but it wasn't fully formed yet so there wasn't much to explore, and nothing compared to this place. But he would surely return to that place to see its rich environment once a full ecosystem has been established. A little part of being an explorer is still stuck inside of him after his first mission out of the Sakata Empire's large cities.

Oberon weaved and sneaked past multiple creatures each odder than the others, some seemed kind of familiar but others were completely new to him. It was a blessing that his memory capacity has expanded otherwise he couldn't save all the new discoveries he made or had to delete the others. Which he wasn't very willing to do.

After an hour of sneaking around, he hid behind a large skull, sensing traces of mana being used not far from here. Creeping around the large skull he saw a particularly odd place. Oberon was sure that this wasn´t here the last time, but then again he deleted some memories of that time. It was a few centuries back, but still, who would build a home here? It was a rundown old stone house in a small clearing that somehow still stood without a single crack. The smocking chimney and the lights from the window indicated that someone was inside. It stood in a wide clearing and no sounds of animals could be heard except for some chirping birds and buzzing insects.

'Humans? Shouldn't be possible.'

His system was in dispute, whether he should investigate it or just leave. On one side he could finally meet his creator's race again, on the other side why should he?

In the end, he decided to investigate the place, even if it is slightly straining the safety protocols. Creating a large tower shield and a spear he carefully, walked towards the lone house. Odd glowing mushrooms grew randomly around the house.

He avoided stepping on them, but the place was covered in glowing mushrooms. He was now only a few meters away from the door so he just stepped on one. But as soon as he crushed the shroom he froze in attention as all the lights snuffed out. Oberon raised his shield in the direction of the opening door, got into a low stance, and pointed his spear.

"Well well well, who do we have here?"

Hearing a voice on the other side of the door, sand poured from his body and covered the ground around him in vital sand, ready to shield him.

Only the sound of a large stone door opening and the barely audible footsteps could be heard. The person spoke in Sakatarian but the accent was quite thick.

"Oh, that was not nice of you, covering my mushroom garden in sand."

The sand soldier saw a masked person step outside the house. He wore extravagant white and golden robes. His whole body was covered in clothes. #11077 saw the energy signature of the person, and it was abnormally high. He had as much mana as a temple archmage.

'What kind of being is that?' thought Oberon as a wave of energy passed through him.

His core calculated every possibility to escape but found none. Oberon wanted to step back but before he could even move the person spoke.

"Don't leave yet, it has been quite some time since I have last seen a sentient being. You must have experienced quite a lot to be a System Rank 6 and have such an intricate processing ability."

The golem just silently stood still with his weapons raised, "..."

"Oh, where are my manners come inside, #11077" as he said that he walked back inside the stone cabin, leaving the door open.

Oberon didn´t move for at least 5 minutes before his inner debate ended. Seeing no use in his weapons against such a monstrous being he pulled the core sand weapons back.

Entering the hut he saw a well-furnished place. The floor was made out of elder birch as well as the other utensils and furniture. In the corner was a well-lit fireplace making the room warm and cozy.

The veiled man was sitting at the table already with two cups of steaming tea in front. The

"Take a seat."

The person gestured towards the standing sand golem to sit down.

"So, now that we are seated let us talk a little. It is quite boring and lonesome to live alone in this place with all those aggressive beasts around."

"..."

"Hmm, you do still understand me, yes? Or did you already scrub all memories of language comprehension away?"

The golem nodded as his blank face changed from the Oberon symbol to a yes.

"Great great! Hah, to think that a Sakata´s Immortals would be still alive is still quite a sight. That means you are possibly older than me. Should I address you as an elder?" The veiled man jocked and chuckled.

'Sakata's Immortals...' The Watani dubbed the sand golems "Sakata's Immortals" after an especially gruesome battle between the two.

"You are probably thinking, "What is a Watani doing all the way here in Fort Granda?" right?"

Oberon nodded.

"Well to tell you the truth, it is because I was the leading Naturemancer in the battle that took place here. In a last-ditch effort, I sacrificed my body to end the war. So you could say I was partially at fault for this environment. And with some kind of miracle, I am now back to the living, or mostly at least."

The sand on Oberon's face shifted as he silently sat in front of the Naturemancer.

"I am sorry, but I don't understand the language of the sand golems or can read the Sakarian language. Never quite learned it. But if you don´t mind I can establish a mana connection for us to talk freely." He leaned his elbows on the table and rested his head on his hands.

"..." after a few seconds of consideration, Oberon nodded. He knew that mage was powerful enough to be able to just drain his energy and read his memories if he truly wanted to. Oberon might have more energy due to the cube, but he couldn't use its full potential as his output was quite limited by his core.

The potent mana stretched out of the man's finger and connected it with the golem's core.

"What are you?" a slightly mechanical voice spoke out.

"Now that´s better. And to answer your question my name is Kohnsu Nesa, a former archmage and strategist of the Watani Coalition. But now I am just a humble hermit trapped inside my own wrongdoing."

"You are human?"

"I was once a Trakel. But now, let's just say I am a hermit..." said the person trailing off as he spoke.

The golem nodded and stayed silent.

"Care to introduce yourself now?"

"... Golem #11077 of the Sakata Empire, serving the 50th regiment, type General, name Oberon."

"Ohhh, a sand golem with a name, quite rare. Did you earn it or did someone give it to you?"

"I named myself."

"Oberon, as in Oberon desert. A good choice. You are an interesting one, to be honest. How come you are alone here? You aren't a scout and for a general to be alone is quite rare, to say the least."

"I lost my group, now wandering around."

"..." Kohnsu silently stared at the sand golem in contemplation. Oberon could feel the mana around him swirl. With a tired sigh, the mana calmed down.

"Is the Sakata empire still standing?"

"Not sure, the war caused many losses the extend of it is still unclear to me."

*Sigh* "The war was truly a disastrous one... at least the Watani Coalition wasn't the first to fall." Kohnsu shrugged his shoulders and leaned back.

#11077 couldn´t help but agree. "Indeed..."

"So, what are you doing all the way here in such a dangerous place? Don't get me wrong, I love the company, but aren't you all dead set on preservation and hard-core programmed to survive?" Kohnsu couldn't help but chuckle a little.

"I am on a mission to find a way to restore the Sakata empire's former glory."

"What is here that could possibly be worth your time?"

"The Staff of Zalka." Stated Oberon flatly.

Nodding solemnly along he asked, "Haven't heard that name in a long time. So what are you gonna do with it? With such an artifact in the hands of a Sakata Immortal, I could only imagine what horrors the empire will do with it."

Oberon just silently stared at him.

Taking the silence as an answer Kohnsu took a deep breath.

The veiled man is silent, but his mind is processing the answers. Starring at the golem that now tilted his head in confusion Kohnsu nodded, 'Sakata Immortals never cease to amaze me.'