Disabling The Golem's Limbs

Bral and Idin rushed forward again, their swords gleaming under the dim light filtering through the trees. They moved in tandem, both aiming for the same knee joint, striking at the same time. Their blades bit into the stone, cracks forming where their weapons landed—but the golem still didn't stumble.

Instead, it raised its massive arm, preparing to bring it down in a crushing blow.

But then an arrow shot through the air, swift and precise, striking between the cracks in the golem's shoulder joint.

For a brief second, the arm halted mid-swing, twitching as if struggling to complete its attack.

That was all the time Bral and Idin needed. They pulled back quickly, narrowly avoiding what could have been a fatal strike.

Amukelo saw the opening and didn't hesitate. He dashed in, his sword flashing as he struck at the golem's arm.

The blade connected. A sharp cracking sound rang out as some of the stones splintered under the force of his swing. It wasn't enough to sever its movement, but it was a step in the right direction.

The golem spun around, and Amukelo barely had time to react before a massive stone fist came barreling toward him. It was too fast for him to react.

Then, fire erupted across its arm. A fireball struck, slowing its momentum, but the force of the attack still surged forward.

At the same moment, a thick wall of earth burst from the ground between Amukelo and the golem's attack.

The fireball had softened the hit, the earth wall had blocked most of it, but the impact still came through.

Amukelo raised his sword just in time, bracing himself.

The force slammed into him, sending him skidding backward, his boots dragging deep grooves into the dirt. His arms went numb, his hands shaking uncontrollably from the sheer force of the blow.

His fingers ached, barely able to hold onto his weapon. But he was still standing.

Bral and Idin charged again, refusing to give the golem any time to recover.

They struck at its legs, their swords biting deep into the cracks they had been chipping away at. More stone splintered—but still, the golem didn't fall.

It let out a low, unnatural rumble. Then, a ball of fire formed in its palm.

Before Bral and Idin could react, it hurled the fireball directly between them.

The explosion was instantaneous—a wave of heat and force blasted through the air. Dust and debris shot up, obscuring everything in sight.

But as the dust cleared, a glowing blue magic shield shimmered in front of them.

Pao's protection had saved them, but the golem wasn't done.

It swung its heavy arm at them. They had no time to dodge.

The massive limb slammed into both Bral and Idin, hitting them clean.

They were sent hurtling backward, rolling across the dirt like ragdolls. They hit the ground hard, but both of them pushed themselves up immediately.

Then, the golem's runes flashed again. Another beam of mana energy erupted from its core, surging toward them.

But once again, Pao's magic activated.

A small portal shimmered open, swallowing the beam—only for another portal to appear at the golem's own arm.

The beam shot out, striking its already-damaged limb.

More stone cracked apart. Chunks of debris crumbled from its arm, exposing deeper weaknesses in its structure.

Then, Bao's arrow hit the exact weak spot the mana beam had just carved out, landing perfectly.

The golem's arm jerked violently—then went limp.

The entire right side of its body shuddered, its movements slowing as if trying to regain control over the damaged limb.

Bao's voice rang out. "Quickly! Before it regains control over its right arm!"

Amukelo clenched his teeth, forcing the numbness from his hands, gripping his sword tightly.

Bral and Idin didn't waste a second. They both grabbed healing potions from their belts, uncorked them with their teeth, and downed the liquid in one quick gulp. The potion worked fast, sealing the bruises and dulling the pain, allowing them to push forward. But by the time they regained their footing, Amukelo was already surging ahead.

He drove his sword into the golem's knee—the same joint Bral and Idin had been chipping away at.

A sickening crack echoed through the air. The stone splintered even further, deep fractures running across the limb.

The golem let out a deep, guttural groan as it raised its remaining functional arm, preparing to slam down with full force.

But Amukelo was already moving.

He slid under its massive frame, dirt and dust kicking up behind him as he slashed at the back of its damaged knee.

The blade bit deep, cutting through the fragile stone—and at last, the golem buckled.

Its right knee shattered completely, forcing the massive construct down onto one knee.

Just as Bral and Idin arrived.

But before they could land their next blows, the golem's entire body shook violently. A low, unnatural hum filled the air, and before they had time to react a shockwave of raw mana exploded outward, hurling them backward like ragdolls.

Amukelo was slammed against the cliffside, the impact knocking the breath from his lungs. His vision blurred for a moment, the world spinning as pain shot through his back and shoulders.

Bral and Idin were thrown back as well, rolling across the dirt before landing in a heap, groaning from the force of the blast.

Amukelo tried to push himself up, but before he could, a massive shadow loomed over him.

He looked up, just in time to see the golem raising a boulder, its massive fingers tightening around the stone. It was going to crush him.

His body screamed at him to move, but his limbs felt like lead. The ground beneath the golem's feet trembled violently.

A pillar of earth erupted from the ground, smashing into its arm, knocking the boulder off-course.

The rock crashed into the ground beside Amukelo, the force of it sending a tremor through the dirt.

Pao had saved him again.

The golem let out another guttural rumble, turning its glowing, rune-carved face towards her.

Its runes pulsed angrily, and it formed a fireball in its palm, then it hurled it directly at them.

Pao barely had time to react. She threw up a shimmering magic shield, bracing herself as the fireball detonated against it.

The explosion rippled outward, kicking up a thick cloud of smoke and dust.

Before the debris had even settled, the golem was already moving again.

This time, it didn't rely on magic.

It reached down, grabbing another boulder, and launched it straight at them.

Amukelo didn't think. "WATCH OUT!" he yelled. With everything he had, he threw his sword.

The blade spun through the air, striking the golem's arm just as it released the rock, knocking it slightly off course.

The boulder still flew toward Pao and Bao, but Pao reacted fast. She raised an earthen wall.

The rock slammed into the wall, breaking through it in a cascade of debris.

The force of the impact sent jagged shards of stone flying everywhere.

Bao was hit in the arm, a sharp cry of pain escaping her lips as she staggered back.

Pao was nearly clipped by a flying rock, barely managing to duck in time. For a brief moment, her face went blank, frozen in shock.

Then she snapped back to reality as she saw Bao gripping her bleeding arm.

Pao reached for a healing potion, her fingers trembling slightly as she handed it to Bao.

Bao drank it quickly, the wound beginning to close, though the pain still lingered.

Meanwhile, Idin was the first to recover from the golem's shockwave.

He charged back into the fight, his sword whistling through the air as he slashed at the golem's damaged right arm, forcing it completely limp again.

Bral followed right after, his blade slamming into its good shoulder.

The combined attacks sent deep cracks through its upper body, but it still wasn't enough to disable it completely.

Amukelo forced himself to his feet, his legs shaking but steady as he rushed back to the fight.