The enemy

Limon bent down and closely inspected the Stone Golem's remains, his brow furrowing in confusion. The destruction was too clean, too thorough. Something felt… off.

He touched the shattered rocks, which still radiated faint traces of mana. The dark energy residue left behind by his spell didn't match the extent of the damage done to the Golem. It was as if some external force had amplified his attack.

Behind him, the young lady spoke again, her tone less haughty and more curious this time. "What's wrong? You just destroyed a Level 42 Stone Golem. Shouldn't you be proud of yourself?"

Limon shook his head, his gaze never leaving the remains. "This isn't normal. The Golem's strength was far beyond my current abilities. My attack shouldn't have been enough to bring it down in one hit."

She tilted her head, her pink hair catching the sunlight as she stepped closer. "Are you saying… something or someone else interfered?"

"It's possible," Limon muttered, his voice low. "Or maybe the Golem had some sort of flaw or weakness. Either way, this victory wasn't entirely mine."

The young lady frowned, her earlier annoyance replaced by unease. "Who could have intervened? And why?"

Limon straightened, brushing the dust off his hands. "That's the real question. Whoever summoned the Golem might have done it in a hurry or didn't fully control it. That voice we heard—Mother Earth's so-called envoy—might not have been as powerful as they wanted us to believe."

The young lady crossed her arms, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon. "If that's the case, it means we're still being watched. This isn't over."

Limon nodded, his expression grim. "Exactly. Stay alert. Let's head back to Laladoya before anything else happens."

As they turned to leave, a faint shimmer caught Limon's eye. Embedded within the Golem's shattered core was a glowing crystal, pulsating with dark green energy. He reached down and pried it free, the crystal warm to the touch.

"What's that?" she asked, leaning in for a closer look.

"A mana core," Limon replied. "High-level creatures like this Stone Golem often have one. It's a source of power… and sometimes, a weakness."

Her eyes widened slightly. "So, the core was its vulnerability?"

"Possibly," Limon said, slipping the crystal into his pouch. "But we won't know for sure until I study it later. For now, let's focus on getting back safely."

The young lady hesitated, her gaze lingering on the Golem's remains. Then, with a small sigh, she followed Limon as he started walking.

The journey back to the fishing village was tense but uneventful. The eerie voice didn't return, and no other threats emerged from the shadows. By the time they reached Laladoya's wooden house, the sun was beginning to set, casting a golden glow over the coastline.

Laladoya rushed out to greet them, his face a mix of relief and anxiety. "You're back! Thank the gods. Young lady, are you unharmed?"

"I'm fine," she replied curtly, brushing past him and heading inside without another word.

Limon raised an eyebrow at her abruptness but said nothing. Laladoya, however, seemed unfazed. He turned to Limon, his expression earnest. "I can't thank you enough for finding her. If anything had happened—"

"Don't thank me yet," Limon interrupted, his tone serious. "We encountered a Stone Golem on the way. It wasn't a random coincidence. Someone—or something—is targeting her."

Laladoya's face paled. "A Stone Golem? That's… impossible. They haven't appeared in this region for decades."

"Well, one just did," Limon said flatly. He pulled the glowing crystal from his pouch and handed it to Laladoya. "This was its core. Study it, if you can. It might give us some answers."

Laladoya accepted the crystal with trembling hands, his expression grim. "I'll do what I can. But if someone is truly after her… this changes everything."

Limon nodded. "It does. Strengthen your defenses and keep her close. I'll stick around for a while, just in case they try again."

"Thank you," Laladoya said, bowing deeply. "Your help means more than I can express."

As Laladoya retreated into the house, Limon leaned against the fence, his mind racing. The appearance of the Golem, the mysterious voice, the young lady's stubborn attitude—it all pointed to something much larger at play.

And now, with the mana core in hand, he was one step closer to uncovering the truth.