Chapter 59: The Stone Golem’s Stand

With the Crystal Crawlers exterminated and another successful contract completed, Drake felt a growing sense of accomplishment. He was becoming a formidable adventurer, his skills and abilities improving with each challenge he faced. He and Corvus returned to Oakhaven to collect their reward and immediately began searching for another suitable mission.

This time, Drake wanted to focus on increasing his Strength and Constitution, to become more resilient and powerful in close combat. He found a posting that seemed ideal:

* **Request: Eliminate the Stone Golem. This powerful construct has been guarding an ancient ruin, preventing access to valuable artifacts. High Strength and resilience required. Reward: 2500 Gold.**

"A Stone Golem, huh?" Drake mused. "Sounds like a good workout. Maybe I can finally break something other than my ribs."

Gareth, who seemed to have made it his personal mission to provide Drake with warnings, approached them. "The Stone Golem is incredibly durable, Drake," he cautioned. "Its body is made of solid rock, and it can withstand even the most powerful blows. Only those with exceptional strength and resilience have any chance of defeating it."

"Then I guess I'll have to become exceptionally strong and resilient," Drake replied with his usual grin. "2500 gold is a pretty good motivator."

He accepted the contract, and he and Corvus set off the next morning, heading towards the ancient ruin where the golem was located. The ruin was situated in a remote, mountainous region, a place of crumbling stone walls and overgrown vegetation.

As they approached the ruin, Drake felt a strange energy in the air, a sense of ancient power that seemed to emanate from the very stones themselves.

*Notification: "Environmental Hazard Detected: Ancient Magic Residue. Minor Magical Interference."*

They entered the ruin cautiously, their footsteps echoing through the crumbling corridors. The air was still and silent, broken only by the sound of their own breathing.

They soon found the golem, standing guard in a large, open courtyard. It was a massive construct, made of rough-hewn stone, its features vaguely humanoid. It stood at least fifteen feet tall, its body covered in cracks and fissures.

*Notification: "Enemy Detected: Stone Golem. Threat Level: High."*

The golem's eyes, two glowing red orbs, fixed on Drake and Corvus. It let out a low, rumbling growl and raised its massive stone fists.

The battle began. The golem charged, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground. It swung its massive fists, each blow capable of crushing bone and stone.

Drake activated Void Embrace, feeling the familiar surge of dark energy coursing through him. He then used Void Step to teleport behind the golem, unleashing a powerful Shadow Strike.

*Notification: "Skill Activated: Void Embrace (Level 1)."*

*Notification: "Skill Activated: Shadow Strike (Level 5, Enhanced by Void Embrace). Cost: 60 Mana. Damage Dealt: 150. Critical Hit!"*

*Notification: "Health Drain: 5. Drake Health: 60/100"*

The Shadow Strike struck the golem's back, creating a large crack in its stone body. But the golem barely flinched. It turned slowly, its glowing red eyes fixed on Drake.

The golem swung its massive fist again, forcing Drake to dodge. He felt the wind from the blow buffet his face, a testament to the creature's immense strength.

Drake knew he couldn't rely solely on speed and agility against this opponent. He needed to find a way to break through the golem's thick hide. He decided to focus on targeting the cracks in its body, exploiting its weaknesses.

He used *Street Fighting* to deliver a series of powerful blows to the existing cracks, trying to widen them. He also used Void Shatter, unleashing bursts of chaotic energy that further damaged the golem's stone body.

*Notification: "Experience Gained: Strength Training (+250 XP)"*

*Notification: "Experience Gained: Constitution Training (+200 XP)"*

*Notification: "Experience Gained: Close Combat Training (+200 XP)"*

The golem roared in frustration, its movements becoming slower and more sluggish as its body was damaged. Finally, after a prolonged and arduous battle, Drake managed to shatter the golem's core with a final, empowered Shadow Strike.

*Notification: "Skill Activated: Shadow Strike (Level 5, Enhanced by Void Embrace). Cost: 60 Mana. Damage Dealt: 150. Critical Hit!"*

*Notification: "Health Drain: 5. Drake Health: 55/100"*

*Notification: "Enemy Defeated: Stone Golem (+2500 XP)."*

*Notification: "Experience Gained: Stone Golem Encounter (+2500 XP)"*

Drake staggered back, exhausted but victorious. He checked his Codex, eager to see the results of his efforts.

*Experience: 3700+2000+1500+2500=9700/6000*

*Notification: "Level Up! Drake has reached Level 6!"*

*Notification: "Level Up! Drake has reached Level 7!"*

*Notification: "Stat Points Available: 10"*

*Notification: "Skill Points Available: 2"*

Drake grinned. All that training had really paid off. He allocated his stat points, putting 5 into Strength and 5 into Constitution.

*Notification: "Stat Points Allocated: Strength +5. Current Strength: 33."*

*Notification: "Stat Points Allocated: Constitution +5. Current Constitution: 34."*

He then allocated his skill points, putting one into Street Fighting to max it out and one into Void Embrace.

*Notification: "Skill Point Allocated: Street Fighting (Level 6). Effect: Increased damage and attack speed."*

*Notification: "Skill Point Allocated: Void Embrace (Level 2). Effect: Increased enhancement to darkness and void skills and reduced health drain per turn."*