Chapter 36 - Burnt Strings

"One down... two more to go!"

I sprinted toward the second stone golem, shouting back to the soldiers and knights, 

"Aim for the center! That's where the core is—hit it with everything you've got!"

Gathering more and more mana, I wrapped it around my sword blade— 

Layer upon layer, condensing it, sharpening it to a point beyond steel.

"This should do it..."

With a sword now glowing brighter than ever, I jumped— 

And with one clean, downward strike, 

I **cleaved** the entire golem in half—right through the core.

The explosion of stone and light echoed across the throne room. 

But the blade— 

My sword couldn't handle it.

It **shattered**, crumbling into glittering shards, 

Dropping like paper to the ground.

**Boom.**

I landed on top of the broken golem's remains, panting heavily. 

My body—barely hanging on.

The knights took their chance, focusing spells at the last golem. 

With a concentrated barrage of magic, they struck its center— 

**Shattering the final core.**

The golems were down.

I turned weakly toward the King and Princess, my voice hoarse: 

"Your Majesty… get to a safe place..."

I tried to move—forcing my body again with mana strings. 

But it was getting harder now.

So much harder.

I collapsed to my knees, the pain crashing down like a wave.

"Hey..." I whispered, barely audible, 

"Run to the city. Monsters are attacking... Gather everyone. Save the citizens..."

I couldn't hold on any longer. 

That was all I could say.

"I think... I'm done for now..."

My body gave out.

It felt like every bone inside me was broken. 

The recoil—far worse than before. 

Like my soul itself was unraveling. 

Mana corroding me from within.

This time... there's no getting up.

I can't move. 

Can't speak. 

Just the faint hum of mana echoing in my mind. 

My skin had turned a pale white. 

My veins glowed with faint blue, like cracks in porcelain.

My entire body... was breaking apart.

I wondered, just for a moment—

_If I'd accepted the Goddess's blessing… would things have been different? 

Would I have had the strength to keep going…?_

But... I kept my word, **Ramon**. 

That was enough.

And so... I collapsed— 

Silent. 

Motionless.

A lifeless puppet with the strings cut.

---

King Leontius's eyes widened in horror as I fell.

He rushed forward, voice shaking with urgency.

"Get the healers! Immediately! We have an emergency!" 

He shouted to his soldiers, his face pale with fear.