Chapter 535 – Golem Guardians.

As Roland stepped through the colossal doors, Agni padded close behind, his fiery aura illuminating their path. The obsidian floor echoed softly under their boots and paws, amplifying the eerie silence that filled the massive chamber. The oppressive energy within seemed to press against Roland’s chest, a silent warning that their presence was unwelcome.

“Stop Agni.”

“Worf?”

The door creaked shut behind them, and he ordered his wolf to halt. The area before them was truly vast, with hundreds of statues lining the sides, their stony gazes fixed on the newcomers. However, the statues were not fully animated – at least, not yet. He had analyzed how this area worked, thanks to the runes permeating the massive chamber.

“Any normal adventurer would have probably made a mistake by now and already been attacked…”

His visor flashed as he scanned the area, revealing the hidden runic pathways. The intricate web of runes stretched across the floor, walls, and ceiling. Touching even one would likely trigger a cascading reaction, causing the small army of obsidian statues to attack. Fortunately, he had sent his floating golem ahead. The construct hovered through the chamber without disturbing the traps, confirming his suspicions. Near the entrance was a small, safe zone free of runes or traps. The guardians would stay dormant if they remained there and refrained from attacking.

“Agni, take a few steps back and wait by the entrance door for now”

Agni, his wolf companion, let out a low growl of displeasure, clearly eager for a fight. Despite his frustration, the wolf obeyed, retreating to the door and settling his large frame beside it with a huff. With that taken care of, Roland turned his attention to the chamber before him. There were exactly two hundred statues in the area, with a towering giant at the far end rounding out the number.

“I suppose once they’re triggered, I’ll have to fight through a few waves before the big one gets involved”

He was in luck – this entire chamber was laced with his specialty: runic symbols and magic. While the design here was far more intricate than the simpler Albrook dungeon he had previously explored, Roland was confident in his ability to decipher it.

The statues weren’t ordinary constructs. His keen eye detected the faint glow of hidden runes etched across their surfaces. They were runic golems, crafted from various types of stone, including the ominous obsidian ones. Those runes were likely the key to defeating them.

“The biggest problem will be that giant one,”

He muttered, his visor flashing as he studied the massive figure in the distance.

“Its rune structure is a lot more complex than the smaller ones, I don’t think I’ll be able to crack its code before it attacks me, which leaves me with a few options…”

Roland possessed the ability to control runic constructs and golems. In theory, he should be able to wrestle control of these golems from the dungeon’s grasp. However, their sheer number presented a massive challenge. To make matters worse, they didn’t follow a uniform runic sequence, further complicating the task. Roland quickly realized that trying to dominate all of them simultaneously would demand an immense amount of mana and razor-sharp precision. Even for him, the risk of overloading his senses was great as he had never attempted a hostile takeover on such a scale before.

“Fifty of them is probably my limit. If I add my own golems, it should suffice…”

He wondered as a plan took shape in his mind. The massive statue wasn’t the only problem. The real obstacle lay in the throne it was seated upon. From his analysis, this was the control console for the entire golem army. Unfortunately, it was out of his reach for the moment. Even if he managed to gain access, taking over the giant statue might prove impossible. For now, his best option was to clear the area and study the throne further. Perhaps in the future, this chamber could be farmed for valuable resources.

As Roland examined the enemies more closely, he identified the smaller golems as tier-3-adjacent entities, their bodies far tougher than anything a typical tier-2 class holder could handle. The materials they were constructed from – obsidian and high-density stone – made them durable and dangerous. Only the massive statue at the back was a true tier-3 threat, far stronger than the monsters he had faced in the temple.

These lesser golems, while classified as guards, were formidable due to their construction. Their high durability elevated them to pseudo-tier-3 status, though they lacked the power of a true tier-3. The leader, however, was an entirely different beast.

Its glowing eyes locked onto Roland, an unmistakable sign of its awareness. The High-Lord sat motionless on its throne, radiating an aura of power that dwarfed its subordinates. For now, it remained idle, but Roland knew that once he made his move, the entire chamber would spring to life.

“Good, Agni.”

“Woof?”

“I have a plan, let’s do this.”

“Awoo!”

Agni perked up as Roland finally decided to make his move. After a brief moment of calculation, he activated his spatial runes, summoning his small contingent of golem troops.

First came the floating golems, some shaped like cubes and others more octagonal. They hovered silently above his head, ensuring they didn’t touch any of the intricate runes on the chamber floor. Next came the spider golems, which skittered out from the spatial runes. Due to the limited space near the entrance, they crowded against Agni, much to the wolf’s displeasure. Agni growled softly, shifting uncomfortably as the metal constructs bumped into his body, but Roland paid it no mind.

The force wasn’t large – just twenty floating golems designed for ranged support and another twenty spider golems, still in need of further upgrades. Though not at their full potential, they would serve their purpose. Now, the real task began: stepping forward to wrest control of some of the dungeon’s golems and turning them against their allies.

Roland’s gaze flicked toward the nearest guard golems. Each was equipped with a shield and spear.Choosing which ones to dominate required little deliberation; the obsidian golems were clearly the most durable and imposing of the group.

Roland began channeling his runic magic, his armor pulsing with power as he activated the intricate circuits smithed into its surface. His visor flared with data, displaying the complex structures of the obsidian golems nearest to him. With a deep breath, Roland extended his hand, using Rune Authority to take over the golemic constructs.

The skill struck the first golem, its obsidian body trembling as the dungeon’s control system clashed against Roland’s will. Sparks of mana erupted from its joints, but the conflict was brief. Moments later, the glowing runes on its body dimmed, replaced by the soft blue hue of Roland’s magic. One by one, Roland repeated the process, each success boosting his confidence.