Episode 132. The Legacy of Iron Fist (1)

Whoosh!

The ashen flames fiercely blaze.

The wildly flickering flames envelop the fist.

‘It’s a bit of a brute method, but…’

I did think about it for a while.

Should I just find all the seal stones like I did in my past life and open the ruins’ door?

‘It’s a waste of time.’

I know the location of the ruins’ entrance and have the power to break the seal.

It’s not like the Final Evaluation where the process itself is being judged, so why follow the standard route?

‘And if I find the seal stones and solve the seal’s riddle too easily, it’ll only raise more questions.’

Already, finding the hidden ruins’ entrance without any clues is making Yuren suspicious. No need to make it worse.

Even if my party trusts me, I know that the excuse of ‘getting information from Professor Elisha’ won’t fully convince them.

‘Well, if I didn’t want to be suspected, I shouldn’t have come here in the first place.’

This was my personal choice.

Should I move inefficiently, completely hiding my identity as a regressor?

Or should I move efficiently, even if it risks suspicion?

I chose the latter.

‘After all, I’ll reveal the truth someday anyway.’

Hiding my identity as a regressor won’t help prepare for future disasters, so there’s no need to obsess over it.

Of course, a part of me wondered if I should just reveal my identity to my comrades like I did with Professor Elisha.

‘But…’

I swallowed a bitter smile and shook my head.

Honestly, I’m not ready yet.

I’m not ready to reveal everything about myself to my past life’s comrades.

‘If Sophia heard this, she’d call me an idiot and click her tongue.’

Can’t be helped.

I’m not as wise as her.

Whoosh!

As I continued thinking, the flames enveloping my fist grew fiercer.

“Da-Dale…!”

“Are you sure you’re okay, Dale?”

Iris and Yuren, sensing the terrifying power in my fist, looked at me with pale, frightened expressions.

“Everyone, step back. And Iris, use a protective spell.”

“Y-Yes. Got it.”

Iris nervously chanted an incantation.

After confirming the party was surrounded by a white barrier.

“Hoo.”

Berald Martial Arts.

“Mountain Shatter.”

Kwaaaaaaa!!!

A terrifying shockwave shook the entire canyon.

The solid rock walls of the cave cracked and crumbled.

Beyond the collapsed cave wall.

‘Long time no see.’

A massive iron door engraved with intricate magic circles.

I smirked and placed my hand on the magic circle.

Whoosh!

The Primordial Flame blazed, devouring the magic circle protecting the iron door.

After a few minutes, the magic circle on the massive iron door was completely consumed by the Primordial Flame.

“Hoo.”

Having used a significant amount of magic power, I exhaled tiredly and sat on a pile of rubble.

“…Is it over?”

“Yeah. You can come out now.”

The party members, who were inside Iris’s barrier, slowly stepped out and looked around.

“Wow… I didn’t know the ‘Mountain Shatter’ technique you taught me literally shatters mountains.”

Berald clicked his tongue as he looked at the collapsed cave wall.

“Now, it’s your turn, Berald.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

I pointed at the firmly closed iron door.

“Show me your ‘magic’ again after so long.”

“Ah.”

Understanding immediately, Berald smirked.

“Hoho! Just trust me!”

Berald approached the firmly closed iron door and slipped his hand into the slightly open crack.

“Haaaaap!”

Creak! Thuddddd!

The massive iron door bent with a metallic screech.

“Unloooock!”

Koooooong!

The iron door shattered, revealing the hidden ruins’ entrance.

Yuren and Camila, watching this, held their heads as if in pain.

“…It feels like all the common sense I knew is being denied.”

“Same here.”

And so.

The real exploration of the ruins began.

* * *

There are two main types of golems found inside ruins.

One is made by human hands.

The other is made by divine hands.

Unless the ruins were intentionally created by humans, most ruins are guarded by golems made by ‘divine hands.’

Golems made by divine hands… To be more specific, there have been many hypotheses among scholars about the naturally occurring golems inside ruins.

Some argued that they were formed from the excess magic power within the ruins.

Others claimed that the ruins had a consciousness and created them to protect themselves.

Some even suggested that inanimate objects, like living beings, could become golems by receiving the power of the Devil God.

But despite all these hypotheses.

No scholar has yet provided a clear answer on how golems are formed inside ruins.

‘Even I, as a regressor, don’t know the exact principle behind golem creation.’

Still, I know a few things about golems.

They are naturally formed inside ruins and do not regenerate once destroyed.

They only attack intruders and do not leave the ruins.

For golems made by divine hands, they are called ‘Guardians’ instead of ‘Protector Golems.’

And lastly.

‘Guardians have a much higher chance of dropping magic stones compared to monsters.’

This is why I immediately thought of these ruins when Iris mentioned needing a sacrifice to heal Berald’s father.

‘Ruins where Guardians are formed are rare.’

Not all ruins have Guardians.

In fact, ruins where Guardians naturally form are a very small minority.

Anyway.

The reason for this lengthy explanation about Guardians is…

“…Dale.”

Because a Guardian just appeared right in front of us.

[Intruder detected. Intruder detected.]

A Guardian made entirely of rock.

About 3 meters tall, not particularly large for a Guardian, but the heavy pressure emanating from its body proved it was on a completely different level from the Protector Golems we faced during the Final Evaluation.

[Intruder elimination protocol activated.]

Zing.

A sinister red light appeared in the Guardian’s eyes.

“Everyone, dodge!”

Iris was the first to react.

She urgently stretched out her arms and chanted an incantation.

“Seven gods! Protect your child!”

A white wall formed, blocking the Guardian’s path.

Whoooosh, Kwaaaang!

“Kyaaak!”

The Guardian’s fist tore through the barrier like paper.

Iris screamed and collapsed from the shock of the shattered magic.

“Saintess! Ugh…!”

Camila gritted her teeth and charged at the Guardian.

“Haaap!”

A claymore wrapped in white aura swung heavily toward the Guardian.

[Attack detected.]

[Counterattack protocol activated.]

Chwak!

Rock scales sprouted from the Guardian’s arm, shooting toward Camila.

“Ugh…!”

Clang!

Camila desperately twisted her claymore to block the rock fragments.

The Guardian’s hand grabbed her waist.

“Kuhuk!”

Camila gasped for breath under the crushing pressure.

“You bastard!”

Berald kicked off the ground and rushed toward Camila.

“Haaaaap!”

Berald created a Magic Power Orb and threw it at the Guardian.

Kooong!

Smoke rose from the Guardian’s arm as Camila fell to the ground.

[Target priority changed.]

The Guardian’s red eyes turned toward Berald.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

The Guardian charged at Berald with heavy footsteps.

The Guardian’s arm swung fiercely at Berald.

“Kuhuk!”

Thud!

Berald was sent flying like a pebble, crashing into the wall.

“Berald!”

Yuren gritted his teeth and stepped in front of the Guardian.

A sword drawn from his waist glowed with a bright golden aura.

Sun Sword.

Sixth Form, White Light.

A concentrated golden aura shot toward the Guardian.

Kwaaaak!

The Guardian’s arm shattered and rolled on the ground.

But.

[Damage status checked.]

[Combat continuation possible.]

The Guardian raised its remaining arm and aimed at Yuren.

Whoooosh!

A cannonball of magic power shot toward Yuren.

“Ahk!”

Yuren was sent tumbling across the ground.

“……”

I frowned as I watched the party being overwhelmed.

‘Maybe it’s still too much for them.’

Well.

When I first conquered these ruins, it was over 10 years from now.

Even though Yuren, Berald, and Iris are growing faster than in my past life, they still have a long way to go to bridge that 10-year gap.

‘Well, in a way, it’s natural.’

You can’t ask a child who just started walking to run.

The Guardian in these ruins has power comparable to at least a Nine-Eye level monster, so it’s no wonder they’re struggling.

[Combat situation analyzed.]

[Target confirmed.]

The Guardian’s red eyes turned toward me.

Thud, thud, thud!

The Guardian charged with heavy footsteps.

[Target behavior pattern analyzed.]

[Insufficient data for analysis.]

[Activating annihilation cannon for certain elimination…]

“Shut up, you.”

I swung my sword at the charging Guardian.

Whoooosh!

The sword, wrapped in Ash Fire, split the Guardian in half.

“Ah…”

“Did… did he just one-shot that Guardian?”

“Dale…”

The party members looked at me in shock as I instantly dealt with the Guardian.

I looked at them and pondered for a moment.

‘It’s true that this enemy is too much for their current level…’

But I can’t just keep comforting them with ‘it’s okay.’

Sometimes, a whip is needed more than a carrot for the growth of comrades.

“Sigh.”

I let out a deep sigh and looked at the party members.

“Sorry. I think I overestimated you guys.”

Tsk. I clicked my tongue and turned my head with a disappointed expression.

“Should we just give up on exploring the ruins and go back? This place seems too high-level for our current strength.”

“……”

Yuren’s expression hardened at the harsh evaluation.

“…No.”

Yuren used his sword as a cane and struggled to his feet.

“We can do more, Dale.”

Seeing the silver light burning in his eyes, I nodded in satisfaction.

And then.

* * *

“Iris! Start with the blessing!”

“Yes!”

“Berald, Camila! Keep the Guardian’s attention!”

“Got it!”

“I can’t hold it for long!”

The party moved swiftly under Yuren’s command.

“Gulp.”

A terrifying amount of magic power erupted from Yuren’s body.

“I can… do more…!”

Rumble!

The inside of the ruins shook as if an earthquake had struck.

Yuren’s sword, filled with dizzying magic power, swung toward the Guardian.

Kwaaaaaang!

The Guardian was sent flying with a loud crash.

“I’ll join in!”

“Haaaaap!”

“Destroy it! Smash that damn hunk of metal, Camila!!!”

The party members rushed forward and stomped on the fallen Guardian.

“Hmm.”

I crossed my arms and swallowed my thoughts as I watched.

“Maybe the effect was too strong…?”