Chapter 33:

Desperate Plan

Fist of the Bancho Rider


The moment the attack let up, Nraltia immediately cast Regenerate, knitting together the gash on Souma's chest, leaving behind only a small scar, where the gaping wound had been. 

The moment the spell washed over him, he was already moving, soaring through the air, striking down with Lightning Fall, yet the Golem was able to block some of the damage. 

Using Binding Shackles, chains of mana shoot up, wrapping around the Golems multiple limbs, momentarily locking it down. "Now!"

Reiji Blitzs forward, snapping out a Rending Strike, smashing into the Golem's body, with a loud bang.

Souma moves in concert, dashing past, Shadow Strike, and Cross Slash, slicing into the Golem's metal body.

A flash of silver cuts through the room, Nraltia's Void Thrust, stabbing between the opening left by the other two. 

 "Tch. I can't tell if we're doing any damage at all." Reiji complains, unable to see any damage, or sense it's vitality through Ki Sense.

"We don't have any choice." Souma replies.

"Magic seems to be more effective than physical attacks, but only slightly." Nraltia says, retreating behind the two. 

"Magic is the only way to deal with a Golem." 

"Dammit." Reiji grits his teeth in frustration. Furious at his lack of ability.

Krak. The chains of mana snap, as the Boss finally breaks free, it’s four arms lashing out. The greatsword smashes at Reiji, the two energy blades slice at Souma, the crossbow regenerates, firing at Nraltia in the back line.

The four figures dance around the room, exchanging blows, the boss trying to pulverize the three figures infront of it, while the three figures try to dismantle the boss. Beautiful arcs of light draw across the room, flashing - azure, black and white, multi colored spells - against the orange energy blade and bolts. 

10 minutes pass, under the watchful gaze of Xenon. The stalemate continuing, as the Golem is slowly damaged, while the party’s stamina is also drained. 

“Hmm at this rate, they’ll probably run out of mana before they can defeat the Ancient Golem.” He sighs, mentally taking note of areas of improvement that they needed. 

“Tch. This damn metal junk is way too tough.”

“If only we could soften its armor…”  the cold voice echos in his thoughts, sparking something.

Thats it! Reiji thinks. Euphoric from the sudden inspiration given by Elnyra.

“Tia! Can you cast the same spell from the market?” He shouts, once again rushing in, “Souma, destroy the crossbow!”

Responding, Souma swoops through the air, his lightning blades, slashing at the crossbow, but the Golem intercepts, swatting him from the air. 

Reiji attacks, Howling Storm smashing into the Golem, staggering it.

Souma bounces off the ground, circling around the golem, Assasinate, an azure light flashes, his figure appearing on the other side of the room, the crossbow shattering.

As if alive, the Golem roars furiously, shaking the entire room. With a loud mechanical whine, it’s glow changes once again turning red, falling on it’s limbs, the cable on it’s back rises, stabbing into the ground.

“Dammit, what’s it up to?”

Dashing forward on it’s limbs, the cables lash out, metallic axes on it’s end, smashing the enemies before it. The axes crash into Souma and Reiji, knocking them off their feet, as the two block with all their might, swords and fist buckling under it's weight.

 Seizing the opportunity, the Golem rushes at Nraltia, still busy preparing her spell. It's greatsword crushing down on her.

"Tch." Reiji reappears infront of the attack, deflecting the blows, his glowing fist blasting them away with Ki Bullets.

"How much longer?" Reiji ask, unleashing a flurry of blows, deflecting the unrelenting barrage from the Boss.

"Just a bit more." 

"Souma, get rid of the cables!" 

"Don't order me around."

Appearing from the Golem's shadow, Souma dashes through, magic blade slashing at the cables. A beautiful azure arc flashes, as one of the cable is severed, falling lifelessly on the ground. 

The remaining cables lash out, targeting Souma, crushing down on him, deflecting the first cable, Souma is knocked backwards, the last cable swinging down, to smash him. 

Reiji intercepts, Blitzing in to grab it, igniting his Ki, he smashes through it with a Howling Storm, tearing it apart, but is knocked away by the Greatsword.

"Dammit" Reiji cries out, sliding backwards, barely avoiding a fatal blow.

Stepping on his shoulder, Shouma dashes through the air, cutting the same cable, shredding it.

"Just... two left..."

Changing it's pattern, the Golem stands back up, it's four arms once again wielding weapons, with the remaining two cables, it was now able to attack with all 6 limbs at once. 

Sacrificing, it's speed, it unleashes a barrage of attacks, overwhelming Reiji and Souma with it's six limbs. 

Slashing down with the greatsword and cables, the attacks rip through Reiji and Souma knocking them aside, revealing an open path to Nraltia.

Charging at her, the Golem strike with it's remaining limbs, intending to crush her completely, but it was too late.

"Absolute Zero!" 

The words ring out, like the chime of an angelic bell, a storm of cold wind strangles the weapons launching at her, encasing them in ice from the tip, spreading to the rest of it's body, within the blink of an eye, the Golem was encased completely in ice, rendering it immobile.

Stepping in, Reiji summons his Yin Yang Ki, the aura arround him changes, as it flares up for the first time with an intense heat, hot enough to burn anything to cinders. Surrounding both his fist, he unleashes a gigantic Beast Fang, blasting the immense black and white fire at the Golem, swallowing it instantly.

Cracks spiderweb across the ice surface, as the intense heat melts it, allowing the Golem to shatter the ice and break free, but the damage had been done. The metal alloy, once exposed to immense cold and heat, had it's structure weakened.

"Tia, blast it with cold again!" Reiji shouts, dodging backwards, sliding underneath the greatsword, out of the retalliation of the Golem.