Ero Skill Tree

The outer layer of stone continued to crack and fall away, steadily revealing the steel things that lay beneath. The ground continued to shake, and both of the things stepped forward dislodging the last of the sone that covered them. They appeared to be two steel knights.

“What are they robots or something?” I asked.

“Robots? No, they’re golems.” Serin answered, speaking for the first time since we had left the safe zone.

That definitely made more sense than robots did in this world.

“How are we going to take those down?”

“With great difficulty! Somewhere inside of them will be an inscription. If we destroy that they will stop moving. It’s either that, or damage them enough that can no longer function. Neither of those things will be easy. They aren’t alive so it’s not like we can kill them.”

“What’s the plan then?”

“You’ll hang back.” Lillia said firmly.

“But…”

“No, this is no fight for someone of your level. Sorry Theo, please just stay back and watch this time.”

“Fine.”

I wanted to help the others, but it was plain to see that I wouldn’t be able to do much. My sword was never going to be able to pierce that armour.

“Serin, you stay back with him and watch our rear until we need you.”

“Okay.” Agreed Serin.

“What is the plan then?” It was Siofra that asked this time.

“I don’t like it, as we still have to face their master, but I’m going to have to go all out. I’ll try and slow them down. You and Altria keep them occupied for a moment. You’re both going to have to save something for the next fight.” Explained Lillia.

“So, you’re going to try that?”

“Yes, but I’ll only be able to use it once. Then I’ll be out of the fight for a bit, the rest of you will have to take down the other one. Can you manage?”

“We’ll manage!” Siofra answered confidently.

The three of them strode across the platform toward the steel golems. The golems were now fully active and were slowly heading towards them, the ground shaking under every step they took. When the girls had made it halfway across the platform, Lillia took up position there while Siofra and Altira pushed forward.

As soon as roots shot up from the ground at the golems’ feet Altria and Siofra ran forward. The roots were doing little to slow them at first. Altria loosed a couple of arrows, these pinged off the golems like they were nothing. She immediately switched to her exploding flame arrows. These hit with a boom that rang out through the whole room, but after the smoke cleared they had seemed to little more than leave scorch marks behind.

By now Lillia had unleashed enough of her roots to slow the golems considerably. As Altria and Siofra were baring down on the golems Siofra jumped into the air and slammed her axe hard into the chest of the golem that was on the left side of the platform. There was a loud crash noise and she almost bounced back from it. Siofra landed on the ground and the pair ran past both of the golems. Altria still peppering them with arrows as they ran.

“Their attacks are having no effect!” I remarked.

“They’re holding back for now. They’re just trying to get their attention. Watch.” Explained Serin.

As Siofra and Altria cleared the golems, the roots at the feet of the golem that Siofra had struck disappeared and it slowly turned to follow after the pair, while more roots grabbed at the second golem. They were trying to separate them. After a gap had opened between the two golems, Lillia let the roots disintegrate at the feet of the second golem and started to yell.

“Hey you, over here.” She shouted loudly.

They stayed put for a moment, seemingly deciding which enemies to focus on, but Lillia wasn’t going to let its attention turn to the others behind it. A single ball of flame flew from the end of her staff and hit the golem a moment later. The attack did zero damage to the golem, but its attention was now focused solely on her and it stepped forward to her, slowly building up speed.

“Lillia can use attack magic as well!” I said in surprise.

“Of course, she is a summoner. The summoning spell is at the pinnacle of magic, you can’t learn it without becoming a master of multiple types first. Pay attention, if she’s going to do what I think you’ll want to watch this.” Explained Serin.

Lillia had already begun preparing her attack. There was a ball of flame just above her staff, first it grew in size then changed colour until it became pure white. The golem seemingly sensing the build up of mana hastened its approach. It had more than covered half the distance between them when Lillia finally unleashed her spell.

The white fire shot forward like a jet and hit the golem in the chest. The golem continued its approach unphased. Lillia kept the spell up and a large glowing circle appeared on the front of the golem. It grew larger, then there was something like a large popping sound as the flame melted straight through the giant. The light flashed out the other side then disappeared.

I was about to let out a cry in celebration until I realised, that it hadn’t stopped. The golem still approached Lillia, who had dropped to floor in heap completely drained. Without a second thought I ran over to help her. Serin realised what I was doing too late.

“Theo stop!” She yelled after me once she noticed.

By the time I reached Lillia the golem was bearing down on her, I grabbed her and made to run but it was too late. As I looked up out of the corner of my eye, I saw a giant fist about to slam into us. Without thinking I let off “disarm”. There was a loud screeching and crunching noise then darkness, followed by a deafening crash.

We were inside the arm of the golem, “disarm” had peeled away the steel of its fist. The arm lifted and I didn’t miss a second before I ran carrying Lillia in my arms. I ran in the direction of the stairs where I had left Serin.

I had probably made it three meters before we crossed paths with Serin. She ran past us in a blur, I looked back over my shoulder as I ran still carrying Lillia. Serin’s body and sword seemed to be encased in a light glow as she ran at the golem that wasn’t far behind us. I couldn’t make out clearly what happened next.

Serin flew forward in a blur of light, before there was a blinding flash. When I could see again, there was another huge hole in the golem just under and to the left of its right shoulder and it was falling to the ground. Serin calmly stepped to side to avoid the falling golem before shouting over to the others at the far end of the platform.

“The enchantment is in the top half of its body!” She yelled.

Altria and Siofra had been simply holding off the other golem at the far end of the platform, but now they had the information from Serin. They knew exactly where to attack and without worry the worry of wasting a powerful strike they went on the offensive.

Altria gave Siofra cover with her exploding fire arrows as she charged in. The golem swung its arms down at Siofra, but she easily side stepped them. Then with a hop she jumped on the down stretched arm, managing to steadily run along even while it quickly lifted it back up. As soon as she got to shoulder length she leapt. From where I was stood there seemed to be a faint red glow around her axe as hit the golem. The axe dug in and continued to cut into the golem pulled by her body weight and momentum. Gouging a deep cut from the golems shoulder to halfway across its chest.

Siofra pushed off the golem with her feet then hit the ground running, quickly clearing the area before the golem came crashing down. Seeing that its enchantment was destroyed the pair walked back across the platform and re-joined the rest of the party back at the top of the steps.

“Thank you, Theo.” Lillia said now she had regained herself a little after taking a mana and stamina potion.

“Don’t worry about it!” I replied.

“That was incredibly stupid and reckless of you!” Serin said. “But you saved Lillia’s life… Well done, you acted just in time. I didn’t know you had an attack like that.”

“Neither did I. We were both lucky it worked like that!”