The group turned toward the darkness. The steam began shifting. Something large moved behind it.
Arthur’s eyes brightened. "They’re coming."
Vedas drew his golden spear. "Then let’s see what the cavern has prepared for us."
Luna looked nervous. "These aren’t ordinary Beasts."
Arthur glanced at her. "You recognize them?"
Luna shook her head. "No. But I’ve never seen Beasts like these inside the cavern."
Athena studied the steam. "Then they’re probably adapted to this environment."
Arthur smiled. "Even better."
Mithra laughed. "You really can’t help yourself."
Arthur shrugged. "We’re here to find the Mirror."
The first creatures emerged from the steam. Several massive Steam Golems stepped into view, their bodies made from dark volcanic stone, glowing orange cracks running through their limbs, steam continuously pouring from their shoulders and backs.
Luna stared. "They’re huge."
Sun looked at them. "They’re not exactly welcoming either."
Kong cracked his knuckles. "Good."
Sun glanced at him. "You really only have one response to everything."
Kong grinned.
The first Steam Golem raised its enormous arm.
The movement alone displaced a wave of hot air through the chamber. Steam rolled around its body as the stone fist came crashing toward the group.
Arthur instinctively shifted his footing, ready to intercept it.
But Vedas stepped forward first.
His golden armor caught the orange light of the cavern as he raised his spear.
Arthur stopped.
He knew Vedas didn’t need him to intervene.
The spear moved.
[Armor Piercing]
A golden shockwave erupted from the weapon and tore directly through the Golem’s chest.
The impact didn’t simply knock the creature backward. Cracks raced across its entire torso, following the orange mana lines beneath its stone exterior.
The Golem staggered.
For a moment, it remained standing.
Then Kong appeared beside it.
The Fiery Stone Ape pulled his fist back.
Sun’s eyes widened.
"Kong, wait—"
BOOM!
Kong’s fist slammed into the damaged chest. The Golem’s upper body shattered, fragments of heated stone scattering across the ground.
Kong shook the dust from his fist. "Done."
Sun stared at the remains. "You two didn’t leave anything for the rest of us."
Vedas looked toward the steam still filling the chamber.
"There are more."
Sun’s expression changed.
Behind the destroyed Golem, several more silhouettes were already moving.
One.
Then three.
Then six.
The Steam Golems slowly emerged from the mist, their glowing orange cracks illuminating the darkness.
Mithra drew Kusa. "Then let’s split them up."
Arthur smiled. "Good idea."
She flashed forward, her golden sword cutting across one Golem’s arm before she disappeared just ahead of its counterattack.
Melo followed, dream mist spreading through the chamber. Several illusions of Mithra appeared around the Golems, and the creatures swung at the wrong targets while the real Mithra moved between them.
Mithra smiled. "Melo."
Melo’s five tails lashed forward, striking the same damaged section of the Golem again and again. The stone cracked, and Mithra finished it with another sword strike.
"Perfect," she said.
Melo smiled. "We’re getting better."
Another Golem emerged through the steam and immediately charged Athena. She planted Aegis into the ground and the creature’s fist crashed against the shield.
BOOM!
The impact pushed Athena several meters backward, her boots scraping across the stone.
She gritted her teeth. "They’re stronger than the ones outside."
The Golem raised its other arm.
Before it could strike again, Athy flew above it.
Her golden eyes brightened.
[Analyze]
Mana flowed through the Golem’s body in Athy’s vision. She could see the orange energy gathering around its chest.
The Golem swung toward Athena again. She didn’t retreat this time and just waited. Then the fist came down. At the final moment, she shifted Aegis aside and the Golem’s fist struck the ground.
Athy dove.
Golden light gathered around her wing.
[Brave Light]
The concentrated blade of light cut directly across the Golem’s chest.
CRACK!
The glowing core fractured.
Athena immediately stepped forward and slammed Aegis into the damaged section. The Golem’s body collapsed around them.
Athy flew back toward her partner. "Did I get it?"
Athena smiled. "Perfectly."
Athy’s golden eyes brightened. "Good."
Nearby, Sun and Kong dealt with another. Kong grabbed the Golem’s arm, and Sun jumped onto its shoulder.
"Hold it!"
Kong grunted. "I’m holding it!"
Sun raised Long. [Point Shockwave]. The blast struck the Golem’s chest, and the entire body cracked. Kong pulled backward, and the Golem toppled.
Sun landed beside Kong. "That worked."
Kong nodded. "Again."
Sun laughed. "You’re getting greedy."
After the larger Golems were defeated, smaller Steam Beasts began appearing. Arthur noticed Eden watching the others. She wasn’t afraid anymore. She was studying them.
Arthur smiled. "Want to try?"
Eden immediately nodded. "Yes!"
A Steam Golem approached.
Arthur stepped forward as the Steam Golem approached. Rather than destroying it, he waited until its massive fist came down before shifting to the side and striking its leg with the shaft of Dusk. The blow wasn’t powerful enough to shatter the stone, but it disrupted the Golem’s balance and forced it to stagger.
Before it could recover, Arthur turned with the movement and struck its shoulder. Cracks spread through the dark stone, weakening the arm and making the Golem’s movements noticeably slower.
The Golem tried to steady itself, but one knee finally slammed against the ground. Steam poured from the cracks covering its body as it struggled to rise again.
Arthur stepped back.
Eden understood immediately.
She had been watching the entire exchange from several meters away, following the way Arthur had damaged the Golem without actually finishing it. Her eyes moved from its weakened shoulder to Arthur.
Arthur simply gave her a small nod.
Eden’s expression brightened.
"My turn."
She flew forward just as the Golem forced itself back onto its feet. Its damaged arm swung toward her, but Eden accelerated at the last moment, causing the massive fist to pass harmlessly behind her.
She appeared beside its shoulder and struck the cracked section Arthur had created.
CRACK!
The damage spread farther across the Golem’s body.
The creature tried to turn and bring its other arm around, but Eden was already moving. She slipped beneath the attack, circled behind it, and struck the same weakened area again.
This time, the stone finally gave way.
The Golem’s shoulder shattered, throwing its balance completely off. Its massive body tipped forward and crashed onto the cavern floor.
Then the notification appeared.
[Level Up!]
[Time Fairy]
[Level 14 → Level 15]
Eden hovered above it for a moment before slowly looking toward Arthur. Her eyes widened with excitement. "I did it again!"
Arthur smiled. "You did."
Eden pumped her fists. "I can do it!"
Luna smiled. "That was amazing."
Eden turned toward her. "Arthur made it weaker first."
Arthur shook his head. "I only gave you the opening. You still had to take it."
Eden looked toward the other Beasts. Her expression became determined. "Then I’ll get stronger."
Arthur looked at her.
Eden clenched her fists. "I want to fight with everyone." She looked toward Vedas, Athy, Kong, Melo, and the others. "I want to be strong enough that you don’t always have to protect me."
Arthur’s expression softened. "That’s a good goal."
Eden smiled. "Then I’ll keep getting stronger."
Vedas looked toward her. "Keep training."
Eden nodded seriously. "I will!"
The group continued deeper.
The Golems eventually disappeared and the environment changed again. The steam became thinner near the ground but thicker around the ceiling. Then several pairs of glowing eyes appeared.
Luna froze. "Those aren’t Golems."
Steam Wolves emerged from the darkness, lean bodies covered with black stone like fur, steam leaking from their mouths and paws. They moved much faster than the Golems.
Sun immediately raised Long. "Finally. Something that looks fast."
Kong looked at him. "You wanted fast?"
Sun smiled. "I did."
The wolves attacked. One leaped toward Sun, and he swung Long upward. BOOM! The wolf was thrown into the wall. Another attacked from behind, and Kong caught it by the neck.
"Got one." He threw it across the chamber.
Melo’s dream mist spread through the battlefield. Several false wolves appeared, and the real wolves hesitated. Mithra took advantage of the confusion, flashing between them, Kusa striking with precise movements. One. Two. Three. The wolves collapsed.
Mithra looked toward Melo. "Your illusions made that easy."
Melo’s tails swayed. "That’s what I’m here for."
The cavern suddenly became darker. Athy looked upward. "Something is moving."
Everyone looked toward the ceiling. Hundreds of small glowing eyes opened. Steam Bats descended from above.
Sun’s expression changed. "That’s a lot."
Kong looked upward. "Too many."
Sun looked at him. "You finally admit it?"
Kong pointed toward the swarm. "They’re annoying."
The bats dove.
Athy immediately took to the air, golden light spreading from her body. Several light clones appeared, and the bats grew confused as multiple Athys moved through the cavern. One clone drew a swarm away.
Another group followed the real Athy.
Athy suddenly turned. [Brave Light]. A golden wing swept across the swarm, and several bats fell.
Athena raised Aegis beneath her. A bat crashed against the shield, and she knocked it aside. "Athy, above you!"
Athy looked up and three bats dove toward her.
She twisted in midair.
[Counter].
A burst of energy reflected back, scattering the bats.
Athy smiled. "I saw them."
Athena laughed. "I know."
Below them, Sun swung Long in a wide arc.
[Point Shockwave].
The invisible force tore through the lower swarm. Kong jumped after the remaining bats and swatted one out of the air.
"Got it."
Sun laughed. "You’re fighting flying creatures with your fists?"
Kong looked at him. "They’re close enough."
The further they traveled, the stronger the guardians became.
They encountered mixed groups.
Steam Golems. Steam Wolves. Steam Bats.
Sometimes all three attacked together. But by now the group had found its rhythm. Arthur and Vedas handled the strongest enemies. Mithra and Melo controlled the battlefield. Athena and Athy dominated the air and provided information.
Sun and Kong broke through heavy targets.
Eden kept getting opportunities to finish weakened enemies.
Then the notification appeared.
[Level Up!]
[Time Fairy]
[Level 15 → Level 16]
After another battle with a large Steam Golem, Vedas landed the finishing strike.
[Level Up!]
[Goblin King]
[Level 14 → Level 15]
Vedas paused.
Arthur looked toward him. "Fifteen."
Vedas smiled. "Looks like I made it back again."
Mithra smiled. "Congratulations. Although this is the third time"
Vedas laughed. "That’s true."
Eden looked at him with determination and admiration. "You’re amazing Vedas."
Vedas looked toward her. "You too. I’m pushing myself just to catch back up to you."
Eden beamed while Arthur smiled.
The next group of guardians was stronger.
A particularly durable Steam Wolf survived several attacks. Arthur weakened it. Mithra damaged its legs and Melo trapped it in an illusion.
Eden watched carefully.
Arthur looked at her. "Go."
The wolf lunged first.
Eden flew upward, allowing its claws to pass beneath her before diving toward its exposed back. She struck once, then immediately changed direction as one of the bats swooped toward her.
"Behind you!" Luna shouted.
Eden twisted in midair just in time, narrowly avoiding the bat’s attack.
She spun around and struck it with a burst of golden light, sending it crashing into the cavern wall.
The Steam Wolf recovered and charged again.
Eden didn’t retreat.
Instead, she flew directly toward it before suddenly rising over its head. The wolf turned to follow her, exposing its weakened side.
Arthur noticed the opening but didn’t interfere.
Eden immediately took advantage of it.
Her wing struck the damaged section, and the Steam Wolf collapsed onto the stone.
[Level Up!]
[Time Fairy]
[Level 16 → Level 17]
Eden’s eyes widened. She looked at the notification. "Level seventeen!" She spun around happily. "Arthur!"
Arthur smiled. "Congratulations."
Eden pumped her fists. "I’m getting stronger!"
Luna clapped. "You really are!"
Mithra smiled. "And you’ve only just started."
Eden looked toward the deeper cavern. Her excitement turned into determination. "Then I want to get even stronger."
Arthur nodded. "We’ll keep training."
Eden smiled.
A system notification suddenly appeared before Arthur.
[New Title Unlocked!]
[Master of Rising Beasts]
[Two Beast Partners have reached Level 15 or higher.]
[Effect: The growth rate of all Beast Partners under the user’s contract is increased. Beast Partners gain experience more efficiently and require less experience to advance through future levels.]
Arthur stared at the notification.
A smile slowly formed.
He looked toward Eden and Vedas. And they were still growing.
They continued forward and the guardians became fewer.
Then disappeared entirely which the group noticed.
Kong looked around. "No more."
Melo’s ears twitched. "That’s strange."
Athena looked at the walls. "The mana density is increasing."
Athy flew closer. "The stone is glowing."
She was right. Faint orange and red light ran through the cavern walls. The deeper they went, the stronger it became.
Luna quietly stopped.
Arthur noticed. "What is it?"
Luna looked ahead. "We’re close."
Arthur’s eyes brightened.
The passage eventually opened into an enormous underground chamber.
Everyone slowed.
At the far end stood a massive sealed stone door, ancient symbols covering its surface. But in the center of the chamber stood something else. A strange mask rested on a stone pedestal, dark and ancient, its empty eye sockets glowing faintly orange.
Athena closed her notebook. Athy moved beside her.
Mithra looked at the mask. "That’s definitely not normal."
Vedas tightened his grip around his spear. "We’re finally at the center."
Luna stared at the mask and her expression became uneasy. Arthur took a step forward, his eyes shining.
Then the mask suddenly glowed brighter.
BOOM.
The entire chamber shook.
Arthur smiled. "Looks like we found something."
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