15 Time to Crush Some Golems

The stone golem asked in a mechanical voice, devoid of any emotion, {What is the most important thing for a man?}

After pondering deeply for a moment, Shiva responded, "For a person, the most important thing is oneself."

The golem fell silent, offering no response. Then, after a brief pause, golden runes manifested before Shiva once more.

<You 2 have failed to provide the correct answer - 3. Proceeding next question.>

Confused, Shiva demanded, "What...? Why is my answer considered wrong? I require an explanation."

However, the system remained indifferent to his query. 

Shortly afterward, another golem emerged from a different corner of the cave. This time, it was a steel golem. Advancing steadily, it joined the stone golem and posed the next question.

{What do you think first came into existence, an egg or a chicken?}

Shiva found himself speechless at this unexpected question. While wondered if the tower is playing a prank on him, the system deemed his silent response a failure.

<You 1 have failed to answer the question - 3. Proceeding next question.>

The same sequence repeated as another golem, this one made of mud, took its place beside the steel golem and posed the third and final question.

{What is the answer to the question, "(2+3-5/4÷56+23)*5/56"?}

{You have one minute to answer.}

"What the... Mathematics! Seriously?" Shiva exclaimed, his frustration evident. Despite his protestations, he proceeded to tackle the equation.

"2 plus... 3 min... No, 3, not... It's plus..."

A minute elapsed before Shiva's befuddled mind could arrive at a solution and system continued to do its job.

<You 0 have failed to answer - 3.>

<As you have failed to answer any question, been deemed unworthy. The golems will now commence the ejection of intruder.>

"What?! You... you're playing games with me now?" Shiva protested indignantly.

But he didn't have the time to utter anything else as all the golems in the room sprung into action, their eyes ablaze with red flames.

"...Fuck!"

Caught between the advancing golems, Shiva barely managed to run back to the portal that he had entered from and escape the dungeon, clutching the glass coffin tightly to prevent it from getting smashed by the relentless golems.

This was how he had escaped from the dungeon in his past life!

This event had been one of the greatest humiliations Shiva had ever faced. But now that he was back here again, he couldn't help but think of how to get his revenge on this dumb golems.

"I'll smash you fuckers so hard that you will remember your creator," Shiva growled, his grip tightening on the flail in his hand. 

His smile was so malevolent that even the golems, devoid of emotions, would have recoiled in terror if they were capable of such feelings.

While the stone golem, the one who had asked the initial question, patiently awaited Shiva's response, Shiva swung his flail with such force that when it connected with the stone golem's face, it shattered into pieces.

<Warning! Warning! You have attacked the 'Stone golem - Lv. 15'>

<The challenger has been identified as a hostile entity.>

<The golems will now retaliate.>

But the golem flailed aimlessly, its head shattered by Shiva's blow.

"You enjoying yourself, you bastard? Let me put you to sleep for good," Shiva declared, marching forward and preparing to strike again with his flail.

"Hold him down, guys," he ordered.

Following his command, the five orc skeletons moved into action. Though weaker and smaller compared to the stone golem, their combined effort was enough to restrain the golem. Each orc held onto a limb, while the last one clutched the golem's severed neck. Even if the golem managed to break free from the orc skeletons, bone hands emerged from the ground to hold it in place.

Shiva leaped onto the body of the golem, his gaze fixed on the golden glow emanating from the stone golem's chest—the location of its core, the power source that fueled its existence.

"This will be useful," he muttered to himself.

Plunging his hand into the golem's chest, Shiva retrieved a small spherical orb glowing with an ethereal light. As soon as he extracted the orb, the green flames in the golem's eyes extinguished, and it returned to its lifeless state.

<You have defeated 'Stone Golem - lv.15'>

<You have obtained 'Thoran's Golem core'>

With a flurry of messages from the system, the stone golem crumbled into a heap of stone shards. Centuries of confinement in the cave had taken their toll, and the golem disintegrated once its core, which held it together, was removed.

"A golem core, huh? This is an unexpected harvest!" Shiva exclaimed, examining the orb in his hand with intrigue.

____________

<Thoran's Golem Core>

Rank - Unique

One of the miraculous creations of Thoran Forger, the ultimate golem creator. This golem core has been enhanced through innumerable experiments, designed to provide energy to a golem while continuously regenerating its power from nature.

When infused into a golem vessel, it will serve as the primary power source, sustaining the golem indefinitely, unless destoryed.

____________

A golem core was an invaluable commodity within the tower, more so if it was crafted by the fallen Legend, Thoran Forger. Moreover, this specific core appeared to be a higher version, making it even more coveted.

A greedy smile spread across Shiva's face as his gaze swept over the hundreds of golems lining the cave, their previously green flames now turning to red.

"Aghora, block their path!" 

Shiva commanded the corruption giant, who moved to position itself between Shiva and the approaching golems.

Standing at the far end of the cave beside the glass coffin, Shiva was alone with the skeletons and the glass coffin; there was nothing else behind the giant.

The corruption giant effectively blocked the entrance to the narrow area, while the orc skeletons filled the gaps around it.

Shiva found himself in a favorable position. Unless the corruption giant collapsed, he could continue to engage the golems one by one while keeping the rest at bay.

With the corruption giant, a vile creature with all its stats allocated to become a sturdy shield, there was little chance it would falter against the degraded golems weakened by centuries of rust.

"Thanks in advance, guys!" 

Shiva exclaimed with a gleam of greed in his eyes as he prepared to engage the golems, flanked by the five orc skeletons standing before him, forming a protective barrier.

It was time to crush some golems.

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