The Land: Monsters

by Aleron Kong

  Congratulations! You have created a Rank 3, Minor Earth Golem with an 81% Enchantment Efficiency. You have reached the maximum rank of the base resource provided. An efficiency rating of 70% was required to successfully create a Minor golem. For exceeding this limit, you shall be rewarded accordingly!

  There was more to the prompt, but Richter stopped reading in shock. What was all this about a minimum required efficiency? Did that mean if he hadn’t improved his performance, then he still would have failed even after putting in all that work? Would the damn thing have exploded anyway? He gritted his teeth in consternation. Damned hidden knowledge! Once again, he’d nearly been killed, not by a monster but by his own ignorance. It was enough to drive a man mad!

  Eyes wide, Richter also realized that this was perhaps another secret benefit of having progressed his Profession to Tier 2. He hadn’t even known about the concept of enchantment efficiency before he’d ascended. If he’d have tried this while he was still Tier 1, would it have failed without even an explanation as to why? If that was the case, it was no wonder that most attempts to make a golem ended in failure!

  Richter heaved out a heavy breath. He decided to be thankful that he was lucky enough to have had things fall into place. There was no denying that it was his own effort and hard work that had let him fit the various pieces together to obtain a positive result. There was also no doubt, however, that without a series of fortuitous events, he wouldn’t have even had the pieces he needed. Was this his aura? Was it his high Luck? He guessed he’d never know, which made him no different than everyone else.

  He read the rest of the prompt, still wondering at the inanity of it all.

  For exceeding the required Enchantment Efficiency, your golem will be augmented.

  Its original level was determined by your 51 skill levels in Enchanting and was determined to be: 17

  Its final level will be 19 due to your high Efficiency!

  At least he got a bonus. Looking at the construct’s relatively high level, he felt much better about raising Golem Enchanting all the way to the third rank. If he hadn’t upgraded it, the golem’s base level would have only been twelve.

  The glow slowly faded from around the golem, leaving the chaos lord in darkness. Richter cast Simple Light, and then observed his creation in all of its Earth-magic glory. It was made from the same colored stone as the tunnel Richter was squatting in.

  At the inferior rank, it had looked like a jumble of dirt, small stones and roots stuck together in a humanoid shape. The lesser golem had looked much like the first, but bigger and coated with a layer of a concrete-like material. The minor golem was made of solid rock. Looking at it, he felt like it shouldn’t be able to move. It lacked any joints. But when he placed his hand on its chin, it turned the solid stone of its neck as easily as he could move his own. He looked at its face and saw that it had a distinct nose without nostrils and a slit for a mouth. Two medium lips framed the opening. Dark stones sat high in its face where its eyes would go.

  Through the monocle, Richter could see that it was almost burning with green Earth energy. After hours of work, the golem had solidified into a truly massive creature. Looking at Richter, it gave him a shock. Without moving its mouth, it spoke in a voice like gravel scraping across rock, “Maaasssteeerr.”

  Its voice was accompanied by a prompt.

  Congratulations! You have created a Level 19, Rank 3, Minor Earth Golem! Earth golems are the slowest of Basic Element golems, but also have the highest defense and health. Creating a higher-ranked Earth golem has greatly increased its capabilities.

  The ranks of the Earth golems you created have the following stats per level:

  Golem Rank

  Base Attack

  Inc per Lvl

  Base Defense

  Inc per Lvl

  Base H/M/S

  Inc per Lvl

  Base Speed

  Inc per Level

  Inferior

  5

  +0.1

  7

  +1

  50/0/50

  10/3/10

  10 ft/min

  +0.5 ft/min

  Lesser

  7

  +0.25

  10

  +1.5

  75/10/75

  15/5/15

  12 ft/min

  +1 ft/min

  Minor

  10

  +0.5

  14

  +2

  100/25/100

  25/8/25

  15 ft/min

  +1.5 ft/min

  Yeah! Richter thought. Even though he was wiped out, he couldn’t help but grin. His minor golem had twice as much attack, defense, health and stamina as the first rank. Its speed was nothing special, but it was literally a walking tank. Looking at the second line in each box, he saw that the difference in potential was even more impressive. Each level increased his minor golem’s attack four times as much as the lower rank. The increase in defense was twice as fast, and stat growth was massively higher. Basically, his higher-ranked golem was born more badass, but also would gain more power faster than the lower ranks. He was even happier that he’d upgraded Golem Enchanting on his Profession page.

  Not only had increasing the rank of his golem increased its stats, but each rank also unlocked a new special attack. The total stats for his golem were summarized in the next table. As he read it, he knew the golem had been worth every ounce of pain and effort.

  Name: Earth Golem

  Level: 19

  Rank: 3

  Minor Earth Golems are the 3rd rank of golem created by Enchanters.

  STATS

  Health: 575

  Mana: 177

  Stamina: 575

  Attack: 19-20

  Defense: 32

  Speed: 43-44 ft/min

  SPECIAL ABILITY

  Stone Punch (unlocked at Rank 1) – Powerful melee strike

  Damage: Attack*Golem Rank + Golem Level.

  Cost: 25 Stamina

  Cooldown: 2 minutes

  Stomp (unlocked at Rank 2) – Heavy footfall causing creatures to potentially fall and become disoriented and/or confused

  Range: Golem Level * Golem Rank yards.

  Cost: 40 Stamina

  Cooldown: 5 minutes

  Hurl Rock (unlocked at Rank 3) – Ranged attack that allows golem to summon a small boulder to hurl at an enemy

  Damage: Attack*Golem Rank + Golem Level

  Range: Golem Rank*10 + Golem Level*3

  Cost: 30 Stamina

  Cooldown: 4 minutes

  Its stats were better than he could have ever hoped for. While the base values had been okay, the high potential of a minor golem was shining through. At level nineteen, all its numbers had received an insane boost. Its health was as high as a Professional Warrior, with an attack value greater than moonstone weaponry. Its defense was even higher, and should be able to weather sword strikes with ease. Considering the fact that it was solid stone and lacked vital organs, maybe it was even more resilient than he thought. He doubted even his elementum short sword would have been able to shear through it. Now, Black Ice, on the other hand… but then, that was too sad to think about.

  Its speed was also not too bad. It could run faster than the average man, if only just. For being the slowest type of enchanted golem, it was certainly not too bad. What truly shined, and made him ecstatic that he’d increased its level as much as possible, were its special attacks.

  The first ability, Stone Punch, magnified its initial attack dramatically. Considering its rank and level, it would be bringing almost eighty points of pain with its several-ton body following behind. That was enough to turn a man into pink mist. He had to think the same would hold true for monsters.

  The second ability, Stomp, was an AoE ability. Even better, it was crowd control. Richter was pretty confident in his combat abilities, even without his gear, but no matter how tough you were, an enemy with superior numbers could wear you down. Stomp could help him even the odds. At the v
ery least, it might let him run away.

  The third attack, Hurl Rock, even gave him a ranged option. It also had an attack of eighty, with an impressive range as well. He didn’t know how accurate the golem would be, but it could throw a boulder the length of a football field. That was something to be feared.

  Down in the dark, Richter was missing a lot of items that he’d started to take for granted. What he wished for more than almost anything else though was his bow. It wouldn’t do much in tight tunnels, but there were plenty of open spaces down here in the depths. When he’d finally escaped from the ichorpedes, for instance, the pain he’d been able to deliver had been limited by the distance between them. His spells had gotten the job done, but they were mid-range options at best. Weak Fireball and Magic Missile were his longest ranged spells, and they only covered a hundred feet. They also had minutes-long cooldowns like the rest of his magic. Spells were powerful, but a trained archer with a good bow was a killing machine you could never even get close to.

  Richter’s head was throbbing and his throat felt like a sand snake’s bung hole, but he was so happy that he’d taken the hours to make the golem. He was even happier that he’d chosen to buy the True Growth Talent. Over time, his golem’s stats and attacks would grow stronger. Looking at how strong it was now, he had no doubt it would destroy his enemies. It was only a matter of time before it leveled again.

  Curious, Richter pulled up just how much XP it would need to reach level 20. A second later he chuckled ruefully, thinking: and there’s the balance.

  XP for the Earth Golem to reach Level 20: 3,275,000/3,825,000

  It would take 550,000 XP to get the golem to the next level. In that moment Richter did not know it, but he learned why golem enchanters normally invested all of their TPs in leveling up Golem Enchanting. This was also why most thought that purchasing True Growth was something only a sucker would do. The amount of XP required to increase a construct’s level was far higher than it was for a living person. It was generally considered smart to just accept that whatever level a golem was born at would be the same level it would one day die at.

  Richter was starting to suspect that he’d made a bad move in his strategy. When he thought about how he could have bought the next rank in Golem Enchanting rather than True Growth, he’d pretty much decided that yes, he had been a bit of a gyoti. Seeing as how no one else would ever know though, he didn’t stress it too much.

  Richter was almost ready to go. There were just a few things left before he and his giant new ally could go find some dinner. He stared into the black stones that served as its eyes and tried to make a mental connection. Forming the psychic bond felt decidedly weird. It didn’t have the warmth or life he was used to feeling. Even forming a bond with an undead had a… wobbling frequency to it, something to let him know there was activity on the other end.

  The bond with the golem was just still and static. The connection felt lifeless, like a piece of wire. Richter experimented and found that despite the strangeness of it, he could send the golem instructions and even take direct control of its body if he really focused. When he tried this though, he immediately pulled his mind back. Its consciousness felt completely alien. Suppressing a shiver, he decided he wouldn’t do that again unless the situation was dire. Even after connecting to it, Richter wasn’t sure it was truly intelligent. It could speak, but he didn’t know if it had any desires.

  Maybe he’d figure that out in the future, but what mattered now was that he’d succeeded. There had been a few near misses, and it had cost him time, but he had won! He had turned the near-tragedy of the slime’s attack into victory, and no matter what happened next, no one could take that away from him!

  With well-deserved joy in his heart, he told his golem to stand for the very first time. The golem rose to its feet, several tons of loyal servant. He watched his construct pick itself up off the ground like a god watching their creation rise from the primordial ooze. With what he imagined was the same mixture of love and pride, he witnessed it stand to its full seven feet of earthly glory… and slam its head into the top of the tunnel.

  It certainly wasn’t the triumphant ending that Richter had imagined, but no big deal. It was still a massive creature that… a frown creased the chaos lord’s face… a massive creature that… He paused again, looking at his giant of an ally from a slightly different terministic screen.

  He’d made a very large rock creature that had broad, inflexible shoulders, more than seven feet of height and a thick barrel-shaped torso; the kind of creature that would inspire fear in the hearts of his enemies… if it could ever make it out of these tunnels. Tunnels, Richter thought with a Titanic-sized sinking feeling, that were often tight and winding, and in which even he had lost skin in places while trying to squeeze through them…

  Richter looked at the golem that was too big to maneuver around in the tunnels, threw both hands above his head in absolute fury, and screamed, “Goddamn monkey-scrotumed mother fuckeeeerrrrrrr!”

  CHAPTER 29 – Day 151 – Juren 2, 0 AoC

  Richter might have started crying. Straight up, hangry, frustrated man-tears. He had no way to make the golem smaller. There weren’t even any other Talents dealing with golems. Was he really going to have to leave this thing behind? After all that work? And he was so hungry. It wasn’t fair!

  Few know this, but there is no greater suffering than a large man who hasn’t eaten. It was superseded only by a grown man with a cold. He was two seconds shy of balling up a fist and stomping his foot when something occurred to him. He stood there, blinking way too hard, with a seven-foot-tall Earth golem standing over his shoulder, as he thought about it.

  Desperate hope kindled in him and he pulled up an old notification.

  Checking if prerequisite Tier 1 Talent has been obtained: Golem Enchanting…

  Stop! You have not met the requirements to unlock these Tier 2 Talents! You are not qualified to glean this knowledge.

  That was no longer true though, was it? At the time Richter hadn’t met the prerequisites which had triggered this overly rude red prompt … which didn’t bother him at all. But now! Now he did “qualify” and to hell with anyone who thought differently!

  Richter pulled up his Tier 2 Talent tree and looked at the spheres branching off Soul Flavor.

  Congratulations! You are qualified to reveal 2 new Tier 2, Orbit 2 Talents!

  Damn straight, he couldn’t help but think before examining the first Talent. Reading the Talent, he realized there must be a god in The Land, and the dude liked him.

  AUGMENT GOLEM

  Golems of the Basic Elements do not have the broad utility of constructed golems. They are much more specialized based upon the element they are constructed from and the magically charged materials used in their formation.

  Purchasing this Talent allows you to augment the powers and nature of your golem with another magically charged item or material. This item must be compatible with the nature of your golem.

  If it successfully bonds, your golem can develop new powers and characteristics. Be warned, however; augmenting your golem with the wrong materials can weaken it, destroy it or cause a loss of the Enchanter’s control.

  Cost: 48 Talent Points

  Richter smiled. He’d just found a use for the emerald slime core.

  You have Purchased: AUGMENT GOLEM

  You may now add 1 magically active item or material to augment the powers and qualities of your golem.

  Be warned, however; augmenting your golem with the wrong materials can weaken it, destroy it or cause a loss of the Enchanter’s control.

  Upgrade this Talent to rank 2 for 52 Talent Points to be able to add a second material or item and further augment your golem

  You have: 37 Talent Points remaining

  The warning was right there, but for once, Richter completely ignored it. If he didn’t do something, sooner or later his golem would be left behind. He had no idea if the slime core could help, but he really had nothing left
to lose. No matter what happened, he needed to get going again, though his life expectancy would be much higher if he could bring the construct with him.

  Taking the slime core out of his makeshift pouch, he looked at the tall, silent stone figure. I’ve got a gift for you, baby boy. Just as the Talent Golem Enchantments had provided the knowledge to create a construct, Augment Golem gave the same type of general knowledge. Thankfully, it was much simpler than what he had gone through to create his automaton. Richter placed the slime core on the golem’s head.

  You have brought a magically active and compatible substance, Core of a Nesting Stone Slime,

  Richter could have cheered, but he kept reading.

  in contact with your Rank 3, Minor Earth Golem. Be aware that not all augmentations are beneficial. Do you wish to augment your golem? Yes or No?

  Richter took a deep breath and then chose “Yes.” He prayed this would work out, but the truth was, he had no idea what would happen. He was hoping that because the core was from the same slime as the golem’s magical focus, there wouldn’t be any problems. He was also hoping that since the core had come from a creature as malleable as the slime, it would fix the problem of the golem’s large size and its inability to navigate the tunnels. It was only a hope though.

  An invisible force lightly plucked the slime core from Richter’s hand. It sank into the golem’s head. Before it disappeared, he could see that the clear emerald rock had come alive with virescent light. Using the monocle, he saw that the core continued to flash after entering the golem’s stone body. Soon the pulses of light flowing along the construct’s matrix synced with the core’s pattern. The flashes grew brighter and faster, until the energy of the core exploded. Adrenalin shot through Richter, and he wondered if he’d made a horrible mistake, but the power was absorbed into the matrix without a trace. The only change he could see was that the golem’s green framework now matched the bright emerald green of the slime core rather than the deep forest green of Earth magic.