” (That guy is the “Colossus”…) “
The main Golem of the Colossus sector was found surprisingly easily.
This was because the surrounding terrain was unique.
Basically, the Goronomua Mountains only have mountains or valleys, but around the “Colossus,” there was a flat wasteland, about the size of two mountains, with no undulations.
The “Colossus” stood imposingly in the center of this surprisingly open plain.
“(〖Zone Control〗… no, that’s not it)”
I can’t say for sure since we’re still far away, but I don’t feel the pressure of dominating the area that’s unique to 〖Zone Control〗.
Is this just the way the terrain is?
“Well, I’ll wait here.”
To get to the plaza, we have to cross another mountain, but Fiss jumped off me.
This is due to a certain rumor about the “Colossus.”
It is said that the “Colossus'” 〖Mana〗 detection is out of the ordinary, and even if you use analysis magic from the edge of its range, your location will be identified.
It is also said that its long-range attack power is outstanding, so no matter how far away you are, if your location is revealed, you will be accurately targeted.
Although the details of the attack were not rumored, it seems that it has a super long-range sniping ability.
I don’t think I’ll be found if I don’t use magic, but there’s also the danger of stray shots. So, I’ll have her wait around here.
“(Oh, this is the back side. That saves me the trouble of going around)”
I muttered in my mind as I advanced through the mountains.
The “Colossus” was standing with its back to us, so it seemed possible to get somewhat close even in this open wasteland.
I carefully moved the Forest Shackles, using 〖Stealth〗 as I advanced through the wasteland.
I also paid close attention to the “Colossus,” which remained motionless.
Its unmoving figure looked like a giant statue.
Its body shape was different from that of a normal Golem, with thick arms, legs, and torso; it had a toned body like an athlete.
Its frame was covered in something like golden armor, with dark blue lines running across its surface.
Its height was about a head taller than me or Hanji, about ten adults tall.
The most distinctive feature was the crystals protruding from its shoulders and back.
The color was a clear scarlet, the same color as the Mana Crystal I found in the Feral Beast area, but… did it absorb a Mana Crystal?
It’s beyond the first rank, and such a large Mana Crystal. I can’t imagine how much 〖Mana〗 it contains.
It seems better to avoid a war of attrition.
“(I’ll stop around here, 〖Replicant Form〗)”
I was still a hundred meters away, but if I got too close, I might be noticed.
Thanks to 〖Trajectory Prediction〗, my accuracy has improved, so I decided to snipe from here.
I nocked explosive arrows on each of the two Poison Bows.
〖Poison〗 doesn’t work on Golems, so I won’t imbue them with 〖Mana〗. It also makes it easier to leak my presence.
I aimed the two arrows, finished charging 〖Heavy Shot〗, and was about to fire when the “Colossus” suddenly jumped.
“(It noticed me just from that?!)”
The moment I shifted to attack, the change in consciousness would create a gap, and my presence concealment would falter, which used to happen often.
But that was when 〖Stealth〗 was 〖Stealth〗.
Since it leveled up, that rarely happened… I guess I underestimated the “Colossus'” detection ability.
“(〖Heavy Shot〗!)”
I quickly aimed at its evasion point and released the arrows.
The arrows were on a trajectory that would accurately pierce the “Colossus.” But the “Colossus,” turning towards me as it jumped, put its arms forward and deployed a translucent barrier.
A sturdy barrier made of a large amount of 〖Mana〗.
However, these were also top-grade explosive arrows, refined to the limit. And I fired two at the same time.
The clear sound of the barrier shattering was drowned out by the explosion.
The blast rushed towards the “Colossus” behind it.
“(Electrification, 〖Rampage〗!)”
Before I could see the result of the attack, I had already buffed myself and started running.
I won’t engage in a shooting match. I’ll bring it into close combat and finish it quickly!
“(It’s so obvious, 〖Leap〗!)”
I felt a strong 〖Mana〗 surge and jumped.
Immediately after, a laser beam flew through the smoke.
It seems that while it’s good at 〖Mana〗 detection, it’s not so good at 〖Mana〗 concealment.
With the help of 〖Blink〗, I advanced rapidly, and with the momentum, I passed the point where the explosive arrows landed. Just as planned.
The “Colossus” was also retreating, so I ended up leaping right above it.
“(〖Air Jump〗, 〖Falling Strike〗, 〖Charge Slash〗!)”
I immediately descended.
I mimicked the Forest Turtle’s Halberd, which ignores defense, and the Earth Affinity Ant Blade, swinging them down with all my weight.
The “Colossus” couldn’t dodge and went on the defensive.
The 〖Mana〗 barrier that was deployed again broke like thin paper, and just as it was about to be cut in half, two swords appeared.
The “Colossus” crossed them to block my attack.
“(Where did they come from, did it make them with 〖Mana〗!)”
The blades were growing from the “Colossus'” arms.
Thick, translucent 〖Mana〗 blades were emerging from the sides of its arms.
The blades were cracked from blocking my falling attack, but they were quickly repaired.
Since they were made of 〖Mana〗, it must be easy to repair them.
“(But the rest of its body isn’t like that!)”
Cracks appeared at the “Colossus'” feet, and even a small crater was formed.
These scars told the story of the enormous energy contained in the previous attack.
And the “Colossus” that received it must have put a considerable load on its joints, such as its elbows, shoulders, waist, and knees.
“(〖Compact Thrust〗! Huh?)”
I was sure that the next attack would be unavoidable, so I thrust with the Halberd.
However, it was avoided by the “Colossus'” agile movement.
The damage to its feet wasn’t that much—
“(No, that’s not it)”
I corrected my information after observing the “Colossus.”
It didn’t jump with its feet. It flew by spewing 〖Mana〗 from the Mana Crystal on its back.
I saw the “Colossus” flying low, and thinking that it would be bad if it escaped from the plaza, I mimicked a bow, but the “Colossus” turned around and landed.
Then it suddenly dropped to its knees.
“(Well, that’s to be expected)”
It took my falling attack head-on, so it’s only natural that its joints would be damaged.
The damage wasn’t limited to its feet; its left arm was hanging limply, and
<–Left Manipulator, Signal Lost–>
Its right arm wasn’t fully raised either.
<–Right Manipulator, Severe Damage–>
If I hit it with an attack like that again, it wouldn’t have any way to defend itself.
…However, it’s unnatural that it stopped on its own.
It didn’t seem like it had run out of 〖Mana〗 to fly, so it might be trying to lure me into an attack.
I’ll try a long-range attack to see what happens. This way, if it starts to run away again, I can quickly aim for its back.
<–Calculating enemy combat power… Complete. Threat Level: Class E. Solo defeat is impossible. Requesting cooperation from subordinate units–>
That’s what I was thinking as I took out an explosive arrow.
That’s when four shadows jumped out from the mountain behind the “Colossus.”
<–Call Source Azure Dragon Halberd (Cataract Buster), Unlocked–>
<–Call Flame Vermilion Bird Wings (Burning Wing), Unlocked–>
<–Call Swift White Tiger Drive (Storm Driver), Unlocked–>
<–Call Still Black Tortoise Shield (Glacier Shield), Unlocked–>
“(…Huh?)”
<–Confirming the survival of all subordinate units. Executing Full Unite Armament–>
What happened next was in the blink of an eye.
<–Purging Normal Parts–>
The “Colossus'” arms and lower body were severed, and then it spewed 〖Mana〗 from under its abdomen and flew into the sky,
<–Starting connection with subordinate units–>
The four machines that appeared gathered around the “Colossus,” connected, and filled in its missing body parts,
<–Full Unite Armament, Complete–>
The “Colossus” had gained a new right arm, a left arm, legs, and wings.
It was truly a godspeed combination. There was no time to react.
Everything was over in a moment of stunned silence.
The “Colossus,” having absorbed the power of four machines, landed in the plaza.
The ground shook greatly due to the fall from such a high position.
<–Output stable. System, all green. Crystal link, connection good–>
<–City Defense Type Calamity-Class Pseudo-Golem Machine MGD-EX-0. From this point on, we will eliminate the enemy entity–>
Looking at it, which was exuding a presence from another dimension, I thought from the bottom of my heart.
“(Hey, aren’t you the only one from a different genre…???)”