Chapter 99: The Awakening Golem

Hiss.

The moment Nolan’s words fell, the atmosphere at the entrance hall turned heavy once more.

Making a plan was one thing. Carrying it out was another.

Self-destruct. Not a single one of us will make it out. Those words weighed on everyone’s chest like a massive boulder. It meant this operation allowed only success, never failure. Once they began, there would be no turning back.

Every gaze gathered on Nolan again, waiting for his final decision.

But Nolan did not look at them. Instead, he lowered his head toward Little Donnie. “Little Donnie, you’re the one in the greatest danger in this plan. You’ll be drawing the attention of a Gold-tier golem head-on. You could die at any moment. Are you afraid?”

Caught off guard, Little Donnie froze for a second before puffing out his chest and slapping it hard. “No, Brother Nolan!” he shouted, trying to drown out his own nerves with sheer volume. “I’d never pass up a chance to get stronger! Besides, getting to fight alongside you is something I’m excited about!”

This kid was getting better and better with words.

Nolan smiled with quiet satisfaction before turning to the others. “What about the rest of you? Any objections?”

Vivi and Renee both shook their heads firmly. Their trust in Nolan bordered on blind faith. Whatever Nolan decided, they would support without hesitation.

Romina studied Nolan in silence, her expression complicated.

This human’s plan was bold, even reckless at first glance, yet every step had been meticulously considered and clearly arranged. At the same time, his understanding of lost knowledge ran surprisingly deep. Though she still remained wary of him, she had to admit that working with him allowed her, for the first time in a long while, to set aside the burden her people always relied on her to carry.

Perhaps it was inappropriate for the moment, but the feeling was undeniably pleasant.

“I have no objections,” she said simply.

“Good.” Nolan nodded. “Since everyone’s agreed, prepare to move.”

“O-okay!”

Little Donnie inhaled deeply and stretched his limbs according to the infantry drills he had learned in the Rosenberg Guard, trying to shake the tension from his body. Then he turned back toward the group, forcing out a grin as he cracked a joke.

“Well then… I’m leaving my little life in everyone’s hands!”

Even Renee burst out laughing at his antics, while Vivi rolled her eyes at him in exasperation.

After speaking, he deliberately turned toward the still-serious Romina and flashed her a grin. “Don’t hold back on us now. We’re all in the same boat, Wood Elf big sis!”

“Big sis?” Romina blinked, her elegant brows immediately knitting together. Several seconds passed before she finally squeezed out a reply through clenched teeth. “…I’m only two hundred and ten years old.”

Her tone carried unmistakable dissatisfaction at being called old.

Two hundred and ten years old…

Little Donnie’s smile froze. Vivi and Renee were equally stunned.

On the Vaughn Continent, ordinary humans generally lived between one hundred and one hundred twenty years. Even those who extended their lifespan through increased power levels would still consider two hundred and ten years unimaginably ancient.

Humans who awakened their “Origin” could rival the long lives of elves, but such individuals were exceedingly rare, each one standing at the pinnacle of existence. Only elves would ever use the words “only” and “two hundred and ten years old” in the same sentence.

At that moment, everyone truly understood just how differently long-lived races perceived time compared to short-lived species like humans.

“Enough fooling around.” Nolan stepped in to smooth things over. “Wood Elves are a long-lived race. Two hundred and ten for them is about the same as twenty to twenty-two for humans.”

He immediately grew serious again.

“That’s enough joking around. Stay sharp. We’re starting.”

Nolan’s expression hardened as he gave the signal to begin the operation.

“According to plan, Little Donnie, you go first. Remember, our goal is to lure it out. Don’t get dragged into a prolonged fight.”

“Understood!”

“Everyone, take your positions. Move!”

Little Donnie swallowed hard and tightened his grip on the longsword in his hand. Alone, he began walking toward the Eagle-Headed Golem that radiated terrifying pressure.

Vivi and Romina retreated to the edges of the hall. One raised her hand crossbow while the other drew an arrow, both ready to fire at any moment. At Nolan’s signal, Renee sat cross-legged on the floor, closed her eyes, and began adjusting her mental state.

Everyone waited for the dreadful Eagle-Headed Golem to awaken from its slumber.

Little Donnie’s heart pounded violently in his chest. His palms were slick with sweat. He might have claimed not to be afraid, but facing a Gold-tier opponent without nerves would have been impossible. Especially when this thing was an ancient construct that embodied the pinnacle of magitech and the epic legacy of the forerunners. Still, he did not retreat. His courage and thirst for strength overwhelmed the fear in his heart. Step by step, he approached the golem standing in the center of the hall.

Fifty meters.

Forty.

Thirty…

As the distance closed, he could even make out the countless fine cracks weathered into the stone body by the passage of time.

Everyone’s hearts rose into their throats.

Yet strangely enough, the Eagle-Headed Golem remained motionless, still leaning on its battle axe as though it truly were nothing more than a lifeless statue.

The thunderous attack they had expected never came.

“Wh-what’s going on?” Vivi muttered under her breath. “Don’t tell me it’s… broken? It’s been sitting here for ten thousand years. Maybe the core rusted shut?”

Little Donnie also stopped in confusion and looked back toward Nolan.

Seeing this, Nolan froze for a second before slapping his forehead.

Damn it. I was so busy thinking about how to fight the thing that I forgot this part.

He had been trapped by game logic again. In the game, hostile monsters and golems automatically activated the moment someone entered their detection range. But this was the real Vaughn Continent.

“Little Donnie, wait!” Nolan hurriedly called out. “I forgot to mention this. The golem has an extremely sophisticated identification system. It won’t activate against targets that lack demonic bloodlines and don’t display hostility. You need to… hit it first.” He paused before adding another warning, “And the moment you do, run.”

The puzzled Little Donnie immediately understood.

So that’s how it works!

He flashed Nolan a hand signal to show he understood, then took a deep breath and walked right up to the golem’s feet. Looking up at the towering construct, he drew the longsword at his waist without hesitation.

The 【Darkpiercer】 emitted a faint glow within the dim hall.

Klose, your sword better not fail me here. Don’t screw me over, Little Donnie thought nervously.

“Hey, big guy. Wake up!” he shouted to bolster his courage, then swung his blade toward the golem’s thigh.

Yet just as the sword was about to make contact, before the strike even landed—

Bzzzt!

The Eagle-Headed Golem’s hollow eyes suddenly blazed with icy blue light.

“Provocative behavior detected. Golem #5384 entering alert state. Commencing threat elimination.”