Chapter 27: Distorted Mirror
I'm sure this place wasn't Earth. During my time recovering, I made the effort to learn what I could about this new world I was in. I spent time talking with Hina about the neighboring regions and poured over whatever maps were available. This world was small. Much smaller than Earth. The only thing similar was gravity but even then a planet this small would have much less of it. Even their moon was different. The laws of physics in place here was completely different.
'Like looking at a distorted mirror. It's still you but what you see isn't the real you. And it's the same for the person on the other side.' Tessa's words echoed back at me as we continued down through the fourth floor. Since I was waiting for my mana to regenerate back, we needed Johann to step in and take of them as he shot his own fireballs down the hallway. His stamina was better than mine when it came to casting but he couldn't maintain a barrier as well as Tessa could. Those rifles that the golems carried didn't fire bullets but super condensed mana. It really was like watching a sci-fi movie. No wonder I couldn't find a magazine. It was still weird seeing a rifle like I had shooting laser beams. It's like they took the idea of a gun but found out they couldn't make bullets so they went another way. But with out the problem of reloading, this new solution is more effective.
I don't think QA was prepared for a combo like this though. Their weapons were useless against Tessa's barrier. All Johann had to do was stick out his hand for a second and launch his spells. Those golems were nothing more than brain dead cannon fodder. They didn't even bother to change their tactics at all as Johann mowed them down with efficiency. I'm starting to think I was worried about nothing.
By the time we made it through the next staircase down, what awaited was a giant door looming over us. A single red ping was all that was left on my radar. It awaited us on the other side.
"This is the boss room. The monster we face in here is the most powerful creature the dungeon can create and what guards the treasure inside." Erwyn states nervously, "But... this [Event] is still happening. What would have been a lower class C-Rank monster could be something much stronger. We all need to work together as one if we want to leave here alive today."
We all shout in agreement. There was only one way out. No scuttling away from this. I grip my spear at the ready as the doors were pushed open...
...to revealed a giant square room. Huh, I was expecting something more grand for a boss room. This place looked just like the corridors from before.
We marched towards the middle to meet our opponent as the doors shut close and locked behind us. A golem was there to face us. A golem who looked just like me. The soft light of the crystals that illuminated the arena reflected off it's polished steel carapace. But something was off. It looked... modified. Like I was staring at the latest model of myself. Compared to it, I looked like a rough draft.
Erwyn pulled out his sword, "Is this your brother, Arlan?" he said humorously.
"No brother of mine," I replied back, "So go ahead and have at it."
"I-It's almost like we're fighting you, Arlan." Tessa remarked behind us.
"Yeah. I wouldn't be surprised if it could use my <Golem Arts>."
Aelinor began to nock her arrow, "I've seen what that fist of yours does to a living creature. Let's not get hit with that, shall we?"
The golem seemed to discern our intent as it's several eyes burned a bright crimson. Hot damn, that looks creepy! Is that what my eyes do when I get angry? No wonder that rescue group that came to the sty was so freaked out when they saw me.
[THE NEXT PHASE OF TESTING HAS COMMENCED. MODEL TYPE VK2-P WILL BE USED TO TEST MODEL TYPE VK1-P FUNCTIONALITY IN COMBAT.]
The voice boomed around us again as the golem raised it's palm towards us.
"Everyone get next to me!" Tessa shouted. If that thing was just like me, it's going to cast a spell. We quickly step back as Tessa surrounds us in a bubble.
[THIS IS ALSO A REMINDER THAT WHILE MODEL TYPE VK2-PROTOTYPE IS AUTHORIZED FOR USE IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, IT MUST FIRST BE APPROVED BY THE FACILITY DIRECTOR. PLEASE DIRECT ANY QUERIES YOU MAY HAVE TO YOUR DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP.]
The spell didn't come. It's hand had separated into pieces, revealing what looked like a barrel underneath.
"W-What's it doing!?" Johann yelled. Does that thing have a gun attached to its arm!?
[Warning: Mana Energy levels are rising within the target.]
Oracle rings her warning at me as a giant beam of light shot out from it's arm and hit our barrier with thundering tenacity. Tessa groaned as she struggled to maintain it as the consistent ray battered against our shield.
This single moment felt like an eternity when at last the beam finally stopped. Tessa released the barrier and collapsed down on her knees, gasping for air. A heavy cloud of smoke emanated from the golem's arm barrel as it's hand returned back to form.
Not wanting to give it a chance to recover, me and Erwyn lunged forward and struck with our weapons.
It flourished both his arms as a blade shot out from it's forearm and parried Erwyn's sword swing. My spear tip had stopped in midair against it's other arm.
A light blue glow of mana waved through the air above it's left forearm. It could deploy a mini mana barrier!? It was using it like a personal shield!
It pushed me away with potent force as it continued it's assault against Erwyn. That thing was as fast as I am. Maybe even faster. And it doesn't tired either. It kept slashing at Erwyn, unrelenting with it's strikes. He could barely keep up with the golem. All he could do was focus on defense. But the golem's attention was entirely on it's target.
I rush forward to stab at it's exposed back. However, it deftly turns around to parry away my spear and thrusts forward with it's arm-blade. I contort my body and just barely avoid being stabbed. This thing was good but not as good as the Guildmaster when it comes to sword play. Compared to a mortal fighter, this golem's actions were too mechanical. The problem now was it's defense. This thing was capable of threat detection and was using it to predict our melee attacks with machine like efficiency.
But now it was focused on me. We stared each other down as the golem didn't seem to want to get in striking range of my spear. It seemed to understand what kind of weapon I was using and was waiting for a chance to counter attack.
"[Charged Shot]!"
"[Ice Spear]!"
Johann and Aelinor's voices rang out as their attacks race towards the golem. Only to bounce off harmlessly. The golem didn't even attempt to block their attacks! What is that thing made of!?
It turned it's head towards our ranged attackers and raised it's fist once more at them. It didn't open it's palm as it aimed it's arm directly at Aelinor...
"Shit, it's going to-!" I couldn't even finish my sentence as it's fist shot out with a deafening boom towards the elf.
"Aelinor!!" Johann screamed as he pushed her away from the golem's speeding fist and braced himself for the hit.
But the attack never came. A barrier had appeared to stop the fist in midair. Sweat covered Tessa's face, strewn with strain at stopping the terrific brunt of another attack.
This was it! The opening we've been looking for!
"Erwyn! Cut off it's cord!" I shouted. [Rocket Punch] was an incredible skill but it's glaring weakness was the exposed cord. Guildmaster Kurtz had seen it enough times to point that out during one of our training sessions.
Erwyn lunged towards the exposed cable and with an exasperated shout slices it apart.
"Arlan! Together!!" he shouts as we both strike towards the golem for one final blow. It seemed to hesitate just for a second before it decides to block my blow with his mana shield. It must have decided which one of us was the most dangerous as Erwyn's swing barely lacerates it's metal chassis.
"Nnh!? But I put all my mana into that blow!" he shouts in confusion.
"Then I'll have to improvise!" I yelled back.
Unlike the golem, I still have both arms. Freeing up my left hand, I pull out my spare sword from it's sheath. Pouring in whatever mana I managed to recover, I take aim for it's core and stab right through it's center. Without it's other arm, it was defenseless against another deadly blow. I could hear the crunch of crystals as my weapon skewered the golem all the way through as the combination of my strength and mana distorted the sword's blade into a gnarled mess.
Like a puppet cut free of it's strings, the golem collapses onto the floor in a jumbled heap. The light of it's crimson eyes slowly fades away, it's body motionless on the ground. Even with such a radical change of look, I couldn't help but think that's what it would look like if I died.
All it takes is one good shot to hit your core. I can die just as easy as the rest...
I shake myself out of my melancholy to go check on the others with Erwyn. They were breathing a lot easier now that the battle was over.
Johann had rushed over to Aelinor, "You aren't hurt, are you? I, uh, pushed you pretty hard..."
"Nh, I'm fine, Johann." she said a bit sheepishly, "I-I um... t-thank you for trying to save me back there..."
They both turned away from each other, faces beet red in embarrassment. I could see Erwyn giving me a shrewd grin as we watched the scene. I shook my head at him in bother and walked over to Tessa who was breathing heavily from weariness.
Concerned, I ask "You OK?"
She gives me the same timid smile, "I-I'll be ok, Arlan. J-Just a bit tired..." her face was downcast, "Today was the first time I had to fight for my life without Master Hina here with me. I was so afraid someone would die if I didn't do everything I could..."
I offered her my hand to help her up, "You saved Johann and Aelinor from that golem. Hell, you saved us all. Be proud of yourself. You did good, Tessa."
She looked away from me as her face turned bright red from my praise as I help her up back on her feet, "Thank you, A-Arlan..."
"Is it finally over!?" Johann yells in excitement, "Did we clear the event!?"
"I think so," Aelinor stated, "We just need to head to the Treasure Room. Though after all this, I really just want to get out of here."
"I wouldn't mind that either but we still need to help Arlan find what he's looking for down here." Erwyn replied, "Do you know where it is?"
I tried to remember what the message said, "There's suppose to be something I can access inside the Treasure Room. Let's just head over there for now."
Erwyn nodded, "Right. Well... since the entrance was that way, the Treasure Room should be located over... huh?"
"What's wrong?" I asked.
He looked confused, "There's suppose to be another door here that leads to it." He turned back to the entry doors as well, "The door back hasn't opened either!? Something's wrong..."
Aelinor face twisted in fear, "Is the [Event] not finished!?"
Terror began to circulate throughout our group as the robotic voice filled the air again.
[GOLEM MODEL TYPE VK1-P HAS SUCCESSFULLY PASSED. PROCEEDING TO FINAL TEST. COMMENCING AREA CHANGE FOR GREATER COMBAT VARIABILITY.]
We all gasped as the dungeon around us began to change as square blue lights raced across the ceiling and walls. The claustrophobic scenery disappeared. We now found ourselves outside in the middle of a giant colosseum. An alien sky was above us as giant twin moons illuminated the arena, basking it all in light of dusk.
"W-What's going on!?" Tessa shouted in panic, "Where are we!? This doesn't look like we're back outside!"
She was right about that. The world doesn't have moons like the ones in the sky. Even the stars are completely different... Don't tell me I got transported to another world again.
[WE WILL NOW COMMENCE THE FINAL PART OF THE TEST. COMBAT AGAINST MODEL TYPE CK-01. ALL OBSERVING PERSONNEL ARE REQUIRED TO RECORD ANY AND ALL COMBAT DEFICIENCIES TO INSURE MORE EFFECTIVE TESTING IN THE FUTURE.]
The floor in front of us split open as an elevator brought up our last opponent. It's gigantic shadow began to engulf us...
[MODEL TYPE CK-01 'CENTAURION' GOLEM IS NOW ACTIVATED.]
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Serphio
Serphio We've reached this arc's final boss. If this thing had an intro theme, 'Blooming Villain' from Persona 5 would start playing right now.
I'll say this again at the epilogue chapter but I just want to thank you all for taking the time to read my work. I sincerely hope you're enjoying what I'm writing.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
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