Starting out as a Dragon Slave-Chapter 23 - : Concluding the battle?

The boss's roar echoed throughout the cavern, sending vibrating waves through the black stone walls. Rubble fell from the ceiling in the monster's fury, and Isaac felt a crushing pressure descend upon him.

The three remaining black golems came to life in a single movement, their glowing eyes pulsing with a murderous gleam. Their speed was now even greater, their rage accentuated by the disappearance of their fellow golems.

- WE'RE GOING ON!" shouted Isaac, refusing to let fatigue get the better of him.

Erik and Jonah exchanged glances, then threw themselves at the nearest golem, trying to destabilize it with their combined attacks. But the monster dodged better than before, his movements more reactive, more aggressive.

Malia, short of breath, decided not to wait for the opening this time.

- I'm going bigger! she warned, her voice marked by effort.

She raised her hands, channeling all her remaining mana into a fireball of unprecedented intensity. The heat emanating from it made Jonah and Erik take a few steps back.

Isaac, meanwhile, narrowly avoided a horizontal blow from another golem that almost crushed him against the rock face. He rolled onto his side and, without missing a beat, activated [Black Stone Body] again.

A powerful shudder ran down his spine as his body strengthened again, his skin covering itself with that dense, impenetrable black rock. He threw himself forward and gripped the golem firmly around the head.

- You're going to open my fucking mouth...

His muscles screamed under the effort, but he refused to let go.

The golem struggled, unleashing all its power to free itself, but Isaac was a rock, a monster of raw will. He pulled with all his might, forcing the golem's jaw slowly apart, centimeter by centimeter.

- NOW!

Malia propelled her fireball with surgical precision. The fiery sphere slid straight into the monster's maw, briefly illuminating the interior of its rocky structure. Isaac released his grip at the last moment, leaping back just before the explosion.

BOOM!

The fiery explosion ripped the golem's torso from the inside, sending fragments of black stone flying in all directions. The glare of the blast painted the cavern in an infernal light.

A guttural cry, akin to a gasp of agony, escaped from the monster before it collapsed in a heap of smoking rubble.

For a moment, a heavy silence fell over the battlefield, interrupted by the System's distinctive "Ding!

[Ding!]

[You have contributed greatly to the defeat of a Black Stone Golem!]

[Absorption available]

[Choose your reward: Physical stats or Physical skill].

Isaac, panting, stared at the luminous screen floating in front of him.

- Absorb physical skill.

A wave of heat ran through his body.

[Fusion in progress...] [Your "Black Stone Body" skill is evolving!]

[Body of Black Stone] (Lvl 2 active skill)

- Increases physical defense by 60%.

- Increases strength by 40%.

- Consumes 2.5 stamina points per minute.

Isaac exhaled slowly.

A new energy was bubbling up inside him. His body seemed more solid, more compact, as if it had truly evolved to a higher stage.

But there was no time to savor.

The boss roared again, his massive body starting to move. He ripped a chunk out of the rock face and propelled it at blinding speed in their direction.

- DISPERSION!" shouted Isaac.

The group threw themselves to the sides, narrowly dodging the projectile which crashed with a deafening crash.

The fight had become a nightmare.

The last two remaining black golems, though already formidable in their own right, were now supported by the oppressive presence of the boss. He was no longer a mere spectator: he attacked, he disrupted, he made every move perilous.

Isaac and his group had to juggle between eliminating the last henchmen and constantly dodging the colossus' assaults.

- STAY TOGETHER! he shouted, slicing the air with his katana to avoid a projectile of black rock that passed just inches from his head.

A dull impact shook the ground as the boulder collided violently with a wall, sending splinters flying in all directions. Malia narrowly dodged a sharp fragment, Erik parried a piece of debris with his sword, while Jonah rolled on the ground to avoid another projectile.

But they had no choice.

They had to go ahead with their plan.

The first black golem.

Isaac rushed at it, activating [Black Stone Body] to absorb the blows. His reinforced body absorbed some of the shocks, but he could still feel the raw power of the creatures.

He grabbed the golem's head and, with inhuman strength, tried to open its mouth.

But it was even more difficult than before.

The golem struggled with a new ferocity, as if it understood what was about to happen.

A roar sounded behind Isaac.

He only had time to see a gigantic shadow swoop down on him.

The boss.

With a leap, he let go and rolled to the ground just in time to avoid a massive fist that crashed down with monstrous force. The impact raised a cloud of dust, cracking the ground.

Isaac swore.

The boss was making this strategy much more complicated.

- Erik! Jonah! Make sure I'm covered, I've got to open his mouth!

Both nodded and immediately charged the boss to distract him.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Isaac returned to the golem and clenched his jaw.

He had to force it.

He activated his physical reinforcement and pulled with all his might on the golem's jaw.

- OPEN, DAMN IT!

A sinister creak.

Then, with a shrill crack, the golem's maw finally opened.

- MALIA, NOW!

Without hesitation, Malia hurled a fireball into the monster's gaping throat.

BOOM!

The golem was blown to smithereens by the internal explosion, its fragments scattering in all directions.

The second black golem.

But no sooner had he caught his breath than a "Ding!" sounded in his mind.

A new System notification appeared before his eyes.

[You have contributed to the defeat of a Black Stone Golem!]

[Absorption available]

[Choose your reward: Physical stats or Physical skill].

He didn't hesitate.

- Absorbs physical stats.

A brutal warmth spread through him.

His body firmed, his muscles strengthened even more.

[Absorption in progress...]

[Your strength increases by +15!]

[Your endurance increases by +9!]

There was only one left.

But this time, the boss wasn't just going to watch.

He immediately pounced on Isaac.

A massive fist split the air.

Isaac had just enough time to raise his arms crosswise to protect himself, activating his defensive reinforcement.

The impact was brutal.

He was thrown backwards, colliding violently with a stone pillar. A veil of pain washed over him, but he fought to stay conscious.

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- ISAAC!" cried Malia, terrified.

He grunted and got to his feet, staggering slightly.

It wasn't over yet.

He stared at the last golem, his breathing heavy, and clenched his fist.

He had to repeat the same tactic... but faster.

Without waiting, he propelled himself towards the remaining monster and pounced on it.

The golem tried to crush him under his fist, but Isaac dodged, ducked behind his back and grabbed his jaw again.

His muscles screamed in pain.

His body was at breaking point.

But he couldn't fail.

He summoned up all his remaining strength and fired a sharp blow.

CRAC!

The golem's mouth opened wide.

- MALIA!

A final ball of fire split the air and tore into the monster's throat.

BOOM!

The explosion was even more violent than the previous ones.

The last golem collapsed, its body cracking all over before imploding from internal combustion.

Isaac took a few steps back, his body trembling with the effort.

They'd done it.

Only the boss remained.

He clenched his fist.

A notification appeared.

[You have contributed to the defeat of a Black Stone Golem!]

[Absorption available]

Once again, he chose the physical stats.

The process began again, further intensifying his power.

[Your strength increases by +15!]

[Your endurance increases by +9!]

Isaac exhaled slowly, feeling every fiber of his body vibrate under the new energy that inhabited him.

He had never been stronger.

But just as he was assimilating these new improvements, a tremor shook the room.

A thud.

Heavy.

Powerful.

Isaac looked up.

The boss was furious.

His red eyes shone with an almost supernatural intensity.

He waited no longer.

With titanic strides, he charged.