GRRRRRRUMBLE—

The screech of metal on metal filled the air as the massive door, hidden in the darkness, ground open inch by inch.

Dust and a thick, musty odor washed over them.

Allen’s pupils constricted, his Spiritual Power instantly focused as he barked out orders.

"All units, fall back to the factory entrance and form a defensive line!"

"PX-0, charge the main cannon! Lock your target on that gate!"

The fourteen Spider Slayers immediately stopped gathering materials. They retreated with silent steps, fanning out on both sides of the enormous factory entrance. Activating sniper mode, they too aimed at the dark, massive door.

PX-0’s body took a few steps back. The Divine Punishment Main Cannon on its chest lit up once more, destructive energy gathering at the muzzle, held at the ready.

Amidst the blinding light and the sharp grating of metal, a colossal shadow slowly emerged from within.

It was also a Six-legged Golem, but its size was simply monstrous.

It stood over eight meters tall—nearly the height of a three-story building and twice as tall as PX-0.

Its main torso was no longer a disc, but a heavy, angular, polygonal fortress. Its six metallic legs were far thicker than the patrol model’s, and every step it took made the entire factory floor tremble.

What was most striking were the three ancient weapons it wielded.

Its right mechanical arm was equipped with a giant battle-axe that pulsed with blue light. On its left, it carried a massive ancient Magic-guided Long Spear. In front, it held an enormous light shield, large enough to conceal almost its entire body.

The three mechanical arms were spaced out on its torso, and its waist could rotate 360 degrees, making it incredibly agile.

And at the top of its torso, a single, larger, and brighter eye glowed with red light, locking onto PX-0 at the factory entrance.

[WARNING! HIGH-INTENSITY MAGIC POWER SIGNATURE DETECTED!]

[COMPARING TO DATABASE...]

[ANCIENT LARGE GUARDIAN - BULWARK-CLASS.]

[THREAT LEVEL: HIGH!]

"High?" Allen’s eyebrow twitched.

DSeek only had three threat classifications: Low, Medium, and High. High meant this thing’s Magic Power fluctuations were already on par with an Official Wizard.

"Strike first! Fire now!" Allen ordered decisively.

The moment the order was given, a blazing red beam of light tore through the air, carrying terrifying heat capable of melting steel as it shot precisely toward the large Golem’s single eye! 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Faced with a fatal blow that could instantly kill a two-headed Chimera, the Ancient Golem reacted with extreme speed, immediately swinging its massive shield in front of it.

BOOM—!!!

The beam of destruction slammed squarely into the shield.

The world-shaking explosion he expected never happened.

Instead, profound Runes on the Ancient Rune Light Shield suddenly lit up, forming hexagonal lattices that completely neutralized the energy of the Divine Punishment Main Cannon!

And the shield itself, apart from its Runes flashing a few times, was completely unscathed!

The corner of Allen’s eye twitched violently.

’Holy shit... It neutralized the energy?’

The technology in this shield was more than a level above his PX-0!

Before he could recover from his shock, the Ancient Golem immediately moved its shield aside, a targeting beam from its single eye locking onto PX-0.

"Evasive maneuvers!"

PX-0 reacted instantly, leaping to the side.

BOOM!

A laser beam grazed PX-0’s shoulder and flew past, blasting a huge hole through the factory’s outer wall.

The power of that attack was only slightly less than the Divine Punishment Main Cannon!

’My main cannon is countered, and its ranged attack is this deadly...’

’My Golem doesn’t have a shield like that. Close combat is the only option.’

"Xiong Da!"

Allen voluntarily disconnected his primary control link. "Abandon ranged suppression. Its movement patterns are predictable, but it’s too powerful to take head-on."

"Engage in autonomous combat. Unleash your battle instincts."

"Tear it apart!"

"Orders... received!"

For the first time, PX-0’s stiff, synthesized voice carried a trace of a beast’s excitement and bloodlust.

Even the light in its eyes shifted from a calm blue to a violent crimson.

Allen’s consciousness withdrew, ceding full control of the machine to the core created from the soul of the Volcano Tyrant Ape Leader. ’This is a job for a professional,’ he thought. ’At a critical moment like this, I can’t be the one holding it back.’

"ROAR!"

A tremendous roar erupted from within PX-0’s body.

It no longer retreated. Its heavy metal legs pushed off with explosive force, and its entire four-meter-tall body shot forward like a cannonball, charging straight toward the Ancient Shield Bearer!

The Ancient Golem seemed surprised that the "little guy" dared to charge. Its single eye flickered, and instead of firing another ranged attack, it swung its battle-axe to meet the charge.

As it rushed forward at high speed, PX-0 suddenly dropped low, landing on all fours like a true Violent Ape. It scrambled across the ground with incredible agility, pushing its design to the absolute limit to narrowly evade the axe’s swing.

At the same time, the two secondary cannons in its palms were firing wildly, beams of energy shooting precisely at the long joints of the large Ancient Golem’s legs!

PING! PING! PING!

Sparks flew, but they only managed to leave shallow, melted pits on the ancient armor.

But the goal of harassing it had been achieved.

The Ancient Golem’s movements froze for a split second.

’Now’s the chance!’

PX-0’s massive body was already up close. It threw a punch, not at the giant shield, but smashing it viciously into the Shield Bearer’s right wrist—the one holding the battle-axe!

CLANG—!!!

A deafening clang of metal on metal echoed throughout the factory.

The large Ancient Golem’s strength far surpassed PX-0’s. The battle-axe only wobbled slightly before the shield swept in horizontally, swatting PX-0’s chest like a fly.

BAM!

PX-0 was sent flying back over ten meters, a large dent caving in its thick chest plate.

"All Spider Slayers, concentrate fire on its joints and single eye! Fire at will, maintain suppressive fire!"

Allen’s voice rang out from the rear.

The fourteen Spider Slayers immediately emerged from behind different points of cover. Fourteen red beams formed a web of fire, engulfing the Ancient Golem from all directions.

The Ancient Shield Bearer immediately raised its shield, blocking most of the beams, but a few still found their mark, striking its knee and ankle joints at awkward angles.

Although they couldn’t inflict any substantial damage, the constant harassment overloaded its processing logic, successfully slowing its movements.

Meanwhile, the battered PX-0 rolled to its feet, the damage to its chest plate not affecting its movements in the slightest.

The berserk battle lust of the Volcano Tyrant Ape Leader was fully ignited. It charged once more!

A primal, savage brawl ensued.

PX-0 fought without restraint, like a frenzied beast, using its smaller, more agile frame to constantly weave and dodge, searching for an opening.

Its fists, elbows, knees—every part of its body it could use—became a weapon, relentlessly hammering the Ancient Shield Bearer’s joints.

The Ancient Golem, on the other hand, was like an experienced Heavy Armor Warrior—methodical, its offense and defense perfectly balanced.

Its giant shield was a perfect defense, while its battle-axe and long spear were a lethal threat.

BOOM! BAM! CLANG!

The clash of steel was incessant, sending sparks and broken parts flying everywhere.

The battle reached a stalemate.

’This isn’t working. It’s taking too much damage.’

Allen frowned, looking at the ever-increasing number of scars on PX-0. ’Xiong Da’s combat instincts are strong, but the enemy is just too damn tough. It’s a pure stat-check.’

’I have to create an opening!’

Allen’s gaze fell on the single eye. Based on previous combat experience, that device, similar to a laser emitter, was its weak point.

"Spider Slayers, concentrate all fire on the single eye! Don’t let it move its shield!"

The opportunity came quickly.

While blocking the concentrated fire from the Spider Slayers, the Ancient Golem’s shield was indeed unable to cover anything else.

But the battle-axe in its hand still shrieked through the air, carving a huge arc from right to left as it swept towards PX-0’s waist!

"Now!"

Instead of retreating, PX-0 advanced, taking a sudden step forward and raising its left arm.

KRA-CHUNK—!!!

With a gut-wrenching screech of tearing metal, PX-0’s entire thick left arm was sheared clean off at the shoulder by the battle-axe!

The massive steel arm went spinning through the air and crashed heavily to the ground.

A huge price... paid for a half-second opening!

The Ancient Golem’s battle-axe, having sliced through PX-0’s arm, had its momentum stalled.

And PX-0, at the cost of its left arm, had thrown itself inside the enemy’s guard, kicking away the Magic-guided Long Spear that stabbed at it diagonally!

Its remaining right arm, fingers splayed, clamped onto the Ancient Golem’s face. The beam emitter in its palm was already fully charged.

"ROAR!"

Amidst Xiong Da’s furious roar, a searing beam, thicker than any before, blasted at point-blank range directly into the Ancient Shield Bearer’s glowing red eye!

TZZZZZZ—!!!

This time, there was no shield to block it.

The destructive energy poured in unopposed.

The Ancient Golem’s massive body shuddered to a halt. The red light in its single eye flickered wildly before, with a final "POP," it went out completely.

Its raised battle-axe fell limply. Its enormous body swayed, then toppled forward with a heavy crash.

Allen looked at the one-armed, battle-scarred PX-0, then at the enormous wreck on the ground, and let out a long breath.

"Loss of one left arm. Estimated cost: three thousand five hundred Magic Stones."

He walked over to the Ancient Shield Bearer’s side and kicked the giant shield.

"DSeek, valuation."

[ONE ANCIENT RUNE LIGHT SHIELD. EXTREMELY RARE ON THE MARKET. UNABLE TO PROVIDE VALUATION.]

A smile finally broke out on Allen’s face.

He directed the Spider Slayers and the one-armed PX-0 to begin clearing the battlefield.

With the experience of fighting a large Ancient Golem, the remaining ranged Golems in the factory, with their rigid movement logic, were like lambs to the slaughter before him and his Golem Legion.

A few hours later, the entire factory had been swept clean.

Allen stood before a mountain of ancient parts, like a King surveying his bountiful harvest.

His gaze finally fell upon the soccer-ball-sized, giant ancient core that he had extracted from the head of the large Ancient Golem.

This was the greatest prize of all.