Souta's expression was grave as he observed the group of golems that possessed an energy level of a B-rank powerhouse.

It seems that he needed to use the rewards that he received from the quest in Ladros City. He also hasn't completed the [Finding] quest. To complete it, he just needed to point Cl.u.s.ter to Lumilia. Since Cl.u.s.ter was here, Lumilia just needed to arrive in this place and he will complete this quest that will give him extra 3 skill points. Also, he had the [Boss Battle] quest. To complete it, he just needed to defeat the boss of this tower, Curdova.

Currently, he had 43 skill points and 143 free attribute points. He could use this to strengthen himself but doing so would distract him from battle.

Souta took a deep breath and tried to think of a way how could buy some time to allocate his points. 'If this guy start talking again then I would have enough time.' He thought as he took a glance at Curdova who was behind the group of the golem.

One, two, three, four, five, six, and seven... The total number of golems was seven. Seven B-rank powerhouses. Even if he wasn't injured, he couldn't get rid of seven B-ranks easily.

Two of the seven golems quickly dashed at Souta.

Swoosh!

Souta kicked the ground as he jumped away while slashing his sword.

[Crimson Moon]!!

The two golems blocked his attack and another two golems jumped over, heading in his direction.

[Shadow Bind]!!

Several tentacles rose from the ground and it stretched out towards the two humanoid golems. Also, Souta stopped the gravitational field on Curdova's body.

For now, he will use the power of his [Gravitational Ball] to help him fight this group of humanoid golems. Still, he didn't completely ignore Curdova. There's a possibility that Curdova was just waiting for an opportunity to strike him so had to be wary about it.

It's a psychological attack. Just by standing there and looking at Souta could give him pressure and distract him from fighting the humanoid golems.

'Damn! This is getting harder!' Souta cursed inwardly as he swung his sword repeatedly trying to blast away the two golems.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The two golems coordinated perfectly as both of them deflected all of Souta's attack precisely.

It was good. As expected of the [Earth Elemental Golem Summoning] spell. The golems had good battle sense unlike the golems on the ground which he could easily predict the movements.

These humanoid golems had complicated battle patterns just like an expert warrior.

Souta could keep up with two golems even though he was injured and exhausted. His attribute and skills which were higher than normal B-ranks make up for this.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

'Can you still handle it Souta?' Saya asked him.

'Somehow...' Souta replied to him and then he saw another two humanoid golems charged at his side.

Swoosh! Swoosh!

Right now, he was fighting four out of seven humanoid golems. Four B-ranks in short.

After a few seconds, the remaining three also charged at Souta. It seems that they were going to use their number to eliminate him. They realized that they couldn't defeat him without working together so they will work together.

If Souta wasn't using [Possession] then the difficulty of fighting all of seven golems was really high. But since he was using this skill, he could keep up with them somehow but he didn't know how long he will last.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Souta was dodging the punches of the golems while moving backward. He had to avoid getting cornered by all seven golems at all costs. He would be instantly defeated if that happened.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

All he could do was to passively defend against the golems barrage punches. He was helpless against them. He was too busy fighting the golems that he didn't notice that he was only fighting six golems.

At this time, he was still trying to think of a way to escape this situation while glancing at Curdova in case he made a move. The pressure he was feeling at this moment was heavy.

'Don't tell Souta... you're planning to use the soul once again...' Saya said.

'Yes, can you think of a reason to tell my comrades while I'm fighting with these guys?' Souta nodded and asked her.

'As long as no one knows that you could consume the souls of living creatures then you would be safe. It's better to tell them that you've found a way to cultivate your soul... As long as there's no god-level powerhouse in this place then no one could sense the souls.' Saya paused for a moment before she added, 'I forgot that the moment you use that power, the souls in the earring would materialize and fuse with your body. The moment it materialized people would see it. That's why the seven-circle officers knew that you're using a forbidden technique.'

'Well said...' Souta replied to her and the missing golems burst out of the ground just beneath his feet.

The golem grabbed ahold of his feet and pulled him.

Swoosh!

"Shit!! I didn't notice that there's a missing golem!!"

Souta cursed as he fell down and saw the other six golems flying at him, ready to kill him.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

"What?!"

He opened his eyes widely as he saw the person in front of him.

"Why are you here...?"

The man in front of him was a tall man with short brown hair. Some part of his skin was green and the color of his eyes was blue. He was none other than Brando Hylott, a core member of the Dark Oculus Legion.

He didn't even bring Brando with him so why he was here in this place? Bryan and Brando should've rested in the Ladros City. Don't tell him Bryan was also here? But Bryan's condition was much worse than Brando so it's impossible for him to recover in just a short amount of time.

"You still haven't recover...!"

Souta said as he narrowed his eyes when he saw that Brando's wounds were bleeding.

"You have a plan, right? I'm going to buy you some time..." Brando paused for a moment and he added, "Also, don't worry about the others they won their battles and they are currently healing Yujin."

He arrived in this city a few dozen minutes ago. He fought a bunch of golems outside the tower before he went here. After he arrived here, he found that his comrades also finished their battles. Since they were busy healing Yujin, Brando went straight to the top floor of the tower to provide Souta some help.

He wasn't going to stay on the sideline while his comrades while trying to rescue Cl.u.s.ter which he couldn't protect at all. If he only had enough strength and protected Cl.u.s.ter at that time, then this wouldn't happen at all.

"I appreciate your help. Your presence here would greatly benefit me." Souta said to Brando seriously.

'What are you planning to do? You're planning to use the souls, right?' Saya asked him.

'Nope, I don't need to use it anymore.' Souta said as he looked at the system. He didn't need to explain anything to Saya as she wouldn't understand it.

...

Brando could only buy a short amount of time to Souta with his current condition. But he had a feeling that these few seconds would be enough to change the tide of battle for Souta.

Before when he fought Kan, he lost the will to fight when his shield got destroyed. He was a shielder so what would happen to him if his shield got destroyed. Should he accept his defeat?

No! He wouldn't accept it.

He regretted what happened in that place. He regretted that he didn't do his best. When he saw Bryan's grave condition after the battle, he felt shame. Bryan did everything that he could to protect Cl.u.s.ter so why he couldn't do it.

He could still move his body at that time so why he didn't help Bryan who was fighting at the cost of his life.

Why didn't he get up and fight? Why? It's because he was afraid. Yeah, it's natural to be afraid of someone who was after your life.

"Argh!!"

Brando gritted his teeth as he used his body to block all the attacks of the seven humanoid golems.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Some of the golems went around trying to attack Souta but he blocked their way. He would protect Souta at all costs.

'I won't regret anything!'

Blood flows out of the corner of his mouth.

'I... I will become... a great shielder who can protect his close ones!'

He absorbed all the attacks of the seven humanoid golems. Even with his tough body, he could hardly endure the assault of seven B-rank powerhouses.

'If I don't have a shield, then I'll use my body!'

Wounds were opening up in Brando's body. His muscles were bursting out and the rock fists of the golems were peeling his skin.

'Bear it! Endure it! Protect it!'

"Argh!!"

Brando roared as he saw Curdova charging at him.