A week ago, Dallion would have charged directly at the guardian. Both of them had ranged attacks now, also the boy had matured quite a bit since their last encounter. There was more in fighting than the actual battle. As he looked at the golem, Dallion saw many of his options—he could shoot a bolt directly at him, he could wait for the guardian to make the first attack, or he could start walking calmly forward. For a split second, images of each action appeared in Dallion’s mind, showing him the results. In two of the cases, the resulting counterattack dealt Dallion a minor injury.

Walking it is, then, he thought, making his way around the large hole that separated the two.

For several steps nothing happened, then green footprints appeared along with a shield marker in the air. Dallion didn’t think, following the guard skill’s suggestion without even looking. No sooner had he done so than a stream of water splashed into his buckler.

The force of the attack was significant. Before, it would have even knocked Dallion easily to the ground. Now, it only pushed him a step back. Leveling up his body stat was useful after all.

“My turn,” Dallion said. Following the guard markers through to complete a full set, Dallion then aimed at the watery area between the guardian’s arm and torso.

A weak spot marker appeared. Once the aim was spot on, Dallion squeezed the trigger.

In his past experience, slashing and piercing attacks had little effect on water—the third guardian in the awakening shrine had shown him that much. Dallion expected he’d only achieve a minor wound taking five percent off the golem’s health, if that. Instead, the water exploded as if someone had triggered a depth charge.

CRITICAL WOUND!

Dealt Damage increased by 200%!

Lacking its connection, the large boulder that composed the golem’s arm dropped off, slamming to the ground.

ARM SEVERED

Enemy will no longer be able to make use of its LEFT ARM

Now Dallion understood why the dartbows were considered so important. If there was such a thing as a military grade weapon in this world, this was one of them. The bolts had the same effects on water as they did on a solid surface, or even more by the looks of it.

The golem looked at its arm, then back at Dallion. The crack of a smile appeared on its large head.

“Want to give up?” Dallion smiled. “Or do we call it a draw?”

Instead of an answer, water flowed towards the golem’s missing limb. Within moments a new arm was formed. While it lacked any rocks, in shape it very much resembled the one that the guardian had lost.

That didn’t seem particularly fair. When the rectangle had made its announcement, Dallion had expected it to mean that the golem would continue the fight with one arm less. Apparently, all it meant was that the golem couldn’t use that specific arm, but there was nothing preventing it from regrowing a new one.

As Dallion aimed at another of the creature’s weak points, the golem twisted its body, hurling the fist of its right arm towards him like a giant flail. The green cone marking the impact zone was enormous—larger than Dallion could evade. To make matters worse, there were a half a dozen shield marker positions, each facing a different direction.

Dallion had seen that before with the training guardian, though never with a normal one. Was that the difference between an area guardian and an item one? If so, it was a huge stroke of luck he hadn’t tried to fight the village guardian. A being controlling an area that large, even if it not commanded by Aspion, would definitely have proved too much.

“Attack is the best defense!” Dallion shouted as he launched another bolt at a weak spot in the guardian’s let leg. His gamble was that a single guardian hit wouldn’t be enough to exhaust his entire health.

Two of the shield markers disappeared. Apparently, the closer the golem’s fist got, the less attack paths it presented. Dallion could wait slightly more in the hopes that only one option would be left, or he could gamble and choose one now. The difference was that there was no guarantee he had the reaction speed necessary to react later.

When in doubt go for the right, he told himself and raised his shield to match the right-most marker.

CRITICAL WOUND!

Dealt Damage increased by 200%!

LEG SEVERED

Enemy will no longer be able to make use of its LEFT LEG

MODERATE WOUND!

Health has been decreased by 25%

Dallion’s back felt like a pin hit by a bowling ball. The force of the blow brought him to his knees. Simultaneously, the golem’s leg dropped off as well, only to be replaced by a second one.

“Crap,” Dallion said, gasping for breath. The pain had almost entirely disappeared, although he still felt short of breath. “You’re no pushover.”

Area guardians really were on an entirely different level. And to think that both Veil and Gloria had managed to defeat a few. Granted, they had faced level one guardians, but it was still damned impressive.

“There’s no way I’m falling behind.” Dallion stood up. “Enough warmup. Time for the real deal!”

The distance between Dallion and the guardian was a few hundred feet. Dallion could continue trading long ranged attacks and rely that his enemy would be out of damage before he was. So far, the odds were in his favor—two critical attacks had reduced the golem’s health to sixty percent. Three more hits and he would be victorious. Of course, the same could be said for the guardian.

“This battle has already cost you an arm and a leg.”

Dallion assessed his options. Water jet attacks wouldn’t be an issue, but while the golem had a functional arm, the rock-hurling option would be a pain. Despite the obvious, the solution was to decrease the distance.

“Darude.” Dallion dashed forward, taking aim at the guardian’s other leg.