Chapter 51: To Shield the Golems

Kyros explained the tactic to Stoph while firing several arrows in his attempt to get used to his dark arm and the arrow. His previous life had trained him in various disciplines of combat. Although he had not mastered the bow as he did with his sword, it was still superior to an average archer.

The bow and arrow used were made from a strange wood that Kyros realized was a Grook Brown Lumber. This was one of the trees needed in his Temple!

And while this raised various questions, Kyros focused on the task on hand. The bow and the arrows that he had were strong enough to damage Clay Golems. While he hadn't seen these arrows strike a Clay Golem, he was sure that it was this strong. Since his arrangements placed the Iron Golems on the front and he had already broken through the front line and attacked the Lizardman archer before they could fight back. The fact that the lizardmen even made that arrangement to attack the golems proved that their arrows were effective.

And if these arrows could wound a golem, then it should be sharp enough to penetrate the scales of the Char Vermillion Lizards that were generally weaker in terms of defense compared to the Clay Golems. Even the summons of Kyros, the Soil Golems was slightly harder and more compact than the Char Vermilion Lizard body. 

Kyros had to constantly pour in his soul force to strengthen the dark hand to have the strength to shoot it. After several test shots, Kyros was slowly getting the hang of it. His quick shots became smoother, and Kyros found that his aim was already at an acceptable level for this battle. Kyros was confident in what he could do.

"Our main concern is the charging force of these lizards. If our two forces ran up to each other, it increases the chances of losing one or two golems. So our tactic will be to stop the wild and reckless charge of these lizards." Kyros then began to explain the plan's details to Stoph, and Stoph began to cascade it down to the golems.

Kyros ran ahead and carried the torch and could soon see the crowding lizard. He stabbed the torch down on the ground, which acted like some spotlight that caught the lizard's attention.

Kyros then took out one arrow and drew it to a full arc, and shot it.

FWIP!

The arrow flew with amazing speed and pierced through the head of one of the lizards that weren't looking at Kyros.

The lizard roared in pain. Even though the arrow pierced through it, the resilient body of the lizard still allowed it to live.

Kyros smirked and fired several more.

The arrows struck other lizards, who then squealed in pain.

A Dark lizard emerged and began to fire its dark bolts at Kyros.

Kyros took out the Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges and blocked the attack.

BANG!

Kyros was knocked back by several steps, but then the shocking scene appeared.

A remnant of the dark bolt was somehow captured by Kyros when he used his dark hand. He held the energy and devoured it.

"This won't work." Kyros laughed as he picked up his bow and continued firing at the lizards at a hastened speed.

The arrows struck the large bodies, and it was difficult for these lizards to evade because of the tight passage.

"Roar!" The Dark lizard hissed, and a few Lizards charged at Kyros.

"Now!" Kyros ordered.

Before the few Lizards approached, several Iron Golems and the Ruby Golem, Stoph, appeared in the light and began to pound the surprised Lizards.

Against these Iron Golems and the Ruby Golems, the wounded lizards were no match.

Kyros laughed as if seeing the crushed lizard's head was the funniest thing he saw.

[Taunt activated.]

[Taunt skill level increase.]

The Lizards roared angrily, and a large amount began to charge towards the Golems.

Kyros waited for the perfect time and finally gave the order.

"Now!"

Several bodies of Lizardmen were thrown towards the empty area beyond them.

The golems constantly mocked the lizardmen that they were dragging with taunting gestures as Kyros ordered.

They kept telling the lizardmen how they would die and how it will be through a stampede caused by the Char Vermillion Lizards. All throughout the walk, the lizardmen were dragged with their mouths held shut.

As such, when the lizards were thrown, they kept shrieking and shouting for the Lizards to stop.

The sudden appearance of the Lizardmen startled the Char Vermillion Lizards, and those at the front tried to stop.

SMASH! SMASH! SMASH!

The Char Vermillion Lizards instinctively halted as they heard the cries. This created commotion as the Char Vermillion Lizards crashed down on each other.

The most annoying factor was now removed in this battle. Without the force and power of the charge, Kyros knew that the Iron Golems could now attack without worry.

"Go!" Kyros finally gave the signal, and the Iron Golems began to ran. The Clay and some Rock Golems followed while Kyros kept shooting.

Kyros's jumped on the backs of several golems, and with great skill in maintaining his balance, Kyros used the golems to stand and shoot. The golems were already ordered to stay still if Kyros was on top of them.

Kyros began to give several orders on how to fight. The lizards that had stumbled were brutally smashed, stomped, or kick. The power of the Iron Golem easily killed them. Kyros then made other instructions to pull the dead lizards and bring them back.

There, the golems imitated the plan Kyros had. They needed shields to protect them from the magic attacks of the Dark lizard. And the best shield was the Char Vermillion Lizard itself.

At the same time, the Iron golems took some of the corpses and used them to smash the lizards by throwing them by the tail. With the Iron Golem's might, two or three lizards would be outbalanced.

Kyros gave out more orders and kept shooting the lizards.

The terrifying scenario that nearly killed the Steele family was now laughable. In the tight path, these lizards couldn't fight properly, while the slimmer form of the golems allowed them to fight the lizards two on one easily. And because of Kyros's quick orders, which Stoph could relay, the group managed to fight effectively.

Oration also helped as Stoph was slowly beginning to understand the strategy of Kyros.

The Blood Blade would be stabbed on the dead Char Vermillion Lizard that was nearby. The golems were already instructed that if Kyros was to give them this sword, they would rip off the tough scales of the nearest lizard and stab the blade or would stab the sword on the tongue of the lizards, which was rich in blood.

Kyros was focusing his attacks on the Dark Lizards who had retreated,

"Off to warn the big dark lizard, huh? Where are you, you big reptile?" Kyros murmured as he kept shooting. The large Dark Lizard that he saw was of main concern. He knew that only Stoph could match that creature.

"Stoph, tell the shield-bearers to get ready!" Kyros shouted as he kept attacking.

Stoph gave the command, and several of Clay Golems started to lift the dead bodies of the Char Vermillion Lizards. They were using some of the sharp blades and swords of the lizardmen, the golems carved through certain parts of the lizard's body so they could plunge their arms inside. Like this, each Clay Golem would carry two Char Vermillion Lizards and would raise them in the sky.

The Clay Golems also started to position themselves accordingly to create a meat shield that would protect them from the bolt attacks of the Dark Lizards.

But something was wrong. The Dark lizard that retreated earlier should have returned by now.

"What did Uncle do? Are they still fighting?" Kyros frowned. He knew that the golems would have reached his uncle by now and warned them.

"Is fate tricking me again? Did the Golem King lie in sending them a golem, or did Uncle stay behind to help me know that I would lead the Golem charge?" Kyros pondered. He wanted to send the Shadow familiars and Shadow Ghouls, which were already mixed in the front line, but he knew the Dark Lizards could see and kill these summons.

"I must wait and keep shooting!" Kyros began to harass the lizards further inside the tunnel and even began to shoot randomly. The howls and pained hisses could still be heard as he knew that it was more crowded deeper inside the tunnel.

Kyros soon saw the figure of a dark lizard return. It became even more frantic as he could see the situation on the battlefield that it recklessly bumped some of the stalactites. It hissed louder, and several Dark Lizards followed it.

The Dark Lizards did not hesitate to ready their magic attacks.

"Shields!" Kyros shouted, and Stoph shouted the very same commands not a second later and began to fire his arrows at the Dark Lizard.

While he was shooting, the Clay Golems carrying the shields rushed near the front line of the battle. The Iron Golems who were fighting and pummeling suddenly retreated, and it was as if there was a wall of corpses shielding the golems instantly.

Oration's power had already taught Stoph a lot that he even began to give orders before Kyros did.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The meat shields proved effective as the bloody gores of the Lizards were exploding around.

The Clay golems carrying the lizards were barely wounded from the blast as the Char Vermilion Lizards proved to be excellent meat shields.

Soon, a loud roar was heard, and the large Dark Lizard could finally be seen approaching.