I was so focused on my work that I didn't realize I'd spent two full in-game days on the same wolf golem.
It had started as an ordinary dire wolf. Then I'd made the frame a little bigger, because the joints looked cramped. Then a little bigger again. I switched from iron to black iron for the body, because iron felt too soft for what it was turning into. I used bloodstone for the eyes. When I got to the claws, plain metal felt wrong, so I cut them from diamond.
Somewhere in the middle of the second day, I realized why I couldn't stop.
Juliet had a stuffed wolf. A big, ugly, black thing with one ear sewn back on crooked, that she dragged everywhere until the fur on its head wore thin. She called it her big brother. When the hospital told us she couldn't keep it in the ward anymore because of infection risk, she cried harder than she did at any of the needles.
She made me promise to take care of him. I put him on her bed when we came home without her. Jane moved him to the shelf a month later, because she couldn't look at him. After Jane, I couldn't look at the shelf.
I didn't put any of that into the golem on purpose. I just kept carving.
When I finished, it was four times the size of a normal dire wolf, black from nose to tail, with blood-red eyes. When it opened them, its claws changed from a deep sea blue to a dark red.
I took a few steps back. The wolf lifted its head and howled. It was loud enough to be heard throughout the forest, even though I was on the seventh floor.
[The hidden effect of the title 'One Who Defies Logic And Reason' has activated.]
[Through masterful work and an amazing use of the materials at hand, a unique-rated boss golem has been created. Boss golems can only be made from monster-type golems. They start at a fixed level and are very difficult to level up. If this golem breaks through, it can become a legendary boss golem, which will trigger a global event.]
Name: Unchosen
Level: 300
Type: Guard Boss Monster
Race: Werewolf Golem
Can use the skill 'Call of the Wolf Prince' to call upon its fellow wolfkind.Can use the skill 'Shapeshift' to change between wolf, werewolf and humanoid forms.Its claws inflict random curses when they strike.Can use the skill 'Howl of a Prince' to raise nearby allies' stats by 15%, raise its own stats by 20%, and lower enemies' stats by 10%.Has 'Advanced Swordsmanship' in werewolf and adult humanoid forms.Etc.
Title: [Prince of Wolfkind]
All wolfkind, enemy or ally, will instinctively want to follow its orders.Raises its stats by 0.5% for every allied wolf fighting alongside it.Upgradeable.
Title: [Son of the Golem Maker]
Raises likeability with all golem-type entities by 100%.Raises nearby golems' attack and defense by 5% every three minutes. Stacks up to 10 times.Upgradeable.
Son.
I read that word a few times.
I'd made a unique golem with insane stats. The system called him Unchosen. I named him Fenrir, after the legendary wolf. I found it absurd that I could even make boss monsters, but I welcomed it all the same.
The biggest restriction was that I couldn't send him out to hunt. He could only defend me, or be stationed somewhere as a boss.
I was so wrapped up in the wolf that I didn't notice most of my golems crowding in and around the room. I petted Fenrir and patted his head. He was like a loyal dog, except gigantic and ferocious. I wondered what it would take to make him legendary, but that could wait, since a crowd was staring at me with dangerous glints in their eyes.
"Alright, everyone! This is our new guardian. Feel free to greet him. His name is Fenrir. Now we don't have to worry about random players raiding us. Everyone, join me in welcoming him!"
"YEAH! We greet the great Fenrir!"
The first thing I did was station Fenrir as my guard, since that was the general consensus among my golems. Then I called Agnus to tell him. To say he was surprised would be an understatement.
Daz: Hey Agnus, guess what just happened to me?
Agnus: Don't tell me you found another legendary class user. My heart can only take so much, bro.
Daz: No, nothing like that. I made a new golem, and it's unique rated, man!
Agnus: Good job, man! Just a bunch more and you can upgrade your class.
Daz: That's not all. It's a boss monster. Level 300.
Agnus: ....Daz, are you sure you aren't smoking something right now and reading that number wrong?
Daz: Let me just share his stats with you.
Agnus: ...
Daz: Hey! Agnus, you there, bro?
Agnus: So you're the reason everyone in Satisfy heard a howl that sent the forums scrambling? Damn, man, I told you my heart can only take so much!
We talked a bit more before I hung up. I almost told him about the stuffed wolf. I didn't.
After that, I took a short break in game to check on my golems. I also took the chance to ride on Fenrir's back. He seemed delighted to let me. I'm curious about his human form too, but that can wait for another time.
First I visited the goblin miners, since they were closest. They were working on an 11th floor. I told them that after they finished it, they should start expanding upward, and I thanked them for their hard work.
Next was the golem animal kingdom I'd made. Mostly wolves, rabbits, cameagles and boars. I spent a good while there head-patting and thoroughly petting all of them. Every wolf in the room went flat on the floor the moment Fenrir walked in. Prince of Wolfkind, indeed.
Next up was Torva and her team of blacksmith golems. She seemed delighted that I was watching her work and got even more enthusiastic. I spent a few hours with them, making sure there were plenty of head pats, with some extra care for Torva.
Torva made an epic sword for Fenrir to use in his humanoid form, and promised to make him a unique or better one. I didn't stop her. The higher her goals, the more determined she gets.
I visited each of the hunting teams too, and was extra careful to avoid players, since I didn't want anyone knowing about Fenrir yet. I spent extra time with Joul, Martimer, Shade and Gladius. By the time I got back, it was time to log off, so I went to my room on the 10th floor and logged out.
When I logged back on, the goblins had already started on the first upper floor.
I also noticed Fenrir, in a kid form, lying on top of me.
He was about three feet tall, with pitch-black hair that covered half his face, black wolf ears, and the same blood-red eyes. His skin was light gray. He was asleep, so I let him sleep on my shoulder while I patted his head. He smiled in his sleep. It was cute.
It was also exactly how Juliet used to fall asleep on me in the car, cheek squished against my shoulder, mouth open. I had to stand very still for a minute.
When I got to the main floor, all my golems except Torva and the blacksmiths were getting ready to head out and hunt. Most of them were almost level 135, so I'd have to move them to the canyon soon.
When they saw me, they all went aww at Fenrir, since he was holding on to my shoulder like it was his pillow. Nobody bothered him, though. They quietly headed out after I told them I'd be sending them to fight in the canyon soon.