Archelius knew he had mere hours before the Citadel would send an even stronger response. The rapid, sequential elimination of two high-level Imposters by a Level 11 outsider would be a major alert in the enemy's system.
He quickly addressed the consequences of the fight.
[Imposter Core (Medium Grade) x 1 Acquired.]
[Core Power: 50/100 (Remaining).]
He needed defense first. He still had one Skill Point available from his Level 6 up, which he had saved.
He immediately invested it into his secondary combat ability.
[War God's Fist (Rank F+) Upgraded to Rank E. Cost: 1 Skill Point.]
[Damage Multiplier increased from 3x to 5x. Core Power cost increased to 10.]
His single, devastating punch was now an absolute tactical nuke, ready to obliterate threats instantly, though at a slightly higher cost.
Next, the Imposter Core. He opened the Crafting Menu, now presented with higher-tier options.
[Available Crafting Options (Rank E):]
[Core Power Restoration (Minor): Restores 50 Core Power. Success: 100%.]
[Shadow Stealth Shroud (Rank E): Success: 70%.]
[War God's Vestment (Rank E): Requires 1 Core, 10 Obsidian Scale Plate. Success: 65%. - NEW!]
The War God's Vestment was exactly what he needed—a powerful defensive armor upgrade.
He had the Core, but was short on the Obsidian Scale Plates.
"Theodore," Archelius commanded, his voice sharp. "Scavenge every Scale Plate from the two Imposters' remains. We need ten."
Theodore, moving with grim efficiency, rushed out into the corridor where the Imposters had been vaporized. He returned quickly, his hands full of the charred, high-grade scales.
[Obsidian Scale Plate (Excellent) x 10 Acquired.]
[Crafting War God's Vestment (Rank E). Success Chance: 65%.]
Archelius knew 65% was a risk, but the reward was vital. He confirmed the craft. The materials dissolved in a violent swirl of black and silver light. For a tense moment, the light sputtered, threatening failure, but then stabilized, coalescing into a piece of sleek, form-fitting black armor that covered his torso.
[War God's Vestment (Rank E) Acquired. Defense +25. Reduces Core Power damage taken by 15%.]
He felt the heavy, comfortable weight of the armor settle over his chest, his defense jumping massively. His Core Power damage mitigation was a vital bonus against future high-level energy attacks.
The Next Wave
"Bethany, status," Archelius ordered, turning to the new member of his squad.
Bethany, now alert and focused, pointed toward the fractured stairway leading down. "They're mobilizing. Not shadows this time. Large, armored entities. Four of them. They move slowly but radiate immense energy."
[Warning: Proximal Level 35 Threat Detected. Entity Classification: Sentinel Golems.]
Level 35. That was four levels higher than the first Imposter. The Citadel was escalating the conflict rapidly. Four of them meant a coordinated, direct assault.
"Level 35 Sentinels. They're trying to crush us with superior defense," Archelius assessed quickly. "Raji, Lisa, Theodore! You are the perimeter defense. Use your Rank F daggers and potions. Do not engage the Golems directly! You are to eliminate anything that tries to flank me."
He looked at Bethany. "You are the key. Guide my movements. Tell me their formation, their weak points, and any change in energy flow."
Bethany nodded, her eyes glowing faintly as she tracked the energy signatures. "Their power is in their core—a single, massive jewel in the center of their chest armor. But the armor is thick. They're moving into a diamond formation."
Archelius knew a full frontal assault against four Level 35 enemies would drain his entire Core Power. He had to rely on a surgical strike.
He quickly activated his Shadow Stealth Shroud and vanished into the darkness of the chamber.
The Battle for the Stairwell
The four Sentinel Golems, colossal figures of etched black stone, lumbered into the main chamber. They carried huge, square shields and maces that crackled with internal energy. They immediately began sweeping the room, their movements slow but terrifyingly methodical.
"They're searching for your energy signature," Bethany whispered to the air where Archelius was concealed. "They're forming a line across the center of the hall. They're sealing our exit!"
Archelius, moving silently in the shadows, assessed the situation. The Golems were heavy, relying on armor and shield walls. They had a single, massive weakness: their exposed back joints and the centralized core jewel.
"Bethany, wait for the gap. Tell me when the shields overlap," Archelius whispered back.
"Now! The two on the right—their shields are staggered! Go!"
Archelius deactivated the Shadow Stealth Shroud, appearing instantly in the narrow space between the two right-side Golems. He activated the ultimate offensive combo.
He unleashed the Rank E War God's Fist onto the back of the second Golem's knee joint.
CRUSH!
The force of the punch, boosted to a 5x multiplier, was phenomenal. The Level 35 Golem's ancient stone leg shattered instantly. The Golem roared, collapsing backward, disrupting the entire formation.
[Sentinel Golem (Level 35) Critically Damaged. XP Gained: 350.]
The three remaining Golems reacted, swinging their massive maces toward the point of impact.
Archelius was already gone, utilizing Sprint Burst to vault over the collapsing Golem. He channeled the War God's Strike into the Divine Edge and drove the powerful Rank E blade straight into the exposed core jewel of the nearest, distracted Golem.
SHRAAACK!
The violet-silver energy bypassed the armor entirely, ripping through the core jewel. The Golem froze, its internal energy dissipating instantly, and it crumbled into inert dust.
[Sentinel Golem (Level 35) Defeated. XP Gained: 350.]
Overcoming the Odds
The two remaining Golems, now highly agitated, abandoned their formation and focused solely on Archelius, their movements faster and more aggressive. They were cornering him against a fractured column.
"Archelius, flanker! Below the collapsed Golem, a Level 15 Razor Crawler is moving toward Theodore!" Bethany yelled, tracking the low-level threat.
Archelius couldn't split his focus.
"Theodore! Raji! Eliminate the flanker!"
Theodore and Raji, though terrified, reacted instantly. Raji darted out, using her Sprint Burst to distract the Crawler, while Theodore leveraged his strength, driving his Rank F dagger repeatedly into the creature's soft underbelly. It was crude, messy, but effective.
[Razor Crawler (Level 15) Defeated. Subordinate Assist XP Gained: 15.]
Meanwhile, Archelius was in a desperate struggle. He was trading blows with the two remaining Golems, his new War God's Vestment absorbing the blunt force of their maces, saving his life.
"They're attacking simultaneously! The one on the right is weakest!" Bethany screamed.
Archelius trusted her sight implicitly. He used his last Sprint Burst to dodge the left Golem's mace, creating a precious millisecond of advantage. He then poured the remaining power from his Core Power into the Divine Edge, performing a massive, downward arc that severed the head of the Golem on the right.
CRASH!
The Golem's head fell, and the body dissolved.
[Sentinel Golem (Level 35) Defeated. XP Gained: 350.]
The last Golem, enraged by the loss of its unit, channeled all its power into its mace, preparing a final, massive blow.
Archelius, his Core Power draining rapidly, met the attack head-on. He slammed the Divine Edge against the mace head, relying on the sheer quality of the Rank E blade.
The resulting shockwave rattled the entire Citadel. Archelius was pushed back, his War God's Vestment glowing faintly from the absorption of energy.
He used the momentum to spring back, driving the War God's Fist directly into the Golem's massive, central core jewel.
SHATTER!
The Golem exploded into dust.
[Sentinel Golem (Level 35) Defeated. XP Gained: 350.]
[Total XP Gained: 1415. Current XP: 6915/6400. Level Up: User Level 12!]
Archelius stood in the center of the dusty hall, the Divine Edge smoking, his body trembling with near-total exhaustion. He had cleared the threat.
[Level 12 Achieved. Core Power Restored: 100/100.]
[Available Skill Points: 1.]
He had successfully turned a Level 35 quadruple assault into a manageable tactical victory, thanks entirely to the strength of his Rank E gear, his overwhelming power imbalance, and the crucial, real-time intelligence provided by his subordinates.
He was no longer fighting alone. He was a force multiplier.