22 Gate Guardian
The bandits are still recovering on the ground after that [Earth Fissure], though it didn't hit 'em as hard as it would a monster. For some strange reason, that spell doesn't do much to humans and humanoids nearby.
Now, I could take 'em out right here, but I figured I'd better play it smart. See, if you off these bandits, it won't make a lick of difference to me. But when it comes to collecting bounties from the guards or the Guild HQ, they prefer 'em alive. Keeps the gold flowing, you know? I could easily knock 'em out, but leaving 'em without a scratch ain't my style.
So, to keep 'em breathing, I switched my Flaming Magic Sword for a Brass Knuckle, the kind Fighters usually use, and got into a good old-fashioned fistfight while they were still stunned from the Earth Fissure. With a quick jab to the gut, I dropped 'em like sacks of potatoes, all of 'em out cold.
"Lina! Grab a rope so we can tie 'em up!"
Lina gave me a nod and handed over a long rope, which I used to secure the five bandits one by one before loading them onto the cart that was being pulled by the carriage, carrying some of the belongings of the family. I am not worried they can escape. I made sure to tie them tight so that they wished they could even move a muscle with how tight I tied them up. Lily's eyes widened in surprise as she watched.
"You're not going to kill them?" Lily asked, clearly taken aback.
"Nah," I replied, adopting a casual tone. "Let the guards deal with them. I'm no executioner. They'll have to face the consequences of their crimes, but it's not my place to end their lives." Of course, my true objective was to hand them over to the authorities and collect a much better reward. Why resort to violence for a hefty payout when there's a more profitable alternative? Maybe someday in the future, I'd consider it, but for now, I wasn't interested in shedding blood. My priority was money. Blood might satisfy my craving for violence, but it wouldn't fill my belly or buy the equipment and items I needed from the market.
The journey's been a breeze so far, not even close to the supposed Hard Difficulty of this quest. But trust me, the real trouble's just around the corner. The ground starts quaking, and our cart and carriage grinds to a halt, just short of toppling over. The horses are in a panic, but thanks to Lina's soothing voice, they settle down.
My instincts kick in, and I scan our surroundings for any trouble brewing. I'd rather not deal with an ambush right now, so staying alert is a must. My hand's gripping my weapon's handle, ready to draw it if need be. The tremors keep shaking things up for a few more moments.
"Hey, kid, what's happening? Is this some kind of earthquake?" Lily peeks out of the window, trying to make sense of it all.
"Nah, this ain't your ordinary earthquake. It's something else causing this ruckus, though it seems like we're still a ways off from it. No need to worry just yet."
I can't say for sure if the "enemy" I suspect might be causing these tremors is part of our quest, but I'm getting ready just in case it is. That foe poses a serious threat to our carriage, so I hope it doesn't turn out that way.
Our journey continues until we reach the Clearing, the area that marks the boundary between the forest and the main road leading to the Capital. It's a vast open space devoid of any lurking monsters. While that might sound like a relief, there's a significant reason for its monster-free status, and it ties back to the "enemy" I mentioned earlier.
As the carriage rolled through this vast landscape, the rumbling grew more intense, and the terrain began to shift.
Lina, who had been relaxed in the coach, furrowed her brow. The tremors had become so strong that even the horses were panicking, unable to advance.
"Stay alert. Prepare to turn back at a moment's notice," I cautioned, drawing on my past experiences dealing with our adversaries.
I unsheathed my versatile weapon turning it into a hammer, and surveyed the carriage and the surroundings, readying myself for a confrontation.
Suddenly, one of the rocks at the roadside began to shift after a tremor. But I knew better than to mistake it for a mere boulder.
"TURN BACK!!" I shouted.
"Mom, hold on tight! Things are about to get rough!"
Lina swiftly cracked her whip, steering the horses back the way we had come.
Before the carriage could even inch forward, the entire place rumbled once more. This time, that massive 'boulder' revealed its true colors. It sprouted a colossal rock arm that swung menacingly in our direction. I didn't waste a second; I vaulted towards the behemoth and swung my trusty hammer with all the might I could muster, smashing the airborne stone right out of existence. But even with my quick reflexes and decisive action, a few smaller rocks managed to nip at my health bar.
As I landed back on solid ground, I couldn't help but notice the ominous dent in my health gauge. Half of it had vanished in the blink of an eye. If I'd been just a tad slower or less resolute, I might have met my virtual demise and kissed this quest goodbye. Fortunately, I clung to life by the skin of my teeth, and that rewarded me with an immediate quest log update, marking the final milestone for quest completion.
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Quest Updated! [Moving Out Part 3] activated!
[Moving Out Part 3] Quest 3 out of 3
Type: Hidden Quest
Info: You managed to successfully defend the carriage from attacks but the Gate Guardian seems unhappy for some unknown reason. Defeat the Gate Guardian and protect the carriage.
Cart's Durability: 1,000/1,000
Difficulty: Hard
Recommended levels: 9-10
Rewards: ???
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Yup, here it is - the not-so-friendly "Gate Guardian" that I saw coming from a mile away. Despite the ominous name, this dude isn't into gatekeeping or guardian duties. Nope, it's just a monstrous roadblock keeping adventurers like me from strolling into the Capital.
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Gate Guardian [Mini-Boss]
Level: 10
HP: 30,000/30,000
Attribute: Earth, Construct
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You know the quest was gonna be a doozy when this big guy was involved. It's not exactly a walking danger zone, but at my current level, I'm not about to make minced meat out of it either. The Gate Guardian groaned to life, and the ground beneath us started shaking. Lina gripped the reins, her eyes flicking between the monster and me.
"Lina, steer this wagon clear of Mr. Gargantuan here. He seems more interested in our ride than in little old me. But don't go too far; we don't want any surprise attacks."
"What about you? Planning to take on that living boulder?"
"Are you okay leaving the wagon unattended to join me in a rock-throwing contest?"
Lina fell silent at my comeback.
"Just worry about the wagon's safety; I'll figure out how to handle this hulking mass."
"How on earth do you plan to take that thing down?"
"I'll figure it out."
Once I'd briefed Lina on the plan, it was time to confront the colossal adversary. I knew the key to defeating this beast wasn't a mystery; it all came down to timing and patience.
As the carriage pulled farther away, the Gate Guardian gave chase. Seizing the opportunity, I closed in on its flank unnoticed. With the massive creature lumbering along, I quickly closed the distance and identified a suitable foothold.
My trusty Versatile Weapon transformed into a Hook and Chain, a handy tool for my climb. This adaptation served as a grappling hook, allowing me to ascend the monstrous creature with remarkable speed. Once I reached its towering back, my search for the Core began in earnest.
Construct-type enemies always have a core, no matter their size; it's the heart of their existence. Remove, destroy, or drain its power, and the construct loses its remaining life before keeling over.
This is the quickest way to take down the Gate Guardian pronto. It won't be a walk in the park, but it's the smarter move. Not only does the kill net have more experience, but there's also a chance for some extra loot, though that's a roll of the dice.
After a few minutes, I spotted the gleaming core. A bright red core, shining like a beacon in the sunlight. I was all set to obliterate it, but the Gate Guardian caught on to my plan. It began to shake violently, trying to rattle me off my feet.
My grip remained iron-tight, and I held my ground. I waited patiently for the Gate Guardian to steady itself, then swiftly transformed my Versatile Weapon into a hammer.
CRACK!
The core exploded into a chaotic spray of shards as I brought the hammer down hard. The Gate Guardian's movements went haywire, like a glitchy robot on the fritz. It took a while, but eventually, it came to a standstill, though it hadn't crumbled to dust, and the reward screen stubbornly refused to pop up. That meant one thing: this stubborn sucker was still kicking.
Maybe there wasn't just one core, I thought. Could this Gate Guardian be hiding an extra ace up its mechanical sleeve? But that didn't add up; Gate Guardians aren't wired to handle more than one core. Overloading would be a death sentence for them, plain and simple.
Before I could wrap my head around it, the Guardian's body went into full-blown tremors. It was like it had been possessed by a malfunctioning spirit. That was my cue to hit the road, pronto.
The Guardian's rampage didn't end there. It started grabbing nearby boulders, strapping them onto itself, and growing into an even bigger menace.
"So, you're not ready to kick the bucket just yet, huh? If busting your core didn't do the trick, it looks like I'll have to settle for a good old-fashioned body demolition."
