The three Swordsman Golems holding their stone swords carefully dodged attacks as they struck toward Number Zero.
Number Zero also sensed the danger. In the distance, the Elementalist Golem aimed its magic at Li Xiuman's three Swordsman Golems and began casting.
“Awake, Mage Golem!”
Li Xiuman waved his wand, and earthy yellow magic circles expanded on the ground on both sides of him.
The earth squirmed as it grew two Golems.
One had molten, lava-like patterns on its body, while the other had deep brown patterns.
They did not immediately cast spells. Instead, following Li Xiuman's command, they rushed to both sides to flank Number Zero before unleashing their magic.
Clang! Clang!
Two shattering sounds echoed.
The Heavy Armor Golems on Number Zero's side had finally smashed through the rapid-crafted Golems, charging forward with their thick shields and greatswords.
Unfazed, Li Xiuman raised his wand and aimed it at the charging Heavy Armor Golems.
“Tier 1 Magic, Spiral Spike!”
Two double magic circles expanded simultaneously. Whirlwinds enveloped the stone spikes, spinning them rapidly before launching them at the two Heavy Armor Golems.
The Heavy Armor Golems held up their shields with both hands, but the attack still shattered their shields and tore off one of their arms.
Had Li Xiuman not held back, the spikes would have directly pierced the cores of both Golems.
He continued to wave his wand. Earthy yellow magic circles unfurled one after another as more and more Golems were created.
Before long, Number Zero was completely overwhelmed by the tide of Golems and defeated.
Li Xiuman raised his wand, restoring the Golems on Number Zero's side one by one before dismissing all the Golems on his own side.
“Again.”
Thus began another organized offensive.
This time, Number Zero slightly adjusted its formation, making the assault significantly sharper.
However, it still failed to trouble Li Xiuman much and was ultimately defeated once again.
Through wave after wave of continuous attacks, Li Xiuman rapidly adapted to his new skills and his rapid Golem-crafting technique.
The Golems on Number Zero's side had collapsed several times already. Li Xiuman had streamlined his Golem-making technique to the point where crafting a single Golem took, at fastest, only half a second.
Crafting two simultaneously took only one second.
As for crafting five at once, it still took three seconds and could not tolerate any interference.
What surprised Li Xiuman even more was Number Zero itself.
He could sense that Number Zero was becoming increasingly intelligent.
It seemed to be learning from external feedback.
From its repeated failures, Number Zero gradually gathered experience, familiarized itself with the skills inside its body, and directed the other Golems to make more effective attacks.
Based on his knowledge of Golems, other Golems definitely lacked this ability to learn.
Thinking carefully about Number Zero's changes, it was likely because he had not only infused it with mana but also 500 EXP.
Perhaps he could hold even higher expectations for Number Zero in the future.
“It's getting late, Number Zero. Let's stop.”
Li Xiuman gave the command to Number Zero, who was charging forward at the head of the Golems.
Slamming on the brakes, the charging Number Zero and the other Golems stopped dead in their tracks.
He returned home with Number Zero.
Rorona seemed to be taking a bath. After all, clearing the yard must have left him covered in dirt.
“Number Zero, go tidy up the basement.”
“Bring up the books on Tier 2 Magic that I borrowed from the library and place them on the table.”
“I want to read them tonight.”
Li Xiuman handed down the commands. Without a moment's delay, Number Zero turned and marched into the basement to fetch the books.
“This is so convenient.”
It seemed the title of ‘Number One Errand Runner,’ which had previously passed from Tedela to Rorona, was about to change hands yet again.
However, Number Zero's body was still a bit too bulky.
It was not suited for handling delicate tasks.
After all, the materials that made up Number Zero were rock and magic steel. If he reduced its size further, Number Zero's structural integrity would inevitably decline.
Therefore, its current bulky frame was theoretically the most optimal size for Number Zero.
If he wanted to remodel Number Zero into a slender form without compromising its strength, he would need much stronger materials.
If this world had a material similar to silicone, he might even be able to craft skin for Number Zero.
When that time came, there wouldn't be a single trace of a Golem left on its exterior.
“It seems I'll need to look out for ore to harvest during my next trip into the dungeon.”
Li Xiuman jotted this down in his notebook, then pulled out his map. Drawing on his extraordinary memory, he marked down several locations where he recalled seeing ore.
Creak.
The sound of an opening door interrupted Li Xiuman's study.
He looked toward the bathroom, only to see Rorona stepping out completely naked.
“Why aren't you wearing—clack clack clack!”
“You're a guy!”
Li Xiuman was utterly horrified, the shock forcing out his raw skeleton clacking sound.
“Master, didn't I already tell you?”
“...”
“Did... did you?”
“Anyway, put some clothes on...”
A beautiful girl's face paired with a... the visual impact was simply too powerful.
So this guy really was a beautiful boy.
If a pretty boy like this were on Earth, he wouldn't have to worry about putting food on the table for the rest of his life.
Just by shaking his hips on stage, howling a few tunes, and making a finger heart, female fans would throw heaps of money at him.
“Yes, Master.”
Rorona obediently put on his clothes.
Even though he was a guy, this fellow didn't have a single shred of shame.
Looking at Rorona, it was time to consider his future plans.
After all, Rorona's abilities as a Kin dictated that having him tackle dungeons together with Li Xiuman was the least efficient setup.
The effects of the Kin ability made Rorona far better suited for lurking in the shadows and handling matters on his behalf.
In other words, letting him grow independently to feed back benefits to Li Xiuman.
“Rorona, I have an important task to entrust to you.”
Li Xiuman spoke solemnly.
Rorona's eyes lit up as he exclaimed excitedly, “Please order me as you wish, Master!”
Looking at Rorona's eager and earnest gaze, Li Xiuman felt a pang of guilt.
He was still just a child.
To think he actually let a child call him Master—he really had degenerated quite thoroughly in this alternate world.
“Liberate your fellow vampires—those poor souls enslaved by despicable humans.”
Indeed, this was the first task Li Xiuman had come up with for Rorona.
Once Rorona had companions, he would surely lose some of his obsession with him.
Li Xiuman honestly had zero interest in being anyone's master.
Since Rorona was already his Kin, letting him and his kind loose to grow freely was the best option for Li Xiuman.
As for any trouble this might cause humanity—well, he was a skeleton, not a human.
He would bet that if his identity as a skeleton were ever exposed, every single bone in his body would be ground to dust as a heretical, evil object.
Worse, rumors might even spread about his bones having aphrodisiac properties, leading some nobles to merrily steep them in water and drink them up.
Just like with mummies back on Earth.
“However, I hope you will rescue those who are well-behaved, rather than the violent, bloodthirsty ones.”
Rorona pondered for a moment.
Suddenly, his eyes shone with unprecedented brilliance.
“To think Master would entrust such an important mission to me! Rorona will definitely accomplish your task!”
“Even if it costs me my life!”
Rate on N.U.
