Chapter 94

Knucker.

A creature similar to a dragon, but wingless and with fins instead.

It possessed such a terrible poison that it was even more lethal.

Under normal conditions, it would have been an extremely difficult enemy.

Fernan, on his own, could never face it; even using all kinds of artifacts, fleeing would be the most he could hope for.

But with Wooden—the ego golem into which Fernan had poured all his efforts—the situation was reversed.

It was the same Wooden who had once managed to corner Andromalius, a demon, and even destroyed the beasts he bred.

No matter how strong the Knucker was, it could not compare to Andromalius.

That’s why Fernan didn’t fear defeat.

His only concern was something else.

That the Knucker’s poison would damage the precious minerals and the itarium.

“Wooden! Don’t ever let it open its mouth!”

Letting the cavern collapse from the clash of titans was acceptable; he could withstand it with magic.

Even allowing adamantium, orichalcum, or mithril to break was possible, as long as their essence remained intact—he could just gather and refine them.

But the Knucker’s poison was different—it didn’t break or crack, it ruined the very essence of the mineral.

That was like turning treasures more valuable than gold into trash.

‘I can’t trust Wooden.’

Even though he obeyed words, once he entered battle, it was clear he wouldn’t think of the consequences.

Fernan began reciting urgently.

He gripped his staff, drank potions, and equipped all the artifacts that boosted mana.

Fwoosh—

Mana drained at a fierce rate—dozens, maybe hundreds.

Massive rocks began to wrap around the walls where the legendary minerals lay.

‘Not a single one! I won’t lose a single one…!’

Even a fragment the size of a fingernail was worth a gold bar.

He wouldn’t allow anything to be lost.

If it broke, he’d repair it. If it broke again, he’d repair it again.

‘Let me collapse from mana exhaustion if I must, but as long as I live I won’t watch it all get ruined!’

With that thought, Fernan steeled himself.

***

— Kkuung.

Wooden smiled in total bliss.

Although he remembered too late that he had no mouth to smile, that only made him laugh even more.

— Kkung kkung kkung kkung!

“Wooden! Don’t let it open its mouth!”

Understood. He didn’t know why, but he got it.

Wooden nodded.

“Watch out!”

The Knucker didn’t miss the moment. Its massive body launched like an arrow.

Kwaaaang!

The golem went flying, crashing into the wall his master had erected.

The wall crumbled like sand.

Thanks to that, even though his consciousness was linked to the golem’s body, he felt only stiffness, not pain.

— Kkuung!

“Doesn’t matter if it hurts or not, look forward!”

Oh right, he was in a fight. Forward, forward.

Wooden got back up and faced the enemy. It was the same charge as before, but he wouldn’t fall for the same trick twice.

He rolled on the ground.

Boom!

Another wall came crashing down from the charge.

A purple mineral fragment rolled across the ground.

From one side came his master’s scream, “My mineral!”

— Kkung!

Relax, master. I avenge.

Wooden gripped his greatsword.

The blade sliced the air in a long arc.

Slash—

Forged with a magical alloy controlled by Fernan, that sword could even cleave the beasts of Andromalius.

The Knucker’s scales wouldn’t withstand it.

Kieeeek!

The monster’s crimson blood sprayed in all directions.

Whoosh—.

The very fluid was laced with poison, so a pungent smoke rose instantly.

“Damn it! Don’t let the blood touch the minerals!”

— Kkung?

Blood, minerals, no?

If cut, there’s a wound.

If wound, there’s blood.

So… shouldn’t cut?

But no wound means no fight.

Boom!

A swipe of the Knucker’s tail hit the walls, tearing off more fragments.

“What are you doing! Finish it already, quick!”

— Kkukung!

Quick, no blood, no minerals.

Ah. Wooden understood.

It wasn’t about not hurting it—it was about finishing it so fast that barely any blood would spill.

He couldn’t enjoy the fight, but a contract was a contract.

— Kkuuu…

Quick. Where?

Vital point. Where?

Wooden thought of himself.

If they broke an arm, he wouldn’t die.

If they tore off a leg, same.

If his head was destroyed, still fine.

Only one place remained.

— Kkung.

The heart.

The place where all soul and mana concentrated.

The true vital point of any living being.

Wooden’s eyes gleamed. With the sensitivity of a spirit and the runes embedded in his golem body, he detected the densest mana flow in the Knucker.

He adjusted his energy and lunged.

The sword sliced the air like lightning.

Clang—

The Knucker twisted its long body, deflecting the strike.

The blade only grazed the scales, leaving not even a mark.

Slippery. Hard to cut.

His sword started to smoke—the scales exuded a viscous liquid filled with venom.

—!

—!

Wooden struck several more times, but the Knucker dodged with agility unbefitting its size or lunged to bite the golem.

Crunch—

Kieeek!

It couldn’t pierce Wooden’s toughness and retreated shrieking in pain.

— Kkuku!

Crack! Crack! Crunch!

“Focus, Wooden, forward!”

At that instant, a brutal hit landed.

The Knucker rammed him, and both titans rolled on the ground.

Kieeeee!

The monster roared from above, mouth wide open.

— Kkuuu!

Wooden frowned spiritually.

Something smelled awful.

And only now did he realize.

He didn’t have a nose, and yet he could smell it!

— Kyu?

From inside the Knucker came a huge surge of mana. Fernan, sensing the ominous sign, ramped up his power output, but it was a moment too late.

─────!

An acid breath laced with poison struck Wooden.

Fwoosh—

His vision shook. Hundreds of magical circles etched onto the golem’s surface activated all at once.

Crackle, spark! Sparks flew endlessly.

The Knucker was surprised to see its own breath have no effect, but in that moment Wooden had already powered up without issue.

Crunch—!

Wooden’s fingers dug between the Knucker’s scales. The creature screamed in pain and backed off. Wooden didn’t miss the opportunity—he grabbed his greatsword and charged again.

A faint aura rose over the blade.

It wasn’t a solid aura—without his master’s help, it was the best he could muster—but it was enough. Though fragile, the weapon was massive.

────!

The Knucker tried to twist and secrete fluids as before, but the aura ignored physical laws and pierced the scales. Dark red blood spurted like a fountain.

Kwoooooar!

The blood drenched him completely. It wasn’t as corrosive as the breath, but it was sticky like mud, slowing his movements.

Thud! thud! thud!

He took dozens of hits in an instant.

He didn’t stand idly by—even though he lost his sword, Wooden didn’t rely solely on it.

His giant body. His resilient fists.

Bang! bang!

He struck the Knucker’s head with clenched fists.

He didn’t have the skill or experience to dodge every blow and land only his own. He relied solely on the golem’s body, and pressed forward stubbornly.

One hit taken, one returned.

Two taken, two returned.

It hurt, but the weight he felt in his knuckles was satisfying.

The longer the fight went on, the more Wooden felt like he had a real body.

He was enjoying it. He wanted the battle to never end. And honestly, it probably wouldn’t end soon.

Even though the Knucker’s secretions dried up, its scales shattered, and its face became a mess—that’s how it was. Perhaps.

—Kkuing!

Oops, a mistake.

He accidentally let out a cry of joy and covered his mouth—though he had none. Fortunately, it seemed his master hadn’t heard.

“Are you laughing? I told you to finish it quickly, not to have fun punching it!”

Ah, he heard it.

—Kyuuu…

Wooden’s spirits sank. And he immediately understood why.

—Kkuuuu…!

Because. Of. You. I. Got. Scolded.

Wooden got angry. His fury turned into action.

He picked up the sword.

Raised his power even more and charged. No—launched like a projectile. His core vibrated violently.

Faster.

Stronger.

He focused all his mana into a single point. The once-diffuse aura took the shape of a true sword.

In a blink, Wooden was already in front of the Knucker. The beast’s eyes widened.

“Wait…! Not the heart, aim for the neck…!”

His master’s voice came too late.

Wooden’s blade aimed straight for the heart.

It pierced the worn scales, broke through flesh and bone, and simultaneously struck the heart and internal core.

Krghhkk…!

The Knucker coughed blood.

—Kkuu! Kkuu…?

Got it! Did I get it…?

At the same time, the Knucker’s torso began to swell. Its mana concentrated in the core, vibrating unstably.

Wooden sensed it immediately and murmured with unease.

And in that instant.

─────!

An explosion erupted.

The mana blast swept the area, and the mixed poison spread everywhere, corroding mercilessly.

The explosion didn’t kill Wooden—the body Fernan had built with the full power of his family was too durable.

It didn’t kill Fernan either—he sensed the self-destruction and hid behind Wooden, deploying a defensive circle.

But.

“…Ah…”

He couldn’t save the minerals.

Fernan fell to his knees.

***

Poison covered all the walls.

As legendary as the metals were, they couldn’t remain intact under the poison of a creature sacrificing its life in a final attack.

Not even the layers of rock Fernan had summoned to reinforce the walls were enough.

The mineral veins were half-corroded, some melted. And along with them, Fernan’s heart was crumbling.

“Ha… Ha…”

How much was all that worth?

If he melted it, how many gold bars would it be worth?

It wasn’t just the minerals.

Though poisonous, the Knucker was a spiritual creature. Its core would have been valuable, as well as its scales, fangs, claws, and bones.

All of it was lost in an instant.

— Kkuung?

“Shut up. And don’t lower your hand.”

Wooden raised the hand he had half-lowered.

“…At least the itarium is intact.”

Fernan had prioritized protecting the itarium over the minerals.

‘I’ll process it and give it to Aint, to Luina, and to the others who appear in the Book of Prophecies.’

It would be a lie to say it didn’t hurt, but in investment, one had to be bold.

If that could strengthen Aint, Luina, or others even a little—it was worth it.

‘The minerals…’

All the ones exposed were ruined.

Even the adamantium had been damaged—that was the scale of the Knucker’s self-destruction, fitting for a spiritual being.

Fernan sighed. The space was so vast that the walls were covered in veins, and what he had lost was no small amount.

‘Even so, I must make use of what’s left. Perhaps my family can find a way to use it.’

Even if it was just separating the uncorrupted parts.

He immediately began mining with magic.

Unfortunately, the veins weren’t very deep.

But still, Fernan calculated that it was enough to make the bell.

At least he could catch his breath.

“Anyway… what is this place? Even if it was the First Emperor, how did he manage to gather all this?”

He stored the minerals in his subspace and, finally, extracted the itarium.

“Hm?”

Beneath it, hidden, was a small chest.

“…What is this…?”

On its surface was engraved the emblem of Saint Bird.

‘Kallinos Armian.’

The name of the last king of the Kingdom of Armian.