The interior of the Clock Fortress is quite a complex place.
While the overall structure resembles an ordinary castle, there are various facilities that have been modified in different ways throughout.
But hey. The ultimate goal is clear, right?
The center of the Clock Fortress. The spire that pierces the sky, towering high and sharp. And the massive clock that overlooks the surrounding area.
This is why it’s called the Clock Fortress—because of the Clock Tower.
That place is the heart of the third floor and where the remains of the God of Mechanical Devices lie, and at the same time, it’s where the floor guardian, the Lord of the Clock Fortress, whom we are aiming to defeat, resides.
Knowing the goal and my location, my Pathfinding Skill kicks in swiftly. Even if the journey might be treacherous, there’s no way I’ll get lost.
Moreover, with Lydia and Benny, who have already conquered the third floor once, if I really have any doubts, I can just ask them.
With that somewhat relaxed mindset, I began ascending slowly from the underground of the Clock Fortress.
Facing the significantly stronger monsters made me tense up again, but…
The first opponents to encounter were, of course, the Gear Users from the Clock Fortress.
In their fluttering maid outfits or snug butler uniforms, metal gears were visible.
With a creaking sound, they charged at the intruder to “clean” up, and they fought quite well.
Originally, maids and butlers are non-combatants… but the Clock Fortress is a kind of fortress built to protect the surrounding area.
Even the servants can’t afford to be weak in such a place. Moreover, unlike the monsters outside, most of them are in good condition.
“Well, they may be servants, but still.”
I reached out towards the silver candlestick flying towards my eyes. At the same time, my pickpocket skill activated.
Swinging a simple silver candlestick instead of a rocket punch from a Human Golem or a corrosion-born weapon from a Gear Soldier.
It may be fast, but compared to my agility, which I’m confident about more than anything else, it’s not even close.
Crack!
Twisting the waist of the candlestick, I forced it to pop out of the Gear Butler’s grip.
Then, through the small opening, the candlestick slipped out.
In an instant, I swung my greatsword down toward the unguarded brow of the butler, reinforcing my weakened power by pouring extra aura than usual.
Bam!
In the meantime, the butler crosses his arms to block the greatsword. Indeed, since he’s in good shape, he doesn’t break easily.
But as for the weapon in hand… or should I say the candlestick? Calling it a weapon might be a stretch.
Anyway, without his tool, no matter how tough and strong he is, he cannot stand up to me.
To block my Minotaur Greatsword, no matter how strong the monsters of the third-floor depths are, they need to take a proper stance.
“Keep blocking if you can!”
Bam! Bam! Bam!
Utilizing the techniques of the Yurensik swordsmanship, I swung the greatsword non-stop, mixing in martial arts to pressure the gaps.
At first, he was somehow managing to respond, but soon his steps were completely bound, and unable to fully absorb the shock, the metal skeleton began to show through the wounds on his arm, eventually toppling over after losing balance due to my shoulder tackle.
The greatsword came crashing down above the butler’s head.
Crunch!
That was it. Perhaps due to a signal sent at the last moment, the butler’s artificial body seemed to struggle to rise, but that too soon stopped.
The now empty can. While his face resembled a handsome man, the greatsword had pierced through, revealing just some faux leather wraps.
The butt structure peeking out from between the clothes and skin-like faux leather had a color that was somewhat familiar.
With a chrome-colored frame that shone even in little light. It was likely crafted using technology close to a prototype prosthetic limb.
Though it looked like a Golem operating through intricate gear mechanisms and hidden hydraulic presses among the clothing… this was originally a person.
As I pulled out the greatsword that had pierced his head, blackened and altered fluids flowed out along with some brain tissue.
Since these things are notoriously tough and hard to kill, I didn’t ease up and smashed in the chest.
Checking if his heart was not wholly replaced with prosthetics, I glanced at the ordinarily pulsing heart for a moment before ripping it out.
Creak… Clang!
Finally, all the parts that were spinning non-stop came to a complete halt.
Withdrawing the mana stone from the heart caused the remaining debris to instantly turn to dust and scatter. But still, I couldn’t let my guard down.
Among the scattering fragments, three silver knives flew toward me.
“Would it kill you to wait a little?”
I drew my Unicorn Dagger and deflected the knives.
Clang!
Each time I deflected, a deafening metallic scratching sound resonated.
Raising my head, I saw a Gear Maid with her hand tucked into her sleeve.
Right, right. A combat maid should stylishly pull a weapon from under her skirt, and whether it’s a heavy mace or dozens of knives, that’s the norm.
But do you really think I’d fall for that now?
“Ugh!”
The head of the one who was frantically throwing knives was crushed beneath the weight of my greatsword.
Naturally, since the Gear Users, maids or butlers, are all monsters created through the same processes, it made sense.
However, as I continued a bit further, I encountered the Gear Soldiers, who were suddenly much stronger.
“So this is how strong they really are….”
The Human Golem and Gear Soldiers in their prime fought fiercely; they’re not ones to be underestimated in combat.
They’d certainly qualify as knights by the standards of the kingdoms outside Pangrave.
Armed with shiny new gear, even if I seized one of their weapons, they could quickly pull out another, able to respond to various situations instantly.
In other words, I couldn’t do the tricks as I did when fighting the butler.
Moreover, with their brains intact, they could act without the sluggishness of the Gear Soldiers; they weren’t slow to respond.
It truly felt like a warrior with a steel body, skilled techniques, and combat experience.
But that also meant that their synchronization was outstanding—meaning they carried some human limitations too.
“Stealth is a godsend….”
Right. Unlike others, the Gear Soldier relies entirely on their senses, making stealth effective against them.
After a long time on the third floor, I made my move, amplifying my mana with the help of the stealth effect, and though a bit fearful from previous experiences, I felt alright with the Mana Herbs I had consumed.
Just to be safe, I also held a mana potion in one hand, ready to drink immediately.
As the most complex spell I knew was woven, the mana amplified and amplified, and I recited the ignition words like a bizarre chant.
“Exploding Flame.”
Flames flickered and sparked.
What started as a small ember gradually swelled as it moved forward.
As expected, it was intensely draining, but it wasn’t enough to bring me down.
Still, with my mana running low, I swallowed a mana potion while my explosion of flames lost its stealth effectiveness.
-…!
True to a knight awakened with aura, the instant he felt the mana’s presence behind him, he quickly turned around.
He drew out his blade with serrated edges, and just as I was amazed at the sight of his whirring sword—like a chainsaw in sword form—the Gear Knight attempted to slice through the incoming spell. To be precise, he tried to cut it, but failed.
KAAAAAAAAM!!!
The explosion was so dazzling that even Benny had to admit it was beyond belief, and the knight, struck by it, had half of his body obliterated.
He wasn’t dead, but the thick alloy armor cracked in several places, and some parts melted, causing him to move awkwardly.
However, their bodies consist of steel and steam—weaponry rather than flesh and blood.
Like a person who feels no pain, or at least seems to not, he silently rose again and lifted his sword.
The aura intertwined with the spinning blades tore through anything it touched violently. But I had long since moved from my initial position.
The Gear Knight, mistakenly recognizing Lydia and Benny as enemies, charged towards them. I took the opportunity to strike down on the back of his head with all my might.
Not just ending it in one blow, I employed Yurensik swordsmanship along with minor spells and divine powers to keep hammering him relentlessly.
In the end, he couldn’t withstand the onslaught and quickly dropped to one knee.
“Knight, I won’t call you cowardly.”
-…
Though hidden behind a winged helmet, I could feel a pitifully aggrieved glare.
He was about to really expire, and yet he had the audacity to look upset.
I swung my greatsword and beheaded the poor knight.
“That’s one.”
Now, just five more knights to take down before I can summon the Lord of the Clock Fortress.
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