All of this unfolded before Leo's eyes as he sat atop Shyra's back, both of them cloaked in stealth.

He didn't intervene—not because he didn't want to, but because he didn't want to be blamed for stealing the kill. And secondly… he recognized the man. How could he not? Because of this guy, Leo had been annoyed for an entire night. His first impression of Dale had been that of an arrogant young master flaunting his strength in front of his women.

But after witnessing everything now… Leo realized he might have to change his opinion.

It was clear—sky clear—that the girls weren't suppressed or threatened like he initially assumed when he saw the harem-like formation around Dale. Instead, they genuinely cared for him. The bond was real.

No last name? Leo narrowed his eyes.

Someone who looked like a high noble young master, yet the girls called him casually by his first name. Perhaps Dale allowed it. Or perhaps they preferred it.

What was even more surprising was that the affection seemed mutual. Even though he had multiple women, it didn't feel shallow or forced. When Leo first arrived, he'd heard Dale scolding the red-haired girl for overexerting herself. That alone showed he cared—and that the girls cared back. And now, after witnessing Dale's reaction when Ryn was brutally slammed… it solidified everything.

Leo had already figured out Ryn was unconscious, but not in danger for the timebeing. With his skill, he could stabilize her easily.

But Dale didn't know that.

And that ignorance pushed him into desperation and fury.

Hmmm… all the collapsed beasts must belong to him.

So Dale was a beast master—and the girls aren't?

Leo shifted his gaze back to the golem.

Puppet Golem (High 2-star) – Magic Construct

It would be a lie to say he wasn't tempted. He needed that core to push Shyra to Peak 2-star. Every core he'd gathered had gone to Shyra and Niri, and both were stuck right at the edge of their breakthroughs—Shyra at High 2-star, and Niri at Peak 2-star.

Even after feeding them so many low-level cores.

He'd already deduced they needed stronger cores to advance. Otherwise the natural method would take ages. And after running all the way toward the golden beam, he hadn't encountered even a single High 2-star beast—let alone a Peak 2-star.

But there was a problem.

Could Golem Cores even be used?

The thing was a puppet—a construct—likely created or remotely controlled by someone. Was the "core" inside it even the kind that could help Shyra? Or was it something else entirely?

Still, he needed power before reaching the golden beam. With so many beasts converging there, whatever lay at the centre had to be incredibly valuable—and incredibly dangerous.

He needed Shyra at Peak 2-star now.

THUD!

A violent crash tore Leo from his thoughts. Dale's body smashed into a tree, blood spraying from his mouth. His condition worsened by the second. The other girls were completely incapacitated, leaving only the blue-haired girl still standing—barely—as she fired water blade after water blade at the golem. Her face showed the increasing dread with each passing second.

The construct started advancing again, intent on finishing Dale off.

This fucking rock lump is definitely being controlled by someone.

Look how it used its broken arm to block incoming blades, minimizing the damage to its remaining combat capabilities. No way this thing is acting on its own.

Or maybe…

Are all golems like that?

It was Leo's first time seeing one.

Setting all thoughts aside, he decided to step in. He shouldn't allow people to die in his presence—especially when their bond seemed this genuine.

I guess I shouldn't hold a grudge for one small mistake…?

---

"No, master Dale! I will hold this thing back. You run with the others!"

Lyss shouted, her voice trembling as she frantically released volleys of water blades at the golem. Each blade bit into the rocky surface, slowing its advance just enough. She was burning through the last scraps of mana that had regenerated while the others had distracted the construct earlier.

By bribing the spatial mage, all of them had managed to arrive in the same general area—making it easier to regroup, stick together, and farm trial points. Strictly speaking, they didn't even need this trial. Their seats in Valencrest Royal Academy were already secured. But because of Dale's mission—one that was ultimately cancelled—they ended up on this "simple" adventure anyway.

It was supposed to be child's play for Dale. But fate has it, they encountered something unexpected.

They never imagined they would witness a heaven-and-earth phenomenon… nor that they would be so close to it—close enough that they sensed opportunity. And with Dale taking charge, they chose to gamble, exploring deeper with the agreement that they would retreat if things became too dangerous.

As they advanced, they encountered many beasts along the way—which they had expected, coming from an inner city. Free trial points, or so they thought. In their enthusiasm, they used mana relentlessly, barely noticing how fast their reserves dwindled.

Then, their luck snapped.

They encountered this golem—one that released an aura equal to a high 2-star beast. Dale initially assumed it would be an easy high-point target. But the fight shifted instantly. The more they destroyed its body, the larger it grew. The golem's size increased rapidly, its form bulking up, its power surging until it reached Peak 2-star, the white pulse in its chest intensifying like it had entered a berserk mode.

Even then, Dale had been confident. Confident enough to press forward and launch full-strength attacks.

But the golem changed.

It grew smarter and its movements refined. It countered their attacks with frightening precision. And while it no longer regenerated, its body had become absurdly tough—far beyond their expectations.

The shift was too sudden.

And now, as the dust settled around Dale's broken form and the girls lay scattered and injured, they found themselves trapped in a situation none of them were prepared for.

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