Sofia first launched “Aerial Sword” before closing the distance. The Wind Blade was absorbed by the Golem, temporarily slowing its movements.

Gilbert then attacked. He swung horizontally, then followed with a vertical slash. This was probably just a continuous attack, not a special technique.

“It’s tough… just as Ruon said, it’s not going to be easy.”

Gilbert says, his voice showing considerable caution.

However, the Golem is certainly flinching from the coordinated attacks. Given this fact, it’s possible to defeat it by continuously launching intermittent attacks, giving the opponent no time to retaliate.

Just as I thought about going with that method, Reitz and Mira stepped forward and swung their swords. The slowed Golem took their attacks… and immediately after, perhaps intending to counterattack, it raised its arm. Reitz and the others immediately retreated. Their movements were much swifter than the Green Golem’s, making it clear that a one-sided attack would be difficult.

As Reitz and the others retreated, the Golem also stopped moving. During that time, Sofia and the others regrouped. Before I knew it, the four of them, excluding me, were lined up, holding their swords. Among them, Sofia confronted the Golem head-on. Gilbert, perhaps to provide support, showed an intention to shield Sofia if the Golem came.

The Golem also seemed to be observing, momentarily freezing… The previous attack must have dealt a fair amount of damage.

For example, in games, if you only deal ten or twenty damage, Golem types won’t flinch even when attacked. But the Soldier Golem slowed down even with Reitz and the others’ attacks. If we fight like this, even if we can’t finish it off in one go, it doesn’t seem like our attacks will be ineffective and we won’t be able to defeat it.

The problem is probably the Golem’s attack. Since everyone has a barrier made of magic power, they should be fine from instant death from a single hit, unless they get hit in a really bad spot. But it would definitely take them out of the fight, so we should be extremely careful not to get hit.

As I was thinking, this time the Golem attacked. Sofia hesitated for a moment, wondering whether to go forward or backward—then, Gilbert stepped in.

“Leave it to me!”

The moment he spoke, the Golem’s fist was unleashed. Gilbert blocked it by holding his sword like a shield—as a result,

“Whoa!?”

He cried out and was forced to retreat. He apparently couldn’t absorb the full impact.

The Soldier Golem moved to unleash a follow-up attack—but Reitz and Mira simultaneously attacked from the side, pinning the Golem’s movements.

They probably wanted to blow it away, but it didn’t go that far. However, they did create an opening, and Sofia immediately stepped forward.

She unleashed a “Gale Sword”. The wind-infused strike hit the Golem’s body squarely, and with Reitz and the others’ follow-up attacks, they were finally able to push the opponent back significantly.

They seem to be dealing damage consistently. At this rate, we might be able to defeat it with a powerful technique… However, the battles so far have accumulated a fair amount of fatigue. Lefin said Sofia could only use a powerful technique twice, but if the battle drags on further, she’ll consume even more magic power, and there’s a chance she won’t be able to use it.

It feels like we could defeat it by continuously using lower-level techniques like this—but just as I thought that, the Golem moved first again.

Moreover, it was an even faster charge than before—Reitz and Mira instinctively retreated. They must have thought they’d be blown away if they took it head-on… The Golem seemed to have set its sights on Sofia, approaching with unprecedented swiftness.

I thought about going in for support, but in that instant—Sofia moved to confront the Golem.

“Lefin!”

And she called out to the Sylphs—magic power surged from the blade of her sword. She intended to counter the Golem’s charge with a powerful technique.

The Golem charged forward. Just as I thought they would collide, Sofia’s sword swung vertically.

The Golem couldn’t dodge and took the hit. Perhaps it intended to push through the attack and strike Sofia regardless—but that didn’t happen. Just before the Golem could take another step, wind exploded.

A swirling wind raged through the room. Because she used a powerful technique impulsively, the wind scattered around. The technique’s power might be too great for her to control properly… but even so, what could be called a mass of wind landed on the Golem. It exploded, and Wind Blades slammed into it repeatedly.

“—Yaaah!”

With a shout, Sofia took another step forward. Increasing her attack speed using wind power, she unleashed a three-hit combo. The Golem, trapped in the wind, couldn’t move during that time, took the sword strikes, and was greatly blown away.

Along with that, I realized. That was “Wind Flower Spirit Slash”—a high-level Wind-attribute Magic Sword Technique.

Originally, it’s a single-hit technique where wind explodes and deals damage simultaneously with the slash, but Sofia used wind power to add follow-up attacks… I can’t believe she can use such a powerful technique. Even with the Queen of Sylphs’ blessing, it’s surprising.

Sofia was out of breath from using the powerful technique. But she still seemed to have the will to fight.

The Soldier Golem seemed to have taken quite a hit. It wasn’t just that she used Advanced Techniques, but she unleashed them with full power, so the technique’s power was probably greater than its original strength… One more hit with the same technique might be enough to defeat it.

However, it was clear that Sofia was visibly exhausted… At this point, Gilbert shouted.

“Let’s retreat for now!”

The goal was likely to let Sofia recover her stamina. Reitz and Mira immediately began to fall back. Gilbert also moved backward as he said, and Sofia likewise started to move in sync with him.

However, the Golem began to move. It had taken a lot of damage, but it seemed to see our retreat as an opportunity. It was quite aggressive for a guardian of an Artifact… The moment I thought that, I realized something.

Sofia’s movements were slower than expected. At this rate, she wouldn’t be able to escape and would take a hit from the Golem.

Therefore, I instinctively stepped forward.

“――Lord Ruon!?”

Sofia cried out at my sudden action. But I pressed on regardless. I would become Sofia’s shield against the approaching Golem… Should I defeat it here, or let Sofia fight it to the very end… As I was thinking and about to move forward, I sensed a presence from the side.

It was Sofia――Immediately after I was certain, I felt the same… no, even greater Magic Power than before.

Because I had stepped forward, she was trying to unleash a technique, summoning her remaining strength. What her action meant――there might be no reason, she might have just moved on impulse. Anyway, she passed me from the side and rushed furiously towards the Golem.

Should I stop her, or… When I peered at her face from the side and saw her expression filled with fighting spirit――I made my decision and shouted.

“Go――Sofia!”

Along with my voice, her Magic Power further swelled, and with a cry that resembled her own shout――a horizontal slash was unleashed.

The Sword Strike hit the Golem perfectly. Sofia’s action was probably unexpected even for the Monster, and it had no chance to dodge.

Wind exploded. The technique went even more out of control than before, and even Wind Blades scattered throughout the room, damaging the floor and walls. I was safe because I had discerned and avoided the Wind, but the Golem, which had taken such a concentrated attack, was not unharmed.

Its body was blown away. And as the Wind began to subside, the Golem started to crumble to pieces.

“…Did we win?”

Gilbert’s voice came from behind. Reitz and the others didn’t speak, but I could tell their eyes were wide with surprise at the power of Sofia’s technique.

Then Sofia slumped down, still gripping her sword. While she hadn’t injured herself with the Wind Blade, just as Lefin had said, using the technique twice had pushed her to her limit.

I looked back at the technique she unleashed… Between this and the battle in the Forest, she truly surprises me.

“…For now, we’ve defeated the Guardian.”

I said. Next, I looked back at Gilbert and the others.

“There don’t seem to be any more Monsters. For now, let’s rest a bit… and then check the Artifact, shall we?”

At my words, Gilbert and the others nodded and approached us.