NOVEL WEB Chapter 9: Legacy and Fang
Chapter 9:
The air in the ancient lab hung heavy with the silence Adamuz had left behind. The last vestiges of his form, like motes of stardust, swirled for a moment before vanishing completely.
Leo stood there, his limbs strangely light after the intense crafting session, a profound sense of loss mingling with the power that now radiated from Tarra.
Adamuz was gone, but what he had left behind was undeniable. The resonance of his legacy hummed through the walls.
> \[System Notification: Legacy Transfer Complete. Subsystem Unlocked: Golem Architect Subsystem – Partial Access Granted. Upgrade conditions incomplete.]
Leo glanced once more at the now-empty sanctum. "Let's go, Tarra," he whispered.
They made their way back through the ancient ruins, retracing their path past crumbled pillars and defunct golems. The air felt different now—lighter, but also more alert. As they stepped outside, the first rays of filtered sunlight touched Leo's face. The dense canopy of the forest swayed gently, and the faint sound of wind returned.
Leo took a moment to breathe. Birds chirped distantly. For the first time since entering the ruins, there was calm.
Then a low growl shattered the silence.
Tarra immediately stepped forward, eyes glowing, sensors active. "Hostile presence detected."
Leo didn't hesitate. He gripped the Aetherpulse Rifle, already feeding mana into its core.
From the mist emerged three Feral Wargs—twisted, fog-corrupted beasts the size of bears. Their fur bristled with black residue, and their eyes glowed red with madness.
> \[Feral Warg – Level 20]
> \[Feral Warg – Level 20]
> \[Feral Warg – Level 20]
"Tarra," Leo said, voice steady. "Engage."
She launched forward without a word, her motion fluid, metal limbs moving in perfect synchronization.
The first Warg lunged. Tarra intercepted it mid-air, slamming her rune-etched forearm into its skull. The beast hit the ground, dazed. She followed up with a precise Quartz-Infused Strike to its throat. A crack echoed.
> \[Critical Hit!]
> \[Enemy Defeated: Feral Warg]
Before the others could react, Tarra was already moving. A flash of silver and wood—her Nara-infused arms struck with divine grace. One Warg tried to flank her, but she spun and drove a mana-empowered palm into its chest.
A pulse of radiant energy burst outward. The beast collapsed, sizzling into the mossy earth.
Leo took aim at the third one. He steadied his breathing, powered up the Aetherpulse Rifle—then fired.
The bolt of mana pierced through the Warg's side, searing flesh and bone. It staggered back, snarling, and tried to retreat.
But Tarra was faster.
She dashed forward and struck the creature down with a final crushing blow.
> \[Enemy Defeated: Feral Warg]
> \[Shared XP Awarded]
> \[Due to party level disparity, bonus XP granted to Leo Makjin]
> \[LEVEL UP! Leo has reached Level 3.]
> \[LEVEL UP! Leo has reached Level 4.]
> \[LEVEL UP! Leo has reached Level 5.]
> \[LEVEL UP! Leo has reached Level 6.]
> \[LEVEL UP! Leo has reached Level 7.]
Leo gasped. A surge of energy spread through his body, rushing into his limbs, mind, and core.
> \[Status Updated: 15 unallocated status points, 1 skill point earned.]
He lowered the rifle, staring at the battlefield. The fog-drenched bodies of the Wargs were already dissolving into black mist.
Tarra stepped beside him, her frame unscathed. Her eyes met his, quietly awaiting the next command.
He opened his system screen.
---
**\[Leo Makjin]**
\[Race: Human]
\[Class: Golem-Mancer]
\[Title: Golem Maker]
\[Level: 7]
**\[HP: 185/185]**
**\[MP: 130/130]**
**\[Strength: 16]**
**\[Agility: 11]**
**\[Intelligence: 24]**
**\[Vitality: 19]**
**\[Luck: ?]**
**Unallocated Status Points:** 15
**Unallocated Skill Points:** 1
**\[Skills:]**
• Survival Instinct
• Golem Crafting (MAX)
• Golem's Dimensional Pocket (Lv.1)
• Summon Golem (Lv.1)
• Golem Enhancement (Lv.1)
• Golem Repair (Lv.1)
• Artifact Making (Lv.1)
• Enchantment (Lv.1)
• Repairing Artifacts (Lv.1)
**\[Subsystems:]**
Golem Architect Subsystem (Partially Unlocked)
**\[Equipment:]**
Aetherpulse Rifle – Mana-based firearm. Charging Shot enabled. Bonus damage vs corrupted.
Resonant Aegis – Reinforced Golem-Tech armor. Grants MP regen and resistance.
---
**\[Tarra]**
\[Type: Advanced Golem Automaton]
\[Level: 30]
\[HP: 850 / 850]
\[MP: 200 / 200]
**\[Strength: 150]**
**\[Agility: 120]**
**\[Defense: 200]**
**\[Skills:]**
• Enhanced Combat Matrix
• Quartz-Infused Strike
• Energy Shield
• Rapid Regeneration
• Analytical Scan
• Mana Conduit
Leo stood in silence, watching the last remnants of fog curl into nothingness. Adamuz was gone. But Tarra lived. The legacy lived.
And Aethelgard… was far from safe.