The terrain was becoming a nightmare to navigate the closer Verso got to the center.
He moved through the shadows casted by massive jagged rocks that hovered above the uneven ground frozen in time.
According to the map he had memorized he should be halfway to the center now and the atmosphere had shifted completely. It was darker and the air felt heavier because of the density amount of mana in the area.
He reached a massive fissure splitting the earth, looking at it he walked back a little before running and leaping over it landing with a grunt.
'The people in the real world don't realize how easy they have it.'
He looked back at the crack. In the real world version of the Shattered Wilds, there were bridges and safety nets that people had put to make it easier for the students to move around. But here, there was only the jagged rocks.
Verso felt like he had been spending a lot of his time in the simulation navigating the terrain.
'I might have to sign up for parkour lessons.' Verso thought as a he let out a small chuckle.
Looking around he saw the next direction he was supposed to head.
"The closer I get to the center, the worse the terrain gets."
Verso continued forward, his eyes scanning the horizon. He couldn't help but wonder what had created a crater this large.
The system had stripped away every man made road and staircase, yet the massive hole in the ground remained like an ancient scar on this world.
'The books did not have any information on that castle, either.' He thought looking up.
Even from the bottom of the crater, the white shimmering castle was visible. It looked magnificent sitting on the horizon like a goal he was not able to reach yet.
After a few minutes of making his way through the crater Verso halted to catch his breath. Just as he was thinking about the deafening silence around him he heard something.
A low, rhythmic vibration started humming as he felt it from the sole of his boots. Small pebbles on the ground began to dance and shake.
'I found it!'
He rounded a corner in excitement and froze.
Standing in a small clearing was a golem that made the others look like toys. It stood at least nine feet tall, its body comprised of dense dark stone and shimmering blue runes that pulsed with a steady light.
It moved around with a slow, deliberate steps that shook the ground. The golem looked like it was trying to patrol its territory as it walked forward looking around each nook and cranny.
'I can't let it get away!'
Verso focused in on the situation right away. This was a Mutant rank beast and he could not afford to be sloppy.
He triggered the manifestation as bright light formed in front of his hand, but this time instead of the ivory cleaver, a massive stone hammer appeared in his hands.
It felt heavy in his hands despite him having nine points in his strength. The hammer was made with the same type of stone that Golems were made out from, its handle was just a smooth marble rod while the head was a perfectly carved block of solid stone, blunt on both sides.
This hammer was the manifestation form of his Minor Stone Golem summon.
'They said that this was the perfect weapon against golems.'
Yesterday when he was researching about the Stone Golems, he found out that blunt weapons were way more effective against them, and it was an irony that the only blunt weapon that Verso had was from the golems.
"Come out."
In a flash of light, the upgraded Lil Bone appeared beside him. Unlike all previous times, this time the marble skeleton had not fallen from the sky but rather walked out straight.
It looked up at Verso quietly waiting for his command.
"Use this." Verso said, handing the hammer to the skeleton who took it with a firm grip.
With all of the Nameless Skeleton's stats now being ten and also considering its humanoid form the skeleton had became the perfect hunting partner.
'It feels great to know there is someone else here with me.'
Verso smiled as he manifested a second hammer for himself.
"We will be aiming for the legs."
Hearing the plan, the skeleton nodded as it tightened its grip on the handle.
Poking his head out of the corner Verso looked at the Giant Golem, which had created a small gap between them. Realizing that this was the only chance he made his move.
"Let's go!"
Verso bolted forward as Lil Bone shadowed his movement, its marble feet making sharp tapping sounds against the rock.
Sensing the vibrations the Giant Golem spun around instantly, its massive head crystal shining with a blinding light as it locked onto them and instead of charging like a mindless beast, the golem raised its palm.
'It's the beam!' Verso thought, instantly recognizing the attack he read about in the guide.
The runes across the golem's body flared as mana surged toward its palm, forming a swirling ball of blue light.
"Please forgive me for this..."
Verso triggered his summoning space and in an instant, one of his remaining Minor Stone Golem materialized directly in front of him.
BOOM.
The blue beam slammed into the Minor Golem, the explosion of mana shredding the summon instantly.
[Summon 'Minor Stone Golem' Dead.]
"Ugh!"
A sharp, stabbing pain flared up in Verso's chest almost like a the feedback to losing a summon.
He gritted his teeth, suppressing the agony as he pushed through the smoke. His summon had served its purpose by taking the brunt of the attack.
"You take the left!" Verso shouted.
Lil Bone stopped following him as its dark marble body turned into a blur as it sprinted to Verso's side.
They reached the golem in mere seconds, moving in perfect sync. Getting close they split up, Verso taking the right and the skeleton taking the left.
The Giant Golem tried to shift its weight, but it was too slow at recovering from its attack as Verso and Lil Bone were already under him.
They swung their hammers simultaneously with every ounce of their strength.
"About time you take a seat!" Verso said with a nefarious smile on his face.