“Lord Valerian.”
“Speak.”
A man with a large metal arm knelt before Arthur Valerian. As he rose, another oddity came into view, a glowing artificial eye, its surface laced with fine runes that pulsed in a slow, steady rhythm.
“Was it wise to let the High Commander leave? What if the monsters break through?”
“If that happens, Sir Wischard.”
Arthur replied calmly.
“You’ll finally get a chance to test that new arm of yours. But even if not now, be ready. The real battle is coming… soon.”
“...Yes, Lord Valerian.”
Sir Wischard gave a short bow and turned to leave, his face without emotion. All around him, controlled chaos unfolded. Runic turrets fired in carefully measured bursts, cutting down waves of monsters as they surged toward the outer defenses. Mines detonated with fiery violence, shaking the ground with every explosion. The exoskeletal units bathed enemies in flame, clearing entire clusters in moments. The archers had yet to be called, waiting patiently on the walls, and despite the monster's advances, the tide seemed to be slowing.
‘If things go as Roland predicted, it shouldn’t take more than a few hours…’
Arthur’s gaze wasn’t on the battlefield anymore. He looked far beyond the dying monsters toward a distant city, a place that would become his next opportunity to prove himself.
*****
“You want me to get in that?”
“Yes.”
The large, bald man rubbed the back of his head as he stared at the strange mechanical contraption in front of him. His expression made it clear he wasn’t exactly thrilled.
“It looks like a coffin with legs.”
Roland didn’t bother to argue. The prototype was rough and bulky, the angular armor plating gave it a crude, blocky silhouette, somewhere between a box and a wedge. Six thick, black wheels lined its sides, each crafted to resemble the tires he remembered from his original world. They weren’t inflated with air; instead, they were made from a layered rubber-like substance in a flexible pattern designed to compress under pressure. It wasn’t perfect, but considering the limitations of this world, it was a remarkable feat. The vehicle ran on a custom-built runic engine, capable of drawing power from either mana fluid or Roland’s original runic batteries.
“Think of it as a mobile golem.”
He said, stepping toward the open door.
“It’ll get us there a lot faster than walking.”
“Haha, I didn’t know you were such a coward, Guild Master!”
Before Aurdhan could respond, Armand stepped forward with a smug grin and casually shoved past him. A thick vein on Aurdhan’s forehead bulged even more, his jaw tightening as he was brushed aside by his former disciple.
Roland watched the exchange with mild curiosity. He wasn’t entirely sure, but it seemed Armand still harbored some resentment over the past. After all, Aurdhan had cast him out following his defeat to Roland years ago. Now, having risen to a tier-3 class, Armand might finally feel bold enough to push back. The fear that once kept him in line seemed to be fading, replaced by something like pride or maybe even spite.
"Aren’t you overthinking things again, Guild Master? When has our Wayland ever let us down?"
Lobelia stepped in right after her brother, tossing a glance over her shoulder with a slight grin. The mobile golem, bulky as it looked from the outside, had a surprisingly roomy interior. It was wide enough to fit all seven of them without much trouble, even Agni.
Soon, four people were seated inside, leaving only the Guild Master and the massive wolf still standing outside. Aurdhan crossed his arms and muttered something under his breath, but in the end, the weight of collective social pressure wore him down. He entered with the others, taking a seat next to Robert, who sat in the middle. Robert acted as a barrier between the Guild Master and his former disciple, while the two women sat opposite them.
"Agni, no. You’re not sitting there."
"Awooo?"
Agni froze, ears perked, and confused. He had started to move toward the main seating area like he belonged there, but Roland cut him off. Agni was still as large as a horse. The seats were not made for someone of his size.
"You’ve got your own spot. In the back. Go on."
The sunlight wolf gave an unhappy snort, clearly unimpressed with being separated from the rest of the group. Roland gave him a few nudges, and eventually Agni gave in. With a reluctant shuffle, he climbed into the rear compartment designed specifically for him.
A moment later, a pair of wolfen eyes peeked through a small opening between the cabins. Lobelia leaned forward and gave him a scratch behind the ears, which made his ears perk up and his tail thump against the metal floor.
"Haha, you look funny like that, Agni."
Lucille shifted slightly to the side to make room for Agni’s head, which was now resting comfortably through the small opening between compartments. She looked like she wanted to reach out and pet him, her fingers twitching in hesitation. In the end, she resisted the urge, clutching her large tome tighter and turning away. A faint blush crept up her cheeks, though it was hidden beneath her runic helmet.
With everyone gathered inside, Roland remained the only one still standing outside the vehicle. He didn’t step in right away. Instead, he lingered beside the front of the machine. There was a third cabin located at the front, designed for a driver, but he didn’t need to occupy it. The vehicle could be controlled remotely just like any of his other runic creations. He glanced at the group, their voices muffled behind the armored walls. Then he looked ahead, toward the dark path leading through the tunnels. It was time to move and fulfill the next part of the plan of getting to Aldbourne.
Roland placed his hand against the metal plating of the vehicle, and the runes etched across its surface began to glow with a soft, pulsing light. It wasn't subtle. This machine hadn’t been designed with discretion in mind. Arcs of magic traced intricate patterns over its frame as power surged through the runic network. The engine came to life with a faint crackling, the sound not unlike static electricity building in the air, until a silencing spell kicked in, muting it entirely. Despite its bulk, the construct now gave off no more noise than a whisper.
‘Good, everything seems to be going well. The runes are stable, and the mana is flowing through correctly…’
Soon, he began walking, his metal boots echoing through the tunnel. The vehicle rolled forward behind him in perfect synchronization, its heavy frame gliding smoothly over the uneven terrain. Dust shifted beneath its wheels as they pushed the dirt aside. The weight was substantial, leaving distinct marks on the hard, rocky ground as the mobile golem and, more precisely, the runic combat transport vehicle, moved forward.
After a few minutes, the tunnel began to widen. Up ahead, a second massive door blocked their way. It was identical in construction to the first one they had passed through earlier. Runes sprawled across its surface, flickered faintly as he had already activated the unlocking mechanism.
*Whirrrr.*
The lock was disengaging, and soon he and his companions would be in the tunnels the dungeon had created for the break. The massive bolts retracted, dirt puffing outward as the door slowly creaked open. Beyond it lay the exit tunnel, long, straight, and quiet. Roland stepped forward, scanning the area. He listened for the telltale growl or clicking of monsters, but there was nothing.
"Just as expected. It’s clear."
"Hey, Wayland, what’s happening out there?"
Though Roland had stepped through, the people inside the mobile golem couldn’t see what was happening outside. The vehicle had been built for maximum protection, heavily armored and sealed against outside disturbances. It had no windows, nor a standard ventilation system. Instead, runes etched into its frame slowly produced oxygen and filtered out the used air.
Roland waited for the vehicle to pass through the door while he kept watch. Once it was out, he directed the runic door to shut itself again. This time, the bolts shifted slightly before plunging into fresh sections of the rock wall.
"Everything is fine, but the ride might get bumpy from now on. If you look up and to the sides, you’ll see handles.”
Roland said, responding to the Guild Master, who seemed unable to stay quiet.
"Yes, I see them."
"Good. Hold onto them and don’t let go."
There had been no time to prepare proper seat belts for everyone, and they likely wouldn't have helped much anyway. Everyone inside was a tier-3 being and fairly resilient. Even if the vehicle picked up speed, serious injuries were unlikely, or so he hoped.
Finally, Roland entered the forward cabin, which was designed for a single occupant. He floated above it briefly before dropping down. As he settled in, the screen on his helmet lit up, displaying the outside view through one of the golemic eyes he had installed.
‘Now then …let’s get moving.’
Roland tapped a glowing rune on the panel in front of him. As soon as his gauntlet made contact, the panel began to slide open, revealing something that resembled a steering wheel. The surrounding runes pulsed with light, signaling that it was time to move.
Although he could control everything using his runic abilities, gripping a physical wheel felt more natural, more responsive. It reminded him of the day he took his driving test.
He could still picture his eighteen-year-old self nervously switching places with the instructor, only to fail the exam after nearly forcing another car to stop abruptly. It took him another attempt to pass, but he eventually got through. This vehicle didn’t feel like a typical car. The steering was too rigid, more like something designed for an armored transport. Still, it brought back those long-buried memories.
Slowly at first, the massive vehicle rolled forward, its six wheels compressing and expanding over the uneven floor of the dungeon-formed tunnel. Then, bit by bit, the speed increased. Dust kicked up in swirling gusts behind them. The golemic transport moved faster, gliding sedately through the rough terrain. At the same time, inside the cabin people started speaking.
“Is it just me, or are we speeding up?”
Armand muttered, gripping one of the overhead handles.
“We are indeed moving faster.”
Robert spoke calmly, his eyes half-closed as if meditating through the jolts and bumps. The others, including the Guild Master, remained silent, focusing instead on the sounds coming from outside. Although the vehicle was insulated to prevent any sound from escaping, they could still hear what was happening beyond its walls. Faint at first, the cries of distant monsters soon reached their ears.
The vehicle surged forward, vibrations rattling through its frame. The tunnel ahead twisted and widened unpredictably, shaped by chaotic mana surges during the dungeon break. Uneven stones jutted from the walls, but they crumbled beneath the weight of the behemoth forged from thickened dwarven steel.
“Brace yourselves. Monsters ahead.”
Before anyone could respond, the golemic vehicle lit up, its outer runes flaring to life in a brilliant blue blaze. A spherical barrier of translucent mana erupted outward, encasing the entire construct. It shimmered like crystallized moonlight before thinning into a protective coat around the vehicle.
Dozens of monsters poured into the tunnel ahead: twisted, half-formed abominations of flesh and bone, spawned by unstable dungeon magic. They shrieked, clawed at the walls, and some turned directly toward the advancing vehicle.
"Are those monsters? Shouldn’t we slow down!?"
Aurdhan shouted, a hint of concern in his voice, but Roland didn’t ease up. Instead, the vehicle roared forward, accelerating. Magic surged around the wheels as the barrier flared, glowing brighter and humming louder, until it slammed into the first creature.
*BOOM*
It didn’t stop. The beast’s body crumpled under the reinforced frame, exploding into black mist. More followed, but the vehicle didn’t so much as stutter. The shield flared with each impact, burning away flesh with holy flames and reducing limbs and torsos to smoldering ash. The machine bulldozed through the chaos, an unstoppable force of metal and runecraft.
“Woah!”
“Agh!”
“I… I can’t hold it…”
“D-don’t you dare!”
The ride inside was not going smoothly. Even the tier-3 class holders were rocked in their seats. The floor trembled with every collision. Agni whined briefly, bracing himself in his rear compartment, tail tucked tightly, but even he seemed to understand: this was necessary.
Armand braced himself with one hand while the other clutched his mouth. His stomach wasn’t handling the ride well.
“I told you not to eat that second helping of lava boar stew before a mission. And didn’t you also down two whole tankards of dwarven ale?”
Lobelia hissed, leaning as far away from her brother as the cramped compartment allowed.
“I didn’t think we’d be launched through a monster-infested tunnel at this speed!”
Armand groaned, squeezing his mouth shut with his hand with all his might.
“That’s exactly why I told you to listen to me, you damn idiot!”
Lucille muttered something under her breath but didn’t complain. In fact, she seemed to be enjoying the bumpy ride as a quiet giggle escaped her lips. Robert, on the other hand, leaned as far from Armand as possible, clearly debating whether to switch seats and take his chances beside his wife if Armand couldn’t keep it together. Aurdhan looked moments away from snapping, but instead clenched the metal handle beside him. His grip tightened until the steel bent under the force of his strength.
“I’m never signing a contract with this madman again…”
He muttered a few words under his breath, and the rocky ride continued. Roland glanced at the display in front of him, now swarming with red dots. Using a combination of pre-programmed software and his own abilities, he had mapped out the route with the fewest monsters. Still, that didn’t stop them from colliding with plenty along the way.
What he saw was fascinating. Monsters were forming out of pure blue mana, and he could observe the process in real time. Despite the thick mana pollution outside, the exterior of the vehicle remained shielded, allowing Roland to use its magical sensors to feed him visual data.
The creatures materialized from condensed energy, then either surged toward the tunnel’s exit or turned to face the vehicle. There were many, but it seemed most had already formed, and the density of the mana was beginning to thin. Some monsters were heading in other directions, some to Albrook and others to the destination he was heading.
His plan was straightforward: reach Aldbourne and assist with their monster problem. There were other ways to approach it, but this method offered the lowest risk of detection. No one else knew about these underground tunnels and would not expect them to come.
Attempting to open a teleportation gate above ground would risk exposure, and setting one up down here was nearly impossible. The mana pollution would interfere, preventing the gate from forming. Traveling through the tunnels by vehicle was a shortcut and a strategic one. The passage led almost directly to the city and was wide enough to accommodate even the armored vehicle he created. They just needed to continue at top speeds, which would allow them to arrive at their destination in just two hours.
‘I got lucky this dungeon created such a convenient shortcut. Without it, unless I built a flying ship, there’d be no way to get there in time.’
Despite the rough journey, Roland felt confident in his creation. It was holding up well under the pressure. Still, the constant impacts with monsters were beginning to wear it down. He had already been forced to channel his own mana into the barrier, reinforcing the shielding to keep the vehicle stable. By his estimates, this would be a one-way trip.
“Hold on tight. This might get a bit uncomfortable, but bear with it.”
Roland’s voice echoed through the bumpy main compartment, where Armand was still fighting to keep himself together. Moments after the warning, everyone inside felt a sudden surge of force. In an instant, they were all pulled toward the back of the vehicle, where Agni and the two women were seated.
Roland had activated the boosters, having finally cleared the main cluster of monsters. With fewer obstacles ahead, it was time to push the speed even further. The vehicle became a blur, tearing through the tunnel and leaving behind nothing but shattered stone and scattered monster remains.
It didn’t matter if the golemic craft held together for more than two hours; what mattered was that once that time was up, they would still need to complete their mission: to conquer the city of Aldbourne…
195