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“Polly! You traitor! You actually brought humans and goblins here?” a gnome shouted furiously.

“Sir, times have changed!” replied the captured gnome known as Polly, the same one who had guided Starry and her group here. His expression flickered uncertainly. “This Rock Maze has been ruled by you old relics for far too long. It’s time for a new era to begin!”

Starry stood behind them, dumbfounded. Why did he sound like he was the leader of some grand rebellion instead of a trembling prisoner leading them through?

“Hahaha! Polly, have you been bullied so much that your brain’s gone rotten? You think *these* people can bring about any kind of change?”

As soon as that was said, laughter erupted among all the gnomes, echoing through the cave inside and out, filling the air with mocking amusement.

Polly’s face turned crimson, veins bulging on his forehead. “Just you wait and see!”

Kanrel tapped the back of Polly’s neck with the blunt edge of his dagger. “Yo, are you getting ahead of yourself?”

The gnome trembled in fright. “I—I led you here! You can’t kill me!”
“Enough. Don’t scare him,” Starry frowned and said.
“Yes!”
“I’ll be asking just in case, what other traps lie ahead?” she questioned.

The gnomes in front had remained completely still, which surely meant they were relying on something. Perhaps there were hidden pits or trap-loaded crossbows waiting for them.

“N-nothing… nothing else.”
“Speak!” Kanrel barked, lifting his dagger threateningly.
“Alright, alright! There’s… there’s a terrifying battle puppet sealed inside! If you dare go forward, they’ll release that mad thing!”

‘A battle puppet, huh…’ The gnomes themselves weren’t strong, so it was hard to say just how powerful the battle puppet they created could be. The path ahead had widened considerably, most likely to accommodate the puppet’s size.

“Yalu, can your Iceflow Shield be cast on me?” Starry asked. During their previous fights, that shield had deflected the Wishkeeper’s entangling vines, seemingly capable of resisting both binding effects and projectile attacks.

“Of course.” Yalu nodded, his hands glowing with deep-blue mana. A stream of water spiraled around Starry, enveloping her in a protective current.

Such a godly skill! Not only did it prevent binding effects, but it also reduced damage by 80%! Even if she took a fatal hit, the remaining 20% would barely sting. Though limited in uses, if timed correctly, it could block single powerful strikes for maximum advantage.

Once this was over, she absolutely had to learn that skill from Yalu!

“Keep an eye on this guy and give me ranged support. Starmew, with me!” With protection in place, Zane’s confidence surged.¹　

Yalu understood this wasn’t the time for bravado. “Got it! You two, hold that slippery gnome down tight!”

The two goblins obeyed, pressing Polly firmly to the ground.

“Are you that eager to die? Then come and see for yourselves!” one of the gnomes ahead sneered coldly. He then yanked down a lever beside the wall, and the rest of the gnomes bolted like frightened rats.

**Screee—screee—squeak—**

A harsh, grating sound echoed as an old iron gate creaked open, its hinges long rusted.

**Boom! Boom! Boom!**

Something heavy was moving. Each step shook the entire cave. Suddenly, a strange bulge appeared in the front wall. In the next instant—BOOM! A massive, boulder-sized fist smashed through the wall in an explosion of stone! Dust and debris scattered everywhere, and the creature’s full form was finally revealed before them.

A Unique-rank special!? Its stats were even higher than that of the Diamond Lizard!

Still, the gnomes clearly lacked proper control over it, otherwise they wouldn’t have fled in panic. Its attack power was still within a tolerable range. The level gap was only three, so the suppression effect wouldn’t be too severe.

‘Let’s do it!’

Starmew darted in from the left, frost gathering on its claws as it lunged forward, striking with icy force.

What the heck?! Starmew’s physical attack was over 400! And it still couldn’t break through its defense!? To make matters worse, a single word appeared beside the damage number—Immune.

Another boss immune to binding effects… she had been running into way too many of those lately.

The Battle Puppet shook violently as it was struck, then its right fist exploded downward with crushing power!

Starmew was blasted backward several steps, the difference in strength was overwhelming! Almost at the same time, Starry lunged from the right, launching a chain of Normal Attack + Icy Moon Slash + Normal Attack!

Thankfully, her extremely high attack power was enough to deal at least some damage.

The Battle Puppet then turned its attention toward the human girl.

**Zzzz—Zzzz!**

Terrifying arcs of lightning flickered around its iron fist. Although its attributes panel didn’t show any magic attack stats, her instincts screamed that this was one hit she must not take head-on!

Her speed spiked sharply. She tilted her head just in time, feeling the giant fist brush past her neck.

‘Phew…’ A breath of relief had barely escaped her lips when—

—a powerful shockwave slammed her straight into the wall.

If not for Iceflow Shield, that blow would’ve killed her instantly…

That Thunder Fist wasn’t just an ordinary strike, it enhanced its basic attack into an AoE (area-of-effect) blow. Combined with Huge Power, even her 359 points of physical defense barely held up!

“Ugh…” It was the first time Starry had been beaten so badly, her body was nearly embedded into the wall.

Yalu saw the situation turning grim. Forcing himself to remain calm, he gathered his frost energy. In the next moment, an ice-blue prison materialized beside the Battle Puppet.

The puppet rammed headfirst into the icy cage, seemingly annoyed by the obstruction—and then, BOOM!!!

“Pfft!” Yalu coughed up a mouthful of blood as the ice cage shattered. He had only barely learned the technique’s basics; its toughness was still far from Yaho’s mastery!

“Chief!” the other goblins cried out in panic. They drew their shortbows, took aim at the Battle Puppet, and fired in unison!

…

All the damage numbers were pitiful scratches. ‘How could this be…?’ The goblins could hardly believe their eyes.

**Boom!!**

Suddenly, an explosion erupted from behind them. The two goblins guarding Polly were blown apart, their bodies shredded beyond recognition, they had been instantly killed!

Smoke rolled in from the rear, spreading rapidly until the entire cave was swallowed in a dense fog. Visibility dropped to nothing.

“Hehehe, and you thought you could keep me contained?” It was Polly’s voice!

“Damn you humans and goblins, you’ll all die here! Once the Battle Puppet finishes you off, I’ll command it to destroy those old fools next!” Polly muttered darkly, hiding behind a corner.

Through the thick haze, Starry struggled to steady herself and fell back to the ground.

**Whoosh!**

A violent gust of air roared toward her, the Battle Puppet’s punch cut through the fog as if it weren’t there!

The Thunder Fist struck Starry hard in the abdomen.

“Ugh…” Even though it was only a game, the pain that followed felt shockingly real.