Prologue
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GOLEMS: one of the strongest weapons man could wield in this world. Powerful soldiers to a one, each golem was conjured by an ancient Earth spell.
Some golem wielders used these fearsome weapons as loyal guard dogs. Others manipulated them in combat as their own arms and legs. Foot soldiers equipped with spears or bows could never hope to scratch a military-grade, heavy-class golem clad in thick armor, which could even deflect powerful attacks from skilled spellcasters.
Words inevitably failed to describe the destructive force born from a golem’s consecutive blows. One slice from a golem’s unique weapon reduced even the most valiant of knights on the most powerful of steeds to meaningless chunks of meat. A formidable fortress wall capable of withstanding waves of enemies would fare no better, and would be as effortlessly demolished as a rotten wood fence.
These military-grade, heavy-class golems were the most powerful weapons available to deploy in land battles. At least, that was the common wisdom.
In the ashen valley in the north of Kinas, every member of the territory’s elite Earth squadron stood stupefied by the scene before them.
“A-annihilated… But their opponent is just a single unarmed light-class golem. How…”
The squadron typically utilized thirteen heavy golems. In less than forty seconds, every one of these had been obliterated by that one far smaller golem. This was an absolutely inconceivable turn of events.
The man standing atop the cliff across from the squadron was the one controlling this graceful white golem. The world knew next to nothing about him. Nevertheless, he was known by several aliases: Nightmare of Tibar. Slayer of a thousand adventurers. Return of the legendary golem wielder, Tetheo Madith…
The squadron had heard rumors of their opponent’s unparalleled combat record, along with numerous questionable anecdotes. However, not a single member believed a word of the hearsay. They saw it all as hyperbolic bar gossip. They acknowledged the rumors might hold a portion of truth if, say, this man was exceptionally hostile to strangers who showed him discourtesy. But even if he was unusually powerful, the members of the Earth squadron had no doubt any one of them could defeat him.
And while they all knew “Tetheo Madith” as an infamous golem wielder from a time before some of them were even born, none comprehended the true strength of the man who had inherited that name.
To pump themselves up for the battle, the squadron members had laughed as they bet on who amongst them would take this man down and thereby increase their reputation. The winnings were to be used for top-quality wine to celebrate their successful mission and safe return.
Then, an area of the broad valley had echoed with an explosive roar. A devastating shockwave rattled the conifers and sent up billowing clouds of dust, in which mangled pieces of thick black armor danced majestically through the air.
The last golem, the one controlled by the squadron’s captain, finally sank to the ashen ground. Amidst the massacre, the white golem stood calm and still, utterly unfazed.
Eyes wide, the squadron members gasped in unison. One of the reasons for this was, of course, terror. However, another emotion also held them. The white golem standing before them was unspeakably lovely.
Her body was slender and symmetrical, like that of a flawless goddess. Her long, silky white hair was almost translucent. Her sparkling ruby eyes drew in any who dared gaze upon her. And those strange, elongated ears… Everyone present recognized the shape of those ears. They belonged to the race of ancient legends, the “People of the Valley.”
Along with that, they recalled a title that appeared in those legends:
Barbarian Queen.
The cruel and beautiful goddess in front of their eyes was like the golem of the Barbarian Queen.