The Core of the Curse and Its Guardians

Under Zoro's Haki field, which was like a "mobile purifier," the group's advance sped up considerably.

What he called "following the smell" was actually his incredibly keen Observation Haki precisely locking onto the source of the densest, most concentrated curse aura deep within the mine.

After passing through a narrow, steep descending passage, the view before them suddenly opened up.

A massive natural cavern, like an underground palace, appeared before them.

Countless enormous stalactites hung from the cavern ceiling, while all kinds of faintly glowing ores were embedded in the walls, casting the entire space in bizarre, shifting colors.

At the very center of the cavern stood a high altar. Floating silently above it was an object emitting an eerie purple glow. It was a necklace forged from some unknown black metal, with an eyeball-shaped purple gemstone as its pendant.

The suffocating Weakening Curse filling the entire mine was continuously emanating from that necklace.

"We found it! The source of the curse!" Lucy said excitedly.

However, before they could celebrate, a sudden change occurred.

Thud... thud... thud...

Heavy footsteps, like war drums, echoed from every direction within the cavern.

From the shadows of the cavern, enormous golems formed from the mine's rocks slowly rose to their feet. Each one stood over three meters tall. Dense purple curse aura also coiled around their bodies, while lifeless, hollow red light flickered in their eyes.

There were more than a dozen of them.

"They're guardians!" Erza immediately drew her sword, her expression grave. "Everyone, be careful! These golems have been mutated by the curse. They probably have high resistance to magic!"

Before she finished speaking, the Rock Golems charged forward with heavy strides!

Ice Make: War Hammer!

Gray struck first, smashing a massive ice hammer viciously into a golem's chest. Yet the instant the hammer touched the golem's body, it shattered with a bang, leaving behind only a thin layer of frost and causing no real damage at all!

"Damn it! Physical attacks really aren't very effective!"

"Then try this! Circle Sword!" Erza immediately Requipped, and dozens of flying swords howled toward another golem.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

A series of dense metallic clangs rang out. The flying swords only sent sparks flying from the golem's hard stone body, cutting off little more than a few chunks of rock and failing to damage it at its core.

"These things are way too tough!" Erza gritted out.

Just as they were locked in a bitter struggle with the golems and forced back again and again, a figure flashed past them like a streak of green lightning, charging straight toward the tide of advancing golems.

It was Zoro!

"A bunch of rocks. Perfect for warming up!"

He grinned, revealing a bloodthirsty expression. Wado Ichimonji and Sandai Kitetsu flew from their sheaths at the same time!

Two-Sword Style: Hawk Wave!

He held a sword in each hand and surged forward at incredible speed, his twin blades carving two intersecting, visible blue-green slashes through the air!

Those two sword pressures struck the two Rock Golems at the front with perfect accuracy.

Boom! Boom!

With two deafening explosions, the two golems that even Erza's flying swords had struggled to shake had huge holes blasted straight through their hard stone chests. They crashed to the ground and became piles of rubble!

"So... so strong!" Lucy stared in stunned disbelief.

Zoro's attacks did not stop.

Like a tiger among sheep, he launched a dazzling, bloody "slaughter" amid the more than dozen slow-moving golems.

His swordsmanship was broad and forceful, filled with overwhelming power. Every slash was coated in jet-black Armament Haki. The sharpness that could cut through steel sliced through these Rock Golems like a hot knife through butter.

One golem swung a huge stone fist down at him. He did not even dodge, directly blocking it with his Haki-coated blade before countering with Demon Slash, splitting it in two from head to toe!

Another golem tried to sneak up on him from behind. Without even turning his head, he struck back with Rhino Schneider, and the spinning blade light instantly severed it at the waist!

By himself, with one sword—no, two—he held back more than half the golems' attacks, and still had plenty to spare! His presence greatly eased the pressure on Erza and the others, allowing them to focus on the remaining golems.

The entire cavern echoed with the roar of shattering rock and Zoro's exhilarated laughter.

"Hahaha! Too weak! Is that all you've got?!"