The Godless Age

by Ededdyeded

Unknown years passed as a new tarnished rose from the mud and blood among the bodies of his fellow warriors to enter the lands between. He embarks on a journey of pain, death, impossible odds, love, friendship, truth, and heartbreak in this cruel and beautiful world. For how is a God to be born without great struggle?

8. ARC II: CHAPTER 3

ARC II:

CHAPTER 3: FOR HE HAS RISEN, AND HE HAS FALLEN

THE ROUNDTABLE HOLD

Lordan paces around the Great Hall of the hold as he waited for his audience with the two fingers. He had made his way here after the events at Stormveil Castle as advised by Nepheil, who helped him in his battle against Godrick to claim his first Great Rune. She had stayed behind to help out in securing the castle after the battle had been won with the rest of the combined army of Limgrave's forces and all who seek to oppose Godrick's rule.

The news of his victory had reached the hold pretty fast, almost everyone who was friendly with him came with congratulations and well wishes as they had waited a long time for one to actually succeed in the quest for the Elden Ring, and Lordan was the one to be taking the steps to achieve it.

And so Lordan waited and waited and waited. Walking around back and forth aimlessly as he waited for hours in the Great Hall, awaiting his audience with the Two Fingers after Corhyn comes out of the room from his own audience.

"You should take a seat, Lordan. Corhyn's sermons and prayers may take hours to complete." Melina speaks out from the side where she sat, a book in hand to read while she waits with Lordan in the hall.

Lordan sighs and shakes his head in rejection. "I already sat for hours, Melina. Any more and I might lose it." He counted the hours he spent sitting down, the hours he spent pacing, and the hours he spent sleeping with his head on the table once he sat for a long while. The total time amounts to eight hours that could have been better spent elsewhere.

He paces for a little more and finally decides to take action. "Screw it, I'm just going to-"

The door to the throne room of the hold soon opens to interrupt Lordan's thoughts. From the small opening of it came out Corhyn as he walked out of the door slowly, weak from the lack of rest food, and water from his hours of prayer to the Two Fingers.

Lordan moves quickly to Corhyn's side as he walked out weakly, catching him before he falls over from exhaustion. "Wow, steady yourself, priest. Don't want to get hurt now."

Corhyn takes a few breaths as he balances himself with Lordan's support, he eventually gets his footing on his own and stands without support from Lordan. "Ah, thank you. Forgive me, Lordan. I may have... Taken a bit too much time for this session. "

"It's fine. Just get some rest."

"Of course, Lordan." Corhyn takes a moment before standing straight to face Lordan. "Ah. I heard the news of Godrick's defeat at Stormveil, you appear to be doing well. Very good, Lordan. You are making wonderful progress on your own."

Lordan shrugs at the compliment. "Uhhhh Well, I had some help. A lot of help actually." He doesn't hide the fact that assistance was provided greatly by everyone he met. Blaidd, Yura, Alexander, and Nepheil were all there for most of his battles and people like Melina, Roderika, Hewg, Fia, Kale, and even Gideon assisted in his journey. And without the hold coming together to save him from death, he would not even be standing by now.

"Yes, of course. The Greater Will has blessed you with great success. No doubt you will be the one to brandish the Elden Ring. "

Lordan raises his brow at Corhyn's mention of the Greater Will, not believing for a second that the divinde power he worships had anything to do with his success. The greater didn't do shit for me. It was everyone else. He keeps his thoughts to himself as he didn't want to antagonize Corhyn on his beliefs. "Sure... The Greater Will... Helped, I guess..."

Corhyn nods at his fake approval. "Yes, it is watching out for you on your journey. As the Two Fingers said. They believe you to be the successor they have waited for."

"Yeah... I'm lucky I guess..."

Corhyn nods once again at the approval, making Lordan believe that he was a bit too religious for his own good. "Well, it's my turn then. Anything I should know about the Two Fingers?" He watches Corhyn for a response and sees the priest considering his words.

"Yes, it is magnificent. Long have I waited for an audience with a messenger of the Greater Will itself. Never have I believed that all my doubts and questions would be answered so easily. It truly is a sight to see." Corhyn response to Lordan was filled with enthusiasm and glee. Like a religious fanatic who just saw his god in person.

Lordan rolls his eyes that Corhyn doesn't see due to his helmet concealing his face. He decides to send Corhyn on his way before he starts the preaching of his god. "Well uhhhh... Good for you. I suppose you should get some rest priest. Before you fall ill."

"Yes, I will. May the Golden Order shine through you. Good day, Lordan, Melina." He bows to both separately before walking away to his own quarters.

Lordan watches the priest leave and Melina joins him by his side, he starts removing his helmet to place at the table.

"Well... that was... How do I say this?"

"A bit too much?" Melina offers words to Lordan to describe Corhyn's behavior, a man so devoted to his beliefs that he doesn't care for his own well-being. "A man of the cloth will often dedicate his whole life to his god and their teachings. Like many of his kind, the will of their God matters more than themselves."

Lordan shakes his head at the explanation. "Hm. One thing's for sure. Religion was a mistake." His words earn him a suppressed laugh from Melina. "What?"

"Nothing. What you said was just amusing, that's all." Her teasing makes Lordan sigh as he thinks she was making fun of him.

"All right, laugh it out, Maiden. I can take it."

"Can you now? I think you're too soft to withstand my jests."

"I took down a Dragon, two skilled knights, Margit, a Demi-god, and some others along the way. I'm not soft, I'm harder now."

Melina laughs at the last thing he said, the listing of his feats make him look more insecure rather than impressive, and the last line made him look silly as it could be interpreted differently by others.

Her teasing makes Lordan mock an angry look before he joined her in laughter, finding his own words foolish and downright funny. "Heavens and hells, that came out wrong. 'I'm harder now.'. Why the fuck did I say that?" Such a line often points to another meaning about a man.

They eventually settled down the laughing and refocused on the task they needed to do, an audience with thr Two Fingers as Lordan had claimed the great rune from Godrick.

Lordan looks to the door where Corhyn came from, who currently resides in the throne of the hold. A room that was not accessible to anyone until the defeat of Godrick. It seems that Lordan's actions had an indirect effect on the regions in the lands between, for the Two Fingers had not spoken to anyone until now.

"Alright. Alright. I should probably get on. Don't want Gideon to throw a fit when he sees me fucking around the hall." He didn't want another person lecturing him on wasting his time, the voice of his master's words were more than enough. He looks on at the door as he was nervous from the meeting of this Two Fingers, not knowing what to expect from a messenager of a supposedly divide being.

Melina nods at his words and takes his hand to ease his worry. "Of course, Lordan. Do not think too much of your shortfalls when meeting the Two Fingers. You have made it this far, and you have proven yourself over and over again."

Lordan holds back her hand in response to her encouragement, grateful for her support despite his doubts about himself. "Thanks, Melina... Guess I just... Still have a hard time believing in myself that's all."

Melina smiles and shakes her head at his statement, only he would have this kind of humbleness despite literally killing a demi-god. She moves her other hand to cup his cheek, her thumb rubbing circles around his rough face yet soft face.

"For what's its worth. I believe in you."

The desire to push things further between them once again shows up in her mind, but she controls herself, knowing that things will become questionable between them if she pursues a relationship with him. He was better off with someone else like Roderika or Nepheil.

Lordan closes his eyes as he ease himself into her touch, its softness combined with the roughness of her burn scars created a unique feeling. He allows her to touch his face for a few more moments before she lets go. He sighs quietly with disappointment as he hoped she would be more open to him after a while.

"Ok... I... Better move. Got more gods to slay... Apparently."

"Of course, Lordan. I will be reading in the library if you need me." Melina moves off in the other direction after giving a small polite bow which Lordan returns in his own way. He watches her leave and looks back at the door to the throne room.

He moves near the door and places his hands near the opening on both sides. He takes a deep breath and pushes forward, making the door creak slightly as it slowly opens.

---

Lordan walks into the room that was currently unlit, the only source of light coming from the great hall of the hold itself. He looks around the large room as it lays lifeless with empty seats to the side of the room, probably for an audience that used to be in the hold.

He looks around a bit more and decides to light his lamp to get a better view of the area, hanging it to the belt of his armor. He starts walking forward to where the throne of the hold must lie, thinking that the person he is supposed to meet must be waiting there in the dark.

He walks to the midpoint of the room and stops upon noticing something at the side, a figure that was still and standing in the dark. He approached the figure slowly with his hands near his weapon bags as a precaution. Lordan reaches to the base of the figure and the light of the lamp finally revealed it.

A statue of Radegan himself, clad in his black jagged woven armor with a stone replica of his colossal greatsword held downwards in his right hand. It was built to the scale of the real Radegan.

Lordan inspects the details of the statue, trying to make out his likeness. The statue of Radegan depicted him wearing his wolf-shaped helmet that resembles Lordan's own helmet with some alterations. Its build was large like the body of a fighter. Lordan also assessed that Radegan's real height must be at least a foot taller than himself.

Than he focuses on the sword, its size almost made his jaw drop. It was by far the longest, biggest, and thickest greatsword that he had ever seen. Too large to be used effectively and too cruel to be called a sword. I was more like a slab of metal that happens to be sharp.

Radegan wielded this... thing? What the fuck...

He looks on more as the statue of Radegan looked familiar to him as if he has seen it before. He focuses on the lower jaw of the helmet that exposes the chin, trying to make out an image of what Radegen would look like.

"Oh my... One of Radegan's raging wolves has returned to the lands between. After so long?" A voice of an old woman speaks from the direction of where the throne of the room lies, causing Lordan to turn his head to look in the direction of the voice's source. "Step forward, the wolf who is Tarnished. The fingers would speak to you."

Lordan refocused on the direction of the throne and moves forward to continue his path forward. The light from his lamb slowly lits the room in front of him to he moved forward.

Lordan soon sees the woman that spoke to him earlier. He looks at her small frame to see her in worn-out robes with a massive club staff that was too large for her to use. She was a very old crone that seem to be missing eyes, yet Lordan could see her looking at him like she could see.

Movements from where the throne was catches his attention. He looks in the direction to see what appears to be a giant creature with hairs on its body. Lordan slowly looks up to see the creature that was in the room with them.

It was a giant hand with two fingers.

"WHAT THE FUCK?!" Lordan gets shocked by the appearance of the giant hand and steps back, tripping himself to fall backward. He did not imagine that the two fingers would literally be a giant hand with two fingers. The sight of it disturbed him greatly.

"What?! What is that thing?!"

The crone laughs at his display of shock. "This is the messenger to the Greater Will. It is a being send by the heavens to spread forth its words, the words of an outer god." She waits for Lordan to get back up to his feet before continuing her words. "You've done well. I am Enia, the Finger reader. I interpret the words of the Fingers."

The hand starts to move its fingers around, making a sound that almost sounds like a muffled moan. It creates several hand signs that Enia looks to translate its meaning. "Look there. The Fingers tremble. To welcome you, wolf who became shardbearer. Let their wisdom wash over you."

Lordan watches on with digest as the fingers make more disturbing noises from their movements, he was currently suppressing his urge to throw up. "You speak to that... Thing? How?"

"I do not speak, I only listen. For the Greater Will only gives words to us, it does not converse." She looks on as the fingers finish their last signs for her to translate. "Hear this now, Tarnished. The fingers have spoken."

---

Great Elden Ring, root of the Golden Order.

Once held by the Dragons and The One Great.

Anchor of all lands, giver of grave, wellspring of all joy.

Until it was shattered, by the god who was led astray by her selfishness.

The tragic corruption of the Order has taken its toll.

All in the name of one, who endangered the very outer gods themselves.

So across the realm, life lies in ruin.

Fallen to pieces.

Foul curses and misery spread, unabating.

But the Greater Will has not abandoned the realm, nor the life that inhabits it.

So it is that the Tarnished are guided by grace. Called to act.

But their time has passed, and you shall be the last of them all.

Last Of The Tarnished who is wolf. Your Great Rune is one halved shard of the Elden Ring.

Seek the remaining shards from the gods that descend from the blood of Marika. From herself and her extension.

To become Elden Lord.

And restore the Golden Order.

For how is a God to be born without great struggle?

---

Enia recites the words that the fingers gave and it goes still, it adopted a position with its fingers pointing up with no more movements. "Let the words of the Fingers guide you, wolf. For it is willed, your struggle will heal the lands from its disarray."

Lordan thinks about the words and more questions than answers were coming to his mind.

The Elden Ring was shattered? By who? And why?

It was done in the name of one man? Who threatened the outer gods themselves? Who would have such power?

These questions were flooding his mind, but he still needed to understand the purpose of his quest and what the Elden Ring is for. "Alright, I will bite. What exactly... Is... The Elden Ring?"

Enia looks at him and considers his question. "Ahhhhh... A stranger to the lands are you? No doubt you came from beyond the fog. But from where and when I wonder?" She pauses as she comes up with an explanation in her mind for the concept of the Elden Ring.

"The Elden Ring is an object of power that is the manifestation of an Outer God's will. It bends and binds reality, time, space, and logic to its rules. It has always existed, yet never has. It is a concept, willed into reality by belief and faith. Without an Elden Ring, life is meaningless, empty, and hollow."

The explanation was vague at best but Lordan didn't want to think any more on the issue. His path was clear, seek the other shards to repair the Elden Ring. Even if he doesn't know how to do it, he will figure it out on the way. He decides to change the subject and asked about the statue in the throne room. "Ok... So what's with that statue of Radegan? Seems out of place."

Enia looks to the statue and peeks at the fingers to ensure it was not listening, for the Greater Will was not in flavour of the man that Marika honored. "That is Radegan The Black. The Dreaded Wolf. Blade Of Marika, Breaker of the Dragons, Lord of the Raging Wolves, Deity to the Abyss Walkers, and Ender of the thousand years war. He alone indirectly created all that existed in the Lands between by ensuring Queen Marika's victory over her enemies and her ascension to godhood. An honor that he himself earned from the will of his followers. Who saw him first as a man, and soon a god."

"He was a being so powerful, so terrifying, so ungodly, the outer gods themselves tremble in the heavens above at his mention."

"A mere man, forced to become a God."

Enia finishes her explanation of Radegan, leaving Lordan to process her words. He was in disbelief over his feats, wondering how a single man could even achieve that much in one lifetime. Even immortality would not allow one to do so much.

Who could live up to the measure of Radegan? No one.

"The statue was made by the hands of Queen Marika herself. An honor that none, not even Elden Lords Godfrey nor Radagon recieved. She alone carved this statue in his likeness, spending days that turned into years as she obsessed with every single detail to the bone. Only seven of such statues exist in the lands, all of them made by Queen Marika alone."

She looks to Lordan with great focus as she senses a power within him that he unknowingly took from Godrick." Well, well...I see...A remembrance of gold has found its way into your possession. Demigods, and even the greater of the champions, are hewn by the Erdtree upon their end, into remembrances."

"Remembrances? What does it do?" Lordan asked the crone about the power she spoke of, it was something he did not know he had in possession.

Enia starts to speak but was interrupted by the fingers who shutter at the presence of Lordan's remembrance. She only starts once the fingers cease its movements. "They are...valuable indeed. These remembrances yet house the power of their former masters. And should you wish to wield that same power, well... I will lend you the strength of the Fingers. Heh... Do not recoil from my offer. The Fingers guide us all. And you Tarnished, you are here to take, are you not?"

Lordan thinks about the offer and decides to accept, he could use more power, and any that Godrick held could be useful despite his grafted state that granted his power. "Alright, how do I get this strength from remembrance?"

"Simply offer your hand to the fingers and think of the great enemy that you felled, and the power that they possess."

Lordan did as instructed and raises his hand to the fingers. It responses with a gesture that seems to reach out to him as golden dust emits from his hand to flow towards the fingers. It then raises itself in one quick motion that creates a blinding burst of light that Lordan looks away from. He opens his eyes to see two items on the ground in front of his fingers, he recognizes the items and moves over to the bigger one first.

It was the greataxe wielded by Godrick during their battle. A golden battleaxe emblazoned with the figure of a beast, representing the strength of Godfrey, First Elden Lord and patriarch of the golden lineage. Lordan takes the greataxe one hand and twirls it around to test its balance. It was surprisingly well balanced and easy to wield with his current raw strength enhanced by the power of runes.

He then turns his attention to the second weapon that the fingers created, its appearance makes him sicken. It was a smaller version the dragon's head that was granted to Godrick's left arm. He takes the head unwillingly as he inspects how it functions. He sees the neck of the head hollow with an opening that he could fit his hand into. He tries the head upon his hand and it comes to life, gnawing its jaw and emitting smaller flames from its mouth.

Ehhhhh... Nope. Not in a million years... He takes off the head and places it in his enchanted bag along with the greataxe, noting that he would only use the head in events that require it. "That was... Uhhh... Interesting offering? So... What do I need to know about the other great runes?"

Enia looks to the fingers as they respond to the asking of his question. She sees it make more hand signs as it answers Lordan's question.

"Ahh, Great Runes are the powers of demigods. The children of the goddess, Queen Marika. She is the vessel of the Elden Ring. Tainted by the strength of their runes, her children warred, but none could become Elden Lord. For they all failed to meet her measure, a measure that Radegan made as a benchmark. And so grace was extended, to your kind, the Tarnished."

The finger ceases its movements as it finished its words for Enia to translate. "Listen, for the Fingers have spoken."

---

The Greater Will has long renounced the demigods.

Wolf of Radegan who is Tarnished, show no mercy.

Have their heads.

Take all they have left.

---

"Indeed. But remember one thing. The demigods are each and all the direct offspring of Queen Marika. But Godrick the Grafted was but a distant relation from Godfrey's bastard bloodline. The runt of the litter, his divine blood non-existant. Only through his great grandfather's relation to the first Elden Lord, was he made a demi-god and given possession of a great rune."

Lordan processes the new information and remembered something that Enia had said from the fingers words. "You called me a wolf of Radegan... What does that mean? And how would I be related to him if I have never even been here before?"

"Ah... Gideon will explain more. Seek his counsel for more knowledge of what the fingers spoke of. And for the location of the next great rune that you seek." She looks to the fingers again, observing the fingers for moments to see if it had more words. "The fingers have finished their words for the day. Go forth, young Tarnished. Let the words of the Fingers guide you."

Lordan looks to both of the fingers one last time to try and process the meeting with all the new information that Enia provided. While most of it was not understood by him, he could still make out what to do next, and who to ask for more information.

He starts to leave and wanted to make his way to Gideon's study, intending to find out his next goal after Godrick's defeat. He stops midway to look at the statue of Radegan again, a sense of familiarity to the legendary figure was in his thoughts but Lordan could not understand it. He leaves the darkened throne room and returned to the Great Hall.

Why does he remind me of... Something?

---

Gideon observes the lamp that contains the frenzied flame that he had kept to study. It was currently in a dormant state from his latest tests with the use of ghost flame, making the lamp silent for a long period of time.

"Once again, you hide from another type of flame that descents from the first one. Is the flame of frenzy truly that cowardly? Or do you have some other reason for avoiding them?" He speaks to the lamp as if interrogating it for information. Gideon sighs as the lamp remains still from his question

"Fine. Have it your way. I will deal with you later." Gideon casts an ice-based spell to freeze the lamp and places it to the side as he hears footsteps approaching the room, assessing it to be Lordan after his audience with the Two Fingers. "Now, behave. Or else." A warning was issued towards the lamb as Lordan stepped into the room.

Lordan approaches Gideon and stops slightly in front of the table, crossing his arms to start his conversation with Gideon even if he didn't want to. "They said you wanted to see me?"

Gideon nods and stands up straight to address Lordan properly. "Nepheil has told me of your progress and the defeat of Godrick. And you've received the wisdom of the Two Fingers. Then, just as promised, I bid you welcome, as a true member of the Roundtable."

Wow. As if I wanted it in the first place... Lordan rolls his eyes at Gideon's welcome and more friendly tone towards him after the event at Stormveil. He knows that the whole reason Gideon was being friendly now was because he would have tasks that he could fulfill on his behalf. Lordan would not be so easy to convince though, he would only help Gideon if assistance was rendered in return or if the task would have relation to the quest for the Elden Ring.

"As a Tarnished who wishes to stand before the Elden Ring and become Elden Lord, I am accumulating knowledge. To be all-knowing. You now belong to a select group of fellows. As such, I ask that you remain constant."

Lordan shakes his head after what Gideon just said. "You want to be Elden Lord too? Then why do you stay here all day? There are things out there to be done and people who need help. You seriously think that reading is going to help you achieve that?"

Gideon stares at Lordan for a moment while Lordan stares back as well, both men try to intimidate each other without words. Gideon speaks out first after a short silence. "Because knowledge is what will be the difference between me and the rest of the Tarnished. And if you think that I simply sit in this hold all day, then you must be forgetting the several times I assisted you, both directly and indirectly."

Lordan thinks about the words of Gideon and sighs as he made a point. Perhaps Gideon should take the mantle of Elden Lord, considering that he knows what he is doing compared to Lordan himself. "Alright, fine. What do you have for me?"

Gideon then continues his advice to Lordan. "You'll be after more Great Runes, eh? Then as your fellow, allow me to divulge my knowledge. The inheritors of the Great Runes, the shardbearers. We of the Roundtable know the location of five of them, including the one you defeated." Gideon lays out his map which has markings of the demi-gods that Lordan is to seek.

"Godrick the Grafted, Lord of Stormveil. but I suspect you know that well enough already."

"General Radahn, who fought Malenia and her rot to a standstill in the Caelid Wilds. Firstborn of Radagon."

"Praetor Rykard, Lord of the Volcano Manor of Mt. Gelmir. Secondborn of Radagon."

"Morgott the Grace-Given, Veiled Monarch and Lord of Leyndell."

"And Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, ruler of Raya Lucaria's Academy. Last of the Carian Royals and former wife to Radagon."

He lists down the demi-gods in order and takes out another map with more locations that were marked with question marks on several spots. "There are five more demigods yet to be located."

"Godwyn the Golden, whose body is missing after his assassination during the night of the Black knives with half of the rune of death. His great rune is said to still reside within his body."

"Miquella of the Haligtree, the Unalloyed. And His twin, Malenia, the undefeated swordswoman. The twin children of Radagon and Queen Marika. Who left the capital to pursue their own fate."

"Lunar Princess Ranni, daughter to Rennala and thirdborn to Radagon. Who was also slain during the same night as her betrothed Godwyn, with the other half of the rune of death."

"And the one only known as the Lord of Blood. Who is god to the bloody fingers, Tarnished who seek to kill their own kind for sport."

"Ranni is said to have cast aside her Great Rune before her supposed death, so here at the Hold, we seek the whereabouts of the remaining four shardbearers. If you should learn anything of these matters, I'll trade your findings for a hidden treasure, or a long-lost rite, known only to me." Gideon makes his offer to Lordan, trying to make some measure of peace with him to ease their hostility towards each other.

Lordan hesitates on the offer but soon relents. "All right, but I'm only doing this because if the runes. Not because of the membership of the hold. Am I clear?"

"Crystal." Gideon then focused on a marked location on the map that was east of Stormveil Castle. "But before you seek the other great runes, we must first focus on the one you currently have, and how it can be used."

Lordan gets confused by his request. "Why? Shouldn't I be seeking out more great runes? Isn't that the end goal?" He asks as he wasn't sure why his current great rune was of any interest. It was useless without the other great runes from the demi-gods.

"A great rune is an object of great power, a power that is currently not in its current state. A great rune will allow you to gain some abilities of the demi-god it belonged to, if you activate it of course." He points to the location that he focused on previously, the point on the map that looks like a tower. "Which is why you should visit the Divine Tower of Limgrave, located at the east of Stormveil Castle. On the top of the tower is the corpse of one of the Two Fingers that will allow you to fully realize the power of the great rune. Without doing that, your great rune is unusable."

Lordan looks to the map and sees that the map indicates that the bridge that leads to the tower was broken in several spots, he notes the use of Torrent will be required to cross the partially destroyed bridge. He takes out his own map to note down the location of the bridges.

"Now... Is there anything else you require to ask? Enia mentioned that you have a question about Radegan?" Gideon's mention peaked his attention as he suddenly remembered the words of the Two Fingers which mentioned him as one of Radegan's wolves.

"Yeah... The Fingers called me... Wolf of Radegan. What does that mean?"

"Perhaps a little history lesson is in order." Gideon turns to the bookshelves behind and looks for a book within one of the upper sections. "Let's see... Where is that-Ah. There." He pulls out the books which were historical records of the Lords who were patrons of the hold.

Gideon flips carefully as he looks for the page with the information he needed. He finally finds the page and reads it for a moment to prepare his presentation to Lordan, he looks up to him after a moment once he was ready. "The wolves of Radegan or the Raging Wolves as many called them was the army that Radegan led into battle against the Dragon Order, many thousand years ago before the Lands between came to be under Queen Marika's rule. It was an army of former sellswords, adventurers, warriors, commoners, and, even prisoners from all over the known world coming together under his banner. For all of them resisted the rule of the Dragons and wanted revenge for the harm they inflicted."

"Ok... But how does that relate to me? I'm not thousands of years old." Lordan was only 25 years of age at this moment and did not see how he could be connected to an army that existed so long ago.

"Time in the Lands Between works differently from the outside world. You could be from the past, the present, or the far future and enter the lands at a specific point in time. Thus, all who enter the lands between are supposed to be at the points of time that require them, as causality dictates it. And they may also leave the lands to different time periods, although it is very... Difficult to do and has a limit to where time can go. And each Tarnished, will experience the same events play out in different ways and to different ends. All of them are unique, similar, or different. Variants of a single main timeline."

The explanation that Gideon provided cleared up some information that Lordan has in the Lands Between before he came here. From where or when he came from, the Lands Between was a mythical place that many do not believe exists. Some downplay it as a fantasy while others were completely convinced of its existence. But what was always weird to Lordan was that in all his travels around the known world, he had never met a single person who came from these lands.

It would also explain why there were so few Tarnished that still roam the lands, as they were simply out of his point of view.

"As to how you relate to the Raging Wolves... The armor you wear is of their signature design and make. All of Radegan's men worn a similar style as yours, with alterations of their own accord." Gideon moves the book closer to Lordan's side to show him an illustration of the Raging Wolves, donning armor similar to his, with the design of their helmets being a precursor to his own.

Lordan looks to his armour as it was based on the design of Vargram's own, a lighter variant that he personally modified and redesigned. This meant that Vargram may have a connection to Radegan's army or was he a member? He had only met a few people in the whole known who donned a similar armor style and design, and all of them were associates who Vargram knew.

But how did Blaidd know of him?

Which time period or timeline did Vargram actually come from?

The more he knows, the more questions come up rather than answers.

Master... What are you hiding from me?

"The Roundtable Hold is also of great significance to the Radegan. It was Queen Marika's gift to him for his service. A handsome reward for the man who basically ensured her ascension. The man was even given the honor to crown her at the beginning of the Age Of the Erdtree."

"But happened to Radegan? I was told he left." Lordan remembers a bit of information that Yura told him after their fight with the dragon at Agheel Lake.

"Yes. He did not speak a word nor inform anyone of his departure. And when news reached his army of Raging wolves, all of them follow in his wake and left the Lands Between as well. Thus, Queen Marika lost her greatest champion and his army all in a single day." Gideon sighs at the history detailing Radegan's desertion. "And if the rumors were true... Radegan was also going to be Queen Marika's first choice as her Elden Lord."

Lordan takes in all the information and decides to keep notes on Radegan and Vargram's connection to him. He takes out his notebook and quickly writes down all the information Gideon provided in short forms. He keeps his notebook and prepares to leave for the tower.

"Well, thanks I guess. I should get on." He turns to leave, only to be stopped when the door of the room closes itself.

"Before you go, Lordan. A word, about Nepheil."

Lordan turns around and raises a brow at the topic that was brought up. "What about her?"

"You like my daughter?"

"Like your daughter?" Lordan takes a moment to understand the question. "She's... Fine? I guess?"

Gideon huffs a laugh at his thoughts of Nepheil. "Fine? Do you have any idea how many men have tried to court her? Most of them fail to understand that she is not one who enjoys the affection of someone she has no interest in."

"I see? But how does that involve me?"

Gideon sighs and shakes his head at Lordan's oblivious thoughts. "The girl likes you. It doesn't help the fact that you are the prettiest boy she's ever seen, and one that can fight as well as her."

Lordan rubs his head as the awkward information was told to him. He was aware that there were people in the hold who have an interest in him, Roderika and Fia were two who have shown affection in their own way. But the truth is he wasn't interested in any of them, only a certain maiden with dark reddish brown hair came to his mind. "Ah... I... See... Uhhhh... You don't need to worry, I'm not... trying to court her."

"Well, you certainly have a weird way of showing it. I heard you shared a bath with her in Godrick's private bathhouse, is that true?"

Spying on his own daughter? And I thought Vargram had issues... Lordan shakes his head on Gideon's assumption of what they did. "Look... Nothing happened, alright? We were just cleaning up ourselves after Godrick-"

"What she does and who she does it with doesn't interest me. She is 27 years of age, old enough for me to trust her decisions." Gideon then moves a little closer to Lordan and points his staff at Lordan's chest. "But know this, Lordan. Do not distract her from her duties. If she becomes useless in a fight due to you, I will make you pay for it. Am. I. Clear?"

This man thinks too much for his own good... Lordan nods and the doors to the room open as Gideon lowers his staff and returns to his desk for more reading. "Good. Now go. Unleash the great rune's power upon the tower and return to me once you are finished. I will have information on the next rune you should pursue."

Lordan turns away and leaves the room. He intends to visit Melina before he leaves to turn his runes into strength. He thinks about the final words of Gideon while leaving and shutters at the thought.

Gideon as my father-in-law? NO. FUCKING. WAY.

---

Lordan made his way to the library of the hold where Melina was supposed to be. He walks around to hear the voices of two women in conversation, apparently about the books they had read. After turning to a corner, he sees Melina and Roderika sharing a table for conversion, with Roderika very enthusiastic about the topic at hand.

Lordan watches for a moment as he observed Roderika, who seemed happier than when they first met in that shack. He was relieved to see her doing better within the hold once she took up spirit tuning. He had often wondered what would have happened if he didn't stop by to rest at the grace. She would have suffered the same fate as Irina due to his carelessness or worst, these lands just weren't suited for someone like her to reside in and survive.

He moves a little closer and clears his throat to interrupt their conversation. "Um... Ladies. Sorry to interrupt."

They look up at Lordan where he stood and greeted him, with Roderika standing up with excitement. "Lordan! I heard about what happened in Stormveil. Well done! That's amazing! You slew a demi-god! An actual demi-god!"

Lordan shrugs at her compliments but found her newfound liveliness an encouraging sign, a huge step up from her initial depressed behavior. "Yeah... Well, I had help. Nepheil practically carried me through half of the fight. Still... It was a hell of a fight, one of the more... Hectic ones I have been in." He rubs his head at the admission of assistance, wondering if she would think of him lesser from being helped so much in the past months.

"Regardless, you still managed to achieve your goal. And its the first time I have heard of this happening. Lordan, you practically made history! The first one to kill a Demi-god in possibly thousands of years!" Roderika gives more compliments to Lordan. He could see her excitement at the news as she was in the midst of a historic event.

Lordan thinks about the words that Gideon about the flow of time. It was possible other Tarnished have already done the same long ago, he just didn't know it. He decides not to mention it to Roderika as it would only confuse her. "Thanks, Roderika. Your spirit tuning was a great help as well." He offers her thanks as the wolves that he summons was a difference maker in many of the battles that see him outnumbered.

Roderika blushes at his thanks and faces down with her hands playing around as she feels her heart flutter from joy and happiness. She had finally found a purpose that rendered her useful, to Lordan on his journey. "Its... Nothing really. I just... Wanted to help that's all." She looks up to Lordan and finally remembers something that was bothering her. "But... Lordan. Did you... Did you find my men? Are they... Still around?"

Her words start to die down and Lordan could once again see the sadness in her eyes as she was expecting bad news, Lordan sighs as he was going to deliver it. He had searched the castle extensively for signs of her men, hoping they were still alive somehow. His fears were confirmed after he had come across a pile of bodies that wear similar colours to hers, all of them missing limbs and even heads. He could only retrieve the most valuable item among the bodies. "Roderika... I... Found them. This was... All that's left."

He reaches into his enchanted bag while thinking of the keepsake to put it out, placing it on Roderika's outstretched hand. She looks at the item and inspects it, recognizing the brooch of her house's banner design.

"What's this? A keepsake? From my men?" Her tone becomes softer as thoughts of the keepsake's meaning process in her mind. "Oh, goodness me... I can't... They all...believed in me. They all thought I'd make something of myself. Me? Who couldn't do anything..."

Roderika hugs her hands with the brooch towards her chest as she begins sobbing, each sob becoming more vocal and teary as she starts crying.

Lordan feels the same guilt and shame he felt when Irina was killed about a month ago as Roderika breaks down in front of him. He looks to Melina for some guidance, but she simply gestures for Lordan to do nothing. He watches as her crying becomes fully active.

If only I was faster... Stronger at the time... I could have-

His thoughts were interrupted as Roderika surprised him with a hug, it was the strongest one she could give in her fragile state. She sobs into his shoulder while Lordan slowly move his arm to pat her back gently.

"Oh, Lordan... Thank you... Thank you... I... Gods... I'm so grateful for this. Thank you..."

The words surprise Lordan as he thought this discovery was a highlight of another failure on his part. He wasn't expecting Roderika to be grateful for this type of information.

"I... You're welcome. I'm glad I could help."

Roderika holds on to him for a few more minutes and eventually let's go, her eyes were still red from the crying but a burden was lifted off her shoulders. She recollects herself and smiles again, brighter than ever before.

"I won't let them down. I won't let you down, Lordan. I will treasure this chance and gift, to ease your journey. Thank you... For not giving up on me."

Lordan nods and receives a bow from Roderika, which he returns. Roderika says her goodbyes and starts returning to her quarters, leaving Lordan and Melina behind in the library.

Melina stands and joins Lordan's side to see Roderika off, she too was smiling at the event that just occurred. "That was sweet of you."

"Was it? I thought I was going to deliver news of my fuck up." Lordan sighs as he still felt a sense of guilt for not being able to give Roderika more.

"You gave her a chance by bringing her here. And also a new resolve by giving her that gift. You truly are a good man and a hero, Lordan. Deserving of the mantle."

"I hope so. I always try my best."

"And that... Is enough."

Lordan smiles at her words and felt joy in his mind. The guilt that was haunting him over Irina was slightly relieved. He looks to Melina and intends to get her help again, even if he doesn't need it now.

"I got runes to turn into strength."

"And a great number as well. You have been busy."

"Very. Literally ripped a man off to earn this sum."

She laughed at his inside joke. "Very well. Let my hand rest upon yours, for... A few moments."

Lordan smirks at her changed words and takes her hand eagerly. He closes his eyes and thinks of the aspects to improve, all while enjoying the feeling of her soft and rough hand. Hands that he enjoyed holding once in a while.

---

STORMHILL, THE BRIDGE TO DIVINITY

Lordan made his way back to Stormveil Castle as the bridge towards the tower had its entrance located there, a direct straight route that seem to be built that way on purpose.

He had received a hero's welcome at the castle, with many soldiers, warriors, and Kaiden mercenaries cheering him on with praises and salutes befitting a hero who just won a war. They had even started calling him by a nickname, a name that suited and fit his image.

The Lord Wolf. They called him.

While passing through the castle, Lordan was advised by several soldiers to seek out Kenneth as he had news that required Lordan's attention. He declined, however, citing the activation of Godrick's rune to be of greater importance and asking them to inform Kenneth that he will visit him later.

So Lordan reaches the entrance of the bridge, with the massive tower that reached the sky within view straight ahead. It was probably one of the highest buildings Lordan had ever seen, rivaling the Great Northern Walls of the Three Kingdoms in scale that was located the east before the Land of Reeds.

He steps through entrance of the pathway and inspects the path to the bridge, noticing several statues that seem to be out of place and lying around.

Lordan slowly approached one of the nearby statues and takes a close look at its design. It resembled a heavy armored Knight that was made of stone, a stone material that he had never seen before. It was holding a giant stone weapon that resembles a halberd and closer inspection reveals that it was actually attached to the hand.

A statue that's out of place? Weird. There doesn't seem to be any platform that it stands on.

He looks towards the tower to see more fallen statues, all lying around on the pathway of the bridge. Further viewing from a certain angle also shows that the statues were lying in a pattern that resembles guards along a corridor. He wonders if they were placed there on purpose.

Statues don't move... Do they? The idea of the statue in front of him coming to life was a silly thought, yet seemed possible, especially in a magical land such as the Lands Between.

He also started to suspect that the figures laying along the bridge weren't actually statues but in fact Golems that he read about in his books. Stone beings brought to life by magic, and made to bend to every command of its creators or masters.

Lordan decides to test the theory against his better judgment and move a little closer to the Golem that currently lies still in front of him.

He lets out a huff and kicks the head of Golem to test its reaction. No response came from the kick and so Lordan kicks it a few more times, trying to confirm that the Golems on the bridge were in fact not operational anymore.

Lordan sighs in relief as his kicks seem to have no effect, no Golem on the bridge had started moving. Making his path to the bridge a clear and easy one. "Phew. Guess you guys need the long nap, huh?"

As Lordan prepares to move away, the Golem in front of him suddenly emits a noise and returns to life. It glows orange all over the runic lines in its body and heat emits from it as well.

"Shit! Are you kidding me?!"

Lordan back steps from the Golem as it moves to stand, rock and debris crumbling from its joints from the long exposure to the elements without maintenance. It stands to its feet fully and towered above Lordan by eight times his height.

Noises from the bridge can be heard as the other Golems move as well, standing to their feet from their initial positions. These Golem had different weapons such as a stone sword and bow with great bolts as ammunition.

The Golem in front of Lordan stands tall with no reaction to his presence, allowing Lordan to quickly reach into his weapon bags to retrieve the greataxe he earned from Godrick. Lordan steps back a little and observes the Golem with a defensive stance, ready to attack the Golem at any time while keeping a look out at the others on the Bridge straight ahead. He was counting on them not responding to him as he fights this first one solo.

Destroy this one and ride Torrent around the others. Good plan.

The Golem makes no response once again as Lordan waits. It eventually moves its head down to stare straight at Lordan, while its entire body remained still.

"Well?! Come on, then!"

Lordan speaks out with a taunt but the Golem does not answer, causing him to slowly lower his greataxe to a more passive stance as its staring continues, void of any emotion or hint of reaction.

Blue light suddenly flashes from the Golem's eyes and blinds Lordan. He raises his hand from the flash as the light moves up and down his body repeatedly. It seemed harmless as Lordan felt no pain nor illness from the light beam.

The light stops and the Golem's lighted lines on it's body turned into blue. It straightens its form slightly with its weapon tip facing upwards into a passive stance. It bends its head slightly and performs what Lordan see as a bow, similar to what he always give to others when showing respect.

"What?" Lordan reacts to the display with confusion and looks to the other Golems. They all performed the same bow and faced him with their weapons lowered, all of them turned blue as well as the first Golem.

VMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

The Golem near Lordan then emits a loud sound that was similar to a war horn being blown, the others emit the same in sequence, forming an arrangement of tones that echo throughout the entire region. It was the sound of horns delivering a grand entrance, given to the arrival of a sovereign.

The horns from Golems ceased together at once, and the stone figures straighten their poses. The first Golem continues its stare at Lordan but does not move, leaving Lordan to keep his guard up as he wasn't sure that the Golem would attack him.

"ΕΣΎ ΠΟΥ ΒΑΔΊΖΕΙΣ ΤΟ ΜΟΝΟΠΆΤΙ ΠΡΟΣ ΤΗ ΘΕΌΤΗΤΑ. ΜΠΟΡΕΊΣ ΝΑ ΠΕΡΆΣΕΙΣ. ΕΜΠΎΡΕΙΟΣ."

The Golem speaks out words in a hollow tone with a language that Lordan does not understand and moves towards the entrance to the bridge where Lordan came from, adopting guarding position. The other Golem follows in its wake and returns to positions on the bridge, guarding against anyone else who seeks to trespass with the exception of Lordan.

Lordan keeps his greataxe and rubs his helmet from the event. He does not know why the Golems became passive upon one of them shining a light upon him. He shrugs and decides to take a win for once, summoning Torrent to ride towards the tower.

He observed the Golems while passing by each of them, wondering if they will change their minds and attack him while he was riding towards to the tower. A word that the Golem said earlier or what sounded like a familiar word crosses his mind, as he had heard it before.

Empyrean. What does it actually mean?

---

DIVINE TOWER OF LIMGRAVE

The platform in the tower slowly brings him up to the highest point once he activated the floor panel, it was powered by magic that levitated the platform without mechanical parts.

Lordan looks up while the platform ascends to the top, the air around slowly becomes thinner and harder to breathe so he controls his breaths. The platform slows down as it starts to reach the top, stopping completely for Lordan to exit the platform with an opening at the other end.

He steps out to a balcony where a site of grace resided, making him touch it to regain himself. Lordan steps close to the edge of the balcony to take in the view from above as the tower was the highest spot in this region.

"Wow..." He looks at the view with wonder as he could see as far as the horizon allowed him to. Taking in details of the region of Limgrave and Stormhill as well as the other regions of Liurnia, Caelid, Mt. Gelmir, and even some lands to the far north where he could make out a snowy mountainous area and a Erdtree that seems to be crooked compared to the others.

But it was the capital of Leyndell that catches his attention the most. The Golden City with the Erdtree in its center, the end goal to finish his journey.

The sight makes Lordan fill himself with resolve as he was now more determined to finish his quest, clenching his fist at the thought. Claiming the shards of the Elden Ring was an impossibly almost two months ago. But now here he was, in possession of one of them and about to unlock its true power for use.

It was clear now. He cannot fail. He must not

He has to brandish the Elden Ring. To heal these lands and try to save all that live here, as many as he could.

He wasn't doing this for glory, power, honor, gold, or some notion that it was the right thing to do.

He was doing it because he wanted to.

Because he has friends here now, people that he cared about.

And he cared too damn much to let them continue to struggle.

Will he become Elden Lord to do it?

Maybe. Maybe not.

But for now, the path was clear.

This is the way.

"This is the way." He echos Vargram's words, a phrase he used to push forward with any intent. Lordan had found it weird at first, but now he sees the true value of the phrase, even if it was vague.

He made his way to the stairs at the side that continued upwards to the absolute peak of the tower. He reaches the top with his final steps, taking in the sight that is in front of him.

A copy of the great rune floats above a corpse of one of the Two Fingers, its weathered form indicates it has been dead for some time. The rune glows brightly with gold but was missing something in its aura as if it was only half of a great rune. But it still emits great power that was beyond mortal imagination.

Lordan walks to the rune, attracted to it by a feeling that he could not explain. The power from the rune radiates greater with each passing step, resonating with the great rune within him, like a mental link that rediscovered its connection after so long.

He reaches his hand out as he gets closer without knowing why, it was just out of pure instinct that told him to do so.

He reaches a spot where the rune was in reach, he was just a touch away. And Lordan moves his hand close to the rune, to perform the action that will reactivate the great rune.

And grant him power, beyond mortal imagination.

But something was wrong.

Lordan pulls his hand back sharply as he felt a hostile presence that was nearby. It was the same feeling he had two months when he fought an opponent that nearly took his life, and Melina's.

NO. It can't be! IT'S?!

He turns around to see red mist forming around a red phantom that he recognised upon sighting. The man donned a tattered blue cape knight's armor that was melted on several spots with a greatspear as his weapon. The knights starts his maniacal laughing slowly and it becomes more apparent as he fully forms into the world.

"YOU?!"

"YES... ME... HAHA... HAHAHA" The knight gets to his feet and assumes his position for a duel.

"I. FOUND. YOU."

Festering Fingerprint Vyke

Lordan wastes no time and charges Vyke with a warcry while drawing his Katana. He runs and jumps up to perform a downwards slash while falling, which Vyke blocks with his spear.

"DID YOU... MISS ME?!" Vyke pushes Lordan from his block and swings his greatspear like a greatsword. Lordan back steps from each swing and deflects any he could to try and parry Vyke.

The two exchange blows with strength and speed that was almost matching, with Vyke being a bit faster but Lordan could keep up. Their exchange lasted a while before they get into a lock hold, their weapons pushing against each other to resist each other.

"HOW MANY LOOPS, DID IT TAKE? HOW MANY TIMES, DID YOU YOU DIE?!"

"More than enough!" Lordan delivers a headbutt straight to Vyke's face, the attack stuns him and breaks their lock hold. Lordan uses the chance to attack multiple times, managing to hit Vyke a few times despite his armor's thickness.

Vyke struggled with the constant assault, changing between deflecting and dodging Lordan's attacks on the fly. He becomes frustrated from his inability to retaliate and lets out a scream of anger, performing a spinning attack with his spear while moving backward which forces Lordan to retreat.

He let's out another scream and stabs his greatspear to the ground. The area of impact from the greatspear erupted into yellow flames that most towards Lordan.

Lordan makes a brave choice and dashes towards the incoming flames. The feeling of madness and burns spread thoughout his body but was tolerable as Gideon's protection charm was working alongside his own increase in Vigor.

He forces his way through the flames and tackles Vyke hard with the charging speed of his dash. Vyke gets forced back by the tackle but holds on the midway, making the two push against each other in a grapple.

"WHERE IS SHE?! WHERE IS THE KINDLING?! WHERE?!"

"Piss off!" Lordan pulls Vyke towards him in the grapple to make use of Vyke's own strength, throwing Vyke to his back. He reaches into his weapon bag and retrieves a seal that he wields in his left hand.

Alright. Here goes. Just as Corhyn taught. The teaching of the priest for the use of incantations echoes in his mind. He focus on the most effective one that he learned. Lordan raises his hand up and lighting forms into a bolt from the seal, and he hurls the bolt towards Vyke.

Vyke gets hit by the first bolt and gets stunned by the electrical current. He recovers and dodges the next few bolts that Lordan casts while advancing. He grips his right eye and begins to cast an incantation of his own, making his other eye glow with yellow flames.

Lordan sees the attack coming and stops his casting as Vyke screams to fire a single bolt of the yellow beam from his eye. The beam barely misses Lordan and he dodges sideways to avoid more bolts. Vyke then roars out another maddening scream to fire out an endless amount of uncontrollable yellow flames that are all aimed towards Lordan.

The attack forces Lordan to make distance between him and Vyke to avoid the attack, constantly moving to dodge and roll out of any frenzied flame that came his way. The endless flames emit constantly from Vyke's eye but was suddenly stopped as both of Vyke's eyes emit yellow in a blink of light.

The event causes Vyke to scream in pain, giving Lordan a breather as the attack stops. He sees Vyke clutching his head as yellow flames glow from his eyes as he shouts incoherently while shaking his head wildly.

So he overused the flames? Interesting weakness. Lordan then keeps his katana and retrieves the new greataxe of Godrick to match Vyke's greatspear. He charges the incapacitated knight and delivers a strong swing with two hands, an attack that sends Vyke flying backwards.

Vyke lands from the attack hard to snap him out of his distracted state. He gets to his feet with the support of his greatspear and looks to Lordan on the other end, observing the new weapon that he wields. "NICE... AXE."

"Yeah... And I'm gonna shove it right up your ARSE."

"OHHHHH. DIRTY BOY."

Both fighters shout their warcries and charge each other with their oversized weapons. They swing their weapons back and prepare to clash with their strongest attack.

They attack at the same time, and their weapons meet in the middle of each swing.

CLANG!

The clash of giant weapons creates a small shockwave at the point of contact that deflects both weapons back to their users. Both Lordan and Vyke violently fall back as their weapons fly out of their grip and drop to the side.

Both of them get their bearings back and return their feet. They stared at each other and look at their weapons, discarded to the side and far from reach. The two fighters get to their feet and begin to charge each other while shouting, without weapons in hand.

It was to be a fistfight, to the death.

They meet violently and deliver punches to each other, exchanging blows with their armored gauntlets that cause more damage with their fists. They hit each other in the head, chest, and any areas that were open to attacks.

The exchange of punches goes on for minutes before Vyke tackles Lordan by raming his entire body low, causing both of them to fall to the ground. Vyke quickly looms over Lordan and pins him down by pushing his head to the ground while his body sits on top of Lordan's own.

Vyke's eyes begin to glow as he prepares his trump card, the same attack that left Lordan at the brink of death as the frenzied flame stole his sight of grace.

"LOOK. LOOK. LOOK!"

Lordan resists the inescapable grip of Vyke's attack to the best he can, trying to turn his head and eyes away from the flames while a voice in his mind urges him to give in.

LOOK. LOOK. LOOK. LOOK. LO-

Lordan starts to fail as his resistance against the attack begins to overwhelm him. Rage builds up within him as he thinks about the result of losing to Vyke, on how his permanent death will result in Melina being unsafe from this madman.

"Get off! Get off me!"

The thought of it was unacceptable. It made him furious.

"Get the fuck off!"

More rage develops as Lordan builds up a scream of anger. Small amounts of smoke begin to simmer from his body.

"GET OFF!"

For within Lordan, a hidden power was awakened without his knowledge since he acquired Godrick's Great rune. A power he only unknowingly used once before, as a boy when he witnessed Vargram getting overwhelmed by enemies.

Something that happened so long ago, he had no memory of.

The power of an Empyrean.

His own Great Rune.

"GET!"

ᚱᚨᚱᚷᛟᚾ×ᛊ

"OFF!"

ᚱᚨᚷᛁᚾᚷ

"ME!"

ᚱᚢᚾᛖ

A burst of fire erupts from Lordan to forcefully release Vyke's grip as smoke and small amounts of reddish flames start forming all over his body. Lordan starts seeing red and his mind was filled with hateful and violent thoughts.

"WHAT?!" Vyke gets grabbed by his head and was slammed to the ground headfirst violently by Lordan. He attempts to get up but could not as Lordan forces him down and starts slamming his head constantly to the ground.

The attack stops as Lordan throws Vyke by lifting his entire body, sending Vyke flying backward to slam on one of the walls. Lordan then sprints at full speed and rams Vyke into the wall, pinning him against it to deliver a barrage of attacks with his fists.

His punches were quick and uncontrolled, each punch delivered with full force and effort at every possible part of Vyke's. The strength of his attacks was greater than his usual ones, strong enough to hurt him as the constant punches were causing his gauntlets to break apart. All of his reasoning and logic was thrown out the window as only unbridled rage remain in his mind.

He delivers a few more punches and throws Vyke behind him. He runs and performs a kick to Vyke's head before pinning him down to continue his attacks, this time focusing on Vyke's face.

His punches start creating dents in Vyke's helmet to add to the existing one, cracks form behind Vyke's laying position as the force of Lordan's punches damaged even the ground of the tower.

"DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! FUCKING DIE! DIE!"

The ground starts breaking apart and Lordan raises both his hands to slam down against Vyke's chest, causing the ground to break apart beneath them. They both fall through the collapsed ground to land on the platform that took Lordan up to the tower's peak.

Vyke slowly gets to his feet and kneels on one leg to try and get up, only to be grabbed from behind as Lordan forces him into a headlock. They struggle as one attempts to escape the grapple while the other is trying to choke his opponent to death.

"YOU THINK... THIS LITTLE FIREWORKS SHOW... IS GOING TO STOP... ME?!"

"NO. THIS IS A SETBACK... A DELAY... HAHAHAHA!"

"I WILL FIND YOU! AND THE KINDLING!"

"I WILL FIND YOU BOTH! AGAIN! AND AGAIN! AND AGAIN! AND AGAIN!"

"AND AGAIN! AND AGAIN! AND AGAIN! AND AGAIN!"

"SHUT! UP!"

Lordan screams and dislocated Vyke's neck in one swift and strong twist, creating a large cracking sound as he breaks Vyke's neck. He throws Vyke's lifeless body forward and it slams hard to echo throughout the platform's chamber.

Vyke's body slowly fades into a red mist and eventually fades, earning Lordan his second victory against this rival.

INVADER VANQUISHED

Lordan falls to the ground on one knee, breathing heavily and coughing out blood as his power subsidies. The reddish flame and smoke fade into nothing as his raging state fades.

He clutches his chest as pain erupted all over his body, it was like being forcefully crushed from the inside. He coughs violently and takes out his red flask, sipping on all the uses in one go.

The red flask effects help ease some of the pain, but not enough for Lordan to recover fully. He steels himself and gets his bearings in order, moving to the exit of the platform where the site of grace was.

Lordan reaches out to the light and feels its healing effects. The pain from his body subsides completely and he breathes a sigh of relief, taking a sit on the ground to rest.

He looks upon his hands to assess the condition of his gauntlets, inspecting the dents and holes created by his melee attacks on Vyke. They were in a ruined state, unusable for protection of the hands.

What... Was that? The great rune made me do this? He thinks of the possibilities that caused his enraged state, something he had not done before.

Or more correctly, something he does not remember doing once.

Lordan shakes his head to refocus on the task at hand, activating the great rune was his goal. Vyke was a distraction that he didn't see coming and had completely forgotten about. He kicks himself mentally for that mistake.

Not wasting any more time, Lordan proceeds back up to the peak of the tower, once again looking upon the rune that floats above the fingers corpse.

He moves to the rune, avoiding the hole in the ground created by his attack against Vyke. Once again feeling the call of the rune.

With his hand raised, Lordan reaches out to the rune. Slowly inching towards the power that the great rune of Godrick would contain.

His hand touches the rune and it begins to glow brightly, streams of light flow into his body. The power within his body resonates, as the great rune's full potential was unlocked.

GREAT RUNE RESTORED

ᚷᛟᛞᚹᛁᚾ ᚷᛟᛚᛞᛖᚾ ᚺᚨᛚᚢᛖᛞ ᚱᚢᚾᛖ

ᛁᚾᚲᚱᛖᚨᛊᛖᛊ ᚱᛖᛊᛁᛊᛏᚨᚾᚲᛖ ᚨᚷᚨᛁᚾᛊᛏ ᚨᛚᛚ ᛏᚺᚱᛖᚨᛏᛊ ᛒᛟᛏᚺ ᛈᚺᛁᛊᛁᚲᚨᛚ ᚨᚾᛞ ᛗᚨᚷᛁᚲᚨᛚ

ᚱᛖᚾᛁᚠᛟᚱᚲᛖ ᚨᛚᛚ ᚨᛊᛈᛖᚲᛏᛊ

ᛟᚠᚠᛖᚱᛊ ᚨ ᛊᛁᚾᚷᛚᛖ ᚱᛖᛊᚢᚱᚱᛖᚲᛏᛁᛟᚾ ᛟᚾ ᛖᚨᚲᚺ ᛞᚨᛁ

Lordan feels the rune within him pulsing with power, power that seems endless. He touches his head to adjust himself as the activation of the rune seems to take a bit out of him.

He gathers himself and shakes his head. Lordan takes one deep breath and fully regains his composure.

But then he felt something... Off. Like he was being watched by an unknown observer.

Lordan gets on guard and looks around to see who was around, not wanting to be caught off guard by the sudden appearance of another attack after the fight with Vyke. He looks around in every direction but sees no one.

But someone is here, he can feel it even if the tower lies empty. With him as the only living person currently in the vicinity.

"Ahhhhh... Interesting... So that's how it feels like..."

A voice belonging to a man speaks out, causing Lordan to look in the direction of where it came from. He sees no one there but could feel a presence near him.

"What? Who said that?" He turns in more directions but sees no one around. "Hey! Show yourself!"

"Show myself? But I am right here."

"Where?!" Lordan turns his head in all directions at a frantic pace, trying to see if he missed a spot around the area. "Enough games! Show yourself!"

"Here. Over here."

"Where?!"

"Here, just sto- Ah. Stop moving, right here. You are facing me now." The voice speaks for him to stop turning once he faces a single direction.

"Stop playing! Where are you?!" Lordan focused in the direction of the voice's instruction but sees no one there.

"Right in front of you. Just open your eyes."

"Open your eyes, wolf."

Lordan shakes his head and blinks his eyes a few times. His vision begins to form a blurred figure in front of him that slowly becomes more visible with each blink. His eyes adjust and eventually forms the figure fully.

In front of Lordan at a distance stands a man with blonde hair, pale tanned skin, and golden eyes. He was dressed in a blue toga with one-half of his upper body exposed. Partially revealing his well-defined, smooth, and built body. He was like a living God in the flesh, possibly the most perfect man he has ever seen in terms of appearance.

"So you finally see me. You must be the one to claim my rune. Half of it to be precise."

Lordan looks at the man and does not recognize him, nor does he know how this man came up here. He steadies himself and prepares to draw a weapon. But a part of him thought not to, as his instincts were telling him that the man was not an enemy. "Who... Who the hells are you?!"

The man tilts his head and was surprised by Lordan's lack of recognition. "You don't know who I am? Are you serious?" He waits for a moment and sighs when he noticed Lordan's confusion was not going away. "You must come from outside the lands, haven't you? Considering that Radagen's wolves left the lands long ago."

"Very well. Allow me to introduce myself."

The man takes a regal posture and prepares his introduction to Lordan, raising his hands in a ceremony for his speech.

"I am known by many titles and a single name. I am the firstborn of the lion and the goddess. I am the prince of gold, the undying and unbreakable, befriender of dragons, and consort to the Lunar princess of Caria for the new age. I am the breaker of heretics, hero of the great Omen purge, and most importantly, heir to the throne of Elden Lord."

The man takes a bow, like a performer who just finished his greatest performance.

"I am Godwyn the Golden. A pleasure to meet you, Wolf."

Lordan stands stammered and his mouth as Godwyn finished his introduction. His mind processes the event that just occurred.

As a Demi-god stands in front of him. A Demi-god who was supposed to be dead.

A Demi-god, who was now living in his head.

"What. The. Fuck."

---

THE GODLESS AGE

ARC III

UNDER LUMINOUS MOONLIGHT

---

1997 YEARS BEFORE THE SHATTERING

"では、戦士はどうなると思いますか?"

"彼？おそらく彼は目的を果たしたのでしょう."

"そして、予言者がヌメンを捕らえた時に死んでしまう. そうだろ?"

"場合によっては... 預言者が彼を保険として使うことを決めた場合. 彼女が応じず、降伏した場合."

The two guards speak in their homeland's language as Rags hangs by his hands on chains within the cell that imprisoned him, his body filled with wounds from the torture that they inflicted on him. They were trying to get information on where Marika would have escaped to hasten their search after they separated from the ambush that this group had set up.

They were an elite group of warriors under the service of the Dragon Order, hailing from the land of Reeds. This group was under the direct change of one of the Order's champions and had been following them for days before trapping them along their way.

And so they fought once again, against this group of Reedlanders who were masters in the way of the sword. Eventually, they were forced to flee, with Rags staying behind to buy Marika time to escape on Torrent's back.

He put up a good fight, cutting down a few dozen more warriors before being overwhelmed by their numbers. Rags had anticipated an execution but was kept alive as the leader of this group had plans for him, plans he was told specifically as the leader had taunted him upon his capture.

She will come for you... I know it.

And so here he was, serving as bait for Marika to be possibly lured to rescue him. A twist of events is where the Maiden mounts a rescue attempt of her swordsman instead of the usual way.

He only hoped that she was selfish for once to leave him behind.

Rags look up to the ceiling from where the chains that bound him hang, a single rusted hook that keeps him upright. He had been pulling the chain down for days now, making the hook lose from the ceiling with his own bodyweight as leverage.

And now the hook was loose enough for him to pull down to free himself from his captive state. He just needed to ensure that the third guard comes back from his patrol.

Just as he thought of his plan to escape, the third guard returns with meals and drinks for the two guards stationed there. Rags silently cheer and prepare to execute his plan while the guards consume their meals, unaware that he is planning to escape.

Here goes... He pulls his entire weight and feels the ceiling coming loose. It then breaks apart as the hook comes out from the ceiling, causing Rags to fall forward head first to the ground. And Rags starts pretending to be unconscious.

"何?" The guards look at Rags in the cell after his fall, seeing him lay motionless with his face down. "くそっ... チェーンが切れた."

"だから、他の部屋を使うべきだと言ったんだ."

"何でもいいんです... 起こしてまた目隠しすればいい."

The guard look on as one of them moves into the cell by unlocking the door. He gives Rags a small kick to check for a response. "オイ. 気絶しているようです。手伝ってくれ..."

Rags swiftly swipe his hand to trip over the guard and grab him by the neck. The guard struggles in his grip as the other two get to their feet from the commotion, he then finishes off the guard by breaking his neck.

"ろくでなし! 今すぐ殺せ!" They draw their katanas and enter the cell to surround Rags. They circle him in the narrow cell with Rags only armed with the chains around his hands.

One of the guards attack with a thrusting motion which gets caught by Rags with his chains, which Rags followed up by throwing the guard toward his partner. Rags then retrieve the katana from the dead guard and hold it with his bound hands.

One of the guards recovers and attacks Rags. They get into a dance of blades before Rags pays the guard and stabs his throat to kill him instantly. The last guard tries to deliver a downwards slash and fails as Rags blocks the attack with his partner's body.

Rags then throw the body towards the guard to force him to catch it, using the distraction to deliver a horizontal slash towards the guard's neck. The slash beheads the last guard and the body he was holding.

Discarding the katana, Rags looks around at the three bodies and begins checking their pockets and pouches for the keys to his chains. He eventually finds it in the second guard and unlocks the restraints on his hands, sighing from relief as the chains had been there for almost a week.

He exits the cell and checks the other rooms in the building for his gear, finding them within a chest of the nearby armory. He requires all his gear and retrieves his claymore, giving a twirl to test his arms.

With all his gear retrieved, Rags made his way out of the building, intending to make his way to regroup with Marika. Wherever she may be.

---

THE EASTERN BORDER, TEMPLE OF ALONNE

Rags swing his sword down to carve into the archer's shoulder, kicking the man lose to get his sword out of his shoulder. He looks around again to ensure that this group had no other members before keeping his sword behind his back.

He navigates the temple's grounds to reach the main entrance, where escape would be possible. He had been slowly making his way there while dispatching as many of the Reedlander warriors as possible, to try and minimize the number of pursuers that will chase him once they find him gone.

Rags move in the direction of the exit and was attracted by the sounds of battle and lighting from the far distance. He climbs a short roof of the temple to see up ahead at what was causing the sounds.

Rags could see in the distance the flashes of lightning and bolts being thrown around, it was signs that someone was using incantations in battle. Rags only had one person in mind when he see the signs ahead.

Marika... She had followed them here, attempting to rescue him from captivity. Something he told her exactly not to do, for her had fallen exactly into the trap the leader of these warriors had planned. Make her come to him instead of them searching for her.

"No. No. No. You fool. You foolish woman..." He grunts in frustration and makes his way in the direction of the battle. It was on the way to the exit of the temple as well, meaning that Marika had tried to force her way into the temple by the main entrance.

She probably learned that from him, much to his dismay.

Rags move quickly and reach a stone bridge that leads straight in the direction he wanted to go. The sides of this bridge had their barriers faded long ago, leading to a fall to the death below should one fall off the side.

Rags march forward on the bridge and look ahead to see a large group of warriors facing him directly, their hands on their waist sword sheaths and some wielded spears. The sight of the men causes Rags to stop midway while he assessed the situation.

They had been waiting for Rags for battle as their leader had instructed them to, anticipating his escape from captivity. Rags count the number of men that were currently in his way.

At least 50... He counts a rough number based on the rows of men see could see, noting that they were taking several formations in smaller groups as part of their strategy. They were differently armored and equipped compared to the usual ones he last fought, their equipment was better and more suited for higher ranked warriors. This was an elite group different from the rest.

Rags approach slowly from his position, walking towards them while gripping his claymore's hilt. The group a distance from him starts taking their battle stances, ready to draw their blades as well.

Rags stops again when he was closer to the group, forming the final strategy for taking them down in his head. He knows that he would be taking them on in a fair fight, as per the tradition of the Reedlanders who value honor overall.

The two sides engage in a tense stare-down, one set of eyes against over fifty. Rags draw his sword fully and wield it in his usual form, slightly weaker from the last few days but good enough. The warriors respond by drawing their swords as well, katanas with their single and two-handed versions for different each warrior.

The warriors all perform a small bow towards Rags, indicating their respect for a fellow warrior despite being on different sides. They shift into their battle stance and begin their assault.

"アタック!"

The first group comprising of five men moves in first with their katanas raised in a defensive stance. They move in order, with two in front and three behind for cover.

Rags charge the group and deliver a swing downwards towards the first warrior, his attack was deflected with ease. Two warriors soon exchange blows with him while three behind advance slowly to back them up if needed.

One of the warriors then delivers a thrust that misses Rags by an inch, allowing Rags to respond with a slash that kills him. The second warrior was also taken out as Rags swings his sword downwards hard to force his blade through the block that was attempted.

The three warriors at the back soon join the fight after their two comrades fall, exchanging swings and clashes of blades with Rags. Rags soon take them out all at once with a low slash that slashes through their stomach, causing their guts to fall out.

5 down. 45 to go.

The next group advances, a larger one with eight men. The ones behind fire off arrows with their longbows to throw Rags off, but he deflects the coming arrows with ease by twirling his sword before they land. The warriors in front soon engage him in battle with their swords and Rags attempts to fend off multiple attacks at once.

They corner Rags to an edge of the bridge and begin to try and push him off. Rags push back with all his might to resist but was locked in a constant struggle as the warriors continue pushing back.

Rags feel his strength fading as time goes on. He looks to the distance where Marika was supposed to be fighting, noting that the lighting flashes and noises have died down. His mind fears the worst, and he shouts out in anger and pushes back with all the strength he could muster.

The warriors get bucked off in one swift motion and Rags begins his assault, carving down most of the men in front of him before moving on to the archers to take them down with ease.

8 down. 37 to go. And I need to go FAST.

Rags look to the rest of the warriors and decide to risk it all. Charging them head-on with his claymore. The warriors advance as well while maintaining their formation.

Their clash begins and Rags swift delivers slashes, stabs, thrusts, and swings with great power and speed. His charge takes down the warriors one by one, dropping them dead at a quick pace while sustaining some damage of his own in between. His raw strength and endurance were more than enough to make up for the highly skilled warriors from the Land Of Reeds.

6 down. 31 to go.

He performs a spin with his sword to slit the throats of a few warriors. Moving on with a dash to knock some men off the bridge to their deaths.

4 down. 27 to go.

He deflects some attacks from multiple blades, striking back with great force against more warriors to take them out.

5 down. 22 to-

His thought was interrupted as an arrow strikes his shoulder, forcing him back more arrows and warriors advanced. They attack in different directions at once to overwhelm Rags as he starts pulling back.

Rags allow the warriors that attack him to advance a little more before fighting back, removing the arrow in his shoulder while doing so. He then uses the arrow as a weapon to stab one of them in the eye. before moving on to kill the others near him.

Rags charges again, this time with more urgency and speed. He clashes with the remaining warriors, carving them up and cutting them down as he runs along. He was like a raging wolf on a rampage, killing anything that moves and exists in his way.

14 down. 8 left.

The remaining warriors all attack at once, allowing Rags to parry and cuts down each one as they came. He eventually cuts them down to the last warrior, who stands firm with his katana without fear of death.

The warrior attacks and Rags respond with a parry and slash that beheads him. effectively killing the last warrior that stood in his way.

Rags look around for more enemies to slay, still high from the initial adrenaline that allowed him to fight while ignoring the pain. He looks back to see the trail of bodies left in his wake, warriors who stood in his way that were reduced to corpses with some in pieces.

He sighs and waves his claymore to shake a large amount of blood off before keeping his sword. Rags offers a small nod to the warriors as a form of respect as well to repay their initial bow, noting that they had fought him without unfair tactics or tricks.

He refocused on the path ahead, seeing a building with Reedlander architecture in front of him. His thoughts were now on Marika's safety, hoping that he does not have to resort to the ultimatum she give him.

For that simple act was his greatest fear.

---

The building near the main gate was scattered with bodies, bodies of more Reedlander warriors with wounds that seem to be caused by lighting. Rags follows the trail of bodies to in higher part of the building, carefully pacing himself to create lesser noise. He eventually reaches a large section of a partially destroyed room that seems to lead to an outdoor area for duels, an opened-air dojo ruined by the passage of time.

Rags walk up the main stairway carefully and start hearing two voices in conversation. One clearly belonged to Marika, and the other belonged to the leader of the Reedland warriors.

"How long do you intend to stay in there, Numen?"

"As long as I need to. To bar you from victory."

"Long enough for an army to surround you?"

"An army that will be useless. For this barrier will not break, ever."

"So you say... But it works both ways, doesn't it? I cannot capture you and you cannot leave."

"A compromise I can work with, to stop your deranged service towards that fiend you call a god."

Rags hide alongside a wall, peeking his head out to view the exchange between the two. He sees Marika within her golden barrier, the area around her scattered with more bodies that were burned by lighting or damaged with cuts and holes in their armor. They were most likely warriors who Marika fought and killed on her own.

Outside the barrier stands the leader of the group. He was dressed in a silver caped armor that had the design of the land of Reeds with influences of dragon scales, holding on to a dragon-shaped helmet.

"You should be honored. A meeting with our Elden Lord is a privilege not many receive... Only very few Numens still exist outside the undying lands of Olympias, Elysian, Themiskyra, Nrysa, Hiparborea, Ercadia, and Titanis. Only your kind out of the billions who exist in the known world has that chance."

"Honored?! You call being an offering to that... monstrously! An honor?!"

"Yes. Imagine it. To be his vessel for the next heir."

"I will not be a brood for that lizard! I would rather be violated repeatedly by a wolf than be used as his personal cum bucket!"

"Careful, Numen... Careful, now... There are only so many insults I will tolerate against my Lord."

"Or else what? What will you do to me? You can't break this barrier."

"I know... But... He can."

The man turns around to the wall Rags was hidden behind, prompting him to get out of view. The man sighs and rolls his eyes as he was fully aware of Rags's presence.

"Isn't that right? Swordsman?" He speaks out a little louder for Rags to hear. "Enough of your games... Show yourself, would you?"

Rags sighs at his failure to stay hidden and comes out from behind the wall. Walking up to the same level as the man. Rags observes his face to be pale-skinned with white hair, with blue dragon-like eyes.

"Rags... Thank gods..." Marika breathed out a sigh of relief upon seeing him. She had feared the worst, thinking that she was too late to save him from harm. But it turns out she had made a mistake, for Rags had now gotta out with his own effort.

Rags stop at a distance from the man, sizing him up as an opponent. He practices the movement of his fingers in anticipation of an incoming fight. "Nice hearing, you lizard cock sucker. Don't suppose you could smell me from there as well?"

"Actually, yes. Considering that I have enhanced senses and you haven't bathed for almost week."

"And whose damn fault is that?"

The man stays silent at the sarcastic response from Rags, trying to come out with his own witty remark. "Fair enough." He gives up and paces around where he stood.

"I don't believe we have properly met, aside from my personal threat towards you a week ago. What is your name, swordsman?" The man adopts a formal posture and places his hands behind his back.

"None of your fucking business."

"An interesting name. I suggest sticking to it and begone. My business... Is only with the Numen. And you... Are not my problem..." The man turns around and faces the barrier again, hoping Rags would take the bait for his plot.

And Rags does, gripping his claymore to prepare for battle. "No. I'm taking her with me. You can fuck off back to your ashlands. She is with me."

Marika looks on and hopes Rags would see her, as she tries to tell him with body language that it was a trap. A trap that will force her to lower the barrier, or see him get killed.

The man turns to Rags, giving his full attention to him. "I'm afraid that's not possible, for both of us at the moment. But... In the event, she decides to come out of that cage. I would require her."

Rags spit to the side, not caring for the man's intention. "Not my fucking problem. She comes with me. And I will gut you like the rest if you don't piss off." He draws his claymore fully to point it towards the man. "Now... Get."

The man shakes his head, finding no issues with Rags's threats. "Then, we are at an impasse. I must leave with her, and you want to take her. Such a loving pair you both are..."

The man approaches Rags slowly. He reaches his hand to his chest and a small black smoke forms around it. His hand grabs an object and he starts pulling it out, drawing a two-hand katana known as a Nagamaki. It was silver like the rest of his armor, with a single sharp edge that could cut through almost anything.

"Therefore, I propose a duel. Within this place, as it was intended when its inhabitants build it thousands of years ago. No rules, No mercy, and no quarter. The victor takes all. The defeated... Dies without notice." The man equips his helmet as he issues a challenge.

Rags prepare himself and get into his battle stance. "Fine. It's your funeral." He notices Marika waving to him to flee behind the man despite not being able to hear her, but ignores it against her wishes.

"Funny... I was going to say the same to you." The man grips his weapon with both hands, holding in the Reedlander's traditional battle stance.

"I am Dragon Prophet Seriph. And for the last two millenniums, I... Have never been defeated."

"You talk too much."

The two swordman face their blade against each other in a battle to claim Marika. One for her safety, the other for his Lord.

The Wolf against the Dragon.

Dragon Prophet Seriph, The Half Blooded

They circle each other, blades at the ready with one from the west and the other from the east. Both trying to see who would make the first move.

Rags decides to take the first step and rush Seriph with his claymore. He performs several swings in succession, which were all deflected with ease by Seriph as he keeping up to Rags's pace

Seriph continues to deflect his attacks for a while before dodging away to a distance. He then dashes with an incredible speed to perform a thrust, which Rags barely blocks to the best of his ability.

Rags swings his sword harder, performing heaver strikes to try and break Seriph's guard, it has no effect as the prophet was able to match his strength almost effortlessly.

"Is that all?" Seriph then grabs Rags by his armor and throws him to his back, causing him to hit the barrier where Marika resides. "I expected more from the man who killed my best men."

Rags braces against the barrier to slowly get to his feet. He sips on his red flask while Marika bangs against the barrier she trapped herself in to get his attention. "Rags! Stop! You can't beat him! Just go! I will be fine!"

Rags grunts at her suggestion, refocusing on Seriph who was waiting for him. "Just stay put... I will get you out."

"Rags! Just-"

He doesn't wait for her to finish as he charges toward Seriph with a rotating strike. Seriph blocks the attack with ease, pushing Rags off before delivering several high kicks that were aimed at his head.

Seriph brings his blade down on one hand. He approaches Rags and unleashes a flurry of strikes in rapid succession. Rags manages to deflect some but was still hit by several of the strikes.

Rags shakes off the assault and parries one of the incoming strikes, slashing downwards as a follow-up. The attack misses as Seriph dodges back quickly before it lands.

The two clashes once more and exchange blows with their oversized weapons, they exchange deflects at near lighting speed to create sparks between their blades. Seriph eventually delivers a sweeping strike take forces Rags back to a distance.

Rags quickly inspect his blade as he felt it starting to buckle from the exchange, seeing the damage on the edge and small cracks starting to form on its length. Damnit... It's starting to dull. He needed to end the fight quickly as his claymore was starting to lose its fighting condition.

Seriph waits in his defensive stance as Rags approaches him again. They clash their blades once more and Rags manages to deliver a thrust that stabs through Seriph's shoulder. He punches Rags back to send him flying and the claymore comes out from his shoulder as Rags was still holding on to it.

Seriph looks down at the wound and sees it slowly starting to heal itself. A part of him felt a sense of thrill, as this was the first time in a long time since he had gotten hurt.

"Swordsman... You actually managed to hurt me. You seem rather capable, for a mortal."

Rags breathe hard and sip on his red and blue flasks, noting that he only had a few uses left. He was getting tired from the fight, while Seriph seem to be completely fine despite the long duration. "Yeah... That's what happens... If you piss me off..." He issues a taunt between his breaths and returns to his battle stance.

Seriph laughs at the display, knowing that he was going to win this fight no matter what. "Indeed, your anger is a great weapon to be used. But alas, I have no time to continue this nonsense."

Seriph performs several dashes at great speed as if teleporting in between spots. He delivers attacks with his sword in rapid succession while Rags tries to fend off the new assault. His speed makes it seem that he was in two places at once, making Rags struggle to keep up as hits were being dealt to his body.

Rags then uses his raw strength to try and level the playing field, swinging down at the right moment to force Seriph to keep still. He then performs heavy attacks with his claymore, while Seriph simply deflects them all. Rags then mustered all his raw strength and screams out loud to deliver a massive downwards strike while holding his claymore with two hands.

A strike that fails. As Seriph catches the claymore by its blade with a single hand, midway through Rags's strongest attack.

"Not good enough, I'm afraid." He throws the claymore off and delivers a punch to Rags in his chest, it sends him flying back and slamming into the ground next to Marika's barrier. Rags slowly recovers and sees the damage to his armor, a large dent in the shape of a fist was present.

"Rags... Stop. Please stop. You can't... Win." Marika speaks to him while he was laying beside his barrier. Her voice was filled with hopelessness and sounded tired as she had watched their fight for its entire duration. "It's... It's time."

Rags looks to the side and straight at her eyes, knowing full well what she was talking about. It was what he had been dreading the whole time.

"You know... What you have to do..."

His thoughts were on the enchanted bolt Marika gave him. The only object that can effectively pierce through her barrier. He had already kept it loaded on his crossbow as she requested. And now, he was being put into a position to use it.

As Rags already know, even if he continued to deny it.

He can't win.

Seriph was stronger, faster, more skilled, and more durable compared to him. He was effectively outmatched from a scale of one to a thousand. Even his only hit on the prophet healed instantly.

Rags mind starts to run wild as he tries to think of a solution. Only to be interrupted when Marika knocks on her barrier to getting his attention.

"Rags... Please... Don't... Let them take me..."

He accepted the notion in his mind, as Marika would suffer a fate worst than death if she is captured.

"Touching." Seriph speaks out about their exchange and twirls his sword with elegance. "But let us continue our dance. For one of us isn't dead yet."

Rags return to his feet and look at Marika one more time, giving her a sad nod as he prepares to carry out her last request. He charges Seriph again and secretly prepares to execute his shot.

The two clash their blades while Rags slowly get into his position without Seriph's knowledge. He then takes out a firebomb and throws it at Seriph's feet, creating some smoke and debris as a distraction to leave Seriph stunned.

Rags turns around to Marika, retrieving the loaded crossbow in his enchanted bag to take aim. His aim points towards Marika's heart, ensuring an instant death that even a Numen would not survive.

He sees her close her eyes and prepares for her end. His finger slightly pulls the trigger of his crossbow.

But Rags freezes up. Hesitation and fear crippled his ability to kill Marika.

I can't hurt her. I. CAN'T.

Seriph recovers from the stun and dashes to Rags, performing a sideways kick that knocks him away. Rags falls on his side and drops the crossbow, leaving it for Seriph to pick it up.

Seriph inspects the crossbow and studies the rune markings on its bolt, making an assumption about its function. He lets out a disappointed sigh at their plan. "So this... Is your final solution, Numen? You would rather be ended by... Him?" He stares down at Marika who was in a distressed state from the plan's failure.

"And you... Would not do it?" Seriph looks back at Rags, laying on the ground, and was now at his weakest state for fighting due to fatigue.

"Pathetic."

Seriph keeps his eyes on Rags and aims the crossbow towards Marika, firing it off without pause. The bolt crosses the barrier without resistance and hits Marika in her abdomen, causing her to cry out in shock and pain before falling to her knees.

Rags sees the sight of Marika in pain and rage builds up within him, all his pain and fatigue disappeared in an instant. "YOU! FUCK!"

"A lesson, swordsman. Hesitation will kill you. And her."

Rags get to his feet while he sees Marika slowly removing the bolt from her body, her healing factor starting to work itself. He refocused his attention on Seriph and screams out a cry of rage to charge with his claymore. This was his last stand against Seriph.

"ワンストライク 一撃死です."

Seriph charges as well and both fighters swing their blades back for a downwards slash. They bring down the strikes and their swords meet at the same time.

Time slowed as the blades slide slowly on each other. Sparks from the point of contact were created due to the force of the strike from each fighter.

Rags see the attack from his point of view and feel his claymore starting to buckle. His worst fears were realized as he observes the clash of their blades.

His claymore breaks in half.

Shit.

Their blades strike down and only Seriph's makes contact. A slash from Seriph's katana strikes down on Rags's left shoulder through his armor, creating a large vertical wound that stretched from his shoulder to his lower torso. Blood spews from the wound and Rags falls to his knees as the pain overwhelmed his entire body.

Rags looks at the wound and starts to shiver, the pain was crippling him to the point of no return. He uses his right hand where his claymore was held and attempts to use the half-broken sword to continue fighting.

Only for Seriph to respond with an upwards slash towards his right hand. Rags winches and feels his right arm in pain, but it also felt different. He looks to his right and sees the damage.

His entire right arm was severed.

What-

His thoughts were interrupted as Seriph thrusts his katana fully straight through his chest, just missing his heart slightly to the left on purpose. Seriph pulls out the blade in a swift motion and swings it to the side to clear the blood. "Three strikes... I must be getting sloppy."

I... Lost?

Rags looks down at his wounds, his blood was flowing out of his body endlessly and it made him numb from the pain. His head becomes heavy and his vision blurs as the blood loss was starting to take effect.

He looks at Marika, banging against her barrier with tears flowing out of her eyes. Screaming something he could not hear. His vision starts becoming darkened and he feels his body falling forward.

Rags falls face first on the ground fully, the blood from his three grave wounds starts to create a puddle of blood below him. He tries all means to get up, but his body would produce no movement. Even moving his toes and fingers on his left hand was a struggle.

Rags could feel nothing as Seriph turns him over to lie on his back using a foot. The prophet looms over him and turns his sword to point it downwards, aiming it directly at his heart.

Rags vision and hearing start becoming even more unclear, only staggered parts of sight and sound could be processed by his mind. He looks to Seriph to see the opponent who will be killing him.

And he looks to Marika, full of regret that he could not save her from a terrible fate. All because he was too weak to deliver her demise. Barely seeing her casting a spell that he does not recognize.

Seriph holds his sword firmly. Preparing a downwards thrust to finish off Rags.

"Not a god. Not a demon. Not even... Special."

He raises the sword slightly for more leverage. And Rags slowly starts fading away and loses his vision, unable to hold on to life anymore.

"Just a mere... Fucking. Man."

The thrust never comes, as Rags feels a body throw itself over him. He gets awakened by the new weight upon him to see Marika lying over him, using herself as a shield to block Seriph's final thrust. Panic starts to rise in him as he realizes Marika has lowered her barrier and exposed herself to capture.

No... NO. FUCK... NO.

Seriph tilts his head at the display, completely unimpressed by Marika's effort to save him. "You think I won't stab through you to kill him? Numens are known to survive worst than impalement."

Marika looks up to Seriph, eyes teary but filled with defiance. "If you do that, I will GUARANTEE my death. And if I die, you lose more than you can afford to. Am I right?"

Seriph speaks no words at Marika's threat, processing the possibilities of her suicidal ideas should he kill Rags as he intended. He then raises his large katana and it disappears into a black mist.

"I cannot let him live. The terms of our duel will not allow it. But I will break those terms if... You offer me what I want."

Marika continues her stare at Seriph. She looks down to Rags who eyes her with panicked looks, silently begging her not to agree to his terms. She observes the blood from his wounds and decides to give up, in exchange for his life. "What... What do you want?"

"A vow. Nothing more." Seriph stands straighter and prepares his terms for her. "I need your word, to the latter."

"You will come with me to Farum Azula."

Marika speaks no word and sits by with her eyes closed, knowing the consequences of agreeing to Seriph's term. "...Yes."

"You will not resist, you will not try to escape in any way."

"...Yes." She feels Rags trying to move under her, his movements were sluggish and weak.

"You will do all we ask, without question or hesitation."

"...Yes." Moans and grunts came from Rags as he attempted to speak in protest of her agreement with Seriph.

"And you will forsake all that came in your life before, only serving the Dragon Order and its interests."

She takes a moment to respond to his last condition, wondering if she made a mistake. "...Yes."

Seriph steps closer and stops near Rags's head. "Now swear it."

Marika starts hesitating on her decision, thinking about all that she will be forced to do for them. Actions that will no doubt be a danger to the Golden Order.

"Swear. It." Seriph kneels down on a single leg to reach her level, getting more impatient at her display of hesitation. He eventually sighs and grabs Rags by his head and Marika's to force her to look at his broken form.

"SWEAR IT, WOMAN! OR I WILL TEAR HIS HEAD OFF! AND MAKE YOU CARRY IT ALL THE WAY!"

The threat inspired great fear in Marika, causing her to start breaking down in more tears. She steels herself and returns to her determined expression, refusing to give Seriph any more satisfaction.

"I. Swear it."

Seriph lets them both go and returns to his feet. Pleased with the outcome despite the loss of his forces. "Very well. You are a very lucky man, Rags..." He speaks to Rags by using his real name for once. He then moves away from them towards an opening in the area with the sky exposed.

Seriph takes a whistle ring hanging on his neck and blows it. Lighting emits from the sky and strikes down in front of him to reveal his own spectral steed in the form of a grey-scaled dragon, it roars to the sky upon its summoning.

Seriph comforts the dragon by placing a hand on its head, stroking it with care. He looks back at Marika who still lays near Rags. "Make your peace with him, Numen. You have five minutes."

Marika nods at his offer and refocused on Rags who lies dying beside her. She removes his helmet to gently stroke his head to comfort him, not able to provide a healing spell as she had used up all her magics from her last fight.

"Ma... Mari... I... Sorry... I-I... Fucked... Up..."

"Shhhh... it's alright, Rags. It's alright..." She comforts him to the best she can, noting that her attire was heavily stained by his blood. She rubs circles around his face to wipe off his tears, created by his anger against himself for failing to protect her.

"Listen to me... Please listen." She forces herself to tell him a final request which he will not be able to accept. "Whatever you do... Do not come after me. Do you understand?"

Rags breathes harder at her words, more tears come from his eyes as he begins breaking down. His worst fear was coming true.

"It's over. We lost. And now... I free you from your service to me and the Golden Order. Please... Forget me. Survive. And live your life."

"No... No... N... No..."

She struggles to get out her remaining words as Rags was trying to struggle in an effort to stop her. She decides not to torment him further and changes what she wanted to say.

"Rags... Our time together... Was the best I ever had. Nothing in the past five hundred years gave me as much joy as you did."

"You gave me the best time of my life. And now... I will have the best death."

She sheds more tears and smiles down at him, for those tears were that of joy rather than despair.

Something that she wanted to tell Rags was being debated in her mind. Part of her knows that saying it will cause him to follow her, against her wishes. But she also wanted to say it, as this may be their last time together.

"Rags... I... I... I l-"

A hand from Seriph grabs her shoulder and pulls her back, removing her from the side of Rags's body. "Your time is up. Get on." He gestures for her to mount the dragon steed and stays near Rags side to ensure that she would not try to back out of their deal. "Or else..."

Marika relents and nods. Making her way to the dragon that allows her to mount it by lowering its body to let her on. She climbs on its back and hangs on to any part she could grab.

"Finally..." Seriph lets out a breath and looks back to Rags, seeing his face full of anger and hatred towards him. He ignores the stare and walks away.

Seriph walks slowly to the steed and gets interrupted as the sound of metal dragging against the floor can be heard behind him. He observes Marika looking to the sight behind with shock and looks back as well, surprised by what he was seeing.

It was Rags. Crawling forward with the half-broken claymore in his left hand. A trail of blood follows his body as he drags himself entirely using only one arm, not caring for the blood loss or pain that his motions inflict anymore.

"Get... Back here... GET... THE... FUCK... BACK... HERE."

Rags crawl faster, intending to try one last time to stop Seriph. Not even the loss of one arm was bothering him at this point.

He was just too angry to die right now.

Seriph watches on as Rags struggles on his crawl, impressed that he was still alive despite the blood loss. "I think not, swordsman. It is over. If you have any sense left in you, you try to survive. As what she advised."

"GET. BACK. HERE." Each word he spits out was full of rage, hatred, and madness.

Seriph shakes his head and refuses, knowing that Rags was on the verge of death already. "No. You are Godless, Graceless, and hopeless. Damnation awaits you."

He moves close to Rags, squatting down to meet his eyes. "And do you know what happens to one after death?"

"Nothing. Darkness is all there is. No heavens nor hells awaits you. You will die another forgotten, worthless, and nameless being. Like the many billions before you."

Seriph walks away fully, no longer interested in the conversion. Rags brings his crawling to a halt, as he had lost too much blood already. He could only watch helplessly as they prepare to leave him behind.

"I... I will. Find you."

Seriph mounts up on his dragon steed, summoning spectral chains to take the reigns of the dragon.

"I WILL... Find... YOU. DO YOU HEAR ME?"

Marika watches on as Rags delivers his final words of rage. She looks away in great sadness, as she knows that he will surely follow her.

"DO YOU HEAR ME?!"

The dragon roars to the sky and starts taking off, leaving Rags to die on the ground below.

Rags's entire body shakes as rage against his loss was overwhelming his mental state. He shouts with all the strength he has left to the dragon that was leaving with Marika.

"I WILL FIND YOU!"

"I WILL HUNT YOU ALL DOWN!"

"TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH!"

"TO THE ENDS OF FUCKING TIME!"

He watches on helplessly as the dragon begins to fade into the sky. Distance eventually makes it disappear from sight completely, as it crosses over a mountain.

Rags coughs out blood and grips the stump of his severed hand, turning around to face the sky. He breaths slowly as he feels his death coming, his blood was now fully drenching his attire.

"I swear... I will... Kill... You all..."

He speaks his final words and starts losing consciousness. He coughs a few more times and lays on the ground fully, ceasing all movements entirely.

And the end finally claims him.

DEATH

FINALLY.

FIN