PinkSnake - Elden Ring First Flame - 458/459

Chapter 458: A Very Ugly Giant Bug

On the Altus Plateau, in the highlands north of the Bower of Bounty, the terrain was open and the view was excellent.

Nolan stood atop a small hill and looked far into the distance, his gaze falling on the Bridge of Iniquity.

The bridge stretched between the Altus Plateau and Mt. Gelmir. It was an important passage connecting the two regions, as well as the only route the supply line had to pass through.

Now was a good opportunity.

After learning that the Firelink Army had reached the Altus Plateau, the Haligtree Army reacted swiftly. They immediately charged out of the Shaded Castle and successfully joined forces with the Firelink Army in the Bower of Bounty.

Now, they were fully capable of cutting off this supply line, then cooperating with Volcano Manor to trap the expeditionary Golden Army within the volcano.

Not only that, but with their advantage in numbers, they could completely seize control of the border region between the Altus Plateau and Mt. Gelmir.

Yet Nolan did not rush to have the Firelink Army attack. He simply stood quietly on the hill, as though waiting for something.

At last, before long, a pool of blood suddenly seeped up from the ground. It spread outward, eventually gathering into a small pond.

Asimi, disguised as Nolan, walked out from within it. Sethlinsax followed behind her, poking out her little head and looking around. Only after confirming there was no danger did she hop out like a little rabbit.

Immediately afterward, Alecto, the Black Knives clad in black soft armor, and the Numen ladies emerged one after another from the blood.

Sending the finest assassin group to gather intelligence was undoubtedly an extravagant use of resources.

Only Nolan would use them so generously. In the past, when the Black Knife ladies were deployed, it had always been to hunt champions and Demigods.

“What did you find?” Nolan asked.

Before Asimi and Alecto could speak, Sethlinsax was already waving her arms excitedly.

“Boss, you’re amazing! Leyndell really isn’t stable! There are some really ugly giant bugs to the east. They’re terrifying!”

As Sethlinsax spoke, she gestured with her hands, and Asimi nodded along in agreement.

“So Astel really is in Leyndell.”

Nolan nodded slightly. From Sethlinsax’s description, he knew she was talking about the Fallingstar Beasts.

He was not surprised. There were only so many places those giant bugs could go.

If they were meant to deal with Nolan, then Leyndell was the best place for them.

“They’re only sending those beasts out now, so it definitely isn’t to support the Golden Army’s attack on Volcano Manor. Godfrey wouldn’t be unable to handle even the Great Serpent. That means they can only be coming for us,” Nolan said.

“We need to prepare early. If we get surrounded by Godfrey and these reinforcements, it will be trouble. I can sense that those bugs are dangerous,” Asimi said, a trace of tension in her voice.

“That’s why we need to strike first,” Nolan said with a nod.

Ranni looked at Nolan and raised the key question. “Leyndell, Godfrey, or this army. Which do we choose?”

That question plunged everyone into thought.

Nolan lowered his head in contemplation, while Miquella and Trina, who stood beside him, also frowned.

As a Valkyrie who had fought countless battles, Malenia merely stood to the side with her sword in hand, staring straight at them without saying a word.

Before long, Nolan raised his head.

...

Outside the walls of Volcano Manor, a deep, powerful horn suddenly sounded, as though the earth itself were roaring, or some ancient beast were bellowing in fury.

Amid that stirring horn call, Godfrey stood indifferently before the military camp, shouldering his enormous golden Greataxe. Its blade gleamed with a chilling light beneath the sun.

The ground trembled faintly. It was the sound of the army forming ranks.

After repeated fierce battles, this Golden Army had lost some of its numbers, but its momentum had not weakened in the slightest.

Nearly thirty thousand soldiers were forming up. The flames of war were about to ignite, yet there was no trace of tension on Godfrey’s face.

That Great Serpent, which still did not dare show itself even now, had never been in his eyes. That had been true in the ancient age, and it was still true now.

Arrows were nocked, ballistae were pulled into the best positions, and cannonballs were loaded. Boulders and gunpowder were transported to the front without pause, while the Trolls and Golems began to stir. The soldiers’ morale was exceptionally high.

Godfrey took a deep breath, sensing the smell of smoke and gunpowder in the air.

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, revealing a deeply satisfied smile.

“How nostalgic. They may not be the opponents from back then, but this is still enough to stir me a little.”

He was like a child who had found his favorite toy, feeling excitement and joy he had not tasted in a long time. If he were a child, then this place would be his favorite playground.

“Do not get too excited. You are a Lord, not a madman,” Serosh said unhurriedly, lying across Godfrey’s broad back.

Godfrey’s mouth twitched slightly when he heard that, and he showed a disdainful expression. “Of course I know who I am. Do I need you to remind me? You really are getting more and more long-winded.”

Honestly, the passion he had finally managed to kindle had once again been doused by this old lion who loved throwing cold water on everything.

“There should be enough time to take Volcano Manor, but we still need to finish this as quickly as possible. The sooner it ends, the more time we will have to prepare,” Serosh reminded him on his own.

He knew Nolan could not teleport a large-scale army through space.

If Nolan insisted on bringing his army with him, then the time remaining would definitely be enough for them to capture Volcano Manor and reorganize.

“I know! What’s the point of fighting if you don’t give it everything you have?” Godfrey’s lips rose into a cruel smile. “Once you’re on the battlefield, the faster you kill and the more freely you kill, the better.”

The only pity was that his strength still had not fully recovered. But perhaps being a little weaker was good too. Killing that Great Serpent might bring him even more enjoyment.

“What about you? Have you finished the war deployment? Once I charge out, I won’t have time to wait for your orders,” Godfrey asked Serosh with a serious face.

He had handed full command of the troops to this old lion. They had fought countless victorious battles together, and he trusted the old lion completely.

“When have I ever not made preparations in advance?” Serosh replied irritably. “If you have the spare time to worry about me, you would be better off trying to use your own brain a little more.”

After a pause, he sighed helplessly. “Forget it. Counting on you is worse than counting on the Greater Will to drop a meteor and wipe out all our enemies for us.”

The light of the Erdtree gradually illuminated Volcano Manor.

Through the window, Rykard stared straight at the legion winding up the mountain. Tens of thousands of Erdtree soldiers were marching. They formed ranks across the broad mountain slope, then launched their final charge.

“So it has finally come.”

Rykard’s enormous body writhed uncontrollably inside the vast mansion. The pressure he faced now was greater than anything before.

The volcano seemed to fall into dead silence. Even the dullest Man-Serpent could sense the tension in the air, their hearts quickening against their will.

Even after the war’s heavy toll, the Man-Serpents remained vast in number. Back then, aside from the body of the Great Serpent, Rykard had relied on this endless army to repel Morgott’s forces.

But now, this army could not give him even the slightest sense of security.

The Man-Serpents were an army created by the Great Serpent through a special ritual. As long as the Great Serpent remained, the Man-Serpents would never cease.

But he felt that he himself would soon be gone.

Because this time, standing at the very front of that Golden Legion was the War King. Behind him were the Crucible Knights in dark red armor, followed by knights and soldiers shining beneath golden radiance.

After watching for a while, Rykard withdrew his gaze and turned his body. He lowered his head, looking at the woman beside him who gazed up at him with worship in her eyes, and said, “Tanith, bring that person here.”

...

Chapter 459: Was It Worth It?

As Tanith slowly withdrew, the once-calm ground suddenly began to tremble violently.

Fiery magma gushed from beneath Rykard like a fountain, as though the earth had been torn open by a massive wound.

Rykard stood amid the magma, raising a greatsword that seemed to be formed from flesh and blood.

He swung the greatsword effortlessly. With a thunderous crash, the roof was torn away as easily as paper.

His enormous body burst through the shattered ceiling and coiled atop the volcano against which Volcano Manor was built.

The Great Serpent’s crimson, vicious, twisted body was fully revealed before everyone. Its scales gleamed beneath the sunlight with a chilling radiance.

It raised its head high, opened its bloody maw, and let out a deafening roar, as if announcing its existence and majesty to all.

“I will not be manipulated by you. The Serpent is eternal!” Rykard’s voice echoed through the air like thunder. “Everyone, raise your swords against that so-called order!”

Before his words had even faded, a dazzling crimson light suddenly erupted from the Great Serpent’s body, instantly illuminating all of Volcano Manor.

The light was so brilliant that it even overwhelmed the golden glow of dawn, drawing every eye toward it.

At the gate of the manor, Godfrey, who had just fought his way there, was also drawn by the sudden radiance.

He straightened his body and frowned slightly as he looked toward the Great Serpent coiled upon the volcano.

Magic power comparable to that of a god was gathering.

Godfrey could feel it. The Great Serpent was gathering tremendous magic power, clearly preparing to unleash an immensely powerful attack.

He had a way to stop it. Though he did not know any of those dazzling long-range Sorceries or Incantations, all he needed was a throwing spear, and he could pierce straight through that frighteningly huge body.

But he could not stop it now. There was not enough time.

Rykard’s magic power had already been prepared. His appearance was not for anything else, but for the volcano behind him, which was about to erupt.

Rykard watched the Golden Army constantly casting defensive Incantations, gripped the Blasphemous Blade in both hands, and raised it high. The entire volcano began to shake with him.

Sorcery: Mt. Gelmir’s Wrath!

This was actually only a fairly ordinary sorcery, but with the power of the Great Serpent strengthening it, combined with Rykard’s own superb magical skill and the support of the giant volcano behind him, this sorcery’s might was pushed beyond the level of legend.

Such terrifying magical power, and such a short time to react, gave a vast army no chance to escape the range of the sorcery.

Even someone as powerful as Godfrey could only raise his head and watch as the once-blue sky was gradually dyed crimson, destructive heat gathering overhead.

No one could escape this disaster. The Trolls and Golems raised their enormous shields tightly, forming an unbreakable defensive line.

The Crucible Knights spread their magnificent golden wings and rushed toward the sky like a host of flying angels.

The Draconic Tree Sentinels shone with dazzling lightning, as though incarnations of the Ancient Dragons had descended into the world.

A red meteor shower fell from the sky. The flaming masses of lava were like small suns, radiating scorching light that illuminated every stern face below.

The lava struck the giant shields like rain, producing heavy, muffled impacts. But because golden Incantations had been applied to the shields, the lava could not break through them.

The Crucible Knights flew through the sky at astonishing speed, their golden wings leaving crisscrossing trails in the air like a vast net, cutting apart the falling lava before it could reach the ground.

The knights and champions unleashed all kinds of battle arts. Crimson lightning shattered one mass of lava, while a storm blade tore another apart.

The sight was like a wild dance of gods and demons.

Yet although the Golden Army reacted immediately, weaving countless defenses together like an indestructible wall of bronze and iron, they still could not intercept all the lava falling from the sky.

A massive flaming boulder crashed into the ground like a meteor. With a deafening roar, the earth began to shake violently.

The “Crimson Meteor Shower” fell into the Golden Army’s formation, and the impact stirred up wave after wave of shockwaves.

Flames spread rapidly, igniting the soldiers’ armor and bodies and turning the area into a sea of fire.

The shockwave swept through like a raging storm, throwing soldiers straight into the air. Some slammed into their comrades, while others crashed heavily to the ground.

The impact of just one mass of lava could easily take dozens of lives. In an instant, the Golden Army lost thousands of soldiers.

The thunderous roar echoed beside Godfrey’s ears. The violent wind lifted his cloak, making it snap loudly behind him.

Flying stones struck his steel-like muscles like cannonballs, only to bounce away.

He stood upon the boiling, lava-like ground as though he could not feel the searing heat at all.

Amid the chaos and destruction, Godfrey stood like an unshakable mountain, his towering figure especially striking in the firelight.

He raised his enormous battle axe high, faced the storm, and let out an earth-shaking roar.

“Keep charging!”

That roar echoed across the battlefield for a long time. Even the storm seemed to pause for a moment, and much of the thick dust was scattered by that overwhelming force.

The Golden Army, which had briefly halted because of the sudden casualties and wavering morale, launched another charge in the blink of an eye.

This charge came with the furious roars of the soldiers. The deaths of their comrades had not made them shrink back. Instead, it ignited everyone’s rage.

“Well done! Those are my warriors! Warriors, charge! Kill every last one of these vile bastards!”

Godfrey laughed loudly. The loss of thousands seemed to bring the War King no grief at all. Instead, he shouldered his Greataxe and charged even faster.

Morale on Volcano Manor’s side surged as well.

“Long live Lord Rykard!”

Although Rykard’s great outburst had not achieved much, such a shocking spectacle undoubtedly brought immense encouragement and confidence to the people of Volcano Manor.

A knight in silver armor, holding a greatsword, stood atop the city wall. His gaze remained fixed on the enormous serpent on the volcano.

Seeing the Great Serpent quickly withdraw underground, the silver-armored knight showed not the slightest joy.

He knew the war had only just begun. That dazzling display of fireworks had merely thrown the enemy formation into brief disorder. The main force of the Golden Army had not suffered any major loss.

As Volcano Manor’s battlefield commander, the silver-armored knight was just about to issue orders, mobilizing the ballistae and archers to counterattack, when he realized a black shadow had fallen over him.

He raised his head and looked into the sky. A tall, burly white-haired old man was descending from above with a golden lion on his back, followed by dark-red-armored knights.

With a single leap, Godfrey had jumped from the battlefield onto the city wall. The wall immediately collapsed into a large crater, and amid the spreading dust, the old man’s hearty laughter could still be heard.

The silver-armored knight watched as Godfrey swung his massive golden Greataxe. The dust was instantly blown apart by the powerful wind pressure, and then Godfrey looked toward the silver-armored knight before him.

“So you’re ‘Knight’ Bernahl? I heard from Gideon and the others that you’re strong.” Godfrey laughed as he asked.

The enemy had rushed right up to them, yet the nearby soldiers of Volcano Manor did not dare approach.

“Your Majesty the War King, I left the Roundtable Hold long ago, and I am no longer a ‘Knight.’ Now there is only ‘Recusant’ Bernahl.” The silver-armored knight Bernahl bowed slightly.

“I heard from Gideon and the others that the Roundtable Hold originally intended to back you as Lord. You betrayed the Dynasty for a Finger Maiden. Was it worth it?” Serosh asked.

Bernahl fell into a brief daze, as though he could see a girl standing in the flames. Her body was burning, yet she was still smiling at him.

“If the order itself is wrong, what meaning is there in continuing to uphold it?” Bernahl took a deep breath and slowly said, “Destruction is the best end.”

“Serosh, the two of you talk too much.”

Godfrey slammed his great axe into the ground, cutting off their conversation. Then he turned to Bernahl and grinned.

“As long as you’re Bernahl, that’s enough. Come and fight me!”