Nolan lifted his head and saw a lean figure dropping from above. Arms spread wide, the man's eyes brimmed with arrogance. That gaze seemed to proclaim to the entire world—
When the sovereign commands death, the subject has no choice but to die!!!
What breathtaking tyranny.
Time itself appeared to slow. Even the howling wind seemed to sneer at the knight's presumption. Yet Nolan felt no urge to submit. Only a faint, eerie glow bloomed along his greatsword.
Scholar's Armament!
Sacred Blade!!
Waterfowl Dance!!!
Nolan lifted his head and saw a lean figure dropping from above. Arms spread wide, the man's eyes brimmed with arrogance. That gaze seemed to proclaim to the entire world—
When the sovereign commands death, the subject has no choice but to die!!!
What breathtaking tyranny.
Time itself appeared to slow. Even the howling wind seemed to sneer at the knight's presumption. Yet Nolan felt no urge to submit. Only a faint, eerie glow bloomed along his greatsword.
Magic Weapon!
Sacred Blade!!
Waterfowl Dance!!!
In the next instant, raging arcs of sword light exploded outward like a surging tide, tearing apart everything within dozens of meters. Even the tiny stones kicked up into the air were ground into dust beneath the blades.
Godrick's arms moved in a blur as he raised his shield in front of him. A streak of light skimmed across his cheek, making him instinctively narrow his eyes. If he'd still had doubts about the knight's earlier words, he now believed them with near certainty.
The sword light raged on for several long seconds before finally subsiding.
Godrick reached up and wiped the blood trickling down his face. When he saw the crimson staining his fingers, anger flared in his eyes. For the exalted body of a Demigod to be wounded by such an insignificant figure was a humiliation beyond measure, a stain upon the name of Gold.
Ancestors, forgive my negligence!
He had just lifted his great axe when a violent gust roared in from behind. There was no need to look. He knew at once that the Cleanrot Knight Captain had attacked.
The red-armored knight guarding his back stepped forward to meet it head-on. With a dull clang, the hurled war spear was knocked into the air. Godrick swung his arm sharply, releasing the shield strike he had already prepared.
Storm Wall!
Nolan had already sent Arl's body flying with his sword. The instant the shield slammed forward, the unleashed tempest tore through his backplate. His long hair whipped wildly, revealing a face crisscrossed with blood. Yet that face was utterly cold, like an ancient well untouched by ripples.
Ignoring that baffling calm, Godrick brought his fully charged great axe down in a savage arc.
"Weakling! To offend the King is to invite death!"
The blow seemed unstoppable. But when the dust settled, there was no blood pooling on the ground, no shattered limbs.
That hound's technique again.
The royal treasury held Carian secret tomes, yet this descendant of the Golden Lineage lacked the talent to master such arts. The thought only deepened Godrick's irritation.
Golden blood, yet natural talent inferior to that of common men. What an unforgivable blasphemy!
Godrick turned his head slightly and saw the knight who had evaded the strike standing several meters away. He hadn't fled in panic before overwhelming power. Instead, he stood firm, unshaken.
"Why are you still here?"
A heavy voice sounded from behind. Godrick halted mid-stride, turned back with a deep frown, and ground his teeth.
"The battle isn't over! The offender must die!"
The red-armored knight shook his head.
"I don't care for that. Without strength, words mean nothing. Those you want dead will never die."
"You should understand their true target is you. Only when you leave will this battle end."
"Do you really want everyone to be buried here with you?"
"Even you can't deal with her?" Godrick shot a glance toward the Cleanrot Knight Captain not far away.
"Do not underestimate the heroes of this world. The strong deserve respect," the red-armored knight said gravely. "Such valor is rare even among the Crucible Knights."
Godrick fell silent. Of course he knew how formidable the legions were that had followed the First Elden Lord across countless battlefields. If even the Crucible Knights spoke so highly of her, then her strength was undoubtedly real.
No wonder the knights guarding the Royal Capital grew uneasy at the mere mention of "Finlay." A reputation like that was never hollow. But why would someone of such caliber choose to follow those rebels?
"Damn it, I understand," Godrick said through clenched teeth.
Though unwilling, now was not the time to force the issue. Besides, fleeing in women's clothing was already humiliating enough.
Just then, a figure in shattered armor stepped forward. Silver hair danced in the air like pure blossoms as two Claymores were raised.
Clang!!
Someone moved faster than him. A war scythe slammed into a heavy shield, forcing the Crucible Knight to bend his knees slightly. From beneath the winged helm came a voice full of heroic spirit.
"Nolan, long time no see. You've become quite formidable."
Finlay drove her Estoc forward. The shield that blocked it rang out sharply, forcing the Crucible Knight to retreat several steps.
"But these two are dangerous. Leave them to me."
The power behind the strike was immense, its edge peerless. As expected of the Haligtree's strongest knight, even the Crucible Knight could only avoid its edge.
Nolan had just taken a sip of medicine when he felt someone pat his shoulder. He turned and saw Arl, his body soaked in blood.
"Are you okay?"
The Cleanrot Knight was clearly shaken. Back at the Haligtree, he never would have imagined Nolan growing to this extent.
Raising a sword against a Demigod was one thing. Actually injuring one was another entirely. That was a descendant of the Semi-Golden Lineage. Before such a foe, most heroes could only retreat in defeat.
"If it had been Malenia just now, he probably would've gone straight to his knees, right?"
Nolan shook his head helplessly. Even using the same Waterfowl Dance, he was still far from that thoroughly unlovable woman.
"Hey, hey! You're hurt way too badly. Don't fall asleep!"
Arl was frantic. Nolan was drenched in blood just like him, his body riddled with gashes carved by the storm.
"Sleep my ass. If we're talking injuries, you're worse off than I am."
Nolan could feel that his wounds were nearly healed, though his finely crafted Carian Knight armor was now little more than scrap.
He turned toward the knight and held out a red Sacred Tear Flask.
"Drink this."
Arl didn't waste words. He took a sip, and the savage wounds stopped bleeding almost instantly.
They weren't given much time to catch their breath. Godrick charged again, the wounds on his face already healed.
Minor scrapes, and he was already drinking potions. What extravagance.
"Don't block my path. Die!" Godrick roared, veins bulging as he lifted his great axe with both hands and brought it crashing down with all his strength.
Boom—
The earth seemed to shudder. Even Nolan, dodging aside, staggered slightly. The ground split open, and a spiraling storm collapsed several houses in Gatefront Town.
Nolan frowned, not because of the blow's power, but because he thought he heard the sound of hooves.
So this guy has a spirit horse too!
The sight before him made Arl freeze. What appeared wasn't the great axe, but a Demigod galloping away atop a towering steed.
"He ran?"
The Cleanrot Knight was inwardly stunned, unable to react for a moment.
Some of the knights began to withdraw as well. Those who instinctively tried to give chase quickly realized many others were blocking the road ahead.
Fearless unto death. These were true knights, utterly unlike the Cuckoo Knights.
Boom!
Another thunderous crash rang out behind them as the Cleanrot Knight Captain smashed the ground, leaving a shallow crater.
A violent gale swept through, sending dust billowing into the air.
The two of them looked up at the same time as wings unfurled behind the Crucible Knight, who streaked overhead.
A war spear scraped past heavy armor in a shower of sparks, then continued on without losing momentum, piercing straight through a distant tower.