"The Desecrating Serpent is said to be able to devour gods. I'm afraid Margit will have a hard time taking Volcano Manor this time," Nolan said with a knowing look.
"And Rykard won't die that easily either. So Leyndell's first counterattack will probably end in failure."
Trina gazed at Nolan, a trace of confusion and curiosity in her eyes.
"You really do seem to know everything, whether it's the Bloody Conspiracy from twenty years ago or what's happening right now."
Nolan did not answer Trina's question directly. He merely nodded without confirming or denying it.
"It's not that I know everything. I just understand the general situation, then make some reasonable guesses based on that information."
Nolan explained with a smile, spreading his hands.
The story of the Lands Between had long since been changed beyond recognition. Even if he wanted to go along with Trina's words, he could not truly claim he knew the future.
Trina looked at Nolan thoughtfully. After a while, she slowly said,
"I understand. I don't know where your information comes from, but it seems the secrets you know are far more numerous than ours."
Among the Lords who had participated in the siege of the Royal Capital, Rykard's intention to walk the path of desecrating the Golden Order had been common knowledge.
But Trina truly had not known that Rykard had also come into contact with the Desecrating Serpent.
Nolan remained silent. In his heart, he thought that his source of information was the memories of his previous life.
It was not that he could not talk about it, but those stories were far too long. They were not something he could finish in a short while.
Once things were less busy, he could tell the little Goddess about them. Right now, there was no time.
Seeing that Nolan was not speaking, Trina continued to press him.
"But since you understand Rykard's situation so well, you clearly didn't come to me because of the war at Volcano Manor. If you aren't here to accompany my dear sister, then what exactly did you come for?"
Nolan chuckled softly and replied, "Of course I came to ask about Limgrave's situation. You know the Haligtree's circumstances better than anyone. Stormveil is our next key point."
The defeat in the Battle of Mt. Gelmir would certainly make Leyndell quiet down for a while, and Morgott's threat was no longer as great as before.
But Nolan's ambition had also grown greater. His goal was no longer merely to ascend the throne of the Lands Between, but to claim the entire Elden Ring for himself.
And to achieve that goal, his final opponent would inevitably be that final beast... the Elden Beast.
That mysterious beast was an extraordinary existence above the Elden Lord, and its appearance was likewise the work of the Greater Will.
If this were the world of Dark Souls, the current Nolan would already have become the incarnation of the First Flame. He would be fully qualified to call himself the god of that world.
Even against the Greater Will high above, it would still be unclear who would prevail.
However, this was not the world of Dark Souls. It was an unfamiliar land he had to slowly integrate into.
Although Nolan was not weak now, he was still an outsider in the end.
When facing the power possessed by this world's creator, it was better to be cautious.
Once people had attachments, they became timid. Nolan was no exception. The worries in his heart made him more careful in his actions.
"The children following you are quite impressive. Just a few days ago, even the Weeping Peninsula, which had been resisting to the very end, submitted beneath the feet of the Firebearers."
As if she had expected this already, Trina spread her arms and said with a bright smile, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, Lord of Cinder. Limgrave has been completely conquered by the Firebearers!"
"I didn't expect it to go so smoothly!" Nolan sighed. The conquest of Limgrave had been far simpler than he had imagined. It had not even required much intervention from him.
"After all, the Demigod leading them and the greatest noble power were both wiped out by a certain someone. Naturally, the remaining petty nobles found it difficult to resist. And war is the best opportunity for the Tarnished to grow," Trina said.
Those seemingly insignificant petty nobles should never be underestimated. No matter how low their status was, under the system of the Golden Order Dynasty, they were still local lords with considerable power and influence.
After hundreds and thousands of years of rule, these petty nobles had accumulated astonishing wealth in the Lands Between.
The runes seized from wiping out those nobles would probably be enough for the Tarnished to clear hundreds of tombs and caves, perhaps even equivalent to killing thousands upon thousands of enemies.
Add in the inevitable slaughter of war, and it was only natural that such times would produce a few Tarnished heroes.
"When are you planning to take me to Stormveil?" Trina suddenly asked, interrupting Nolan's thoughts.
"You're coming back with me too?" Nolan froze. He had thought Trina would choose to stay at the Haligtree.
"Of course!" Trina replied with a radiant smile. "A god and a Lord should be together! Miquella and I have already discussed it. He will stay at the Haligtree to oversee the situation, and I will go with you."
Trina smiled brightly, clearly very satisfied with the decision she had reached with her other self.
On the large bed, Nolan slightly raised his head, his eyes fixed on the halo cast by the Glintstone lamp.
He recalled the terrifying Bloody Conspiracy, when they had fled the Haligtree and that frail boy had leaned tightly against his shoulder.
Although that boy possessed the status of a Demigod, his body had seemed so light and fragile, as if a single breeze could knock him over.
But in only a moment, Nolan quickly erased that figure from his mind.
Because he knew that Miquella now had more than enough ability to protect himself.
Ever since coming out of the Land of Shadow, Miquella and Trina had also remained in spiritual form.
That state did not enhance their strength, but when it came to staying alive, it was absolutely first-rate.
When Nolan did not answer for a long time, Trina's face darkened. Her little mouth pursed as she said coldly,
"Does Nolan not want me to go? Or are you worried about those princesses and female sorcerers?"
"I'm worried the Redmanes have bad intentions toward Limgrave!" Nolan lowered his head helplessly and sighed.
"I've heard for a while that Radahn has awakened, and that he once again has thoughts of marching north. I'm worried those little ones won't be able to withstand Starscourge General's army."
"As long as you return, there will be nothing to worry about. News of the Goddess of Rot's defeat has already spread throughout the entire Empyrean Manor. Every corner of Elphael will sing of the Promised Consort's godslaying campaign!"
Trina gazed at Nolan. "And the strongest Demigod, Starscourge General Radahn, will also die by your hand. You will be an undisputed Lord, ascending the throne on a road paved with the corpses of a god and the strongest Demigod. Do you know what that means?"
"It means there will be two fewer opponents on my road to becoming Lord?" Nolan tilted his head.
"You will stand shoulder to shoulder with the ancient Lords. The fall of gods and Lords was an indispensable achievement for the Elden Lords of old."
Trina said, "Everyone should respect this great deed of yours, even the other contenders."
***
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