Deep beneath Limgrave, in a dark and silent world, soldiers and knights pushed forward without pause.
Amid the clatter of armor and the pounding of hooves, thick dust filled the air as the Firelink Army swept through the Ancestral Woods with overwhelming momentum.
The Ancestral Followers, who favored bows, had run into a hard opponent this time.
Deep blue Dwelling Arrows fell like rain against the Firelink Army's shields, striking with dull thuds, but they could not pierce that sturdy defense.
The torrent of iron armor and warhorses that made up the Firelink Army rolled forward like a colossal war machine, mercilessly crushing the flesh-and-blood bodies of the Ancestral Followers.
The moment Nolan returned to Nokron, he declared war on the Ancestral Followers without hesitation.
He was determined to pacify this underground world in one stroke and let the Firelink Army's banner fly high over this land.
The Ancestral Followers had fought the Firelink Army before, so they knew well how wide the gap between them was.
Faced with such a powerful enemy, their resistance was feeble. Then came a rout like a collapsing mountain, and seven or eight out of every ten surrendered.
"Your Majesty, the chieftain of the Ancestral Followers has been brought here."
Eleonora hurried to Nolan's side, sweat beading across her forehead.
During this time, this Fire Knight had undoubtedly been the busiest person.
Nolan only had to give orders and charge at the front. Eleonora, however, had far more to consider.
Sellen had little interest in these affairs, and the Nox could not be fully trusted.
Because of that, the movement of troops, the marching arrangements, and every detail of the war all had to be carefully handled by her.
And as a Fire Knight, she absolutely could not hide in the rear like a coward. She still had to charge into battle herself.
With such a dutiful knight serving him, Nolan was naturally the happiest one of all.
Fortunately, after Nolan returned, the restless Nox settled down.
That undoubtedly relieved much of Eleonora's pressure. Nolan had at least been useful in that regard.
The Nox might not fear the Fire Knights, but before the Lord of Cinder, they still had to behave.
Nolan could tear down all of Nokron, and he could tear the bones from their bodies as well, whether those bones were hard or soft.
Before long, a minotaur slightly taller than the average Ancestral Follower was brought before Nolan, bound hand and foot.
The minotaur was in miserable condition. His body was covered in wounds from lightning and burns, and some of his flesh had already begun to rot.
Clearly, the Fire Knights had also gone through a hard fight. Capturing someone alive was always more troublesome than killing them, so that was understandable.
"When we return, all who have distinguished themselves will be rewarded," Nolan said, nodding in satisfaction.
Naturally, he would not be stingy with rewards for these brave and fearless Fire Knights.
In any case, whether it was official posts or runes, it only took a word from him. Trina, however, would have far more to consider.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Several Fire Knights immediately dropped to one knee.
The chieftain of the Ancestral Followers watched this scene and finally came back to himself.
He raised his head and looked at the kneeling knights, then at the man they were kneeling before.
"Why have you waged war on us? The Ancestral Followers have no intention of competing with the feudal lords for the throne!"
The chieftain knelt on both knees, supporting himself with his hands as he shouted in confusion.
"We only want to live peacefully on this land and preserve what little freedom we have outside the world!"
Nolan looked at the chieftain before him, slowly shook his head, then took a step forward and said coldly, "Freedom? Even I don't dare hope for that, much less you."
"And when you joined hands with Nokron, you should have understood that you no longer had a way out."
Nolan's tone grew harsher, as if he had taken the moral high ground.
"You were the ones who invaded the Nox people's land first!" the chieftain roared in fury.
His eyes went wide as he glared at Nolan, as if he had never seen anyone so shameless.
"When starlight fell upon the lands of Limgrave, a battle between us became inevitable... Forget it. You only have two choices now. Let your people live, or be exterminated."
Nolan did not explain any further. In just a few words, no one would listen anyway. Once he ascended the throne, there would naturally be great scholars to argue on his behalf.
"We have a Lord. We will never submit to you!"
The Ancestor Spirit Chieftain roared in agitation, his voice ringing through the air with a trace of defiance and resolve.
The corner of Nolan's mouth lifted into a faint, contemptuous smile.
"Where is your Lord? Tell me, and I'll go kill it. Then you can all follow me, can't you?"
The Ancestor Spirit Chieftain trembled violently, shock spreading across his face. He fell silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Our Lord is at the altar."
Those few simple words fell upon the Ancestral Followers like a heavy shackle.
As the representative of his people, the Ancestor Spirit Chieftain had made this difficult choice.
If the Regal Ancestor Spirit won, they would go to their deaths. If the Regal Ancestor Spirit lost, they would have no choice but to surrender to the Firelink Army.
Neither seemed like a good outcome.
But as the Ancestor Spirit Chieftain looked at the fanatical expressions on the surrounding knights' faces when they gazed at the Lord before them, he could not imagine the Firelink Army sparing them no matter what happened.
Nolan had the knights take the Ancestor Spirit Chieftain away, while Melina still looked stunned.
"That simple?" Melina asked, puzzled. She felt the negotiation had gone far too smoothly.
Nolan chuckled. "The Ancestral Followers worship nature."
There was a trace of calm indifference in his voice.
Melina frowned and pressed, "What does that have to do with you killing the Regal Ancestor Spirit?"
Nolan grinned, showing a row of white teeth.
"The strong prey on the weak. Isn't that the law of nature?"
His answer was simple and direct, leaving Melina at a loss for words.
To revere nature was to accept its cruelty, just as a tiger hunted a deer.
No one would condemn the tiger for its cruelty, and no one would pity the deer for its weakness.
Right now, the Firelink Army was that tiger, and the Ancestral Followers were the deer waiting to be slaughtered.
"How do you know they'll definitely obey this so-called law of nature?" Melina still felt something was wrong.
Nolan answered casually, "I don't. But I really can wipe out their clan, and that's enough."
Melina finally understood. The Ancestral Followers seemed to have a choice, but in truth, they had none.
Whether it was killing the Regal Ancestor Spirit or fighting Asimi, the result would be the same. The Ancestral Followers had to accept everything willingly.
"Stop worrying about it. You won't figure it out," Nolan said with a slight smile.
"Who says I can't figure it out? I'm not an idiot. I already figured it out!"
Melina's cheeks puffed up at once.
Nolan kept hinting every day that she was stupid. It was infuriating. And to think she had treated him as a collaborator, staying by his side and protecting him every day...
Her mind drifted uncontrollably to several rather shocking images, and Melina's face flushed. Her puffed-up cheeks deflated as well.
Following this man around all day, it was inevitable that she would see things a pure young girl should not see. Of course, she had not looked on purpose. It was simply impossible to avoid.
"What dirty thing are you thinking about? Your face is so red."
Just as Melina's thoughts were wandering, Nolan gave her a wicked grin.
"None of your business!"
The girl's voice rose sharply, like a kitten whose tail had been stepped on. Her whole body immediately scattered into blue particles and vanished.
Self-deception. The Spectral Steed Whistle was still here. Where could she possibly hide?
Nolan smiled. He could not feel the girl's gaze, but that only meant she was not looking at him. There was no way she had truly run off.
"You're smiling so wickedly. Who are you bullying now?"
A voice sounded from behind Nolan. He turned and looked. Sure enough, it was exactly who he had expected.
"Listen to you. I'm not bullying anyone. Someone just started thinking improper thoughts all on her own."
Nolan chuckled, sensing someone in the void glare at him.
Then he turned to Sellen and said softly, "Teacher, why are you here?"
Sellen smiled and slowly walked up to Nolan.
"A letter came from Stormveil Castle. High Priest Lansseax sent it."