"Still, the power of the Ancestor Spirits is worth studying. We have plenty of geniuses anyway. Who knows? Maybe your wish really will come true," Nolan said thoughtfully.
"Master."
Asimi was instantly moved, tears welling in her eyes. For a moment, she looked like she wanted nothing more than to throw her arms around Nolan's neck and sob her gratitude.
But Nolan gave her no such chance. To keep the little thing from getting excited and soaking him all over, he charged straight into the cave without another word.
No reaction?
Nolan frowned. In just a few moments, the distance between him and the Regal Ancestor Spirit had shrunk to less than twenty meters. Up close, he could see it even more clearly.
If Those Who Live in Death were mad monsters born from death, then the huge creature in this cave was more like a living corpse.
Calling this massive thing a walking corpse could not be more fitting.
"Let's try again."
Nolan's voice echoed through the empty space as he took a few more steps forward. The difference was that this time, every step carried killing intent.
The Regal Ancestor Spirit finally moved. Its slow, shuffling pace suddenly stopped, as if it had sensed the threat coming from Nolan.
It slowly turned its head, its hollow eyes staring straight at him like an enraged beast preparing to attack the figure approaching it.
"It's coming. That big thing really is alive," Asimi said, stunned.
She widened her eyes as she watched the Regal Ancestor Spirit gradually speed up and charge madly toward Nolan.
"I know. After all, only beings that can sprout life from death are Ancestor Spirits, and it is their Lord," Nolan said with a soft laugh. "I just can't judge its current state yet."
Was it completely out of control, or did it still retain some reason of its own?
Just then, the Regal Ancestor Spirit's four hooves thundered like a storm, its speed growing faster and faster.
The huge antlers on its head looked especially vicious as it charged, as if they meant to pierce Nolan through.
The Regal Ancestor Spirit roared and rushed at him, using the force of its charge to smash him hard into the wall.
It was a purely wild beast. There was no complex battle method to speak of, only a simple, brutal collision.
But that collision was truly terrifying. Each step shook the earth apart, and its antlers pierced the rock wall like spears.
Facing the Regal Ancestor Spirit's violent charge, Nolan showed no intention of resisting at all. He simply let it slam him into the hard stone wall.
With a thunderous crash, a huge crater was smashed into the rock wall.
Yet Nolan was completely unharmed. Lying in the crater, he seemed to have felt no pain from the Regal Ancestor Spirit's attack at all.
The next instant, Nolan quickly reached out with both hands, gripping the Regal Ancestor Spirit's antlers like iron clamps. Then he exerted his strength and hurled the giant stag away.
The stag traced a straight line through the air, flying like a cannonball through the entire cave before crashing heavily into the opposite rock wall with a boom.
The impact was astonishing. The rock walls along its path were smashed apart, and torn fur and flesh scattered everywhere in a grisly spray.
Even Asimi could hardly imagine how much pain the Regal Ancestor Spirit must have felt after Nolan's counterattack. And of course, the Regal Ancestor Spirit could not withstand it either.
After suffering such a heavy blow, the Regal Ancestor Spirit finally let out a shrill wail and began coughing up blood in great mouthfuls.
Blood gushed from its body like a spring, instantly staining the cave red. The smell of blood spread through the air.
The pitiful cry reached Melina's ears, and she could not help frowning slightly.
But it was not because she pitied the Regal Ancestor Spirit.
"That thing is definitely not a Lord," she murmured.
"Right. It's not a Lord, but a beast."
Nolan kicked off the rock wall and landed on the ground.
Whether the monster across from him sensed danger or launched an attack, every one of its actions came from instinct.
It was a beast. Whether that was a side effect of life sprouting from death, or because the Regal Ancestor Spirit had been a beast to begin with, Nolan could not say.
But he leaned toward the latter.
After all, it made sense for the Ancestral Followers, who revered nature, to worship a beast. Worshiping a living Lord of the Dead was more the business of the Sleeping Maiden and Those Who Live in Death.
In the span of a few words, the earth trembled again. The Regal Ancestor Spirit had fallen from the rock wall.
Just now, when Nolan sent it flying, he had clearly seen part of its body shattered by his attack.
But when he looked at the Regal Ancestor Spirit again, there was not the slightest wound left on it.
A symbol of endless life was not simple after all. But that still was not enough. Its strength was too weak, only average among Demigods.
With vitality that strong, it would only become a punching bag in the hands of the powerful.
That also explained why its remains could be found in the Hallowhorn Grounds.
If it possessed Lord-level strength, it would undoubtedly be an extremely troublesome opponent. Unfortunately, it was not powerful enough.
If that distant and ancient war of kings was compared to a hunting ground, then this giant stag was no different from any ordinary beast. It was merely prey being chased.
The true hunters were the Ancient Kings who stood at the peak of power.
"Looks like this big fellow doesn't want to talk to us either. Then there's nothing more to say."
Nolan clasped his hands together. When he spread his arms, two Greatswords appeared in his hands.
In an instant, his figure vanished from where he stood and reappeared before the Regal Ancestor Spirit.
Countless flashes of sword light bloomed next, swallowing the Regal Ancestor Spirit whole.
The little deer had met the hunter, and there was nowhere left to run.
...
"How much longer are we supposed to wait for that Nolan? It's been half a month, and he still hasn't come back. He even made me stay in a place meant for those sinners."
Inside Stormveil Castle, in an area once used to station flying dragons, a massive red Ancient Dragon crouched there, grumbling with obvious displeasure.
"This is blatant humiliation. I don't think he respects us Ancient Dragons at all. A mere human, and so arrogant. It's outrageous."
"Sethlin, you must not be rude to a Lord."
Florissax felt the gazes of the surrounding guards and could not help feeling helpless.
It was one thing for this sister to speak ill of their Lord in front of the Firelink Army, but she was not even using dragon language. She insisted on speaking in human language, so the others understood every word.
Florissax knew Sethlinsax was deliberately stirring up trouble. This sister of hers had always been impatient, and Nolan's long absence had clearly made her feel slighted.
Florissax truly had few ways to deal with her.
Distinguished guest of the Dragonlord or not, once this sister lost her temper, she would even lash out at Lord Placidusax himself. And since His Majesty never disciplined her for it, her temperament had become even harder to manage.
"There aren't many places in Stormveil Castle that can accommodate an Ancient Dragon. This is already the best one," Florissax said soothingly.
"If you're not used to staying here, you can take human form like I do. Then Lansseax can arrange a room for you inside the castle."
"I am a proud Ancient Dragon. How could I possibly turn into a human? I absolutely refuse," Sethlinsax said.
"Is turning into a human so shameful?" Florissax asked, lowering her eyes, her expression dim.
"No, no."
Seeing Florissax's lonely expression, Sethlinsax quickly shook her head.
"That's not what I meant."
It was all that Nolan's fault. If not for him, how would she have let something slip and made Sister Florissax sad?