Nolan's Promised Claymore and the Dark Moon Greatsword were buried in the Regal Ancestor Spirit's skull, their blades flashing with brilliant golden lightning and roaring flame.
Lightning, fire, and steel wove together like the most splendid colors between heaven and earth.
The Regal Ancestor Spirit's head was pinned in place by the two Claymores. Its remaining consciousness sizzled under the searing golden lightning and blazing fire.
That face, a tangled mass of bone and fur, twisted and melted in the flames until it was no longer recognizable.
"Life and death... are also... the way... of nature..."
The Regal Ancestor Spirit's voice was like countless leaves rubbing together in the wind, a dry rustle carrying an airy, distant quality.
Nolan stood before the Regal Ancestor Spirit and pressed the Claymores down a little farther. Only now did he realize that this giant stag could actually speak.
Nolan's armor was completely undamaged from the battle. The Regal Ancestor Spirit's attacks had not even forced him to use his dragon form.
Even after fighting this Lord of Nature, he was still full of energy, without the slightest hint of fatigue. His eyes remained as fierce as the flames on his sword.
The Regal Ancestor Spirit's enormous body began to collapse, like a towering mountain crumbling apart in an instant.
The powerful life force that sustained its body poured out like floodwater through a broken dam, then gradually dispersed into the air. Azure light scattered in every direction like fleeing fireflies.
The Regal Ancestor Spirit's endless-seeming life force was indeed troublesome, but it was not an infinite source of energy. No matter how vigorous life force might be, it would always have an end.
For a powerhouse like Godfrey, killing the Regal Ancestor Spirit only required dealing damage to it again and again, slowly wearing down its life force.
And for Nolan, who controlled the power of death, killing the Regal Ancestor Spirit was even simpler. Death was life's natural enemy.
As the Regal Ancestor Spirit's body disintegrated, the entire cave began to shake violently.
Rock pillars hanging like stalactites came crashing down one after another, and the world itself seemed to tremble under the impact of that power.
Amid the chaos, the eternal dark sky once again spread out before Nolan and the others.
Beneath that dark sky, what greeted them were the worshipful gazes of the Firelink Army soldiers and the reverent eyes of the Ancestral Followers.
A few days later, Eleonora, the temporary commander-in-chief of the Firelink Army on the Nokron battlefield, strode up to Nolan and dropped to one knee.
"Your Majesty, all the Ancestor Spirits in the Ancestral Woods willing to surrender have been incorporated into our army. We have also successfully captured the remaining Ancestor Spirit."
"Very good."
A satisfied smile appeared on Nolan's face. He gave a slight nod, just like every heartless boss acknowledging a job well done.
The Ancestral Followers' archery was renowned throughout the world. With this, the Firelink Army was even stronger, gaining a powerful new archer legion.
As for the Ancestor Spirits, Hornbone Woods had originally held two altars. The Regal Ancestor Spirit was dead through and through, but the other ordinary Ancestor Spirit was still alive. It was simply a little weaker than the Regal Ancestor Spirit.
After his battle with the Regal Ancestor Spirit, Nolan had confirmed that Ancestor Spirits were only beasts.
And if they were beasts, then there was a chance they could be tamed.
The remaining Ancestor Spirit was neither too strong nor too weak. It was just right to spare its life and see whether it could be made to obey.
As it happened, Sellen was also interested in the subject and planned to turn it into a war beast.
Speaking of Sellen, she had become interested in every line of research related to war. Perhaps she felt there was no hope of ascending to the Starry Night, so she had changed her research direction.
Nolan closed his eyes and thought over what else he had left to do in Nokron.
Asimi, Dragonkin Soldiers, the Valiant Gargoyle, the Regal Ancestor Spirit, the Ancestor Spirits... and a red wolf hiding in the Ancestral Woods.
One figure after another flashed through Nolan's mind like meteors. Some were hazy, while others were exceptionally clear.
Nolan had not actually seen that final minor elite monster. What he had seen was only its cold corpse.
The reason he remembered that minor elite monster was because the Academy of Magic also had a red wolf, and it was even Radagon's beloved pet.
Red wolves were a species of giant wolf. Their fur was deep crimson, and aside from their larger size, they did not look very different from ordinary wolves.
For Mobs like that, the current Nolan naturally had no need to act personally.
Long before he went to the Deeproot Depths, the Firelink Army had already discovered the red wolf in the Ancestral Woods and dealt with it.
Eleonora personally led the force to hunt it down, taking another step forward on her path to becoming a First-Class Champion.
"It's time to return to Stormveil Castle."
Nolan slowly opened his eyes. His blue-green eyes were like a deep lake, his gaze sharp and profound.
"The Ancient Dragon Lord is looking for me. This is also a good chance to meet Marika's close friend."
After Radahn attacked Stormveil Castle, he and Maliketh had formally ended up on opposing sides.
Not only had Maliketh's avatar brought men to help the Redmane Army attack Stormveil Castle, he had also learned of the power of death within Nolan.
That meant there would be no end between them until one of them died.
"I hear it isn't just Florissax coming. Those Ancient Dragons are arrogant as hell. They'd better not stir up trouble before I even get back." Nolan stood.
The Ancient Dragons had sent generous gifts, so Nolan intended to accept the Ancient Dragon Lord's invitation.
"Assemble the army. Have the Nox and the Ancestral Followers come with us to the surface. Anyone unwilling to go is to be executed on the spot."
Nolan's order was passed down, and the Firelink Army remained as efficient as ever. In less than half a day, the legion had finished assembling, and the Nox and Ancestral Followers were all perfectly willing to follow them.
This was a large-scale troop transfer, so Nolan did not use the power of the Lord of Life Soul. As a result, The Formless Mother let out her usual "pleasant" sound.
Thankfully, Nolan was the only one who could hear it. Otherwise, anyone else who heard it might have thought their First Fire Army was outrageously improper. Nolan, after all, was a proper man.
On the grasslands of Limgrave, a strange procession was on the move.
Nolan had not chosen to land directly inside Stormveil Castle. Instead, he landed on Stormhill, at a spot relatively close to Stormveil.
He sent someone ahead to notify Stormveil Castle, intending to enter through the main gate.
At the very front marched the Firelink Army, holding flaming banners high, the soldiers' armor gleaming in the sunlight.
Mixed into the procession was a group of Nox. These gray-black Children of the Night squinted beneath the light of the Erdtree, looking like a flock of startled bats.
The Ancestral Followers were there as well. Their half-human, half-deer forms drew plenty of attention along the road.
The Misbegotten were also half-human and half-beast. Beastmen races were not actually rare in the Lands Between, but most Golden Dynasty Subjects had never seen these minotaurs from an ancient age.
As soon as the Underground Expeditionary Force entered the city, they received a warm welcome from the citizens.
The people had long since heard that Nolan had personally led this campaign, and from the results alone, it was clear he had returned in triumph.
The soldiers who returned with him were also in high spirits. It would not be long before their stories began spreading through the taverns.
In the eyes of Stormveil Castle's residents, marching onto the battlefield alongside the great Lord of Cinder was the highest honor.
And for those who had personally witnessed the battle of kings between Nolan and Asimi, that was a story they could brag about for the rest of their lives.
But the moment Nolan entered the palace, before he even had time to remove his armor, a Fire Knight stationed at Stormveil Castle hurried over to his side.