Guts was already 80% convinced about monsters and Apostles. After all, he had seen Zodd with his own eyes. Such a creature couldn't be dismissed with a simple phrase.
Coincidentally, before leaving, Zodd had spoken some prophetic-sounding words that aligned with what Nidhogg was saying.
"I'll give you some advice—no, a prophecy. If you are truly that man's friend, you must remember this."
"When that man's ambition crumbles, your day of death will come! It is a death from which there is no escape!"
But how could Guts fully believe such a prophecy?
That Griffith would one day sacrifice the Hawk Company? All because of a crimson stone called the "Crimson Beherit"? And some nonsense about the law of causality and fate?
Guts had never believed in predetermined fate. That was tied to his childhood experiences. He didn't know how much pain and hardship he had endured, yet none of it had stopped him or killed him.
Relying on his sword, he had cut down anyone who stood in his way. Man or god, it didn't matter. Guts had made it this far.
Could a stone decide the fate of so many people? And Guts, a man who had always defied fate, found it unbelievable—especially when it came to Griffith.
The light Griffith radiated was so brilliant that it had once made Guts ashamed of his own inadequacy.
It had taken immense will and determination for him to leave Griffith. He hadn't willingly knelt under Griffith's banner or indulged in the glory like Casca and the others.
Griffith was certainly greater than any mercenary commander, any knightly order leader, any noble, or even any lord of a country that Guts had ever seen.
Griffith did have a dark side, and Guts understood that well. But how could he betray the Hawk Company? How could he betray his subordinates who had fought through bloody battles and sacrificed everything for his dream?
Nidhogg observed Guts's expression and understood at a glance that Guts was hesitating, even leaning toward Griffith. This was expected. Guts would always believe that "seeing is believing."
So Nidhogg changed the subject. He decided to explain the nature of the world to Guts from another angle, while also reminding him so he could react faster when the Eclipse came.
"I just mentioned the Abyss and the God Hand. But they're not the only ones in the astral world. There are also the Elemental Gods, the spirits of the four directions. They are a relatively gentle and benevolent ancient faction. They can be trusted."
"Besides that, there's my kind." As Nidhogg said this, he pressed his palm to his chest. The light of the golden brand appeared.
Guts and Erica were both startled by the light, as well as the arcs and lines traced by the light. They looked so beautiful and magical.
Especially Erica. She couldn't help but be drawn to the glowing brand. She crawled out from behind Guts, her eyes wide as if gazing at the starry night sky—surprised and delighted.
"This... What is this?" Guts asked in astonishment.
"I call it the 'Golden Order.'" Nidhogg smiled. "Without its help, I couldn't have single-handedly killed the defending general of Doldrey Castle."
"Perhaps it's also silently protecting me, ensuring that I don't become cannon fodder under the law of causality, that I don't die somewhere and end up as a vengeful spirit dragging the living, desperate for a physical form."
"If you still don't believe me, just watch this."
Nidhogg patted himself on the shoulder and instantly switched the Confessor Set he was wearing to the Grafted Soldier Set, showcasing a split-second wardrobe change. Then he switched back.
Next, he produced Bloodhound's Fang, the Lordsworn's Greatsword, the Golden Halberd, and the Brass Shield from the light and laid them on the wooden floor before him, letting Guts and Erica see them with their own eyes.
Guts was astonished. Erica, a little girl who had lived in this area her whole life, was even more so.
Erica remembered a group of traveling performers coming to the town at the foot of the mountain. She had eagerly gone to watch the show and still recalled their unpredictable tricks.
However, compared to the "tricks" Nidhogg had just shown, the traveling performers' acts paled in comparison. They were utterly incomparable.
"I..." Erica couldn't help but muster her courage. She blinked her big eyes, pointed at the weapons, and asked, "Can I touch them?"
Nidhogg smiled and nodded. "Yes. Just be careful not to touch the blades. They're very sharp."
Erica was immediately delighted. As a blacksmith's daughter, she naturally wouldn't make such a simple mistake. She crawled over, carefully picked up Bloodhound's Fang with both hands, examined it, and then, with surprise and satisfaction, set it down.
She wanted to hold the Lordsworn's Greatsword, but it was too heavy. Even using both hands, biting her lower lip and flushing with effort, she couldn't lift it.
Guts reached out and helped Erica, preventing her from being overwhelmed by the greatsword. He grabbed the Lordsworn's Greatsword with one hand and casually swung it, saying, "This is a good sword. Better than mine."
Erica took a deep breath before reluctantly admitting, "I think the sword my father recently forged for brother Guts is better in terms of craftsmanship."
"That's true in terms of process." Guts smiled and waved his hand. "Erica, I'm not disparaging Godo's sword. I just have a feeling this sword possesses some kind of magical power."
He turned his head and looked at Nidhogg's chest, where the glow of the golden brand had faded. "That power must come from the Golden Order you spoke of, right?"
"Correct." Nidhogg nodded in acknowledgment.
"Are these weapons really that good?"
Suddenly, a low voice came from outside, followed by leisurely footsteps. The door creaked open, and an old man entered.
"Father!" Erica immediately exclaimed.
The blacksmith Godo, a shorter but quite sturdy old man, had a long beard on his chin that fell to his chest along with his curly hair. His eyes gleamed.
"Hello." Hearing Erica's call, Godo's serious, wrinkled face also bloomed into a smile as he replied.
In truth, Erica was not his biological daughter. He had found the orphaned Erica on a battlefield and had always treated her as his own. So it didn't matter whether they were blood-related.
Godo walked over, looked at Nidhogg, and asked, "May I take a look at your weapons and shield?"
"No problem." Nidhogg had no intention of hiding them. He casually waved his hand, giving Godo permission.
So Godo didn't stand on ceremony. First, he took the Lordsworn's Greatsword from Guts, examined it carefully, and nodded. Then he took the Brass Shield, looked it over, and nodded again.
Next, he carefully examined Bloodhound's Fang and the Golden Halberd. Suddenly, his eyes widened slightly.
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