Nidhogg persuaded Lord Edgar to promise him two things in exchange for him taking action.
First, if Nidhogg could retrieve the Grafted Blade Greatsword from the Lion Misbegotten, then the sword would belong to him.
Edgar hesitated for a moment and then agreed.
If it was the brave and invincible Nidhogg, he believed he was qualified to wield the Grafted Blade Greatsword. Even if the hero from back then were resurrected, he shouldn't object to this.
Besides, Castle Morne in its current state was not capable of protecting this Grafted Blade Greatsword. It could be considered a good outcome if it could be passed on to Nidhogg.
Second, Nidhogg wanted to meet "Godrick."
Edgar readily agreed.
Although Edgar complained that Lord Godrick had long ceased to support Castle Morne, as the lord of a subordinate city, he still had to fulfill his duty.
He needed to introduce Nidhogg to Lord Godrick—the hero who had almost single-handedly turned the tide at Castle Morne.
Having agreed to both things, Nidhogg asked about the Lion Misbegotten's whereabouts. Edgar pointed towards the back of Castle Morne and said:
"Behind Castle Morne, there is a beach. Above the beach is the Morne Mausoleum, where the Grafted Blade Greatsword was stored. The Lion Misbegotten now dwells there, and you can see it in the past."
"Also, there are ferocious giant crabs living on the beach. Are you sure you don't need us to come with you? Isn't it too risky?"
Although he had already seen Nidhogg's power, Edgar instinctively worried for his benefactor's safety and offered to go together.
Nidhogg waved his hand and said, "It's fine for me to go alone. It wouldn't be so easy for so many people to coordinate."
Since Nidhogg repeatedly refused and his strength was astonishing, Edgar had to stop insisting.
Then Nidhogg alone stepped on the elevator pedal, returned to the first level, exited through the gates of Castle Morne, and walked along the high city wall towards the back of the city.
Soon, he saw the boundless sea shimmering under the moonlight.
Behind Castle Morne was indeed a beach. At the end of the beach was an archway, and beyond the archway was what Edgar called the Morne Mausoleum.
Nidhogg also saw spirit jellyfish here, which originally liked to appear around cemeteries, the white light on their bodies illuminating the souls of the departed.
Stepping onto the sand, deep in one foot and shallow in the next, Nidhogg headed towards the archway.
However, he quickly noticed a strange bulge before him and vaguely discerned part of a hard shell hidden beneath the sediment.
Nidhogg immediately reacted. He drew his greatsword and advanced towards it.
And indeed, before he got closer, he heard a pop. The sandy mound burst open, and a giant crab leaped out from the mud, waving its two claws—one big, one small—blocking Nidhogg's only path.
If Nidhogg passed by carelessly, he would probably be hit by this giant crab's pincers. Though he wouldn't die, he would certainly be injured.
Nidhogg was already on guard against this. As soon as he saw the giant crab appear, he stepped forward, leaped with a forward somersault, and struck with his greatsword!
Lion's Claw!
CRASH—!
Nidhogg's sword came down like a wild beast and fiercely cut the giant crab's large pincer. With a crack, the large pincer shattered in response, exposing the soft flesh inside.
The giant crab couldn't roar, but it tucked several small crab legs under its body, moving sideways, trying to get away from Nidhogg and showing how much pain it was in.
It quickly counterattacked. A white bubble shot from its mouth, firing directly at Nidhogg.
Nidhogg dodged the bubble with agility, charged forward, and delivered another Lion's Claw with a forward somersault, repeating the skill!
As a result, the giant crab's small pincer was also smashed by his sword!
The giant crab had no "weapons" to rely on. It panicked and was about to flee.
Of course, Nidhogg wasn't about to let it go. He charged forward again, plunged his sword into the giant crab's mouth, wiggled it, and withdrew it. With a sharp sound, a cloud of black blood erupted.
The giant crab didn't dare resist. It just ran sideways, but unfortunately, it couldn't hold on any longer. After running a few steps, it crashed to the ground with a thud and quickly lost its life.
After Nidhogg had dealt with the hidden trap—the giant crab—he headed straight for the archway.
Even before he entered the archway, he saw a tall creature standing proudly inside.
The tall creature was different from the winged misbegotten. It was a monster resembling a lion, with a fluffy red mane.
However, it had a pair of scarlet eyes, a lizard-like green tail, and held a greatsword like a human, proving its extraordinariness.
This was the Lion Misbegotten.
Nidhogg didn't intervene directly. First, he brought out his Golden Halberd and used Golden Vow to enhance his offensive and defensive capabilities. Then he put away the Golden Halberd, took out his Flask, and drank Cerulean Tears to restore his focus.
Having done this, he took his greatsword and entered the Morne Mausoleum beyond the archway.
The old tombstones, erected from time to time, became silent witnesses to this battlefield.
The Lion Misbegotten looked at the Grafted Blade Greatsword he had taken, but he had studied it for a long time and couldn't use the sword's skills. So, somewhat irritated, he stuck it into the ground.
It was easier to use his own greatsword anyway.
He was about to return to Castle Morne to check if his subordinates had fully occupied the city, and the next step would be easy. But as soon as he turned around, he saw a man in knight's armor walking towards him.
The Lion Misbegotten was momentarily stunned and quickly understood that people near Castle Morne now must be their enemies. No identification was needed.
"GRAAH—!"
He immediately let out a threatening battle cry towards Nidhogg. Then he pounced and in an instant was before Nidhogg, swinging his greatsword in a sweep to cleave the nearby Nidhogg!
This time, Nidhogg didn't dodge at all. He gripped his greatsword with both hands and extended it. With a loud CLANG!, the two greatswords locked against each other, and sparks flew!
Man and beast both recoiled!
The Lion Misbegotten was stunned. He hadn't expected there to be someone here capable of withstanding his own sword swing, and with such astonishing strength!
But he didn't hesitate. He stepped back, then spun his body, using an even more powerful circular swing!
This time, Nidhogg leaped, dodging the extremely fast strike and executing a forward somersault in midair!
Lion's Claw!
FWOOSH—!
Nidhogg's sword struck the Lion Misbegotten's red mane and immediately sliced half its face. Flesh and blood were blurred and terrible!
The Lion Misbegotten let out a howl of pain. Its pair of scarlet eyes blazed as if flames had erupted. Then the claws of its left hand swiped at Nidhogg, and the greatsword in its right hand was also ready!
At this critical moment, Nidhogg grew even calmer. He even extended his right foot, precisely stepping on the left hand the Lion Misbegotten had extended. He leaped with force, simultaneously withdrawing his greatsword and raising it high!
Lion's Claw!
Repeat!
Nidhogg's greatsword struck again and again sliced into the wound before the Lion Misbegotten. This time, it finally let out a sharp sound, splitting the Lion Misbegotten's head. Brain matter exploded!
The Lion Misbegotten weakly waved its arms forward, then its tall body trembled and fell forward, turning into a headless beast skeleton.
Level Up: LV 92 (Mid-Rank Apostle) → LV 93 (Mid-Rank Apostle)
Simultaneously with the level-up, much of Nidhogg's equipment and spirit ashes were also strengthened.
「Weapons」
Bloodhound's Fang +6 → Bloodhound's Fang +7
Golden Halberd +3 → Golden Halberd +4
Brass Shield +2 → Brass Shield +3
Greatsword → Greatsword +2
「Spirit Ashes」
Ingvall the Lost Knight +6 → Ingvall the Lost Knight +7
Lhutel the Headless Knight +4 → Lhutel the Headless Knight +5
Oleg the Lost Knight +2 → Oleg the Lost Knight +4
Finally, Nidhogg also made progress on his quests.
「Quests」
Golden Tree (Growth increased from 25% to 40%)
Junction (1 Territory Acquired: "Weeping Peninsula")
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