Roderika's screams pierced through the raging storm and drew the attention of the Crucible Knight, making her his primary target.
The Crucible Knight advanced towards Roderika.
THUD, THUD, THUD—!
Both Azan and Serpico were terrified. They had already raised their weapons, but were half a beat slower. They could only watch as the Crucible Knight stepped forward, raised his greatsword, and brought it down!
CRASH—!
A golden cylindrical barrier, like a flexible curved surface, was created around Roderika. It actually deflected the powerful strike of the Crucible Knight!
However, after such a blow, the golden cylindrical barrier also shattered with a crack. Roderika's last hope was gone. She stopped screaming, but her face grew paler and paler. She was in a daze.
The Crucible Knight merely turned his head to look at his greatsword, then raised it again and struck at Roderika!
FWOOSH—!
With a loud crash, even the Crucible Knight halted his slashing strike. In an instant, he saw a black cloak rolled up, like a black spear, hurtling towards him!
The Crucible Knight subconsciously raised his Crucible Horn Shield. Hearing a dull thud, this "black spear" was thrown back by his shield and, in one breath, shot out through the wooden door and out of the open hall!
Azan and Serpico, weapons in hand, were both surprised by this scene.
They looked around and saw that Nidhogg was no longer in the house. They went out together and, sure enough, saw Nidhogg confronting the Crucible Knight.
Not far away, on the stone brick floor, lay the corpses of soldiers in Godrick's military attire, long dead.
The Crucible Knight stood up straight and clearly saw that before him stood a young man in Vagabond Knight armor, holding a strange, very large greatsword.
This very large greatsword resembled a hedgehog's sword, forged with various sword tips, creating a terrifying and dazzling impression.
Hewg had already reacted at this moment. He stood up and looked at Roderika, who was still cowering in the corner. Seeing that she was in serious trouble, he also stepped out of the house, walked into the cold wind, and immediately saw the greatsword.
He knew it. His eyes, which had been slightly narrowed, widened a little in surprise upon seeing the Grafted Blade Greatsword. He muttered, "A very large greatsword, with such a strong faith in vengeance... Rare."
The Crucible Knight looked Nidhogg up and down. Then, without a word, he charged, lowering his stance, raising his Crucible Horn Shield before him, and burst forward with terrifying momentum, like an enraged rhinoceros!
"Be careful!" Azan, who was nearby, shouted excitedly.
Nidhogg's expression didn't change. He stood his ground, gripping the Grafted Blade Greatsword with both hands, pointing its tip to the sky. "Oath of Vengeance" erupted from him with a sense of gravity that hadn't been triggered, enveloping his entire body.
As the Crucible Knight's Crucible Horn Shield charged before him, Nidhogg wielded the Grafted Blade Greatsword and swung a terrifying sword strike, capable of turning the wind, cleaving through the Crucible Horn Shield with a sense of oppression!
CLANG—!
The iconic protrusion of the Crucible Horn Shield was severed by a single sword strike. The vibrations that spread made the entire shield tremble. The Crucible Knight rebounded backward, as if hitting a stone wall!
But the Crucible Knight was also a battle-hardened warrior. He quickly adjusted his posture in the retreating air, then calmly landed on his feet, slid back a few meters, and stopped steadily.
"Nice!" Azan couldn't help but cheer for Nidhogg, who had repelled the Crucible Knight with his sword.
Serpico also subconsciously tightened his grip on the longsword in his hand.
Hewg stroked his beard, which was like a tree root, watching calmly. He, like Nidhogg, knew best that the Crucible Knight was not just about this.
CRASH—!
And indeed, the Crucible Knight suddenly leaped. A pair of shimmering wings spread from his back, allowing him to hover briefly.
He swooped down on Nidhogg like an eagle, his greatsword slashing diagonally!
Azan and Serpico had followed Nidhogg for several days and had seen many scenes they had never witnessed before. But this was the first time they had seen such a sight. They couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat for Nidhogg.
Nidhogg still showed no fear. He calmly clashed swords with the Crucible Knight. Sparks suddenly flew. He couldn't help but stagger back a step!
The Crucible Knight hadn't felled Nidhogg with one sword strike, so he flew after him. His wings folded and vanished in an instant.
He immediately spun around. A thick tail, with the same shimmering quality, swept upward!
「Crucible Tail」!
This tail strike was incredibly fast, so fast that even Nidhogg couldn't react in time. It struck him in the back, and he was sent flying forward!
Nidhogg was in armor. He also felt the pain in his back. His bones shook. But he forcibly restrained himself. Just as his face was about to hit the ground, he supported himself with one hand, leaped with his whole body, and landed steadily with a backflip.
At the same time, the Crucible Knight leaped into the air again. His pair of wings spread, causing him to roar like a storm on this hill and swoop down once more!
Nidhogg raised the Grafted Blade Greatsword again. Watching the Crucible Knight fly closer and closer, he waited for the right moment and used Oath of Vengeance again!
Oath of Vengeance would not only enhance all abilities for a certain period but also, at the moment of activation, Nidhogg's physical strength would significantly increase!
CRASH—!
This time, Nidhogg directly used the Grafted Blade Greatsword to oppose the Crucible Knight's swift sword strike. He actually stood firm, while the Crucible Knight was shocked and fell to the ground!
He charged forward. The Grafted Blade Greatsword traced a huge arc and, with powerful force, slammed into the Crucible Knight's head!
The Crucible Knight suddenly raised his Crucible Horn Shield and, with a loud CLANG!, deflected the deadly sword. But the shield in his hand was also knocked away due to the numbness in his fingers.
He didn't care. He rolled backward, then quickly got up. Seeing Nidhogg chasing him, without hesitation, he turned and unleashed another Crucible Tail!
This time, Nidhogg was mentally prepared. The moment the Crucible Knight turned, he stopped and backflipped, avoiding the swift Crucible Tail.
Instantly, almost by muscle memory honed by Bloodhound's Step, Nidhogg lunged forward. The Grafted Blade Greatsword in his hand horizontally struck the Crucible Knight's breastplate as he turned!
CRASH—!
The armor on the Crucible Knight's chest suddenly dented. The explosive force sent him falling backward to the ground!
Nidhogg stepped on the Crucible Knight's greatsword, preventing him from grabbing his weapon. Then, he raised the Grafted Blade Greatsword high above his head and brought it down like a mountain, cleaving stone!
CRACK—!
The Crucible Knight's helmet, struck by the Grafted Blade Greatsword, instantly deformed, as if a valley had collapsed. Blood gushed from beneath the helmet!
Nidhogg didn't feel at ease. He immediately reversed the raised Grafted Blade Greatsword, pointing its tip downward. With a sharp THUD!, he pierced the Crucible Knight's breastplate and impaled his body!
The Crucible Knight's whole body trembled. He writhed and struggled, like a fish flopping on the ground. Then, he lost his life force and, with a dull thud, dissolved into dust scattered across the sky.
The battle was over.
Nidhogg took out his Flask, drank Crimson and Cerulean Tears. He saw the greatsword in his hand flash, as if fluorescent light converged, and then it showed that it had been strengthened to +2.
At the same time, his "Incantations" added a skill inherent to this Crucible Knight.
「Incantation: Crucible Tail」
"One of the ancient Erdtree's incantations. Can form a thin tail that rushes forward. Its power can be enhanced by charging."
In one of the quests, the growth of the "Golden Tree" had also increased by 5%, reaching 45%.
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