Nidhogg naturally wouldn't refuse the kindness of the "spirit tuner" Roderika.
He handed the Spirit Calling Bell to Roderika, named the two spirit ashes, and the subsequent "spirit tuning" was completed by Roderika.
Roderika held the Spirit Calling Bell with both hands and placed it against her chest, as if protecting a fragile object, praying silently.
After a while, a great deal of white light poured into the Spirit Calling Bell, overflowing from it.
Soon, Roderika returned the bell to Nidhogg. She herself looked pale and slumped, then smiled faintly: "I did everything I could. I hope it helps you."
Nidhogg thanked her, raised the Spirit Calling Bell in his hand, and then saw the strengthening of the two spirit ashes he had named through the connection between the golden brand and the bell.
「Ingvall the Lost Knight +8」
「Oleg the Lost Knight +6」
The first was strengthened by one level, the second by two. So these "Stormhawk Wings" had become the two most powerful spirits belonging to Nidhogg.
Azan and Serpico had fixed the door and went to help bury the bodies of the Godrick soldiers outside. After finishing, they had nothing to do.
Silence fell within the house, broken only by the endless clanging of the ancient forging hammer.
Everyone waited silently.
After that, Nidhogg decided to rest first. Tomorrow, they would head to Stormveil Castle on the cliff. If nothing else, they would have to go through most of a fierce battle, for which he needed to recover.
So the three took turns keeping watch while the others slept.
They didn't want to take Roderika's bed, but fortunately, Hewg wasn't sleeping all night, so he gave up his bed for the three of them to rest.
The long night passed quietly.
The next day, when sunlight streamed through the cracks in the stone wall and entered the house, Hewg had completed the strengthening and forging of the four weapons ahead of schedule.
Nidhogg, Azan, and Serpico, having had a break, were full of energy. At the same time, they stepped forward with slight anticipation, retrieved their weapons, and couldn't help but examine them carefully.
Roderika had also risen early.
She sat on the edge of the bed, silently watching the three people who were about to charge into the dragon's den and tiger's lair, as if she saw the figures of her own companions. Her heart was heavy.
Nidhogg checked and saw that his Bloodhound's Fang had been strengthened to +8, and the Grafted Blade Greatsword to +4. They were already of extremely high quality and had become his two most enhanced weapons.
Then he looked at Azan's and Serpico's weapons with his Spectral Sight. Seeing something unusual, he couldn't help but be surprised and turned his head towards Hewg.
Hewg's eyes were downcast. Noticing Nidhogg's gaze, he looked up, grunted, and said:
"My forging can awaken the combat memories of how they used their weapons. These memories will transform into combat skills for the weapons. There's nothing surprising about it. Let them try it out."
Although the blacksmith said there was nothing surprising, Azan and Serpico, having heard the extraordinary word "combat skill," showed great interest.
Nidhogg explained on his behalf:
"Serpico, the awakened combat skill of your longsword is called 'Impaling Thrust.' When facing an enemy with a shield, after the attack, take a step forward and deliver a thrust with your whole body to break through the enemy's defense from the front."
"Azan, your iron rod's skill is called 'Charge Forth.' The double-headed iron rod and your waist come out of the frame, and then you surge forward in one breath. After reaching the limit, you can use a thrusting attack and continue to activate it to increase the forward lunge distance."
After Nidhogg's explanation, the two became even more interested and couldn't wait to go to the open space by the house to practice the combat skills.
And indeed, they found the weapons in their hands more comfortable. They could suddenly increase their combat power after activating the skills.
Azan and Serpico were very excited.
However, at this moment, Nidhogg reminded:
"You'd better conserve your combat skills. They will consume your focus. I can replenish mine in time with my Flask, but you can only wait for it to recover gradually on its own. It's best to use your skills at critical moments."
Only then did Azan and Serpico understand that the use of combat skills was limited. Their enthusiasm and excitement diminished somewhat. But the benefit of the weapon strengthening itself was quite high—both reached +2, which was enough for their next use.
Hewg had come into the house and spent the night forging and strengthening the three's weapons to this extent. His fatigue was already evident.
However, when he saw that they could easily use this enhanced weaponry, he also felt relieved in his heart. This was a compliment to the blacksmith.
Roderika, who had refused to move from her corner, finally stepped out of the house and stood beside Hewg. She still silently watched the three.
Nidhogg, Azan, and Serpico once again thanked Hewg and Roderika.
Subsequently, Nidhogg proposed to head straight for Stormveil Castle on the cliff.
Hewg didn't stop them, but reminded them: "I've lived in this stone house since this year. To survive, I forge weapons and armor for these Godrick soldiers and infantry."
"Therefore, from time to time, I hear plausible news from them about Stormveil Castle. Most of it is suspicious, but there is one thing I am sure of."
"That is the 'dragon calamity.'"
"Godrick the Grafted was no longer content with taking the limbs of powerful heroes for himself. He also tried to take the limbs of a flying dragon for himself and hunted one for this purpose."
"However, there is another flying dragon nearby that will occasionally fly near Stormveil Castle, burn Godrick's soldiers at the city gates, and then flee in revenge for Godrick's atrocities against its kind."
"I see this flying dragon descend on the gates of Stormveil Castle almost every few days. It's been appearing for some time now. Do you want to wait a few more days for it to break through the city gates before you go?"
A flying dragon?
When Nidhogg heard this, he already guessed which flying dragon was causing trouble.
He wasn't nervous or hesitant. He simply said, "If it comes, it will block our path again. Then we'll destroy it together. I don't mind having another dragon heart."
Azan and Serpico were frightened when they heard this. The "flying dragon" they were talking about—wasn't that the dragon that flies in the air, which only exists in legends?
When Roderika heard this, she also worried for them, frowned, and persuaded:
"Why don't you wait a few more days, wait for the flying dragon to come, and then leave? If you go now, it will be too dangerous if you encounter it..."
Hewg interrupted Roderika's words and said with a smile, "Let them go. To be honest, if you can't even beat a flying dragon, how are you going to beat Godrick the Grafted?"
"The whole world despises Godrick's flight from the royal capital of Leyndell and despises his defeat by Malenia, the Goddess of Rot. But they still haven't understood that Godrick is a demigod."
"He couldn't beat Radahn the Starscourge and lost to Malenia, the Goddess of Rot, because they were also demigods. No one else—no cat or dog—could stand against him."
"We've done everything we could to help these three. The next battle in the city can only be resolved by themselves. All we can do is bless them. Roderika, let's wish them a victorious return."
Nidhogg had no intention of retreating.
Azan and Serpico were also stirred by Hewg's words. They looked at each other and decided to face the difficulties.
Roderika heard this from Hewg, then looked at the determined expressions of Nidhogg and the other two. She sighed slightly and could only say, "I will pray for you. Please be careful in everything."
After that, Roderika gathered the information she knew about Stormveil Castle and told it to the three one by one, asking them not to step into the pitfalls that she and the others had previously fallen into.
Although Nidhogg was familiar with Stormveil Castle, he didn't mind listening to Roderika add details, not to mention informing Azan and Serpico in advance.
Soon, Roderika finished telling all the information she knew.
So Nidhogg and the three bid farewell to Hewg and Roderika and climbed the stormy hill towards the thick morning mist.
Hewg turned and wanted to go back into the house, but he saw Roderika still standing there. He couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"
"I said I would pray for them," Roderika mustered her courage. "I want to pray here, bless them, and hope that the souls of my companions—those souls—can bless them too."
Hewg smiled, went into the room, and said, "Then do as you wish."
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