Such was the state of Stormveil City, where humans, flying dragons, Stormhawks, and even mountain troll knights could have their limbs amputated and used for "grafting" experiments.
It was said that these mountain troll knights once served the royal family of Caria, that is, the royal family of the "Full Moon Queen" Rennala and the "Moon Princess" Ranni. The greatswords in their hands were also embedded with glintstone, gifts from Rennala.
It's just that after Rennala abandoned herself due to Radagon's desertion, and Ranni vanished again, these mountain troll knights lost their masters and began to wander. Some of them came to Stormveil City.
But this group of mountain troll knights probably never imagined that after death, they too would be turned into "puppets," and their limbs used for "grafting."
Nidhogg wandered and approached the base of the upside-down hanging mountain troll's body. He saw more mounds of "puppets" made from human corpses, piled on top of each other.
The human bodies were simply wrapped in rags and discarded here. Several starving dogs were gnawing on the exposed corpses.
Nidhogg killed the starving dogs that had eaten human flesh and immediately found a relic at the top of the "puppet" mound.
「Puppet's Relic」
"A relic held by the puppets, victims sacrificed for grafting. A pin wrapped in velvet-red cloth, the pin stained with blood."
"I faintly see a soul floating above, and I feel they are saying something, but I cannot hear the voice."
Nidhogg knew that among these piled "puppets" were Roderika's companions. This relic was left by her companions and other victims, containing the voices of their souls.
Although he couldn't hear the voice in the relic, Roderika, as a "spirit tuner," certainly could.
Nidhogg needed to return this relic to Roderika. It could be considered a last message for Roderika's deceased companions.
Soon, he returned to the banquet hall after putting away the relic. He saw that Azan and Serpico had laid down the hanging bodies and piled them together, trying to gather as many as possible.
Azan subconsciously wanted to recite the scriptures of the Holy See for the dead. But he suddenly remembered this was pagan territory. Reciting them might be useless, so he gave up.
Nidhogg reassured him, "There are 'puppets' hanging everywhere. You can't give them all peace."
Azan sighed and replied:
"Just do what you can to feel better. Alas, they are all poor people... What happened in this castle was too terrible and cruel."
Then Nidhogg led Azan and Serpico out of the banquet hall and immediately entered the wide and bright atrium of Stormveil City.
There should have been a large group of exiled soldiers, armed with numerous ballistae and artillery, forming a dense formation to stop any enemy daring to break into the atrium.
However, looking at the burning ballistae, horses, corpses, and exploding powder kegs, as silent as it was, Nidhogg could guess what had happened earlier.
It seemed that Flying Dragon Agheel had patronized not only the city walls but also the atrium.
No wonder. He probably also clashed with Godrick the Grafted. The axe wound on his neck must have been caused by Godrick.
For Agheel, this was a losing outcome. For Nidhogg and the others, it was a very fortunate outcome.
Especially when he saw the charred corpse of an omen child, guarded by a white-haired lion with a large steel knife attached to its arm, its horns sawn off. Nidhogg was even happier.
It could be said that if you hastily stormed into the atrium of Stormveil City, you would most likely be pursued and intercepted by lion guardians, omen children, mountain trolls, exiled soldiers, and even a few starving dogs.
Also, arrows and ballista bolts would fly from all sides.
Such troubles were a real headache.
Now, at the cost of its own severe injury, Agheel had cleared most of the enemies in the atrium for Nidhogg in advance. The pressure on the three naturally decreased significantly.
Just as Nidhogg was thinking whether to confront Godrick the Grafted immediately, he heard a loud crash. The ground they stood on shook.
All three exchanged glances. Nidhogg quickly guessed what was happening underground. He made a decision and led them towards the source of the sound. Soon, they saw a ravine leading to an underground channel in Stormveil City.
It was quite dilapidated. Several huge bats had fallen to the ground, all with penetrating wounds. Nidhogg immediately understood this was Rogier's doing. So Rogier and the others were underground.
All three jumped between stone stairs, broken bridge pillars, and wooden platforms, getting closer and closer to the ground. The surroundings grew darker and gloomier, with a desolate and oppressive atmosphere.
Finally, reaching the bottom of the earth, amidst numerous statues, the bodies of countless knights and soldiers lay fallen.
Here, giant rats leading small mice were gnawing on the corpses, but they too had been cleared. Dead rats lay by the roadside.
When Nidhogg and the others descended from above, the loud sounds and vibrations continued. Dust rising from all sides filled the air, making the already dark underground space seem shrouded in mist.
They descended to the depths of the earth and encountered another broken wall. Below was a wide field, full of white bones and sprawling vines.
The epicenter originated from here.
All three looked down and quickly understood why there was such a shock.
Nidhogg remembered that this place was guarded by a Putrid Tree Spirit. But the reality here was the Tibia's Caller Ship, which should have appeared in the Village of the Albinaurics in Limgrave!
A skeletal man in a cloak rowed a huge horn on a massive boat across the waterless land, summoning strange and monstrous waves.
It was these waves that surged and crashed against the walls and ground, producing bursts of loud noises.
Several tall skeletal soldiers, following the call of the skeletal man's horn, armed with spears, swords and shields, sickles, bows and crossbows, attacked the intruders.
And these intruders were, of course, Rogier, Slan, the Dabasha, and Rogier's old friend.
Rogier's old friend, "Death Hunter" D, who had parted ways with him, was clad in brass-colored armor. His face was covered by a visor, and his entire body was tightly sealed.
However, he was bleeding through the gaps in his armor and had fallen to the ground, unable to get up. He seemed wounded.
Two Dabasha guarded D's side, blocking the Deathbed Companions summoned by the Tibia's Caller Ship.
The other two Dabasha followed Slan and took the initiative to investigate the surrounding Deathbed Companions, buying time and space for Rogier, who was the main force.
It's just that the more Slan and the Dabasha fought the Deathbed Companions, the more their heads throbbed.
Because when these Deathbed Companions were killed, they could resurrect once if their glowing bones weren't dealt with properly.
Even if they killed the resurrected Deathbed Companions, as long as the Tibia's Caller Ship was still there, it could summon new Deathbed Companions. It was simply an endless stream of troops.
Rogier couldn't help Slan and the Dabasha at this time, because he was standing before the Tibia's Caller Ship, and the pressure there was even greater.
The waves from the Tibia's Caller Ship could prevent Rogier from approaching. When Rogier tried to attack from a distance with Glintblade Phalanx or Glintstone Arc, it could vanish like smoke and then reappear elsewhere underground.
His disagreement with D stemmed from their attitudes towards the Deathbed Companions.
D believed in following the "Beast Clergyman" Gurranq and destroying all Deathbed Companions. This was also the source of his name, "Death Hunter."
Rogier felt sympathy and pity for the Deathbed Companions, believing they could coexist with the living. After all, their appearance as Deathbed Companions was not their own choice.
However, at this critical moment, D was seriously wounded by the Tibia's Caller Ship, and they were surrounded by Deathbed Companions. Obviously, there was no chance for reconciliation. So Rogier naturally wouldn't show mercy at such a time.
But Rogier had done everything he could. He still had no way to deal with the Tibia's Caller Ship. He couldn't help but worry in his heart.
On the underground platform.
"Go help Slan." Nidhogg turned to Azan and Serpico. "Remember, the Deathbed Companions can resurrect when they die the first time. You need to strike again after their bones glow white to prevent resurrection."
Azan and Serpico, thus reminded, quickly nodded.
They were a little numb when they saw the scene created by the Tibia's Caller Ship, but they were still confident if they just went to kill the Deathbed Companions.
After Nidhogg gave the order, he jumped directly and landed at the very bottom of the earth.
His sudden appearance immediately drew the attention of Rogier, D, Slan, and the Dabasha underground. Everyone looked at them with different expressions.
Rogier, Slan, and the Dabasha were, of course, surprised and overjoyed.
And D's face, hidden within his helmet, was puzzled.
Why have so many outsiders stormed into Stormveil City today?
"Quick, help me!" Rogier exclaimed upon seeing Nidhogg, remembering how he had handled the situation with Margit. His heart felt relieved.
Nidhogg nodded to him. But instead of going to Rogier, he headed straight for the Tibia's Caller Ship.
Rogier and Nidhogg were temporary comrades-in-arms. They had a certain unspoken understanding. He quickly understood and redoubled his efforts, using his combat skills and magic to shield Nidhogg.
Seeing Nidhogg charging towards it, and the summoned Deathbed Companions being held back by Slan and the others, the Tibia's Caller Ship suddenly turned into smoke and vanished, then reappeared in the distance.
However, the Tibia's Caller Ship's figure had only just reappeared when it saw the knight in Vagabond Knight armor actually flying before it. The speed was incredibly astonishing.
The Tibia's Caller Ship tried to raise a purple wave from its hull bottom, lifting even the people on the boat high. When the boat reached the air, it crashed down again, smashing a huge purple wave and charging at Nidhogg in shock!
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