The "Full Moon Queen" Rennala floated in the air, holding the amber egg in her arms. Her entire body was enveloped in golden light, like a star that could not be touched.
Hearing her mother's murmuring, Little Ranni gazed at her quietly for a moment, then said to Nidhogg, "Do it."
Nidhogg understood. But instead of attacking Rennala in the air, he turned around, scanned the area, and began searching among the young magic students. Soon, he found a student enveloped in golden light.
He stepped forward, drew Bloodhound's Fang, and struck with his sword. The student, shrouded in golden light, let out a soft gasp, fell to the ground, and died.
That was the first.
Nidhogg turned his head again to look around. He saw another student enveloped in golden light. He stepped forward again and also killed him with Bloodhound's Fang.
That was the second.
The last student enveloped in golden light was hiding behind a stack of piled books. He, too, was found by Nidhogg and pierced through with his sword.
At that moment, the golden light on Rennala's body suddenly dissipated. She fell from the sky, landing lightly on the ground. The amber egg in her hand also rolled out.
"Your Majesty, the Queen!" Moongrum was stunned. He stepped forward, trying to help Rennala up.
Little Ranni stopped him. "Moongrum, stop. Don't step forward. It's not over yet."
Moongrum looked at Miniature Ranni, hesitated for a moment, and finally stopped.
After Rennala fell to the ground, she paid no attention to the three behind her. She only lifted her head with a sorrowful expression, looked at the amber egg that had rolled away, and slowly crawled towards it.
"Ah, my dear child... Wait for me. I'll hold you now... You will always be reborn, always, always."
However, just as Rennala was about to reach the amber egg, black mist rose above it. It soared into the air and gradually spread throughout the entire grand library.
In an instant, the grand library, enveloped in black mist, was plunged into a nocturnal illusion. The original ground was also covered by cold sea water.
The full moon slowly rose from the shimmering water, still holding a lute, half-covering its face.
Moongrum looked at this scene in surprise, a little overwhelmed.
At that moment, a voice, simultaneously familiar and strange to everyone, sounded solemn and majestic:
"In the name of the witch Ranni, I declare that I will not disturb my mother's sullied slumber..."
Both Nidhogg and Moongrum looked at Miniature Ranni.
However, Miniature Ranni had not spoken. It was the former Ranni who had made this sound. Before leaving, she had left a final layer of protection for her mother. This was it.
At this moment, Miniature Ranni slowly spoke, and it turned out to be the same incantation:
"In the name of the witch Ranni, I declare that I will not disturb my mother's sullied slumber..."
Soon, Miniature Ranni's voice caught up with the echo of the witch Ranni. The two identical voices merged into the sorcery. There was no difference.
"Sinners, sing to the afterlife. The last queen of Caria, Rennala of the Full Moon, like the embodiment of the elegant night."
BOOM—!
The illusion enveloping the entire grand library suddenly burst and dissipated!
The embodiment of the prototype of the "Full Moon Queen" Rennala, as well as those young magic students, also vanished.
All around, calm was restored once more.
Level Up: LV 102 → LV 104
Acquired Weapon: Carian Regal Scepter (Skill: Spinning Weapon)
Acquired Sorcery: Rennala's Full Moon
Acquired Great Rune: Great Rune of the Unborn
Acquired Location: Liurnia of the Lakes
Junction Quest Progress: (3 Zones Acquired: "Liurnia of the Lakes," "Limgrave," "Weeping Peninsula")
Elden Ring: (2/7, Acquired "Great Rune of the Unborn," "Godrick's Great Rune")
The battle, which should have been tumultuous, suddenly ended.
Thanks to Ranni's connection, Nidhogg won the battle with extraordinary ease. In a sense, it could be said that he rode on her coattails.
The Carian Regal Scepter he obtained was a top-tier glintstone staff, capable of enhancing moon sorcery. Namely, "Rennala's Full Moon" and "Ranni's Dark Moon."
Both are moon sorceries. The effect of Rennala's Full Moon and Ranni's Dark Moon is practically the same—they can dispel affected sorceries and reduce enemy resistance.
However, Ranni's Dark Moon has the additional effect of frostbite.
The "Great Rune of the Unborn," unlike "Godrick's Great Rune," cannot provide attribute bonuses. But it allows Nidhogg to move attributes, meaning he can redistribute all his attribute points.
This is equivalent to experiencing "rebirth."
Finally, he obtained the location "Liurnia of the Lakes," which Nidhogg had also expected.
Thus, excluding the Shadow Lands, almost a third of the entire Junction was now in his hands.
Nidhogg's trip could be called a complete success.
Rennala was still lying on the ground. She had already picked up the amber egg and was holding it tenderly in her arms.
Miniature Ranni on Nidhogg's shoulder had vanished, replaced by the cool witch Ranni standing before her—cool and noble.
It turned out that Ranni herself had removed the installed magic and did not allow Rennala's avatar to appear. Otherwise, they would have had to face Rennala's sorcery, as well as the wyvern, the mountain troll knight, and the Bloodhound Knight she summoned.
That was fine. Nidhogg didn't want to defeat his mother-in-law in front of Ranni and Moongrum, even if it was just an avatar.
At the same time, by removing this magic, Ranni had regained most of her power. She then looked at her hand, and then looked back at Nidhogg.
"It seems that from today onwards, like Melina, I will no longer remain in your body."
Nidhogg showed regret. "What a pity."
Ranni laughed, shook her head, walked over to Rennala, and crouched beside her. She only heard her mother continue to whisper.
"My good child, where have you been? Stop playing hide-and-seek. Come out quickly. I've prepared many books and candlesticks."
"Come out quickly. Or have you become a graven mass again? Are you about to be born?"
Rennala repeated these two passages again and again. Earlier, she could still recognize Ranni. But now she glanced at her as if she were a stranger, then looked back at the amber egg.
Ranni showed a sad expression. She stroked the back of her mother's hand and regretted it for the second time—regretting that she had not hesitated to abandon everything she had to begin the path of the Moon's Law.
The first time was when she and Nidhogg truly began their journey into the night, only to be captured by the Greater Will and cast into this world.
Moongrum also stepped forward and half-knelt before Rennala, also looking sad.
After much thought, Ranni finally made a decision.
She slowly rose, first glanced at Nidhogg, and then approached a treasure chest placed in the grand library.
The treasure chest was originally locked. But Ranni gently waved her hand. The lock opened by itself. The lid of the treasure chest was lifted, revealing a ring placed inside.