"Captain, what's our mission this time?"
A Leyndell soldier adjusted the padding beneath his armor, secured his helmet, and turned to ask a fully-armored Leyndell Knight.
"We're heading to the sewers beneath the Upper Capital to clear out a group of rioting Omens. You have orders to show no mercy to any target that attacks us along the way," the Leyndell Knight replied tonelessly, wiping the blade of his greatsword.
Hearing this, the surrounding soldiers froze for a moment. Then, the grumbling began.
"You've got to be kidding me. We're clearing the sewers again?"
"Great, just great... when I get home, my wife's going to be so disgusted by the smell she won't let me back in bed."
"Forget your wife... at this rate, the girls at the tavern won't even want to take my coin!"
"Alright, enough complaining," the lead knight said, a hint of helplessness in his own eyes as he stood up. "At least the merit and rewards for this mission are substantial. Besides, we've got Perfumers coming down with us. Once we're out, just ask them for some aromatic powder. Now... fall in!"
"Sir!"
Soon, a well-prepared squad of Leyndell Knights and soldiers arrived at the same entrance Mohg and Morgott had used previously.
Following behind them was a group of Perfumers. At this stage in history, the war hadn't yet reached the desperate heights of the coming eras; consequently, these Perfumers weren't all front-line combatants, nor did they rely solely on explosive spark bottles. They primarily used aromatic salts and incenses as support items. While they didn't prioritize close-quarters combat, they still carried daggers for self-defense.
"Do you know the exact location of the disposal site?" the Knight asked.
"Mhm. We'll lead the way. Your job is to ensure our safety," the head Perfumer nodded.
The Leyndell Knight naturally had no objections and signaled for the squad to move out.
As they reached the disposal pit, everyone instinctively covered their noses and practicedly donned face veils.
"Ugh... just the thought of going back down there makes me feel sick..."
The Knight glanced at his men, shook his head, and performed a massive leap, dropping into the abyss.
"The Captain really is something else..."
CRASH!
Following the heavy thud of his landing, the Leyndell Knight kicked open the main gate and stepped inside with a deep scowl. The scene inside was sickening—Omen corpses and severed limbs were scattered everywhere. Blood painted the floors and walls, filling the air with a thick, metallic stench.
"It looks like this is the handiwork of those Omens from the lower levels," the lead Perfumer said, walking over to the corpse of an Omen infant and gently closing its eyes. Some of the bodies even bore the gruesome marks of cannibalism.
"ROAR!"
Swoosh—!
The moment the roar echoed through the tunnels, the squad snapped into action, shifting their gaze toward the sound. The Perfumers scrambled behind the Leyndell soldiers and attendants, gripping their glass bottles tight, ready to provide support.
That roar acted as a signal. Numerous Omens began to slowly emerge from the various rooms and shadows. Leading them was the broken-horned Omen that Mohg had seen earlier.
"ROAR!"
The Omen bellowed, and a wreath of blood-red fire suddenly ignited along his rusted cleaver.
"Hm? What is that...?"
The Leyndell Knight's pupils constricted. He had never seen an Omen wield such power. He knew of the Cursed Wraiths, but what was this? Behind him, the Perfumers let out a collective gasp of shock.
"Captain! If possible, leave that one alive for study!"
"Understood."
The Knight nodded. A dozen Leyndell soldiers fanned out; the front rank raised their greatshields and spears, while the second rank readied their crossbows. The Captain himself moved forward to engage the unique Omen.
Swoosh—!
Golden Assault!
Golden energy enveloped his greatsword. In a flash, the Leyndell Knight vanished from his position, reappearing as a streak of blinding light. The tip of his blade lunged straight for the Omen's chest.
Whish— CLANG!
The sound of whistling air was followed by a heavy impact as the Omen's cleaver met the Knight's sword. Sparks flew, and a dark shadow spun through the air—it was the top half of the Omen's cleaver, snapped clean off. The quality of their equipment was worlds apart.
Golden Stomp!
The Leyndell Knight didn't waste the opening. He slammed his foot down, and a shockwave of golden light erupted from the point of impact. Caught off guard, the Omen stumbled, losing his center of gravity.
THUD!
The Knight stepped forward again, gripping his greatsword with both hands.
Step, Upward Slash!
The blade cut through the air, leaving a visible golden arc in its wake. A second later, crimson blood sprayed across the floor as the Omen's arm was nearly severed by a jagged wound. Shrieking in pain, the Omen dropped the remains of his rusted cleaver.
The Knight twisted his torso, swinging the greatshield from his back into his other hand, and charged forward.
CRASH!
The impact was thunderous. The Omen's massive frame was sent flying by the force, slamming into the stone wall. The Leyndell Knight didn't relax his guard; he raised his shield and slowly approached the slumped figure.
Meanwhile, the other soldiers were systematically dealing with the rest of the rioters. They began with a volley of fire pots, followed by a barrage of crossbow bolts, before advancing behind a wall of shields to finish the job in close combat.
"ROAR!"
Just as the Knight closed in, the Omen on the ground suddenly lunged upward, reaching out with massive hands to grab him. The Knight was prepared; he raised his shield, intending to deliver a shield bash that would teach the creature a lesson.
However, a sudden surge of immense strength from the shield made him hesitate for a split second. The Omen's goal had been his shield all along. A second later, a massive hand wreathed in blood-red fire swung toward the Knight's head.
The Knight narrowed his eyes. He released his grip on the shield and grabbed his greatsword with both hands, using the pommel to strike the Omen's incoming wrist. Then, he spun into the Omen's guard, delivering a brutal elbow strike to its midsection.
THUD!
The strike landed true. The Knight pivoted, his blade slicing through the tendons of the Omen's right hand.
Golden Pulse!
BOOM!
A ring of golden energy erupted from the Knight's body, blasting the Omen back. This was the "Golden Pulse," a lesser version of the "Wrath of Gold" incantation. The Omen bounced across the floor like a ball before coming to a heavy rest.
The Leyndell Knight walked slowly to the fallen creature and drove his sword down.
"ROAR!!!"
The Omen let out a harrowing shriek as the blade pierced clean through its shoulder, pinning it to the floor.
"It's over. The rest is up to you," the Knight said, retrieving his shield and looking toward the Perfumers.
The rest of the soldiers had finished clearing the area. After all, the Omens' makeshift weapons were no match for Leyndell steel—especially when wielded by an elite squad of the Capital's finest.
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My : https://[email protected]/AuAuMon
Elden Ring: As the Consort, I Reject Miquella (88 Chapters – Ongoing)
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