Crash—!
With the thunderous break of a wave, a colossal sailing ship emerged upon the sea, slowly drifting toward the shore.
Awaiting them on the coast was a contingent of Leyndell soldiers on high alert. At their head stood a Tree Sentinel, radiating a powerful aura while mounted upon a gargantuan warhorse. His magnificent golden armor shimmered brilliantly under the light of the Erdtree, the red gemstones embedded within it sparkling with an otherworldly luster.
"Lord Canrol, what do you believe is the purpose of this ship's arrival?"
"Who knows? At the very least, they haven't shown any hostility yet. As for their specific goal... someone will negotiate with them when the time comes. It has nothing to do with me. Besides... since you are here, I assume you already have the answer."
Canrol, the Tree Sentinel, cast a cool glance at the man beside him—a Deacon of the Golden Church. This man was the official representative sent by the Church to conduct the reception, and he was also a prime candidate for promotion to the rank of Bishop.
Hearing this, Nick offered Canrol a thin smile.
As Canrol surmised, Nick's presence here was by the direct order of the Pontiff—or rather, it was the will of Lady Marika and the Two Fingers.
The people on this ship were powerful warriors from distant lands coming to join the Golden Dynasty. They wouldn't be the only ones; this was merely the first of many arrivals. These warriors would become an indispensable force in the Golden Dynasty's future campaigns of conquest.
Logically, however, it shouldn't have required such personal attention from Lady Marika and the Two Fingers, nor the dispatch of so many high-ranking clergy from both the Golden Church and the Finger Readers. There had to be a vital secret involved, but it wasn't something a man of his rank was meant to know.
And frankly, he didn't want to know. In his position, knowing too much was a surefire way to shorten one's lifespan.
Before long, the massive warship docked, and the gangplank was lowered. A towering man dressed in heavy, massive plate armor descended.
"I am Oslo, a knight from the distant continents and captain of this vessel. I take it you are the champions of the Golden Dynasty?"
"I am Canrol. I stand here by the command of Marika the Eternal and First Lord Godfrey to await your arrival!"
Upon receiving confirmation, Oslo leapt down from the ship.
BOOM!
As his massive frame and heavy armor hit the ground, a cloud of dust billowed outward. Oslo gave a sharp sweep of his hand, and the resulting wind pressure instantly dispersed the dust. This single display was enough to demonstrate his formidable strength.
Canrol narrowed his eyes. There was no doubt that the man before him was incredibly powerful. Whether compared to the warriors of the Golden Dynasty or the other recruits arriving today, this man was a cut above the rest. And this was even before he had received the Golden Blessing. Canrol suspected that once this man was blessed, he might even be able to trade blows with a Crucible Knight.
To show respect to such a warrior, Canrol dismounted and walked up to Oslo.
"Knight of the Golden Dynasty, I have come only to follow Lord Godfrey. However, I do have one request." Oslo's eyes burned with an intense, fiery heat.
"What request?" Canrol asked, curious. For a man of this caliber, he wondered if he would ask for beauty, power, or wealth. Of course, the most likely answer was the pursuit of greater strength.
"I wish to duel Lord Godfrey. I... crave a defeat!"
Oslo's eyes were filled with a raw hunger for battle as he looked at Canrol with fervent anticipation. Canrol froze for a second, then his mouth split into a wide grin as he let out a boisterous laugh.
"Hahahaha! Good! Excellent! I believe Lord Godfrey will certainly not refuse your request!"
"Then I have no regrets!" Oslo nodded vigorously and stepped forward to clasp Canrol's hand.
By now, the other warriors from the warship were filing down the gangplank. There were samurai in lacquered armor, swordsmen in light travel gear, and knights in heavy plate. Though they came from different lands and wore different garbs, every one of them radiated a powerful presence. Even the weakest among them was far stronger than a standard Leyndell soldier.
At the same time, the ship's crew and several people in tattered clothes, bound by shackles, slowly descended. These were the slaves brought by the warriors. Canrol had no issue with this sight, merely casting a brief glance before looking away. Throughout the vast Lands Between, slavery was common, though within the Golden Dynasty, slaves were typically Misbegotten or members of other conquered races.
From Canrol's perspective, the only drawback was the current number of recruits. But these were only the first to arrive; many more were already on their way. He noted that this first batch was of exceptionally high quality; among the crowds to follow, there would inevitably be some "rotten apples" mixed in.
"So this is the Royal Capital, Leyndell... Seeing the Erdtree from this close is... unimaginably magnificent..."
Moke traced the surface of the staff in his hand, a flash of awe crossing his eyes. He adjusted the hood over his head and continued toward the main gates of the city.
The gates were currently swarmed with guards scrutinizing every person's identity, especially now that so many foreigners were arriving to join the Dynasty. In such a chaotic mix of people, it was the perfect time for those with ill intentions to slip through unnoticed.
"Hey, I'd advise you not to enter the Capital dressed like that."
A melodious female voice suddenly rang out beside Moke, causing him to stop in his tracks. He turned toward the sound. A woman with short, platinum-blonde hair was looking at him.
"What do you mean?" Moke asked instinctively.
"I don't think you're a bad person, but the Golden Dynasty is currently on high alert. If you go in dressed like that, even if you're innocent, you'll likely be subjected to heavy questioning and a thorough search."
Moke fell silent. Logically, he felt her advice didn't make much sense. Usually, those trying to sneak in wouldn't choose such a conspicuous outfit; it was always better to blend in. Draping himself in a shroud of mystery only invited attention. Furthermore, since he had nothing to hide, he had nothing to fear.
Yet, for some inexplicable reason, Moke found himself choosing to take her advice.
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My : https://[email protected]/AuAuMon
Elden Ring: As the Consort, I Reject Miquella (88 Chapters – Ongoing)
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