"Phew... meetings like this really aren't for me."
Godfrey shook his head and rubbed his cheeks, trying to clear the lingering fatigue of political discourse. Beside him, Serosh let out a wide yawn.
"You'll have to get used to it eventually," the beast-regent remarked with his usual predatory laziness. "Though soon enough, you won't need to speak with these people anymore. Once you're at the front lines, your only concern will be the coordination of battle."
Serosh climbed back onto Godfrey's broad shoulders, his heavy presence pressing down and suppressing the King's rising battle intent once more.
"Mhm. I'd much rather prepare myself to give those new warriors a proper welcome on the field," Godfrey said, rising from his seat. He stretched his massive, corded limbs before reaching for his colossal double-headed axe.
Oslo narrowed his eyes, staring at the Crucible Knight standing atop the nearby dueling stage. A chill of apprehension ran down his spine. He hadn't expected that a mere knight under Godfrey's command could exude such a lethal sense of threat—especially the moment their eyes met. Those golden pupils exerted a crushing pressure, like a mountain looming over him.
"I am Geloros, an Axe Crucible Knight under the command of Lord Ordovis," the knight announced. He slammed his Crucible Hornshield—forged from reddish gold—onto the stone floor. The impact sent a heavy, booming resonance through the stage.
Below the stage, the gathered warriors stiffened, their gazes sharpening.
Suddenly, a loud, defiant voice cut through the crowd. "Hmph! To send only a common knight to test us—do you take us for such weaklings?"
With those words, a figure leapt through the air and landed heavily on the stage.
BOOM!
As the dust settled, a man clad in silver-grey heavy armor appeared before Geloros. He drew his weapon—a massive blade as tall as a man, featuring a specialized grip at the very tip of the blade.
"State your name, warrior from afar," Geloros commanded.
"Morgos."
The man gripped the handle on the back of his blade and lowered his stance, speaking in a low, gravelly voice.
Geloros drew his Crucible Knight Greatsword from his hip and raised his hornshield, settling into a firm stance as he waited for the duel to begin. A Leyndell Knight standing near the stage placed his hand on the bell rope, seeing both parties were ready.
"Three... two... one..."
CLANG!
The moment the bell rang, a sharp crack echoed from the stage. Morgos vanished from his spot, reappearing before Geloros in a blur of movement. With a violent twist of his torso, a gale of wind wrapped around his blade. As he released the upper grip with his left hand, a massive surge of momentum was added to the swinging edge.
Geloros narrowed his eyes. He shifted his footwork slightly, adjusting his stance and the angle of his shield.
SCREECH—!
The moment blade met shield, orange-red sparks sprayed in all directions.
However, just as the onlookers expected the two to enter a struggle of pure strength, Morgos's blade was deflected outward. Geloros's subtle adjustment before the impact had allowed him to control the direction of the blow!
Morgos found himself in the awkward position of having spent his momentum with no time to recover. Geloros, a veteran of a hundred battles, did not miss the opening. He lunged forward, slamming his hornshield into his opponent's chest.
THUD!
A visible shockwave of white air erupted from the point of impact on Morgos's armor. He was sent flying backward over ten meters. Before he could even stabilize his footing, Geloros was already upon him.
SHING—!
The reddish-gold greatsword cut through the air, carrying a terrifying wake of wind as it lunged toward Morgos's throat.
Sensing his life was on the line, Morgos's hair stood on end. He stomped the ground and held his blade horizontally to block.
CRASH—!
As a violent gust of wind swept over the stage, some of the spectators turned away, certain that Morgos had been decapitated.
"You have lost, Master Morgos," Geloros's calm voice rang out.
As the dust cleared, the crowd saw that the reddish-gold greatsword had snapped the top half of Morgos's blade clean off and stopped perfectly an inch above his neck. It hadn't even scratched the gorget of his armor—a display of terrifyingly precise control.
Morgos snapped out of his daze and reflexively touched his neck. Once he was certain his head was still attached, he let out a long sigh of relief and looked at Geloros with embarrassment. After a moment of hesitation, he slowly bowed his head.
"My apologies. It seems I was far too arrogant."
"Your strength is commendable among your peers, but you have not yet reached the level required to challenge the King," Geloros said, returning to the center of the stage. "Do not be discouraged. Once you have received the Golden Grace, your power will surely reach new heights."
"Golden Grace?"
The warriors below looked at each other in confusion. However, those who knew of the term felt a flicker of intense longing in their eyes.
Geloros offered no further explanation. That was the domain of the Two Fingers; it had nothing to do with him. His duty today was merely to filter the candidates.
"Now, is there anyone else who wishes to try?"
"I will."
The moment the words left the man's mouth, Oslo—the captain of the great ship—stepped forward. Geloros fixed his gaze on him immediately. Even without a display of power, the man's aura radiated strength. But the protocol had to be followed.
"Tell me your name, unknown champion."
"I am Oslo, a restless challenger."
Oslo grinned and pulled two massive battle-axes from his back. With a flourish of his wrists, he spun the axes before pulling his arms apart, settling into a combat stance.
"Now, let me witness the true strength of a Crucible Knight—the personal guard of First Lord Godfrey!"
Geloros gripped his weapons tighter. "Come then, Oslo."
Before the bell could even ring, Oslo charged forward like a bolt of lightning. Geloros did not retreat; he gripped his greatsword and charged head-on with a thunderous roar.
BOOM!
High above in the Fortified Manor, Godfrey stood by the window, watching the battle unfold below.
"Interesting..."
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My : https://[email protected]/AuAuMon
Elden Ring: As the Consort, I Reject Miquella (115 Chapters – Ongoing)
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