Pohl, who was sprinting frantically toward the exit, suddenly stopped as if sensing something. He turned around to face what was behind him.
In the next instant, Mohg appeared before him, his great black wings unfurled.
"Oh? I thought you would have kept running for a while longer," Mohg said, looking at him with a hint of surprise.
"There was no point. Your speed is far beyond mine," Pohl replied, shaking his head slowly. He gripped his weapon with an expressionless face; he had no intention of surrendering without a fight.
He had only stopped because he remembered the speed at which Mohg had fled with Morgott earlier. Knowing he couldn't outrun his opponent, he had chosen to stop and conserve his strength instead.
"Before we begin, I want to ask you a few questions."
"Ask away."
Pohl had no reason to refuse a chance to recover his stamina, even if the other party might be stalling for time. Secretly, he was still hoping that Calot and the others could fight their way out to help him.
However, he knew the chances were slim. The adult Omen Calot was facing was no pushover, and the fact that they hadn't appeared yet likely meant they had encountered even more trouble.
"You clearly profess faith in the Erdtree, so why is it that I don't see a single shred of respect in your eyes?" Mohg asked, a playful, mocking smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"What an impolite question. I am a most devout believer."
"Devout believers don't look like you. I'm actually quite curious how someone with your attitude can still wield the power of Incantations."
Mohg glanced behind him. After confirming that Morgott hadn't followed but had gone to their agreed-upon meeting point instead, he felt at ease. After all, what was about to happen wasn't something his "dear older brother" needed to see.
"Isn't that always the case with the power and Incantations bestowed by the Erdtree? All It has ever demanded is a formal show of attitude," Pohl said. His words were profoundly blasphemous to most believers, but he spoke them with an unwavering, deadpan expression.
Mohg knew, however, that the man wasn't telling the whole truth.
The power of Incantations was never just about formality; otherwise, Mohg would have mastered them long ago. It required talent and a certain level of affinity with the Erdtree. Therefore... this man likely possessed significant talent.
Moreover, he probably came from a background where someone had blessed and guided him, allowing him to channel the power of Incantations in the first place.
"Living like an ascetic hasn't been easy, has it? But don't worry, those days will soon be over."
As Mohg spoke, blood-red flames began to flicker and rise from the black wings on his back.
Seeing this, Pohl's eyes trembled violently. His acute sensitivity to the divine allowed him to realize in an instant that this was not the power of the Erdtree—it was the power of an Outer God!
"Compared to me, your actions are the true blasphemy and betrayal, aren't they? I wonder how your Erdtree-worshipping brother would react if he knew about this."
"Ah, that's exactly why this cannot be exposed. With your talent, I think you'll make an excellent sacrifice. I don't usually enjoy doing this, but for the sake of power, I believe it's worth it."
Mohg reached out with his right hand and sliced open the palm of his left, letting the blood drip onto the floor. A blood-red mist began to slowly rise from the ground. Mohg could feel the Mother of Truth fixing her gaze upon this spot.
Boom—
Mohg flapped his wings, and as he braced himself to launch the feathers toward Pohl—intending to mimic the 'Aspects of the Crucible: Feathers' technique enhanced with Bloodflame—Pohl suddenly fell to his knees, trembling.
"Hmm?!"
Mohg's expression stiffened. He stared at his opponent, utterly bewildered.
Wait, I was all set to test my new move, and you just... slide into a kowtow?! He had been eager to see how the wing feathers would perform when infused with Bloodflame, but in this situation, it was actually awkward for him to just strike.
"Ahhhh... Great Unknown Being... I have finally... finally found the faith I truly love!!"
Pohl had been born into a family of staunch Erdtree followers; his father was even a clergyman of the Erdtree Church. Thus, from the moment of his birth, he had been raised to believe in the Erdtree, learning its stories and Incantations.
This life continued until he reached adulthood. As he grew, he found the Erdtree's doctrines increasingly tedious. He began searching for a faith he truly desired, but nothing he found satisfied him. Consequently, he had no choice but to continue his "faith" in the Erdtree, though his power in its name stagnated, never changing again.
He had assumed he would simply live as a "loyal" believer until the day he returned to the Erdtree. Then, his parents died unexpectedly during a campaign. He didn't feel much grief over their deaths. They had done nothing but indoctrinate him with the Church's ideals, which he found noisy and irritating. Without his parents' supervision, he began to let himself go.
He soon discovered that every time he committed an act that violated the laws or betrayed the Erdtree's teachings, he felt an overwhelming sense of joy. He couldn't stop. The reason he had joined this grave-robbing expedition was to see if he could find something to stimulate his senses.
He had been somewhat disappointed... but now... he felt it had all been worth it!
Pohl threw his arms wide and hugged himself tightly, muttering words of manic fanaticism. This sudden descent into madness left Mohg completely stunned.
"Ahhhh!! Yes! I crave the pain! I crave the pleasure that pain brings!! I crave the wounding of the soul!!!"
"..."
Mohg's face darkened as he listened. He moved swiftly to stand before the man and grabbed his head.
"Ahhhh... Agent of the Blood God, our King... please forgive my previous disrespect..."
Bang!
"Shut up! You absolute degenerate! Stop pretending to be the Mapo Priest!"
Mohg slammed the man against the wall. The violent impact knocked him unconscious instantly, breaking his nose in the process. Having done this, Mohg felt no sense of accomplishment—only a surge of irritation.
He had expected a good fight, but the guy turned out to be a total freak!
"Phew... don't get angry, don't get angry..."
Mohg took a deep breath and barely managed to calm himself. However, looking at Pohl's slumped form, he couldn't resist giving him one more kick. He then began to wonder what to do with the fellow.
First of all, it seemed the man really had changed his faith. He had chosen to believe in the Mother of Truth. In other words... was this guy one of his own now?
No, he wouldn't accept it. He didn't want his subordinates to be a bunch of joy-seeking lunatics!
I have to find a chance to get rid of him!
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Elden Ring: As the Consort, I Reject Miquella (211 Chapters – Ongoing)
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