"How exactly do you plan on constructing the sealing barrier here?"
Mohg walked alongside Morgott toward the altar. As Morgott pressed a hidden switch, the stone structure began a slow, grinding descent into the depths. Mohg looked at his brother, waiting for an answer.
"I'll start with the basics found in the book our elder brother left me and build it up from there," Morgott replied. "It's going to take a considerable amount of time, though."
"A steady approach. But from what I know, those kinds of barriers usually shatter once the damage exceeds a certain threshold, right?"
"Indeed. Which is why I plan on adding an extra... layer of insurance." Morgott nodded, his gaze shifting to fixate on Mohg.
That intense, predatory look in his eyes sent a cold shiver down Mohg's spine.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"To give this barrier that extra bit of security, I need your lifeblood. And, of course, I'll be contributing my own."
Mohg's mouth twitched. If he remembered correctly from the game, this seal was originally tied only to Morgott—it vanished the moment Morgott died. Now, if he handed over his own lifeblood, did that mean he was being dragged into the same "life-link" contract?
"...Fine."
Despite his internal grumbling, Mohg supported the idea. Sealing this place off had no downsides for him. As for whether it would mess up a certain three-fingered entity's plans... well, that wasn't his problem.
Mohg moved to slice his wrist, intending to force out the golden blood empowered by the Aspects of the Crucible. However, Morgott quickly caught his arm.
"What now?"
"It's too early. That's just my ultimate goal; I can't achieve that level of complexity yet."
Morgott explained, "I want to tie the seal to the power of the Erdtree and set our deaths as the condition for its release. That requires a master-level understanding of barriers and a certain mastery over the Golden Order... It's all going to take time."
Mohg's eyes widened as he stared at Morgott. "Then why the hell did you drag me down here right now?!"
He had assumed Morgott was ready to cast the thing immediately, which was why he had rushed to relocate Liana. He'd planned to spend more time "re-educating" her and shaping her worldview, but he'd had to cut it short. It felt sloppy, and that was starting to irritate him.
"How am I supposed to run experiments if you aren't here?" Morgott shot back. Without further preamble, he grabbed Mohg's wrist.
"Hey! Watch the grabbing! This isn't proper! Wait—how much blood are you taking?! Stop! I'll do it myself!!"
A short while later, Mohg was massaging the wound on his wrist with a pained expression, looking at Morgott with pure resentment.
"There, there. I don't need anything else from you for now," Morgott said, nodding with satisfaction. He waved a hand dismissively, signaling that Mohg was free to go.
"Sigh... the world is going to the dogs. No justice, no sense at all..." Mohg muttered, shaking his head as he walked toward the elevator.
Though his mood was a bit sour, he had to admit this was a perfect opportunity to contact the Mother of Truth. After a quick greeting to the Warrior Jar residing nearby, Mohg vanished into the labyrinthine network of pipes.
Sensing Mohg's intense desire for communication, the Mother of Truth responded with a flicker of curiosity. Since she had first blessed him, he had offered frequent sacrifices, yet she had never quite sensed the "scent of faith" from him.
Recently, she had noticed him making various little moves, and she had watched it all through her "eyes." She hadn't reacted, choosing instead to wait and see. Mostly, she wanted to see the entertainment—to see how far this Crucible-blessed pawn of hers could go.
She was curious today because, despite his recent "secretive" behavior, he had the gall to seek her out so urgently. He certainly had a bold spirit.
Mohg, eyes closed, felt a sudden tremor through his body as the Mother of Truth responded. She asked him directly: What is the purpose of your prayer?
Without hesitation, Mohg bit his fingertip. A single drop of golden blood fell as his other hand swept through the void. A blood sigil materialized, tearing a small rift in space. Through that crack, one could glimpse a world of pure, saturating crimson.
As the drop of blood fell into that realm, the Mother of Truth immediately sent back a signal of satisfaction, urging Mohg for more high-quality blood.
"I seek the technique of the Avatar," Mohg stated.
The Mother of Truth grew quiet for a moment, then pulsed with a sudden, renewed excitement. It was as if she had guessed exactly what Mohg intended to do, and she was more than eager for him to leave his confinement.
A streak of blood-red light shot out from the rift, slamming directly into Mohg's head. He let out a muffled groan.
"Ugh..."
It took a long time for the dizziness to subside. Mohg shook his head violently, trying to clear the fog from his mind. By the time he recovered, the presence of the Mother of Truth had vanished.
"I didn't expect it to go so smoothly... But it seems she's quite clear on my plans and can't wait for me to get out of here," Mohg mused, leaning against a pipe to rest.
Her intentions were easy to read—or rather, she hadn't bothered to hide them from him. Still, the pressure was immense. She might act like she wasn't interfering, but she was clearly lurking in the shadows, watching his every move.
Mohg felt a brief moment of anxiety about his past schemes, but it didn't last. She hadn't punished him, which was effectively a green light. Since he had her tacit approval... he was going to be a lot bolder!
She's actually surprisingly trusting, Mohg thought, feeling a rare pang of guilt. But hey, business is business. Guilt aside, the wool still needs to be pulled!
"Let's see... how does this avatar work... Soul descent, spiritual allocation, focus, blood splitting..."
As the knowledge unfolded in his mind, Mohg felt his temples throb.
"Sigh... I guess I just have to hunker down and study this until I get it."
And so, as Morgott delved into the mysteries of barriers, Mohg buried himself in the study of the Blood Avatar. Time continued its relentless flow through the dark.
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Elden Ring: As the Consort, I Reject Miquella (235 Chapters – Ongoing)
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