Elden Ring: Atai vows to have a perfect ending

——Brothers, we have encountered unexpected trouble again.

Looking up at the towering rock walls in the crystal cave, I fell into silent thought.

By the way, this is the first time I noticed that in the world of the real magic circle, after exploring the caves and cemetery mazes, there is no beam of light returning to the entrance?

Because I could walk back carefree before, I didn't pay much attention to it.

But today, I finally understood how important that beam of light was. Before, I just jumped straight down without feeling much. Now I look up and oh my god! Such a high rock wall! You want me to play rock climbing, right? Not to mention that I might fall down and die accidentally, this, this, I can't even climb up now!

I swallowed my saliva, rolled up my sleeves, and jumped towards the rock wall: “Hey! ... Hey ya! ... Ha!”

——It’s over. I can’t even reach the bottom foothold, let alone a higher position.

——Summon Melina to help me teleport out? But if Laya knew about her existence, wouldn't it trigger a butterfly effect?

——Or, use more combat skills——Storm Feet, and try to jump up? But...what about Laya?

Firstly, Storm's feet may not be able to support the weight of two people; secondly, I can't guarantee that I can really climb walls and run on rooftops with Laya in my arms like a martial arts hero.

——What should I do?

Just when I was worried, Laya's voice came from behind me: "Zero, I'm ready! Let's go."

Looking back, Laya had transformed into a human.

“Well…” I scratched my head awkwardly, “To be honest, it seems like we can’t get out of the door now.”

Laya tilted her head in confusion, and I turned my head helplessly, looking at the towering rock wall and said frankly: "This wall is not easy to climb up... Forget it, Laya, I have something to say..."

I was just planning to use it as a last resort and ask Meimei for help.

Laya ran back to the inner cave again, saying, "Wait for me a moment, Zero."

I wondered if Laya had found a rope or something, or if it was a tool that Letina had left behind to help her climb out?

Soon, Laya came back in small steps, and she turned into a snake-man again: "Zero, come ride on me."

"Eh?"

——Girl, it’s not good for a girl to say such things.

Seeing that I was a little hesitant, Laya squinted her eyes and smiled and said, "It's okay. The knight uncle has taught me, so Laya is also very powerful and won't get hurt."

As she spoke, she turned her back.

——That’s not what I meant, but... I was just too dirty. I’m sorry.

——By the way, Uncle Knight, are you referring to the furnace in the Volcano Mansion?

I also accepted Laya's kindness, carefully lying on her back, hugging... the neck? Anyway, the area above Laya's shoulders.

"Laya, I'm not too heavy, am I?" She asked shyly, a question that anime girls often ask.

Laya said very gentlemanly: "It's okay, it's okay. Let's go~"

As she spoke, Laya twisted her body, and her belly stretched out unexpectedly. She easily reached the foothold on the rock wall, then grabbed the rock with both hands and climbed up like a gecko.

——So you can play like this? The snake man's body is quite convenient!

After climbing up to the second-floor cave, I heard a hissing sound like a venomous snake spitting out its tongue. It was the crystal snails! After a night, they had all been revived by the blessing of the golden tree! I had clearly chopped off their heads! Could it be that they had grown back?

I was about to jump down to fight, but unexpectedly, those crystal snails barely missed a trace.

As if they saw Laya's huge snake-man body, they all hid in the corner.

——So, are the big shrimps in the lake area and the ordinary creatures in the border area also so afraid of snake people?

Worry for nothing.

We passed through the cave of the crystal snails without any hindrance. Laya continued to use her body to build a bridge for me. After sending me to a high place, I landed and held her to avoid any accidents.

Soon, we returned to the highest passage in the cave, and when we poked our heads out from under the cliff, we ran into a little Asian who had just revived.

"Hiss!" Laya opened her mouth mischievously, scaring the little Asian so much that he ran deeper into the cave screaming.

I also climbed up successfully and pulled Laya up with me: "Huh~ I finally made it up. Laya, thanks to you!"

"Hehe, nothing." Laya just finished speaking.

Suddenly, another roar was heard from deep in the cave.

I saw that the demihuman leader whom I killed yesterday had revived, and he rushed over with his little brothers, brandishing swords and guns.

"Run!" I pulled Laya's hand and quickly ran out of the cave.

But after just a few steps, Laya had already surpassed me, and even pulled my hand in return, taking the lead.

——Slow down, slow down! Laya, my feet can't keep up!

Rushing out of the crystal cave by the lake, Laya was frightened by the demihumans outside not long after she ran, and she ran straight along the cliff on the right side of the lake.

I had already given up a little, and felt like a mop, being dragged around everywhere.

——What, you said your leg doesn’t hurt?

——What else can I do? She's my own niece, I can just spoil her.

Gradually, fog gathered in the lake area. Laya was a little confused about the direction. She panted and slowly stopped: "Zero, Zero, run, running here should be enough, right?"

Snapped!

The moment she let go, I fell directly into the shallow water, spitting out bubbles: "Gurgle Gurgle..."

"zero!"

"Cough, cough, cough!" I was choked by the water and had to sit up. I quickly comforted the panicked Laya, "Don't, don't be nervous, Laya, I just blocked my mind from being dragged, it's nothing serious."

Jingle Bell--

While they were still talking, the sound of bells could be heard faintly from all around.

I quickly gulped down a mouthful of the Red Dew Drop Holy Grail bottle, recovered my numb legs and feet, and stood up.

——It’s those ghosts. Come to think of it, has Laya dragged me back to the ruins of Lascar?

But I was prepared!

Jingle bell bell~

The summoning bell summoned a ball of blue phantom fire beside me, which transformed into the finger witch Serolina and landed beside me.

"Cerolina, follow me. Once a figure appears nearby, use the recovery prayer." I gave the order, drew out my hunting tusk and shield, and moved forward carefully with Laya.

Although I haven't unlocked the map of the east coast of Lienia that includes the ruins, the map of the center of the lake and the west coast is already in my mind. Combined with the general direction of Stonewell, I can find the route forward in the fog even without the GPS positioning in my brain.

And those ghosts seemed to sense the special power of Serolina, and this time, they did not dare to approach me.

Gradually, the ghost knight's bell moved away from us.

I also finally found the map stele that I had missed before.

I walked forward, touched and unlocked it, and the map of the entire Lienya Lake area finally unfolded in my mind.

——It feels so great not to have to worry about getting lost anymore!

“······hiss.” Suddenly, his head felt dizzy, and his legs went weak. He couldn’t help but hold on to the stone tablet.

This is a phenomenon of Rune's lack of magic power.

Even the puppet Serolina automatically disappeared, turning into ghost fire and returning to the soul-summoning bell.

——That’s not right. I summoned Meimei last night while Laya was asleep, and she helped me upgrade my wisdom twice.

——Also, I knew that my rune magic power was just enough to summon Serolina, so I had already drunk from the blue dew drop holy grail bottle. I didn't fight during the journey, so how could I be short of magic power?

"what--"

"Zero! Be careful."

Just when I was confused and dazed, the ghost guarding near the map stone tablet suddenly pounced towards me with its fangs and claws bared.

——Okay, okay, if the tiger doesn’t show its power, you really think I’m a sick cat, right?

——As soon as you saw Serolina disappear, you came to cause trouble?

To pull out the long teeth, one person is a knife.

Besides, I am no longer the me who just stepped into this land. I raised my knife and chopped the ghosts in half without even giving them a chance to go back into the ground. After they disappeared, a purple spiritual flower floated out.

Fortunately, this strange phenomenon of magic leakage did not continue to interfere. After the battle, I came to my senses and summoned Torret: "Laya, let's go."

"If we go further, we will leave Lienia, right?" Laya asked.

"Ah."

"Well, then please wait for me a moment, Zero." As she said that, Laya twisted her tail and quickly went into the nearby woods.

I also searched my blessing backpack for some Loya fruits and fed Torrett a few bites.

Laya changed back into human form again, walked back, and said a little embarrassedly: "Sorry for the long wait... After leaving Lienia, we will meet a lot of people, right? This look is more suitable."

“······Yeah.” Since Laya has turned back into human form, I asked Torrett to take her with me.

Although the speed was a bit slow, we safely left Lienia and walked to the lakeside.

Looking up, you can see Storm City, Stonewell, on the high cliff.

——Back here again.

——I wonder how my Storm Wing Nefeli is doing now?

Just as I was thinking about going to a nearby blessing point to restore my magic power, a vicissitudes of life voice sounded from behind: "Oh, your figure looks familiar, this Lord Faded."