Elden Ring: Atai vows to have a perfect ending

After absorbing the embryo of the Death Centipede, and after my persuasion, the "Dead Sleeping Girl" Fia finally agreed to let her talk to Death and help me explore that strange and bizarre door.

For the sake of his brother Fulshanks, Lance Shanks stubbornly stayed in this place of death audience, and together with the Crucible Knight Siluia, he watched over Fia as she entered death sleep.

In this way, the deep-rooted and grassroots matters have been almost resolved.

Siluria even gave me a set of Forge Tree Armor and some Lily of the Valley from the Spiritual Cemetery, saving me the trouble of exploring and collecting them everywhere.

So, Monggot and I took the portal under the foot of the Dead Prince Tree and returned to the Royal City of Rodel on the surface.

"I didn't expect that after that night of conspiracy, my brother would become like that... Is the original power of the golden tree really the flame of the furnace?" Monggot said this when he came back.

"...If the golden nobles in the city saw this, they would have nightmares for three days and three nights, and would directly define Godwin as a bad omen." I joked with Mongget, "So, Mr. Mongget, you too don't have to care about your so-called bad omen blood and assert that it is filthy. It's better to say that the bad omen with the characteristics of the furnace is the real blood of the golden tree, and you are also the rightful king of blessing."

Mongget did chuckle softly: "It doesn't matter whether there is such a title or not. Now we should continue to advance our plan, Zero."

The restorative rune of death is in the making;

The Golden Mask Master's perfect law calculation is also progressing;

Even Lani is already on her way to explore the starry sky, and she has agreed to consider the laws I have come up with.

Next, it’s time to expedition to the forbidden snowfield.

"In two days, I will arrange the troops, and then you will lead them to ignite the giant flame of the volcano, General." Mongert smiled and patted my shoulder.

The corners of my mouth twitched slightly, and I couldn't help but blurt out nonsense: "Please organize an army for me that can do anything, preferably one that can solve everything with just a wave of my hand."

“...Try your best.” Mongget had figured out my character. He smiled and shook his head helplessly, then went towards the direction of the Golden Tree Cathedral.

But it only takes two days.

It's just right. Let's take advantage of this gap in time to collect all the props in the Royal City of Rodel.

For example, there is Gulanshanks's lightning, golden tree bow, storm eagle axe... and several perfume bottle props. There are also many things outside the city. Among them, the most important one is the sentinel torch from a reclusive merchant. If you want to go to Yidian Town in the future to deal with those invisible black knife assassins, it will be a very important prop.

I took a look at the sky and it should be around noon, so I decided to go for a run around the outskirts of Rodel Royal City.

According to the information in the game, I soon found the reclusive merchant and bought a sentinel torch from him. Speaking of this location, the red shadow of the spirit pearl hunter, "Iron Thorn" Elonmeier, will appear at night.

I asked out of curiosity, but the businessman said that he had never seen the man with "Iron Thorn".

——In that case, where did Elronmel go after escaping from Sunshade City? Strange.

However, considering that the things dropped by the Spirit Pearl Hunters are not important, let's just let him go.

Then we walked along the long road outside the city, and after arriving at the main gate, we continued walking forward and found the Little Golden Tree Church outside the city.

Alas, as expected, even if he became the general of Rodel's snowfield expedition, he could not avoid being bullied and attacked by the golden tree guards here, just like in the game, the King of Elden, if a dog on the roadside saw him, he would still rush over and bite him a few times.

But you know what, the treeman guards here wield their spears like dragons, and the golden spears were wielded with such ferocity and majesty that it was dazzling. I couldn't help but marvel at him and gave him a "fire-throwing" prayer, and then the treeman guard died.

——No matter where it is, fire still controls plants.

In this broken church, under the small golden tree, a golden citizen was praying. Even after turning into stone, he still maintained a pious look.

I found the Holy Seal of the Golden Law on him, so I accepted it without hesitation.

"Lord Zero." Suddenly, Melina's voice came from behind.

Night had already fallen, and she sat there beside the swaying blessing point, obviously inviting me to join her.

I walked over, sat down next to Melina, and asked, "What's wrong, Melina?"

"...Here are the words of Queen Marika. Do you want to listen to them?"

——Eh, so sudden?

Although, I roughly know what the proverb here says.

After all, this is one of the few conversations with Melina in the game. Basically every week, I would ask Meimei to tell me her mother's motto, so I almost memorized it.

Still, I nodded curiously.

"Then, please allow me to repeat the motto directly." Melina raised her head, looked at the golden tree above our heads, and recited softly, "... I hereby declare to explore the golden rule - when we understand what is right, our faith and blessings will be strengthened. Those happy childhood days... blindly follow, the era has come to an end. My comrade, there is no need to hesitate any longer."

I also waited quietly for her to continue.

"My mother once believed in the Golden Law... and the eternal world she created." Melina seemed to smile slightly, "But in the end, it was she who smashed the Elden Ring, causing the Golden Dynasty and the entire border area to fall into chaos."

I didn't understand what Melina meant by that, and she paused and changed the subject: "Master Ling, in two days, we have to go to the snowfield and ignite the giant cauldron of fire on the snowy mountain, right?"

"Ah."

"Since you are here, I believe that the expedition will be no problem."

"How come even you... Haha, you and Teacher Mongget trust me too much, Melina." I couldn't help scratching my head and smiled.

Melina lowered her head and rubbed her hands quietly: "... But I don't know why, I always have a little worry. Especially recently, you defeated and imprisoned the Mad Fire, persuaded the Princess of Dark Moon and the Dead Sleeping Girl, and the revision calculation of the law on the side of Master Gold Mask is also progressing well under the promotion of Master Zero. Everything is going so smoothly."

“······It went smoothly, isn’t that good?” I was still confused.

"No." Melina raised her head and looked at me. There seemed to be a trace of sadness in her golden eyes. "... I just feel that Master Zero is a bit like Mother now. He holds the fate firmly in his hands and makes everything go smoothly. But... just like Mother once believed in the Golden Rule so much, but it still went wrong in the end. Master Zero, what will you do if our plan goes wrong in the end?"

"Laws? If I can really become the King of Elden, I feel that even if something goes wrong, I should be able to correct it." I also raised my head and thought, "There won't be any more thorns of rejection that prevent us from correcting our mistakes."

Melina shook her head again and said, "You said that only those who can see the virtual image of fire can ignite the giant's cauldron of fire. I am worried that if the fire maniac fails to ignite the giant's fire at the last step, Master Ling, what will you do?"

——······Oh, so that’s what you were talking about.

I couldn't help but sigh, moved closer to Melina, and then reached out and touched her forehead with lightning speed.

"Zero, Lord Zero?!" She certainly didn't expect that I would suddenly use such a trick.

"Your words make me unhappy, Melina." I pretended to be angry, "Don't be so picky!"

Seeing Melina's confused and somewhat aggrieved look, he couldn't help but let go of his anger: "Forget it, let me tell you more. If you want to burn the golden tree, I guess the giant's flame alone may not be enough, and the key destined death is also needed."

"Destined death?"

"That's right." I nodded. "That power that would make even gods tremble is sealed in the sky city of Fam Azra. The giant flame that portends destruction will guide those who ignite it there to unseal the destined death. At that time, the golden thorn of rejection will be completely burned."

“...Fam Azra’s words, I remember that was the territory of the ancient dragons.” Melina seemed to have noticed something.

"Right. So, you know why I have a good relationship with Lance Shanks?" I said with a smile, "This is my backup plan. If I throw the Fire Madman into the cauldron and the giant flame still fails to ignite and guide me to Fam Yazra, then I will let Lance Shanks take me there... I hope she still remembers the way."

"So, Master Zero, you have already anticipated all this?"

"Of course. And even if Lance Shanks doesn't recognize the road, I still have a backup plan." I reached out and touched Melina's head. "So, don't worry, Melina. I just want you to stay by my side and witness my journey and return. That's enough. Don't think about anything else."

"Mr. Ling..." She looked at me and suddenly said, "You, do you mistake me for Miss Laya?"

"Oh, sorry, sorry, it was subconscious." I quickly retracted my hand.

Suddenly, silence spread between us, and it felt a little awkward.

——······Meimei shouldn’t be angry.

"... As expected, if it was Master Zero..." During the long silence, I seemed to hear Melina whispering to herself, "So, it will be okay, mother."