Chapter 324
The Miracle of Darkness, the Silent Prohibition —its principles are not passed down to the world, but its effect is to completely prohibit the spellcasting abilities of everyone within the area, including oneself!
—I can still cast Crystal Magic, but its power will be weakened... The principle is to disrupt the operation of flames within a certain area using the Humanity's Darkness. This prevents complex spellcasting from taking place.
—Similar to how Jamming Bomb are used with guided weapons?
The thought flashed through her mind, and the Alster pistol she carried fell into Kal'tsit's fingers. The pistol was a fraction faster than the sword, piercing the attacker's right eye before the blade could reach him.
But the attacker did not back down at all—she completely ignored the fatal blow that pierced her skull, as if she would bring destruction to Kal'tsit even if it meant her own death!
They are immortals—that's only natural.
Kal'tsit had anticipated this, so even faster than the mutual destruction was the Dragon-Serpent's Charge —the slender attacker was pierced by the spear while simultaneously bearing the brunt of the dragon-serpent's impact. This strike caused the concealed form to lose its balance and twist!
The gun, trembling, tore through flesh and blood.
The attacker's head exploded, and the next moment, the green-haired girl formed a knife with her fingers and pierced through his chest.
A heart filled with dried blood fell into Kal'tsit's hands. Only then did the headless, mangled corpse kneel softly behind her—she then noticed that the attacker was a young woman dressed in a Lothric Court Dress.
The Invisible Sword fell to the ground with a crisp sound. Kal'tsit's five fingers then closed, crushing the withered heart into shattered flesh.
The Silent Prohibition has been lifted.
But this did not signify the end for the undead— Miss Lynx raised her hand, and traces of crystallization gradually formed on the corpse's limbs. She did not destroy the function of the creature's limbs, but she ensured that even after its resurrection, the undead could not escape her control.
And then...
She watched as the undead's face gradually returned to normal.
Who are you?
"Filianore".
Surtr arrived in the Oolacile Township, where she was greeted by a deserted yet magnificent city—the ground was covered with fresh flower petals, and brightly colored flags fluttered in the wind. The air was filled with a rich, sweet fragrance, and the howling wind sounded like some kind of celebratory song.
The story with the Fire Keeper didn't last long. She felt that if she continued, the book in her hands might explode on the spot.
"I didn't say anything strange. It was just cleaning up the ruins of Izalith with her. Repairing her out-of-control brothers and sisters and stuff... uh, does taking a bath in lava with her count? But it was just a back scrub, nothing serious."
I don't understand, I can't figure it out.
If you don't understand something, then don't think about it for now.
Looking around, she saw no one—she sensed no living thing.
All she could see was a red carpet stretching from the entrance of the Oolacile Township all the way to the central temple, with the very end of the carpet at her feet.
—The air smelled of war. And Filianore had been gathering fighting strength all along.
—So that's how it is. No matter how I ultimately deal with this world, the legions of the Oolacile Township will descend upon the mortal realm as the apocalypse approaches. To suppress all of Lordran, and then bring a new order to the land.
—That's fine, it saves me the trouble of doing anything extra. If the flame of civilization were to be established, then there would still be countless nations on earth, which would be far too many.
The girl nodded and took her first step on the red carpet. And after that first step, there were many, many more.
The city remained quiet and deserted, yet it was filled with an atmosphere of joy and celebration. The surrounding buildings were majestic and imbued with the weight of history, yet they were adorned with exquisite decorations.
She noticed that there were no residential areas within the Oolacile Township —clearly, since the ancient times when the city was founded, it had always existed as a frontier fortress of the world. Apart from the Dwarf Kings who ruled here, there were only ancient warriors who had traveled from all corners of the land over tens of thousands of years to this place and swore an oath to fight for the Ringed City.
Perhaps that's really the case.
Perhaps all the inhabitants ceased to exist after a certain point in time— Surtr didn't care whether it was the former or the latter. Because whatever the truth, it stemmed from the desires of Filianore's heart.
She just kept walking forward.
Passing through one magnificent gate after another, and crossing one wide bridge after another, the palace was at the end, and someone was waiting for her in the palace at the end.
She sensed a gaze, not from inside the palace, but from a tower outside—at the end of the gaze was a female knight dressed similarly to Filianore, but inferior in every way. When she saw Surtr's gaze shift, she bowed deeply to the visiting girl, then rose from the tower and, carried by the black dragon, flew to a distant place.
The armies Ringed City converged in that direction.
—Hila, Filianore's personal handmaiden. I recognize her crown; in the game, she would turn her sword against me because of Ash's offense against Filianore.
—And there was only one black dragon... Since even they have left, it means that in this Oolacile Township, there is truly nothing left except for Filianore.
—Just her and me.
"Just me and you," the Flame-haired maiden said softly.
She entered the central palace. The Goddess who came into view was more radiant and captivating than ever before—her starry eyes shone brightly, and her long, Platinum hair fluttered gently. Filianore was waiting for her in the very center of the temple, and the Vessel of Power of the Dark Souls lay beside her.
"Long time no see, Surtr." The Goddess's voice was gentle, filled with joy and the delight of a wish fulfilled.
"How long is 'a long time'?" Surtr walked into the palace and gradually approached her.
"Objectively, it's a month, but subjectively, I don't know how long it will be," Filianore replied, sitting on the throne in the center of the temple and looking up when the visitor got close enough.
"I won't be staying at Ashen Lake for more than a day." Surtr walked up to the Goddess, reached out and gently lifted Goddess chin with her fingertips—she gazed into those eyes, and in those eyes, apart from herself, was only the embodiment of a sense of responsibility and fighting spirit.
"My combat power has reached its peak 14,000 years ago, and it's getting stronger every second." — So, you should know how big the gap is between you and me right now?
"Have you completed your plan?" The Goddess simply gazed at her tenderly.
"Two more steps." Surtr nodded, his hand moving upwards to stroke Filianore's soft cheek, feeling the slight rise in the girl's body temperature. "The Heart of the World has been successfully tested, and all I need to do next is fill it with Dark Souls as a conduit and move the First Flame upon it. The success rate is close to one hundred percent. This world will be reborn, as if transformed, and the destiny of the gods will be liberated."
"... You saved the world, Surtr."
"I didn't save the world, but you can think that way." The Flame-haired maiden shook her head, correcting him. "Although, in my opinion, I simply gave the world a new direction."
"And you are the reward I want from the world."
"...You could value me even more." Filianore closed her eyes. "If...you just said that saving the world was for me, then I would rather abandon my responsibilities and leave with you."
"So, you still crave a fight?" Surtr didn't answer directly, but continued to ask questions following up on her words.
"Yes, because it is my duty." The Goddess of the Ringed City nodded gently, taking the vessel of the Dark Soul into her bosom. "My duty is to guard the Dark Souls. I have sat in the Ringed City for this purpose for an uncountable amount of time. My longing for you is my only solace during my meditation, and now, I must fulfill my final duty."
She rose, her wedding dress radiantly blooming—a pure white gun fell into her hand. The Dark Souls that had merged into her body granted her a surge of power.
"The mission of the Ringed City is over, and the end of the world will be the most suitable battlefield."
She raised her spear.
Announcement.
"Come, Surtr. End my duty, end my destiny."