Greater Will

"Why keep him around…"

Lin Luo looked at Melina and said softly.

"Next time he curses you, just kill him."

"I… wanted to wait for you to return. Perhaps he's still useful…"

Melina's face remained rosy, and her soft, sweet voice made Lin Luo feel a bit…

"That's also…"

Lin Luo looked at Gostoc. Indeed, he couldn't let him die so easily…

Gostoc felt a prickle of unease when he saw Lin Luo's gaze, but he still cursed out loud.

"Humble Tarnished, no matter how powerful you become! You are, in the end, merely a product abandoned by the Erdtree!"

Gostoc erupted, continuing to curse at Lin Luo.

"Come on! Kill me, humble Tarnished! One day, you will be like that foolish woman beside you…"

"Thump!"

It was another fierce kick from Lin Luo, which directly shattered half of Gostoc's teeth.

Lin Luo didn't bother looking at Gostoc. He directly took out several Noble's Greatswords from his storage bag and injected a small amount of Deathroot into his right hand.

"Death? Don't worry, you will die."

Lin Luo directly lifted Gostoc and slammed him against the wall. Then, the sharp Noble's Greatsword directly pierced Gostoc's limbs, pinning him to the wall.

"Ah! Nnngh!"

Gostoc let out an enraged and pained howl.

"Kill! Kill me, you humble Tarnished!"

"You're done calling me 'humble Tarnished' nonstop, aren't you!"

Lin Luo went up and slapped Gostoc across the face.

Then, he immediately took out several Warmstones from his storage bag and threw them beside Gostoc. The Warmstones emitted a soft glow, illuminating everyone. Gostoc's injuries were actually starting to heal…

"You… What do you want to do!?"

Gostoc's eyes finally showed a hint of fear. He wasn't afraid of death; after all, he would return to the Erdtree even if he died. But… that didn't mean he wasn't afraid of pain!

"You're thinking that it's okay to die, aren't you…"

Lin Luo shrugged.

"After all… the Erdtree will reclaim abandoned souls like you and allow them to be reborn…"

"What a shame…"

"Not only will I make your death unpleasant, but I will also ensure you die completely!"

Lin Luo released his hand holding Melina, then took out a Spirit-Calling Bell from his storage bag.

The bell chimed softly, its sound clear and pleasant…

But to Gostoc, it was the harbinger of death.

The ashes of a white Rotten Hound slowly appeared. These hounds had not only extremely sharp teeth but also carried the aura of Scarlet Rot…

"No! You can't do this! I beg you, kill me! I was wrong, I shouldn't have reported you. I deserve to die, I deserve to die!"

Gostoc let out a terrified scream. If the hound before him was the last straw that broke him, then the Deathroot radiating from the swords piercing his limbs was the primary reason for his terror!

"It seems you still don't understand the gravity of the situation…"

Lin Luo slowly let go of Melina and took out a Uplifting Aromatic from his storage bag. This was used to boost attack power, but it also made one's spirit incredibly strong, preventing them from passing out.

He directly shoved it into Gostoc's mouth and then stuffed his mouth with a rag.

"Repent properly!"

Lin Luo turned his head away, simultaneously pulling Melina closer, and walked towards the door.

With a wave of his hand, the Rotten Hound began its tearing…

Now, Gostoc could only pray that the effect of the Warmstones would end sooner…

After doing all this, Lin Luo finally turned his gaze back to Melina.

He had been in a hurry to bring Melina out earlier because he didn't want her to see Gostoc's upcoming miserable fate. But now that they were out…

The Corpse Mountain Blood Sea within the city…

He had to admit, it would have been better if she had just watched Gostoc die.

"…"

Lin Luo swallowed and finally spoke…

"Melina, do you think I… am not fit to be king."

Lin Luo sighed and sat down on the spot, lowering the hand he had placed on Melina's shoulder.

"Perhaps, if I become King in the future... will I also become a tyrant like Godrick..."

Lin Luo rested his chin on his hands, gazing at the sky, lost in thought.

"..."

Melina remained silent, sitting quietly beside Lin Luo, as if the surrounding corpses were of no concern to her.

"I once asked you why I sometimes feel a bit cowardly. Why I start going easy on others. You told me it might be the king's mercy..."

"But just now, facing these soldiers... I didn't feel any emotion at all. I don't actually mind this side of myself, but I really want to change and become a worthy king. After all, those weren't a hundred ants, but living human lives..."

Unlike in the cycle, where everything was spirit and there was no blood, the wounds spilled not blood, but Runes.

Lin Luo wasn't unfamiliar with overwhelming foes, but that feeling was different from personally taking a real life.

Lin Luo felt it was necessary to hold reverence for life.

But that didn't mean Lin Luo would be a do-gooder; he also had the right to take others' lives...

"You're mistaken... Lin Luo..."

Melina spoke, her voice gentle.

"Actually... the King shapes the world, not the world shapes the King."

"You don't need to change yourself to become something. If you do that, you'll just be becoming King for the sake of becoming King."

"Every King is different. Why must you be like the kings of the past?"

Melina slowly embraced Lin Luo, sensing his inner turmoil.

A single word awakened him from his dream.

Lin Luo suddenly understood. That's right, when did he become like this? Why was he always comparing himself to past Elden Lords?

Didn't he once say he wanted to become his own Elden Lord?

Lin Luo's eyes gradually cleared...

His eyes, one cyan and one golden, began to appear, the Frenzied Flame within him boiling, the Death Runes trembling.

They sensed the aura of external provocation!

Melina also sensed the aura of the Frenzied Flame... but she felt no surprise or anger.

She didn't even intend to ask Lin Luo. Perhaps, the moment their Runes resonated, they had already become an inseparable part of each other...

"Alright..."

Lin Luo suddenly smiled, the colors in his pupils having faded. The confusion and doubt were gone, his once dim eyes now clear and resolute.

"Greater Will, oh Greater Will, I underestimated you..."

Lin Luo murmured. He hadn't expected the Greater Will's true strength wasn't great, but it was certainly skilled at manipulating humanity. He hadn't thought it could exploit his weaknesses and forcefully break through the Death Runes and Frenzied Flame to tempt him.

"I won't give you another chance!"

He directly took out the Crystal Tear Necklace from his pouch. This was identical to the one Melina wore, a necklace crafted from crystalline mirrors.

He had initially disdained wearing it, but now he realized he had truly underestimated it.

"Lin Luo?"

Melina looked at him in confusion, then revealed a genuine smile.

"It seems Lin Luo has figured it out..."

"I've decided..."

Lin Luo looked at Melina gently. He hadn't expected his weakness to be Melina, but it was also Melina who helped him break free from the Greater Will's control.

"I will become my own Elden Lord, and at the same time... I will become your... Elden Lord!"

Lin Luo looked at Melina, leaned down, and kissed her pale lips...

(Damn, I feel like I've written the relationship between Lin Luo and Melina too deeply. How am I supposed to write Ranni's part later? This is frustrating. I really want to slap myself.)