Ruins Greatsword

Edgar pondered how exactly to deal with these two.

Though he had not yet fully grasped the truth, what these two said seemed genuine.

If they had truly been deceived and exploited, then they could not be entirely blamed. The blood debt should be borne by the true mastermind behind it all.

In Edgar's eyes, that mastermind was likely someone connected to the black-armored Tarnished whose arm he had severed.

That person had mentioned something about a mission. It was probably some kind of religious order.

As the lord of the castle, Edgar swore that he would uncover the murderer and make them pay their blood debt in blood.

"I still don't know the full truth. Once I pry everything out of that man's mouth, I'll decide how to deal with you."

"Even if you were truly used, you still took part in this massacre. I'll decide your punishment after I have given it some thought. But if you're merely trying to evade responsibility with this excuse, then there is only one fate awaiting you: execution at my hands."

"I also won't let you treat the residents. You could poison them while getting close to them. I know Perfumers have that ability."

Edgar decided to leave the two of them alone for now. He would first capture and interrogate the Tarnished with the severed arm.

The Confessor, his weapon broken and one arm severed, posed no threat at all in Edgar's eyes. That was why Edgar had not been in a hurry earlier and had taken the time to hear the Perfumer out.

Lucian quietly watched everything unfold. Although the sudden arrival of the Perfumer and the Leonine Misbegotten had caught him off guard, the Confessor's defeat was already certain. All he wanted now was to rest properly and then find Melina to level up.

However, the Confessor, whom everyone had regarded as meat on the chopping block, took out a branch flickering with an eerie light.

Everyone's gaze was involuntarily drawn toward it.

That soft, alluring pink radiance made them unable to look away, making them want to reach out and touch the beloved phantom within the light.

That was the terrifying thing about items connected to a demigod. Simply taking one out mentally controlled everyone present.

The Confessor was no exception, but his steadfast faith in the Two Fingers allowed him to regain his senses first.

Taking advantage of the moment when everyone was dazed, he thrust the branch toward Singh, the Leonine Misbegotten.

Seeing the Confessor move, everyone snapped out of their stupor. Singh swung his massive hand, intending to knock the Confessor back.

But the Confessor poured magic into the branch. The mark of the Haligtree flashed past, and alluring pink vapor drifted from the branch, instantly enveloping Singh.

Singh's movements seemed to have been paused. He stopped moving entirely.

Edgar rushed in, kicked the Confessor flying, then drove his halberd through the Confessor's remaining arm.

"Singh! Don't breathe in that gas!"

Evan rushed to Singh's side and pulled out a Perfume Bottle, but he did not dare scatter its contents.

He had never seen anything like this and had no idea what effect it had. He did not dare gamble on the consequences of using perfume medicine carelessly.

Singh gradually began moving again, but an eerie pink light flickered in his eyes.

"Singh, are you all right..."

Evan backed away from Singh's side. He had noticed that something was wrong. The Singh before him was no longer the original Singh.

Singh bared his fangs where he stood, reaching one hand toward the Greatsword embedded in the ground, only for his other hand to immediately seize that wrist.

It was as though two consciousnesses were fighting for control of the same body.

Seeing this, the Confessor on the ground knew he had succeeded. All Singh needed now was a command, and he would become an irrational, bloodthirsty beast again.

"Go get that legendary Greatsword and kill them all!"

Edgar kicked the Confessor in the face, knocking out several of his teeth.

But he could not stop the Confessor from laughing wildly.

"Hahaha! You're all going to die!"

Edgar kicked him in the head again, finally knocking him unconscious.

Having received the command, the balance in Singh's mind instantly shattered. His scarlet, bloodthirsty eyes lit up. Ignoring the iron Greatsword on the ground, he ran on all fours toward a room in the castle.

He was so fast that the three of them had no way to stop him.

Evan's face went pale, and Edgar did not look much better.

"The legendary Greatsword... You didn't steal Castle Morne's Ruins Greatsword, did you?"

Evan began to explain.

"There were two of them, both Confessors from the Two Fingers Church. The other was skilled at sneaking around. During the rebellion in the castle, he stole that Greatsword and brought it to our hiding place."

"I fear they let us see that Greatsword earlier precisely so that the controlled Singh would know where it was."

Edgar looked at Evan warily, unable to believe it.

"I've never heard of anything capable of controlling a living being's consciousness."

Lucian retrieved the Lordsworn's Greatsword from the pile of Misbegotten corpses and walked over.

"It's a Bewitching Branch. It's an item connected to the demigod Miquella. It makes anyone affected obey commands unconditionally. I just didn't expect him to have something like that."

"What?! It's connected to Lord Miquella..."

"Something like that actually exists..."

Lucian's mood was heavy as well. Singh, the Leonine Misbegotten, gave him an overwhelming sense of pressure. Since arriving in this world, the only opponent who had rivaled Singh was the Grafted Scion.

And if Singh got hold of the Ruins Greatsword, his strength would likely rise by several more degrees.

Ignoring the shock of the other two, Lucian continued, "Do you have any way to heal injuries? Something to suppress fatigue would work too. Use everything you have on me. We'll have to fight side by side shortly, or we'll all die."

Lucian had recovered somewhat, but he was still in no condition to fight.

Edgar looked at Lucian worriedly. He did not want the warrior before him to continue fighting.

But the situation was grim. The Leonine Misbegotten's strength could not be underestimated. Even at full strength, Edgar might not be able to defeat him. This was no time for hesitation.

With a sigh, he began casting a restorative incantation.

Evan silently took out several Perfume Bottles and scattered medicinal powder over Lucian.

As Singh's companion, he knew how terrifying Singh was. Only this Tarnished warrior, who had single-handedly slain over a hundred Misbegotten, had a chance of defeating him. Healing Lucian was necessary.

"This is healing perfume. It will continuously restore your wounds. And this is Uplifting Aromatic. It will temporarily invigorate your spirit."

Lucian felt the wounds on his body gradually heal, and the fatigue in his mind faded away.

He picked up the Flask of Crimson Tears dropped by the Confessor and tucked it into his pouch.

Then the three of them readied themselves. They would fight side by side next.

Before long, a red figure carrying a bizarre Greatsword crashed into the courtyard, smashing the Misbegotten corpses beneath his feet into pulp.

That Greatsword was formed from countless fused blades, pitch-black and lightless. It was the vengeance Greatsword burdened with countless laments and rage—the Ruins Greatsword.

"Roar—!!"

The red-haired beast roared, then raised the Ruins Greatsword high again, pouring magic into it and awakening the dead spirits within the blade.

Black energy surged from the Greatsword and poured into Singh's body. The muscles all over his body began to swell, and his skin took on the color of stone.

There were no visible changes elsewhere, but if Lucian remembered correctly, the Ruins Greatsword's buff enhanced all attributes.

Lucian's expression turned grave. He did not dare imagine how difficult the Leonine Misbegotten would be to fight after using the Ruins Greatsword's skill.

I adjusted the Ruins Greatsword's skill effects. Its presence as a legendary weapon in the game had been far too underwhelming. Also, Wind Spirit Moon Shadow's usage count will recover in the next couple of days. You can guess what the recovery condition is, though it seems rather obvious already... As usual, please send some recommendation votes. ∩_∩