"Torrent's new master?" Ranni asked. "What wind brought you here? Are you here to serve me?" However, she did not get any answer, because Ian just stared at her. "How rude!"
"I'm sorry," Ian said. "I'm just fascinated by the way you exist. This doll is so beautifully made, and more importantly, your soul fits perfectly with it, without any sign of rejection."
The story of Ranni is quite interesting. After her father remarried, she became a Demigod. Queen Marika also gave her the identity of Empyrean, that is, a person with the qualifications to become a god. In this world, Demigod cannot become a god--only Empyrean can. However, Ranni hated her Empyrean identity; she didn't like Two Fingers's Golden Order very much either. So, she planned her escape.
Ranni first hired a mysterious organization named Black Knife Assassins to steal a fragment of [Rune of Death]. This piece of Rune was sealed by Marika in her shadow Beast Maliketh. Subsequently, the assassins sneaked into the royal city Leyndell, Royal Capital and killed the "gold" Godwyn. However, his death was not simple. At the same moment of his death, Ranni held a ceremony and killed himself.
This ritual allowed Rune of Death to kill Godwyn's soul, but retain his physical body. At the same time, Ranni killed his own physical body, but retained his soul. The destruction of the physical body deprived Ranni of his Empyrean identity, and also caused Two Fingers to lose a means of controlling her. She then attached her soul to a doll to continue her existence.
"While I appreciate your compliment, it's still rude to pry into other people's existence," Ranni said.
"You are right, I apologize."
"Well, since you are not here to serve me, what is your purpose?"
"I'm here to make a deal," Ian said.
"Oh?"
"I want you to teach me how to use the power of Full Moon and Dark Moon, and give me your piece of Destined Death."
"Full Moon is a power that only Carian Family can have access to, and Dark Moon can only be used by me," Ranni said. "How dare you make such a request. I would like to know what you plan to exchange for it?"
"In return, I will defeat Radahn to liberate your destiny. I will also fetch Fingerslayer Blade and lend it to you for use."
"How come you know my plan so clearly?" Ranni said, standing up from the high chair and summoning her staff. "Someone betrayed me? Or did Two Fingers discover something and sent you to test me?"
"Your actions are not very covert, are they?" Ian retorted. "After discovering some clues and realizing the role you played in Godwyn's death, it is not difficult to deduce the whole story." However, his words did not appease Ranni, but made her more vigilant.
"We are on the same side. Well, at least, we have a common enemy: Two Fingers."
"Prove it to me."
"How to prove it?"
"Bring me two detached heads," Ranni said.
"You know these things are immortal."
"It doesn't matter. I just want you to prove your determination."
"Okay," Ian agreed. Killing any Enia would complicate the relationship with Enia, but he would just have to play it by ear. The power of Full Moon and Dark Moon would play a vital role in Ian limiting Outer Gods's interference in this world and completing the perfect mission with the highest score.
He flew away from the building called Ranni's Rise, hunted two skulls scattered around Lands Between, and returned a few hours later to continue trading. "Can you believe me now?" Ian said, throwing the two heads on the floor.
"Very good," Ranni nodded and finally put away the weapon.
"Very good. So the deal is established?"
She thought. Radahn is indeed a monster, the pinnacle of strength among Demigod. Even if Ranni adds her subordinates, there is no guarantee that she can defeat him. Even if she wins, how many of her people will survive? And Fingerslayer Blade. She knew its approximate location, but she was not sure she could retrieve it, let alone what the consequences would be if Two Fingers knew her purpose.
All Empyrean - including Marika - are given a shadow. Although their nominal identities are companions, this is also a means for Two Fingers and Greater Will to monitor them. Ranni has a shadow named Blaidd. Although she likes him very much, he is also a hidden danger.
"For the sake of sparing my mother's life, I accept your proposal," Ranni said. Carian Family has basically been eliminated, so there is no point in keeping Full Moon's magic. As for Dark Moon, only those chosen by it can use its power, so there is no harm in teaching him.
"Great," Ian nodded. The two parties did not sign any contract or anything like that. If Ranni breaks his promise, things will become ugly. Then, Ian flew to Redmane Castle located in Caelid. This place is where Malenia released the Scarlet Rot nuclear bomb and destroyed the entire area. Every once in a while, an event called Radahn Festival will be held here, and warriors from all over Lands Between will come here to challenge the infected Radahn to see if they can give this warrior a glorious death in battle.
Ian was lucky, the next festival was just two days later. He didn't mind having more helpers, especially since he needed to analyze Radahn's condition and find a way to capture his soul. When the time came, Ian and other warriors - including Blaidd, who was presumably here to monitor him - were teleported to the battlefield.
In the distance, a man over 25 feet tall was riding on a skinny horse, slowly eating a corpse. Radahn is a very interesting Demigod for many reasons, one of which is the story between him and his beloved horse Leonard.
Radahn experienced a crazy growth spurt when he was young, which made him unable to ride the horse that was loyal to him. So, he learned Gravity Magic just to continue riding it. Even after his mind and soul were eroded by Scarlet Rot, he still used Gravity Magic to ride on the back of Leonard.
'This man can definitely become Empire's bravest general,' Morgana commented. 'In fact, many Demigod in this world are talents worth recruiting.'
Malenia's arms and limbs were destroyed by Scarlet Rot, but she overcame her disability and became one of Lands Between's most powerful Demigods. Her twin brother Miquella is a wise man who created Unalloyed Gold to resist the power of Scarlet Rot from Outer Gods. Not to mention Queen Marika and Ranni, they are both masters of manipulating people's hearts, or to put it nicely, great strategists.
'We now have the coordinates of this world, so we can come back and recruit them in the future,' Ian said. Although they will not be the people in this timeline, this is not necessarily a bad thing. In this timeline, Ian has no choice but to hunt these Demigod for Great Rune, but in the future, this will not be necessary.
'I'll add it to my schedule,' Morgana said.
During their brief conversation, Radahn finally noticed these intruders. His instinct as a warrior was activated and he immediately launched an attack. He drew the giant bow and shot the arrows. Ian had to concentrate immediately because the speed of these arrows was too fast.