Late Arrival

Facing the envoy's mockery, Melina said nothing.

She knew the situation was getting worse and worse.

If she had not been beside a Site of Grace, where she could draw upon more of the Golden Order's power, she would have been unable to hold on long ago.

Moreover, she had a faint feeling that the envoy's earlier attack had merely been a test.

Suddenly, Melina seemed to realize something.

"Did you incite the villagers of Sick Village to summon the Frenzied Flame?"

"Since you are all about to die anyway, I'll let you die knowing the truth."

The envoy let out a cold, sinister laugh beneath his hood.

"That's right. At Carl's Baptism Church, I taught those villagers of Sick Village to embrace the Frenzied Flame."

Melina was instantly enraged. Her knuckles turned white from how tightly she gripped her dagger.

So many innocent villagers had all been led into becoming rotting, walking corpses, dying amid endless agony.

"And please, do not place the blame on me."

"It wasn't because I taught them that they could summon the Frenzied Flame."

"It was because they had suffered enough in life. Only the Frenzied Flame could burn away all suffering. I was saving them."

As he said this, the envoy's mouth nearly split to his ears as he let out a crazed "Hahaha!"

Then his expression abruptly changed, becoming filled with bitter hatred.

"Do you know? You nearly ruined my grand plan!"

"But fortunately, the honorable Lady Irina will still die here tonight."

"She will die at the highest point of the Weeping Peninsula, die in Pilgrimage Church, die beneath Queen Marika's gaze."

As he spoke, he slowly turned toward Queen Marika's statue, still noble and sacred beneath the moonlight, and gave it a deep bow.

His posture was elegant, yet steeped in blasphemy.

"Lord Xia Tong won't let you get away with this! And you're no match for Sister Melina at all!"

Irina suddenly shouted. Though she trembled, she stubbornly voiced her resistance.

The instant she spoke, the envoy launched another frenzied attack.

The greatsword in his hand was wreathed in flames as it smashed against the golden defensive barrier again and again.

Sweat visibly beaded across Melina's forehead, and she was clearly struggling more and more.

As the envoy slashed, he cursed furiously.

"Xia Tong? That brat is the one who ruined my grand plan."

"You should have died a week ago! As long as you died, the honorable Lady Hyetta could descend!"

The envoy's eyes grew increasingly crazed, while his attacks came faster and faster and struck with greater and greater force.

More and more cracks visibly spread across the golden barrier.

"What a pity! When I rushed to Castle Morne, I found that you had already gotten together with that brat."

"And that brat was unexpectedly troublesome. He could kill Night's Cavalry and even slew the Demi-Human Queen!"

"But it is all over now."

"Your Lord Xia Tong should already be buried in the Tombsward Catacombs. I saw him enter with my own eyes!"

"Heh, the Cemetery Shade will bite and chew your Lord Xia Tong to pieces, mouthful by mouthful."

As he said this, a savage, excited smile appeared on the envoy's face.

Hearing this, Irina crouched down in anguish, covering her ears tightly, too afraid to hear that cruel ending.

"You were behind what happened at Castle Morne too?"

Melina struggled to hold on as she looked at the vicious envoy and asked again.

The glow of her spirit form dimmed further.

"That's right! I encouraged that Lion Misbegotten. I incited those slaves in Castle Morne to rebel."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. I have to say, those Misbegotten really are simple-minded brutes. A little agitation was all it took for them to riot."

"Enough talking. Now, it is time for you to be on your way!"

The envoy sheathed his greatsword, then suddenly clutched his head and threw it back in laughter.

His laughter grew louder and more unhinged.

Murky yellow flames nearly spilled from between his fingers.

Then his body suddenly straightened as he looked toward Melina.

"Ah—!!"

The frenzied Frenzied Flame, like a jetting pillar of fire, slammed fiercely into the already tottering golden barrier.

This Frenzied Flame was so pure, so insane.

Along with the flames came crazed laughter, screams, and agonized wails that rang out from the depths of the soul.

Its power was countless levels beyond the Frenzied Flame released by those villagers in Sick Village.

Crack!

Melina's golden barrier shattered abruptly.

The blast sent her tumbling backward.

The scorching wind churned up by the flames lifted her cloak, revealing old scars on her arms where she had once been burned by fire.

Pain showed on Melina's face.

The flames seemed to stir up painful memories of her past burns.

The Weeping Peninsula was simply too far from Royal Capital Leyndell, so far that she could barely draw any power from the Erdtree.

If this were the Royal Capital, she would not have regarded such a petty envoy as a threat at all.

Unfortunately, there were no ifs.

I wonder how he is doing...

As her consciousness blurred, Melina silently thought to herself.

Thud!

Just as Melina and Irina were about to be swallowed by the Frenzied Flame—

A massive tower shield, like a mountain, blocked the flames before them.

It was absolute defense. The Frenzied Flame licked madly at the shield's surface, yet could not advance even an inch.

Melina slowly raised her head.

It was a tall knight without a head.

She wore the heavy armor of the Mausoleum Knights, and the cloak behind her was decorated with the black feathers of a Deathbird.

She held a greatshield aloft in her left hand and gripped a heavy lance in her right.

Looking at that back from behind, Melina felt only that she stood as still as an abyss and as firm as a mountain—utterly insurmountable.

"Sorry, I can't grant your wish. I'm not dead yet!"

A familiar voice suddenly rang out in Pilgrimage Church beneath the night sky.

"Lord Xia Tong?"

Irina was so overjoyed that she nearly jumped up.

Xia Tong slowly entered through the church doors.

Tap, tap, tap.

Steady footsteps echoed through the church, every step landing upon the envoy's heartbeat.

The Frenzied Flame in the envoy's eyes slowly died out.

His blood-red, crazed eyes stared fixedly at Xia Tong, filled with shock.

"You're not dead? You even escaped from the Cemetery Shade?"

Xia Tong ignored him.

He raised the Cerulean Tear Flask and took a huge gulp, replenishing his depleted Focus Points.

Then he shook the Spirit Calling Bell again.

Jingle—

Most of Xia Tong's Spirit Ashes battle group was summoned forth.

The wolf pack, Imps, and Godrick Soldiers packed the church entrance so tightly that not even water could pass through.

Xia Tong slowly walked behind Lhutel the Headless.

First, he gently helped Irina, who was crouching on the ground in fear, back to her feet.

Then he walked over to Melina.

Seeing the exposed burn scars on her arm, a flicker of heartache passed through Xia Tong's eyes.

He gently adjusted Melina's clothes, lightly brushed his fingers across her scarred arm, then carefully drew her cloak back over it.

"Sorry, I came too late."

Xia Tong looked at Melina and said guiltily.

Melina's face was somewhat pale. She softly murmured an "Mm," pulled her hood back on, and silently retreated to Irina's side.

Seeing how weak and bedraggled the two girls looked, rage erupted from Xia Tong's heart like a volcano.

He turned around.

With the Demi-Human Queen's Staff in his left hand and the Lordsworn's Straight Sword in his right, he slowly walked toward the envoy.

Xia Tong's steps were heavy, and his eyes locked onto the envoy like an eagle's.