Late Arrival

Faced with the envoy's mockery, Melina said nothing.

She knew the situation was getting worse and worse.

If she had not been standing 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 vaguely sensed that the envoy's earlier attack had merely been a test.

Suddenly, Melina seemed to make a connection.

"Was it you who incited the villagers of Sick Village to summon the Frenzied Flame?"

"Since you're all dying soon anyway, I'll let you die knowing the truth."

The envoy let out a chilling laugh beneath his hood.

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

Melina was instantly consumed by rage, the knuckles gripping her dagger turning white from the force.

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

"And please, don't place the blame on me."

"Even without my teachings, they could have summoned the Frenzied Flame."

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

As he spoke, the envoy's mouth nearly split to his ears as he burst into deranged laughter. "Hahahaha!"

Then his expression 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, at Pilgrimage Church, beneath Queen Marika's gaze."

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

The gesture was elegant, yet steeped in blasphemy.

"Lord Xia Tong won't let you off! And you're no match for Sister Melina at all!"

Irina suddenly shouted. Though she was trembling, she stubbornly voiced her defiance.

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

His broadsword blazed with fire as it smashed into the golden defensive barrier again and again.

Sweat visibly seeped from Melina's brow, and she was clearly struggling more and more.

As he swung, the envoy cursed:

"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. His attacks came faster and faster, each strike heavier than the last.

More and more cracks spread across the golden barrier.

"What a pity! By the time I rushed over from Castle Morne, I found that you had already gotten mixed up with that brat."

"And that brat is surprisingly troublesome. He killed Night's Cavalry and even slaughtered the Demi-Human Queen!"

"But it's all over now."

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

"Heh, the Cemetery Shade will bite away at your Lord Xia Tong, mouthful by mouthful, until nothing remains."

At that, a savage, excited smile appeared on the envoy's face.

Hearing this, Irina crouched down in anguish and clamped her hands over her ears, unable to bear hearing that cruel ending.

"So the incident at Castle Morne was your doing too?"

Struggling to hold on, Melina looked at the savage envoy and asked again.

The glow of her spirit form dimmed a little further.

"That's right! I incited that Lion Misbegotten, and I stirred up those slaves of Castle Morne to rebel."

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

"Enough talk. Now, it's time for you to be on your way!"

The envoy sheathed his broadsword at his waist, then suddenly clutched his head and threw back his head in laughter.

His laughter grew louder and more deranged.

Murky yellow flames nearly spilled from between his fingers.

Then his body suddenly straightened, and he looked at Melina.

"Aah—!!"

The frenzied Frenzied Flame shot forth like a pillar of fire, smashing brutally into the already crumbling golden barrier.

This Frenzied Flame was so pure, so utterly mad.

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

Its power surpassed the flames unleashed by the Sick Village villagers by countless levels.

"Crack!"

Melina's golden barrier suddenly shattered.

The blast hurled her backward.

The scorching wind billowing from the flames lifted her robe, exposing old scars on her arm where fire had once burned her.

Pain showed on Melina's face.

The flames seemed to stir up painful memories of being burned in the past.

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 had been the Royal Capital, she would never have regarded such a minor envoy as a threat.

Unfortunately, there were no ifs.

I wonder how he is...

As her consciousness wavered, Melina silently thought to herself.

"Thud!"

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

An enormous tower shield, like a mountain, stood before them.

It was absolute defense. The Frenzied Flame madly licked 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 her cape was adorned with the black feathers of a Deathbird.

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

Looking at her back from behind, Melina felt only that she was as immovable as an abyss and as towering as a mountain, impossible to overcome.

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

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

"Lord Xia Tong?"

Irina was so delighted that she nearly jumped up.

Xia Tong slowly walked in through the church entrance.

"Tap, tap, tap."

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

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

His crimson, 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 grabbed the Cerulean Tear Flask and took a deep gulp, replenishing his depleted Focus Points.

Then he rang the Spirit Calling Bell once more.

"Jingle, jingle—"

More than half of Xia Tong's Spirit Ashes battle group was summoned.

The wolves, 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.

He first gently helped Irina, who had crouched on the ground in fear, to her feet.

Then he walked over to Melina.

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

He gently adjusted Melina's clothes, his fingers lightly brushing over the scarred arm before carefully pulling her robe back over it.

"I'm sorry. I came too late."

Xia Tong looked at Melina and spoke guiltily.

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

Seeing the two girls so weak and bedraggled, Xia Tong's fury erupted 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, his eyes locked onto the envoy like an eagle's.