Sorrow Lies Ahead

Guardian of the God Devourer? An intruder?

Or is it only after defeating the Pontiff Sulyvahn's Phantom that one can reach the cathedral's backyard?

The adventurers looked at each other, staring at the slowly forming dark spirit, momentarily stunned.

As everyone knows, invasions are generally limited to certain areas; you can't invade Irithyll from Farron Keep.

Furthermore, the boss battle scene cannot be invaded. More importantly, the boss's location is the dividing line, separating the various areas. Therefore, the cathedral's backyard can no longer be considered part of Irithyll.

Only those within the area can invade others within the same area, so where did these Guardian of the God Devourer come from?!

There are actually people who fabricated a story that our deluxe version of the team defeated Sulyvahn Phantom, and are now "neglecting their duties" by launching an invasion here?

Ah?

There are actually eight people like this?

"Wait, what if these people are enemies automatically set up by the dungeon? Haven't there been instances of incursions orchestrated by the dungeon before?" Fingel said.

For example, the Hunter, Patch, etc.

"No, no, no, look at their clothes," Leon said, pointing to the fully formed group of invaders. "I recognize the style of those clothes. They're a new design from a famous tailor shop in Bede City. These invaders are real people!"

Upon hearing this, people immediately calmed down. If it were real people, how powerful must these people be?

"Maybe it's the same type as the Farron Guard, automatically summoned after detecting an invasion of Farron Keep," Lu Lu Wo analyzed.

As soon as she finished speaking, she looked up and found that everyone was looking at her.

"What are you all doing? Why are you all staring at me?"

"Do you know something?"

"How could that be? This is the first time I've ever seen this."

Seeing the suspicious looks in people's eyes, Lu Lu Wo didn't know how to explain.

Because she made her fortune selling strategy guides and information, almost everyone assumed that she must know something that ordinary people don't.

But this time she really had no idea what was going on, why Guardian of the God Devourer was made, and what exactly "devouring gods" meant.

I have a bad feeling about this!

"There's no point in saying anything more than fighting now," Sid interrupted the discussion. "Look, those invaders are just standing there, waiting for us to come over. What arrogant fellows."

The Guardian of the God Devourer, these unknown enemies, stood where they had appeared, watching from afar, without making a move.

Just like the mysterious masters in novels, everyone stood still, exuding a mysterious majesty. Coupled with their dark, spirit-like bodies, they truly maximized the oppressive force and the level of evil.

However, the adventurers all have dignity, and the invaders' attitude is a blatant provocation to them!

"Very well, they still dare to put on airs when they see us."

Fingel grinned maliciously and said, "I'd like to see just how strong these guys really are!"

Matilda quickly grabbed his belt, telling him not to act impulsively; she was also worried that he might not really be a mysterious powerful figure.

The invaders' unwavering and seemingly nonchalant attitude truly intimidated the adventurers.

Even Sid cautiously took out his magic wand and earnestly cast a series of Buff Magic on everyone.

On the other side...

Sai Lu, the Guardian of the God Devourer and a veteran from the Light Eagle Legion, leans on his longsword and tugs at his hood with his other hand.

However, he seemed to be too nervous, so much so that he tore off a small piece of cloth from his hood.

Upon closer inspection, his movements were slightly trembling, but he concealed it well, and given the distance, the adventurers on the other side did not notice.

He's terrified right now.

Originally, he was overjoyed the moment he received the summons, because his oath finally had a purpose.

Anyone who wants to enter Anor Londo must first get past him!

Besides, the team that defeated Sulyvahn Phantom must have been full of old, weak, sick, and disabled people, so he must have had a lot of fun fighting them, like mowing grass!

So ever since the day he made the oath, he had been looking forward to being summoned, only to discover today that there were so many others who shared the same oath with him.

It's in the bag, this round is definitely in the bag, we have a full eight people! Plus two afterimages, that's ten in total!

Who in this world can stop us now?

Hehe, let me use my Eagle Eye Technique to see who these unlucky, pitiful souls are who are about to be tortured by us.

The invaders all turned their attention to the composition of the adventurers' team.

Then they all shuddered.

(Light Eagle Legion swears) That old man looks so familiar. Sid, the Branch Guild Master of Bede City!?

Why is he in the dungeon? Sai Lu's heart skipped a beat, a sense of unease creeping over him, as he looked at the other adventurers.

(Swearing)! Hasawi Squad!

(Swearing)! The leaders of the two Strategy Team!

(Swearing)! Several well-known adventurers!

And Captain Gers is there too!?

When he saw Sid, Sai Lu just felt a little uneasy; when he saw Fingel, he wiped away a cold sweat; and when he saw Leon, his hands just trembled a little.

But when he saw Elsa, his legs went weak and he almost knelt down.

He had only heard that the others were very strong, but he had actually witnessed Elsa's berserk fighting prowess firsthand!

Sai Lu's eyes were lifeless. He stiffly turned his head and met the equally despondent eyes of his strangers.

To the adventurers, this action appeared in a completely different light.

"Be careful, they're communicating; it looks like they're about to launch an attack!"

The adventurers quickly went on alert. Leon and Lu Lu Wo exchanged a glance, and under Sid's cover, they rushed over with a few others, their role being to test the enemy's strength.

"Whoa, they're charging in!" Sai Lu was sweating profusely with tension. Looking at the cold-faced Leon, he swung his sword in despair and closed his eyes in utter hopelessness!

"Whoosh—"

The sound of something cutting through the air came, and Sai Lu slowly opened his tightly closed eyes again, because he realized that he seemed to be alive.

In contrast, Leon abruptly retreated just as the longsword was about to touch him, his eyes flashing with intense vigilance.

Sai Lu was stunned.

Huh? Why is he running away? I haven't even hit him yet!

Sai Lu swung his knife again, and Leon jumped back again, still maintaining a high level of alertness.

The intruder was completely baffled, wondering why the other party was being so vigilant.

A moment later, a look of understanding appeared in Sai Lu's eyes; he understood!

I understand now. Leon must have been seriously injured in the previous battle, which is why he didn't dare to attack me.

Wow, it seems this group of people are all show and no substance.

"Hehe, I'll take your head!"

He let out a strange laugh, suddenly bursting with confidence, and took a big step forward to slash.

Leon looked nervous, watching the enemy's movements. After hesitating for a long time, he finally chose a direction to slash!

"Bang!"

"Pfft!"

The sounds of clashing swords and the tearing of flesh rang out simultaneously.

Immediately afterwards, two incredulous "Ah?" sounds echoed across the battlefield.

Leon stared at the blade embedded in the intruder's neck, the look of astonishment on his face lingering for a long time.

The expression under the mask of Sai Lu was also quite distorted. What happened to being seriously injured? How did you kill me with one sword?

"You, you"

He struggled to say something, but the longsword thrust forward, ending his life.

"If you're so strong, why are you acting so cowardly?!" That was the last thing he said.

Looking at the vanished spirit, Leon felt a sense of bewilderment and unreality.

Didn't everyone just say that the invaders are very strong?

That's why I was being very cautious; after all, if I died here, I'd have to run a long way.

It turns out the enemy's skills were just average, only slightly better than a typical Silver Rank fighter.

Leon suddenly felt that his feelings had been wasted.

Then, a blush of shame appeared on his face; those two jumps he had just made were so embarrassing.

His situation was naturally seen by the adventurers, and those who had previously guessed that the invaders were very strong lowered their heads in shame.

Sid shook his head, feeling both amused and helpless. He raised his hand and cast a group binding spell on the invaders. The other adventurers rushed over and immediately wiped out the already demoralized invaders.

Those two hostile afterimages were quite powerful, a level above the Exile, but unfortunately they couldn't hold out for long under the combined attack and died.

After the battle ended, the adventurers looked at each other and, without hesitation, kept quiet about what had just happened.

Let Black history be bygones.

"But what exactly does 'devouring gods' mean?"

Some people murmured in confusion, unable to understand what this sudden vow was all about.

However, Gwyndolin is a true god in Anor Londo, if one connects the invaders' oath with her.

A bad feeling crept into people's hearts.

Continuing forward and passing through the buildings, Anor Londo comes into view. This is the familiar place, although the main road seems to be located in a somewhat remote spot, requiring one to walk across several roof beams.

People looked at the roof beams and smiled knowingly in unison. Someone cast a spell to Cast Sound.

With a loud "boom!", two large arrows struck the roof beam. Looking in the direction from which the arrows came, one could see Silver Knight, each wielding a large bow, guarding the area.

"Haha, I knew there would be Silver Knight here!"

It seems that many people have been misled by the Silver Knight with the Great Bow in the Painting World, as seeing the roof beam immediately brings the Silver Knight to mind.

"Closing time is twenty minutes," Sid reminded them. "Do you still want to continue exploring?"

This reminder immediately made people feel tired. With only twenty minutes left, they probably couldn't do much. Some waved their hands and said they wanted to rest here.

Just then, a petite figure darted out of the crowd, braving a large arrow, and rushed onto the roof beam—it was Elsa!

"This child," Lu Lu Wo said with a helpless expression. She could roughly guess why the other was in such a hurry to enter the castle. She nodded to Sid and immediately followed.

Leon and Fingel followed, simply to satisfy their curiosity.

Elsa took the lead and ran ahead, skillfully dodging the Silver Knight's attacks with such practiced ease that it was as if she were at home.

Quickly parkour past the Silver Knight, and ahead lies a very familiar place—the main gate of the castle!

It's tightly closed now, and you have to go around to the side to get in. This design is exactly like the Painting World, which is really nostalgic.

But the Silver Knight were clearly not going to give up. Several enemies emerged from near the main gate, and the Silver Knight behind them also chased after them. There were even special individuals with red eyes.

They were entangled in the blink of an eye, and Elsa and the others had no choice but to fight, as time quickly slipped away.

Just then, Lu Lu Wo shielded her from the Silver Knight beside her and said:

"We're fighting here. Didn't you want to go see the giant blacksmith? Go on!"

Elsa looked moved and nodded heavily. She rushed into the castle through the side door and selectively fought the enemies she had to fight.

The interior of the castle has changed significantly compared to the Painting World. In the Painting World, the Leyndell, though in the twilight, is clean and tidy, maintaining its last vestige of dignity, allowing one to recall its former glory.

But now it is filled with decay and dust, the entire building is shrouded in dark tones, there is no sign of life anywhere, and even in the corners there is indescribable black mud wriggling.

If it weren't for the fact that they looked exactly alike, she wouldn't have believed that this was Anor Londo.

What exactly happened here? Why did it turn out like this? And is that black sludge Aldrich's Carrion?

Every corner of the castle holds memories of her battles with Solaire, memories that could even be described as beautiful, but now they are nothing but dust.

Elsa ran through the familiar castle grounds, heading towards the giant blacksmith's location. However, there were even doors that couldn't be opened from this side, forcing her to take detours. With only a few minutes left, she finally arrived at the giant blacksmith's place.

Just run through this corridor again, and you'll see the blacksmith at the corner!

When you reach the halfway point of this corridor, you can hear the sound of a blacksmith hammering steel, a sound that is very reassuring.

But this time, Elsa heard nothing. Her sense of security vanished, replaced by a racing heart.

Just a few more steps, and if she can reach that place, she will be able to—

"Knock knock."

The bells, signaling the closure of the dungeon, rang out, loud yet desolate.

At the very last moment before being teleported out of the dungeon!

Elsa caught a glimpse of something at the limit of her gaze!

Because of the obstruction of the corner, she could only see a partially damaged part before being teleported out of the dungeon.

But once she arrived outside the dungeon, she showed a relieved expression.

Because she saw the giant blacksmith's lower body, which meant that the other party was still there!

"Very good"