Journey to Roundtable Hold

"Uncle... you've grown old." Morgott slammed his wooden staff down, sending dust billowing and cracking the ground. The Tarnished was forced onto the defensive.

"Heh, don't celebrate too soon, boy." The Tarnished chuckled, put away his weapon, and rushed straight toward Morgott's chest.

"The Shackles aren't my only trump card."

"What..." Morgott saw golden horns emerging from the Tarnished's pauldrons. "That's... Aspects of the Crucible!" He immediately held his staff across his chest, but the tremendous impact drove him back several yards.

The Tarnished gave him no chance to react. A massive tail appeared behind him and swept toward Morgott.

"!" Reacting swiftly, Morgott immediately countered with his own tail. The powerful shock wave shattered the archway, and even the Tarnished was pushed back a little.

"Not bad reflexes." Though the Tarnished appeared relaxed, he was somewhat surprised. With his current strength, he was no match for Morgott, but driving him back was still possible if he pushed himself.

He had realized long ago that the Morgott here was only a duplicate... The reason Kale Basha had said he wasn't using his full strength was that a duplicate couldn't wield much of his power. Even so, this duplicate still had enough strength to fight two Crucible Knights.

"..." Morgott watched the Tarnished's every move. Though he held the advantage in strength and speed, this was still his uncle. He had known how powerful his uncle was since childhood, and that power lay not just in strength, but in his command of the battlefield and ability to adapt.

Just then, Morgott saw the Tarnished's aura steadily intensifying. He dropped onto all fours, his hands transforming into dragon claws.

He even has Dragon Communion incantations... formidable indeed. Not daring to take any chances, Morgott conjured countless golden throwing knives in his left hand and hurled them at the Tarnished.

"Hahaha, just what I needed!" Though they were merely throwing knives, they were sized for Morgott. To the Tarnished, they weren't small at all. They were more than enough... to serve as footholds.

With nimble movements, the Tarnished darted among Morgott's flying knives, crossing his dragon claws before his chest as he prepared to strike. He wanted to test a new move he had only just begun to work out.

"That won't be enough, Uncle!" Morgott clenched his right hand, and a gleaming golden hammer appeared in it. Yet just as he was about to counterattack, he noticed something amiss. The Tarnished's crossed hands concealed his face, leaving Morgott unable to see his expression and making him uneasy.

"This is bad...!" Sensing danger, Morgott was about to retreat, but the Tarnished's dragon claws had already slashed down, accompanied by flames spewing from his swollen throat pouch.

"Aspect of the Crucible Throat Pouch! ...Well played. Is this another of your trump cards?" Morgott struggled to extinguish the flames. Perhaps because the Tarnished had only just mastered it, the fire lacked power. But the Tarnished clearly knew that, and an Aspect of the Crucible's Tail swept through the air immediately afterward.

"!" Morgott staggered several steps before falling to his knees.

"That's what you get for wearing such a huge rag of a cloak." The Tarnished let out a long breath. He was utterly exhausted now. Though he had knocked Morgott down, it wasn't enough to destroy this duplicate.

"Hahaha, splendid indeed, Uncle... Even with such a gulf in strength, you can still find a method that suits you." In battle, one had to use everything available. As an Omen, his body was covered in hair, so naturally he feared fire. This was a weakness he had been born with, not one imposed on him by others...

"Uncle, I'm grateful you didn't use those Shackles..." Morgott rose and held his wooden staff upright before his chest. By crushing the Shackles, the Tarnished had given him ample dignity. Though he had never harbored resentment, that sunless prison and the Shackles that bound his body still filled him with dread.

"If you had used them, dealing with me would have been easy, I imagine."

"I could have, but there was no need. I wanted to see how much you'd grown, too."

"Hahaha, you truly haven't changed... I've lost. Godrick... you're on your own." Morgott glanced at Stormveil Castle behind him. "This is the second time... my defenses have been breached."

"Speaking of which, is Enkuro inside the castle?" Seeing that Morgott had no intention of continuing the fight, the Tarnished leaned against the wall and relaxed.

"Godrick truly has earned everyone's condemnation... Ah." Morgott sighed sorrowfully. "Why would my elder brother's descendant turn out like this... Could it be because he died too soon?"

"Never mind Godwyn's family troubles. Yours aren't much better."

"What do you mean...?" Morgott couldn't understand for a moment.

"You don't know what that dear little brother of yours, Mohg, has been doing?"

"Mohg...? I told him to guard a seal..."

"Are you sure that was him? Or... was it his real body? Couldn't he leave a duplicate there just like you, while his true body vanished without a trace?"

"Well..." Things had been urgent at the time, and he truly hadn't given it much thought.

"Has he done something?" After hearing this, how could Morgott fail to understand? Mohg hadn't obediently stayed in that place.

"He's certainly ambitious. He wants to replace the dynasty." The Tarnished folded his arms and glanced at Morgott.

"You mean Mohg...?!" To think such a thing had happened. Mohg had actually formed such plans without his knowledge.

"Normally, I wouldn't bother mentioning it. The problem is that he's lost his mind." Whether Mohg wanted to overthrow the golden age meant little to him. If he really brought about a better age, that would save him the trouble.

"That brat founded something called the Mohgwyn Dynasty. His followers thirst for the blood and wounds of everyone they meet. They're unbelievably crazed and arrogant." By this point, the Tarnished was so angry he almost laughed.

"He's done what?!" Morgott angrily swung his wooden staff. I've worked so hard to defend the dynasty, and not only does he refuse to help, he wants to usurp it. As if that weren't enough, he's slaughtering innocents. What he's doing is no different from the frenzied flame.

"They're quite a sizable force, too, and their base is unknown." The Tarnished took the Pureblood Knight's Bloody Finger from inside his clothes and tossed it to Morgott.

"This is..." Morgott carefully examined the blood-red emblem bearing a trident, and his eyes widened in fury. He could sense the blood staining this object-all lives needlessly sacrificed.

"Hah... Though those of us who went to war also have countless lives and sins on our hands."

"No... You fought for all our people. It was because of you that later generations could exist." Holding the Bloody Finger, Morgott spoke with complete sincerity.

"...Take one step forward, and behind you stand countless compatriots. As for the sin of slaughter, we can bear that ourselves... The world still needs those who remain pure and untainted."

"But I just don't understand. Whatever the reason, you can't kill everyone you see. His followers are no ordinary madmen. What happened to Mohg to set him off like this?" Mohg had always been a little dull and dazed as a child. Unlike Morgott, he hadn't spoken much either.

"Mohg... you bastard!" Morgott struck the ground again, venting his fury.

"When you have time, look for him. I'd like to see just what he's accomplishing these days."

"I'll seek him out myself. Rest assured, Uncle."

"...Your mind is made up, isn't it?"

"That's right."

"Very well... Since you've made up your mind, there's little I can say as your nephew. Please don't forget the desire for freedom that first set you on this path..." With that, Morgott's figure gradually turned translucent. Looking at the Tarnished, he fell into thought... What choice will I make? Will I stop Uncle in Leyndell, or join him in overthrowing the age I was born into...? Perhaps I should start living for myself, too.

"Well, that's incredible. That boy's actually grown this strong." The Tarnished stretched and activated the Site of Grace behind the shattered archway. Just then, Melina appeared with Kukla.

"You succeeded..."

"I suppose you could say that... All that's left now is Godrick up ahead."

"Before that, could you wait a moment...? I'd like to take you somewhere... It may be of use to you..." Melina said slowly.

"Where?"

"Roundtable Hold... It is where Tarnished like you, who have returned to the Lands Between, gather..."

Roundtable Hold? Isn't that the organization founded by the fellow who borrowed my name? "Interesting. But Melina, I'd like to take this opportunity to make something clear."

"?" Seeing the Tarnished's serious expression, Melina tilted her head slightly.

"I do intend to go to Leyndell, and to the Erdtree. But I don't intend to become a lord like Godfrey... I'm going to overthrow this age."

"..." Melina remained silent for a long time after hearing that. The air seemed to freeze, and even Kukla felt uncomfortable.

"I'll still take you to the Erdtree as we agreed. But if you can't accept that, we'll have to part ways."

"..."

"...No. As long as you fulfill our agreement... there is no issue." Melina gently shook her head.

"...?" Her answer was unexpected. This girl was surely connected to the Golden Lineage, and she possessed authentic golden incantations. Even Morgott, who had suffered discrimination, held a steadfast faith in the Erdtree. He had expected Melina to reject his intentions.

"Didn't you tell me before that I should seek the Elden Ring and the Erdtree?" the Tarnished asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Because only by seeking the Elden Ring and the Erdtree... would you take me to the Erdtree. That would align our purposes... But now things are different. Even if you do not seek the Elden Ring, you will still go to the Erdtree... That alone is enough..."

"But I hope you will not become someone who extinguishes all life... Everything else may follow your own wishes. I have lost my past, and I do not know what duty awaits me in the future, but I still hope you will... save this broken world. I, too, will find a new duty of my own."

"Is that how you feel?" For the first time, Melina had revealed her thoughts on this age.

"I think... yes." Melina nodded.

"Hah, then it seems we're not at odds after all. No need to part ways." The Tarnished smiled.

"As long as you remember our agreement and do not slaughter innocents, I believe we will have no conflict before reaching the Erdtree," Melina said calmly.

"Good. That's what I wanted to be sure of. Now, isn't it time you took me to Roundtable Hold?"

"Very well... But allow me to explain a few things first... Roundtable Hold is well hidden. On your first visit, you must have the guidance of a Finger Maiden... And fighting is forbidden within the hold."

"That makes sense." The Tarnished nodded.

"And... do not rummage through things," Melina added.

"What's that supposed to mean? Do I look like someone with no manners?"

"..." Melina stared at the Tarnished without a word, but her eyes made her thoughts perfectly clear.

"Fine."

"Then take my hand... I will bring you to Roundtable Hold."

Roundtable Hold... I wonder what the organization that fellow founded is really like. I hope it won't disappoint me...