People who are hanged rarely die from suffocation; they almost always die from broken cervical vertebrae.
Nine criminals were pushed off the city wall one by one, and with a "crack," the crisp sound of bones breaking under the force of gravity was heard.
The cheers grew louder and louder.
Finally, only Ohara remained, forced to kneel on the ground by the Blessed Warrior.
But he still stubbornly stared at Nausicaä as she approached.
Before you die, tell me... what exactly is that? What is protecting you?
His "talent" never failed him, except when facing the girl sheltered by the Sea of Corruption.
But the attack he launched that night, fueled by all his mental strength, was like hitting an indestructible wall, causing him to faint on the spot.
"You'll find out soon enough." Nausicaä stopped in front of him.
The crowds on both sides of the city wall quieted down.
What exactly constitutes the death penalty?
Bloodlust is ingrained in human nature and cannot be completely erased no matter how much knowledge, upbringing, or personality is cultivated.
At this moment, everyone looked curiously at the city wall, holding their breath and waiting for the execution.
This was Mu En's idea; he already knew that the psychic talent he had sensed that night was Ohara.
Although it is unknown why Ohara fell into a coma, it is certain that this bandit leader was not only physically strong, but also possessed a rare mental talent.
This guy's soul strength even surpasses that of all the Blessed except Nausicaä.
Therefore, Mu En decided to make use of waste to conduct an experiment.
"Are you ready?" Nausicaä asked softly in a reassuring tone.
"I'm not afraid!" Ohara roared, grinning. "Come on!"
He, who never swore, finally let out a curse word in the final moments of his life.
The next moment, a miracle occurred.
Above the city wall, the air suddenly became thick, and a "bond" flowing with brilliant golden light extended from the Golden Forest, connecting to Nausicaä.
Since the Blessing Bond can transmit Rune back to the Erdtree, conversely, can the Rune preserved by the Erdtree be transmitted to the Blessed through this bond?
Buzz!
Nausicaä's golden pupils shone brilliantly, her blue robes fluttered without wind, and the Elden Ring mark slowly appeared on her heart.
Even her short, flowing red hair began to gradually turn golden from the ends.
Nausicaä lifted off the ground and slowly floated up, hovering half a foot above the ground.
An aura of holiness and majesty spread out.
Everyone on both sides of the city wall was stunned.
The people of the Valley of the Wind had seen Nausicaä heal the wounded and ripen crops through Incantations, but what they were witnessing was completely beyond their comprehension.
The refugees from Pejite stared wide-eyed, many instinctively taking a half-step back, trying to distance themselves from this oppressive aura.
Mu En could clearly sense Nausicaä's current state.
Through the Blessing Link, an enormous amount of Rune is gradually filling her body, almost dozens of times more than she originally Rune.
In this state, Nausicaä has broken through... no, far surpassed the " Knight Level threshold and entered a higher realm.
Invoking the power of the gods to enhance oneself could perhaps be called " Divine Descent."
But even Nausicaä herself could sense that the " Divine Descent " state could not last.
A tremendous power surged within her, but it was too pure for her to absorb; she could only utilize it to a limited extent.
If this continues, she will break down because she can't take it anymore.
So, the feedback process is over, let's begin the second experiment.
Guided by Mu En, Nausicaä slowly floated to Ohara's side.
She extended her right hand, and a drop of golden liquid condensed at her fingertips—a " Blessed Dew " transformed from pure Rune.
Ohara's pupils contracted, and he instinctively tried to struggle, but was held down firmly by the militiamen behind him.
Nausicaä's fingertip gently touched the center of his forehead.
In an instant, Ohara trembled violently.
"Well!"
He let out a low growl, and golden light emanated from beneath his skin, causing his already enormous body to swell even further.
At the wound of the severed arm, granulation tissue writhed wildly, and within seconds, a complete arm regenerated.
Then, the light around Nausicaä faded quickly, and she landed back on the ground, staggering slightly.
Although the duration was short, the overwhelming and uncontrollable power still placed a considerable burden on the girl.
In contrast, Ohara--
"Hahaha... hahaha... hahahaha!!!"
He threw his head back and laughed loudly.
"I understand! I finally understand!"
He tensed his muscles abruptly, and the thick hemp rope around his body snapped into several pieces in an instant.
"This is what the Valley of the Wind relies on; it turns out you too have received a 'gift' from the gods!"
"Your Highness, be careful!"
Por, who was on guard nearby, was the first to react. The Order's Blade instantly materialized in his hand, and the golden sword light pierced straight into Ohara's heart.
"Roll!"
Ohara burst forth with a speed even faster than Por's, a speed that ordinary people could not even keep up with. Taking advantage of his long reach, he threw a punch first, striking Por squarely in the chest.
Por felt an irresistible force surge through his chest, sending him flying backward and crashing heavily into the wall.
Upon seeing this, the other blessed warriors immediately drew their swords and surrounded Ohara.
At this moment, Ohara, in terms of physical strength alone, is no less than Nausicaä.
Furthermore, their combat skills and experience far surpass those of the new recruits before them.
He was easily subdued that night, entirely due to being blinded by a flashbang by accident, coupled with his lack of understanding of the nature of Incantations under the Golden Order.
"Ha! It seems your god favors me more now!"
Ohara let out a burst of wild laughter, then charged towards the city wall outside the valley.
He had no intention of getting entangled with these people. As long as he escaped this place, with his newly acquired divine power, wouldn't he be free to roam the skies?
But the next moment, his hope was shattered.
Mu En, who had originally wanted to observe the situation a little longer, found the guy's incessant laughter a bit too noisy.
"Quiet."
"I'm confiscating your power."
The massive figure, which had rushed halfway through its journey, suddenly froze, as if an invisible giant hand was gripping it tightly in mid-air.
His arrogant smile froze on his face.
He felt the golden energy within him that made him feel invincible being drained away.
"Wait, wait! My lord! I... I am willing to serve you—"
The blinding golden light could no longer be contained and burst forth from his eyes, nostrils, ears, and mouth!
"No--!!!"
Ohara screamed in agony, but she couldn't stop it.
Its skin was shriveled, its muscles atrophied, and as the golden light faded, it was left with only a withered, brittle shell, collapsing helplessly to the ground.
Silence enveloped the city walls.
The people of the Valley of the Wind stood with their mouths agape, forgetting to breathe; the refugees of Pejite trembled all over, many of them so weak in the knees that they could not stand.
Nausicaä walked to the mummified corpse and announced in a deep voice:
"To strip both the soul and the body, to experience endless terror before death—this is the ultimate punishment."
She raised her hand and pointed in the direction of the Golden Forest.
"Remember, the Erdtree bestows blessings upon us, quenching our hunger, healing our wounds, and giving us the strength to protect our homes."
Similarly, it can be taken away at any time.
Such a shocking scene cannot help but inspire fear, and... awe.
Among the villagers, the lazy ones who secretly complained and harbored resentment had their restlessness and discontent completely suppressed.
They understood: Lord Erdtree was a god who judged rewards and punishments fairly.
They are incredibly generous when giving, but ruthless when taking back what they have given.
Outside the city wall, nearly two hundred refugees knelt in a line.
Their foreheads were pressed against the sand, cold sweat pouring from their backs, and they had long forgotten the pride they once felt for being from the Kingdom of Pejite.
So, gods really do exist.
Not the "gods" those charlatans claim whose sincerity moves people to believe, but beings who truly possess divine power and have descended to earth.
True God!