So it turned out that Sellen had already been to the entrance of the spatial rift once before.
Hearing Niđhöggr's information, she immediately realized that this persistent fissure most likely led to Redmane Castle, and her heart sank.
"Jerren..." Niall's tone carried a different weight—a joyful surprise. "He's truly here? It seems that while I was trapped in the swamp, he was guarding Lord Radahn. I am truly ashamed..."
"So what now?" Sellen looked at Niđhöggr with a bad expression. "Do you agree to my terms? Will you let me go?"
Niđhöggr thought for a moment, then said with a faint smile, "Now that we know the spatial rift is here, finding it is only a matter of time."
"You!" Sellen hadn't expected the consort of the Junction's lord and the Lunar Princess to play such a trick. She couldn't help but widen her eyes in anger, pointing at Niđhöggr.
Niall coughed awkwardly.
As a veteran of the Redmanes, he didn't approve of such intentional exploitation, but Niđhöggr was, after all, here for his king's sake, so he couldn't say much.
"That's not to say you have no bargaining chips," Niđhöggr dangled a lure. "If you can provide more leverage, I will not only return your freedom but also ensure you are no longer wanted in Junction, especially by the Academy of Magic."
After a brief pause, Sellen took the bait. "What do you want me to do?"
"Repair this Unalloyed Gold Needle." Niđhöggr pointed to the golden needle, broken in two, in Niall's hand. "As far as I know, you are a genius of Raya Lucaria Academy. Surely you possess some sorcery for such a task, no?"
Sellen looked at the golden needle. "I can try. But if you repair it now, do you truly intend to use it to restore Radahn's sanity?"
"Yes."
"Then I advise you not to do it! Whether the Unalloyed Gold Needle can suppress the Scarlet Rot within Radahn's body is one thing. Whether you can even approach Radahn is another. He is already mad. Anyone who draws near him will surely die!"
Niall said angrily, "You just need to repair this golden needle. How to implant it into Lord Radahn's body is our concern."
"Hmph." Sellen crossed her arms over her chest and turned her head away.
Niđhöggr softened Niall's words. "There's no doubt about General Radahn's strength, but that is the goal for me and Niall. You help us; you help yourself. Don't you want your freedom?"
After a moment, Sellen said, "Fine. I will help you repair this Unalloyed Gold Needle, and I will also lead you to find the spatial rift. But aside from this, I will not interfere any further."
"Agreed." Niđhöggr readily consented.
Only then did Sellen take the Unalloyed Gold Needle, passed to her by Niall, broken in two.
She searched the knowledge within her mind, attempted several sorceries, and finally, after a flash of golden light, the Unalloyed Gold Needle was repaired.
"It's done." Sellen returned the Unalloyed Gold Needle, a slight tone of elation in her voice, for she had solved another magical puzzle.
Niall did not take it but instead said to Niđhöggr, "You take it. This Unalloyed Gold Needle must not be lost. It needs to be implanted when Lord Radahn is weakened, otherwise, it might break again from his uncontrolled power."
"It is no longer safe in my keeping. I believe you are the most suitable person to hold onto it. Please accept it."
Niđhöggr did not refuse. He accepted the Unalloyed Gold Needle, first thanking Niall for his trust, then Sellen for her assistance.
"I hope you keep your word." Sellen snorted again, then turned and led the way forward.
The Glintstone Dragon also spread its wings and soared into the sky, always hovering above them.
Along the way, the three of them skirted areas where the Scarlet Rot was rampant. They saw no living people besides themselves, but they did see many Rot-infested lakes and fungal flora.
Crossing a bridge over a river of scarlet decay, they saw in the distance a towering, cozy-looking building, almost entirely shrouded in scarlet, writhing as if alive.
The closer they got, the more serious the Scarlet Rot here became.
It seemed the source of the Rot was not only Ekzykes but also a large amount of Rot spewing from the spatial rift itself. He wondered why it had been seeping out so badly lately.
Perhaps Jerren, guarding the entrance, could provide them with answers.
If they wanted to enter this tower, a massive dragon like Adula certainly couldn't squeeze through. He would have to remain hovering above the tower.
But fortunately, this flying dragon could utilize teleportation sorcery and had a contractual link with the Dark Moon Ring given by Ranni. If necessary, Niđhöggr could summon him using the ring, allowing him to teleport inside.
Entering the ancient tower, it was dark and lifeless, only large clumps of Scarlet Rot blocking the path.
Niđhöggr possessed Thops's Barrier, Niall had his war banner, and Sellen had her glintstone sorcery. Each had their own methods, and they passed through the Rot obstacles relatively smoothly, finding the entrance to the dungeon.
Descending the stone staircase, they entered a relatively narrow underground chamber. Sellen produced a glintstone staff, its glow illuminating the path.
Passing by torture instruments being consumed by the Scarlet Rot, Sellen didn't need to say more. Niđhöggr and Niall confirmed that the entrance to the spatial rift was just ahead.
There was a crack, like a wound. A large mass of scarlet decay erupted from it like lava, the breath of death surging forth.
"This is it." Sellen pointed at the rift. She crossed her arms and said in surprise, "Strange. Last time I was here, that undying old man, Jerren, was still right here..."
"Heh—"
A loud shout came from the shadows. An old knight dropped from above, longsword in hand, striking at Sellen!
Sellen stepped back in surprise, only then remembering to raise her glintstone staff, but the sorcerer was so close that she had missed the opportunity to defend or counterattack.
However, Niđhöggr, who had long since noticed the old knight's presence, calmly stepped forward. Reaching out, he caught the old knight's sword-wielding arm, lifted him like a child, and set him down beside him.
The old knight was stunned, frozen in place.
He had seen Sellen in the darkness and simply wanted to kill her, but he had ignored the two companions Sellen had brought, never expecting his assassination attempt to be so easily neutralized by one of them.
This knight was dressed as if he still wore Carian Knight armor, and he... What kind of Carian Knight was he? How could he not know such a powerful Carian Knight existed?
The old knight was shocked and, for a long time, didn't know how to react.
Sellen frowned and moved back behind Niđhöggr and Niall.
"Jerren!" At that moment, Niall shouted and stepped forward. "You really are here!"
The old knight was stunned again. He recognized the heavily armored knight holding a war banner before him in the bright light emanating from Sellen's glintstone staff—wasn't that the long-lost Niall?
"You, you, you... You guys..." Jerren pointed at Niall, then at Niđhöggr and Sellen, a little confused by the situation.
Niall embraced Jerren, then released him and said, "You've worked hard to hold on until now. No need to be nervous. Niđhöggr is our companion, and Sellen has also been of some help to us."
"More importantly, we have brought good news—news that may well restore Lord Radahn's sanity."