"Phew... I am never coming back to this hellhole again..."
After the lift carried him upward, Mohg shook his head violently. As for whether there would be danger ahead... he'd deal with that when he reached the top. At the very least, he knew the Baleful Shadow wasn't here, so he didn't have to worry about a Red Wolf camping the door.
Stepping out of the lift room, Mohg was greeted by a courtyard already ravaged by the Scarlet Rot. He surmised this had once been a part of the Eternal City, abandoned only when the rot began its inexorable encroachment.
Just as he suspected, the area held little danger beyond the risk of contracting the rot itself. In a sense, the Scarlet Rot was the greatest hazard here.
However, the level of erosion was incomparable to the zones below. Though it looked gruesome, there were even trees here that hadn't been entirely consumed by the decay. Of course, those trees were effectively on death row; they wouldn't survive much longer in this environment.
Navigating around the bizarre flora unique to the rot, Mohg reached a stream of water that remained untainted. Just ahead, he spotted a familiar cave entrance.
A smile tugged at his lips. This meant that as long as he passed through the tunnel ahead, he could take another lift straight into Nokstella, the Eternal City.
The only remaining issue was how to negotiate with the survivors of the Eternal City once he arrived. Still, the prospect of not having to fight his way through from the very first second was a relief.
But as he reached the mouth of the cave, Mohg's expression soured.
The opening was too small. His massive frame couldn't fit comfortably; he would have to hunch over to navigate the passage.
Fortunately, the tunnel wasn't long. After enduring the cramped walk for a short while, he emerged into the next area. Along the way, he encountered a Giant Ant and casually twisted its head off.
To be honest, after crawling out of the Lake of Rot, even these hideous ants looked positively adorable by comparison.
Stepping over a pile of relatively fresh corpses, Mohg exited the tunnel and entered the true outskirts of the Eternal City. Here, the flora consisted of species unique to the subterranean world.
The lift leading to the heart of Nokstella stood not far off.
Rubbing his sore shoulders, Mohg approached the lift while pondering how to communicate with the subterranean denizens. If all went as expected, his first encounter would be with the Nox Swordstresses. But rather than overthinking it, he decided it was better to just go up and see for himself.
Mohg stepped onto the lift.
"Those surface dwellers are getting bolder and bolder."
A Nox Swordstress, clad in black chainmail and a silken cape, turned to address her companions.
"Let them be. The region they've discovered cannot lead them here," her colleague replied impassively. He wasn't particularly concerned. As he had said, it was virtually impossible for a surface exploration team to reach the heart of the Eternal City. Most would never even lay eyes on its people.
Unless, of course, the Nox chose to reveal themselves.
Otherwise, an intruder would have to bypass the Dragonkin Soldier stationed at the Great Cloister, then somehow construct a series of structures just to reach their elevation. Even if someone were capable of such a feat, the Nox would never allow it. There was nothing to fear.
"They seem to share the lineage of the branch that moved to the surface long ago."
"Even if that is true, it is not for us to dwell upon."
The Swordstress fell silent for a moment before shaking her head. Such matters were beyond their station. They were blades in service to the Night Maids; their duty was simply to be the sharp edge in their mistress's hand.
"You say... Wait, something is happening!"
Just as the first Swordstress began to speak again, her gaze sharpened. she stared intently at the lift leading down to the depths.
Her companion froze, then whipped his head around and let out a long, piercing whistle.
With the signal sent, he gripped his flowing sword, squinting toward the lift with lethal focus.
Elsewhere within the Eternal City, other Nox residents began relaying the signal. Moments later, several Nox Swordstresses mounted on Giant Ants arrived at the scene.
"What is the situation?"
"The lift has been activated."
The leader, Tara, nodded. With a wave of her hand, she signaled the others to follow her forward. Her subordinates looked tense; they knew exactly what kind of horrors lurked in the depths below.
As the lift slowly ascended and a towering, dark silhouette emerged from within, the surrounding Nox held their breath. They tightened their grip on their weapons, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
"Wait!"
Tara's sudden command caused the group to freeze mid-motion. They looked at their captain, confused.
"It does not seem to be one of those rotted things."
Emerging from the lift, Mohg was momentarily taken aback by the welcoming party. However, he quickly composed himself. Placing a hand over his chest, he performed a formal greeting—one he had personally designed for his Dynasty of Blood.
"Greetings. My name is Mohg. I come with peaceful intentions."
Tara narrowed her eyes. After a heavy silence, she spoke coldly. "Hornsent... what is your purpose here?"
Hearing the unexpected title, Mohg chuckled and shook his head. "Distinguished Nox warrior, you seem to be mistaken. While I do consider myself an heir to the culture of horns, I am not the 'Hornsent' you speak of."
"Regardless, you are not welcome here," Tara replied, her voice remaining frigid and unmoved.
"Is that so? How disappointing," Mohg said, shaking his head with a sigh of mock regret. "I thought that since we share a common enemy, we might find much to discuss."
Tara showed no reaction, acting as though his words were beneath her notice.
"The Fingers... their 'greatest masterpiece.' Quite an interesting subject, wouldn't you agree?"
Whoosh!
The moment that word left Mohg's mouth, Tara's aura exploded with hostility. In a blur of motion, she spurred her ant mount into the air. Her Nox Flowing Sword lashed out, transforming into a razor-sharp whip that tore through the sky.
Clang!
Mohg blocked the strike with a spear of conjured blood. He lunged forward, closing the distance until he was face-to-face with Tara, a wide, predatory grin spreading across his face.
"What's the rush?"
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Elden Ring: As the Consort, I Reject Miquella (352 Chapters – Ongoing)
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