Assa did not answer. Instead, he walked slowly toward his curved greatsword, which remained embedded in the floor.
"Hey, you—" Raven started to speak, but he stopped as he watched Assa reach out with his left hand. One by one, the warrior pried open the fingers of the severed hand that still gripped the hilt.
Thud.
The severed arm hit the floor. The wound was sealed with frost; not a single drop of blood spilled out.
Raven took a deep breath, watching as Assa drew the curved sword once more with his remaining hand.
"Why? Why keep fighting? You're just throwing your life away!" Raven said, his voice tinged with anger. "Is your pride really that fragile? If you won't surrender, I'll even let you walk away!"
"I have nowhere left to go. The elders have abandoned our honor; they actually agreed to cooperate with our enemies. I do not understand the 'Great Plan' they speak of. I do not know if they are right or wrong, or if they can truly lead the Zamor back to our homeland."
"Then shouldn't you stay alive to witness it for yourself?" Raven challenged.
"I am too tired. It seems I will not see it," Assa said in a low, hollow voice. "Raven of Caria, I am glad that my final opponent was you. Come. One last strike to decide it all."
"I refuse," Raven said. "In your current state, you couldn't force me to kill you even if you tried."
Assa said nothing.
Snap.
A sudden sound came from the corner of the room.
The silver-haired girl he had rescued earlier was creeping closer. She had accidentally stepped on a shard of ice, snapping it. Raven saw that she was clutching a Sacred Seal in her hand; she had likely snuck back in hoping to help with an incantation.
Realizing she had been spotted, the girl looked over.
Assa let out a dry chuckle. "Then let my final strike be spent slaying a lapdog of the Erdtree."
He suddenly hoisted his blade and charged toward the silver-haired girl.
"Stop!"
Raven lunged forward, sword in hand, trying to intercept Assa. But he was too late. He was still several paces away when Assa raised the curved greatsword to strike the girl down.
"You're asking for death!"
Roaring in fury, Raven gripped the Sword of Night and Flame with both hands and thrust forward in a desperate lunge. The blade pierced through the Zamor warrior's heart from behind, and Raven gave it a vicious twist.
"Cough... it's a bit cold, isn't it?" Assa coughed up blood, a faint smile on his face. His sword remained suspended in the air; he hadn't actually swung it down. It had been a feint—nothing more.
"You—" Raven realized what had happened. He finally understood Assa's intent. "You bastard."
The curved sword slipped from Assa's hand, clattering to the floor at the girl's feet. She jumped back in fright.
Assa's trembling hand reached into his collar and tore off a bear-tooth pendant.
"This... take it." A gurgling sound came from his throat as Raven reached out to steady him.
"This is... a token. 'Return to the frostlands'—when they hear these words, all Zamor will know you are a friend," Assa said with great difficulty. "I hope... you will take my blade... bury it in the Zamor homeland. Please."
"I promise you," Raven said, gripping the man's hand. It was only then that he noticed the warrior's eyes were filled with shattered ice. The overload from summoning that final ice storm had left him completely blind.
"Thank you." Assa's expression turned to one of pure relief. He struggled to lift his head, his milky-white eyes staring toward the sky. "Assa, son of Aland, joins the gods here."
His head slumped forward. He was gone.
Raven gently laid the body down and stood up. Clutching the bear-tooth pendant in his palm, he looked toward the silver-haired girl sitting dazed on the floor.
"You weren't too badly frightened, were you? Honestly, didn't I tell you to hide outside?" Raven reached out to pull the girl up. "What did you sneak back in for?"
"I wanted to come back and help you," the girl whispered. But seeing Raven's exasperated expression, she suddenly got defensive. "Don't you look down on me! I am a priestess of the Ancient Dragon cult! Well—technically, I haven't been officially ordained yet."
"This kind of battle isn't something a rookie cleric should be interfering in," Raven said helplessly. Since waking up from the attack of the Rune of Death, his strength had been increasing rapidly. The level of the battle he just fought had truly entered the realm of heroes; a regular knight wouldn't even have the right to intervene.
The silver-haired girl pouted. Without a word, she slapped an Urgent Heal onto his chest.
"I can do my own incantations—wait, what?" Feeling the effects of the heal, Raven's face went blank with shock.
The potency of this heal was incredible. It was stronger than if he and Brother Corhyn had combined their efforts. Raven was just a beginner, so he could accept being outclassed, but Brother Corhyn had been a practitioner of the Golden Order since childhood and had studied the Law for years. This girl had just put him to shame. If Corhyn ever found out, he'd probably have a stroke.
Was Brother Corhyn actually that bad? Is my education being stunted by learning from him? Thank God I've only been at it for a few days, Raven thought, stunned. He looked at the girl, who was currently puffing out her cheeks.
Or was this girl simply a true genius?
"Hmph, impressed? That was just a Two Fingers incantation. I haven't even used my Dragon cult incantations yet—that's my real specialty." Seeing Raven's shocked face, the girl looked smug.
"What's your name?" Raven asked.
"Lansang. Just call me Lansang."
"Miss Lansang," Raven said seriously. "I am Raven of Caria, son of Rennala and Radagon. I am currently forming my own order of knights. I don't suppose you'd be interested in joining? The benefits are negotiable."
"Kukuku, so you've made a move. You have a good eye." Lansang crossed her arms, looking Raven up and down before nodding. "Since I haven't officially started my duties with the Ancient Dragon priesthood yet, I suppose I'll join this little order of yours."
"Good. We'll keep the induction ceremony simple for now and do it properly once we're back." Raven pulled a custom-made insignia from his pocket. "Keep this insignia safe. I only brought a few. As for your position, we can discuss that later. I assume you don't want an administrative role?"
"I want to be the Knight Commander."
"Hey, I'm the Commander!"
"Are your incantations as good as mine?"
"...Not for now."
"Then step down and let someone better take over. Don't worry, if your incantations ever become stronger than mine, I'll give the title back to you," Lansang added. "Though I doubt that day will ever come."
Raven finally lost his patience. he reached out and placed a hand on her head, vigorously messing up her hair.
"Hey! How dare you touch my head! Not even my father ever hit me! Get your paws off me, commoner!" Lansang shrieked, flailing her arms as she struggled to break free.
Only after her silver hair had been rubbed into a chaotic bird's nest did Raven withdraw his hand. "Big words for someone who got caught and tied up by a bunch of cultists. How could you ever lead a knightly order like that?"
"Ugh, that was because—" Lansang sputtered for a long time, clearly trying to find an excuse, before finally giving up. "Fine... I'll be the Vice-Commander."
Raven sighed, deciding he would just give her a hollow title with no actual authority when the time came.
After the banter, the heavy weight in his heart had lifted significantly. He glanced at Lansang. She had looked terrified when he first rescued her—how had she suddenly become so arrogant? Was her mental fortitude really that high?
Or was this her own way of trying to comfort him?
Lansang began tossing the insignia up and down idly. She fumbled a catch, and the badge hit the ground. With a loud crunch, she accidentally stepped right on it.
Raven looked away and slapped his hand over his face.
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Elden Ring: The Unborn One's Journey Through Elden Ring(87 Chapter - Ongoing)
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