Elden Ring, building a legion of ashes

Chapter 141 Crazy Upgrade (Thanks to Mo Shang Ling Yuan for the donation!)

The dilapidated house in Storm Hill.

Xia Tong slowly walked into the house.

Rodrigo was sitting by the fire, lost in thought, when she heard footsteps and looked up.

Upon recognizing the person, she exclaimed with delight, "Lady Xia Tong! You're back!"

"I've heard—you're now the king of Stoneville! I'm so happy for you!"

Rodrika exclaimed excitedly, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

"Oh, how did you know?"

"Uncle Bernal told me."

"And you're the most powerful fader I've ever seen!"

Xia Tong shook her head and chuckled, her face flushing slightly.

He certainly didn't consider himself the strongest fader.

Putting aside everything else, "Big Horn" Terragus is an extremely strong fader.

His goat suit offered top-tier defensive capabilities, making him one of the best in the entire border region.

In Xia Tong's previous life, when she played games, many players relied on this Great Goat Set to force their way to become the King of Elden.

In addition, there are also strong faders like "Ancient Knight" Istvan.

Not to mention the "Blood Knight" Yuno Hoslau.

Xia Tong remembered that she had been whipped to death by that guy's double whips five or six times before she could barely fight back.

"Lord Xia Tong, what are you thinking about?"

Seeing Xia Tong lost in thought, Rodrika couldn't help but ask.

Xia Tong chuckled and then patted Rodrik on the shoulder.

"Don't call me the most powerful Faded One anymore, I can't bear that title."

"Okay, okay, I won't say it if you don't want me to."

Rodrigo stuck out her tongue playfully.

"However, in my heart, Lady Xia Tong is the strongest and most powerful Faded One!"

Looking at the innocent and carefree girl in front of her, Xia Tong couldn't help but think of the scene when she first met her.

At that time, she huddled in the corner of the leaky, dilapidated house, listening to the howling storm outside, feeling pained and helpless, like a frightened little animal.

Unexpectedly, a few months later, she seemed to have undergone a complete transformation, becoming much more cheerful.

"Do you remember what you asked me to do, Rodrik?

Xia Tong asked softly.

"Hmm? What's up?"

Rodrigo was taken aback, seemingly not reacting for a moment.

Xia Tong didn't speak, but silently took out a package from the baggage on the horse's back and slowly opened it.

Inside was a bloodstained, extremely soft piece of red velvet cloth—"the relic of the pupa".

Upon seeing the red cloth, Rodrik's smile froze instantly, as if all her strength had been drained away. She swayed and fell backward.

Xia Tong quickly helped her up and helped her sit in a chair.

Then, Rodrika shakily reached out and took the red cloth.

She explored that familiar touch little by little.

Tears streamed down her face like pearls from a broken string.

She groped and cried, and soon her tears soaked the red cloth, the dried dark red bloodstains on it staining her palms.

Immediately afterwards, Rodrika hugged the red cloth tightly to her chest, as if she were hugging a former companion, and sobbed softly.

Xia Tong gently patted her back, offering silent comfort.

After a long while, she recovered somewhat, and asked softly in a trembling voice, "—Is this—something everyone left behind?"

"—Has everyone had their limbs set?"

Xia Tong didn't know how to answer, so she could only give a soft "hmm".

Rodrigo lowered her head, her golden hair falling onto the red fabric, obscuring her expression.

Looking at the red keepsake, she murmured softly, "I love you all—though I'm still very scared—"

This is the nightmare that Rodrika has never dared to face, and now it has finally become a reality.

"Everyone—everyone, believe me."

"Actually, I can't do anything right now—but they still believe in me. What can I achieve in the future?"

Xia Tong didn't disturb her, letting her talk to herself.

After a long while, she raised her head, tears still visible at the corners of her eyes, but her gaze held an unprecedented, resolute look, one born of death.

"Thank you, Lady Xia Tong."

"Thanks to you for bringing this—I can finally give up completely."

1

"I would like to go to the Round Table Hall."

"Now that no one has stayed, I have no reason to continue hiding in this dilapidated house."

"I need to see what I can do, even if it's just a little bit."

"A round table hall?"

Xia Tong asked with some confusion.

According to Melina, entering the Round Table Hall is not so simple; it requires a certain level of approval.

"Rodica, do you have a way to get into the Round Table Hall?"

Xia Tong remembered that she was led in by Melina.

"I've been to the Round Table Hall before, Lord Xia Tong."

Rodrigo wiped away her tears and forced a smile, though her voice was still choked with emotion.

"That was a long time ago—"

Xia Tong nodded to indicate that she understood.

He had previously asked the magician Roger how someone like him, a faded being who couldn't see the blessing, managed to enter the Hall of the Round Table.

Roger's reply was: through Marika's wedge.

Xia Tong later realized that the Round Table Hall was the location of the Great Blessing, and in a sense, it was an extension of Queen Marika's will.

Since the light of blessing no longer favors these people, the Marika Wedges, scattered throughout the borderlands and symbolizing the Queen's intervention in the present world, become another hidden key.

Anyone who touches those wedges, even an ordinary person, can be "pulled" into that special space as long as they are recognized.

"Rodica, after you go to the Round Table Hall, I'll introduce you to a very impressive old gentleman, okay?"

Xia Tong suddenly spoke, a hint of anticipation in her eyes.

"A very impressive old man?"

Rodrigo smiled.

"Really? I'm really looking forward to it."

Looking at Rodrika in front of him, Xia Tong cheered in his heart. It had finally come. This day had finally arrived. He had waited for far too long. His ashes could finally be strengthened.

This excitement was no less than that of obtaining Grek's Great Rune.

Stoneville Cliffside Blessing Point.

Xia Tong sat cross-legged, and Melina slowly appeared beside him.

Killing Greck brought Xia Tong over 80,000 runes.

He checked and found that, including the runes he had obtained from the descendants of the limb-splitting nobles and the Grek soldiers he had killed in the Battle of Stoneville, he now had a total of more than 93,200 runes left.

.

"It's been a long time since I used runes to enhance my abilities."

"7

"The main problem is that we've been spending money all this time, with nothing coming in."

"I had to hire Master Xiugu to enhance my equipment, and it cost me quite a bit of money."

Xia Tong sighed.

"Melina, I want to strengthen myself with runes."

"Okay, give me your hand. But this time it might take a little longer, I can feel that the runic energy in your body is very abundant."

As they spoke, Xia Tong and Melina stood on the edge of the cliff, surrounded by clouds and the setting sun, their hands clasped together.

Bathed in the warm golden light of the blessing, the two radiated a divine aura.

Xia Tong felt the massive amount of runes she possessed being continuously melted into every inch of her flesh and soul.

This time, the smelting process of the runes was exceptionally long.

From dusk until evening, until it was completely dark, Xia Tong finally finished melting all the runes he had accumulated.

[Character Data]

Rating: 42

Holds 1069 Runes

Vitality: 25

Concentration: 30

Stamina: 20

Strength: 22

Dexterity: 21

Intelligence: 30

Faith: 15

Sensing: 10

(Wearing the brand of Ladagan)

This time, with the help of the huge amount of rune enhancement provided by Grek, the holder of the Great Rune, Xia Tong leveled up ten levels in one go!

Two points were added to Vitality and two points to Faith.

The reason for adding faith is that among the treasures Gottok searched for for himself, one was the Godskin Prayer Book.

As a seasoned gamer with over a thousand hours of experience, Xia Tong clearly remembered that the Black Flame Prayer recorded here required a full 20 points of faith to cast.

After adding two points of faith, Xia Tong's base faith became 15 points.

In addition, with the +5 all-attribute enhancement from the Great Rune of Grik, his Faith will reach 20 points, which is just enough to use this prayer.

This is a flame capable of killing gods.

As for concentration, that's just routine.

The feeling of leveling up ten times in a row was very noticeable.

Intelligence is manifested most directly, as if a clear, cold current, like an icy spring, flows down the spine and straight to the top of the head.

"Is this what it feels like to experience a surge in intelligence?"

Xia Tong let out a soft breath, feeling a clarity in her mind that she had never felt before.

He lowered his head and looked at the staff in his hand, able to sense the intricate and complex flow of magic within the brilliance stone.

Those spellcasting circuits that used to require repeated mental construction and were somewhat awkward were now being straightened out like a tangled ball of yarn.

The speed at which the mind works is astonishing.

If intelligence is understanding "visible rules," then faith is touching "invisible will."

Unfortunately, Xia Tong didn't feel anything special; faith was too ethereal and abstract.

If I had to pinpoint a difference, it would be that his will seemed a little stronger than before.

Although the increase in vitality was only two points, Xia Tong felt it was very obvious.

My breathing seemed to be longer and more even, and my blood and energy were more abundant and vigorous than before.

Standing up from the blessing point, Xia Tong gazed into the distance.

Facing the surging sea of ​​clouds in the darkness, and feeling an unprecedented surge of power within his body, he couldn't help but shout out loud, the echo lingering among the cliffs for a long time.

Melina watched Xia Tong with a smile, as if she were looking at an excited young man.

The Ninmugefu Divine Tower.

Xia Tong stood at the entrance of the Divine Tower, coldly staring at the enormous lion guarding the tower, which was prostrate on the ground.

Each of its forelimbs was bound with a sharp blade, and the mane at its temples fluttered in the wind.

"It looks like he's going to do something to me."

Xia Tong sighed inwardly.

His original thought was that now that he had obtained Grek's Great Rune and become the nominal new king of Stoneville, entering the Divine Tower would be as easy as entering an empty place.

However, he was wrong.

We still have to deal with him.

These lions are essentially guarding the divinely ordained tower.

Even Greck himself had no right to command it, let alone Xia Tong, who had stolen Greck's Great Rune.

He figured the golem on the bridge behind him would most likely try to kill him too.

"Sigh, since that's how it is—"

Xia Tong rang the summoning bell and, after taking a sip from the Blue Dewdrop Holy Grail, summoned both Oreg and Ruthel.

Upon seeing Xia Tong and the other two, the red light in the lion guard's eyes became even more frenzied than before.

"roar--!!"

It let out a deafening roar and then leaped high into the air.

The arm blade in his hand whistled through the air as it slashed fiercely towards Xia Tong.

Xia Tong had no intention of engaging in close combat.

He pushed off hard with his right leg, sliding backward to create distance.

With a gentle wave of her demi-human queen's staff, a massive radiant stone mace shot out and crashed heavily toward the lion guard's head.

"Bang!"

A crisp sound.

The lion guard's arm blades collided with the Radiant Stone Great Magic Stone.

After landing, it stared warily at Xia Tong, letting out a low growl, and was about to charge forward again.

However, with a "bang," a tall figure suddenly appeared in front of it.

"clang--!!"

The sound of metal clashing rang out.

The lion guard's powerful blow was like hitting a moving iron mountain.

The immense recoil caused the lion guard to let out a painful groan, and he was sent flying, his claws scraping against the stone slab, leaving behind blinding sparks.

Just now, Ruthel directly used her shield charge to meet the lion guard's sharp claws head-on.

Clearly, it was still too weak against the headless knight Ruthel.

Just as the lion guard was struggling to get up, a storm suddenly exploded beside him.

The lost knight Oreg appeared amidst the raging wind.

He had no intention of giving the lion guards any chance to catch their breath.

Gripping two heavy, lost-home knight greatswords tightly in his hands, he instantly transformed into a whirlwind of death.

"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!"

The sounds of sharp blades piercing flesh were continuous.

The lion guard had barely raised his head when he was met with a barrage of blows from the two greatswords.

Before the sharp, heavy sword, its proud, tough hide was easily cut open, and it was forced to retreat repeatedly, blood splattering everywhere.

However, it was still the guardian of the Divine Tower, with thick skin and tough flesh. Despite Oreg's repeated attacks, it did not fall, only its body was covered in blood.

"it's over."

Xia Tong seized the opportunity and swung her staff repeatedly.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Three large, human-head-sized, radiant magic stones, taking advantage of gaps in Oreg's attacks, slammed into its body.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The massive explosion of magic instantly drowned out the lion guards' cries of agony.

As the smoke cleared, the lion guard lay in a pool of blood, its head smashed to pieces by Xia Tong.

Oreg sheathed his longsword and shook off the blood.

The three stepped over the corpse and slowly walked into the front hall.

On either side of the front hall stand two rows of cold stone statues, each depicting a knight holding a halberd, pointing diagonally to the sky. Their blades intersect with those of the statues on the opposite side in the passageway, forming an arched passage.

Xia Tong and the other two passed through the passage and left the front hall.

What comes into view is a magnificent stone bridge that has been broken.

As we walked along the long bridge, the wind gradually grew stronger, and the howling of the storm became louder.

This area is now close to the core of Storm Hill.

From a distance, it appears that the bridge deck is completely broken in the middle.

Along the only way to pass, three enormous rock golems stood.

Two figures wield giant axes, and one wields a giant bow.

At the end of the broken bridge stands a towering divine tower.

"I really didn't want to come to this dilapidated Divine Tower."

Xia Tong is someone who dislikes fighting.

However, without coming to the Tower of Divine Gifts, he was unable to activate the Great Rune.

Xia Tong had tried to communicate with the Great Rune that had been integrated into her body, but it had no response and remained dormant.

According to Melina, this Great Rune has lost its blessing and must be restored to the blessing of the Two Fingers at the corresponding Divine Tower.

Xia Tong communicated with the two ashes through a spiritual connection.

Let Oreg and Ruthel each deal with a melee rock golem wielding a giant axe.

He was responsible for dealing with the ranged golem wielding a giant bow.

Melee versus melee, ranged versus ranged – Xia Tong found this to be perfectly reasonable.

These three enormous rock golems are ancient war machines; though slow in movement, each strike possesses the power to split mountains and shatter rocks.

Especially on this narrow, windswept, high-altitude broken bridge, there is simply no way to avoid it.

A single misstep could result in being smashed into a bloody pulp or thrown into the abyss, leaving no trace of one's remains.

At the very front, the tallest archer golem had already drawn its giant rock bow.

Xia Tong immediately summoned Toret and mounted his horse.

The giant arrow, resembling a siege spear, had already locked onto Xia Tong.

On either side of it, the two golems wielding giant axes also moved with heavy steps, like two moving city walls, slowly approaching this side.

"Boom! Boom!"

The heavy footsteps made the entire bridge tremble.

"Their weaknesses are in the ankles and wrists!"

Xia Tong called out to Rutil and Oreg.

Ruthel tapped her shield with her spear to indicate that she understood.

Oreg vanished from the spot, transforming into a storm.

When he reappeared, he had already teleported several times to the ankle of a golem wielding a giant axe.

Ruthel followed closely behind, charging towards the other one.

Soon, the two rock golems were forced to stop moving, raising their huge feet in an attempt to crush the two annoying little insects.

"collapse--!!"

A tremendous sound of bowstrings vibrating rang out.

The enormous rock arrow, carrying destructive power, pierced through the broken bridge, seemingly unaffected by the gale, and hurtled towards Xia Tong.

Xia Tong lightly kicked Torret's belly, and the latter immediately understood.

Just before the arrow arrived, Torret leaped up and flew to the side.

"Boom!"

A loud bang.

The huge arrow struck the spot where Xia Tong had been standing, creating a deep crater and sending rocks flying everywhere.

While the golem was reloading its giant arrows, Xia Tong had Toret rush off in that direction.

The distance is too great now, so magical attacks won't be accurate enough and their power will be reduced.

Soon, Xia Tong arrived at the location she had anticipated.

She brandished the Demi-human Queen's Staff, sending countless Radiant Stone Shards hurtling toward the golem's ankles.

After studying with Teacher Seren for several months, his accuracy has improved dramatically.

It can even use mental power to make slight adjustments, causing the magic bullet to change direction slightly in the air.

Seeing the magic bullet coming, the golem instead raised its giant leg and ran towards Xia Tong.

The pyroxene magic gravel followed suit and turned.

"boom!"

With a loud bang, the magic gravel slammed into its ankle.

Blue pyroxene crystals splattered everywhere.

A huge gap was blasted open at the ankle of its rocky body, revealing the orange-yellow core light inside.

However, this is far from enough.

Even though the Radiant Stone Great Demon Pebble is the size of a human head, this golem is simply too large, and the damage caused by that attack was really limited.

Fortunately, with the help of Torret, Xia Tong was much more agile than that clumsy golem.

The huge rock arrows could barely hit him.

Meanwhile, on the other two battlefields.

With their teleportation abilities, Oreg and Ruthel faced the cumbersome giant axe golem with ease.

Soon, one of the giant axe golems that Ruthel had been dealing with had its ankle completely shattered, and with a loud crash, it fell to its knees.

Ruthel is the fastest.

More than ten minutes later, the golem knelt down and could no longer stand.

It could only helplessly try to kill Ruthel with its hands, but to no avail.

Soon, Ruthel's spear pierced its core.

As the dazzling golden light on its chest gradually turned from gold to dark red and finally went out completely, the enormous construct, due to the destruction of its core, turned into a pile of charred rubble and never moved again.

Next, it was Oreg who resolved the battle.

About fifteen minutes later, he also killed the giant axe golem he was facing.

The pressure fell on Xia Tong, who was the slowest.

Whether it was a tacit understanding or not, after completing their combat missions, Ruthel and Oreg stood there quietly watching Xia Tong without coming up to help.

In fact, Xia Tongman's slow pace is to be expected.

After all, although his Great Magic Stone was powerful, its attack frequency was far less than that of the two's close-quarters combat strikes.

Moreover, most of the time, Xia Tong was riding her horse and circling around this ranged golem, dodging the giant arrows.

About ten more minutes passed.

As the final magic stone shattered the core of the golem, the bow-wielding golem that Xia Tong was dealing with finally collapsed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

I felt the runes flowing into my body.

The three golems provided a total of approximately 12,000 runes.

It's quite generous, and it's actually not that difficult to play.

One reason is that Xia Tong just leveled up ten times, resulting in a significant increase in her attributes.

On the other hand, it was because these three bulky golems were completely restrained by Xia Tong and her two companions.

Then, Xia Tong glanced at the towering Divine Tower and walked towards the broken teleportation stone ahead.