Elden Ring, building a legion of ashes

Chapter 45 Late arrival

Melina remained silent in the face of the envoy's mockery.

She knew things were getting worse.

If she hadn't been right next to the Blessing Point, allowing her to draw upon even more of the Golden Law's power, she would have collapsed long ago.

Moreover, she had a vague feeling that the envoy's attack just now was merely a test.

Suddenly, Melina seemed to make a connection to something.

"Did you instigate the villagers of the Sick Village to summon the Mad Fire?"

"Since you're all about to die anyway, I'll let you die knowing why."

The secret envoy let out a sinister laugh from under his hood.

"That's right, it was I who taught the villagers of Sicksville to embrace the mad fire at the Karl Baptistery."

Melina was instantly enraged, her knuckles turning white from gripping the dagger so tightly.

So many innocent villagers were all lured into becoming festering, lifeless corpses, dying in endless agony.

"Also, please don't try to pin the blame on me."

"It's not that I taught them, but that's how they summon the Mad Fire."

"It's because they've suffered enough; only the flames of madness can burn away all their suffering. I am the one who is saving them."

At this point, the envoy's mouth almost stretched to his ears, and he let out a maniacal laugh.

Then, his expression changed, becoming extremely resentful.

"You know what? You almost ruined my big plan!"

"Fortunately, however, the noble Miss Elena will still die here tonight."

"To die at the highest point of the Sobbing Peninsula, to die at the pilgrimage church, to die under the gaze of Queen Marika."

As he spoke, he slowly turned around, looked at the statue of Queen Marika, who remained noble and holy under the moonlight, and bowed deeply.

The posture was elegant, yet it exuded a sense of blasphemy.

"Lady Xia Tong will not let you get away with this! Besides, you are no match for Sister Melina!"

Elena suddenly shouted, her voice trembling as she stubbornly expressed her resistance.

The moment she spoke, the envoy launched another frenzied attack.

His broadsword, wreathed in flames, slammed into the golden defensive barrier again and again.

Melina's forehead was visibly beaded with sweat, making her appear to be struggling even more.

The envoy swung his sword while cursing angrily:

"Xia Tong? This brat ruined my big plan."

"You should have died a week ago! If you had died, the esteemed Lady Haida could have descended!"

The envoy's eyes grew increasingly frantic, and the frequency and force of his attacks increased.

Visibly, the cracks on the gold barrier are increasing.

"What a pity! When I rushed over from Moen City, I found you were already hanging out with that brat."

"And this brat is surprisingly strong; he managed to take down the Night Cavalry and even kill the Demi-human Queen!"

"But it's all over now."

"Your Lord Xia Tong should already be buried in the underground cemetery of the Temple of Heaven. I saw him go in with my own eyes!"

"Alas, the shadows of the graveyard will devour your Lady Xia Tong bit by bit."

At this point, the envoy's face revealed a ferocious and excited smile.

Upon hearing this, Elena crouched down in anguish, covering her ears tightly, unable to bear hearing the cruel ending.

"You were involved in the events in Moen City too?"

Melina struggled to stay upright, looked at the menacing envoy, and asked again.

Her spiritual light dimmed a little more.

"That's right! It was I who instigated that lion hybrid, and it was I who incited the slaves of Moen City to start their rebellion."

"Tsk tsk tsk, I have to say, those bastards are really simple-minded and physically strong. They'll riot if you just incite them a little."

"Alright, that's enough said. Now, it's time for you to get going!"

The envoy sheathed his broadsword at his waist, then suddenly covered his head and laughed loudly.

The laughter grew louder and more manic.

The murky yellow flames were almost overflowing from between his fingers.

Then, he suddenly straightened up and looked at Melina.

"ah--!!"

The raging fire, like a jet of flame, slammed into the already crumbling golden barrier.

This madness was so pure and insane.

Along with the flames came maniacal laughter, screams, and agonizing howls that echoed from the depths of the soul.

Its power is many levels higher than that released by the villagers in the diseased village.

"Snap!"

Melina's golden barrier shattered suddenly.

She was thrown backward by the blast wave.

The hot wind from the raging flames lifted her robe, revealing old scars on her arms that had once been burned by the flames.

Melina's face showed a look of pain.

The flames seemed to evoke painful memories of her past, memories of being burned.

The Sobbing Peninsula was too far from the royal city of Rodel, so far that she could hardly draw upon much of her power from the Golden Tree.

If this were in the royal city, she wouldn't even give this lowly envoy a second thought.

Unfortunately, no if.

"I wonder how he is..."

In a daze, Melina thought to herself.

"Thump!"

Just as Melina and Elena were about to be consumed by the mad fire.

A colossal tower shield, as imposing as a mountain, blocked their path.

It was an absolute defense; the mad fire licked frantically at the shield's surface, yet could not penetrate even an inch.

Melina slowly raised her head.

It was a tall knight without a head.

She was dressed in the heavy armor of a Priestess, and her cloak was decorated with the black feathers of a dead bird.

She held a large shield in her left hand and a heavy spear in her right.

Looking at this figure from behind, Melina felt that she was so imposing and unapproachable.

"I'm sorry, I can't do as you wish, I'm not dead yet!"

A familiar voice suddenly rang out in the pilgrimage church under the cover of night.

"Lord Xia Tong?"

Elena was so surprised she almost jumped for joy.

Xia Tong slowly walked in from the church entrance.

"Da, da, da."

The steady footsteps echoed through the church, each step resonating with the envoy's heartbeat.

The mad fire in the envoy's eyes slowly died down.

His bloodshot, crazed eyes were fixed on Xia Tong, filled with shock.

"You're still alive? You even escaped from the clutches of the Shadow of the Graveyard?"

Xia Tong ignored him.

He picked up the Blue Dewdrop Holy Grail bottle and took a big gulp to replenish his depleted focus.

Then, he shook the summoning bell again.

"Ring ring—"

Most of Xia Tong's Ashes Battle Group were summoned.

Wolves, imps, and Grik soldiers blocked the church doors completely.

Xia Tong slowly walked up behind the headless knight Ruthel.

He first gently helped Elena, who was crouching on the ground in fear, to her feet.

Then he walked over to Melina.

Looking at the exposed burn scars on her arm, Xia Tong's eyes flashed with heartache.

He gently straightened Melina's clothes, his fingers lightly brushing across her arm with burn scars, before gently draping the robe over her.

"I'm sorry I'm late."

Xia Tong looked at Melina and said guiltily.

Melina's face was a little pale. She gave a soft "hmm," put her hood back on, and silently stepped back to Elena's side.

Seeing the two girls so weak and disheveled, Xia Tong's anger erupted like a volcano.

He turned around.

Holding the Demi-human Queen's Staff in her left hand and the Monarch's Army Straight Sword in her right, she slowly walked towards the secret envoy.

Xia Tong walked with heavy steps, her eyes fixed on the secret envoy like an eagle's.