Astartes of the Bear School

Chapter 2019, 1991. What is Requested

"What do you plan to do with your post-war achievements?" Bai Zhi seemed somewhat surprised. "Would you mind telling me? I can give you some ideas."

Although Lann has not been in the Hall of the Round Table for long, Sir Hundred Wisdom admires him.

On the one hand, this person has such good physical attributes; wherever he goes, his face is bound to make a bad first impression.

On the other hand, Lann's abilities were strong enough to rank among the top even among the Faded Ones. Although the Faded Ones had never seriously sparred with each other, Gideon Ofnir, known as the 'Master of a Hundred Wisdoms,' was well aware of the capabilities of the Faded Ones in the Hall of the Round Table.

And not only are their combat capabilities commendable, but they are also very thorough in getting things done. They are easygoing and not troublesome.

Working with colleagues like this is a pleasure.

However, there is only one thing...

The supernatural shadow beneath Sir Eldest's helmet faces the Witcher.

He recalled his private conversation with Twofinger, who was not friendly towards the laws that Lann carried.

The Golden Law, supported by the two fingers of the round table, is glorious, enduring, and beautiful, but at the same time, it is also a very exclusive law.

To ensure the Golden Law would forever operate on the Ring of Law, the Two Fingers of the Round Table wouldn't even give Raccard a chance to negotiate. As for Lann, this suddenly appearing "god-like being" who seemed to bear the burden of two laws, his attitude was predictable.

Baizhi's helmet concealed his expression, making it impossible to discern his thoughts.

"Capturing the rebellious commander-in-chief of the demigod alliance is a huge achievement. What do you really want? With this achievement, what are you still worried about?"

He spoke to Lan En in a lighthearted and teasing tone.

Baizhi's voice has a strong bubbly quality.

“I wasn’t thinking of anything,” Lan En said, flicking his longsword, the blood on the silver blade splashing onto the lava. “I just want to go somewhere.”

Sheathing his sword, the Witcher spoke as he walked toward the [Turbid Stream - Annihilation] sword stuck in the head of the young dragon.

At this moment, the dragon head had completely sunk beneath the lava, leaving only the dark, heavy sword standing on the lava like a tombstone stuck at an angle.

The hot air from the lava surged, causing the Nergigante skin straps extending from the hilt of the sword [Turbid Flow - Annihilation] to flutter in mid-air.

Against the backdrop of the orange-red glow and the charred remains above the lava lake, the sword exudes a tragic grandeur.

Lann lifted it up; the young dragon's head had been devoured by the sword, and the powerless dragon's head turned into a pile of charred remains in the lava.

The sword was still covered in sticky lava, but in no time, the lava was absorbed by [Turbid Flow - Annihilation].

【Turbid Stream - Extinction】Although Lan En had already taught him a lesson when he killed the Moon Goddess of Yharnam, his ferocity had been tamed considerably.

But as fierce as they may be, their appetites can't be reduced, can they?

You still have to eat.

However, now, it won't force itself to eat things that Lann forbids it to eat.

“I want to go to the foot of the Golden Tree,” Lann said, sheathing his Gluttonous Greatsword. “Not in such a broad sense as Rodel, but specifically to the ‘foot of the Golden Tree’.”

When Lan En said the first half of his sentence, Bai Zhi was a little confused, but he understood immediately after Lan En finished speaking the second half.

The Golden Tree was so magnificent that the concept of 'at the foot of the Golden Tree' was quite broad, encompassing the entire city of Rodel.

But since it is called 'concrete', then only the place where you can actually touch the main trunk of the golden tree can be called the foot of the golden tree.

And such a place... can only be found at the highest point of the Rodel Palace!

In other words, if Lan En wants to achieve his goal, he needs to enter the palace, which has not accepted anyone from the outside world since the King of Blessing ascended the throne!
“Ha, this is really…” After Lann finished speaking, Gideon Ofnir also fell silent for a while, “Judging from the current situation, your demands are indeed not simple.”

"However, are you really going to use your merits on a pilgrimage? Although you probably haven't actually seen the Golden Tree in a long time."

Gideon Ophniel felt that Lane's decision was somewhat irrational.

He thought that Lann wanted to actually touch the golden tree, simply to make a pilgrimage for his faith.

But as he talked, he himself felt that it was actually quite reasonable.

After all, it's for faith.

Lan En is not religious, but in many places he has experienced, people who are religious and have faith are the majority.

In these religious places, the status of faith is completely different from that in non-religious places.

Simply put: In the name of faith, no matter what a person gives or does, they can be believed.

People may not approve of what he did, but because of the reason of "for faith," people will feel that such a thing can indeed happen.

What's wrong with using one's war merit for a pilgrimage? People believe that someone would definitely be able to dedicate their entire life, even their life itself, to a pilgrimage.

“But perhaps it’s not that difficult,” Bai Zhi’s deep voice reassured him. “Your achievements are beyond reproach, and the palace isn’t exactly a closed place; it’s just been sealed off recently. The Prince of Cifu should be lenient with you.”

"I'll lend you some good words."

Lann waved his hand, and together with Baizhi, pulled Gougha up and headed towards the towering walls of Rodel. On the hillside beyond the vast lava lake, some tall, slender knights could be seen standing quietly on the ridgeline, watching this scene.

The Rhodes Knights were not surprised; they had recognized him as a Valkyrie's subordinate, the Venerable Knight.

They kept their previous agreement to remain bystanders in the war.

As Lakad fled, the temperature of the lava lake gradually began to drop, showing a tendency to solidify.

However, as we walked toward the gates of Rodel, the lava lake continued to reverberate with waves of loud noises and tremors.

The battle among the strong is not over yet.

Even the two demigods in the demigod alliance have been defeated or fled.

"Boom!"

The lava lake was trembling! From the side of Baizhi and Lann, a colossal creature scooping through the lava was sending up waves of heat!

Both of them calmly turned their heads to look.

The situation on this battlefield is now largely settled. The two demigods have been dealt with, and the rest are just minor characters.

The enormous creature charging towards them was none other than the lava earth dragon that Lan En had previously had Oreg hold back.

Its scales, which resemble jagged stone spikes, are now covered in wounds, clearly showing that they were as if it had been ravaged by a hurricane.

However, although the Lava Earth Dragons were transformed from humans who lost control after becoming obsessed with the Dragon Offering Ritual, they are now closer to dragons than humans.

With its strong vitality and resilient body, it thrives in the magma.

Even the lava that had cooled and darkened because of Lakad's escape became hot and bright again after it passed by.

"Is this coming for you?" Gideon Ofnir somehow immediately understood who the lava earth dragon's greed and hostility were directed at. "You're really popular; even dragons who've lost their minds want to bite you."

"Who knew it would go crazy on its own."

Lan En was helpless.

Sir Hundred Wisdom raised his cane, and a bluish-green glow of sapphire magic gradually emanated from the spherical tip of the cane.

With a whoosh, a [Storm Blade] blasted towards the Lava Earth Dragon from behind, the spiraling Storm Blade carving a hideous gash across the Lava Earth Dragon's back.

Even though it was so badly injured, it only roared once and didn't turn its head at all.

Given the Lava Dragon's unwavering focus on its target and the relatively weak Repelling ability of the Storm-type Battle Ash, the fact that Oreg was able to hold off the Lava Dragon for so long truly demonstrates his skill level.

However, seeing that Oreg's obstruction was ineffective behind the Lava Earth Dragon, both Lann and Baizhi simultaneously lowered their weapons and guarded themselves.

They watched calmly as the lava dragon bared its fangs and claws, lava gushing from its flat, wide mouth as it charged toward them.

And just as the lava dragon closed in to within twenty meters of them!
"Oh!"

A huge weapon came crashing down from the side!

The weapon looked like a giant fishhook, except the hook part resembled some kind of creature's keratin, claws, or nails.

Even the anchors of normal large ships wouldn't be this size!
The hook went straight up and pierced the lava earth dragon's flat lower jaw! Then, with a flick of its wrist!

"Boom! Howl!"

As the hook flipped over with the wrist, the lava dragon, whose jaw had been pierced, was forced to turn over as the hook rotated.

The enormous lava dragon, weighing at least a hundred tons, was flipped over with a single hand!

Then, it seemed that wasn't enough.

The large hook was first lifted slightly, and then hammered down hard!
"Bang! Boom!"

Centered on the head of the lava dragon, a small lava lake was rippled outwards by the impact!

Combined with the injuries it had sustained at the hands of Oreg, the Lava Dragon froze completely after that attack.

With a loud 'crack' as the large hook clashed with bone, stone spikes, and scales, the hook that had smashed through the lava earth dragon's jaw all the way to its skull was pulled out.

It was carried back onto the shoulder of the weapon's owner.

"A dragon-armored tree guardian." Lan En looked at the other party with admiration, "Truly worthy of being the flower of knights in the Golden Dynasty."

The knight before them was exactly the same size as the tree guardian, about the same height as the lava earth dragon lying down.

However, unlike ordinary tree guardians, their heavy golden armor is decorated with many biological bone artifacts.

The shields resembled bound and fixed hand bones, and the weapon was not a golden halberd, but a large claw; the warhorses' armor was covered with pieces of white bone.

Lan En knew that these skeletons were actually the remains of the ancient dragon Gransanx, who had been lying on the inner city walls of Rodel.

(End of this chapter)