Elden Ring, but with Wind Spirit Moon Shadow

Chapter 505 The Thorn of Rejection Cannot Reject Me!
As the golden rain of swords dissipated in the blazing sun, a brief silence fell over the battlefield of the royal city of Rodel.

The warriors of the Golden Tree still gripped their cracked weapons, their armor stained with blood, yet none of them retreated a single step.

Cursed blood dripped from the corner of Montgomery's mouth. He covered his wound and struggled to lift his head, looking at the warriors fighting desperately.

However, faced with Bai Shi's powerful army, willpower alone could not help them hold out for long.

Even though every inch of the land was soaked in blood, the Golden Tree's defenses eventually collapsed like a sandcastle.

A little further away, Ashmi's double-headed sword was already at Lopez's neck, and the outcome was decided.

"enough……"

Montgomery's voice was hoarse yet clear, carrying across the fierce battlefield.

He trembled as he pulled the cursed sword from the ground, the blade scraping against the scorched earth with a rustling sound.

"Soldiers, lay down your weapons..."

"This war must end."

Upon hearing Montgomery's command, the remaining Golden Tree soldiers stood frozen in place.

A nobleman loosened his grip on the hilt of his sword, and the jewel-encrusted blade struck the heavy stone slabs in front of the royal city with a clear, ringing sound.

The sound was like a signal, and countless weapons fell to the ground in succession.

The crisp sound of armor clashing and the dull thud of shields hitting the ground intertwined to form the finale of the Golden Tree era.

Bai Shi strode across the cracked battlefield, sunlight streaming behind him.

Looking at the exhausted Montgomery before him, Bai Shi asked:
"Now that things have come to this, do you still intend to live and die with the Golden Tree, just like before?"

Montgomery lowered his head, remained silent for a long time, and then slowly sighed:
"I……"

"In fact, that was what I originally thought."

"The golden tree is my lifelong faith, and perhaps no one can understand my thoughts."

There are countless kinds of love in the world, but none of them can be repeated.

"Love may be irrational; love in flames and screams until one's own destruction."

"I thought I was living for this moment..."

As Montgomery reflected on his own heart, the golden tree that had once been unshakable in his mind began to blur.

“I know that as the son of an ominous sign, I will inevitably be despised by the people of the Golden Tree.”

"Therefore I do not contact any of my people, because I believe they would never accept my existence, and I do not understand what they are thinking."

"I have only ever wanted to protect the Golden Tree, and I don't want them to know that this throne has been tainted by an ominous sign."

Montgomery raised his head and looked at Bai Shi seriously.

"But... it wasn't until they stood behind me and chose to fight alongside me that I finally realized that what was truly worth protecting was 'people'."

"It's no longer meaningful to simply protect Rodel and the golden tree that rejects everyone."

"I hope that the people of the Golden Tree can live happily, even if they are not under the light of the Golden Tree."

Bai Shi nodded, quite satisfied with the changes Montgomery had made.

Originally, all of Montgomery's thoughts stemmed from the goal of 'protecting the Golden Tree,' making him seem like a machine that acted solely on this purpose.

Montgomery truly matured when he realized that he too was the king of the Golden Tree and that it was his turn to protect his people.

Bai Shi placed his hand on Meng Ge Te's shoulder, and the warm sunlight healed his injuries.

Gazing at Montgomery's body, covered in horns and trailing a giant tail, Bai Shi spoke:
"I hope you can dedicate your governing talents and personal abilities to all living beings in this new era."

"In the future, all races and all life will live in peace."

"No matter what race, everyone can bask in the sunlight, and the son of the ominous is no exception."

A gentle breeze swept across the battlefield, dispersing some of the blood and noise, and the falling leaves of the golden tree brushed past the blood-stained horn of Montgomery.

He looked up at the towering walls of Rodel, the supposedly impregnable fortress now blackened by the ravages of war.

The city, which inscribed the ideal of an 'eternal age,' has not been eternal; it has already entered a period of decline.

The golden tree's radiance dimmed further under the blazing sun, as if it were approaching its twilight years.

Montgomery slowly rose to his feet, bowing to Bai Shi with utmost respect, accepting this fate.

"As you command..."

He was not defeated by fate or by his own abilities, but by a future that was more worthy of his trust.

If what Bai Shi brings is not the radiance of the sun, but rather the flickering flames of ambition eyeing the throne...

Even if it means fighting to the death, he will never back down an inch.
-

Holly Lou stood at the edge of the battlefield, her white hair and long beard trembling slightly in the hot wind.

Witnessing all this, he slowly exhaled.

That body, covered in ominous horns, was abandoned by their time, but now stands as a king in the fading light of the golden tree.

Montgomery's heart had been trapped in the curse of 'ominous signs,' and his growth at this moment brought him comfort.

His child faced his true self, stood tall, and shed the identity of King Rodel, yet was more like a true king than ever before.

Sunlight shone on Hore Lu's weathered face, and this fearless war king murmured to himself like an ordinary father:

"There's no need to guard that withered tree anymore..."

Fight for those who believe in you.

On the other side, Messermo and Lera stood side by side, coldly watching Montgomery.

He wasn't particularly hostile towards Montgomery, even though Montgomery was someone who should have been eliminated, since Montgomery had protected Rodel.

But he really didn't have much affection for this 'younger brother' anymore.

Messermo knew perfectly well that Montgomery had suffered an undeserved misfortune, but he couldn't change his mind for the time being.

The manifestation of those ominous traits, like the evil serpent within their own bodies, is not something they can choose.

Montgomery shares the same bloodline as his 'father' and is blessed by the Forge of Life; it's just that his Forge power happens to manifest as a hybrid horn.

However, Messermo understood better what the mixed-race corner meant to a mother.

When a mother gives birth to such a child, her feelings must be incredibly complex...

Finally, Messermo sighed softly and stopped paying attention to these things that bothered him.

The future will not care about trivial matters such as birth and race, and Montgomery has already demonstrated his will and spirit.

Based on the current situation, Messermo now thinks the other party is at least a respectable fellow, which has slightly changed his opinion of him.

As for how to treat Montgomery in the future, we'll have to see if his performance thereafter is as impressive as it is now.
-

Bai Shi strode across the cracked battlefield, the sun high overhead illuminating his body with dazzling light.

Wherever he went, the scorched earth turned green again, and the broken armor lost its blood and rust.

Bai Shi stood in the center of the battlefield, his gaze sweeping over every soldier.

Whether it was the warriors of the Golden Tree, or the Cuckoo Knights, each face was unique.

Bai Shi turned and surveyed the defeated Golden Tree army and the cuckoos, and calmly said:

"Soldiers, your valiant efforts deserve recognition and respect."

"There's no need to worry about your future."

"The future will be an era filled with light and warmth, where all life coexists in peace."

"In this new era, every living being will be bathed in the sunlight equally—regardless of bloodline or origin."

Then, Bai Shi's gaze swept over the nobles of the Golden Tree era, and he continued speaking to them:
“Nobles of the Golden Tree, you will no longer enjoy the status and power of the nobles of the past, but you will also not be treated unfairly because of the change of times.”

"Regardless of your status, in the new dynasty, you are all my subjects." "However, I will never allow the deep-rooted arrogance and discrimination against other races from the Golden Tree era to continue in the new dynasty."

"If they cannot correct their ways and cannot communicate with other life forms on an equal footing, then they are my enemies on the path to peace."

Bai Shi's words seemed to possess a magical power, piercing through the gloom in the warriors' hearts.

Although there was no rousing speech, only a description of that future era, it was exactly what everyone truly longed for…

The soldiers looked at each other, and the lingering hesitation and doubt in their hearts gradually melted away.

"This is what we've been expecting..."

All the warriors knelt before Bai Shi, each one offering their utmost loyalty to the new king.

"The Sun King!"

"Welcome the Sun King!"

It is unknown who first uttered this cry, but it immediately transformed into a wave that swept across the battlefield.

All the armies parted like a tide, and a road appeared on the battlefield.

The Faded Ones, the Savage Warriors, and the Golden Tree Warriors all bowed their heads, making way for the true king to reach the Golden Tree.

The heavy gates of Rodel roared open, welcoming the king's arrival.

They knew this was not the end, but the funeral of an age of ignorance, and the dawn of a new life.

They had loathed war, were shaken by the truth of the ominous king, and lamented the changing of dynasties...

But at this moment, all eyes were focused on that figure bathed in sunlight.

Bai Shi smiled slightly, then stepped onto the solid stone path leading to Rodel.

Behind Bai Shi, an even larger army followed him into the territory, proving that this journey was the one that all people desired.

After crossing Rodel's first city gate, and then simply passing through the inner city gate that truly leads to the city, Bai Shi would have truly entered the royal city of the Golden Tree.

It's just that because of the lack of resistance during the past wars, the heavy city gates have long been filled with thick layers of resin, and it will take some more time.

Bai Shi waited quietly for the city gates to open, without taking any action himself.

It's not just about the sense of ritual; now, the waiting time is also indispensable.

News of the battlefield's outcome still needs to be disseminated, and the residents of the capital city also need time to react after taking control.

Melina stood on the desolate land outside the city, grabbed a handful of soil mixed with fallen golden tree leaves, and let it flow through her fingers.

"This land at the foot of the golden tree hasn't changed at all..."

Messermo stood beside her, looking at the towering walls of the royal city, and felt a deep sense of emotion.

"Yes...it hasn't changed at all."

"Besides the Alpine Plateau itself... the traces of war have altered much of the original landscape."

"It's just that I feel a bit wistful, as returning to the capital will be to embark on a journey for a new era."

"The expectations for the new era outweigh the nostalgia for the royal city, and I believe the soldiers must feel the same way."

Holly Lou watched the brother and sister's retreating figures, remaining silent, her heart filled with countless words yet unsure where to begin.

In the end, he just sighed slightly, deciding to have a proper talk after rescuing Marika and settling everything down.

Montgomery followed closely beside his father, his heart filled with the same complex emotions, feeling very uncomfortable with this seemingly ordinary interaction.

Everyone had different feelings, but they all shared one thing in common: they were full of confidence in Bai Shi's journey and were not worried about the final enemy.

Finally, the heavy inner door slowly opened, and the long-sealed giant door roared.

Sunlight streamed in, illuminating the bewildered faces of the residents.

Bai Shi officially stepped into Rodel, and the sunlight shone down on everyone.

Facing countless lives, Bai Shi spread his arms wide and solemnly declared to all his people:

"The golden age is now a memory, but all life will live in a more blazing dawn."

"This is the end, and also the beginning."

"My people, bask in the sunshine."

"The age of the sun is coming."

The inhabitants of Rodel were unaware of the course of the war; they only knew that the sunlight seemed warmer than the glow of the golden tree.

They cannot yet comprehend the historical significance of this moment.

—For the border region, a dawn free of gloom is finally about to arrive.
-

Bai Shi led his army into the royal city, passing through the surrounding area.

Under command, the army was deployed to various locations in Rodel, bringing some life to the empty city.

Bai Shi led the group deeper and deeper, finally arriving at the throne of the Golden Tree.

But Bai Shi didn't even glance at the throne that symbolized the King of Elden, and continued forward.

He resolutely stepped over the throne and walked straight up the stairs leading into the Golden Tree, standing before the thorn of rejection.

Dense, black spikes twisted and coiled, blocking the path to the interior of the golden tree.

Between the crisscrossing thorns, a layer of interwoven golden seals is revealed, the square intersecting lines clearly the work of Radagan.

Bai Shi touched the thorn of rejection with his hand, while Montgomery slowly stepped forward and said:

"The golden tree rejects everything; we have long been abandoned."

"At this moment, no one can enter the Golden Tree to pay homage to the Elden Ring, and no one can become the King of Elden..."

Melina turned to look at Bai Shi and blinked.

Bai Shi returned with a confident smile. He had said long ago that there was no need for anyone else to become the spark.

In Bai Shi's hands, a burst of light appeared, instantly illuminating his entire body.

"The thorn of rejection... cannot refuse me!"

The sun's blazing flames burst forth from his hand, and the thorn of refusal suddenly ignited into flames.

However, this alone was not enough to burn away the spikes that were blocking the road.

The Golden Law was established only after death was eliminated, and the immortality of the Golden Tree is particularly special.

Bai Shi was prepared for this.

In Bai Shi's hand, another black and red power gradually emerged, tinging the intense heat with a terrifying and chilling aura.

The power of the Death Rune bestows upon that refusal thorn—a destined death!
As the pulsating death merged with the blazing flames, the thorns of refusal finally began to turn to ash, peeling away from the seal bit by bit.

Once the thorns of refusal were completely burned away, the seal was fully revealed before everyone's eyes.

Bai Shi sheathed the blazing flames and instead drew his sharpest sword, the Night and Fire Sword.

When enhanced to its extreme, it is so powerful that it can be called a god-slaying weapon, possessing the sharpness to tear through space.

As the blade of the Sword of Night and Fire swept across, the seal that shimmered with golden light was completely shattered, and the path leading to the interior of the Golden Tree was now completely unobstructed.

Bai Shi sheathed his sword, looked into the interior of the radiant golden tree, and took a deep breath.

This is the end of the journey to becoming the King of Elden.

Defeat Radagan, who has been transformed into a puppet of the Golden Law, defeat the Beast of Elden, and pay homage to the Elden Ring...

As long as Bai Shi controls the Dharma Ring and completely rewrites the laws, he can truly change this border region.

Today, he finally stands here.

A light gradually appeared in Bai Shi's eyes, and he took a resolute and unwavering step forward, instantly engulfing him in the light of the golden tree.

(End of this chapter)