Start by logging into the Old Man's Ring at Hogwarts

It is mentioned here that Marika is a container for the illusion, and what Marika carries is the Elden Ring.

Of course, Zicomo doesn't believe that the so-called phantom image refers to something as simple as the Elden Ring.

If it were really that simple, then almost every faded person could become a sacrifice.

Because they all eventually have the opportunity to enter the Golden Tree and pay homage to the Elden Ring.

However, there is one condition for the faded ones to become sacrifices: they must accept the mad fire.

This is something Melina cannot allow, because the path of Mad Fire goes against her will and her mission.

Zicomo believes that the so-called illusion is more like a kind of future.

Chapter 200 Melina's Death and Rebirth, Flames That Are Completely Different

Zicomo believed that the so-called illusions were a kind of faith that people believed in, a vision of the future presented to its followers.

This scene is what the utopia that faith can ultimately reach looks like.

Ordinary fading people do not accept any faith, so they cannot see illusions.

Those who have accepted the faith of the Mad Fire will see a future that burns everything and returns all things to chaos.

Therefore, they can ignite the golden tree with their own bodies.

Marika, who also embraced the faith of the Golden Tree, was the vessel for the Elden Ring.

The existence of the Elden Ring is undoubtedly guiding the future of the borderlands with the Golden Law.

This is equivalent to Marika carrying the future that the Golden Tree faith showed her, which is the so-called illusion.

The relationship between Melina and Marika is similar to that between Marlene and Millicon.

She was created by Marika and embodies Marika's will and some of her traits.

Therefore, she was able to see the proverb left by Marika, and she could also see the illusion 30, making her the best candidate to become a sacrifice.

Because Melina was born with some kind of connection to the golden tree.

Rather than a sacrifice, she was the spark that ignited the golden tree.

Rather, she was a medium, a medium that guided the flames of the cauldron to the golden tree.

This is evidenced by the fading individuals who received the mad fire.

The faded ones receive the mad fire beneath the golden tree, and then set themselves ablaze at the cauldron of flames.

Guide the flames to the roots of the golden tree, burn the roots and stems, destroy the foundation of the entire borderland, and return everything to nothingness.

Melina's role was similar.

However, she wouldn't be as extreme as Madfire; what she needed to burn away was simply the thorns on the surface of the Golden Tree that rejected everything.

Having figured all this out, Zicomo finally understood why Melina considered burning trees her mission.

This is the will that Melina inherited from Marika, and it is also the mission that Melina has carried since birth.

Thinking of this, Zicomo suddenly felt a little sorry for the piece of wood beside him.

It seems that her destiny was predetermined from the moment she was born.

Seeing that Zicomo had come out of his thoughts and was looking at him with pity.

Melina said, "There's no need to pity me. This is the path I chose, my mission."

"...Besides, I had a very happy time traveling with you. I am already very satisfied."

"Thank you for bringing me here. Now, please let me complete my mission."

Zicomo had no choice but to turn aside and give up his spot.

Melina came to Zicomo's side and hugged him tightly.

As the time for parting drew near, she wanted to indulge herself just this once.

Melina nestled in Zicomo's arms, listening to his heartbeat, savoring this brief moment of peace.

Until the petite Lani doll in Zicomo's arms nuzzled in dissatisfaction.

She wasn't upset that Zicomo hugged other women in front of her; after all, it wasn't the first or second time Zicomo had hugged Hermione in front of her.

Lani was unhappy that they had her sandwiched in the middle, and she couldn't see anything, which made her feel uncomfortable.

Melina released Zicomo and said to him, "Could you please turn around?"

She didn't want Zicomo to see her in such a disgusting state, burning alive.

Even with her abilities, she couldn't put Zicomo into a coma like she did in the original game.

That's why Melina asked Zicomo to turn around.

Zicomo felt the extra teleportation marks on his body.

He knew this was a mark on the journey to the Sky City of Famyazra, left by Melina when she had just embraced him.

The black sword Maricus, which holds the key to certain death, is located in that place.

But none of this matters.

Importantly, Melina is about to become the spark.

Zicomo knew he couldn't stop her, and she wouldn't allow him to trample on her resolve.

However, Zicomo was not without ways to prevent Melina's sacrifice.

He still has one last resort.

Zicomo turned his back as Melina had instructed.

Seeing this, Melina turned to face the inside of the cauldron of flames.

She reached out her hands and guided the flames in the cauldron.

The flames ignited by Zicomo quickly enveloped Melina's body.

Melina raised her hands and said, "Those who walk alongside the flame will one day meet their destined death. Farewell!"

There are two ways to interpret her statement.

Firstly, if the faded one is accompanied by the mad fire, they will encounter the fire-breeding girl who will bring about their destined death.

Secondly, if the faded one travels with the Fire Seed Girl, they will encounter their destined death, which is about to be released.

There is no doubt that Melina meant the second meaning here.

After saying this, Melina closed her eyes, and her entire body transformed into a pillar of fire, rushing towards the golden tree that covered most of the border area.

Just then, Zicomo turned around, quickly reached into the pillar of fire, and pulled out a white dot of light.

After doing all this, Zicomo looked at the white light in his hand.

He smiled and said, "Farewell? I should say see you later."

This white dot of light is Melina's soul imprint.

Zicomo retrieved Melina's soul before the flames could completely incinerate it.

Melina can be resurrected if enough soul power is replenished to this mark and a suitable body is found.

Meeting the above conditions is not a difficult task for Zicomo.

Zicomo glanced at the burning golden tree and withdrew from the border area.

Let it burn for now.

Melina's intention was simply to burn away the thorns on the surface of the golden tree that rejected everything.

Once the thorns are burned off, the fire will probably stop.

As for going to the Sky City of Famyazra to kill the Black Sword and free the Fated One?

What could be more important than bringing my wife back to life?

With this in mind, Zicomo left the border area and entered the "Zen Garden" to prepare materials for Melina's resurrection.

However, Zicomo overlooked one thing: would the flames burning the golden tree really stop as he thought?

If everything proceeds as it did in the original game.

Melina lit the cauldron of flames and offered herself as a sacrifice to burn the golden tree.

Then things will naturally develop as Zicomo imagined.

In reality, it was not Melina who lit the cauldron of flames, but Zicomo.

This small difference will cause things to take a completely different turn.

Chapter 269 The Queen with Night-Colored Eyes, Melina Awakens

Zicomo was able to ignite the giant's cauldron of fire not because his fire was particularly advanced.

Rather, it was because of the properties contained in the flames he first threw.

The fire of rebirth, originating from the phoenix, contains immense vitality, which perfectly matches the characteristics of the cauldron of flames, which was once a furnace of life.