People are at the border, but they become the incarnation of the sun

The inner city of Rodel King City——

The buildings here are grayish white, looking monotonous and majestic.

Looking around, there are gorgeous houses and majestic palaces everywhere, but because the buildings are too dense, it looks like a maze.

If you have never been there, you might get lost in it.

The inner city is divided into civilian area, noble area, temple area and palace area. The terrain gradually rises, and the middle is fragmented by various city walls and towers. While retaining its solemnity, it gives people a sense of awe of a military fortress, as if everything below exists only to protect the central palace.

This is the core of the core of the border area. The huge golden tree is like an umbrella that protects against wind and rain and covers the sky.

Looking up, it seemed as if the Supreme Will was watching everyone indifferently and mercilessly.

but.

The once bustling and bustling market has now disappeared without a trace. Only patrolling soldiers and knights remain on the wide avenue, with no civilians to be seen.

The Royal City of Rodel, once the center of the border area, has now become a deserted dead city.

In an alley near the city wall, several soldiers were wandering around.

"Hey man, it's time for me to take over."

A Rodel soldier came over leisurely with a spear in hand and spoke to his good brother who was sitting on the ground.

They looked decadent and had no spirit at all. They didn't look like the brave army of the past at all. Instead, they were more like the Cuckoo Knights who were undisciplined.

"what...."

The man sitting on the ground replied in a low voice, then staggered to his feet, holding a shield in his hand and dragging his weapon, and left.

A long, thin trail was left on the dusty stairs and road.

"Ugh...."

After his companions left, the soldier on duty imitated his predecessors and sat dejectedly on the ground, throwing his weapons and helmets aside, holding his head and looking up at the golden tree above him and the slowly falling leaves.

By the way, I imagined the good old days when the captain and the group of tree guards talked about them in their casual conversation.

Was life really that good before?

They sounded so free and glorious, and even killed an ancient dragon in the Royal City of Rodel. The huge dragon-shaped rock was the proof.

But, is all this true?

He didn't know.

He only knows that the life he is living now is really not a human life.

Not only does he have no rest time every day, but he also has to stick to his post. This kind of life has lasted for a very long time, so long that even he can't remember it.

"What a fucking day, what a fucking... damn!"

Thinking of the wonderful life described by his predecessors, the soldier couldn't help but curse indignantly.

If he really had to live that kind of life, even for one day, he would rather pay any price for it.

Swah——

"Who?!"

A subtle sound interrupted the soldier's reverie and caught his attention.

But before I could turn my head, I suddenly found that the scenery in my eyes began to spin, as if it was falling to the ground.

It spun around a few times before stopping.

From the angle where he stopped, the soldier saw a headless corpse wearing Rodel's soldier armor, and the sitting posture was exactly the same as his own just now.

No, isn't that your own body?

But....

"Where did your head go?"

Such thoughts popped up in his mind, and why was there a flame burning on his neck?

And why is this sleepiness so strong...

Also, who are the man and woman next to him? Are they intruders?

We have to sound the alarm.

But... I'm so sleepy, why am I so sleepy?

I don't have any strength left in my body.

The heavy sleepiness had made the soldier unable to think, and his body seemed to become very light, as if his consciousness was fading away.

Finally, he slowly closed his eyes and fell into endless darkness.

"Sure enough, it's just as I guessed."

Reinhardt, carrying a pyroxene hand axe, casually burned the remaining bodies of the soldiers into ashes, and then looked at the seemingly illusory golden tree in the center of the royal city.

He did not see the familiar big tree guarding the entrance to the inner city. Instead, the military strength in the inner city area was greatly increased.

These soldiers...

It seems a little bit overwhelmed.

By the time he reached this position, he had already killed at least five or six undisciplined Rodel soldiers like this, including a Rodel knight.

"Rhine..."

Hearing Melina's call, he turned his head and looked over. He looked at Melina and smiled, "So, is the agreement between us fulfilled?"

As agreed, he had sent Melina to the Royal City of Rodel at the foot of the Golden Tree.

In other words, they are going to separate.

"...Well, thank you...thank you for bringing me to the foot of the golden tree."

"Here, I can do what I want to do, and the agreement between us is fulfilled."

"I'm going to check on my mission... Goodbye."

"...Thank you for your company along the way. I am glad to be able to travel with you. Torrett, I will stay here."

"I hope you can also complete your mission."

"...You've fought all the way here. I hope that in the end, you can become the King of Elden. I believe you can save the borderland and all lives."

Melina said a lot, giving her farewell words.

Her words were still so old-fashioned, as if she didn't know how to adapt. They sounded very familiar, but they made him feel a little reluctant.

"We will meet again, right?"

Although I already knew that I would meet Xiao Mu again later, I still couldn't help but ask this question.

"...I think it will."

Melina looked at him and nodded, then smiled. "I believe we will meet again."

After saying that, Melina's figure turned into starlight, and countless points of light diffused in the air.

This time, the light did not merge into his body, but slowly disappeared under his gaze.

"...Goodbye, Rhine, thank you for everything you have done for me."

Melina's last words faintly echoed in the air.

"...Well, it's time for me to get down to business."

After watching Melina disappear, he slowly put away the precious sadness, stood up and stretched his muscles, and casually dispersed the pyroxene axe in his hand.

Hiding in a dark corner, looking at the army wandering on the avenue.

He needed to find a way to reach the other side of the royal city, roughly the western part of the city, where there was a road leading to the forbidden snow-capped mountains.

If you want to reach the Holy Snowfield, there is only one way to go in the Royal City of Rodel.

It just so happened that he also knew a way to bypass the army and reach the West City District.

A thousand years ago, he came here with Lani, so it was not in vain for him to wander here. But he just hoped that Mongget had not changed the architectural layout of the royal city.

Just as he was about to take action, he suddenly felt something strange inside his body.

"Mmm~ This sleep was so comfortable."

Such a seductive and delicate sound rang out in his body.

It goes without saying that it's definitely that guy Ashimi.

only....

"Eh? My Lord, where are you? Did you unlock a new map?"

Ashmi, who was gazing at the scenery of the Royal City of Rodel through his body, was surprised by the spectacular view before him, especially the ancient dragon lying near the center in the distance.

It's obvious at first glance that he's not someone to be trifled with. Just by watching him from a distance, one can feel the intense sense of oppression he exerted during his lifetime.

Very strong, at least it is difficult for her to deal with.

"This is the Royal City of Rodel on the Yatan Plateau, the center of the border area." Reinhardt said to Ashmi in his body with dead eyes, "Ashmi, you really know how to choose the right time to wake up. You woke up just after Melina left..."

"Eh? Miss Melina has left?"

Ashmi's voice was filled with surprise.

She originally thought that Melina would become her mistress and competitor, but she didn't expect her to leave like this?

"Yeah, so you're afraid I'll be lonely, so you woke up at this time?"

"Hehe, have you been discovered? Ashimi woke up at this time because he was worried that his dear master would be lonely."

Even if he couldn't see Ashimi's face, he could imagine that this slime Ashimi was looking at him expectantly with an expression of "Praise me, praise me" on her face.

"...Okay, stop being so silly. Does your awakening this time mean that your transformation is complete? You won't continue to sleep, right?"

"...Yes my master, this time Ashimi has completed his transformation."

For some reason, Ashmi's voice suddenly became muffled, as if she was not happy about mentioning this matter.

But Reinhardt didn't care much, and continued: "In that case, it's perfect. I just happen to have a plan that requires your cooperation..."

Just as the master and the servant gathered together to plot something, among the desolate thrones emitting golden fluorescence, Monggot, who was sitting on the false throne, woke up from his deep sleep and slowly opened his eyes.

"coming..."

"Plunderer driven by ambition, you have finally arrived..."

An old, deep voice echoed between the empty thrones.

But Mongget didn't care, and even had a sly smile on his face.

He was the one who transferred the soldiers from the outer city with the purpose of catching and killing this little rat in the inner city.

As long as this Faded One can be defeated head-on, no one will disturb the peace of the Royal City of Rodel again.

But he was very curious. This Faded One had clearly established his own power in the Magic Academy in Lienia, so why did he come to the Yatan Plateau alone?

Does he think that the current Royal City of Rodel can be fought by him alone?

Thinking of this, Mongget frowned slightly.

He felt that he was being looked down upon. This Faded One named Reinhardt was too arrogant.

However, there was something that made Mongert feel even more distressed and frustrated than this.

He slowly stood up from the throne, turned to the golden tree behind him that was emitting dazzling light and stared at it for a long time.

Then he lowered his gaze and looked at the only entrance - the entrance to the Elden Ring.

"[Eternal Queen] Marika, the golden deity, my mother, why do you reject me..."

"Why are you so cruel to abandon us..."

Mungot complained about the injustice in a low voice, and he would speak to the golden tree every day like a prayer.

He is an omen, and like the Faded One, he is a being hated by the world. He was also abandoned and exiled by his mother, Queen Marika, and thrown into the sewer without care.

Until one day, he and his brother Munger received their mother's gift - the fragments of the Elden Ring. From then on, they guarded the kingless throne and repelled all invaders.

He didn't know how many Faded Ones he had killed, manipulated by the fire of ambition and bewitched by the Finger Witch in an attempt to become the King of Elden.