Elden Ring: The Shattering!

A small boat floated on the surface of a lake where the water flowed and duckweed drifted. Aside from faint curses coming from the shore, only the heavy breathing of exhaustion remained aboard.

Everyone was recovering their strength, while Kaelith curled up in a corner, deep in thought. His gaze occasionally fell on the numerous notches along the blade of his Straight Sword, yet his mind drifted to the marshlands filled with reeds.

The Dragons Heritage originated from the Miko, a form of immortal power. Kaelith had spent years in that place, using every means possible to become one of the only two possessors of the Dragons Heritage. The so-called Rings had the Wolf, and combat had the Sword Demon, which caused a certain warrior to grow envious enough to completely transform.

The past was temporarily put aside. Even though he had personally experienced the Dragons Heritage, Kaelith's head was still filled with questions.

"Dragons Heritage's essence is likely the theft of human life to revive the dead... So excessive deaths would plunge the entire Ashina nation into a tragic coughing epidemic. I've never heard of it being able to steal power through slaughter…

If not, with the power of the Guardian Ape, combined with hawk-like agility and the headless spirit's energy, wouldn't I be able to hold off an army?"

He scratched his cheek, pondering how portions of power from the Cuckoo soldiers and knights had indeed flowed into his body. This was no illusion, and he felt there was more to uncover.

As this thought crossed his mind, Kaelith suddenly leaned over the side of the boat. The lake surface reflected like a mirror, and he could see a faint golden glow flickering in his pupils.

Something was wrong. The Lands Between wasn't comprised of ordinary humans to begin with!

In a flash, he realized the fundamental discrepancies between the two worlds. Through the blessing of the Erdtree, the concept of Rune power existed, intertwined with life itself. In some sense, it was a tangible manifestation of the soul, which could even be used as currency.

Kaelith's thoughts began to wander further. Even back in front of the screens of both worlds, the differences were stark. Tarnished individuals couldn't enhance their attributes naturally; they had to rely on Finger Maidens to convert Runes into power.

"Am I stealing Rune power? Equivalent to having a Maiden, but unable to freely allocate points, only capable of absorbing a portion. Even so, the difference between ordinary soldiers and knights is immense."

Considering this, Kaelith cast a wary glance at the warriors aboard the ship. If this secret were exposed, he feared he'd be hunted across The Lands Between.

Even in death, the Erdtree sought to seal everything. Without war, the golden people(Golden Order) had no concept of natural death.

When the time came, they returned to the tree and experienced a peculiar form of reincarnation. Now, with an external force stealing Runes, the crime was too grave to describe.

Such behavior was akin to killing someone's parents—a grudge that couldn't be forgiven. The so-called "Greater Will" would undoubtedly pursue vengeance relentlessly.

This mutated Dragons Heritage made his thoughts chaotic. For Kaelith, there was both good and bad news.

The good news was that he had brought the "Dragons Heritage" into The Lands Between. Even setting aside its resurrection capabilities, its ability to steal power alone allowed Kaelith to rapidly grow stronger.

Otherwise, no matter how much training he undertook, his body would soon hit its limit. Even if he polished his skills to perfection, he couldn't overcome the suppression of superior bloodlines. Just Blaidd alone could easily crush him.

The bad news was that this power couldn't be revealed, at least not near the Erdtree. There, it was regarded as the unforgivable sin of a demon, a presence to be eradicated at all costs.

"Could the blessing on my body be sensed by the Finger?" Kaelith's scalp tingled, but he knew he couldn't just erase himself now. After much consideration, he decided to proceed cautiously.

First, he needed to understand the effects of this mutated "Dragons Heritage." Second, he couldn't overthink it.

Whether beheaded by a sword or turned to ashes by the Greater Will, the result was still death. At least this power gave him a chance to overcome his immediate dangers.

"Alright, let's head back," Blaidd's voice called out. He scanned the surroundings but didn't spot any enemy ships.

The resting crew hurriedly stood up, grabbed their oars, and began rowing north. Lake Liurnia wasn't suited for large ships; small boats were the norm. A single strike from a Wolf could easily sink an opponent into the water.

Victory.

Blaidd exhaled heavily, pleased to have wiped out an entire supply team at the cost of only one man. Knowing the Cuckoo forces would go hungry tomorrow, he couldn't help but grin. Yet, as he turned around, his sharp gaze locked onto Kaelith.

"Who exactly are you?"

"Kaelith Light," the young man replied without hesitation, standing with his sword as support.

He could feel the Wolf's eyes scanning him inch by inch, like a blade trying to dig out hidden secrets. Yet Kaelith wasn't afraid. Possessing the full memories of this body, he responded smoothly and handled every tricky question with ease.

Finally, Blaidd closed his mouth. As Ranni's shadow, he had long since mastered the background of this magic apprentice. Besides, Kaelith had been in the stronghold the whole time, making any deception highly unlikely.

So, the question arises: why has someone so weak suddenly undergone such a drastic change in personality? Kaelith's earlier combat performance was not particularly impressive, but his newfound courage and ruthless determination were undeniably admirable, even to Blaidd.

Despite Blaidd's imagination running wild, he couldn't figure out that this body had been taken over by another soul. Frustrated, he finally asked, "Why didn't you run earlier?"

"Do you wish I had fled?" Kaelith replied calmly. Seeing Blaidd's lip twitch, he chuckled. "Lord Blaidd, think of it as me having come to my senses. After eating so many meals under the Carian household's roof, I truly had no face left to continue being a coward."

"True, true. The first time I, Vira, was on the battlefield, I couldn't even hold my sword properly. Now everyone calls me a lunatic," the surviving swordsman chimed in with a tone of self-deprecation, looking like he fully understood.

"Being called a lunatic isn't exactly a compliment," the archer joked, flashing a rude gesture at his companion. "But in that situation, Kaelith had no choice but to jump into the lake to escape. I once heard Lord Iji say that when a person is pushed to their limit, they can unleash astonishing energy."

No one is born a warrior. Even these seasoned soldiers had started as common folk. It was only after finding the courage to wield their blades that they truly entered this bloody arena.

The soldiers acknowledged Kaelith with light pats on his shoulder, while Blaidd still felt something was off. Yet, unable to pinpoint it, he chalked it up to Kaelith Light's extraordinary talent, believing he had undergone a sudden mental transformation.

"Even without your help, I could have dealt with the three Cuckoo knights myself. Still, thank you," Blaidd said, slightly haughty as he slowly extended his hand.

"Your contribution will be reported, along with the fact that this was a fight for Carian."

Or rather, for Ranni.

Kaelith mentally corrected as he extended his hand, grasping Blaidd's rough palm. From this moment onward, Kaelith Light was no longer a coward. He had finally stepped onto the path of a true warrior.

---

The flames had been extinguished, and the stripped corpses were being loaded onto wagons. Several towering warhorses stood by the lakeshore, their hooves incessantly scraping the muddy ground.

A group of knights gazed at the lake, their expressions grim. It was important to note that the Cuckoo Knights numbered fewer than a hundred, and tonight, three had been slain. The entire supply convoy, aside from two brainless Trolls, had been annihilated.

"Clear the battlefield. Dispatch the second convoy before dawn; the frontlines are running low on supplies," ordered the towering knight in the center. His helmet's crest glinted blood-red, and his heavily scarred armor bore the marks of countless battles.

"Yes, Sir Matthew." A knight obeyed, riding off as the sound of hoofbeats gradually faded.

"Captain, it has been confirmed that the ambush was led by Blaidd. He and his five-man squad wiped out the entire convoy before we could reinforce it."

"Do you want to ask me how we should respond?"

"Yes, sir. With no villages nearby to plunder and our supply lines under threat, even the previously subdued Demi-Humans and Albinaurics are beginning to retaliate. Prolonging this standoff will only disadvantage us."

Matthew fell silent, deep in thought. The Carian royal family had been cornered into a small area on the western shore, surrounded on all sides.

However, Lake Liurnia was vast, allowing plenty of room for sneaky movements. Furthermore, the royal family had allies—those wretched Demi-Humans and Albinaurics continued to harass patrols relentlessly.

The Cuckoo Knights' manpower was limited. They couldn't afford to divert large forces to defend their rear. Even a handful of stray soldiers could tie up dozens of troops. Prolonging this standoff was indeed disadvantageous.

"I heard the Carian royal family is constructing defensive magic?" Matthew asked, recalling a critical detail.

"Yes, sir. It's an automated, area-covering magic. Once completed, their fortifications will become nearly impenetrable," replied a knight struggling to control his restless mount. He added in a lower voice, "Captain, perhaps we should consider retreating. There's no need for us to risk everything for the Raya Lucaria Academy. We're shedding blood on the frontlines while they hide in the Academy watching from safety. Surely they're hoping we and the Carian royal family will both suffer heavy losses."

"Mutual destruction? Of course." Matthew sneered, removing his heavy helmet to reveal a face riddled with scars and a graying head of hair.

His visage looked as though it had been through a meat grinder, with part of his nose missing. His fierce eyes burned with ruthless determination. Recent intelligence had confirmed that the professors at the Raya Lucaria Academy were discussing sealing the gates, planning to watch the carnage unfold between them and the Carian royal family.

"But we must fight. The Cuckoo Knights' survival in Liurnia depends on it. Only by capturing their fortifications and seizing the Carian royal family's treasures can we secure our place here. High rewards come with high risks. Those sorcerers are just waiting for us to drop dead so they can strike from behind."

Matthew clenched his massive hand into a fist, gazing toward the distant stronghold as though harboring grand strategies within his mind.

The knight did not grasp the intricacies of high-level politics, nor did he know when this delicate balance would shatter. He merely opened his mouth to ask, "But what about the Moon Princess?"

"If she dares show herself, there are those prepared to deal with her. This, too, is why the Cuckoo Knights persist in this war." Matthew's words seemed to carry hidden meanings. He tugged at his reins, turning his horse around, his voice carried by the wind.

"Tell those sorcerers at the Academy that the Cuckoo Knights will begin targeting their strongholds. If they don't send reinforcements—"

"Then let them fight the Carian royal family themselves!"