After a while.
Melina nestled into Lloyd's arms, staring at Chaos's innocent-looking face, seriously debating whether she should draw the Blade of Gold and cut her down right then and there.
Lloyd, on the other hand, was baffled.
Strange. He had definitely given Chaos a buff with his singing earlier, so why had Melina collapsed...
In truth, while the buff was real, the reason they hurried on afterward wasn't to prevent it from wearing off.
Chaos simply didn't want him to start singing again, so the moment she noticed, she dragged him away to keep exploring.
And now...
"How about I sing for you two again?"
Lloyd tested the waters.
"No." ×2
For once, Melina and Chaos were in complete agreement—and firmly so.
After answering, they even glanced at each other. Though they still disliked one another, it was the first time they had ever stood united.
Still, even though Lloyd's singing left her mentally scarred, Melina had actually gained something from it.
His voice inflicted damage, yes, but the damage came from dragging out what lay deep in the listener's heart.
If one could face that directly, the harm remained, but there was also something to be gained.
Just like Chaos's Frenzied Flame awakening, Melina's Black Flame had stirred.
Black Flame—as the name suggests, a black fire. But in truth, it was black and white.
Unlike ordinary flames, it didn't strike with instant heat but burned relentlessly over time.
It was once the power wielded by the Gloam-Eyed Queen, and originally it burned black mixed with red.
That red was the color of Destined Death, a force strong enough to kill gods.
But after Destined Death was sealed away, the black-and-red flame vanished from the Lands Between.
Even the original black-and-red degraded into black-and-white, losing its god-slaying might, leaving only the power to scorch life endlessly.
It wasn't until the Night of Black Knives that the black-and-red flame briefly reappeared.
And now...
Whoosh—
As a greatsword swept through the air, black-and-white flames laced with faint red coiled up the spiral blade.
The Godslayer's Greatsword.
Lloyd had found it beneath the Divine Tower of Caelid, said to have once been wielded by the Gloam-Eyed Queen.
At the time, a Godskin Apostle had been there too, ready to fight him.
But when Lloyd summoned Melina for support, the Apostle suddenly froze, then obediently offered up the Godslayer's Greatsword—along with a full set of Godskin Apostle gear.
As for why Lloyd hadn't used the sword before...
"Too heavy."
Despite being a greatsword, it demanded 20 Strength, 22 Dexterity, and 20 Faith.
Its Ash of War hit hard and even caused blood burn, but the wind-up was so slow he'd be dead eight times over before it landed, and you had to fight at point-blank range to deal full damage.
For bleed, it lost to Elizabeth's Twinblade.
For skill strength, it lost to Seriel's Twinblade.
For AoE, it couldn't compete with the famed Moonveil.
It wasn't that the Godslayer's Greatsword was weak—Lloyd just had too many "super wheelchairs" in his arsenal.
Compared to those, this blade didn't shine, and since he hadn't unlocked respec at the time, he wasn't going to spend points just for it.
But once it fell into Melina's hands, everything changed.
How to put it...
When she lifted the sword, Lloyd finally understood what a "fated weapon" truly meant.
Just as the Fingerslayer Blade could only be used by Ranni, once Melina held the Godslayer's Greatsword, its entire moveset transformed.
Her light attacks were at least thirty percent faster, every strike leaving trails of Black Flame.
Her heavy strikes could leap great distances, delivering a near 180-degree sweeping slash that unleashed a wave of Black Flame outward.
As for the Ash of War, while the stance and diagonal slash looked the same...
The range was so vast Lloyd wondered if she was wielding the Godslayer's Greatsword or the Mortal Blade.
What's more, Melina's version could chain into a third slash, another wide horizontal cut.
If it had those properties in his hands, Lloyd would've been using it as a super wheelchair ages ago.
And why was it so powerful for Melina?
Simple—her closed eye was the Gloam-Eye.
The very eye of the Gloam-Eyed Queen, once Queen Marika's fiercest rival and a fallen contender in the last Empyrean battle for succession.
With Lloyd's help, Melina had already awakened her own power of Destined Death, and with his disastrous singing, she had stirred fragments of the Black Flame.
After that, Lloyd's inventory began to shake, and a system prompt appeared, telling him he could hand over the Godslayer's Greatsword to Melina.
Once he did, things became as they are now.
Even Melina's name had changed.
[Black Flame Melina]
When she first saw the Godslayer's Greatsword that Lloyd handed her, Melina hesitated. After all, if this power had been acknowledged, she wouldn't have been hidden away by her mother, nor would the Seal of the Three Fingers have been carved into her eye sockets.
But after recalling her past experiences and glancing at Chaos beside her, she fell silent for a moment before finally reaching out and taking hold of the sword's hilt. Once again, the Godslayer's Greatsword was held by someone bearing the power of the Gloam-Eye. And upon it, the black-red flames of Destined Death burned anew.
Of course, Destined Death wasn't yet overwhelming, and Melina still hadn't opened that eye. Even so, the moment she grasped the sword, her combat strength shot up several tiers.
From a pure support healer who could only cast buffs and deal two- or three-digit damage with the Blade of Gold from afar, she had become a Faith Warrior capable of landing four-digit strikes in a single swing—strikes that even inflicted a burning effect afterward.
If there was a downside, it was that wielding such power drained Melina heavily in her current state. Especially since recovering in spirit form was difficult, a few minutes of using it would likely force Lloyd to replenish her. Outside of a dungeon, Lloyd wouldn't have minded if she played around like this. But inside, without being able to switch to his main account, it was much harder for him to keep her supplied.
So, even after gaining the Black Flame, Melina only gave it a brief test before sheathing the greatsword, drawing her golden dagger again, and returning to her role as a healer dishing out two- or three-digit damage. Lloyd couldn't help but sigh at the sight.
After the weapon test, they pressed onward through the map. As for that process... there wasn't much to say.
Because of the Thunder Lag Mutation, Lloyd didn't get much of a chance to show off. And because of the same mutation, Seath couldn't exactly throw in anything too outrageous either.
As a result, while Lloyd was having a miserable time, for the other two the monsters were trivial—whether in stats or mechanics, none of them were a real threat. Even without Lloyd taking point, the two could have slaughtered them easily. Who they chose to kill, however, was another matter.
And so, riding the wave of easy progress, Lloyd reached the end of the third stage and faced its boss: a Platinum Crystal Dragon.
Although called a dragon, its body looked more like a lizard formed from platinum liquid, encrusted with Glintstone crystals. Its attack patterns were simple: rolling, Glintstone Breath, various claw strikes, and tail swipes. But thanks to the stretchable nature of its platinum body, its range was wide, and it occasionally cast frost-type sorceries as well.
Then... it ended up becoming Lloyd's.
Yes—without even a fight.
Back when he forged a Covenant with Latenna, Lloyd had obtained an item called [Queen's Order]. Its description said it allowed him to command a Platinum Child below the rank of a champion.
Since this creature's body was made of platinum liquid, it theoretically counted as a Platinum Child. Lloyd wasn't sure if it qualified as champion-level or not, but he decided to try. And it worked instantly.
[Tsk, some people really have no shame.]
After claiming the Platinum Crystal Dragon, Lloyd saw this message pop up and answered with a middle finger.
"You've got the nerve to talk after abusing a lag glitch?"
After defeating the third stage boss, Lloyd came across a new Site of Grace. This time, after some thought, he gave it to Latenna. With warrior, mage, and healer already covered, it only made sense to add an archer.
And sure enough, the choice paid off. Strengthened by the Platinum Albinauric Coagulate, Latenna's power had risen greatly—especially her long-range sniping, which, under Lloyd's Law buffs, nearly rivaled Chaos's Frenzied Flame Sniper.
Her physical damage also neatly filled a gap in their team, letting them handle fire-resistant monsters that Chaos struggled with.
After another smooth push, the group finally reached the end of the fourth stage, where a massive golden Fog Gate awaited. Inside, a familiar figure appeared.
The Twin Moon Knights.
But these were crystal dolls. Dolls crafted in imitation of the Twin Moon Knights, clad in armor and crystalline plating.
Their attack patterns were nearly identical to the originals: endless sword slashes, long-range Crystal Sorceries, and at half health, a crystal version of the Twin Moon Falling.
To be honest, even though they were just dolls, their strength was formidable—on a completely different level from the filler bosses before. Their aggression was high, their stats solid, and they even actively targeted the backline.
With lag added to the mix, it took Lloyd's party a tremendous effort—sacrificing even the Platinum Crystal Dragon they had just gained—just to scrape out a victory.
After defeating the Crystal Twin Moon Knight, Lloyd received a notification.
[Obtained weapon: 'Crystal Twin Swords']
[Crystal Twin Swords]
[A weapon modeled after the twin blades of the Twin Moon Knight, Rellana]
[The sword blades are coated in a layer of crystal]
[Crystal weapons deal considerable damage]
[However, their structure is fragile and they cannot be used for long]
[Exclusive Ash of War: Crystal Consecutive Slash]
[After taking a stance, unleash a series of fierce slashes forward]
[Its power is formidable]
[However, it can only be used once]
[After use, the blades will shatter]
[Until restored at a Site of Grace, they cannot be wielded again]
[Preliminary Order has been established. Space-time structure repair progress: 1/4]
[Within the constructed Order zone, Fast Travel restrictions have been lifted. Exit restrictions have been lifted]
Just like in the Caelid dungeon, after clearing the first four stages, Lloyd was given the option to exit.
But this time, after checking his party lineup and the current state of the dungeon, he decided they could still continue. He chose not to leave and pressed forward.
...
Next came the exploration of the second area.
After activating the Site of Grace and stepping inside, the dungeon's true form finally revealed itself before Lloyd.
[Glintstone Crystal Lake – Liurnia of the Lakes]
[Order Status: Preliminary Construction]
[Special Field: Chaotic Space-Time, Glintstone Crystallization]
[Chaotic Space-Time: This area's space-time has become unstable. Your state is unstable as well, leading to lag, delays, and spatial misalignment]
[Glintstone Crystallization: Glintstone and Crystal sorceries consume less FP and deal increased damage]
It wasn't just the system text that changed.
Upon entering the second area, Lloyd immediately noticed the distortion of space-time—his lag had worsened.
If before it was a hundred steps forward and four or five steps back, now it was a hundred forward and seven or eight back.
What's more, from the second area onward, the monsters grew significantly stronger. By the time they reached the third stage, Latenna was in terrible condition and had to be swapped out for Nepheli.
A bit further on, at the end of the second area, they reached the boss—a familiar pair.
The Crystalline Glintstone Sorcerers.
Azur and Lusat.
But this time, they weren't player-model summons. They appeared as humanoid boss models similar to the Queen of the Full Moon, their abilities greatly enhanced.
Lloyd's lag crippled his combat ability, and the others struggled under the relentless bombardment of the two sorcerers' spells.
In the end, it was Melina who unsealed the Godslayer's Greatsword. Wreathed in Black Flame infused with Destined Death, she cut down the two Crystal Masters—but the effort drained her so badly that she had to retreat from the fight.
[Obtained 'Master's Crystal Staff']
A staff that enhances damage dealt by both Glintstone Sorceries and Crystal Sorceries.
[Order rank 8 established, structure repairs 1/4 complete]
[Within the constructed Order zone, Fast Travel restrictions have been lifted. Exit restrictions have been lifted]
[Do you wish to continue forward?]
"Yes."
With the second area cleared, Lloyd pressed onward once more.
...
Upon entering the third area, his lag worsened again—so severe it nearly left him half-disabled. At the same time, the environment boosted Crystal Sorceries even further, and the monsters grew stronger, more numerous, and more varied.
This time, after only the first phase, Nepheli could no longer hold on.
So, in the second phase, Lloyd summoned Old Margit and Millicent. With their help, and with Chaos striking opportunistically from the rear, they managed to push through to the end of the fourth phase, right before the boss's chamber.
But by then, both Margit and Millicent were in rough shape. And judging from past experience, the bosses waiting at the end of each area were always in a league of their own.
After some thought, Lloyd sent the two of them back, then summoned Radahn and Ranni.
...
[Crystal Queen of the Full Moon]
Facing the false version of their mother, Radahn looked a little awkward, but Ranni immediately drew her staff.
After a brief moment of "family bonding," the Crystal Queen of the Full Moon fell, and Lloyd received another notification.
[Obtained 'Crystal Queen's Staff']
A higher-tier replacement for the previous staff.
[Regular Order has been established. Space-time structure repair progress: 3/4]
[Within the constructed Order zone, Fast Travel restrictions have been lifted. Exit restrictions have been lifted]
[Do you want to continue?]
[Although finishing it all at once would be beneficial, I really suggest you take a break...]
[Your condition is already very poor.]
Lloyd looked at the message in silence for a while, then stepped forward.
...
The fourth area.
Upon entering, Lloyd's lag worsened drastically, leaving him almost completely incapable of fighting. He had to rely entirely on others to press forward.
This final stage was the most difficult of the entire dungeon, with both the number and strength of monsters undergoing a qualitative leap. Ranni and Radahn, already in poor condition after dealing with the Crystal Full Moon, were forced to retreat after the first stage.
For the remaining stages, Lloyd summoned everyone he could: Renna, Elizabeth, Blaidd, the Warrior Jar, even Yura and Eleonora.
With their help, he finally made it to the boss chamber at the end of the fourth area.
But by then, only one remained at his side.
Chaos.
She had been summoned from the very beginning, yet after reaching the third area, she suddenly became like a sixth wheel—neither tanking nor dealing damage, simply standing behind, seemingly absorbed in some research. She occupied a summon slot but did nothing.
To be honest, Lloyd had no idea what she was doing.
The severe lag in the third area had even clouded his thoughts, making it hard to think clearly. By the time they reached the fourth area, the lag grew so bad it felt as if his thoughts themselves were being canceled, making him wonder if he was now suffering backlash for canceling too many times before.
Even so, Lloyd never questioned Chaos's choice, letting her stay until the very end.
And now...
"My kin, do you trust me that much?"
A pair of hands slipped around his neck.
Lloyd gave no reply. The lag had become so severe he could barely even speak.
Seeing him like this, the woman behind him reached forward and pinched his cheek.
"Honestly, I don't even know if I can succeed. I was planning to quit, but with you pushing me this far... I can't exactly back out anymore."
After a moment, she sighed, released his face, and raised her hand to her own eye sockets.
Plop—
Two grapes fell out.
Mostly yellow, laced with a sticky black miasma, and shaped with strange, root-like structures formed from earlier treatments.
She lifted them to Lloyd's lips and gently fed them to him.
"But in the end, it worked."
"Eat them. Let us become one."
As Lloyd chewed the grapes, Chaos, still leaning on his back, let her hands fall. Using the last of her strength, she lowered her head toward his ear. A fleeting touch brushed against him.
"My dear Lord of Frenzied Flame..."
With those words, Chaos's form dissolved.
Flames erupted.
Black and yellow power surged into Lloyd's eyes, agony coursing through him as frenzied black-yellow fire burst outward.
Yet Lloyd stood unmoving.
What would have been a torment worse than death to most was nothing unusual for him.
When the burst subsided, he raised a finger to wipe the flames from the corner of his eye, watching them burn at his fingertip. After a moment of silence, he released the restraints on his mind.
Whoosh—
The fire roared higher.
The corrupted Frenzied Flame engulfed his head in a blazing fireball—black at its core, surrounded by a corona of black-yellow flame.
The stuttering sensation vanished.
The Frenzied Flame alone could not burn through time.
But the Abyss could.
By spreading the Abyss's power and sacrificing herself, Chaos had called forth a flame within Lloyd strong enough to scorch through the fabric of space-time.
[Obtained Covenant Skill: 'Lord of Frenzied Flame']
[Corrupted Frenzied Flame Incantation]
[Enshroud yourself in corrupted fire]
[Manifest a Frenzied Flame skull]
[During its effect, greatly enhances Frenzied Flame Incantations]
[Grants immunity to most abnormal statuses]
[Though it is a corrupted Frenzied Flame Incantation...]
[I still want to call it Lord of Frenzied Flame]
[Or, to put it another way...]
[Will you become my king?]
[My beloved kin]
When the Frenzied Flame Skull manifested, though Chaos's body had vanished, a new phantom appeared behind Lloyd.
"Kin... go."
The shadow whispered—words Chaos had left in his eyes.
What remained as well was her embrace. Even if she could not withstand the power herself, she wanted to keep defiling him in this way, to fight by his side.
Lloyd accepted this corruption, raising his hand to gently caress the phantom's face.
Then he lifted his head, stepped forward, and laid his hand upon the golden Fog Gate.
...
Beyond it, a massive white figure slowly turned from the far end of the Grand Library.
A dragon's head, a white body, wings beating faintly, and a lower half of writhing, octopus-like tentacles.
Its body was clad in ancient dragon scales of crystal.
At the sight of Lloyd, its expression twisted briefly before it loosed a roar so thunderous it shook the entire dungeon.
"Lloyd—!"
Its name and health bar appeared.
[White Ancient Dragon · Seath]
...
[Upto 20 chapters ahead for now]
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