Lucian looked at the trolls ahead, their eyes glowing with a bright yellow light, their expressions twisted in pain and confirmed that they were afflicted by the Frenzied Flame.
The Frenzied Flame…
Melina tightened her cloak, then lightly tugged at Lucian's sleeve.
"Let's go."
"There's Frenzied Flame here."
Lucian nodded, and the two of them quickly moved away.
The destruction brought about by the Frenzied Flame was immense, but there was no need to exterminate every afflicted victim.
Though the exact means of its spread were unclear, despair was known to draw it in.
And despair, in certain environments, could spread rapidly.
Aside from zealots like Shabriri, who actively propagated the Frenzied Flame, most of its victims were not, in Lucian's eyes, targets that needed to be purged.
They were simply powerless, people who had lost all hope in the world.
Of course, if they attacked others or attempted to spread the Frenzied Flame deliberately, then they would have to be dealt with.
Seeing that Lucian and Melina had paid particular attention to that area, Leda thought for a moment before offering an explanation.
"That is Yelough Anix Ruins. Before the age of the Erdtree, it was once an important region."
"Behind those ruins lies a mine where high-quality smithing stones can be excavated. The Haligtree once considered reopening it."
"Unfortunately, the inhabitants were… less than cooperative. Communication proved difficult, and in order to prevent the spread of the Frenzied Flame, the plan was ultimately abandoned."
Lucian smiled faintly. It was fortunate they hadn't gone there, deep below lurked an Astel known as the "Stars of Darkness."
Thinking of it, he wondered where the Astel that had appeared after the festival of battle had gone. One had escaped back then, leaving no trace.
And whether more Astels or Fallingstar Beasts had descended upon the Lands Between since… that too remained unknown.
Hopefully, no more strange creatures would fall from the heavens.
—
The group continued toward the far end of the Consecrated Snowfield. Beneath the ancient trees, the crimson flowers grew denser and denser, gradually forming a carpet.
At last, as they passed beneath another towering ancient tree, Leda spoke softly.
"Up ahead, there are personnel left behind by the Mohgwyn Dynasty. To avoid alerting them, we did not eliminate them immediately after discovering this place."
"These enemies of the Mohgwyn Dynasty do not seem to rotate shifts. It has always been the same few, and they show little vigilance."
"Please wait here. We will deal with them swiftly."
Lucian had little interest in such minor opponents. Since Leda and her group wished to act, he allowed them to handle it.
Leda and Dane moved forward soundlessly, then swiftly slipped into a hollow within a tree large enough to conceal a person.
They had long since scouted the movements of the Sanguine Nobles here. Seizing the moment before the others could react, they quickly slew two Bloody Fingers.
The Sanguine Nobles and Bloody Fingers stationed here had long grown numb over the passing ages, they had never expected to be attacked.
Only then did the remaining enemies belatedly rush out.
Freyja leapt high into the air, bringing her greatsword down in a lion's claw, splitting a Sanguine Noble clean in two from head to toe.
With their numbers rapidly reduced, the gap in strength became overwhelmingly apparent. The remaining enemies were swiftly cut down.
In barely three to five minutes, Leda drove her blade into the chest of the final Sanguine Noble, ending the one-sided slaughter.
Only then did Lucian and Melina step forward, looking over the fallen Sanguine Nobles and Bloody Fingers.
There had been nine members of the Mohgwyn Dynasty here. After the initial three were eliminated, the rest had stood no chance.
Leda carefully wiped the blood from her blade, restoring its pristine brilliance.
Sheathed once more, she led Lucian toward a fallen section of an ancient tree.
By crossing this natural bridge formed by the trunk, they could reach the edge of a cliff.
There, beside the precipice, stood an ancient portal.
"The portal is there. Once activated, it will take us to the Mohgwyn Dynasty, where Mohg, Lord of Blood hides his true body."
Lucian nodded.
At last, they had arrived.
Yet he did not immediately move to enter. Instead, he turned to Leda.
"Take some time to rest."
"Don't refuse so quickly. As agreed, once we enter, no matter how the battle turns out, I won't concern myself with your survival."
"You'd do well to consider your companions."
Leda hesitated. Their condition was still acceptable, some minor injuries, but nothing serious.
After a moment's thought, she chose to rest briefly, restoring themselves to peak condition before entering.
Lucian and Melina sat down against the trunk as well, taking the opportunity to relax.
After a while, a Runebear wandering nearby appeared at the site of the earlier slaughter.
It began tearing at the corpses of the Sanguine Nobles for food.
It seemed oddly picky, gnawing at one body, then moving to another, unconsciously drawing closer and closer to Lucian's group.
Halfway through its meal, the Runebear suddenly changed behavior.
With a roar, it launched an attack toward Lucian and the others atop the trunk.
In the next instant, it was pinned to the ground, impaled clean through by Lucian's Swordspear.
Stepping onto the struggling beast, Lucian crushed its skull beneath his foot. The snowfield fell silent once more.
He pulled the weapon free and gave it a flick. Blood scattered in an arc across the snow.
In his previous life, Lucian had once read that bears would feign interest in something else to lower their prey's guard, only to strike suddenly once close enough.
He hadn't expected the Runebears of the Lands Between to exhibit the same behavior.
After dispatching the beast with ease, Leda and the others rose to their feet, nodding toward Lucian.
Following a short period of rest and treatment, they had recovered their condition.
Together, they began walking toward the portal leading to the Mohgwyn Dynasty.
Suddenly—
From behind them came a terrifying roar.
This was no ordinary beast. The sound was unlike anything they had encountered before.
As the thunderous roar echoed, even the scattered crimson flowers across the snow were shaken loose, drifting into the air.
Lucian turned back, interest flickering in his eyes.
From behind the ancient tree, an enormous figure emerged.
Without question, it was a Runebear.
But not an ordinary one.
A crimson Runebear.
Of the three; Leda, Freyja, and Dane, not one would be a match for it alone.
With savage intent, the red beast charged toward them.
Even on all fours, its shoulder height far exceeded that of the previous Runebear.
Its sheer size was monstrous, perhaps even rivaling that of lesser dragons.
Lucian studied it carefully as it approached.
This was the first time he had seen such a creature. It bore no resemblance to the gray-furred snowfield bears.
Its body was covered in black-red fur, the vivid crimson forming strange, almost ritualistic patterns. Combined with its ferocious gaze, it gave off an aura of overwhelming fury.
More striking still—twisted, massive horns grew from its head.
Clearly, these were horns of the Omen.
Whether they had grown naturally under the influence of the Crucible…
Or were the result of the accursed blood of Mohg.
That remained uncertain.
Had killing a mere Runebear drawn out the true master of this territory?
In a place like the Consecrated Snowfield, a creature daring to bear such conspicuous crimson fur could only be its apex ruler.
With no natural predators, it had no need to hide.
Given its size, it was almost certainly the same beast that had attacked the convoy transporting the St. Trina's Torch.
That explained everything, the wounds from before had indeed been caused by a Runebear.
As Lucian considered this, the crimson beast lunged forward at incredible speed.
Perhaps catching the scent of Runebear blood on him, it targeted him directly.
Lucian raised his blade-spear, sweeping it sideways to block one of the bear's massive paws.
Its other claw came crashing down, howling through the air, aiming to crush him completely.
Lucian precisely judged the distance, stepping back just enough for the attack to graze past him by a hair's breadth.
As the strike missed, the crimson Runebear drove its paw deeper into the snow.
In the next instant, a surge of power spread outward through the ground.
Lucian felt the energy racing beneath the earth, then erupting.
A look of surprise flashed in his eyes.
This technique… it felt familiar.
Sure enough, just as he sensed.
The crimson Runebear unleashed the same ground-shattering shockwave used by Godfrey and the Crucible Knights.
The force instantly blasted apart the frozen earth beneath the snow, sending chunks of rock bursting upward.
Anyone standing still would have been thrown into the air.
Lucian, however, had already moved elsewhere, entirely unaffected.
Now, his interest in the creature deepened.
He had never seen anything like it before.
Better to observe a bit more.
Its attacks repeatedly missing only drove the beast into greater frenzy.
And since Lucian had yet to strike back, only evading, it grew increasingly reckless, charging again without restraint.
Closing the distance, the red Runebear lashed out with both claws in rapid succession.
The sheer force of its swings created vacuums in the air, spiraling currents of wind forming claw-like storms around its strikes.
Lucian's surprise deepened.
It could even wield storm power?
But using storm against him… was a grave mistake.
With the slightest exertion of his own power, the storm coiling around the bear's arms turned against it.
The raging wind tore into its flesh, carving open wound after wound, leaving its forelimbs drenched in blood.
At this point, Lucian was certain.
This crimson Runebear was a natural creature born in the Lands Between.
One that had grown Omen horns under the influence of the Crucible itself.
This crimson Runebear was truly formidable, its strength and speed were both overwhelming, and it even wielded the powers of earth-shattering shockwaves and storm.
Lucian reckoned that even Godrick the Grafted would likely lose to this beast.
He had seen enough of its techniques.
There was no need to hold back any longer.
With a leap, Lucian soared into the air and landed squarely on the bear's back.
Feeling the weight upon it, the crimson Runebear flew into even greater rage.
It immediately swung both claws behind itself, trying to tear Lucian off.
Yet with effortless movements, Lucian evaded every strike, leaving the beast's own attacks crashing down onto its back instead.
Realizing it lacked the means to harm him, the red bear suddenly charged toward a towering ancient tree, as though intending to smash itself against it.
Lucian shook his head.
At the end of the day… it was still just a bear. Its intelligence was lacking.
He waited calmly. Just as the beast was about to collide with the trunk, he lightly leapt down.
But the Runebear did not slow, it barreled straight into the tree, then sprang upward, launching itself into the air before crashing down toward Lucian.
Right… bears could climb.
Lucian raised his Swordspear, releasing all the seals that restrained it, restoring it to its true, massive size.
He made no move, simply held the enormous weapon upright, pointing it toward the descending beast, waiting for it to impale itself.
For the first time, panic flickered in the Runebear's eyes at the unnatural size of the weapon.
Unable to adjust its body midair, it lashed out with a paw.
Only for the Swordspear to tear through its shoulder, ripping flesh and fur as it slid along.
The beast crashed awkwardly to the ground, landing directly in front of Lucian.
He looked down at its head, far larger than that of an ordinary Runebear, and kicked upward with brutal force, striking its jaw.
The blow sent the beast's upper body flying into the air, saliva scattering.
The immense impact caused its brain to rattle within its skull. After a brief daze, its fury reignited, pain driving it into a frenzy.
As its body came down, it braced itself with both claws and unleashed a savage roar at Lucian.
The blizzard of the Consecrated Snowfield seemed to shatter under the force of that roar, as if time itself paused for an instant.
The crimson flowers were uprooted and flung skyward, only to be torn apart by the shockwave.
Even the nearby scarabs abandoned the treasures they had gathered over years, taking frantic flight in terror.
Leda and the others were struck by the sheer force of the roar. Their ears bleeding, their internal organs shaken violently.
Melina frowned slightly, not from pain, but from the sheer noise.
And when the roar subsided.
What met the beast head-on was a massive draconic maw, lunging toward it.
The Runebear could hardly believe it, something had withstood its roar.
In the next instant, the dragon's jaws snapped down upon its head.
Yet the crimson beast did not yield. It opened its own jaws, clamping down in a crosswise clash with the dragon, its claws gripping the upper and lower jaws, threatening to break free.
Lucian smiled faintly.
Within the dragon's mouth, a terrifying blaze gathered.
In an instant, the flames of Agheel erupted forth, engulfing the Runebear entirely.
The beast howled in agony. When it finally tore itself free from the inferno, portions of its once-vivid crimson fur had been scorched away.
Blood dripped from its jaws. In its eyes burned boundless hatred for Lucian.
…and deep beneath it, a trace of fear.
Lucian glanced at the burned fur and suddenly felt a twinge of regret.
There might not be another creature like this in all the Lands Between.
Though he would never spare something that attacked him first, the pelt itself was innocent.
It could have made for a fine cloak… or armor.
Well, too late now.
Best to finish it.
In a flash of lightning, Lucian appeared in the air behind the beast, gripping the fully enlarged Swordspear.
With a light downward motion, he sent it plunging forward.
The weapon shot forth like a meteor, piercing straight through the massive body of the crimson Runebear.
The beast roared, struggling to rise.
But gravity itself pinned it in place.
Waves of gravitational force locked it to the ground, leaving it utterly unable to escape.
Lucian descended from the sky, his greatsword empowered by the power of a fallen star, coming down in a cleaving strike.
The Runebear's head was severed cleanly, flying into the air.
Silence fell.
Looking at the charred, half-burned head still bearing the fury it held in life, Lucian sheathed his weapon.
There were many powerful beings in the Lands Between, creatures that far surpassed others of their kind.
The crimson Runebear before him, the ancestral spirits beneath the earth, ancient kings of ages past, and even those not yet fully grown…
All were born with extraordinary power, wielding abilities beyond imagination.
This Runebear, too, could be considered a being of boss-level strength.
Lucian called to Leda and the others, preparing to leave.
Unexpectedly, however, Dane who had been quiet the entire time, stepped forward and stood before him.
He pointed at the bear's claws, then mimicked the beast's attack motions.
Lucian didn't quite understand, but he could tell the claws were unusual.
Leda, more familiar with Dane, stepped forward to explain:
"Lord Lucian, Dane is a warrior who fights with his fists and feet. He is knowledgeable about combat techniques and weapons."
"He likely noticed that these claws carry the power of that crimson Runebear. He means to remind you, if forged into a weapon, they may retain that strength. It would be a shame to leave such spoils behind."
Dane nodded, a faint smile visible beneath his wide hat.
Lucian suddenly understood.
Indeed, there were many weapons in the Lands Between forged from the remains of beasts, even entire body parts.
He himself had once crafted weapons from dragon horns.
It simply hadn't occurred to him what these claws might become.
If anything, they would likely make a pair of gauntlets.
Lucian cut off the bear's claws and stored them within his spatial disc.
Now, everything was settled.
Standing before the portal leading to the Mohgwyn Dynasty, Lucian infused it with magic.
A brief wave of dizziness passed over them.
And in the next instant, they were transported to the realm of blood: the Mohgwyn Palace.
They appeared within a cavern. Below stretched a descending path, the approach along the cliffs leading into the domain.
Lucian swept his gaze downward.
The familiar Albinaurics. The familiar blood crows.
Today… he had returned to the blood farm.
With his keen vision, Lucian could clearly see, atop a distant peak, a grand structure so magnificent and solemn, like a temple.
The Albinaurics below had already noticed them, rising one after another, preparing to repel the intruders.
Lucian, however, paid them no mind.
He stepped to the edge of the cavern and aimed toward the distant temple.
In his hand, a radiant spear of sunlight formed, blazing with intense heat.
Raising it high, he hurled it with all his might.
A streak of brilliant sunlight tore across the false night sky, like dawn breaking through darkness.
In an instant, it crossed the vast distance, striking the mountaintop temple with perfect accuracy.
Blinding light erupted.
And a massive explosion tore through the structure, collapsing much of it.
At that very moment, Lucian's voice thundered across the land.
"Mohg! I have come! I BRING THE DESTRUCTION OF MOHGWYN DYSNASTY!"