I had returned to Stormveil once again.
The soldiers I had defeated before had risen anew—and some had even acquired new weapons to replace what had been confiscated. Naturally, I didn't pass them by. I decided to stock up on new runes. Perhaps, by the time I left the castle, I'd have enough to empower myself a few times over.
For now, I carved my way through the local guards, testing out my improved dagger along the way.
"Ha!"
With enough force, I could pierce the armor of ordinary soldiers without trouble. Their protection was far from formidable. The knights, however, were another matter. Their armor was thicker, the metal purer—but in the slowed flow of time, none of my opponents' defenses mattered.
I pressed on toward the central part of the castle, massive gates leading to the royal tower where the lord's throne awaited. That was where I found the bodies of soldiers who had already met their end.
Yes, they would rise again, but for now, they lay lifeless.
"RAAAH!" A familiar cry echoed.
"Nepheli…" I murmured.
Indeed. As soon as I stepped toward the gates, I spotted a skirmish on the courtyard. A few scattered bodies of soldiers, and there she was—the warrior, locked in combat with a banished knight. Not the same one I had encountered before, back when I had roamed here with Roger.
I didn't intervene. Nepheli didn't need my help.
She blocked the knight's massive blade with one of her axes, spinning it deftly. While he thought she was trying to wrest the weapon from his grasp, her other axe came down in a sweeping strike, its edge biting into the knight's helm. Though the steel held, the helm dented noticeably. Her axes weren't mere weapons—they were extensions of her ferocity.
And then… lightning struck.
Golden arcs of electricity danced across the armor, which turned out to be a surprisingly good conductor. The banished knight was fried from the inside out.
"Argh… you…" he rasped, recoiling. His grip remained tight on his weapon, but his muscles no longer obeyed him.
"You fought well," Nepheli said, delivering the final blow. Her axes crashed onto the knight's neck, piercing and tearing the metal. He collapsed, gurgling blood, until he went completely still. From the gaps in his armor, silver ash began to drift—the knight's essence scattered to the wind.
"He was a fine warrior… but he served the wrong master," Nepheli sighed, lowering her axes. She frowned at the crimson smear across her shoulder—a shallow wound, yet bleeding profusely.
"Hmm, allow me…" I approached.
Nepheli nodded gratefully as golden sand washed over the cut. Unlike Roger, she hadn't yet learned enough about magic to suspect anything was amiss in this healing.
"So… you came after all."
"I'm not here to challenge Godric. I just want to pass through to Liurnia."
"I don't think he'll let you," she smirked. "But if you intend to fight, I'll help. My father sent me here to stop Godric's reign."
Nepheli was strong—but I wasn't entirely confident she could take down a demigod wielding a great rune, even one whose Rune of Unity had lost much of its power.
"Let's go, Chrono," she said, moving forward.
I followed, summoning my spear, which doubled as a magical staff. Thoughts churned in my mind: should I even get involved? Would it be better to just stop time and slip through the tower to Liurnia? But leaving Nepheli alone didn't feel right. I'd taken a liking to her—that was undeniable.
Before reaching the boss, I asked her about the rune.
"Hmm, Nepheli…"
"Yes?"
"What do you know about Godric's Rune of Unity?"
She paused, looking at me curiously.
"You want to take it?"
"Not exactly. I just fear its power. I've faced remnants of the Death Rune before… and it wasn't pleasant."
"Oh…" she said, surprised. "I've never faced a Death Rune myself, but I've read about it, along with other great runes. My father collected some knowledge on them."
"I've seen those books. They hold nothing concrete. The only thing clear about the Rune of Unity is that Godric uses it for augmentation. But how? Can he use it in combat? And can it resist the sands of time, even half as effectively as the Death Rune?"
"As far as I know, he must touch the target to augment it," Nepheli mused. "And if the victim resists… that complicates things."
"Well, that's something," I said, shrugging.
We emerged onto a rocky pass, lined with tombstones before the throne tower. My attention was drawn to a small dragon impaled on a decorative spire.
"Perhaps he tried augmentation on dragons too?" I wondered.
Even in death, the dragon retained a mythical beauty. Its overlapping scales resembled stone, like a statue, yet its teeth and bloodied tongue were real. Its eyes, slightly open, confirmed it wasn't mere sculpture. I'd seen a larger one from afar, and they resembled each other closely. That stone-like armor was one of the reasons dragons were symbols of protection in this world.
At that moment, the massive tower doors swung open. The lord-demigod appeared.
"Finally…" His voice creaked.
Godric—undeniably him—resembled a more grotesque version of a spider. A massive torso in fine garments, beneath which merged bodies shifted and twisted. Humongous troll-like arms and legs jutted from the mass. His human head with a golden crown looked almost comically small.
"I've waited for you, extinguished ones, stirring chaos in my castle," he hissed. "Pathetic mortals. How dare you stand tall before a demigod!?"
He nearly shrieked, swinging a massive double-bladed golden axe.
Nepheli and I exchanged glances. Clearly, he was unhinged—but at least he could still speak and reason, unlike many of the hollowed people of the Midrealm.
"KNEEL!" Godric screamed, striking the ground. A wave of golden light pulsed outward, carrying the blessing of the Great Tree. Even now, its grace had not fully left the demigod.
"I apologize…" I said cautiously, drawing his attention. "I'm not here to challenge you. Perhaps you could let me pass to Liurnia?"
Silence.
Nepheli stared at me, wide-eyed. Godric looked equally surprised—either by my question or my refusal to kneel. I couldn't bow to anyone here, not even an hysterical demigod. Local oddities rarely fazed me anymore.
"Heh… ha-ha… you think you'll be allowed to leave, mortal?" he laughed. "Passing through my servants only proves you have value. Your hands, legs, heads, hearts—they'll all be mine."
"Don't bother arguing," Nepheli said coolly. "He's insane."
"Well, worth a try," I shrugged.
We instinctively spread out, flanking the demigod. I could have simply passed by in slowed time, but I couldn't leave Nepheli alone. This fight was inevitable. I needed her to know I was doing her a favor.
"I could pass, no problem," I sighed, brandishing my spear. "But I can't leave a woman alone against this…"
"Pfft," Nepheli snorted, amused.
Godric glanced at us, confused.
"Flirting? Here? No respect!" he roared, charging.
Slowing time, I easily avoided the blow. Golden blades erupted toward him. Nepheli leapt, axes spinning, creating a storm sparking with lightning. Godric, clumsy, was struck—her axes tore through his back, lightning claws following.
"RAAAAAA!"
He flailed, cloak flying off to reveal dozens—maybe hundreds—of fused arms. His nickname, Long-Limbed, was literal. Before he could react, I struck him with a massive golden blade of magic, slicing from shoulder to hip.
Even as his body resisted, I felt his divinity oppose my magic—a startling confirmation of his godhood. The golden sand and the light of the Great Tree were equal forces. Unlike local priests, my power flowed through me; the sands of time were my blood. I was at least his equal in essence.
Godric convulsed, swinging axes, but Nepheli's return attack landed. I coordinated mine to avoid hitting her.
"ARAA! INSECTS! DIE!" Godric roared, trying to crush her.
Slowing time, I lifted Nepheli out of harm's way, letting it appear as if I had magically accelerated. She was far tougher than Roger would have been. We attacked almost simultaneously.
I struck the ground with my spear, generating several whirlpools behind me. Godric slowed, and dozens of spiral spears—like giant drills—pierced him.
"Just wanted to test this," I grinned. A magical sigil flared before me; the golden sand exploded in destructive waves.
The result was staggering. Godric was torn apart, his body scattering, his rune's binding magic undone. Just as sand had cleansed me from the Death Rune, I stripped him of the Rune of Unity. Without it, he fell to pieces.
"Hah… you saved me," Nepheli breathed.
I released her, and she remained close.
"Well… didn't plan on fighting a demigod, but it went like this," I said, shaking my head. "Couldn't leave a woman alone against this…"
"Glad it turned out this way," she smiled faintly.
Even facing a demigod, she realized she couldn't have managed alone.
"Mortals… how dare you…" Godric rasped, his voice fading. Only part of him remained, his half-assembled body and head. His mind ebbed away.
"He's fading," Nepheli muttered, approaching. His head dropped to the ground; breathing ceased. Likely, he could rise again, which was troubling.
As his body departed the light of Will, the figure of the great rune appeared in the air.
"This is what it looks like," I murmured.
It was easier than I expected. In battle, the Rune of Unity paled in comparison to the Death Rune. Great runes were parts of the Three Powers of the Elden Ring; the Death Rune was one of them. Godric had wielded the full rune, whereas I had faced only an echo.
"It's extinguished… long ago," Nepheli noted.
"So… what now?" I asked, curious. After defeating the demigod, I considered what to do with the rune. Its power was unsettling, and some external will lingered behind it.
"You must take it," Nepheli said suddenly.
"What?"
"We fought together, but you defeated Godric. The rune is rightfully yours. I do not claim it."
"Emm… I just don't know what to do with it. That's why I seek the Academy of Magic—to understand. These runes drive their wielders mad; I cannot risk the same."
She raised an eyebrow.
"I understand… the power of great runes is intimidating. Yet, we, the extinguished, follow the will of two fingers. Runes obey us."
I didn't trust this claim, yet no one asked me. The rune had made its choice. Golden patterns of Unity streamed toward me, glowing with grace.
I instinctively slowed time—but the flow accelerated, and the rune's power reached me before time could fully stop.
"Huh?"
Nothing happened. Like ordinary rune fragments, it posed no harm. I felt the rune wasn't trying to damage me; it had chosen.
"So says the Great Will," Nepheli said. "Perhaps it is your destiny to restore Order."
"Hmm…"
"You should visit the Round Table Fortress and meet the Finger Reader."
"Who? I've read about them, but there's one in the fortress? And why?"
"Now that one has fallen," she said, looking at Godric's remains. "Perhaps things have changed. You should consult the two fingers. And since you hold the great rune, you will be granted audience."
"Fine… I'll head there now. Need a lift?"
I opened a portal to the hall with the famous table.
"Yes… I have nothing more to do here," she agreed. "I must report everything to my father."
Through the portal, we arrived at the fortress. Gideon Ofnir awaited, near massive doors previously closed, now wide open.
"So you fought together?" his rasping voice said. "The Two Fingers opened the gates. The great rune is ours?"
"Something like that," I muttered.
"Hnn… I see…" His voice carried disapproval. He realized the rune was with me, not his daughter.
"The great rune chose him," Nepheli noted.
"Then… it seems the external god's will. Cron, you should discuss this with the Finger Reader. These doors opened for you alone. I will take Nepheli."
We parted ways.
Gideon led his daughter to his office for questioning. I headed for the audience chamber. Everything was moving too fast—I barely had time to process, even to consult Melina. I was on a cresting wave of events.
I entered a dim chamber, like a small chapel. Two strange beings awaited: a massive dismembered hand with two fingers, old, gnarled, hair-covered—or perhaps not dismembered, just naturally shaped that way. Beside it, on a stone altar, sat an ancient woman. Two or three centuries at least, shriveled and hunched, empty sockets for eyes. I almost thought she was dead, but a faint warmth betrayed life.
"You are the new extinguished soul… showing promise," she said kindly. Surprisingly clear, her voice did not match her frail appearance.
"I am Enya, Finger Reader," she introduced herself.
"Chrono," I nodded politely.
"Well done…"
At that moment, the Two Fingers trembled.
"See, the fingers tremble, greeting you. They have words to speak…"
The ancient woman leaned back, something igniting in her sockets. A subtle connection between the two became tangible, like an invisible thread. Her voice changed:
"The Great Elden Ring is the foundation of the Golden Order! Its blessings bring prosperity and joy. Now the ring is broken. The Golden Order's decline brought ruin, leaving only fragments. Illness and suffering abound. Yet the Great Will has not abandoned these lands. Brave extinguished soul, your great rune is a precious fragment. Find the rest, restore Order, and the Great Will shall recognize you as ruler of this world."
She exhaled sharply.
"Yes, you have done well," she said.
I frowned.
"You doubt?" she asked. "Listen—the fingers have words to share…"
The ethereal voice spoke:
"The Great Will has forsaken the demigods! They betrayed the Golden Order. Show no mercy. Cut off their heads! Take all they have. They are unworthy to rule!"
The Finger Reader relaxed.
"You've heard it. The will of the Two Fingers, extinguished soul. You are first among the extinguished, who has gone further than the rest. And the Two Fingers are on your side."
"I see… So I must acquire the other fragments of the ring as well?"
"Yes… gather them all, restore the Golden Order, and claim whatever you desire. The world can be yours."
Nothing new, really.