After a moment of silence, Bai Shi glanced at Miquella's cross. Leda noticed the shift in his gaze and began to explain: “Lord Miquella decided to discard everything—” “Including the body, the strength, and the destiny tied to the Golden Order.” “This cross symbol is the mark left when Lord Miquella shed his physical form.” Bai Shi listened quietly, sighing faintly in his heart. Destiny... Was it destiny again? He often heard the term destiny from Ranni, and the Carian royal family’s fate was intrinsically linked to the stars themselves. Yet, Bai Shi still had no firm concept of what 'destiny' actually meant. Bai Shi reached out and touched Miquella's cross. The carved words surfaced in his mind: “Here I abandon the body first shed.” Bai Shi's eyes widened. So, were Miquella's severed bodily fragments buried beneath this cross? No, if he abandoned his physical body, how was he moving? Did he simply astral project? Upon closer inspection, Bai Shi noticed several small Divine Blood Tree Saplings sprouting nearby, suggesting Miquella had, indeed, physically abandoned his original vessel. Bai Shi felt the urge to scoff, but couldn't find the words. Miquella was truly an Empyrean enigma. What exactly was he trying to achieve with all these theatrics?— Nearby, the Horned Man who had fallen on the ground stirred a finger, seemingly rousing from his unconsciousness. However, he still did not get up. If he stood now, he would inevitably have to acknowledge the authority of those from the Golden Order—something he could not accept. But he also knew that if he continued to be verbally obstinate, he would likely be killed outright. He bore the heavy mission of avenging his mother, wife, and children, and thus, he couldn't fall here yet. So, for now, he would just lie there and play dead, hoping to sneak past them. Curse it! That woman's aura was so similar to Queen Marika's—perhaps she was even one of Marika's own children—yet he couldn't kill her here. Instead, he had nearly died himself. It was outrageous. How were they supposed to kill these invaders? The invaders had only just entered the Land of Shadow; they shouldn't have been able to gather many Scadutree Fragments yet, meaning their power should have been completely suppressed. In the Horned Man's memory, once the shadows enveloped the Scadutree, isolating the land from the outside, the Scadutree underwent a catastrophic transformation. Its sap and fragments scattered wildly, falling into complete chaos. From that moment on, all creatures native to the Land of Shadow indiscriminately gained the protection of the shadow, while outsiders suffered extreme repression and found their true strength difficult to manifest. They should have been blessed against the unblessed, yet the Horned Man had been beaten into the dirt like a mangy cur. What the hell kind of logic was this? If they couldn't even deal with them now, it would be even harder later. The Horned Man roared mentally, but physically, he was powerless. This sense of futility reminded him of the time he faced Messmer's armies. Then, too, he was filled with resentment but unable to fight back, only daring to venture out after the army had finished its rampage. Nothing had changed after all... The Horned Man clutched a handful of dirt, the flames of revenge searing his heart once more. Leda and the others noticed the Horned Man's movement. Seeing that he was not dead, Leda let out a small breath of relief. There was still much he needed to do in the Land of Shadow; he couldn't die yet. Bai Shi was not surprised; he had deliberately suppressed his strength moments ago. If he had truly wanted him gone, the first attack would have scattered the Horned Man's ashes to the wind. Leda pointed toward the nearby cliff face and spoke: “Lord Bai Shi, next we will travel to the Tower Settlement to meet our two other companions.” “One of them is our cartographer, a very reliable ally.” “As for the other, he collects potentially interesting items found throughout the Land of Shadow, ensuring our provisions are ready.” “How do you wish to proceed?” Bai Shi looked where Leda pointed. A path had been carved through the mountain, fortified by massive stone archways constructed in a distinct style, shoring up the cliff side against collapse. Beyond that was the road leading to the Tower Settlement Leda had mentioned. Bai Shi nodded in agreement. “Fine, I'll join you and take a look.” Since he had nothing urgent to attend to, he might as well go. First, he could get acquainted with Miquella's followers, then decide on his stance toward them. Upon receiving Bai Shi's affirmation, Leda took the lead, guiding them forward. Dryleaf Dane, however, remained where he stood. Leda glanced back at Dane, who simply nodded silently to her. Leda then retrieved a map and handed it to Dane. She paused, then pulled out two vials gleaming with golden light, handing them over as well. “If you are injured, drink this. Take care of yourself.” Dane was startled, then smiled, accepting the items. He clasped his hands together over his chest in a gesture of farewell to the group, then slowly walked off toward the northeast. Because Dane never spoke, Leda offered an explanation: “Dane seems to have personal business and must leave for a time.” “In that case... perfect. We'll have our companion draw up another map for us later.” Freyja scratched her head. “Another map? Wouldn't one be enough for the two of us?” “It is always better to have an extra. We may be separated due to unforeseen circumstances.” Freyja considered this and found it logical. She trusted Leda implicitly to handle these organizational details. With Dane gone, Leda resumed walking forward. Melina spared a final glance for the Horned Man on the ground before silently following Bai Shi. Bai Shi and the others continued toward the Tower Settlement, their figures gradually disappearing from view. Only then did the Horned Man tremble, crawling out of the shallow impact crater and spitting out a mouthful of bloody foam. “Bah! You damned fools. I’ll make sure you regret this someday...” The Horned Man suddenly stood, drawing the scythe-like blade from his waist and turning to face his flank. He saw Dryleaf Dane, who was supposed to have left, returning from the side path. The Horned Man’s tension eased slightly, though the missing finger made gripping the blade difficult. He remained alert, unwilling to lower his defensive posture. He glared at the smiling Dane, speaking through gritted teeth: “Hmph, what are you doing back here? Come to laugh at me?!” Dane spread his hands and shrugged. Then he pulled a golden-glowing flask from beneath his cloak—the exact one Leda had given him. Dane took a small sip himself, capped it, and tossed it toward the Horned Man. Before the Horned Man could react, Dane turned and left again. This time, he was truly gone. The Horned Man caught the thrown flask, holding it before his face. Gazing at the golden liquid, he felt the raw power emanating from it. If he drank it, an injury as small as a severed finger would probably be instantly healed... He suddenly snapped out of his trance, realizing his fingers were already unwrapping the lid, bringing it close to his mouth. Regaining his sense, the Horned Man realized what he was doing... Instinctively, he crushed the flask in his hand, looking at the broken shards before quickly flicking them away, as if they were a contaminated curse. The Horned Man instead pulled a thick, foul-smelling black ointment from his robe and began to apply it to his injury. “Those who belong to the Erdtree...” “I will not accept even the smallest crumb of charity.” As they walked, Leda spoke once more: “Lord Bai Shi, there are a few things you should know about the Horned Man.” “Lady Marika ordered Lord Messmer to purge the Horned People. His family suffered terrible fiery tragedy as a result.” “His unforgiving stance toward the Golden Order is, perhaps, understandable.” “However, malice against one’s own kind is merely human nature, and the Horned People are no exception.” “They were not inherently good; they simply happened to be the ones who lost, which makes their plight regrettable...” Bai Shi nodded, understanding Leda's underlying meaning. Some things were perhaps inappropriate for an agent of the Golden Order to say outright. It seemed there were hidden secrets he wasn't yet privy to, which likely explained why Marika chose to ruthlessly massacre the Horned Man’s people. But that history had nothing to do with him now. If the Horned Man provoked him, regardless of his reasons, he would die. If the Horned Man behaved himself, Bai Shi wouldn't bother them. Next, Leda took out a highly simplistic map and handed it to Bai Shi. “Although your impression of the Horned Man may be poor, he is not entirely useless.” Bai Shi took the map and looked it over. A few locations were marked with Miquella's cross symbol. Though the background cartography was abstract, it would be easy enough to correlate the locations with a more detailed map. “These mark the places where Lord Miquella shed his form, marking his progress.” “We need the knowledge he possesses...” After passing through the ravine, a gigantic staircase emerged before Bai Shi and the others, leading to a magnificent city at the end of the road. Surrounded by numerous spiraling high towers, the city shone with surprising divine majesty. The Horned People were deeply devout, their faith ingrained in their blood. Perhaps this was why even such a rustic people could erect such a startling city to honor their gods. Bai Shi gazed at the grand architecture, but what truly caught his eye was the hazy construction in the sky behind the city. Orıginal content can be found at 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵·𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖·𝙣𝙚𝙩 What was that? Shrouded in shadow, its form was utterly obscured. But for the moment, Bai Shi focused on a Miquella cross marker on the cliff beside the city gates. Standing there was a solitary, upright figure. Despite the distance, Bai Shi could feel the powerful presence of cursed blood radiating from the man. Bai Shi's Mohgwyn Dynasty radar was buzzing; there were definitely remnants of the Blood Dynasty nearby who hadn't been eliminated. However, since this appeared to be one of Leda’s companions, he decided to assess the situation first. As he walked up the ramp, Bai Shi couldn't help but grumble inwardly. He had no idea where Miquella had collected these people, but every one of them was an enigma. Freyja was an uncomplicated fighting maniac who was slightly simpleminded. Dryleaf Dane pretended to be a silent master every day, and Bai Shi still wasn't sure if he could actually speak. As for the Horned Man... best not to dwell on it. A fanatic consumed by vengeance. Even Leda, who appeared the most normal, supposedly held a deep secret according to 'Wine-Drunk' Thiollier. And now, there was a survivor of the Mohgwyn Dynasty here. Truly an all-star gathering. This Mohg devotee must also have been utterly charmed by Miquella. Otherwise, Bai Shi couldn't fathom how these two entirely different figures could possibly team up. The closer he got, the more intense the cursed blood power felt around the man. Comparing him to the great swordsman, the 'Old Man,' whom Bai Shi had previously fought, this person's skill might be comparable, placing him in the highest tier of heroes. However, the cursed blood inside him was denser and purer than the 'Old Man's'—likely indicating a higher status than later Mohg recruits. Noticing Bai Shi’s look of inquiry, Leda smiled faintly. “Lord Bai Shi, I assume you are quite surprised?” “All of our backgrounds are wildly different, and conflict would not be surprising.” “Yet, here we are, all drawn by Lord Miquella.” “Because of him, we are able to join hands and work together...” “It is a genuine miracle.” Bai Shi's mouth twitched, barely suppressing his true feelings. Indeed, it was a miracle; the immense charm exerted by an Empyrean certainly earned that title. Leda walked forward and greeted the masked, rigid man: “Sir Ansbach, I’m afraid we need to trouble you to draw another map.” The man named Ansbach nodded and turned to look at Bai Shi and Melina. Even through the mask, Bai Shi felt the man’s keen, discerning gaze—his eyes were sharp as torches. Ansbach stroked the white beard covering his mask and spoke in a deep, aged voice: “Ah, new guests, I see? No wonder the figures I projected were short by two.” “My oversight, I apologize.” With that, Ansbach bowed slightly, his scrutinizing look softening as he retracted his inner sharpness. Bai Shi shook his head at Ansbach. “Our unannounced arrival is the true mistake; you needn't worry about us.” “And speaking of which, your map drafting is quite excellent.” “It is rare for anyone to receive Melina's praise in that regard.” Bai Shi turned and subtly checked on Melina, only to see her still looking dazed, showing no reaction to his words. Bai Shi sighed inwardly. Melina was not well. Ever since they entered the Land of Shadow, she had become the target of hatred from all the Horned People due to her connection to Marika. Being observed by such intense animosity was likely something Melina had never experienced. It was clearly not something she could just shrug off. Bai Shi decided he needed to have a proper conversation with her later. Ansbach chuckled softly, clearly pleased by the compliment. Bai Shi refocused on the man before him, finding him quite peculiar. There was something about him that seemed different from other members of the Mohgwyn Dynasty he’d met. If the Mohgwyn Dynasty was a criminal organization, this man resembled the elder steward responsible for managing all internal affairs. Although his hands were likely just as stained with blood, at least his demeanor was polished and elegant. Still, none of this changed Bai Shi's low opinion of the Mohgwyn remnants. Every Blood Noble and Pureblood Knight who pledged their loyalty to Mohg was dripping with carnage. The group continued up the slope, reaching the stone platform where Ansbach stood, right outside the imposing city gate. It was only then that Bai Shi noticed a silent man standing behind Ansbach, wearing heavy bronze armor. Behind this man were stacks of boxes and barrels. This had to be Mur, the companion Leda mentioned, responsible for provisions. As they stopped, Ansbach introduced himself to Bai Shi and Melina: “My name is Ansbach, and I formerly served Lord Mohg...” “As for now, like my companions, I am guided by Lord Miquella.” “Having said that, I am nothing more than an old weak remnant soldier, useless in matters that require strength of arms.” “Therefore, I now dedicate my time to scouting and intelligence gathering.” Bai Shi couldn't help but look sideways after Ansbach's introduction. Though he spoke humbly, claiming to be an "old weak remnant soldier," Bai Shi strongly felt his strength was far greater than he pretended. He was probably one of those who hide their might to play the fool. After introducing himself, Ansbach turned to Mur. Everyone's attention shifted to the man. Seeing himself surrounded by so many stares, Mur remembered he was supposed to introduce himself to the new arrivals. “Ah... F-first time meeting you, welcome.” “Let us work hard together, for Lord Miquella...” “I prepared many things for all of you.” After listening to Mur's stammering speech, Bai Shi blinked. Did this mean... Freyja wasn't so simple-minded after all? Freyja, despite her obsession with fighting and her direct nature, was at least a normal person. This Mur, however, seemed akin to an extremely introverted child. Bai Shi also offered a brief introduction of himself. “Bai Shi, and this is Melina, my companion.” “We will likely be imposing on you all for some time.” Melina returned from her thoughts and nodded to them. Ansbach cleared his throat and spoke again: “Mur, please bring out the provisions.” Mur nodded, turned, and retrieved a carefully wrapped jar from the pile of goods behind him. “These are... gathered by the collecting beetles...” When he opened the jar, everyone saw it contained several Scadutree Fragments. Leda and the others didn't yet know the item's function and waited for Ansbach to explain. Ansbach picked up a fragment and placed it in Leda's hand. “I presume you have already felt it.” “In this Land of Shadow, outsiders like us suffer from suppression.” Leda looked at the dark-glowing fragment in her hand and began to theorize. “Is this the key to solving that?” “Precisely. During my investigation, I read many texts and documents, and I gathered certain intelligence.” “The Land of Shadow underwent a massive change, and the Scadutree was profoundly affected.” “Since then, its fragments and sap have scattered everywhere in the Land of Shadow.” “In the immediate aftermath, the natives received an indiscriminate blessing, but all outsiders were subjected to a curse.” “The Horned Man does not need these items, but the rest of us do.” “What you see here is all we possess currently. But do not fret; Mur’s collecting beetles are gathering more continuously.” Ansbach produced the remaining Scadutree Fragments, placing them before the group. Counting roughly, there were a little more than ten pieces. “After using a few to test their effects, we ceased usage.” “I would like to hear Miss Leda’s thoughts on how they should be distributed.” Leda bit her lip softly, deep in thought. If they wanted to contribute to Lord Miquella most effectively, the best option would be to give all the Scadutree Fragments to Lord Bai Shi. Others didn't know the truth, but Leda did. Under Miquella's influence, Lord Bai Shi was a trustworthy ally. Once Bai Shi's full power was restored, he would practically be able to sweep aside the resistance in the Land of Shadow. However, Leda remained apprehensive. Witnessing Bai Shi's power return to a point they could no longer control was profoundly stressful. If anything went wrong then, without the Scadutree’s full blessing, they would be completely incapable of restraining him. “In that case... let everyone collect what they need individually.” “How much we gather depends on our own luck and skill. Any surplus can be distributed later.” The others nodded. While her suggestion was cautious, it was the most reasonable decision. Miquella's followers were a highly decentralized group, and forced distribution could cause internal friction. After reaching a consensus, Ansbach asked Leda: “Miss Leda, where do you plan to head next?” Leda looked toward the majestic gate before them. “Next, I want to explore the Tower Settlement ahead.” Ansbach glanced at the huge door, stroking his beard as he spoke: “Ah, getting inside there... that will be difficult.” “There are Hornsent Warriors inside who survived the war, and they use a specialized 'Descending God' technique. Their strength is terrifying.” “When I went scouting earlier, my old bones almost broke inside.” Bai Shi looked Ansbach up and down. Hmm, perfectly intact. Even his clothes were clean and unstained. I'll believe that when I see it.