Bai Shi took the head of the Divine Beast Dancing Lion in his hands, holding it up for a closer look. The head was massive and exquisitely crafted. He couldn't tell if it had been fashioned from the actual corpse of a lion or if the Hornsent had made it by hand. Regardless, the head had been part of the divine beast's descent, and it now possessed a spiritual essence—a unique power of its own. Bai Shi could sense a power emanating from it, a force that seemed to connect directly to the heavens and the earth. He glanced at the Divine Beast's head, which was charred and battered beyond recognition. Finally, Bai Shi decided to try it on, placing the Divine Beast's head over his own. An inexplicable ripple passed through him, forging a strange connection between him and the helm. When Bai Shi opened his eyes again, a light flickered to life in the eyes of the lion head. Bai Shi extended a hand, and a storm immediately swirled around him with unprecedented ferocity. If he wished, he could change the very weather itself. After a moment’s thought, he took the head off, deciding not to wear it for now. Something about it... still felt a bit off-putting. He would at least need to wash and repair it back at the castle before wearing it again. In truth, the Divine Beast's head didn't look that bad. The majestic lion head was quite striking, even regal. Besides, Bai Shi was a Souls-player at heart; fashion freedom was the name of the game. The only reason he wasn't wearing an Albinauric Mask was out of some concession to his dignity in this new reality. Bai Shi recalled the sensation of wearing the head. The difference between then and now was stark. It seemed that simply wearing it enhanced his command over the forces of nature. Wind, lightning, and ice were all amplified, but the effect on storms was by far the most significant. In other words, it was a piece of equipment with a special effect. And it just so happened to perfectly suit his specialties. His ice affinity was too weak, and ancient dragon lightning was different from ordinary lightning, so it wouldn't receive much of a boost. However, his command of storms was formidable, and since the head provided the greatest enhancement to storms, their properties were a perfect match. Since his Vitality and Strength had broken their limits, Bai Shi had discovered the ceiling for items like talismans. The power they contained was no longer sufficient to affect his stats beyond that threshold. For example, if he were to replace one of his current talismans with the Starscourge Heirloom, the talisman’s +5 Strength effect would likely only grant him one point, if any at all. Beyond the threshold was a completely different realm. Therefore, he planned to focus on raising his other attributes to push more of them past their limits. But the Divine Beast's head didn't directly increase his attributes; it strengthened his connection to nature. This was perfect, as it avoided any wasted stats. Simply put, he would now be able to call upon storms with greater ease, increased power, and a wider range, all while expending less energy. It was as if he had received some kind of favor from the heavens and the earth, or had become a part of nature itself. Bai Shi stored the Divine Beast's head away and stroked his chin. What kind of entity was the source of the Dancing Lion's descent, the being so revered by the Hornsent? Judging by the battle, the divine beast definitely existed. But for some reason, it couldn't act on its own and could only send down its power. Bai Shi looked up at the sky, which had now returned to tranquility. Was the divine beast also dead? Had it, like the Ancient King, transformed into a state where it could no longer act freely? Bai Shi began to reassess his own condition. Physically, he was in perfect shape. He just needed to gather enough runes to break the limit on another attribute. Once three of his attributes were past their limits, he would be able to ascend to the next level—a tier truly befitting a king. However... the armor he wore was having trouble keeping up with battles of this intensity. This suit of armor had been with him for a long time, through countless battles. While he could patch it up and keep using it, it was starting to fall behind his growing power. Bai Shi ran a hand over his battered armor. Since first donning it, he had clashed fiercely with Radahn and immediately afterward fought two Malformed Stars. He had repaired it once after the fight at Redmane Castle, making it barely serviceable. But his recent string of battles—first Mohg, then the Divine Beast Dancing Lion—had damaged it even more severely. His armor was now in tatters, barely able to perform its duty of protecting him. Even if he repaired it again back at Stormveil, its defensive capabilities would be diminished. It was, after all, only made from the scales of Flying Dragon Agheel. At best, it was suited for battles at the demigod level. Perhaps it was time to consider a new set of gear. He could retire this set to a secondary role, or maybe just wear it for everyday use. From now on, he would need to find much stronger materials to forge armor fit for battle. But when he might find such materials was entirely up to luck. Suddenly, Bai Shi noticed a somber, shadowy glow emerge from the corpse of the Divine Beast Dancing Lion lying on the ground. At the same time, the Scadutree in the distance sent a Remembrance into his hand. Ignoring the Remembrance, Bai Shi focused on the strange phenomenon occurring with the Divine Beast's corpse. The shadow's blessing began to slough off its body, reconsolidating beside it. Finally, the blessings reformed into four Scadutree Fragments. Bai Shi picked up the fragments and silently pocketed them. It seemed that by defeating powerful enemies who had received the blessing, he could claim the Scadutree's grace for himself. That would save him a lot of time searching. However, the Hornsent Warriors and Curseblade Dancers he fought earlier were by no means weak, yet none of them had yielded any fragments. It appeared that acquiring Scadutree Fragments this way wasn't so easy. Counting the two he had found earlier, Bai Shi now had six fragments in his possession. If he used all six, he could probably receive the same blessing in the Land of Shadow, increasing his own strength. Bai Shi hesitated for a moment but decided not to use them just yet. Without the blessing, these so-called blessed foes could barely trade a few blows with him. He wanted to have a few more good fights, so he held off. Besides, if he ran into a truly powerful enemy, he could always just crush the fragments then. And if he found himself in a situation so difficult that even he was troubled, Fengling Yueying would be far more direct than any blessing. Seeing that the battle was over, Leda and Freyja dared to return to the divine beast's arena. They had gone elsewhere during the fight. The previous battle had been immense, with terrifying power radiating from every corner. There wasn't a single safe place to be found. Getting too close meant being injured by the power of one of the combatants. So, although both were intensely curious about the outcome, they had no choice but to distance themselves from the arena. Using a lift, the pair had ascended to the level above the arena, which was the true peak of the tower settlement. Now, Bai Shi followed their lead, ascending to that same place. After climbing a long, sky-reaching staircase, Bai Shi tilted his head back at the summit. Before him was a magnificent city, its foundations rooted in the very air. The city's grand gates were ensnared by the black roots of the shadow tree, barring entry to all outsiders. Judging by its scale, it was no smaller than the tower settlement below. Bai Shi looked down and saw that there were indeed physical pillars connecting the upper and lower sections. How on earth did the Hornsent manage to build something ? Just then, a white spirit on the stairs repeated its words: "...O, tower hidden by shadow—our tower, our spiral." "Guide the noble one to godhood—to become the god who will save our people..." Hearing the spirit’s words, Bai Shi's heart skipped a beat. Miquella intended to achieve godhood here?!— Becoming a god was a concept Bai Shi had almost no information about. In the game, players ultimately became the Elden Lord. But information about the Lord's consort—the god—was severely lacking. Originally, Bai Shi had assumed that only an Empyrean, upon becoming the Lord's consort and revealing the Elden Ring anew, could serve as its vessel and thus become a god. But it seemed one could achieve godhood even before that? In most endings, the player became consort to Queen Marika's remains, revealed the Ring, and continued the age. In the Age of Stars ending, however, the player and Ranni hid the Elden Ring from the Lands Between. That ending was different. Unlike the traditional god-and-king dynamic, Ranni didn't serve as the Elden Ring's vessel. In that case, it was uncertain whether she had actually become a god. It seemed his previous speculations on godhood needed to be discarded. So, Miquella cast aside his body to become a god? But if he abandoned his flesh, he would also forsake the Empyrean destiny tied to it and the law he was meant to manifest. Two drops of cold sweat trickled down Bai Shi's forehead. The key elements associated with Miquella were Unalloyed Gold, the Haligtree's abundance, and... his innate charm. As the purest golden demigod, born of Marika and Radagon, Miquella was able to research the unique properties of Unalloyed Gold. The Haligtree's abundance was also nurtured by his own blood and flesh. If he cast aside his body and all the powers he had acquired since birth, the only thing left would be his innate charm. If Miquella intended to use that trait to ascend to godhood... It seemed Miquella truly was planning something akin to the Infinite Tsukuyomi to eliminate all conflict. Bai Shi looked at the dark roots before him. The feeling that he could burn them away gave him some measure of reassurance. He could now see the phantom flames; as long as he found the seal's source, he could undo it. However, the situation was unclear. Bai Shi had no idea what the conditions for godhood were, nor how far Miquella had progressed. The white spirit's words suggested that the tower's seal was indeed an obstacle for Miquella. Therefore, Bai Shi decided not to act rashly for now. Breaking the seal prematurely without understanding the situation could play right into Miquella's hands. Perhaps he should go back and ask Ranni. As a fellow Empyrean, surely she would know something about becoming a god? As Bai Shi's mind raced, Leda's voice broke his train of thought. "It seems we cannot enter..." "Lord Bai Shi, we have decided to leave for a time and return to the Haligtree." "We will take our leave now." Bai Shi looked at Leda and gave her a nod. Leda and Freyja then vanished before his eyes, aided by the power of Grace. Bai Shi stroked his chin. Leda was remarkably cautious; she remained wary of him even now. She was likely the only one among Miquella's followers who knew the truth, but it seemed he couldn't count on her to speak up. After a moment of thought, Bai Shi returned to the Tower Settlement. The voice that had summoned the Divine Beast Dancing Lion and initiated its descent still bothered him. He had already explored the tower settlement once and had a general understanding of the situation. The only remaining possibility was the silent Horned Crone in the warehouse. Perhaps she had awoken after they left the warehouse and entered the arena. Bai Shi decided to try and communicate with her to see if he could gather any information. Inside the Tower Settlement's warehouse, the Horned Crone felt the divine beast's presence vanish, and her heart turned to ash. Had the divine beast left them again? Had they failed once more? Footsteps sounded before her, and the Horned Crone sensed the newcomer's aura. When she felt the golden Grace on Bai Shi, rage surged from her heart. Everything was destroyed anyway... That being the case, what did she have left to fear?! Before Bai Shi could even come to a stop, the Horned Crone spoke first: "...Another one of Messmer's lackeys?" "...Aren't you lot tired of this?" "What do you want with an old hag like me?" "You burned our lands and hid the tower with shadow—" "You've stolen and destroyed everything we have. Isn't that despicable enough for you?" The corner of Bai Shi's mouth twitched. The old Horned Crone wasn't exactly friendly. The Horned Crone caught her breath before speaking again, her voice brimming with renewed fury. "...You children of a wicked woman, remember this!" "The divine beast's wrath will bring retribution sooner or later." "Go on, keep tormenting this old crone. Just you wait for disaster to befall you!" "...Go on, do it." Check latest chapters at 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭•𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦•𝘯𝘦𝘵 "Then go and proclaim what good deeds you've done." "If you've got no courage, then tuck your tail and get lost." "You hateful son of a wicked woman!" Bai Shi rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. He hadn't done a single thing, yet this Horned Crone was laying into him with a tirade of curses. He was at a loss, completely unable to get a word in. Bai Shi opened his mouth, but not knowing what to say, he finally just shook his head in resignation. The Horned Crone, meanwhile, continued her verbal assault: "This has been our land since ancient times!" "Hmph! And what of it!" "Come back a hundred times, you still won't kill this old hag!" "You want me to beg for mercy? Not a chance!" "Go on, do it! Keep doing it!" "Let the heavens see! Let them see how ugly you are!" Hearing the Horned Crone tell him to strike, Bai Shi actually smiled with a sense of relief. He never cared about an enemy's identity or age. But he had no reason to attack this old crone, who could do little more than talk. Her home had been destroyed; it would be stranger if she were calm and collected. After a moment's thought, Bai Shi suddenly turned and walked out of the room. This Horned Crone seemed unable to see and could only judge a person by their presence. The Divine Beast Dancing Lion's head carried the aura of a champion. And Bai Shi hadn't said a single word so far. He could also change his build. If he played his cards right, could he possibly trick her? After all, the Horned Crone didn't seem to be in a very stable state of mind. She was probably just one step away from madness. "Children of a wicked woman, children of Marika..." "May you all be afflicted with an ill-omened curse..." "Wrath of the divine beast, descend..." Ignoring the curses the Horned Crone was muttering, Bai Shi stepped outside. He took out the head of the Divine Beast Dancing Lion and increased his size until he matched the champions who had performed the dance. Then, Bai Shi removed the golden Grace from his eyes and equipped the Hornsent Warrior's Great Curved Sword. The Horned Crone finally vented all the bitterness in her heart and gasped for breath. When she came to her senses, the son of the wicked woman who had been standing before her was gone. Just as the Horned Crone was wondering, she suddenly sensed a presence that filled her with ecstasy. This sacred aura! This magnificent form! There was no mistaking it! The Horned Crone's expression relaxed, and she smiled joyfully. "...Oh, that fragrance..." "Is a champion gracing me with his presence?" "Oh, oh... I couldn't sense the divine beast's presence, so I was worried, crone that I am." "Ah, I'm so glad my worries were for naught." "Thank goodness, truly thank goodness." "Our prayers have finally, finally reached the heavens." "It was you who drove the enemy away just now, wasn't it?" Bai Shi stood before the Horned Crone, smiling but saying nothing.