Ch. 98 Now it was Morgott who

You retreat? My blade’s reach is even greater than your stride!

Now it was Morgott who, just like Mia moments ago, fell into a crisis.

If he tried to dodge, he wouldn’t be able to get away before the blade touched him.

But unlike the combat-inexperienced Mia, Morgott could block!

A golden straight sword appeared in Morgott’s hand, instantly parrying the mana blade firmly.

Naturally, he intended to follow up his escape, so the long Cursed Blade also thrust forward.

Squelch—

A surge of blood erupted from the girl’s mouth as the Cursed Blade pierced through her abdominal cavity.

But what of it?

At worst, she’d just die once.

At this moment, her mind was entirely consumed by thoughts of battle. Facing the Cursed Sword impaling her abdomen, her strength did not fade; instead, she took a step further toward Morgott!

The Cursed Blade sank even deeper.

But Mia’s mana sword also drew one step closer!

But… the power was still not enough…

…to overwhelm Morgott’s defense.

The girl gritted her teeth and pressed her mangled left arm against the staff as well.

‘Golden Vow!’

The Erdtree Crest enveloped only Mia, but the power within that seemingly soft light was even greater than the crest that had covered an entire block in Nuln!

The buff provided by the grace brought strength to Mia.

The petite young girl roared, advancing step by step, bearing the Cursed Sword piercing her body, and pressed her blazing magical blade toward Morgott.

Morgott supported himself with difficulty with his left hand. Through the air distorted by the high heat, he saw the blood flowing from within the girl before him emitting a golden shimmer.

Morgott was trembling; the part of him that belonged to the gods was trembling…

Is it the Erdtree?

Margit realized in disbelief that the power he inherited from the Golden Order was refusing his control.

It was restlessly resisting the battle between the two of them at this moment.

‘Why?’

Could it be that he, Morgott, was not the rightful heir of the Golden Order?

‘How much of what she said before is true? Could it be that she really is Marika’s descendant? Flowing with the same bloodline as me?’

With a bang, the golden straight sword in Morgott’s left hand shattered like glass.

The yellowish-white magical blade slashed down.

Morgott retreated instantly, pulling out the Cursed Sword.

But at the same time, the magical blade also grazed his chest.

“Haa—”

Morgott let out a muffled grunt, staggering backward, losing his balance and kneeling on the ground, stabilizing his body with the Cursed Sword inserted into the earth.

“Puh—”

As the Cursed Sword was pulled from her body, Mia spat out another mouthful of blood.

She also collapsed to her knees.

‘Urgent Heal…’

The illusory Sacred Seal flickered weakly.

Her blue bar was empty.

Mia, while vomiting blood, threw down her staff and tremblingly pulled out a blue flask of sacred tears.

But Mia, pale and having almost completely lost her bodily functions, accidentally dropped the flask of sacred tears onto the ground.

Fortunately, Melina’s Erdtree extended its branches behind Mia, and the grace of blessing began to repair her body the moment it touched her.

The wound on her abdomen was slowly beginning to heal.

The young girl’s delicate, lovely face was covered in the blood she had vomited, and her body was stained red as well.

Having regained some strength, Mia drank the sweet dew from the flask of sacred tears. Having recovered a sliver of strength, she held her severed left arm and looked up at Morgott not far away.

And Morgott did not look much better.

Mia’s magical blade had severed countless horns, leaving a charred wound on Morgott that extended from his left shoulder to his right flank.

He gripped the hilt of the Cursed Sword tightly, coughed twice, and just as he stood up, he staggered again.

It seemed to be a scene of mutual destruction.

Morgott looked at Mia with a complex expression.

If it were at the foot of the Erdtree, with the blessing of the crown and the throne, his power would be stronger, perhaps…

No, perhaps even at the foot of the Erdtree, the situation would be the same.

The golden order did not want to be enemies with the girl before him.

“…You… *cough* *cough*” Morgott coughed: “What is your name?”

“Mi—a.”

Mia

It had the same first letter as Marika’s name.

Likewise, it also had the same first letter as Margit, or Morgott.

“Are you willing to talk properly now?” A somewhat forced smile appeared at the corner of Mia’s mouth.

Intense pain had already taken over her nerves just a moment ago.

Although her fighting spirit remained… the weakness caused by massive blood loss was also a reality.

It was impossible for her to get excited.

If it weren’t for her pure personal reasons leading to a strong ability to withstand injury.

For an ordinary person, if their abdomen were pierced by a long blade and their left arm severed, they would probably be done for with just a whimper.

Morgott did not nod, nor did he shake his head.

But he also made no move to attack.

It could be considered noncommittal.

Mia noticed that her severed hand on the ground had turned into golden specks of light and dissipated.

She cast a healing Prayer on herself; now, her left arm was wrapped in a ball of golden light, no longer in pain, but also without sensation.

“I have never heard your name,” Morgott said.

Having recovered for the most part, Mia also stood up again.

“As for my background, I also know very little.”

“But I genuinely do not want to be enemies with you, my brother.”

“Hmph…” Morgott snorted coldly: “Then submit to the Erdtree.”

Even if you are family… so what?

‘The Golden’ Godrick.

The divinely blessed twins, Miquella and Malenia.

‘Starscourge’ Radahn.

‘Praetor’ Rykard.

‘Princess of the Moon’ Ranni.

Were the Shardbearers not his kin?

Were they not all demigods of the Golden Order?

One by one, they were unwilling to fight for the Erdtree; either they were unworthy and wallowed in depravity, or they greedily attempted to become the Elden Lord, letting their own laws supersede the Golden Order.

Mia looked at Morgott, neither humble nor pushy.

“I want the glory of the Golden Order to return to The Lands Between. Let the grace of the Erdtree descend upon the world again, and let all races coexist on the same land.”

“Do you not wish to bask in the radiance of the Erdtree openly and honestly as a child of the gods?”

Morgott looked at Mia without saying a word.

It was as if he saw another pair of golden eyes beneath the blindfold covering Mia’s eyes.