The Creators: From Night City

Page 431

These words were like a bombshell dropped on the water.

The Boundary Sounds like a place name, but it's actually the name of this world, which is virtually boundless in size.

Marlenia's actions were no less than a commander abandoning his base and troops to travel the world alone, with no return in sight.

But what was incongruous was that no one present objected, and there was not much surprise at all.

It was as if everyone knew that as long as Malenia's body allowed, she would inevitably embark on the journey to find Michaela's whereabouts.

"While I am away, you must remain faithful to your duties and continue to guard the sacred tree, lest when we return, only ruins remain. My brother's hard work must not be lost."

Everyone agreed.

"Lady Malenia," Loretta, representing the Platinum Children group, suddenly stepped forward.

As one of the few women in her tribe who can walk freely, she is the undisputed opinion leader of the Platinum Children tribe within the Sacred Tree.

Loretta was very curious about how the crimson corruption residing in Malenia was suppressed, but wisely refrained from asking further. Instead, she focused her attention on the golden flames burning throughout the entire sacred tree.

"Was that sudden fire arranged by Lady Michaela? Will the raging flames damage the sacred tree?"

Although Loretta was tough, she was not stupid. She asked the questions indirectly, giving her nominal boss enough face.

Unexpectedly, Marlenia did not answer the question, but instead turned her gaze to the side.

Loretta then realized that there was an 'outsider' in the prayer room.

"It's just necessary 'disinfection' work. This sacred tree has been thoroughly tainted by scarlet rot. To eradicate it, we can only carry out a complete disinfection."

Jiang Bing's sudden words drew everyone's attention to him in the prayer room.

"Who is your Excellency?"

“That’s not important, knight. This fire is harmless. The reason you see it raging so fiercely is simply because the pervasive crimson decay provides a large amount of material for the fire.”

"When the decay is completely burned away, the flames will naturally go out."

Loretta and the old Tree Guardian turned their attention to Malenia's face in the high-backed chair, hoping to glean her opinion from her expression.

The Valkyrie's silence clearly indicated her agreement with the mysterious man's statement.

All anyone can do is choose to believe.

Until the end of this seemingly hasty meeting, Loretta was unable to learn the origin of the flame from her lord's sister.

But she knew it must be related to the figure next to the high-backed chair.

She will remain skeptical and vigilant about this.

Even though the War of Shattering destroyed the order of the borderlands, and the brilliant dynasty brought about by the Golden Law has essentially disappeared, its influence still permeates every aspect of this world.

For example, the blanket that Malenia used to cover herself, this 'old stock' that had just been rummaged through the inner treasury, bore a figurative image of the Golden Law.

Jiang Bing stared intently at the pattern on the blanket, so much so that Fenrei wondered if the other man had developed some kind of morbid obsession with his lord's body.

Of course, the infatuation here does not refer to sexual pleasure, but simply physical attraction.

As the Valkyrie's personal bodyguard, Finlay, who served the corrupt, had learned some horrifying truths from the 'genius' Michaela.

The other party mentioned the special physical characteristics of the brother and sister when trying to cure the scarlet decay in Marlenia's body.

As the offspring of Queen Marika of the Golden Law, they inherited each other's special bloodline from birth, a bloodline known as the Rare People.

This bloodline is the perfect vessel for all kinds of power, and also the container that those 'external gods' most desire.

Finley feared that Marlene, burned and decayed, might become a vessel for that golden flame again, burdened once more with another unfamiliar law.

If Jiang Bing knew what she was thinking, he would only say, "You wish!"

Chapter 878 Fragments of the Magic Ring

In reality, what truly caught Jiang Bing's attention was the pattern on the blanket that appeared to be composed of countless circles.

This symbol, which ordinary people find sacred, represents a kind of advanced version of the creation rune in the eyes of the [forger].

Elden Ring

Seeing Jiang Bing so engrossed, Marlenia spoke up to explain.

"As the legal foundation of the border region, this is a power personally invested into this world by the 'Supreme Will'."

"Supreme Will?"

"Elden Ring?"

Jiang Bing's question suddenly aroused all sorts of doubts in the hearts of the two, after all, even an Outer God should know the name of 'Supreme Will'.

Unless He existed long before the Furnace of Life was even born, and was already far removed from the boundary.

Yes, Jiang Bing, who appeared out of nowhere, has been identified by two people who experienced it firsthand as the embodiment of a powerful 'external deity'.

While this explanation is somewhat far-fetched, no other explanation can account for the immense power he wields.

After all, the 'Crimson Corruption' that even the mighty Michaela couldn't completely eradicate was easily burned to ashes in the opponent's hands.

'Crimson Corruption' is the power of the corruption goddess Ionia, and in this world's concept of power, only one 'Outer God' can defeat one 'Outer God'.

Marlenia coughed weakly, gazing at the unknown but powerful 'Outer God' before her, and finally made a decision.

"Your Majesty, Marlenia wishes to make a deal with you."

Jiang Bing looked at this frail man, whose will was as sharp as ever.

"What do you want to trade? You should know that my asking price is always very high."

“I am willing to become the embodiment of your law at the border, as long as you can find my brother for me.”

“I am the offspring of Queen Marika, born a sorcerer among the rare. You should understand the importance of this body.”

Jiang Bing didn't really know much about it.

But he knew that the other person's body did indeed possess some special characteristics. Its synesthesia was so acute that it could see the etheric fire, making it practically a born human vessel for the laws.

“I will voluntarily promote your law for you, become your apostle in the borderlands, and facilitate your return.”

The word 'Apostle' made Jiang Bing's lips twitch involuntarily.

“Marinia, I don’t need to promote the so-called law, nor do I value things like missionary work.”

“Compared to these, I am more interested in things like ‘Crimson Corruption’. Why don’t you offer me some information related to it in exchange for a deal?”

The answer from the 'Outer God' sent a jolt through Malenia. She involuntarily looked into Jiang Bing's eyes, searching for the possible 'Twilight' in them.

According to historical records, before Marika the Golden Law became Queen of the Borderlands, she fought with another god-like being for the throne of Elden.

Both of them were chosen by their respective finger messengers, who wished to present their own laws to the Elden Ring, projecting them across the entire junction, and to rule the world with their own laws.

Marika represents the Golden Law, and the magnificent golden tree is her symbol.

The other party represents the law of death, possesses black flames powerful enough to kill gods, and is known as the 'Godslayer'.

Her name was erased from history with the defeat of the Law Wars, but her title remained with her remaining followers.

She is the 'Queen with the eyes of night,' the master of her destined death.

Jiang Bing's flames and unconventional remarks made it hard for Marlenia not to think of this former rival of Queen Marika. She even wondered if he might be another "Supreme Will" behind the "Queen of Night".

"Well, I think you might be interested in this."

The weakened Valkyrie extended her arm, and countless streams of light converged into her palm, eventually forming a phantom symbol floating on her hand.

"Ok?"

Jiang Bing's eyes widened suddenly as he stared at the faintly glowing runes in the other person's hand, then at the patterns on the blanket, his heart filled with astonishment.

He was quite certain that what Marlene was holding in her hand was a fragment of the so-called Elden Ring.

"What's going on, little bro? A wild creation rune?!"

“This is the great rune that my two fingers bestowed upon me, part of the Elden Ring.” Malenia’s face was ashen, clearly showing the immense impact giving up this item had on her.

This is to be expected, since in some ways this thing is no different from a person's status.

"My mother, Queen Marika of the Borderlands, for reasons unknown, smashed the sacred Elden Ring and personally destroyed the Golden Law Dynasty she had built."

"The broken fragments of the Dharma Ring were then distributed to all her offspring by the attendants of the 'Supreme Will' with their two fingers."

"This is the piece I got."

“Unknown deity, I am willing to trade with you using it, information from other fragments, and information from all other ‘outer gods’ that I know.”

"I only ask that you help me find my brother!"

Marlenia unhesitatingly offered her Great Rune to Jiang Bing.

The invisible Great Rune was grasped firmly in Jiang Bing's hand without hesitation.

He naturally had no reason to refuse such a good thing.

"make a deal"

…………

A small boat moved on its own without wind, cutting through the waves of the far north sea and speeding southward.

A tall, slender figure stood at the bow of the ship, her blood-red hair flowing freely, resembling a blooming blood-red azalea in the sea breeze.

Marlene moved her right hand, which she had lost and then regained, her expression still filled with barely suppressed surprise.

She spread out her exquisite new prosthetic hand, which was indistinguishable from a normal hand, and stood facing the wind, feeling the slight tickling sensation of the sea breeze on her palm. Her respect and reverence for the 'Supreme Will' behind her increased by three points.

Her brother, Michaela, is arguably the most skilled genius in alchemy and forging in the entire borderlands. He has forged golden needles that can suppress the influence of 'external gods', powerful crossbows that ordinary people can use, and her prosthetic limbs, but he is absolutely incapable of giving cold metal the ability to feel flesh.

This doesn't seem like craftsmanship; it's more like a miracle.

She pulled up her rather plain long skirt, revealing her flawless left leg.

It was a perfect creation that, by sight alone, was completely indistinguishable from a prosthesis. Just like her right arm, it was perfectly integrated with her original body, appearing to be her original limb from the outside.

Most importantly, her hands and feet fit her body perfectly, as if they were her own natural body, allowing her to move without any hindrance.

This surprised Marlene the most.

Chapter 879 Sunshade City

She felt that with this new prosthetic limb, even without the blessing of the Great Rune and 'Crimson Corruption', her swordsmanship would still be able to reach a higher level.

Finley, who had been demoted to a lowly follower, silently draped a cloak made of thunder sheep wool over his lord to protect her from the cold sea breeze.

Although doing so is really like taking off your pants to fart—completely unnecessary.

Although Marlene has lost the power of 'Crimson Corruption' and the Great Rune, she is still a top-tier warrior and would never be so weak.

But Finlay had nothing else to do.

This once-renowned knight commander has now shed his magnificent armor, and even abandoned his most familiar crescent scythe and sword.

She chose to stay in step with her lord and completely sever all ties with the Scarlet Corruption.

But to Jiang Bing's surprise, as a subordinate, Fenlei's appearance was far superior to his lord's in some aspects.

As a divine being, Malenia's appearance was naturally quite beautiful.

Previously tormented by the Crimson Corruption, Malenia was nearly disfigured, but after the corruption was cleared away, her divine charm immediately returned.

Her features were not particularly soft, but rather possessed a captivating sharpness, with a strong and resolute look in her eyes and brows. However, this did not detract from her beauty. The high level of beauty she inherited from Queen Marika made her already stunningly beautiful, and this sharp aura only added to her charm.

The only drawback is that the famous Valkyrie only has a pair of A-cup shoes.

While Finley's appearance is somewhat ordinary, her imposing figure adds a lot to her appeal, enough to bridge some of the gap between the two.

"We've arrived at Sunshade City, my lord," Fenley reported to Jiang Bing as they followed the gradually clearing coastline.

Apart from Finley, none of the former corrupt knights accompanied them on this trip. The three of them traveled light, as there were very few beings in the entire border region who could stop them, given their combat prowess.

The Sunshade City that Finley mentioned was a coastal city with a simple and ancient style. Large stones were piled up to form city walls, completely blocking the docks leading to the sea.

Before the boat even arrived, a rotten, foul odor filled the nostrils of the three men.

“The Marley family, the rulers of Sunshade City, are the executioner family of the Golden Dynasty. They built their city here because their work is not honorable and is not welcomed by other rulers.” Finley explained the political knowledge related to this place to Jiang Bing, the ‘outer god,’ as he towed the ship ashore.

The Golden Dynasty had no concept of death. Before Queen Marika shattered the Ring of Law, everyone, even if they died physically, would have their souls return to the Golden Tree, and then, under the blessing of the Golden Law, be reborn with a new body.

This resulted in the existence of truly heinous criminals, yet there were no punishments available to deal with these 'immortals'.