The Creators: From Night City

Page 435

The shadow of a tree casts a shadow on a person's reputation; no one dares to disregard the threat posed by the Valkyrie.

The scene immediately became tense. Several royal guards whispered a few words to the tree guards holding golden torches behind them, and then ran frantically into the city.

Meanwhile, signs of guard activity were also seen on the city walls, with guards holding monocular telescopes and looking out over the wide expanse of the Yatan Plateau in the south of the royal city.

They are searching for any possible army.

“Something’s not right,” Finley suddenly said.

“The royal city’s defenses shouldn’t be this weak. The number of soldiers looks pitifully small. Did something happen to the royal city while we were retreating to the sacred tree?”

Marlene and her servants, who had been living in seclusion at the Sacred Tree overseas, were naturally very isolated from the news, but Finley's experience in leading troops into battle was not to be underestimated.

Moreover, she had witnessed the heavily guarded state of the royal city during the early stages of the Shattered War. Unlike now, there were only a few cats and dogs on the wide city walls, and only two big tree guards at the gate, with a dozen or so royal knights serving as assistants.

For someone of Rodel's caliber, this level of defense is practically no different from being undefended.

Jiang Bing didn't respond. He was currently playing with the strands of golden light in front of him with great interest, as if he were playing some interesting sheet music.

This is the power of the Golden Law, the remnant of the rules.

Even though the Law Ring is broken and the Golden Law has withered, the blessing and influence of the Golden Law still exist in the capital city of Rodel, under the spreading branches of the Golden Tree.

Furthermore, the closer one gets to the interior of the royal city, and the closer one gets to that towering golden tree, the greater the influence of the Golden Law becomes.

To be honest, neither Marlenia nor Finley could feel this, nor could the Tree Guards and Royal Knights on the other side.

From birth, they are bathed in the Golden Law and blessed.

It's difficult to make a fish suddenly realize that water is something special.

However, it was different for Jiang Bing. The Golden Law was an erosion of new rules and a permeation of unique power for him, especially since his own position was high enough and his existence and composition were powerful enough that his existence was inherently in conflict with the Golden Law.

The golden tree blocked out the sun, its golden light illuminating countless branches and vines, making the entire giant tree seem like a miracle.

Numerous leaves fluttered down, but most of them did not have a solid form; instead, they disintegrated the moment they touched an object.

Soon, Finley, who was closest, noticed that the golden light cast by the golden tree began to deliberately avoid Jiang Bing, forming a dark, forbidden zone around him.

Jiang Bing frowned slightly and looked up at the canopy of the giant golden tree.

His long-dormant 'Jiang Bingyi's 'sense of awareness' suddenly stirred, reminding him that something in the distance was watching him.

To peek at his true face.

Chapter 886 'Blessed King' Montgomery

Before long, the tree guards made way, and a high priest led the three into the royal city.

The wisest thing Mongot did was to invite the three into the royal city, thus successfully avoiding another war. Marlenia was truly prepared to lead her troops into the royal city if they refused to see her.

But Menggete's biggest mistake was inviting the three into the royal city, because Jiang Bing was among them.

The royal city of Rodel is divided into inner and outer cities. Between the two cities lies a large area of ​​battlefield ruins, where the once tidy ground has been shattered by external forces.

The open ground was riddled with potholes, as if hundreds of elephants had once danced a ballroom dance on it. Countless illusory spirit banners fluttered in the air, creating a desolate and tragic scene.

These spirit banners are an external manifestation of countless souls who died in a concentrated manner and were unable to return to the tree in time.

Dozens of huge crossbow bolts were scattered and pinned to various parts of the open ground.

The tail of these crossbow bolts, which are seven or eight meters tall, is a huge incense burner. Jiang Bing, with his exceptionally keen sense of smell, could detect the fragrances that the fallen perfumers had once used. Presumably, the true identity of these crossbow bolts is that they are giant incense burners, which can apply positive or negative buffs to the battlefield in batches during battle.

In the far distance lies the enormous corpse of an ancient dragon, lying prostrate on the city wall. The body, long dead, has gradually solidified into some kind of rock.

Finley then educated Jiang Bing, the elderly "Outer God," on the knowledge that ancient dragons are ancient dragons with rock scales, while flying dragons are later dragons with flesh and blood bodies.

Looking at Jiang Bing's thoughtful expression, Fenlei secretly adjusted the age of this 'master' even further back in his mind.

After all, the era in which the Ancient Dragons ruled the Borderlands predates the Forge of Life, and the Forge of Life was the original form of the Golden Tree. Jiang Bing's lack of understanding of the difference between Ancient Dragons and Wyverns indicates that his 'departure' occurred even before the Ancient Dragon era.

Of course, Finley understood that there was another possibility: He might also be a new 'outsider'.

The capital city is enormous, with a complex and confusing network of roads; if one does not live there long-term, getting lost is inevitable.

The royal palace should rightfully be located in the very center of the entire royal city, but Roald's layout broke this stereotype.

The palace was built against the mountain, at the foot of the golden tree, and the three were led by a silent high priest, passing through the market, barracks, reception hall, and the interior of the palace, until they arrived at a wooden passage supported by the roots of the golden tree.

"The 'Blessed King' awaits you just ahead, Your Highness Marlenia." The priest, perhaps having received prior instructions, bowed and retreated decisively, showing no concern whatsoever that the three might cause trouble within the royal city.

The three of them climbed the steps and followed the branches of the golden tree. Marlenia seemed to have been here before and was very familiar with the terrain. She led the two of them to a wide platform under the golden tree.

“This ‘Blessed King’ is so confident, isn’t he afraid we’ll take the opportunity to sabotage the Golden Tree?” Jiang Bing walked along, trying to suppress his aura to avoid triggering a rejection reaction from the local golden laws.

“Mongt is well-versed in the Golden Law, and under the Golden Tree, he will receive great blessings.”

Marlenia immediately saw through the other party's reliance.

"Moreover, the Golden Tree is not fragile, Your Majesty. As the cornerstone of the Golden Law, in fact, nothing in the entire border region can destroy it." As she said this, Marlenia suddenly glanced at Jiang Bing as if she remembered something, and her expression suddenly became complicated.

She lied here. She actually knew that on the Giant Snow Mountain in the far east of the border region, there burned an inextinguishable 'Giant Flame,' which was the only thing that could burn the Golden Tree.

But then she suddenly realized that the golden flames controlled by the person beside her were equally domineering, and their power and controllability were even greater.

Perhaps the opponent's flames could also ignite the golden tree.

“It would be good if this tree caught fire.” Marlenia realized this fact, but she wasn’t too alarmed.

She felt neither hatred nor love for the Golden Law or for the Eternal Queen Marika.

The destination was reached quickly.

This is a circular stone platform, with the only passage to the Golden Tree in the middle. In front of the passage is a stone throne, and opposite the throne are six magnificent chairs arranged in a circle.

Behind the stone platform stands the magnificent, glorious, dazzling, and sacred Golden Tree, the most revered object in the entire border region.

Footsteps echoed from the passageway, and 'Blessed King' Montgomery emerged from it.

"We meet again, one of the blessed twins, Malenia."

Before the golden tree, behind the throne, a tall figure, covered in horns, with thick limbs and covered in black hair, possessing both human and beast forms, spoke.

He placed the equally deformed cane beside him, but did not choose to sit on the throne.

Perhaps he felt that he was not worthy of the throne.

"If you still have some lingering affection for your mother, then sit down; there is still a seat for you here."

Montgomery extended his thick, hairy fingers and gently pointed to the two chairs leaning against each other on his right.

But when Marlenia saw the two high-backed chairs leaning against each other, her already indifferent face grew even colder.

"Do not feign, Montgomery. I have come here for only one purpose."

"Ha~ Brother Godwin's death was not caused by us, but originated from the sinful desires of the Moon Princess 'Lani'. No matter how many times you ask, this answer will never change."

Montgomery leaned his cane on the ground, and his deformed body, covered in sharp horns, exuded a sense of solemnity and reverence.

“That’s no longer important, Mongot. I just want to know the whereabouts of your twin brother, Mongot.” Marlenia walked over to two high-backed chairs placed side by side, and gently stroked the chair belonging to her brother Michaela with her right hand, which was no different from a normal limb.

Mongot stared at the other's arm, which was not a golden prosthetic, and his eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.

"Oh, what brings you all the way from the sacred tree of Michaela to find him here? May I ask what brings you here?"

"Snapped!"

The back of the high chair was crushed by the furious Marlenia, sending wood chips flying everywhere.

Mongot gripped his cane tightly, his eyes sweeping over Jiang Bing, who had been gazing up at the canopy of the golden tree ever since he stepped onto the stone platform, and the silent Fenrei, as he assessed the possible battle plans he might need to employ.

"Stop your hypocrisy, you despicable son of evil, your acting skills are better than your swordsmanship."

Marlenia stared intently into the other's eyes, hidden behind the jumbled sharp angles, and said, word by word, "Your brother, Monger, this 'Blood King,' has kidnapped my brother, Michaela. I don't believe you didn't know about this."

Montgomery's nasal wings, covered in tumors, flared slightly, and his deformed, wrinkled face tightened considerably.

"A blood king?!"

His focus was clearly strange; his inhuman face revealed a mixture of surprise, regret, melancholy, and lament, but not a hint of surprise at the other party's abduction of Michaela.

Clearly, he knew the truth about this matter and may even have been involved.

"enough!"

Marlenia roared.

Where is he?!

When confronted with questions, Montgomery responded with only silence.

So the prosthetic knife was drawn and held level by Marlene, pointing it at the other person.

This meeting will inevitably involve the blade speaking on behalf of both sides.

Chapter 887 The Secret Under the Shadow

Violence is not the best solution, but it is clearly the most direct and brutal one.

Marlenia and Mongot's figures intertwined almost instantly.

The Valkyrie's strength needs no introduction; this title was earned through countless battles. Although Mongot appears inhuman and ugly, his appearance is a manifestation of the early form of the Golden Tree, the 'Life Furnace,' and the power contained within his body is equally inhuman.

Both demigods are at the top of the border region in terms of strength, and the impact of their battle will inevitably be devastating.

A violent shockwave swept across the entire platform in an instant, and a fierce wind whipped up the clothes of the onlookers.

Swords and staffs clashed, the two wrestlers locked in a fierce battle.

“Foolish ambitions only lead to mad destruction.”

Mongot's taunts were met with Marlenia's furious slashing response, the immense force causing the entire platform to rumble and sending stone chips flying.

However, Montgomery's beautiful yet deadly slash was completely blocked. Montgomery even had the strength to unleash a dazzling golden light, throwing countless daggers made of glittering gold at Marlenia. He used a sudden burst of circular slashes to block Marlenia's movement space and used another weapon made of golden spears to pressure her counterattack.

After several rounds of fighting, Malenia was starting to lose ground.

A golden, illusory giant hammer struck Marlenia's slashing blade, the immense force sending her flying dozens of meters away, smashing through a high chair.

While the crimson corruption was corrupting Malenia, it also brought her power. In addition, after losing the Great Rune one after another, and having some of her blood evaporated by the Aether Fire in order to purify the corruption of the 'Mother of Truth', her strength actually declined considerably.

A pale golden light shimmered on Mongot's body, healing the small wounds caused by the sharp energy cutting through him.

Marlenia was also bleeding. In the brief exchange, both of them were injured to varying degrees, but the Valkyrie was clearly more seriously injured, while Mongot's injuries were somewhat insignificant, after all, the Golden Law had a significant advantage in healing.

“Blessed twins, how arrogant and disrespectful you are to abandon the blessings bestowed upon you by your mother.”

Seeing that the blood flowing from the other person's body was pure and fresh, without any trace of crimson decay, Mongot's tense mind suddenly relaxed. As he breathed a sigh of relief, his tone unexpectedly carried a hint of reproach for the other person's lack of ambition.

Although it is unknown how Marlenia removed the 'Crimson Corruption' from her body, this undoubtedly means that the other party could not liberate the corrupt laws within the royal city and could not use a suicidal method to perish together with her.

This is great news for Montgomery.

The reason he ordered his men to lure Malenia to this place, to the very heart of the royal city, at the foot of the Golden Tree, was because he was worried that refusing her request to meet might provoke the Valkyrie, who was desperate for her brother, to take revenge, and even unleash the Crimson Corruption within the royal city, dragging the entire Roldel down with her.

After all, in Galid, where the Valkyrie and General Shatterstar clashed, the place where "Crimson Corruption" bloomed for the second time was transformed into a vast swamp of corruption. The power of Crimson Corruption directly and permanently polluted that land, which remains a forbidden zone for living beings to this day.

At the foot of the Golden Tree, where the power of the Golden Law is at its peak, he is somewhat confident that he can suppress the erupting power of 'Crimson Corruption'.

Unexpectedly, the other party voluntarily relinquished the power of 'Crimson Corruption,' meaning that the other party was no longer a threat to him or the royal city.

He felt fortunate.

But at the same time, he felt heartbroken and disappointed that they did not fight back.

In his view, what the other party relinquished was not only 'Crimson Corruption,' but also the sacred duty bestowed upon them by the Eternal Queen Marika, and the great blessing granted to them.

Jiang Bing had also asked Malenia the question of what the essence of a god-like being was.

The other party, this living god, clearly possesses the most authoritative qualifications to provide an explanation.

According to Malenia, in order to establish an eternal dynasty ruled by its own laws in the current borderlands, both gods and kings are indispensable.

The "god" here refers to a divine being, and the "king" is the covenant king of the divine being.

God-man is born bearing the law and possesses the ability to manifest it; he is a natural 'container', while the king is responsible for protecting God-man.

The first king, Gofre, and King Fladagan were both chosen by the god Marika.

To become king, the requirements are, in some ways, quite simple.

Might makes right!

As long as you can fight, and make all your enemies flee in terror and submit to you from all directions, you are a qualified king.