Crimson And Blue
[Apostle, The Black Swordsman Killed. +15,000 EXP]
With that, its body dissipated into black particles, and a faint beginnings of a smile appeared on its disembowelled face. To Godrick's surprise, the apparition's Greatsword clattered on the floor of the void.
[Observe]
[Dragon Slayer: It is too big to be called a sword. Massive, thick, heavy, and far too rough. Indeed, it is a heap of raw iron. Functions more like a bladed maul than an actual sword, yet the malice of countless resentful souls has given it power that even Dragons fear.]
But before Godrick could even attempt to lift it, yet another tear in reality appeared not far from him. This time, the particles reverted to red, forming a thin, weaselly man wielding two daggers.
Godrick looked at the figure before him and sighed.
(Dexterity: 21.6 -> 23.6)
[Order Meditation (Active) Level 12 -> 13: Use a visualization of the Elden Ring to greatly increase your FP regeneration (+8.5 -> 10 FP/s). Every level increases Mind and Intelligence by 0.5. Mind +0.5. Intelligence +0.5.]
(Mind: 25.4 -> 26.5
Intelligence: 22.2 -> 23.2)
His body lightened, and his mind expanded to the extreme as his Dexterity nearly eclipsed his Strength for the very first time. It was not only his speed but his already impressive reflexes that were upgraded.
[Jar Champion Killed. +150 EXP]
A repeat of his previous slew of apparitions occurred, with the only difference being that they were more geared toward agility than strength.
[Jar Champion Killed *2. +450 EXP]
Two more apparitions met their end at the end of his Greatspear before a blackish-grey apparition took their place.
It was familiar. Scaled black cloak, a black hood, and wielding a familiar curved black knife that was also nestled in its belt.
[Observe]
(Character Sheet
Apostle, The Black Knife
[Stats unavailable]
Skills:
[Skills unavailable])
[Lansseax's Glaive]
Godrick gave no time to the Apostle, immediately embroiling it in an avalanche of Ancient Dragon lightning that ripped into its flesh and armor like a feral beast. He had not done the same with The Black Swordsman because he wished for a good fight. An assassin would not give him that.
The Black Knife stumbled, and half of her body was nearly instantly evaporated, for she was nowhere near as strong as the precious Apostle.
His Greatspear flashed out in a blur of bright blue and nestled into the assassin's hood, promptly disposing of her.
[Apostle, The Black Knife Killed. +15,000 EXP]
[Lansseax's Glaive] was truly an unfair incantation at his level of power, but it begged the question: if he could do so much with it, just how powerful would it be if Lansseax herself used it?
The assassin dissolved into particles while her curved dagger clattered to the floor.
[Observe]
[Black Knife]
He was sensing a pattern here. Every Apostle dropped their weapon, and assuming there were more, he would be well armed at the end of this.
In that instant, another blood-red apparition formed, now in Sorcerer's robes and gripping a staff embedded with glintstone. Strength, Agility, and Magic. The trend here was obvious.
[Jar Champion *3 Killed. +550 EXP]
The next Apostle rose, draped in pitch-black robes and wearing a Raya Lucaria Academy stone mask that was of the Olivinus' Conspectus. He held a long staff made from gnarled black wood with a particularly bright Glintstone wedged at its top.
[Observe]
(Character Sheet
Apostle, The Black Star
[Stats unavailable]
Skills:
[Skills unavailable])
"A pity," Godrick sighed as the formidable Sorcerer straightened. "Thy tricks be dust and wind—facing the fury of unyielding stone."
[Lansseax's Glaive]
[Apostle, The Black Star Killed. +15,000 EXP]
It wasn't even a challenge. The Sorcerer's body was even weaker than The Black Knife, leaving nothing besides a lightly singed staff.
[Observe]
[Staff Of The Black Star: Staff embedded with Olivinius' concept of the Dark Star. Boosts Glintstone star sorceries but transforms them into their darker variants.]
Silence reigned in the void for a few moments as Godrick readied himself for another slew of opponents, but nothing came. The now-familiar red tear never arrived. Instead, the Great Jar's form shimmered into existence before him, its towering presence no less diminished by the void.
The next second, a cracked stone talisman hovered before him, in the form of a large jar stuffed to the brim with all sorts of weapons.
[Observe]
[Great-Jar's Arsenal: A charm that resembles a great jar overflowing with weaponry. The great jar grants this talisman to their Champions. Carry as much as you can—grow big and strong.]
"I assume this is not all I gain for enduring the Gauntlet?" Godrick looked up at the behemoth before him as the talisman came to rest in his massive hands.
Thou art correct, Godrick the Golden. The Gauntlet is overcome, yet the title of Apostle remains unbestowed. For first, thou must face a choice.
"A choice?" Godrick's brow furrowed as he gripped his spear tighter. "What choice be this? Speak plainly, for I have little patience for riddles."
He was in a better mood owing to the exhilarating fight with The Black Swordsman, but he came here for a temporary solution to his problem, and he wasn't leaving without it.
Thou must grasp the final truth, began the Great Jar. To be chosen as a champion of mine is to dwell forever in battle… or to perish without remorse. Should a warrior bearing my Arsenal fall in the fray, their strength is never truly lost. They shall rise as one of my champions. Yet only those who meet death without regret may fight for eternity in my name.
It uncrossed its mighty arms, unfurling them akin to stone platforms before Godrick. On one hand, a small blue wisp flickered in one, and a dark red wisp flickered in the other.
Choose the blue wisp, and thy path with me shall cease until the day thou art felled in battle. Thou shalt become my Chosen, sharpened in mind and skill, yet forever denied the fullness of my true blessing.
The Great Jar's voice rumbled in Godrick's chest as the soft blue wisp flickered in its hand, dancing to soft soothing sounds that no one but it heard.
Choose the crimson wisp, and thou shalt remain upon thy path. I shall reveal unto thee the burdens of an Apostle of the Great Jar—Endless Battle, Endless War.
The rambunctious red wisp shook and trembled as though fighting against shackles no one but it could see.
"I wish not for my duties to bind me unto thee," Godrick intoned, crimson reflecting in his aurous irises.
It was never meant to be so. A bound warrior is no warrior at all.
"Then I choose the crimson wisp."
With a sudden jerk, the invisible shackles on the red wisp shot forward and into his head.
[Gained Jar Apostle's Cumber (Active): Those who die without regret may fight for eternity in the Great Jar's name. Enter the memories of warriors who fell in battle in regret and fight in their stead. Resolve their regret and grant them a place in the endless struggle that the Great Jar offers. Resolving enough regrets will beget a blessing from the Great Jar. Regrets Resolved -> (0)]
***
Godrick woke on the topmost stone platform on the cliff, lightly disoriented and with the small Great Jar Arsenal hanging from his belt. A small red wisp flashed in his aurous eyes when he looked at it, somehow feeling the items stored inside.
He let a small sliver of Focus enter the Arsenal before finding all the Apostle's Weapons from the void neatly tucked into a space within it. It had space for more, and Godrick happily obliged, emptying his nearly bursting pockets into the Arsenal.
The Amber Starlight Shard, the Deathroot and Golden Seed that continued their trembling, a Somber Smithing Stone, and the numerous Eyes of Yelough. Every single thing comfortably fit into it, and there was still far, far more space to use. Enough that he couldn't see its limit.
The Great Jar truly wanted his warriors to carry as much as they could.
Speaking of the Great Jar, Godrick eyed the new Active Skill he'd gotten. He could feel it in his mind, just waiting to be activated. He wished to activate it right then and there, but he knew he couldn't. He had things to attend to.
Sitting up and cracking his neck, he summoned his Greatspear back to his hand, appreciating its craftsmanship for the umpteenth time. Just how would it change when he upgraded it?
(33,040/14,000 -> Gained 1 stat point…)
(19,040/15,000 -> Gained 1 stat point…)
(4,040/16,000 -> Gained 1 stat point and 1 skill point)
Three flashes of dark gold gave Godrick a feeling of high that he'd never experienced before. It was as though he'd chugged the greatest cocktail of the most addictive drugs on earth all at once. It was enough to take him a few minutes to snap back to reality, after which he found a blinking gold prompt before him.
[Level 15 achieved. Two objects selected. Soulbound Weapon Upgrade?]
The Golden Seed and the Amber Starlight Shard that he had just transferred into the Arsenal began to quiver in anticipation.
This shall be interesting.
***
POWERSTONES! Else the Great Jar shall introduce it's innards to you!
***