Chapter 23: Delirium, Self Assessment and Gifts (edited)

Chapter 23: Delirium, Self Assessment and Gifts (edited)

Original word count = 1644 on 6/28/2023

New word count = 1950 on 8/24/2023

(A/N: This is the last chapter of the original edit series. The original 'survey' for how much I should have edited was in chapter 50 and yesterday I posted the 69th chapter 🙂. For anyone interested, and the date hasn't passed since August 30th, 2023 when you read this. Then there is a poll available for ideas for a followup book that I wish to work on since i plan to continue publishing new chapters for this story every 2 days.)

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A figure walks into a set of ruins. Rampant tornadoes scour the outside of the land. Ensuring all of it floats high above the sky. Another lone figure rests in the center of the ruins. A brown cloak adorning their 8ft long body. The figure with the brown robe looks up at the entering figure.

'For what reason hast the lord of blood cometh here? Doth, thou seeketh Destined death as well?" The brown robed figure questions in a deep voice

"What I seek is a part of myself. A fragment that had been taken from me in my Rebirth. Deliver it back to me, Thief." The figure that entered the place is revealed to be the lord of blood, Mohg.

"The only thief here would be you. Queen Marika was the one who bestowed this to me for safekeeping. I shall not have it stolen from me again"

"HAH, a thief calling me a thief. The irony is strong here. No matter, I shall reclaim my glory and deliver this world…as you so call it. Destined death. For my glory and rise to Divinity will not be stopped by the likes of you"

"What you seek, I shall not give. I am duty bound"

"Then silence you wretched half breed dog. Hounds of Caelid inspire more fear than one such as you. Heel, DOG"

Mohg says and brandishes his trident with a charge at The Beast Clergyman. The priest jumps up at the nearby pillars to escape but instead receives a jarring puncture on its leg as Mohg turns his thrust upward.

"Agh" the priest roars as it swipes out with its claws, shredding the air and leaving marks on Mohg who did not dodge. This actions causes it to fall down onto the ground as one hand is not enough to support its own massive weight. Luckily, it was able to divert it's fall so it was not further punctured on its leg.

"Weak, return to me what is mine and I shall lessen your suffering" the priest gives no reply except throwing a sizable Boulder once it lands at Mohg. Who simply shatters it with his trident.

"Fine, then Suffer"

"Tres" a red ring is placed on the priest.

The priest is alarmed and charges at Mohg, causing a bodily collision with mohg who then simply swats the priest away with his hand.

"Duo" he continues and then throws bloodflame at the priest burning him and his robes. Yet except for where he was stabbed, there is no mark on the robes. The beast priest charges forth once more . His claws rend the earth. Sending it and wind claws at Mohg, hoping to interrupt his ritual.

"Unos"

The final call is made and 3 rings revolve around the beast Clergymen. Who is feeling plenty of pressure from what he knows of Mohg's ability. Yet to ensure his duties he persists and as such, rends the earth to take up a giant rock to throw at Mohg who manifests his wings to escape the attack. Once in range, He lands and thrusts his trident up with a magnificent call

"NIHIL"

The beast clergyman collapses due to it's injuries. The blood and shock has unwoven the bandages that cover it's giant claws. On it's left hand is a strange metal object. The beast clergyman heels as it gazes upon the sigil on it's arm. "Forgive me Marika, I must call upon it's power to ensure I do not lose it."

He stabs his own hand and a black aura floods his nearby vicinity. His cloak is burned away by the strange darkness to reveal a black body with gold and black armor. A blade roughly 3/4th of the priests body is revealed as it seeps out of the left hand sigils.

He takes up the sword and calls out.

"O, death. Become my blade, once more.".

"I am Maliketh, Marika's black…Nihil"

Mohg interrupts the introduction with a round of Nihil. It only allowed this farce of a transformation play out to lure out destined death. He succeeds. Stunning the beast as he coughs up blood. Yet Strangely, the black blade gets soaked in a black flame that has never been there before. Different from its original deathly aura. More condensed, pure, Strong.

Destined death is now whole.

Yet as Mohg is about to call out the third Nihil. Maliketh retreats out of range as he has grown more agile without the robe to restrict him.

Mohg grunts from his failed attack as he summons out his wings once more.

"you can see it clear as day, the link between Destined death and all that I am. It is rightfully mine. NIHIL"

Mohg calls out but Maliketh escapes the range of the attack which annoys Mohg.

The battle continues with both sides unrelenting attacks.

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Xue Tie shakes awake from the strange out of body dream he just had. But he doesn't immediately dismiss it. After all, he is the product of absurdity. Mohg incarnate in a way.

Just like he did when he first achieved Nihil, he sends his consciousness into his own bloodline. Which in essence also includes his Trident Martial spirit since it's believed that martial spirits are derived from bloodlines in the first place.

Inside his mind space. He sees his trident and the veins on it are now filled with blood. This is the natural state of nihil which he can activate when he focuses. Yet that is not enough.

He needs to go deeper.

'What is the origin of this power? What is the link between Nihil and Malikeths Rune of Death that Ranni the witch had bound to a black blade before her initial death. Her action after all was the reason behind the Shattering (of the elden ring).

The dream states that the Rune of Death was his ... .Does that mean that he was initially killed by either the Rakshasha god or Asura god and then was reincarnated into the world of the Elden Ring. Yet the original rune of death broke off from him, possibly due to a divine injury or the cycle of reincarnation took it from him but it still landed in the same world?

Does that mean I also have the rune of death in me? If his dream was true then that means that Mohg failed in his fight against Maliketh, possibly due to the ability of destined death from the sword, combined with nihil.

Even Mohg, who was its master, failed to withstand it. Which is how he ended up in the underworld of Safira in his Mohgwyn empire. His memory was distorted by the true form of the destined death.'

Xue Tie ponders to himself as various scenarios flow through his head alongside the various lore he had read online in his past life.

'Runes…..Runes….what are runes?...They are synonymous with power and meaning. My understanding of Nihil is barely at the Novice level, so I'm sure I'm getting ahead of myself in trying to reach so far. But having the understanding now helps in the long run for the goal I am seeking. I probably also need to be far stronger to even be able to wield a power of that potential.'

Xue Tie finishes his self discovery as his mental power is not strong enough to delve deep into his bloodline to find anything new but he will keep working on it. He has a new goal, it will slow down his cultivation a bit but he doesnt mind, since a divine power as a mortal naturally allows him to bypass many levels ahead.

Xue Tie gets up and goes to find his parents, he promised to meet with them but the whole debacle with Bibi Dong and his injury made it difficult for him to have the capacity to even stay conscious.

He looks around for a few minutes before finding that they had been resting at a hotel within the city. They luckily referenced him and were able to get a discount, and even part of their money back after Xue Tie was named the champion of the individual fights.

They have a simple talk after Xue Tie is congratulated on his win and then 2nd place position. Though his father did question him about it, Xue Tie openly reveals to them that he had essentially forfeit the match in exchange for a spirit bone which he will save for later.

Even if he uses it now, it will only bring him to level 33 or 34 or so. That is not as worthwhile as using it at level 38 or 39 and getting to 40. In fact, the longer he waits, the better because it is in essence, a free level. And he wants to drain the bone dry of all of its benefits which is why he is waiting.

Xue Mao agrees with his drive for maximum results. After some more discussion, he addresses the dream he had last night. About Mohg, and his connection to the Rune of Death. He naturally left out the parts about Maliketh and the other world. His parents ponder over the history of their ancestors but the end result is that they have never heard of the Rune of Death or any other innate power available to their ancestor.

With a sigh, Xue Tie is about to leave when he is told that he is given a present.

"Since your cultivation is rising quite nicely, it makes sense that you should be prepared in case you ever go to the Slaughter City and obtain the real Death gods domain which is our Blood Gods Domain." Xue Mao explains and inside the bag is a recipe with mid quality herbs that are used to make a potion useful for cultivating in Slaughter city along with an energy masking bracelet-Cy.. He should use the bracelet should he ever arrive at Slaughter city. As well as a booklet describing the secret passage the Xue family had established after the Asura god had taken over the city. A secret hideaway to ensure that their people could still profit off of their hard work.

The secret base itself has plenty of materials that should assist in elevating one's strength. Xue Mao even describes how he had met with a messenger while gathering these things. They informed him that they considered Xue Tie worthy of these extra resources and provided the key to get them.

If Xue Tie was a real anime boy then he would be star eyed. So, instead, he has a grin on his face as he processes this information. His parents shake their heads as they realize the Xue Family's greed is showcasing itself once more. Yet, they accept it because with Twin martial Spirits, Xue Tie has the highest hopes to reach the peak of their dynasty.

Xue Tie stores the gifts away and bids his parents farewell as he has to meet with his team to process their applications and distribute the rest of their rewards.