Elden Ring, building a legion of ashes

Chapter 29 Sick Village

Xia Tong looked at Melina, only to find that she seemed to be in a daze.

She was staring intently at the statue of Marika, her single remaining eye revealing a complex mix of emotions.

Xia Tong gently patted her semi-physical shoulder, and she finally snapped out of her daze.

"Yes, this is the Holy Grail Dew."

"How do I use it?" Xia Tong asked.

"Simply place the dewdrops into the chalice bottle; they are all of the same origin."

Xia Tong did as instructed.

As the golden-red crystal slid into the bottle opening.

"Sizzle—"

There was no sound of liquid splashing; it was as if water and milk were blending together.

The moment it came into contact with the residual liquid at the bottom of the bottle, the entire Holy Grail began to vibrate violently, and the bottle quickly heated up, becoming scalding hot.

The ancient patterns on the surface of the bottle seem to have been reforged, shining with a dazzling golden light, becoming more intricate and profound.

At the same time, another Blue Dewdrop chalice bottle seemed to be inspired, emitting a resonant hum.

An invisible bond was established between the two bottles, both gleaming with a sacred light.

When the light faded, Xia Tong shook the bottle in her hand.

The amount of liquid did not increase.

But he could clearly feel that the life energy contained in each drop of liquid had become more mellow and pure.

The Holy Grail Bottle has been enhanced.

"What is that?"

Xia Tong pointed to the roll of parchment next to the statue.

Melina beckoned, and the parchment flew into her hand automatically.

"This is a prayer book, 'Epileptic Fire'."

Melina explained, a hint of disgust in her voice.

Xia Tong took the prayer book, didn't look at it much, and put it in the package.

What's the use of him praying if he has no faith?

After leaving the Chapel of Karl, Xia Tong and her group continued along the route on the map.

Before long, a dilapidated village came into view.

Before she even got close, several more squeaking, frantic rats charged towards Xia Tong.

However, they were all quickly destroyed by the ashes.

As he entered the village, the door of one of the dilapidated houses creaked open.

A figure rushed out from inside, but before you could even see the person's face clearly.

Xia Tong instinctively dodged to the side and then turned around and kicked him.

"Bang!"

The man fell to the ground.

Xia Tong then saw clearly that the man was hunched over and had a sickly appearance.

His eyes gleamed with a bright yellow light, making him look like a walking corpse.

It looked like a dried-out corpse, with its skin clinging tightly to its bones, making it look extremely disgusting.

This person was also infected with epilepsy.

Xia Tong couldn't help but feel a chill.

For the first time, he found the madness so disgusting.

This time, he witnessed firsthand how the madness affected living people.

Unable to bear seeing him continue to suffer, Xia Tong pierced his throat with a sword, giving him relief.

We continued walking and arrived at the village square.

There are still several zombies here, including an old man who has turned into a crazed villager.

Xia Tong ended their suffering one by one.

Then he looked at the bonfire in the center.

It was called a bonfire, but the flames inside had long since burned out, leaving only grayish-black embers.

In the center of the fire, a pillar was tied.

At the top of the pillar were three or four villagers who were tightly bound together.

An elderly person, a child, and two adults.

They were burned beyond recognition.

However, their twisted bodies and morbidly struggling postures revealed the immense suffering they endured in their lives.

An unnamed rage surged from Xia Tong's chest.

He drew his royal sword and slashed it fiercely at the pillar!

"Snap!"

The pillar immediately crumbled, and the scorched corpses fell from it.

"Lord Xia Tong, what happened? You seem very angry?"

Although Elena is blind, she is very sensitive and can easily perceive the emotions of those around her.

Why did they get epilepsy?

Xia Tong was very puzzled by this and turned to ask Melina.

This had become an instinct for him; whenever he was in doubt, he would ask Melina.

Elena also listened intently.

She vaguely understood the word "mad fire." She had heard it from her father before; it was a cursed taboo.

Melina did not answer Xia Tong's question directly, but instead posed a counter-question.

"Do you know what the doctrines of the Mad Fire are?"

"The doctrine of the Mad Fire is: since living is so painful, we might as well burn everything and return to the original chaos."

Melina spoke, her voice steady, but seemingly suppressing her anger.

She harbored a deep-seated hatred for the mad fire, just as Xia Tong felt at this moment, but with a much deeper intensity.

"Did you notice the crazed villager you killed earlier?"

"Their bodies were almost completely dried up, and their skin was ulcerated."

"It's not hard to guess that the villagers have contracted some kind of plague."

"And the church we passed by earlier, the villagers regarded it as a place of salvation."

"They dragged their ailing bodies up the mountain to receive the baptism of holy water, praying that the Golden Law and the goddess Marika could heal their illness."

"But the Dharma Ring has long been broken, and the gods have not responded."

"But isn't there some Holy Grail dew in that basin? I think it might be useful to them?" Xia Tong asked.

"Xia Tong, you need to understand."

Not everyone is eligible for the recognition of blessings.

"Not everyone can see the Holy Grail droplets, let alone touch them."

"You can see and you can touch only because you have received the recognition of the blessing."

But they didn't.

Having spent so much time with Melina, this was the first time she had addressed Xia Tong by his name so seriously and told him all of this.

At this moment, Melina's single eye was filled with uncontrollable sorrow.

So these desperate villagers came into contact with the Mad Fire at the Church of Karl, and summoned the Mad Fire.

The rats in the vicinity ate the rotting flesh infected by the Epileptic Fire, which caused them to also become infected with the Epileptic Fire.

It even gave birth to that giant, fiery rat.

"The so-called 'madness' is essentially a kind of spiritual plague."

"If someone around you is infected with the Epileptic Fire, you will be infected even if you look directly into their eyes."

As Xia Tong and Melina were talking, a crazed villager suddenly pounced out of the bushes.

"Cut off his limbs, but don't kill him, and get far away from him."

Melina suddenly gave the order.

Xia Tong didn't know what Melina's intentions were, but she did as she was told.

With two sharp "swoosh" sounds, the villager's legs were severed.

He could only crawl painfully on the ground.

Then, Xia Tong noticed that the crazed villager convulsed violently.

Then he stood up and roared to the sky.

Bright yellow flames actually shot out of its eyes!

"call--!"

Feeling the scorching heat wave hitting her face, Melina then said:

"Do you see that flame?"

"This is the form that comes from the extreme pain and despair within him being ignited."

Xia Tong had naturally seen this attack method before.

In Lake Lienia, there is a village called Madfire Village, where the villagers breathe fire in an exaggerated manner, far more ferocious than that of the Sick Village.

But even with those things, Xia Tong didn't feel anything when she was playing the game.

But at this moment, seeing these villagers actually spitting out fury from their eyes, Xia Tong was still somewhat shocked.

That was a tangible form of madness.

Even just watching, Xia Tong sensed that her emotions seemed to be becoming irritable.

"Xia Tong, will you say yes?"

"No matter what happens in the future, we must resolutely stand on the opposite side of the madness."

Melina turned around and looked at Xia Tong.

Xia Tong stared at Melina's only open eye.

"I......."

Xia Tong was actually somewhat hesitant.

According to the strategy in his previous life, the only way to achieve the best of both worlds was for him to be granted the Mad Flame and then use Michaela's golden needles to seal the Mad Flame within his body.

This would save Melina's life without causing the world to be destroyed.

However, there was no corresponding interaction when playing the game, which became a regret in his heart.

Now that she has actually come to this world, Xia Tong is not sure if she will still do the same thing.

After all, he really didn't want Melina to use herself to ignite the Golden Tree.

"I will, Melina."

Xia Tong gave an awkward smile, trying to cover it up.

But Melina's eyes seemed to be able to read Xia Tong's thoughts.

She remained expressionless and slowly said:

You lied to me.

Xia Tong was speechless.

For a moment, I didn't know how to answer.

What should I do? I need help urgently!

{{{(>_<)}}}