Red folded his wings and landed on a tower, observing the battle on the ground.
The battlefield was split into three sections.
At the very back, Erlisa was engaged with all the enemies arriving from the rear.
With the chance to fight alone, Erlisa no longer had to hold back the power of her ice storm.
The previous battlefields had been too confined. If she had used her ice storm without restraint, she feared the other Tarnished would have been caught in the friendly fire.
As Erlisa unleashed her full power, the frigid ice storm first froze Godrick's soldiers into ice sculptures.
The Grafted Scion held its greatshield in front of itself and charged through the blizzard.
As for the thick-skinned, fleshy Fell Omen, it completely ignored the snow and ice, lowering its head and charging straight ahead.
The two of them soon broke through to Erlisa.
But Erlisa was no fragile mage; she was a warrior who thrived on the edge of a blade.In a single exchange, the Grafted Scion lost its sword-wielding right hand and several other limbs.
Not only that, but the cold raged within its body, freezing its fluids into fine ice shards that continuously destroyed it from the inside.
This was a new technique Erlisa had developed on Bai Shi's advice, mimicking Mohg's bloodflame.
The Fell Omen's greatsword swung down at Erlisa's head.
But Erlisa dodged with a graceful leap to the side, carving a massive wound into the Fell Omen as she did.
Red shifted his gaze away from Erlisa.
There was no need to watch anymore. The difference in their strength was too great.
The Grafted Scion and the Fell Omen would be defeated shortly.
Red had likely guessed the Zamor woman's identity.
She had to be the once-famous ancient hero of the Zamor who had mysteriously vanished—Erlisa.
Of all the Zamor, she was the only one who could possibly appear in Limgrave with such formidable strength.
Red looked toward the group in the middle.
Nepheli and Hakan were protecting several young Tarnished, one in front and one behind.
Nepheli took down most of the charging Godrick soldiers at the front, while Hakan finished off the few who slipped past.
As the soldiers fell, the young Tarnished picked up weapons from the ground and joined the battle.
They were not completely helpless, but being bare-handed, they hadn't been able to fight.
Red shook his head and stopped watching the novices squabble.
Finally, Red turned his gaze to Bai Shi.
By now, Bai Shi had engaged the other Crucible Knight.
Although Bai Shi's strength surpassed that of the Crucible Knight, those who wielded axes were known for being well-balanced in both offense and defense.
For the moment, Bai Shi was unable to break through the Crucible Knight's greatshield.
Every time he tried to turn and pursue Godrick, he was met with all kinds of obstacles.
Watching his comrade's form, Red couldn't help but recall a glory that was gone, never to return.
—
After their lord, Godfrey, was exiled, most of the Crucible Knights chose to remain with the Golden royal family, to ensure their protection.
Even though the Erdtree saw the Crucible as a symbol of defilement, the Crucible Knights were not subject to discrimination.
For they were all powerful heroes who had achieved glorious feats in battle.
...At least, that was how it appeared on the surface.
As long as they were present, whether Godfrey was banished or Radagon became consort, the glory of the Golden royal family never faded.
However, perhaps the decline of the Golden royal family was fated.
On the Night of the Black Knives, Godwyn the Golden was slain.
Queen Marika shattered the Elden Ring.
There is no need to recount what followed. The Shattering had begun.
Godrick was an incompetent commander, and Leyndell's forces were beaten back time and again.
Ultimately, the 'Grace-Given King' won the first defensive war for Leyndell.
And the Crucible Knights, alongside Godrick, saw the true form of the 'Grace-Given King'.
It was then they learned his true identity—Morgott, the Fell Omen, son of Godfrey and Marika. His royal status, his abilities, his achievements—all were impeccable.
As for his status as a Fell Omen, that was even less of an issue for the Crucible Knights; to them, it was a symbol of the Crucible's blessing.
Thus, the Crucible Knights all remained in Leyndell to follow Morgott.
After all, their duty was to the Golden royal family, not to Godrick.
When a more worthy heir appeared, shifting their allegiance was the only logical choice.
Red and the other Crucible Knight had also intended to follow Morgott.
But when they saw Godrick's lonely, small figure, they ultimately chose to stay by his side.
It was a pity that Godrick was ultimately seduced by the power of Grafting in Stormveil Castle...
"If only you hadn't resorted to Grafting."
"Are you... even Godrick anymore?"
Seeing Godrick flying erratically from the distance, flapping a pair of dragon wings, Red sighed.
—
This was the first time Red had seen Godrick since he had been freed from the gaol.
The once-young scion of the Golden royal family had become such an ugly, blasphemous creature.
Oh, my king, Godfrey... Your descendant, Godrick, has replaced his entire body.
His sword and shield ground against each other, igniting in a layer of fierce flame.
Red could no longer stand the sight of Godrick's blasphemous body.
He leaped down, spread his wings, and flew into the fray.
—
Bai Shi struck with all his might, forcing the Crucible Knight back.
Then he looked toward the approaching Godrick.
Godrick's body was now even more twisted and bizarre.
A massive dragon's head was grafted onto his left arm, a pair of dragon wings sprouted from his back, and his legs had been replaced with the feet of a dragon.
It was less like he had grafted a dragon onto himself and more like he had grafted himself onto a dragon.
The limbs that had been severed from Godrick's body had been replaced with new ones, each holding a different weapon.
The wings beat furiously, struggling to keep his massive body aloft, just barely avoiding a crash.
Godrick flew above Bai Shi, and the dragon head on his left arm took aim, spewing a torrent of flame at him.
"Hahahaha! What now, Tarnished?"
Godrick laughed maniacally as the flames engulfed Bai Shi.
He felt more powerful than ever before.
He switched between two sacred seals and a staff, relentlessly attacking Bai Shi.
The magical power of a demigod was innately immense, and Godrick was no exception.
Though he had yet to fully master his new limbs, they were more than sufficient.
From what the Tarnished had shown so far, he seemed to lack ranged attacks, possessing only a pitiful Storm Blade.
And it was true—Bai Shi's ranged options were very limited.
Bai Shi summoned a storm around himself, blocking the flames and the other attacks.
The nearby Crucible Knight stepped aside to avoid being caught in the flames.
Within the storm, Bai Shi drank a Flask of Crimson Tears and a Flask of Cerulean Tears, momentarily unable to figure out how to deal with Godrick.
The wings gave Godrick air superiority. While it wasn't a significant boost to his power, it made him incredibly difficult to handle.
"Godrick, how long will you cling to this delusion!"
"With this hideous body, what have you done with the honor of the Golden Lineage!"
With a roar, Red flew at high speed toward Godrick's back.
His flaming greatsword slashed through the air. Godrick's newly grafted wings were instantly severed, and his massive body began to plummet toward the ground.
Red stopped short in mid-air and spun around. A great tail sprouted and whipped Godrick, slamming him violently into the ground.