Chapter 703: Sorceress Sellen
"Let’s start with Vigor," Edward said. Melina raised her hand to release a golden light on the Elden Lord’s Armor, which trembled slightly, but nothing seemed to have changed. It appeared as if it were impossible to upgrade the armor since it was an inorganic life form. However, this world was an anomaly, and there is a race of sentient Jars who have received the blessing of the Erdtree. The only requirement to receive the blessing was to have a soul.
Morgana — who was recording the entire process — spoke: "Fascinating. The runes transformed into this unique power from the soul, which then combines with the armor’s metal to transform into this unknown metal energy."
"Yes, the metal energy seemed to have increased the sturdiness and energy resistance of the armor," Edward nodded.
"This metal energy reminded me of a certain aspect of the life energy of robots."
"It’s probably of a similar essence," Edward nodded.
"Mind next."
"...This time it only nourished the soul, focused on the link between the soul and the mind."
"This world’s magic is based on focus, so it makes sense there would be a way to increase the strength of the mind, and in turn, focus."
"...It’s the same power from the soul —let’s call it the power of potential — it is now transformed into a metal energy suited to improve the armor’s tensile strengths; it even streamlines some of the internal designs of the armor. According to my calculation, your maximum carrying capacity has been raised by 0.76%, and your movement speed by 2.4%."
"Intelligence," Edward said, and Melina followed. The two then observed how the power of potential created by the runes and the soul transformed into an energy capable of enhancing a person’s talent for sensing energy.
"This power of rune is truly versatile, Edward said with shining eyes.
"Faith."
"I’m sorry, but you’ve run out of runes," Melina said.
"No problem." He deployed more Doom Bots to farm runes for him, and she continued. Faith raised his ability to connect to whatever source of power he was using. For example, if Edward wanted to use Golden Order Incantations, the Faith attribute would increase his connection to the Erdtree. If he wanted to use Dragon Incantations, he would increase his affinity to his dragon power, which is earned by consuming the flesh of dragons.
Finally, it was the attribute he was most interested in: Arcane. While its primary effect is related to weapons, one of its powers is to increase resistance against holy damage, which is the primary power of the Erdtree, Death Blight — a power created from remnants of the Destined Death Rune — and Scarlet Rot, one of the powers from an Outer God. One of Edward’s greatest worries is the power of the Outer God, so his focus was on this attribute.
"Well?"
"Something changed, but I have no reference point. We may need to conduct a few experiments," Morgana said.
"Alright." Edward focused on increasing his Arcane until Melina told him he had reached a limit — not the limit of improvement, but the limit of control. This was not a video game in which he could get the highest level and easily kill all his enemies. In the real world, he needed to control his power.
Edward’s next destination was an area called Caelid. A legendary battle took place between Malenia and Radhan. All of Queen Marika’s children were born with a curse, including Malenia and her twin, Miquella. Malenia was born as the chosen vessel of the Outer Rot of God. During her fight with Radhan, as she was losing, she bloomed and released all the Scarlet Rot in her body, instantly destroying and contaminating Caelid. To this day, that region has been tormented by her Scarlet Rot.
The results were immediate. A normal Doom Bot will be infested in just 1.3 seconds, but the Elden Lord Armor can survive for up to 10 seconds. "This thing is truly terrifying," Morgana sighed. The Doom Bot ran on a program, meaning it had no soul. However, the Scarlet Rot did not care about that or the fact that it was metal and just corrupted it.
"We still need more data. " If Edward wanted to use this power for himself, he needed a better understanding. So, he tested the armor against all kinds of powers available in this world. He also placed its soul into a clone, and as he predicted, the soul transferred the ability to the flesh. Edward was an organic life form, so this shape was more helpful to his research.
The final result did not surprise him too much. The power that could resist even the Outer Gods originated from Life Laws, which made sense logically. The Arcane Attribute is from the power of the Erdtree, which powers from the Elden Ring — an objective capable of controlling the metaphysical aspects of the Lands Between, ie, the laws.
"This is both good and bad news," Morgana said.
"True," Edward nodded. The good news is, he may finally learn Life Laws after so many years. The bad news is that if the Greater Will created this universe, then the Life Laws might have their hidden influence or connection. So, if Edward uses it on himself, there may be problems for this clone body.
"However, there is a possibility that there is no bad news," Edward added. It makes no sense for such a powerful entity like the Greater Will to be unable to interfere in the reality that it has created. In the first place, why was he stuck in the Lightless Void and required a proxy to influence the Lands Between?
The argument could be made that he is too powerful, and his direct presence would immediately annihilate this reality. However, Edward has another suspicion. When the Greater Will separated the One Great and created this universe, a Will was also born. At some point, the Universe Will had a confrontation with the Greater Will, and the Outer Gods were involved somehow. The result was their imprisonment in the Lightless Void, limiting their influence on reality.
’Your theory has some merits,’ Morgana uttered. Most of this world’s power is associated with the Erdtree/Greater Will or the Outer Gods, but there are a few source powers — mostly connected to the stars — that seemed completely neutral and unrelated to them. The Samsara Hall’s information did not reveal their owner/creator, meaning it could be from the Universe Will.
’We’ll need to investigate, but before that, let’s learn this world’s sorcery,’ Edward said. His next destination was a ruin in the central-east side of Limgrave to meet Sorceress Sellen. She is the fastest and easiest way for him to learn about the world’s magic called Glintstone Sorcery.
"A little too happy, aren’t you?" Morgana teased.
"I’m about to meet a beauty, so can you blame me?"
"You’ve been in your best behavior in the past few years that I almost forgot what kind of person you are," Morgana sneered. "As they say, a leopard can’t remove its spots."
"You act like I’m going to seduce her. Yes, she’s a beautiful woman, but she’s indeed the quickest way to learn. Not to mention that she would be perfect for the Empire."
Sellen was talented, curious, and research-oriented. Of course, such a personality resulted in a terrible fate, but Edward was here, so she should be able to save her. The point is, she would be a great Arcanist.
"Whatever you say."