Chapter 708: The Radhan’s Festival
[Author’s Note: This is the last Chapter. From tomorrow on, I will start writing the summary of the story to give you guys somewhat of an ending.]
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"Torrent’s new master?" Ranni asked. "To what do I owe this visit? Have you come to serve me?" However, she received no answers as Edward just stared at her. "How rude!"
"Sorry about that," Edward said. "I was just fascinated by your existence. The doll is so exquisitely made, and more importantly, your soul is perfectly suited for it, with no signs of rejection whatsoever."
Ranni’s story is rather interesting. After her father remarried, she became a demigod. Queen Marika also granted her the status of an Empyrean, which is someone with the ability to become a God. In this world, demigods cannot become Gods —only Empyreans. However, Ranni hated her status as an Empyrean; she was also not too fond of the Golden Order of the Two Fingers. So, she plotted her escape.
Ranni first hired a shadowy group known as the Black Knife Assassin to steal a piece of the [Destined Death Rune], which Marika had sealed in her companion, Maliketh. Then, the assassins broke into Leyndall and killed Godwyn the Golden. However, his death was not a simple thing. At the exact moment of his departure, Ranni used a ceremony and also killed herself.
The ceremony allowed for the Destined Death Rune to kill Godwyn’s soul but preserve his body. Meanwhile, Ranni killed her body and preserved her soul. The destruction of her body removed Ranni’s Empyrean Status and removed one of the means the Two Fingers have to control her. Then, she placed her soul into a doll to continue her existence.
"While I’m thankful for the compliment, it’s still rude to spy into someone’s state of being," Ranni said.
"You’re right, and I apologize."
"Well, since you are not here for servitude, what is your purpose?"
"I come to make a bargain," Edward said.
"Oh?"
"I want you to teach me how to use the power of the Full Moon and Dark Moon, and give me your shard of the Destined Death Rune."
"The Full Moon is a power only accessible to the Carian Family, and only I have access to the Dark Moon," Ranni said. "You dare ask for such things. I wonder what you plan to exchange?"
"In return, I will defeat Radhan to free your destiny. I will also fetch the Fingerslayer Blade and lend it to you to use."
"How do you know so much about my plan?" Ranni said as she stood from her high chair and summoned her staff. "Did someone betray me? Or did the Two Fingers discover something and send you to tempt me?"
"You have not exactly been subtle in your actions, have you?" Edward rebutted. "After finding a few threads and realizing your influence in Godwyn’s demise, it was not hard to deduce the entire picture." However, his words did not appease Ranni, but instead raised her guard even more.
"We are on the same side. Well, at least, we have a common enemy: the Two Fingers."
"Prove it."
"How?"
"Bring me the head of two Finger Readers," Ranni said.
"You know these things are immortal."
"Doesn’t matter. I just want proof of your conviction."
"Fine," Edward said. Killing any of the Finger Readers will complicate things with Enia, but he’ll just need to adapt. The Full Moon and Dark Moon will be instrumental in helping Edward limit the interference of the Outer Gods in this world and complete the Perfect Mission with the highest score possible.
He flew from the tower called Ranni’s Rise and hunted two Finger Readers scattered across the Lands Between, returning a few hours later to continue the deal. "Can you trust me now?" Edward asked as he threw two heads on the floor.
"Very well," Ranni nodded as she finally put her weapon away.
"Good. Do we have a deal?"
She thought about it. Radhan was truly a monster, the pinnacle of strength among demigods. Ranni, even with her subordinates, was not confident she could defeat him. And even if she did, how many of her people would survive? There is also the Fingerslaying Blade. She knew roughly where it was, but had no confidence she could retrieve it, not to mention the consequences if the Two Fingers learned of her objective.
All Empyreans —- including Marika — were granted a shadow. While their official position is that of a companion, it’s also a means for the Two Fingers and the Greater Will to keep tabs on them. Ranni has a shadow named Blaidd, and while she’s fond of him, he’s also a liability.
"On account of you sparing my mother, I accept your offer," Ranni said. The Carian Family was essentially wiped out, so there was no point in preserving Full Moon Sorcery. As for the Dark Moon, only people chosen by it can wield its power, so it did not matter if she taught him.
"Great," Edward nodded. There was no contract or the sort. If Ranni reneges on her promise, things will become unpleasant. Edward then flew to Redmane Castle in Caelid. This place was where Malenia released a Scarlet Rot Nuke and destroyed the entire region. Every once in a while, something called the Radhan Festival takes place, in which warriors from all over the Lands Between come to challenge the infected Radhan to see if they can give this warrior an honorable death.
Edward was lucky, as the next festival was only two days away. He did not mind the extra help from these people, especially since he needed to analyze Radhan’s state and find a way to take his soul. When the time arrived, Edward and the other warriors — including Blaidd, who was probably there to keep an eye on him — were teleported to the battlefield.
In the distance was a man more than 25 feet sitting on a tiny horse, slowly munching on a corpse. Radhan is an interesting demigod for many reasons, one of which is his story with his horse, Leonard. When he was young, Radhan had an enormous growth spur that made it impossible to ride his fiercely loyal horse. So, he learned gravity magic so he could continue to do so, and even after his mind and soul has been corrupted by Scarlet Rot, he still used that gravity magic to ride on Leonard.
’This man could make the fiercest of general for the Empire,’ Morgana commented. ’In fact, many of the demigods in this world are talents worth recruiting.’
Malenia had her arm and limbs destroyed by Scarlet Rot, but she overcame her disability and become one of the most powerful demigods in the Lands Between. Her twin brother, Miquella, was a wise man who created Unalloyed Gold to resist the power of the Scarlet Rot, who comes from an Outer God. And that’s not mentioning Queen Marika and Ranni, who are master manipulators, or a better way of putting it, great strategists.
’We now have the coordinate for this world, so we can still return to recruit them,’ Edward said. Although they won’t be the people from this timeline, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. In this timeline, Edward has no choice but to hunt and kill these demigods for their Great Runes, but in the future, this won’t be necessary.
’I’ll add it to the calendar,’ Morgana said.
During their short conversation, Radhan finally noticed the intruders. His instinct as a warrior activated and he immediately attacked. He used his bow and fired bolts of arrows. Edward immediately had to focus since these things were so fast.