21. Killing Godrick
A massive figure leaped from the city wall, stomping heavily onto the ground.
Seeing the terrifying figure, Luo Tianyi covered her ears in fear and stood behind Lemuen. Even Houraiji Kyuushou trembled, his densely packed arms seemingly grafted onto his body, a grotesque and deformed appearance that was unsettling.
Facing the wary gazes of the crowd, Godrick lowered all his weapons.
Xiling raised an eyebrow and reached out to interrupt Kevin's urge to punch him.
The other party didn't look like he was here to fight. Let's hear what he has to say first.
"Tell me a little bit about your purpose."
After a moment's silence, Godrick said, "I heard what you said earlier, but I don't think you can accomplish it."
"So? What brings you here?"
"...This world has gone mad. Order...its former glory can no longer be restored. I don't think you can accomplish it."
Xiling remained silent, watching quietly. "No one could do it, but... what if it succeeds?" Godrick's gaze met Xiling's.
"Nothing could be worse than this... I'm taking a gamble, winning everything or nothing."
Xiling seemed to have guessed something. "What do you mean?"
Godrick knelt on one knee before Xiling, his tone serious. "Please use me. Even if it means burning this body to ashes, I won't hesitate!"
"One last question for you," Xiling said, stepping in front of Godrick.
"Why did you make this choice?"
Godrick's answer was unwavering.
"For power."
"Power is the reason I submit to you."
Yes, power is the reason Godrick submits. No other ideologies or ideals matter; such things are worthless in the Borderlands.
Only power is truth. If not for Xiling and Kevin's final actions, Godrick's choice would have been to fight rather than submit.
"Is that so... What a pity, Godrick."
"What?"
The holy sword swung out, severing Godrick's head, which still held a confused expression.
Perhaps you have your reasons and your own difficulties, but that's not what Xiling needs to understand. If he doesn't draw his sword against an evil villain, what kind of hero is he?
The holy sword returned to its sheath. Xiling turned and smiled at his group members.
"Do you think I'm mean?"
"I only saw the hero severing a villain's head," Lemuen said with a smile, being pushed forward by Luo Tianyi.
Luo Tianyi nodded repeatedly in agreement. The moment she saw Godrick, she finally understood what she had heard. It was the voice of spirits, lingering around him. They cursed and roared, and even after Godrick's death, these voices showed no sign of fading.
"How did they do that?" The savior expressed both fear and curiosity at the corpse covered in arms. Xiling shrugged. "Through the power of the Great Rune, the limbs were reattached, and this is how it turned out."
"Is that so?" Houraiji Kyuushou nodded thoughtfully.
"Then let's get going. We'll try to reach the Royal Capital within a day. By the way, Kyuushou, is your teleportation ability still working?" Xiling looked at Houraiji Kyuushou.
Houraiji Kyuushou scratched her cheek, a little embarrassed. "Even the savior needs rest. So probably not."
"Then it seems we'll have to walk." Xiling didn't think these guys could ride horses, and of course, he couldn't either.
So the six of them began their march towards the Royal Capital, walking openly along the main road. When they encountered soldiers attacking them, Kevin attacked back without a word.
Houraiji Kyuushou also wanted to try her hand at combat, but she was dragged back by Xiling shortly after. Because this guy really couldn't fight, Xiling felt he'd have to give her some strength; otherwise, he'd be worried.
Luo Tianyi, while pushing Lemuen's wheelchair, felt a sense of déjà vu as they walked. She said, "It feels a bit like we're doing Journey to the West, but in Journey to the West, the goal was to obtain the scriptures, while we're creating rules."
Xiling chuckled, "It's similar. It's all about saving all living beings."
In Journey to the West, Tang Sanzang encountered eighty-one tribulations, and the six people encountered countless obstacles on their way to the Royal Capital.
Soldiers, giants, knights, and all sorts of monsters attacked the group, but none of them could stop their progress, not even a flicker of a smile or worry. They discussed the scenery along the way, as if on a picnic.
The closer they got to Royal Capital, the more obstacles they encountered, which also meant more people lying unconscious; those lying there could be mistaken for corpses, but in reality, they were just knocked unconscious. Facing the vigilant soldiers blocking the gate, the Tarnished pointed forward, and stones instantly launched from the ground. The soldiers who witnessed this tried to block it with their shields, but the stone suddenly changed direction in mid-air, bypassing the shield and striking the soldier directly on the forehead.
Several more unconscious people appeared on the ground. Kevin and Xiling stood in front of the gate and simultaneously raised their legs, then kicked the gate of Royal Capital with a fierce kick. The locked gate immediately flew backward and crashed into a house.
"Finally, we're here!"
Xiling stepped into the Leyndell Royal Capital, ignoring the dragon corpse he had seen so many times along the way. He looked at the tallest building, as if someone there was staring him in the eye.
Tramp, tramp, tramp, tramp.
Dense sound of footsteps approached from all directions, and countless soldiers surrounded the six people. Looking around, Xiling felt no sense of being besieged and even laughed. "Hahaha, what a grand scene! These people are far more intimidating than those death squads back then!"
"Anyone who trespasses into the Royal Capital will die!" roared the leading knight. At that moment, the soldiers drew their weapons and roared as they attacked the six people.
With a thought, Xiling's Starry Cloak sprang into action. It instantly expanded from Xiling's shoulders, its gauze-like fabric enveloping the group. Countless swords slashed at the Starry Cloak, but they soon discovered it had no effect.
This was the Starry Cloak, a blessing bestowed by the Supreme Will. It was a defensive device, and the amount of damage it could block depended on how much magic power Xiling employed. Xiling's total amount of magic power was unknown. While Xiling couldn't directly unleash this immense power because his body wouldn't be able to withstand it, continuously releasing magic power was no problem for him. Looking at the helpless soldiers outside, Xiling clapped his hands gently, as if cheering for someone's performance.
"Next, please welcome our small fish-crushing machine, Miss Luo Tianyi, to sing us a song. 'Just like that, I'm conquered!'"
Luo Tian blushed and shouted, "It's not like that!"
"That's almost the same! Come on, show off your singing voice and conquer them!"
That was too bad! Luo Tianyi glared at Xiling fiercely, then coughed slightly. There was no so-called music...
Facing the soldiers, Luo Tianyi closed her eyes, spread her hands, and then her voice rang out, "Sleep!" Her voice was accompanied by a certain magical power, not loud, but it continued to spread through the air. Immediately, the soldiers in the front fell, and then, like dominoes, a large number of soldiers collapsed to the ground, with only a few barely standing.
But that didn't change anything. The Tarnished used magic to knock them unconscious.
"Let's go!" Xiling took the wheelchair and Lemuen together, then stepped on the soldiers' bodies and headed towards their target. Luo Tianyi asked sheepishly, "Isn't this bad?"
Houraiji Kyuushou patted Luo Tianyi's shoulder and said confidently, "Don't worry. When we've saved the world, those we've stepped on will be truly honored."
Kevin passed by and said, "I think they'll arrest you for stomping mud on their armor of honor."
Houraiji Kyuushou puffed out her chest, "It's okay. I won't let them know."
"Don't worry, I'll tell them when the time comes," the Tarnished gave Houraiji Kyuushou a thumbs-up.
"Ah!"
Houraiji Kyuushou walked over to the Tarnished and said frantically, "You're kidding, right? Don't do that!"
"It's hard to say."
Amidst laughter, the group passed through countless buildings and finally reached a staircase.
At the end of the path, a pair of eyes opened, and Morgott turned to them.
Xiling, who had ascended the stairs first, waved, "I didn't keep you waiting for long."
"...or rather you've come too quickly."