60. Dragonlord Placidusax
During the Ancient Dragon Wars.
The great ancient dragon, Gransax, recklessly attacked the Leyndell Royal Capital. Although he breached Leyndell's walls, he ultimately perished within the city. This incident marked the beginning of the conflict between the Erdtree and the ancient dragons, and the two sides officially began a war.
However, the war soon ended, with the two becoming allies.
During the battle, the ancient dragon Fortissax and Godwyn developed a surprising friendship. Later, under his leadership, the ancient dragons defected to the Erdtree.
Some supported the cause, while others opposed it.
However, these opposing ancient dragons were nothing compared to the Erdtree and its defectors. This was a battle they had no chance of winning.
If they had taken up the Thunderbolt to resist, they would have been crushed.
Thus, those ancient dragons unwilling to surrender to the Erdtree began searching for their former king, the long-lost king. They didn't believe their king would die in obscurity. In the hearts of the ancient dragons, their king was almighty, powerful, majestic, and terrifying. If they could find their king, the golden tree would pale into insignificance.
So these ancient dragons began their search for their king, a long, long one.
Even after the Elden Ring shattered, they continued their search.
Finally, one day, they sensed their king's presence, perched atop the thick clouds. Without hesitation, they flapped their wings and soared above them. They flew for an unknown amount of time, as time seemed to swirl in the clouds.
They clearly sensed this chaos, yet it only intensified their excitement, for it was precisely the power their king possessed!
After an unknown amount of flight, they finally broke through the clouds and arrived at the shattered city in the sky, at Farum Azula, the city once devoted to the ancient dragons. But that was where the tragedy began.
At the center of the storm, they sensed their king's presence, but no matter how they pleaded, the king remained silent. They wanted to go inside and investigate, but no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't enter the storm.
Just as they were desperately trying to leave this shattered sky city, they were shocked to discover they couldn't leave the area. No matter which direction they flew, no matter how long they flew, they would eventually find themselves back in the shattered ruins of Crumbling Farum Azula, back at the edge of the eternally roaring storm!
They were trapped in this area forever.
The king's silence, the storm's rejection, an eternal cage.
This was the story from the ancient dragon's mouth, a story of a pursuer ultimately exiled.
Houraiji Kyuushou felt depressed after hearing this, and a similar sense of dread welled up in her heart.
She had never imagined how dangerous this place was.
After hearing the ancient dragon's story, Xiling stood up and patted his butt.
"Is that so? Thank you for telling me."
The ancient dragon looked at Xiling. After hearing that he could never escape Crumbling Farum Azula, there was actually a faint smile on his face. This sparked a hope within it. Could the other party have a way out?
It wasn't impossible. A being who had ascended the throne of Elden King was no ordinary person. Perhaps he truly knew the loophole in this prison!
"Silver King." The voice of the ancient dragon was no longer merely ethereal; it carried a hint of uncontrollable urgency, an urgency that even Houraiji Kyuushou could detect.
"I would like to ask you, is there a way to escape this Crumbling Farum Azula?"
Houraiji Kyuushou's gaze immediately turned to Xiling. She certainly didn't know the immediate method, but Xiling's words...
Xiling met the ancient dragon's expectant gaze. The smile on his face didn't widen, but he seemed incredibly confident.
"There is definitely a way, but I have to do something first. There's something else I want to tell you about," Xiling looked at the ancient dragon.
Hearing the words "there is definitely a way," the ancient heart within the ancient dragon's chest seemed to be infused with powerful thunder, pulsing with a roar! Nothing makes a dragon more despairing than eternal captivity, and no words yearn more for it than the certainty of a way!
If only I could escape this damned cage… The ancient dragon suppressed its surging emotions and nodded its massive head: "Please speak."
Xiling stepped forward, his silver hair fluttering gently in the chaotic air currents:
"Then, I'll tell you. You, or rather, you—" Xi Ling's gaze swept across the ruins, as if he could see the other ancient dragons similarly trapped here. "Are you willing to accept the Silver Rule?"
The words were concise and clear, without a trace of hesitation.
However, these simple words, falling upon the ancient dragon's ears, were like a thunderclap exploding deep within its soul!
"Roar—!!!"
A furious dragon roar instantly shattered the silence of the ruins! The ancient dragon's massive body suddenly stood upright, like an enraged mountain, and countless dark red lightning bolts exploded, roamed, and converged on its body!
The ancient dragon's ethereal voice grew furious:
"Are you threatening us? The Silver Rule? Another shackle designed to bind us!"
Xiling simply shook his head calmly in the face of the dragon's might.
"I have no intention of threatening you, but now, as the sole king of the Lands Between, I bear the weight of order and responsibility. I must ask you, the powerful beings who exist in the Lands Between, whether you are willing to accept the Silver Rule."
Houraiji Kyuushou had expected the dragon to be furious and attack directly, but as Xiling finished speaking, the thunder exploding from its body slowly dissipated.
The ancient dragon paused because it understood Xiling's meaning.
Xi Ling's word was acceptance, not submission.
It was as if he was ... confirming the dragon's position and the rules? Furthermore, it emphasized its current identity and responsibility—"the sole king."
"What... do you mean?" Xiling met its probing gaze and articulated his words:
"I will achieve true unification of the Lands Between on the foundation of the Silver Rule."
"And when that moment arrives, the Silver Rule will become the sole law governing the Lands Between, maintaining balance and order for all. It will not be a replacement for the Golden Tree, but a new, inclusive framework of order."
"I hope you will accept the Silver Rule and acknowledge its universality. Then, become one of us."
"You want us to submit."
"You could also say it's cooperation."
"The Silver Rule establishes a foundation for coexistence."
"Accepting it means you acknowledge the rules of this foundation and, within this framework, maintain your dignity, power, and freedom. This can also be understood as a deeper level of cooperation—for a new order in which all beings find their place."
The ancient dragon fell silent, its massive head bowed. It remembered the might of the Erdtree era, the shame and division brought about by Fortissax's betrayal, and the cold, eternal silence at the center of the storm. Finally, the ancient dragon shook its head. It wasn't that it refused to accept the decision, but rather that it lacked the authority to decide the matter. It didn't even know who could make the final decision.
Perhaps...
The ancient dragon's gaze involuntarily drifted toward the center of the roaring storm—there lay the king they had sought for countless years, yet remained silent until now.
That storm was their faith, but also their prison. Xiling noticed its gaze and chuckled. He stepped forward and patted the ancient dragon's paw.
"I understand your difficulties, and I won't make things difficult for you. It's been a pleasure chatting with you. Now, I'll go and complete what I need to do."
Xiling turned and cast his gaze at Houraiji Kyuushou, who was standing not far away.
"Kyuushou, you should go back first."
Houraiji Kyuushou nodded. She had already guessed what Xiling was going to do. She swiftly untied her Starry Cloak, stepped forward, and handed it to Xiling.
"Xiling, keep going!"
"Don't worry." Xiling took the Starry Cloak and tossed it with a flick of his arm. It unfolded instantly, as if lifted by an invisible wind, landing steadily on Xiling's shoulders. Against the deep night sky, tiny stars seemed to come alive, streaming and twinkling behind him.
"Then I'll take on the task," Xiling said, giving Houraiji Kyuushou a reassuring look. Houraiji Kyuushou nodded and opened the chat group's teleport panel, returning to Lemuen's side.
If I stay here any longer, Xiling will worry.
The ancient dragon stared in disbelief as Houraiji Kyuushou vanished into thin air.
How easily had he shattered the chaotic confines of Crumbling Farum Azula's space-time?
But before it could comprehend what was happening, it saw Xiling move.
Without hesitation, without looking back,
Xiling took a step forward, heading towards the center of the destructive storm that could tear apart mountains and warp space-time! His starry cloak fluttered behind him, like a starry night flag unfurling in the wind.
As he advanced, silver-white magic surged from his feet, like a stream of light imbued with life, rapidly spreading, condensing, and unfurling forward!
A path of pure silver-white light, ignoring the shattered ruins and chaotic spatial turbulence beneath its feet, pierced straight and determinedly towards the heart of the roaring black storm!
"Roar!!!"
The ancient dragon finally recovered from its shock, letting out a roar of horror and disbelief! Its massive body tensed, its gaze fixed on the silver path of light that led directly to the heart of the storm, and the tiny figure on it.
It's understood!
The place Xiling was heading for was the center of the storm, the very center they had prayed for countless times, fought against countless times, but could never reach!
The place he was heading for! It was the place where their king resided! The place of the silent will!
But was it possible?
Could he, alone, break the storm they couldn't open?
And even if he entered the storm, what would he intend to do?
What would he do?
The ancient dragon didn't know, and couldn't imagine. The path paved with silver-white magic had attracted the attention of the other dragons. When they saw a figure standing on the path they were supposed to take, heading straight into the storm, the ancient dragons all stood up. They had spotted an outsider. Even if this was a prison, it belonged to them, and outsiders were forbidden from trespassing. But just as they were about to move,
Roar—
A dragon roar resounded through the sky. It was the roar of the ancient dragon that had been conversing with Xiling!
Xiling didn't know what the ancient dragon had said, but at that roar, those who had been about to attack immediately stopped, as if in disbelief. They looked at each other, then finally, at Xiling.
At this moment, everyone was watching; the gazes of all creatures focused on one person.
Expectation, coldness, scrutiny, suspicion... emanated from the ancient dragons who were also imprisoned here. They stopped moving, staring silently at Xiling.
And Xiling had already reached the edge of the storm. The violent air currents were like billions of invisible blades, powerful enough to instantly pulverize fine steel. The howling wind caused the star-studded cloak to flutter wildly. Xiling could even feel the tearing sensation on his skin. Time became thick and chaotic.
However, facing this terrifying storm, Xiling's steps did not pause.
"What is he trying to do?"
"Is he planning to... just walk in?!"
"Arrogant! Ignorant! That's a destructive force that even dragons like us cannot withstand!"
"How dare he be so blasphemous!"
All sorts of thoughts rose within the ancient dragons.
But these thoughts did not affect Xiling.
The will of the hero is the will that distorts the world!
The magic of the hero is the will that transcends all!
Will is power!
Buzz!
Silver-white magic suddenly erupted around him!
It spread out with an air of absolute command! At this moment, Xiling's very existence became the anchor of the law. No incantations were chanted! No complicated rituals!
Just a single, crystal-clear thought!
Storm—open for me!
Boom—!!!
A thunderous roar, like the collapse of heaven and earth!
The eternally roaring, indestructible, pitch-black storm wall that had swallowed countless ancient dragons' attempts, under the impact of Xiling's pure will and silver magic, underwent an unprecedented transformation!
As if torn apart by an invisible giant hand! Raging currents madly dispersed to either side, annihilating! A massive, perfectly round hole, its edges brimming with shattered storm energy and fragments of spacetime, suddenly appeared in the center of the storm wall! The path paved with silver-white magic extended unimpeded, piercing straight into the heart of the storm, dormant for countless ages!
Time seemed to freeze at this moment.
All the ancient dragons, including the giant dragon that had spoken with Xiling, had their thoughts stagnate completely. Its enormous dragon eyes fixed intently on the vast hole and the path of light within it, extending into the darkness.
Amidst the utter shock of the ancient dragons, their collective silence and their worldviews were shattered,
Xiling took a single step—
Entered the entrance to the Storm Wall! Entered the realm that belonged to them—the King!
Xiling's figure, along with the dazzling silver-white path, was instantly engulfed by the surging darkness and turbulent storm.
The energy at the edge of the hole fluctuated violently, then quickly closed, and the storm resumed its roar, as if the shocking rupture had never occurred.
However, the shock etched on the retinas and deep within the souls of all the ancient dragons left them frozen, almost dazed, staring at the restored Storm Wall.
The storm continued to roar.
And within the storm—
Xiling watched the scene before him. Lightning ripped through the chaos, and ancient stone pillars rose, supporting this forgotten realm.
Time seemed to have stopped there.
In the center of this absolute silence, a massive, scarred dragon body perched high above.
Its scales were as dull as faded bronze, covered in ripped wounds and the dust of time. Most striking was its neck: two massive, hideous fractures were visible, as if torn apart. Only two massive heads, covered in thick stone scales, eyes tightly shut, stood upright toward the sky, lost in eternal slumber.
This was Dragonlord Placidusax, the Dragon King of the Ancient Dragon Age of the Elden Ring.
Xiling's eyes flashed with a complex emotion.
He sensed the terrifying, yet shattered power within that silent shell, and felt the endless sorrow and... rejection frozen in time.
Xiling began to advance.
Despite the muffled rumble of thunder, the gentle sound of Xiling's footsteps was remarkably clear in this space, like a stone dropped into an ancient well, breaking the eternal stasis.
"Placidusax..." Xiling whispered, "Is this your choice? To maintain this shattered, empty shell in eternal slumber?"
"Waiting for your god's return, but that day will likely never come."
The moment the words fell—
Boom... Rumble...
It wasn't thunder from the sky, but rather a sound suspended above the ground, as if frozen in time.
The massive dragon body, fused with the air, moved!
The massive body shifted, its scales clashing with a resounding sound like grinding gravel. The Dragon King's mountainous form slowly sank, landing on the ground. The eyes of its two dragon heads slowly opened.
There was no earth-shattering roar, no raging flames disturbed from its slumber. Not even a hint of life.
Only numbness. Only emptiness.
The four enormous dragon pupils, shimmering with a dull golden luster, reflected nothing like a dusty mirror. They simply stared straight, unfocused, at the tiny Xiling.
As if Xiling were merely a speck of dust that had strayed into the tomb, unworthy of causing the slightest ripple.
A silent, oppressive feeling, like a tangible hammer, slammed down! The sticky air of time grew even more stagnant, suffocating.
Faced with this unimaginable presence, faced with that chillingly empty gaze!
"Zeng—!"
Xiling drew his holy sword, his tiny body pointed at the immense Dragonlord Placidusax.
"Placidusax! Rather than waiting here to die—"
His voice suddenly rose, silver-white magic swirling around him. The stars on his Starry Cloak flickered wildly. Xiling's words, brimming with determination, roared at the Dragon King.
"—Rise again! Give me your hope, your future!"
"With me! With your people! Forge a path you've never seen!"