The Erdtree's radiance grew ever more dazzling, and the fierce fighting on the lower levels had come to a complete halt.
Nolan, now clad in a brand-new suit of armor, stood quietly in the brightly lit corridor. When he looked deeper inside, all he saw were ruins and shattered remains.
Given a few more years of erosion, wouldn't this be exactly the kind of desolation the Tarnished were meant to behold?
Memories of the previous night flickered through his mind like slides, finally lingering on Malenia's lightning-fast blade and Finlay's formidable war spear.
The battle itself had not lasted long, nor had it been especially complex, yet those scenes were anything but easy to forget.
This fight had given him a clearer understanding. Compared to the foremost powerhouses of the Lands Between, he was still lacking by a wide margin.
The inscrutable assassin, the Golden Needle Knight Commander with her razor-sharp swordsmanship, the unstoppable Cleanrot Knight Commander, and Malenia's blade techniques that bordered on the divine.
"Heroes and demigods, huh?"
Nolan murmured under his breath, weighing it all in silence. If it were purely a matter of technique, he was confident he wouldn't lose to any of them, including those so-called kings and gods.
But combat was never that simple.
Strength, speed, reflexes—these were the true foundations of martial power. Skill only served to push the upper limits built upon that base.
When someone could tear mountains from the ground, move like streaking light, perceive even the subtlest motion, and possess a body impervious to blades and spears, then no matter how agile or cunning you were, you would look like a crawling tortoise in their eyes.
They strike once, and before you can even react, you're carved apart armor and all. You strike them, and you can't even touch their silhouette. What would be the point?
Still, it hadn't even been half a year since he'd found his path to strength, so Nolan felt little in the way of inferiority.
What he needed was time.
Thud. Thud. Thud…
Heavy footsteps rang out as armor struck the ground, and a relaxed figure came into view ahead.
Nolan immediately patted her on the shoulder and asked,
"Finlay, done cleaning up the battlefield?"
"Well, if it isn't our invincible, peerless hero," she replied with a grin. "That's right. I've already burned every last one of those sneaky assassins to ashes."
The Cleanrot Knight Commander's voice was thick with teasing, clearly letting her friend know that his bold talk from the night before had not escaped her notice.
Nolan didn't look annoyed or embarrassed. Instead, he nodded honestly, a hint of uncertainty flashing in his eyes as he said,
"I wonder if we've really offended them this time. Do you think they'll come back?"
"Hard to say. But His Highness is an Empyrean, after all. They won't dare go too far," Finlay replied coldly. "As for those Church Confessors, there's nothing to worry about. However many come, I'll kill them all."
She spat the words with unmistakable hostility.
Nolan nodded in agreement with the Cleanrot Knight Commander's assessment.
The Saintess might be gentle, but she was no fool. She knew how to deal with enemies and would never allow the knights to hold back out of misplaced mercy in battle.
That said, there was really no need for everyone else to work quite so hard. If he could leave a few heads for himself, that would be perfect.
The thought made Nolan feel a little troubled.
Facing that group of assassins on his own would be no different from throwing his life away. For now, the only viable approach was to follow behind these heroes and wait for a chance to pick up a few kills.
As soon as the idea formed, Nolan quickened his pace.
When he finished climbing the last step, the familiar door once again appeared before him.
The Golden Needle Knight Commander stood silently outside. Even through her helmet, her stern expression seemed unmistakable.
Leda raised her head and fixed her gaze on Nolan as he approached, clearly having been waiting for him.
"Commander Leda was incredible last night."
Nolan spoke with genuine admiration, yet to Leda, his words seemed to carry a deeper implication.
She appeared to recall something, turned her head away, and offered no reply. If not for the black helmet concealing her face, her expression would likely have been intimidating. After a brief silence, she turned back and said in a low voice,
"Her Highness is waiting for you inside."
Nolan smiled and followed her in.
If Leda could kill a Church Confessor in an instant, she could just as easily do the same to him.
Hearing the noise, Trina looked up, confusion evident on her face.
"What's going on here?"
"Nothing," Nolan replied calmly. "I was just admiring the Knight Commander's valor."
He knew his limits, and with others present in the room, he immediately straightened his expression.
"Your Highness, why have you summoned me?"
"Nolan, let me introduce someone to you," Trina said. "This is a hero from Liurnia of the Lakes, Loretta, Royal Knight of Caria Manor."
Nolan followed the direction of Trina's gesture. Before him stood a female knight clad in heavy armor, blue and white plates interwoven into an ornate yet imposing suit.
The knight lifted her head, her gaze meeting Nolan's. There was no melodramatic moment of fate or instant connection. Nolan's unremarkable looks were only ever appreciated by nobles, nothing more.
Even so, he gave a polite nod, offering his respect to the Royal Knight of Caria Manor.
Anyone who could earn that title was not to be underestimated. And from the presence she carried, it was clear she was a veteran who had endured countless battles.
When facing someone like that, especially as one who represented the Haligtree, proper courtesy was only natural.
As Nolan quietly considered Trina's intentions, he smiled and spoke to the stern knight.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Knight Loretta. I am Nolan Bethel, Knight of the Golden Needle."
With that, he turned back to Trina, waiting for her instructions.
"Nolan, haven't you always been interested in magic?" Trina said. "This knight will take you to the Raya Lucaria Academy, where you can study sorcery."
Nolan froze at her words.
He had indeed learned Glintstone Sorcery from mages in the city before, but those mages had only come to the Haligtree after failing to survive at the academy. What they taught was little more than the basics.
If he could go to the academy itself and learn deeper, more advanced magic, he would naturally welcome the opportunity. Having more skills was never a bad thing. Still, why so suddenly…
Before Nolan could respond, Trina gave him no chance to refuse. She swiftly took out two golden rings that emitted a gentle glow.
"How can a knight be without a warhorse?" she said. "This is a Spectral Steed Whistle. Blow it, and a spirit steed will answer your call. This child's name is Torrent, and it seems he likes you quite a bit."
She then lifted the second ring.
"This one allows you to spiritify objects and store them inside. It cannot hold living beings. Inside, you'll also find other items that Miquella and I prepared for you."
At last, Trina looked at Nolan, her voice soft and warm.
"Consider these two rings my farewell gift to you."
She made no effort to hide this from the Caria Manor Knight, who immediately glanced over. It was obvious that both items were extremely valuable.
The Spectral Steed Whistle was one thing. Many famous knights possessed one, and even those who didn't would spare no effort to obtain it. For a knight skilled in mounted combat, a spirit steed offered a tremendous increase in battle capability.
But the ring that could store items was another matter entirely. Such spirit rings were exceedingly rare. She had only ever seen them in the possession of the Queen and the Princess.