Chapter 400 - 303: I Absolutely Have to Survive

A sulfurous breeze swept through the valley. Millicent held the robe Lucian had tossed to her, still unable to react.

It was only when she looked down that Millicent realized her clothes had become plastered tightly against her body.

Her face immediately flushed red, and she hurriedly draped the robe over herself to conceal her embarrassment.

Fortunately, the intense heat had already turned her entire body red, so the slight blush on her face was practically impossible to notice now.

Nearby, Alexander stood with his arms folded, watching Millicent's actions with some confusion.

As a jar, he didn't really understand human affairs.

He was always walking around completely naked, so why had nobody ever thrown a set of clothes at him?

In any case, Alexander's booming laughter broke the somewhat awkward silence.

He proudly raised his newly repaired right arm and waved at Lucian.

"HAHAHA! Lucian, we've met again!"

"You must have come here to find Rykard and collect his Great Rune, right?"

Lucian smiled and nodded.

"That's exactly what I intend to do."

"Although Rykard was devoured by the great serpent, his Great Rune is still the real thing."

"Still, even though I knew you were heading to the volcano when we last parted ways, I didn't expect to run into you in the middle of a battle."

Lucian studied Alexander's slightly changed body.

The cracks left behind by the combat festival had almost all been repaired.

Although a few cracks remained incompletely healed, and others had been added during his recent travels, they no longer had any significant impact on his ability to fight.

That wasn't all. Dark red flame patterns had been embedded in the old cracks across his jar-shaped body, resembling veins of flowing lava, their light and darkness intertwining.

"Alexander, it looks like you've gained quite a lot from this trip to the volcano."

Alexander vigorously patted his own body, as if demonstrating just how sturdy it had become.

"HAHAHAHA! The lava in Mt. Gelmir is much hotter than the burning flames of Caelid."

"Thanks to that lava, the cracks in my body are almost completely sealed now, and my strength has improved as well."

As Alexander patted himself, a sloshing sound came from inside his jar.

The muffled bubbling that had been audible earlier gradually subsided as the surrounding temperature dropped.

"Still, if I had to say, this place isn't entirely without its drawbacks."

"The warriors inside me seem a little unhappy. They've been bubbling away in protest."

Lucian looked at Alexander's jar-shaped body and finally remembered that the contents inside were apparently the remains of fallen warriors.

They'd been cooked in there, hadn't they?

They had absolutely been cooked…

Lucian let out two awkward yet polite chuckles before speaking.

"Haha, well… as long as you've gained something from the trip, that's what matters."

Alexander grew even happier and spoke loudly.

"HAHAHAHA! I'll go deeper into the volcano and temper myself for a while longer."

"Once I've finished training, I'll definitely become even stronger and be able to hold the remains of even more heroes!"

Alexander was brimming with lofty ambitions, and he was now full of confidence in his grand goal of becoming a hero.

Nothing could provide someone with more tangible motivation than continually moving forward.

Seeing that Alexander was still as hearty and straightforward as ever, Lucian patted his jar-shaped body as well.

"Good. I believe you'll reach heights that no Warrior Jar has ever reached before."

"When that day comes, it won't be that you're strong because of the warriors inside you. Instead, you'll be the one carrying them all the way to the summit."

After saying this, Lucian turned to look at Millicent.

She was standing to one side, silently listening to their conversation.

By now, she had put on the robe, and her skin had returned to its usual pale complexion.

A strand of red hair fell aside, revealing the pale nape of her neck. It was straight as a broken sword blade, radiating an unmistakable heroic spirit.

Lucian thought for a moment. It seemed that Millicent hadn't gained much from this trip to the volcano.

The topic he and Alexander had been discussing might also have left her feeling a little out of place.

So Lucian turned toward Millicent and offered her some reassurance.

"I didn't witness the entire battle just now, but your performance surprised me."

"I hadn't expected you to develop swordsmanship with your left hand in such a short time."

Millicent was a little caught off guard by Lucian's sudden praise.

In fact, she had been quietly examining her left arm during their conversation. There was a fresh wound there, one she had sustained in the battle.

She could feel that the injury had already healed. However…

Patterns of Scarlet Rot were quietly spreading across her skin.

Although she had used the Unalloyed Gold Needle to suppress the rot, it was still trying to make a comeback.

After all, the power of rot was closely connected to her.

Whenever she was injured, its power would quietly emerge to heal her wounds.

It wasn't an act of kindness. It was simply another means of persuading her to accept that power…

Lucian's words interrupted Millicent's thoughts.

After thinking for a moment, she quickly understood what he was trying to do.

Millicent smiled inwardly at his thoughtfulness. She hadn't actually been feeling the way he seemed to think she might.

After all, the purpose of this trip to the volcano had been to help Alexander repair his body. Naturally, she hadn't expected to gain much from it herself.

She and Alexander had already agreed that once his body was repaired and he had finished tempering himself, they would resume their journey together in search of a prosthetic arm.

As companions traveling together, mutual trust and reliance were the most fundamental things. There was no reason to feel awkward simply because their gains from the journey were different.

Listening to Lucian's words, Millicent recalled the battle and lowered her head slightly.

As far as she was concerned, it had been nothing particularly remarkable.

She had lost her right hand but had no intention of giving up the struggle. Of course she would have to find every possible way to keep moving forward.

Nevertheless, Millicent was happy to receive Lucian's praise.

"Thank you for your praise. I'm very happy to hear that."

"But I'm afraid I'm still not good enough."

"Even dealing with those Recusants from Volcano Manor took quite a bit of effort. Considering how much longer the journey ahead of me will be…"

Lucian nodded. Being dissatisfied with one's current state was an attitude befitting a warrior.

Only with such an attitude could one maintain the desire to keep climbing toward ever greater heights.

Millicent turned to look at Seethewater River, still churning in the distance. The viscous, crimson lava seemed to twist into countless anguished faces.

During their journey, Millicent had heard a rumor.

It was said that the vengeful spirits of those who died horrific deaths in the volcano flowed along with the lava.

After being killed by the Recusants who had turned against the Erdtree, even their souls would be desecrated and defiled, unable to return to the Erdtree.

That was why the endless crackling and bursting sounds from within the lava were supposedly their final screams.

Of course, this was merely an invented story, but it still illustrated the cruelty of the Recusants.

Only after experiencing an ambush firsthand had Millicent truly come to understand it.

Mt. Gelmir really wasn't a welcoming place.

Fortunately, they hadn't ventured into the true heart of the volcano, Volcano Manor itself, the den of the Recusants and blasphemers.

Otherwise, even with Mr. Patches guiding them, there was no guarantee their journey would have remained peaceful.

Thinking of this, Millicent unconsciously placed her left hand on the weapon at her waist. The waterfowl swordsmanship that had once belonged to the Valkyrie now shone with only a fraction of its former brilliance.

Without a reliable right hand, things really were difficult.

Lucian followed the movement of Millicent's hand and asked, "Any news about a prosthetic arm?"

Millicent shook her head, then hesitated before nodding slightly.

"Mr. Patches said he'd help gather information."

"So I've decided to visit him at Volcano Manor sometime later."

Lucian nodded.

For now, he would see whether Millicent could find the information herself.

If she really couldn't find anything, he could tell her what he knew or simply deliver the prosthetic arm directly to her.

Lucian didn't want to interfere too much with Millicent's growth.

This journey was, after all, part of her process of completing herself as a warrior.

If he solved the problem of her prosthetic arm right from the beginning, Millicent could simply unleash Waterfowl Dance all the way through every battle, cutting down everything in her path.

As the embodiment of Malenia's will to resist the Scarlet Rot, Millicent would undoubtedly benefit from a reasonable amount of adversity and tempering. Such experiences would only strengthen her resolve.

Besides, Millicent wasn't someone who would be defeated by such a minor setback. Among the five sisters, she possessed the strongest convictions.

After thinking for a moment, Lucian spoke to Millicent.

"I'll be heading to Volcano Manor next."

"Since we're going there anyway, why don't we go together?"

Lucian was planning to retrieve Rykard's Great Rune, so he would inevitably have to visit Volcano Manor.

At the same time, he wanted to see how Patches was doing and whether he had managed to get together with the woman he had been pining for, Tanith.

Before Millicent could respond, Alexander excitedly spoke up.

"Oh, oh! Millicent, this is wonderful!"

"Is there anywhere in the Lands Between safer than being by Lucian's side?"

After traveling together and crossing more than half of the Lands Between, Alexander and Millicent had long since become close companions who trusted one another completely.

He knew Millicent's circumstances, and he understood her determination. Naturally, he couldn't bear to let her set off alone.

Originally, the two of them had planned to visit Patches at Volcano Manor to ask about information regarding a prosthetic arm after Alexander finished his training.

However, there were simply too many powerful Recusants at Volcano Manor. Even Alexander couldn't guarantee that he would be able to protect Millicent throughout their journey.

But with Lucian accompanying them, what was there left to worry about?

Feeling the goodwill of both Lucian and Alexander, Millicent finally revealed a faint smile.

"Very well. Then I shall gratefully accept your offer."

"Thank you."

Alexander raised his fist and waved it enthusiastically.

"HAHAHA! Now I can go deeper into the volcano and train without worrying!"

"We're almost at the end of Seethewater River. I can already hear the lava surging!"

"I can feel the warriors inside me getting fired up, too!"

Lucian smiled in response.

"In that case, we'll accompany you for the last stretch of the journey before setting off ourselves."

Millicent nodded in agreement as well, and the group resumed their journey.

一

This time, nothing unexpected happened, and the three of them successfully reached the end of Seethewater River.

A waterfall of lava roared as it plunged from the edge of a volcanic ravine, converging at the river's terminus to form a vast lava lake of unfathomable depth.

This wasn't ordinary orange-red magma. Instead, it was a brilliant red liquid somewhere between molten gold and blood.

Even the edges of the lava glowed with a white-hot brilliance. The air burned incessantly, proving that the temperature here was far higher than anywhere else along Seethewater River.

Bubbles erupted across the surface of the viscous molten liquid, constantly bursting and scattering fragments that resembled splashes of molten iron.

Even the sky had been stained a terrifying orange-red, while the clouds twisted and warped beneath the waves of heat.

Looking at the scorching lava, which was deep enough to submerge his entire jar-shaped body, Alexander eagerly approached the lake.

Silently counting, 'One, two, three… jump!', Alexander threw himself into the molten lake.

"HAHAHA! This is exactly the kind of environment I've been looking for! It's fantastic!"

"With lava this hot, my strength is sure to improve even further!"

Lucian and Millicent watched as Alexander's body sank into the lava lake, sending enormous waves surging across its surface.

Swinging both arms, Alexander began swimming toward the lava waterfall pouring out of the volcano.

However, the commotion caused by this uninvited guest had disturbed the lake's true master.

The lava lake began boiling and churning even more violently beneath the waves Alexander had created.

A gigantic bulge, resembling a massive fountain, rose from the center of the lake. A wave of molten rock surged outward, pushing Alexander straight back toward the shore.

A pair of golden, vertically slit eyes emerged from the lava, fixing their gaze on the three intruders.

Many Recusants at Mt. Gelmir knew that this place was the territory of a Magma Wyrm, and they therefore made sure never to approach it.

Faced with the imposing Magma Wyrm, Alexander and Millicent grew extremely wary and prepared for battle.

Lucian, however, simply waved his hand and stepped forward.

As he moved, crimson dragon lightning gradually emerged among the fiery red sky and clouds stained by the lava's glow.

Sensing the terrifying dragon lightning meant to intimidate it, the Magma Wyrm panicked internally, yet stubbornly maintained eye contact with Lucian.

However, when it saw not the slightest trace of fear in Lucian's eyes, it realized that it was the one that truly ought to be afraid.

And so, with a series of bubbling sounds, the Magma Wyrm slowly sank back into the lava lake and turned to swim deeper into the mountain.

It left without even looking back, as though it had made up its mind about something.

A moving trail of churning lava appeared across the lake, its path clearly visible even from the shore.

Lucian raised an eyebrow, then turned to Alexander.

"There. It shouldn't bother you anymore."

一

The three parted ways amid the scorching sulfurous mist.

Alexander moved his heavy body forward and soon disappeared behind the lava waterfall at the end of Seethewater Terminus.

Lucian, meanwhile, took Millicent by the hand and flew straight upward into the sky.

There was a place nearby called Fort Laiedd, and a talisman could be found inside.

It was one of the talismans that increased the damage of certain attacks: the Fire Scorpion Charm.

Whether for its effects or simply for the sake of collecting it, the talisman was worth the trip.

Besides, since they were already here, picking it up would only take a moment.

Lucian had no intention of attacking the fort through its main entrance. He simply took Millicent with him and flew straight to the top.

While they were still in midair, Lucian heard a faint voice coming from the wooden platform atop the fort.

"Hehe, hehehe… A bunch of idiots… You'll never find me…"

"Hehe… I absolutely have to survive…"

"Survive, and return to Volcano Manor…"

Lucian landed on the wooden platform and, just as expected, found the familiar spirit still guarding the Fire Scorpion Charm.

He casually picked up the talisman and prepared to leave.

Hearing the spirit's words, Millicent murmured in confusion,

"But hasn't he already become a spirit…?"

Yet when the spirit heard Millicent's words, he actually reacted.

He raised his head and stared at his own hands, shouting in disbelief,

"What? Am I already dead?!"

After realizing this, the spirit seemed to suffer the complete collapse of his convictions. His form could no longer hold together, and he began to dissipate.