Elden Lord of Cinders

It was a lobster—a massive one.

Standing about five meters tall, each of its claws was larger than Lloyd himself. Its body gleamed with a greenish hue, and its translucent shell was covered in blue-green crystals formed from the fusion of souls and Glintstone. Beneath the shell, semi-crystallized flesh pulsed with streams of glowing blue magical fluid.

There was no need to approach it to understand its power. Just watching from afar was enough to feel that it could easily slay a dragon.

Why a dragon?

Because right beside it lay the corpse of one—its neck cleanly snapped by a lobster claw.

It was obvious from the corpse and the surrounding signs of battle that the "thug" wasn't the lobster's original target. He'd just happened to be in the path when these two beasts clashed and got caught in the chaos.

As for how strong this lobster really was...

When its claw swung, it didn't just crush things—it released a crescent-shaped Glintstone arc, about half the size of a person, slicing the thug's house clean in two. A downward smash didn't just shake the ground; it left behind a brief pool of magic that exploded after a short delay.

Then there was its signature move, more fearsome than any sniper shot—a high-pressure jet of water blasted from its mouth. While it wasn't as destructive as a Soul Stream (Dark Soul's Comet Azur), it was still nasty, with a lower power but a tracking effect that made it all the more annoying.

Add to that its leaping body slam, its savage tail whip, and the way it could roll across the ground like a ball-shaped "shrimp car"...

This was no ordinary mob. Calling it the strongest shrimp in all of Elden Ring wouldn't be an exaggeration.

Its raised claws and the cold glint in the little black eyes on the side of its head all seemed to say, "You are the challenger."

And faced with this terrifying crustacean, Lloyd's response was—

"This big crystal shrimp meat really hits different. Damn, the texture's solid, the flavor's perfect. Juicy, tender, and not crumbly at all—this is some good stuff."

He held out a fist-sized chunk of shrimp meat to Melina.

"Want a bite?"

Melina hesitated, eyeing the shrimp. After a brief pause, she leaned in and took a small bite.

"It really is... good," she said.

"Hey, hey, hey, give me some too!"

The blue-skinned weirdo popped out, snatched a plate of shrimp from Lloyd, and gobbled it down too quickly—only to let out a sharp hiss as she burned himself, sticking out her little blue tongue.

"Anyone who likes shrimp can't be a bad person. We'll get along just fine."

Having been saved by Lloyd, and now discovering their shared love for shrimp, the thug's view of him instantly shifted from stranger to best buddy. He helped clean up the crystal shrimp's remains and even cooked up a big pot of his finest shrimp stash as a thank-you gift.

After they'd eaten, Lloyd brought up Rya and the necklace.

"Oh, that woman? She was weird. Ate my shrimp and didn't want to pay. So of course I had to take something in return..."

"And she ate a lot! I only asked for her necklace. That's a fair deal, right?"

"Well... at least she didn't die on the roadside."

With that done, the thug started talking about himself.

"You're a Tarnished too, right? Can you still see the Guidance of Grace? I can't see it at all anymore."

"Thinking about it now, it's kind of funny. A little thug like me, coming here because of that guidance."

"Maybe whoever planned all this is already beyond saving—I mean the Erdtree, of course."

After the meal and the talk, the thug didn't ask for any Runes. He just handed the necklace over to Lloyd, who took it and immediately set off to return it to that strange blonde girl.

"Here, your necklace."

Rya took the necklace and studied it in her hand, her eyes gradually lighting up.

"Yes, this is the necklace that was stolen from me. Thank you—you are my savior."

She looked up at Lloyd.

"Oh, right. I haven't introduced myself properly, have I?"

"Please allow me to do so again. I am Rya, servant of Lady Tanith, the mistress of Volcano Manor."

"It is my duty as a recruiter to invite Tarnished with heroic potential to the manor."

"You are strong—not just in combat, but in will. You have the courage to raise your blade against your own kind."

"These are the qualities my lady seeks. Please accept this."

[Received 'Invitation to Volcano Manor']

Volcano Manor?

As Lloyd glanced at the letter, he recalled a past conversation with the All-Knowing—he had mentioned that name before. But the discussion had been so cluttered with nonsense that Lloyd never got around to asking for details.

He'd follow up with him later.

As for why he didn't ask Rya directly?

Well...

Watching the hunched blonde girl in front of him, who spoke in halting phrases, Lloyd finally understood what the thug meant by "that woman is strange."

Everything about Rya felt off. From her appearance, her movements, her tone, to her expression—there was a strange disconnect, like he wasn't speaking to a normal human being.

Thinking back, Kalé had also mentioned running into a weird girl—spacey, slow-talking, and seemingly unaware that buying things meant paying for them. It was probably her...

"Ah, it's getting late. If I don't return soon, Lady Tanith might worry."

Rya glanced at the sky, as if suddenly remembering something. With polite manners and the demeanor of a well-behaved child, she bid Lloyd farewell and walked off.

...She really does feel like a kid.

Watching her leave, Lloyd turned to the empty air beside him.

"Chaos."

The yellow-crazed witch appeared instantly.

"Who do you want me to guard?"

Lloyd pointed at the odd little figure in the distance.

"That strange one over there. Keep an eye on her for me."

Chaos gave Lloyd a once-over, noted the flame burning brighter within him, and nodded.

"Alright."

After watching Chaos follow after Rya, Lloyd didn't linger. He had promised Renna to head to the academy. Summoning Torrent with a whistle, he began his journey toward Raya Lucaria, following Renna's directions.

There wasn't much to say about the road itself. It was a straightforward path of running and killing—whether they were from the Carian faction, the Academy, the Cuckoo Knights, or the Albinaurics, anyone who stood in his way was turned into Lloyd's Runes.

The only noteworthy part was the increasing presence of Glintstone clusters. He had seen them when first entering Liurnia of the Lakes, and now they reappeared several times along the route. The closer he got to the academy, the more frequently—and in greater numbers—they showed up.

As for Renna, after finishing her shrimp, she hovered beside Lloyd, holding gem-like crystals she'd broken off the crystal shrimp's shell. The more she examined them, the more serious her expression became.

What is this place...

"We're here."

Since they weren't scouting and Torrent had gotten stronger thanks to Lloyd's soul nourishment, it didn't take long for them to reach the gates of Raya Lucaria Academy.

But what stood before them wasn't the "Glintstone Academy" Sellen and Thops had described, nor was it a war-torn ruin. Instead, the entire academy was overrun with Glintstone and crystal, and a massive seal covered the main gate.

Seeing the scene before her, Renna's expression shifted subtly. Beside her, Lloyd wore a pensive look.

Why does this place seem familiar...

He stepped to the side, broke off a piece of crystal, and focused on the familiar structure and energy within. A name flashed through his mind—

Seath the Scaleless.

Born without scales, he had betrayed his kin in pursuit of immortality, performing twisted soul experiments and eventually creating what would become known as "Crystal Soul Sorcery."

Buzz—buzz—

Something in his inventory began to vibrate.

It was the Moonlight Greatsword.

But not the one from Dark Souls III—it was the version from the first Dark Souls, the one forged from Seath's severed tail that had somehow ended up in his possession.

As he drew it, the vibration intensified. In the nearby cluster of Glintstone crystals, an eye suddenly opened.

Boom—

A pillar of moonlight erupted from within the academy, as if something inside was trying to break free.

But in the next instant, a full moon rose overhead, and with the countless stars beside it, forced the moonlight back down.

"Llo—yd—"

A bitter, hate-filled roar echoed from deep within the academy. The sheer force of it made the ground beneath Lloyd tremble and shattered the crystal in his hand.

He stared in the direction of the voice and took a deep breath.

"Why are you yelling so damn loud?"

"You scaleless newborn."

"You—"

The voice tried to respond, but was forcibly silenced by the full moon and the stars.

Then, a mature, calm female voice called out.

"Whoever you are, please stay away from the academy. A major upheaval is taking place inside—it's extremely dangerous."

"Please relay this message to the Carian and Primeval Current sorcerers outside: stop fighting. We're facing a far greater threat. Please tell the Golden Order—we need help—"

The message cut off.

Magma-like patterns lit up along Lloyd's skin. He turned to Renna, who stood beside him, looking stunned.

"Can you break the seal?"

"I'm afraid not. I tried analyzing it—it carries both the signature of the Academy and Rennala herself. I don't think I can undo it."

"What about a Glintstone Key?"

"It might've worked before, but definitely not now."

Lloyd paused for a moment, then looked back at the seal, lifting the Moonlight Greatsword in his hand.

Guess I'll just smash it open then...

"No."

Alice appeared and spoke seriously.

"I know you have the strength to break it, but whatever's in there—it's not fully in the Lands Between. It's trying to seep into reality. The only reason it hasn't succeeded yet is because the people inside are holding it back."

"If you shatter that seal, it'll break through with it. And while you'd probably kill it eventually, everyone inside... maybe even all the souls in Liurnia, could be wiped out."

"Then what do we do?" Lloyd asked, turning to her.

Before Alice could answer, Renna spoke up.

"Go find Ranni. She'll know how to get inside."

She paused, then glanced in a certain direction.

"And I think I know where she is right now."