Chapter 240 Full Moon

Part of the core technology of the stone daemons of the Golden Dynasty was obtained from the Academy of Magic.

During the era of the union between the Tree and the Moon, both sides experienced their fastest stage of development, learning many good things from each other; unfortunately, this honeymoon phase did not last long.

Naturally, there were also a large number of golem guards within the Academy.

However, these Academy golems were similar in size to ordinary humans, and their art style differed from those of the Golden Dynasty.

Most had two pairs of slender upper limbs, with visible rivets and mechanical joints on their bodies, and carried melee weapons such as bows, arrows, and blades.

The existence of these golems greatly compensated for the sorcerers' lack of melee combat capabilities.

In the past, relying on golems, sorcery, and those Cuckoo Knights who were comparable to heroes, the Academy had resisted the Golden Dynasty troops led by Radagon, forcefully halting the opponent's invincible momentum.

But now, the Academy has indeed fallen into decline, much like the Golden Dynasty.

The technology of the golem soldiers hasn't been updated for a long time, and even their numbers are far fewer than before.

The Academy's isolation cut off external contact, causing their resources to gradually fall into a state of scarcity. They no longer had the spare energy to invest in the construction of golem soldiers.

Chen Nuo plucked off the head of the last golem soldier and tossed it aside. He looked around and could no longer see any sorcerer or golem left standing.

"Is this all? You've disappointed me too much."

Chen Nuo felt a bit bored.

He had thought the Academy could bring some eye-opening sorcery, but as it turned out, they weren't even as good as Sorceress Sellen.

Each one seemed like a standardized part produced from an assembly line.

They couldn't be called sorcerers; they were merely users of sorcery.

No sorcerer dared to stand up and respond; their spirit and will had been crushed by Chen Nuo.

Having lost their ability to cast spells, their bodies were not even as strong as Tops', and their combat power was almost non-existent.

Except for a few mentor-level sorcerers who knew a headbutt technique, the other Academy students had no melee capabilities at all.

"Where is the Full Moon Queen, Rennala?"

Chen Nuo asked, looking at an elderly sorcerer.

"The Queen is in the Grand Library..."

The other party lowered their head and responded.

The Grand Library was located in the deepest part of the Academy. Rather than saying the sorcerers had imprisoned the Queen, it was more accurate to say she had found a quiet place for herself to withdraw into isolation.

And there was only one who truly guarded and monitored the Queen.

That was the Red Wolf of Radagon.

This was a truly ferocious savage beast. Ordinary sorcerers did not dare to provoke it, only allowing it to roam and patrol the Academy.

Seeing Chen No, an outsider, the Red Wolf launched an attack without any instructions, pouncing and biting fiercely.

Unfortunately, it was hairy and weak to fire.

Chen Nuo shattered the beast's mouth full of fangs with a single strike from his pot bottom, then burned it clean with a burst of fire.

Similarly, not everyone chose to betray the Full Moon Queen.

By her side, there were still loyal knights guarding her.

Mugram, the first knight of Caria.

It was these knights who helped Rennala conquer Caria and establish the Carian Royal Family.

However, of the Glintstone Knights who were once capable of confronting the heroes of the Golden Dynasty head-on, very few remain today; in fact, only one is left to accompany the Queen.

If the Glintstone Knights were still around, the Academy of Magic wouldn't have had to lock its gates.

Upon first seeing this knight, one could sense a feeling of wealth.

That suit of clean armor was exceptionally bright, and the breastplate was embedded with gemstones of various colors.

One could only say he was truly the Queen's carefully selected knight.

His style was simply different from that of The Lands Between.

This armor wasn't just beautiful to look at; it embodied much of the Full Moon Queen Rennala's painstaking effort, possessing great resistance to sorcery—it was a mage killer in the truest sense.

"Halt here, Tarnished!"

Mugram said in a deep voice.

He wasn't ignorant of everything happening in the Academy, but the only thing he cared about was his Queen.

Chen Nuo turned a deaf ear and continued walking forward.

Mugram immediately drew his sword; his heavy full-body armor didn't affect his rapid speed in the slightest.

In fact, Glintstone Sorcery was inscribed into the lining of the armor, which not only reduced the weight for the wearer but also provided a certain degree of buffing effects.

Even the longsword in the knight's hand was embedded with azure Glintstone, capable of releasing special magical Ash of War.

He was essentially a dual practitioner of magic and martial arts.

This was also the origin of the name Glintstone Knights.

In the next second, Mugram was sent flying as if hit by a truck, the large shield on his left hand shattering instantly.

His knight's shield, inscribed with Glintstone Sorcery and made with superb craftsmanship and exquisite materials, actually failed to block a black pot?

The moment before Mugram lost consciousness, emotions of shock and confusion surged in his heart.

The Full Moon Queen was right here in the Grand Library.

Upon entering, Chen Nuo saw female students crawling all over the floor; they were the progeny created by Rennala.

A type of fragile artificial life.

They wore the clothing of Academy students and held candles. Their faces were quite pretty and cute, but their eyes revealed a childishness that didn't match their physical appearance.

It was as if an infant's soul had been stuffed into an adult's body.

Being stared at by such pairs of eyes, it was hard not to feel it was eerie.

Following their upward gaze, one could see the Full Moon Queen, Rennala, suspended in mid-air. Moonlight fell, illuminating her exquisite face, which was filled with maternal affection.

Rennala held a yellow amber, her fingers gently stroking it as if caressing her own child, her mouth softly murmuring something.

"I'm coming in."

Chen Nuo raised his hand and knocked on the door, but it didn't attract the Queen's attention; her mind was completely immersed in her own world.

However, these students cast curious glances.

They didn't harbor any ill will.

But when Rennala created them, she also bestowed upon them the ability to cast spells to assist in her research.

This also made them slightly dangerous.

The "students" would treat the shimmering Glintstone Sorcery as a form of play.

"Don't be naughty."

Chen Nuo flicked his finger, knocking away the incoming magic.

This action actually made the "students" very happy, and they crawled closer, propping themselves up.

Their bodies were very fragile and couldn't support walking, so they could only move in this manner.

Chen Nuo walked in a half-circle to avoid these poor creatures.

The Full Moon Queen had no reaction to his arrival. Ever since her husband, Radagon, abandoned their family, her mind had broken.

Would a Queen capable of conquering the Academy of Magic and establishing her own dynasty truly be such a fragile, love-struck person?

Of course it's impossible.

The union of Tree and Moon was originally a political marriage.

Love at first sight might exist, but for it to happen between Radagon and Rennala was quite unreasonable.

One was the loyal hound of the Erdtree, the other was the choice of the Full Moon.

They simply made the decision that best suited their respective interests.

The Erdtree needed to unify The Lands Between, but it was difficult to conquer the Carian Royal Family by force, so it chose the method of marriage. The Full Moon likewise had its own schemes in this.

It was just that in this confrontation, the Erdtree emerged victorious.

In the end, it not only took away the three children of the Carian royal bloodline, laying the groundwork for the true unification later, but also shattered Rennala's spirit, leaving the Academy of Magic leaderless.

But who knew that plans couldn't keep up with changes? The elden ring was first shattered by the Eternal Queen.

By the way, here's a bit of trivia.

The Full Moon Queen Rennala's husband, Radagon, and the Eternal Queen Marika are actually the same person.

They share the same body.

They are two sides of the same coin, opposing yet unified.

Seeing that Rennala had no intention of paying attention to him, Chen Nuo jumped up and pulled her directly down.

Losing the support of her levitation magic, Rennala fell to the ground.

The amber in her arms rolled away.

Her mental breakdown had also severely affected the Queen's body; she was now so weak that she could hardly stand up.

Rennala had poured her power and even her life force into this amber.

"Ah... my sweetings... wait for me... I'm coming to embrace you now..."

Rennala spoke in crazed murmurs.

The Full Moon Queen was nearly the same height as the Eternal Queen. Under her voluminous robes, her once-full body had long since become emaciated, making her entire person look uncoordinated.

Chen Nuo leaned down and picked up the amber.

This amber was given to Rennala by Radagon before he left. Within it was contained an incomplete "great rune," which was a primitive life force.

The Glintstone sorcerers regarded it as Glintstone formed from stars.

But since it came from Radagon's hand, it was more likely an ancient dewdrop born from the Erdtree.

After all, trees and amber do indeed go better together.

As everyone knows, the birth of the great runes originated from The Shattering of the Ring, yet the parting gift Radagon gave the Full Moon Queen occurred before The Shattering.

So, where did this incomplete great rune come from?

Could it be that the elden ring wasn't shattered for the first time?

In The Lands Between, too many unknown stories are buried. Even Chen Nuo has to explore and piece them together bit by bit.

Rennala tried to use this amber egg to gestate a complete life, but the "great rune" inside was already incomplete. Trying to use a fragmented great rune to create a complete life...

This was clearly beyond the scope of Rennala's abilities.

Or rather, Radagon was certain she wouldn't be able to do it.

Every attempt at gestation, into which she poured her heart and soul, was overdrawing Rennala's power and wearing down her consciousness and spirit.

After several failed attempts, even the Full Moon Queen ultimately couldn't hold on, and her mind broke.

As for why Rennala had this obsession, it might be the result of multiple factors overlapping and being induced.

However, when Chen Nuo picked up the amber egg, it triggered another consciousness hidden within.

A thick black mist emerged and rose from it.

A familiar voice echoed in the library.

"In the name of the Witch Ranni, I declare: do not disturb my mother's slumber."

In the black mist, a tall figure appeared, dreamlike and ethereal, holding a staff-sword. A full moon appeared behind her, and her feet seemed to ripple on blue waves.

The illusory domain and the "Queen" before him were composed of a portion of Rennala's past power, while the consciousness supporting this "Queen" came from the Witch Ranni.

She was Rennala's youngest daughter.

"Such a full moon is truly worthy of admiration."

Even if it only showed a part of the past Queen's elegance, it was enough to make one's heart flutter.

Chen Nuo couldn't help but have a bold idea.

They're both Queens; wouldn't it be the same regardless of which one I marry?

"Rennala" raised her staff-sword, and a Comet Azur gushed out from it, carrying a dark light.

Although she was the Full Moon Queen, Rennala also had an elegant, dark-night side, which was reflected in her power.

Chen Nuo didn't dodge; he swung his blade directly. The thick blade seemed as if it had been tempered, glowing with a deep dark red that contained the power of the sun.

The blade's edge turned into a red sun.

It split "Rennala's" Comet Azur right down the middle, as easily as tearing a piece of thin silk.

If it were Rennala in her peak, with the support of the full moon and a fully equipped Glintstone Knight order, she might have had the qualification to fight Chen Nuo.

But if it's just a portion of the Full Moon Queen's power...

To be honest, it was far from enough.

Seeing the blade's edge was unstoppable, "Rennala" could only transform into a full moon, attempting to evade it this way.

With the help of the full moon reflected in the illusion, "Rennala" did block this move, but her full moon incarnation state was also knocked down.

Before she could even catch her breath...

She saw Chen Nuo teleport into mid-air, catching his butcher knife in an inverted position.

(Sun Breathing, Ninth Form: Setting Sun Transformation)

The blade slashed horizontally, tracing a blazing sun.

This portion of power left behind by the Queen was thus annihilated under the brilliance of the sun.

The illusion of the dark night and full moon dissipated.

Chen Nuo returned to the Grand Library, and he could vaguely hear a pleading whisper in his ear.

"Please... do not hurt my mother..."

"Then can I marry her?"

??"

Before the Witch Ranni could respond, her consciousness disconnected along with the link.

"Just kidding, stop poking me, Little Wood."

Chen Nuo felt helpless; how did he accidentally speak his mind?

It wasn't entirely his fault; it was all because the Full Moon Queen was too charming.

"My sweetings..."

Rennala crawled to Chen Nuo's feet and reached up toward the amber.

Chen Nuo looked down.

Well, the charming one was the Full Moon Queen of the past; this one was just a pitiful mother.

Chen Nuo returned the amber egg. He had already confirmed that the "great rune" on it was useless to him.

It was already fragmented; burning it would be a waste.

But it was completely tied to Rennala's consciousness.

In a sense, it had become a part of her spirit.

If the amber egg were destroyed or taken away, Rennala's consciousness would likely collapse completely.

Radagon's methods were indeed both sinister and ruthless.

He truly lived up to the name of a loyal hound.

This was also why Ranni allowed it; she indeed had no way to save Rennala.

Maintaining the status quo was already the best outcome.

After taking back the amber egg, Rennala immediately returned to her initial state, cradling it in her arms.

Chen Nuo had come only to confirm the Queen's true situation to prepare for his next moves. Having achieved his goal, there was no need to stay any longer, and he turned to leave the Grand Library.

By this time, the Carian Knight Mugram had already awakened. He rushed anxiously into the library, and seeing Rennala unharmed, he clearly breathed a sigh of relief, but his body then tensed up again.

Because Chen Nuo was brushing past him.

"I'll leave this place to you. From now on, I will take control of the Academy."

"..."