THWACK—!
Nidhogg flicked Bloodhound's Fang, spattering blood across the muddy ground.
He stepped over the shrinking, withering vines of the face tree, ignoring the wailing spirits that burst forth, and continued deeper into the forest.
The more Apostles he encountered, the more it proved he was heading in the right direction.
Through the mist, Nidhogg could vaguely make out the silhouettes of several mountain peaks in the distance. A bone-chilling wind blew through the forest day and night.
Once again, his instincts proved correct.
After walking for less than fifteen minutes, Nidhogg heard a spine-tingling sound ahead—a chaotic mix of low and shrill voices.
He hid behind a tree and looked down the slope. He saw more cursed Apostles—and not just one.
To be precise, there was a sphere of flesh—a mass formed from countless human bodies twisted and fused together—rolling along the mountain path. Exposed faces were frozen in expressions of terror and despair.
At that moment, a massive creature resembling a stag beetle was pushing the flesh sphere like a dung beetle, while beside it followed an equally massive praying mantis.
Nidhogg recognized them. The stag beetle, the praying mantis, and the flesh sphere—all had appeared just before the Eclipse.
Back then, the Hawk Company had split into two groups. Guts, Casca, and the others had gone to Windham City to rescue Griffith, while Rickert and the rest had remained in the forest, waiting to rendezvous.
But Rickert never expected that the Apostles would attack them before Guts and the others arrived. His entire group was annihilated.
If not for the timely appearance of the Skull Knight, Rickert would have died a tragic death there.
Among the Apostles who attacked Rickert and the others that night were the stag beetle, the praying mantis, and this flesh sphere.
To be precise, the flesh sphere wasn't just a single Apostle. It was already a collection of many monsters.
In Berserk, there were roughly three ways to become a monster.
The first was through a Beherit and the demon-subduing ritual. The second was possession by vengeful spirits. The third was a unique method of human transmutation used by Apostles.
This flesh sphere was the third type.
All the people it absorbed would, over time, transform into insect-like monsters.
Nidhogg had to consider whether to fight so many monsters at once. Separating them—creatures accustomed to working together—wouldn't be easy.
Before he could reach a conclusion, the praying mantis suddenly stopped. It used its long scythes to block the stag beetle, preventing it from pushing the flesh sphere further.
"What's wrong?" The stag beetle turned its head and asked.
The praying mantis's nose twitched as it sniffed the air. "There's a mix of human and Apostle scent here. The Apostle smell is especially strong... It was that tree. It's been killed."
The stag beetle immediately looked around warily. "Someone who can kill an Apostle is probably no ordinary foe. Can't let them hide in the shadows."
It used its thick, heavy horns to lift the stopped flesh sphere and shouted, "What are you waiting for? Find the intruder and tear them apart!"
The flesh sphere was silent for only a moment, then emitted a series of hissing sounds.
Clumps of slime burst forth. One by one, naked human figures detached from the sphere, their bodies rapidly swelling and transforming.
In an instant, they became cockroaches, ants, spiders, centipedes... An army of insect monsters appeared, charging in all directions, searching for this human.
Seeing this scene, Nidhogg could only shrug helplessly.
Plans never kept up with changes. It couldn't be helped.
Nidhogg produced his Spirit Calling Bell, shook it several times, and summoned the three lone wolves. Then he whistled again, summoning Torrent the spirit steed. Finally, he took a swig of Cerulean Tears to restore his focus.
You have a great army. And I have good brothers.
Nidhogg held Bloodhound's Fang in his left hand, then drew his Lordsworn's Greatsword with his right. He pointed the blade at the insect horde and commanded, "Go."
His current strength was sufficient to dual-wield both weapons. The skills of these two weapons wouldn't conflict, unlike in Elden Ring. He could use them together.
The wolves charged first, followed by Torrent at a gallop.
Nidhogg wasn't worried about their safety. Even if they were "killed," they would simply return to the Spirit Calling Bell and the Spirit Steed Whistle. He could summon them again.
You should worry—not about them—but about the monster horde before you.
Nidhogg charged as well. He immediately encountered a spider monster, all fangs and claws. His Lordsworn's Greatsword came down, shattering the cluster of eyes on its head along with its claws!
FWOOSH—!
Before he could stop, a centipede lunged from behind, writhing as it tried to strike him.
Bloodhound's Fang in Nidhogg's hand traced an arc and effortlessly severed the centipede monster's front half, including its head. He used the momentum to backflip and land a short distance away.
The other monsters that had been pursuing him stopped and turned to look.
FWOOSH—!
A cockroach spread its wings and took flight, trying to grab Nidhogg's face.
Nidhogg immediately thrust with his Lordsworn's Greatsword, impaling the cockroach's body. A mass of slimy eggs spilled out and fell to the ground.
SLASH—!
Surrounded by the insect monster army, he showed no panic. Calm and composed, he wielded his Lordsworn's Greatsword and Bloodhound's Fang, reaping monster lives in a circular sword dance.
Monsters were either sliced open or impaled. Blood, slime, eggs, and carapace fragments scattered everywhere. The original tree trunk was covered in debris.
Torrent and the lone wolves were equally heroic, rampaging through the monster army, killing as many as they could, showing no fear.
"Two hits." The praying mantis clicked its mandibles in satisfaction. It simultaneously sharpened its scythes. "Looks like we need to get involved. Let's deal with them one by one."
FWOOSH—!
Before the praying mantis finished speaking, its demonic body had already launched itself with its powerful hind legs, lunging at Torrent.
Its scythes were raised like descending death, aiming to strike Torrent from behind.
But suddenly, with a change in its whistle, Torrent immediately kicked up with his hind hooves, striking the mantis's arm and sending it hurtling backward with brute force!
The praying mantis didn't fly far. It spread its wings and halted in midair.
Its compound eyes stared at Torrent for a moment, then turned to look to the side and behind.
Nidhogg's Bloodhound's Fang was swinging!
CLANG—!
The praying mantis was no pushover. As it swung its scythe, it clashed with Nidhogg's Bloodhound's Fang and Lordsworn's Greatsword.
Sword arcs and blade strikes intertwined. A sharp, piercing aura engulfed them both!
Any monsters nearby that got too close were caught in the crossfire and shredded by the blades!
At one point, Nidhogg used Bloodhound's Fang to parry the mantis's scythe again.
The mantis was about to retract its scythe and counter when it saw Nidhogg spin like a deer and leap back several meters.
It didn't relent. Its compound eyes tracked Nidhogg's movements intently, but it still couldn't fully discern his next move.
Nidhogg had used the first half of Bloodhound's Finesse. After the strike, he had used the momentum to backflip, creating enough distance for a running start. So he immediately followed up with the second half—Bloodhound's Step—and executed the complete Bloodhound's Finesse!
RUSH—!
FWOOSH—!
The praying mantis was stunned. Then it looked down and was horrified to see that Nidhogg's Bloodhound's Fang had sliced through its neck. Blood sprayed!
It hadn't seen that strike coming. It couldn't even react!
Nidhogg didn't let up. Seizing the mantis's stunned moment, his Lordsworn's Greatsword suddenly swept up and split the mantis's head in two!