With the Nameless King severely injured, the remaining monsters were quickly dealt with, and the pressure on the members of the Loki Familia instantly lightened. Having made his move, the Nameless King no longer tried to continue the fight.
He understood that there was no point in pressing on, as the opposing side had a mighty figure backing them, a force far beyond his ability to contend with. Just staying here had left him gravely wounded.
If he couldn't kill them, what options did he have? Escape? His mount was gone, and he lacked the means to fly far. Running on foot wasn't feasible for him.
But more importantly, his pride as a king wouldn't allow it. As the last of the ancient dragon's line, he would rather fall with his kingdom than flee in disgrace.
"Can you tell me, just what kind of existence stands behind you?"
As the Loki Familia prepared to land the killing blow, the Nameless King finally spoke, sitting amidst the swirling black mist. He had been silent until now, but at this moment, he asked to know the identity of the one who intervened.
"You mean Asahi-sama? We don't know much, but one thing's for certain, he's powerful, very powerful. A being capable of moving freely between worlds. Beyond that, we know little."
Seeing the Nameless King's expression, they realized what he was after and readily responded. It wasn't a secret or anything worth hiding.
"So, you don't know either? Figures, it must be a truly formidable existence. Go ahead, I'm not your match anyway. Even if I give everything to take one of you down, it would all be in vain if that one intervenes!"
The Nameless King saw the situation clearly. These adventurers had someone extraordinary backing them, and with his injuries, even sacrificing himself wouldn't take them down. Should that figure interfere, he wouldn't stand a chance.
No matter how he looked at it, his fate was sealed, so he accepted it without resistance. Truthfully, he didn't mind dying at the hands of warriors this skilled, rather than falling prey to some nameless scavenger.
With that, he ceased all resistance, allowing Ais to pierce his heart with her sword.
A huge mass of souls appeared in Ais's hands.
"It's finally over. Without Asahi-sama, at least half of us would have fallen here!"
Gareth breathed a sigh of relief. The near-death encounter Riveria and Lefiya had just endured had shaken him deeply, and if not for Asahi's intervention, they would have perished, and the Nameless King would have pursued his victory without mercy.
Even if they had wanted to retreat, it would have been nearly impossible without leaving others behind to cover their escape. His prediction of half their number perishing wasn't an exaggeration.
Now, thanks to Asahi's aid, no one had died, and they even gained some unexpected benefits from the ordeal. They were all immensely grateful.
"Let's head back. I don't want to stay here any longer," Bete said. "It's only getting more dangerous, and we need to pace ourselves. We should regroup, gather strength, and prepare for the next, even more dangerous area!"
As the Nameless King had warned, they were all aware that the hidden power Asahi had left within them wasn't infinite. They had no idea how much of that protection remained or if it would be exhausted in the next encounter.
Each member of the Loki Familia understood well that the power they had came from their relationship with Asahi, who gifted it to them out of genuine friendship.
To recklessly use this power would risk tainting that bond, turning the purity of their friendship into something less meaningful. They knew they couldn't afford to take this gift lightly or abuse it for trivial reasons. No one would use their life or Asahi's friendship as a tool or joke.
This understanding was crucial, and everyone in the Loki Familia held it close.
Reluctant to exploit their bond with Asahi, the group left the Archdragon Peak and returned to the Firelink Shrine.
The shrine had transformed considerably. Though the interior remained much the same, the exterior had turned into a bustling market, filled with adventurers from all over, creating a lively atmosphere.
Upon their return, they were surprised by the changes but didn't linger, immediately seeking out their own companions. Firelink Shrine was now thriving, thanks to Finn and others who had spread word of the place upon their return.
"Looks like the Loki Familia's back. They've reaped so many benefits by arriving here first—can't help but feel envious!" Others muttered, watching the strong members of the Loki Familia emerge. But that was the way it went, they were the first to discover this place and gain its advantages.
Now, adventurers from other factions had also gained some insights, realizing that slaying creatures here granted souls.
Yet, there were limitations: the Fire Keeper couldn't assist all adventurers with upgrades, which led them to recruit former trainee Fire Keepers.
Many of these trainees once held the potential to be Fire Keepers but were ultimately rejected.
However, with the growing demand, those restrictions were lifted, and even nuns from the original work were transformed into Fire Keeper-like figures, capable of using souls for leveling.
Most of these nuns had been found, though many died in the process, having lost the qualifications to become Fire Keepers. The journey to the shrine was dangerous, and those who couldn't attain the status faced a grim fate. The ones who survived to reach the shrine were indeed few.