With Trina's approval secured, Nolan left the lower levels of the Haligtree in high spirits. The mere thought of having found a path to greater strength left him so exhilarated that he barely slept that night.
Early the next morning, he wasted no time rushing to the armory, where he sought out the highly skilled Misbegotten blacksmith serving the army.
Old Man Roy welcomed Nolan warmly and, following his requests, forged a brand-new set of Golden Needle Knight armor for him.
The materials used were of noticeably higher quality, and its defensive capabilities rivaled those of Haligtree Knight armor.
With new armor in hand, a new weapon was naturally in order.
Among rows of cold weapons gleaming with sharp light, Nolan ultimately chose a greatsword.
The blade was broad and long, its edge keen. When held, it felt heavy and solid, carrying a sense of overwhelming strength.
Unfortunately, it wasn't his favorite type of weapon. If he could currently swing a colossal sword with one hand, he would have chosen an even larger one without hesitation.
Of course, Nolan was flush with resources. He returned to the old blacksmith, offering several precious smithing stones and asking him to reinforce the weapon. Once strengthened, the greatsword was serviceable enough.
The old man was talkative as ever, chatting with Nolan even as he worked.
He proudly recounted stories of heroes among the Misbegotten, even mentioning that some were capable of forging legendary god-slaying weapons. The tales made Nolan's hands itch with anticipation.
Naturally, the old man himself lacked such ability, and for now, Nolan had no need for weapons of that caliber.
Beyond the armor and weapon, Nolan stumbled upon an unexpected bonus.
The greatsword was already imbued with an Ash of War.
The attached skill was Lion's Claw, a refined technique once used by the Redmane forces who fought alongside Radahn. Those who had used it spoke of it with nothing but praise.
After updating his equipment, Leda assigned Nolan to a Haligtree patrol squad and appointed him its captain.
To his surprise, the squad members were all familiar faces—the same four Haligtree soldiers who had fought alongside him just days earlier.
"A Golden Needle Knight personally leading a patrol squad? That's a first."
Inside the tavern, the archer named Ella sat with flushed cheeks and a faint smile, her eyes half-lidded. It was obvious she had drunk a bit too much.
She gently swirled the liquor in her cup, watching it ripple before letting out a bright, unrestrained laugh.
Normally, soldiers barely dared to breathe in a knight's presence, let alone act this familiar.
"Looks like I won't be bringing you all to the tavern anymore," Nolan said with a smile, shaking his head helplessly. "If you start drinking yourselves into a frenzy, I won't be able to handle it."
Ella wore her short golden hair loose, the strands swaying lightly as if echoing her carefree and unrestrained nature.
She was tall and solidly built, her muscular frame a textbook archer's physique, brimming with strength. If she picked up a sword, she'd probably be fiercer than the two sword-and-shield soldiers beside her, who were already dead drunk.
"Haha! No wonder everyone says Knight Nolan is just as gentle as His Highness Miquella. Looks like the rumors are true."
Ella laughed loudly, raising her cup and draining it in one go. The liquor burned its way down her throat, bringing a deeper flush to her face.
Compared to the bold female archer, the other archer, Thorin, appeared far more reserved.
His features were neat and mild, tinged with shyness, forming a sharp contrast with Ella. Still, their easy interaction made it clear the two were close.
Nolan, however, had little interest in such gossip. By comparison, the two sword-and-shield soldiers, Karl and Enrique, were far more embarrassing.
One was slumped face-down on the table, completely unconscious. The other was swaying unsteadily, looking ready to pass out at any moment.
"Those two can't even hold their liquor, yet they still insist on showing off," Ella complained. "They really haven't grown at all. I just hope they don't delay anything important."
"It's fine," Nolan replied. "The next patrol isn't until the day after tomorrow. Let them relax today. Come on, let's get them back first."
By then, the Erdtree had withdrawn its dazzling radiance. The bright moon hung high in the sky, and it was already late.
Ella and Thorin, the formidable duo, each slung a sword-and-shield soldier over their shoulders, armor and all, and carried them back to the barracks.
Nolan, meanwhile, headed to the training grounds to continue drilling his combat technique.
"Lion's Claw!"
His body leapt high into the air, spinning forward in a swift rotation before the greatsword slammed down with tremendous force.
With a sharp crack, the sturdy wooden post shattered instantly, and the ground caved in slightly, leaving a shallow crater.
"Hah…"
Nolan wiped the sweat from his brow. After using the skill three times in succession, he could feel his stamina nearly drained.
The Redmane sword technique truly lived up to its name.
This was the effect of an Ash of War, one expression of the power of the soul.
Ashes of War are crystallizations of past experience and wisdom. They give concrete form to techniques and combat thinking, and when a blacksmith binds them into a weapon, the skills of those who came before can be reproduced without the need for prolonged training.
Their advantages are obvious. The barrier to use is extremely low. As long as one's physical condition is sufficient to execute the technique, it can be employed.
They bypass the tedious learning process entirely. Activate the power, and the technique is yours to use.
But in the end, this is still someone else's martial art, not true strength of one's own. And because these are fixed moves, they lack flexibility when it comes to real combat.
"At least the feeling is still there. It's not like I can't learn it," Nolan thought.
He wanted to make this sword technique his own. He had always been like that, never fond of relying on external aids.
After all, if he lost his weapon on the battlefield and suddenly couldn't fight at all, that would be unacceptable.
Many Ashes of War in Elden Ring were extremely practical. It was a shame the Haligtree had no Bloodhound Knights. Otherwise, he would have made a point of learning Bloodhound's Step.
Bloodhound's Step paired with Lion's Claw… starting from afar, then flashing in like a sudden apparition and smashing down with a heavy blow right in the enemy's face. Just imagining it was exhilarating.
Nolan rested briefly, then resumed training once his stamina recovered.
Aside from eating and sleeping, he practiced nonstop for the entire day before finally stopping.
Just as Finlay had said, training required steady progress, one step at a time. There was no room for impatience.
This technique wasn't particularly difficult to use. It was similar to the Wolf Sword Skill he had used in Dark Souls, though the way power was applied differed. He was confident it wouldn't take long to truly grasp it.
With the foundation of his past-life experience, coupled with a full day of practice, Nolan had essentially mastered the basics.
After finishing his morning training, he slid the greatsword into the sheath on his back, wiped the sweat from his face, and headed home.
Once there, he made careful preparations before setting out for the outer city.
By the time Nolan arrived, the soldiers stationed along the tree roots were already ready.
The squad members were gathered together, chatting and laughing. When they spotted Nolan, they greeted him warmly.
Nolan smiled and returned their greetings. In a team operation, the stronger the bond between members, the better.
If everyone harbored hidden agendas, what kind of cohesion could such a squad possibly have?
And who would ever feel safe turning their back to a teammate who might stab them from behind?