As expected, Mohg's brother secretly attempted to establish the Mohgwyn Dynasty in the underground world of the Lands Between. However, as one of the twin gods and self-proclaimed king, Mohg failed. He was defeated by an unknown Tarnished and his Great Rune was taken.
Mohg had originally planned to imprison the god-in-the-cocoon, Miquella, and make him his consort in ascending to the throne. But what he didn't know was that even the physical form in the cocoon was false—despite carrying a portion of St. Trina's power, it was undoubtedly incapable of helping him become Elden Lord.
This is the first layer of narrative deception that Mohg fell victim to, and the version of the truth that theTarnished came to understand—though he did not realize the cocooned figure was not truly Miquella.
However, behind this is the true second layer of narrative: Miquella, using St. Trina's power of dreams, crafted a cocoon of slumber and entered the Shadow Realm. Mohg's obsession with the blood dynasty was not his original intention, but rather, he had been bewitched by the law of the most terrifying god in the Lands Between.
Unless Miquella willingly lifted the enchantment or his Great Rune was shattered, Mohg would remain there forever, waiting for a promised moment that would never come.
Now, the Tarnished hero, driven by destiny and a longing to return, has obtained Mohg's Great Rune. He is now the third individual in the history of the Lands Between to possess two or more Great Runes, becoming a quasi-king with the right to compete for the throne at the foot of the Erdtree.
Tarnished himself is not interested in becoming a king, but Melina once told him that if he could gather enough Great Runes, he could attempt to repair the Elden Ring, become Elden Lord, and restore order to the Lands Between.
Though their original agreement was only to bring Melina to the foot of the Erdtree, Tarnished came to understand that Melina hoped for someone—someone who could bring back the golden days of the past. And why couldn't that someone be him?
With this belief in his heart, Tarnished fought his way through countless adversaries and reached his current position. He had little interest in pursuing the Haligtree Great Rune, for he had already earned the right to proceed. All that remained was to return to the Royal Capital, meet Melina again, and face her elder brother in a final battle. Regardless of who won, Melina's wish would be fulfilled.
However, not long after Tarnished left the god's cocoon of slumber, Knight Leda of the Golden Needle, who had been observing nearby, appeared with Miquella's knights. Without a word, they approached Mohg's battered corpse.
After performing a ritual to ensure no lingering will or soul remained in the body, Leda plunged her golden needle blade into Mohg's heart, using Miquella's blessed pure gold power to preserve the corpse from decay.
In solemn silence, the knights carried Mohg's enormous body, and through the massive cocoon of the god—from which an arm protruded—they left the Lands Between and entered the still-shrouded Shadow Realm.
Meanwhile, Miquella himself had already arrived at the southern tip of the Azure Coast in the southwest of the Shadow Realm, where he found a bottomless abyss.
At the deepest part of the cave, beneath the sea's depths, the young god discovered the remains of another god, guarded by the Melted Knights.
With a solemn expression and hands folded in prayer, a pure golden light shone from Miquella, illuminating the pitch-black abyss—so bright that even the Melted Knights could barely look upon him.
"...O Queen of Gods who lies in eternal slumber," Miquella's voice echoed beside the queen's sarcophagus,
"I offer you my love, my other half."
At first, there was no response. But Miquella remained still, maintaining his prayerful posture, not moving or speaking further.
"...What is it that you seek?"
A voice—indescribable, feminine, as if between dream and wakefulness—whispered from all directions into Miquella's ears. He knew then: he had succeeded.
"...Grant me the flame of god-slaying. Grant me the vision to behold the illusory fire,"
Miquella said.
"I shall burn away the thorns of denial and bring the gentlest law to the Lands Between. To open the path of a thousand years."
After speaking, Miquella waited patiently. Still, there was no reply. Just as he began to despair, a soul-wrenching pain drove him to his knees.
The beautiful purple-haired girl, like a flower, was ripped from within Miquella's soul. The agony felt like his body was being forcibly cleaved in two. A profound emptiness filled his heart. In that moment, he felt nothing mattered anymore—not godhood, not gentle laws. He only wanted to sleep forever, in eternal slumber.
But soon, the void in his body was filled again—not by his gentle half, but by a dark and fierce seed of flame.
"Mi...que...lla..."
The purple girl's voice echoed weakly in his ears.
"Please...
don't..."
Miquella now understood: he had sacrificed the most important half of himself, given up his love, and in return had obtained the flame capable of burning the Erdtree, the right to gaze upon the illusionary flame.
The massive sarcophagus creaked open. Dark flames, like a mother's hands, gently lifted the fragile purple girl, laid her to rest within, and sealed it shut. Miquella never looked back, never hesitated.
Because he knew: to end the millennia-long suffering in the Lands Between, such painful sacrifices were necessary. He would not and could not turn back. He had to fulfill the promise he once made to his brother, Radahn—to become the destined god and king.
The sarcophagus slowly sank once more into the depths of the melted abyss and vanished. The Melted Knights who had stood guard also departed.
The young god's wish was close to fruition. Just moments ago, he had received word from his most loyal knight: the vessel for the Promised King had arrived in the Shadow Realm.
Wait for me, Brother Radahn,
Miquella gently touched his abdomen and thought.
It won't be long now before the most gentle and powerful king of the Lands Between rises again—to rule a kingdom that embraces all—for a thousand years.