At the end of the story of Elden Ring, we fight a very very strong boss, Maliketh, The Black Blade.

You might think why Beast Clergyman transform into Maliketh.

In this article, the author, native Japanese, explained the lore of Maliketh, The Black Blade, taking the Japanese backgrounds into consideration.

目次 (Contents)

Notes of Maliketh
The Rune of Death
Maliketh is Gurranq?
Postscript

Notes of Maliketh

Let’s start with the notes of Maliketh.

Maliketh is the half-brother and the shadowbound beast of Marika, as described in the texts below.

Remembrance of the Black Blade
Maliketh was a shadowbound beast given to his Empyrean.
Marika’s sole need of her shadow was a vessel to lock away Destined Death.
Even then, she betrayed him.

Maliketh’s Helm
Beast’s helm made of black iron and decorated with gold. Worn by Maliketh the Black Blade.
Maliketh, Queen Marika’s loyal half-brother, bore a blade imbued with Destined Death, and there was not one demigod who did not fear him.

The text “Marika’s sole need of her shadow was a vessel to lock away Destined Death” indicates that Marika made Maliketh sealing the Rune of Death inside himself.

This article is explaining why Marika stole the Rune of Death.

However, the text “Even then, she betrayed him” implies that Marika stole the Rune of Death from Maliketh.

The texts below also implies the betrayal of Marika.

Black Knife Armor
The assassins that carried out the deeds of the Night of the Black Knives were all women, and rumored to be Numen who had close ties with Marika herself.

Gurranq
Marika…why…wouldst thou…gull me? Why…shatter…

The fragment of the Rune of Death stolen from Maliketh killed the soul of Godwyn and the flesh of Ranni at the Night of the Black Knives.

In summarize, Maliketh sealed the Rune of Death inside himself, but Marika betrayed Maliketh and robbed the Rune of Death to carry out the Night of the Black Knives.

The Rune of Death

Maliketh stole the Rune of Death from Gloam-Eyed Queen, the former owner of the Rune of Death

Godslayer’s Greatsword
Sacred sword of the Gloam-Eyed Queen who controlled the Godskin Apostles before her defeat at the hands of Maliketh.
The black flames wielded by the apostles are channeled from this sword.

Godskin Apostle Trousers
The apostles, once said to serve Destined Death, are wielders of the god-slaying black flame.
But after their defeat by Maliketh, the Black Blade, the source of their power was sealed away.

Later, Maliketh sealed the Rune of Death inside himself.

Actually, you can see Maliketh pulling out the Black Blade from his left hand when the Beast Clergyman transform into Maliketh.

The text of Maliketh’s Black Blade indicates that the Black Blade has the Rune of Death sealed.

Maliketh’s Black Blade
Maliketh’s black blade which once harbored the power of the Rune of Death.
A sad shadow of its former glory.
After a fragment of Death was stolen on that fateful night,
Maliketh bound the blade within his own flesh, such that none might ever rob Death again.

Those are the notes of the Rune of Death.

Maliketh is Gurranq?

Gurranq, the Beast Clergyman in Bestial Sanctum looks the same as the Beast Clergyman, Maliketh, in Farum Azula.

Gurranq is collectiong the Deathroot.

Deathroot
A source that gives rise to Those Who Live in Death.
The beast clergyman, found at Bestial Sanctum in the distant east, collects and devours these roots.
On the night of the dire plot the stolen Rune of Death enabled the first Death of a demigod. Later, the Rune of Death spread across the Lands Between through the underground roots of the Greattree, sprouting in the form of Deathroot.

It would be natural to interpret that Gurranq and Mariketh is the same person and he is collecting the Deathroot, the fragment of the Rune of Death, to restore the Destined Death.

The text of Maliketh’s Black Blade implies that he have regretted the Rune of Death stolen.

So, Maliketh was recollecting the fragment of the Rune of Death, Deathroot, in order to restore the Destined Death.

However, you can see Gurranq even after the beating of Maliketh.

I will show you two possibilities regarding to this.

First, the distortion of time in Farum Azura would have affected the timeline of Gurranq and Maliketh.

Old Lord’s Talisman
A legendary talisman depicting the ancient king whose seat lies at the heart of the storm beyond time.
Extends the duration of sorceries and incantations.
It is said that the ancient royal city of Farum Azula has been slowly crumbling since time immemorial.

Actually, the text “the heart of the storm beyond time” means that Farum Azura is the heart of the storm and the loophole of time in Japanese translations.

Second, Maliketh and Gurranq have two bodies, two minds, and one soul just like D whom Maliketh utilized to collect the Deathroots.

The text of Twinned Armor indicates that D have two bodies and two minds, but one single soul.

Twinned Armor
The two known as D are inseparable twins.
They are of two bodies and two minds, but one single soul. Not once do they stand together; not one word do they speak to one another.
Perhaps this armor longs to find its way to the other D.

Actually, if you killed the one of D, you can see the other is still alive, just like the situation of Maliketh and Gurranq.

So, it would be possible to interpret that Maliketh and Gurranq have two bodies, two minds, and one soul.

We will continue to post new information as it appears.

Postscript

This is the article about “The Lore of Maliketh, The Black Blade Explained by a Native Japanese”.