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Tarnished moved swiftly, his body low to the ground as he quickstepped past Bernahl's thrusting greatsword, the massive blade carving through empty air where he had stood a moment prior.
Without wasting a second, Tarnished twisted his stance, shifting his weight and swinging his Uchigatana in a sharp arc toward Bernahl's exposed side.
The older Tarnished reacted fast, his instincts honed by years of battle. CLANG! Sparks flew as Bernahl's sword met Tarnished's uchigatana mid-swing, deflecting it just in time.
The impact rattled through both of their arms, but neither backed down. Bernahl retaliated immediately, pivoting his stance and lunging forward with a deadly stab, aiming to pierce Tarnished's side.
Tarnished's left hand shot up in response, his fingers tightening around the hilt of his blade as he twisted it sharply, redirecting the incoming strike in a perfectly timed parry. The force sent Bernahl's blade skidding off-course, the older warrior momentarily exposed.
Tarnished smirked. He saw his opening.
He feinted another slash, shifting his weight forward just enough to bait Bernahl into raising his weapon defensively. It worked—the veteran knight lifted his sword to block, expecting an immediate counterattack.
But Tarnished never followed through.
Instead, he shifted his grip, his muscles tensing as a familiar power surged through him. A split second later, he muttered under his breath.
"Unsheath."
His Uchigatana blurred in the air as he surged forward, the sheer speed of his strike catching Bernahl off guard. The veteran warrior barely had time to react before a deep crimson line formed across his abdomen, the keen edge of the katana slicing through his armor with terrifying precision.
Bernahl stumbled back with a sharp grunt, his left hand instinctively clutching the wound as blood seeped between his fingers. His knees buckled slightly before he fell to one, his breathing heavy. Yet, despite the injury, he let out a rough chuckle.
"I yield." he admitted, shaking his head with an amused sigh.
Tarnished grinned, flicking his Uchigatana to the side to cleanse it of blood, then smoothly slid it back into its sheath with a satisfying click. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, offering Bernahl his hand.
Bernahl smirked at him before grasping his hand firmly, allowing Tarnished to pull him back to his feet.
The older warrior patted his side with a wince, examining the wound with a critical eye before shaking his head. "Hah… You're quite the warrior," he mused, voice filled with genuine respect. "You practically picked up both of the techniques I taught you instantly. It's almost like… You'd already used them before."
Tarnished let out an awkward laugh, rubbing the back of his head. "Uh, yeah… Might be something to that."
His eyes flickered slightly, shifting away from Bernahl toward the System Panel that had just appeared before him. A new section had opened under a [SKILLS] tab.
→ [SKILLS]
— Parry (Deflect incoming attacks with precise timing)
— Quickstep (Dodge and reposition with agility)
— Unsheath (Draw and strike in a single, fluid motion)
Tarnished's eyes narrowed slightly as he processed the information. Non-elemental Ashes of War were now categorized separately as 'Skills' meaning he could equip and use multiple at the same time, as long as they weren't elemental in nature.
That meant Ashes of War like Storm Stomp or Flaming Strike wouldn't stack, but he could freely mix things like Parry, Quickstep, and Unsheath without restriction.
'That's… insanely useful.' He thought, immediately recognizing how this differed from the game.
"Of course it is." Marika's voice echoed in his mind, her tone carrying a hint of smug satisfaction. "Whatever form thou wert able to view this world from before… 'Twas but an imitation. This is reality, the now, whilst that was naught but the past."
Tarnished hummed in agreement, nodding slightly. This changed everything. He would be able to mix and match skills in ways he never could before.
Meanwhile, Bernahl let out a sigh, pulling at the edges of his armor as he inspected his injury. "Well… That was a good fight. But I'll be needing some time to recover from that one." He gave Tarnished a pointed look. "I'll take my payment now."
"Oh, right. My fault." Tarnished quickly reached into his soul, pulling out the required Runes and handing them over. Bernahl took them with a nod, slipping them into his own.
"That was a damn fine duel." Bernahl said, crossing his arms. "You're already shaping up to be a proper Tarnished Warrior."
Tarnished smirked. "Glad to hear it."
Bernahl gave him a final nod of respect before turning away. "If you ever want to learn more, you know where to find me."
With that, Tarnished whistled sharply, raising his left hand as Torrent's summoning ring shimmered with energy. In a flash of pale blue mist, the spectral steed materialized before him, snorting softly in greeting.
Tarnished patted Torrent's neck before swinging himself onto his back, then turned his gaze northward, toward the dark expanse of the forest ahead.
"Alrighty then…" He muttered to himself, tightening his grip on the reins. "Next stop, murder dungeon."
"'Murder dungeon'?" Marika asked in confusion, prompting him to nod his head.
"Murder dungeon."
With a click of his tongue, Torrent shot forward, carrying him deeper into the woods. Tarnished rode through the quiet, wind-swept woods, Torrent's hooves barely making a sound against the soft grass and dirt.
The further he went, the more secluded the path became, the trees growing thicker, their twisting roots reaching deep into the ground like ancient veins of the earth. After a few minutes of navigating through the dense foliage, he spotted something peculiar—a small, hidden corner of a cliffside.
A large, bowl-like structure rested at the base of the cliff, its stone form ancient and weathered, with roots coiling around its base like a living thing, as if the earth itself sought to claim it. Within the hollow of the bowl, nestled among the tangled roots, lay a faintly glowing item.
Tarnished dismounted, stepping forward as he reached down to retrieve it. The moment his fingers brushed against the object, a faint golden shimmer pulsed across its surface.
[Item Acquired: Strength-Knot Crystal Tear]
He lifted it into his palm, inspecting it carefully. The Strength-Knot Crystal Tear was a small, crimson-tinged crystal, its core appearing almost like a frozen drop of molten gold, locked in time. It had an odd weight to it, as if holding something much greater within.
"Hmm… Not bad, right where I thought it'd be." Tarnished muttered, turning the Tear over in his hand.
A golden shimmer flared beside him, and in the blink of an eye, Marika materialized, her elegant form hovering just slightly above the ground as usual. Instead of standing at her full height, however, she leaned forward slightly, bending at the waist to examine the crystal tear up close.
The movement caused her bountiful chest to press against the loose fabric of her divine robe, the already revealing garment doing little to conceal her ample curves.
Tarnished barely held back a smirk as he tilted his head slightly. 'Is this intentional? Or is she just that careless?'
If Marika heard his thoughts, she made no ove to show it as her golden eyes scanned the Tear with scrutiny before letting out a soft "Hmph." She shifted slightly, placing one hand on her hip as she spoke.
"This is a Crystal Tear… A rather crude means for lesser beings to draw strength from mine own Erdtree's fading gifts." Her lips curled slightly in mild disdain. "Tis naught but a fleeting and shameful method to borrow power that should rightfully be earned. But… given the current state of things, I suppose we must make do."
Tarnished rolled the Tear between his fingers before shrugging. "Might come in useful at some point." He looked at her with a teasing smirk. "And who am I to deny myself such a handy tool?"
Marika scoffed softly, her lips curving into an arrogant smirk. "Yes… It may offer thy weakling self but a mere droplet of strength—strength which thou so desperately lack."
Tarnished raised an eyebrow at her. "Oh? That so? Guess I should just start learning from the strongest person I know then, huh?"
Marika's smugness only grew, her eyes half-lidded with confidence. "Hmph. A wise decision. I shall have thee know, as the God-Queen of this world, there are very few beings in all existence who could hope to match me."
Tarnished hummed in thought. "I can think of a few."
Marika's smirk faltered slightly, curiosity flickering across her face. "Oh? And who might these so-called equals of mine be?"
Tarnished lifted a finger. "Well, Godfrey, obviously."
She nodded, her pride undiminished. "A fair comparison. After all, he was once my consort—the first Elden Lord. Few could rival him in his prime."
"Radagon." The black haired man continued.
Marika narrowed her eyes slightly, a strange look flickering across her face. "An expected answer… Yet one that carries more meaning than thou knowest."
Tarnished gained a knowing look at that but let it go. Instead, he grinned and added, "A fully grown Fire Giant."
Marika's expression instantly soured as her arms uncrossed immediately, her golden gaze turning sharp as she shot him a deeply offended glare.
"Thou wouldst dare compare ME to those filthy, wretched, godless GIANTS?"
Tarnished barely held back his laughter. "I mean, they're pretty damn strong."
Marika clicked her tongue in irritation. "Hmph. Mind thy manners, mine Champion. Lest I need to teach thee some proper respect."
Tarnished let out a chuckle, turning to summon Torrent once more. "Hey, if it's lessons from you, I'd probably enjoy them."
Marika blinked as her gaze flicked toward him, one delicate eyebrow raising slightly in amusement as the corner of her lips twitched upward. "Hoh~?"
A golden glow shimmered faintly in her eyes as she placed a single slender finger against her chin, tilting her head ever so slightly. "A bold claim. Mayhap thou art a greater pervert than I had first assumed."
Tarnished smirked as he mounted Torrent. "I'm not the one wearing that robe."
Marika's expression didn't change at first. But then, her golden brows knitted together slightly in mock offense.
"What, pray tell, dost thou mean by that?"
Tarnished gestured vaguely toward her with one hand while gripping Torrent's reins with the other. "That thing leaves practically nothing to the imagination."
Marika crossed her arms with a haughty scoff. "I shall have thee know, these are divine robes—woven by the greatest Seamstress in all the Lands Between, crafted with the finest silk known to god or man."
Tarnished tilted his head, his smirk deepening. "Uh-huh. And yet, there's so little of it. Can't be that comfortable to wear. Aren't you cold?"
Marika's golden eyes flashed slightly, her pride instantly flaring.
"A GODDESS does not get 'Cold'."
Tarnished outright laughed this time, shaking his head. "If you say so~."
Marika merely huffed, turning her head away dramatically, arms still folded as she floated beside him with all the grace and confidence of a queen.
Tarnished grinned, kicking his heels gently against Torrent's sides. The spectral steed let out a soft huff before bolting forward, weaving through the forest path once more as he continued his journey.
Tarnished rode through the dense forest, the wind whispering through the canopy above as Torrent's hooves lightly tread upon the mossy ground. The ride was peaceful for a time, a stark contrast to the bloodshed and battle he had just endured.
But despite the silence, his sharp eyes constantly scanned the area for anything useful and his efforts were soon rewarded. He spotted several patches of mushrooms growing along the roots of an ancient tree, their earthy scent filling the air.
Without hesitation, he dismounted, plucking them from the soil before slipping them into his inventory. A few steps later, he found strands of root resin clinging to a fallen log, their sticky texture leaving faint marks on his fingertips as he gathered them.
Then, he stumbled upon a rare sight. A small clearing nestled between two rocky outcroppings held a patch of eight flowers which he recognised as Miquella's Lilies, their soft golden petals swaying gently in the wind.
Tarnished whistled low. "Holy shit, now that's lucky."
Marika materialized beside him, her golden eyes shifting toward the delicate flowers with a raised brow, not recognising them and assuming them to be a newly emerging species that was birthed in her absence. "A mere flower hath earned such enthusiasm from thee?"
Tarnished grinned as he crouched, carefully plucking each one before tucking them away. "You have no idea how useful these are. They're part of a recipe for Sleep Cracked Pots."
Marika's brow arched slightly. "Sleep?"
"Yeah. Ever been hit by sleep buildup? Shit's broken."
She scoffed softly, shaking her head in mild exasperation. "Hmph. Yet another unorthodox and underhanded method… But I suppose 'tis no longer surprising coming from thee."
Tarnished just chuckled, standing up and dusting himself off before summoning Torrent once more. He mounted the spectral steed and continued forward, his mind already set on his next objective.
The trees thinned as Tarnished reached the crest of a hill, revealing a clearing bathed in the golden light of the Erdtree's glow. The land was still, save for the rhythmic sound of heavy hooves upon grass.
A knight patrolled the clearing on a majestic steed clad in golden armor, his longsword gleaming faintly in the warm light. His posture was straight, disciplined, radiating an air of duty and unwavering faith.
Tarnished's gaze locked onto the knight, his lips curling into a grin. "Finally found you."
Marika materialized beside him, floating slightly off the ground with her arms folded beneath her ample chest. "Hmm? And why, pray tell, hast thou taken interest in one of mine own knights?"
Tarnished stretched his neck, rolling his shoulders as he surveyed the armored figure below. "It's not the knight I'm after."
Marika narrowed her eyes slightly. "Then what?"
"The 'Golden Vow' Ash of War he's carrying."
A flicker of understanding crossed her expression before she sighed lightly, tilting her head slightly as she read his mind. "Is killing him truly necessary? 'Tis a mere rudimentary spell, one I could teach thee with ease; if thou wouldst only use thy runes to enhance thy Faith, as I hath already instructed thee to do."
Tarnished snorted. "Ehhh… not really interested in dumping a bunch of levels into Faith right now." He leaned forward slightly, resting an arm lazily over Torrent's neck. "It's not as strong as the incantation version, but the Ash of War works just fine. Cheaper. More convenient."
Marika rolled her eyes, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. "Hmph. Ever the pragmatist."
Then, her expression softened just slightly. "Very well… But at least grant him mercy. He hath done naught but fulfill his duty. There is no need to stain thy hands further this day."
Tarnished glanced at her for a moment before shrugging. "Fine."
Then, without further hesitation, he kicked Torrent forward, charging straight for the knight. The knight immediately took notice of the half-naked madman barreling toward him at full speed. His posture stiffened, and in an instant, his blade was raised high, shimmering with golden light.
"Golden Vow!"
A radiant aura surged from his blade, enveloping both himself and his steed in a golden glow. The sheer presence of his unwavering faith caused the air around him to shimmer with power.
Tarnished, however, was unfazed; his grin widened as he leaned forward, Torrent accelerating beneath him like a bolt of lightning.
Then, just before impact, Tarnished jumped. He vaulted off Torrent's back with a powerful leap, his body twisting in midair before colliding full force with the knight's chest.
"HRKK-?!"
The impact sent them both tumbling off the golden steed, rolling across the dirt in a mess of limbs and clanking armor. The knight tried to regain his balance, but Tarnished was already upon him, pinning him to the ground.
"L-Let go of me, knave-!"
Tarnished didn't listen.
He wrapped his arm around the knight's neck, tightening his grip as he applied steady pressure. The knight struggled, his gauntleted hands clawing at Tarnished's forearm, but his movements grew sluggish as the oxygen drained from his lungs.
Marika appeared nearby, watching the scene with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. "Unruly… But effective."
Tarnished smirked. "That's my brand."
Seconds later, the knight's body went limp, unconscious.
Tarnished released his hold, breathing heavily as he sat up, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow. He looked down at his handiwork—an armored warrior, felled without a single lethal blow.
Then, his eyes flicked toward the ground where the knight's longsword had fallen.
He reached for it, lifting the blade to eye level. The weight felt good in his grip—solid, well-balanced, and still humming with the remnants of divine energy.
A notification flashed in his vision.
[Acquired: Ash of War – Golden Vow]
Tarnished grinned wildly, rolling his shoulders as he took a moment to admire the weapon.
"I can live with that description."
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Author's Note:
Stones, please.
…
Next Chapter Title: Touched by Death.
…
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