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Glory to my Proofreader: Bakenekon. For he is the one who points out mistakes and acts as a good wall to bounce ideas off of.
Since webnovel refuses to behave, all of Marika's dialogue will be unbolded and I'll only bold the system prompts from now on. The other sites will be untouched.
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Tarnished stirred awake, the warmth of the campfire long since faded as the cold morning air settled around him. His eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the soft glow of dawn creeping through the broken walls of the Church of Elleh.
With a groggy sigh, he pushed himself up, rolling his shoulders as he glanced around. His gaze landed on Marika, still seated elegantly upon the stone rubble, her golden form illuminated by the morning light.
Tarnished blinked, then chuckled. "You stayed there all night?"
Marika barely spared him a glance before tilting her head slightly. "Someone had to watch over thee. Lest that merchant decide to gut thee in thy sleep and rob thee blind."
Tarnished let out an amused snort as he dusted himself off. "Careful, you almost sound like you actually care."
She huffed and crossed her arms. "I simply refuse to let mine own Champion perish due to his own stupidity."
His grin widened. "Suuure~, I believe you~."
She clicked her tongue in irritation, turning away sharply. "Enough time hath been wasted here. Get thee gone."
Tarnished just chuckled again as he turned toward Kale, the ever-watchful merchant who had already begun setting up his wares for the day.
"Thanks for letting me crash here, man." Tarnished said with a grin.
Kale shrugged. "No problem. Just don't make it a habit."
Tarnished nodded, then raised a hand in farewell as he turned around. "Stay safe. And don't you dare go Hollow."
With that, he vanished in a flash of gold, leaving Kale staring at the spot where he had stood. The merchant let out a small huff, then shrugged to himself before returning to his work.
…
Tarnished reappeared at the Deathtouched Catacombs' Site of Grace, the golden light fading as he landed softly on the stone floor. Without hesitation, he made his way out, stepping back into the crisp morning air before raising his hand to whistle.
A second later, Torrent materialized in a burst of pale blue mist, snorting softly as he lowered his head in greeting.
Tarnished grinned and gave the spectral steed a quick pat on the neck before swinging himself up onto the saddle. With a light nudge, he urged Torrent forward, galloping through the dense forest until he reached a paved road cutting through the landscape.
His sharp eyes immediately caught a small incline leading up a nearby hill—one he recognized instantly.
Then, right on cue:
"Hello-o? Can you hear me? Help me! I'm stuck. Hello? Hellooo! Anyone?!"
Tarnished's grin widened.
Marika manifested beside him, arms crossed as she raised an eyebrow. "Someone thou knoweth?"
He nodded, barely containing his amusement. "A good friend. And a true warrior."
Marika let out a small, amused chuckle, shaking her head. "Now this, I must see."
He nudged Torrent up the incline, weaving through patches of wild grass and scattered boulders before coming to a sudden stop.
There, half-buried in the ground, was a massive, rotund warrior-shaped jar—his glossy terracotta body wedged deep in the earth, leaving only his upper half exposed. Faint cracks ran along the surface of his arms, and the golden war paint decorating his form gleamed under the morning sun.
Tarnished couldn't help but grin.
The warrior noticed him immediately, his small circular eyes widening with joy.
"Oh my stars, I'm so happy to see you!" He exclaimed, his deep, booming voice echoing across the hill. "I am Alexander, also known as the Iron Fist. And yes, as you can see, I'm stuck here! So any help would be greatly appreciated!"
Tarnished hopped off Torrent, cracking his knuckles with an eager smirk.
"Oh, don't worry, big guy." Tarnished said as he rested his hands on his hips, eyeing the massive jar warrior before him with an amused smirk. "I got you."
Alexander, despite his predicament, remained remarkably upbeat, his deep voice bellowed with enthusiasm. "My thanks! A thousand thanks! Just give me a good smack from the rear, with something nice and big, and I'll pop right out!"
Tarnished's grin widened at that, his brows lifting slightly. "Oh-ho? You sure about that? Not gonna complain about it hurting after?"
Alexander let out a booming laugh, his entire ceramic form shaking slightly. "Put those doubts to rest, I'll be just fine! I'm very well trained. Give it your all, I say!"
Tarnished chuckled, shaking his head before reaching for his uchigatana. Instead of unsheathing it, he gripped the sheathed weapon firmly, using it like a makeshift bat.
"Alright, big guy. Brace yourself!"
He stepped back, wound up his swing, and…
WHAM!
Alexander let out a pained grunt.
"Ah!"
Tarnished gritted his teeth, planting his feet more firmly before swinging again.
WHAM!
"Ouuuch!"
Tarnished sighed, adjusting his grip, then pulled his arms back one final time before delivering a powerful, two-handed strike right to the back of Alexander's ceramic form.
WHAM!
"Ahhh!"
With a deep, reverberating pop, Alexander suddenly burst free, tumbling forward before landing upright with an eager shake of his massive arms.
"Ahh! Well played, good sir! Well played!" Alexander exclaimed, his voice full of relief and gratitude. "Though that mighty wallop of yours almost spelled the end of me! Ha ha ha ha!"
Tarnished grinned, rolling his shoulders. "Hey, you asked for it."
Alexander nodded enthusiastically. "Well, I'm out now, and that's what counts! I thank you, and as a token of my appreciation, I'd like you to have this."
He reached into the hollow of his body, then extended a piece of meat wrapped in cloth toward Tarnished.
A small notification flashed in his vision:
[Picked-Up Item: Exalted Flesh]
Tarnished nodded as he took it, expecting the item but pretending otherwise. "Meat? Huh. Wasn't expecting that."
"A warrior must be well-fed, my friend!" Alexander laughed, folding his arms proudly.
Tarnished smiled slightly, tucking the Exalted Flesh away before crossing his arms. "So, where are you off to now?"
Alexander perked up at the question, his large, clay fingers tapping his arm in thought before answering.
"I journey to the east, where I intend to further my education in the ways of war. South of these lands are the blighted Caelid wilds, and in them lies Redmane Castle, where a festival of combat is being held! I'd heard whispers of such festivities before... Doesn't the notion set your breast aflutter?! Ha ha ha ha!"
Tarnished chuckled at his enthusiasm, but before he could respond, a quiet voice muttered in his mind.
"Blighted?" Marika's voice was laced with suspicion.
'Yeah,' Tarnished replied mentally, his expression growing slightly more serious. 'Although cancerous might be a better term.'
There was a brief pause, and then she spoke again. "...Do not tell me..."
Tarnished sighed inwardly, already knowing what she was thinking. 'Yeah. It's not pretty.'
Marika was silent, but he could feel the weight of her contemplation.
Meanwhile, Alexander had been watching him, the great warrior jar tilting his massive form slightly in curiosity. "And what of you, friend? Where does your road lead?"
Tarnished refocused and gave a sharp nod. "Caelid, same as you. I'll be there when the festival begins."
Alexander let out a booming laugh, clapping his massive hands together. "That's wonderful, friend! I would be honored to fight alongside you!"
Tarnished grinned, stepping back as he whistled for Torrent. "Likewise. So until we next meet…"
He swung himself onto Torrent's back, giving the warrior jar one last nod before smirking. "Stay safe—and don't you dare go Hollow, friend."
Alexander's ceramic form stiffened slightly, his circular eyes blinking at the words. For a brief moment, he looked as if he were about to say something—perhaps ask what that meant.
But before he could, Tarnished clicked his heels, and Torrent surged forward, galloping off into the distance. Alexander snapped out of his daze, watching the Tarnished ride away beneath the morning sun. Then, after a moment, a deep laugh rumbled from within him, his form shaking with amusement.
"Ha ha ha ha! And you the same, my friend! You the same!"
With that, the great warrior jar turned toward the eastern horizon, preparing for his own journey into the lands of Caelid.
Tarnished rode Torrent down the sloping hill, the wind whipping lightly against his skin as he approached a small clearing. The moment he spotted the glow of a Site of Grace nestled beneath a gnarled tree, he pulled on the reins, slowing his spectral steed to a steady trot.
He dismounted with practiced ease, stepping toward the golden aura of the Grace before kneeling down and extending his hand.
[Lost Grace Discovered]
A soft golden warmth surged through him as the connection was formed, his flask charges refilling instantly.
As he rose to his feet, he glanced toward Marika, who had been unusually quiet for a while. With a small grin, he decided to break the silence.
"So, what do you think of Alexander?" he asked, his tone light and casual as he climbed onto Torrent's back once more.
Marika, who had manifested beside him, arched a delicate golden brow. "Hoh? Art thou not the one who proclaimed he wanted all? Since when didst thou care for mine opinion?"
Tarnished chuckled, nudging Torrent forward as they continued along the weathered path. "Oh, I don't know…" he mused, pretending to think it over. Then, with a widened grin, he added, "I am your Champion, aren't I? I value your treasured guidance and consultation."
Marika hmphed softly, her golden arms crossing beneath her chest as she turned her gaze toward the sky. She was quiet for a moment, but when she finally spoke, her tone was noticeably less guarded, almost thoughtful.
"Mine feelings are… Layered, to say the least."
Tarnished raised a brow, but let her continue.
"On instinct alone, I find myself immensely repulsed by the notion of 'Living Jars'—creatures crafted in crude imitation of warriors; according to thine thoughts, their bodies filled with the discarded remains of the slain."
Her mind seemed to be filled with ancient and weary memories as she then shook her head, "'Tis a practice of grotesque origins, one that—had I the choice—I would have forbidden entirely. But…"
She hesitated briefly before sighing. "...I shall choose to place some measure of trust in this single 'Warrior Jar,' since thou thyself hath vouched for him."
Tarnished smiled slightly, his grip tightening on Torrent's reins as he thought, 'Yeah?'
Marika scoffed softly, her golden eyes flicking away as she repeated his own words back to him in a mockingly regal tone. "Of course. I am thy Goddess, am I not? I value thy treasured guidance and consultation."
Tarnished's smile widened deeply. He recognized what she meant, even if she hid it behind her usual arrogance. She was acknowledging his trust—and, more than that, returning it in her own way.
Instead of teasing her about it, he chose to say nothing, simply enjoying the comfortable silence that settled between them as he rode onward.
The rhythmic clip-clop of Torrent's hooves echoed against the stone as he passed beneath the shadow of a crumbling bridge. A hulking figure sat hunched at its center—a Mad Pumpkin Head, its grotesque iron helm tilted slightly as if listening to something only it could hear.
Tarnished paid it little mind, guiding Torrent past the bridge and back onto the main road, where he soon spotted a flickering campfire at the side of the path.
There, hunched over a worn blanket strewn with various wares, sat a Nomadic Merchant—his dark robe draped over his slender form, the low hum of a stringed instrument playing softly beneath his breath.
As Tarnished approached, the merchant glanced up, his gaze calculating but not unkind.
"Ah… A traveler in need of wares?"
Tarnished grinned, dismounting from Torrent and striding forward. "Something like that."
Without hesitation, he listed off the items he wanted purely from memory. "Nomadic Warrior's Cookbook (3), three Smithing Stones, and a Cracked Pot."
The merchant's eyebrow lifted slightly, clearly surprised that Tarnished knew exactly what was in his stock before even looking. He let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head. "Heh. Curious thing, knowing my wares before laying eyes upon them. But it matters not—runes are runes."
With a nod, the merchant reached into his folded blanket, retrieving the requested items and setting them down in front of him. Tarnished raised a hand and willed the runes to flow from his storage into the Merchant's soul, a moment later the nomad nodded and handed over the goods.
[Runes Lost: -2,200 Runes]
[Picked-Up Item: Nomadic Warrior's Cookbook (3)]
[Picked-Up Item: Smithing Stone (1) x3]
[Picked-Up Item: Cracked Pot]
[Picked-Up Item: Pickled Turtle Neck]
Tarnished grabbed the items, slipping them into his inventory before offering the merchant a casual salute.
"Pleasure doing business." He said, before stepping back toward Torrent and swinging himself onto the spectral steed's back once more.
The merchant nodded silently, already strumming at his instrument once again, playing a low, haunting melody as Tarnished urged Torrent forward. With a sharp whistle, the Tarnished rode off down the paved road once again, the warm glow of the merchant's campfire fading into the distance behind him.
Tarnished rode at a steady pace along the worn, paved streets of Limgrave, the rhythmic clopping of Torrent's hooves the only sound accompanying the quiet rustling of the wind. The night sky stretched endlessly above him, the Erdtree's golden glow casting a soft radiance over the land.
After a few minutes, he spotted a lone figure standing on the side of the road, clad in ornate silver armor that gleamed under the dim light. The figure stood over a corpse, its twisted, decayed form barely recognizable. Tarnished immediately recognized the man—D, Hunter of the Dead.
D's armor was unlike that of most warriors; his silver-plated chest piece bore the unmistakable markings of the Golden Order, intricate engravings of tree roots twisting over his shoulders and torso. A thick, tattered red cape flowed from his back, weathered by time and battle.
His helm, covering his entire face save for a narrow T-shaped visor, gave him an almost spectral presence, as though he were more an instrument of the Order than a man himself. Tarnished heard him muttering as he approached.
"There's no mistake, is there? Death has left its mark once again."
D's voice was level but grim, filled with a deep-seated revulsion that Tarnished recognized well. As the sound of Torrent's hooves echoed through the air, D froze slightly before turning to face him. His helmeted gaze landed on Tarnished's shirtless form, his posture stiffening ever so slightly.
The man studied him for a second, as if trying to comprehend why this half-naked warrior was riding toward him with such an easy-going smile.
Tarnished lifted a hand in greeting. "Hail, friend."
D was silent for a moment, then gave a small nod. "Hello. You're a fellow Tarnished, I presume?" His voice was measured, with the disciplined tone of a seasoned knight. "I'm known as D. I hunt down Those Who Live in Death and weed their Deathroot."
The moment the words left his mouth, Marika stirred within Tarnished's mind. "Ah… I see. A hunter of That Which Should Not Be."
There was an unmistakable note of approval in her tone. "I can feel it upon him—the power of mine Order. A knight of my Golden Order, fighting against those who would defile it with their filth."
Tarnished chuckled slightly in his mind. 'Yeah, I figured you'd like D. Of all the people I meet, he's one of the most loyal to the Golden Order.'
Marika hummed in satisfaction. "Good. In my absence, there must be those who still uphold the purity of this world."
D turned slightly, gesturing toward the ruined remains of Summonwater Village, nestled in the valley ahead.
"Heed my warning." His voice lowered slightly, tinged with unease. "The village up ahead has been touched by Death. And worse yet, it is home to a Mariner. If you value your life, then go no further."
Tarnished narrowed his eyes as he gazed past him, toward the village, where a faint, eerie mist clung to the ruined structures like a suffocating shroud.
Marika's expression darkened at D's words. "Another one?"
Her golden brows furrowed, and for the first time since their journey began, there was something deeper in her tone. A quiet fury. "More of that vile infection… Spreading across my lands?"
Tarnished sighed, rubbing the back of his head. 'Yeah. Undead are everywhere. It's honestly easier to list the places that haven't been touched by them, by Death.'
"This cannot stand. Not forever." Marika exhaled sharply, her arms crossing over her chest as she stared toward the village with a disdainful glare. She was quiet for a moment, then continued in a lower voice. "We shall have much work to do after thou hast freed me, mine champion."
Tarnished smirked slightly at her words but said nothing, merely nodding to himself as he turned back to D.
"Thanks for the warning." He said, his voice casual but firm. "Stay safe."
D nodded, but his gaze lingered on Tarnished for a moment longer than necessary, as if trying to discern something hidden beneath his confident exterior.
Without another word, Tarnished whistled sharply, and Torrent materialized once more in a burst of blue mist. He swung himself onto the spectral steed's back before kicking his heels lightly against its sides, sending the horse galloping toward Summonwater Village.
D stood motionless, watching as he rode away. After a moment, he turned his attention back to the corpse at his feet.
The Summonwater Village lay in eerie silence, its once-thriving settlement now nothing more than a drowned ruin, swallowed by stagnant, dark waters. The water was still, almost unnaturally so, as if waiting for something to stir it. Weeds and rotting debris floated lazily on the surface, remnants of a life long lost to decay.
As Tarnished rode in atop Torrent, the hooves of his spectral steed splashed against the ankle-deep water, sending ripples cascading outward. A deathly fog clung to the village like a suffocating blanket, a chill that seemed to pierce not just the skin, but the soul.
The air was heavy, thick with an unsettling stillness—yet something slithered beneath the surface, unseen but palpably present.
Marika appeared beside him, her golden radiance dimmed by the overwhelming presence of death. She inhaled sharply, her delicate nose wrinkling in unmistakable revulsion.
"By the Erdtree… this stench… this putrid, rotting stench… 'Tis vile beyond words."
Tarnished glanced at her with mild amusement. 'Yeah? You think it's bad now, wait 'til we get to Caelid.'
Marika shot him a glare but didn't respond. Instead, her eyes narrowed sharply, locking onto something moving through the flooded ruins.
Tarnished followed her gaze and spotted the figure rowing silently through the water, its movements sluggish, methodical.
A gaunt, hooded figure hunched over in a rickety black boat, its skeletal hands gripping an oar that did not disturb the water as it moved. A long, gnarled horn rested against its shoulder, cracked and worn with age.The Tibia Mariner.
"That… wretch." Marika's voice was sharp, laced with quiet fury. "My Champion. That creature is the very source of this unholy defilement. Destroy it. Immediately."
Tarnished chuckled as he swung himself off Torrent's back, landing lightly in the water. "Heh, already planning on it."
He reached into his inventory and grabbed his Golden Order Longsword, gripping the hilt tightly before raising it skyward. A pulse of radiant light erupted from the blade, bathing him in a warm, golden glow.
"Golden Vow"
A comforting warmth spread through his limbs, strengthening his resolve, sharpening his reflexes. His muscles tensed as the divine energy fortified his body, granting him increased strength and resilience.
With the sword still glowing in his grasp, he swiftly switched it out, storing it in his inventory before pulling out a Pickled Turtle Neck. He grimaced slightly as he bit into it. The taste was… strange.
'Pickled chicken with a hint of marshmallows… What the hell?'
Marika arched an eyebrow at his disgusted expression but said nothing. Then, with a feral grin, Tarnished unsheathed both of his Uchigatanas, their polished steel glinting in the dim moonlight.
The Mariner turned its hooded head toward him, as if only now recognizing his presence. A deep, guttural groan emanated from within its skeletal frame.
Tarnished clicked his tongue, summoning both his Uchigatanas, one in each hand. He rolled his shoulders, tilting his head from side to side as he approached. "Alright, let's get this over with."
The Mariner's head tilted slightly at him. Then, with a deep, otherworldly groan, it raised its oar high and slammed it down. A wave of cursed black water erupted outward, tearing through the ground like a flood of death itself.
Tarnished's eyes widened, and he Quickstepped sideways, narrowly avoiding the wave as it crashed into the ruined houses behind him, sending up a sickly green mist. The remains of old wooden beams and stone crumbled beneath the wave's weight, further collapsing the already ruined village.
The Mariner groaned again, its voice echoing like a distorted funeral dirge, before pointing its oar directly at him. The ground quaked as a shadowy miasma formed, and suddenly, from the mist, skeletal warriors began rising—seven of them.
Marika's tone darkened. "Undead filth. Dispose of them swiftly."
Tarnished exhaled, gripping his blades tighter. "Alright, fine."
He moved.
He shot forward like a phantom, dashing between the shambling undead warriors with pinpoint precision. The skeletons barely had time to react before using an Unsheath.
One slash—one head cleanly severed.
The skeleton collapsed instantly, unable to reform due to the inherent holy properties of the Uchigatana's newfound Golden Vow infusion.
Tarnished didn't stop.
"Unsheath."
Second skeleton, bisected at the waist.
A rusted sword swung for his head—he ducked. Another thrusted from behind—he spun, catching the attack on his left-hand Uchigatana and using the momentum to push forward, slicing through the attacker's ribs.
The Mariner let out a wailing groan, slamming its oar into the ground again—another wave of cursed water surged forward.
Tarnished jumped, flipping midair over the attack before landing smoothly on the opposite side. Before he could react further, however—a sudden, piercing whistle cut through the night air.
The Mariner's boat started moving.
Tarnished's grin vanished as he watched the spectral vessel suddenly glide across the battlefield at high speeds. It smashed through what little remained of the ruined village, spectral water spilling from its base as it rushed directly toward him.
"Ah… Poop."
He ran.
The Mariner barreled toward him like a tidal wave, closing the distance far too quickly. Tarnished Quickstepped, dodging left—only for the Mariner's oar to come swinging from the side, attempting to slam him mid-step.
He barely managed to duck under it, rolling back onto his feet just as another group of skeletal warriors emerged from the mist.
Marika clicked her tongue. "It calls forth the dead with every passing moment. A tedious foe."
Tarnished huffed. "Yeah, no kidding. These bastards aren't even strong, they're just annoying…"
He flipped both Uchigatanas in his grip before rushing straight for the Mariner.
"Unsheath. Unsheath. Unsheath."
Strike after strike.
Stagger after stagger.
Every hit landed cleanly, causing the Mariner's ghostly form to flicker violently, struggling to maintain its existence.
Then, the Mariner shrieked, suddenly slamming its oar into the ground and vanishing entirely in a veil of swamp water.
Tarnished skidded to a stop, glancing around warily.
"...Where the hell-?"
The water around the battlefield trembled.
Marika's voice spiked with urgency. "Above thee!"
Tarnished barely had time to look up before the Mariner reappeared mid-air, its entire boat flipped upside down, and slammed down like a massive, spectral guillotine.
"Try something harder to dodge next time, jackass!!"
He rolled—just in time.
The impact shattered the ground where he had been standing, sending rubble and cursed mist into the air.
Tarnished coughed, scrambling back onto his feet.
He wasn't giving it another chance.
"I'm not gonna sugar coat it…" He muttered while summoning every ounce of speed, he dashed forward, his katana drawn in reverse grips as he closed the distance in seconds.
"Unsheath. Unsheath. Unsheath. Un-fucking-sheath!"
Four slashes.
The Mariner reeled backward violently, its form glitching, distorting.
Tarnished's eyes flashed gold as he threw both blades forward, slashing in a vicious, double-crossed arc.
CRITICAL HIT.
The Mariner screamed as its form cracked apart, bursting into streams of fading blue mist, its skeletal summons crumbling into dust alongside it.
A shockwave of cold wind erupted outward as the Mariner let out one final groan, its existence shattering into nothingness.
Tarnished exhaled, rolling his neck as the rewards notification appeared before his eyes.
[Runes Acquired: 4,400]
[Picked-Up Item: Deathroot]
[Picked-Up Item: Skeletal Militiaman Ashes]
A familiar "Hmph" sounded beside him.
"Thou managed to slaughter that filth without being struck even once…" There was a pause, then, her voice softened ever so slightly. "Good work."
Tarnished grinned, sheathing his blades with a flourish.
"Hehe… Thanks."
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Author's Note:
Stones for the stone god! Wait, did I say that before? Eh who cares
Anyways, got finals for med school coming up soon, I wouldn't expect much till I'm done at the 29th of May…
…
Next Chapter Title: Highway to Hell (Caelid).
…
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