The Reaper weaved away from the lunge of a rapier, his footwork impaired by the swampy marsh, since his adversaries were coated in armor, unlike his wet clothes.

The Reaper blocked a sudden wide slash from a halberd, and Blaidd arrived to kick the Tarnished away and chase after their tumbling figure.

The Reaper used the gifted freedom to spin around and slash at the Tarnished with the rapier, who rolled back and threw a fireball at him.

The Reaper ducked under it as he lunged forward shoved his boot into the Tarnished's stomach. Unfortunately, their armor allowed them to tank the blow and stab him in the shoulder, before attempting to shroud his blade in electricity.

The Reaper grit his teeth and cleaved upward, but his scythe changed forms and spun right through the man's torso as a twin-blade, the rigid flame like metal on each side of a handle.

The Tarnished screamed before choking on his blood as he collapsed in two.

The Reaper watched Blaidd whip his greatsword around with the flick of his wrist, slicing the other Tarnished left leg clean off. He swiftly plunged the blade into their chest and letting their corpse sink into the marsh.

The Reaper winced at the rapier in his back, before sighing as he looked over to Melina and Ranni who sat in one of the leafless trees.

•

"It seems you haven't taken what he said to heart. You may be immortal but taking such risks to ensure victory is defeat in itself." Melina scolded, using a mediocre healing incantation on his back, the rapier removed by himself.

"It's not that... it's just... convenient. The pain is temporary." The Reaper replied quietly, sitting on a stone fence along the path they tread.

"Oh, so your health can be disregarded so long as the enemy is slain? Does death not scare you anymore now that you've died?" Melina asked with clear irritation.

"Of course it does... it still hurts, Melina. I know my limits. I don't do what I can't handle." The Reaper replied persistently.

"Could you try to at least use such reckless behavior as a last resort! Kicking a man with steel armor with your frame wasn't the brightest means of attack, now was it?" Melina continued, crossing her arms as his wound finally closed.

"...Touché." The Reaper thought about his very dumb decision...

"And to think you wanted to waste a flask on such a thoughtless action." Melina shook her head as he hopped down from the stone fence.

Blaidd and Ranni were across from them, kindly waiting for them to finish, "Alright now, mate?"

"Yeah. Still getting used to it." The Reaper said with a frown.

"The Stance Change? It's quite versatile, and you seem quiet adept with the twin-blade." Blaidd replied.

"The fundamentals seems the same, save for the shorter range. It's much smoother to spin since the weight is balanced." The Reaper explained.

"I never could master those Dexterity weapons. The simple and clean cuts of a greatsword are more my style." Blaidd mused.

"There's two more weapon slots for Stance Change. Maybe one is a greatsword." The Reaper shrugged.

"Shall we set off?" Ranni asked, saddened she had to interrupt their conversation, but she'd never express that.

"Yeah, but I wanted to ask. I've yet to see anyone else with an intelligence build. Is it uncommon?" The Reaper asked as they continued their venture.

Ranni warped atop Blaidd's shoulder, and Melina appeared on the Reaper's.

"Among Tarnished, mages are rather reserved in their way of fighting, and it's often shunned upon by those who prefer close combat, or more direct means of attack. However, do not underestimate those with a staff." Ranni replied.

"But... you don't have a staff." The Reaper noted.

"One such as myself? Do you truly not know the name?" Ranni said in disbelief.

"There's a voice in my head that makes it familiar. The significance is lost on me, though..." The Reaper admit.

"Ah, I find it better that way. But know that there is no mage stronger." Ranni stated, a prideful smile plastered on her face. However, the half-face of light showed hints of doubt.

"Well, do I need a staff?" The Reaper wondered.

"In fact, no, you don't." Ranni said with a quick glance.

"He's on a level comparable to you, my lady?" Blaidd asked with clear intrigue.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. He could try to compete, but a Tarnished's power can only build up but so much... the way he is now." Ranni admit.

"So I could have powers like the Demigods..." The Reaper muttered.

"That's our very goal. You, like myself, are resonant with the stars, but Radahn holds them captive with his Gravity magic. It's formidable..." Ranni reinstated.

"If I may interrupt, you could likely cast such spells in the same way as I." Melina commented.

"Like when you make the knives?" The Reaper asked.

Melina demonstrated and flicked three golden knives of light in between her fingers and towards a tree.

"It's as simple as using your imagination." Melina smirked.

•

The Reaper circled around a Tarnished in midnight light-plated armor and black leather under it. Their speed was near similar, so in turn, they did the same thing.

Gliding against the ground, the Reaper pivot his left foot and suddenly lunged at the Tarnished.

The Tarnished suddenly flew forward in a puff of smoke, closing in as well.

The Reaper spun his twin-blade around his fingers before flipping forward and slashing downward.

The Tarnished weaved away and circled further around to the Reaper's back with a dagger covered in poison.

The Reaper used the leverage of his plunged twin-blade to vault over the slash aimed at his back, pushing off the twin-blade and vaulting further into the air.

Summoning the twin-blade back, the Reaper threw it at the Tarnished, who lunged through the slash in a puff of smoke once more.

The Reaper landed and back flipped over a wide slash from a longsword, summoning the twin-blade again to block a following downward hack and push the Tarnished back.

Suddenly, he saw a golden disc flying at him from out of nowhere. The Reaper flipped up over it, but was stabbed in his shoulder with a poison dart.

As he landed, he quickly removed the dart and weaved away from a downward-diagonal slash, before spin kicking away the Tarnished.

Melina landed behind the Reaper before throwing out her hand towards the foliage around them.

The Reaper smiled seeing a white robe appear from around a pillar.

With the flick of his hand, the Reaper created a magic sword and threw his arm forward, sending it flying towards the Tarnished's Maiden.

The Maiden hid behind a tree, while simultaneously throwing another disc as the tree blocked the magic sword.

The Tarnished attempted to retaliate but Melina quickly appeared within their guard and kneed their chest, dashing past and for the Maiden within the trees.

The Reaper threw two swords at the Tarnished, but they dashed through them in yet another puff of smoke, irritating the Reaper.

"Alright— I've had," The Reaper threw his twin-blade with all his might, before creating five magic spears above his head and threw them each in the directions the Tarnished could dash.

The Tarnished rolled away from the twin-blade, immediately dashing as smoke through a spear, and then another, and was about to lunge at the Reaper, but was suddenly slashed through the thigh by the twin-blade returning to the Reaper.

Falling in shock, the Tarnished could only watch as the Reaper slammed his boot into their face.

"Enough of that shit. Man, you guys are really all business. Get off my dick and get your own shard of the Elden Ring or something." The Reaper complained, before stabbing his twin-blade through their neck.

Just in time for Melina to reappear beside him, her dagger clearly drenched in blood.

"Man... they're really at it." The Reaper sighed. "It's only the first day, so it's bound to get worse. Stay vigilant." Melina replied.

"You grasped the concept quite easily. Do you find them useful?" Ranni asked, appearing in chilling mist atop of Blaidd's shoulder.

"Well, about all I can really do is make a weapon. I can't really do the normal projectiles I've seen." The Reaper answered.

"That may be due to your innate ability destroy." Ranni replied, making Melina scowl.

"I don't quite understand what you mean by that." Melina abruptly nudged the Reaper to the side to step forward.

"I mean no harm. It's like a constellation of sorts. They all mean something. With due time we will all see the picture more clearly. However, if even my guess is educated enough, he spells Destruction." Ranni explained.

"Is that a bad thing? Like, is it self destructive?" The Reaper asked.

"Well, rather, your power doesn't allow for such freedom it seems. As a star, you protect and destroy. Like the unity of solar system. You may only be limited to such... DPS attacks, they call them." Ranni elaborated.

The Reaper hummed in thought, but Melina was still concerned.

"Where did this come from? This revelation seems rather sudden." Melina asked.

"He's developing, and I wish to assist for thine own benefit. And so, where I see fit, I will give him the guidance he needs." Ranni said calmly.

"You may see death across the water, alluring you slowly, and even then will I reach out just enough to give you guidance." Ranni assured.

"That's... some heavy foreshadowing." The Reaper chuckled, making Melina grab his chin and face her.

"Exactly. So, like I said. Stay. Vigilant." Melina squinted her eyes at him sternly.

"Yes, ma'am." The Reaper smiled.

But, oh, the irony of his joke.

•

Dain looked at one of the slain Tarnished the four had left to rot in the marsh. His attire had changed completely.

Dain's hair was now unruly and unkempt, his purple irises now had orange pupils, and a smirk was plastered on his face.

He wore a dark blue cloak, and underneath was a black tunic and brown boots. In his hands was a molten spear, the entire handle disfigured. The blade itself continued to course with fire, flowing yellow and orange occasionally.

"Allow me a demonstration, Reaper. Let me introduce you... to Madness."

Dain slammed his hand down to push in the skull of the Tarnished who past, and watched as their body began to course with the same fire. Suddenly, their face combust into a yellow fire with orange trails.

The darkened armor of the fallen Tarnished began to meld to its skin creating a creature akin to a Misbegotten.

"Have an appetizer." Dain soon faded away into smoke as his smirk left.

•

The Reaper swung out his scythe and clashed with someone else's, the force between the two sending them skidding back.

Melina rushed forward after their clash and crossed blades with a more direct Maiden than the few they had encountered.

She had a short sword and a finger seal she used to charge the blade with electricity, which made Melina's clash a rather short one due to the shock received.

Melina rolled back and hopped up in time for the Reaper to lunge forward with roar of determination.

The Tarnished rushed passed his Maiden with three wolf summons that sprinted with him.

Blaidd flipped over the Reaper and clashed with the Tarnished scythe, the two parrying the other away before slashing twice, and then clashing once more, locking blades as the Reaper swiftly danced around the wolves and tore through their legs with his superior speed.

The Reaper turned on his heel and spun his scythe into his twin-blade, before reeling it back as he dashed at the Tarnished.

The Maiden however, intercepted and threw down a lightning bolt that crackled down right before him, causing the Reaper to jolt and tremble from the shock, before barely blocking a stab at his heart.

The Reaper grit his teeth as the Maiden's blade continued to electrocute him, his convulsing growing concerning to the hidden Ranni.

Melina appeared behind the Maiden with her dagger glistening alongside her eye, ramming it down into the Maiden's back, tearing through it and cleaving back up before kicking her body away.

The Reaper slumped over, but randomly thrust his twin-blade past Melina to see that the Maiden's body was only a mimic.

With the two pointed blade's fighting for dominance, the Reaper suddenly spun himself and Melina along with his blade to parry her sword, before slashing down with all his might, cutting the Maiden in half.

Blaidd had similarly done the same, with a horizontal slash powerful enough to cleave through the Tarnished and freeze each half, the halves rolling towards the Reaper and Melina.

The Reaper sighed, falling to a knee and holding his chest.

Melina quickly crouched with him and softly held his shoulders as he panted. "How are you? Luckily we were out of the marsh so it wasn't very severe damage."

"How... did they do that? Was it a clone?" The Reaper asked.

"Phantom Projections. It's a skill very unorthodox, so very little is known about it." Blaidd answered.

Melina helped the Reaper to his feet, but the three suddenly caught a figure menacingly treading towards them through the marsh.

The Reaper looked dumbfounded by the ominous flame over their head, but saw that it was pure skull the fire leaked from.

"Are you two seeing that...?" The Reaper asked. Blaidd nodded, brandishing his sword and holding it in front of him.

"Reaper, prepare yourself." Melina ordered. "Well, I kn—"

"I mean for life and death." Melina stood up and held her dagger up as well.

The Reaper was now nervous at the adversary. It didn't seem all that intimidating save for the glow of that flame as the sky grew darker. He had no expectations before they readied their weapons, but now he knew that this was no joke.

Dragging a longsword against the water, it suddenly burst into flames and created a smoke screen around the creature.

"Oh, shit!" The Reaper spun his twin-blade as Blaidd slashed out a frigid mist, whisking the steam away only to find the creature lunging directly for Melina.

The Reaper rushed forward, clashing with the creature, but it's strength proved formidable seeing that it immediately sent him flying past the two from the force alone.

Melina swiftly ducked under a heavy slash, before disappearing and reappearing beside the Reaper, who crashed into a tree along the bank.

Blaidd landed beside them, taking a defensive approach after seeing a fraction of its potential.

"We're in for quite a fight. Prepare yourselves." Blaidd muttered.

"We'll need your explosive power, Reaper. On your feet." Melina added.

The Reaper grunted and winced as he stood back up, standing his ground alongside the three. He would admit that he was intimidated, but when hasn't he been.

"Alright. What is this thing?" The Reaper asked.

"If you are Tarnished..." Melina glared forward with hatred. "Then that is the Fallen."