MTLNOVEL Chapter 3: First Death.
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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.
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Tarnished exhaled slowly, his fingers twitching at his sides as he forced his temper into submission. The heat in his blood simmered down, though the urge to disembowel Varre remained ever-present.
Meanwhile, Marika, after what felt like an eternity of laughter, had finally composed herself—though the occasional amused hum still slipped from her lips.
Varre, blissfully unaware of the sheer amount of unholy wrath he had narrowly avoided, was still talking. "-It will lead you, Tarnished, to the path you are meant to follow; even if it leads you to your grave. Grace's guidance will reveal the path forward, most certainly."
Tarnished blinked, refocusing just as the masked man turned slightly, gesturing over his shoulder towards the massive, decrepit fortress looming in the distance. Stormveil Castle. "To Castle Stormveil, over on the cliff. The home of the decrepit demigod, Godrick the Grafted."
Tarnished nodded, his voice flat. "I know." He rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck. "I'm going there to take his Great Rune for myself."
Varre hesitated, clearly caught off guard by his confidence, before smoothly continuing. "As you should," he mused, rubbing his hands together once more. "Then go forth, brave Tarnished, and heed Grace's call. To Castle Stormveil, where your destiny awaits—maidenless as you are."
Tarnished's eye twitched violently as behind him, Marika visibly trembled before biting down on her knuckle, her golden shoulders shaking as she desperately tried not to burst out laughing again and retain her divine grace.
Tarnished inhaled sharply through his nose, raised a single finger, and thought with all his might.
'Shut it…'
Marika immediately schooled her expression, her tone perfectly even as she responded, "I know not of what thou speakest."
He rolled his eyes hard enough to sprain something before stepping past Varre without another word, heading down the worn path leading into the golden plains of Limgrave.
And there it was.
The bane of all new players. The boss that ended thousands of runs before they had even begun.
Tarnished smiled as he laid eyes on it.
A towering knight, clad in resplendent golden plate, astride a warhorse equally adorned in shining metal. The Tree Sentinel prowled the area with the trained vigilance of an executioner, its massive gilded halberd glinting ominously in the sun as it rested against its shoulder.
Marika materialised beside him, arms folded over her chest as her Golden eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
"Even after mine imprisonment, my knights remain." She spoke softly, but there was pride in her voice. "Unwavering, ever faithful in their charge… 'Tis a sight most pleasing."
Tarnished hummed noncommittally, his gaze locked onto the patrolling knight.
Marika then turned to him, her smirk returning. "I would suggest thee find another path, mine champion. Even bereft of mine own oversight, any one of my Tree Sentinels couldst reduce thee to naught but phlegm and ruin."
The Tarnished simply grinned as his fingers curled around the hilt of his uchigatana, his stance shifted forward, his weight lowering slightly in anticipation.
Without a word, he leapt off the small hill leading down to the Sentinel's field. The moment his boots hit the ground, the massive knight turned sharply, its helm locking onto him instantly.
There was no hesitation as the Sentinel pivoted its warhorse in a single fluid motion and began slowly moving towards him.
Marika reappeared beside him with an incredulous look, "My Champion… What dost thou think thou art doing?"
He laughed, rolling his shoulders as he took a stance. "Isn't it obvious? I'm fighting him."
"Hast thou lost thy wits? Thou standest no chance! Thou shalt be slain within moments-"
Tarnished's grin widened, pure exhilaration surging through his veins as he lowered himself further. "That might be true for some…" He exhaled sharply, tightening his grip on his katana.
"…But me? Nah. I'm different."
His golden-tinged azure eyes locked onto the charging knight. "I've played these games before!"
And then, with an excited shout, he rushed forward to meet the Tree Sentinel head-on.
Marika stared at him in sheer disbelief before pinching the bridge of her nose and sighing heavily. She shook her head, golden locks flowing elegantly around her as she muttered to herself.
"Thou art a reckless dullard." She floated upwards, watching with a mix of exasperation and curiosity as her champion clashed against her knight.
"But I suppose… Now is as good a time as any for thee to die. One ne'er forgetteth their first—or so 'tis said."
Tarnished tightened his grip on the hilt of his uchigatana, his fingers curling around the worn leather as a sharp grin stretched across his face. The heavy hoofbeats of the Tree Sentinel's steed reverberated through the ground, each measured step sending small tremors through the earth as the golden-armoured knight patrolled the path before him.
He had fought this boss countless times. He had memorised every attack animation, every opening, every single frame of movement. In his mind, he could see the exact moments where he could strike, when he needed to roll, when he needed to back away.
And yet… Something felt off.
The Tree Sentinel turned its helmeted head towards him, its faceless visor locking onto him the moment he stepped forward. The knight wasted no time in formalities; it simply urged its steed forward, its mighty halberd already raising high into the air as a pop up appeared in his vision.
[TREE SENTINEL]
Tarnished's grin widened as he dashed forward, his mind already calculating the frames, 'That's the overhead swing, it's got a long wind-up but a deceptively fast release. I need to roll right before it comes down and then punish with a slash to the side.'
The halberd came crashing down with earth-shattering force, splitting the ground beneath it. Tarnished rolled to the side just as he had intended, but-
Too slow.
The weapon's sheer force sent a shockwave outward, and though he dodged the brunt of the impact, the residual force struck his side, staggering him slightly. He cursed under his breath but quickly recovered, lashing out with his uchigatana. The steel blade struck the knight's gilded greaves, scraping across the pristine metal but leaving no significant damage.
The Tree Sentinel wasted no time. With a tug on the reins, the spectral steed reared back before slamming its hooves down, kicking up dirt and debris as it galloped towards him.
The Tarnished Warrior's mind raced, 'Charge attack, I know this one, just roll into it at the last second and counter when he stops-'
He rolled, but his movements were sluggish. He felt the weight of his armour dragging him down, slowing his reactions just enough that instead of cleanly dodging past the Sentinel's charge, his shoulder clipped the horse's flank, sending him sprawling across the dirt.
Marika, who had been watching from above with crossed arms, let out a sigh. "And here I had thought thee skilled. 'Tis rather unsightly."
Tarnished groaned as he pushed himself to his feet, the Tree Sentinel already wheeling around for another pass. He kept his eyes locked to its movements, his heart pounded as he took a deep breath.
'Alright, focus. Just need to adjust. My body isn't as fast as I thought, not as responsive as I'm used to, but I can work around it. Just need to be smarter, better.'
The Sentinel came at him once more, its halberd sweeping low in a deadly arc. Tarnished saw it coming, 'Delayed swing, but the follow-up is fast. Roll to the right and-'
He dodged, barely clearing the weapon's path, but before he could counter, the knight reversed its grip and slammed the halberd's shaft into his ribs, sending him skidding back with a sharp gasp. His vision flashed red as his health bar drained by nearly half.
Marika clicked her tongue. "Oh dear. Thou art quite fragile, aren't thee?"
Tarnished ignored her, forcing himself back up as he reassessed. He had to play it safer. The Tree Sentinel was punishing his arrogance—he needed to slow down, to be patient. This was an endurance fight, not a rushdown since he wasn't nearly on the level required for this fight.
For the next minute, he carefully evaded and struck when he could, learning the new rhythm of his body. He still wasn't reacting as fast as his instincts demanded, but he was getting better at compensating.
Then he saw it, an opening.
The Tree Sentinel finished a leaping strike, its halberd buried in the ground for just a moment. Tarnished rushed in, raising his katana for a devastating slash.
But, yet again, his feet dragged as the weight of his armour bore down on him. He was too slow.
The Tree Sentinel yanked its weapon free and twisted, bringing the halberd's head around in a brutal backswing. Tarnished tried to dodge at the last possible second, assuming that his roll would get him out of range like it always did in the game.
Except, he slow rolled.
Instead of the swift, clean evasion he expected, his movement was sluggish, laboured. His body barely moved before the halberd's golden blade came crashing down onto his chest.
A sickening crunch filled the air.
Tarnished's body crumpled under the sheer force, his vision instantly darkening as his health bar was obliterated in a single instant. He barely registered the impact as he was sent flying, his form crashing onto the ground in a heap of shattered armour and broken limbs.
His blood pooled around him, his body twisted in a grotesque mimicry of the countless bloodstains he had once seen littering this very field.
Marika floated down beside his broken form, peering down at him with an unimpressed look.
"Hmph. As I predicted."
Then, darkness took him.
The world came back in a flash, golden light washing over him as his body reformed at the Site of Grace. Tarnished groaned, rubbing his face before pushing himself up onto his feet. That familiar sensation of revival, of being brought back from nothingness—it was something he'd expected, but it was still eerie.
Before he could gather his thoughts, a voice cut through the air.
"Oh my… Back so soon?"
Varre stood beside the Grace, his masked face tilted slightly as he eyed Tarnished up and down. His voice dripped with amusement. "Tell me, have we learned our lesson about picking fights yet?"
Tarnished didn't even acknowledge him. Instead, he turned on his heel and strode towards the edge of the hill overlooking the Tree Sentinel's patrol path. His azure eyes locked onto the towering knight as it roamed beneath him, its massive golden halberd glinting beneath the midday sun.
A familiar golden shimmer appeared beside him as Marika materialised, arms crossed and a knowing smile gracing her lips. "Hmph. That heathen dost speak true. Thou standeth no chance. Get thee past the knight and move forward with thine journey."
Tarnished, however, wasn't listening. He stared at his own hands for a long moment before swiping through the air, summoning his system panel. His fingers moved swiftly, navigating through the interface.
Then, he burst into laughter.
"Of course it all felt off! Of course I was moving slower than I should! This World is Real!"
Varre blinked, tilting his head slightly, while Marika raised an unimpressed brow. Tarnished ignored their stares, his grin widening as he continued tapping through his system menu.
Then, without hesitation, he began stripping.
His gauntlets hit the ground first, followed by his chestplate, then his greaves. He reached behind him and unhooked his bow, tossing it to the ground alongside his shield; they all then vanished into his inventory. Within seconds, he stood there in nothing but his pants, his uchigatana still strapped to his hip.
There was a deafening silence as the two of them stared at him for a moment before Varre took a single step back. "...I see. A Madman."
Marika, on the other hand, simply face palmed helplessly. "Hath thou lost thine wits? Or art thou a nudist? Thou wert felled nigh instantly whilst clad in armour, and yet thou wouldst now face thy foe near bare?"
Tarnished finished unequipping everything and stretched his arms, rolling his shoulders as he moved freely for the first time. He tested a quick roll, and to his absolute delight, it was faster than before. A notification then flickered in his vision after a swipe against the air:
[Light Load]
A grin spread across his lips.
"You see, my dear Goddess…" Tarnished turned to Marika with a look of absolute confidence. "As a wise man once said: Why wear armour if I don't plan on getting hit?!"
Then, without another word, he leapt off the cliff.
Marika sighed wearily, shaking her head as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "Ah… A reckless dullard, mine own Champion be."
Tarnished landed lightly on the dirt path below, his bare feet barely making a sound against the cool earth. The moment he hit the ground, the Tree Sentinel turned its massive helm towards him, the golden glow of its eyes narrowing in recognition.
The towering knight wasted no time, snapping its reins as its enormous warhorse reared up, letting out a deafening, battle-hardened neigh. The sheer weight of the knight's plated armour caused the ground beneath them to tremble slightly.
A familiar boss health bar materialised in Tarnished's vision.
[TREE SENTINEL]
The golden-clad knight lowered its greatshield, lance gleaming ominously in the morning sun. Tarnished, now clad in nothing but a pair of worn trousers and his trusty Uchigatana, grinned as he lowered himself into a ready stance. His body felt lighter—faster. He could feel the difference in every fibre of his being.
No more sluggish reactions, no more slow rolls, no more mistakes.
This time, he was ready.
The Tree Sentinel charged.
The ground beneath it shook as its warhorse thundered forward, the sheer weight of the knight and steed sending small clouds of dust into the air. Tarnished remained still, watching, waiting. He had fought this boss more times than he could count. Every speedrunner had. He knew its opening move before it even began.
As the Sentinel neared, it reared back its lance, preparing to slam it down with earth-shattering force.
'Now.'
Tarnished rolled forward, the lightness of his body making the movement effortless. He slid beneath the incoming lance just as it came crashing down, leaving a deep crater in the dirt where he had stood. The shockwave rippled past him, harmlessly disturbing the grass.
Springing up from his roll, Tarnished slashed at the Sentinel's flank, his Uchigatana carving through the golden plate with a satisfying scrape. The wound wasn't deep, but it was something. Blood sprayed from the gash, the Sentinel letting out a low growl of irritation as it pulled on the reins, spinning its warhorse around to face him again.
Marika's voice echoed in his mind, her tone tinged with genuine surprise. "Hoh! So thou canst move swiftly when unclad? 'Tis an unexpected sight, mayhaps thou art not entirely witless."
Tarnished smirked but had no time to gloat.
The Tree Sentinel twisted its body sharply, bringing its colossal golden shield crashing towards him with terrifying force. Tarnished recognised the attack instantly—the backswing—and leapt into a perfectly timed roll to avoid being crushed into a paste.
But he had miscalculated.
The shockwave caught him just as he landed, sending him skidding painfully across the dirt. A dull, unpleasant hum radiated from his chest, and his health bar dropped sharply.
'Tch.. That was careless!' He grimaced, quickly rolling to his feet.
The Sentinel wasted no time, already swinging its lance in a wide arc. Tarnished barely had time to react. No chance to dodge so instead, he brought his Uchigatana up and blocked the attack head-on.
The force behind the strike was immense, sending tremors through his arms. His knees buckled slightly, his health bar dipping even further. He grit his teeth, his grip tightening around the hilt of his blade.
He heard Marika click her tongue, unimpressed at this but he just ignored her and reached for his belt, snatching his Crimson Flask with practiced ease. He popped the cork with his thumb and chugged it down, the familiar warm sensation spreading through his body as his health bar restored itself.
The Tree Sentinel gave him no time to breathe as it charged once more, hooves thundering against the dirt. Tarnished had mere seconds to react. And this time, he was ready.
He feinted a dodge to the left—then rolled right, completely avoiding the incoming lance. The Sentinel had overcommitted to its attack, its warhorse needing a moment to slow its momentum.
Tarnished grinned. 'Gotcha.'
He surged forward, gripping his Uchigatana tightly as he activated its Ash of War: Unsheathe.
His stance lowered, blade poised and then in one fluid motion, he unsheathed his sword and slashed diagonally—the devastating speed of the attack tearing through the Sentinel's exposed thigh.
Blood gushed from the deep wound.
The Tree Sentinel roared in pain, but before Tarnished could press his advantage, the warhorse kicked out its hind legs, catching him straight in the chest.
The sheer impact sent him flying backwards, his body slamming into the dirt with a painful thud as his health bar plummeted again.
"Fuck!" he coughed, the impact rattling his ribs.
Without hesitation, he reached for his second Crimson Flask and drank deeply, the red glow pulsing through his body as his wounds vanished.
Marika sighed dramatically as she reappeared in his vision taking a seat on a nearby boulder, "Truly, thou art hopeless. To take a steed's hooves to thine ribs—hast thou no pride?"
Tarnished grumbled something under his breath, but there was no time to retort; The Sentinel wasn't done yet. The knight raised its greatshield, preparing one of its deadliest moves, causing the Tarnished warrior's eyes widened in alarm.
'Oh shit! It's that bastard Shield Bash!'
BOOM!
The golden shield slammed into the ground, sending out a tremendous shockwave that erupted through the air like a divine explosion and he was far too close.
The force slammed into his body, sending him hurtling back like a ragdoll. His vision blurred, the world spinning violently as he hit the ground hard. His health bar flashed red.
He was one hit away from death.
Marika clicked her tongue, her golden eyes narrowing. "Enough dallying. Finish this, or perish so that we may move onwards."
Tarnished wiped dirt and blood from his mouth with a grin as he reached for his final Crimson Flask, he downed the last of its healing power before rising to his feet.
The Tree Sentinel, still recovering from its shield bash, was wide open.
'Don't worry, I may not be used to this fighting thing just yet; but he's just as low as I am. And I know exactly how to finish this!' Tarnished thought as he sprinted forward while sheathing his uchigatana, causing it to shine for a moment with the activation of his Ash of War.
As the Sentinel turned, its warhorse lifted a hoof, preparing to stomp, but he was faster. The Tarnished activated his 'Unsheathe' Ash of War as the horse's leg shot towards him.
His blade flashed, sending one of the warhorse's legs into the sky. The beast screamed, collapsing under its own weight as the Tree Sentinel was thrown from the saddle. Tarnished didn't hesitate as before the knight could recover, he sheathed his blade and lunged forward, activating 'Unsheathe' once more.
His blade sliced clean through the Sentinel's exposed neck.
A moment later, its head tumbled from its shoulders.
The Tree Sentinel's body collapsed, blood pooling around its golden armour.
For a moment, there was silence.
[GREAT ENEMY FELLED]
Tarnished barely had time to grin before his body gave out, collapsing onto the grass. His chest rose and fell heavily, exhaustion setting in.
A flood of Runes entered his vision.
[Acquired: 3200 Runes + Golden Halberd ]
Tarnished let out a weak, breathless chuckle. "…Hell yeah."
A moment later, Marika appeared in his vision once again, crouching right above his head with a small impressed, breathtaking smile. He just grinned at her cheerfully, drawing a small chuckle from her as she stared down at him while resting her divine head on one hand.
"Well fought, my Champion."
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Author's Note:
Marika's right, you never quite forget your first Death.
…
Next Chapter Title: A Whole New World.