Nepheli

The battle had gone on for who knew how long...

All he knew was that the sky had turned gray, the earth had become blood-red, and screams echoed from Stormveil Castle...

Several hours had likely passed. Lin Luo swung his sword and severed the last soldier's head before him, finally bringing the slaughter to a halt. Surrounded by hundreds, his Waterfowl Dance had been like a meat grinder, shredding every soldier who tried to approach.

Stormveil Castle had surely never been this quiet...

It was like an empty city, a city of the dead.

"Drip... drip..."

Drops of blood fell from the tip of his blade onto the ground, producing strange, muffled sounds.

Lin Luo's gaze gradually cleared. The midnight-blue color in his eyes slowly faded, returning to a dull gray.

Lin Luo reached up and removed his helmet. The plume on Marika's Helm had originally been white, but now it had been dyed blood-red...

Naturally, Lin Luo had used the power of the Rune of Death. That way, their souls could not return to the Erdtree. If they were not killed thoroughly enough, the Greater Will would only gain more power through the Erdtree.

"What... happened here?"

The fighting in the castle had made quite a commotion. Now that it had fallen silent, Nepheli, in a room below, could not help but grow curious.

But she could clearly tell that the soldiers had been hunting an invader. Now that there was no more noise, that warrior had likely died valiantly. If possible, she would retrieve his body. A person like that should not become material for grafting.

The newcomer was a female warrior dressed rather "lightly," her wheat-colored skin exposed, revealing her flat abdomen.

Her lips were tightly pressed together, her expression full of confidence...

"What happened here?"

Nepheli muttered to herself, beginning to regret not coming up sooner to witness this shocking sight.

—Corpses covered the ground, and blood flowed like a river. There could be no better description for the scene before her.

But... weren't the souls of the dead supposed to return to the Erdtree...?

"Who's there?!"

Lin Luo immediately heard the movement from her direction.

The helmet was left where it was, while his figure had already vanished.

With Bloodhound Step driven to its utmost by runes, he flashed dozens of meters in an instant. By the time Nepheli reacted again, Lin Luo's longsword was already at her throat.

Lin Luo did not hold back. The blade pressed down, drawing a streak of crimson.

"Ah?"

Nepheli froze. Only when she felt the sting at her neck did she abruptly realize that the god of slaughter from ahead had already appeared before her.

"I'm not one of Godrick's men."

Nepheli's body trembled slightly. That speed had truly frightened her.

Upon hearing her voice, Lin Luo's eyes gradually cleared. Only then did he take a careful look at the person before him.

A familiar memory surfaced in his mind... This person... seemed to be the female warrior Nepheli, the adopted daughter of Sir Gideon Ofnir...

"Sorry..."

Lin Luo said flatly, sheathing his sword as he gave Nepheli a surprised look.

"If you'd arrived a step earlier, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to stop my blade..."

"Gulp..."

Nepheli swallowed, still shaken, then said, "You're a Tarnished, aren't you...? Is Godrick your target...? If possible, take me with you. I won't allow a tyrant like Godrick to rule Stormveil Castle."

Nepheli had originally wanted to ask why these corpses had not returned to the Erdtree, but seeing Lin Luo's cold gaze, even someone as bold as her felt a trace of hesitation.

She could not really be blamed. This scene truly was terrifying...

"..."

Lin Luo scrutinized Nepheli for a long while before finally nodding.

"If possible, I hope you can take over Stormveil Castle. Stormveil Castle cannot be left without a lord."

Lin Luo's words were not without basis. Naturally, he understood the character of the woman before him. Bold yet meticulous, possessing a ruler's authority without losing her composure; ruthless in her methods, yet not lacking a ruler's compassion. Even toward the Albinaurics, those failed artificial creations, Nepheli held kindness in her heart. Since Kenneth Haight, the son of the lord of Fort Kenneth in Limgrave, had also chosen her, Lin Luo did not mind helping him take this step.

"Me...?"

Nepheli froze, seemingly shocked by Lin Luo's words. They had clearly only met for the first time. Was he not afraid that she would become a tyrant like Godrick, bringing harm to all around her?

Despite her doubts, Nepheli nodded. She was confident that she could do better than Godrick! After all, Godrick had no room left to get any worse, did he?

"Then, Lady of the Castle, please clean up your city!"

Lin Luo smiled and bowed slightly to Nepheli before turning and leaving.

"..."

Nepheli suddenly felt as though she had been tricked... Why did it feel like she had accepted a complete mess for nothing...?

Nepheli fell into deep thought...

Lin Luo yawned and changed into another set of clothes. After all, his armor had been splattered with blood, without a single clean spot left.

After finishing all that, Lin Luo headed toward the Site of Grace from before. Melina must have been waiting for a long time...

When he reached the door, Lin Luo heard angry shouting from outside it.

"That voice... Gostoc?"

"You foolish witch, just like that damned Tarnished!"

Gostoc cursed furiously, but there was no one in front of him. Melina had likely grown tired of his insults and returned to the Site of Grace.

As for why she had not killed him, Melina naturally wanted to wait for Lin Luo to return and deal with him.

"Haha! There's already no movement outside. That foolish Tarnished has probably died out there!"

Gostoc wore a sickly grin.

"Guess how he died? Was he torn apart by countless soldiers, hanged from Stormveil Castle's walls, or sent to Godrick for grafting? Oh, no, no, no, that would be letting him off too easily. I really want to go out and take a look!"

"Then come out and look..."

Lin Luo's voice sounded from the doorway, his face carrying a cold smile. Tricking me would have been one thing, but insulting Melina?

"??"

Gostoc abruptly looked toward the door. Someone who should have been the least likely to appear had actually appeared!

"No! Impossible! How could you not be dead?! How could you not be dead?!"

Gostoc screamed madly, then suddenly froze and revealed a smug grin. "It's you, isn't it, you foolish witch? Trying to use this method to..."

"Bang!"

Lin Luo leaped forward and kicked Gostoc to the ground. His foot stomped hard onto Gostoc's face, grinding down again and again.

"Lin Luo!"

Melina's figure appeared, and she cried out in delight. It seemed as though there was even a trace of tears in her voice?

Melina threw herself into Lin Luo's arms and hugged him tightly, as if afraid he would leave.

"Ah..."

Lin Luo's body visibly trembled. This was the first time he had seen Melina take such initiative...

But Lin Luo quickly recovered. His eyes softened with affection as he slowly embraced Melina and patted her back.

"Don't worry. Aren't I fine...?"

Lin Luo said gently. Of course, the foot pinning Gostoc down did not ease up. Instead, it pressed even harder...