The Chessboard of the Chess Player

Torrent galloped across the vast expanse of Limgrave, its past as a Demigod's steed leaving the Godrick soldiers pursuing Lin Luo far behind.

"Please slow down, Lin Luo."

Melina tugged lightly at Lin Luo's sleeve. "Although spirits don't get nauseous..."

"If I fall off, I'll be embarrassed..."

"Huh?"

Lin Luo gently pulled on Torrent's reins, slowing its pace.

"It's getting late. Let's try to reach Castle Morne before nightfall."

Lin Luo stopped the horse and jumped off directly.

"Tarnished... Lin Luo... I can stay at a Site of Grace..."

"Shhh..."

Lin Luo smiled and sat directly behind Melina, wrapping his arms around her waist and taking hold of Torrent's reins.

Melina's body was soft, but as a spirit... there was no warmth at all, let alone body heat.

To call Melina wooden would be an understatement; even a stone would warm up if held for a long time, but Melina wouldn't. Only when burning the Erdtree did she release her own warmth.

But it was different now. Having lost most of her emotions due to the Greater Will's interference, Melina, wearing the Crystal Tear Necklace, began to gradually recover her feelings.

"Tarnished, please let me down..."

A faint blush appeared on Melina's fair face, but it quickly faded. Her seemingly annoyed actions were akin to a young girl's playful pouting.

"Haha... Let's go! Torrent!"

Lin Luo's eyes narrowed into slits, his mouth grinning widely.

He gave the reins a sharp tug, and Torrent began to run again.

Limgrave wasn't far from the Weeping Peninsula. Following the path north of Lake Agheel, one could see a massive aura of souls (like a springy trampoline). Lin Luo ignored the guarding soldiers, skillfully double-jumping over them with Torrent, soaring above their heads.

"Damn Tarnished!"

A soldier let out a frustrated roar and quickly blew the horn in his hand.

The sharp horn sound spread through the surroundings, and a large group of Godrick soldiers charged towards Lin Luo.

"Good! Come on!"

Lin Luo laughed heartily, gripped the reins with one hand, and pulled hard. He pulled out Maliketh's Black Sword from his storage pouch and turned the horse's head.

Torrent understood, stepped onto a protruding rock nearby, and used it for leverage to leap. The Black Sword swung directly towards the soldier who had blown the horn.

The soldier's expression changed, and he quickly raised his straight sword to block in front of him.

"Chiiira..."

There was no clash of metal. The soldier's straight sword was easily torn apart like thin paper by the Black Sword. Along with the straight sword, the soldier's head was also severed.

"A... familiar... feeling."

Melina looked at the Black Sword and suddenly said, "It's... Destined Death!"

Melina's delicate brows furrowed, her eyes filled with confusion.

"Lin Luo, you..."

"Shhh..."

Lin Luo raised his index finger slightly, bringing it to his lips.

"Let's deal with the troublesome matters first..."

"Kill!"

The Godrick soldiers unleashed their pent-up rage. This damned Tarnished clearly didn't take them seriously at all!

Two Kaiden cavalrymen took the lead, their massive Nodachis grinding sparks against the ground. The force of their charge was far more than simply one plus one.

Following closely behind were over a dozen Godrick soldiers wielding straight swords. If Lin Luo fell from his horse, they would surely chop him into mincemeat.

"Feel the power of the Dark Moon..."

Lin Luo murmured, slowly raising the Staff of the Death Prince. Immense energy began to gather on the staff.

"Adula's Moonblade..."

A shimmering azure blade of light instantly materialized before Lin Luo. A bone-chilling cold emanated from the sword.

"Saa..."

The Moonblade swung out fiercely. Just as the Godrick soldiers were about to charge, a majestic sword energy, a blue-white blade of light, was unleashed. A chilling mist instantly enveloped all the soldiers.

By the time they realized what was happening, it was already too late. They had encountered Tarnished before, but never one as monstrous as this.

"Is that the power of the Moon Princess?"

This was the last thought on everyone's minds as they met their end.

With a single strike, all the soldiers were annihilated.

"The power of a Demigod..."

Melina opened her mouth, emitting a surprised sound.

"My good fellow, by what right do I help you acquire the power of Runes?"

Torrent whinnied, having sensed the presence of its former master. Hmm, a mere mongrel, no doubt.

"Tarnished, who exactly are you..."

Melina's expression grew solemn, her form dissipating from Torrent's back as she stood before it, her eyes fixed on Lin Luo, trying to discern something.

"Heh..."

Lin Luo chuckled helplessly and dismounted.

"My power also comes from the Erdtree, but of course, not solely from the Erdtree."

Melina denied, "A Tarnished cannot be blessed by the Erdtree, nor guided by a maiden, nor can they transmute power through Runes. You are the first Tarnished I have guided."

"The power I possess comes from another you."

Lin Luo's words were astonishing.

"You..."

Melina's expression changed. The Greater Will attempted to control her again, but the Crystal Tear Necklace repelled it once more.

"Can you tell me... who you are?"

"The hand that holds the chess pieces controls the game. No matter how the pieces change or how important their position, they can simply be reset. But when a piece jumps off the board, the hand that holds the pieces loses the game."

Lin Luo spoke slowly.

Listening to Lin Luo's cryptic words, Melina fell silent. As intelligent as she was, she understood Lin Luo's meaning.

"So... your choice is..."

Lin Luo looked at Melina expectantly.

"Although... I don't know if what you're saying is true or not..."

"But no matter what, assisting you to become king is my duty..."

"I hope this is not just a duty..."

Lin Luo interrupted Melina.

"Tarnished... you..."

Melina's face was instantly flushed, and she stammered.

"Hahaha..."

Lin Luo laughed happily. This wasn't the Melina from the cycle; a person's true disposition couldn't be created solely through power.

"Then, Melina... please, mount up."

Lin Luo patted Torrent and extended his right hand to Melina.

"...You..."

Melina's face turned even redder. She shot Lin Luo a fierce glare, and her form dissipated.

"Tsk tsk..."

Lin Luo retracted his right hand, a smile on his face. Indeed, with Melina no longer interfered with by the Greater Will, she's finally not a block of wood anymore. Then... it should be perfectly acceptable for me, the great Elden Lord, to marry a few queens.

Thinking this, Lin Luo chuckled foolishly again, his mind already conjuring up some rather steamy scenarios.

"Heh heh... Melina, my Ranni..."

"Ding!"

Suddenly, a blue Glintstone Pebble struck Lin Luo, directly shattering his pleasant dream.

"Damn it! Who was that!"

Lin Luo turned his head angrily. Hm... it's just a Noble Sorcerer (a small enemy, a corpse, without consciousness).

Lin Luo was naturally not one to dwell on minor details. Therefore, after suffering a small Comet Azur, the Noble Sorcerer happily returned to the embrace of the Erdtree.

Noble Sorcerer: "I never imagined in my life that I would have the honor of being killed by Comet Azur."