Late at night, at Gatefront.
Xia Tong hunched over and crept through the shadows of the ruined walls toward the Godrick Soldier with a bronze horn hanging from his waist.
As for how the previous owner of this body had died, Xia Tong guessed he had been beaten to death by the group of soldiers at Gatefront.
As long as he took out the soldier responsible for blowing the horn and calling for reinforcements, the risk of getting mobbed would be much lower.
Back when he played the game, whenever he farmed levels at Gatefront, this "sentry" was always the first one he killed.
One step, then another.
Close enough.
Pfft!
The Lordsworn's Straight Sword plunged viciously into the Godrick Soldier's back!
Then Xia Tong planted his left foot against the man's back and yanked hard!
Squelch—!
Blood immediately sprayed out, splattering Xia Tong from head to toe.
The rancid old blood made Xia Tong cough repeatedly.
"Cough, cough..."
It stank!
It stank so badly!
However, that strike had not completely killed the Godrick Soldier.
He was remarkably tenacious. Staggering around, he turned and swung his straight sword at Xia Tong.
"Too slow!"
Xia Tong's gaze turned cold.
He lowered his body slightly, slid sideways to evade the attack, then slashed backward at the artery in the other man's thigh.
Pfft.
The soldier immediately collapsed, twitched a few times, and fell still.
A faint golden light flowed into Xia Tong's body. It was probably worth sixty-four Runes.
"Alright, that's enough for today."
Xia Tong skillfully stripped the Godrick Soldier of all his armor.
Then, like an ant moving house, he carried the loot back to the cave where he had rested before.
By now, the cave was piled full, forming a small mountain.
There were seven or eight complete Godrick Soldier Sets.
As for weapons, there were straight swords, spears, and several throwable daggers.
"Keep the daggers."
Xia Tong picked out several sharp daggers and tied them to the outside of his thighs with strips of cloth.
In the perilous Lands Between, having one more ranged option meant one more chance of survival.
Afterward, Xia Tong returned to the Site of Grace at Gatefront.
As a halo of light spread outward, a small patch of land around the Site of Grace was once again separated into an independent, tranquil space.
The wind outside and the howls of monsters seemed to drift far away.
Xia Tong quietly called for Melina.
Hum—
Blue motes of light gathered once more, taking the form of Melina's petite figure.
Watching Xia Tong's busy day, she seemed somewhat puzzled.
"Actually... there's no need for you to store every piece of armor you acquire in that cave."
"In the Lands Between, anyone who has received grace, or any powerful being acknowledged by grace, possesses a space of their own."
Melina's voice was ethereal and gentle.
"I have always followed you. Even when you are not at a Site of Grace, you may summon me at any time."
"Now, give me your hand."
With a flash of blue light, Melina became corporeal again.
Xia Tong did as she said and extended his left hand.
This time, Melina wrapped both of her hands tightly around Xia Tong's left hand.
Her hands were cool and soft.
A faint, almost imperceptible force flowed from her hands into Xia Tong's palm.
"Close your eyes and feel carefully."
Xia Tong closed his eyes.
Soon, he felt as though he had entered an illusory space of darkness.
Not far away, a vague point of light drew his consciousness toward it.
Under Melina's guidance, Xia Tong successfully established a connection with that point of light within the illusory space.
"Open your eyes."
Melina released his hand and softly said,
"How is it? Now try putting something into that space."
With a thought, Xia Tong tried to "place" one of the daggers tied to his leg into that space.
Whoosh!
The dagger in his hand vanished into thin air.
And within his consciousness, a dagger floated quietly in that space.
"So this is the legendary spatial backpack!"
Xia Tong was overjoyed.
With this, he would no longer have to hide things all over the place like a scavenger.
After finishing everything, Xia Tong returned once again to the cave deep in the forest.
He chatted with Melina for a while longer.
The campfire in the cave crackled as it burned.
The flickering flames cast shifting light and shadow across their faces, creating a warm and tranquil atmosphere.
"You should sleep."
Melina spoke softly, her figure gradually fading into the darkness.
Xia Tong closed his eyes in peace and drifted into a sweet sleep.
The next day, at first light.
Xia Tong rode Torrent toward the other side of the forest.
His destination was the Church of Elleh.
He carefully avoided several Godrick Soldiers carrying torches and crossed several rolling hills.
At last, the distinctive little stone church slowly came into view in the distance.
However...
Clop! Clop! Clop-clop!
At that moment, a clear, heavy sound of hoofbeats drew closer.
The sound was like a dull bell tolling thunderously beside his ears, shaking even the ground beneath him.
Xia Tong abruptly looked back.
His pupils contracted sharply!
It was a massive figure radiating golden light!
He sat atop a tall warhorse clad in heavy armor.
That golden armor gleamed beneath the sunlight, like a moving mountain of gold.
At that moment, he was only around thirty meters from the Church of Elleh.
And less than a hundred meters from Xia Tong!
That was—the Tree Sentinel!
Beneath the helmet, those indifferent yet terrifying eyes had already locked firmly onto Xia Tong.
"I'm screwed!"
"I've been locked on!"
Xia Tong went numb all over and shuddered violently.
This was the Tree Sentinel!
The nightmare of countless newcomers!
He had worked so hard farming levels at Gatefront, and he was only level three right now!
Forget fighting him. If that Golden Halberd so much as grazed him, he would probably die on the spot!
"Run!"
Without the slightest hesitation.
Xia Tong clamped his legs around Torrent's sides, immediately turned the horse around, and galloped madly toward the distant forest.
Clatter! Clatter! Clatter!
A despairing roar came from behind him.
The Tree Sentinel was enormous to begin with, and even with all four hooves on the ground, the warhorse beneath him stood nearly three meters tall!
Now its hooves flew as it ran, and it could even use magic to counterattack.
Dust immediately billowed behind them.
The Tree Sentinel occasionally let out furious "Hah! Hah!" roars, raising his Golden Halberd high as murderous intent surged around him.
"Torrent! Run faster! Otherwise, we're both done for!"
Xia Tong pressed his entire upper body tightly against the horse's back, lowering his wind resistance as much as possible.
The wind howled in his ears, and his heart nearly leaped out of his throat.
Fortunately, Torrent was a Spirit Steed and incredibly fast.
Though the Tree Sentinel was formidable, his heavy armor ultimately slowed him down.
Xia Tong rode Torrent at full speed for half an hour. Only after confirming that those terrifying hoofbeats were gone did he dare stop.
"Pant... pant..."
Xia Tong gasped for breath, drenched in cold sweat.
Torrent beneath him was exhausted as well, foam gathering at the corners of his mouth.
Xia Tong's heart ached for him, and he hurriedly gathered some fresh Rowa Fruit nearby.
He fed them to Torrent handful after handful.
After eating the fruit, Torrent recovered considerably and affectionately rubbed against Xia Tong.
Beneath the shade of the trees.
Specks of blue light gathered as Melina slowly materialized.
Looking at the bedraggled man and horse, she softly said,
"That Tree Sentinel from before... you are certainly no match for him right now."
"When you approach his patrol range later, you should dismount and sneak past on foot."
Xia Tong slumped onto the ground. Looking at Melina, he suddenly came up with an idea.
"Melina... I'm so scared. My palms are covered in cold sweat, and my heart is beating so fast."
Xia Tong deliberately put on a frightened expression, his tone weak.
Maybe I can get a free hug or something?
Melina looked at him in confusion and slowly exposed his act.
"But... your breathing is very calm right now."
"Uh..." Xia Tong felt a little awkward.
Even so, a hint of helpless softness seemed to flash across Melina's cold face.
She still lowered her head and folded her hands together.
She silently chanted an ancient incantation, her fingers forming several intricate and elegant hand seals.
Hum—
The next moment.
A slender phantom of a small Erdtree, about two meters tall, appeared out of thin air before Xia Tong.
The Erdtree emitted a gentle golden glow, like the warm sun of winter.
The light spilled over Xia Tong, bringing him wave after wave of warmth from within.
The lingering fear and physical exhaustion left by his encounter with the Tree Sentinel vanished beneath that light.
"This is..."
Of course Xia Tong knew.
This was Blessing of the Erdtree.
It was Melina's exclusive incantation, one that only she could cast in the entire game.
He remembered that when fighting Morgott, the Omen King, whenever the protagonist was injured, Melina would cast this incantation to restore health.
Its effect in the game was healing.
But now, it seemed to possess the miraculous ability to calm one's heart, dispel fear, and restore stamina as well.
"Thank you, Melina." Xia Tong spoke sincerely.
Melina said nothing. She merely watched quietly as the little Erdtree sapling faded away.
After resting.
Xia Tong once again set out for the Church of Elleh.
This time, he had learned his lesson.
When he was still about three kilometers from the Church of Elleh, Xia Tong dismounted.
He dismissed Torrent back into the ring and crept through the grass like a thief, hunched over.
He hid whenever he encountered bushes and detoured whenever he came across high ground.
This time, his luck was good. Until he neared the church, he did not draw the Tree Sentinel's hostility again.
The golden knight merely patrolled the distant road mechanically.
At last.
Xia Tong climbed over the final ruined wall and entered the church.
The Church of Elleh was an ancient stone structure.
Its dome had long since collapsed.
Most of the surrounding walls had also become crumbling ruins, steeped in the weathered traces of history.
But in the game, it had been a quiet, ruined sanctuary standing in Limgrave.
Even in reality, it was exceptionally peaceful.
There were no aggressive creatures inside, not even stray dogs.
The church, which covered only a little over two hundred square meters, was now mostly overgrown with knee-high wild grass.
The walls were riddled with cracks, with stones peeling away from the edges. Ivy and gray-green moss stubbornly grew from the crevices, adding a touch of life to the ruins.
Looking up, he could see the vast sky of the Lands Between.
At the very center of the church was a familiar cluster of light—the Church of Elleh Site of Grace.
In the church's southeastern corner, a bonfire burned.
A figure sat beside it.
He wore a broad red hat and a heavy red cloak that concealed most of his body.
A docile donkey was tethered beside him.
Its back was laden with all manner of goods and baggage.
It was daytime, and his bonfire had gone out, leaving only embers.
Hearing Xia Tong's footsteps, the man raised his head, revealing a stubbled face and eyes that seemed to have seen through all the hardships of the world.
His voice was hoarse yet magnetic, carrying the indolent air unique to a wanderer:
"Hello, friend."
"My name is Kale."
"From the look of you... you're a Tarnished who has only just arrived, aren't you?"
In a corner not far away stood a heavy smithing table.
Nearby, the golden light of the Site of Grace radiated a warm presence.
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