The Tarnished

"Who?"

When Lan Le saw the words "Tarnished," he was stunned for a moment.

As everyone knows, adventurers can invite their familiar figures to participate in Battle Festival. As long as they are not merchants with no combat power like Ka Lie, the familiar figures generally will not refuse the invitation.

Therefore, apart from a fixed number of people, the afterimages appearing at the Battle Festival are all random, since no one knows who else has been invited.

Perhaps it is because the Zane Dungeon takes care of everyone, these enthusiastic afterimages that come to help will generate summoning symbols on the battlefield after they die. As long as they are summoned again, they can continue to fight alongside them.

Except for Patch, who doesn't leave any summoning symbols after he runs away.

When considering how to deal with Radahn, the people of the Warrior Country also considered using the power of the assisting afterimages, because these afterimages could truly fight continuously as long as someone was pulling them, and could wear down the enemy!

However, this proved to be completely unfeasible, because the speed at which summoning symbols were generated seemed to be slower than the speed at which the Starscourge General could kill people, and for some reason, some powerful afterimages that people knew could not be invited in.

For example, there's Solaire in Anor Londo, and Onion Knight still sleeping in Irithyll of the Irithyll of the Boreal Valley.

Operation Phantom was declared a failure.

However, thanks to this, Lan Le had the opportunity to learn about all the afterimages in the Zane Dungeon, greatly expanding his brain's database, so he would never encounter an afterimage he didn't recognize again.

However, the unfamiliar afterimage finally appeared in front of him.

"The Tarnished?"

Who is this? This name doesn't exist in my database!

Lan Le didn't understand, because in his mind Tarnished was a general term for a group of people, and who would use such a term as their own name?

"Who found this afterimage in some hidden corner?"

He had little hope for this suddenly appearing Tarnished, just like how a helper NPC in Yugi is directly named Black or White. Just by looking at him, he felt that the other party was a minor character who didn't even deserve a name.

Never mind, at least after I summon it, I can stand and fight Radahn.

With that thought in mind, Lan Le touched the summoning symbol and chose to summon.

He forgot one thing: they had actually been in contact with someone who was directly referred to as the Tarnished.

The ominous demon, the limb-splitting Godrick, and other figures who were either enemies or afterimages, all uttered the word "Tarnished" the moment they encountered the adventurer.

And all of this that the adventurers are experiencing has one ultimate source—

Memory of the Elden Lord.

"Buzz—"

As a light, seemingly indistinguishable from other summoning symbols, slowly illuminated the ground, people were drawn to it and turned to look.

The illusory figure gradually solidified in the light, and people suddenly felt that the wind on the sand dunes had become stronger, even the cloak of the figure that was not yet fully solidified was blown.

Surprisingly, the summoned afterimage was solid! It wasn't a golden phantom, but rather had a posture identical to that of a normal person.

The "Tarnished" have their backs to the people.

The battle-hardened cloak, weathered by countless battles, revealed glimpses of armor as it fluttered. It was a pale silver, stained with a faint red hue as if it had been drenched in blood.

He looked ordinary, just like any other one of the countless Tarnished, but standing there, he somehow managed to attract people's attention.

Judging from his back alone, some people in the crowd felt that he was very familiar, as if they had seen him somewhere before.

"Huh?"

Exhausted and lying in the crowd Si Telan suddenly sat up, not even having time to groan because she had hurt her back. Her eyes were fixed on the Tarnished.

There was no mistake; she swore she had seen the "Waste Stone" of the Painting World countless times, she absolutely recognized that afterimage.

"Ah, Elden—"

Before she could finish speaking, her words were drowned out by a deafening roar that echoed across the earth. Only those around her, who heard her scream, showed expressions of astonishment.

It was Radahn who had shown rare mercy to people in his corrupted mind by giving them time to laugh; now he could no longer Endurance it.

The Warrior's attacks did indeed inflict respectable damage on him. His ferocity was not only aroused, but the corrosive influence became increasingly difficult to suppress. He had now fallen into complete rage and would treat nothing with kindness except for the warhorse beneath him!

Dozens of meteorites floating behind him hurtled towards the people, and for a moment it could be seen as Astel, the Dark Spawn, unleashing Ultimate Skill.

"Once we get out, I'm going to brag to my wife and kids about today's victory."

Surprisingly, the Warrior were relaxed in the face of this inevitable end, and even had the mood to joke.

Today was their closest chance to victory. There were still too few people attending the festival. If they had used that level of fighting spirit two or three more times, they would have definitely been able to defeat Radahn.

However, the mages are still working on their second Super Forbidden Spell, and a bunch of people are excitedly putting their strange and unusual experiments into practice, so maybe this time everyone can make the results even more impressive.

This time, the Warrior proved one thing: if Radahn appeared outside the dungeon, or if there were more challengers than there are now, people are capable of eliminating him.

Try to summon as many afterimages as possible to buy time for the mages.

Thinking this, people lay on the ground searching for summoning symbols, but strangely, they found none. Perhaps one Tarnished being wasn't enough!

"Magicians, good luck to you all," the group lamented sympathetically after their fruitless search.

They're going to go ahead with the meteorite; they won't stay here and join the magicians in their antics.

But the magicians wouldn't just sit and wait to die; they would continue to fight and live on!

Various Magic Shield appeared, and numerous spells of different colors launched attacks on the meteorite.

If it were just these meteorites, everyone could hold them off with some effort, but the real challenge is the subsequent attack from Radahn.

"Hurry up, squeeze out every last bit of magic!" one of the mages shouted. "Professors, hurry up and cast the Super Forbidden Spell again!"

"Get ready, just a moment!" Tu Erqi replied.

Just as the Warrior calmly accepted the meteorite, and even opened their arms to embrace it, people suddenly felt fluctuations of magical energy around them.

Generally speaking, magic that exists in the environment is difficult to detect, but when it makes any dramatic movements, it becomes easy to detect.

The direction the magic flows is towards the Tarnished.

People looked up and saw him holding a magic wand. A huge amount of magic power gathered on the wand, solidifying into a large, azure bow, with countless arrows ready to be fired.

This magic looks really useful! Jia Paer's eyes lit up in the crowd.

[Magic: Loretta's Special Move]

The magic cast by the Royal Knight Loretta can create a magical bow that can fire at least four large arrows simultaneously.

This is the magic she honed to Forge Fire during her long journey of battle.

The giant arrows, formed purely of magic, spun around like snakes, automatically scattering towards the incoming meteorites. Was this to protect the Warrior? No, people then realized that the vast majority of the meteorites were actually hurtling towards him.

As the magic arrow struck the meteorite, a violent explosion occurred, turning the meteorite into a dazzling display of fireworks.

The Tarnished fired twice with lightning speed, and the magnificent arrows shattered the meteorites!

The shattered stones crashed down on the crowd, enough to cause serious injury, but everyone stared blankly as the Faded One put down his magic wand and drew a simple, Tarnished Greatsword.

"Ghrū."

The sound of swallowing saliva could be heard everywhere.

"This... this level of strength is beyond the norm, isn't it?"

The arrow that shot at the meteorite seems to be on a completely different level from the other supporting afterimages.

The other teammates were a spinning pot, a wolf wielding a sword, and an old man in a wheelchair, but without exception, they were all very "primitive".

This Tarnished gives the feeling of a Gundam suddenly appearing in World War II!

"Huh? Huh?" Lan Le didn't know how to react. Did he just summon a super big shot?

"He is Elden—"

Si Telan's shout was interrupted by a loud noise once again before she could finish speaking.

Because the battle between the Tarnished and Radahn has already begun at this very moment.

The earth trembled, rocks flew, and a deafening roar erupted as Radahn's twin swords slammed into the ground, propelling him into the air as he unleashed the Lion Slash, Weapon Skill most familiar to all, upon the Tarnished!

The move he used was the strongest that people had ever seen, both in terms of style and power. Compared to him, the moves that people used from the Battle Ash were just ordinary imitations.

"Could it be!" Lan Le couldn't help but exclaim with anticipation.

The giant arrow that shot down the meteorite just now raised everyone's expectations for the Tarnished to an unprecedented level. Even if he suddenly stretched out his hands and steadily Lion Slash, no one would be surprised!

However, the reality was not as outrageous and fantastical as people imagined. Faced with the powerful slash, the Tarnished merely shifted his feet slightly, and just as the blade was about to touch him, his figure suddenly disappeared, appearing outside the attack range in the next instant.

Everyone recognized the Weapon Skill he was using – it was [Hound Step]!

Before Radahn could retract his twin swords, the Tarnished took a heavy step forward, his Greatsword slashing out with a powerful, spinning motion, leaving a blood-gushing wound on the enemy's calf!

"[Ready Stance]! This is the ready stance!" Someone in the crowd recognized the name of this move.

Just as the Tarnished struck Radahn, the opponent's heavy twin swords suddenly changed their attack, slashing vertically with the force of a thunderbolt!

"Bang!"

A sound that could lift one's spirits was heard, and the body of the Tarnished was struck by this tremendous force and knocked back a considerable distance.

Did he fail? No, he defended himself!

Greatsword was placed in front of him. As the attack of the Starscourge Greatsword came, he swung his sword at the right angle, achieving a perfect defense!

"It feels a bit like a parry?" people said uncertainly, because they didn't recognize what kind of move it was.

As the distance increased, the berserk Radahn swung his sword twice, executing those around him. But the next moment, a large number of sharp, shattered crystal fragments shot into his bare chest, the shards embedding deeply into the wound!

Tu Erqi recognized the magic as [Carian Slicer], which could shoot out crystal fragments!

It was also used by the Tarnished. He waved his magic wand in succession, and after the Carian Slicer, he followed up with [Swirling Magic Pebble] and [Glintstone Stars]. He switched between these spells with ease.

Undeterred by the magical attacks, Radahn charged across a distance of over a hundred meters, his heavy Greatsword slashing down with all its might, striking directly at the location of the Tarnished!

But with a loud crash to the ground and the explosion of black mist, the figure of the Tarnished suddenly appeared in mid-air, Heavy Chop with his Greatsword, leaving a deep bloody gash on Radahn's arm!

"I recognize this move; it's the [Concealing Mist Raptor]! It allows him to leap into the air and dodge attacks!"

The moment the Tarnished landed, he turned his Greatsword around and struck Radahn's leg from below, inflicting another wound. He then used the force of the swing to leap back several meters.

Just as he retreated, the Starscourge Greatsword slammed into the spot where he had been standing, followed by Radahn's frenzied slashes.

Even more people recognized this Weapon Skill; it was undoubtedly the [Hound's Fang]! This move should also have a follow-up derivative.

Just as everyone was thinking this, the Tarnished launched the follow-up action of the Hound's Fang the instant that Radahn's combo ended. His figure disappeared again, and the moment he reappeared, he launched a fierce attack on the enemy's legs.

His continuous, almost dance-like slashes were what he was using now – the [Sword Dance]!

How many Weapon Skills and spells are there already?

Unlike the simple-minded Ash, is the Tarnished a type that cultivates both physical and magical abilities and is proficient in all martial arts?

Radahn roared to the sky, unleashing a torrent of Gravity Magic that instantly summoned stars, inevitably pulling the Tarnished's body forward.

But just as the Starscourge Greatsword was about to crash down, he suddenly pulled a Brass Shield from his cloak, and as he raised the shield, a golden light enveloped his entire body in an instant.

"Boom--"

The final move of the Star Summoning technique destroyed everything around it, but when the golden light faded, the Tarnished remained intact.

This move is something no one has ever seen before. It's the Weapon Skill "Invincible" in action. When golden power fills the entire body, it can make the user instantly invincible!

Radahn, having retracted his Star Summoning stance, looked down at the Tarnished, who in turn looked up at him.

Without words or communication, an even fiercer battle suddenly erupted in the next instant.

The Warrior, who had long since lost their ability to move, have now found a new source of enjoyment: identifying the Weapon Skill and magic used by both sides in the battle!

They had never seen a person who combined Weapon Skill and magic so perfectly. The Tarnished's every move was seamless and fluid, as if magic and Weapon Skill were born to work together in this way.

Watching too much of this can even inspire people, letting everyone know how to fight better in the future!

"It's like a textbook! Wow, is this kind of valuable information really free to watch?" Lu Lu Wo, who was carrying the projector, gasped.

People are now highly enthusiastic, and the sudden appearance of the Tarnished and their impressive victories have also inspired the audience.

Some people started taking notes on the spot using the video as a template, some looked thoughtful, but many more simply waved their arms like they were giving a shout-out.

They would have cheered whether Radahn gained the upper hand or the Tarnished launched an offensive, but now that the Warrior have fallen, they no longer have a target to firmly support.

Then all you need to do is enjoy it!

Whoever plays the best game gets the most cheers!

"This, this could be..."

Bontou craned his neck to look at the projected image in front of him, as if he were about to sink into it. The attendants beside him were worried that he would fall off the throne.

He stared intently, muttering to himself:

"I can't believe such a thing exists."

In the Zane Dungeon, at the Wailing Dunes, Radahn unleashed his full power, employing both fierce swordsmanship and various large-scale destructive spells without reservation. The entire Wailing Dunes resembled a missile testing ground, filled with booming sounds that left everyone dazed.

The Tarnished always manage to use the perfect Weapon Skill or magic, as if they were master players who knew Radahn's actions inside and out and had calculated every possibility.

Sometimes he fiercely clashed swords, sometimes he nimbly dodged, sometimes he raised his shield to stab, and sometimes he unleashed magic. He would always choose the most suitable tactic to add more injuries to the Starscourge General's body.

His fighting style is neither as unadorned as Ash's, nor as ethereal and ferocious as a hunter's duality. There is one word that perfectly describes him:

Make the most of everything

No matter what kind of magic or Weapon Skill it is, it can be used as long as it is suitable. This is the significance of the Lands Between being full of a wide variety of skills!

Who exactly is this guy, and why is he so powerful?!

However, while those Tarnished can cope with it easily, others will suffer.

Such a large-scale and high-density release of Gravity Magic naturally resulted in the deaths of countless living beings in the surrounding area.

The first to die at the hands of the berserk Radahn were not the Warrior, but the mages.

They excitedly began their forbidden experiment, intending to take advantage of the fact that the monsters in the dungeon had no human rights to observe the results.

As a result, when those bizarre experiments were first launched, a group of magicians suffered a severe backlash and died before they could even begin.

The remaining mages, as planned, darted towards Radahn, but suddenly Rataen unleashed a Gravity Spin Slash from 800 miles away, striking the mages directly in the face. After two such attacks, none of them survived!

They died without ever having the chance to observe the results of their experiments, and felt extremely frustrated.

The destructive white light erupted once again on the Wailing Dunes, but this time it didn't hit Radahn at all, because he was attracted by the Tarnished and left the place instantly before the explosion occurred.

On the contrary, the mages who had been diligently preparing the Super Forbidden Spell were caught in the crossfire. First, their Magic Shield were shattered by Radahn, and then they were blown away by the Super Forbidden Spell, turning into shooting stars in the sky.

In the end, the Warrior who lay motionless in place made it to the final round and became the group with the longest survival time.

No longer paying attention to the unfortunate mages, the Warrior now focused entirely on Radahn and the Tarnished, or more precisely, on the Weapon Skill and magic they used.

Every time a new Weapon Skill or magic appeared, they would shout out its name, creating an incredibly lively discussion atmosphere. An outsider might have thought they were on a spring outing.

"[Storm Blade]! [Frost Stomp]! [Phantom Spear]! [Spin Around and Around]! [Lightning Spear]!"

"[Glintstone Arc]! [Summon Undead]! [Dragon Incantation]!"

The moves used by the Tarnished are all incredibly powerful, and the Warrior have now been reduced to ruthless machines that simply recite menus.

This is a carnival for martial arts practitioners, where they can see the exquisite application of their familiar moves, which is the ultimate enjoyment for them.

And it can really inspire people.

A feast, an absolute feast!

Even though the Warrior were being decimated by the attacks, they still watched the battle with great interest.

Some people felt that their bodies had regained some strength, so they picked up their weapons and went back to the battlefield.

Although death is inevitable, Radahn will strike them a few extra times for them instead of ignoring their challenge and waiting for them to be killed by the aftershocks.

Gradually, people got up from the ground.

Whether they can only walk on two legs or can barely lift a weapon, anyone who can still move will be drawn to the battlefield and keep moving towards the center of the fight.

Even in the Zane Dungeon, one could sense that the Spirit Power emanating from these people seemed to be even higher than before!

But.

Even the grandest feast must eventually come to an end, and for those trapped in the underground city, their annihilation is the end of that feast.

Now only a few people are alive, and even many of the photographers have died. There are only a dozen or so people left alive.

They were determined to preserve their lives, no matter what, in order to witness the victory of the Tarnished.

"I think I understand."

Lan Le, lying on the ground after being cut in half at the waist, was still clinging to life, weakly muttering to himself:

"We had already won the battle the moment we were able to stop the meteor."

Did the Tarnished appear after the meteor shower to get people back up and fight alongside him?

He felt that wasn't the case, because in a battle of that intensity, people rushing in would be like mayflies trying to shake a tree, eventually disappearing without a trace.

Just as the Farron Undead Legion, once in Sunlight King form, can obtain the soul of the Wolf's Blood even if an adventurer is killed, perhaps in battles of this magnitude, the Zane Dungeon doesn't want the adventurers to achieve a complete victory, but rather to fight to their best and limit.

By blocking the deadly meteor, the challengers have proven their worth and are now entitled to the reward.

The Tarnished that have appeared now are less like allies helping in battle and more like beings fulfilling people's dreams.

Lan Le strained his eyes as he saw that Radahn was already panting heavily, and the Tarnished were launching their final offensive.

He absolutely must not lose consciousness before seeing the ending!

The battle was short, lasting until Radahn, heavily wounded, rose into the sky once more.

The Tarnished raised his staff high, and a deep blue blade formed from the convergence of magic took shape. As more and more magic was poured in, the blade became increasingly exaggerated, expanding and expanding until it finally shot straight into the sky.

A meteor streaked down from the sky, accompanied by billowing flames, and the Tarnished unleashed its final attack on the Stone Fling.

The final, Great Carian!

The familiar explosion flashed across the sand dunes, but its power was far less than before, and half of Lan Le's body was blown away.

In mid-air, he saw the flames and smoke gradually dissipate, and what was revealed in the dissipating flames was...

It was that enormous body that was turning into dust and slowly drifting away with the breeze.

The Legend of the Shattered Star returns to the Erdtree at this moment, and the stars in the sky revolve, with a shooting star streaking across the horizon.

It's done.

Before he could finish speaking, Lan Le crashed heavily to the ground. Already on the verge of death, he suffered such a severe injury that he could no longer maintain consciousness.

Before he closed his eyes, he clearly felt the ground beneath him trembling, as if the earth was enduring countless impacts from beyond the heavens.

In his final moments, he wanted to take one last look at the sky Wailing Dunes, only to find that the crimson surrounding the sky had vanished, replaced by...

A shower of dazzling shooting stars.

This time, it was a real star falling right before my eyes.