-I didn't want to die yet!
My Straight Sword was knocked into the air, and I slumped to the ground like a lamb awaiting slaughter.
Nerijus brought his dagger down at me, its cold gleam promising death, ready to thirstily drink blood once more!
But in that split second, my body moved on instinct. I actually grabbed the dagger, Reduvia, barely stopping his attack.
It felt as though fire were burning in my hand. Hot liquid dripped onto my face, dispelling much of the fear clouding my heart and clearing my head a little.
"Keh-heh-heh!" Nerijus kept up his strange, wild laughter and raised his other hand again.
But desperation sparked an idea. I pulled on Reduvia and fell backward, kicking Nerijus in the stomach at the same time and sending him flying.
Then I hurriedly rolled several times and retrieved my Straight Sword.
I took another sip from the Flask of Crimson Tears. As my wounds healed, I used the brief respite to keep telling myself:
-Stay calm. I had to stay calm!
-A dagger's greatest weakness was its short reach. That madman Nerijus had even been willing to get hurt just to close the distance. That meant he was badly wounded too.
-And after drinking from the Flask of Crimson Tears, I was pretty much back at full strength. I had the advantage...
Ah, Nerijus got back to his feet and took a sip from a Flask of Crimson Tears too. Come to think of it, almost every human in Elden Ring had a means of healing, even the villainous NPCs.
But they could only do it once.
-And I still had one use left. I still had the advantage!
I gripped my sword in both hands, suppressing my trembling as I stared straight at him.
Nerijus licked his blade as though to say, My blade's coated in deadly poison, you know, then attacked me again.
Stay calm! Stay calm!
Just as Nerijus was about to reach me, I suddenly tore off my already soaking-wet cloak, spun around, and hurled it hard at his head.
Nerijus instinctively raised his hands to block and fling it aside, but a second later, I crouched and swept his legs out from under him, sending him sprawling.
-Don't give him a chance to get up!
My mind became unusually clear, and even my vision seemed sharper.
I reached to my waist, drew several throwing knives, and quickly hurled them at Nerijus.
Nerijus reacted a beat too late. Two knives struck him before he rolled out of the way. At the same time, he slashed hard, unleashing a Blood Blade that forced me back.
"Tch, that move starts up faster than I thought. It's really hard to guard against." I warily kept my distance from Nerijus.
After coming off worse throughout that exchange, he had grown more cautious too, circling with me for a few steps.
-Since I still had more room for error overall, I would be the one to attack!
I gripped my Straight Sword tightly in both hands, held it beside my stomach, and charged Nerijus-Square Off: heavy attack opener!
Nerijus seemed to laugh in disbelief. Did you think I couldn't beat you? You bastard!
Then he charged too.
But no matter what-the Straight Sword had much better reach than your lousy dagger!
And this time, I'd judged the distance perfectly!
I launched myself into a long leap, raised my Straight Sword overhead, and brought it furiously down at Nerijus.
Nerijus clearly hadn't expected me to go so far. In a panic, he hurriedly changed his attack, sending a Blood Blade flying toward my body.
But just as I'd said, I had more room for error than you! And don't underestimate Tarnished's tough warrior body!
Besides, a panicked change of attack wouldn't hit as hard as a full-strength blow. I'd learned this from you!
Clang-
I took his flying blade head-on, then slashed down with every ounce of strength I had. Nerijus raised a dagger in one hand to block, but he still couldn't withstand my strength, and I cut into his shoulder.
-Not enough! Not enough!
I immediately raised my Straight Sword and chopped down again-Had you ever heard of the invincible New Year's bow sword technique of Novigrad (an early-game map in The Witcher 3)? Go down, Nerijus!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The repeated, hammering blows sent sparks flying from the three weapons.
Even with Nerijus blocking with both daggers, Tarnished's physical strength was clearly superior. My furious assault drove him back like a raging gale and crashing waves.
Finally, another all-out slash broke Nerijus's guard-his grip failed, and I knocked both daggers aside.
"Hah! Hah! Hah!" I was gasping for breath too, but still-"Now it's over, Nerijus!"
I raised my Straight Sword overhead again. All I had to do was bring it down, and victory would be mine!
Nerijus actually collapsed onto the ground in terror, raising his hands above his head and trembling all over.
-Hmph, so even you could end up like this. You could feel fear too?
-Death...
Beneath his hood, his terrified, helpless eyes looked at me with something close to pleading, making my heart tighten.
-What had I just been about to do? Was... was I going to kill him?
I swallowed.
Killing someone was wrong, after all, wasn't it?
Even in these maddened Lands Between, as a human being-and someone who had come from a society governed by law-I still didn't want to stain my hands with blood.
Since the fight was already decided, then...
I hesitated, though only for a moment.
But in that moment, Nerijus drew a breath and suddenly spat something at me.
My vision instantly went completely black.
-Warm and sticky... was it bloody spit?
-Ah! No, this was no time to think about that!
The splash beside me snapped me back to my senses. This bastard had tricked me by pretending to surrender?! This time I would-
Shunk!
Before I could even wipe the filth from my face, I felt a sudden chill in my chest. Along with the excruciating pain, it was as though a chunk of ice had been dropped into a basin of hot water. Almost instantly, all the warmth was sucked out of my body.
My senses were fading along with it.
Sight, hearing, touch, even pain slowly disappeared... Only the cold remained, wrapping itself tightly around me, bit by bit, dragging me into a bottomless abyss.
"Keh-heh-heh~"
My strength could no longer hold me up.
I pitched forward helplessly, only for someone's shoulder to catch me.
With great effort, I turned my head. Through the haze, all I saw was a cold gleam reaching out from the far end of the night, and Nerijus's pale, icy face, twisted into a crazed smile.
I wanted to push him away, but I had no strength left at all.
-Was this... the end for me?
My whole body was freezing, and my consciousness blurred as my vision gradually darkened.
As I fell, all I remembered was the Erdtree tilting at the edge of the sky, and the golden leaves drifting through the air.
Everything seemed on the verge of collapse.
-I'd... I'd still let my guard down. You despicable bastard!
-...I'm sorry, Melina. I couldn't keep my promise to you. I couldn't take you to the foot of the Erdtree.
-I'm sorry, Ranni. I'm afraid I really would never see you again...
Before you continue