While searching for the way forward, Bai Shi heard the sounds of battle coming from a nearby ruin. Since he hadn't found a path yet, he decided to go take a look. If it was Cuckoo Knights bullying Albinaurics, he could just grab a straggler and ask for directions. But the ones currently clashing were not the Cuckoos he expected, but rather a long-unseen acquaintance. Yura, wearing his massive iron kasa and wielding his long tachi, Nagakiba, was fighting a strangely attired man. His opponent was clad in a pitch-black feather cloak and armed with hook claws—a relatively rare weapon in the Lands Between. This was one of the Mohgwyn Dynasty's Bloody Fingers—a Ravenmount Assassin. But the stranger the weapon, the quicker the death, and the old saying about an inch of length being an inch of strength was no joke. In the game, the Nagakiba was the longest katana, with a terrifying attack range. The assassin had to endure two or three of Yura’s slashes just to get a single hit in return. Yura fought while retreating, creating just enough distance to land several free blows on the Ravenmount Assassin. And that wasn't even mentioning when he used skills like Spinning Slash or Piercing Fang. He could wound the Ravenmount Assassin from a great distance. Moreover, Yura was well-versed in fighting Bloody Fingers and knew what incantations they were likely to use. Thus, even when his foe unleashed the special incantations of the Mohgwyn Dynasty, he could only force Yura back. The Ravenmount Assassin could only manage a counterattack by using Raptor of the Mists to evade an attack and follow up with a leaping downward slash. Bai Shi watched quietly from the sidelines, cloaked in invisibility. Yura still seemed to be in control. Though the wounds from the hook claws were bleeding rather heavily, his opponent was already on his last legs. Finally, at a certain moment, the Ravenmount Assassin from the Mohgwyn Dynasty could hold out no longer. He left behind a cloud of black mist and turned to flee. Yura, naturally, wouldn't let him escape. He pursued closely and followed up with a piercing thrust. This time, Yura deliberately used a one-handed thrust, giving him about half a body-length of extra reach compared to a two-handed one. However, the Ravenmount Assassin used Raptor of the Mists again, leaping into the air to dodge the attack. Yura continued his pursuit, but after only a few seconds, he came to an abrupt halt. From the ruins of a house beside him, another figure wearing a black feather cloak suddenly shot out. The hook claws in his hands were already slashing toward Yura. Yura stopped, raising the Nagakiba vertically before him to block the flurry of incoming strikes. Clearly, this was a reinforcement the Ravenmount Assassin had summoned. Yura frowned. He hadn't noticed the opposing Bloody Finger using any kind of signaling method. This man must have rushed here from somewhere else; otherwise, they would have simply ganged up on him from the start. Still... if it was only two Bloody Fingers, and one was already in bad shape, Yura felt there was a chance he could finish them both here. Just as Yura was contemplating how to take out the heavily wounded Bloody Finger first, another Ravenmount Assassin dropped down from a nearby rooftop. The first assassin Yura had been fighting had also turned back around, his blood-drenched hook claws glinting with a cold light. The three Ravenmount Assassins formed a triangular formation, surrounding Yura in silence. Yura's heart sank. A cold sweat beaded on his brow. He hadn't expected three of them. It seemed his journey would end here today. He wondered if he could take two of them with him before he died. The Ravenmount Assassins attacked in unison from three directions, cutting off all of Yura’s escape routes. At that moment, however, a figure suddenly materialized beside Yura. After revealing himself, Bai Shi didn't waste time catching up with Yura or taunting the assassins. Bai Shi grabbed Yura's shoulder with one hand and, harnessing the storm's power, flung him high into the air. After launching Yura to safety, Bai Shi lowered his stance, whipping the Moonveil from his waist with ferocious speed. As Bai Shi spun, a cerulean wheel of light shot out from his position, expanding in a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree arc with no blind spots. In a flash, the heads of two Ravenmount Assassins flew high into the air, separated from their bodies. The only one who reacted in time to leap over the attack had no time for relief before another vertical slash of moonlight cleaved him in two. Just then, Yura landed, astonished to see who had come to his aid. Bai Shi sheathed the pristine Moonveil before turning to Yura. “Yura, how is it that you failed to take down a Bloody Finger and ended up surrounded?” Yura smiled when he saw Bai Shi. He had heard of Bai Shi's deeds these past days. He was happy that Bai Shi had become the Lord of Stormveil and pleased that the other Tarnished had found a sanctuary. “I grew a bit careless. I thought it was just an ordinary Bloody Finger, but it seems he was something different.” “Thank you for stepping in. Otherwise, I fear I would have lost my life here.” Bai Shi waved his hand dismissively. “What are you doing here?” “Hunting a Bloody Finger without gathering intelligence first? That doesn’t sound like you.” “I’ve found a lead on the Bloody Finger I've been searching for—Eleonora, Violet Bloody Finger.” “There was word she was heading to the Altus Plateau, apparently searching for something.” “For personal reasons, I must stop her. Or kill her.” “On the way, I spotted another Bloody Finger.” “It was unexpected, so I didn't have time to gather intel. I was just worried he'd get away.” Yura shook his head. He had indeed been too rash. And it had nearly cost him everything. Bai Shi nodded and continued asking: “Are you heading to the Altus Plateau now?” Yura looked troubled as he gazed toward the distant Erdtree. “But I can't find a way to get there.” “The Grand Lift to the Altus Plateau has long been occupied by the Cuckoos, and I don't have the medallion.” Bai Shi considered this. Yura wasn't weak. Though he probably couldn't defeat a Magma Wyrm, he should be able to pass through its lair without issue. So, Bai Shi spoke up: “They say at the bottom of the valley at the end of Liurnia, there’s a hidden tunnel leading to the Altus Plateau.” “If you're willing, you could try to find it.” “But I’ve heard there’s a Magma Wyrm there. I don’t know if it’s true.” Yura fell into thought. A Magma Wyrm? The final form of a man who consumed dragon hearts and performed the Dragon Communion? Magma Wyrms varied in strength, and Yura couldn't say for certain that he could get past one. However, since they were once human, their bodies and souls were often ill-suited, causing them to sleep for long periods. If he were lucky, he might be able to slip by without a fight. Yura looked up at Bai Shi. “Thank you for the information.” “I think I'll head there and have a look.” “I need to find her. There are things I absolutely must tell her.” Seeing that Yura had made up his mind, Bai Shi nodded. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝✶𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮✶𝓷𝓮𝓽 Yura searched the bodies of the Ravenmount Assassins for Bai Shi and found the Ash of War—Raptor of the Mists. Then he added: “If you're trying to get to the academy, you can go that way.” “From that rooftop, you can get onto the broken bridge. You won't be spotted by the Cuckoos at the gate.” “But as for how to get inside the academy, I can't help you there.” Bai Shi looked in the direction Yura was pointing. There was a collapsed building that leaned against the broken bridge. “Right. That’s a big help.” After the two bid each other farewell, Yura leaned against the nearby ruins, coughing up blood. He gasped for air, feeling the parasites writhing within him, bringing waves of pain. “Damn parasites... it hurts more and more...” “It seems this body won't hold out for much longer.” “Eleonora... I will... I will set you free from the cursed blood.”