Bai Shi walked down the hillside, making his way toward the descending path that led to Lenne's Rise. Along this downhill slope were numerous landmines, specially made by malicious soldiers. Stepping on one would trigger a trap, releasing a poisonous mist. In addition, many more malicious soldiers lay in ambush, hidden along the way. To avoid the hassle, Bai Shi simply took to the air and flew the rest of the way. But to Bai Shi’s surprise, just like in the game, there was a Night’s Cavalry patrolling back and forth on the great bridge, standing guard. The Night's Cavalry were Morgott's direct subordinates and were immensely powerful. Bai Shi had fought them several times before. Unlike in the game, where they were scattered across the map, the Night’s Cavalry didn't just wander aimlessly around the Lands Between. All their movements were commanded by Morgott, whether they were attacking a location or patrolling and defending a specific post. In other words, this particular Night's Cavalry was patrolling here under specific orders. The Night's Cavalry didn't notice Bai Shi flying overhead, so Bai Shi paid him no mind. Putting aside whether or not it would drop the Bloodhound's Step Ash of War like in the game, Bai Shi no longer had any use for it. With his current skill, a simple enhancement from a storm ability would make his dodges even swifter than Bloodhound's Step. Furthermore, the Lightning Dash skill he had obtained from the Death Knight would allow him to transform into lightning itself once he fully mastered it. On top of that, he had also acquired Soul Dash in the Spirit World. While using it, he would take on a spiritual form, which could even grant immunity to most physical attacks. Entering through a side window on the second floor of the sorcery tower, Bai Shi began to search the place. The tower was in a state of extreme disarray, as if a battle had taken place, and it had remained untouched since. There wasn't much on the second floor, only some spellbooks. However, most of them were damaged along with the toppled shelves; only a few had managed to survive intact. As Bai Shi was searching for any that were still readable, he heard a noise from downstairs. Bai Shi went down the stairs, where he saw a School of Graven Mages on the first floor—a sphere composed of many sorcerers’ heads. Upon seeing Bai Shi, it immediately cast a spell, launching a barrage of various glintstones at him. Perhaps this was the tower's former master. Its spells were cast with incredible speed, and their power was not to be underestimated. Seeing that communication was impossible, Bai Shi summoned a searing solar flame in his hand and casually tossed it forward. The relentless stream of magic was devoured by the flame, unable to cause even a ripple. The solar flame consumed the spells as it advanced until it reached the School of Graven Mages. The moment it made contact, the mass of heads was incinerated into nothingness. Bai Shi felt that the power of his sun had grown considerably stronger and nodded in satisfaction. Ever since he had shattered a piece of Godwyn's tarnished sun, Bai Shi's own solar power had strengthened. The true sun was still constantly moving away from the Lands Between, on a journey with no known destination. It would not grant him any more additional power. However, as long as the sun's light shone upon the Lands Between, Bai Shi could draw out more of the power he already possessed. After casually dealing with the School of Graven Mages, Bai Shi continued to look around. Like the second floor, the first floor had little to offer. Most of the spellbooks were severely damaged. Bai Shi collected the few usable ones he found, planning to add them to his personal library later. On the top floor of the sorcerer's tower, Bai Shi found a unique black stone pendant inside a small, hidden box. It was a Memory Stone, an item found in the various sorcery towers in the game. It was said to be a fragment of the black moon that hung over the Eternal City. This Memory Stone was similar in shape to the one Bai Shi had picked up in the Converted Tower, with only minor differences. In the game, Memory Stones increased the maximum number of spells and incantations one could attune. However, in reality, sorcerers had no such memory slots or limits, so the function of the Memory Stone was different. It didn't directly boost intelligence, but it did provide a subtle, passive enhancement to magic. Both casting speed and clarity of thought would be slightly improved. Bai Shi put on the Memory Stone, bringing his total to two. Contrary to his initial assumption, this Memory Stone took effect simultaneously with the previous one, and their effects stacked. If one provided a negligible boost, the combined effect of two was now clearly noticeable. It seemed it would be worthwhile to collect all of these Memory Stones in the future and perhaps reforge them into a single item. In a cave beneath the main road, Hakan wielded his oversized Dragon's Blood Knight Greatsword, locked in combat with a massive Golem Guardian. This was the same cave he and his comrades had come to explore before—the place where they had all been buried. He had returned this time to retrieve their remains. The path inside the cave was treacherous, with steep and sudden drops. However, this was not Hakan’s first visit, so he encountered few obstacles on his way down. The cave was a sprawling network of tunnels. He chose the path he remembered most vividly and made his way to the lair of the cave's most formidable foe. This was the chamber where the Golem Guardian resided. It was also where the most of his companions had fallen. Before, he had barely been able to escape the Golem Guardian, fleeing in disgrace. Now, however, he possessed the strength to face it head-on. Hakan constantly dodged the golem's attacks, looking for an opening. He struck its ankle during the lulls in its assault. The armor on the golem's leg was already broken, and through the cracks, a magma-like liquid could be seen flowing within. Without its armor, this spot had become its weak point. With a final blow, he broke through its defenses. Molten liquid spewed from its leg. One of the golem's legs lost power, and unable to support its weight, the entire body toppled forward. Hakan dodged the falling golem, seized the opportunity to run to its chest, and plunged his sword into the furnace that powered it. The strike successfully destroyed its power source. Fiery liquid gushed out, and at last, it was defeated. After the intense battle, Hakan was exhausted. The golem's attacks were wide and sweeping. A simple stomp sent shockwaves through the ground, and the debris sent flying by its weapon, along with the flames it spewed, had left Hakan in a battered state. Fortunately, in the end, he was victorious. Hakan took a few steps to the side, preparing to collect his companions' remains. Suddenly, he saw something glinting in the nearby bushes. Walking closer, he found a translucent crystal, the size of a human head. Inside was a tiny, humanoid creature. The creature within had pink hair and wore a pale green dress. It was curled up, making its face impossible to see, and it appeared to have a pair of wings on its back. They weren't feathered wings, but thin ones, like those of a dragonfly. Hakan looked up and saw an indentation in the cliff face that seemed to be a perfect match in size. Perhaps his battle with the golem had shaken it loose. Hakan silently picked it up, planning to show it to Bai Shi later and ask him what kind of creature it was. He then stood up and began gathering the remains of his comrades from the surrounding area. But before he could finish, he heard the sound of beasts coming from the cave entrance. Hakan looked over warily and saw two enormous Runebears slowly lumbering in from the entrance, their fierce eyes fixed on him. Hakan's heart skipped a beat. There hadn't been any Runebears here the last time he came. Could they have wandered here after being driven out of the Mistwood when it was being cleared? He had no idea where the two Runebears had been hiding. To the Runebears, the golem's attacks would have been easy to hit and devastatingly powerful. It seemed these two beasts had only come out after seeing the golem was defeated. In any case, another fierce battle awaited him. Hakan assessed his current condition. Though he'd taken some damage from the shockwaves and flames, his injuries weren't severe. However, he had expended a great deal of stamina, and exhaustion flooded his entire body. Hakan took a deep breath and let out a roar, activating War Cry. As the magic vibrated through him, his fighting spirit surged once more, and for a short time, magic was converted into strength. He then activated the dragon's blood within him. His skin immediately turned crimson, and the patterns on his Dragon's Blood Armor glowed with a sinister, dark red light. With his current strength, dealing with one Runebear wouldn't be a problem. However, two was a completely different story. He had to take one out first. It was his only chance of survival. Hakan took aim at the Runebear charging toward him and precisely thrust his sword at its neck. The sword plunged deep into the Runebear's neck. Blood gushed out, drenching Hakan. Hakan's eyes lit up. A good start. But unlike ordinary beasts, the wounded Runebear didn't retreat or flee. Instead, the injury only provoked its ferocity, making it completely disregard its own life. The massive Runebear rammed into Hakan, pushing him back. The greatsword sank even deeper into its body, but the force of the charge sent Hakan stumbling backward. With the dual buffs of War Cry and Dragon's Blood, Hakan barely managed to match the Runebear's strength with his own. But with a sudden forward heave from the beast, Hakan lost his balance and was pinned beneath it. The Runebear slammed a paw down on Hakan, pinning him tightly as its gaping, bloody maw drew closer. Immense force pressed down from the heavy paw, and Hakan's chestplate caved in. Hakan could even smell the foul stench from the Runebear's mouth. He immediately twisted the hilt of his sword, tearing the wound wider and barely holding the beast at bay. As the wound ripped open further, the Runebear lost more and more blood. Sinking into extreme weakness, the beast was unable to press its attack. Having barely withstood the dying throes of the Runebear on top of him, Hakan struggled to push the now-limp corpse off his body. He had to get back into a stance where he could use his greatsword, or the other Runebear would surely pin him down and tear him to shreds. Before Hakan could get to his feet, the other Runebear let out a roar and swiped its paw at him, striking his body. Hakan was sent flying, tumbling several times across the ground before he finally came to a stop. Fortunately, he had kept a tight grip on his Dragon's Blood Greatsword and hadn't lost his weapon. When he struggled back to his feet, Hakan was in even worse shape. That swipe from the Runebear had sent him reeling. Now, all his internal organs felt like they'd been scrambled, and he was fairly certain several bones were broken. The Runebear was already charging, giving him no time to breathe. Watching the furiously charging Runebear, Hakan knew he had only one last swing left. The dragon's blood dulled his sense of pain, allowing him to swing his sword once more, cutting at the oncoming bear. This strike consumed the last of Hakan's strength. He gambled everything on this single blow. Hakan's powerful swing tore through the Runebear's thick fur and fat. The sharp blade then easily parted flesh and sank deep into the beast's spine. However, the sword he had placed all his hopes on got stuck there. Hakan watched the Runebear's paw about to descend upon him and fell into despair. It is said that just before a person dies, their consciousness speeds up, fast enough to replay their entire life. Hakan was certainly feeling that now, but at this moment, he couldn't think of anything in his past life worth remembering. What he thought of instead was the future of the Dragon's Blood Legion, the future of Stormveil, and Bai Shi, who would one day successfully become the Elden Lord. What would the world look like then? Was he going to die here? He still had so much left to do, but was he going to die in this cave? Right, perhaps this was the end he was always meant to have. Maybe he should have died here with his comrades back then... Suddenly, a voice echoed in Hakan's ears. 'Are you giving up?' A series of familiar but now blurry faces flashed before his eyes. They finally coalesced into a figure wearing the traditional attire of a Kaidan Sellsword. What was this, a dying hallucination? Hakan gave a bitter laugh in his mind. He didn't want to die, but that was no longer up to him. He had exhausted all his options and was powerless to stop this blow. 'Then, let me help you.' A phantom appeared out of thin air, following the path of Hakan's previous swing, and in an instant, it severed the Runebear's paw. Hakan's eyes widened. It all happened in a split second, but it had truly happened. At those words, Hakan's presence exploded, and an inexplicable power surged from within him. Hakan's eyes were bloodshot, his vision blurred with moisture. He gritted his teeth, clenching them so hard it felt they might shatter, and swung down. The next moment, the greatsword that had been lodged in the Runebear's spine sliced completely through. As the Runebear's head flew into the air and landed on the ground, there were no enemies left before him. Hakan collapsed to his knees, gasping for air in disbelief. In a moment of desperation, Hakan had used a skill he had once seen the Night's Cavalry use—Phantom Strike. The move that had nearly killed him in the past had lingered in his mind, and now, he had somehow managed to perform it himself. Hakan looked up. The figure who had spoken to him was nowhere to be seen, as if it had been a hallucination. No matter how he called out, there was no reply. Hakan stood up and tried to swing his blade. Immediately, the phantom of a Kaidan Sellsword appeared behind him again, coordinating with his attack. Under Hakan's conscious control, the phantom did not immediately vanish but lingered for a long time. Hakan tried to make it move, and the figure moved on its own, just as he imagined. Was it a burst of potential in a desperate situation, or was he truly being protected by spirits... The question no longer mattered. Hakan was satisfied. All the shackles of his past had been broken. He had been completely transformed, reaching a level that could be called heroic. Hakan struggled to steady his breathing, trying to prevent his wounds from worsening. "You're hurt really badly. Let me heal you~" A tiny figure flew in front of Hakan and spoke with a cheerful smile. Hakan was startled by the sudden appearance of the little thing. Something not much bigger than his palm was hovering before him, its thin wings beating at high speed. Hakan looked closely and realized it was the strange creature from the crystal. The little creature looked at Hakan with a somewhat unfriendly expression. "Huh? I wanted to save you out of the kindness of my heart, and this is how you talk to me?" "Have people these days never even heard of fairies?" Hakan shrugged. He just needed to rest for a bit, and he wouldn't die here. "Fairies? I've heard that there used to be a species called elves in the Lands Between." Seeing Hakan confuse fairies with elves, the fairy flew about erratically in front of him, seeming very angry. "Darn it! I said fairy! A fairy!" "I'm not the same as those elves!" "Hmph, those elves are so stupid, they get tricked every time!" "That's why I don't want people lumping fairies in with elves!" The little fairy zipped around for a while before suddenly calming down again. "Alright, although we are quite similar in life form, we fairies are much more advanced than elves. Please remember that, okay?" Hakan didn't quite understand what she was saying, but her temperament was clearly different from a human's, and her thoughts seemed a bit jumbled. He might as well go along with her. Seeing the bewildered look on Hakan's face, the little fairy shook her head, sighed, and said: "Ah, forget it. I'll just hurry up and heal you, then I have to go." Hakan couldn't help but ask: "Where are you going?" The little fairy held out her hand and circled Hakan twice. Specks of light drifted from her hand onto Hakan's body. Hakan's injuries began to recover at a rapid pace, a speed that could only be described as terrifying. "Me? After my seal was broken, I have to go find a suitable person to pass on a very important legacy." "I'm telling you, we fairies carry a very heavy mission, so we have to take it very seriously." "Sigh, but I don't even know what time it is now. I might not be able to find a suitable person even if I go out." "I don't even know if the purpose of my mission still exists." The little fairy sighed, but then giggled again. "See, all healed now!" "Even without divine dew or elven assistance, my spiritual power still works." "This much should be enough as a thank you for breaking my seal." Hearing the fairy repeatedly mention breaking the seal, Hakan scratched his head. "You said break the seal... but I didn't do anything." The fairy pointed to the half-melted crystal on the ground and said: "This seal was very weak, so even a little bit of magic could release me." "It was the magic in your blood. It happened to touch it." He was a warrior and had never learned incantations or spells. His use of magic was minimal, just enough to be of some use in battle. Even if some of his dragon's blood contained magic, it couldn't have been much. "Just that little bit of magic was enough to break the seal?" "The seal was that weak?" The little fairy looked at Hakan strangely. "It was a self-seal I used to survive. If I made it too strong, I would never have gotten out." "Oops, it seems I've talked to you for too long. Anyway, I'm leaving now~" Chapters fırst released on 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹⟡𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⟡𝙣𝙚𝙩 With that, the little fairy flew forward hastily, and in the next moment, her figure vanished into thin air. Hakan opened his mouth, unsure what to make of such a peculiar creature. She was in such a rush, and she seemed a little... slow-witted. Come to think of it, she hadn't even introduced herself. Well, he'd tell Bai Shi about it later and see what he thought. For now, he needed to finish collecting the remains. Within seconds, the strange fairy reappeared at the southernmost tip of Limgrave. She hovered in the air, her wings beating at high speed, and looked toward the distant castle, nodding. Her intuition had led her here. There was someone special in this place who would meet her criteria and agree to make a contract with her. As special beings, the intuition of fairies was terrifyingly accurate. To put it dramatically, one might even say they could see fate directly. And the castle before this fairy was Castle Morne. Castle Morne was now vastly different from before. Serving as a base, it had taken in many Tarnished, and its population was no longer comparable to what it once was. Not only was the castle itself full, but the open land outside its walls was also occupied by all sorts of barracks, forming a brand new town. The fairy found her direction and teleported directly into a certain room within the castle. At this moment, Irena was sitting in a chair, a sacred seal clutched tightly in her hand. With another cast, a radiant sigil of the Golden Erdtree appeared on the floor of the room. Irena wanted to be of help to Bai Shi, so she never slacked off in her training and studies. Unfortunately, she knew deep down that this was an impossible dream. Bai Shi was growing far too quickly. Putting aside the fact that she was blind and couldn't go to the battlefield, her meager healing abilities were of little help. The little fairy appeared in front of Irena, circled her twice, and nodded in satisfaction. This human possessed a 'quality' that was hard to ignore. It was a 'quality' that would attract the gaze of certain gods. Irena heard the sound of flapping wings in the room. At first, she paid it no mind, thinking it was just some insect that had flown in. That was, until a tender, childlike voice sounded in her ear. "Hello~ Are you interested in making a contract with me?" Irena was startled. She gripped her sacred seal tightly, feeling a sense of panic. Who had suddenly appeared in her room? Irena forced herself to remain calm and asked: "Who are you? Why did you suddenly appear in my room?" The little fairy danced up and down in the air. "Hehe, don't be afraid, I'm a kind and cute fairy~" "Hmm... that's right, you can't see, so it's normal to be scared." "In that case, let's just consider this a little preview..." The little fairy reached out her hand, and a white spiritual energy surged forth, gradually covering Irena's eyes. Suddenly, her entire surroundings materialized in Irena's mind. Irena stood up, completely stunned. She reached out her hands and waved them around randomly, unused to this sudden vision. A normal person would likely have had more trouble adjusting, as the perspective was a full 360 degrees. But for Irena, who had never been able to see, she quickly adapted to such an image. "If you make a contract, I can help you even more." "You will gain unprecedented power and a second half of your life completely different from the first." Irena 'saw' the little fairy's appearance and pondered for a moment. "...So, what is the price?"