Solitary Greatsword +7. Seeing the name of this greatsword, Bai Shi couldn’t help but stand at attention. Yes, children, this was a weapon he had to view with the utmost respect. Alright, so it was the Solitary Greatsword, not the *Solitary Confinement* Greatsword. But that didn’t stop Bai Shi from connecting it in his mind with a certain legendary figure. It was a shame the knight hadn’t elbowed Bai Shi, nor had he elbowed the knight. It felt like a missed opportunity... Then again, the knight had used a repeating crossbow, which was just as unorthodox, so perhaps it evened out. Even in a mausoleum, it seemed the old champion couldn’t win his comeback match. How tragic. Bai Shi lifted the heavy greatsword, holding it before his face to examine it more closely. The silver emblems stood out starkly against the dark steel, one large and one small, embedded in the center of the blade. The upper one, closer to the hilt, was adorned with decorative flourishes, as if imitating the light radiating from some celestial body. The medallion below it was much plainer, suspended there on its own. He wasn't sure what the two medallions signified, but they seemed to have some connection to the moon. Thinking back, the sword beams the knight had unleashed felt as if they were imbued with lunar power, though he hadn’t paid it much mind at the time. Bai Shi gave it a few practice swings and found that the Solitary Greatsword was quite heavy for its class, with a surprisingly good feel. It handled better than the two Storm Knight greatswords he had used before, and even better than the greatsword he used for Lion’s Claw. Furthermore, the Solitary Greatsword already had a high enhancement level. For a somber weapon, +7 was quite significant. This was perfect. It saved him the trouble of hunting down more Somber Smithing Stones. He could use it right away. Bai Shi turned and picked up the somewhat damaged set of armor from the ground. The armor was weather-beaten and had clearly not been maintained for a long time, giving it a dilapidated look. However, aside from the torso, which Bai Shi had repeatedly struck during their fight, the rest of it was in relatively good condition. Ignoring the helmet, it was somewhat reminiscent of an old acquaintance’s armor. The armor set shared its name with the greatsword, also called “Solitary.” This equipment confirmed the identity of the knight he had just fought: a Solitary Knight. He wondered about the knight's origins. His skill had been considerable. Though the Solitary Knight’s moves were simple, almost textbook in their execution, his power was immense. Whether or not it was due to a buff from the Land of Shadow, the strength he could display here was undoubtedly on par with a top-tier hero. Then again, for someone who could hold a mausoleum all by himself, perhaps that level of power wasn’t so outrageous after all. He might have been even stronger in life. Bai Shi sighed. The power creep was real. The difficulty curve here was much steeper than in the Lands Between. Every enemy Bai Shi had encountered so far was a serious threat. Even the group of Hornsent villagers he met back in the scorched ruins possessed strength comparable to the soldiers of Leyndell. If this were a game DLC, the inflated stats would definitely make people’s heads spin. Suddenly, a thought occurred to Bai Shi, and he raised an eyebrow. The text on the Giant-Crusher stated that humanity had grown weaker compared to the ancient era. This description revealed the gradual decline of humankind in the Lands Between. The Giant-Crusher was a weapon from the war with the giants, and the Land of Shadow was sealed around that same time. If the theory of “the older, the stronger” held true, it could offer a plausible explanation. The more Bai Shi thought about it, the more likely it seemed. In games, enemy models are usually scaled up to make their attack patterns easier for the player to see. Even the most common grunts are often taller than the Tarnished. But based on Bai Shi's experiences in the Lands Between, that wasn't the case. Humans were all of a similar height. The Storm Knights in Stormveil Castle, for example, were descendants who inherited the mantle of their predecessors, and they were about the same height as Bai Shi. But the Solitary Knight he had just fought was significantly taller and broader than him. Updates are released by 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵⟡𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⟡𝓷𝓮𝓽 Perhaps after meeting other humans in the Land of Shadow, he could uncover the true reason for the abnormal power levels here. After stowing the full set of armor, Bai Shi picked up the last item on the ground. It was a repeating crossbow. The weapon featured a broad, fan-shaped mechanism that could be loaded with a large number of bolts at once. Once loaded, it could unleash them all in a single volley, enhanced by magic. Bai Shi studied the repeating crossbow for a moment and found himself marveling at its design. In a fantasy world like the Lands Between, the purely mechanical strength of a standard crossbow was insufficient. Even if crafted from powerful materials, it only barely raised the weapon’s baseline. It couldn't compare to ranged options like magic, incantations, or even bows, making it suitable only for common soldiers. After all, no matter how much you enhanced the design, it was still just a tool. It would have the same impact whether wielded by a demigod or a soldier. Generally, to make crossbows viable in high-level combat, one had to focus on enchanting the bolts themselves. But the crossbow in his hands was different. Not only could it fire a barrage of bolts for instant suppressive fire, More importantly, its unique design allowed for a special skill that infused the crossbow’s shots with the wielder’s own magic. This immediately and dramatically increased the crossbow's damage output. It was no longer reliant on the weapon’s inherent power alone but could channel the strength of its user. This would make it quite effective even against powerful enemies. If he used Godrick as a benchmark, a normal crossbow bolt would probably just tickle him. But a full, magic-infused volley from this repeating crossbow would likely make him cry for mercy. While it still had the inherent limitations of a crossbow, in the hands of a powerful individual, it was undeniably more effective than any other weapon of its kind. Simply put, it had graduated from a toy to a true weapon of war. Bai Shi was not lacking for ranged options. He had magic, incantations, lightning spears, sunlight spears, and the Lion Greatbow he had nicked from Radahn but never used. Nevertheless, he decided to add this crossbow to his arsenal. The sheer joy of a repeating crossbow was a pleasure no true warrior could refuse. After collecting all the spoils in the mausoleum, Bai Shi made two more circuits of the area but found no other burial goods or loot. Since there was nothing left for him, it was time to leave. Following the nearby cliff face, Bai Shi and Melina made their way to the crossroads marked on the map. Beside the road stood a conspicuous cross, identical in shape to the one drawn on the map. This was clearly the meeting point. Several people were already gathered beneath the cross. Three of them were familiar faces: Leda, Freyja, and Dann, the trio Bai Shi had met many times before. But besides them, there was one person he didn't recognize. He was a bizarre-looking fellow. His clothes were ragged and filthy, as if he had draped himself in tattered cloth and then wrapped it all with a mess of ropes. As for his lower half, he wore nothing but a loincloth beneath his tattered top, leaving both thighs completely exposed. It was no exaggeration to say that even the Frenzied Trolls of Yelough Anix dressed with more decorum. Beyond that, his entire head was covered by grotesque-looking caterpillars, forming a mask that concealed all his features. Through the gaps, tiny Omen horns protruded. All in all, he was an unsettling character to look at. In games, a character with this kind of design was usually either a surprisingly good person with a contrasting appearance or an out-and-out madman. Spotting Bai Shi and Melina approaching, Freyja raised her arm high and gave a big, cheerful wave. Seeing the two arrive, the group paused their conversation and waited. Leda gave Bai Shi and Melina a slight bow and spoke. “Lord Bai Shi, you’ve finally arrived.” “You’ve gotten the map, I presume?” Bai Shi nodded as he and Melina dismounted. “Yes, we got it. That’s why we headed this way.” “But we saw a few interesting things on the way, so we took some time to explore.” Leda nodded in understanding. “I see. That explains it.” Her group had come here directly after getting the map. That was why they had managed to arrive at the rendezvous point even before Bai Shi, who had entered the Land of Shadow first. “By the way, allow me to introduce the other companion who follows Lord Miquella in the Land of Shadow.” Leda gestured with an open palm toward the strange, silent man beside her. “This is Horned Man, a native of the Land of Shadow. He is also working with us.” Bai Shi raised an eyebrow. “Horned Man? Isn’t that the name of a people?” The Horned Man had been silently staring at Bai Shi and Melina, sizing them up. Hearing Bai Shi’s question, he finally spoke, his tone dripping with resentment. “Heh, you’re right. It’s because I have no name.” “Thanks to you Erdtree folk, I carry the hatred of the entire Hornsent people in my quest for vengeance.” Bai Shi shot the Horned Man a sideways glance. This guy had a serious chip on his shoulder. Hissing at people right off the bat. He was clearly starved for affection. Seeing the Horned Man inexplicably displaying hostility again, Leda quickly interjected to ease the tension. “Besides Horned Man, we have a few other companions here, but they haven’t gathered with us yet.” “As a native, Horned Man is very familiar with the terrain here. He is currently tasked with tracking Lord Miquella’s footsteps.” “He was the one who guided another of our companions around the area, which allowed that companion to draw the map.” “We wouldn’t have made such smooth progress if it weren’t for them, who were already in the Land of Shadow.” Bai Shi nodded, deciding to ignore the Horned Man. The guy’s hostility wasn’t personal; it was a blanket insult aimed at everyone present. But this revealed another piece of information to Bai Shi. Perhaps Miquella’s charm wasn’t as simple as he had personally experienced. It seemed that when necessary, Miquella could amplify his control, forcibly manipulating or altering someone's thoughts and actions. Otherwise, Bai Shi couldn’t imagine anyone besides a native like the Horned Man getting past Mohg to enter the Land of Shadow. That would also explain it. Miquella must have forcibly restrained Mohg for a moment before his death, which was why he offered no resistance as Bai Shi cut him down. Freyja suddenly spoke up. “Lord Bai Shi, that giant golem lying on the ground up ahead... did you defeat it?” On their way over, they had seen the massive fallen golem. Though they hadn’t seen it in action, its sheer size suggested it would be incredibly difficult to handle. From their current position, they could just make out the still form of the wicker man lying on the ground. Bai Shi nodded, confirming it. “Yes. That thing was pretty strong.” Hearing the expected answer, Freyja couldn’t help but exclaim: “Lord Bai Shi, your strength is truly magnificent.” “We are currently suppressed by the Land of Shadow and cannot use our full power.” “If we had faced that creature, I doubt we could have stood against it.” It had to be said, having Bai Shi as a trusted ally gave one an incredible sense of security. Bai Shi waved his hand dismissively. “I am suppressed by the Land of Shadow as well. My current strength is nothing compared to what it was before.” Freyja let out a sigh of regret, but inside, Leda felt a small sense of relief. Although Bai Shi would not be their enemy, thanks to Lord Miquella, a huge disparity in power would still be nerve-wracking. Of course, Bai Shi was lying. There was no need to tell them that he had already removed the suppression. This was a good way to misdirect them and lower their guard. After listening to their conversation, the Horned Man suddenly spoke again. “The Erdtree is the enemy. Marika betrayed us, and even set our people aflame.” “Even though Miquella sincerely apologized and I trust his vow to bring salvation... I still have no love for any of you.” “Especially you two.” The Horned Man raised a finger, pointing brazenly at Bai Shi and Melina. His gaze had been fixed on Melina the entire time, and he had noticed her aura, so similar to Marika's. “You carry a disgusting stench that I particularly despise. It’s the stench of Marika.” “Ordinarily, I would have attacked and slaughtered you both the moment I saw you.” “But since you are also seeking Miquella and have defeated the Furnace Golem, I will spare you for now.” Hearing the Horned Man’s words, Leda’s lips trembled, her face turning pale. Melina pursed her lips but said nothing. She didn’t know why her mother had massacred the Hornsent, but the massacre itself was a fact. Whatever the reason, when a war devolves into a slaughter, it can no longer be called just. As a survivor of that massacre, she could not refute his accusations. Bai Shi’s brow furrowed, and anger flickered in his eyes as he stared at the Horned Man. He didn’t even know what grievances the Hornsent had with Marika. This had nothing to do with them. This kid had some nerve, talking to his wife that way. Oh, right. His mother was probably one of the ones who burned. Bai Shi’s hand shot out, grabbing the Horned Man’s outstretched finger. Seeing Bai Shi move, the Horned Man tried to dodge, but he was caught before he could even react. The Horned Man was shocked. His mind, clouded by hatred, suddenly cleared a little. He suddenly realized that the man before him might be even more terrifying than Leda and the others had described. The next moment, Bai Shi bent the finger backward, snapping it. Cold sweat beaded on the Horned Man’s head, but he remained silent. A little pain was nothing to an avenger. He wouldn’t back down now. He was about to speak again. But Bai Shi applied more pressure, crushing the Horned Man's finger into a pulp of flesh, shattering the bone completely. When Bai Shi let go, the finger seemed to have vanished into thin air, utterly gone from the Horned Man’s hand. Assailed by such agony, the Horned Man couldn’t help but fall to his knees with a cry. Bai Shi wiped the foul, bloody paste from his hand onto the Horned Man's tattered clothes. He looked down coldly at the kneeling figure and held up one finger. “First, let me correct you on one thing.” “I am not a follower of Miquella. I’m not even an associate.” “Even Miquella himself wouldn’t dare speak to me like that.” “I came to the Land of Shadow out of my own interest, and to help some friends along the way.” Bai Shi held up a second finger, deliberately waving it in front of the Horned Man. “I don’t care what persecutions the Hornsent suffered at Marika’s hands, and I don’t care what Miquella promised you.” “Your people have suffered, but that doesn’t give you the right to speak so crudely to my companion.” “I don’t know the full story, so I won’t comment on your grievances. Consider this a small punishment directed at you personally.” “It’s not because I’m part of some Erdtree faction. It’s simply because I’m displeased.” “You have offended someone you shouldn’t have.” The Horned Man knelt on the ground, staring at his hand, now missing a finger. He looked up, his gaze filled with hatred for Bai Shi and Melina. Though Bai Shi couldn’t see his eyes, he could feel the intensity of that stare. “Still not convinced?” Bai Shi took a step forward, and a massive amount of magic poured into the earth. In an instant, large spikes of rock erupted from the ground, launching the Horned Man high into the air with the combined force of gravity magic and an earthquake. Still acting tough? I’ll make you fly! Talk to me like that again, and see if I don’t beat you down. After hanging in the air for a moment, the Horned Man was immediately pulled back down by the force of gravity, slamming hard into the ground. He lay still for a long while, his status unknown, yet Leda and the others didn’t dare go and check on him. The three of them had interacted with Bai Shi enough to know that he was usually a very easygoing person. If these words hadn’t been directed at Melina, Bai Shi might not have done anything to the Horned Man. But the Horned Man had aimed his hostility squarely at Melina. They had all seen how deep Bai Shi and Melina's bond was on their journey. This was one of the rare times they had seen him so genuinely angry. Melina tugged at the corner of Bai Shi’s sleeve. Seeing this, Leda finally dared to speak. “Lord Bai Shi, please forgive him. Horned Man is consumed by revenge. His mind... is not entirely stable.” “He would not have joined us if Lord Miquella hadn’t promised him salvation for his people.” “Even so, he still harbors a deep hatred for all of us from the Erdtree’s domain.” Bai Shi nodded, saying nothing more.