"If I remember correctly, the invader here should be… Anastasia. But where is she?"
He scanned the area, yet there was no sign of Anastasia.
Just as his gaze shifted toward the elevated wall in the distance, a naked killing intent surged from behind him—sharp and suffocating, like a blade pressed to his spine.
"Oh? Found you."
He turned.
From the corner of the smoldering church ruins, a crimson figure emerged through drifting sparks, walking steadily toward him.
It was Anastasia—known among Tarnished as the infamous Butcher.
Today, just as always, she wore the garb of a Finger Maiden, luring passing Tarnished with false promise.
Then she slaughtered them.
Because of this, she bore a rather unique title—
Devourer of Tarnished.
Resting on her shoulder was a massive cleaver nearly the size of Ichigo Kurosaki's blade—a grotesquely oversized weapon crafted for one purpose:
Perfect dismemberment.
Specifically, Tarnished dismemberment.
Yet in the face of her overwhelming bloodlust, he felt no fear at all.
Instead, he greeted her warmly.
"Hey~ Long time no see, Anna-chan."
There was probably no other Tarnished in the entire Lands Between who would dare call Anastasia that.
"Oh, right. I forgot. Your mental state's a bit unstable. Guess you can't understand me…"
"AAAH—!"
Before he could finish, Anastasia let out a thunderous war cry. The ruins of the Smoldering Church trembled with the sound.
Then she surged forward as if empowered by some unseen enhancement, cleaver raised high.
The enormous blade cut through the air with a violent roar as it came crashing down—
He rolled aside effortlessly.
—Boom!
The impact gouged a deep crater into the earth.
It was difficult to believe such strength belonged to a woman.
Taking advantage of her brief recovery delay, he rolled again, widening the distance between them.
"Was that really necessary? Pulling a weapon the moment we meet?"
He shrugged helplessly.
In truth, he felt a strange nostalgia toward Anastasia.
When he had first arrived in this world, aside from Recusant Henricus—
She had been the one who killed him the most.
Sometimes, he would rise from a Site of Grace—
And she would appear behind him and stab him without warning.
It had been a truly painful experience.
At first, he even thought she was some deranged Finger Maiden.
Later, he learned the truth—
She was Tarnished.
Just like him.
Only she had gone completely feral.
"AAAH—!"
Anastasia roared again, charging with terrifying speed.
"Alright, alright. If you're not in the mood to catch up…"
He slowly drew the proof of love given to him by Ranni—
The Dark Moon Greatsword.
At the same time, he raised the Erdtree Seal in his left hand.
"Incantation: Golden Vow."
Golden light gathered around him like flickering starlight, power from the Erdtree flowing into his veins.
Then he lifted the greatsword high.
A pale blue radiance spread across its blade before fading, leaving behind shimmering points of light like clustered stars—like a flowing galaxy.
With a single sweeping motion, he unleashed a crescent of pale-blue starlit energy toward the charging red phantom.
"Then die!"
—Slash!
A sharp sound tore through the air.
The arc of blue starlight cleaved straight through Anastasia's body.
Her steps halted.
She froze mid-swing, cleaver raised high.
A faint frost-blue line marked her abdomen.
Then—
Thud.
Her body collapsed heavily onto the ground.
Motionless.
He didn't even bother to look back.
He stepped over the corpse and walked toward the Site of Grace within the ruined church.
If it had been his earlier self, he might have confirmed the kill.
But now?
If she could stand up—
She could take another swing from him.
Besides, paths would cross again.
Near Volcano Manor, by the shack in the outskirts, she would return.
How did he know?
Let's just say… it was a story soaked in tears.
As he sat beside the Site of Grace, golden light flickering softly before him—
A familiar figure appeared.
"Forgive the interruption, Tarnished."
"?"
He stared at the sudden appearance of Melina, mentally placing a question mark above his head.
What kind of day was this?
His wife had appeared on her own.
That had never happened before.
Unless he summoned her, Melina never manifested like this.
And her tone…
She sounded slightly displeased.
"Um… Miss Melina? Is something the matter?"
"…"
Melina nodded faintly and fell silent, as if choosing her words carefully.
After a moment, she spoke.
"You left the Lands Between earlier, did you not? And not by passing through the fog."
"…Uh."
He was instantly speechless.
He had assumed Melina would simply lose track of him.
He had not expected her to know—
And to know how he left.
At the time, he had only imagined stepping out.
He suddenly remembered—
Melina had always observed him from the shadows.
So sneaking off to wander elsewhere—
And getting caught—
What now?
How do you explain slipping out to play behind your wife's back?
Urgent advice needed.
"Miss Melina, I…"
"I do not know why you left the Lands Between…"
Melina lifted her gaze from the golden flame of Grace and looked directly into his eyes.
Her expression was unwavering.
"But I still ask that you do not abandon your path. Do not abandon becoming Elden Lord. That is my sole wish."
Her expression stirred a powerful memory within him.
The night he had prepared to burn the Erdtree.
They had sat like this beside a Site of Grace—
Only that time, it had been near the Forge of the Giants.
They had looked out across the Lands Between illuminated by the Erdtree's golden light.
Enjoying the final cool breeze of that night.
Melina had looked at him just like this.
Resolute.
Even knowing she would become kindling—
Even knowing she would burn—
No matter how he tried to dissuade her, she had not wavered.
Only that steadfast determination remained.
Just like now.
The unease in his heart slowly faded.
A gentle smile appeared on his face.
He nodded firmly.
"Yes. I will."
"I will become Elden Lord."
And this time—
I will save you.
I will not let you die again.