The Starfall Shadow, like an insatiable black hole, devoured all the surrounding black mist and corpses.
However, the power drawn from the mist and corpses was ultimately finite.
The tempest gradually subsided. The corpses and sludge vanished completely, leaving the entire pool crystal clear.
The ominous black mist was swept away as well.
The entire pool beca a place of peace and serenity, much like the Church of Vows.
In stark contrast, however, was the Starfall Shadow, hovering in the air.
Having devoured the power of the corpses, the Starfall Shadow now radiated a bewitching aura.
This power, just absorbed from the pool, was not the true source of the Starfall Shadow's strength.
It was rely a key, one that had successfully unlocked the power sealed within it.
A terrifying, malicious aura began to surge from the blade. Like spreading ink, it plunged the entire space into absolute darkness.
It was the black shadow that dwelled between the stars—the true night.
With the Starfall Shadow unsealed, the night of Nokstella had finally arrived.
The false stars sank into the darkness, their brilliance extinguished.
The Starfall Shadow’s power was completely unleashed, transforming it into another god-slaying blade, a mate to the Fingerslayer Blade.
This was a special weapon designed to be used against the Greater Will and its various envoys—the Two Fingers.
Its ultimate malice carried the grand, god-slaying ambition of the Nox.
It was a pity that this weapon, forged for an era and a king that never ca to be, never t the Lord of Night it was destined for.
But now, at least, it had found a wielder and would no longer have to gather dust.
Furthermore, with Ashmi in the picture, it could be said that the blade's purpose for being had been fulfilled.
However, the Starfall Shadow didn't seem particularly obedient.
Bai Shi reached out and grabbed the Starfall Shadow as it spiraled through the air.
Once in his grasp, the blade began to vibrate violently, as if resisting him.
Feeling the force radiating from the weapon, Bai Shi smiled faintly.
This weapon had no will of its own; it was rely resisting unconsciously.
Still, a re weapon wanted to defy its wielder?
The more it struggled, the more thrilled Bai Shi beca!
He would bend it to his will in an instant!
Bai Shi's power erupted, instantly scattering the ominous aura surrounding the Starfall Shadow.
Now that it was in his hands, it thought it could escape? Not a chance!
Before long, the Starfall Shadow quieted down, allowing Bai Shi to swing it about as he pleased.
It soon beca like the Fingerslayer Blade, returning to an ordinary state with no trace of its aura leaking out.
With its edge sheathed, the Starfall Shadow returned to its previous appearance, as if nothing had happened.
But as Bai Shi gripped the katana, he could feel the destructive power it now held.
He would test it on the baleful shadows next.
They were servants of the Two Fingers, after all, and he had just acquired a weapon made specifically to counter them.
Bai Shi sheathed the Starfall Shadow and turned away from the now tranquil pool.
Next, he had to find the lift in Nokstella that led deeper underground, to a location Ranni had arranged beforehand.
Ranni had already marked the spot for him.
All Bai Shi needed to do was follow the moonlight's guidance, with no further exploration required.
It didn't take long for Bai Shi to take the lift down and arrive at the hidden basin beneath Nokstella.
Finding a large rock to sit on, Bai Shi took out the Small Ranni and placed her in his hand.
He gently poked the Small Ranni's face, his way of calling to her.
Ranni had been preparing ever since they discussed the plan, so Bai Shi was confident such a simple gesture would be enough to summon her.
While he waited for Ranni's consciousness to arrive, Bai Shi kept himself busy.
He tried to look at the Small Ranni using the ability he had just acquired.
As he entered that special state once more, a dark moon, radiating an icy chill, appeared over the Small Ranni in his vision.
This dark moon was just as miniature as the doll itself.
Unsurprisingly, the power within Ranni was that of the pure Dark Moon.
Just then, a cold mist began to spread from the doll of the Small Ranni.
It was a sign that Ranni's consciousness was descending.
As her consciousness inhabited the doll, the dark moon in Bai Shi’s vision began to expand rapidly.
Small Ranni opened her eyes, scanned her surroundings, and nodded.
The basin in Nokstella was the battle site she had planned.
This was where the Two Fingers Selys had once stayed, and its presence still lingered here.
Ranni looked at Bai Shi and said:
“This is the place. Please wait a mont.”
“I will handle the arrangents from here.”
“When the shadows appear, I’ll need your help to dispose of those troubleso things.”
Bai Shi nodded and then waited quietly while Small Ranni made her preparations.
He watched as she released her power. The aura of the Dark Moon spread out, palpable yet faint.
Though subtle, the aura traveled a great distance, covering nearly the entire downstream portion of the Ainsel River.
For the shadow beasts with their keen sense of sll, such a faint scent was more than enough.
Her task complete, Small Ranni settled back onto Bai Shi’s hand.
While they waited, Ranni decided to talk to Bai Shi about the past.
“Let us speak of bygone days...”
“As you know, of all the demigods, only I, Miquella, and Malenia are Empyreans.”
“Each of us was found by a different Two Fingers, to beco candidates for godhood—”
“Destined to succeed Queen Marika and beco the god of the next age.”
“...But I rejected the Two Fingers.”
“I stole the Rune of Death, killed, and abandoned my Empyrean flesh. I refused to be controlled by such a being.”
“Since then, the Two Fingers and I have cursed one another, and the baleful shadows are the assassins it sent after .”
Ranni let out a self-deprecating laugh.
“How amusing. I was preparing for revenge, yet in truth, I was always on the run from the baleful shadows.”
“They are difficult to destroy. Being discovered once ant a long struggle just to escape.”
“That is why I remained in Caria Manor for so long, living in seclusion.”
“Partly because my body needed to slumber, but also because of the baleful shadows.”
Admitting one's powerlessness is difficult, especially for soone as proud as Ranni.
But now, she had co to see Bai Shi as soone she could truly rely on.
“Fortunately, Blaidd and Master Iji have always been by my side.”
“Their companionship helped
through the most difficult tis, allowing
to maintain so semblance of dignity.”
“And after that, you suddenly appeared before
and shattered every obstacle I faced.”
“The problems that had always troubled
seed to be of no consequence to you at all.”
“I must say, sotis so-called fate can be quite ridiculous.”
“Without you, I never would have co this close to my revenge.”
“And for that, I am truly grateful...”
Small Ranni kept her back to Bai Shi, ultimately unable to confess her true feelings. She thought it was still too soon.
And so, she could only say to herself in her heart:
‘To , you’re already soone special.’
Unaware of what Ranni was thinking, Bai Shi didn't have any particular reaction to her thanks.
After all, these things really weren’t a big deal for him; he had indeed handled them with ease.
However, hearing Ranni ntion Blaidd and the others again, Bai Shi spoke up:
“When this is all over, the curse of the Two Fingers will be gone.”
“Without the Two Fingers, you can finally show your face openly in the Lands Between.”
Small Ranni lifted her head and gazed at the stream in the distance.
“Once the Two Fingers are dealt with...”
“...We can discuss what cos after, later.”
Bai Shi looked at Small Ranni, a little puzzled.
“What? Even after you deal with the Two Fingers, you don’t plan on going back to see them?”
“Blaidd and Master Iji are waiting for you.”
Ranni seed lost in thought.
What ca after her revenge was probably so distant that she had never seriously considered it.
“...For Blaidd and Master Iji, I can truly never repay them.”
“They knew what awaited at the end of the dark path I chose to walk.”
“They knew that one day I would betray everything, cast everything aside, yet they still chose to follow
without hesitation.”
Ranni suddenly turned to Bai Shi and smiled.
“...Ah, and perhaps I should count you among them?”
“When it cos to being a bleeding heart, you two are practically inseparable.”
Bai Shi scratched his head.
A bleeding heart? He didn't really think that described him.
For the characters he was so familiar with from the ga, Bai Shi would help them achieve their happy endings without asking for anything in return.
After all, for a player, giving an imperfect story a happy ending to resolve lingering regrets was reward enough.
But helping Ranni wasn’t for that reason.
To put it bluntly, he was just thirsty for her.
How could a wife in a ga compare to a real wife in the flesh? —
The Dark Moon aura that Ranni emitted continued to spread around the basin.
The keen-nosed beasts quickly discovered her trail.
Just as Ranni had predicted, her aura successfully drew out the baleful shadows.
Under the command of the Two Fingers, the baleful shadows rose from the ground before Bai Shi and Ranni, their shadowy forms taking solid shape.
The baleful shadows had various forms, taking the shape of all kinds of beasts, their only common trait being their red-and-black shadow bodies.
The arrival of the monstrous beasts interrupted Bai Shi and Ranni’s conversation.
Seeing the assorted shadow beasts before him, Bai Shi stood up.
Chat ti was over. Now, it was ti to destroy them completely.
Bai Shi would show no rcy to these whetstones who had delivered themselves to his blade.
He drew the newly empowered Starfall Shadow and held it in his hand.
He would first test its counter-effect on the shadows that bore the power of the Two Fingers.
As the first baleful shadow moved and pounced toward Small Ranni, Bai Shi unleashed the Starfall Shadow's power with a casual swing.
A pure darkness, as if to devour all light, extended from the blade.
The mont the dark shadow born from the stars touched the baleful beast, it instantly tore the shadow’s body to shreds.
The beast’s shadow form disintegrated with the slash of dark light, its blood spraying into the air.
By the ti it hit the ground, the red-and-black shadow body had lost its power, leaving only the corpse of an ordinary beast.
“One.”
Seeing this, Ranni’s eyes widened in astonishnt.
The power of the Two Fingers... had been erased from the shadow's body?!
The most difficult thing about the baleful shadows was the special power of the Two Fingers they possessed.
As shadows directed at Ranni, they were extrely difficult to destroy.
Even if their bodies were destroyed, the shadows would reform using the power of the Two Fingers.
Only by expending a great deal of ti and energy over and over could they be truly vanquished.
Such pursuers were far too troubleso.
Against such bodies, only the Fingerslayer Blade could deal with them easily.
However, the Fingerslayer Blade Ranni wielded could only kill the shadows directly; it couldn’t do what Bai Shi just did and completely erase the power of the Two Fingers.
Ranni had seen the Starfall Shadow in Bai Shi’s possession before.
But back then, it was still sealed.
Now, Ranni was absolutely certain. This was another ‘Fingerslayer Blade.’
Perhaps only in the hands of a mighty warrior could the Fingerslayer Blades unleash their true potential.
Bai Shi glanced at the beast’s corpse.
So it was a real animal, not just sothing conjured from power?
Bai Shi had a rough idea of what these baleful shadows were now.
It seed the Two Fingers had selected special beasts and then used their power to turn them into shadows.
Bai Shi turned his gaze to the other baleful shadows that were surrounding them, preparing to attack as one.
These shadows had no will of their own; their life and death were entirely in the hands of the Two Fingers.
No wonder even Blaidd, with his iron will, was unable to resist it.
This was the price of accepting the shadow’s power.
To wield that power was to be bound to the Two Fingers.
Four baleful shadows remained on the field, and the weapons in their hands were all wreathed in red-and-black flas.
Bai Shi’s eyes fixed on the flas, which gave him a sense of danger.
That was the power of Destined Death.
But so what if it was Destined Death?
Bai Shi smiled faintly as the embers all over his body flared violently.
As long as it couldn't touch him, Destined Death was useless.
With a swing of the Starfall Shadow, the entire basin was plunged into darkness.
The baleful shadows, unafraid of the dark, remained perfectly calm.
As hunters who would fight to the death, their keen sense of sll ant they had no need to rely on light.
Bai Shi’s presence was still distinct in the darkness, and the baleful shadows locked onto him firmly.
However, just because their senses had locked on didn't an their bodies could keep up.
A bone-white blade born from corpses pierced through the back of one of the baleful shadows.
“Two.”
Only when the blade was withdrawn and Bai Shi’s voice sounded did the other shadows belatedly realize their companion was dead.
Just then, Bai Shi’s voice echoed through the darkness once more.
“Three.”
As his voice fell, the presence of another baleful shadow vanished completely.
——
Sensing the situation, the Two Fingers Selys, who had once chosen Ranni, was consud by an emotion called ‘despair.’
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