An intruder?
Nidhogg leaned against the windowsill and looked outside.
The night was still. Behind the monastery lay a lifeless cemetery, where no one should have been active.
But he saw it.
An active black shadow, in the forest before the cemetery, scurried for a while, then stopped. He could dimly make out a gaunt figure, but strangely, it moved like a dog, crawling on the ground.
What the hell? The observation was bizarre.
Melina lowered her hood and stepped aside, her eyes downcast. "They are hunting you."
"Why?" Nidhogg turned his head and asked.
"Some act on instinct. Some are tempted. And some have realized that you are a wedge between two worlds. Controlling or killing you would benefit them."
"Then I'll go down and take a look."
Nidhogg turned back to Melina and pushed open the window. The cool night breeze immediately rushed into the room.
He vaulted over the sill like a leopard and landed softly in the bushes.
Melina didn't follow. She stood quietly before the window, her gaze fixed on Nidhogg. Her short chestnut hair gently fluttered in the cool wind.
When Nidhogg emerged from the bushes, he was already clad in his Grafted Soldier armor, with his Lordsworn's Greatsword and Spirit Calling Bell at his belt.
He slowed his pace and walked past the simple tombstones toward the open, level ground before the trees.
FWOOSH—!
The sound drew closer and closer, rapidly weaving between the trunks. But it was all within Nidhogg's perception.
He silently drew his greatsword. The blade reflected cold light in the moonlight.
FWOOSH—!
Suddenly, a dark shadow burst from the branches ahead and shot toward Nidhogg like a cannonball.
Nidhogg was quick and alert. His greatsword slashed diagonally, cutting into the descending black shadow. But it met some hard weapon, producing a clang and sparks.
FWOOSH—!
The black figure flipped, and Nidhogg saw a hand with hooked claws sweep toward him!
Nidhogg reacted very fast, leaping back. Still, a small scratch drew blood on his neck.
The dark shadow landed, then backflipped, springing several meters away. It landed on all fours, crouched like a beast, staring at Nidhogg with a predatory gaze.
Nidhogg wiped the blood from his neck. The wound was shallow, but he was impressed by the intruder's agility and precision.
He looked up and now saw the intruder in full.
It was a man in a full set of light armor. In his left hand, he wore a pair of hooked claws, still bearing traces of blood. In his right hand, he held a curved sword with a wavy blade—unusual, but extremely sharp.
「Darriwil, the Ringed Finger」
His Spectral Sight clearly identified the intruder before him.
This was the Ringed Finger he would encounter in the early stages of Elden Ring. But now, the man was actively hunting Nidhogg.
"So it's you." Nidhogg raised his left hand, in which he held the Spirit Calling Bell.
Jingle—
He shook the bell.
Moments later, three translucent wild wolves materialized. They crouched and snarled at Darriwil, the Ringed Finger.
"Better to use wolves against a dog."
Nidhogg raised his greatsword, pointing its tip at the Ringed Finger. The three wild wolves lunged together.
Facing the three wolves' attack, the Ringed Finger first swung his curved sword, cutting one of the wolves in midair.
Then, seizing the momentum, he spun and did a sideways backflip, nimbly leaping back and dodging the other two wolves.
Immediately, the Ringed Finger crouched and suddenly lunged forward, fast as lightning. His sword swept out, cutting down the remaining two wolves!
The three wild wolves, slashed by his blade, all yelped and vanished.
"That's the 'Ringed Finger' technique..."
Nidhogg made his move.
He stepped forward, charging at the Ringed Finger like an arrow, and swung his greatsword at the man's head, aiming for his pointed helmet.
The Ringed Finger backflipped again, nimbly dodging several meters back. Then, like a powerful spring, he launched himself forward, instantly reaching Nidhogg.
Nidhogg stopped and deliberately offered his empty left hand as a feint.
The Ringed Finger took the bait and slashed at his hand. But Nidhogg's left hand suddenly produced his brass shield. CLANG! The curved sword struck the shield and rebounded.
FWOOSH—!
Immediately after, his greatsword shot out from behind the shield like a spear, piercing the Ringed Finger's shoulder armor!
Nidhogg followed up with an upward strike—Stamp (Upward Cut)! The cyclone lifted the Ringed Finger into the air!
CRASH—!
The Ringed Finger was hurled backward and slammed heavily to the ground.
The three wolves, having respawned, seized the moment. They pounced on him, pinning him down, and continued biting at his legs.
Even through his armor, the lone wolves could penetrate and deal damage.
One wolf attacked the Ringed Finger's left arm and actually bit off the hooked claw hand, flinging it aside.
Only then did the Ringed Finger suddenly convulse, shaking off all three wolves. He swung his curved sword, striking the wolves and knocking them away.
Nidhogg seized the opportunity.
He wasn't one to believe in one-on-one duels. As long as he could create an advantage, he wouldn't hesitate for a moment—whether it was four-on-one or even five-on-one.
While the wolves were biting the Ringed Finger, Nidhogg had already closed in.
So, when the Ringed Finger swept the wolves away with his curved sword, a huge opening presented itself before Nidhogg's eyes.
CLANG—!
His greatsword came down, cleaving into the Ringed Finger's helmet!
The helmet caved in instantly, revealing a bloody head!
The Ringed Finger stumbled and fell to his knees.
THUD—!
Nidhogg withdrew his greatsword and thrust again. The blade pierced the Ringed Finger's chest!
The greatsword ran through the Ringed Finger's body. He still tried to raise his curved sword, but finally, his arms fell limply. The curved sword clattered to the ground.
Nidhogg planted his foot on the Ringed Finger's shoulder, pushed him back, knocked him down, and pulled out his bloodied sword.
Soon, the Ringed Finger's body and the hooked claw hand that had been bitten off dissolved into faint white light and scattered. Only the curved sword remained.
「Quest」 Eliminate Low-Rank Apostles and Low-Rank Invaders in the Kingdom of Midland (8/?)
「Reward」 Level Up: LV 65 → LV 66. Acquired Weapon: "Bloodhound's Fang" (Skill: Bloodhound's Finesse). Acquired Materials: Smithing Stones (Standard, Somber, Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone—General Use)
Nidhogg bent down and picked up the curved sword. It looked ordinary, but was actually quite useful. He activated his Spectral Sight to inspect it.
「Bloodhound's Fang」—a large curved sword with a slightly wavy blade. The weapon of the Bloodhound Knights.
「Skill: Bloodhound's Finesse」—uses the fang for a savage strike while simultaneously flipping backward to create distance. After activation, can follow up with "Bloodhound's Step" to pursue forward.
Thus, he had obtained a new weapon: Bloodhound's Fang.
Nidhogg turned and looked back at the windowsill of his room. He saw Melina standing at the window, quietly pulling up her hood and vanishing into white light like stardust.
Still so cold.
Regardless, Nidhogg had dealt with the intruder tonight and acquired another Bloodhound's Fang. A good night's haul. Now he could sleep properly.