A/N: Oh Elden Ring, oh Elden Ring...how I have waited for this moment. I wanted to do this for such a damn long time, but I had to stop myself upon the announcement of a certain DLC, which had only been announced and isn't even out upon this time. However, now is that time.

For now however, let's get right into it.

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A/N: As of right now I am and have finished the DLC, which was...beyond something. But with it came a large amount of information...which just led to even more questions...It had also made me forced to change some plans for the story, but nothing to major in having some decision making with a Friend of mine.

This update over all is merely adding on to some things from the DLC. Oh by the Way-

SPOILER WARNING INVOLVING THE SHADOW OF THE ERDTREE

...That good enough? Good. Moving on. Enjoy the chapter.
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...Over and Over Again...Until It Wasn't

(Limgrave, First Step)(Morning)(...11,732...)

The land of Limgrave was far from a safe place. Filled with Soldiers of Godrick willing to kill anyone in sight or worse capture and bring them towards their Lord, where they would be grafted. Others were creatures that would hunt man, both roaming in day and stalking the night. Even trolls as tall as the buildings that once resided upon the land. However, outside the Lord of all that was Golden, Godrick, another roamed aimless before a gravesite.

The Tree Sentinel.

Already larger than the average man, coated in heavy armor not only for himself but for his horse as well while wielding a long halberd along with a Shield. All seemingly made of gold, but hardened and most difficult to cut through. Even amongst other Tree Sentinels, unless of course they were of a higher class. Yet not many could even think about even harming one of their kind, much less scratch their armor. Many have tried and many have failed.

The Sentinel rode his horse as usual, glancing around for anyone that could have been considered a threat to their shattered, but standing order. Upon a hill a figure could be seen walking down, making the Sentinel raise his halberd and start making his way forward. However he did so, the stranger suddenly vanished from sight.

Then his armor suddenly exploded, blood blasting out as the Tree Sentinel fell off its horse while the stranger could be seen dashing onwards, through Limgrave and towards Stormveil Castle.

(Limgrave, Stormveil Castle)(45,949)

"Mighty dragon, thou'rt a trueborn heir. Lend me thy strength, o kindred. Delivery me unto greater heights." Godrick said, caressing the corpse of a Dragon. However he felt a presence and turned around.

"...Well."

The Lord of all that was Golden gripped a mighty greataxe as he ridded himself of his cloak to show the true horror that had become of his body. The limbs and body parts of many people that had been grafted, the most useful put into Godrick's body.

"A Lowly Tarnished, playing as a Lord." Godrick said as he raised his greataxe and slammed it into the ground. The Castle Shook from this, as wind built up around him. "I command thee kn-"

A Great Arrow coated in fire went clean into his mouth. Godrick released his greataxe in a panic, but soon found the Tarnish already before him. In no time at all, Godrick had been slammed onto his back, the arrow still within his windpipe. He tried to crawl away, to reach the Dragon, but the Tarnished hovered over him with his own Greataxe. He couldn't even scream as the Tarnished brought his own weapon down and split him cleanly in two.

Godrick the Grafted had been slain and the Tarnished that had slain him was already gone, heading into Raya Lucaria.

(Raya Lucaria, Raya Lucaria Grand Library)(309,876)

Ranni hissed upon her defeat. Her illusion of her mother back in her prime was well gone, defeated by a Tarnished of all creatures. Yet this was no ordinary Tarnished, having already heard of him from her shadow. But that was hardly important, her mother could still have been in danger.

She watched as the Tarnished had approached her mother, who remained eternally focused on the egg. He was directly in front of her, his hand raised up...as he rubbed her mother's head. Renalla, despite her...lack of sanity, looked confused by the random action. The Tarnished however had stopped and turned away, the Great Rune claimed as he set out once more.

'...Perhaps I should see this Tarnished in person. Thou would be in great service.'

(Caelid, Redmane Castle)(712,901)

Many warriors had come for the Radahn Festival, more than ready to take part in battle with the Demigod. Starscourge Radahn. Many had expected to die, many expected to succeed thanks to their numbers, one had vanished as soon as it had begun, but that was hardly important. To fight a Demigod, even one who was so far gone was very much an honor.

However one would say that seeing said Demigod begin to come down like a meteorite was a little disheartening. As it came down, many had feared what was coming. Even amongst the mightiest of warriors. Radahn was coming down and was gonna hit hard, yet despite that a lone Tarnished stepped forward with a rather interesting spear.

He held it up, rising from the ground briefly before red lightning struck down at him. Yet he remained unharmed as the power coursed around him and his spear as Radahn was coming in for a crash landing.

It never came as the Tarnished threw the spear with all his might, striking upon the Demigod and actually sending him flying on his back. Radahn let out a pained, dying roar before finally receding. His silence marked his honored Death. And the Tarnished that had done so? Well on his way, once more.

(Volcano Manor, Rykard's Chambers)(1,289,007)

Tanith fell to her knees, her head rolling off her shoulders as the Tarnished stood over her while sheathing his Uchigatana. He felt a presence behind him and vanished as Tanith's Crucible Knight struck down where he was. He looked around, until he suddenly felt a powerful wave of heat hit him

Looking up he spotted the Tarnished standing upon Lord Rykard's decapitated head, his hand-nay, his finger held up as a large ball of fire had been seen growing and forming. Seeing the size of it and seeing Tanith's body, the Knight lunged forward, turning his back to the Tarnished in an attempt to protect his lady's body.

Volcano Manor erupted in fire as it and any life within had been turned to ash. All the while, Rya had been shifting in her sleep, in a campsite far away from the explosion.

(Leyndell, Elden Throne)(23,179,768)

Morgott fell on his back while his cloak flew off into the wind. His weakened body exposed as he breathed heavily. The Tarnished had proven to be more of a threat than he had originally inspected back in Stormveil. His power...extraordinary. He understood now why the traitor Demigods had fallen to him. Yet it would matter not.

"It...it will deny you...as it did me..." Morgott claimed, his last breaths coming out. "I had prayed, hoped for the longest time and yet they did not answer. No one...shall become, Elden Lord..."

"...We shall see." The Tarnished said, walking past Morgott as the Omen finally passed on. He looked up at the Erdtree then the ring on his finger before sighing. "I could use a serious fight..."

(Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree)(107,279,681)

Malenia had allowed herself to bloom once more.

She knew she shouldn't have. That she should have taken the defeat in order to prevent the Rot from spreading near Miquella. But she had no choice, not after falling to the Tarnished that had invaded the Haligtree. Oh, but their battle at the beginning was great, she could feel the pure focus upon their blades clashing. He fought only with the sword, a similar blade to her own, and that was all. No spells, no incantations and most certainly not gravity.

She hated gravity.

However he had bested her, now forcing her to show him true horror...or so she had believed.

The Tarnished had only taken out a second blade before facing her again. His focus and strikes increased as their battle had raged on. Every dodge, every deflect, every time their blades had clashed, their precision and power increased within the seconds. Even with her bloomed, he fought her as an equal with the skill of a true swordsman. Not a bumbling buffoon who swung around giant weapons and hoped to hit, like many others...Radahn was the only one who could do it with skill.

Regardless, it was time for her next move.

The Waterfowl Dance.

And dance she did, like no one ever could. Yet her attacks didn't strike as true as she had envisioned. The Tarnished danced around her attack, even as the Rot was clear in the air and no doubt affecting him now, he still managed to avoid her attack. When she turned to face him, he suddenly dashed forward and landed a clean blow straight into her chest, the blade bursting from her back.

"I...I see...thy strength..warrants the crown..." Malenia said as the Tarnished removed his blade from her chest. She fell almost instantly, her bloom now fading as she reached towards the tree. "Forgive me...my brother...Forgive me, Miquella...I finally...met my match..."

"..." The Tarnished remained to the side as she had faded. Letting out a sigh, he moved on once more. Another Demigod has fallen...yet another stop remains.

(Siofra River, Mohgwyn Palace)( 809,681,519)

Mogh roared in pain as he fell face first into the ground. Cold breath came from his mouth, something that would have been normally impossible, but the Frozen Lightning that had struck him was far from normal. It didn't just go through his chest, it had exploded to a massive degree. His insides were very much frozen and he couldn't even cast a single incantation to warm himself.

His hands being cut off didn't help out by much.

"D-damn you, Tarnished!" Mogh managed to growl out.

"...I know one day, you'll look back at this and thank me." The Tarnished said, hovering over Mogh with his own spear. He raised it up high as the Omen weakly lifted it's arm to defend himself. "However, you would have done all of this either way. Miqeulla just took advantage of that."

"W-what do you-" Mogh didn't get to finish upon the spear going clean through his head and killing him instantly.

"That's done." The Tarnished said, ripping the spear out without so much care. He then looked back at the Cocoon that Mogh had tried desperately to protect, a glare growing once more. "Now there's you, Miqeulla the Kind."

The hand twitched, unaware of what was to come.

(Shadow Keep, The Dark Chamber) (1,297,712,781)

He couldn't believe it. He was a Demi-God, Child of Marika, his dearest mother. He had unsealed the power very power she had sealed away. He was Messmer the Impaler and no Tarnished of any kind should have been a fraction of a problem.

This one however went well beyond a mere problem.

Messmer's snakes flew down at the Tarnished, who had vanished in a mere step. He spotted him standing there while brandishing a blue great sword with a chilling atmosphere to it. Ignoring it he dashed forward, his spear held out only to find himself slammed into the floor. His own spear was currently impaled into his chest.

He could taste the irony. That or his blood.

The last thing he saw was the Tarnished over him and bringing down the chilling Great Sword. His last thoughts of cursing his dear mother.

(Gate of Divinity) (1,573,201,824)

Miquella sat upon Radahn's shoulders, his Promised Consort, as they gazed upon the Tarnished before them. Radahn spread his arms out, allowing Miqeulla's power to course through him. A bright light surrounded the arena, focusing solely on the one Tarnished that had refused to be embraced by his gentle light. He would know soon enough that facing against a God and his King Consort was far from ideal.

At least that was what he believed until the Tarnished suddenly appeared right beside them. Miqeulla caught his gave ever so briefly, golden, terrifying eyes, before Radahn was ungracefully struck across his face. They both struck the ground, shaking the very foundation of the land. Then a storm brewed as Lightning struck around them violently as the Tarnished floated above them before diving down while holding his leg up.

The Land of Shadow Cracked that day.

(Mountaintops of Giants, Forge of The Giants)(1,824,917,842)

Melina hummed as she appeared behind the Tarnished, who was watching the Erdtree with...disappointment? Sadness? He couldn't have known...could he? No. It mattered not if he did or not. She had her duty as a Maiden and her duty...was to burn. She watched him sigh to himself before sitting down and decided to appear before him.

"I have long since observed the Lands In Between. This world is in dire need of repair and Death...indiscriminate." Melina said, not missing his sad gaze never fading from her. He did know after all and was sad about it...she tried hard to ignore the feeling in her chest and focused more on her last words. "Are you prepared...to commit a cardinal sin?"

"...Yes."

"Very well. Let my hand rest upon you for but a moment." Melina said, their hands meeting as she spoke. The moment their hands touched, he had gone limp, allowing her to stand. She looked down at him, about to say something before stopping herself.

No...this had to end. It would be less painful this way.

She turned away, her mind made up as she looked upon the tree. Fire built around her as she intended to burn it to the ground, at the cost of her own life...all the while unaware that the Tarnished watched her do so ever so silently.

(Crumbling Farmua Azula, Maliketh, the Black Blade)(56,403,836,017)

Maliketh roared as he hit the ground, his strength gone and his power depleted. The Tarnished had landed the finishing blow, leaving him unable to continue his duty any longer. Yet he could not understand it. Why this Tarnished, his...his...Friend had betrayed him? It just...it just didn't make any sense to him? Yet...it mattered not.

He had failed.

To prevent the Rune of Death from being allowed to spread once more.

"Forgive me, Marika. I'm…sorry." Maliketh said silently, unable to keep himself up any longer. He heard the Tarnished stop right in front of him, yet made no move to attack. He had nothing to say to the betrayer. Only apologies for his failure…for the reality that could never be. "The Golden Order…cannot be restored…I…am…sorry."

With that, Malakeith, the Black Blade had fallen to the Tarnished. He watched as the Guardian faded, as the Rune itself appeared not long after. With a glare on his face, the Tarnished looked at it for what felt like forever before finally taking upon the Blade. Releasing Death once more and allowing the Erdtree to finally burn ablaze.

(Ashen Capital Lyndell, Erdtree Sanctuary)(329,176,162,614)

"So, you came. As I exp-" Gideon, despite his title as the "All-Knowing" he did not see the incoming blue wave of light that had separated his arm from his body. "GAH! You damn-"

He wasn't allowed to finish upon the fist that had met his face not long after. Falling on to his back, he tried to grab his scepter, but the Tarnished had pinned him down. With one foot stepping down on his elbow, the Tarnished had not stabbed him. Nay, he had laid his fist upon his helm, instantly breaking it open to show the snarling old man underneath. Yet his snarling did him no favors as the Tarnished continued to beat him down, even occasionally slamming the man's head into the ground, cracking the ground as he did so.

When all was said and done, Gideon had been impaled to the wall by Glintstone blades in his arms and legs. The Tarnished looked at him with a glare before taking out...a bell? No, the Spirit Calling Bell. The moment he rang it, Gideon's blood had run cold upon the spirit summoned.

"Why have you summoned me, Ru-YOU!" Latenna, an Albinauric Woman from the Village Albinaurics within Raya Lucaria. One where he had lured an Omen Killer over to while releasing a Bloodhound Knight after the girl. The entire Village had burned, but he had gained nothing of value. "YOU WILL PAY FOR YOUR SINS!"

Gideon's screams could be heard as he was under the mercy of the Spirit while the Tarnished watched with an expressionless face of professionalism...till he broke it with a smirk.

(Ashen Capital Lyndell, Elden Throne) (816,015,192,916)

"RRRAAARGH!" Godfrey roared, his body bloodied. He could no longer contain it. The Blood. The Rush. The Excitement. It was something that he could not contain any longer. Not as First Elden Lord, nor as Godfrey. "Now I fight as Hoarah Loux! WARRIOR!"

The Tarnished who stood before him, his hand looking at his blade for a moment before looking down at a talisman. A shard of a Jarman, Hoarah had assumed judging by the unique shape and blood. He then watched as the Tarnished had sheeted his blade before raising his own fist up, gaining a golden glow around his hands.

Both then charged at one another as the Lands and In between shook for several moments before going silent...

(Erdtree, Fractured Marika)(1,000,000,000,000)

The Elden Beast bellowed out a roar as it swung it's sword around, coated in it's pure holy energy, with the full intent of the Tarnished that had dared come into it's domain. However as it did so, it's colossal sword was matched evenly by the Tarnished's own weapon as shockwaves echoed from the burned Erdtree and out across the Lands In Between. This was not what had upset it however.

It was the fact that the Tarnished had done so with the Uchigatana, a normal, ever so common weapon of the Land of Reeds.

A damnable sword that could match the Sacred Sword it had made.

Such a thing. Such a Tarnished should not have been allowed to exist!

"I wonder...do you think these shockwaves are made by you?" The Tarnished said, too...too damn calmy! "Or maybe you think the power comes from my Blade? I suppose I could sheath it for now."

Was..was this Mortal mocking it?!

"Now, go on. Show the weakness you clearly have." The Tarnished stood where he was, the accursed blade put away. "Come along now? I do have better things to do."

The Elden Beast let out a roar before raising it's sword up, glimmering with it's divine hatred and might. It glared down at the Tarnished, who was awaiting it's attack and decided to do just that. A ring appeared around the Tarnished before immediately closing it and exploding on impact. The God had then swung it's blade down with all it's might, a blinding light going off as it struck.

...So why didn't it see anything else?

The smoke cleared showing the Tarnished standing there, completely unharmed and holding the Sacred Sword back with his mere palm.

...What...?

"My turn." The Tarnished said, his free hand on the sheathed blade as it was barely freed before vanishing.

Then The Elden Beast suddenly felt as though thousands-no. Millions upon millions of slashes across it's body. It's very aura, it's power! They were also being cut off completely! Even the Sacred Sword had been destroyed, ripped apart and left in pieces. It didn't compare to the seemingly eternal pain for the Elden Beast. Yet all of this within seconds as the Tarnished appeared back in his spot while sheathing his sword. The Elden Beast fell down, it's head right before the Tarnished, down to it's last breath.

It...It was going to die, wasn't it?

Upon seeing the hand approaching it tried to reel back too little, too late. Flames erupted from the Tarnished's palm, exploding throughout the Divine being. It let out a wallowed cry, echoing through the Erdtree before finally fading and reducing to dust. A God was slain and the Tarnished brought back with the goal to become Elden Lord, had achieved his goal.

The Tarnished didn't even acknowledge it as he moved through the dust, stopping before the decapitated and decaying form of Marika's head. He gently picked it up, placing it down upon her body while ensuring it had stayed in place. A grand light soon shined upon him as he bowed down...

(... Chapel of Anticipation...)(...1...)

The lone, tall standing island of the Chapel of Anticipation was an odd place that had stood out given it's isolated location with little to almost no ways of actually being able to come onto the island. Yet Godrick had sent out one of his Grafted Scion's out in search of usable parts for him to use for Grafting. However this one was not coming back anytime soon.

Coming beyond the gate was the Tarnished, standing a solid 6,0 tall with fair skin while his build was toned sharply. His eyes were a fair shade of emerald green while his bloodstained black hair was slightly long, while tied into a ponytail. His armor, made from the Lands of Reeds, was currently heavily destroyed, but it was still holding onto his bloody form. Wrapped to his lower back and barely holding on was a quiver with no arrows while a broken bow could be seen being dragged in his left hand. While in his right was the Uchigatana, blood still stains on it, but remarkably in great shape all the same. Finally strapped to his back was a Golden Shield with a Crest, just underneath that were the twin straight swords. All earned from his hard victory from the Grafted Scion, though not without suffering great injuries himself.

His name...was Rukido, a Samurai from the Land of Reeds, a place locked in a long and miserable civil war, which, over time, has caused its alienation from neighboring nations and left the entire land succumbed to a blood-soaked madness. He was one of many who had been killed when it had first begun yet...he had been returned to life. By what means, he had no idea what, but he felt something call to him...something dangerous. Something powerful.

His battle with the creature that had attacked him had told him that he was far from his home lands...that was good, wasn't it? Regardless, he had to keep moving. He had needed to find a way off this strange island, to get somewhere he wouldn't so easily fall-

The ground suddenly crumbled as he stepped towards the clift.

He fell to one of many, many deaths to come.

(Chapel of Anticipation)(1,000,000,001)

The Grafted Scion roared.

It was reduced to ash upon a mere Lightning Spear striking it and lighting up the sky.

Rukido moved past it and towards the clift, a smirk on his face.

"Alright...once more."

And with that, he had fallen once more into the dangerous waters below, his death coming quickly.

(Ashen Capital Lyndell, Elden Throne) (...)

Over and over and over...he had been through this for so many times. It wasn't the mere Deaths he spoke about. No, those had lessened greatly within time...something that had become a not so welcomed friend of his. However...he remained stuck. Stuck within the Lands In Between for every time he had reached his goal, becoming the Elden Lord, he had returned back to the Chapel, all of his progress reseted.

Those who had lived within the lands, The Demigods, The Elden Beast, all of them returned as if it all never happened.

Yet he remembered.

He could never understand why. Why him? Why did these resets happen? Why did he keep his power? His Knowledge? Even his Equipment? Why did every time he tried to do something even remotely different he had to do it over...

(Age of Duskborn)

The Capital could be seen with an eerie dust, Death returned to the world.

And over...

(The Age of Order)

The Capital could be seen with a grand, radiant aura as a new order was born.

And over...

(Age of Stars)

Rukido and Ranni looked on at the moon, the Tarnished holding onto her hand tighter with hope.

And over...

(Lord of Frenzy Flame)

The Erdtree burned as chaotic flames burned everything. No voices, no sounds, no life to ever be born again. Melina could be seen stepping towards the fire, a blade in hand and her hair darkened. Both eyes wide open with a mission in mind, to end the Lord of Frenzy who stood before her.

And over again...

(Capital of Lyndell, Sewers)

Of course not all changes...

The Dung Eater bashed his head against the wall before hearing the door of his cell open. He turned his head ever so briefly before golden lighting coated with darkness suddenly struck him. Almost immediately, Death had come upon him, uprooted from within as he wailed in pain. Rukido watched as his life faded, a growl escaping his lips before he turned away.

...Were most certainly not worth trying.

(Ashen Capital Lyndell, Elden Throne)

His hair had long since turned silver, now allowed free from the ponytail and allowed to be slightly longer than normal. His eyes had started shimmering golden as well, but he did not age. He always assumed it was a side effect from always absorbing more and more power from the runes. Even in terms of his attire had become much lighter, growing to love the crimson-red, short sleeved top, black leather pants, and brown boots. Not much else nowadays unless he had felt like it.

An endless amount of time had that effect on people.

Just as time had forced him to learn as much as he could. Not because he wanted to, but because he had to. He wanted to find anything, anything at all that could allow him to actually break free from this curse placed upon him. It was well beyond that of the Elden Beast, it had never acknowledged him nor ever tried to actually attack him outside the Erdtree. It, along with many others, had remained unaware of the loop.

There was also the issue of things that had to happen. Out of everything he learned, he figured out that he could not simply break into the Erdtree whenever he pleased. Despite all of Power, the Tree would regrow almost instantly, leading to two things he needed to complete the deed. His Maiden, Melina to burn or to take on the Frenzy Flame once more.

Neither had led to a true end. Nothing he had done-well reasonably done had been able to destroy the loop. Even the very items that had the power to change something, had been stripped from him, despite the powerful arsenal of weapons within him. So that begged the question...why did he keep on trying? Why not attempt to leave?

Glancing down at a Talisman, he held it gently. Rukido smiled upon seeing the two figures on it, knowing the tale of a young girl born with rot, meeting her mentor and his flowing sword. However it was about who had given it to him that had made it mean so much more to his soul.

That answer was simple. Too many people had suffered upon the Shattering. The Warring of the Demigods had ravaged the lands to the point where it was beyond salvageable. Towards the end of his journeys, only a handful of people had always remained. Those he cherished and respected greatly had lived with the pain of being forced to survive only to perish.

Did he suffer? Greatly.

Did he care at this point? Nope.

He was Tarnished, he was always meant to return after Death. Ye who lived in Death, yet lived. One of no Renown, yet he had done so much throughout these loops. Learned as much as he could, met a great many people. Both good, evil...and somehow worse. Had grasped upon a large selection of blades, bows, axes, spears, so many. So much done...yet he continued onward.

He had wanted to save these people...somehow. Glancing away from the Talisman, he looked up at the burning tree as it's embers still danced around...

Ending the loop had come first...and Rukido believed he had found a way.

At. FUCKING! Last.

The Loops themselves were almost instant. Almost, being the key word. With little to no knowledge of meditation, the word being lost to those within the Lands in Between, Rukido had forced himself to learn. To master it, to somehow increase his senses. To reach a level of insight that even the Divines couldn't hope to see. And he felt something with each and every reset he was forced through.

And he pinpointed right toward-

"THERE!" Rukido launched himself from the throne, his hand forward. He grabbed onto something as the area exploded into darkness.

(Farmua Azula, Dragonlord Placidusax)

Rukido opened his eyes, the darkness long since faded as he looked upon what he had grabbed. It was...a strange creature. It was far shorter than he had expected, humanoid as well with it's skin being mostly black as the night sky while a devilish, purple aura could be seen around it. However it was also remarkably...skinny? Weak even, given how frightened it had looked. Even a mere commoner could have taken this out.

This...? This was the reason for the loop? He felt...cheated. He had been expecting so much more than this. A Beast greater than the Elden Beast. Plaxidusax somehow swears vengeance upon his defeat. Even another version of himself that was testing him for something bigger. Yet...this thing was...was not anything like that?

Remain weary he did however. Long too many times had there been another face of an opponent, a new power shown upon doing so. So he looked upon the being before him before promptly letting it go. It scrambled back, swiping it's hand as a crack in the air appeared. Out came Placidusax who roared upon his forced summoning before locking eyes with the Tarnished and-

Was immediately decapitated...both heads, mind you.

"...Please, tell me you have more." Rukido said, the Uchigatna resting by his side. Trembling greatly. The being had screeched, sending out more rifts as more beings, both mortal and divine came out.

All had almost been eradicated by the aura of energy from Rukido, his eyes gleaming golden with pure hatred. This...was far more disappointing than he could have ever imagined. But if this was all it took to end this nightmare, then so be it.

"You...whatever you are, I care not for the reasons behind these loops. I merely want it to end. To be allowed to make the changes I desire. Surrender yourself now and you may live." How long had it been since he spoke to an enemy like that? Not since his first time around. It never worked of course, but it would be nice if it worked once. "What is your response?"

It screeched at him, again.

Bloody. Amazing.

"I see..." Rukido raised his blade up and pointed at it. "Then you may fall." The Time Entity had clapped it's hands together as a familiar feeling washed over him. It wasn't welcomed. "No! Not this time!"

It was going to reset it all over again.

Force him to go through that hell again.

To lose them all again!

That was not allowed to stand.

Not. Ever. Again.

Eyes gleaming brighter than ever before, to the point they were completely coated, the land he had stepped off from had exploded. Recreating the Crumbling Farmua Azula as the entire landscape had been destroyed. The Entity screamed, but he cared not as he thrusted his sword forward as dark energy built around it.

He stabbed it just as it was released.

And for the first time in a long time, pain had exploded throughout his very being. His very soul.

And then he knew nothing more once again...

(...Chapel of Anticipation...)(...?...)

Rukido gasped upon his awakening, gripping his chest as he gasped for air. He rolled from his spot, on his hands and knees, breathing heavily. He tried to calm himself, unable to stop the pain building up. No, it...it wasn't pain. More like...weakness?

He searched for his power...and it was there. However it was far smaller than what he had originally. His power, his abilities weren't simply reseted, but it felt as though he had been drained. No, that would imply that they were taken and that was not what had happened to him. Rather they had been...split from him.

What...did he do?

"Pardon me, my good man." Rukido stopped, unfamiliar with hearing...anyone apart from himself. "Would you mind telling me where we are? I'm afraid I do not know where "

"...We?"

(Chapter End)

A/N: Welp, this is something I had wanted to do for the longest time. Oh yes, Elden Ring o Elden Ring. Bear Witness to this fic...that I had stopped myself from doing thanks to the Rumor of the DLC, it being teased and then finally dropping the trailer this year. And with the amount of stories I already have to do...I should have more than enough time to fully observe the Shadow of the Erdtree.

Let me tell ya, I've never been more hyped for anything like this for a while for games.

However there came the question of "Okay, how do I make this interesting/good?" I couldn't just make it like the game and if anyone knows me, I like doing long fics. This is a long game if you play it casually and explore, but I'd be lying if I could make something grand from that alone. Least with my ideas. So then, what if I changed a little of everything...and by little, I mean a lot of things.

Which of course meant "Make a One-Off Character with Time and Space abilities." Now that I'm thinking about it...no clue why I'm using quotations. Point is, why not just make it a full blown change and give a reason for it. Stabbing a Time Entity while it's in the middle of it's chanting sounds about right in order to achieve that.

And as an added Bonus of "Meta" our Tarnished Protagonist has been part of that Loop and has only grown stronger with each and every reset. However with this incident, that power is more or less "loss" in the sense of it being split away from him. Where are these other pieces? That is to come later...like much later.

In the meantime we have some new faces...that will be revealed next chapter because I had gotten into the habit of making really...really long chapters. I don't mind it, but it's slowing me down quite a bit when it comes to actual updates for other stories so I'm trying to break it...barely.

Anyway, I do hope you've enjoyed, that you review and that you come back for more. Until next time!