Lucian had never truly understood it. Maidens not only aided in battle with Incantations and Sacred Tear Flasks, but could also help the Tarnished turn runes into strength — they were indispensable companions.
And yet, these Bloody Fingers, swayed by the likes of the White Mask, became obsessed with accursed blood, murdering their own maidens as proof of loyalty to join the Mohgwyn Dynasty.
To sever their own path upward like that… it was beyond foolish. Even if one received the Dynasty's equipment and battle arts, how could that compare to a body strengthened countless times by runes? Strength was the very reason one could be lord.
Take Lucian right now — without even using a weapon, relying solely on sheer physical might, he had knocked the man before him, Nerijus, to his knees with a single punch.
At this moment, Nerijus was curled up like a shrimp, tears and drool flowing freely. Lucian stepped on his head, pressing his face into the mud of the wetlands.
Nerijus, his face buried in the muck and unable to breathe, instinctively struggled to rise, but under Lucian's weight, he could do nothing. His struggles only splattered more mud over himself, staining the gold-embroidered black robe and ornate golden-trimmed shawl he wore.
The garments, symbols of the Mohgwyn Dynasty's noble pride, were now trampled underfoot — and Lucian felt an odd sense of satisfaction.
So, you like preying on the weak, do you? Lucian had seen Tarnished attacked by this man before. Even if their physical wounds were healed by grace, the mental scars were not so easily erased.
Some, under Fia's care, had begun to recover, taking on odd jobs to live anew. But others still cowered in the corners of the Roundtable Hold, trembling every day.
Lucian wondered — when Nerijus hacked those fledgling Tarnished into bloodied messes, did he ever think that one day he would be humiliated like this?
The Mohgwyn Dynasty's lot were no good people, and Lucian showed no mercy under his heel.
As Nerijus's struggling grew weaker, Lucian's thoughts wandered.
Regardless of what these Bloody Fingers' past relationships with their maidens had been, the maidens had chosen to follow them willingly — hoping they would become Elden Lord, remaining steadfast companions. Such trust was rare in the Lands Between.
Once, perhaps, their maidens had stood beside them at sites of grace, wishing them kingship, fighting at their side, or blaming themselves for being unable to help.
And these Bloody Fingers had slain those very maidens with their own hands.
Lucian's own maiden had died long before he met her — he hadn't exchanged a single word with her. But the message she left before her death hadn't even named her killer; it was a blessing, a hope that Lucian would become Elden Lord.
That alone was enough to make Lucian feel goodwill toward maidens… and even more hatred toward these Bloody Fingers.
To kill one's own maiden as an offering, join the Dynasty, and slaughter one's kin — calling them beasts was no exaggeration.
The more Lucian thought about it, the angrier he became. He lifted his foot from Nerijus's head.
Nerijus was already unconscious, unmoving.
Lucian yanked him from the mud, grabbing one of Nerijus's fingers. It was strange — suffused with accursed blood, a deep bluish hue, constantly bleeding from the tip.
This was a Bloody Finger — the Dynasty's gift, the origin of their moniker. It was a symbol of Nerijus's allegiance… one he was about to lose forever.
With a sharp tug, Lucian tore the finger from his hand. Tendons, nerves, and veins snapped — blood gushed out.
The searing pain wrenched Nerijus from unconsciousness, and he let out a scream of pure agony.
"Ah—! Aaaahhh!"
Lucian tossed the severed finger aside. He didn't bother with the rest. He wasn't planning to let Nerijus go, but even for someone who had tormented countless Tarnished, this was still too light a punishment.
The truth was, Lucian didn't know much about torture — nor did he want to be cruel. Seeing that finger come away with a string of tendons and nerves… he'd already begun to regret it. Torturing someone defenseless was nothing like executing a foe.
He imagined it — alongside the screaming, snapping each finger one by one, then crushing the hand, then chopping it off and stuffing it in his mouth…No. Too brutal. It made him queasy. He couldn't bring himself to do it.
It only deepened his disgust toward these Bloody Fingers, who took joy in tormenting their own. Psychopathic beasts, the lot of them.
But he couldn't just let Nerijus off. What to do?
Fine — no thinking, just beat him senseless.
Lucian flung Nerijus against a rock and rained down blows with both fists like a storm.
"Ora ora ora ora!"
Nerijus's wails echoed across the area, quickly drawing everyone nearby.
First to arrive was Anogo, trotting over on his little donkey, crossbow in hand. Seeing Lucian unharmed and the screaming coming from some stranger being beaten, Anogo sighed in relief. Then he realized — why had he even worried? This was the man who'd saved Castle Morne single-handedly.
Next came a metal-hatted samurai wielding a katana — the Bloody Finger Hunter, Yura, searching the area for just such prey.
Finding Lucian pounding the infamous Nerijus into the stone, Yura froze for a moment. He didn't intervene; clearly, this Tarnished needed no help. He simply decided that, once Lucian was done, he'd check if Nerijus still breathed — and if so, finish him.
The two men exchanged a glance, then silently watched the beating, the scene strangely quiet.
Until the last to arrive broke the silence.
He strolled up at a lazy pace, wearing a smug grin, the picture of someone enjoying a good show.
"Wow, nice boxing. But why not hit him in the balls?"
Whistling, with a greatshield in one hand and a long spear in the other — who else could it be but Patches?
Lucian stopped his punches. Nerijus's body sagged like a ragdoll. Bones broken, teeth gone, but still clinging to life.
Lucian glanced at him — no more fight left — then looked at the three onlookers, a friendly smile on his blood-streaked face.
"Ah, I was so focused I didn't notice anyone had arrived. My apologies."