FADE
It was a cold night in Anor Londo. On top of the looming citadel in which the city was ruled from, two figures stood on a balcony with a complete view of the entire city. Both stood in utter silence while the enjoying the view below. The sight was glorious.
Down below them the city lights illuminated the the building around them, giving off a golden hue. In the surrounding darkness of the night Anor Londo stood out. To any surrounding spectator outside it's walls, the city of the god's stood as a golden beacon of hope. It was the driving force for any outsider to attempt to match the absolute glory of the city.
It was no surprise why the two beings on top of the ivory citadel took great pride in being inhabitants of the city. The smaller figure in ornate golden lions armor suddenly spoke.
" Is it truly wise to send him milord?"
The taller figure looked at the smaller one, his black robes were blowing in the night breeze. He tilted his head in curiosity, his regal crown almost falling off.
" What do you mean by that? He's our only option left".
" I realize that milord, but I've heard disturbing rumors on the origin of the outbreak."
"Rumors, I never figured you to be the person to listen to petty gossip. Either way do explain your fears"
"According to some of the refugees, the outbreak was caused by the town's leaders. Milord I fear Ooliacile was trying to gain power from the Abyss, a coup perhaps."
"How unfortunate, according to the reports the leaders were killed."
"That is true milord, however I feel there is a possibility that some of the traitors survived. Wouldn't it just better to let the town fall?"
"You and I both know Artorias would not abandon anyone to be destroyed by the Abyss."
There was a pause. Suddenly a loud groaning sound could be heard. The front gates were being opened. The taller figure walked to the edge of the balcony and looked down. His focus was on the giant doors serving as the gateway to the city. O
The smaller figure followed his gaze and saw what his lord was gazing at so intently. The sight below them was disheartening. The terrible price of war.
In the golden streets below, Silver Knights were stumbling over each other as they passed through the main gates. Onlookers watched in horror as bloody and charred corpses were being carried on carts. The Giant Sentinels formed a protective barrier against crowds the crowds of onlookers. Their huge shields blocking anyone from passing. They remain absolutely stoic in the face of a curious crowd.
The once proud army of Silver Knights was reduced to a pitiful groups of tired and broken soldiers.
The figures above in the fortress knew these knights were the remnants of the legion sent to assist Izalith in combating the demons spawned from the Witch of Izalith.
Behind the the fighting force sent to Izalith, another crowd of people came stumbling behind them. The came in the thousands, refugees from the town of Ooliacile. The gate was large enough to fit fifty giants standing side by side to pass comfortably. The refugees barely fit though the giant opening.
Each and every one of them was exhausted. All of them faced unimaginable terrors from the Abyss outbreak. Many had lost friends and family. Children were among the refugees. Many of them were walking alone.
Many had tears down their faces. According to accounts by the refugees, the Abyss had created a hole in the town. A hole of utter blackness they described it. From the hole, the Abyss corrupted many of the citizens nearby and in turn they corrupted anyone who they came across. In one day the town's defense force had been overwhelmed.
Suddenly there was a commotion from the street. An elderly sorcerer woman in the crowd of refugees from Ooliacile fell to her knees and began shrieking, her hands clutching over ears. Her shrill voice could be heard over the massive crowd. Every being in the street stopped and stared in absolute silence.
"MAKE IT STOP! THE VOICES PLEASE MAKE THEM GO AWAY!" She screamed, her eyes brimming with tears. She clutched her catalyst, pulling it close to her chest. She seemed to be in agonizing pain.
Then it happened. Underneath her skin, something began to move. It began to squirm creating ripples across her face. Her head began to enlarge, turning brown in the process. Tentacle like protrusions were slightly visible behind her head. She was corrupted by the Abyss. All around her body, black veins were visible around her tinted grey skin. Her brown robes tore as her whole body grew.
Two Silver Knights began approaching her, one had his sword drawn and the other raised his spear while using his shield for protection. They were both in Ooliacile evacuating it's citizens during the Abyss outbreak. They had both seen the effects of a corrupted person. They knew what was about to happen and what they would have to do.
The corrupted sorceress saw them approach and with a sweep of her catalyst she sent a wave of dark magic at the two knights. The knight with the sword caught the brunt force of the abyssal magic, it corroded his head and shoulders away.
The knight rushed past his fallen comrade, his spear raised and ready to impale the corrupted woman. He closed the distance. His spear racing toward the woman.
His spear caught her on the chest. Dark red blood splattered over his armor. Suddenly her arm was in motion, dark ooze came of her melting the Silver Knight's armor creating deep gouges. The knight stumbled back in surprise. While the knight was down, the corrupted sorceress jumped on him. With a howl she unleashed pure Abyssal energy on him, corrupted his soul.
The Silver Knight slowly got up. Darkness began to emanate off the knight, he let out a roar and charged
the surrounding refugees. He was corrupted. The corrupted knight grappled a man and as the man tried to break free, he unleashed more Abyssal energy into the man. Now the man was corrupted.
It was a chain reaction, like a giant wave of bodies being corrupted by the strain of the Abyss magic. They were being turned into feral monsters.
The Giant Sentinels surrounded the street, creating a wall with their shields to protect the citizens behind them. The sentinels weapons obliterating any that came too close. Silver Knights rushed into the fray slaying all corrupted by the Abyss. It was a massacre.
/
On the great wall surrounding Anor Londo and above the chaos, a dark figure in silver armor sat observing the ensuing chaos. His sword sat rested over his shoulder, while his shield was on the ground next to him. He was watching the troops return from their deployments with the Great wolf Sif. He was not amused with the state the Silver Knights and refugees came back in.
The First Flame was fading and he knew it. If it ever faded only dark would remain. Life would wither and die, the world would return to nothing. He would not allow that.
Desperate not to let that happen, The Witch of Izalith came up with a solution, she would attempt to duplicate the flame. Her plan failed and now Anor Londo was forced to send more legions to Izalith to combat the monstrosities formed from the failure. Anor Londo was forced to fight on many fronts, both yielding high casualties. The newest outbreak of the Abyss was the newest problem. Following the war with the dragons, Anor Londo had hundreds of legions all willing to wage war on behalf of their lord.
Following the first outbreak of the Abyss in New Londo by the Four Kings, half of the legions betrayed and aligned themselves with the Darkwraiths. Most of the traitors flocked to New Londo, the established capital of the dark.
Artorias himself travelled there, leading a force of thousands in hopes of retaking the city. It ended in failure though, the Four Kings were too powerful. The city was flooded to keeps the Abyss contained. Artorias gave the order for it, a decision he regretted but knew had it to be done. In a matter of minutes an entire city was exterminated. Many who survived the initial waves swam up to the surface, only to be pushed back down. He remembered issuing the orders to not let a single soul come out of the water. It was necessary to keep any contamination from leaving.
Beneath his azure hood, one would be able to barely make out his face. His expression was one of disgust and contempt. He hated those memories. He could remember the scorn and hate he saw on the survivors faces as they were pushed back. Artorias remembered the children the most. He remembered each and everyone of their face as they sunk into the black water. Lifeless eyes stared back at him.
His own men didn't hate him, they did however avoid him. They all knew it was necessary to contain the threat. They avoided him because of how easily he gave the order. He lived his life in solitude now, many had called him the "Butcher of New Londo". Even though he came to save the city, people remembered him most for slaughtering it. Many criticized him for his methods. Methods needed to halt the Abyss's advance. They needed someone to blame for such a tragedy.
He didn't dwell on the past for too long, he need to be focus for the situation at hand.
Knight Artorias could not believe it. The Abyss managed to make it to the front gates of Anor Londo. Of all of Lord Gywn's knights, Artorias was one of the few who could safely combat and travel the Abyss. Hence the nickname "Abysswalker". He swore to protect his people from the threat and seeing that very threat running rampant at the gates of his city made him go into a fit of rage.
"Artorias, are you well?" A voice said from behind him.
Turning his head to the sound of the voice, Artorias saw it was his friend Alvina. Alvina was an old friend if his, one of his few friends. She was a talking grey cat, a fat talking grey cat.
"Am I well? The Abyss runs rampant in the very doorstep of Anor Londo. I cannot and will not tolerate this." He replied evenly.
"Well then, why do you waste your time here. You should be combating it with your troops you fool." She said mockingly at him.
There was a brief silence. Without a word in reply, Artorias stepped to the edge of the wall with Sif at his side. Both of them had their sword at ready. Without a word of they jumped. Both of them aiming to the highest concentrations of corrupted.
/
On top of the fortress above looming above Anor Londo, Lord Gywn and Dragonslayer Ornstein watched the madness unfold in the street below.
"Milord, allow me to take command of our forces at the gate. I will assist on stopping this." The Dragonslayer said while grabbing his spear.
"That won't be necessary Ornstein" The Lord of Sunlight replied.
"Sir! Our forces need assistance in controlling this."
"Which they shall have. I understand your concerns Ornstein, but just watch. The situation is under control."
"UNDER CONTROL!? OUR SOLDIERS ARE BARELY KEEPING THOSE THINGS BACK!
"Watch you tongue boy, you say they need assistance? They shall get assistance now watch."
".. Yes milord" Ornstein replied dejectedly.
From the balcony both of them watched two figures falling off the wall above the outbreak. The two figures were soaring to the ground at high speeds.
It was Artorias and Sif, both of them landed creating a small crater in the ground sending dust and debris in all directions. Without a moments pause both set about their work of slaying the corrupted. Both of their sword seemed to glow a faint blue as they tore through the hordes of corrupted beings. They seemed to be dancing, a glorious dance of death. It was a marvelous sight to behold in the Golden City.
Every corrupted being turned their attention upon the duo, their glowing red eyes watching Artorias and Sif. They could sense the power difference between them and the Silver Knights. Suddenly they swarmed the duo. Hundreds of bodies swarmed Artorias and Sif in a giant wave.
It was to no avail though, their attempts to swarm the two failed as matching swords cleaved through the bodies.
The Silver Knights finally snapped back into focus. The gate commander gave orders for to his troops to assist Artorias. In a matter of minutes the Abyss corrupted people were all slain.
/
On top of the citadel, Lord Gywn stood proudly as he watched one of his top knights finished off the last of the filth.
"See Ornstein? The situation was under control." Lord Gywn said to the Dragonslayer.
"Indeed, however is it truly wise to celebrate in times like these?"
" No, it is not. We do have a war to fight" he replied grimly.
Suddenly he turned away from the balcony, heading toward the halls inside.
"I'm summoning a war council, we have to make new plans for this war." He announced.
"Yes milord" Ornstein replied.
" In the meantime you are to take direct control of all forces defending the city. I want everyone who enters this city searched for any sign of corruption. This city is to go into full alert."
" It will be done. What am I to do after?"
" You are to join us in the throne room with Artorias with you, now go"
Without a word, Ornstein hurried off to the front gates.
/-
End if first chapter. Please tell me what you think.
-Tokyo Express