The decrepit halls of the Ailing Loran were home to many things that even the most experienced of Hunters were right to fear.
It hadn't been more than a few weeks since Gaile Arkenmire; a friend of Eileen the Crow, Hunter of Hunters, though the term was used lightly to say the least, had acquired the holy chalice that opened the path for him to explore the forbidden labyrinth that lay dormant beneath the city of Yharnam.
Gaile was a young Hunter of the Dream, who had faced much adversity in his time spent prowling the moonlit streets of the city, dealing a swift but merciless death to any beast that dared rear its ugly head in his presence.
He was clad in the traditional black of the many Hunters that came before him but also adorning his form was a Crowfeather mantle worn by the Hunters of Hunters, and while Gaile himself was not among their ranks he still liked the clothing accessory.
Elsewhere in the Halls of the labyrinth another far older being was waiting for her latest opponent to arrive...
Sensing something dark and foreboding was ahead, Gaile took some time to gather himself when a shifting of rubble nearby alerted him to the presence of pack of beasts that had been stalking him through the halls waiting for their chance to end this Hunter's life, "Well well... It seems I have guests to entertain." Gaile spoke out to the largest beast in the group whilst readying his weapons.
In his left hand, a long barreled pistol that he found while exploring the Forsaken Castle Cainhurst, its name was Evelyn.
In his right hand, a staple weapon in the Hunter arsenal, a large curved blade on a folding hinge, one edge meant to cleave and hack beasts limb from limb, the other a sawback meant to inflict grievous wounds that no beast could hope to survive for very long, this was the Hunter's Sawcleaver.
The massive beast was walking bipedal on its hind legs, it's silver fur alight with arcing blue lightning seeing this alone told Gaile all too well that he was facing a Darkbeast.
He could recall facing only one and that thing had only been a shadow of what he was to face here.
The Darkbeast of Hypogean Gaol, Paarl had been a great challenge despite the fact that all that remained of him were his animated bones seemingly called back to life by the mere presence of the Hunter that had set foot within his resting place.
It had suddenly returned to life whilst he was seeking passage to Old Yharnam.
With a deafening roar that reverberated off of the walls of the labyrinth the Abhorrent Darkbeast charged at Gaile who deftly sidestepped its attack, an onslaught of viscous swipes of claws like blades that could have easily rent the young Hunter's head from his shoulders. Seeing his opportunity to kill the beast that was currently making its best effort to kill him Gaile dashed forward and quickly slashed through the beast's side dealing a wound that would over time be its end but this seemed to interest the beast and what happened next surprised Gaile, It stopped its attack and ordered its followers to stay back that it may converse with this Hunter that wanted to end his life with as little pain as possible, "Have you got a screw loose? Or is it your animal intuition?" The Darkbeast spoke out, catching Gaile by complete surprise.
The Darkbeast sneered at Gaile, revealing its three inch long canines. before glancing down at his now festering wound and then to the unfolded Sawcleaver in the Hunter's right hand, "Poison? Oh you are a sick puppy. You drink the blood of half the town and now THIS!? You Hunters are the real killers!" It roared once more before attacking again, this time allowing its pack mates to join the assault.
The fighting was fierce, but it was short lived as the Darkbeast stood alone among the bodies of twelve of his thirteen pack mates that now lie dead in pools of their own foetid blood and the only female in the group, his mate, was about to join them at this Hunter's hand.
The Darkbeast rushed forward to stop it but in the blink of an eye Gaile's free hand had become as a spearhead of flesh and bone that punched into the Female's chest grabbing a hold of the only thing it could find, her beating heart.
With a great spray of blood and a pained howl the female was thrown aside bleeding profusely from a wound she wouldn't survive, Her still beating heart clutched in Gaile's blood soaked hand, its once furious panicked beating slowing to a weak pulse and finally coming to a halt as the female succumbed to blood loss.
Seeing this, the Darkbeast let out a roar of anguish and rushed him intent on killing him before the poison could do its work, "Die... DIE!..DIE!" The great beast roared again, "Hunters are killers nothing less!" It continued to roar as it charged and attacked making the poison in its blood spread faster and faster, "And now you Hunters have more blood on your hands!" it roared and charged one last time and was finally cut down as the Hunter unleashed everything he had against his mighty foe swinging his Sawcleaver and firing shot after shot from his Evelyn some enhanced with Bone Marrow Ash to further strengthen their impact as his larger adversary's pace began to slow due to the poison.
The Darkbeast took one final swing at the Hunter and missed his neck by mere centimetres but still scoring his first and only hit across the Hunter's chest earning a grunt of pain from Gaile, and before falling to its knees it let out one last pitiful lament, "Rancid beasts every last one of us..." It said weakly, moments later Gaile removed its head with a single well placed slash from his Sawcleaver.
Gaile took what time he had to catch his breath, before nonchalantly reaching into the lining of his coat and taking out a self injecting syringe filled with a viscous red liquid, he paused for only a moment before slamming it into his thigh.
With a sickening hiss, its contents injected into his bloodstream as the deep gashes in his chest began to glow with an otherworldly orange light and knit themselves together leaving no evidence that they were ever there. Save for the tears in his shirt left by his fallen foe, "I have to admit... That wasn't in any way easy, and I'd rather not do that again" Gaile said to no one in particular as he walked toward a set of intricately carved oak doors that at one time were barred off but now were accessible and allowing him entrance to the next chamber of the labyrinth.
What awaited him inside both captivated him and struck a fear in him that could only be put in place by an angry Eileen.
It was gaptivating at least, until he had to roll to the side to avoid catching a fireball with his face, his assailant was clad in white sinewy armor the likes of which he'd never seen and he could tell from the shape of the person's figure and the way they walked that they were obviously female.
Fear of the fire that this woman commanded, it wasn't normal in any way and it was right at that moment, that he remembered something Gehrman had once told him, "The Moon is close, it will be a long hunt tonight..." He said with a pause before continuing "Should the beasts loom large and threaten to crush your spirits... Seek a holy chalice as every Hunter and Huntress before you has, A holy chalice will reveal the entrance to the Tomb of the Gods where Hunters and Huntresses partake in communion," Gehrman finished "And before I forget, Gaile, should you go exploring in the Tomb of the Gods... You should mind your surroundings and beware of the Keepers." Remembering what Gehrman had told him, reality came rushing back and he rolled forward dodging another barrage of fireballs and blasts of searing fire before standing at the ready, "Can I assume you're one of the Keepers that Gehrman mentioned?" This seemed to interest the woman as she stopped tipping her hooded head to one side before she spoke, "I Am, what of it?" the Keeper spoke in a cold and calculated manner as though she wanted to avoid showing any emotion whatsoever.
Gaile took a moment to think of a response as the Keeper of the Old Lords stood patiently awaiting his reply, "I ask simply because I don't see a reason for you to attack me, I mean no harm to whatever It is your protecting." Gaile said as she nodded in understanding before taking a single step forward, "How do you know Gehrman?" She asked this time with a curious tone to her voice, "He's my mentor... Well one of them, the other one died very recently." He replied as She advanced again, this time not stopping, "I am sorry for your loss but I simply cannot allow you, A Hunter past this point!" She said whilst swinging her sword sending a shockwave of fire hurtling toward him, "Then I apologize for doing what I must, because I can't afford to have you stop me." Gaile said firing the last shot he had in his Evelyn striking the Keeper center of mass on her visor knocking it from her head though her hood remained in place.
This put the keeper off balance and allowed Gaile to kick her legs out from beneath her, landing square on her back before she could get up the Hunter levelled his Sawcleaver at her neck ready to deal the death blow should she try anything. "Do you yield?" at this notion she lets out an audible scoff "As if! You haven't beaten me yet boy!" she yells kicking his Sawcleaver away so that she can get up and in the same display of brutality as he showed to the fallen Darkbeast's mate she spears her hand into his chest although she doesn't grab onto anything she simply rips her hand back out throwing him across the small arena and in doing so, spraying his blood everywhere.
Having great difficulty breathing Gaile realizes that she's punctured one of his lungs reaching into his coat again to procure another blood vial he finds that their missing, "You wouldn't be looking for these now would you my keen little Hunter?" The Keeper asks holding up his satchel of blood vials. The Hunter nods unable to speak due to his injuries "You're strong, I'll give you that, but your journey ends here little Hunter, I'll give you one final chance to turn back, I suggest you take it." She says tossing him a single blood vial which he catches and immediately puts to use.
Drawing in a deep breath and recovering from a hacking fit as fresh air fills his regenerating lungs he looks her in her eyes with an expression tgat conceded his defeat, "Alright... I'll go but don't think you've seen the last of me and before I forget.. My name... It's Gaile, Gaile Arkenmire." He says as She nods to him and with a wave of her hand the nightmare fog that kept him trapped in her arena is dispelled, "Nerco. Now go, and I suggest you don't return because I won't be so merciful the next time we meet." She said as He walked out of the room looking over his shoulder to see the Keeper sit down in a cushioned stone throne and cross one leg over the other before the doors shut and lock themselves
Gaile let out a groan of mild annoyance at the turnout of events, "I'll have to try and find another way to explore the labyrinth because while Nerco can be reasoned with for the most part She's unwilling to let me pass, and I'd rather not kill her, I couldn't make out much more of her face than the violet shade of her eyes, but I have to say she has a certain mysterious beauty to her." He thought aloud as he started to walk away, unaware that The Keeper, Nerco had heard every word through the doors. "Oh, Little Hunter, you're going to find that past me is the only way forward..." Nerco thinks to herself, It would be many long years before she ever saw the young Hunter again.
The years pass her by as do Hunters and Huntresses hoping to make their mark in the Lower Catacombs of Ailing Loran that She is tasked with guarding, only for her to send them back whence they came, "It's been relatively quiet today... perhaps a short nap would do me some good... after all, there really is no telling when the next Hunter or Huntress will arrive here and try their luck against me... I've yet to meet another like the young Hunter from ten years ago... I wonder how- No! Focus. You've better things to be spending your time thinking on." She thinks, mentally slapping herself as she gets comfortable upon her throne, She's just about to drift off to sleep when a gunshot rings out and a bullet whizzes past her head, "Finally, its taken me ten years but I finally found you again... I think that's long enough to wait for a rematch... Don't you, Nerco?" He asks her with the same bold confidence he displayed to her ten years ago.
Something stirs in her at seeing the young Hunter return after so long, Even if it is for a rematch, "I suppose... But I do recall telling you not to come back was I not clear enough last time or did you just take my mercy for granted?" She said as her eyes began to glow ember orange under her hood.
He lowers his gun at this "To be honest, Nerco, I didn't just come here for a rematch I came to pass on some news... Gehrman has passed on." Gaile says somberly as her eyes widen beneath her hood for only a fraction of a moment, but his perception is sharp enough to catch it, "You lie. No one has ever bested Gehrman" Gaile frowns at this, "If I'm a liar then why do I have his Burial Blade?" He asks drawing the ancient scythe off his back "Only the one who bests Gehrman could possibly have his weapon... He offered me a choice: Submit my life and lose my connection with The Hunter's Dream, refuse and be forcibly removed." Gaile said calmly as Nerco nodded though she was glaring at Gaile now as her eyes were still glowing, "I refused him, the battle was long and Old Gehrman was surprisingly agile for someone as old as he, but in the end, everyone falls sooner or later.l." Gaile said with a quick pause, "And now, I watch over the Dreamscape." He finishes aa Nerco's gaze hardens for a moment then returns to its usual stoic state void of any emotion, "So what is the wager for this little rematch?" She asks catching him by surprise which doesn't go unnoticed. "If I win, you'll submit your life and be freed from that thing keeping you prisoner in the Hunter's Dream." Gaile nods to this "Very well, and if I win I'm moving on to the next layer of the labyrinth and you're coming with me." Gaile said quickly, "First one to use a blood vial loses." Gaile said as she nodded her agreement, "Very well, may the better combatant win." She said firmly, and with the stakes set they each backdash away from the other and the rematch begins!
Gaile reloads his Evelyn mid dash and further empowers his shot with Bone Marrow Ash, an extra medium for Hunters with weak bloodtinge that negates the need for use of stronger firearms, but someone like Gaile however, didn't actually need such a medium because he already had an incredibly potent bloodtinge factor that when compared side by side to the long forgotten Vilebloods of Castle Cainhurst was more than three times as strong, it was to the point that he was capable of taking down the most fearsome of beasts with a single shot from his trusty pistol, but when you apply Bone Marrow Ash to something that powerful it becomes clear that you don't intend to fire another shot and want to end a conflict well before it begins.
Gaile skids to a halt as his backdash ends cocking back the hammer on his Evelyn he fires the only round he had left in his satchel the round strikes true in a seeming repeat of history Nerco's visor is knocked away and the force sends her to the ground.
Anticipating his forward lunge, she rolls out of the way of the downward sweep of the Burial Blade using the incredible durability of her Bone Ash Armor she catches the blade in the bend of her arm and dislocates it from the staff with a sharp tug and a grunt of exertion leaving Gaile with one less weapon nodding he draws a weapon that she has seen more times than she can count in all her centuries, The Sawcleaver.
Holstering his Evelyn he unfolds the Trick Weapon in a shower of sparks and goes on the offensive, deciding she needs some breathing room, Nerco unleashes a nova of fire which forces Gaile backwards.
Cracking a small smirk, Gaile brings out something she didn't anticipate, a vial containing a pale blue liquid, downing the contents of the vial, Gaile seemed to vanish into thin air if only ever so slightly, "Blue Elixir? That's hardly fair Gaile. Very well then, two can play this game." she said as she pulled out a metallic flask and drank its contents, she felt her body grow heavy and her movements, become sluggish but she was unbeatable at this point and Gaile knew it.
It became obvious when his Sawcleaver rebounded off of her shoulder as he tried to sink the thick blade into her flesh. Gaile once again became known to the world and she took advantage of that by pelting him with a rapid barrage fireballs whenever he attempted to stay out of the range of her sword feeling her body begin to lighten she quickly surprised Gaile by iginting her sword as she ran her hand down the length of her blade giving her an added boost to her already punishing attacks.
Gaile stood about five feet away from her with several deep cuts on his chest andxarms breathing heavily and glaring defiantly at Nerco who took this moment in time to remind him of one thing, "I told you ten years ago Gaile, I won't show you any mercy this time. However, I'll allow you to turn back of your own accord, you needn't worry, no one will blame you if you do." she said with a visible smirk, earning a growl from Gaile he vanishes in a tuft of yellow smoke and dust appearing mere inches from her face Sawcleaver raised for the kill, "The match is mine!" he yells as he swings the weapon downward scoring his first and only hit across her midsection knocking her to the floor and forcing her to heal with a blood vial.
Nerco was stunned for a moment, did he actually beat her? "And you'll be coming with me, as per the stakes of our wager." Gaile says offering her his hand, at first it seems she might accept the gesture but then she smacks it away and gets up on her own. "That speed... Hmph, I see you've learned some new tricks, clever." She said as she bent down to retrieve her Bone Ash Visor she places it back on her face and once again dons her hood, "Very well, you've won this match, we're even now. Though I must admit you interest me, and it is for that reason alone, that I will accompany you, but don't go getting any ideas. This is only temporary, if you're defeated I won't offer any assistance and I will abandon you to whatever fate awaits you." She said firmly though she did not hold his gaze instead looking away as she spoke.
Gaile nodded before depressing the trigger on his Sawcleaver to fold its extended blade only for the weapon to fall to pieces from wear and tear much to his annoyance, "That's fine with me because I'm not going to be that easy to defeat" he said with a huff before handing her a small piece of parchment with the symbol of the Hunter inscribed on its surface, "Can I assume you know what this is for? Since you seemed to know about The Quickening..."Gaile asked and in response, Nerco let out a light snort at the notion "Of course I do! This is a Bold Hunter's Mark." she says snatching the item from Gaile's outstretched hand "It has a multitude of uses the most common one being escaping a fight you aren't equipped for without fear of losing your blood echoes." Gaile nods, a small smile visible beneath the cloth mask he wears over the lower half of his face, "Yes, very good. Now, let's get going, I still have a dungeon to clear, And some new tools to acquire." He says walking at a brisk but quiet pace as not to draw unwanted attention to themselves granted, Nerco was a strong opponent but what she lacked in physical skill she made up for in an aptitude for the arcane.