Hey, here's chapter three of Transcendent Blood. Thank you to those who have followed my story, it means a lot.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Bloodborne. It belongs to Hidetaka Miyazaki and FromSoftwear
[ Gehrmans' POV ]
"Ah-hah, you must be the new hunter. Welcome to the Hunter's Dream. I am... Gehrman, friend to you hunters. " Keeping my eyes trained on the man in front of me, I took notice of the way he carried himself. It seems that he has been here before.. and that he is well aware of what he his. I wonder though, does he know why ? The reason for becoming a hunter is often forgotten and replaced by a new will, a new.. desire to hunt.
" Gehrman, is it ? Well then, the doll said you wished to speak to me.. may I ask what it was about ? " The hunter pulls me from my thoughts with his question, a simple question but one that has many answers. Deciding to break my silence, I voice my response. " Well, I wanted to know if you knew what this hunters' dream is to you. " I'll spare the boy my usual speech, he seems to understand what his duty as a hunter is.
" Honestly? I have no idea, I mean this notebook references the dream several times, enough for me to realize that this.. place was the dream. But, it never stated why I feel so at home here, it didn't mention you either.." The boy is suspicious of me.. I like that. He lives by instinct even if he does not know it. He will go far, no doubt he will die countless times, but he will achieve something greater than all before him.. I can see it now. Perhaps this nightmare of mine will end sooner than I thought.. provided he has the skill to end my nightmare when the time comes. I have to admit though, it irritates me that none of my students ever mentioned me..
" Well, I assure you that I am not your enemy. As for this place, it is your home. The dream was.. Is a safe haven for hunters. While here, you can use blood to enhance your weapons and your flesh. " I pause in my speech to give him a chance to respond, hearing nothing I continue, " This workshop may not have as many weapons as it once did, but you're free to use whatever you find." l lean forward and lower my voice "... even the Doll, should it please you. " The hunter in front of me showed no signs of reaction to my words, for a few moments at least. His scowling expression soon gave way to one of shock and disgust.
" Old man... I have.. no words.. " Suppressing a smile, I adopt a serious expression before I move closer to him, startling him slightly if his stance was anything to go by.
" Listen to me boy, being a hunter is not something to be happy about. You will face countless beasts, grotesque shells that were once human, as well as beings who wield such.. twisted power that they are revered as gods. Be careful when you are hunting, a hunter is never alone.. but they are never safe either. " I watch as the young hunter nods in understanding before I turn away, returning to the book that was occupying my time.
[ Mithgails' POV ]
During the entire conversation with Gehrman, I felt more annoyed than anything. Just him speaking with me, in the carefree tone managed to rub me the wrong way. Looking down at my knuckles, turned white from clenching my fists, I slowly open my hands. How did he manage to stress me out so easily ? He practically discarded his carefree attitude, in favor of a serious one that one would see on a veteran. Someone who has seen many lives lost, and has taken just as many. Before I knew what I was doing, I was already addressing him. " Gehrman. I am, Mithgail.. Thank you for the warning.. " I finish my awkward thanks before I turn away and make for the door wanting to get as far away from him just so I could calm down. With too much running through my mind at once, I fail to hear him respond as I left the cabin.
" Do not thank me... Monsters deserve no thanks.."
Standing in front of the doll, I frown as a indescribable feeling begins to spread through me. I had asked her how I was meant to ' enhance ' my flesh with blood, she responded by kneeling before me and raising her palms, a whitish-blue light radiating from them. Seconds later, my body felt as if it was flying high in the sky before gravity sent me plummeting back towards the earth. The doll finished whatever it was she did and stood up looking straight at me.
" I have done what I could Good Hunter, you are now stronger than when you approached me earlier. Use your new found strength well. " The doll said in her usual monotone voice, giving me the ghost of a smile.
" Stronger ? What did you do to me ? " I ask curiously but staying kind, not wanting to ruin whatever respect she has for me.
" Do not worry Good Hunter, all I did was use the blood you acquired from killing the infected and beasts of Yharnam. This is known as channeling your blood echoes, now you must return to Yharnam, you still have a lot of work to do. " She seems to be rushing me out, I can hear a hint of excitement in her voice. Probably thanks to the promise I made to her. Nodding I walk away from her and make my way towards the headstone.
" Of course, I will return soon." Kneeling in the grass, I reach forward and think of the great bridge where I killed the cleric beast. Seconds later, I shut my eyes as the bright light surrounds me before I hear the sounds of wind, and feel cold cobblestone beneath me. Opening my eyes, I am greeted by the great bridge. Getting to my feet, I pull my hunters ax out of the strap that holds it at my side and begin to walk down the bridge.
Ignoring the townspeople that survived my last run through Yharnam, I started exploring the opposite end of the bridge, soon enough I found what looked like a collapsed staircase that led to an area filled with dog cages. Killing the dogs, one by one as I walked by, I was almost caught off guard by a dog that managed to breakout of it's cage. Jumping to the side, I swing my ax into its' stomach forcing a whimper to escape its mouth before it died. Sighing, I push forward and kill the dog waiting around the corner.
Continuing forward, I find a dog barking at a door with sound of yelling from the inside. Running forward, I drove my knee into the dogs side, sending it barreling into a crate before transforming my ax and impaling the dog. Turning to the door, I knock softly on the door hoping to calm down the people inside " Hello.. ? Are you alright in there..? "
A voice filled with loneliness soon responds " Oh, you're a hunter, aren't ya? Then, well, do you know of any safe places ? "
" I'm sorry, I know of no safe places right now.. but I will find one and return here to tell you where it is. " Looking around I am suddenly shocked by her response.
" Return here..? I know of all your tricks, you say you'll come back but you never will.. Go and leave me alone. I don't wish to speak with people like you." Frowning, I turn away and walk into a large dark room. There was a staircase in front of me and a small window hidden behind some barrels. Destroying the barrels, I step out expecting to find a floor, only to find a drop. Grunting, I examine the new room. There are bodies strung up, along with some townspeople below me. I notice that a few have an odd appearance. They looked more like the lycanthropes' than the people, they must have fallen victim to a stronger strain, or more developed strain of the plague.
Just as I was about to jump down, I notice a slight creeping in from a doorway concealed by more barrels and boxes. Moving closer, I see a figure cloaked in black attire resembling the feathers of a crow. I take a deep breath and pull out my pistol ready for anything as I quietly move through the gaps between barrels until I find myself outside. After closing the distance, the figure turns around startling me before I get the chance to make myself known.
" Oh, a hunter, are ya? And an outsider? What a mess you've been caught up in. And tonight, of all nights. " The figure addresses me, leaving me dumbfounded.
" Y.. Yeah, how did you know I was behind you ? I thought I was rather quiet while approaching.. " I look behind me, trying to see if I had stepped in something that gave away my presence. ' There was nothing from the window to here that would have given me away. Just who is this.. woman.. '
I am broken out of my thoughts when a crow-like mask fills my vision " How..? Well, it's because I am a hunter just like yourself. That is why I knew you were approaching me, however.. the beasts we hunt are not the same. " She backs up and leans against the railing that separates her from the ground far below. " You hunt the beasts that prowl the streets of Yharnam, the monstrosities created by the plague, while I hunt hunters. " I tense up, my hand instinctively reaching for my ax before she continues " Relax, I only hunt those who have broken their oaths. All that aside, here, take this as a welcoming gift. All you need to do is hold them up t your head and imagine that you're back where you last awoke and you'll be transported there. They are known as ' Bold Hunter's Marks '. Use them sparingly, once you run out.. they aren't cheap to replace. "
" Thank you.. I'm Mithgail by the way. " Putting the marks into my pocket for now, I stretch my hand out in greeting only to be left feeling awkward as the hunter before me bows in response.
" I am known as Eileen the Crow. Pleasure to make your acquaintance, now if you'll excuse me, I have places to go and hunters to hunt. " Eileen walked past me before stopping by the window behind me " Oh, and a word to the wise, I would suggest that you brush up on hunters etiquette.. i'm sure it will go along way in keeping you alive in the future. "
" Etiquette.. I was taught social etiquette when I was younger, how is hunters any different ? " Turning around to look at Eileen, I sigh when the sight of an empty pathway fills my vision " God.. I can tell that will get very irritating really fast." Shaking my head, I walk back towards the window I entered through. Sliding through the barrels once more, I freeze when the light of a torch passes by below me. Peering over the edge of the wooden rafters, I see a what looks like a mutated townsman. He is covered in a grayish black fur and carries a lit torch in one hand while holding a spear-like weapon in his other hand. " There is no way I could take that on right now.. not with my skills or.. lack of with my ax. I have my pistol, but I can never get far enough back for it to be really useful. " Walking back to the window I fell out of, I reach up to grasp the ledge of the window of to feel my hand press against flat stone.
Looking up, I resist the urge to groan out at the height of the window " There must be another way.." Walking further down the rafters, I see more townspeople and the mutated versions of them. There weren't many in all, but far to many for me to take on by myself right now. "Not a single pathway or window.. I can't just stand around here.. " Looking towards the ground below, I let my eyes draw a path to the door from my current position. Taking a deep breath after finding my route, I back against the wall before breaking into a run. Once my foot hits the end of the rafter I jump forward, reaching my hands out I push myself into a roll once I touch the ground. In mid-roll I see a leg settle in front of my path, gritting my teeth I reach for my pistol and slow my breathing. Stopping my roll so I kneel in front of the townsman, I raise my pistol up and pull the trigger watching as the bullet shoots through his skull spraying his blood over the ground behind him. Hearing a low growl behind me, I lunge forward before standing up. The growl becomes an inhuman roar as I sprint towards the doorway, I see bullets fly past me as I close the distance.
At the end of my run, my foot was about to touch the steps before a mutated townsman drove the side of his spear into my gut flinging me back and onto the ground. Holding my stomach, I rise to my knees only to feel a bullet fly through my shoulder, the recoil sending me back further until i'm falling back first into the sewers below. I watch as two platforms pass me before I feel my back collide with the cold murky water of the sewers. Groaning, I roll onto my stomach and push myself up. Ignoring the pain in my back and the growing numbness in my back, I dig into my pocket and pull out one of the Hunter's marks that Eileen gave me. Pressing it against my forehead, I imagine the lamp by Gilbert's window and feel myself growing weightless before the dark of the sewers is replaced by the dimness of Central Yharnam.
" Dammit... Am I really that unprepared.. ? Maybe there is another way down.. one that leads somewhere less.. crowded. " Turning towards the gate leading to the great bridge, I fall to my knees as a sharp pain shoots through my back. Reaching my hand out, I grab the lamp before I am transported to the hunter's dream once again.
Looking up at the pale gray sky above me, I let out a soft groan as I force myself into a sitting position. " Well, the one upside with the hunters dream is all my wounds are healed.. doesn't make it hurt any less though.." Standing up, I walk over to the doll noticing her sitting still once again. Frowning, I shake her lightly bringing her out of her daze " Hey.. are you okay.. ? " I couldn't help but let concern fill my voice, even though I didn't even know if she could get sick.
" Ah.. Yes, I must have dosed off that is all. " The doll answers me in her usual monotone, giving me no other option but to nod.
" Got it.. anyways, I am going to work for a bit, you know where to find me if you need me." Taking her silent nod as understanding, I make my way to the large clearing that I had used for training before. After finding Gehrman, he let me use the materials in the cabin to section off the clearing for my private uses. Not wanting to use too much, I made a simple one room cabin for me to study and work in. After I close the door behind me, I make sure to replenish my vials and bullets before putting my notebook on the small dresser by my bed and other miscellaneous items in a wooden chest at the foot of my bed.
Sitting in a small wooden chair in front of a desk I open a drawer and pull out a quill before reaching back and grabbing my notebook. Opening it up to a blank page.. one of many.. I begin writing down what transpired in Yharnam since I killed the Cleric Beast. Deciding to rename the townspeople to 'Huntsman' due to their attitude and what they carry. The once's that look like walking wolves I called the 'Large Huntsman'. As for the lycanthropes I refer to them as 'Scourge Beasts' now, mostly because saying lycanthropes is a mouthful. Drawing simple sketches of each, much like I did for the Cleric Beast and the 'Brick Trolls'.
Closing my book, I reach for a stack of leather on the floor beside me. Pulling some apart and placing them on my desk, I craft a small pouch to hang off my hip. Filling it with vials, bullets and my remaining marks, I attach it to my hip and leave my cabin to speak with the doll. As I approached her, she turned and offered me a small smile while reaching her hand out. Having done this several times already, I nod and place my hands in hers. A familiar feeling spreads through my body before retreating, leaving me feeling empty. It was the doll who broke the silence first.
" Please be careful during the hunt, while wounds may heal,scars both physical and psychological will not fade easily.. " As if to prove her point, the doll traces her hand over my left eye. Curious, I let my own hand follow her movements and to find a long scar down my face form where the scourge beast injured me, outside of the clinic.
" O.. of course, but how did I not notice a scar this big..? " Muttering to myself, I wave to the doll as I make my way to the headstone. Pressing my palm against it, I see the surrounding change from that of the dream to Yharnam once more. Speaking with Gilbert briefly, making sure that he is still okay, I soon make my way through the short cut leading to the great bridge.
As I exit the building leading onto to the bridge, I begin to walk towards the opposite end once more. Taking note of a stairway I somehow missed, I follow them down to a long platform. Stepping out slightly, I notice three sets of debris leading down a alley. Quickly destroying them, I raise an eyebrow in confusion looking down. There is a long drop into blackness, and a wooden platform slightly below me on the opposite wall. Shaking my head in annoyance, I step back before leaping forwards landing with both my feet planted on the platform. Cursing at the darkness, I struggle to see another platform, further down. Taking a leap of faith, I jump to it and smile as I feel my feet connect with solid wood.
" This isn't so bad, much more relaxing than- " A loud snapping noise fills the air as the wooden platforms gives way below below sending me hurtling towards the ground far below me. Bracing myself as I feel my body slam into the ground, coughing up blood as I roll onto my side. Standing up, I use one of my blood vials to heal the injuries I got from the fall. Looking around, I see several of the Large Huntsman patrolling the upper levels, while overgrown rats swarm the sewers below.
" Well.. I guess I found my alternative way down..." Quietly unsheathing my ax and pistol, I slowly walk down one of the paths. Sneaking up on one of the huntsman, I dig my ax into it's back forcing it to fall to it's knees. Pressing my pistol against the back of its skull, I pull the trigger and close my eyes as its head all but explodes as it falls limp against the ground. Pulling my ax back, I flinch as I hear the heavy foot falls of the second one running after me. Standing up and turning to face it, I swallow the beast gets closer. Transforming my ax, I drive it into the Large huntsman's stomach, impaling it and driving it into the wall behind it.
The huntsman let out an inhuman howl of pain before I retract my ax and let it fall to its' knees. Lifting my ax up, I swing it across my front severing the head from its' body, stepping back as its blood sprays out coating the wall and my clothes. Swinging my ax down to shake the blood off, I put it back in its sheath before I walk over to the edge of the upper level to look down at the watery ground below. I was about to jump before I noticed a dark brown wooden ladder that almost blended with the wall. Walking over to it, cautiously descend the ladder, not wanting to attract the rats. Once I touch the murky water, I let go of the ladder and begin to walk down the dim pathway.
Silently killing any of the rats that approach me, I barely notice a third huntsman standing at the edge of the pathway, looking over a high drop. Running towards it, I watch as it turns to face me. Quickly pulling my pistol out, I let loose three quick shots sending it barreling over the edge and to its' quick death. Calming down as I approach the same ledge, I am greeted by the outrageous size of the sewers in front of me. " It's.. enormous.." I take a deep breath as I look around my new surroundings. Noticing a ladder across from me, I make that my destination and begin walking towards a wall with what seems like the remains of a stony path on its walls.
Taking my time, I shimmy along the wall. More than halfway across, I get a little careless and start moving forward only for the remains fall apart below me sending me falling towards the pool of greenish-black water. Shutting my eyes and holding my breath, I almost gasp upon contact with the icy water. Quickly standing up, I gag as the smell of rotting flesh fills the air. Looking around, I am greeted by a dozen rotted corpses slowly reach for me. Not wanting to deal with them right now, I sprint past them towards the ladder.
Quickly ascending the smaller ladder, I force the bile back down my throat that came up due to the stench. Wanting to get out as soon as possible, I start to climb the longer... much longer.. ladder. After a minute, I pull myself onto solid ground before resting on my knees, dry heaving for a few minutes. Quickly composing myself, I look around my new position. There were two coffins by the ladder and another three against the fence across the path. Walking further, two separate pathways. Swiftly killing the five crows to my right. I am them greeted by a low groaning from my far left. Turning to face the sound, I see a large troll staring at a door on the building across form me. Quietly, I make my way across the miniature bridge sneaking behind the troll. Brandishing my ax, I swing it across the trolls Achilles heel, severing it,
The troll roars in pain, before I silence it by lodging the ax in the back of its' skull. Pulling my ax free, I watch as the trolls blood sprays across my chest. Pushing the troll away from me, I grab the ladder it was standing by and begin to climb up.
At the top, I find a lever by a gate that lead back to where I killed the first troll, pulling it back, the gate opens with a loud groan of resistance. Nodding in approval, I begin to walk away only to be stopped by a sound that made my heart sink.
"Are you a hunter? Then, please, will you look for my mum? Daddy never came back from the hunt, and she went to find him, but now she's gone, too... I'm all alone... and scared.. please help me.."
Chapter 3 done, the next chapter should be up next Friday.
