A Thorn in Your Side.7
Kirk, the Knight of Thorns carefully walked through through ruined city of New Londo. Despite the degradation and damage done to the city, Kirk could see the remnants of a once proud civilization.
Only the upper levels of buildings were able to be explored as the ones far below were flooded with water. Makeshift wooden walkways had been hastily constructed by previous looters and they connected some of the buildings and roof's. Everyone looked for the fallen city for profit
Not many returned from the fallen citt however and no one knew why.
Yet Kirk knew exactly why and the answer chilled him to the bone.
Darkwraiths.
Kirk learned about them after studying the holy books in Astora. They were said to be the unholiest of beings and fought the gods themselves. They were eventually defeated by the legendary Knight Artorias.
Despite that, there were many unconfirmed reports and sightings of the Darkwraiths. While each one was never proven, Kirk himself had seen the aftermath one of the alleged attacks. The memories all came back.
He saw an inferno in the distance.
A hellish fire burning brightly and sending thick black smoke high into the dark night. It was awe inspiring and terrifying at the same time.
The group of ten knights dispatched to the farm now knew why the family stopped coming to the local village to sell their wares.
Without hesitation they rode their horses up to the very edge of the farm and started scouring the premise for survivors. They quickly went through the burning house and found no signs of the family. Each time in left them gasping for breath as the smoke threatened to suffocate them.
Kirk looked up to see the other group of knights jogging toward his own. "The barn is completely empty. Not a damn thing. All the animals are dead though, someone locked the barn door beforehand." One of them stated.
Kirk grimaced and replied, "As is the family estate. We found a few broken windows leading me to believe they may have been taken. What's disturbing however is they appear to have been broken from within. Perhaps they tried to escape from something inside the house. We won't know because there was no tracks."
Kirk didn't like this. This was not the work of bandits. Bandits always left mark. The thought of the rival kingdom of Carim came to mind, but even they would have left signs.
"Expand your search radius. They may have went into the woods behind. Remember they're a family of ten." Kirk ordered.
They split up again and Kirk led the group of younger knights into the woods. The woods behind the family estate were dark and silent. This was the perfect place for an ambush. Acting on instincts he withdrew his sword from it sheath and held it at his side. Learning from his example, the knights behind him did the same.
Suddenly he smelled blood. There was a pool of it just in front of his feet. The magnificent pool of red reflected brilliant in the moonlight. Everyone halted as he did. He knelt down and saw there was a trail.
"Ready yourselves, we may have trouble." Kirk ordered.
Slowly he pushed forward while sweeping the brush aside. The trail became wider with each step and the stench much more strong. They were led to a clearing with the moonlight shining down on it. A huge puddle of blood lay in the center.
The Kirk noticed the shadows.
In alarm Kirk looked up and came face to face with the skinned face of an man. In a small panic he jumped back. The knights behind him did the same as they saw it too.
Bodies were left hanging from branches. Each one of them skinned until they were a dark crimson pile of meat. Every single one of them was missing their eyes, leaving only the empty sockets. Each corpse was shriveled to a small form as if they had all the life sucked out of them. It was horrifying.
This was definitely not the work of bandit or group of Carim raiders. They never resorted to this sort of brutality. This was the work of animals.
Monsters.
Demons.
That was the only way Kirk could describe the sight before him. "Sir, what do what do we do?" A knight asked cautiously while checking the bleak woods around him.
"Cut them down and be on your guard. The clergy will want to see these." Kirk ordered.
Kirk had a feeling some sort of dark magic was involved in this destruction. Suddenly Kirk felt as of something was watching him.
Stalking him.
For reasons unknown to him he looked up and them he saw it.
The face of a white skull was smiling at him from a nearby brush. Splatters of crimson liquid adorned the white face. The sight skeletal dark armor from the holy scriptures greeted his eyes.
In shock Kirk blinked and then the unholy knight was vanished. The memory would stay with him for the remainder of his life.
Despite knowing what awaited him, the Knight of Thorns continued walking. His unbreakable devotion to the Fair Lady was probably the only thing that kept him sane at this point.
Kirk finally reached a balcony that overlooked most of the city. It was a nice view, but that didn't concern him.
The balcony signaled a dead end and meant that the corridor he took down was his only way out. After a moment of silence he them heard the footsteps. A faint splashing of water and a sound that slightly resembled a distorted laugh.
He knew what was coming.
Them.
Without the slightest hesitation he drew his sword. A quick glance down the balcony promised him a water death.
He was trapped.
However he would fight like an cornered animal.
Victory of death. He had no other option.
Then the crashed open and three dark forms emerged. They were huge and loomed over the knight of thorns. Three broad blades were pointed at him.
"All this for me?" Kirk asked out loud.
The three white skulls seemed to be glaring down at him. Then the first one charged.
For Kirk adrenaline took over and everything seemed to slow down. All he saw was red.
Kill. That was his only option. One he would happily oblige.
The Knight of Thorns brought his spiked shield up to block the stab. The force the Darkwraith possessed was astounded. It easily forced him back a meter.
He had to strike now. Like A bull he charged forward and plunged his sword into the first one's stomach and then he twisted it out.
He was met with a deafening shriek followed by two more swords descended upon him. They missed as he rolled out of the way. The few sparks were made as his spiked armor clashed against the cold stone floor. Then he was back up on his feet only to be attacked again.
The two Darkwraiths swung at him viscously. Each of their dance like strikes pushed him back a step as struggled to block them both.
Just barely, the Knight of Thorns could have sworn they were cackling at him.
Finally Kirk was at edge of the balcony. His attackers relented momentarily as if to loom over their prey.
One of them began to advance and as the first swing came, Kirk sidestepped and plunged his sword into its spine.
Another deafening shriek as it collapsed.
The Knight of Thorns was not prepared for the third ones assault.
In a tremendous demonstration of strength the third one picked him up am threw him off the balcony.
Suddenly he was sinking in the cold water.
Drowning.
The Knight of Thorns desperately kicked as the light of the surface began to fade. He couldn't swim in such heavy armor. He was descending into the dark. Slowly he began to loose consciousness.
Damn it. Is this the end? He thought furiously.
He them felt something grab ahold of him.
Kinda shitty chapter.
-Tokyo Express
