A daze. Strange feelings of familiarity. The light of a fire, walls of stone, and windows with wooden boards. A demon falls from the sky, and razes the land, swords piercing the doors. These images are all that I could make sense of from my dream. As I push myself off the ground with my left hand, and wipe drool off of the right side my face with the other, I ponder what the vivid imagery could mean, or if it meant anything at all. Was that dream from my memories before I was sent to the asylum? Or is it just an amalgamation of my recent venture? After drying my right hand off, I reach into my pocket and pull out a pendent. Noella's pendent. My pendent. Mine? Yes, mine. It's my name after all, or else I wouldn't have this thing engraved. If nothing else, I have this to remind me of who I am supposed to be, and that alone should be enough to drive me to become what I need to be. Putting the pendent away, I feel a renewed purpose as I begin to prepare for the journey towards that wall of light.
Moving closer to the bonfire for light, I arm my right hand with a battle axe, and short bow primed for a secondary weapon, gripping the dagger with my left, holstering the dagger's sheath on the right side of my hips, equipping the arrows into their quiver, and strapping the Estus filled flask to my belt, I step out of the building to begin the armed approach. Sheathing my dagger and gripping my axe with both hands, I swiftly dispatch the first two hollows to my right, I feel the burn of firebombs when I attempt to cross the archway, but I manage to draw the armored hollow over to my spot, dispatching it with no difficulty. Timing my passage so as to avoid the firebombs and entering the building on the other side, I swing my axe once to defeat both hollows, biting my lower lip as one of their axes dive into my left shoulder. After shaking off the pain, I pillage one of the fallen corpses to find another waistcloth, with a mild annoyance, I walk out of the building to the path leading upwards. As I gaze up at the platforms the firebomb throwing hollows are standing on, I hear footsteps from my right, and see a hollow rushing out of the building with it's shield raised. The hollow had enough time to turn it's head in my direction before my axe met it's midsection, causing the hollow to crumble at my feet.
Cautiously climbing the stairs, I briefly stop upon being able to see the hollows over the top of the stairs. Taking a deep breath, I rush in past the first two hollows and take out their firebomb throwing support, before quickly felling the next two hollows. Confident in striking down all three with one swing each, and even pillaging a firebomb from the first slain one's corpse, I make my way to the tower stairs, and begin to ascend the staircase to the crossbow hollow, defeating it with ease. Heading back down the staircase, I take out my short bow as I come to the opening, where their are two armored hollows with shields looking up at me. Gripping the short bow with both hands, I take out an arrow, I aim at the left side of the hollow's body, and let loose an arrow, striking the hollow in the ribs. As I take my left hand off of the short bow, the hollow quickly left it's post to engage me on it's own, the arrow causing it to struggle with it's shield. As it closed in, I begin to back away as it pulled it's sword out to it's right side and attempted to thrust at me, only to whiff the air in front of me. Seizing this opening, I take my dagger and sink it deep into the hollow's unprotected back, causing it to rear back in pain as the dagger stayed in place, tearing through the right side of it's exposed mid section. As it slowly raised it's head up to me, I quickly pulled my left arm back and swung my dagger once more, this time across the front of the hollow's mid section, before trying for another slash, only to be met with a metal shield. After pulling back from the recoil of the failed strike, I swung the dagger once more, hitting the hollow as it began to pull it's sword back, causing the dagger to slash at it's now bleeding mid section once more, before swinging the small blade once more at the hollow and driving the sharp edges deep into the skin of the hollow, causing the hollow to lower it's armament before falling dead at my feet.
Gripping the short bow with both hands, I take aim at the now lone hollow. Letting loose an arrow that flies into the center of it's chest, it chases me up the stairs, and meets it's grisly end without even getting a chance to raise it's shield, with a strange black essence leaving the hollow with some souls, I feel my humanity grow once again. As I peek over the surrounding architecture, the spear wielding hollow begins it's slow approach. Taking my chances, I pull out and grip my battle axe with both hands, before rushing in and kicking the hollow as it raised it's spear up, throwing it off balance, right as it's spear started to pierce my ribs, pushing me back with blood being pushed out of my mouth. Approaching the hollow once more, I swung my axe at it's raised shield, knocking the shield out of the way for the next blow across the hollow's legs, bringing it down swiftly. Taking note of the chest off to my left, I make my way up the stairs, and dispatch the last hollow with two swings of my axe. With my curiosity stirred, I slowly went back down the stairs, and found another set of stairs to descend. With the hope of finding a path to that chest, I cautiously take in my surroundings, but I stop when I see a tall black figure standing in front of a glowing light of sorts.
This figure was unlike anything I've seen so far. It was not a shambling mess, but a full suit of black armor, almost charred in color. Taking out my bow, I grip it with both hands as I size up the unknown force. As I wondered whether or not to take the shot, I could hear a deep, almost labored breathing sound amidst the blowing wind. After a few more seconds, I decide that this is not what I'm here for, and that I should save my resources for their intended purpose first. I slowly back up the stairs with my aim still on the figure, before eventually turning around and heading back up to my original destination, only stopping to take a quick drink from the flask on my way up. Entering the final tower and ascending the stairs, I stop at the wall of light and adjust my inventory. Equipping the pouch of crossbow bolts, and removing the arrow quiver, I swap out the dagger for a crossbow, and remove the short bow from my arsenal, before swapping out the battle axe for my scimitar, since I can use that with one hand. As a back up, I also adjust my belt to add some firebombs and throwing knives to further my ranged capabilities. Stepping up to the wall of light, I feel the damp mist on my face as I pause to concentrate.
After what felt like hours, I grip both of my weapons and finally step through the wall of light. On the other side is a view of the sun on my left, and a fortified structure on my right. Making my way across the structure I'm on, the various arches give me the impression of this being some kind of structure itself. A wall perhaps, but with various broken parts on the exterior curvature of the walls . As I ponder this design, I hear the distinct sound of a crossbow bolt, followed by an impact. After the crossbow arming sound, I hear yet another bolt be let loose only to make an impact. Turning around, I see a crossbow peaking off of the tower I just exited be armed and fire off another bolt, only for it to immediately hit the floor of the tower that it's atop of. With a an annoyed huff, I make my way over to the tower to get some additional cover, and see a ladder leading up the tower. Climbing the ladder, I see two crossbow armed hollows off to my right. Avoiding a bolt, I grip my scimitar with both hands and head over to the two hollows and quickly dispatch them. As the duo fall, I look over at the horizon of this landscape from the top of the tower. With a town or villa structure across the bridge, I turn my head to the path that I need to take to get there, getting confirmation that this is the top of a wall, and seeing that a wall of light still blocks my way forward. If it wasn't the two hollows, then what? Looking at the broken down arches of this tower, I can see the rest of this land quite clearly from here, including a good portion of the Undead Berg, but no sign of the enemy I must defeat.
Making my way to the ladder, I quickly slide down the ladder and begin to march across the top of the wall structure. As I draw near the wall of light, I hear some heavy sounds, and see a figure moving from the top of my vision, before it comes down. Taking a quick backstep from the impact site of the creature, I see it let out roar before turning it's head towards me. Taking aim at the creature, I fire off a crossbow bolt into it's torso, at which point the creature makes it's way over to me, with curved horns on both sides of it's head, tusk like teeth on it's lower jaw, and it's orange eyes leaving behind a light trail as it approaches. With it's large stone, almost bone like axe in hand, it quickly reaches me and begins to rear it's weapon back, allowing me to see it's hairy body in detail, with rock like protrusions sticking out of it's back, and it's short, skeletal tail wiggling about. As I back away even more, it brings it's axe across the walls of the bridge, sending out a shockwave that I could feel even as I observed it's movements, it's four digit feet supporting the weight of the demon and it's weapon. Throwing a firebomb at the beast's legs, I backed up once more as it brought it's weapon down in an overhead manner, and I threw another firebomb at it's legs, singing the demon's hair, but not being as effective as I thought it would be.
Drawing closer to the demon to bait it into another attack, it brings it's axe down with another overhead strike, and I respond by hurling another firebomb at it, once again hitting it's legs. In response, the creature leapt back to get some space. As I closed in on it, it crouched down before lunging forward with it's weapon raised high into the air. Rolling backwards, I manage to avoid the weapon itself, but the shockwaves from this attack turned out to be more damaging then the others. As I chuck another firebomb at the demon, it simply leapt back, the explosion failing to harm the monster. Clearly, this bridge is an arena that gives this demon an advantage, with a wide sweeping attack on a narrow bridge, and I would rather not give it that much leverage. Expecting another overhead attack, I let it close in enough to crouch down and quickly back up to avoid the weapon and the majority of the shockwave, before hurling another firebomb, this one exploding between it's legs, but the smell of burnt flesh and flames creeping across it's legs lets me know it was still working. As it closed in and tried a sweeping motion with it's attack, I backed up and threw my last firebomb, with flames erupting from the source and engulfing the demon's legs once more. Not wanting to be pinned down by the demon and the tower, I waited for the creature to try another attack, before quickly running past it and sprinting towards the wall of light on the other side, before stopping to see the demon running right next to me.
As the demon lifted it's weapon up, I backed away as it drove the head of it's weapon into the ground, prompting me to roll away from the demon once more, before throwing a knife at it's now bloody midsection, the blade sticking out of it's stomach as it rushes over to me and attempts another swinging motion. As it's axe misses it's mark, I fire off a crossbow bolt into it's left arm, before approaching the demon, as it began to crouch down once more. As the demon leapt forward, I rushed between it's legs and cut at it with my scimitar, before backing away once more as the demon leapt back. Getting closer to the demon, I saw it was not crouching down but just rushing at me, so I began to back up once more as it prepares another attack, an after rolling back, I fire off another crossbow bolt, this time into the bull demon's left leg. As it got closer for another sweeping attack, I gauged the distance, and fired off another bolt as it swung it's weapon, the bolt lodging into the demon's right hand, and as soon as I finished reloading, I fired off another bolt into the demon's chest. As I reloaded once more, the demon lunged forward with it's weapon raised, hitting me with another massive shockwave. In response to this, I threw a knife at it's stomach, before backing away from an attack that had it drive the head of it's weapon into the ground, and taking the time to drink some Estus. Noticing I'm now being backed into a corner again, I time my crossbow attack to strike after the demon's being careful not to get greedy with the attacks, and after firing off a second crossbow bolt, I quickly roll past the demon before gripping my scimitar with both hands.
As it misses with an overhead attack, I rush in and slash both of the demon's legs, before it tries another overhead attack. Backing up for some more distance between the demon and myself, I pull out my crossbow again, before hurling another knife at the demon as it approaches me. As it's next attack misses, I fire off another bolt, this time into it's back. With the demon enraged, it tries another attack as I take a few steps back and let loose another bolt into the beast's stomach. As it approached me, I hurled a knife at it's chest, and as the blade impacted, the demon reared back and let loose a roar before collapsing to it's knees, and finally slumping over in defeat, it's body crumbling to dust, leaving behind a bone and a black sprite as the wall of light blocking my entrance dissipated. Heading towards the opening I took to get here, I turned around and saw my exit path was now clear. After checking my gear, I decided that I was not yet ready to move on, as there was still one thing left to attend to.
Descending the once daunting tower, I make my way back to the armored figure, before stopping to size it up one more time. Perhaps I did not need to win this fight, but simply grab the treasure it's guarding. Gripping my scimitar with both hands, I slowly approach the armored being, and unleash a spinning attack that only manages to hit once. As the figure turned around, unfazed by my attack, it quickly raised it's sword up and brought it down, narrowly missing me as I rolled away. This thing, this black knight, was not a mere hollow at all, and quickly rushed me with it's sword once more, only missing it's thrust by a few inches as I fired off a bolt into it's right elbow, a black substance oozing out of it's wound. Was it blood, or ash? Either way, it was not moved by the strike, and slowly approached with it's shield raised. Shifting through my inventory, I noticed a bone was now in my slot. Quickly removing the bone and making sure my throwing knives were ready, I manage to trick the knight into swinging it's sword, before backing up and firing off a crossbow bolt into it's head, causing it to flinch in pain as more of the black substance poured out of it's helmet. As I reloaded my crossbow, the black knight drew closer and began to swing it's sword as I backed away, swinging it's sword three more times with no regards for the walls as I moved into position to fire off another bolt.
As it prepared another sword swing, I moved away from the small stairs and began to draw it to a more open area. As it began to lift it's sword up from it's attack, I threw a knife into it's right arm, only for the knife to bounce off of it's armor, the only sign it did anything was more of the ash like blood pouring out. Backing myself into a corner, I gripped my scimitar with both hands and braced for it's attack, with two of it's sweeping attacks as it closed in on me, before hitting with a stabbing attack to my left arm. Fleeing the knight and rushing up the stairs and past the tower, I see the ladder on the back of the building. Running to the ladder and scaling it, I climb to the top as the black knight attempts to intercept me. At the top, I see the three hollows watching the bonfire I usually rest at. Sheathing my scimitar, I slowly make my way to the first hollow and drive my fist into it's back, before pushing off the edge with a punch, and once again brandishing my scimitar and heading up to the two hollows that were now throwing firebombs in vain and cutting them both down. With the distractions removed, I turned around to see that the black knight was not yet up here. Taking a drink of Estus to mend my wounds, I begin to search for the black knight's location, and eventually find it beneath the wooden platform that the hollows were on. Eventually, after trying to reach my location, he seemingly gave up and began to walk back up the stairs leading to the ladder.
Seizing my opportunity, I ran off the side of the building and landed in the patch of dirt that the ladder was at, and sheathed my scimitar and crossbow as I began to rush to the black knight's treasure. Upon reaching the light, I see a female corpse that's curled up, and I find a blue ring of sorts. Stashing the ring away, I quickly flee the scene so as to having to avoid confronting the black knight again if were to be slain. As I'm taking my leave, I hear the footsteps of the black knight coming from my left, so I turn right and head up the stairs leading to the tower. As the black knight closed in, I rushed to the interior of the tower for a more suitable arena. It was a bit far from the bonfire, but at least I knew I could return here. As the black knight approached the entrance with a sword stab, I backed into the tower and fired a bolt into it's right arm. With it's shield now raised, I backed up once more and threw a knife, bouncing off of the knight's shield almost harmlessly. This did provoke the knight into rushing forwards with another stabbing attack, and putting it in the center of the room. As I grip my scimitar with both hands and attempt to get past the black knight, it swings it's sword at me, hitting my left leg and forcing me to roll away from the stairs and the exit.
Now standing between me and the exit, the black knight began to approach me with it's sword sweeping from side to side, before moving in for a thrust that a roll away from, and swinging once more, forcing me to roll away from the exit once more. Swinging my scimitar at it's legs to little effect, I roll away from it's retaliation, before braking off from the black knight and running up the stairs, and attempting to shoot another bolt at it. As I ready my crossbow, the black knight storms up the stairs, forcing me off my perch and landing on the ground with pain shooting up my legs from the impact. As I recovered, the black knight quickly rushed down the stairs and cut off my exit once more. Luring the black knight to away to the side opposite of the stairs, and away from the exit, I attempt to break off from the knight once more, and get a sword slash to my left shoulder for my troubles. Rolling away from the second strike and running out the opening, I holster both of my weapons and continue running, only looking back when I hear the black knights footsteps closing on me. Slowing down enough to convince it to attack, I quickly rush away from it and ascend the ladder.
Upon reaching the top of the ladder, I turn around and fire off a bolt from my crossbow, hitting the black knight in it's right shoulder, at which point I reload and fire off another bolt into the black knight before it raises it's shield once more. As I reloaded to fire off another bolt, it was blocked by the knight's shield. As I tried to find a way past the shield, it began to run around the building, and passed under the platform once again. Taking this chance to heal, I drink from the Estus Flask and prepare to take another shot at the black knight. Making my way to the edge of the roof, I fire off more bolts from above, hitting the knight as it struggles to find a way to me, as I greedily fire off more bolts into the helpless knight, it's ashen blood spilling out on the ground below. Eventually, the black knight ducked under the platform where I could not hit it. Rushing off of the side of the building where the ladder was, I greeted the black knight as it ascended the stairs to greet me, firing off another bolt while getting the throwing knives ready to replace my dwindling crossbow supply. As the knight closed in, I attempted to scale the ladder once more only to be cut off by the knight attempting to stab me. Firing off another bolt in retaliation, only for the bolt to miss it's mark. As I reload and back away, the black knight lunges once more, and slashes at me as I attempt to return to the ladder once more. Avoiding the second slash, I quickly roll away from the final stab and fire off a bolt that gets blocked by it's shield.
As the knight quickly rushes up to the ladder, I roll off of the porch and drink some Estus while the knight returns to it's stance. As it lunges forwards, I roll back, only for the knight to quickly slash at me instead of stabbing. After getting some distance, I quickly take a drink of Estus, and get a sword to my chest for my troubles, the healing effects of the Estus kept me from dying, but most of it's restored energy was lost from the blade. Disengaging form the knight, I ran around the knight before bolting to the ladder once more. Firing off my last bolt, and missing my mark, I prepare my throwing knives and hurl a blade at the black knight as it attempts to charge my position, hitting it right in it's helmet and stopping it's charge. Content with my attack, I take a full drink of Estus and prepare my knives before sizing up the situation. The knight's shield would just block any knives thrown from the roof. As the black knight ran down the stairs, I start by removing my crossbow and shifting my throwing knives to the second slot on my belt, before I drop off of the building and prepare to fight the knight once again, gripping my scimitar with both hands.
As it rushes back up the stairs, I back away from it's stabbing attack and throw a knife at it, before backing away once more. Strafing the knight as it attacks, I wait for an opening before cutting it's legs with my scimitar, and backing off once more. This foe has so far proven to be far more dangerous then the demon was, and was quickly draining what confidence I had built up before in regards to my strength. As it slowly approached me, I attempted to avoid it's attacks, only to be hit by slash. As it charged at me with it's shield raised, I threw a knife to halt it's charge before rolling to avoid it's attacks. Moving in to slash at it once again, it quickly jumped off to my left side, my blade only managing to hit it's leg because of the wide swinging arc, before it rushed in with a stabbing attack. As I attempted to roll away, it's attack hit my back as I recovered from the roll. Walking back up to the porch leading to the ladder, I drank some more Estus, and contemplate climbing the ladder. The black knight slowly backed up, putting itself between the stairs and the porch exit, effectively cutting off both exits at once, and was seemingly waiting for me to make a choice. As we stood at a draw, I quickly switched to my second belt slot and hurled a knife at the black knight's head, and quickly ascended the ladder.
At the top, I took another drink from the flask and it was now empty. Turning around with my health restored, I heard the sound of metal scraping against stone, and quickly threw another knife at the black knight's head to force him to stop. With no more Estus to rely on, and only my scimitar, I gripped my weapon and dropped down. Either I kill this thing or die trying, but I have no more reservations now. As the black knight attempted another attack, I rolled off of the porch once more and threw another knife at it's chest. Avoiding it's attacks, I wait for another before throwing another knife. As it leapt back and tried to stab me, I ran up the porch and leapt forward with my own jumping attack, and slashed at it's head. As it tried another stabbing attack, I rolled to the sides and slashed at the black knight twice over, before backing off. As the knight backed off as well, it charged at me, and managed to stab me as I tried to roll past it. Slashing at the knight twice, with the second blow being blocked, I could now see from the wear on it's armor that we were both on the verge of death now. As we both prepared to make the next blow the last one of the fight, it finally closed in and swung it's blade with an attack that wasn't even worth rolling away from, before I flung knife at it, it's shield barely holding against the thrown knife. As it attempted another attack, I casually stepped back and threw another knife as it attempted to charge forward to end the fight with it's own stab.
As the knife landed in the knight's helmet, it let out scream as it stood up from the pain, and fell down from the attack, it's body crumbling to ash and dust, leaving behind a chunk of metal. Holstering my weapon, I point downwards at the former location of the black knight's fallen body, before making my way back to the undead merchant to restock my supplies. Cutting down the hollows in my path, I reach the merchant and talk to him. He talks about an object he calls Yulia, and how she wouldn't leave his side. Restocking my arrow and bolt supply first, I decide to invest in the wooden arrows, buying a full sum of nine hundred ninety-nine of them. Their low price and massive quantity will prove more effective for luring enemies closer then the standard arrows. I consider buying some heavy bolts, but hesitate when I think of the price. Eventually, I choose to bring my throwing knives up to ninety nine, a price all to affordable with my mass of souls, and take my leave from the merchant. Before reaching the bonfire, I head back to the spot where the black knight had fallen. Reaching the spot, I find the wooden door that was locked. With my new key, I try the lock and manage to get the door open. Making my way through the vacant building, I reach a chest that contains some form of powder. Yellow resin maybe, but with a distinct glow that made it shimmer, like gold.
Dropping off the ledge, I see that this is the chest that was located next to the stairwell leading to the black knight. Returning to the bonfire, now fully content with my work, I take a rest to restore my Estus Flask and take a few hours to rest before preparing for the journey beyond that tower.