-Sen's Fortress-

Wood splintered as the knight slammed his ultra-greatsword down, aiming for Tetsuro. Tetsuro had dodged, leaving the massive blade to split the table in the room. Tetsuro slashed to counter, hitting the same spot a third time and finally breaking through the steel armor of his foe. The knight barely registered the shallow cut he received as a result, shifting his weight to swing his sword horizontally at Tetsuro. Tetsuro spun and put up his shield. The blow struck and Tetsuro redirected the force up, letting the blade slide over his shield. Sparks flew and the knight was thrown off balance, spinning from his own weapon's momentum. Tetsuro dropped his broadsword as he reached for Iaito, stepping in, killing intent painting his features. The knight failed to recover in time as Iaito cleared its sheath at blinding speed, slashing into the rent in his armor created by the stout broadsword.

His armor kept the blade from cutting clean through, so Tetsuro had to put a boot to the knight's back and yank it out, Iaito's blade slicing cleanly as it cleared the wound. Tetsuro slashed the blade to the side, at nothing, to clear the blood. The knight, meanwhile, fell to one knee, his sword crashing to the floor. Blood was pumping into his split lung and he couldn't breathe, getting dizzy.

"Don't even know how to use your own weapon. I expected better from you. You said yourself that you'd come this far. You compared yourself to me, but all you were really doing was dragging me down."

Tetsuro recovered his broadsword, regarding the knight who wouldn't even turn to look at him.

"You can at least die knowing what you've gathered here will make me all the better. I'll be sure to carry something of yours with me to Anor Londo, at the least, so some part of you moves on. It's the least I can do, after all, to ask your forgiveness."

The knight couldn't respond. His face was turned away from Tetsuro, who stood behind him. He died there, and Tetsuro never knew what he'd been thinking as he did.

"Did you hear that?" said Siegmeyer, alert.

He and Seiko looked around. They were outside, on the roof of the fortress. The landing they were on appeared to have been scorched by something previously, but there was no telling what had done it. A split second after Siegmeyer spoke, something slammed into the lip of a nearby wall, to their left. Time slowed to a crawl to the beat of shattering porcelain as oil flowered from the impact, arcing toward them and lighting aflame. Siegmeyer dove forward, trying to get out of the way of the burning oil. He was walking ahead, and just barely cleared it, feeling the heat through his boots. Seiko cringed bodily, presenting her left side and pulling her hood further across her face. She was hit with a large shard of porcelain and spattered with the oil, thrown from the impact. She hit the ground, protected from the fire by her gold-hemmed robes, and rolled over the edge.

Siegmeyer recovered, gaining his feet as quickly as he could, and looked for Seiko as well as cover. He heard Seiko coughing and shuffling somewhere nearby, so he ran to the edge where she'd fallen. Seiko was flailing, trying to put herself out, not knowing she was standing next to an unlit bonfire. He looked back and spotted the giant who was throwing the firebombs as it picked up another to hurl, so he jumped down next to Seiko. He dropped his sword and shield near the rampart and started patting down Seiko to try and help with the fire.

"Roll on the ground to put it out! We're next to a bonfire, as well."

Seiko flopped to the ground and rolled, still in a mild panic. She popped up when she felt the bonfire flare to life and ran over to it. As she entered the bonfire's aura, the remainder of the flames washed away from her, as if she'd run through a barrier they couldn't follow past. Her leather armor was ruined again, but the bangs of her hair that had been burned returned to health. The bite marks on her arms healed, long since scabbed over, and the blood cleared from her face from when she'd fallen.

"Well," said Siegmeyer, "At least now we won't have to start again from the Parish. It seems odd to say, but it's lucky you fell down here when you did or we never would have found this."

"Do you have a repair box?" asked Seiko.

"I do. And a Bottomless Box as well. I should have some old plate armor gauntlets and boots if you'd like them."

"I appreciate it… But for now, I'd rather not."

Siegmeyer pulled out his Bottomless Box, producing his repair box from within it.

"Are you sure? If you had tougher gauntlets you might be quite a threat with that strength of yours. As it is, if you hit someone like myself in armor, you're likely to break your hand."

"I can use Pyromancy to fight armor, sort of. I kind of just want to find something of my own instead of taking from anyone else."

Siegmeyer was repairing his own armor while they spoke.

"If you insist. But if things get too rough, I hope you'll take up my offer. You can always return what I give you later."

Seiko held out her charred gloves.

"Thanks, but…"

"Just these for now?"

Seiko nodded.

Siegmeyer took the gloves to repair them.

-Anor Londo-

Jinta drank some of his Estus as he entered the building, stressed from his encounter with the Silver Knights on the narrow path he'd taken. Estoc in his left hand, he pushed a door open with his right, ready for more resistance. Instead, only some empty chests, a table with ornate trinkets adorning it, the bonfire, and Knight Solaire.

"Well, now," said Solaire, "It's been a while, hasn't it?"

Jinta sagged with exhaustion and relief, sheathing Estoc and approaching the bonfire.

"You have no idea… I can't believe we're still connected."

He sat by the bonfire, nearly across from Solaire.

"You've fought hard. I'm sure your faith has a lot to do with your success."

"Miracles? Of course. Being able to heal myself has been invaluable. I'm still nowhere near your level with lightning, though. Maybe if I was I'd be more help."

"Don't be so hard on yourself. The way I see it, very few Undead make it this far. You should be more positive."

"I find it hard to be positive when I die at nearly every turn."

"And yet here you are, sharing the warmth of a fire with me, who you think so highly of."

Jinta tilted his head. "I hadn't thought of that, really."

Solaire chuckled. "Of course not. Otherwise you wouldn't be so hard on yourself. How's your Humanity?"

"Steady at five sprites. It seems I can always find another one or two before succumbing again."

"Well, now that you're here, why don't we join forces, at least through Anor Londo? We're both drawing near to our goal, the Lordvessel, but I have a feeling we'll need to separate before we reach it."

"Why's that?"

Solaire held out a white crystal slightly thicker than a sword-hilt with a black core.

"You know as well as I how the worlds shift. With this, I plan to split ours before we reach the vessel. If both of us have a vessel, and either of us manages to link the Fire, it should affect everyone. We'll need every possible chance, after all."

"If you think it'll work, I'm with you," said Jinta. "Just give me a bit to rest and think."

"Of course," said Solaire, replacing his Separation Crystal in its pouch on his belt. "When you are ready, we should move forward with caution. But why rest?"

"I'm tired from getting here, of course."

"Do you not feel the bonfire's power?"

"I wasn't injured when I got here, thanks to my flask."

Jinta took out the Estus Flask. It hadn't refilled.

-Sen's Fortress-

Seiko waved a hand in front of the white phantom's face but it was unresponsive. They'd found it standing idle in a storeroom separated from the way forward by a bridge.

"It's no use, I'm afraid," said Siegmeyer. "It seems the one who wrote this sign is dead. It's nothing more than a shadow with his equipment and skill. What I don't understand is why it's still here. The world master must be near, or perhaps the phantom didn't help the world master previously."

"Why would someone summon a phantom and then not use it?"

"They may not have understood that a phantom of someone Hollowed or dead needs direct orders or it won't do a thing."

"Will it only listen to the master?"

"Only one way to find out, I suppose." Siegmeyer addressed the phantom. "You there, tell us your name."

"I am called Black Iron Tarkus." The phantom was monotone and terse.

"Perhaps not," said Siegmeyer to Seiko. "Tarkus, follow me and help me fight. Attack what I attack or whatever attacks me."

Tarkus took a lower stance, hefting his greatshield and ultra-greatsword.

"I'm going to go up those stairs back there," said Seiko. "I think we need to kill that giant before we try to fight the golem."

"It may still have bombs to throw, indeed. But you imply you're going alone."

"I have a plan. And you should save your strength for the golem. I'm worried my Pyromancy won't help much."

"Hmm…" hummed Siegmeyer, considering it. "Yes. Why else would firebombs be paired with it, after all. You make a good point."

The three crossed the bridge and Seiko went up the short spiral staircase. The giant at the top was scanning the fortress roof, looking for a target. There was still a large pile of firebombs by his side, each at least twice Seiko's size. She approached quietly, her leather boots helping keep her footsteps muffled. She kept her eyes on the giant, trying to get as close as she could before using Pyromancy… But she stepped on a curved piece of porcelain, which shattered under her weight loudly.

In an instant, the giant had spun and swung a fist at her, backhanded. Seiko rolled forward, going right between its legs and out behind it. It kicked a foot back blindly and spun, forcing Seiko to step aside again. The giant didn't speak, but it grunted angrily with every move it made against her.

Seiko took a step forward and slammed a fist into the giant's calf. It groaned in pain, its leg weakening, but it retaliated with another swipe of its fist. Seiko was taken off guard by the counter, flying through the air from the blow and slamming into the wall of the stairwell and falling to the ground. Thundering footsteps told her the giant was pursuing the fight to the death, so she struggled to her feet and threw a Fireball at the giant's chest. Aside from another groan and having the giant thump its chest with an open hand, it didn't seem to do much.

Seiko was reluctant to use more advanced Pyromancy, not wanting to exhaust herself before the last fight of the fortress, but if she wanted to win - or even live that long - there didn't appear to be much choice. She ran forward and dove, sailing between the giant's legs again and forcing it to turn around. When she came into view, Seiko was already holding a swirling fireball over her head. She slammed it on the floor, casting Firestorm and causing pillars of blue flame to erupt all across the platform.

The remaining firebombs shattered and burning oil began to spread. The giant fell over, flailing, into the pool of oil. While it struggled, dying, Seiko ran toward it, leaping over it in another dive to try and get back into the stairwell. She made it in, but couldn't stop her momentum fast enough to avoid falling down the stairs. She curled up, hands on top of her head, as she tumbled. When the world stopped spinning, along with the inside of her head, Seiko uncurled and looked around. Siegmeyer was standing over her, hand out to help her up. Seiko took it, dizzy, and stood.

"We should hurry. The oil might come down the stairs."

"Agreed. The Iron Golem should be all that stands between us and Anor Londo."

Seiko looked out at the Golem, motionless as it was and covered in battle-scars.

"How does beating it help us reach Anor Londo. Is there a trap door behind it?"

"I honestly don't know, but now isn't the time for hesitation! The oil!"

Seiko looked back and, sure enough, oil was flowing down the spiral stairs, still lit. They ran out the archway and across another bridge to the platform before the Iron Golem. The platform was covered in scorches, implying they were right to have been worried about being hit by firebombs.

"Tarkus! Help us kill the Iron Golem!"

Heavy armor and all, Black Iron Tarkus sprinted ahead, slashing overhead with his huge greatsword. The blow dragged across the Iron Golem's thigh, since it stood three times taller than Siegmeyer, and the Golem started moving. It slashed over Tarkus' head, which seemed pointless until both Siegmeyer and Seiko were blown off their feet by an explosion of air.

"It uses magic?!" said Siegmeyer, surprised.

Seiko had to force herself up, already tired from using Firestorm. She didn't have it in her to use it at full power again. Although, from the looks of things, she might not need to. Tarkus fought with inhuman strength, withstanding blows from the Iron Golem and countering as if it were a fight man-to-man.

"At this rate," said Siegmeyer, "That phantom will finish the fight on his own. Was there really someone like that alive here at some point?"

"He looks like he has as much raw strength as I do…" said Seiko, awed. "Maybe more."

The Iron Golem raised its axe to slam down on Tarkus again. When the axe came down, it hit stone, blasting rock dust and chips of the bricks everywhere. Tarkus was gone.

-Anor Londo-

Jinta handed the Separation Crystal back to Solaire.

"I feel it now. Thank you," he said, restored by the bonfire.

"It will be quite a problem for you if you've lost your crystal. Every Undead that passes through the Asylum should have received one."

"I think I remember having one, yes, but I have no idea what happened to it."

"In any case, shall we get going?"

"Yes. I'm ready now."

-Sen's Fortress-

"I was worried this might happen," said Siegmeyer, stepping forward, sword and shield ready.

"Where'd he go?" asked Seiko, standing just behind him and to the left.

"The world master must have realized there was still a phantom bound to him and dispelled him. The Golem is our problem to deal with now. We don't have to destroy it, but we must prove we are worthy to pass."

"That explains why it's just beat up and still here."

"I'll leave the long range fight to you. See if you can distract it with your flames."

"What if we knocked it off the platform?"

The Golem started approaching quickly, having realized its previous target wasn't going to reappear.

"That sounds difficult and risky, but if you get the chance it just might work! Here we go!"

The Golem took one last step, slashing its axe across the platform. Seiko and Siegmeyer both dropped to the ground, recovered, and split up. Siegmeyer shifted his weight and slashed at the Golem's leg, spinning into a shield-bash to try and pierce the Golem's surface. The large spike on his shield couldn't pass through, so Siegmeyer backed away and prepared to block or dodge. A blue Fireball flew over his head at the Golem's helmet, connecting and spraying fire in its face.

The Golem didn't slow, swinging its axe twice quickly. Siegmeyer was able to duck the first slash, but the second connected with his shield and forced him to roll with the blow. Seiko tried Fire Whip over Siegmeyer's head, but that too had no effect. As Siegmeyer clashed with the Golem again, he tried to rethink their strategy. Seiko's Pyromancy wasn't going to be of any h-

"Get away from it! I have an idea!" she yelled.

Siegmeyer waited for the Golem to attack again, then backpedaled away from it, ending up beside Seiko as she hurled a fireball that was a darker blue, like looking into deep ocean water. It was the largest fireball he'd seen her throw as well. The fireball struck, exploded, and the Golem immediately recoiled, taking a step back, raising its hands as if repulsed to block its face. The flames lingered and the Golem's surface began to glow a dull red.

"What was that?!" asked Siegmeyer, looking over at Seiko as she threw a second.

She forced a third of the same technique to ready, heaving great breathes, face grimacing with effort against her exhaustion.

"Get close to it after I throw this. Get its attention and keep it on the bridge where it came from."

"You're going to try and knock it off?"

Seiko nodded and threw the third Great Chaos Fireball, forcing the Golem back yet another step, back onto the bridge opposite the one they'd come from. Siegmeyer waited a second, then ran forward. Even a few seconds after, the air was stiflingly hot, but he held his ground and slashed across the Iron Golem's stomach. It swung its hands down to its sides, as if trying to swat away the heat, then quickly tried to grab Siegmeyer. Siegmeyer turned to roll away from it, but he was caught. The Iron Golem quickly let go, however, when its own grip drove Siegmeyer's spiked shield into its palm. Siegmeyer spun around, assuming the Golem would be between attacks, and slashed again. This time, his sword was able to slice a rent into the Iron Golem's left arm.

Seiko had repositioned herself, lined up for her attack. She sprinted forward, not quite diagonally across the main platform, legs already burning from fatigue, and jumped with all her might. As the Golem recoiled from grabbing Siegmeyer, she slammed her boots into its chest in a dropkick for the ages. The Golem began started to stumble away from the force, back and to its right, but its foot found no purchase. Seiko saw Siegmeyer's shield stuck in the Golem's hand as it floated up, limp as the Golem began to fall. She ripped the shield out and jumped again, throwing her other hand up to reach for the edge of the bridge… She would come up just barely short…

Siegmeyer had made a dive, laid down on the edge of the bridge, and reached down to grab her hand. He braced and yanked her up. He could immediately see how tired she was, eyes heavy lidded, hair matted to her face with sweat, a mess. Before he could give a word of praise or otherwise, Seiko held out his shield, tried to force a smile, and passed out.

Siegmeyer kept her from falling over, slowly letting her onto the floor. He retrieved his sword and started looking around for the way forward. While he had his back turned, he heard the flapping of large leathery wings. He spun, expecting a drake of some kind, and found a white-skinned demon gathering up Seiko to fly away with her. He ran forward, Zweihander at the ready, but the demon took off ahead of him and flew out of reach.

"You vile thing! Unhand h-"

Two other demons flew right at him, grabbing one arm each in an iron grip and lifting him off the ground. They were immediately out over the forest; if Siegmeyer struggled, he would fall to his death. The demons carrying him banked around the top of the fortress, joining the demon holding Seiko. The two Undead had both no power to change their destination, nor any way of knowing where they were being taken…