Chapter 40: The Devourer
...
"A sad day... Anor Londo lost one of their finest knights... isn't it...?"
Sif didn't respond but to observe the grave in sorrow.
It has been a few days since the spread of the abyss has stopped in Oolacile. Ornstein observed the giant gravestone of Artorias while seeing Ciaran knelt down to make her last prayers for her beloved friend before placing the ring on his grave. The young Sif just sat beside Ornstein until the assassin stood up and walked away.
"You loved him that much... huh." The Dragonslayer asked. "Although... Gough didn't attend his funeral."
"The old giant wanted to remain himself in solitude... He knew of his death, he'll probably carve a statue of him to honour our dear friend." Ciaran spoke solemnly behind her emotionless mask. "As for Artorias... I... did not get the chance to speak to him."
"... Understood," Ornstein said, nodding before turning his back from the grave and leaving the place. But he noticed the wolf didn't want to leave. "... Sif?"
"... I shall remain here," Sif replied. His eyes did not budge away from the gravestone. "As his loyal friend... My purpose here is to protect his honour."
The Dragonslayer and the Assassin were silent to hear the wolf's dedication for watching over his grave, and Ornstein himself knew Sif remained loyal to Artorias. While the spread of the Abyss across Oolacile is stopped, their battle against time for the fading Flames isn't over. New Londo was flooded and the abyss in that city was contained, but that will only hold for a while. He wasn't sure when the abyss will sprout out once more that will bring an end to the Age of Fire.
The latest message he heard from his fellow knights; Gwyn is currently planning to keep the flames lit. Ornstein had just come to Oolacile after his mission to inspect the incident that happened in Izalith; only from the depths of the earth, he faced new monstrosities that emerged from a new wicked entity they call the Flames of Chaos. He wondered about himself; what has the Witch of Izalith been doing to play her own Flames? As of the current time; the Lords were arranging themselves to move out from Anor Londo after Gwyn's eldest daughter, Gwynevere, was the first to leave the city, along with her husband Flan.
As hopeless as it sounds, the Great Lord of Sunlight remained determined to make sure his plans worked. He hopes for it, but still; the dragonslayer soon doubted his plans. What will Faraam think of this? The Firstborn was no longer in Lordran and allied himself with the remaining dragons due to his father not listening to him about the Flames true intentions for the world.
After the Firstborn stripped himself of his godhood, his mentor warned him of the inevitable future that will be the downfall of Lordran. But for now, they have to leave the funeral. The Lord of Sunlight and the Silver Knights await them in Anor Londo.
"Captain... I... wanted to stay here." Ciaran spoke while looking down with a sad look in her eyes. "I want to be with Artorias, for a while."
Ornstein then stopped, then turns around to see Ciaran. The dragonslayer didn't realise that she was willing to stay for his grave a bit longer. No doubt that her feelings for Artorias had a great affection for her life was strong.
"I see... then 'tis will be our farewell," Ornstein responded while heading out for the gates. "We shall meet each other again, one day. And... do stay safe."
Sif and Ciaran did not reply. Once the dragonslayer left the grave. The young wolf gave out his howl to the moon, mourning the death of a hero.
...
Present Day, Dungeon City of Anor Londo.
...
"So... thou cameth to 'tis city to explore?" Ornstein raised his eyebrow behind his helmet in question towards Ash. The Silver-Blue Knight remains silent before responding to his question with a nod. "Hmph. Sounds foolish, the hollows and monstrosities shall shave thine hide here if it not for thine recklessness... like these crossbreeds from Dragonia who dared to walk this very grounds."
Lythia and Militiana felt insulted by his words until Ornstein turned to the lightning gargoyles and twirled his spear, ready for combat. "But first, I shall remove these nuisances and then... we shall search for a safe haven."
Without another word, the Dragonslayer tore into the ranks of gargoyles at blinding speeds. The first row of gargoyles was sliced off into pieces, followed by an explosion of one massive lightning that came down from the heavens, tearing apart many more. A trio of gargoyles swooped down from the skies to get rid of the Dragonslayer, yet Ornstein swung his spear across the empty air and the gargoyles flew past him until, in one moment, they were torn apart.
"By the Chief God..." Vermut stood shaken, unable to make a single move. "S-such speed and I can't even see where he is!"
"Yeah... it's unbelievable." Gerome couldn't help but stand in awe while the rest of his companions watched the battle in bewilderment and shock that unveiled their very eyes. Except for Ash and Sif, who knew his capabilities were similar to that of the Nameless Firstborn. "So... this is how Lords fought?"
"We art more than that, fellow human."
Gerome heard a voice behind him, which he didn't recognise. He jumped back in surprise and saw a Silver Knight carrying a large hammer. Elen, Sasha and the others caught his attention by surprise while the Knight of Sunlight raised his weapon. The Silver Knight raised his hands.
"Hey! Calm down there young lad, I am no hollow!"
"W-Who are you?"
"I am Ledo, a Wandering Silver Knight and a retainer of Ornstein." Ledo politely introduces himself. Then he raised up his thumb, pointing behind him. "As if thoust were wondering, we got rid of the rest while thee hast observed his onslaught."
Indeed, the Gargoyles in the rear were taken out; either being torn apart, and some were shot by large arrows. Except for one survivor, who had its legs cut off until a winged female warrior dropped from above and plunged her sword into the beast. Sasha, the Knights of Lescatie, and the dragon knights were startled that even a valkyrie was here in the midst of the dungeon city as well.
"W-wait is that a valkyrie?!" Luciana dropped her jaw. "And... judging by her attire, she belonged to the Chief God, no joke!"
The lescatians had not just only to expect an adherent of the god, but a Valkyrie from the Chief God's pantheon.
"A valkyrie of the Chief God... w-we're saved...!" Vermut then raised her arms in joy while in tears. "Then our Lord has saved us-"
"Sorry to burst your bubble, but I am no longer affiliated with the Chief God." The Valkyrie responded casually before Luciana and Vermut froze in silence. Also, to the surprise of Olivier and Sasha. "My only God... is that person, my husband."
As the valkyrie pointed out, they turned their attention towards Ornstein, who just killed a lightning gargoyle while impaling the creature with his spear that jabbed through the walls. Everyone, even Ash and Sif, bulged their eyes in disbelief.
"Hold up... wait a minute, something ain't right," Reginald spoke up in confusion while raising both of his hands. "I mean, hold on a sec. The legendary dragonslayer has a valkyrie as his wife?"
"Thou art the wife of Ornstein?" Sif asked incredulously at the valkyrie before Alissa turns to the greatwolf and nodded casually. "I-... I see, I never thought Lord Ornstein would have married... to a native of this world, no less!"
For Ash Cyrus, he didn't expect that a lord would marry an adherent of the divine pantheons. First Siegward, then Hawkwood, and the latest of all; is a Lord whom he fought against in the Cathedral as an illusion, too, had a wife. What else he would expect? He isn't sure if Patches or the others are to be here as well and getting married long before his arrival.
'I'm sure the one's I've met before already have kids.' Ash exhaled and shrug off his shoulders, wondering. 'If it's in my case... then who will be...?'
Then he turned to Sasha in concern while she's still treating the wounded dragon knight.
"Sasha... how's her condition?" Sasha then looks up to Ash. "Is everything alright?"
The former priestess then looked down at Mika. "Can you walk already? Is your wing okay?"
"Y-yeah, I can feel my wings got fixed and no holes either!" Mika replied with a smile of joy as she flapped her wings. "But... I wouldn't fly around this place. It's dangerous when I got shot down again."
Once Mika carefully stood on her feet, Ornstein approached the companionship and the dragon knights before aiming his spear skywards, pointing the way to the cathedral.
"Let's make haste. We shall no longer stay here." Ornstein said in a commanding tone. "Hollows will arrive at any moment if we do not act."
Everyone wasted no time but to follow him. But Lythia and the dragon knights stood wary of him, and Junayd soon noticed their hesitation to follow the dragonslayer.
Then the Carthus swordsman asked. "What's wrong? You all seem to doubt him."
Lythia, Militiana, and Mika stood shaken before the tourist guide reluctantly stepped forth to accept it. She wouldn't risk their lives staying here before more monstrosities of the city will pop out at any moment from nowhere.
"Look, girls. I know he's a criminal on your turf." Daniella then spoke up. "But looks like you have no choice if you don't follow."
Hearing Daniella, Militiana hesitates at first, but the dhampir is right. The previous expedition that was sent here has been wiped out without warning before their arrival. It is the proof that shows their superiority as monsters deemed fruitless in this place. Only the dragonslayer, the greatwolf, and also "Tarkus" himself, knows of this deadly dungeon quite well.
"Damnit... allying ourselves with a criminal." Militiana cursed while looking down in defeat. "This day can't get any worse if the queen finds out about this."
"Don't waste thine breathe for bickering, crossbreed. It will do no good." Ornstein scoffed before walking away. "Especially if you remain ignorant, then so be it."
"... Crossbreed? I've never heard that word from someone to call a mamono." Vermut wondered while cupping her chin. "Maybe I should put it in my vocabulary?"
"As I can say, real crossbreeds differed from their kind," Ledo informed her while sticking his thumb towards the Dragon Knights. "Unlike them, they don't have claws and neither their feet too. They always have tails with scales full of fluff, and they're as tall as we Lords."
"Wait, as tall as you guys?" Luciana asked in fascination while looking up at Ledo. The Wandering Silver Knight then nods. "Wow! I mean, we never expected to hear that."
"Haha! I appreciate thine response, young human." Ledo chuckled humbly. "Be lucky if thou'rt meet them. After all, they art not born shackled with their connections of the Great Temptress."
"The Great Temptress?" Vermut raised her eyebrow in confusion. "Who is that?"
"Oh? Well, thee humans used to call her the Demon Lord." Ledo informed with a shrug on his shoulders. "I've been wandering this new realm for quite some time. When I first heard the mention of the Demon Lord, I 'ought it will be a hideous beast. Yet, alas, it was nothing more but a poor harlot in control of those so-called "monsters". Quite a disappointment if ye' ask me."
When the lescatians heard this, they couldn't help but dropped their jaws in disbelief. This guy, this Lord, perceives the Demon Lord as nothing compared to their strength. Yet for the Order and even the former member such as Sasha; they knew the current Demon Lord is not to be underestimated with, especially when the succubus ascended on the monster throne. The Order has no chance to retaliate as if the charms of monsters are irresistible in their wake.
And yet, this guy laughed it off. For the dragon knights, they couldn't help but felt offended by his words. The dragons knew the Demon Lord is stronger than any monster. They knew she is generous and spreading the love of monsters for all humanity, especially; the dragons themselves appreciated her ideals and followed their ways to prevent another bloody conflict thanks to Lilith. However, not everyone wished to agree. Very rare individuals from the historic myths such as Hero Artos is proof of that and he just single-handedly took down a Lilim during the battle of Gerth prior to the establishment of the Federation.
Once they depart from the area and followed Ornstein, the dragonslayer took the corner to the right and stopped right in front of a giant individual. When the others came around to follow him, they stopped their tracks in much to their shock and disbelief.
"Ah, Gough. Seems like we've met an uncanny group of individuals." Ornstein said casually to the giant. "But one might surprise thee."
"I see and... wait... is that Sif?" Despite being blind, Gough can still sense his familiar aura. "My, thoust hast grown a lot! It feels that thee has been ages old!"
"Hahaha! Gough! It has been a long time indeed!" The Greatwolf appreciates his words with a hearty chuckle. "I 'ought thou art in Oolacile to confine thyself! Also, a person with a familiar face which thou hast recognise is here."
Gough turns around and sensed a familiar aura. It has been a few decades since Oolacile degraded into ruins and the giants still knew of his scent, the hero of Oolacile. To his surprise, he did not expect to meet him here in this convoluted city.
"My word! If it isn't the man who saved Oolacile!" Gough spoke out in joy. Yet the giant words caught Ornstein off guard. Is this the human, the one who saved Oolacile? "I didn't expect thee to end up in these distorted places as well."
"Same here, Gough." Ash smiled. He appreciates his words of generosity. "It's good to see you again."
"Hmm... Oh! And art these thine companions?" Gough questioned once he turned to his friends and the dragon knights. Ash nods. While Gough couldn't see his gesture, he can sense it. "Greetings. I am Hawkeye Gough, one of the Four Knights of Gywn. It is a pleasure to meet thee."
Everyone in Ash's companionship stared at the giant in awe. Aside from the golden sentinels, this one is larger and capable of speech and intelligence. Sasha had seen giant monsters from her previous expeditions in Lothric Dungeon, but now seeing a friendly giant in the midst of this city keeps her everyday life even stranger. For Luciana and Vermut, they felt that this experience after waking up from being monsters felt that they just got hammered into a wall.
The world did turn different from which Olivier has spoken.
"Okay... now this is new." Elaine flat out stated while pointing to the giant archer. "First a greatwolf, now a giant... I thought we would expect to see a butterfly."
"Thou'rt talk about the Moonlight Butterfly," Sif informed Elaine, "If thou want to see them, the Duke's Archive is not that far."
"Wait, even giant butterflies exist?!" Elaine dropped her jaws in disbelief. "I thought my expectations wouldn't come to reality, thou."
"Guys, enough with the chit-chat. I can sense more enemies coming in." Reginald then spoke up while observing from the rear overhead. His eyes spotted another small horde of Lightning Gargoyles and Silver Knights coming their way. "I can see more of those freaks popping up. We got to move!"
After hearing his warning, Ornstein led the group through the alleyways to a safe passage that leads to the cathedral of the city.
...
...
"This is a joke... right?"
Succubus Wilmarina stood shaken in fear while being cornered by a purple individual. This person has her face and had a wicked grin on her lips. The phantom walked towards her succubus counterpart like a demented killer while dragging her claymore, which the blade skids against the ground, making disturbing sounds of scratches.
"Ahahaha~! After all, you are nothing but a hare, lost in the midst of a maze~! I can't wait to hear you scream~!" The phantom sang in ecstasy filled with killing intent, followed by her high-pitch laugh. "I wonder if you have a worthy vertebra in your spine~?"
"E-E-Elt! Priscilla! Yorshka!" Succubus Wilmarina screamed out in terror, calling for help. "SAVE ME!"
But as for anyone's concern, how did she end up in this situation? Let's rewind for a bit.
...
... One hour earlier...
...
"I can't wait 'til we get out and speak to Druella about this!" Wilmarina spoke up in joy, Priscilla is leading them through several familiar alleyways they've gone through. "Elt! We're almost there! To freedom!"
"Yeah, I know it too, Mary!" Elt smiled in relief.
While Priscilla is about to take another route to the corner, she caught a large fiery blaze of fire coming towards her. She moved back to the corner from their unknown attacker while Yorshka remain vigilant to see their surroundings for possible enemies. For Elt, he prepared his longsword in case whenever an enemy comes close.
"Stick with me, Mary." Elt brought Wilmarina behind him. "I'm going to defend you just like the last time. Don't worry."
Wilmarina was happy to have Elt as her protector in this distorted city. As a Succubus Hero, her husband was in no ways in means to defeat her and let alone her strength with a mix of her being a hero and monster can triumph over her Order adversaries. But in a place like this was reversed and her powers to corrupt anything in her path have no means to defeat the monstrosities that lurk in this dungeon.
In this case, this place is a nightmare for any monster and human who would dare to step foot in this place.
"One enemy down and we can escape-"
While in the midst of her speech, Wilmarina caught the sight of a white mist enveloped the door before talking over. Until soon, Yorshka and Priscilla noticed the deadly mist immediately.
"'Tis is the Mist of Pestilence! We have to get away!" Priscilla warned as she jumped away while Yorshka ran out. But Elt and Wilmarina remain within the mist. "Oh no, you two have to get out of there!"
Elt was coughing. The white mist itself is irritating to both of his eyes, skin and lungs and felt they were burning. He tried to reach out for his succubus' wife, but she wasn't there. To his horror, he lost sight of Wilmarina.
"Mary?! Mary where are you!"
"Elt! I'm here!"
Then he saw his wife waving at him until he heard something comes from above. They both saw a bunch of unknown urns that radiates with blue substances. For the monster couple, they can sense these are not some ordinary urns and they can tell those are dangerous upon contact. Both the Incubus and the Succubus jumped away before they would land on them, but the mist intensified even more; making it harder to see.
Elt managed to get out from the mist as soon as possible but to his shock. Wilmarina is nowhere to be seen.
"Mary...? Mary! Where are you!"
On the other side, Wilmarina ran through the alleyway while being chased by someone who followed her from the rooftops. She tries to get back for Elt, but her ways in the means to escape were futile while this person, whoever he or she is, has a knack to hunt her down until she ended up once again in the midst of the city centre.
When she reached a dead end, her breath stopped once the person landed its feet on the ground. Her heart is slowly beating as she turns around and Wilmarina's eyes dilate in shock. This person was covered in purple, but that's not all; this unknown individual had her face, hair and headwear similar to hers.
She stepped back once the Moundmaker Phantom took her first step towards for the murder.
...
Present Time.
...
"I wonder if you have a worthy vertebra in thine spine~?"
"E-E-Elt! Priscilla! Yorshka! SAVE ME!"
"Thine cries prove fruitless, dear~!"Her phantom counterpart spoke menacingly until she heaved up her claymore. "Make your prayers. Thou art weak, a poor casul in this dark world where I do not give a shit~!"
Wilmarina cursed that her wing hasn't been recovered yet and swore she saw something in her own counterpart, an entity who made a face she was all too familiar with. Not with lust for the flesh, but the love for the obsession of madness. The Dark Hero didn't know the day that she will see herself in a state of insanity. As the powers of the succubus within her had faltered under some unknown phenomenon, the phantom swung her claymore to cleave her apart. But through devil's luck; Wilmarina ducked to dodge her deadly blow, but the phantom kicked her against the solar plexus, sending her against the wall and slumped into the ground.
The Dark Heroine groaned in pain and then looking up at the phantom with terror in her eyes. While trying to escape, her eyes caught something around the corner, she spun around and saw a glowing white sign on the ground. It is written in a language she does not recognise, but it is filled with some sort of magic that resonates with hope and telling her to touch it in need.
The wounded succubus isn't sure that her monster senses are telling the truth, but it doesn't matter. She needed something to get rid of her demented counterpart and touched the mysterious sign, hoping for a miracle.
"Ahahaha~! Cry while I'll slaughter thee. Alive!" Wilmarina looks up to see her demented counterpart raised her claymore and thus bringing it down. "Now scream!"
*CRACK~!*
And a miracle, it was.
... [Phantom Havel the Rock summoned!]
"What the-?! Impossible!"
Phantom Wilmarina saw some huge white club blocked her blade and bounced it back before a hard object slammed her against the face. The Moundmaker Phantom was sent flying into the air and crashed into a nearby wall. Succubus Wilmarina was baffled before looking to her left side, a knight who wore heavy armour, a large shield and some curved club. Also, his overall appearance is covered in a white hue.
"Greetings, thou hast summoned me. I art Havel the Rock, a Knight of the Way of the White and an Apostle of Allfather Loyd." The White Phantom Havel introduced himself with pride and chivalry in his tone. "I am here to guide thee under 'tis treacherous place. The once magnificent city of the gods, Anor Londo."
Wilmarina looks up to him in awe. Did she summon him? She spun around to see where that strange glowing sign was, only it was there for a moment ago, now slowly fading away.
"I-... Uhh, hi! M-my name is Wilmarina Noscrim!" The hero succubus nervously introduced herself. "I t-thank you for saving me!"
"Grah! Izalith's damnation!" Wilmarina then turns around to see her malevolent counterpart standing up, gritting her teeth and snarling in anger. "Grr! So thoust summoned a White Phantom, eh? How lucky... for thee."
Phantom Wilmarina activates her pyromancy and covered the blade of her claymore with a flame spell while Havel raised his shield to defend his summoner.
"Do not fret summoner, I, Havel, shall get rid of this walking pestilence in front of me," Havel spoke up in a vigilant tone while preparing his dragon tooth, ready to counter the purple phantom. "Bring up thy weapon and prepare thyself!"
But the problem is; Wilmarina has her Oruforyu, yet her weapon alone doesn't do any damage to the monstrosities in this city. Let alone her powerful spells, which can make them fly but inflicting no damage. Therefore, she needs to rely on this mysterious knight to get rid of her phantom counterpart as soon as possible.
Phantom Wilmarina readied her greatsword and strafed to flank the juggernaut, the succubus raised her sword and sends out a blast of icy wind that pushed the phantom back, flying once more and thus Havel charged in and raised up his massive Dragon Tooth, yet the Phantom caught his move and push her feet against the ground and then jumps away to avoid his deadly blow.
The dragon tooth produced cracks, and the ground shakes with tremor, the Succubus Hero stood shaken; how strong is this knight? She could've sword that he is capable to produce an earthquake!
Phantom Wilmarina grit her teeth and curses under her breath. The moundmaker invader had underestimated her foe, not only her succubus counterpart couldn't do any physical damage but she can send harmless spells that will explode upon contact such as the Force miracle spells combined with a Havel Knight that will kill her as soon she was knocked out by it.
The Moundmaker Phantom then readied her claymore to make a counter stance against the succubus and the summoned Havel Knight. However, her unfortunate luck just came to hit her like a boulder. She heard flapping wings from above and spotted a pair of lightning gargoyles descended from the skies. The Phantom screamed in terror before one of them landed on top of the invader before her head was squished like a bloody pulp.
The phantom's blood flew everywhere while Wilmarina saw her counterpart was killed in a gruesome way by a pair of stone monstrosities. Seeing herself getting killed in such a scenario brought an icy shiver down her spine.
"Right here!" Wilmarina then spun around to see Havel opening the door to a building. "This way before they will see thee!"
She wasted no time before entering the building to avoid being seen by the gargoyles. After entering the building and Havel closing the doors, she heard the sounds of wings flapping outside for a while until they disappeared.
"That was close. I was worried to see thee when thou'rt about to turn into a bloody paste."Havel said before turning to another door. "I see thine weapon can do no harm to the monstrosities. It would be foolish to delve 'tis dungeon without a decent one."
Hearing his words made Wilmarina looked down with regret. She would've heeded the merchant's warnings. Once he opened the door, he came face to face with a Silver-Knight before the hollow slashed its sword against the Havel Knight in much to Wilmarina's horror. But the armoured juggernaut stood and didn't budge until Havel heaved his Dragon Tooth overhead, smashing the Silver Knight to the ground.
"H-H-Havel! Are you alright?!" The succubus spoke up worriedly after recovering from her shock. "You look hurt!"
"Oh, no. No, I am fine." The Havel Knight shrugged off with a burst of laughter. "'Tis armour of mine is sturdy! I've made it out with the finest dragon scales that no one could do a scratch!... except I do have some holes in me."
The White Phantom then entered the room followed by Wilmarina to search for something valuable until they found a chest. Havel inspected the chest first in case of a Mimic. But to his relief that it was an ordinary chest by looking at the chains, then he gestured to the succubus to open it. The Dark Hero then opens it and revealed an ordinary broadsword. Nothing out of ordinary, but what confuses her is that the sword itself is in a pristine condition and the blade itself is shinier than the human weapons she knew.
Upon touching it, her senses were surprised that the sword emits some radiance of power. Even powerful than her current sword, Oruforyu
"Huh, just thine luck." Havel smiled behind his helmet. "That broadsword is reinforced with Titanite. Although, it's on stage seven."
"Titanite?" Wilmarina raised her brow in question. "Is it some sort of special ore?"
"Ah, those? The rocks of the Great Blacksmith are invaluable, dear! They are the products of the gods... well, it only makes any weapon beyond the leagues of thine sword of depravity! Haha!"
Havel then laughed out in jolliness and pride, although his mention of "Sword of Depravity", Oruforyu, is an insult to her weapon. She knows her demonic sword could turn a human kingdom into a mamono realm in one fell swoop at her full power. But yet, this phantom laughed it off that it does not pose a threat. Eventually, this city didn't see her power of the Dark Hero as a threat and could easily make her into a punching bag for some cruel fate that awaits her. When his laughter died off, Havel then noticed his own body is slowly fading away.
"Oh, dear. It seems my time is up. I shall return to my own world."
"W-Wait, don't go!" Wilmarina begged him. "Just don't leave me out here! I need to reunite with my husband!"
"I'm afraid I can't. Dear summoner." Havel tilts his head sideways before giving her a sad look, then he brought up a white soapstone crystal and hand it over to her. "Thoust need this in the time of need... at the right place and the right time... farewell."
Just like that, he faded away and the white soapstone crystal was dropped on the floor. She knelt down and grabbed it before holding it close to her chest. After the Dark Hero was being saved by some strange knight and guided for a temporary time, she was now alone once more. In the midst of a horrible city that is teeming with monstrosities and her only hope is to find Elt and the two "mamonos" who have been helping her.
"Elt... please... help me." Wilmarina then teared up and prayed to whatever god she could hope for. "Find me... please... anybody!"
...
Buffer Regions
...
"I see... thine quest is all but an act of revenge?... To avenge thine mother?" Elizabeth said with concern towards Alto-Eris. "Goodness me. And thine quest to search for Sir Ornstein has led thee to the young Sir Artor and thus falling in love with him? That is a strange turn of events, young dragon."
"I know... you can perceive it as strange," Alto-Eris responded with a nod in admittance. "If it weren't for primal instincts in me for finding a mate... well, that might be different."
"Hmm~ Well, thou still have thine family in your home kingdom?" The Mushroom asked further. "I can clearly guess they art worried for thine wellbeing."
"You can say that... my father is still at home while my mentor is going to train some new recruits," Alto-Eris replied with a nervous smile. "Although, I'm afraid they'll be disappointed in me when they heard that I just ran away from my post."
"By the heavens, thou'rt art indeed reckless to do such a thing!" Elizabeth concluded before letting out a disappointed sigh while the black dragon mamono just made a nervous shrug. "However, thee has found a new purpose in life. Finding a husband and becoming a mother to the future lords. Perhaps in the future, thee might give birth to a Dragon one day... Like Alissa who gave birth to Ciara."
"I-... wait, really?" Alto-Eris raised her eyebrows in surprise, remembering Ciara being a blood-related sibling to Artor despite her species being a valkyrie. "Huh... then I might do some plans once after I laid the egg."
The Black Dragon then looks down and rubbed her belly, she can feel the small developing egg is twitching inside her for a while. Alto-Eris smiled at her future child inside the belly and she was sure whether to be he or she would be excited to see their parents.
Meanwhile, outside in the backyard. Filia is busy drawing some sketches on her drawing block. Her first sketch depicts the Wandering Silver Knight Ledo, and the other is a Knight, taller than him and wielding a cross spear. It shows her father, Ornstein, together with a winged person beside him is her mother, Alissa.
After that, Filia brought up her small white stick before doing a quiet chant and brought the sketches to life. Shirtiya and Leia were quite amazed by this new type of magic they do not know of.
"So what is this strange magic you are using?" Leia asked, intrigued by the works of the young lordress. "I've never seen this type of magic before."
"'Tis is called Light Sorcery. A type of Sorcery which uses Light to make great illusions." Filia answered with a smile before explaining. "Elizabeth taught me in her teachings to perform it and she said that sometimes the Light in Sorcery could do much more than illusions as well."
"Wow! More than illusions?!" Shirtiya jumped up with starry eyes in excitement. "What else you can do?"
"Um... well, I have learned little from her," Filia said while nervously scratching the back of her head. "My caretaker, only she knows a lot of advanced spells."
While the dragons keep their talks with the young lordress, Ciara came up to Artor. She saw her brother sat on top of a rock while observing the beautiful mountain ranges from far and wide while having his mug filled with tea which Alto-Eris made for him.
"A neat place for drinking tea to relax... don't thee think?" He said before taking another sip. "I bet... sitting and taking a rest from stress helps up my mood."
Ciara smiled. Her brother likes to sit in places where he can enjoy drinks while observing the magnificent views of the clear grey mountains above the fogs and clouds. As they were enjoying themselves outside, a large shadow flew above them before Artor and Ciara caught danger in their senses. They glanced up and saw dozens of flying creatures above the skies.
"What... are they?" Ciara said as she narrowed her eyes, trying to get a closer look. "Based on their sizes from this distance... they seem to be quite... large."
*RROOOAAAARRR~!*
The Dragonslayer and the young Valkyrie froze when a loud roar assaulted their ears by surprise. While on the wooden cabin, Filia, Shirtiya and Leia were caught off guard by the sound as well, until a large winged beast flew up from the cliffs. Ciara and Artor glance up at the giant beast in awe and shock until the gigantic, flying stony reptile stared down at them with its hollowed eyes.
The siblings can see that this type of beast is a dragon, but yet, their senses caught that it is entirely different until it opened its mouth. Artor was the first one to react shortly after sensing a hint of danger.
"Get down!"
A powerful beam struck a place where he had been sitting on. Luckily, he jumped away and pushed down Ciara to avoid being turned into cinders. The dragon then changed its beam in the direction of his wooden cabin and until his home explodes into a large fireball. In their horror, they saw the house was reduced into rubble. But then, to Artor's horrible realisation is that his Fiancee, his sister, the caretaker and Alti's friends were reduced to ashes and charred corpses.
For Ciara, her legs trembled in horror that she witnessed their deaths before her brother dropped his mug of tea. Then she soon noticed a radiance of power emitting from his body until he was enveloped with sparks of electricity. In anger, he raised his right hand and summoned a stake of lightning, brightened with the fury of his wrath.
This dragon had destroyed everything that is worth in his life, now coming to destroy the being that caused it.
"You... BASTARD!"
With that, he hurled the lightning spear with his might and struck dead centre on the head of the hollowed dragon and pierced it through, shattering the scales until the beast roared in an agonizing death before falling down through the cliffs. Artor panted heavily before looking back to the place where his cabin once stood. The young dragonslayer slumped his knees to the ground, tearing up at the loss of his younger sister and his fiancee.
"Filia... Elizabeth... Alti..." He mourned while on the verge of tears. "This can't be...!"
As if their deaths brought them despair of their loss, a brief flash of light appeared right in front of them. They reeled back as they were caught off guard until they saw them appearing out of nowhere. It was them; Filia, Shirtiya, Leia and, to his shock, he saw Alti. All were unharmed from the dangers.
"Whew! In a nick of time, we avoided death!" Elizabeth breathes out in relief. "Thank goodness I was able to pull that spell off after sensing an inordinate amount of danger... but luckily, it seems not a single innocent soul is hurt!"
"Alti... I-... I thought you were dead!"
"Wait... really?" Alti spoke up, confused, before turning around until her eyes grew in shock to see the wooden cabin was reduced to rubble and fire. "A-Artor, what happened to the house?!"
"It was some beast! I swear it was like a dragon!" Leia answered agitatedly while wailing her arms. "It just tried to attack Ciara and Artor before it points that beam to us!"
"Hey, look!" Everyone then looks down at Filia and saw her pointing her finger up. "What art those?"
Once they followed to where she was pointing at, they saw the skies were filled with dozens of winged dragons flying overhead. The siblings and the dragon knights weren't sure what they were, but to Elizabeth, her eyes grew weary with a terrifying realisation.
"Oh, no... judging by their shapes and sizes... these are not Wyverns... and their origins art not mamonos either..." Elizabeth spoke with a shaken tone. "These are... the Everlasting Dragons, yet they art hollowed! Goodness gracious, this is bad indeed!"
"Wait... Everlasting Dragons?" Artor then looks down at Elizabeth with concern and worry. "Weren't those the dragons that my father fought against? Then why are they still here and I thought they should be extinct?!"
"I know... but I have this nary feeling that space, time and the fabric of reality were distorted," Elizabeth informed before turning to Ciara and the others. "We must leave this place. We should not meddle before they will see us."
With that, Elizabeth silently casts a spell around them, resulting in a flash of light and disappears from the open ground, leaving the hollowed dragons to fly over the remains of the cabin. But that was not what the hollowed dragons were after for. Their destination where they are flying is heading straight to the heart of Dragonia.
...
Dungeon City of Anor Londo
...
"Hah~! HA!" Vermut let out a war cry before plunging her sword through the eye slits of the Silver Knight before the hollow fell back and dissolved into ashes. "Whew! These guys are tough!"
"You can say that again!" Luciana said while ducking under the deadly swing of the Silver Knight's spear before Olivier went in for the kill. "Go, Olivier!"
"HAAAH! Take this!" Olivier then sprints from a great distance and sliced off the hollow's head clean. The musketeer then looks down on her rapier and smiled with newfound pride. "Heh, the Titanite Reinforcement is indeed a big step to effectively defeat these monsters."
"Don't get your hopes up! More are coming!" While in the midst of their battle against the Silver Knight, Junayd strafed to the right flank to avoid one of the Silver Knight's deadly blows. Then he saw the opening before weaving his Curved greatsword upwards; completely slicing off the Hollow's left arm and cut off the head clean. "I think it's this is the last one of them!"
Ash heard Junayd and looked around that there are no Silver Knights were present and everyone was exhausted from their previous skirmishes while on their way to the Cathedral. Sasha then brought up a pill that is mixed with Green Herbs before swallowing it, curing her fatigue. Ash then raised his claymore to the cathedral.
"Come on everyone, one step closer!"
Ornstein observed the humans with intrigue which they had defeated the Silver Knights. He admired them for their skills and courage before going up the stairs of the Cathedral. After their brief victory over the hollowed knights, the dragonslayer slowly opened the doors of the cathedral to pave their way into the building. Thus, he was suddenly confronted by a pair of high-ranking sentinels.
"Hmph, thou'rt remain on duty I see? Forgive me, thine service in the cathedral is no longer needed." As if the hollows would understand, Ornstein then twirled his spear. "May thine legacy is not to be forgotten."
Ornstein tore through in a brief flash until the Golden Sentinels were sliced off into pieces. After taking them out; his wife, the retainer, and the rest of the group entered the halls.
"Hmm.. something isn't right," Ornstein murmured with unease. "There is someone... something awaits us there."
"You can sense it?" Sasha asked the Dragonslayer.
"The captain doesn't fail to recognise when there is something awry that awaits us," Sif spoke, feeling his fur spiked. "I do have a feeling... at the end of the halls, there lies an enemy."
"Oh? Gough! Long time it is!" Almost everyone jumped to hear another voice and the sounds of heavy footsteps. Ornstein then turns around to see a familiar face. "And... Oh~! Lord Ornstein! It has been thousands of years since we've met!"
"Wait... thousands of years?" Vermut then felt her own skin paled before looking up at the dragonslayer with a nervous look. "This guy is several thousand years old!?"
"He is older than that!" Silver Knight Ledo chuckled. "Lord Ornstein had fought during the War against the Dragons, which is many millennia ago!"
Everyone could tell that he was indeed very old. His wife, Alissa, then looks up to her husband out of her concern.
"I... didn't know you were that old!" Alissa spoke up incredulously. "You never told me that you were born before I even exist!"
"Well... the lifespan of the Lords was varied," Ornstein replied casually. "Some who art born with the strongest souls could last for six thousand years... or more."
"So. Friend. What is wrong?" Gough then asked the Giant Blacksmith in concern. "Thou art in panic."
"Gough. 'Tis him. Aldrich the Devourer!" The Giant Blacksmith then points through the door at the end of the hallways. "I art not there but his power... I can feel it."
Aldrich the Devourer of Gods. Ash knew that Lord of Cinder was the worst person to exist. He learned from the stories in which Anri and Horace told their past that they escaped before they will be sacrificed as children to feed that cannibalistic evil blob who has connections with the abyss. He also knew there is Pontiff Sullyvahn, the man who is responsible for the corruption in Irithyll. Many people who hailed from that place were the descendants of the Lords, and they were caught by his followers and be thrown off; devoured by Aldrich himself.
"But there is also something... I do not wish to see that cannibal once more." The Giant Blacksmith added, which made concern for everyone.
"I do not know about 'tis Aldrich." Ornstein scoffed before his eyes steeled behind his helmet. "But I know of a cannibal that is Smough himself."
Thus the Dragonslayer moved on. But Alissa is worried that he might be facing something big. While the group heads out, Ash made then greets the Giant Blacksmith with a wave of his hand.
"Hey... it's good to see you again." Ash said with a smile behind his helmet.
"Oh! It is thee! 'tis been a long time!" The Giant Blacksmith widened his eyes in surprise behind his mask. "I remember that last time we've seen after I've forged thine sword!"
"Yeah... I still remember that day as well." Ash nodded. It has been a long time since he hasn't met the Giant Blacksmith. Upon meeting his corpse in the cold remains of Anor Londo, he knew the fate of Giant lay in the hands of Aldrich. But now seeing him again, alive in this world, makes him wonder if his enemies were also revived as well. He dreads if Lautrec is still out there, but as of right now, it's not of his concern anymore. "Right now... we have a mission to finish."
"I see... good luck." The Giant Blacksmith nodded before they followed the Dragonslayer at the end of the hallways.
Upon entering the grand halls of the Cathedral, Ornstein reeled back in surprise to see the place is filled with black goo and rotten remains of skeletons. He looks up and saw a giant black mass of blob emerged from the ground. It is covered in a red hue like a phantom, and Aldrich used its powers to reanimate several puppets from the masses of goo.
Out from the ground, the slime materialises itself into a figure with a familiar shape. He recognised that gigantic figure before it weaved a large hammer that he was too familiar with.
"... Smough?" Ornstein couldn't believe what he is witnessing. "So this is one of thine capabilities huh... to see through their memories and make them thine puppets."
Ash and the others soon entered the Arena before the Lescatian Knights and Heroine reeled back in shock and horror to witness the masses of corpses. To the dragons, they felt disgusted to witness a giant blob wiggled as if it was alive that reeks of death and the stench of blood.
"What... is that thing...?" Vermut spoke out, shaking. "It's like a slime, but... ugh! It reeks like foul meat, and it's a hundred times worse!"
"That... is Aldrich, the Devourer," Ash spoke while activating his pyromancy and covered his claymore with flames. "We have to take action and get rid of this phantom before it summons whatever puppet Lord he comes up with."
While the puppet Smough is ready for battle as he slams his hammer to the ground until another one jumps off from above the balcony. Ornstein cursed that there was another puppet. Judging by its appearance alone, his eyes widened in disbelief. This puppet is taller than an ordinary lord and wore in bone armour made of corpses and shares a similar fashion like his old comrade he knew.
"... Artorias..."
Ash and Sif steeled themselves while the greatwolf narrowed his eyes in spite at the massive hulk of a blob.
"I see... using my beloved comrade as a puppet and his memories is unforgivable!" Sif snarled towards the Devourer, his teeth clenched on his sword tightly. "Then thine death shall be swift! No mercy!"
Without another word, puppet Artorias howled in a mix of a bloodcurdling scream along with hundreds of other voices of Aldrich's victims. That howl itself brought Daniella and the Dragon Knights to feel their skins spiked in fear.
"This is... Artorias?" Reginald spoke in a grimace while he and his sister then drew their weapons. "Using him as a puppet huh... then things are getting crazier than before!"
Puppet Artorias felt his hand twist and reached for his sword before jumping towards Ornstein a weaved his blade down. The Dragonslayer retaliates to block his attack before the puppet jumped back, making another howl.
"Thou'rt not him..." Ornstein spoke coldly before his spear emits with lighting. "And I knew he died long ago, begone thee wench!"
Upon his declaration, the battle between companionship and the phantom devourer with his puppets was about to commence.
...
Chapter 40: Ends.
The Knight Guideline:
Subject: Titanite
Information:
Titanite is an ore that can be found only deep within the dungeons filled with bloodthirsty monsters. It serves as special ores that cannot be found elsewhere but in the dungeons and serves to strengthen weapons, both ordinary and rare, beyond its capabilities. Even there are records where mundane weapons are reinforced with a titanite shard that is to be as strong as a Hero weapon or superior to it. It is the only known material where demonic energy is incapable to corrode it.
"Ugh! This is impossible! This isn't fair! Why is there nothing else that we can monsterize it?!" - A certain frustrated Baphomet researcher.
It is so valuable that adventurers cannot trade them for others unless if they had a lot of spare parts to sell. Shards were rare to find from the 1st Level Dungeons when you kill high ranking Hollows and Monsters. Large ones, chunks and slabs, are very hard to get and they were only found in the deepest parts of the dungeon. On the surface markets, they are extremely expensive and only cost three hundred gold for one shard. Up to a Slab, they cost over thirteen thousand since its rarity is very high in demand.
"These Titanites are more valuable than gold... It is also theorised that you can buy land with it." - A Human Titanite Trader.
Merchants became rich when they found a dungeon where it had an effective source to farm titanate and becoming Titanite Traders, but farming them are very risky and Adventurers, dubbed "Miners" delved into these dungeons to get Titanite. But on the dark side of the business, their Miners payment is low due to the high risk of losing one's life.
However, independent miners can become Merchants themselves, and their income can be from low to high. It varied depending on the buyers who demand the Quality and quantity of the Titanite Ores.
In the Order nations, Titanites is a precious source of material for their special units in the army in case they would go up against dangerous Dungeon Monsters and even towards the mamono where ordinary steel and mithril cannot do it effectively. Titanite has the capability to change the mamono status quo from superior monsters to fragile combatants, comparable to that of mere footsoldiers before cleaving their once durable exposed skins apart with ease.
The origins of the Titanite is unknown. It is speculated from the story spoken by a blacksmith in Gerth, Andre, who explained that the Ores came into existence and they were the products of the Gods. The one who made this in an unnamed Blacksmith deity. Unlike the story of Hepatheusus, the known blacksmith deity who saw his followers seeking perfection in steel crafting. The unnamed God gifted the mortals the Titanite and taught them how to create weapons out of them.
As crazy as it sounds, only the ones who can craft weapons made of Titanite are the ones who followed the methods of such unnamed deity.
"There are many types of Titanites that exist in those dungeons. Some of which are very rare to be found!" - Andre the Blacksmith, holding up a rare twinkling Titanite.
...
-Guideline Ends-