No, it shouldn't have taken this long. But it did.
Menma's armour and weaponry was nestled at the waters edge as the man washed himself in the waters of the basin, he wasn't any grand master of Suiton Jutsu but he knew his way around a few purifying the waters as they touched his skin so they could drain his form of the muck that marred it. His matted hair was thoroughly scrubbed as was every inch of his skin, from the filthy flesh that once was emerged the form he was used to.
"Clean, finally." He smiled at the sight of his own reflection in the water, stray droplets falling from his hair, his dark red eyes lit up with a small joy as he sat peacefully in the water, washing himself was akin to washing away his troubles that seemed to cling to him like the dirt of this land.
Menma sighed lightly and rose from the waters, as he did so his reflection showed him his arm, Menma grasped the forearm and hummed, running his thumb across the natural armour. The two spike/horns that had sprouted up from his shoulder were something to marvel at really, he'd have to get his armour edited at this rate. His ear twitched for a moment his house-guest chiming in for a moment.
"Around the corner...I can't really put my finger on it, but there's a disturbance of some kind." Said Kurama, Menma nodded stepping up onto the water and making his way over to his clothing quickly dressing himself, slipping his ensemble of weaponry onto his back and sealing his shield into his human hand, pulling on his glove and wiggling his fingers to get the fit proper.
Menma jogged back over the water towards the source of Kurama's contention, he rounded on the sight of a golden golem of crystal, Menma rose a brow in confusion at the idea of such a thing, then again there were a few other golems around the basin before the pure chaos that was his fight with Havel and the Hydra took place. Menma conjured a gushing red flame from his arm, magically created lava dripped into the water making it steam he spotted a large prism atop its back containing a woman. His flames roared as the Uzumaki pureblood leant forward and seemingly blurred from existence, the water exploding back and parting as he stepped forward at blinding speeds, sliding to a halt and slamming his arm right through the golden golem was satisfying in a way few could understand.
The flames of his armour ceased, the lava dispersing like mist leaving only him and the falling form of a white clad woman, Menma smirked at the sheer amount of style points he'd just given himself, turning around and holding out his arms to catch the woman, she was light as a feather. Clad in a white dress that fell to her ankles, a winged headdress hooked over her ears and flaxen blonde hair atop her head, her skin was fair and her eyes were bright, she was the epitome of princess.
Menma smirked at her surprised face, his tired eyes mirthful at the sight of her flushed cheeks and shocked expression he quietly carried her away from the inlet and set her down next to the rock he was previously keeping his belongings next to, Tsuki silently observing the pair her giant wings ever so gently flapping. Menma set her down on her feet and gave her space to gather herself.
"I thank thee for recusing me from that prison. Most gracious, I am deeply obliged, I am Dusk of Oolacile, I come from an age long before thine, I cannot stay for long...So before I disappear I put a question to thee, would thee be interested in the sorceries of my home?" Asked the woman curiously, Menma paused for a moment not even really sure he could use Sorceries, then again he hadn't exactly tried.
"Sure, sounds good." He said a few moments after thinking it over, the woman smiled brightly and nodded, producing a white soap-stone and carving a signature onto the rock.
"I pray thee will summon me when able, farewell." She gave a small wave as she faded back into the timeline, Menma didn't bother to question how that worked.
"Wait...If she was in my world and inside that golem...How the hell did she go back into her own without a separation crystal or something?" He questioned, a confused frown on his face. Menma shook his head and rubbed his temples, there was no real point trying to figure out half the shit that went on in this damned place. A sharp orange glow caught his eye, Menma moved his hand from his face and looked upon the scrawling text.
"To the depths, you must go. To the bridge of fire and death, seek the door behind the shining bulwark." Advised Orange, Menma sat on the rock for a moment pondering the words of the enigmatic being.
"The shining bulwark could be the sun-man you're so fond of. Isn't he just in front of some bridge guarded by a dragon?" Chimed Kurama, Menma opened his mouth but closed it almost instantly and nodded. "Are you salty that I solved it for you?" Goaded the beast, Menma merely grunted and waved a hand over Dusk's summon sign, ignoring the damned creature.
"It takes all the fun out of it, dick." Grunted the Uzumaki in return, Kurama chortled and drank in the annoyance gleefully.
A small well of light opened up and the woman was pulled back into his world, Menma smiled lightly at her and she clasped her hands together almost sparkling with glee at the sight of him. "Oh, dear rescuer, it has been quite a while, how has time been for thee?" She questioned her enthusiasm not dipping in the slightest.
"It's been like 30 seconds for me." Said Menma, with a smirk at her face reflected acknowledgement as a small 'oh' left her lips unbidden. "But meh, I was just curious if you could be so generous as to bestow upon me sorceries from those hot little hands." Menma grinned as her cheeks flush into a soft pink hue, barely noticeable, it seemed she was at least somewhat used to being hit on.
"Very well, unfortunately I know not many spells but what I do know I will gladly share with you." She dipped her head slightly as Menma merely shrugged, "The spell Hidden Body will allow you to blend into your environment around you. Cast Light does as is implied, casting a small light that will follow thine path, another spell is called Hidden Weapon..." Menma rose a hand and pointed at her with a clawed, demonic finger.
"That one." He grinned, making her brighten considerably, she had a small...Purse? Filled with a few scrolls, Menma produced a bundle of souls as the pair exchanged items, "Thank you kindly, Dusk." He thanked with a smile that made her cheeks heat once more, Kurama rolled his eyes as he looked through his cages.
"Ugh, spineless little wisp this one. I'd rather you stuck it in the spider-bitch than this one." Menma's smiled turned icy as Dusk fell back into the timeline, separating from his world, Menma rose a hand and slammed his fist into the seal on his stomach, Kurama's complaint was more than enough to satisfy his spike of annoyance.
Hellkite bridge.
Menma stuck his head up and watched as the beast sat atop its tower, it locked eyes with him almost instantly, the Uzumaki ran out onto the bridge and grabbed a Hollow Soldier who tried to shank him, with a mighty toss he threw the Hollow at the drake making it wail in annoyance, the beast blew a stream of flames down Menma took a solid stance and produced his own flames to shield himself from the onslaught, souls flowing into his body, as the hollows that foolishly picked that as their spot were incinerated.
Menma waited until the tide of flames ended before forming his own into a solid orb and lobbing it at the dragon, it hissed in annoyance and leapt from the tower, landing on the bridge Menma backstepped to avoid its fanged maw from grabbing him, producing his claymore and slicing vertically on his snout it hissed before snapping at him once more, he sidestepped and rushed to its underbelly, sliding and cutting it open blood and guts washing over him, Menma almost screamed out in rage at his form being dirtied once more only for it all to turn into ahsen dust as the drakes body turned into souls, he stood up and sighed at the mental snap he almost had though did notice a few of its red scales dotting his exposed left forearm, his human arm, as he went to pick them off he felt a pinch in his skin, worried and feeling a weight in his stomach Menma tried to pick off the few scales.
They did not budge.
The did however, hurt like a motherfucker when he tried to pick at them.
"Are you shitting me!? Come the fuck one life what is this shit!? Demon arm not enough now you're making me grows scales!?" He shouted at the top of his lungs to the skies, demanding they answer him.
Kurama did.
"Hmph. Interesting...Never knew you Ningen were so malleable? You're bodies so excited to not remain in its normal state that is sucking it whatever else it can get. This land is strange." Said the beast with curiosity.
"I just want a damn explaination, that's all I want. Is it too much to ask?" He lamented, knotting his hand into his hair, "Everything is so fucking confusing in this bloody place!" He roared, his nerves were already fraying due to the bullshit with Havel, and the general shitty way he'd been feeling lately. "…" He stared silently at the ground beneath his feet and sighed. Trudging to the place he'd first met Solaire, though was pulled by a glowing orange arrow pointing to a wooden door he honestly hadn't noticed before, kicking it off its hinges he spotted a ladder that shot straight down into unknown territory.
One Ladder Trip and a Short Walk Later.
Menma stomped on the neck of a furless dog, these little fucks were nimble, one more lunged at him, he grabbed it mid leap by the throat snapped its neck and threw it onto the nearest burning pile of corpses.
"I already hate this place." He heard someone wailing and moaning about their fate across the street from him, walking towards the door he opened it, pulling it off its hinges and being given sight to a young man in all black robes with a short staff in one hand, a leather buckler in the other and a startled expression on his face.
"What are you bitching about?" Asked the Uzumaki with a drawl, though the young man's face turned from shocked to elated in a flash.
"Oh thank you, sincerely so! I'd thought I was going to die in here! I was locked after being cornered." Admitted the boy, he wasn't a man in Menma's eyes unless he could avoid being locked behind a wooden fucking door. Menma shot him a flat stare, the boy coughed into his hand and smiled hesitantly, "I am Griggs of Vinheim. May I know your name?" Asked Griggs pleasantly.
"Menma Uzumaki. I killed everything on my way here, so if you're able get your arse to Firelink. Or you can follow me, both work for me." Said Menma with a shrug, the boy watched him leave a little put off by his attitude, but weighed his options, go with someone that could tear doors off their hinges with no visible effort. Or take his chances and maybe get captured again.
It was a pretty obvious choice.
Griggs quickly fell into step behind Menma, who had Oscar out and ready, "Oh, an Astoran Straight Sword? Are you a member of the faithful, friend?" Asked Griggs.
"Don't try to relate to me." Said Menma shortly, making Griggs do a wonderful impression of someone who'd swallowed a lemon. "It's a friends." Answered Menma, as three doors shot opened revealing a bunch of lanky hollows clad in filthy rags with rusty, bloodsoaked curved daggers.
"You take the one over there." Ordered Menma, parrying a strike from the one closest to him whilst gesturing with his head to the one directly across the street, Griggs summoned up a Greater Soul Arrow, it struck true and knocked the hollow back, with another plain Soul Arrow sealing its fate.
Griggs turned to see his new companion grab one hollow by the head and slammed it into the other turning them both into paste before the fell to the ground, limp and boneless.
"How...Visceral." Commented the mage.
Menma shrugged and tucked Oscar into his sheath. Counting his blessings these little string beans didn't bleed. He needed to break something in half and they were doing a wonderful job and being that thing. Though he could stand to have a bigger target.
"That's the point." Grumbled Menma, shaking his head and continuing down the streets of the lower levels of this accursed place. Once more doors burst open, though this time the path was much slimmer, Menma growled and grabbed Griggs, running back into a more open area, tossing the Sorcerer onto his feet only for him to stumble, flames tore up Menma's demonic arm as he launched a torrential ocean into the choke point, not stopping until he felt all those he targeted die. The flames ended, all that remained were scorch marks and embers, Menma turned back to Griggs, his crimson eyes flushed with a brighter shade of red, the boy had a bead a sweat roll down his cheek at the glance that seemed to spear his soul.
"Get up, you look pathetic." Said Menma with a roll of his eyes, walking back down the street he fled from, and directly into the fog wall, Griggs was about to enter after him but heard screeches of pain, pathetics howls and wimpers, the sound of skin being torn and blood splattering.
As the fog door dispersed, Griggs was given sight to Menma shouldering a Demon Machete over his shoulder, and holding the head of a Capra Demon in his red armoured hand, Griggs felt the devil at his heels for a moment the blood coating the walls and his 'companion' splattered with red life essence.
Griggs did the only thing that made sense, he fainted like a little bitch.
Menma looked blankly at the unconscious form of the bitch-boy and blew a loose strand of hair out of his eyes. "What a pussy." Insulted the demon armed man, dropping the Capra head and throwing the boy over his shoulder. "Back to Firelink first I suppose."
End of Chapter.
Raxychaz!