Author's notes: Why yes, I am revising the ANs too. I feel this is especially important for this chapter. As I mentioned earlier, this fic was shelved indefinitely around mid-2015 after chapter 3's halfhearted first draft. I was going through a very rough time IRL, and was honestly at one of my lowest points. The general apathy I felt lead to the loss of any real inspiration, and a lot of folks had moved on from DS2 by this point anyway.

Fast forward to the end of the year, and just about everything that could've gone right, did. I was now in a loving relationship that, as of writing this, has been going strong for over seven years. As she was into fics herself, she'd give me tons of great advice and even begin work on the DS1 fic that would tie into this one. I'd also recently crossed paths with another writer calling himself Rance, who really encouraged me to get back on the horse and write this thing. Between all this and my excessive anime binges, I was absolutely bursting with inspiration. The show must go on, after all.

We're finally setting out for the true start of this misadventure, wandering onto the hallowed battleground where the war that shaped history was waged. Here, you'll get a proper taste of my style when it comes to writing action scenes. And yes, this is exactly how I experienced my first death ingame! For better or worse, the original version of this chapter still had the lingering vestiges of my old, more comedic vision for the story. After thinking it over, I've decided to write most of that out for the revision, making it more in line with later chapters. Now, let's get this show on the road!

Chapter 4
A New World of Souls!
"I'm not gonna keep carrying you like this forever, you know?!"

Forest of Fallen Giants

Few people still remember what exactly it was King Vendrick did to anger the imposing giants, but the aftermath of the war they waged had its own monument in the Forest of Fallen Giants. Though their kind were long extinct, each and every tree lining the valleys and rivers leading up to and surrounding the long abandoned Cardinal Tower grew from the corpse of one of these great, enigmatic beings. If one could look past that, the Forest was serene, yet foreboding. Verdant and lush plant life covered the landscape as a shallow, crystal clear river eroded the soil as it flowed down into a cavern; a rare sight in the otherwise decaying kingdom. The skies were beset by dreary rainclouds, with many crows circling overhead, patiently waiting to prey on the corpse of anyone brave or foolish enough to venture into the decrepit vista. However, not every human who died here remained that way, as Vendrick's soldiers were loyal to the bitter end. Even in undeath, they clung steadfast to their duty to guard the Tower with their lives…

The soothing rush of the shallow river gave way to the visceral slice of steel against flesh! The hollow infantry that made their rounds shuffling about the valley at the Forest's entrance had taken notice of the pair trespassing on the wargrounds, assailing them as they uttered their gurgling groans of undeath! Holding fast and drawing his broadsword, Knight LoveGame cut down the hollows with a steady, controlled series of cuts to the abdomen. Their cheap, rusted, standard-issue armor did little to repel LoveGame's comparatively well-tempered blade. He'd twirl it in his hand in an attempt to look stylish and emulate Ilia's movement, but fumbled with it a bit before sheathing it.

"You're not half-bad, guy. Maybe our little excursion here isn't a complete non-starter." remarked Ilia. She began to size up LoveGame, taking particular interest in the shield he now brandished in his left hand. It was wrought of black metal and bore a lustrous silver silhouette of an eagle. "Your technique needs some work, but considering I didn't have much hope to begin with, well... I'll take what I can get. Going back to buy that shield from that Maughlin fella was a good call, honestly."

"Yeowch! I think I actually felt the back hand there, Ilia. Just you wait, I'll melt that icy exterior yet." replied the knight with a hearty laugh. His words were now a bit muffled, courtesy of the helmet he'd pilfered from the corpse of the first hollow soldier he'd felled. It was a full face helm with a prominent crest, fitting well with his falconer armor. Although well-worn, chipped and rusted, its steel structure stood the test of time.

"Didja really have to pick that helm out? Looks like it'd crumble if you breathed on it too hard." Ilia inquired, slightly confused at the knight's choice of headgear. "Could've just bought one of the helms at the shop while we were there..."

"Now, Ilia... where's your sense of fashion? This one looks much better... gives me that rugged adventurer look, you know? The guy was only selling open-faced helms anyway... not my style! There's a reason I tend to hide my face, but I can't tell you just yet. Not to mention, I didn't really vibe with that guy. The more souls I spent, the more he got full of himself! Didn't wanna stick around too long, if you know what I mean." LoveGame rambled, lightly elbowing his companion.

"…No, I really don't. Your thought process certainly is.. different…" she sighed. "I guess old armor isn't always necessarily weak. A lot of warriors found great success using the sets from the Barrows... Anyhow, let's review. To reach Vendrick, we have to confront the four Great Ones and obtain their souls. Only then will the path to Drangleic Castle be clear to us."

"Right, I totally got all that! That Emerald Lady knows her stuff for sure… but what exactly are we doing here?" pondered the knight.

"Cardinal Tower is up ahead. It was the site of the apex of the Human-Giant War. Many things of value were likely lost during the climax. We should at least clear the place out for supplies before we go anywhere else. The only real threats here are the remainder of Vendrick's royal army. Let's get going!"

The duo continued forging a path through the river valley, cutting down the soul-starved soldiers as they went. Armed with little else aside from rusted, broken blades, they were even more trivial than the droves of Draugr Ilia had cut down during her time. Their dull reflexes made them excellent training dummies for LoveGame, who was more than happy to put the techniques the king had taught him to use at last. Reaching the brook's terminus, they climbed a ladder that lead to a clearing broken by a large tree in the middle.

LoveGame would attempt to trudge ahead, only to be held back by Ilia's firm grip on his shoulder. "Hold it, big guy. Look around us." she'd point out plainly the bodies of many a solider strewn about the clearing. "Something tells me a good Samaritan didn't cut those guys down for us. Watch closely – they're still drawing breath." she'd note, LoveGame picking up on the very subtle movement of their chests.

"Well, well, well... looks like we've walked in on their afternoon nap... how lovely." he'd mutter, keeping a steady grip on his blade as the soldiers sprung up one by one. Ilia brandished her red scimitar in kind, and the two split up, drawing the undead horde away and thinning their numbers. From the moss-covered ramparts above, a pair of soldiers took aim, pelting the pair with arrows and bombs! They'd weave in and out of the array of stabs and shots, striking the moment they had a room to breathe until the bodies were back on the ground where they belonged.

"So far, so good..." LoveGame assessed, before spying one among the group who remained a rest. Slumped against the tree was a ragged, battle-worn knight adorned in brilliant white and gold. Curiously, the man kept silent, making no attempt to join the fray. Intrigued, LoveGame approached the knight and called over to Ilia. "Get an eyeful of this guy! What's your deal? Are we not good enough for you, huh, pal? You alive in that tin can?" he'd taunt, tapping at the man's cylindrical helm.

Luckily, the tree provided excellent cover, allowing them to converse without being skewered. After some deliberation, the weary white knight spoke up. "...I've no patience for theatrics anymore. Forgive me, I must've drifted off waiting for you to show."

"See? Now, that wasn't so hard, was it? I'm LoveGame, and that's Ilia. I'm willing to bet you have some inside info on where we could get our hands on some of those great souls!" LoveGame said to the white knight, excitedly rubbing his hands together. "You're obviously a few steps ahead of the rest of us, so... care to spill the beans?"

The ragged knight shook his head and sighed. "...heavens, I'd dismiss you as having gone hollow if I weren't so sure... but the vestiges of memory you've imprinted upon us reveals the truth. Knight LoveGame of Wes'Sv'Urginiah... the man destined to be king, are you not?"

Tilting his obscured head with confusion and intrigue, he'd think for a moment before saying, "...that's my name, all right, but... being king? That sounds like a lot of responsibilities, my good sir. I'm... just here to meet the real King... Vendrick, wasn't it?"

"Ah, already on the path guided by that woman, are you... then listen close, kid." he'd say with conviction, "Even I don't know all the details, but... given your time is scarce, I'll tell it to you straight. You don't stand a chance in your current state. If you're even entertaining the idea of an audience with the King, then you must inherit the strength of a King yourself. I can't make it any clearer than that." he'd say, rising from his rest and drawing a gleaming white blade, sparks surging down its length erratically. "Now, draw your weapon."

Ilia watched the exchange in silence, morbidly curious how her ally would fare against someone with their wits still about them. She'd recognize the duel as a formality, making the decision not to interfere.

His morale peaking, LoveGame unsheathed his broadsword, taking a wide stance with his shield at the ready. Cracking his neck, he'd gladly accept the proposal. "As luck would have it, I'm all warmed up. Sweet as I may have been in my youth, I'm much saltier now. Still care for a taste?"

"Enough of your strange euphemisms." the knight silenced him, holding his blade with unusual finesse. He'd keep it behind him, his offhand completely free. "We shall end this in a single strike. Best me, and you shall inherit the strength of a King who ruled in the distant past. If you're to fall here, then it should only serve to prove that you're unfit for a crown. En garde!"

Thinking long and hard about every intricacy of his training back home, LoveGame took a deep breath, tightening his focus. He remembered the ways he was instructed to counter each specific technique... yet, he'd never seen anyone handle a blade in such a loose, lithe fashion. Keeping a calm, steady breath, he'd see the path to victory before him.

Digging his lustrous greave into the ground, the nameless knight altered his stance just before kicking off toward LoveGame, holding his blade high above his head as lightning trailed behind his swift step! He sought to pierce the hero's chest in an instant!

...only, it was as though LoveGame had somehow seen this very move before. He couldn't place exactly why or how he knew, only that he knew. With the bolstered strength of an undead, he'd dash toward the white-clad warrior... cleanly evading his strike, and landing at his back by a hair! Wrapping him in a vice with his shield arm, he'd run his broadsword through the foe's back, feeling the heavy body slump over in his grip as the life left him.

Before he could even think of giving the knight an honorable burial, LoveGame flinched in surprise as his fallen foe faded into aetherial ashes. Everything from his corporeal flesh to his gleaming armor had disappeared before his eyes. All save for his sword, clattering to the floor, freed eternally from the warrior's grasp.

Stowing his Broadsword away for backup, LoveGame took the sword up for himself, curiously gleaning over its sleek, straight design and unusual white metal construction. Before he even got a chance to swing it about, his mind became awash with memories that were not his own. Vague, blurred flashes of another's long and storied life. He had nary a moment to make sense of what he'd been shown.

"Color me impressed." Ilia remarked, giving honest praise toward her cohort's technique. "You actually rose to the challenge. Keep that up, and I might just start to have faith in you."

Her comment went seemingly ignored as LoveGame appeared deep in a trancelike state. A cloudy collection of words formed, that failed to get past the tip of the man's tongue. He was just dying to tell her something, but the fleeting memory escaped him before it could solidify. "It's the... ahh, never mind. Can't help but wonder though... that guy spoke more cryptically than the Emerald Lady. Get an eyeful of his weapon, though..."

"Such unorthodox craftsmanship..." replied Ilia, looking the weapon over as she snatched the Estus flask from LoveGame's belt and took a sip. "It's similar to Skyforge Steel, but the enchantment... it's not something you can just slap onto a weapon." she'd observe. "That said... can we go now? There's bound to be plenty of chances to break that bad boy in, so let's make tracks."

"Sure... you got it!" agreed LoveGame as the duo ascended yet another ladder leading to a tall, mostly-intact building with a large metal double door.

"Cardinal tower… even now, it's truly something to behold." remarked Ilia as LoveGame pushed the two doors open. Inside was another bonfire, much to the relief of the pair. They sheathed their weapons and sat down by it for a moment, embracing its warmth as the fatigue left their flesh and bones. Accompanied by the light crackle of embers and the comforting, otherworldy hum, They'd take a moment to catch up over tea brewed by Ilia over the flame.

"You've... done well so far. I'm starting to see why my master put his trust in you. That said…You're stupid, through and through. You know that, right? You've still got a long way to go, and I'm not gonna carry you forever, you know?" said Ilia as she dusted herself off and took a sip.

LoveGame simply sighed and looked downward, tracing his finger on the dusty cobblestone. "Everyone's a critic..." He paused a bit, then asked, "So... Who exactly are you, anyways? I know your name and all that, but... y'know, where are you from and all that?"

Still a bit apprehensive about sharing the details of her life with her new friend, she'd take a deep breath, hesitate for a bit, and tell him, "...which one do you prefer I start with? I've lived so many places, I can hardly call just one my home... Geilinor, Skyrim... if you mean literally..." she'd explain, "…Black Marsh. Being human and all, I was a bit of an... uncommon sight there. Most everyone I knew... including Master Xoxar, were Argonians. "

"Argonians?" inquired LoveGame.

"A long-standing race of lizardmen. Scales, tails, teeth, the whole package. Wise beyond their years." she'd elaborate.

"Whoa! Your place had all kinds then, I guess." said the knight as he shifted his body into a more comforting position.

"Yeah. They were always so… attuned with the spirit of nature, you could say. My master was a wizened spellsword. He rescued me from a tavern that had been set ablaze when I was an infant. Hell, he was the one who tasked me with protecting you." She laughed softly. "If I knew what I was in for, I might've thought twice." She paused for a moment. "What about you? I'm sure you've got an… interesting story, to say the least."

"Come now, don't give me too much credit. You sound like you've been through a lot more than I imagined." LoveGame also paused before telling his tale. "Well, I did train as a knight, but the Kingdom of Kahndo never went to war... I'm a farmer first and foremost. I attained knighthood as early as I could because I wanted to make a name for myself, thanks to King Philip-"

Ilia laughed and interjected, "Hold on a minute... Philip? That incompetent ruler who blames all his mistakes on everything but himself? I'm surprised he still holds his throne!"

"Yeah, I admit he wasn't the brightest soul… but he treated his subjects all right and meant well. There was nothing he could do! We were a humble and peaceful kingdom, all things considered. Mostly kept to myself until I started having these dreams... and, well, here I am. Seeking the King at the behest of that woman. Here in Drangleic, it seems like it pays to hold onto your memories…"

As the knight finished talking, he pushed himself to his feet and dusted off. "We… should get going. The inner chambers of the Tower are just down there" said LoveGame, pointing to a ladder partially surrounded by destroyed stone, creating a larger hole with a view to some doorways. "Come to think of it, this strange tome I'd found earlier mentions something about a key further in." He said, flipping through the pages of a ragged book.

"Well then, where'd you find this?" Ilia asked with a confused stare.

"Back in the old ladies' house... says it's an early draft for a fourth chapter of some old lord's tale." he'd say, showing Ilia the rough collection of pages. "I kinda stopped following it after the first bit... something about four walls? Whoever came up with this didn't think too far ahead. There's way more walls than that in Drangleic!"

Shaking her head in disappointment, Ilia snatched it from his grip and tossed it into the bonfire, much to his surprise. "Look, LoveGame... I don't care what you do, or pick up for that matter... but wouldja get that stuff out of here? No sense wasting even more of our time reading everything we trip over."

"You know what? You're damn right, Ilia. I never thought of it like that." LoveGame said with nebulous sincerity.

The path leading down was a mere stone's throw from the bonfire. Clearly manmade, as evidenced by the pile of rubble surrounding it, with a ladder affixed to the broken stonework. They opted to explore the floor above, the locked door's rotten wood splintering to sawdust at the strike of their swords. Aside from a handful of supplies left in what appeared to be an old storage room, there appeared to be no other way but down.

"Looks like we've got no choice but to take the plunge. 'Least someone was considerate enough to give us a way out." Ilia said, pointing to the smashed portion of the floor.

"Right, we should get mo-... wait, I just remembered something! Let's go back, just real quick, I promise!" said LoveGame eagerly, already making his way back outside, where he'd faced the mysterious white knight moments ago.

"What- Man, what did I just tell you...?" said an annoyed Ilia, begrudgingly following not too far behind. "This had better be good...!"

"I think it might just be! I spied some enticing loot on that edifice juuust a ways over from here!" He said, pointing toward a natural rock formation overlooking the brook. Though too steep and slippery to climb, especially in a set of armor, it could feasibly be reached with some flighty footwork... LoveGame gauged the distance from the edge of the tower and crouched. "Now, let's see here..."

Picking up on LoveGame's reckless intentions, Ilia scolded, "Do you have a death wish?! You're not really going to try jump that! You won't get enough horizontal momentum in that heavy armor, dumbass!" as she pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration.

Tensing his legs up for a daring leap, LoveGame looked his cohort in the eye with conviction. "Ilia, let me teach you something. You don't get anywhere in life holding back. Haven't you ever heard the ol' saying that fortune favors the bold? I'll show you how a real knight does it 'round here!"

Backing himself up enough for a proper running start, LoveGame drew from his enhanced undead strength and sprinted forth, waiting til the very edge of the tower's wall to kick off into a jump. His weighty armor be damned, he soared far enough to reach the rock's edge...

...only to fall just wide enough that he failed to gain footing on the slippery moss! With a yelp, he helplessly plummeted down into the river valley, far below! The sheer height of the drop resulted in a sickening symphony of cracks as his weighty form slammed into the ground, crushing the life from his being. The fallen knight's corpse remained for but a moment before returning to ash that scattered fleetingly into the winds.

There was little Ilia could do beyond watch helplessly as the very man she swore to protect had his life cut short in an instant. Speechlessly, she dropped her armaments, collapsing to the ground and shaking. "LoveGame, no! You big idiot…" she said, choking back anguished tears. Her will shattered, she remained there in a heap, her light sobs drowned out by the rushing water beneath. "This can't be happening... Now what am I gonna tell X-"

Her dramatic grieving was suddenly interrupted by a friendly tap on the shoulder. Springing back to her feet, she drew her weapon and prepared to face whatever had intruded on her sorrows.

However, Ilia was silenced once more, when she was greeted by LoveGame, who had fallen to his demise only moments ago. Though his body now bore a sickly green hue, covered in deep, bloody gashes, the nature of this appearance was but a temporary one. He casually reached into his bag and retrieved a human effigy. Pressing it firmly into his chest, he'd be restored to his former human appearance right before her eyes. He appeared unusually nonchalant, using the item as though it were no more than common skin lotion.

"Boy, let me tell ya," he began as he took a bite of a lifegem, "I knew my first death would feel… weird, for lack of a better word... but seriously, how lame was that? I thought I'd at least get to go out in a blaze of glory or somethin'. I totally nailed that jump, whatever..."

Ilia struggled to fully take in the events she'd just witnessed. She shakily stuttered out, "B-but you just… I saw you- how the hell are you.. you know… not dead?"

"Oho, is it my turn to be the teacher? Sweet!" replied LoveGame in a casual, if a bit excited tone as he continued to chew the crunchy gem. "See... I can't really die, per se. Well, I can. Buuuut, I come back. Not sure how much your ol' master filled you in, but I'm sort of an undead... of the cursed variety." he'd explain, pulling back the red cloth on his armor to reveal the Darksign seared into his skin. "See, bonfires retain some of my soul essence when I rest at them. They're kept burning by the bones of other dead heroes rather than wood and the like, so I'm kinda bound to them as long as I'm bound to the curse. It's simple, really. The whole 'journey without rest' means I can't even rest in peace! Crazy, huh?"

Ilia replayed in her mind the memory of LoveGame's death and noting how strange it was that he left no trace of death behind. His body, armor, weapons… everything just faded into ash and blew away. "…Of course... I'd have dismissed such a thing as an old lord's tale, but... seeing is believing. So this is the true nature of the undead curse…"

"There ya have it. At least there's one upside, huh Ilia? Now... what were we doing again?" he'd ask, his voice trailing off rather unusually.

"Ah, and there we have it." deduced Ilia, noting the early signs of memory loss. Things began to piece together for her. "Look, not to kill your morale, certainly not at a time like this... but I don't think you're completely off the hook. I read about this; those branded with the Darksign will go hollow if they experience death too many times. They'll lose their mind and become just like those things we've been slaughtering like animals. You got lucky this time, but promise you'll be more careful from now on! I don't want you losing what little sanity you still have."

"Promise!" yelled LoveGame from a distance as he already made his second attempt at the leap from the tower once more. Ilia put her head in her hands at the man's dogged recklessness, but LoveGame flawlessly stuck the landing this time around. As he bent down to collect his prize, absorbing a soul into his body and placing some throwing knives neatly in a row on his belt, he thought out loud. "See? I did the same thing as I did last time, why didn't it work before? Where's the consistency in this world, man?"

Ilia rolled her eyes. "Really? You're just now asking this? I think some of your… exalted leader might've rubbed off on you. Can we go now?"

At her behest, LoveGame carefully made his way back to Ilia, and together they ventured back down the smashed hole, venturing deep into the fortress' halls. Treacherously narrow bridges hung over a fiery pit, where great flame salamanders made their nest. If the fall didn't spell the end for our heroes, the reptiles that lurked below would surely devour them. Though their path split off in several directions, they'd find themselves beset by the fortress' heavy steel doors, all locked tight with the same mechanism. Figuring that LoveGame's hunch about finding a key was correct, the duo would eventually reach a path that lead out onto the fortress' outer ramparts, the trees' roots making a sturdy natural ramp that offered a view of the lush woods that housed the former soldiers' quarters below. All that remained of the weathered buildings now was the skeletal framework and bits of the roof, where undead archers perched eternally, waiting for something to shoot at. It was their sworn duty in life, so why should undeath be any different?

Taking the perilous journey through the outer walls of Cardinal Tower, the duo would waste no time making quick work of the remnants of the hollowed army, their conversation dominated by LoveGame's complaints on how 'cheap' archers and spearmen were with their supposed underhanded tactics that went against LoveGame's arbitrary system of honor. After Ilia shot down LoveGame's suggestion to disguise themselves in the armor of the hollow soldiers, they briefly passed through a room full of ballistae, each one manned by a hollow soldier. The undead men would open fire on the adventurers, but the shots missed the two and instead caught the other hollows in the crossfire. Less work for the heroes was always appreciated.

They'd continue forging a path ahead, Ilia making sure to take notes about the old battleground to hand into Xoxar when they'd next meet. Of particular note were the trees, each grown from the corpse of a fell giant. Some of Vendrick's soldiers were so deeply bound by their old duties, that they'd uselessly hack at the old trees as though they were still giants themselves. Their loyalty to their King's cause, even in undeath, was far beyond measure.

Further on, they'd evade an ambush as a small group of soldiers tossed firebombs below, creating a spectacular explosion as they set off a stack of powder kegs. The blast would topple a large soldier clad in armor that evoked the image of a tortoise, after which they fought their way to the opposite side of the tower, its rear entrance open to the pair. Realizing that one of the metal doors was not actually locked, but merely opened from one side only, Ilia pulled it open to create a shortcut. Past the door was a creaky, wooden lift that appeared to lead even further down, past the salamanders' dwelling.

"Whoa, wouldja look at that! We've up and come full circle!" LoveGame directed Ilia's attention at the lift. "Gotta say, we cleaned up pretty damn good around here. So far, this is the only place we haven't been yet. Whatcha thinking?" he'd ask her with a confident grin under his helm.

"It hardly looks stable…" sighed Ilia. "…but if I was going by that instinct, we'd hardly have made it this far. That said, there may be other surprises down there... You sure you're ready?"

LoveGame crushed a lifegem in his fist, releasing its restorative properties. "Ready, Ilia." He stated firmly, dusting off his hands. The two friends stepped on the lift, activating the pressure plate, and metallic clinking and squeaking filled the room as it began to descend far past the cavern floor. It finally came to rest as they stepped off into a narrow, natural cave, likely what the fortress itself was built atop. At its terminus was a luminous barrier of opaque white mist obscuring whatever was beyond its boundary. LoveGame and Ilia opted to get a closer look.

"...Yep, this ranks pretty high on my list of ominous things. And it's a pretty big list, I'll have you know. Either way… it's now or never." The knight said, drawing his new sword, raising his kiteshield, and reluctantly placing his palm on the wall of mist. As if on command, it quickly dispersed into the aether, allowing passage for him and his protector. LoveGame's heart pounded against his chest as the mist cleared, revealing a spacious cavern, largely bereft of anything of note, effectively putting the pair at a dead end. The cavern's sole point of interest was a crumpled, twisted mass of dried wood that, in better days, might've passed for a tree. Overtaken by moss and lichen, it was held in place by a jagged rock formation, as though it had grown around the stone.

"Ilia, you seein' what I'm seein'?" LoveGame's eye caught a twinkle emerging from the twisted mass of dead wood, a glimmer of silver jutting out from the mud it had been caked in. Upon closer inspection, it was unmistakably a key of some sort! "Aww, yeah! This adventure will be over with in no time at this rate! Let's grab that key and-"

The knight's words were suddenly cut short by the violent quaking of the ground beneath him! Tensing up to keep his footing, LoveGame would soon realize that the source of the tremors was right before his eyes! The wooden limbs began to shift and shudder, rising to take the shape of an imposing giant, clearly disturbed at the sight of the very thing that drove its species to extinction! Tearing itself away from the stone that had ran it through generations ago, its roar of anguish bellowed throughout the cavern and shook the walls within!

The Giants were certainly a unique race, a staggering sight to behold for oneself, both due to their rarity in the modern world and their foreboding appearance. Though relatively humanoid in their shape and posture, their impressive stature towered over even the mightiest of warriors, nearly five times the height of our heroes! Their bodies were composed of what could only be described as a hybrid of wood and flesh, layers of dense tree fibers providing them with all the natural armor to withstand the steel of a king. Its limbs were gangly and elongated, freakishly tall even for its own species. Perhaps most striking was its face. Common to all known Giants, its visage was no more than a black abyss of a hole with nary a discerning feature. Assuming a battle stance, the titan shook off the remaining rubble and lowered itself to charge at the pair!

"So, it was true... that not all the Giants had been wiped out. You know, sometimes... I really hate being right..." lamented Ilia through gritted teeth. Seeing no other choice, she drew her crimson scimitar and held her shield tight, waiting for the Giant to make the first move.

LoveGame wasted no time rushing to her side, drawing his blade that surged with the blessing of thunder. "Hey, don't sweat it, Ilia..." he'd say, stifling his own fear with all the willpower within him. "This is the perfect opportunity to test out the new toy our friend so graciously handed over." he'd reassure her with a smile under his helm. "This guy's nothin' but a warmup for us, right?"

Through the slit in LoveGame's helm, Ilia would meet his gaze with her own emerald hues, giving him a firm nod. "Damn right. Now, when I give the signal, I'll rush his legs and wait for a-"

"HEY! YOU!" shouted LoveGame as loud as he could, disregarding his protector's words and digging his heels in, instead pointing his blade directly at his towering foe. "That's right, I'm talkin' to you, you... donut face!" he bellowed what he felt to be a scathing remark. "Yeah, you heard me! What's up with that, anyway?! I don't think I like it very much! Nor do I like the way you're eyein' up my friend here with that big donut face of yours! Here's how this is gonna go! First, I'm gonna bring you crashing down at my feet, then I'm taking that juicy little key for myself! If you've got any objections, please do speak up from that donut you call a mouth, ya big- whoah!"

Perhaps even a being of nebulous sentience could grow tired of the knight's grandstanding, as the Giant silenced him with another deafening roar, charging at him with unusual speed for a being of such size and heft! Swallowing a yelp, LoveGame held his kiteshield at the ready and stood his ground. Just before the giant's attack hit its mark, Ilia, knowing that LoveGame's bravado would only get him so far, grabbed tightly onto the red cloth of his armor, summoning the adrenaline to drag him out from harm's way! The giant's fearsome shoulder tackle fell wide, and it stumbled for a moment! "Just what was that all about?! If you're gonna run your mouth like that, at least do something to back it up!" she scolded, ensuring neither of them were injured.

The giant regained its footing, stomping its sturdy legs at the knight and furiously pounding the earth with its oaken fists in an attempt to flatten him! Summoning the enhanced agility his undead body had blessed him with, LoveGame would deftly evade the relentless blows! "Kinda working on that, Ilia! Just... just gimme a minute!" he protested, trying in earnest to find the right moment to strike.

Again and again, LoveGame threw his body to either side just before the giant could find its mark! Without any room to breathe, the knight had yet to land a single counterattack! With the giant's attention focused squarely on LoveGame, Ilia took the initiative to hack it is hardy legs as she'd originally intended. "How long are ya gonna keep evading, LoveGame?! What the hell kinda knight are you?!" she shouted, already losing what little patience she had. "Did you seriously think I'd carry you through this whole ordeal?!"

"Never crossed my mind! Like I said, I'm workin' on it! This guy's a lot bigger than I'm used to..." said the knight as he caught his breath, the constant evading taking a toll on his stamina, "...so gimme a minute to adapt!"

Getting a feel for the Giant's movements and attack patterns, Ilia sighed. "...LoveGame, watch me closely!" she commanded, strafing around the giant and sneaking in a few deep slashes at its ankles, nearly knocking the beast off balance! "See?! You want an opening, well there you go! You might as well get used to taking down stuff like this now! It's only gonna get tougher, so you'd do well to stay ahead of the curve! And don't think I'm gonna keep saving your ass, got that?!"

"Okay, okay! I'll do the best I can for you!" assured LoveGame, watching every detail of the brawl with an intense fervor. Even still, he'd struggle to discern a proper opening, only sneaking in a handful of slashes when he was absolutely sure he'd be exempt from the giant's punishing rampage! "Come on, come on... just stay still for me..." he muttered to himself, sword at the ready.

Proving her worth as a seasoned warrior, Ilia was nearly flawless in her execution. Though her shield, primarily forged to withstand dragonfire over physical blows, only protected her so much, her stance remained unbroken. The incredible speed of her scimitar outpaced anything the behemoth could throw her way. For a time, it seemed no more difficult than Tamriel's own brand of giants. Her focus and resolve were unmatched in this moment.

Its left leg weakened, the Giant would find itself knelt by the special attack imbued within Ilia's blade! However, just as the pair were poised to strike the decisive blow... the Last Giant would employ a desperate measure... its final trump card! Taking a firm vicegrip on its left arm with its right hand... the great colossus would viciously tear its limb clean off, with hardly the slightest indication of pain! The movement was blindingly swift, inconceivable for a creature of such size! In the same motion, it would bring down the lifeless limb, nearly crushing Ilia if not for her timely evasion toward the back end of the cavern! "LoveGame, let's close this one out quick! Poor thing's running out of options, if it's using that damn- Rrrrghhh!"

The giant's next move was one that neither warriors were prepared for. Seemingly in the same motion that it had slammed its arm into the floor, it followed up with a devastating downward swing! The beast had somehow known where she'd evade to, offsetting the cumbersome nature of its weapon by aiming ahead! LoveGame could do little but watch in horror as Ilia's body was brutally crushed under the giant's oppressive reach! He'd wince in agony at the sickening crack of bone as she was sent careening into the cavern's wall! The look she wore on her face was one of a warrior who'd never known true defeat until now, accompanied by a torrent of blood erupting from her mouth. "Impossible... Damn brute... knew exactly what I was going for... how the hell..." growled Ilia weakly through her bloody coughs. Try as she might, she failed to summon the strength to rise to her feet this time.

With one foe down, the Last Giant turned his attention toward Knight LoveGame... before its focus shifted back to Ilia! Somehow, this enraged behemoth knew it hadn't finished her off yet! Stowing his fears the best he could, LoveGame rushed to the woman's side and dug his heels in once more! "Whew... You're damn good, Ilia. You seem like the kind that doesn't know how to give up…" he'd muse with a deep breath, readying his weapon once more. "...and right now, well... that honestly sounds kinda appealing!"

Feeling the tremors rock the cave once more, it was clearly evident to the knight that the Last Giant was no longer giving them mercy, and reared up for its next brutal swing! His entire body pulsing with adrenaline, LoveGame held his shield out as the giant slammed its arm forth to crush the duo for good!

It was in that moment... the very instant that Knight LoveGame felt the oppressive force of the weight arm of the Last Giant... when the vicious shockwaves of the full might of an army rippled past his shield through his arm, rocking his entire body... that the words imparted onto him by that enigmatic white knight began to take form and meaning. A lifetime of memories washed over his body, that were not his own. Those of a proud King who fought for the ideals he believed in...

...that nothing could be accomplished without HOPE.

Through gritted teeth, Knight LoveGame took the full brunt of the Last Giant's devastating attack, his body refusing to budge an inch. "...I wasn't finished yet, you big ugly giant! As I was saying... that key belongs to us!" he roared in arrogant defiance. "It was humans that brought your own kind to the brink of extinction, wasn't it?! How embarrassing, that a race of weaklings like us could wipe out your so-called warriors! I don't know the full story, but right now, I couldn't care less! You stood in the way of King Vendrick, and for that, I'll finish where he started!" he'd shout, surging strength into his shield arm to repel the rampaging brute! It stumbled back, giving LoveGame the precious window to toss a handful of lifegems toward Ilia. "Ilia, catch! And if you've still got it in you, watch me!"

Through her bloodied view, she'd silently nod and accept the healing wares without hesitation. The moment the giant retracted its disembodied arm for a followup, LoveGame swatted the arm away with his sword! Its rage reaching a fever pitch, the Last Giant would brandish its lifeless arm in a blind flurry of sweeping slams, only for the stubborn swordsman to match him blow for blow! Intensely focused as he was, he'd stagger the towering giant once more, giving him the opening to raise his blade high above his head and recite the ancient chant. "Here I go! You ain't layin' one more hand on Ilia, no matter how long your arm is!" he roared, channeling the lightning in his blade through his entire being! His sights set on the giant's gaping face, he'd recite the chant to his foe!

"They are modest to greed, generous to the truth of the world!" he'd call out, digging his heels in as the length of the sword, and then his entire form were coated in dazzling sparks of lightning! "...when the heart is peaceful the seven seas cry!" he cried out with unstoppable resolve, "Hmmh!", kicking off the ground and launching toward his foe as his body blazed a trail of gleaming white sparks!

"RISING FORCE!"

All it took was one final raging thrust of electricity, boring clean through the behemoth's body and eviscerating the hardy flesh to shreds! Its hefty frame came crashing down to the earth at last, awarding the duo with its generous sum of souls as it faded into the aether, joining its fallen warriors at last.

LoveGame's victory was punctuated by the thud of his body against the stone floor, unable to stick the landing in his heavy armor. Her pain subsiding as the lifegems went to work, Ilia couldn't even muster up a snide remark about the knight's blunder as he dusted himself off. Not that she'd usually pass up the chance, more so that she was still doing her best to process what she'd just witnessed. "There's no mistaking it... that move..."

Before Ilia could voice her thoughts, LoveGame rushed to her side, offering a few swigs of Estus. "Hey... you holdin' up alright?" he asked with a comforting tone. "Careful, you ain't cursed like I am... One wrong move, and it's lights out."

The healing wares had indeed done the trick, even the woman's bones were completely reformed, her body devoid of a single wound. "Hey, aren't I supposed to be the one worrying about you?" she'd ask with a light laugh. "It's nothing I haven't endured before. Just about every bone in this body's been turned to dust at one point or another. It actually kinda takes me back..." she'd say, putting a pin in her curiosities for the time being. "I'm a little ashamed I let that brute read me like that."

"Shame's the last thing you should feel, Ilia! We won, so let's walk with our heads held high!" he reassured her, retrieving the silver key from where the giant once stood. He'd hold it up triumphantly for a moment before pocketing it away. "For what it's worth, I've never seen a fighting style like that. Master... what was his name, Xoxar? He teach ya that? Maybe you wouldn't mind passing down some of his wisdom, eh?" he suggested.

"I dunno..." she'd say, rising to her feet for a stretch. "...then again, he did have enough patience to put up with me. Still, you're a whole different story." she said. "Man, this kingdom's of a whole different caliber... Either way, that key's our ticket out of here. Let's make tracks."

Riding the lift back up, the pair would comb the chambers of the fortress for anything they'd missed, delighted to know that the key indeed fit each door thus far. "That oughta do it!" said LoveGame, absorbing another lesser soul into his own and dusting his hands. "We should have enough to get us by. Let's see where this key can take us. Best to clean up before we head back to Majula. That enticing Emerald lady said somethin' about using souls to make us stronger, right?"

"Surprised you remembered. Good on ya." Ilia remarked.

As the two prepared for their return trip, Ilia spoke. "…LoveGame?"

He turned and acknowledged her with a "Hmm?"

"You did all right back there, kid. Xoxar's faith in you wasn't for nothin'. Good job, I suppose." she'd say, her mind replaying the events that transpired before her. "...just what the hell are you, LoveGame...?"

"...Whuh?"

"Nothing. Talking to myself..."

Hey there, it's your new best friend, LoveGame! Man, tell me you saw that! I've got more than enough souls to splurge at the Emerald lady when I get back, but... what's that? Evidently... there's a man out for my life! Hah, joke's on him! If I can take down a giant like that, what the hell's a regular guy gonna do to me?! Anyway, I think it's time for a change of scenery... that lighthouse is lookin' like the perfect spot to me. Is it trying to guide us to the Great Soul? Next time on The Curse That Binds Us: The Masked Assailant! Wait, what's with those robes...?!