Chapter 05: For the glory
Disclaimer: Neither Dark Souls or High School DXD belongs to me.
After my enlightening conversation with Sister Leona in the chapel dedicated to my friend I returned to Merlin's studio where I found her nose deep in some crusty old tomes of Gwyn knows what, so I left her to her own devices and went to make our dinner (nothing fancy just some sliced bread and cheese with some meat she had in reserve and wine for both of us) and returned to where the witch was and put loudly her plate in the table making dure to don't damage any of the texts on it.
"Ahh! Son of a bitch!!! Why did you do that!?" She asked angrily at me to which I just smile and pointed at her food before taking seat in front of her.
"Hello to you too Merlin, now let's eat before our meal gets cold" I told her before beginning to eat and she follow suit. After we finished our meal we fell in a comfortable silence that lasted during our meal. But once we ended our meal that silence was broken, after all we both had our own questions.
I saw that she was about to ask me something so I gestured to do so "Mikael, what is your relationship with Saint Solaire?" At that question I relaxed s little because for a moment I thought that she would ask me to study the Dark Sign or the true nature of the flame. Because both were big no on my part for obvious reasons.
"He's my blood brother; a warrior of the Lord Of Sunlight Covenant, the greatest warrior in all Lordran only surpassed by yours truly and one of the few decent People left in that hellhole." I told her casually, after all I highly doubted that there was anyone more genuinely good as Solaire in that accursed land.
"Wait, are you telling me that the one that went with you to face your local Chief God was the Savior Of Rome!?" Exclaimed Merlin genuinely surprised at that information. "Just how powerful your kind can get!?" She expressed truly surprised. I just smiled and replied.
"Very, the thing is not going hollow before or after reaching that goal" I answered truthfully. After all, the vast majority of undead suffered hollowing. After all that's what happened to most of my allies during my journey across Lordran.
"Okay, I get it, the rumours that the wandering saint is crazy strong aren't just rumours but facts and apparently he's an undead like you." She finished with a tired smirk, I shared it with her, after all that was just the surface of all my secrets and I plan to kept it that way because some of them are better left be forgotten.
"Well now that I satisfied your curiosity, I hope you don't mind if I ask some questions in return" I told her and she gestured me to get on with it, good, because I didnt want to beat around the bush with this topic. "Do you know how the devils were created?" That certainly wasn't the question she wasn't expecting if the look of her eyes was any indication but nevertheless she complied.
"There's no concrete records in the world on how exactly they came to be but they are the sons and daughters of the fallen angel Lucifer and the first woman Lilith which only purpose is to be the foot soldiers in their eternal war against Heaven and its God Yahweh." At that explanation I couldn't help but feel a headache forming "Great, a pair of idiots are apparently using the flame of chaos to mass produce troops, yes, there's no way that won't end up biting everybody in the ass along the road" I thought annoyed at the situation and the lack of information on how the Flame Of Chaos ended here and was being potentially used by devils.
After all I knew that sooner or later the flame will escape from their control and the tragedy of Lost Izalith will repeat; Great now I need to go to wherever the abyss they live to solve this mess before it gets out of hand. "And where is their homeland?" I asked her as I mentally added to my list of things to urgently going to whenever the devils reside and deal with the flame of chaos.
"I know what you're thinking and the answer is no, you won't go to the underworld. It's a place filled with beings specialized in killing undead like you." Told me Merlin in a serious tone very out of character for her. It may have convinced me on other topic but unfortunately for her I won't desist from this one because I know what will happen if my worst fears are confirmed and no one stops it on time.
"Merlin, I need to know where the underworld is because I need to go there because I fear that they're playing with something they shouldn't be touching with a ten foot pole and will fuck over everyone if they're not stopped if my suspicions are correct" I told her with dead serious look that surprised her before matching it with mine. Good she caught the seriousness of the situation.
"Let's say I believe you even then you couldn't go to the Underworld because it's on another plane of existence and you can't access to it by conventional or magical means normally" in that moment she gets up and takes a book from a nearby bookshelf and returns to the table where she opens it on a particular page. "Because as you can see in the book the Underworld is an entire different existential plane altogether and entering there is extremely dangerous and hard without an invitation from any of it's denizens. Besides currently is a battlefield between the devils, the fallen angels and the Olympian God of the Death, Hades. And the latter one really hates undead beings, some would say that he hates them more than the devils and fallen angels." The witch finished her explanation and I couldn't hide my irritation; my objective was close yet so far.
"Damnit, is one thing after another." I mused angrily in my mind "just like in Lordran. Great." I thought with a mirthless smirk on my face. Heh, I should have known better, after all things have never been easy for me since the curse took hold on me. Nevertheless I had another question that I needed answered. "And do you know the place were Solaire fought that Barbarian King? I would like to go there and see it." I obviously omitted the detail that I also needed to make sure that there wasn't any lingering Presence of the abyss. I don't want the same tragedy that befell New Londor or Oolacile fell on another place.
"Rome? Yes we can go there on a later date but for now we should go to sleep because we have a busy and long day tomorrow." Merlin told me as she took my arm and dragged me to her bedroom where just like in the inn she just strip herself of all clothing before going to bed (and no, I didn't peek, no matter what Merlin says) I jus took my coat off and put my blade and shield on the nearby wall and sat on a chair when Merlin using one of her spells brought me to the bed to lay besided her.
"Hey!? What the hell are you doing!?" I asked her surprised at the turn of events because I may have expected some tomfoolery from her part but not something like this. She just smiled and hug me from behind pressing her body on my back.
"I discovered that I like to sleep besides you, so from now on we will be sleeping together!" Was her answer before tightening her embrace around my waist before dozing off into sleep, I tried for a while to break free before deciding not to because I was tired from all that nonstop running and while I won't said it outloud I kinda liked this arrangement, so I closed my eyes and went to sleep too.
Next Morning
We were now walking through the Castle of Merlin's Lord and I could certainly say that the castle was one of the most impressive I have seen because it may not be as imponent as Anor Londo or the Duke Archives, and certainly wasn't as well defended as Sen fortress. The Castle was indeed impressive; certainly the most impressive I have seen made by humans (New Londo doesn't count because it was made by the gods and the same goes for Oolacile because it was made with their help) but nevertheless it was pleasant experience walking those corridors and enjoying the scenery without having to worry about attacks or traps.
"I see that someone is enjoying this" Merlin said to me with a most punchable smug face but I decided to give it to her this time because this city and castle were truly impressive. A testament to what humanity can do when they put their collective minds and efforts on a common goal.
"It is certainly impressive I won't deny it" at my words she beamed"but don't let your pride blind you or your countrymen or you will all fall" and with that she got a sobering look, looks like my words had struck a nerve on her. I should know it, after all some of my deaths were caused by foolishly overestimating my enemies.
Truly arrogance can be a slow and insidious killer.
"Speaking from experience?" She asked me with a knowing smile, impertinent little minx, but as much as I hated to give her the reason I wasn't neither arrogant nor stupid enough to deny the fact that yes, indeed, I died many times for being an idiot.
"Yes, indeed." Was my simple answer as I kept walking through the corridors towards where the King and his council were reunited. Urgh I jus had to suppress an involuntary shudder at the memory of the gaping dragon devouring me. "Fucking Sseath." I thought angrily. Because just like with everything else involved with unspeakable horrors not related to the demons or the abyss. Everything was the scaless gecko fault.
We kept walking for a little while longer until we reached to the council chamber. I let Merlin enter while I stay outside and began to read a book I took from Merlin's collection; it was a teatry about the history of the land. It was written by a man named Marcus of Sicily who apparently was a migrant from the innermost part of the Roman empire (which was a theme that really interested me because the fact that an empire took almost all the known world for almost 500 years is impressive) I was so engrossed in the lecture that I didn't notice Merlin coming out of the room and took advantage of my distracted state by poking me on the shoulder making me jump back from the scare, giving the witch a laugh. "Very funny Merlin."
"Indeed It was Mikael, but now follow me, King Uther wants to meet you" she told me gesturing me to accompanying her inside the room where the King and his councilors were waiting us, the king was a man dressed in fine yet practical regalia, certainly giving him the look of a warlord than a peacock (something I could give him credit for), with short messy blond hair and beard and piercing green eyes that irradiated power and authority.
Yet neither of those things were what attracted my attention and stopped me on my tracks.
Because in the moment our eyes met we stopped cold what we were doing because at least in my case my instincts went overdrive because the need to draw either of my blades and separate his head from his neck was almost suffocating. And I could see that he felt the same way. It was in that moment I knew for sure one thing.
I would end up killing this man without an ounce of regret. Because the last time I felt the same way was when I met Lautrec for the first time and while we helped each other from time to time l, that didn't stop us from battling to the death at the end. But it won't be today, so I took a deep breath and relaxed myself dropping my desire to battle the man to negible levels, something that apparently the king did too because he did the same.
"Hey, are you okay Mikael?" Asked me Merlin worried about sudden change of mood, I just shook a but my head to clear my thoughts before answering her.
"Yes, I am fine Merlin, sorry I just remembered something from back home" I told her giving her a look that I would explain everything once we were back to her studio, she nodded and I returned my attention to the king.
"So this is the man that aided you on your way here?" Asked the man to Merlin, never leaving me out of his sight, studying me, looking for any clue or weakness on my person "keep trying, you stupid cunt" I thought to myself while keeping my normal expression. "He may not look like it but I can feel the immense aura of strength that he irradiates and he may be the answer to a threat that has been plaguing the kingdom recently." That caught both our attention because it could another attack from those devils or worse a dragon, I couldn't help but shudder at the mere thought of facing another one of those scaly bastards.
After all; it was always a pain in the ass to revive after being burned to cinders or worse devoured by them.
"And what is this threat King Uther?" Asked Merlin interested a little bit interested whatever threat that was plaguing the kingdom recently, I too began to pay attention; after all if I was about to be sent to the ringer I better know with what I was about to dealt with.
Recently a strange giant wearing a pitch black armor appeared from nowhere and began to attack anyone that approaches the forest of the north." Okay that certainly peaked my attention because my gut told me what it could possibly be that mysterious giant but first I need to corroborate my gut feeling.
So I opened my infinite box and pulled the helmet that Gwyn's black knights use to wear and showed it to the king and his court who gasped at the sight in recognition. Well fuck, it is one of those bastards. "For your expressions I suppose that my fears are confirmed. We are dealing with a Black Knight of Gwyn." I told to all the presents ad i put the helmet back on the box.
"And what order of knights is that? Because I never heard of it" asked interested the king. I thought for a moment how to explain it without giving enough information because the last thing anyone needed was another power hungry moron messing with the first flame.
"And I would be surprised if you knew about them because they're from my homeland; Lordran. You shouldn't worry about a possible invasion coming here from my Kingdom because the black knights are a threat to anyone unfortunate enough to cross pass with them" I explained to all present who shared a haunted look on their faces; More than likely remembering the slaughter the Black Knight left I his wake.
"Fortunately for you I have become very good at killing them." I told them to which they looked at me with disbelief and I couldn't fault them, after all the Black Knight were imponent figures that inspired dread on anyone unfortunate enough to cross path with them (I should know because I had to dealt with two just to ring the first bell of awakening and another one to get the grass shield)
"A vagrant like you killed some of those monsters don't make me laugh" said derisively one of the nobles but quickly shut up when he felt the edge of my blade in his neck and once he looked at my eyes he couldn't stop from soiling himself as he fell to the floor shaking.
"Don't you ever think about mocking me you worthless trash" I hissed at the sorry excuse of a man in front of me with every inch of rage and venom I could muster in my words, which apparently was too much for the man because he fainted on the spot as a very distinctive odor permeated the room. "He shat himself in panic, pathetic" I commented as I put my sword back in its scabbard.
"It was necessary to do that show Mikael?" Asked me Merlin with an amused gleam in her eyes and I couldn't see that most people in the room were too concerned about it. Huh, so the guy wasn't either particularly liked or too unimportant. Good to know that I didn't became persona non grata in this kingdom.
"Leaving behind the embarrassment that was Sir Leonard display" said Uther with keen interest directed at me which I ignored for the time being, after all I didn't want to give in to my impulses and draw my blade at the king. "Are you sure you can deal with this threat?" Asked me the monarch. To which I roll my eyes under my hood and answered.
"Yes, I'm sure: just take me to where he is and keep the area empty during the battle. I don't want anyone being hurt or killed in the crossfire" I answered with a bored tone. After all I wanted to end this charade quickly and get back to discover what's going on in this world that made it so similar yet different to my own.
"Perfect, the you will depart immediately accompanied by one of my best knights" in that moment he turned his attention towards a knight that was at his right side. " Sir Ector can you accompany Mr. Mikael where the black demon is located?" The knight (a man in his 30s at most with contexture that could rival the one of Black Iron Tarkus with short black hair and blue eyes) nodded at the words of his league with a serious expression.
"Aye my king" was his answer. I truly couldn't help but continue to compare him to the legendary knight that helped me out during my tenure on Sen Fortress. The same stony face and behavior and upmost loyalty towards their kings.
"I hope you have a better luck than Tarkus, Sir Ector" I thought to myself because I am seriously tired of seeing good and decent people getting shafted. "Do, when we will depart? After all time is the essence in this case if we don't want the Black Knight to continue his path of destruction" I asked partly for that reason and partly because after almost four days without a battle I was itching for one.
"Whenever you're both ready" was the simple answer of Uther to my inquiry.
Line Break
It's have been almost a day and half since we went to deal with the Black Knight. It was a somewhat short journey thanks to only taking the necessary stops to allow our horses to rest and us to eat. Yet I could see the apprehension on the people we saw on our way here when they heard or saw us going towards our destination. "So this is the forest?" I asked the knight as we finally were on the outskirts of a dense forest that evoked memories of another forest in which I was forced to kill a friend for a greater good.
"Yes, it is. Are you ready?" Asked me Ector to which I nodded but before entering the forest I took a pebble and threw it to a nearby tree that yelped in pain with a very familiar voice. "Stop fooling around Merlin" at my words the witch dispell the illusion and came to us rubbing her head with tears of pain in her eyes.
"How did you know I was there, and more importantly; why did you do that!?" Asked an annoyed Merlin which I won't deny make me smirk in amusement. Something the witch notice if the tic in. Her eye and the pulsating vein in her forehead was an indication.
" In order: I could smell your perfume and hear your footsteps and for the last one it was a case of you doing something stupid and getting punished by it." Was my answer I the most dry and matter of factly tone possible before returning to a more serious topic. "Why are you here Merlin?"
At my question the Witch just stick out her tongue and told me "I was bored and what you guys were about to do sounds way more funt then being inside that castle with Uther and .y cute little apprentice" I just looked at her in disbelief while Ector just shook his head muttering about irresponsible witches. "Hey what's wit that look!? I can teach magic you know!"
"Merlin I don't deny your talent or the arcane arts but in the time I have knowing you I can safely say that you're an airhead idiot" I told the witch that looked at me like I shot her with multiple arrows at her chest. How dramatic.
So I gestured my other companion to follow me and we went to he woods while Merlin followed us decrying me for calling her and idiot. We kept a steady yet cautious pace while trekking through the forest when we finally found our objective.
Because in the entrance of a cave we found the Black Knight sitting on the floor looking at our general direction (fortunately he hadn't detected us or we would be in some serious troubles right now) so turned my attention towards my companions because in my mind a plan was already forming.
"Merlin do you know spells to enhance either the endurance or the reaction speed?" I asked her without taking my eyes away from the former knight of Gwyn, he may be now a mad beast but he could easily kill me... I know it from experience.
"Yes I know some why?" Asked me the witch to which I just smile and rose up to meet my foe. "Hey what are you doing Mikael!?" Hissed Merlin at me, I just conjured some pyromantic flame into the blade of my sword making it surrounded by arcane fire before conjuring my last pyromancy: iron flesh, making my body more resilient to damage at expense of my speed of movement.
Once I finished I turned my attention to my companions; Merlin looked annoyed at me while Ector looked genuinely surprised that I could do pyromancy, which isn't surprising having in mind that practitioners of the arcane arts were rare in these parts.
But that wasn't important. What was important was that Merlin did her part in my plan. "Merlin I need you to cast a spell that buff my speed and reaction time now." I told her, she quickly caught on what I was planning.
"Okay, I got the perfect one" she raised her staff and began to channel arcane energy with it "Haste!" I could feel the spell of Merlin already affecting me because now I could move like I usually do whenever I'm not using either this spell or a heavy armor. gwyndamnit why you never developed a spell like this master Logan? That would have been so useful during my travels in Lordran.
So thanked Merlin for this and went straight to clearing. I have a mad dog to put down.
Once the knight saw me he drew his great sword and lounged at me but I dodged the attack by rolling and launching an ascending cut at the night but before my attack could hit he responded by smashing his shield against me sending me flying against a nearby try that was obliterated by the impact. Good thing that I had iron flesh active otherwise I could have died or at least be seriously hurt.
But I barely had time to recover because the Black Knight took the opportunity to cut the distance with a jump and do a descending attack to finish me off so I quickly dodged by rolling to the side and taking this window of opportunity I quickly attacked the fallen knight. The burning edge of the Uchigatana cleanly cut his shield arm the knight who roared in both rage and pain. So I quickly jumped back to dodge the upcoming attack.
The earth cracked on the area where the sword hit and before the knight had a chance to recover I got behind him and stabbed him in the back with my sword. "NOW DIE!" I exclaimed as I channeled more fire through the Uchigatana to the point in which the armor began to get red from the heat and rise it up until it got out of the body of the knight cutting him in two before he disappeared in motes of light and ash leaving behind his sword while I absorbed his soul.
In that moment both enchantments wore off and I fell to the floor exhausted but I rose up with difficulty and drank an estus flask to recover, once I was in better shape I sheathed my blade and took the sword of my fallen enemy with me and returned with my companions.
"Hey guys did you enjoy the show?" I asked them who where both surprised at the brutality of the fight and how quickly I finished it, but before Sir Ector could say something Merlin jumped out and hugged me which took me by surprise because I could feel the tears from her face. "Hey what's wrong Merlin why are you crying?" I asked her but she looked at my face with tears in her eyes with an angry expression.
SLAP!!
"Hey what the hell Merlin!?" I asked her angry at the sudden slap.
"You bloody idiot don't ever scare me again like that!!" She told me angrily before storming out and leaving me and going to a tree in the far corner. I looked at the knight with a puzzle expression, the man just shook his head before muttering something I couldn't hear before answering me.
"Lady Merlin was worried about you, more so when the monstrous knight threw you at that tree." So that's why she was so upset... Fuck, I will go and talk with her. But first let's repay a favor (and get rid of a piece of useless shit in my honest opinion)
"Here take it Sir Ector, I think you will find more use for it than me" I say to the knight as I gave him the Black Knight sword which surprised him because I bet he never expected such a boon from me.
"Are you sure you want to give it to me Sir Mikael? I don't think I did much to be given such a gift" replied the knight to wich I just mentally scoffed because yes the Black Knight weapon was Good but it was a complete trash if you compared it to the ones I own.
"Don't worry, I don't want it because it doesn't work well with my fighting style, and also you brought me here and showed me the kingdom so take it as a show of my appreciation towards you for that favor" I told the knight before going towards Merlin and have a talk because she was now angry at me for being an overconfident idiot.
How lovely.
Author's Note: And that's all folks!!! I hope you liked it because seriously this chapter fought me like a motherfucker from start to finish but well that's in the past. So now we are in the kingdom of Uther Pendragon and apparently the king pressed all the wrong buttons with our protagonist (it's nothing that the King of the Britons has done (yet) but more of that the king reminded him of a certain golden psychopath incel from Lordran)
Well, I other news I may take a little break from this story because this chapter left me exhausted and I am shooting blanks for it at the moment... Also I'm currently working on a honkai star rail and DMC crossover in which a Post DMC3 Dante gets Isekai into the honkaimultiverse and joins the Astral Express in hopes of finding a way back home.
Ah and for those interested: Sir Ector looks like a young Sean Connery.
