Not While the Nexus Binds Us
A Demon's Souls fanfiction by LookinGoodYamcha
Author's notes: Here's another fic I finally decided to get started after planning it all those years ago. I was mostly an Xbox guy during the 7th generation of consoles, so I initially missed out on Demon's Souls in its original form. Like most of the Souls fanbase, I only even knew of its existence thanks to its retroactive recognition courtesy of Dark Souls. I finally snagged a cheap PS3 and ran through the game during Spring of 2015 after my Walmart shifts. Even back then, I was already laying the foundation for a fic just as I was for DS2, one largely inspired by my first playthrough.
During these times, I would regularly hang out with my close friend LuccaSmith (the same one responsible for creating Vivi), who would often try out games I had that he didn't. He'd played DS2 and a bit of 1 at this point, having mixed feelings on both. When it came to this game, though, something clicked. He fell in love with everything about Demon's Souls and still considers it his favorite of the bunch. Taking cues from me, he would take his character Elijah (originally intended to be a non-serious, test run character named after his real name) and flesh him out into a detailed OC with rich backstory and a full arc. Everything about his vision for the character flowed perfectly off of my own OC, Princess Claudia, and just like that, I had my main protags.
I had been excited to write this back when I was doing my DS2 fic in 2016, but too many other projects got in the way, as did my increasingly busy real life. What really spurred me to jump into this was Bluepoint's PS5 remake of the underrated gem, which I finally snagged in 2022. As is pretty much the standard fare for my fics at this point, this will largely follow the main plot of Demon's Souls, with a generous dose of anime flair. Yes, I'm a huge weeb. If that isn't your thing, then I can't in good faith recommend this to you. If you're cool with that, then kick back, roll up some Full Moon Grass, and enjoy. Umbasa.
Now, everyone... tell me, have you heard the story of King Allant the Twelfth? Listen closely, and allow me to regale you. It is the oldest... at least, of the ones I can remember! You see... the proud kingdom of Boletaria spent many of its days flourishing in a golden era of prosperity. Unmatched in sheer might and numbers, yet few knew the truth. This kingdom's power and wealth were attained on the backs of slavery and brutal bloodshed. King Allant had dabbled into the forbidden Soul Arts at the suggestion of his Lord, Rydyell, and aroused the appetite of the Old One. Thus, a thick, colorless fog blanketed the entire land, shutting it off from contact with the outside world, and sealing its citizens within forever. King Allant eventually returned to his throne, accompanied by a host of otherworldly horrors. With the fog came a host of vicious demons, who fed on the souls of anything that drew breath.
In a last-ditch effort to save the Kingdom, a small handful of stalwart heroes braved the fog before it shut them away, determined to put an end to this cataclysm, which came to be known as the Second Scourge. First, Sage Freke, the renowned visionary left to test his mastery of Soul Arts against the demons. Perhaps out of spite to beat him there, the pious Saint Urbain and his small clergy made their pilgrimage not long after. Biorr and Vallarfax, the sworn guardians of the King known as the Twin Fangs still held their souls, and remained mighty even in their old age. Yurt, the Silent Chief, whose old life as an assassin would prove handy against the soul-starved foes. Ostrava, a knight of no renown and with no record in history, wasted no time storming the castle. Lastly, the Sixth Saint Astraea would lead a campaign with her sworn protector, Garl Vinland. Thus far, none have returned.
As fate would have it, there indeed remained a two wayward warriors, their ironclad conviction making them hell-bent on slaying each and every demon that terrorized the once-great kingdom. Firstly, there was Claudia De Sand, Princess of the Stone Kingdom Mohsgneiss. In days long past, her lineage had allowed her personal audience with King Allant himself! She knew many personal things about the man, and her sheer disbelief that he would collude with demons was all the motivation she needed. To reiterate, there is one more, very important person to mention... ah, who was he again... it doesn't matter. For now... let's follow her. She seems to know where she's going... hopefully, anyhow.
Chapter 1 – Princess Claudia Takes a Hit!
Calamity! The clash of cold steel rung out through the halls of the forgotten, forlorn outpost; a trail of soulless corpses of the King's men littered the old war grounds, leading into its execution chamber! The stone walls quaked violently, bits of stone and dust grinding loose, scarcely able to contain the fierce battle that raged on within! Rearing back its bulky arm, the unsightly Vanguard would bring his great dozer axe into the floor, narrowly missing its target! The heavy blade wedged itself into the stone, opening the unsightly pale demon to a bolt of blue magic, straight to one of its three glowing, sickly eyes! It cried out in its otherworldly roars before regaining footing and stomping toward her, its obese flesh loosely wriggling, barely held by its distended gray skin.
Yet even under this brutal assault, she remained calm and focused. Almost too calm... too fixated on the moment. "Solid hit to the eye, damn. Quiiiite hoooonestly... I didn't think just getting here would be such a fuss." she'd say in a relaxed tone, one too casual for someone facing a demon. She'd take a moment to collect herself and assess a way to fell the grotesque titan. "Then again, at least one of them saved me the trouble. Only way to get an audience with the big guy... is to starve 'im, right?" she said, pushing her curly, bright rose hair out of her eyes, kept into a side arc by her silver coronet. "Aaaalright, Claudia. Focus. Breathe. It ain't over yet. I've got a good read on his power; just one of those attacks could end me. Now..."
Producing a small flame from her wand of silver, she'd hold out a handful of medicinal herb, igniting the leaf and taking a long, deep draw of the thin smoke it produced. After exhaling her long-held breath in a cloudy stream, she'd let the comforting warmth wash over her body. Just in time too, as the Vanguard was about to bring his axe down once more! The Princess would gracefully sidestep the attack, and thrust her royal rapier into its arm, making sure to twist and tear the steel from the wound! "Like a calm afternoon, remember." she'd say to herself, retreating back a few paces to pelt the beast with more arrows of soul. She'd dash in between the heavy strikes to skewer the portly beast as many times as she could, alternating between her blade and her magical catalyst. It was a slow, methodical dance; the Princess patiently awaited each opening to strike!
Bit by bit, the ferocious Vanguard was being worn down! "Huh, it's really working. Guess I got my wish to see if I was any good in a real fight." She said, trying to flank the demon by circling its lumbering frame. A few well-placed strikes to the back might be all she needed! "Can this be like, it, though? I can't wait to find out why... and for that matter, how Allie would do something like this... unless... Oh, I didn't even notice until now!" she'd lose her train of thought momentarily upon seeing the demon spring high into the air, using its vestigial wings to keep its hulking body afloat just long enough to attempt to crush the girl under its sheer mass.
Sidestepping the move with minimal effort, she took aim while the demon was still getting back to its feet. A fiery surge of cyan ran down her slender arm, converging at the tip of her rapier! With a clean, decisive thrust, Princess Claudia had slain her first demon, with nary a scratch on her skin to boot! "...that guy almost as much cake as me." she'd observe, noting the Vanguard's rear as she ran her hand generously over her own large, round butt, contrasting with her otherwise svelte frame and showing prominently underneath her green wizardly attire. "Damn. Almost. Where do you get it all, Claudia?" she quipped. "Man, I could actually murder a cake right now... Oh, I'll take that." she reached out and absorbed the gray demon's soul into her being. Though contained safely for the time being, its raw energy could be felt in pulsing surges as she held it. "So that's that 'power beyond human imagination' Allie was goin' on about. Not a bad taste..."
Conveniently for Claudia, yet another archstone had manifested itself before her eyes. Glowing rock altars with an ornamental blade firmly embedded within, these comforting embers seemed to allow travel over great distance. She'd already encountered a handful on her way though the Boletarian outpost, and was well aware of her way forward. "Oh, hey Archstone. I hope it takes me to more of this exquisite grass. If this is s'posed to be the weak stuff... man, I'm gonna have a good time in Boletaria.~" she'd say, reaching out to the stone's conduit to be whisked away to yet more parts unknown...
Not a second had passed, and the princess had found herself in the halls of an old, abandoned tower. Perhaps an ancient temple repurposed as an outpost like the one from before. Her breath was nearly robbed by the stifling heat that radiated through the hall with each step! "Hhhhh...hhhhot... Tell ya, I wasn't being literal about getting baked. Whatever... let's see what I can scrounge up. I'll be in and out, just like that. Ooh, now that's what I like to see." she'd spy several bunches of Moon Grass growing through the cracks in the stone; the far more potent Full Moon strain. She'd add it to the rest of her stash before her eyes drifted to some lovely ores. Having spent most of her life in the Stone Kingdom, she could easily pick out the useful materials from the crumbling debris left behind by battles of days long past. "Oooookay, last one... hothothothot!" she'd fumble with it a bit, using her gloves to mitigate the heat as she placed it in her bag.
The path down was fairly straightforward – most of the stairways were still intact enough to traverse safely. The way out – hopefully somewhere significantly cooler – was within reach. The further down she proceeded, the more the building began to quake, and far more structural damage was apparent. "Weird. Now that I can breathe for a second... I'm picking up some major energy. It's like it's comin' from everywhere at once." she'd think out loud, heading for the lowermost hallway that lead outside. "If I stick around any longer, I'mma start... seeing things... Well, shit." she'd say, her voice trailing off as she turned the corner, gazing in awe at the immense source of energy she'd picked up on.
Heaving embers with each draw of breath, the very air would contort with heat waves all around the towering monstrosity. It was of insurmountable size – this demon could quite easily hold the Vanguard in one hand. Multiple rows of razor-like teeth lined the maw of its draconic head, six eyes glowing with raw malice. Its wingspan was larger than the building itself, thin in contrast to its rippling, almost humanoid upper body. "Ohh, goodness... never thought I'd outright prefer to be hallucinating from my soon-to-be heatstroke... nope, that's definitely the real thing. Look on the bright side, I already found another demon... Alright, let's think about this.." she wondered how she could possibly stand against this vile Archdemon that lorded over the crumbling outpost, standing between her and the exit. She crept closer and, curiously, the fiery devil didn't move a muscle. Though fully aware of her presence – fixated on her with those six eyes even... it hadn't attacked yet. When she was close enough, she peeked around the outer walls to spy a pair of large ballistae, conveniently aimed at the beast's broad body. "Ah, and there's my strat. Those things are even bigger than the ones in my castle, so they've gotta pack a punch... oh, I see what he's doin'." she'd say, that last word helping her realize that the colossal demon had reared back an arm, patiently pulling a punch.
"...Buddy, did you really think I wouldn't see that one coming? Lemme tell ya, I'm very perspective... perceptive. Yeah. So... all I've gotta do is get to those ballistae and get my cheap shots in. Once he's stunned, I'll make it rain soul arrows, then plunge down on his head for the big finish. No sweat. Actually, I can't believe I just said that." she schemed, wiping her forehead and adjusting her coronet. "So I'll just advance real sloooow like..." she'd creep forward before breaking into a full sprint, facing the raging demon head-on! "...then dash right under his arm with a perfectly timed-OOOOHNO-"
…!
In that instant, the demonic dragon sent his searing fist through the building at a blinding speed, its size doing nothing to impede its slamming strike. Claudia was struck dead-on, having not a chance to react to the blazing blow! The woman's body was sent through several stone pillars, still not coming to a full stop until her horribly broken form ground against the stone floor. In all likelihood... Princess Claudia was dead before she hit the ground, her corporeal form fading into the aether.
PRINCESS CLAUDIA DE SAND
RETIRED!
...unless...
...of course, how was she to know that a swift death was the final catalyst needed to set these unworldly events into motion? The girl's stalwart soul was not so easily put to rest.
"...ost, withdrawn from its vessel..."
Indeed, the Princess who, moments ago, had been on the receiving end of an Archdemon's unnatural fury, was now beginning to come to. Her vision impossibly blurry, she struggled to make heads or tails of her whereabouts. The sharp, incessant ringing of her ears slowly gave way to the soft voice of another woman, her accent implacably foreign. Muffled and distant at first, it became increasingly closer, and clearer.
"...Soul of the mind, key to life's aether..."
The immense pain finally dulling, Claudia felt her body rise on its own, atop a sturdy magical barrier that was unusually cool and strangely soft to the touch. The slow trickle of life essence found its way back into her being.
"...let strength be granted, so that the world might be mended..."
Her vision gradually focused until she could make out the source of the voice – a young human woman wrapped head-to-toe in dark bandages, save for her curiously bare feet and long, shaggy jet-black locks. Her eyes appeared completely obscured by a waxy substance, though this didn't seem to affect her much. Weakly, Claudia pushed herself up onto her knees, her entire body still feeling like jelly.
"...so that the world might be mended."
Rubbing her head in search of some relief, the Princess half-slurred, "Cool... listen, I dunno whuh any o'that means... Can y'start by tellin' me where I am, exactly...?"
Bowing politely, the mysterious maiden complied with the Princess. "Ah, but of course. This... is the Nexus. This sanctified temple serves as a means to bind the northern lands of Boletaria. That... was your destination, was it not?"
A sense of overwhelming relief washed over the princess' body – dead or not, she was at least going in the right direction. "Perfect... that j- that works out juuust fiiine..." she said with a weak smile. She wondered how the stranger knew her goals, but wasn't thinking straight enough to ask. "So... whuh... where to next?"
"Alas, thou canst not quit the Nexus, but each of the great Archstones will connect the to another node of this land. For the time being, you... your soul is bound within these walls."
"Bummer... guess I should get comfy. Lady, I'll be real with ya, I'm still reelin' from that hit. I uhh... think I'll just sleep right here... sounds good." she said, no longer able to hold herself up as she collapsed onto the barrier's surface, drifting off into slumber. The translucent surface rippled like calm water, yet felt like the girl's own royal bedchamber. She was out in an instant.
"...man... how long was I out for?" asked Claudia as she awoke some hours later, her mental clarity now restored after a healthy rest. "The demons here are eatin' good, from the looks of it. Might need to step it up, myself." she pondered, thinking about that malevolent dragon again. Just then, a thought occurred to her that made a smile melt across her face. Reaching into her bags... yes, there it was! Against all odds, everything she'd brought for her long journey was still right where she left it. "Perfect. Had me worried there, for a second." she'd say, using her fingers to delicately break down a handful of Full Moon Grass, lighting it with her flame magic and taking a deep breath of the life-affirming herb. "Whew. Never needed somethin' so bad."
She'd be jolted out of her brief moment of relaxation by another voice, a gruff male with a distinctly aethereal echo. "Hah! That all you're gonna do all day, indulging in your own cloud? I'd say the maiden's wastin' 'er time bringing home laggards like yourselves." said a man slouched over on the steps near one of those aforementioned Archstones, his entire body glowing a ghostly azure, and his words were decidedly devoid of anything resembling enthusiasm.
Pushing herself up and staring the spectral man down with one hand on her hip, Claudia rolled her silver eyes. "Tsk... Look... honestly, no one asked... I don't have to take lip from some sadsack with a see-through body. I mean really, no need to be so blue?" she retorted, grinning enough to show off her sparkling, gilded teeth. "Ding.~"
The crestfallen man grumbled to himself and shook his head. "Hmph, hardly different than yourself. Go on! Take a look at your body, then! The seal below you should provide an adequate reflection." he barked, motioning to the surface she stood on. Humoring the man, Claudia peered into the reflective surface, finally getting a good look at what she'd become! Though her body retained its colors, she'd been reduced to a mere ghost! A spectral projection of her corporeal form!
The Princess balked at her own visage, then back at the man, doing a double-take. Her mouth quivered, speechless as she tried to gather her words. The stranger scoffed. "What, did you think you were merely granted a second chance at life? Hah! That is beyond even the jurisdiction of the Maiden in Black. It's okay, being a spectre does have its own charm... you will get used to it."
"Come to think of it... where'd the lady from earlier go? Startin' to think she'd be of more help... not to mention a liiittle more pleasant to talk to." asked the pink-haired woman, scanning around the temple with no sign of her earlier savior... or anyone else, for that matter. Finally getting a chance to take it all in, the girl slowly spun around and got an eyeful of the towering Nexus. Everything seemed to be constructed of a smooth, reflective metallic stone, its golden and bronze etchings as opulent as they were sturdy. It was clearly wrought of a material not of her world. Its sheer verticality was breathtaking, many rows of spiraling staircases leading further and further upward into its highest, darkest recesses. So high in fact, that the stairs' terminus was swallowed by darkness. In the dead center was a great statue of an ancient maiden, grasping a ceremonial sword as it hung upside down over the magical seal.
Once again, she was snapped back from her intense gazing by the crestfallen's voice. "It would appear she's chosen to recuse herself for the time being. Likely had better things to do than watch a stray soul sleep her days away." he answered. "Knowing her, she'll be back on her own whim sooner or later."
Taking a long sigh, Claudia looked back at the blue spirit. "If you say so... alright then, smart guy. Tell me this – how do I get my body back... and what's the quickest way to find more demon's souls?" she asked, looking around and taking note of the Nexus' many long corridors leading to who knows what.
"Came for demon's souls, have you? Of course, why else would the maiden waste her time...?" he said, rolling his ephemeral eyes.
"Whoa, relax there, guy. They're not that exciting." said Claudia as a pink eyebrow furled upward.
"Silence, you know well what I mean." the Crestfallen pinched the bridge of his nose at her comment. "Try one of the archstones, would you? Being bound here does have its benefits – you will be able to travel freely between here and the kingdom's far reaches." he explained. "You'll have to test the waters with this one, I'm afraid. The Maiden keeps the rest of them sealed when she is away – we don't want more of those vile demons invading the Nexus... lest we forget the incident with the Giant's stone." he motioned to the fourth stone, indeed having been deliberately shattered by something, cutting off its portal. "Lucky for you, this one's a direct line to the Boletarian Palace."
Already getting up and stretching, Claudia wondered about the fate of the imposing palace. "There's already demons in the castle? Always thought the place was impregnable."
"Hah, that's the best part, it was!" the spirit cackled. "The only demons in there are the very same who served by King Allant's side! They've allowed themselves to be corrupted... transformed into those ironclad abominations!"
"Ah, in a way... that can be seen as a good thing. If they gave up their wits just like that, I won't feel as bad having to kill them." said the Princess dismissively, taking inventory of what she'd bring on her journey.
"A-and they... were the lucky ones!" the man continued to regale her. "The lowly footsoldiers... their souls were devoured, leaving their husks to stay behind protecting their fortress. Now... they're little more than food for those terrible dragons... the King's own pet demons. Ugh."
"I take back what I said, you're actually gettin' me a little excited there." Claudia quipped, stepping up to the Covetous King's archstone. "I get it, the place has gone to the dogs... dragons. Probably gonna be dogs there, too. Well, guess it's now or never." she'd say, reaching out to touch the magical engraving that would whisk her away to a familiar fortress. A final sigh could be heard escaping the crestfallen's lips as Claudia faded once more.
In what seemed like an instant, Claudia found herself stood at the great gate of Boletarian Palace. It seemed to reach to the skies, themselves drearily overcast in a swathe of grays and giving off a foreboding, oppressive atmosphere together. She had hardly a moment to assess her surroundings when an erratic gust of wind followed by rough vibrations in the air nearly took her breath away – a vicious dragon had come to feed on the bodies strewn about, its scarlet scales shone against the flames that dotted the bridge! Luckily for Claudia, it was able to scoop up a generous mouthful of fresh soldiers to gorge upon before reaching her. It would stop to stare her down before taking flight once more, its sheer mass quaking the ground! She hardly managed to keep her footing, making sure the vile beast had disappeared into the horizon.
"I see Allie spared no expense rollin' out the welcome mat for me." she said, her racing heart slowly returning to normal. Her goal now lied straight ahead – all she had to do was find a way to open that gate, and carve a path through the palace to the throne room, where the old king still oversaw the ruination of his once beloved land. Steeling herself, Princess Claudia straightened the back of her robe, letting it snap back into position as she strode forth and put her hand on the hilt of her rapier, knowing the enslaved soldiers would be upon her shortly.
"I just hope the king's army's ready for me."