OH MY GOD, I AM SO BEHIND ON THIS UPDATE!
A quick apology to all you guys out there. I usually try not to take so goddamn long to write another chapter of the story. Buuuut in my defense, I've just started college and have been insanely busy getting used to thing. So please forgive the insane wait time this time around.
Also, in case you guys didn't get the memo, I'VE FINALLY MADE THE OVERLORD STORY ITS OWN OFFICIAL THING!
Thats right! No longer will the Derp Saga remain alone upon my profile! But as always, never make the mistake of thinking I have any idea what the heck I'm doing, guys. I'm pretty much just staring at my laptop and eventually I somehow come up with something to type.
Speaking of which, I hope you all enjoy the newest addition to the Derp Saga. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to stare at my laptop and hope to high heaven that the next chapter of the story somehow ends up on a word document.
NOW GOOD DAY, SIR AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE READ.
Warning: This chapter contains moments of a low-level scub attempting to "Get Gud" against a late game player. As to be expected, the outcome is not a pretty one. Please read forward with caution.
Anor Londo
It had been a single full day since the Prophet had been sent into the Painted World.
Though the moon hung permanently in the night sky, Velka was keenly aware of every hour that passed her by. Even when she chose to rest in her bed for a time, her "sleep" could be more rightly called a session of meditation.
She rested her body, but her mind was fast at work.
Moving pieces across the broad, assessing the level of threat each piece brought to the table, how to best make use of the element of surprise she held.
However, the problem she continued to run into was that the element of surprise was about the only advantage they had on their side. No matter what she planned, the fact that they could only rely on themselves for the battle remained a firm problem. She was powerful, of that there was no doubt, but her lord's unique abilities made her strength almost completely irrelevant. They needed something more.
The idea of reaching out to the Merchant and the solemn knight that inhabited Firelink Shrine remained something of a possible option in her mind, but she knew that that "plan" was reaching. The chance she would able to convince them to aid her were slim to none. Even if she did, they were but two men. And not even a very impressive pair of men, at that.
It seemed that the path to evening the odds of power in their favor eluded her no matter how much she pondered it. But even so, she continued to try.
It was then that a feeling reminiscent to a small ringing in the back of her mind suddenly went through the goddess. Causing her to open her eye's and rouse her body from her bed.
"I suppose it was only a matter of time before he called." Velka said lowly as she gathered herself, flexed her limbs and wings to work out any kinks she felt. "Though to take a whole day to do so? Heh, I almost feel offended."
The comment was a minor jest, but the smile it brought did help in calming her nerves for the confrontation she was about to have.
Standing too her feet, she took take a moment to breath and collect herself before choosing to walk free of her room and make her way to the chamber she knew her old master would be waiting to meet her.
As she made her way through the halls of the building, the goddess found herself feeling that the walls around her seemed to feel so much more constricting and unsightly. This had been her home for years, but now...now she was filled with the desire to get as far away it as she could. Away from the gilded towers and golden marble that lined the floor, far from the memories of her blood soaked past and the heavy duty she bore. It no longer felt as if she wanted to maintain her place here.
But of course, she did not wish to leave alone. She wanted to share this future alongside a certain talkative human. It was only when she made her way outside and stretched her wings did she allow such thought to recede to the back of her mind to dwell on later.
It took minimal effort for her to glide forward through the air until she was above the entrance the would lead to the chamber. She the, folded her wind for a moment and allowed herself fall, before spreading them wide once again just as she was above the ground. Abruptly halting her decent and gently landing in front of the entrance.
She then made her way inside the chamber until she was standing atop a small carpet laid out in front of the doorway. She hesitated to kneel as she gazed down upon the fabric with minor traces of irritation.
The glory days of Anor Londo were gone. Its citizens have fled, its nobles are scattered, and its ruler has discarded his throne. Yet here they were, playing pretend servant and master all for the sake of the past.
It seemed that now that she had someone she believed she could build a life with, the sight of her old existence only brought vexation upon her.
"Velka..." a familiar voice sounded from beyond the doorway.
Only after hearing this voice did the goddess finally relent and bend the knee upon the rugs surface.
"My lord, I answer thy summons." she said aloud coolly.
Her words echoed through the large and relatively empty chamber, the unfeeling tone it gave off never changing no matter how far it traveled. For a few moments after, there was only silence between them. If she turned her gaze up for but a moment, she would have seen the hesitation in her lord's demeanor.
Though it was not fear that gripped him. It could better to be said that what he felt was remorse for what he was going to have to say to her for the greater good.
"You know why I've called you here, do you not?" Gwyndolin asked plainly.
"Yes, my lord." Velka replied equally as plainly.
Once again, there was silence. With neither of the two gods saying anything further on the matter, but both knowing the gravity of what needed to be said. It was then that Gwyndolin resigned himself to do what must be done and speak to his servant.
"I do not blame you, you know." Gwyndolin said softly, finally breaking the silence between them. "Granting the human a portion of your power, wanting to protect someone you care about...I understand completely."
Of all the things Velka thought she might hear, that had to have been the most unexpected. So much so, that she found herself breaking proper decorum and gazing up at him from her kneeling position.
"You...you do, my lord?" was all she could think to say.
"Do not think me so heartless. Our duty to the flame...it is indeed a tiresome and heavy burden. I could hardly think it so strange that you would seek companionship." Gwyndolin explained to his servant. "But granting the human a covenant in your service? Why? You know such things are forbidden."
"I…care a great deal for the prophet. The fact that he had to be imprisoned at all was because of my poor judgement. If had not behaved so cowardly and informed you of him sooner, we could have perhaps found a better way." Velka replied, speaking what she knew was a half-truth. Since her lord knew how she felt about the Prophet, she felt it was best to lie completely. "I did not wish for him to suffer because of my actions. So I chose to help him and deal with the consequences as they come I will take whatever punishment you see fit."
At her words, Gwyndolin released a small sigh. As if he had already suspected she might give such an answer and was lamenting that he had to be the one to keep her from what she wanted.
"Velka...did I ever tell you that, before she fled, my sister came and confided in me her decision?" Gwyndolin said in a low tone, causing Velka to be taken aback for a moment.
The was a brief moment taken by the goddess before she responded, as if she needed a moment to wonder if she had just heard that right.
"You knew Princess Gwynevere would flee the city?" Velka asked incredulously, finding herself unable to believe such information was true.
"Yes. She came to me under the cloak night, scared and afraid. Looking for all the world as if she wished to be anywhere but at my door." the Dark Sun recounted. "She came only to tell me that she was abandoning her claim to the throne and that she was leaving. That in trying times such as these, siblings should stick together."
"She wanted you to take you with her? But...Princess Gwynevere never-"
"Never approached me in a manner like that." Gwyndolin said with a rueful shake of his head at the memory. "It was never lost upon me just how my sister viewed me. Her true intentions were clear as day. She was not concerned with my survival, only to make use of my abilities to ensure her safety."
"Lord Gwyndolin, that is not true. She may have shown in a different way, but Princess Gwynevere always cared deeply for you." Velka said, trying to deny her masters claim.
But it seemed her words fell upon deaf ears. As Gwyndolin only shook his head at hearing them.
"There is little point in denying the obvious now. My sister saw me as little more than an eyesore that occasionally had its uses." Gwyndolin said plainly with a solemn look in his eye's. The deaths of those under his command at the hand of Darkwraiths, the encroaching darkness that ever waited to swallow the world, worry after worry piled upon his shoulders and weighed him down. "But I could live with that. In spite of her disposition for me, I truly loved Gwynevere. But she was a selfish coward. When things were no longer sunshine and praise for her, she was ready to just abandon the city, its people and father. If she could hold onto her royal comforts, she did not care what happened to the rest of us. So when she asked me to come with her and leave everyone to their fate, I told her to get out of my sight without hesitation. Do you know why, Velka?"
"Enlighten me, my lord." Velka said, taking in every word he spoke and eager to know his reasoning behind them.
"I did it because, unlike my sibling, the nobles and even my father, I care what happens to this world. The sight of all this suffering and death because of our choices disgust me." Gwyndolin said, holding his head high as would befit a ruler speaking his will. "I am not blind to what you've had to suffer to ensure hope stays alive. Believe me, if it were possible, I would not have sent that human you care for to the Painted World. But there is simply too much to lose. So I am asking you to close your heart and remember the fragile hope that remains. To right the wrongs my father has wrought, we must stay strong and do what must be done. Do you understand?"
At hearing his words, Velka found her heart tightening in her chest. Her lord, a man who hand stood strong for the sake of protecting all that was left of the world, was asking her to stand by his side. To hold strong to her conviction and to not give up on what they all fought for.
But no matter how it pained her to do so...she simply could not bring herself to comply with these wishes.
She had always given for the sake of the world, but she tired of living a life of isolation and sadness. No longer would she let the greater good tell her what she could and could not have in her life. She would not abandon the Prophet and the future she wanted with him.
And so, just as her champion had done before her, she told her lord only what he wanted to hear.
"Yes, Lord Gwyndolin. I understand." Velka said, committing herself completely to the lie. "I am fully committed to restoring the First Flame and protecting both you and the city. But I beg of you to allow me to maintain my covenant with the Prophet."
"Velka, the human cannot be allowed to-"
"I know his life was forfeit the moment he discovered the existence of the First Flame. I accept that as truth. But please...our connection brings me peace during this dark time. When the time comes, I swear that I will sever the covenant and the ties of his life myself."
Hearing this, Gwyndolin hesitated. While Velka had always been loyal and devoted, asking to maintain a covenant with the human was pushing the limits of his compassion. They refused to allow Velka to give her power to anyone, god or human, for a reason. The capabilities it presented were far to dangerous.
And so, the Dark Sun found himself silently debating with himself upon the matter. After all, the chance the human would survive the Painted World were slim to none. Not to mention that the path to leave it was hidden well beyond his reach. Would there be any harm in allowing her this small semblance of comfort?
It was fortunate for Velka that before he could come to any firm decision, a knight clad in golden armor and a lions helm approached from behind and spoke in a grave tone.
"My lord, we have a problem." the knight said.
"Speak, Ornstein." Gwyndolin responded calmly.
"Over the past few days, we have discovered signs of combat and destruction, but no corpses or bodies. Whatever caused the destruction seemingly vanishes as quickly as it arrives." the Knight explained.
"I am already aware of this situation, Ornstein. Velka reported it to me some time ago." Gwyndolin replied calmly, just as any ruler worth their salt would. "As long as it remains along the outskirts, it is fine enough to keep our eye's open and leave it be. It is likely a wandering demon of some sort. We need only concern ourselves with the upper levels and the protection of the Lordvessel."
"That is just the problem my lord. As of a few hours ago, the signs have begun to grow closer to the upper levels. Our lookouts posted a few miles further out laid eyes upon what they described as large beast suddenly appearing and then fighting one another." Ornstein explained. "One beast in particular seemed to be the focus of multiple others at the same time. The lookouts knew of their orders to avoid combat and fled here to report their findings."
"Did they confirm how many there were?"
"They spoke of only five in total." Ornstein responded. "If I may, I would ask to be allowed to take a small detachment to handle this matter. We know not what these beasts are, but we should not allow them the possibility of gaining any further ground towards the upper levels than they already have. If the information is correct, they may attract others of their kind while appearing by means we are not aware of."
"We are already stretched far too thin as it stands. Risking any more of our number, especially against little more than beast, would be foolish." Gwyndolin said as he placed a hand to his chin in thought. "But I agree that the danger such creatures present is far beyond acceptable. I will grant your request. But I want you to take the lead in the attack and only allow the knights to support you when necessary. If these creatures manage to get the upper hand and overwhelm you, then you are to-"
"My lord, If I could offer a suggestion." Velka said, abruptly cutting off Gwyndolin's orders as an idea suddenly formed within her mind.
"What is it, Velka?"
"I believe it would be far more prudent if I were allowed to hunt these creatures alone." Velka said simply. "I'd be able to close in and locate them far quicker than Ornstein and his team would be able too, if their even still within the area at all. I would also be able to safely assess the situation from the air and dictate if such creatures are too numerous to be handled alone. Though as you know, there is little chance any such beast, no matter their number, would be capable of matching me in any regard."
"Hmm...granted. Ornstein give Velka any information she needs to locate the beasts. Velka, take heed and do not underestimate whatever you find." Gwyndolin commanded swiftly. "We will continue our previous conversation upon your return. Dismissed."
Standing to her feet and suppressing any sign satisfaction she was currently feeling about getting what she wanted, Velka turned and walked free of the chamber with Ornstein just at her rear. Once they were both outside, she turned to face him and received the information she needed.
"The post is twenty miles south. Near a large church in the center of the slums. You'll be hard pressed to miss it."
"Understood." was all Velka said before turning her back on the knight, walking forward a few feet and finally spreading her wings at her side. After giving them a few practiced beats, she took to the air and soared high, heading directly south the moment she was above any of the buildings around her.
Angelic black wings pushed her gently upward higher and higher into the sky up above. The freedom was as refreshing as the first gush of spring. It was peace itself ascending to the heavens, seeing the view usually bequeathed only to the birds, their birthright and domain. As the wind rushed through her hair and swept it about her face and horns, she longed to extend time, to savor the moment for a time when she was old, at peace and no longer able to fly with the birds.
But she tore herself from such respite. Now was not the time to relax. She had to take advantage of the opportunity given to her. The opportunity being that of these beast.
Whatever they truly were, be it demon or otherwise, their appearance was a most fortuitous occurrence. Given her current predicament, the thought of making use of a few monsters wasn't a bad one. Though of course she would only attempt such a plan if the creatures were manageable.
After all, she did not wish for there to be any casualties among the Darkmoon Blades. The goal was to immobilize and incapacitate, not kill.
As time passed her by and she cleared the distance necessary easily, the goddess found it quite easy to spot the location Ornstein spoke of even within the moonlight night. During Anor Londo's prime, criminals often mistakenly believed they could escape her if they came to the slums, so Velka held a plethora of experience when traveling through the area.
Lowering herself to the ground, she stood before a great church and the collection of spread out buildings that surrounded it. Beneath the light of the moon the city square seemed blurred like an old painting. The buildings and homes were silhouetted black, two-dimensional. The streets yawn in every direction with only the streetlamps to break the view between buildings so high that the tops disappear in the void night. A part of her wanted to travel into the darkness to try and find proof of the life that once thrived through the streets. But what was the point? This place had been abandoned long ago. Other than the odd insect or two, she had to be the only beating heart that remained in this part of the city.
Sweeping her gaze across the surrounding area, it didn't take her long to spot a home that had been reduced to little more than splintered wood. As she approached the scene of destruction, she noticed that the concrete held deep indentations within it, as well as signs of a fire across random locations.
"Hm…a wide area of flames and claws mark that run deep into the ground." Velka said as she took in the story the marks told. "These creatures are not lacking in the strength department. But why is it that they hunt one of their own? I must take care not to underestimate their capabilities and not disregard the possibility of a collective intelligence. Though given their apparent nature of vanishing as quickly as they come, it may take me quite time to find these-"
RUMBLE
Before she could even finish the thought, the distant sound of crashing echoed through the streets. Turning her eye's forward and seeking out any further disturbance, she was just able out the faint sounds of destruction not far from her current position.
"Or they'll just lead me right to them." Velka said with a small smile before she took to the air once more.
Skirting just above the building rooftops, the goddess traveled as quickly as she could to reach the source of what quickly became recognizable as the sounds of a struggle and the roaring of flames.
When she finally made it to the source, she was surprised find that the ground was littered with the bodies of human men, each one wearing a multitude of assorted garbs ranging from the tattered cloth used by pyromancers of the Great Swamp all the way to the light armor worn by those of the eastern lands.
But no matter what they wore, they all shared the same trait of deep lacerations across their bodies.
"How can there be humans here? That doesn't make any sense. There should be none left within the city. Even if there were, they would have long since hollowed due to lack of humanity. But these one's appear relatively healthy and normal. Where did these people come from?" Velka thought as she continued to fly forward to the combat ahead. She needed answers and felt certain she'd find them alongside the beast she was hunting.
Finally reaching the source of the disturbance and landing upon a rooftop out of sight, Velka came upon what appeared to be the end of a battle between the remaining two of the creatures.
It came as a surprise to her to find that these creatures were not simply the average beast as she expected. Their muscular frames, the vicious maws filled with sharpened teeth, the traces of fur that lined their shoulders.
These things appeared to be some sort of human sized imitations of dragons.
Between the two dragonoid creatures that remained, there seemed to be a fundamental difference in power between them. The superior of the two was one whose scales and fur all appeared to hold a brown coloring to them, and its body was a complete mass of thick muscle. Judging from the multitude of bloody claw marks and gashes across its body, it was probably safe to assume that this was the black sheep being hunted by its own kind.
In complete contrast to its kin, the other creature was scrawny and thin looking. Its scales and thin flakes of fur were a of dull grey coloring. Compared to its opponent, it was practically dead on its feet.
"This battle is at an end." Velka thought to herself assuredly.
As if agreeing with this thought, the brown dragonoid bared its fangs and roared loudly, before charging forward like a dog let off its leash.
Its thin bodied foe could hardly raise a hand in defense before a pair of claws found its way across throat, lifted it high into the air and finished it off by ripping straight through its neck. Warm blood splattered across the asphalt as the creature fell to its knee's and grasped at the hole in its throat, blood quickly flooding its lungs and chocking it.
Seemingly not having the patience to let its kin die slowly, the brown dragonoid wasted little time in opening its maw wide and biting down upon its preys' shoulder, pinning it on its back as it did so. Then, after using its fangs to rip away a large chunk of flesh from its body, the creature proceeded to brutally maul its brethren with mad swings of its claws, tearing hefty pieces of scale and flesh from bone with each swing.
By the time it was done, the grayed dragon was torn wide open with is innards free for all to see. The word overkill came to Velka's mind as she watched the harsh execution from above.
It was then that something truly mystifying happened before her very eye's.
After only a few moments pause, the scales of the grey dragonoid suddenly began to rip free from its body and assimilate themselves to the body of the brown one. Once all the scales had left their original host, it was no longer a beast that lay upon the ground. Only an ordinary human body.
But more importantly, the body of the remaining dragonoid seemed to flex and grow in power as the scale on its body increased in number.
"The beast are humans?" Velka thought in complete bewilderment to herself as she reviewed everything over in her mind. "But…how are they possibly able to attain such a transformation? Wait…the creatures scales. When one killed the other, he took its scales and likely all its power. It is not surprising that humans would squabble between one another if that were the case, but what could grant them such strength?"
Thinking on this for a few moments more and coming to no firm answer, Velka leapt from the building to the ground below with intent to confront the abomination directly. No matter how it gained its power, she still needed to decide what she was going to do with them.
Approaching the creature from behind, Velka was able to get a good look at what she was dealing with.
Up close, she could see clearly how his bronze scales gleamed in the moonlight. Violet streaks of red were trailing through their cracks, courtesy of the many wounds it sustained across its form. With teeth as sharp and pointed as any beast, she surmised that they could probably rip through non-magical amour with ease. Eye's of seemingly endless pools of grey streaked with intelligence and rage.
As it finally caught wind of the goddesses presence and turned to face her, Velka noticed the intense anger that came across its features. Almost as if it were looking upon someone it hated more than anything else.
"...You…." the beast said through a guttural growl, catching the goddess off guard with its ability to speak.
"How curious. Do you know who I am, creature?" the goddess question, completely unfazed by the anger being directed towards her.
Stepping away from the now human corpse at his feet, the dragonoid stood tall in all his powerful glory. His eye's never leaving her own and his large and bloodied claws arching in an aggressive manner.
"Know you? I've been waiting for a moment like this. Waiting for the chance to make you pay." The creature said as it flicked the blood from its claws onto the ground.
"Hm. Should I take it we are acquainted then?" Velka questioned. "Unsurprisingly, your current assumed form makes recognizing you a difficult task.
"When we last met, you told me that you were unlike anything I could ever hope to defeat. That you could incinerate the flesh from my bones before I could draw another breath."
At this, for the first time, Velka was sent into a stunned silence as the memory the beast spoke of struck her like a bolt of lightning.
"You….You're the Prophets human friend? Your name….." Velka said in wide eyed disbelief as her mind needed a moment to remember just who this man was. Until finally, she grabbed the name from her memory and embedded it into the forefront of her mind. "Oscar?"
"That's right. Remember it as the name of the one who will bring about your reckoning." The creature, now revealed as Oscar, said as he stood that much taller. "Through combat and strife, I have attained power that has made me your better. I have thought of nothing other than showing you tyrants that we are no longer your puppets. Now, little pigeon, come and be the first of the gods to fall."
Oscar's words rang loud and true across the streets of the slums.
Velka usually prided herself on keeping composure in unexpected circumstances, but she quite honestly could not help but stare. It had only been a little over a week since the Prophet and herself last spoke to his friends and told them the truth.
In what logical universe could a human attain such a difference in power in such a short span of time?
Her mind was flooded with questions about what she was seeing and how it was possible, but she pushed those to the back of her mind and focused on one sole thing. This human, however he attained this power, is exactly the kind of help she was looking for. The fact that he was already on good terms with the Prophet was simply icing on the cake.
But it didn't take a genius to know that her words would not suffice for a human such a this. He's likely to outright blame her or decide that she was lying just so that she could use him. She would need to do more to make him listen to what she had to say.
And what better way to do that than to give him exactly what he was looking for?
"Hmph. The first of the gods to fall, eh? Of course your aims could only be so base. You've done nothing I wouldn't expect from any other human. But if you insist on seeking a fight…" Velka said as she willed forth an ethereal rapier in her hand. Hefting the blade up and pointing it towards him, the goddess visibly relaxed herself. Her feet were splayed at right angles, her left arm sticking out behind her like the handle of a teacup.
"By all means, come show this "little pigeon" what you can do."
At this blatant provocation, Oscar roared like the beast he was, before charging towards the goddess with his teeth bared.
As he approached her and made his move, Velka allowed Oscar to take the lead. With a composed demeanor that almost mocked his raging fury, she danced and weaved around each of the mad swipes he sent her way. No matter how he attempted to reach her, the goddess footwork and flexibility always kept her a hairs breath from reach.
Until finally, she used her blade to redirect his claws to harmlessly pass by, while simultaneously willing forth a magic weapon to appear at her side and stabbed forward towards his exposed chest.
Her weapon was too fast for him to avoid and dug deep into his scales. Oscar gasped agonizingly and fell to a knee, but surprisingly enough his heart was not pierced, nor was the wound fatal.
"Just so we're clear, I purposefully refrained from killing you just now." Velka said coldly as her weapon halted itself midair just before it could pierce its target.
"GRR..."
Infuriated that he was being mocked directly to his face, Oscar ripped the blade from his chest and crushed it in his palm, before lunging forward toward her once again. She stepped back coolly, parrying the strikes and watching for her chance to thrust home. He could not long keep up that flailing whirlwind. His arms would tire, his wind would fail; he would weaken, falter, and then she would be on him.
Just as she predicted, the moment where he swung far to widely for her had arrived. Dodging his claws once again, the goddess came in close to his person, willed a knife to appear in her free hand and proceeded to place the tip of her blade directly to his throat. Just for the sake of certainty, she quickly followed up this action by summoning the form of a great axe to press sharply against the back of his neck.
Feeling the magic of the knife pressed directly beneath his chin and the axe at his back, Oscar froze in place.
"Allow me to part some advice. Even if the transformation makes you bigger and physically stronger than me, it is meaningless if you cannot actually land a single strike." Velka said as she eyed monstrous beast before her, her yellow pupils piercing straight through him. "As it stands, I've already killed you twice."
"GRAAGH" Oscar roared as his anger peaked and a light seemed rise from his maw. Velka's went wide eyed as she realized what he was going to do.
FWOOOSH
Opening his maw as far as it could go, Oscar released a torrent of flame upon the goddess.
Reacting quickly, Velka retreated and hastily raised her wings to shield her from the fire. Being a uniquely powerful pyromancer and having a natural resistance o heat, she didn't feel a thing as the flames slammed against her feathers.
Seeing that his attack wasn't making a dent against her wings, Oscar decided to perform a last ditch effort. Digging deep within himself, he called upon the true power of the scales.
As the stone-like protrusions upon his head began to twinkle with a dim light, Velka watched in shock as the head of mighty dragon took form just above his body and a light began to swirl within its jaws.
Knowing she had to prevent its attack from coming to fruition, she willed an ethereal weapon to appear just off to the side of them both, before commanding it to shoot forward. Stabbing Oscar deep into his shoulder and eliciting a cry of pain from his person. Doing exactly as she hoped, the attack disrupted his focus and dispelling the dragon above his head.
"U-Ugh….Is…Is that the best you can do? This is nothing." Oscar said, obviously bluffing as made himself stay standing through the agony of a sword being buried into his flesh and bone.
After taking a few breaths to get himself together, he then proceeded to harshly reach up and yank the blade free from his shoulder, causing blood to pour from the now open wound.
Velka could only glare at this ridiculous and senseless show of bravado.
"The best I can do?" was all the goddess said as she casually walked forward with her blade at her side. Seeing this, Oscar wasted no time in once again rushing forward and attacking her with his uninjured arm.
SHLICK
A blue streak of light suddenly flew past Velka's body and stabbing into Oscar extended claw. Before he could wrap his head around the fact that he'd just been stabbed, another streak of blue light came from behind and struck him in the back of his knee, bringing him to kneel before the approaching goddess.
The very second she was in range to do so, Velka roughly placed a kick to Oscar's chest, knocking the wind from his lungs and forcing him down onto his back. With nothing more than her heel, she had pinned him down.
"The best I can do?! Are you truly that naive?! I was actively restraining myself."
FWOOOSH SHING-SHING-SHING-SHING
As if to show just how much she was holding back during the entirety of their fight, countless magical blades, each one covered in shards of blue crystals and ranging from swords spears and axes, appeared high over the heads of the two combatants with each and every one of them pointing directly at Oscar's form. Combined with the sight of Velka's body being covered in blacked flame and her wings crystallizing with pure magic, it was show clearly just how hilariously outmatch Oscar was from the very beginning.
"You think this form makes you my equal?! It only took me seconds to get you off your guard!" Velka said in complete outrage at the sheer audacity of Oscar words. "In what world could you possibly think this would be anywhere near enough to face me?"
At these words, Oscar struggled for a few moments before his body gave out and his muscles fought no more. All at once, the visage of a dragon settled away and all that was left was a man.
Or at least, what Velka could perceive as a man. Oscar's body was battered and beaten beyond recognition. Bruises and scars littered every part of him. The worst of the blood had dried upon his wounds, but his face was brutally gashed with his scarlet life force flowing into one of his eye's. The most prominent of scars traveled from his forehead to his jaw, right across his right eye. Purple welts were scattered along his cheek and neck.
Even with his draconic dispelled and dealing with an ungodly amount of pain, Oscar's hands weakly took hold of Velka's leg to show that he hadn't given up the fight just yet.
Maintaining her silence for a moment to think things over, Velka was quickly able to piece together why the knight displayed such pitiful fighting ability.
"You were hurt this badly and still tried to fight me? Is it pride, rage or stupidity that drives you?" Velka said as she took her foot off the knight's chest, dispelled all signs of her sorcery and pyromancy and proceeded to extend a hand to help the knight from the ground. Seeing this, Oscar stared up at her with a look that said he wanted to tear that arm from its socket. This look only earned him an annoyed sigh from the goddess. "Don't give me that look. Believe me, the feeling of disgust is mutual. But right now, we have bigger things to concern ourselves with and I needed you in a position where you would listen to what I have to say. The Prophet is in danger and I need your help to protect him."
Smacking the goddesses extended hand, Oscar grunted heavily as he rolled to his side and slowly made his way to his feet. He seemed unwilling to allow the pain of his wounds to show on his face. Neither the hole in his hand, nor the wound upon his shoulder or his leg was enough to break his will. Though of course, he could not force himself to stand upon a leg that had been stabbed through and so chose to limp to the side of a nameless building and lean upon it for support.
"Ugh, should I be surprised by this declaration?" Oscar said through the agony of his wounds. "Your betrayal was the only outcome to be expected. I knew you couldn't be trusted from the start."
"We do not have time to waste dwelling on our distaste for one another. Whether either of us like it or not, we are on the same side." Velka said calmly, only earning another glare from the knight before her. "Please. Things are dire and without help, I'm am not sure I will be able to protect the Prophet from harm. I only ask that you hear me out."
For a time, Oscar said nothing. He merely gazed at the goddess skeptically, searching for a crack in the mask of concern upon her face. Finding none and not exactly being in any position to refute her, he relented in his efforts.
"Speak. Tell me what has become of the Prophet." The knight said at last. "He left to help you people, so how is it that he finds himself in danger while you stand here untouched and unharmed."
"It is as you say. Through his efforts many lives were spared, but things simply weren't so simple that he was able to do so without a cost." Velka said, preparing herself to recount exactly what had happened and how they should proceed. "As he suspected, Lautrec was the cause of danger and death coming upon the city. He'd used an item to draw countless Red Phantoms to himself and in their hunting the invaders robbed many of their lives and humanity. The Prophet found Lautrec and during the ensuing battle, a multitude of Darkwraiths appeared and overpowered them both."
"Darkwraiths?" Oscar said as his eye's widened, as if a sudden realization had dawned upon him. "No. That's how she knows….Tell me, did the Prophet fall by one of their hands? Was he drained of his humanity?"
At this questioning, Velka was somewhat confused. In the distant past, Darkwraiths were infamous across all the land for the terror of their abilities and their strength. But that was long ago. These days, other than those who'd encountered them in person, many had now regarded them as little more than bad memories or old wives tales.
So why was it that Oscar spoke as if he was already firmly aware of what she was talking about? Though it was not the current topic of discussion, she let that question linger within her mind before returning to the matter at hand.
"Yes. He was caught within one of their grasps and nearly hollowfied. But I saved him before such an outcome could come to pass. By…taking the lives of a handful of knights and offered their humanity to him." Velka said, for the first time earning something other than a glare from the knight before her. "He yet lives but he's not himself. His thoughts are incomplete. But he does remember what he shared with Anastacia and myself. For the memory he stands to regain, my lord sentenced him to be imprisoned within the Painted World. I believe it as an attempt to by himself time and gather himself, the Prophet complied fully."
"What is this Painted World?" Oscar asked, not being a native of Lordran, he had no knowledge of such a place.
"It is a cold land that is akin to a sort of pocket dimension. Created to house things that we could not deal with normally." The goddess explained. "I've given the Prophet guidance to find the exit, but as the painting is an entire world in and of itself, it will doubtlessly take a great deal of time for him to return. In that time, we must find a way to defeat Lord Gwyndolin and the Darkmoon Blades or he will kill the Prophet to protect our secrets."
Hearing her words, if it were within his strength, Oscar might have punched a hole in the building he was leaning against. But as it was, he could only shake his head at news that was just delivered to him.
"Ugh, that damn idiot. Of course you people would seek to imprison him once you got what you wanted. He should have left you to fend for yourself, just as you would do us." Oscar said aloud, internally cursing himself for not being there when the Prophet needed someone to watch his back. "And what of you? If I did believe you, then you've shed blood to save his life. But that means nothing now. I know the Prophet. He will show no mercy in attaining his freedom and returning to Anastacia. So when the fighting starts and blood is spilt, whose side are you planning to align with? Theirs….or ours?"
At this, Velka's eye's darkened as she glared at the knight.
"Two things. Firstly, I will not allow my loyalty and care for the Prophet to be questioned. Especially by someone like you. I am with him every step of the way and then some. Secondly, you clearly must not know him as well as you think you do. The Prophet gave his word that once he broke free that he would not allow anyone to die. Unlike men like you, who know only how to follow their hatred, he only wants to protect what's important to him."
Hearing her words and the emotion with which she spoke them, Oscar's eye's softened. Not due to the surprise of hearing what the Prophet wanted to do, but rather at the idea that it was so…. expected from him. He didn't have a problem believing Velka's words because of course the Prophet would say that he would win without killing anyone.
Not once did he ever proclaim that he wanted to kill the gods or seek any sort of vengeance for what they'd done. He only ever spoke of fixing their mistake. Even when he loses his part of his very being and they imprison him as thanks for his aid, he simply decides that he would not play their game. He would forge a victory where there didn't need to be death and regret in the end.
Being reminded of that kindness and idealism made Oscar's heart feel heavy in his chest, as if he suddenly felt that his actions were somehow a betrayal of the Prophets memory.
"Do not speak as if you know anything about me or him, woman." Was all he could think to say in his defense. "You may talk of not wanting to hurt anyone and standing against your kind, but that's only because you have something to lose in this now. What about all of those who have died because of your decisions? What of the innocent men, woman and children branded by your curse and left to rot? They are who I stand and fight for, not blind hatred. So don't you dare stand there and pretend as if you are righteous by standing with him. Because someone like you doesn't deserve an ounce of the happiness someone like him would give."
At this, Velka's could not suppress the pain of knowing that Oscar was not wrong in his words. The guilt sat not on her chest but inside her heart. What she had done she could not be un-done. She could never wash her hands clean of the blood on her hands. She could make amends in subtle ways, but forgiveness was out of the question. Only in her silent prayers could she speak her heart to hope for something better. She didn't feel like she deserved the love of the Prophet but she clung to it and hung the shreds of her hope on it. She prayed that one day she would feel removed from her sin, washed clean of it, but the guilt was a stain on her, an ugly scar.
"I…I don't need you to remind me what I am. Not for a moment have I forgotten that he is a better man than I deserve. But my past actions have nothing to do with the Prophet. Even if I am nothing more than a butcher pursuing something I don't deserve, I will not surrender that which I've found in him." Velka said lowly, not giving in to the clenching feeling that came across her heart. "No matter what you think of me, we both want to keep the Prophet safe. So lets put our differences aside and focus on achieving that goal. What say you?"
With her intentions spoken clearly, Oscar remained silent. Trusting her had not even come close to entering his mind, but he'd be lying if he said that he did not believe her desire to protect the Prophet was real.
And so, even with a part of him protesting the idea, Oscar begrudgingly gave the god what she wanted.
"Very well, Velka. For his sake, we'll fight together." The knight explained as he raises his hand and what Velka could only describe as a small grey sphere appeared within it. "I've already been told everything I need to know to make it to your precious city. When the time comes, be ready."
"What? You are already aware of how to get in?" the goddess said, confused on how that could possibly be true. "Did the Prophet reveal this to you?"
"No, not the Prophet. There is another. And you may have revealed why she's so obsessed with reaching him." Oscar said cryptically, further confusing the goddess.
"Speak plainly, who is trying to reach the Prophet?" Velka asked, not liking the sound of what she just heard.
"You'll know soon enough. If I tell you now and you'll probably try to kill her at the first chance you got." Oscar said as he focused on the sphere in his hand. "I'm going to gather the others. We'll be coming to free the Prophet. When we come, I promise nothing of any of your lives."
With only these final words, ash-like wisp of smoke rushed out of the grey sphere and proceeded to enshroud Oscars body.
"Hold on, we need to coordinate. How will I know when you are coming?" Velka said, seeing that the knight was leaving by magical means.
"I assume you'll know the sound of those damned bells when you hear them." Oscar responded as his body was further enveloped in the ashen smoke. "And by the way….you were lucky to catch me when I was at my weakest. Don't expect to have such an easy fight next time. The battle between us is far from over."
With that, Oscar's body was consumed by the grey wisp of smoke completely and his form was suddenly gone, leaving Velka alone in the middle of a destroyed and corpse ridden slum.
Standing there, now filled with a myriad of questions, the goddess merely sighed as she took in the fact that she had just set in motion events that could possibly lead to the fall of Anor Londo.
"No going back now. The Prophets allies will receive news of his situation and they will move upon the city. He may not be able to beat me, but Oscar put up a decent fight considering his injuries. If he was in top condition, I may have had to have had to use everything to get him down. If the Prophets other allies are at least half as strong as Oscar, then we certainly have a chance to win this."
Turning her eye's upward, Velka spread her wings, beat them against the air for a few moments and then took flight. Her work here was done. Now all she needed to do was return to the upper levels and await the moment of truth.
She didn't worry too much about what she would say when she returned to her lord. A simple excuse saying that she found nothing but human corpses and no beast would be more than enough. After all, who was going to call her a liar.
The only thing to concern herself with now was how she was going to gather humanity for the Prophet to use.
As the free-flowing air traveled across her face and she made her way back to her home, she concluded that the safest way and most inconspicuous way would be to speak to Anastacia.
Knowing that her friend would want answer as to what happened to the Prophet, the conversation was not one she was looking forward too.
But perhaps it was time she came clean and told her the truth. If no one else, Anastacia deserved to hear it.
Ash Lake
Returning to this place was never a pleasant thought for Oscar. But after every battle, after every victory, he knew coming back was an inevitability.
There was a bonfire burning in the middle of the room, solemn and crackling just as freely as any flame would. Limping forward and placing his hand above it, he breathed a sigh of relief as it healed his wounds almost instantly.
Taking a moment to relax, he stretched his neck and arms to ensure all the bruises and open wounds were gone.
The Dragon Eye in his hand felt almost like an old friend at this point. But he supposed that was meant to be the point. It was a symbol of his service after all. Something to show that he had committed himself to a path that would lead him to strength far older than any of the gods.
But he had a long way to go before he attained such strength. He needed to hunt the rest. He needed to take their scales. Through the power of the Dragons eye, he could feel them all at every corner of the world.
Apparently, he'd been a defeating them a little too efficiently, for when he found himself within the city, four others of his covenant were waiting for him. They were sticking together now. Fearing that he was coming for them to take the scales that granted them their ascended forms.
None of them sought to take from the others. They were content with holding onto but a single piece of the dragon's power. But for the sake of change, Oscar needed all of them. So he did what he had to do and resolved to hunt them all down.
He only needed to pray to the eye to be transported to where one of them were. The covenant was set specifically for them for fight with one another. He would resume hunting the rest soon enough, but right now there was something much more demanding of his attention.
Turning around, the Knight came face to face with the towering form of a beast many would think to only be fantasy.
With a wingspan of over twenty meters and a body as large as a building, the dragon sat as still as the dead. With its darkened bronze scales covering the entirety of its unmoving body, it would not be strange for someone to suspect it to be either a statue or a beast turned to stone by a sorcerer. Oscar stared at the dragons body intently for a few moments, straining to see movement of any kind. He then turned his gaze to the nostrils, nothing, not even a wisp of vapor or smoke. But regardless of all this, he knew for certain that this ancient still lived.
"Hello again, Oscar~." a feminine voice said softly, sending a chill running down Oscar spine. The way she spoke his name was always far too…..pleased for his liking.
Casually sitting upon the broad and mighty claw of the dragon, as if it were nothing more than an ordinary bench in a park, was a lone woman dressed in nothing more than a crimson robe.
"You. You've been keeping secrets from me." Oscar said bluntly to the carefree woman.
"Heh, heh, are you only just now realizing that? Quite slow on the uptake, aren't you." the woman laughed with a raise eyebrow and a tilt of her head. "Lucky for you, I find that to be a charming quality in a man."
"You told me you had history with the Prophet, but its far more than that." Oscar said firmly, ignoring her playful demeanor. "I want answers. Who are you really?"
At this questioning, the woman releasing a small mocking sigh before pushing herself up from her seated position atop the dragon's hand. Stretched her arms and groaning in a suggestive manner, she waltzed toward him with an effortless saunter.
"I am exactly who I said I was. A mere servant trying to return to her master."
As she spoke her words, the woman placed a hand on her heart and closed her eyes, taking on a look of complete bliss. As if those few words exemplified all she could ever want in the world.
"If we don't act quickly and do something, the Prophet is going to die."
As if some sort of switch had just been flipped, all the playfulness and mirth was gone from the woman's face. Her gaze fell like an act of violence, a glare to stop his heart. It was a look that conveyed a bubbling hatred.
"You should be careful what you say, Oscar. Such heresy will not be taken lightly." The woman warned, the look in her eye's conveying a clear promise to deliver suffering if he repeated himself. "Now tell me just who you've been talking too that would place such a ridiculous notion into you mind."
The way she spoke her words were laced with murderous intent, as if the person who would speak such a thing was unworthy of taking another breath in this world. But Oscar had questions of his own and would not back down from her anger. He would get his answers as to what she'd done to the Prophet.
Unfortunately, the words the two would speak to one another as well as the actions they would take together, is a story for another time.
NOW HOLD ON A MINUTE, EVERYONE JUST SETTLE DOWN!
I need only a moment of your time to nip a few things in the bud.
Firstly, nobody panic, I most definitely plan to tell the story of Yuria and Oscar's history. Because, ho boy, do I have plans for them. Also, on a side note that may or may not matter, how to do you guys feel about Quelaag and her sis having a bad encounter with the Dark Hand? Just curious as the idea of a chaos flame empowered, Prophet stalking Darkwraith seems really interesting for some reason.
Secondly, I want to say that even if Oscar came at her with zero injuries, Velka would still mop the floor with him and his dragon form. The difference between them is about a mid-tier player playing against a late-game player who's got max states. Considering the effect of the covenant given to the Prophet is only a PART of Velka's power, I consider her around three times as strong as the Prophets current self. So you can probably understand the universal difference between them.
But comparing her to Endgame Oscar or Endgame Prophet, thats an entirely different ballgame. Point is, Oscar's got plenty of room to grow within the Path of the Dragon.
Thirdly, After giving it some thought, I've decided to make the Path of the Dragon a sort of dog eat dog covenant. Or more accurately, a world wide battle royal with many of the dragonoid humans getting a single scale and pretty much coveting the massive power it grants them over normal human. Oscar's pretty much turned into the boogeyman whose coming for each and every scale until he's the last one standing and the sole holder of the power of the scales. Only when he has them all will he be capable of attaining a perfected dragon-humanoid form.
The abilities granted by the twinkling dragon stones in Dark Souls 3 are definitely going to be included in his kit, but as of right now I don't think I'm going to allow a fully realized dragon form. Oscar's goal is to be the heir of dragons, but I don't think its possible for a human to ever become a full dragon, no matter how many scales he collects.
But thats all I have to say this time around, guys.
As always, feel free to leave a review and tell me what you guys thought about this chapter of the story. Was Velka's actions reasonable? Was Oscar a little too much of a pushover? Do you think Yuria should have treated that dragon with a little more respect?
Honest opinions are always appreciated as I'm always looking to improve my style of writing to make this story a bit more interesting for you guys. so don't be shy in telling me your thoughts about how things are going so far. Outside opinions will have a huge effect on how this story will play out.
This is Supreme Gamer, Signing out.
P.S. Before anybody gets their panties in a twist, know that I fully plan to do something with Smough. Ol'Snorlax made be a chump compared to Ornstein or Velka, but dammit he's still a god and I'm gonna get him in on this action.
P.P.S. SWEET CHRISTMAS, THIS STORY HAS OVER IS THE 6TH MOST FAVORITED DARK SOULS STORY? YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!