MY DEAR READERS, I COME BEARING NEW CHAPTERS!
Boyo's, the time has come. I hope each and every one of you bro's are ready for the next chapter installment.
One quick comment for everyone that put up a reply regarding the Prophets memory loss. I have decided with finality that I am going to stick with what I've already done regarding the end scene with the Prophet, BUT I have made the decision to have it only have it be a relevant thing for one chapter. So the Prophets memory loss will be staying but it will be resolved quickly and will not impede the flow of the story.
A quick thanks to ArchAngel319 for PMing me great idea's to make things fun and for getting me way excited to start working on things.
So before you guys get started, I think I'll get to...
A Few Comments That Caught My Eye
Mr. Grumpy the Depraved- Just finished an all night binge on this great read. Honestly thought Aldrich, Devourer of Gods was coming for the Dickgirl god with snake legs. Or is mc's darker persona and anime shounen hero power jumps hinting that he is.
Though it seems as if you are stuck on where to take MC's quest so filling chaps with side characters on goings. Why not use. The Just for fun chaps for this and post your one-shot chaps as a separate thing all together like random ideas. It's off putting to come across something not related to the fandom, in a fic based off of it.
The Harem is inevitable, though like the way you are developing it. Hope 'crossbreed pricilla is in it, though not as a quest companion as it will be overkill on all enemies.
Hope memory loss thing was an in the moment thing. Coz for fuck sake, his knowledge on this world is his bread and butter. If you want to add subtle nerf's on op powers why not let him have something like a berserk trigger and growing anger issues, or developing an addiction to burning shit.
Or in relation to the world dying that mc would need to link two fires. Like maybe move on to DS 3 after this plotline is eventually done.
Oh and in terms of growing in strength, is the mc gaining the strength from defeated enemies, or is he levelling at the bonfire or firekeeper when the readers aren't reading about him?. Coz mc just chucking out higher levelled spells like it's nothing.
MC needs to learn appreciate his shield, parrying an enemy into infinity and realize the that the ultimate life saving skill is dodging.
My Response- Okay, before I get to anything, I need to say that your Username is beyond hilarious, my dude.
Now that that's out of the way, I'll go down things in order.
Regarding Putting Pricilla in on things, you'll be happy to know that I still have no idea what the hell I'm going to be doing with everybody's fluffy dragon crossbreed now that I've gotten the Prophet all nice and cozy with Velka and Anastacia. I seriously WANT to, but I got waaaay lucky with Velka and Anastacia. Dare I push my luck and try to get Pricilla in on the Waifu mayhem?
With the Prophets memory loss, I gotta say, I am extremely attracted to your idea about a berserk trigger or a sort of PTSD vibe going from the Prophet encounter with the Darkwraith. I'll be keeping your suggestion in mind when I'm writing what happens next.
And lastly about the Prophet growing strength, the closest to the game vibe that I'm sticking too is the Prophet being able to "Observe" objects and get information from them. He grows stronger through a more experience based growth, he experiences and learns. Think of it when you fight a Dark Souls boss for the first time, you go at him over and over again and begin to learn his weaknesses and strengths. The Prophet is experiencing the world and naturally growing stronger because of those experiences. Souls as mainly used to maintain one's sanity or as currency instead of leveling up.
ThatOneRandomGuy- Im gonna go out on a limb and guess that Mildred was born into the cannibal lifestyle. If that is so can she truly be considered evil if that's all she has ever known? Would it be right to call a wild animal that killed a person evil? However. If she chose the life of a cannibal then she has a very long and difficult road ahead of her in as far as redeeming her self.
My Response- I'm debating whether or not to delve into Mildreds past or not. As sometimes, its better to leave that a mystery and have a character leave and impression with their current actions rather than what caused them to be a certain way. Sorta like The Joker, if that makes sense.
Guest- I felt like a ripe bit of a cunt now. I was the guest that brought up how the previous story had nothing to do with dark souls.
Instead, I offer an idea. PLEASE make a new story because that little oneshot really blew on my NES cartridge (if you know what I mean).
I've been lovin this story so far, and was super confused when I started reading about some God just Ham Slamming a THOT.
Keep up the good work mate, and don't worry about writers block, write when you can.
My Response- Don't tempt me, bro. You got no idea how many time I actually sat down and started to write out a second chapter for that story. The main reason that I actually haven't tried my hand at expanding further on some of these One Shots is I kinda decided to try and focus on he Dark Souls FanFic and not stretch myself to thin with another story.
But lately, I've definitely been giving it some thought to add more story's to the Supreme Gamer arsenal since I definitely have more than a few idea's for things. Mass effect where a human prisoner rally's fellow slaves and overthrows an entire planet of slave traders, Dragon Age Inquisition where the world lost in the end and Primordial Demons take human avatars and become the worlds only hope, Skyrim where the Dragonborn beating Alduin in like a month and is so string he bored with his power and takes on both the empire and the Storm cloaks. Trust I got more than a few story idea's, but not sure if I'll actually give it a go just yet though.
Welp, that's all I got to say this time around, my dear readers. Hope you guys enjoy reading the newest chapter so far.
Warning: Any that do not review this chapter shall be sentenced to an eternity in the Painted Word and will never be allowed to Fluff Pricilla's tail. You have been warned.
CLANG
The sound of steel meeting steel reverberated through the bloodied kitchen as Oscar held back the Butchers cleaver with his shield.
He witnessed the entire scene of Solaire as he charged forward with that woman I tow and fell down some sort of chute in the back of the makeshift kitchen. But he could hardly spare a moment to concern himself with it when he was faced with the monstrous thing before him.
The battle didn't take long to wrap up once it was just the two of them.
He'd taken a second blow from its cleaver with his shield before falling back a few steps to get his bearings.
What followed next was more of an exercise of experience for Oscar. As he weaved through swing after swing of the butcher's swings, it quickly became apparent that it was all appearance and no substance. Though he did keep his shield raised and his guard up, every move the butcher made was painfully slow and telegraphed to his eye's. He could work his way around each of its powerful swings easily.
Not long after he got a feel from its movements did he began his counterattack, swinging and cleaving deep into the butcher's meaty limbs each time he dodged one of its swings. Without any armor or shield for it to use, the Oscar delivered unto the butcher a death by a thousand cuts.
As it attempted one last time to slice through his skull, he nimbly sidestepped his way around its massive body, before delivering one last thrust to the back of its head. Pausing just a moment to ensure the attack was lethal, Oscar yanked his weapon free and allowed his foes massive body to fall to the ground with a loud thud.
Not forgetting what had happened to Solaire, Oscar quickly ran towards the hole at the back of the room. The only thing greeting his sight upon arrival was a silent, pitch black darkness.
Knowing there was nothing he could do for his friend at present, Oscar then turned his attention to the now incapacitated Laurentius, who now found his right leg severed at the knee.
"A-AAAAAAGH! UUUGH!" the Pyromancer screamed, the pained fully evident as he gripped his now stumped leg with blood pooling from the wound.
"Calm down, calm down. Don't panic. Your going to be fine." Oscar reassured, as he hastily searched the room for something to aid the situation.
"DO SOEMTHING, DO SOMETHING!" the Laurentius screamed in agony as Oscar searched the room for something he could use, until finally his eye's fell on the multiple torches that lined the wall around them. Thinking quickly, he moved forward and retrieved one of the torches before returning to Laurentius's side. As he placed his blade into the flame and allowed the metal to glow white hot with heat, Laurentius's eyes went as wide as dinner plates as he realized what he was about to do. "NOT THAT, NOT THAT!"
"We have too. You'll bleed out if left like this for too long. This will only hurt for a time and I'll get you to a bonfire as soon a possible afterword." Oscar said as he placed his hand on the limb a lowered his weapon towards it.
"NO, STOP! STOP!" Laurentius screamed as he struggled against Oscar's efforts.
Not wanting to make this experience any longer than it needed to be, Oscar kept his gripped on the pyromancers though tight and pressed the blistering hot steel against the meat of his wound.
TSSSSSSS
"AAAAAAAHHH"
The very second the blade came touched him, Laurentius released an ear piercing scream as he threw his head back and squeezed his eye's tight. Being a pyromancer and having a body that was naturally resistant to heat, Oscar was forced to hold the blade in place for a few seconds longer on the wound. Which might as well have been an eternity for Laurentius.
"AAAAAAA-"
Just as his wailing reach its peak, Laurentius's voice suddenly went quiet and his body went completely limp. It appeared that the sheer amount of pain he was feeling had caused him to black out. All things considered, it was probably for the best as Oscar held the blade in place until he was certain the wound had cauterized.
Once the blood finally stop and the blade was removed from the stump, Oscar allowed his shoulders to relax as he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Okay…now comes the hard part." Oscar said as he looked towards the path he and Solaire had originally entered from.
Being a veteran warrior, Oscar already knew what he was going to have to do next. No matter how much he wanted to head down after him, Solaire would have to wait. Laurentius was taken care of for the moment, but this location was not safe to leave him in. Oscar knew he had to focus on getting him out of here first and foremost.
Both he and Solaire had cleared the way out of this place of any hollows or enemies, but the problem of having to carry another human being as well as his own armor and weapons back was what worried him. He knew the closest bonfire they could reach was within that massive tower a great deal back in the upper level, not to mention the audacious task he would face of fighting his way back down to these sewers once he'd used the bonfire to heal Laurentius's body.
"Dammit." Oscar cursed lowly as he picked Laurentius body off the table and threw his arm over his shoulder. With him unconscious and limp, the distance they traveled would be hindered that much further. How long would it take him to get to the bonfire and return here to help Solaire? An hour? Two hours? Three?
He didn't want to think on those details to long, for he knew it would only serve to anger him further. So, allowing the Pyromancers weight to rest on him completely, Oscar began to make his way out of the Depths and back towards the bonfire.
Undead Burg
Making his way across a small township and up three flights of stairs had taken Oscar the better part of an hour to accomplish. And even then, he'd only managed to make such a time because he'd forced himself to keep moving without a single moments rest. He would not allow himself to even acknowledge the strain carrying another person brought on his muscles. He wasn't so soft as that.
By the time he'd reached the top of the last flight of stairs and opened the metal gate that would lead him directly in front of the tower that held the Bonfire, he was more than a little surprised to come face to face with two familiar faces.
"Wha?" was all Oscar said through labored breaths as he looked back in forth between the two and recognition entered his mind.
"By the gods…" Reah said as she eyed Laurentius's leg and wasted no time in moving forward with her Talisman in hand. Quickly taking a kneeling position, she began to pray lowly as she held her Talisman to her chest causing a light to envelop the unmoving body of Laurentius and healing his bloodied and burned stump. "My Miracles cannot regrow limbs, but he should no longer feel any pain."
Oscar took a moment to admire her split second decision to act and heal the Pyromancer before he spoke his next words.
"Thanks for the assistance. If I remember right, the Prophet said your name is Reah, correct?" Oscar greeted quickly.
"Yes. And this is Vince. Glad to be of help." Reah said with a nod as she looked the knight in the eye. "You are one of the Prophets companions from before."
"Yes, my name is Oscar. I'm afraid further introductions will have to wait. My friend may be injured within the sewers at this very moment and I must return quickly." Oscar said as he looked to each of them. "Can I leave the task of taking care of him to you two?"
Reah paused for a moment as she looked towards the unmoving man's body, then back towards Oscar. The worry in her eye showed him clearly that she was weighing a question in her mind and before he could he even try to guess what it was, she had come to a firm answer on her own and turned towards her close friend.
"Vince, you take this man with you to the bonfire." She commanded to him before turning back towards the Knight. "I will travel with you at your side."
""What?"" both Vince and Oscar said simultaneously, having no clue where this sort of decision might have come from.
"I am well versed in healing miracles. If you say you friend may be injured it makes sense that I come to aid you." Reah said without an ounce of doubt in her decision.
"Reah, what are you doing? We don't know anything about this man or what sort of venture he is undertaking." Vince said in complete bewilderment at where such an abrupt decision had come from.
"I don't have time to carry dead weight with me. Just take him and I'll handle things alone." Oscar said firmly. Not to insult either of them, but being a seasoned warrior of countless life and death situations, he could tell at a glance that these two were greenhorns.
It was unfortunate that Reah was not one to back down from a decision easily once she'd made it.
"You say you friend could be injured, right? Wouldn't it be better to bring someone who could help should he need it? I doubt there are any bonfires or Estus Flask laying around in the sewers." The Cleric said decidedly as she pressed forward. "I owe the Prophet a debt that I aim to repay to him. If one of his companions needs my aid, then there is no question to what I should do."
Hearing this, though her logic did make sense, Oscar was quite frankly dumbfounded at this sort of snap decision making. He hadn't asked for help, she didn't know where exactly he was going, she didn't know who exactly he was and she didn't know the situation he was in. Yet within moments of him telling her nothing more than "My friend is in danger", did she make up her mind about coming with him?
"Where the hell does he find people like this?" Oscar thought to himself as an image of the Prophet shrugging came to his mind.
"We should just do as he ask, Reah. Jumping forward to danger at the first opportunity is not wise." Vince said, genuinely worried that she may be too eager to help this man they'd just met out simply because he was on friendly terms with the Prophet.
"You will not be placed in any danger, Vince. Never again will I allow my actions to put your life at risk. You will go back with the injured without me." Reah explained with resolve in her voice. "I have chosen to do this and I will take whatever peril comes wi-"
"Look, this wasting time! You!' Oscar said sharply as he looked to Vince, taking on the voice a commander would take with a fresh solider. "Take him and head back to Firelink Shrine! Once you get there, wait five minutes exactly to heal him to give me time to get back where I was without any resistance."
Hearing the tone in his voice, Vince paused for a moment before quickly moving forward and taking the unconscious mans from him. The weight that was put on his shoulders making him stumble a bit before he regained himself.
His muscle feeling relived at being free of the extra weight, Oscar turned his attention toward Reah. Though he almost towered over her, she impressively stood her ground before him.
"And you. I don't care whether you feel indebted to the Prophet or not, don't be so quick to throw yourself into a situation you know nothing about." Oscar said in an almost reprimanding tone. "You think he helped you just so you could go and get yourself killed?"
At this, Reah's eyes hardened as she stood with her head held high in front of him.
"My decision still stands. I am no child and I do not make this choice without recognizing the possible risk. If I do not make myself useful and offer my aid when someone is in need of it, then what was the point of my life being saved and Nico dying." Reah said unwaveringly. Hearing these word, Vince was quick to turn his eyes towards her and looked at his friend in a new light. Was she doing this as a means to try and honor Nico's memory?
Keeping his gazed locked to hers, Oscar could see clearly the blazing will in her in her eyes. It was the will that had ignited the day one of her closest friends died as a direct result of her decision and one she would not allow to burn out for as long as she lived.
"I have committed myself to helping others in peril with the second chance I've been given and I'm coming with you to do just that." Reah said defiantly as she further showed her resolve. "So do you wish to continue arguing about it or do you want to lead the way?"
Her words came across in a tone that said she wasn't backing down from her decision no matter what he said.
Hearing her determination and seeing the logic that it would be beneficial to bring a healer with him on the chance Solaire may have been injured from his fall, Oscar could hardly see a real reason to waste time trying to keep her from following him.
"Fine." He said as he finally gave into her. "Stick close to me and keep your eye's peeled. We won't have to worry about anything in the beginning, but I don't know what we'll find once we travel further inside. Don't even think of getting frightened and making me have to chase after you once we're down there, understand?"
"Of course." Reah replied firmly without hesitation.
"W-Wait a minute..." Was all Vince could say before both Reah and Oscar proceeded through the metal doorway, completely ignoring any protest he would bring forth.
Once they were completely out of sight and he was left alone with the still unmoving man's body, Vince prayed to whatever god that was listening that Velka didn't kill him for letting Reah out of his sight.
The Depths
Kirk had long since accepted the truth.
His lady lived because other men bled. He had seen the light go out of a man's eyes more countless times, and each time, the look of relief and bliss on his lady's face as he gave her their humanity all but validated his actions. If it was all for her sake, those that died meant nothing to him.
He had given himself fully to protecting her life.
So it went without saying that when he saw the man with the sun painted upon his chest carefully lay the woman against the wall and then turn to face him, he understood what kind of man he was dealing with. As such, he could not help but hold a certain level of respect for his actions.
Not that it would do anything to stay his hand in killing both of them.
Seeing the man in front of him as nothing more than a selfish murderer, Solaire could feel no such level of respect towards the Phantom as he approached him. As he calmly closed the distance between them, they both fell into an easy stance with one another with their shields raised defensively in front and their swords held at their side, ready to be used at a moment's notice.
They both held themselves with a confidence born of experience and had an unwavering will that would not allow them to back down to the enemy before them.
Solaire maintained his position firmly, just outside the reach of the invaders blade. Kirk shuffled, shifting himself into the perfect stance that allowed for a balanced offence and defense. But neither of them moved from their respective positions of power to make the first move.
The fact that neither of them were hasty in making their first move showed just how aware they were of the others seasoned skills. Both were relaxed, both were tempered, the only one who seemed to be tense with dread was Mildred.
They stood on like this for no more than a few seconds, maintaining the same distance and letting the tips of their knives dance hypnotically in opposition to one another. As if they were both mentally assessing the others armament and trying – vainly – to ascertain a weak spot to strike at.
Then suddenly, as if it was a rehearsed encounter, both knights shot forward simultaneously.
In a violent burst of action, the two knight struck out against one another in a seamlessly dance of blades. With every movement they made being an instinctual and rapid reaction to the others sword striking out, followed by a sharp and precise counterattack with their own blade, it seemed that they were almost perfectly equal in terms of technique.
The first strikes seemed almost automatic for both knights as they caught the blade of the other with their own again and again, looking for an opening that wasn't there and with neither giving a single inch of ground to the other.
Though he was holding up well in the ensuing battle, it quickly became apparent to Solaire that the invaders speed and strength were of an unnatural nature. Every strike he met sent tremors down his arm, matching his speed required his full concentration and focus and even then his movements were almost a complete blur bore his eye's. He quickly put it together that there had to be some sort of magic at play here.
Soon after their initial exchange, the difference between them began to show ever so slightly as time went on. Though Solaire still did not give any ground, his movements were falling behind bit by bit.
Suddenly stepping forward, Kirk thrust his spiked shield forward as he attempted to use its stakes to stab into Solaire's body. Thinking quick, the warrior of the sun raised his shield and steeled his body to hold it ground against the force. Unfortunately, Kirk anticipated this and the very moment he felt his foe push back against him, he thrust his blade low and stabbed into his extended foot with his barbed sword, giving it a twist for good measure.
With the sudden sharp and intense pain shooting through his leg, Solaire promptly found the strength to force the invader back with his shield. Fully prepared for this sudden surge of resistance, Kirk allowed himself to be pushed back a few steps.
"Ugh…" Solaire grunted as fell to a knee. He had been forced put weight onto his injured foot while Kirks blade was inside it to push him back. This of course only served to worsen the wound and cause him to begin bleeding profusely out of it.
This single injury had all but ended the battle.
Solaire could only just match the invader and what for an opening to appear before, but now he could no longer move as fluidly as he had. Not to mention that the more he struggled, the worse the injury would become and the more blood he would lose.
As it stood, he was now fighting a losing battle.
But even still, he refused to back down. He needed only a moment to steel himself for the agony he would force his body to endure. Unfortunately, Kirk would not give him this moment as he charged forward once again with his sword raised.
With the pain of having a hole ripped through his foot still holding him in its grasp, Solaire was incapable of raising himself up and preparing a proper defense.
CRASH! CLING!
It came as a shock to both knights as a massive cleaver suddenly slammed directly in front of Kirk and halting his advance, followed by a powerful side long swing that forced him further back one again as he blocked it with his spiked shield.
Standing in between Solaire and Kirk was Mildred, holding her weapon in her one uninjured arm as tears rolled down her cheeks. Solaire could tell instantly that the tears were brought about not by sadness, but because of the suffering she was forcing herself through. The deep, pain fill breaths she took only served to solidify this in his mind.
"She…fought through the pain to come help me?" Solaire thought to himself as he saw streaks of blood trailing down the burns on Mildred's back. He had resolved himself to fight for her, but it came as a great surprise to him that she would be ready risk herself to do the same for him.
Mildred glared and bared her teeth at the phantom before her as she readied herself to move once again.
"RAAAAH!"
Solaire watched with fear in his eye's as Mildred charge forward with her blade dragging behind her and, in a completely telegraphed manner, swung her weapon overhead manner to send it crashing down upon the invader. Being as skilled as he is, Kirk didn't so much as dodge the attack, it more accurate to say that he casually stepped to the side and allowed the blade to crash beside him.
Thinking that he would retreat or block her attack, Mildred felt a wave of trepidation fall over her as she watched her weapon harmlessly slammed to the ground. As if to solidifying the panic she felt, Kirk stepped forward and allowed her a moment to gaze into his Red helm, before using his barbed weapon to cut into the arm holding her weapon, placing a gnarly laceration upon her flesh.
"AAAAH!' Mildred scream agony as the pain forced her to release her hold on her weapon and jerk her arm back. Not allowing her a single instant of respite, Kirk stepped forward calmly before shoving his blade deep into the woman's body, with a bloody shlick.
Solaire's eyes went wide and his heart dropped as her scream of pain was abruptly cut off and replaced with. For a moment, all was still and silent. The beating of his heart echoed inside him as his gaze was fixed upon the blood soaked blade protruding from her back.
Mildred didn't know what had happened at first as stared at the faceless helmet of the Red Phantom. Then what was like a dull aching seemed to begin burn, spreading from her stomach to every particle of her body. It was like she was on fire. She looked down at the blade that had pierced her, her eye's wide and fearful. She had not been ready for this. Her throat seemed to tighten, making it impossible to let out any noise. She could only release the barest hint of a breath before the knight had finished the deed.
"No…" was all Solaire he could say before Kirk mercilessly yanked his blade free from Mildred's gullet, allowing her to exhale one last whisper of a breath, before slamming his spiked shield into the side of her with all his might. The collision causing her head to snap to the side and forcing her body to fall to the soaked sewer floor.
The act had been done and could not be undone.
Words could not describe the coldness that consumed Solaire's mind as he watched Mildred fall to the floor and move not an inch. His thoughts came to a complete stop as he watch the water around her become dyed a deep crimson red.
He looked on, searching for something, anything that showed that she still lived. The movement of her chest as she tried to breath, a twitch of a finger, something to prove him wrong. But he found nothing.
It couldn't be true. She couldn't be….
This instant the thought had entered his mind, did an intense heat begin to build within Solaire chest and through every one of his muscle.
Wrath was something he had never felt for another human being before. He had found hatred in the actions that some did to others, but he had never truly felt himself ever be completely consumed by his fury as he had now. At that moment, as he watched the unmoving body of the cannibal who died trying to protect him, Solaire's anger boiled deep within his system. As hot as lava, it churned within, hungry for destruction, but his mind hadn't yet put it together just who this rage was to be unleashed upon yet.
His anger was like a silent huntress, ready and waiting to strike out the moment it caught sight of its prey. So when Solaire finally ripped his gaze away from Mildred and towards Kirk, he exploded with wild fury.
"GrrrrRRAAAAH!" Solaire roared as he charged at the phantom, completely oblivious to the pain that his injury was causing him.
CLING! CLANG! CLING!
Moving forward with each strike, the Warrior of the Sun lashed out over and over with all his might. With each swing carrying enough power to force him a step back, Kirk found it difficult to attempt to retaliate against the sudden rush of furious blows. It was clear that Solaire wasn't thinking of how he would protect himself should Kirk attempt to strike out, nor did he concern himself with the blood that was draining from his foot and pooling at his feet. The only thing that registered to him was the intense feeling of hatred he felt and his drive to make the Phantom pay with every fiber of his being.
Why had Mildred death sparked such an explosive reaction from him? Why did he lash out so furiously for someone he barely knew? The answer was simple….
She was his proof.
From the very beginning, Solaire was a man of deep and incredible faith. It carried him through thick and thin, gave him the will to push himself through even the most audacious of task, granted him the courage go on a journey that many would call foolish.
But, though he truly did not mean too, the Prophet had robbed him of that steadfast faith.
Not only had he told him that his task to find his own Sun was destined to end in failure, but he had revealed to him that the gods he'd praised and believed in are not only responsible for the curse that condemns so many, but had intended to use them all as nothing more than pawns to be sacrificed in the name of their rule. He had been shown that his faith was nothing more than a fantasy all along. Even still, Solaire wanted to believe that his conviction and faith in the light was strong enough to persevere knowing such things, that he could not be shaken even with such revelation. But the fact that he could no longer use his miracles was a reality that refused to allow him believe that.
He had lost that which that which granted him the most strength.
But still, he chose to pushed forward regardless and had allowed himself to believe in the good that dwelled within Mildred, to believe that even with someone such a her there was hope in her. Even if only even a scrap, he wanted to believe that light could be shined in even the darkest of individuals with just a little help. It was his way of turning to fate and saying "See? Proof. There is still hope. Despite everything, all is not lost." Her coming to his aid despite her own injuries only served to solidify his belief that he was right to place his faith in a possibility that no one thought was there.
But just like before, his faith had been stepped on and crush right before his eyes. Her light, that one tiny flicker of light, had been snuffed out by a person as foul as a Red Phantom. Showing him further proof of the ugliness of the world and thrusting it in his face that his hope was a lie.
CLANG!
"..Why…?"
CLANG! CLANG!
"…Why…?"
CLING! CLANG! CLING!
Every second that passed only seemed to fuel the fire that rage inside him. The Prophets words that echoed through his mind was like kindling, the thought of Mildred lying dead not ten feet from him like gasoline.
"..Is this what my faith in the light leaves to me?…Lies, loss and deception...To allow monsters like this to kill as they please while the devoted are reduce me to pawns to be discarded..."
Burning rage hissed through his body like a deathly poison, screeching and demanding release in the form of unwanted violence. The wrath consumed him, engulfing his moralities and destroying the boundaries of reason.
"…Fine…If it be so... "
BUMP-BUMP
"…Then I forsake it..."
BUMP- BUMP. BUMP-BUMP.
Destiny is a funny thing. At a single moment, a path of righteousness and hope, can be drastically altered without anyone even realizing it. The Prophet wasn't wrong when he said that fate could be changed drastically by his mere presence, but he had failed to realized the deeper truth behind the fates he was attempting to change.
Solaire was different from the rest of them. In another time, one where he never met the Prophet, Solaire was capable of completing the task of the Chosen Undead all on his own. He rung both bells, conquered Sens Fortress, defeated both Ornstein and Smough and traveled deep with the demon infested lands of Izalith all on his own. He was capable of doing all of this because of his faith. He believed in the light to such an extent that it pushed him far beyond what normal humans were capable of and brought him to a level where he could well and truly claim the title of Chosen Undead.
But now he no longer was capable of calling on such faith. It was beyond him to truly believe that the forces of the light watched over them after everything he'd been told.
All he had to believe in now was his hatred, his loathing, his despair and his regret. So this time, when he was brought so low and left with nothing, it was not the light that answered his call….
CLANG! SHING! CLANG! CLANG!
Kirk wasn't imagining it.
With every blow he defended against, the next would grow not just in strength, but in speed as well. He had done his best to holds his ground before the man's strikes, but eventually he found himself being forced back step by step.
Soon enough, out of the corner of his eye, he began to notice a strangeness about the shadows around them. It was like it was…closing in on them. Not enough to send them into a void of nothingness, but enough for Kirk to notice that it wasn't his mind playing tricks on him.
Seeing this abnormal change in his surrounding, the Knight of Thorns made the snap decision block one more of Solaire's attacks, before hastily retreating backward. Solaire for his part would have advanced upon him immediately if not for the sudden fringed feeling that pulsed through his chest.
Watching as the Phantom before him attempted to withdraw, the fires of hatred and resentment raged within Solaire narrowed eye's as he he tossed his shield to the ground and retrieved his talisman. He could feel it. The shiver that ran down his spin, faint whispers at the edge of his consciousness. What he was going to do next was the same as letting himself accept what was coming. It was the finality of signing on the dotted line.
Keeping his eye's on the man in front of him, Kirk watched on as faint shadows began to radiate from the talisman.
Looking at the Talisman in his hand and seeing the darkness that surrounded it, seeing what he was letting within his soul, Solaire had one final thought.
"What's one more monster…."
With that, he began to let himself go and let the dark in. Solaire's path would diverge far from that of light he once stood for. Through his despair alone, he would call forth a power that was abhorrent in the eyes of good. Solaire had turned his heart away from the light and allowed his faith in it to fade away. He chose instead to turn to this profane power of dark within him and allow it to flourish as it pleased.
Through his suffering he would bring about something truly new to the world.
It would be the birth of the first Dark Miracle….
THUMP
...or at least he would have. Had not a massive weight suddenly leaned upon his back at the last second.
"….S..tah…" a female voice, barely even a ghost whisper, said to him.
Solaire went wide eyed as his mind came to its senses and he registered the heaviness that leaned against him. Turning his gaze around he was met with the sight of a half dead Mildred with an ungodly amount of blood seeping not only from her stomach, but from the laceration on her arm and her head as well.
In truth, with the amount of blood she'd lost, it was nothing short of a miracle that Mildred was able to regain consciousness and open her eye's to witness the dark creeping closer and closer around Solaire like she did.
She didn't understand at all what was happening, nor did she understand why his hand had black smoke coming from it but she didn't have the slightest bit of doubt that what she was seeing wasn't a good thing. The smoke coming from his hand, the dark coming closer to him all over the room, she definitely knew that this was bad.
She also knew that Solaire wasn't as smart as she was. He didn't know that you're supposed avoid bad things when you see them. He just runs towards them. So she knew she had to stop him and tell him to stay away from the bad things just like before.
The good news was that she didn't hurt anymore. Not her arm or her stomach or anything else. Solaire must have done something to help her again. He was nice, so that had to be what happened. She didn't know why it felt like he was so far away when she started moving towards him, but she eventually she made it to his side and said what she her peace. Now she had told him to stop, he probably felt stupid for doing dumb things again. She had half a mind to really let him have it for being so thickheaded, but…she felt very tired all of sudden.
Soon enough, everything started fading to black and she suddenly felt extremely light.
Moving with a speed that showed that he refused to allow her to fall again, Solaire turned around and caught her falling body before it the fall to the ground. The dark aura that his talisman once held was not gone and the shadows around them appeared just as normal as one would expect them too.
Seeing the man turn away from him and towards the unmoving woman's body, Kirk allowed his muscles to relax and a slow breath to escape him. Watching things return to normal as if everything he'd seen was nothing more than a dream was quite the task for his mind to accept.
Deciding that it would be better not to attack the man and risk stating things up once more, Kirk chose to take the humanity he'd already collected from the previous invaders and cut his losses. Retrieving a Black Crystal from his side and holding it to his chest, he allowed himself to be taken back to his true form and returned to the one he knew was waiting for him.
The warrior of the Sun barely gave him a second glance once he saw his body fade away.
"Hey, hold on! Just hold on!" Solaire said as his mind went into overdrive as he placed his talisman back on his belt and his sword on his back, before picking up Mildred in his arms bridal style and sprinting forward as fast as he could.
Having no idea where he was going, Solaire moved through the tunnels halls at absolute random. His only possible hope of helping the woman in his arms being to find help or find a bonfire. That was it. Those were the only possible things he could think to look for that could help her now….and with each step he took his vision did his vision begin to fade. The adrenaline and rage was now gone, he was carrying himself forward with nothing more than his willpower at this point.
It was almost unfair what fate was doing to him. Just as he was at the edge and ready to give himself to the dark, it sent her to bring him back to himself. And now it threatened to have that hope die in front of him again after doing so?
He fought desperately for each breath gasped and prayed that the next turn he rounded would lead him to some form of help for her. He knew that the moment he stopped moving, his body would give out on him.
"Hold on…*Huff*…Just hang in there." Solaire apologized profusely as he continued to beat feet through the halls. Mildred didn't move or respond to his words in the slightest as the blood from her wounds continued to drain from her body and onto the sun on his chest. "Just please…*Huff*..hold on…"
On and on he ran with no visible end to the tunnels in sight. Soon enough, he could only turn on one last corner before exhaustion and blood loss began to take its final toll on his body. Deprivation quickly became apparent in his eyes, his face and his movement. He was slowing down, his legs were now dragging behind him as his muscle slowly lost the energy to lift them.
Finally, with absolutely no energy left within him, Solaire collapsed forward on his side with Mildred falling next to him. If he could see his own condition, he'd see that all the exertion he'd put forth had caused his face to become a ghostly shade of white in the same likeness as hers.
With no strength left to even stand up on his own, much less carry her to safety, Solaire did the one thing that was left to him.
He prayed…
"Forces of light...please... I beg of you to hear my plea. I care not what happens to me but...help this woman." Solaire silently begged as his mind began to linger in and out consciousness. "....please...help me believe that hope still stands in all of this and that its not just pointless struggling...don't let the spark of good in her be snuffed out...Please…I don't have the strength to do it alone. I need help."
There was no reply to the Knight prayer. The passage the two laid in remained as silent as a tomb. It appeared that once again fate had decided to throw his hope right back in his face.
As his vision began to blacken, Solaire's gaze never left Mildred's face, with her wild, unkept hair falling across her cheek.
The despondency and disappointment in his eye's remained as he allowed his mind to slowly slip away. He was ready to die and didn't even bother with worrying about what would happen to him if he came back…
STEP STEP STEP STEP
He stopped. His mind came to a complete freeze as he heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps running toward him.
"SOLAIRE!" a familiar voice called out as the footstep came close and closer.
After a few moments, two people appeared right next to him. A man dressed in Soldiers armor and a woman wearing the white robes of a Cleric. The warrior of the Sun went wide eyed and felt as if he might begin to weep once he recognized the two kneeling next to him.
"Give me a moment. You'll be well again soon enough." The woman said as she held a very clean and unblemished Ivory Talisman in both of her hands and closed her eyes over his body.
With every visage of strength he had within him, with every speck of willpower he could muster, Solaire forced himself to move and placed his hand over hers. Caught off guard at this action, Reah opened her eyes and looked down at the injured Knight. He held his powerful gaze on her for but a moment, before turning his eyes and looking directly at Mildred.
"..H..Help...Her…" Solaire said, doing everything in his power to convey his intent. He did not want her to waste a single instant healing him before she tended to Mildred's body first.
Seeing the almost desperate look in his eyes, Reah hesitantly did as was asked of her and turned towards Mildred. Oscar caught the look his friend gave Reah, but could only look on in utter confusion as he heard the words he spoke. Though he made no move to impede Reah as she turned toward the half naked woman and began to heal her.
"…Ugh.." Hearing a faint moan escape Mildred's lips and seeing the brilliant radiance of golden light envelope her body and heal her wounds, Solaire heart exploded with relief and happiness. Though he was of course far too weak to display his joy in any way other than a weak smile beneath his helmet.
Even as his vision began to blacken and he lost sight of what happened next, the joy never him. Before his very eye's, against insurmountable odds that said there was no chance, his prayers had been answered.
So, whether it was meant for the forces of light or Reah herself, two words escaped Solaire lips just before he allowed the darkness to take him.
"…Thank you…"
ALRIGHT, BRO'S! THATS ANOTHER CHAPTER DONE AND DUSTED!
Just a few words of wisdom from the favorite author.
FIRSTLY, I know that I probably haven't done a very good job of expressing it within the story, but death within Lordran will not be treated as a mild inconvenience like it is in the game. I want death to carry an incredible consequence with it so that there is some risk when thinking that a character might die. I'm not fully certain the exact consequences as thing stand, but I think I want it to be along the lines of if a person dies they are weakened in power, vitality and will lose memories depending on their strength of will. So for example, a person like the Prophet, who's will is next to indominable, wouldn't feel the effects of memory lose very much at first, but his strength and durability will be severely hindered. Again, still working on the specifics for things, but don't think of dying as just coming back and just looking for a bit of humanity.
Secondly, I know a few new things got introduced for him, but I got no clue what the heck I'm going to do with Solaire's growth. Not sure if I can give him further power more aligned to the light side of the spectrum or if I should try and give him something a little more on the dark side. After all Dark Powers don't always equal a dark person. So I'm giving it some thought.
Thirdly, though I don't think I'll shoe horn her into every situation, I actually like the idea of Reah being a bit more prominent and developing into a bigger role than she was ever mean to. So keep an eye out for everybody's favorite greenhorn cleric in the story moving forward.
Lastly, In case some of you guys didn't know, Dark Miracles are one hundred percent cannon. They do not draw on the power of the abyss, but rather they use the strength of the humanity within a person as well as the negative emotion that they are experiencing. Though at this time within Lordran, this kind of miracle has never been used before and is entirely unheard of. With that being said, its perfectly possible for a person to learn how to use this power it they were so inclined to learn. So if you guys think I should try and explore that a bit more in the story, feel free to let me know.
Alright, that's all I have to say this time
As always, feel free to leave a review and tell me what you guys thought about this chapter of the story.
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. I had way more fun writing Mildred than I thought I would. Could this possibly be the birth of a new Waifu entering the stage? *Insert Mildred Super Smash Bro's trailer here.*