HOLY SPICY DORITO'S, BOYS! THE CHAPTERS DONE!
I come bearing the spiciest story addition to date! You want excitement?! You want fun?! You want a cumquat?!
Well, I can give you 2 out of three of those things! So you'd best stripe in and prep yourselves for this insane chapter.
Enjoy!
Warning: This chapter contains a wild Yandere. It is advised that all readers to prep themselves the immense level of thirst ahead. Unless you're into that kinda thing. In which case, Supreme Gamer does not judge.
The environment of the forest was not one easily accepted by the keeper.
She could feel the darkness drawing closer around her and pressing down, suffocating her slowly as she tried her best to step carefully through the thick maze of woodland. The silvery moonlight granted to her was slowed to a trickle by the branches of the tree's above. The keeper tried to squint her eyes to help find her way, only to see a path of shadow and uncertainty ahead.
She stepped a bit closer to her guide. The strange woman known as Yuria did not seem to doubt herself in the slightest. Every step she made seemed to hold the certainty that she was right where she wanted to be.
Anna was almost ashamed to be near someone such as her. She was fully aware that, other than the minor miracle she'd learned, she was useless in combat. Yet still she had all but demanded she be taken with her to find the Prophet.
Eventually, she could keep the guilt of such facts to herself no longer.
"I'm sorry…" Anastacia apologized out of the blue.
"Hm? Sorry?" Yuria said confusingly as she turned to her. "Sorry for what?"
"For my selfishness. For making you take me with you." She replied lowly. "I did not know if I will ever see the others that traveled with the Prophet, so you were my best chance at heading in the right direction to finding him again. I want to apologize for my actions and for the burden I bring."
"Heh, heh, do not ask forgiveness for what only comes natural, Anna. After all, how can you help but be compelled to return to my lords' side and bask in his greatness. I'm actually impressed you resisted your desires for as long as you did." Yuria said complimented casually. "Though I am curious to know how it is that you suddenly find the willpower to decide to go all the way to Anor Londo. Does the thought of going against the gods themselves or the looming darkness not frighten you?"
At this, a silence fell between the two of them. The keeper averted her eye's as she spoke her next words.
"I…I knew…" Anastacia said lowly, causing Yuria to immediately perk up a bit.
"You knew what?" she said with a raised eyebrow.
"…That something was coming…" she whispered as she wrapped her arms around herself in an even further display of shame. She was unable to meet Yuria's gaze, but she knew she was waiting for her to explain. "…I am a Firekeeper. My power and my longevity belong to that of another great presence. I can only assume it to be the flame that Velka spoke of. Through it I can…feel things. Peer through the veil of the world before me, I-If I am so inclined."
"Hm, how very strange. I was not aware Keepers were capable of such a thing. And pray tell, what is it that you see beyond the "Veil of the world"?" Yuria questioned, knowing her lord had no such knowledge that Anastacia was aware of such things. At least not so soon.
"It is difficult to explain. I…I see a world without light and in its place, there is a vast stretch of darkness. It is a frightful thing. Different to what is seen when stripped of vision. I cannot help but almost feel that if I gaze long into it, something will somehow find me. And…the things I feel…" Her hold on her arms tightened as a bit of terror fell over her eye's. "…It is like little creatures…gnawing at my flesh. Their number growing with each breath I take, along with the feeling of something else. Something cold and overwhelming…something that beckons to me. I..I know not what it is exactly, but I know that it grow stronger with each moment."
"I don't believe this…the Abyss has been eyeing my lord's woman!"
Snap
Suddenly, just off to the side of them both, an indistinct disturbance sounded true. The sound was faint that only senses as inhumanly sharp as Yuria's would be able to catch it.
It was sound of the smallest of branches snapping under the weight of something falling on it.
Of course, the Yuria saw no reason to pay such a thing much mind. There was clearly a far more important matter that needed to be addressed now.
"The absolute nerve. You do not belong to any "nibbling creatures" or distant force of any kind. Your place is at my lords' side and he is the only one allowed to seduce any part of you. For anyone else to attempt it is sacrilege of the highest order." Yuria said gravely as if she were delivering a threat to an unseen presence. "Why have you never spoken with my lord about any of this? Did you think it not important to let him know of the peril you feel?"
"W-Well, I wished too, truly I did, but…he was needed within Anor Londo. By Velka and her betters." Anastacia said with a downcast gaze. "There are…many things I have left unsaid to him. But how could I even think to speak against the will of the gods? It would not be right for someone such as I to do that…"
At this, Yuria perked up for a moment before stopping in her tracks and turning to the keeper at her side.
"Anastacia, hear me now." The red robed woman said as she placed a caring hand on the keeper's shoulder. "Those pathetic gods have never concerned themselves with your wellbeing. They discarded you like trash and left you in total darkness. Their "Will" or whatever else they desire is not worth a single moment of your time. My lord is the one who cares for you and wishes to see you happy. You can always speak freely your heart to him and should never refrain from doing so. Do you understand?"
Hearing this, Anna found herself placing a hand over her own heart. Yuria's words seemed so heartfelt, as if she was trying to advise a close and respected friend. She may have seemed a bit eccentric, but perhaps this woman was more kindhearted than she thought.
"Yes. I will try." The keeper nodded timidly as she thought once again of being with the Prophet. "When I see him once more, I will leave nothing more unsaid between us."
"Good. Hold strong to that spirit, Anna. Never again let the world make you the caged woman you once were." Yuria said with a nod of her head and smirk on her lips. Though she was looking at the keeper, her main focus was on the increasing number of faint disturbances around them. "Lets keep moving. If we don't run into Siegmeyer soon, we will have to go straight to the source of the magic here. But I doubt the kitten will be agreeable with what we want."
With that, the two turned and began walking together once more. With only, Yuria keeping an eye out for any surprise attacks from their little tag alongs.
Minutes go by without any such incident as the forest seemed to know no end. For the great distance they had already walked, even Yuria began to marvel at the vast change in size the woodland held when compared to her lord's knowledge of it.
"Hm. They've had more than enough time and their number have grown to a fair degree, yet still they keep their distance. What are they waiting for?" Yuria thought as she still caught faint signs that they were being followed.
Just as she mused on this, Anastacia once again spoke up at her side. This time sounding far more comfortable in speaking her mind.
"If I may be so bold, can I ask how it is you know the Prophet and why you call him your lord?" she said curiously.
At this, Yuria gave pause for a brief moment.
Her first inclination was to be vague of her initial encounter with her master, but then she considered that Oscar was aware of what she was now. What would concealing things now accomplish other than setting her up for a confrontation with the other generals beneath her lord?
So instead, she chose to take a different approach. Use the unfavorable turn of events to better her chances with getting on her master's good side.
It was a simple matter for her put on the puppy dog eye's.
"Well…the circumstances between myself and my lord are quite complicated. Not something I am proud to speak of." Yuria said with a bit of shame in her tone. "I committed a grave sin against him. One I wish to do everything I can to make amends for."
Just as expected, Anastacia was drawn into her plight with a deep sense of concern and care.
"I see. You travel to him to seek forgiveness for your mistake." Anna said in an understanding tone. "Well, no matter what you have done, the fact that you seek to right your wrong at all shows the good within you. If I may bold, could I ask that you share your burden with me?"
"I am not so certain you wish to know. It is one that would make you see me a little more than filth to be discarded. I would hate to damper what little favor I have gained with you." Yuria said gently, already more than aware how the keeper would react.
"Nonsense. I would never think to judge you by your past mistakes, especially knowing that you are seeking to make them right. Rest assured; you can tell me what happened without fear of such a thing."
"Well…if you truly feel that way, then I will place my faith in you." Yuria said with a sorrowful downcast gaze, even going so far as to add a brief pause of silence to earn sympathy points. "Long ago, I was forced into becoming something I never wished to be. A creature that killed and annihilated all in the name of the dark. Through its corrupting influence, my body was granted the ability to drain the life from other with but a touch and add their strength to my own. But at the price of delivering an insatiable hunger upon my mind. I could not help myself but to gorge myself upon the life of others. That was until…"
"You encountered the Prophet." Anastacia finished, without a hint of distaste in her tone.
"Yes. In my madness, I attacked him and gleaned his greatness and power. It allowed me to find my way through the shadows that blinded me and discover my true purpose. But please understand, it is not so superficial as simply favoring my masters bidding. It's like…I found a missing part of myself. Even now, the essence of his will burns brightly within my bosom. Caressing my body with each heartbeat." Yuria explained in a gentle tone as she places a hand over her own heart. "He changed me. Right down to my core, I am marked as his."
Even though she knew it was improper to do so in front her master's concubine, the very thought of her first encounter and the moment she pledged herself to him made a rosy pink come across Yuria's cheeks.
This time when she took a small pause and a relaxing breath, it was genially meant to gather herself away from her blissful thoughts so that she could return to her tale.
"Though I am glad to have been made what I am now, it came at a cost to my master. Though my power did not end his life, I have scarred him to a great degree. And so, I pledged myself to find him once again and to do whatever it takes to prove that I no longer the monster I was."
After finished explaining herself, silence hung between the two women for a time. Yuria could not help but turn her gaze towards the keeper for a split moment to gauge her reaction, only to see that she had her gaze cast downward in contemplation. Not showing much emotion upon her face.
It did not take much for Anna to put together that the woman before her was likely the reason Velka had come to her in the first place for humanity. Though the goddess did not inform her that the Prophets life had been siphoned by anything, there could be no doubt that the dire situation he is currently involved in was all Yuria's fault.
"…I see. It was not by pleasant circumstance that you know of him, but because you nearly ended his life." The keeper said softly with hesitation in her voice. "But it is okay. We can yet make It right."
At this, Yuria blinked once in surprise at the ease that the keeper came to her decision.
"You are willing to forgive my actions so easily? Just like that?"
"I said nothing of forgiveness….but I do not wish to hate you either." Anna replied gently as she turned her blue eyes upon the former creature of the dark. "You were not yourself when you harmed him. It was the fault of the darkness that branded you. So I would rather try to help you along the path of good, instead of adding more hate to the world. Perhaps then, with time…I could learn to forgive you and maybe even call you a friend."
"I understand. And…do you think my lord could learn to do the same? To look past what I have done and embrace me?" Yuria asked with a bit of hesitation of her own, earning a brief pausing of silence from the keeper before she responded firmly.
"Yes. I think he can."
Of all the things that had been said between them, those few small words made Yuria want to jump for joy. In fact, she could only just barely suppress a bright smile and an incredibly childlike squeal.
"I knew it! I knew it!" Yuria thought to herself in an ecstatic manner, practically taking Anna's words as green light for her service. "Yes, Yes, Yes! Thank you, my lord! Of course there would be a probationary period for my crimes, but we can work past that with time. I will be the most useful servant you could ever ask for. I will serve at your beck and call. Consider my body and soul your personal plaything to use in any manner you see fit."
"Um…are you okay?" Anastacia asked, noticing that Yuria's breathing was giggling to herself in a giddy.
"How can I not feel wonderful knowing he'll use me?"
"What?"
"U-Uh, I said how can I not feel afraid for the future. The task of atoning will no doubt be a long road for me to walk." Yuria said quickly correcting herself.
"For those that truly mean too, I do not think it is ever easy. But with help, I know you can do it." Anastacia said in an encouraging manner. "If you ever wish to ask for my assistance, you can count on me to be there to aid you in seeking a better path."
"I may have to take you up on that, Anastacia. And thank you for understanding."
Hearing the keeper's honest words, Yuria's excitement grew twofold.
"YES! Now not only will I have my lords favor by bringing him his generals and the key to the seal of New Londo, but now I also have the support of his favored concubine." Yuria thought herself with glee as her calm stride turned into a minor dance of joy. "Take that, Oscar, you pathetic little meddler! Now nothing you say will have me appear as a pawn of that lowly serpent. This is the difference between a loyal servant like me and a sniveling dog like you."
As Yuria danced her little jig, bouncing with each step and humming to herself childishly, three men suddenly faded into view in front of the two woman's path as if they were ghost. Anastacia was quick to retreat behind her guide and ready her talisman to help her should she need it. Meanwhile, Yuria was so enamored with her own joyous thoughts of servitude that she could only feel annoyed that her moment was interrupted by them.
Amongst them, a man with a bulging belly and flabby muscles stepped forward to speak with his eye's leering at both the women before him, particularly Anastacia. His attitude offended Yuria, but she knew she had to control herself so as not to ruin her newly built image with the keeper.
"Well, what do we have here? You two-"
"One moment, kind sir. Before you devolve into what I'm sure is a very threatening speech, I'm afraid must inform you that we have no time for it." Yuria said in as polite a manner as she could spare for ants such as these. "So could one of you please tell us where the knight wielding a giant tooth is within your forest or can I just skip to eliminating you all?"
"Yuria!" Anastasia exclaimed in a reprimanding manner. "You need not to throw around threats in such a manner. Let us try starting out on kinder terms."
"What do you mean? I thought that was being kind." Yuria said innocently, sincerely thinking what she'd said was more than reasonable.
At hearing the woman's words, the large man perked up before looking directly to his left and right. Before he spoke up once more, Yuria was quick to guess that he must have had invisible allies standing directly next to him.
"You two are here for the big guy?" the man asked.
"Indeed, we are. It is quite the hassle but must be done. Anything for my lord." Yuria replied.
"Heh, I see. So he's your lord then?"
I'm going to kill you. The words nearly got out, but she swallowed them- because Anastacia spoke first.
"No. He is merely a friend. Please, we wish not to intrude upon your forest, nor to partake in any sort of confrontation. Once we retrieve Siegmeyer from this place, we will happily leave in peace."
"Hmph. Well, that's going to be a problem. You see, your buddy has killed a great number of our family. We can't just let him leave without making him pay the price. That goes double for you ladies that think to wonder about our home without a care." The bandit said with Yuria noticing that his gaze turned off to the side for a moment as the faint sounds of footsteps encroaching around them reached her ears. "You should both prepare yourself for what's to come. I have a bad habit playing with those weaker and smaller than me."
"I'm going to enjoy carving you up like the swine you are." Yuria said lowly as she glared daggers at the man who had dared to suggest such a disgusting prospect as Siegmeyer being her lord.
"O-Okay, okay, let's all just remain calm. Please believe me, you do not wish to fight her. It will only end in unnecessary death. There is no reason we cannot be civilized about this." Anastacia pleaded, remembering well how the woman at her side overcame two others as if they were nothing but children. Not to mention that if she said about her true nature was true, she did not want her to relapse into evil acts.
At her words, the bandit drew his weapon in a threatening manner, causing the keeper to turn a hurt gaze upon him.
"See, Anastacia? He's just begging for it." Yuria explained calmly with a smirk, so as not to lose the keeper favor and thus an advantage to gaining her lords. "Far be it for us to leave the man wanting, right?"
At this, Anna held a guilty look in her eye's, as if she was silently searching for a way to peacefully end this matter, but unfortunately came up with nothing she could do.
"Could we just…offer up but one more branch of peace before resorting to violence?" She asked softly.
"Of course. How could I deny the wishes of my lords concubine?" Yuria said agreeably, certain that doing such a thing wouldn't change the end result but acknowledged that it would aid in putting Anna's mind at ease.
Taking a single step forward and properly giving a small bow, the red robed woman spoke her words with an air of conviction and authority.
"All of you within the sound of my voice, hear me now. You have been given but one more opportunity to yield peacefully. Consider it a gracious boon extended by one who is loved by the one true lord." Yuria said aloud.
The bandits all chuckled at this to one another, even the ones that stood unseen around them could not managed to hold back their laughter.
"You really expect us to yield?" the overweight bandit said with a smile.
"Not in the slightest. But my duty to see my master satisfied includes ensuring the happiness of his chosen love." Yuria stated with the air of pride. "Now, if you simply fall too your knees and bow your head, you shall be offered mercy and no harm will come to you. I advise that you think it over carefully, for we will not extend this offer again."
"This woman is not the brightest, is she." The bandit thought as he shook his head. Knowing that his clansmen surrounded both women, he almost felt bad for her idiocy.
The braver of the two women was quite the looker, if not a bit strange with her pale skin. He was sure some of the men at his side would no doubt enjoy playing with someone such as her. But personally, he had his sights set firmly on the more timid of the two. Though she was clothed far more decently than her counterpart, she held a bit more color and innocence about her. Just his type.
As such, he didn't even think two seconds before responding in a lighthearted manner.
"Heh, I'll tell you what. You two come with us without making a fuss and maybe we'll allow you to make it out of this alive…after we get more acquainted with one another of course." The bandit said with a grin and lick of his lips, moistening them to a sloppy sheen.
At this, Yuria gaze darkened at the man before her. In her eyes, such a vile look directed towards Anastacia was a direct insult to her master. With each second that passed, she labored to think of all the possible ways to make his death as slow as humanly possible.
"Do you see now, Anna? Complete and utter garbage. Unfit to remain alive within the great lord's world." She said darkly, taking on the visage of a ravenous beast waiting for but the word to go hunting for its prey. "What comes next, they have no one to blame but themselves. Are we in agreement on this?"
With these words, the keeper cast her gaze towards the ground for a few moments in thought. Then, with a truly sorrowful look in her eye, she turned her gaze toward the bandit leader.
"I'm sorry." was all the keeper could manage to say. But it was more than enough to earn a toothy smile from her female companion. "Know that I will offer a prayer for you."
"Alright, time to cut the act. You two are going to be coming with us, whether your agreeable or not." The bandit said threateningly.
Unfortunately for them all, Yuria was no longer listening. She merely approached them at a leisurely pace. as if she was savoring the moment.
For a moment, the bandit hesitated.
Not for the relaxed manner of the woman's approach, but because of the completely savage look in her eyes. Like she was wordlessly conveying to him that "Your mine now…"
Shaking this feeling off as nothing, the bandit raised two fingers and gestured them directly towards the smiling woman. Silently ordering one of the shrouded men he knew lurked out of sight to attack.
As the unseen attacker charged towards her, Yuria's ears were quick to catch sounds of his movement near her. Just as he came within arm's reach and raised his sword to cleave into one of her legs, she turned sharply on a heel and thrust her cursed knife into the air at her side.
As the dull wet sound of biting ripping through flesh reached everyone's ear's, there wasn't a single person present that could hold back the look of confusion at what just happened.
With the sharp pain burying itself in his chest, the attacking bandits body faded into view as his thoughts came to a complete and sudden halt. It was only when the heavy taste of copper swam across his tongue did his mind come to the realization that he'd been stabbed.
"Pathetic…" Yuria whispered in the man's ear as she pulled him close to her person. "Your little magic is nothing more than parlor tricks."
With the appearance of taking a dance partner in her arms, Yuria placed a hand on the man's lower hip and shifted his position behind her. Then, as she ripped the jagged knife from his chest with a cold brutality, Yuria flicked a thick trail blood through the air. Staining the remaining unseen men and making their positions painfully obvious to her eye's.
The bandits doused in crimson red were quick to jump in surprise as they realized what she'd done.
"I hope you can all can put up more of a fight than your friend did. I like to work for my meals." Yuria said with bright smile as she let her first kill fall flat on his face.
The head bandit let out a brave howl. It was a war cry meant to rally his clansmen into attack all at once. Seeing a group of a dozen invisible men charging to attack one measly woman was truly a sight to behold. But the result was to horrific to watch. It was as if they were all walking directly into a human slaughterhouse.
"What the hell…" one of the invisible men said in shock.
It wasn't a metaphor. No matter how many of them crashed against her, Yuria was cut down and butcher each of the unseen attackers with complete ease. She danced and sidestepped invisible blades with but a chuckle, before cleaving through bodies like they were made of nothing but paper. One by one, bodies fell to the dirt with deep lacerations in their flesh.
"Somebody kill her already! She's only got a damn knife!" the fat bandit screamed at the men around him.
The bandits doused in the sticky bits of gore of their comrades paid no mind and charged ahead to try to land even a glancing blow against the woman, only for a the jagged blade of a small knife to find its way to their throats or between their ribs.
With each attack and each death followed behind it, the charging bandits all began to lose any sort of nerve they held. It quickly became apparent that this wasn't even a fight anymore. It wasn't even a massacre. This was just them walking towards their own death. Each and every person that came into the woman's reach were being disposed of like unnecessary chaff.
Eventually, just as their numbers dwindled to less than half of the original group, the invisible hunters all stopped attacking and kept their distance from the woman before them.
"Heh, heh, really? Is that really all you can do? I knew you insects wouldn't amount to much, but I still hoped you had more to bring to the table a little invisibility." Yuria said openly mocking their efforts as the fresh blood of their friends still dripped from her weapon. She then turned her gaze upon the plump bandit that seemed so talkative before and smirked. "Come on, swine. I thought you wanted to get acquainted."
As she said her words, Yuria purposefully leaned forward and give a generous view of her bust. Even while covered in blood and surrounded by bodies, she could only laugh at the wonder would the sight of her right now give her master pause.
In response to Yuria's attitude, the heavy-set bandit felt an uncontrollable anger welling up inside of him. The men fallen dead in front of her were people he was not bonded with by blood, but they had survived much together in this cruel world. They had all bared their emotions to one another and shared in their joys, becoming as close as any family would. To take these men and kill them, all the while laughing in front of their corpses, was unforgivable to him.
Pulling free a hefty club from his belt, the lead bandit sneered at the woman before him.
"Oh no, please spare me." She said playfully.
At this, the anger welling up inside the bandit finally gave him the power to move his arms and legs.
His limbs shaking, he stomped against the ground and released a bellowing roar, though his movements were almost animalistic. Was he shaking due to fear, or anger? Or was it both? The bandit didn't care. Facing Yuria and her jagged blade held at the ready, he charged forward with all his strength and sprit, teeth bared.
He would fly at her and beat her down, pushing his own strength past its limits. But the mad rush of the bandit was…
"Pathetic."
…brought to a swift end as Yuria elbowed him directly in the face. As she spun around, using the least amount of movement necessary, she struck the bandit with her elbow, and as he was reeling, Yuria, still in her spin, traced an arc with one of her long legs and landed a kick directly to his chest.
Even though he far outweighed her, the bandit's body was by no means a match for the might throw against him and came crashing down back into the dirt. In one single round of attack, he'd had both his nose and front teeth broken. His chest, which took the brunt of Yuria's kick, was in terrible pain, and he could feel that several his ribs had broken.
But still, the bandit shoved his fist against the ground and immediately stood back up. His brain had already started excreting endorphins and as rejecting the pain, which was greater than any the bandit had felt before.
Seeing the biggest of them be struck with the force of a sledgehammer and sent flying on his ass, each of the surrounding bandits could only gape wide eyed and think to themselves, "What kind of woman hits like that?"
In his aroused state, his breathing abnormal, the large bandit launched another mindless attack…but he was again struck back.
His flailing arms could not reach Yuria, and with her flowing limbs she pierced her blade through his shoulder, severing the tendons and muscles beneath with ease and burying the blade directly into the bone.
Then, as if annoyed by having to listen to his screams of pain, she threw a fist straight up into his jaw, which immediately shut him up. It also succeeded in knocking out the rest of the bandits broken front teeth.
Yuria looked down at the bandit as he tumbled to the ground.
"You're no good at all. You're just as pitiful as you look, and your movements are all over the place. You don't have any notable abilities or any special traits to speak of. I thought you might have something up your sleeve since you seem to have commanded the others to attack, but I see you have nothing. Just how did you even think you could stand a chance against me?"
"Shuddup…You dink I'll just dake dis lying down?" The bandit's nose was broken so he couldn't even make a proper comeback.
Thanks to the last counterattack, he couldn't use his arm anymore. Everything from his left shoulder down was dangling limply. He couldn't feel pain, but the dull pounding in his chest was getting unbearable. He was intensely nauseated, and it felt as though his anger was seeping out of his mouth.
He was beaten. He could never win. His chances of even landing a hit were minuscule.
"That's the spirit. Hold strong to that determination. I would hate to have your end to be a painless one, you know." Yuria said brightly, trying to motivate he enemy to the best of her ability. "After all, you have not yet been properly punished for your sins."
Yuria licked her pink lips in a devilish manner, and with a sensual smile approached closer to the bandit's form. Whether or not it was by some trick, to the remaining surrounding bandit it looked as though there was some sort of darkness emanating from her hands.
The large man began to panic as a cold shiver ran down his spine, looking this way and that for help from his clansmen. But he could not see them and it didn't sound like they were rushing to his rescue. He looked like the prey of a ferocious predator just waiting to be devoured. From Yuria's perspective, nothing could make her less excited, but that just made her want to erase him that much more, so with a brilliantly direct thrust…
"Ragh-!
As soon as he realized the angle the blade would come from, the bandit raised his reaming good forearm and allowed the jagged blade to be stabbed through it. Though the pain was agonizing upon his body and forced him to drop his weapon, he gritted his teeth and bore through it.
"Ughraaah!"
Then with all of his might, the bandit was able to strike Yuria's face with a punch of his own. As he stumbled over himself and landed his critical hit, he was able to confirm that he had been able to retaliate at least once.
However…
"Ah…That one was very satisfying." Yuria said as she recovered from the blow with ease and slice about 70 percent of the way through the man bulbous abdomen, spilling out his blood and guts.
"Huh…?" the bandit took one step, two steps back and as his shoulder brush up against a tree, he slid down against it and fell to the ground.
As he looked down, he could see the blood flowing out of his abdomen and staining the ground bright red. With a shaking rm he tried uselessly to return the blood, but the bloody clumps of his tissue spilling out of his stomach pushed his hand away.
"Ah…just as I hoped. Your intestines have such a beautiful color to them." Yuria approached the bandit, who was unable to say anything but gurgle out cries of pain, and stared at his bloody, blackish innards with a look of ecstasy on her face. "See? Just because your life amounted to nothing, you can still die a good death and all in the name of one far above you. And don't you worry, you don't have to thank me."
This woman was out of her mind.
At the pain even his endorphins could not negate, the bandit's consciousness started to fade. He realized that he seemed to have fallen on his side. Somehow despite his fading strength, he knew that his comrades were somewhere around him, standing by and doing nothing.
With shaking fingertips, he weakly touched Yuria's foot.
"Uu…ugh…"
"Are you in pain? Does it hurt? Do you want to die?"
With his hand still grabbing her ankle, Yuria knelt beside the bandit and looked him in the eye's. Her eyes were filled with ecstasy. This man was suffering in the name of her lord. In her eye's, every second he spent in torment was like praise to his good name. It was enough to make her feel tingles all over.
"Slowly, slowly, slowly, ever so slowly your body will lose its heat and you will go cold. But fight it. Keep fighting it. Beg more, suffer more." The bandit could feel Yuria voice vibrating his eardrums, torturing him, savoring him, affectionate for him, loving him. Finally, with a bliss look in her eyes, Yuria reached up and grabbed the bandit by his throat, slowly tightened it in a crushing vise but holding back just enough to avoid crushing his windpipe.
"Know the grace of my masters will in this life…for it is the last one you shall ever awaken too."
"GAAAAaaaahh."
Each of the remaining bandits all felt their hearts freeze in their chest as they watched their comrade scream as his body shriveled up before their very eye's. Changing from human man to hollow in a matter of mere moments.
That was it. That was all any of them could handle from this nightmare. Soon enough, every one of them released a scream of their own as they chose a direction and sprinted away from Yuria as fast as their legs could carry them. Whatever happened to their friend, they sure as hell weren't going to stick around and risk it happening to them.
But the woman in question could only just barely care as she watched the filth scatter before her. She was far to engrossed in her own little world.
That was everything she wanted it to be. The suffering, the pleading with her to end it all and then finally the sweet release of a fate worse than death. All of it in the name of her one true master. That very thought alone was enough to make her legs quiver beneath her as a small bit of moister began to trail from between her thighs.
"Oh~…Oh my…" she thought to herself as a pink blush began to come across her cheeks and the warmth rising in her body nearly melt her into a puddle. Soon enough, she could bear it no longer and her legs simply gave out beneath her.
As her mind drifted away from her, a small set of footsteps approached Yuria from behind.
"Are you okay?" Anastacia asked timidly at the woman who was now sitting sprawled upon her knee's in a suggestive fashion, earning no reply to her question. "Did…did it strain you to have to do such things?"
Yuria lifted her head only after being addressed a second time. Her unfocused eye's glistening.
"Y-Yes. Of course. I merely need a moment to collect myself."
Doing her best to calm the swelling heat that had built up across her body, Yuria slowly made her way back to her feet. Though since she could still feel a heat in her cheeks, she turned her gaze away from the keeper in a bashful manner that went against her bloodied form.
Turning around, Anastacia could not help but gaze at the multitude of bodies littered around her, each one laying in a small pool of blood of their own blood.
She released a sorrowful sigh and offered a prayer as she said she would, but nothing more.
She did not want this; she did not want to have to see others harmed or killed. But she witnessed that they did not wish to listen to reason.
Anastacia was kind. She had never raised a hand to hurt another person in all her life. But she was not a child. Not everyone in this world would respond to her kindness, no matter how much she wished it so. All she could do was try to prevent such bloodshed from occurring in the first place if possible, but save that, she would be better off just staying out of the way.
In the end, someone as weak as her could at least have the courtesy to do that much.
"We should hurry. Before more of them come." Anastacia said as she gently placed a hand upon Yuria's shoulder.
"Right! This is no time to dawdle." Yuria exclaimed happily, like a puppy going about at play. "We've sent a powerful message and cleaned out a few pests at the same time, but such things are to be expected from women of our position. The great lord awaits, so let us push on."
As Yuria turned on a heel to walk ahead, Anastacia retracted her hand and found that a bit of now blood stained the skin of her palm. Taking in the sight, she could give but one last regretful sigh.
"Yes…the prophet awaits."
With her words spoken lowly and reaching none but her own ears, Anastacia followed behind the satisfied Yuria. Silently wishing that there was another path to her goal but knowing all the same that this was likely but a taste of the bloodshed she would come to see.
She could only hope that those they meet next would see reason.
Further within the Darkroot Garden
Sitting atop a windowsill in the ruins of what once a building of some sort, a certain grey feline stirred.
Something was wrong. Something was very wrong.
Not long ago, one of her hunters was…well, she wasn't exactly certain at all what happened to him. All she knew was that it suddenly felt as if a member of her covenant barely had any life within his being for her to link too.
"Hm…What are those lads doing out there?" The old cat thought to herself.
Suddenly, the sounds of approaching footsteps reached her ears from beyond her perch within the crumbling building.
A few moments after, a lone woman strode through the entrance of her abode. Her hair was blonde from tip to root and in her hand was nothing more than what appeared to be some piece of cloth. When she turned up to gaze up at her, the woman held the look in her eye's that lacked a particular spark of confidence.
"G-…Greetings." The woman said nervously as she took in the vicious form of the feline, noting that it was far from that of a normal cat.
"My, Is it not so that thou art new. Thou fared well to find me." The cat complimented.
"Yes. Uh…It was a most difficult journey traversing this far." The woman responded with a nod.
"And pray tell, why have thou cometh to this place? Surely not for the grave of Sir Artorias? If so, heed my words and forget such a thing." The cat said, earning a confused look from the woman standing before her.
"Um…forgive me, but I do not who that is. I am here for-"
"Well indeed, thou art a strange one! Nevertheless, I feel some liking for thee. I'm Alvina of the Darkroot Wood." The cat interrupted rudely.
"Yes, um, I am Anastacia of Astora. I have come to-"
"I command a clan of hunters who track down defilers of the forest graves. What dost thou say? Wilt thou not join us? Oh yes, I believe we would suit thee well. Especially for thou to have fought so far." The feline interrupted once again. "Come. Let us establish a covenant. Thou shalt receive great reward, and whatsoever ye shall pillage will be thine own. A true agreement, not so? But thou must heed the golden rule: the clan-"
"I'm not here join you in your depravity!" the woman suddenly exclaimed in a defensive tone. Though once she saw she now had the cat full attention, she quickly withered back into her more nervous state. "U-Uh, pardon my outburst. I am here to find a man that has misstepped into your land. I believe your men have already discovered him here. I seek to take him from this place so as to not cause any more unnecessary death or violence. So if you would be so kind as to tell me where he is, I would be most grateful to you."
At this, the cat eyed the woman with a new sense of animosity.
"I see. Thou art here for the intruder who slaughters the clansmen residing with the forest." The feline said aloud as her split eye's narrowed and her fur bristled. "Thine ally has defiled these woods for quite some time. If thou hath come simply believing he will leave without suffering the consequences, then thou art a wretched fool indeed."
"I-I would ask that you reconsider. We cannot leave this place without him."
"Hmm, I see. A result most heathenish and gross. But there is nothing more to say about this tedious reckoning. Be gone from here." The cat replied, clearly losing her patience on the matter. "No rest will ease the invaders rotten soul whilst there is one clansman living. Forever tormented he shalt be by our very howls. For his transgressions, no mercy shall be-GAH!"
Before she could realize what was happening, Alvina's tail was suddenly grabbed from behind and she was yank free from the windowsill she lay upon.
What followed was what Anastacia could only describe as the dull sound of flesh being brutally bashed against something solid over and over again.
Soon enough, the unpleasant sound of bones being broken was accompanied by the ecstatic sounds of a familiar woman.
"You see what happens when you disrespect your betters? *Slam* This is what happens! *Crunch* This is what happens! *Slam* THIS! *Slam* IS! *Crunch* WHAT! *Slam* HAPPENS! *Slam*"
CRUNCH SLAM BASH CRUNCH CRUNCH
For a solid twenty second, this event of pain and bones breaking continued without pause.
Until finally, Anastacia decided to step back outside the building and spoke up to Yuria, who was still currently still bashing Alvina's body against the stone of the ruined building and a nearby tree by swinging her by her tail.
"That's enough, Yuria. She isn't moving anymore." Anastacia said speaking up, stopping heartless assault on the pussy cat. "I…I think she might be dead."
"Dead?" Yuria said as she raised the cat's limp body up by her tail.
A thick trail of blood leaked from her mouth savage maw, not surprising given the multitude of broken bones suffered throughout her body. But even still, the former Darkwraith merely put a finger to her chin, before reaching out and giving the cats head a few taps. Smiling brightly as a low moan escaped the cats throat.
"No, she's still alive. Just beaten within an inch of her life. Heh, heh, let's see you try and teleport away now, my immortal little friend."
"Was this really the only way to handle this?" Anastacia questioned worriedly.
"Well, if she'd just told us what we'd wanted to know, I wouldn't have had to break every bone in her body, now would I? And she's a very tricky customer to lock down without the element of surprise." Yuria said as she directed a loveable smile towards the keeper. "Now her little hunters will have no choice but to tell us what we want to know, or their little leader here will pay the price."
"I…I suppose that's true."
"Oh, but after we've gotten what we came here for, I'll have to come up with a special end for our friend here. Something that holds just the perfect amount of irony." Yuria chuckled as she gave the matter some thought. "Oh, I know. I'll drown her next to the hydra. It'll be good to see her little broken paws flail helplessly as she-"
"Yuria!" Anastacia exclaimed in displeasure at the woman's words. "We will not indulge in any further violence than necessary."
"But it is necessary to-"
"No." Anna stated firmly. This refusal had power unlike her other words. "We're going to get Siegmeyer and then leave. There's been enough death here, so let us at least try not to go looking to cause more to people."
"But Alvina isn't even a person. She a talking cat." Yuria whined like a child as she held up the felines limp form, only for Anastacia to gaze at her with a clear look of displeasure in her eyes. "Alright, alright. I hear you. Straight to Siegmeyer, then a nice simple exit back to Undead Burg...but one more swing for the road."
"Wait, don't-"
SMACK
Elsewhere
Battle and bloodshed had made him. It was all that he'd focused on, day after day, all for the sake of attaining justice for those that died before him. To challenge those that had led them all astray and used them all as pawns to be sacrificed.
But it wasn't enough….
"Ugh…K-…Killing me will avail you nothing, hunter. Can't you see that?" a man pleaded on his knees as he bled out from a gash in his side. "Please. Do you not have enough power? Why must you claim mine as well?"
He didn't know the man. Didn't care to know him either. But his question? Did he have enough? No, he didn't. Not even close.
He didn't spare any words for the fool. Why bother? His time to surrender came and went. He made his choice to fight for his scales, now there was only one fate left to him.
"Please. You don't have to-"
SHLICK
It took one last strike. A clawed hand straight through his chest, as clean a finish as he could offer. Soon enough, the pain that once burned like fire for the hapless man had faded away to an icy numbness. Black filled the edges of his vision and the only thing he could manage was offer a soundless "Why..." in his final moments.
And then he was gone.
Oscar pulled his claws free and gently lowered the man's body to the earth. Within moments, an aura of grey rose from his corpse and into his body.
Through combat, he had claimed his power and scales, making them both his own.
With only a few moments pause, he willed forth the dragon's eye granted him per his covenant and commanded it to take him back to the origin of his oath. His task here as done.
Ashen wisp soon arose from his flesh and did as he commanded.
Ash Lake
Here he was again. Back in the strange land filled with nothing but sand and an endless stretch of sea. In the presence of an ancient that stood so still and silent that it might as well be a statue.
He'd done it.
They were eighty members within the dragon's covenant, eighty souls that had somehow discovered the home of the ancient beings and eighty souls that he had hunted down and slain.
He looked to his hand, feeling the power of dragon's pulse through him. Behind him, he willed the mighty claws and head of his inner beast to manifest. If felt stronger, more in sync with him. Not that, but his draconic form had evolved as well.
His strength had grown beyond humans limits, his teeth could now rend all but the toughest of armor, he could spew forth a wall of flame anytime he wished and a line of horns protruded back across his head and a bit of spiked fur began to grow from his shoulders as if it were a coat.
Oscar clenched his teeth and furrowed his brown deeply. This was the peak? This was final step for walking the path of the dragon? The culmination of all his efforts?
"No…This isn't nearly enough..." he said with frustration and anger in his tone. The power that would no doubt satiate any normal human only served to infuriate him and he knew exactly why.
It was all just a triviality when compared to "her" power. Little more than a pittance. Even after going through all that he did, ever after killing as many as he did, he was still nothing when compared to that smug war goddess.
A fact made his blood boil beneath his skin.
He couldn't stand it. Being weaker than them, knowing that at any moment they wished the gods could bring him to heel. As that thought rolled around in his mind, Oscar growled deeply to himself as black smoke emanated from his transformed maw.
As the seconds passed him by, he found that his rage did not fade away. Soon enough, his breathing escalated in intensity until they transformed into the snarls of a beast. Until finally….
"RAAAAAAAAAHHH!"
He threw his head back and roared with all his might, the form of his inner beast mimicking the action at his back.
He raged against his own weakness, against the helplessness he felt at not being capable of overcoming against the gods that still towered over him. Without real power, power far greater than what he had now, he was still just a pawn to them. Another human to be disposed of if he got in their way.
He couldn't stand it.
His clawed fist and the fist of his inner best slammed the sand beneath him.
Without thinking any further, he struck the earth again. And again. And again. Like a mindless beast venting it power, he continued to swing his fist. Until finally, he raised both of his balled hands up above his head and slammed them against the dirt one last time before falling to his knees.
He closed his eyes as his breathed in and out heavily.
"What am I to do now? Go to Anor Londo and work beneath that goddess to protect the Prophet? How that either she or him can muster up the strength for victory. No…that's not good enough!" Oscar thought to himself as his anger began to boil up once more. "Power…I need more power. Enough to bring them all to their knees. Enough to ensure humanity is avenged of all that has been wrought upon us. Enough to fight back any darkness that may come. Give me more strength to change this weak form."
The brightest flame burns the shortest. And just so, Oscar's rage simply could not burn brightly forever. But still his desire for more power never wavered, not for a single moment. He craved it, his soul demanded it and finally….
His eye's shot open.
There was something... that remained. Something far away from where he currently was.
He raised his head and focused to ensure he wasn't imagining it. But it was there. A distant power like that of the scales he'd hunted in others. Only…this one felt strange. Far more potent that the others. But that's impossible. There was no possibility that something like this escaped his notice before.
Many questions came to Oscar mind regarding the oddity of this new source of power, but he was quick to disregard them all. All that mattered was that he made that strength his own.
"One more battle…" the knight thought with a glare as he focused on the distant force calling to him. Until finally, wisp of grey began to swirl around his body as whisked him away towards its location.
He couldn't have known that truth of it. Not even the Prophet himself would have predict it would happen. But through nothing more than his strife and conquest, Oscar had achieved something of true greatness.
Throughout all of existence, no human had ever attained a state as close to dragon kind as he had achieved. All before him had sought either enlightenment or simply to preserve themselves, never power. After all, what point would there be in risking their own lives and scales? Oscar was the only one that had ever actively sought that culmination of such numerous scales.
As such, he was able to attain a state advanced enough to become aware of a place far beyond the reach of any god or demon.
And a king who would forever more, remain nameless.
ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT, WAIT A MINUTE, HEAR ME OUT!
So first things first, before anyone ask, I have not forgotten about Sif and I am not putting the big pup off until later. The plan is to have Anna and the gang retrieve the ring of Artorias before leaving the Darkroot Garden. How I plan to work that out and whether or not I'm going to have Sif survive is still up in the air on my end, but we're doing this boys. So don't worry about that.
Secondly, I hope everyone enjoy Yuria literally beating the shit out of Alvina. It might just be me, but I always hated the smug way she seems in game with her goddamn covenant of dickheads always getting in the way. So that was a bit of a revenge fantasy for me.
Thirdly, regarding Oscar, I want to say that a lot of you guys have been telling me that even though the old boy is meant to be the prophet equal, he seems to be far beneath him so far. So I decided that you guys are completely right. So our boy Oscar is gonna take himself to the old dragon summer camp, Archdragon peak and meet up with one of the legends.
My only thoughts are on how exactly I should execute Oscar visit, as at this current time, the world is not on the brink like it is in Dark Souls 3. So that leave me a LOT of room for creativity.
I could have Oscar travel to the old temple and learn to be humble and at peace with both his dragon and human side. Learning for the original god who sided with the dragons in the war and who would no doubt have much to teach him in the ways of a true dragon. Giving Oscar something more than just anger and vengeance to push him forward.
OR
I could have Oscar go goddamn postal on all those enlightened bastards. Slaughtering snake-men, the ancient wyvern and the crystal lizards all in an mad quest to gain as much power as possible. All ending in a final battle with a non-hollowed Nameless King and his storm drake. Maybe Oscar kills the goddamn king of storms and instead of the Nameless King taking its strength, Oscar straight up usurps that crap and overpowers the old god. Finally claiming the old gods souls and becoming something for the gods to truly fear.
As you can see, my mind is already clamoring with idea's on how I can do things because, hot damn, there's not much I can't do. And don't even get me started on what Oscar could become should he decide to butcher everyone. The title "Mad Beast Oscar" just makes me want to google bloodborne bosses and go to town with writing.
But that's all I got to say this time around, ladies and gents.
As always, feel free to leave a review and tell me what you guys thought about this chapter of the story. Was Yuria's action the appropriate level of Yandere? Was Anastacia's admission to somewhat feeling the oncoming dark sensible? Was it a good idea to give Oscar a shot at more power?
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. Do you guys think I should have Dusk and Sif recognize the gang when they meet? I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch or anything, but the Dusk interaction could definitely be used for some Grade A foreshadowing of events in Oolacile and Manus. Maybe about a powerful few warrior suddenly coming through and absolutely steamrolling the abyss and all of the corrupted inhabitants. And I am kind've in love with the idea of Sif just getting all excited at seeing Anastacia and everyone being all confused as to why he likes her so much.
P.P.S. Before anyone says anything, I'm about 50-50 on whether its canonically possible to reach Archdragon Peak without meditation. So I did take a bit of a liberty on that front as there's not much information of where it actually is or if it even exist on a physical plane. So feel free to offer up correction on that.
P.P.P.S. Is it possible for Yuria to have any more of a hard on for the Prophet, guys? The answer: YES! I am having to much fun writing this chick. XD