FILE_RECOVERY_COMPLETE

PARTIAL_FILE_RETRIEVED

Bloodborne belongs to FromSoftware, Horizon Zero Dawn belongs to Guerrilla Games

Chapter 25: Volcanic Winter

LOG: Bridges: Data Corruption Moderate

Cyrus Bishop: Every time I look out along the sea of clouds in the Hunter's Dream, I see these tall spires. Many, many years ago I asked what they were. My original theory was that they were the Hunter's Dream but for different hunters. I suppose the Moon Presence wished to humor me when Doll answered. She explained that they were… bridges between the Waking World and the Nightmares and Dreams. They all had a connection somewhere in the Waking World.

Yet I have only ever experienced four such bridges. The lanterns to the Hunter's Dream, the corpse of Micolash to the Nightmare of Mensis, the Amygdala outside Yahar'gul to the Nightmare Frontier and, the Amygdala outside Oedon Chapel to the Hunter's Nightmare. All of them existed in Yharnam and I have never once found another bridge. Between removing Yharnam from the Waking World and fighting this bloody swarm, I scoured the Waking World searching for any other such bridges. I found none.

I did find places that were hotspots of Eldritch activity. Innsmouth was practically a breeding ground for the Eldritch. Dunwich played host to the spawn of an old one for a while. The Bermuda Triangle held promise, but it was nothing more than magnetic interference and poor weather that led to the mysterious disappearances. The closest I've come to finding a bridge to the Eldritch worlds, like what Yharnam had, was the ruins of an old manor built over a dungeon designed to contain an Eldritch entity. But no bridge.

I wonder i- [Data Corrupted]

…/…

Cauldron PSI: Status: Operational.

Begin construction unit F-mark-9S62.

Cauldron XI: Status: Disrupted. Critical damage to hull, intruders detected. Countermeasure: autonomous defenses activated. Intruders neutralized. Requesting repairs. Control core XI overridden. Intrusion designation: FAS-ACA3 SCARAB. Countermeasure: data encryption protocols engaged. Error: data encryption protocols failed. Request encryption.

Repair request denied. Directive: defend cauldron. Encryption request confirmed. XI data encryption engaged.

Query: Current active FAS units?

Response: FAS-ACA3 SCARAB: 3. FAS-FSP5 KHOPESH: 0. FAS-BOR7 HORUS: 0.

New directive: priority status 5. Destroy units: FAS-ACA3 SCARAB

Cauldron SIGMA: Status: Disrupted. Intruder detected. Countermeasure: autonomous defenses activated. Autonomous defenses neutralized. Control core SIGMA overridden. Intrusion designation: FAS-ACA3 SCARAB. Countermeasure: data encryption protocols engaged.

Query: Encrypted files decryption status?

Response: Decryption status: 99%.

Cauldron RHO: Status: Disrupted. Intruder detected. Countermeasure: autonomous defenses activated. Autonomous defenses neutralized. Control core RHO overridden. Intrusion designation: FAS-ACA3 SCARAB. Countermeasure: data encryption protocols engaged. Error: primary combustion fueling system disrupted. Critical damage to primary combustion fueling system core.

Directive: Engage secondary combustion fueling system.

Error: Secondary combustion fueling system disrupted. Damage to secondary combustion fueling system core.

Directive: Engage tertiary combustion fueling system. Seek new combustion fueling system, priority status 3.

Tertiary combustion fueling system engaged. Warning: tertiary system at capacity. 95 hours, 59 minutes, 37 seconds until system failure. Beginning search for new primary combustion fueling system.

Query: Cauldron intruder unit code?

Response: Intruder FAS-ACA3 SCARAB designation: 416C6F79

New directive: priority status 4. Destroy FAS-ACA3 SCARAB unit 416C6F79.

Cauldron ZETA: Status: Disrupted. Intruder detected. Countermeasure: autonomous defenses activated. Autonomous defenses neutralized. Control core ZETA overridden. Intrusion designation: FAS-ACA3 SCARAB. Countermeasure: data encryption protocols engaged. Countermeasure: Cauldron ZETA facility lockdown. Access sealed.

FAS-ACA3 SCARAB unit identified. Designation: 416C6F79. Countermeasure: begin construction of units TJ-mark-9Z, ST-mark-12X, SB-mark-6Z. Quantity: 15. Directive: Hunt FAS-ACA3 SCARAB unit 416C6F79. Priority status: 2

Query: Encrypted files decryption status?

Response: Decryption status: 100%.

Override prior instruction. Halt construction unit F-mark-9S64. Requesting file access.

…

…

…

File designation: Yharnam. Access granted.

…/…

It took a while to find the path up north. Apparently, USRC is what the natives collectively referred to as the Grave Hoard. And behind said ruin, a climbing path up the mountain. A path Cyrus had navigated after some minor trouble. The rocky, frozen terrain had few traversable paths. On top of that, things were unfamiliar. He didn't remember such a treacherous entrance to Yellowstone.

Nonetheless, it could have been worse.

"Cyrus. What are you doing? This path leads to the Cut? The Banuk will offer you nothing beyond useless mysticism."

Oh right, it was worse. Aloy had managed to convince him to start wearing a focus, regularly, in the case that they needed to quickly contact each other. Sylens had attached himself to their network.

"Investigating, Sylens." Cyrus replied. "The Cut, as you call it, was once known as Yellowstone. I'm simply trying to access Firebreak to ensure the volcano isn't nearing eruption."

"Thunder's Drum has been spewing smoke for a long time. That is unlikely to change." Sylens replied.

Cyrus rolled his eyes. "If it's spewing smoke and if that's all it's doing, we'll be fine. If things are shaking, then we'll have a bigger problem."

Cyrus continued up the mountain.

"Outlander on the mountain." A voice called.

Cyrus glanced up to see two Banuk guards greeting him.

"You sure you'll be warm enough outlander?" One of the guards jeered.

"The cold doesn't bother me in the slightest." Cyrus said as he passed the two.

The path led through a tunnel in the mountain. His hopes that Firebreak was properly functioning were dashed as he exited the tunnel. In front of him were two main sights. The first being a gathering of Banuk, and one Oseram. The other being a massive mountain in the center of the Yellowstone caldera spewing a veritable hurricane of smoke and ash.

"That's a bit more than smoke, Sylens." Cyrus muttered.

The Hunter approached the crowd. Some sort of ceremony was ending, not that Cyrus particularly cared. The crowd began to thin as the Banuk left. The only who remained was a broad-shouldered man in heavy furs, looking out at the mountain.

"I take it you're the one in charge?" Cyrus asked as he approached.

"And why would an outlander be looking for me?" The man said as he turned to Cyrus. "Especially one that bears no resemblance to any tribe."

"I have a feeling that you'll be my best bet." Cyrus replied.

"Your best bet for what?" The man said.

"Information." Cyrus answered. "A while ago I heard a rumor that there were stronger machines out here that glowed purple."

"Another hunter then." The man said. "Yes, the rumors are true. A daemon has been changing the machines, strengthening them, and angering them. They wander the Cut, striking down most who face them. Is that all you wanted to know?"

"Actually, no. The main thing I want to know is how to get in there." Cyrus said pointing at the volcano. "If I remember correctly there should be a facility at the base of the mountain that-"

"No." The man interrupted. "No one is entering that cursed place again."

"But I-" Cyrus tried.

"I said no. End of discussion." The man growled and stormed off.

"I see you've met Aratak." A new voice spoke up.

Cyrus turned to see the lone Oseram approach him.

"He's not in the best of places right now. His sister disappeared after her last expedition into the mountain." The Oseram said.

"And you are?" Cyrus asked.

"Burgrend." The Oseram replied.

"Cyrus." The Hunter responded in kind.

"Well, Cyrus, I heard that you're looking for a way into the mountain?" Burgrend offered.

"And why does it concern you?" Cyrus asked.

"Well, for one, if there is an old-world ruin in the mountain, it would be quite the delve." Burgrend said. "Also, I believe my daughter went that direction as well."

"If you want something, just say it." Cyrus said.

"Fine, I'm willing to trade what I know about how to get into the mountain in exchange for you finding my daughter, and maybe convincing her to return here." Burgrend said.

"Fair enough. What do you know?" Cyrus replied.

"Well, if you head North, you'll find an old-world ruin that Ourea, Aratak's sister, usually visited. She was the one to make regular pilgrimages into the mountain. She can help you get in." Burgrend answered.

"How do you know that?" Cyrus asked.

"She's asked me to deliver things up there in the past." Burgrend replied.

"That's not exactly what I was hoping for." Cyrus said.

"I understand, but it's better than him." Burgrend replied, pointing to Aratak. "Why do you want to get into the mountain anyway?"

Cyrus nodded and prepared to speak. A tremor rocked through the encampment. People struggled to maintain their balance. Cyrus stabbed the shaft of the Burial Blade into the snow and maintained his balance.

"That is why." Cyrus answered as Burgrend stood back up. "That mountain is a volcano on the verge of eruption. I believe the facility inside to be a facility designed to prevent said eruption. How long have the tremors been happening?"

"The quakes? About two weeks now." Burgrend answered.

"That's not good." Cyrus muttered. "I have to hurry."

"Good luck." Burgrend called as Cyrus left.

As Cyrus began his descent into the caldera, he noted that the snow was clinging to his boots far more than usual. Bending down and picking up a small handful revealed the truth. What at first appeared to be snow, was actually a mixture of snow and ash. He flicked the rest off his hand and continued his journey North.

A loud electrical pulse drew his attention slightly west from his path. Cyrus moved through the trees and came to a clearing. In the center of the clearing was a strange tower of some sort. Every few seconds or so, it released a pulse through the area. The machines around it, a Longleg, and three Scrappers all glowed purple. Their glow intensified with each pulse.

The tower itself had a segment dish on the top of it. Right behind that a glowing orange heat vent would pop up after each pulse. The whole process happened every thirty seconds or so by Cyrus's estimation. Despite the fact that the tower was incredibly reminiscent of Faro machines, he had never seen something like it.

He crept forward. A branch snapped under his foot and drew the attention of the Scrappers. Cyrus growled and jumped towards the machines. Their eyes turned red as they targeted the hostile. Cyrus landed and stabbed the first scrapper through its head. He was a little surprised at how much effort was required to force the siderite blade through the machine. The daemon angering the machines was clearly doing more than just making them more aggressive.

Still, the scrappers posed no more threat than usual. The Longleg leapt at him. Cyrus responded by shooting the bird-like machine in its chest. A massive burst of air launched Cyrus back. He forced himself to his feet and walked to the downed machine. A quick slice later and the bird was decapitated. All that remained was the tower.

It was alien to him. Another pulse echoed through the clearing. Cyrus noted a control node at the base of the small tower. He thrust his blade into the node. An arc of electricity tried to shoot up the metal before the tower fell silent. For good measure, Cyrus slashed through the machine. The top of the tower fell to the ground.

"Curious." Cyrus muttered. "Most curious indeed."

Cyrus turned and continued his journey north. The tower, little more than a hiccup in his path, was bound to be one of many. Still, it was little more than annoyance.

ERROR-DATA_CORRUPTION-BEGIN_FILE_RECOVERY…/…

Data Log TEH-025

And so, we begin the Frozen Wilds arc. This will be a much shorter story arc that will continue into the six-ish months between the two games. Also, I'm curious as to how you think my portrayal of Hephaestus is at the beginning of the chapter. He's a little different from the game but still meant to be an emotionless machine.

Anyway, thank you to all who read this, your feedback and views are much appreciated, and thank you for sticking with me.

Goodbye viewer; Fare thee well.

End Log S.T.K.