Author's notes: Rewriting this one certainly takes me back. It's significant for numerous reasons, chiefly being my favorite chapter of the original, and the last one I wrote before I began publishing the fic proper in early 2016. It also features the climatic one-on-one duel with my favorite boss, the Smelter Demon, that I still feel is one of my best fight scenes. Continuing to play off of shounen tropes, you can consider this chapter and fight to be that big, epic mid-season brawl they do with one of the prominent secondary villains; think Captain Ginyu or Android 17 if you will.

Despite its status as a favorite of mine, there's a ton of things I know good and well could be improved; the aforementioned fight scene didn't measure up to my original vision and now that it's a lot clearer to me, I feel that much more confident writing it. Of mildly interesting note, this was as far as I'd gotten with the earliest version of this fic before Melanie was a thing. Sorry this one took a while; there were two or three scenes I just wasn't satisfied with, and ended up redoing quite a lot.

She was right, I am a perfectionist. Either way, let's get right into it.

Chapter 8
A Red-Hot Demon's Soul!
"I get the chills every time I look at it!"

Harvest Valley

Though some adventurers often jested that the once prosperous vista bore a name more befitting of perhaps a granola bar – especially when discussed with its terminus at the Earthen Peak – this defiled valley of pestilence and disease was far from a laughing matter. A sickly miasma of green blanketed the lowest lows of the rocky terrain, and our hero, now finding himself alone for the first time in quite a while, would carefully tread around the revolting pools of toxin to take a much-needed respite by a bonfire. Up above, a great and imposing windmill lorded over the valley like a malevolent deity, still turning despite the land having long since lost its suitability for a proper harvest.

...and yet, our hero knew exactly why he was here... and it was this purpose that overrode his fear of the encroaching toxins...

"...and it's exactly how I imagined! The books I had weren't even too far off; how 'bout that?" the knight mused to himself in his deep tone, the habit of talking to oneself running persistently in his blood. "Harvest Valley was... was the last known location of the Heirs of the Sun! Never has a more righteous band of heroes rose to the occasion than those guys."

If only wayward knight had known the history of what he had so eagerly read, equal parts embellished and muddled, he'd find himself aware of the far more humble truth; the efforts of a single man as misguided as he was determined and pure. As much as the hero wished for it to be more, the sun was but another star in an endless sea.

"...and their technique was incredible! A perfect balance of finesse and raw power," he continued as he checked over his gear and clambered out of the small cave of respite. "...though I don't see myself being much count with those lightning miracles. Maybe miss Licia could teach me, huh..."

Making his way up the nearby hill, its crest overlooking a vast vista of miasma, he'd come across another traveler; a woman had set up shop trading valuable titanite, of which the valley was rich. Her long, green dress was an unusual fashion statement, her ample bosom nearly fully visible in the low neckline. After their exchange, she'd bring up her father, attaching a very familiar description to her tale. "...come to think of it, the old man might've already begun to go hollow. Not that it'd stop him, heh. His life is so sedentary that he may as well be." she'd say wistfully, her voice carrying an English accent. "...and he's got the nerve to chide me for spending my life in transit! Reckless, he calls it. You don't get anywhere in life without being reckless." she'd vent before her voice returned to a calm tone. "...still, I miss the old sod. Perhaps I'll pay him a visit if..." she'd say before being cut off by the knight.

"Ol' Lenigrast! He's hammered these bad boys into shape more times than I can count!" he'd happily oblige, tapping his armor on the chest and making the connection that her father was the same man he'd been seeing for blacksmithing back in Majula. The brunette introduced herself as Cholanne, departing for Majula now that she'd been pointed in the right direction. He'd make a note to visit with her when he returned.

Making his way down into the vista, a low fog of deathly gases visibly blanketing the floor, the knight repelled a small ambush of skeleton warriors. Finding that if he was able to hold his breath for a time, he'd have the chance to reap the valley for raw titanite; Chloanne's lead had been a good one. Hulking, warped hollows with their faces shrouded in rags hurled crude dark energy at LoveGame, who evaded just narrowly enough to see the spell erase everything it touched. Getting in closer and drawing his blade, he'd notice that the larger being was mounted by a small, frail hollow giving commands to its grotesque mount. Once one had been cut down, the other fell alongside it.

"...now, if memory serves... they dumped the altar here in the valley for some reason!" he continued to think aloud, trudging up the rocky path and taking everything not already claimed by the land itself. "...even I'm stumped on that one. These guys were all about helping the weak and downtrodden, even if there wasn't so much as a reward in sight for 'em. I think we should all strive to be so selfless."

The trek led our eager hero through another narrow valley, cutting down the odd hollow as he made the push to the windmill's base, taking care not to plummet into one of the many holes in the ground that lead into the choking miasma below. A set of stout metalworker undead moved in on the knight, their rotund forms swinging a great hammer with lethal intent. He'd clear the last of them before making a detour down the edge of the valley, sidling across the thin walkway until he reached a verdant, mossy cavern having evidently been spared the poison's oppressive grasp.

Within its deepest reaches, a brilliant ray of golden sunlight valiantly pierced the cracks of the cavern's ceiling... casting their holy light onto the crumbled, broken ruins of the statue of a proud warrior. Now, only its feet stood intact, the rest of its body carelessly scattered about the lush floor below. "...and whoever brought it here decided they didn't like it very much!" he half-joked. "It might not look like much anymore... but its purpose is what really matters."

The young man shut his eyes tight for a moment, taking a deep and contemplative breath. He was neither a devout practitioner of religion nor did he forsake the higher powers – he simply felt such matters beyond the scope of his understanding until now. Sure of himself that this step was integral in fulfilling his mission in this forsaken kingdom, LoveGame approached the statue's base, letting the warmth of the sun caress his being.

He didn't utter a word. He didn't have a single thought. He merely knelt in silence and let the comforting, life-affirming rays take him over.. He needed no further confirmation than the slight intensification of the warmth felt on his skin to know he'd been sworn in as an Heir of the Sun.

He couldn't quite parse what happened next; he felt faint, though comfortably so, as though beckoned for a long slumber. Only moments had passed, yet the man felt he'd gotten a good night's sleep all of a sudden. Placed perfectly into the ground before him, illuminated by the golden rays as though it were beckoning the man, there laid a sword of pure, brilliant silver untarnished by time. Simple, yet elegant in its design, its sole defining feature was the engraving of a white silver sun on its hilt at the crossguard. Reaching for the new armament he'd been so generously granted, he'd feel that tingling surge of lightning – something he'd just nearly gotten used to – leave his body entirely. Replaced at first with a bitter, metallic chill that gave way to comforting warmth, traveling up the length of his sword arm into his undead heart.

He'd take a moment to look the blade over, christened rather simply as the Sun Sword. Upon closer inspection, its blade was unusually shaped, tapering the further it got to its tip without compromising structural integrity. He couldn't fathom what hands shaped such immaculate work. Its unique weight distribution combined with its shape lent the blade more to repeated stabs, traditional to a razor's edge. Just as the man had stated, a blade like this demanded equal parts finesse and raw strength.

"Humbled, I am, truly," began the knight, sheathing his new prize away. "...to be in the presence of the regalia of legend." He'd hold his old blade in both hands, that same sword he'd obtained from besting that enigmatic white knight back in the Forest. "You've done well enough to get me this far, old pal. I'd say you earned a little rest." he said, stowing his old weapon away in his bag. "Now... much as I'd love to bask in the rays here, I've still got a job to do. Let's get back on track, my shiny new friend. I've got plenty of willing candidates to introduce ya to!"

Emerging at the base of the old windmill, LoveGame steeled himself for the grueling and arduous path ahead. He'd take a brief moment to gaze up at the stone giant, one large fan that rotated eerily slow and several smaller ones to the sides evoking the image of a wilting bouquet. He kept to the high road, evading the mounted gargantuans that patrolled the vile valley below, evidently immune to its choking miasma. Clouds gathered above; a storm likely rolling in sooner than later. Armed with the Sword of the Sun, Knight LoveGame entered the base of the windmill, numerous pairs of footsteps in the distance being all the motivation he needed to draw his brand new blade.

Majula

Resting at the Far Fire, the closest place she had to home for the duration of this journey, Ilia warmed herself as she cooled off. Serves him right. She thought, He can just consider this a part of the training, that's all. I'm not even that upset, really.

Resting and letting herself melt into her thoughts, she'd recall fondly of her days with Master Xoxar and the highs and lows of their intricate relationship. Her refusal to accompany Knight LoveGame on this leg of the journey was, almost perfectly to a T, the treatment she had endured once under his tutelage. Despite their seemingly wholesome and inseparable bond, the master and student were not unfamiliar with disagreements in their methods. Time and time again, they'd agree to part ways and keep to their own devices for a day or two, allowing both sides to reflect and cool off. For Ilia, this was how she'd shape herself into an independent adventurer in her own right.

...and she could almost feel her presence the moment she got comfortable. So much for that.

"What ails you, Lord Protector?" the Herald inquired in her calming, motherly tone, taking a seat next to Ilia. "Why has the Bearer of the Curse left your side?"

The blonde swordstress cocked her head lazily, giving the redhead a side glance and turning her gaze to the vast sea. "...and what's it to you?" she'd sigh out dismissively. "You want my life story or something, lady?"

Though surely a rhetorical question, the slim, emerald-hooded gal answered with utmost sincerity. "...I have nothing but time in this dying world, Lord Protector. Indulge me if you would." she requested, kicking her legs lightly, an act she found calming.

Ilia drew a long breath and exhaled it as a sigh. "...alright. Just don't miss any details when you tell it to the next weary traveler." she'd say, the two ladies preparing some tea over the bonfire as Ilia began to regale her of everything she knew...

Earthen Peak

The first adversary the young knight had encountered to test the temper of his brand new blade was... not exactly the most worthy measuring stick. Indeed, this wrinkled, rotund entity LoveGame did battle with was the furthest one could get from any description of a stick.

Repulsive as this sorry excuse for a demon was, its vile and ravenous grin was the strongest thing in its arsenal. Clumsily dragging its corpulent form forth with naught but a pair of nigh-useless stubby arms to assist his sluglike body. Its natural heft was equal parts its strongest weapon and its greatest hindrance, the bloated demon finding itself nearly crushed under its own weight. Its ultimate technique, in which it thrashed and flopped like a freshly caught fish, was entirely ineffectual in harming the knight, but it was certainly something fascinating to look at.

Coiling back, the demon lurched forward rather suddenly and rapidly so for its size! The swordsman too threw his weight around, evading the mass of distended flesh, but crashing to his feet from the impact it made upon landing! The bloated menace whipped its body around, not missing on the return trip! It opened its jagged, fanged maw wide, devouring the wayward knight in a single bite! The demon's mighty momentum came to a stop, and...

...at that moment, its beady eyes nearly bugged out from their deep recesses.

….from within the prison of vile flesh... a muffled and slightly dimwitted voice made an unusually astute observation.

"...you're kiddin' me, right? This guy... he's got a long way to go! You gotta unwrap me if you wanna get to the sweet stuff inside!"

His voice preceded the sickly tearing of viscera and the torrential spray of the blood of a demon! Knight LoveGame had carved his way out of the belly of the beast, taking quite the effort of his enhanced undead strength to slice its thick hide from the inside out.

Perhaps it was a fitting test of his new sword after all.

Knight LoveGame had made respectable headway in the heart of the great windmill, its corridors laden with every manner of trap and ambush along the way. Stone pressure plates blended deceptively well into the floor; the knight would have to take his guard just in time to shield himself from a barrage of poisoned arrows. Undead ninja, relieved so generously of their own heads swooped in from dark corners and unseen perches, proving to be one of the knight's most persistent challenges. They'd often attack in coordinated groups, unusually tactical for a hollow, much less one lacking a brain altogether.

He'd inevitably find himself inundated with toxins as he made his ascent, be it at the tip of the mankin's knives, the pools of viscous pure poison, or a well-hidden pressure plate calling forth coated arrows. His memory not betraying him, he'd grind the green medicinal moss between his fingertips and inhale its fine, tasteless dust. This miracle antidote was one of the few surviving cures of its kind, uniquely thriving in the dank recesses of this rotted kingdom. He'd brought a handful with him upon outset – leftovers from his provisions as a knight – and took care to harvest the stuff throughout his travels with Ilia.

The treacherous layout of the windmill fortress proved just as much of a grueling challenge as its stalwart guards. Deeper inside, the headless ninja had been backed up by the grave tenders, their faces obscured in featureless gray cloth. The gaunt beings crossed their silver spears with Knight LoveGame, who pushed past their offense with his greatshield and knocked them into the seemingly endless pit of poison below. He'd climb numerous ladders that all looked the same, detouring on the outer walkway once he reached the top. The peak afforded the dark-haired man quite the view – he could clearly make out the exact point he'd entered, the stone path now but a thin wisp of a line under the fog.

Making the push through, he'd happen upon several metal switches embedded into the wall. Ever the risk-taker, he elected to give each one a pull on his way past. His curiosity was rewarded as the iron gates raised allowing him further passage, boarding a particularly tricky wooden lift just before it left without him. He hardly had time to plunder the chamber's treasures before a trio of those beheaded rogues descended upon him! Overwhelmed in an instant and with little room to evade, LoveGame tore from his belt a glowing beetle, cramming the insect straight through his helmet and feeling his vigor surge to heights yet unseen! A golden aura of soul energy cloaked the knight, no longer feeling the burden of his armor or his shield! He'd find that tearing down the headless hollows was more than enough to work the sudden surge of raw energy out of his system.

Indeed, the sight of another bonfire past a small mist gate worked wonders in allowing his undead body to settle out and regulate the wild flux of energy he'd just subjected himself too. He sat crosslegged and took a brief rest... until he was snapped out of his relaxation by an unusually familiar scent! Carried upon the breeze - and quite the welcome reprieve from the toxins and death – was the distinct bouquet of numerous fruit blossoms! Something LoveGame knew like the back of his hand as a farmer. A sweeter and more varied mix had never assailed his senses.

"Come to think of it... I haven't actually felt the need to eat since I became undead. That being said... a little reminder of home could boost this knight's morale, and considerably so." said the southerner to himself. He'd take the initiative to peek ahead, spying a long, narrow trench of that viscous poison fluid, opaque to the point he couldn't even discern its depth. Not looking forward to taking another dip, he'd elect to follow his nose outside, just a few paces back from the way he came. He'd noted the supernatural phenomenon that bound the souls of the undead to their domain; he didn't quite understand what it meant just yet. Dispatching the reborn rogues, he'd find the tower's wooden outer railing had been shattered in the skirmish. Checking his surroundings for any comedians who might find it a laugh to push him from the edge, he peered out, noticing an entire walkway he'd neglected earlier on account of fending off the headless fiends.

The stone path was narrow, but plenty stable and well out of the blinded gaze of the windmill's denizens, offering a breathtaking view of the desolation and sickness below. That assailing scent of fruit blossom snapped the knight's attention to his left, no doubt getting closer to its alluring source. He'd follow the outer walkway down a bend that led him to a lower platform... and a brand new, yet strikingly familiar sight for the knight.

Dressed in unusually pristine robes of silken cream and resplendent white, she appeared to be a priestess of some description. LoveGame drew closer, sheathing his blade and placing his large shield on his back to show he meant no harm. Getting a closer look at the lady he was now very sure was the source of the floral bouquet, he'd notice she was quite lithe and svelte, cutting a figure not to dissimilar to his close companion... were it not for her staggeringly ample chest. Fully and modestly clothed, she allowed her breasts to breath through the very narrow, barely visible neckline of her robes, though no amount of cloth could hide the sheer prominence of her endowment. The soft, comforting features of her caramel-kissed visage were framed with elegantly light brown hair neatly styled into a middle part. The cream-colored hood of her immaculate robe even folding right in the center as if to echo her straight, shiny locks.

"You there!" she'd call out in a posh English accent, her voice airy and light with amicable delight. "Still have your wits about you, do ya'? Wonderful! You wouldn't be trying to kill me, would you?" she'd ask him in a jubilant tone. "Everyone around here's so unusually hostile for whatever reason!"

Shaking his head and holding a palm out, he'd reassure the busty robed stranger, "No way! You kiddin'? I haven't had anyone to talk to since I made my way out here." he'd say in a friendly tone, trying his best to assure her after the rather forward question. "The name's LoveGame, by the way! A regular ol' knight. I'm still a little new to this undead lifestyle, but I'm getting the hang of it. Already nabbed myself one of those Great Souls... and the next isn't too far off, so says a certain someone." he introduced himself. "You're pretty strong if you've made it out here, err... sorry, I tend to really ramble when I haven't talked to anybody in a minute...?"

The buxom gal cheerfully clasped her hands and gazed her shimmering hazel eyes through the slit of LoveGame's helmet. "Oh, where are my manners? Aicil is my name!" she sweetly declared, an rosy blush just lightly visible upon her darker skin. "Nothing more than a traveling cleric on an eternal mission to help those in need! Did those abhorrent mankin assail you earlier? I'd be more than happy to mend you right back into shape!" she obliged, overflowing with unfiltered kindness. "...Oh, I'm from a wonderful place called Lindeldt!" she added happily, "I lived atop this most pleasant golden-white tower, and my people are very attuned to the gods, we are!" Aicil continued, eager and optimistic to tell the stranger about her. "...which means... I'm well learned in the art of miracles! Here, you look positively knackered! Let Aicil mend your ailing wounds."

She'd pull the knight in, inevitably bringing him rather close against her ample chest. "Umbasa!~" she chirped as a golden light enveloped him, her enchanted robes radiating an iridescent sparkle as the magic bound to its thread breathed to life.

The young knight pulled back gently, blushing through his helm as he felt the healing warmth overtake him. "I'm... oh! Hey, I feel fresher than ever! You're pretty good... Aicil." he'd compliment with sincerity, giving a light bow of his own.

"Free of charge, of course. The wisdom of the gods is priceless, after all, as is the life of another." beamed the friendly cleric.

Only now had it occurred to the wayward knight... "...uhm, lady? Er, Miss Aicil? You're not gonna believe this, but, I uhh... how do you spell that? See, I just met this gal a few hours ago, that like..." he began before being cut off by her gasp that preceded a light giggle.

"...Oh! Yes, how wonderful! You've met with my dear sister, Licia!" she perked up, delighted. "Of course you have, how else would you be here? She's always been so helpful in moving that puzzling hidden path for travelers like you. You see, our mum wasn't very creative when it came to naming us, mostly because she didn't like us very much!" Aicil divulged with almost too much optimism. "...but sis and I have always gotten on rather well all things considered. She can be a bit... unladylike and well... perhaps not the most modest! She's rather proud of those generous assets she was blessed with and, err... she isn't entirely honest with her practices." she'd continue, her expression not faltering from a ray of sunshine. "...and goodness, that diet of hers could use a few amendments... perhaps a bit less reckless indulgence in all those fried meats she so adores. Not to disparage, of course. Merely me looking out for my sister, is all. Miracles are no substitute for proper good health!"

Aicil's words merited a light laugh underneath LoveGame's crested helm. He paused for a moment, not quite sure how to respond to the cheerful, top-heavy maiden. "...that's, uhh... no kiddin'! Not sure if you've taken a good look around here... but lemme tell ya, you're a wellspring of it." he told her against a backdrop of decay. "The deeper I get into this place... I barely take a damn step without dunking myself in all that gunk! You've made it this far; what, uhh..." he though for a moment until something came to him. "...just what's the deal with this place anyway? My best friend back home is real big on record keeping."

Finding an unusually rare comfort in his company, she was more than happy to regale him. "Very well! Licia and I know much about the finer details of this land – we stayed here for a good while after the incident! You seek the Great Soul of the Iron King, don't you? Well, wait until you hear the drama he's found himself embroiled in! You see, Queen Mytha was enamored with him, but he did not return the affection as he had eyes for another. This jealousy consumed her, twisted her very being into that of a venomous serpent. It's no coincidence that her obsession lead her to subjugate everyone under her command to hide their unworthy faces." Aicil explained. "No doubt in my mind she's still holed up atop the windmill here... steeping in her own vile juices. The thought is enough to make one's skin crawl!"

Taking as many mental notes as his hollowing mind could carry, LoveGame told her, "...I knew there was somethin' more to this place. Actually, yeah... I'd love to march up there and show the queen a thing or two. I could care less about her lil' love triangle action, if I'm being honest, but I can't have her defiling this place." he'd elaborate, "It's a long story, but these are sacred grounds for a guy like me. Just wish there was an easier way up... I slip up once and I'm sippin' on a death cocktail soup."

Once again, Aicil's innocent visage lit up with elation. "I know exactly the solution! Though... are you sure you wish to face against Queen Mytha? She was formidable even in the past, and now that she's feasted upon every last soul here – goodness, save for my own – I cannot imagine she would relent without a fight." she'd warn him in earnest. "However, should you still wish to face her... all you'd need to do is set that windmill alight with flame!" she'd point behind him, the slowly spinning blades barely accessible thanks to a destroyed segment of the wall creating just enough of a makeshift ramp to clamber up without falling to one's doom.

As luck would have it, the destroyed wall was a mere few paces from that bonfire he'd just taken refuge at, and he'd held onto a generous bundle of torches to get the job done. "You know what? I'll give it a go, just for you... Miss Aicil! How much is that juicy hint gonna cost me?" he'd ask, rummaging through his spare souls, his collection having grown even more as he made his ascent. He'd quickly find his charitable offer declined, however.

"Oh! No, no. I'm not like... er... I'm simply doing my good deed for the day." she chimed, pushing his hand away politely yet insistently. "...by the way, did you know my dear sister Licia once sat on the Sacred Texts of Lindeldt? Thought we'd lost them for days! Entirely unintentional, of course. Oh, her and I had such fun back then!" she reminisced with glee. "Do tell her I said hello when you return, won't you? ...oh! I see that look of yours under your helm. Don't worry about this righteous gal in the slightest! I've made it this far on my own... and I'm quite invincible so long as I'm attacked from the front." she assured the knight. "Once I wrap up my unfinished business here, I might just return to Majula and pay my dear sister a visit. Perhaps our paths will cross then, Knight LoveGame." she'd say with a polite bow.

"See ya there, Miss Aicil! This fated meeting of ours was a refreshing one."

Following the buxom priestess' instructions as closely as he could, the knight immolated one of his many torches – a simple thick branch wrapped in oil-soaked cloth on the far end – against the eternal bonfire that carried the essence of every soul to feel the comfort of its presence. He'd hold it alight as he cautiously climbed up the ruined wall, his heavy gear proving difficult to keep his balance in. Standing on the edge, precariously close to the blades, he'd outstretch his long arm to its limit, just far enough that the enduring flames could lick at the axle. A single spark was all it took, rapidly roaring to life as a mighty ember that consumed and devoured the deadly blades, stopping whatever malevolent mechanism was responsible for pumping the endless poison into the valley below.

That could be his good deed for the day, he thought.

Aicil, huh? I tell ya, I couldn't get a bead on that lady for the life of me.

Majula

Though her distant mood did its best to mask the fact, Ilia found her conversation with the Emerald Herald to be unusually enriching, a sentiment the hooded redhead echoed. She was impressed with the Herald's vast knowledge of Drangleic's well-kept secrets, not so subtly taking notes to add to her compendium.

Neither of them made eye contact, their gazes affixed on the melancholy horizon. She spoke briefly of what little she knew of the First of the Dead, after which both women fell silent for a spell, meditating on the thought as the faint sounds of the sea grew more noticeable. Pondering for a moment on what to say, the Herald asked Ilia, "I'm curious. Do you find my company to be a bore?"

The lithe girl raised an eyebrow. "You kiddin'? I've been itching to discuss this kind of stuff with someone who actually cares. It's a refreshing change of pace from my usual company," she'd answer in earnest, the cloaked lady knowing exactly to whom she was referring.

She paused briefly, her expression unchanging. "...Hmm. Tell me this, then. Do you only accompany the wayward knight out of obligation to do so? Or perhaps, do you see the same merit in him that I do?" she'd ask Ilia, her soft, soothing voice retaining its calm, breathy tone.

"...kind of a loaded question there, lady. What do you want me to say, it hasn't even been a week yet." she'd respond matter-of-factly, giving her a brief side look. She'd respond wordlessly, tilting her head and giving a slightly inquisitive look. "I don't think so, anyhow. Time seems to blur pretty liberally here. He's... grown on me. It ain't like he's boring either – he runs his mouth too much if anything – and sometimes I think he's being vague on purpose... no wonder he was into you for a minute there." she half-joked.

No response aside from the the faintest of smiles.

"...look, I'm not sure what you're trying to get out of me, but..." she began, her attempts to get a bead on the cloaked Fire Keeper proving futile, even for an analytical mind like hers. "...I wouldn't even entertain the idea of letting him go it alone like this if I knew he couldn't handle it. I mean, it goes without saying he loves fighting, and... well, you didn't hear it from me, but I think he has the potential to surpass me. Back in the heart of the forest... heh, I still can't believe I let that lumbering giant outmaneuver me like that, but then I saw LoveGame use this crazy technique and finish him off in one go. The dude gets stronger every time we take one of those souls down. It's almost frustrating, but... it also gives me just a little more hope."

"How do you mean?" asked the Emerald Herald plainly, giving another light head tilt.

Ilia waved her palm lightly. "I mean what I just said, lady. I'm only sticking around this kingdom as long as I have to. I've got a whole other world of things that need getting done back home." she told the hooded woman. "LoveGame, though... he's settled pretty well into the undead lifestyle. Take a good look at this place, and tell me you don't think it could use a ray of hope like him." she'd tell the Herald, looking her in her uncovered eye. "Just some food for thought, that's all."

The Emerald Herald meditated for a moment on the platinum blonde warrior's words, gazing back out at the sea. "...I see. That is all I wished to know, Lord Protector." she'd say, reclining back against the warmth of the Far Fire. "How curious, that you two have far more in common than you realize."

Ilia echoed the Emerald woman's words, quite intentionally so. "...how do ya mean?"

"...you've both granted me with more insight over the past few days than I have learned across all of my travels." she'd tell her. "A wise woman such as myself still has much to learn yet about the nature of the soul."

On that note, the pair of women parted ways, Ilia returning to the mansion's basement, eager to add to her notes and delve back into the wealth of books stored within.

Earthen Peak

Thanks in no small part to the amazing advice of Aicil, the final leg of Knight LoveGame's ascent was not as much of a grueling slog as it had been up to that point. No longer impeded by the poison pools, he'd cut a path through the upper floor of the now-dormant windmill. Faceless guards in both flavors assailed him on his way up, but he knew well his way around these foes by this point, and his brand new blade smote them without much toil. The tower's innermost chambers were patrolled by the alluring pyromancers of the Jugo desert, hurling volleys of enchanted flame at the knight that nearly cooked him in his armor as they found their mark. Closing the distance, it was not lost on the wayward knight that the provocative, red and gold garb they scantily adorned their bodies with was the very same worn by Melanie the Graceful... granted, these comparatively svelte sorceresses failed to fill out the ensemble nearly as voluptuously as his rival.

Having reached the heart of the accursed windmill tower, he'd come across a familiar signature of brilliant silver runes etched across the stone floor just before another sight he'd come to expect – a shimmering wall of mist obscuring the gate before him.

Had he taken Queen Mytha on alone, Knight LoveGame might have had another harrowing tale to add to his anecdote he'd regale Ilia with when he returned.

The concerted and unrelenting efforts of the eccentric and brazen man he'd brought forth with his signature sign would... overwhelmingly tip the odds in LoveGame's favor. He'd introduce himself as Thomas, his jolly greeting muffled by a metal mask more at home in a stage play.

Adorned from head to toe in lively red and yellow livery, this eccentric jester was the furthest thing from a joke. Though LoveGame did make a fair and valiant attempt to land the occasional swipe against her scaly hide, he found it far more effective to serve as a distraction as the serpentine queen lunged her sickly green body in an attempt to squeeze the life out of him. After all, even as the baneful queen assailed him with her disembodied head held tightly in her grip by her voluminous jet-black locks, he was far more weary of being immolated by the destructive aftershocks of the forbidden suns Thomas hurled at the mutated monarch with impunity. True to the spell's name, each colossal orb of white-hot primal flame found its mark rather easily.

It hardly felt as though a single minute had passed before Mytha was reduced to but a heap of royal ash, deprived of the very thing that gave her eternal life thanks to the advice of that buxom priestess. Perhaps there were good people left in this accursed kingdom yet.

Emerging on the other side of her circular chamber, now drained of its venomous influence, Knight LoveGame would take the opportunity to shake himself dry like a dog, painting the stone walls with a light coating of sickly green. Feeling a surge in his morale, he'd offer Thomas a firm handshake, a mutual respect evident between their masked gaze. "Phew! Quite a show you put on there, Thomas. Not for nothin', I'm just glad you're on my side!" he'd give the jester genuine praise.

"Hah! It's merely what I do!" he'd tell the armored man with equal conviction, giving a pair of thumbs-up. "I cannot remain for too long, lest I miss the call of others who may need my assistance."

LoveGame gave the colorfully dressed man a sharp nod. "I got ya. I'm runnin' a little behind on my own thing here, so..." he'd offer a handshake, only to burn his palm on the pyromancer's flame and settle for a light fist bump instead. "I'll leave you to it. ...Er, praise the sun!" he'd finish his sentence with the traditional mantra of the Heirs of the Sun, waving goodbye as the masked apparition faded away, returning to his world.

Now left to his own devices in an empty and rather featureless room, he'd spy his ticket out of this poisonous peril once and for all – a wrought iron elevator in unusually immaculate condition compared to the crumbling structure he'd just ascended. With little other option, the wayward knight stepped inside and pressed his boots on the pressure plate below, the gears and chains clanking to life as he was brought upward.

Though the ride wasn't much longer than the myriad of other lifts he'd taken up to this point, the ascent left LoveGame feeling uncharacteristically lightheaded, as though he'd been very briefly reminded of his humanity...

The Iron Keep

Had the wayward knight known a lick about the Old Iron King's past, steeped in all-consuming greed and short-sighted hubris, he might have far less reverence for the man. After all, had the once-powerful monarch not reaped the plentiful iron of Harvest Valley with such impunity, he'd have never unearthed the poison that bled from its recesses. As if in defiance of the gods, he'd erect a kingdom that rivaled Vendrick's own in might and glory atop an active volcano. With the help of his most trusted ally Sir Alonne, a warrior from the east with a past shrouded in darkness, the King raised an army of knights clad in refined black steel and armed with superior weaponry. The King's glory days, however, were short-lived. He was perhaps a bit too fixated on his own greed to notice his impenetrable fortress of pure black iron had begun to sink into the searing lava below, and the mysterious ally had long since left his side. He'd not have much time to contemplate this dilemma either, as after unearthing a remnant of the Old Chaos deep below the Iron Keep, the King was never heard from again.

Though truthfully, it wouldn't have mattered if he'd been a righteous and magnanimous ruler with a kind soul and a heart of gold. Even the most resilient of things built upon this accursed kingdom were doomed by the Cycle of Flame. That was the true hubris.

Knight LoveGame's method of arrival to the Iron Keep defied all logic, as if reality and the land itself had decided to play a trick on the man's mind. In the near future, some especially devout scholars would make this a point of heated discussion for years to come.

...and so naturally, LoveGame did not give it so much as a second thought. He had far more pressing matters ahead of him, and he was running late as it stood. Before the wayward knight could even get a good look at the new locale, he'd feel a sudden surge of raw soul energy strong enough to nearly bring him to his knees! "No two ways about it..." he'd say to himself, feeling his own soul resonate off of the aetheral pulse. "...one of those Great Souls isn't too far off. It's even more intense than the last one... I'm expecting damn near anything at this point."

A mere few paces out of the elevator, he'd spy the comforting sight of another bonfire beckoning him to a lower platform just at the edge of the lavaflows. Praising the searing red sun that hung above the surreal tapestry of a blackened orange sky, he'd waste no time lighting the coiled blade, taking a brief respite and sorting through the spoils he'd picked up on his way up. Afterward, he'd spy something on a distant rock floating on the molten earth, thinking he may be able to reach it if he broke into a dead sprint.

He most certainly couldn't.

One lethal lesson learned later, he'd find himself a mere few paces from where he started, breathing a defeated sigh and shoving one of his Effigies into his chest, restoring his flesh once more. "'Least nobody saw that one. Now, let's see here..."

Ahead of the wayward knight was a broad, curved bridge that granted him passage into the Keep. The imposing fortress of iron as black as night casts its long shadow over him, as though daring the hero to enter its walls. It was a structure more daunting and complex than anything he'd come across in his journey thus far, each tower tipped with a spire like the fang of an ancient dragon. The mighty keep had indeed begun to sink into the vast sea of molten earth. Numerous structures in the distance had already been reclaimed by nature's ceaseless wrath, no longer accessible by mortal man. The great bridge led him straight into the keep's quarters. It wasn't long before the Iron King's loyal knights took notice of the undead intruder, a pair of them rushing him down with their katana of jet-black metal that seemed to glow against the searing sunlight! Formidable as the king's knight's were, standing a head taller than the hero and seemingly armored from head to toe in layered dark steel... LoveGame found himself quite comfortingly in his element!

Sure, these eastern swordsmen were a bit more deft on their feet than the average training dummy he honed his skills on in his youth, but he'd pinpoint the gaps in their armor just as well. His prized Sun Sword's craftsmanship lent itself to deep stabs, each one sneaking past their defenses and skewering their undead flesh within! After his dealings with the King's welcoming committee, he made his way into the knights' quarters and took his guard, the sound of metal footsteps keeping him on his toes.

It was more of the same song and dance, though this encounter introduced LoveGame to another of the Iron King's greatest steps in the arms race – a great lance with barbs running down its length embedded itself into the Dragonrider's Greatshield! One of the dark-armored knights had perched himself in an alcove high above, firing from the darkness what could've been a hefty spear in the hands of an average warrior. The taut stretch of sinew against black metal echoed through the corridor as his assailant nocked an iron greatbow. LoveGame evaded death from above, ducking into the first doorway he spied. He'd briefly be treated to an unexpectedly scenic view of the fiery expanse, but opted not to take too much time drinking the sights in. As cool-headed as he'd been against the armored onslaught, the stalwart man began to bake profusely in his own metal armor as the heat rose rapidly through the very floor he stood on.

The Estus did provide basic hydration, but the real relief came when he spied another one of those face-shaped contraptions. He'd held onto two or three of those intricate little lockstones, one of which he'd place into the mouth. His curiosity was rewarded a million fold – the eyes began to cry streams of pure, untainted fresh water. Though the bonfire's universal healing properties had cleansed his body of all traces of the toxins he'd trudged through, his armaments weren't so lucky. Making sure to scoop out some of the crystal clear water with a spare jar, he'd splash his entire body in its cooling embrace before giving his new blade a thorough washing, lest it rust in its sheath.

Finding little else of use in the soldier's quarters, LoveGame made his way out to the Keep's central chamber, its courtyard long since submerged in the searing heat. He'd hardly managed to take a step outward before another black iron greatarrow landed just shy of his leg, kicking up debris as it made impact. Taking cover behind a nearby strut, he'd spy three guard towers around the Keep's perimeter, each one occupied by one of the King's archers, each one strategically positioned perfectly to counter the others' blind spots.

Though it was not the young knight's forte, he'd try his hand at a more methodical approach this time around, stifling his personal feelings on a knight betraying his sense of honor by attacking him cowardly from afar. He'd sprint serpentine between each shot, quickly ducking under the lower walkways out of sight. A handful of knights rushed him with their katana drawn, thought the knight was able to dispose of them with relative ease now that he was out of sight of the snipers. He'd use the temporary reprieve to better assess the fortress' layout. Directly in the center was a furnace, still fully operational and no doubt smelting away at raw iron harvested from below. The only viable method of crossing the chasm of lava was a thin, narrow bridge... currently inaccessible as it hung high in the air, suspended by a set of chained hoists.

Carefully making his way back up the metal staircase, the knight would spy a lever a few paces ahead, giving the hefty metal mechanism a proper pull...

"...whoah there!"

...the motion of which led LoveGame to inadvertently, but very fortunately evade an incoming greatarrow!

Metal ground against itself as the iron bridge indeed lowered, granting the swordsman passage over the precarious pit. Unfortunately for him, the resounding thud attracted the attention of another detachment of Alonne knights! His memory of the Bastille not betraying him, he'd thwart the armored foes by funneling them all down the narrow staircase. Using his greatshield to knock them off balance, he'd best the better part of the king's soldiers; those not cut down by his blade were sent tumbling into the fiery abyss, vaporizing. Each one granted the knight an unusually high volume of souls, almost making up for his embarrassing mistake from before.

Refusing to let the intense heat get to his head, LoveGame found ample cover from the eagle-eyed archers back on the lower walkway. He'd take a moment to get his bearings straight, picking up a few useful goodies as he ambled toward the active furnace in the center. The iron staircase below had already begun to deteriorate as it sunk into the lava. The wayward knight made his way around the forge even as it spewed jets of ember from the smallest of cracks. Still out of the snipers' line of sight for the time being, he spied a wheel crank on the side of the structure. At this point, our hero wasn't going to be satisfied until he touched every last contraption he came across, as though it were second nature. Standing back and dusting his hands, he'd draw a deep breath and stretch his upper body. "Alright, LoveGame. Put your back into it." he said, psyching himself up as he gripped the terribly corroded crank with his gauntlets.

"...hmmmmhhh!"

Though he was met with resistance at first, the old wheel relented, spinning smoothly to the right until it came to a stop, deactivating the bellowing heat within. Giving it a moment to cool, he'd open the heavy door, rewarded with a wealth of unrefined titanite and even a thick petrified bone of unknown origin. Curiously, the kiln had another doorway leading out into a second set of walkways. LoveGame only peeked through, taking the cautious approach. His faith in his instincts was rewarded as he saw a pair of archers patrolling the outer walkway. Now that he finally got a better look at them, their ornate, reinforced armor and tall-crested helms denoted they were the Iron King's elite. Though it appeared to be a straight shot into the heart of the fortress, it'd have left him wide open in the line of fire, and closing the distance in time would've been a dubious prospect. After weighing his options, LoveGame backtracked the way he came, making his way onto the upper platform where the bridge had lowered.

Taking one last deep breath, he'd break into a dead sprint toward the upper walkways and across the chained bridge, the destructive impact of each greatarrow mere inches behind his step being all the motivation he needed to keep going. Just across the bridge, he'd spot another one of Alonne's captains taking aim at him with a greatbow of black iron! Knowing he'd be pinned like a butterfly if he paused even for a second, he kept to his feet and set his sights on the nearest doorway a few paces from the bridge's other end. The only thing that stood in his way was a lone captain, already nocking an arrow and taking aim at LoveGame. Quite literally thinking on his feet, he'd take advantage of the greatbow's one drawback – being incredibly slow to draw – and dash behind the captain! Planting his armored foot on his foe's back, he'd press the whole of his weight forward, forcing the archer into the execution position. He'd surge all of his power into a harrowing backstab, slipping past the black armor and tearing through it with his sword. Falling in line with his comrades, his entire being dissipated into the aether... only this one, rather curiously, leaving his helm behind in the material realm. The heavy steel headgear had only just clattered to the floor as the wayward knight scooped it up in his hands with a twinge of excitement.

Hugging the wall close, the wayward knight found himself mercifully out of the snipers' line of fire for the time being. He'd allow himself a moment to decompress his heated nerves and inspect the spoils of war.

"Oh, wow, it's..." he'd pore over the intricate, layered craftsmanship. Its smooth, jet-black steel shone an unusual shade of purple under the burning sunlight, its tall crest splitting into a forked design at the top. Gazing into the darkness of its opening, he'd see himself almost as clearly as he had in that effigy the day he arrived in the accursed kingdom. "...something about it resonates with me. It reminds me just a little bit of home." he'd say aloud.

Undoing the leather strap behind his neck, he'd remove his own helm for the first time since his last slumber. His long, jagged black locks were thoroughly inundated with sweat, matted down from the pressure of steel. Retrieving his jar of water from his belt, he'd pour its entire contents over his head, letting the crystal clear liquid drench and cool his undead flesh. Shaking out his hair and pushing it away from his eyes, he'd wipe his face with the worn crimson cape of his armor before turning his attention to his old helm. Its once finely polished steel had corroded and chipped from all he'd been through up to this point, ironically now resembling the ragged one he'd pilfered back at the start of his journey.

These sentimental thoughts served only to delay the inevitable. Without even turning to face it, he could feel the ghostly chill of the mist wall's aura from the entrance to the chamber he rested against. Behind it, the overwhelming power he'd sensed on arrival was now resonating with his soul.

LoveGame made the usual preparations, inhaling an invigorating green blossom and applying a fistful of golden repair powder to his prized sword. He'd don his shiny new helmet and secure it in the back, steeling his nerves for whatever unworldly soul awaited him beyond the mist.

The chamber was perfectly circular, a ceremonial rotunda wrought of tempered iron inlaid with intricate engravings along the ring patterns on the floor. Standing guard in the dead center with both colossal claws gripping a mighty blade, the cursed knight's foe towered over him by at least double. Unmistakable as a greater demon, every inch of its intimidating form was cast purely in obsidian black iron and steel with jagged spikes and ridges all over. The span of its twisted horns passed even its broad shoulders, the right a bit shorter than the left, and its face was but a gaping black void. Most strikingly of all, its torso was entirely separated from its legs. Suspended together at the abdomen by the raw, exposed core of its very soul that gave off the faintest, pulsing glow.

Exhausted from the heat of battle, Knight LoveGame opted for an informal greeting, to cooked for anything more eloquent than, "...that's one helluva look you got going on there. So you're no bull, huh?"

His words echoed lightly through the circular chamber, a tense pause before he was dignified with a response from the behemoth. "You are..." he bellowed in a distorted, low growl, "...a bearer of the Darksign. What is it you seek within these doomed walls?"

"That's easy." said LoveGame, holding out his fist. "The Great Soul of the Iron King. Soon as I felt it resonating off of my own soul... I knew I had to have it!" he'd exclaim to the demon. "They call me LoveGame. Knight LoveGame of Wes'Sv'Urginiah!"

"The Iron King..." repeated the demon wistfully. "...the forge has gone dormant. Why did you forego the path below?" he inquired with a reverberation to his twisted voice.

The knight was already stretching his legs to limber up. "Oh, yeah! That, I.. er- I honestly just didn't feel like takin' my chances with the King's snipers." he'd say matter-of-factly. "Those guys mean business, lemme tell ya! If you ask me, though... there's no honor in fighting like that. What, are they afraid to get up close and personal? If y' ask me, the best way to get to know your enemy is crossing swords with 'em. Somebody told me once, it was like havin' a conversation in a way. I kinda get it, y'know?" he'd ramble for a moment. "...sorry, those kinda things tends to set me off. Who are you, big guy?"

In some twisted, roundabout way, the wayward knight's words resonated with the Demon's burning soul. The deep grooves of his armor began to glow a fiery orange. "I am the Smelter Demon born of the Old Chaos..." he'd introduce himself, the great brazier behind him igniting to illuminate his imposing form. "...and it is I who bested the Iron King in battle long ago."

LoveGame suppressed a gasp, staring the demon down.

"...if you wish to know the truth of the Iron King's fate, then face me here and now." challenged the low rumble of his voice, his greatsword igniting with veins of magma. "Your sense of honor is admirable, not unlike my own. Duel me to the death, and the victor shall claim the soul of the fallen."

Tensing his body and channeling the energy of the souls he'd gathered, Knight LoveGame drew his Sun Sword and twirled it in his hand. "... a demon, huh? ...careful, big guy. I'm a pretty spicy one myself... and in some circles, I'm known not to hold back when I get even a little excited!" he'd limber up, assuming a fighting stance. "Funny, they say I'm s'posed to be the next monarch around here, but I just don't see it."

"Whew...say, big guy... is it hot in here for you?"

"Perhaps slaying a would-be monarch might leave me satiated. Very well!" the demon bellowed in agreement, tearing his sword from the floor as iron ground against itself. "If your honor does not betray you, than come at me with all of your resolve!" he'd shout, brandishing the burning heap of iron as though it were no more than a twig. Without another word, he'd charge toward the knight and make the first move in an attempt to overwhelm him with the oppressive reach of his blade!

"You kiddin'? I'm all kinds of resolute right now!" the knight answered back, taking a great leap over the harrowing slash! "This is the kinda thing I came here for! Hmmmh!" he'd seize the opening and use the momentum of his descent to stab straight through the demon's iron body!

Giving a guttural growl, the Smelter Demon shifted its crushing weight forth and brought his searing blade down vertically, sending LoveGame crashing into the floor below! Just before impact, LoveGame struck out his greatshield and surged the whole of his undead strength into his left arm, recovering to his feet with a rough backflip! He'd kick off the ornate iron and slash at his legs, the sun sword wearing down at the solid iron!

Choking, searing heat continued to rise throughout the chamber as the duel raged on with no sign of a clear victor. Both swordsmen exchanged even blows, but Knight LoveGame held the advantage in speed and tenacity! For every brutal swing he took to the chest, he'd swig his Estus and come back swinging twice as hard! The horned demon's overwhelming offense was met blow for blow by LoveGame's unyielding strength! A surge of primal flame grew between the combatants as they clashed! Using his foe's size to his advantage, LoveGame slowly began to adapt! He'd throw his body to the ground, just under each mighty swing of the demonic blade! Even when he failed to evade in time, his Dragonrider's Greatshield took the brunt of the iron assault!

However, just as he'd begun to gain the upper hand against the fiery colossus, he'd be knocked onto his feet by a searing shockwave of raw soul energy from the demon's core! "Enough of this courtesy, cursed one! Facing me at anything less than full strength... I could think of no greater insult! WRRROAAARRR!" the Smelter Demon bellowed as its burning core ignited into a blinding swirl of yellow embers! His entire form had been cloaked in endless flame! "Resolute...REACTOR!"

The sheer headrush LoveGame felt in this moment was indescribable; he was in sheer disbelief, yet couldn't have felt more excited at what he'd witnessed. "Wheeew! I can't quite place it, but I recognize that power!" he'd say, springing to his feet and dusting himself off. "Sorry 'bout that; I was still kinda warming up! Those other knights were tough, but I don't think anything coulda prepared me for this!" He'd quickly snatch a bundle of Aromatic Ooze from his belt, coating his Sun Sword in raw magical essence. He'd once again assume a warrior's stance, heels dug in and blade held out, channeling his energy until a faint glow of azure surrounded his body. "Hmmmmhh...! ...Hah! ...this is the best I can do for the time being. I'd hate to disappoint you, big guy. Let's just hope that move of yours won't make you burn out too early." he quipped through deep breaths. He probably thinks I'm playin' with him. This really is all I've got for right now... I thought for sure I'd have busted out one of those new techniques by now. That white knight back in the Bastille didn't even leave me so much as a hint...

"Whoahh!" he'd shout, being snapped out of his thoughts just in time to leap out of the way of the Demon's blade crashing down upon him, nearly toppled again from the aftershock! Sticking his landing a good distance away, he'd kick off and go on the offensive again! Every moment he spent near his foe's fiery barrier, he'd be scorched relentlessly! No longer able to recklessly rush the Demon down, LoveGame calmed his nerves the best he could and took his guard, his mighty shield still withstanding the heap of raw iron that crashed against it! Taking every precious opening he saw, he'd dash forth and cleave into the Demon's solid iron hide, the blessing of magic bypassing his defenses! Though the metal menace would land the odd strike here and there, but he'd once again find himself on the backfoot against the stalwart undead!

Uninhibited by his oppressive weight, the Smelter Demon leapt high into the air, plunging his magma-infused blade down toward LoveGame! He'd throw his body to the side just in time to save himself from a skewering, but another shockwave of primal flame sent him crashing into the wall! Just before impact, he'd transfer his hefty momentum and kick off of the wall, landing once again on his feet and catching his breath as he took another generous swig of Estus. "A valiant effort thus far, young knight." spoke the Demon, grasping his mighty blade in both claws. "You have the resolve to inherit the strength of a King. However, I cannot allow you to continue down such a foregone path. Be burned in the everlasting hellfires of the First Flame!" he'd bellow with a bestial roar, thrusting his blade clean through the core of his very own soul! The demon stood tall through the searing pain, his searing sword now cloaked in the flames of the Old Chaos!

By the time LoveGame had shaken off the aftershock, the Smelter Demon's blazing blade was held high above him! "...return to ash by the primordial flame!"

"I CLEAVE THE DIMENSION!"

"Not gonna happen, big guy!-" roared the undead knight in defiance as he threw his weight to the right, easily evading the devastating swing and...?!

...Reality itself tore apart at the seams. The knight's vision was split into a seemingly infinite splintering of every point of view. As though staring into a shattered mirror, everything he'd possibly ever see in this moment left him without recourse. No matter how strategic or agile or lucky he was, he'd take the fiery destruction head on!

The Demon's blazing blade made its mark, cutting cleanly across the wayward knight's abdomen! He cried out in raw, visceral anguish as his undead flesh was burned to ash by the surging strike! The crackle of flame preceded the shrill twist of metal - were it not for his armor, LoveGame would've easily been bisected then and there! As reality returned to normal, he'd be sent careening back into the chamber's solid iron walls, this time much too dazed and rocked to recover! Every inch of his body pulsed with searing pain as he struggled to push himself from the floor, his vision hazy and inundated with heat waves. "...I don't..." he'd manage out through bloodied coughs. "...I don't get it. You were... on fire a minute ago. Now yer' tellin' me to give up? ...is that what I'm hearin', or is the heat just gettin' to me?"

"No such thing, Cursed One." the Demon bellowed back as he advanced on his fallen foe with a heavy stomp. "I have lived through the rise and fall of many a King. One said that no one wishes to go on. My kind disagreed..." he'd tell him in earnest. "...young knight, my sole purpose in your corporeal realm is to do battle as a guardian. What steps you take beyond this point are none of my concern... should you surpass me, I shall no longer exist to hear the echo of your footsteps."

"...that so, huh?" LoveGame choked out, using the heft of his shield to push himself back onto his feet. "...is that really what you're concerned with the most?" he'd crack a smile under his black helm.

"C'mon, big guy. You don't even have a face, and I can read ya like one of my books back home! What's really goin' on?"

His voice underscored by the crackling of embers, the Demon indulged him, "It is my understanding that those who pass this point seek to link the fire, delaying the inevitable day it is extinguished. Even should you refuse, you shall relegate this world to a slow and painful demise." the colossus said, making a slow advance toward LoveGame as each step shook the earth beneath them. "Should you inherit the strength of a monarch... you merely contend with two sides of the same coin. Would you be willing to shoulder that burden?"

"WILL YOU SURVIVE UNTIL THEN?"

Tensing his body until his legs were no longer buckling, Knight LoveGame downed the last of his Estus and crushed a large lifegem to supplement the swig. "...you kiddin'? Of course I will. See, at first I'd just come here just to cure my curse... but I've already met folks way more interesting than anyone back home... plus I finally learned how to fight. Once I took down my first giant... hoo-wee, lemme tell ya! It was like I was addicted all of a sudden! Not to killing or anything, mind ya. It was that insatiable desire to take on someone stronger that kept me goin' for a minute there!"

The azure aura that cloaked Knight LoveGame grew in its intensity, stunning even the Smelter Demon for a brief moment!

"...but with every step I took through this cursed Kingdom... well, I started to feel for what its people had gone through." he'd say, reinvigorated by the sudden surge of souls. "...would I do it for the rest of my life? Nah, probably not. Thing is, the further I get... the more I hear the cries of every soul that's tried to make somethin' of themselves by comin' here!" He'd dig his heels in with all the tenacity in his being, brandishing his silver blade as he gathered energy from the raw heat in the air. "Sometimes... I can even hear their screams. I don't know how to stop 'em just yet, but the least I can do is make sure all the souls here can rest peacefully... but now I feel like every step I've taken has brought me that much closer to figuring it out! Hell, I already see where some of 'em are coming from. Sometimes, a means to and end is just the way to go." declared LoveGame, striking his silver blade out before him as it too glowed a mighty blue! "...to that end...! If I've got to bring forth one atrocity to prevent another... I'll gladly take up that mantle."

Without another word, the Smelter Demon barreled toward LoveGame, an unstoppable mass of living iron! With both his body and his blade set ablaze, he put his soul into a surging strike of volcanic proportions! His voice erupting in a mighty roar, he brought the blazing greatsword down where he stood!

…!

"...and so I'll be that coin... THAT LANDED ON ITS EDGE!"

Knight LoveGame surged all his strength into a death-defying leap, both swift enough to avoid fiery doom and high enough to clear the arc of the hefty swing! His left arm cloaked itself in blinding blue, sending his Greatshield hurtling straight for the Smelter Demon! Its teardrop shape cut through the shoulder of his armored form at its pointed tip, stunning him and throwing his balance off! It was the exact opening LoveGame needed to descend on his foe, latching onto the Demon's twisted upper body and thrusting the Sword of the Sun directly into the burning soul core!

...only, the moment he did so, the bright blue glow that emanated from his left arm faded entirely... and he'd find his right overtaken by a wildly undulating aura of shimmering ruby red interspersed with inky veins of pitch black! In that moment, Knight LoveGame felt as though his flesh were being mercilessly wrung out by claws of solid ember...!

...and yet, his unrestrained ecstasy, the thrill coursing through his very being overpowered the searing anguish! "...whew! A red-hot demon's soul, as I live and breathe! It gives me the chills every time I look at it!" LoveGame said, completely awestruck as he reached deep within the demon's core and began to tear it out, absorbing the soul into his own! "This knight thanks you for an honorable duel... and for upholding the promise we made! Sure you won't mind if I take that armor off your hands too! It's kinda calling out to me right now!" he roared in triumph, his left arm once again set aglow, tearing straight into the solid metal! "...so here I go!" he'd shout, surging the unyielding strength of his soul into separating the demon's body from it's incorporeal spirit! "In remembrance of a Demon that fought with integrity, I'll call this one... Winner Takes All!"

One final roar echoed throughout the rotunda chamber as the Demon's soul destabilized from its body, sending a series of searing shockwaves that flung LoveGame several feet back, landing on the iron floor with a resounding thud! His body rattled, he'd push himself up just in time to witness the Smelter Demon meet his demise in a violent eruption! Even through his helm, he'd shield his eyes from the blinding sight, as though a mighty star had breathed its last.

Though it had taken everything the knight had... somehow, he'd won. Casting his helm aside and spitting out his blood, he'd say after desperate gulps of air, "...so that's what a Demon's soul's capable of. Heh... man, I've gotta get me some of that."

Left in the Smelter Demon's stead when the embers cleared at last was the armor born of the wayward knight's desires. A perfect replica of the twisted black iron platemail, perfectly sized to fit a human. It was accurate down to the last detail, leaving his abdomen almost completely exposed! Yet LoveGame donned the new armor with pride, welcoming the cooling sensation of air against him as the demon's aura was no more.

The sight of another bonfire just up the metal staircase sent a wave of relief over LoveGame, lighting it and collapsing beside it to take a well-earned rest. Thanking the gods for his undead blessing, he'd be back on his feet in no time, feeling as though he'd just taken an energizing nap! He'd take a moment to acclimate to his new armor, even weightier than the set he'd only just gotten used to. The gauntlets bore the advantage of giving him a much firmer grip of his armaments. He'd take a moment to look over his old set, its cape tattered to shreds and its once pristine steel mangled beyond repair. While his flesh had recovered from the deep wounds and searing burns by the soul-steeped bonfire, his armor wasn't so fortunate. He'd leave it behind in the center of the room out of respect, a memorial for his fallen foe.

Just as the Smelter Demon had said, his chamber granted safe passage into the heart of the keep, completely out of sight of those abhorrent archers. The last remnant of the king's men were all that stood in his way now.

LoveGame found himself crossing yet another steel bridge suspended over a pit of lava, fighting his way past another of those turtle-shaped soldiers, more polished than those he'd seen back in the forest. He'd send them to their fiery doom before they could break the bridge apart! He'd soon find himself in the depths of the Keep's forge, urns of molten metal hanging from the iron girders high above. Taking the slow approach the moment he spied another archer, he'd dash into the open and yank the nearest lever! His curiosity rewarded him; the nearest archer taking a surprise dip in the lava! Spying an exit on the far end of the forge, he'd sprint to the upper walkways and over the precarious platforms, his final obstacle appearing in the form of bull-headed statues that belched fire. He'd time his approach to evade the occasional greatarrow and dash past the flames, reaching relative safety in the dark, narrow corridor he took refuge in.

Racing down a corridor of black iron, the Great Soul's overwhelming power resonated off of LoveGame's own soul the further he traversed. Another of the turtle-clad guards stood in his way, but he'd topple him over with a weighty kick and let the guillotine trap he'd set be his own undoing! Just past another set of those bull statues billowing flame, the knight saw salvation in a nearby ladder! He'd quickly clamber upward, escaping the fiery jets below. One equally lengthy ladder later, he'd be rewarded with yet another bonfire! Fortune had truly smiled upon him, as he'd operate another nearby lever that quelled the flames of those awful bull statues.

LoveGame would light the twisted sword, seat himself for a brief respite as the comforting warmth once again caressed his body...

...and he'd feel his entire being rocked with a raw energy of souls that was all too familiar. It was the unmistakable aura of a Great Soul! Even from such a great height, the ground beneath him quaked violently! Crashing of stone set against the distorted crackle of sorcery through the air... he'd take a deep breath, exhaling a relenting sigh.

"...shoulda known there'd be no breaks in this marathon. Alright, gimme a second..."

LoveGame stretched his body and cracked his neck. Taking to his feet and peering out of the twin windows before him... he'd gaze upon a terrible sight on the horizon. He could hardly make out the details from such a distance, but he'd spy the shadow of a great winged terror razing the ground with hellfire... and the tiniest silhouette of someone facing the monstrosity head-on with an assault of spells! "...the hell is that thing? You kiddin' me?! It's the size of my house!" he'd exclaim, making a break for the ladder and sliding down as fast as his weight would carry him. Move it, LoveGame! Looks like someone went and started the fun without me... he'd think to himself as he descended, rushing down the second ladder with equal haste. Hang in there, whoever you are! I'm'a comin'!

LoveGame barreled down the narrow iron corridor with all the strength his legs would allow! All that stood in his way now was one last ironclad turtle solider! With no time to draw his weapon, he'd topple the heavy-armored guard with a flying kick from his black metal boot, toppling it on its back! He'd leap right over, emerging on a crumbling rooftop that gave him a better view of the desperate duel already underway! Its broad, rippling shoulders dominating the horizon, the towering monstrosity slammed its fist of raw iron on the stone floor, sending shreds of stone and metal all about. It dwarfed anything the knight had faced thus far!

LoveGame slid down the tiled roof, rolling onto the crumbling floor below. Much of the heart of the Keep had been reclaimed by the lavaflows, affording him little in the way of footing! He'd sprint for the ruined structure that served as the site of the showdown, clawing through the wall of mist without a moment of hesitation! At last, he'd meet the bearer of the next Great Soul face-to-face! His demonic visage was framed with a pair of curved, sharp horns, its eyes as black as the abyss and its teeth gnashing in multiple rows. Its rugged, earthen body, wrought of perpetually smoldering iron, glowed with veins of red-hot magma! The entire lower half of the nightmare's body was submerged in the rolling lava; he'd wade through the molten sea as though it were a hot spring, advancing on his foe's position!

Fortunately for our hero, the twisted, soul-engorged form of the Iron King had his sights set firmly on his foe! Shifting his gaze to the high wall of the ruins, LoveGame recognized the King's challenger in a near-instant! That iron helm with the red plume... that peculiar armor with its large shoulderguards and cloth tassels... and that curious ringed battlestaff, from which a volley of blue soul arrows erupted, striking the Iron King in his chest!

Come to think of it, I've always wanted to swoop in and save somebody at just the right time, just so I could say somethin' like...

"No way in hell I'd miss out on this!" he'd shout with bravado, drawing his armaments once more and staring down the insurmountable Great Soul. He'd shout up at the armored mage, "Hah, no way! Viv! Is that you, man?!"

He'd stare back down at the knight for a brief moment before leaping high into the air, evading the Iron King's fist! "...and just who were you expecting?! ...LoveGame, was it? You certainly look different.. but I'd recognize that grating voice anywhere." he shouted back down in a voice as dry as the stifling heat around them. "I'd nearly had this behemoth handled! Assist me here, and we'll have plenty of time to hash out the formalities!"

LoveGame gave the wizard a sharp nod, readying his blade just as the King breathed a flurry of flames toward them both! "No objections there, pal! Looks like you've done a helluva job softening him up, but... I kinda need his soul for myself! Lemme show ya just how I can earn that soul fair and square!" he'd taunt, dashing straight for his hulking foe, slipping between the flames and slashing deep into his arm with the Sun Sword! He'd follow up with another deep cut before the corrupted king could retract his clawed fist!

"No need to waste time with flourish, knight!" Vivi responded, already charging another spell at the tip of his crystal staff. "The King's soul means little to me. If you must, consider it repayment for being so doggedly distant before! Hah!" he'd fire off a mighty soul spear, tearing through the King's chest! He'd swat at the mage, who leapt away with little effort and brought another barrage of soul arrows down on him! Though he was well out of the way of the weighty slam, LoveGame was nearly taken off of his feet! He'd leap to the side, avoiding a dip in the lava as he navigated the tiny platform they'd been relegated to. The Iron King gathered energy in its palm aiming toward Vivi as he made his descent! "Now! The King's audience is with me! Here's your opening; strike down this disgraced monarch and claim his burning soul as your own!"

LoveGame's right arm burned red once again; he'd cloak his entire being in the primal flame as his blade burned with the intensity of the sun! "Hah, you got it! For some reason... I couldn't muster this one up for the longest... but I'm kinda feelin' it now!"

Sprinting forth at breakneck speed and leaving a trail of flame behind him, Knight LoveGame brought his sword arm back, kicking off the moment he closed the distance as an explosive flame propelled his harrowing ascent! "Hmmmmh!"

"...Volcanic...VIPER!"

Just as the Iron King struck his palm out and fired a beam of raw heat at Vivi, LoveGame swung his sword upward with all his might, leaving a brilliantly burning contrail! Aiming squarely for the King's horned head, he'd find his mark on the chin and cleave straight through his skull, a staggered series of searing explosions echoing the decisive slice!

His fiery aura faded as he hung in the air for a moment, witnessing the Iron King's demise as his gargantuan frame crumbled, sinking back into the unforgiving sea of fire! "...Hoo-wee! Tell me you saw that one, Viv!" he'd gleefully gush, ignoring for a moment that he was about to make a meteoric descent!

"...It takes quite a lot to impress me. Well done! Now..." he'd prepare another spell, this time aiming for his armored ally. "...get down from there this instant, lest you be crushed under your own weight!" said Vivi, casting Fall Control just in time to make LoveGame's fall relatively painless.

Feeling his energy stabilize, he'd push himself to his feet, where a Great Soul floated just before him, its unyielding warmth beckoning him to reach out. "Did you just... whoah... it's not any less breathtaking the second time."

Vivi leapt down from the crumbling ruins and joined LoveGame's side, giving a light stretch. "Brilliant, isn't it? We've only just become acquainted, really. Yet, we've just bore witness to history here, LoveGame. If that isn't fate, I couldn't fathom what is. Now save your sentimentalities and claim that Soul as your own." he'd say with the faintest smile under his iron helm.

"Hah! As if you'd need to tell me twice!" he'd say, his confidence only partially masking his apprehension as he reached out his gauntlet, allowing the deified soul passage into his own. The intense heat he'd feel upon absorbing the soul was doubled this time, yet so was the wave of cooling relief he'd feel moments later. "Whew... hah... halfway there, man." he'd say, catching his breath as his soul stabilized the incredible energy. "Viv, lemme tell ya... I got... I got so much to tell ya."

His slurred words made Vivi chuckle more than he had in quite some time. "Heh. The heat must be getting to you. Let's get you right through here..." he'd say, leading LoveGame into the depths of the ruins, where another primal bonfire awaited them. It was identical in every facet to the one he'd found in the Sinner's chamber, its coiled sword cleanly broken in two. "...and we'll have ample time to catch up back home. Believe me, Knight. I'm just as fatigued. I feel as though my skull could rattle free from my helm."

"You know, Viv?" LoveGame said as he reached his palm out, igniting the primal flame and opening their conduit to a safer place. "...I really dig the way you think." he'd say as the two warriors locked eyes through their helms, a familiar warmth washing over them both as they were brought back home.

Majula

By the grace of the primal bonfire, the pair had been sent back to the seaside settlement just as night had fallen, the starry sky reflecting from the ocean's undulating waves as the silver moon hung high above.

...and of course, LoveGame would materialize at the Far Fire to grace Ilia's sight just as she'd settled into her evening meditation, having nearly forgotten her source of stress altogether. Returning with another armored man in tow, he'd light up at the sight of his sworn protector, unable to contain his mirth! "Man, as if this evening couldn't get any better! It's a rare comfort in this cursed kingdom to share a moment with old and new friends." he'd say before turning to her. "Ilia! How we doin'?! Say... didja get a chance to cool off? Cuz lemme tell ya, you wouldn't like where I've been...!"

Ilia likewise shot her ally an unusually warm smile. "...LoveGame? Hah! You kept me waiting for a minute there... say, s'that you? I hardly recognize you in that goofy getup." she'd add, noting his striking change in appearance.

With a laugh of his own, LoveGame removed his helmet and let his jagged, jet-black locks hang loose, shaking them out. "Well yeah, I..." he'd begin before his mind shot back to their earlier split-up. "...say, you ain't still upset with me, are you? I was just havin' a little fun, rea-" he'd begin before he was cut off by the firm, comforting embrace of Ilia's warm hug.

"Not even a little bit! You ought to know, LoveGame... that this was just all part of X- ehem!" she'd say before biting her tongue. "...Ilia's one-step plan! Step one, show me you can handle yourself on your own! I don't plan on staying here forever..." she'd say with unusual bravado, "...but as long as I'm here, why don't we make the most of it? That's what your girl over there thinks, anyway." she'd motion over to the Emerald Herald, deep in slumber and using her cloak as a blanket.

With a reflective pause and a deep breath, LoveGame looked Ilia in her emerald eyes. "...you got it, sis!"

"...and I'm..." Vivi began before cutting himself off, endeared by the moment they shared. "...well, it seems the two of you have unresolved business. Slumber is calling me as well. I'll remain here this time, so that we may reconvene in the morning."

Weary and exhausted, LoveGame and Ilia were not too far behind the wizened wizard, resolving to catch each other up on the finer details tomorrow. The knight, the swordstress, the mage, and the Herald all curled up by the crackling flame and drifted off, their dreams a muddled mess of the what the future held.

...and in the near distance, just a few paces from the curious cat's little shop, two enrobed women watched the reunion with a pair of warm and satisfied smiles. "...did we do well, dear sister? They look ever so peaceful, and I've a feeling tomorrow will grant them a boon of good will!" said the buxom, polite priestess with unbridled glee.

"I'd say we did just lovely." purred the pear-bodied, curvaceous priestess, putting an arm around her top-heavy counterpart. "Though I do hope they're ready for what tomorrow brings. Even I hadn't the heart to tell them."

"Quite alright, dear sister!" beamed the busty lady. "It'd be rather the bore for them if we didn't leave anything up to surprise!"

The plump gal returned her sister's embrace, her plush hips pressing against her. "Then we're of the same mind, sister.~"

With the sound defeat of the Old Iron King, Knight LoveGame had wrested the second Great Soul from its mighty host! Now halfway toward what seemed only yesterday to be an insurmountable goal, the wayward knight now surrounded himself with powerful allies, each of which would prove instrumental in furthering his path to King Vendrick! However, LoveGame had conveniently left out one crucial detail of his greater plan when catching them up... and it was this peculiar gambit that would change the course of his destiny once more!

Greetings once more, you lovely thing! Licia of Lindeldt speaking once more. You may have realized I'd explicitly told you I would not appear in this chapter, and while such remained true for the greater part of it... I'm also quite the unashamed liar. It adds wonderfully to my allure, wouldn't you say? Well.~ Onto the next chapter, wherein... say, isn't that my dearest friend? ...Oh! Well, I cannot say any more, lest I risk spoiling this rather explosive next chapter. I require no payment this time; your most gracious attendance is enough! Next time: The Heir Engine! Witness history in the making, you lovely thing!~