Naruto: The Chosen Undead

by Adamos amet

Marked by the cursed Darksign, Naruto Uzumaki finds himself tethered to two worlds: the unforgiving lands of Dark Souls and the shinobi realm of ninja. How will a world of Dark souls face a Chosen Undead with chakra? And how will the shinobi world confront a warrior reborn in the Lands of Lordran?

28. Chapter 28 Dark Souls

Disclaimer:I don't own Naruto or Drak souls. Any similarities between real people, living or dead, or places, standing or demolished, in this story are just coincidences.

But if you like what I do and want to support me, you are more than welcome to donate on Place of Patrons.

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Chapter no.28 Cursed in Lordran: The Hunt of the Hollowed

---

Naruto stepped out of the house, his mind elsewhere. He needed to figure out where to go—somewhere he could slip into Lordran undisturbed and fix this mess. There's gotta be a way… His thoughts ran in circles, so deep in his own head that he almost didn't notice the voice that called out to him.

"Uzumaki-san. Where are you going?"

Naruto blinked, snapping out of his trance. Shino stood a few feet away, unmoving, his voice as neutral as ever. Beside him, Kiba was glowering, arms crossed—the very definition of resentment.

"Just taking a walk," the blonde said absently. "Clearing my head."

For a moment, Shino was silent, studying him behind those dark glasses. Then, with the same calm precision he always spoke with, he gestured toward the forest beyond.

"There is a quiet area deeper within the woods," he said. "A place undisturbed. It may be suitable."

"Uh… thanks?"

"No need to thank me. A shinobi must be in the right state of mind for a mission to succeed. If taking a walk helps you regain focus, then it is the logical course of action."

Naruto stared. He never really talked to Shino much back in the Academy. The guy was… well, quiet. Kept to himself. Kind of gave off a weird bug dude vibe. But now? He seemed… kinda cool.

Naruto instinctively moved to shake his hand, only to pause mid-motion. He had offered his cursed arm.

For a brief second, an awkward tension hung between them.

Shino's gaze flickered to the burned, unnatural limb, his expression unreadable. Naruto fought the urge to retract it, but before he could, Shino extended his own hand and clasped Naruto's firmly. The buzzing of insects rose slightly.

Shino pulled back. "My apologies," he said simply. "My insects… do not respond well to your fire."

Naruto just nodded.

"Well, I'll leave you guys to whatever you were doing," he said, already noticing Kiba's continued death glare.

Yeah, yeah, I get it—you're still bitter that I kicked your ass. Fine. I'm sorry. But Naruto didn't say that. He had more important things to deal with. Kiba could get his apology some other time. Right now, he needed to fix his damn arm. He turned and took off toward the trees, disappearing into the forest.

Shino watched the blonde in armor go.

Kiba's scowl deepened. "That guy has some nerve."

Shino adjusted his glasses. "This is a mission, Kiba. You can settle your personal grievances later."

"...Yeah, whatever."

There was a brief silence between them, filled only by the soft hum of insects in the background.

"Can you turn off that buzzing, Shino? It's creepy."

"They do not buzz."

"Uh… yeah, they do?"

"Not in the way you perceive it."

Kiba furrowed his brow. What the hell does that even mean? But as always, Shino offered no further explanation.

---

Naruto pushed through the dense underbrush, the scent of earth and moss filling his lungs. Towering trees stretched high above him, their gnarled branches weaving together into a thick canopy of green that blocked out most of the sunlight. Shafts of golden light filtered through the gaps, illuminating the patches of soft, dewy grass below.

A small clearing opened up before him—a perfect, secluded spot, hidden from prying eyes.

Naruto exhaled, rolling his shoulders as he sat on a flat, moss-covered rock. Alright. Let's do this. With a flick of his wrist, he opened his inventory. The moment his eyes landed on the numbers, his stomach dropped.

[ Souls: 500 ]

Naruto's face twisted in frustration.

Damn it. Using the Darksign now meant losing everything. Sure, 500 souls wasn't much, but it was still something. And what if he gathered more souls while in this world? Would he have to sacrifice everything every time he needed to return?

He scowled, tapping his foot against the ground. There has to be another way.

Flicking through his inventory, he scanned the list of items, searching for something—anything—that could help.

[ Item: Homeward Bone ]
[ Description: Bone fragment reduced to white ash. Return to the last bonfire used for resting. Bonfires are fueled by the bones of the Undead. In rare cases, the strong urge of their previous owners to seek bonfires enchants their bones with a homeward instinct. ]

He pulled the fragile, chalky bone from his inventory, turning it over in his hand.

"Would this even work?"

There was only one way to find out. Holding the bone tightly, he cleared his throat. "Take me to the bonfire," he muttered, feeling more than a little stupid for talking to a piece of bone.

For a long, agonizing moment—nothing happened.

Naruto gritted his teeth, ready to throw the damn thing away when suddenly, it glowed. A soft, golden light pulsed from the fragment, warm and comforting, wrapping around him like a protective cloak. The glow intensified, and in the blink of an eye, the forest vanished. When the world came back into focus, Naruto felt the familiar warmth of a bonfire's glow against his face. The golden embers flickered, casting long shadows over the worn stone floor.

He glanced at his inventory.

[ Souls: 500 ]

Still there. A breath of relief escaped him.

"Well, guess that works," he murmured, tucking the remaining bones into his pouch. "Better save the rest for emergencies. Dattebayo."

Looking around, his moment of relief was short-lived.

The portcullis was raised, and the passage beyond was empty—meaning Solaire was gone.

"Well, guess I can't ask Sunbro about how to fix my arm," Naruto muttered, his voice tinged with disappointment. He exhaled sharply, rubbing his forehead. Who else could he even ask?

Solaire was his best bet, but with him gone, Naruto had to think tactically.

Petrus? He immediately grimaced. Hell no. That guy would probably scam him blind, smiling that creepy, false-holy smile the whole time. He wouldn't be surprised if Petrus charged him 1,000 souls just to say the word "pyromancy."

Alexander? Another dead end. The big guy was off doing his own thing, and Naruto had no clue where in Lordran he even was.

That left… the Undead Merchant, which meant going backward.

Turning toward the bridge, Naruto spotted a group of three hollows. Two wielded crossbows, while the third carried a spear. Behind them lay a couple of tempting treasures: a corpse clutching a sword and a faintly glowing soul orb.

"Oh, I forgot that was a trap," Naruto muttered.

He equipped the Zweihander. He took a step forward, ready to fight, when he froze. Wait. His eyes widened in realization. Without his right hand, Naruto couldn't form the complete hand seals—meaning he had no jutsu.

"Crap," he muttered as Way of Focality kicked in, predicting the trajectory of the incoming projectiles. Two bolts were flying straight for his shoulder.

Thinking quickly, Naruto twisted his body, angling his back toward the bolts.

Thankfully, since the knight armor could channel chakra, his wind chakra cloak formed without the use of hand signs, reducing the air resistance and allowing him to move faster than usual. The arrows bounced harmlessly off the shield strapped to his back. A hollow armed with a spear lunged at him, its rusted weapon aimed straight for his chest. Naruto shifted his stance into the low guard, the Zweihander held low but angled forward.

Naruto channeled chakra into his muscles.

Even without his ninjutsu, his stats and chakra enhancement alone made him a monster.

The Zweihander cut through the spear-wielding hollow effortlessly, the force of the strike continuing into the crossbow hollow beside it, splitting both enemies in one clean sweep. The third hollow, now alone, seemed to realize its situation. Dropping its crossbow, it turned and began to flee.

"Oh no, you don't," Naruto growled, his wind chakra cloak propelling him forward. Even without Shunshin, he was fast, closing the distance in seconds.

The hollow knelt mid-run, attempting to reload its crossbow.

Naruto shifted into the high guard, the massive sword raised above his shoulder. With a downward slash, he brought the Zweihander crashing down. The blow cleaved the hollow cleanly in two, its body crumpling to the ground.

Breathing heavily, Naruto wiped his brow and stepped toward the treasures the hollows had been guarding.

[ You have obtained ]

[ Claymore ]

[ Soul of a Nameless Soldier ]

Naruto jumped back, narrowly avoiding the spear thrust aimed for his chest. Two spear-wielding hollows advanced on him, their movements erratic but relentless as they paced back and forth, searching for an opening.

Naruto's eyes flicked between them. He couldn't take both of them on at the same time in such close quarters.

Thinking quickly, he unequipped the Zweihander and grabbed a firebomb from his inventory.

"Let's see how you like this!" he muttered, hurling it at the hollow closest to him.

The firebomb exploded on impact, flames engulfing one of the hollows. Its body jerked and twisted in agony, but it still wasn't down. The second hollow lunged at Naruto, its spear aimed straight for his gut. He sidestepped the attack, re-equipping the Zweihander in a single fluid motion. Shifting into the low guard, he delivered a sweeping slash that cleaved through the unburned hollow, its body crumpling lifelessly to the ground.

He turned just in time to see the flaming hollow staggering toward him, its charred spear raised.

"Persistent, aren't you?" Naruto muttered, reaching for another firebomb.

The hollow lunged, and Naruto threw the firebomb at point-blank range. The explosion sent the flaming hollow flying backward, its body collapsing into a smoldering heap.

Naruto sighed, rolling his shoulders to shake off the tension.

"Okay, that's done."

He glanced around, taking in his surroundings.

Two options lay before him.

He could go up, back to the bridge where the Taurus Demon had once towered, and fight his way through the gauntlet of hollows. Again. Or… Naruto turned to the side, his eyes landing on a hidden pathway tucked behind a crumbling wall. A narrow staircase spiraled down into the dark.

"Guess it's time for some exploring," Naruto said.

He walked cautiously down the stairs, the sound of his footsteps echoing faintly.

The staircase split into two paths. To the left, a walkway led beneath the bridge. To the right, an open doorway revealed another flight of stairs leading further down. Naruto hesitated, feeling the familiar pull of his gut instinct. Something about the stairs to the right called to him. Shrugging, he followed them, descending until he stepped onto a small stone platform.

The sight before him stopped him in his tracks.

He was staring at a familiar, crumbling staircase—and beyond it, the second bonfire he had rested at earlier.

Naruto blinked, realization dawning on him. "You've got to be kidding me," he muttered. "There was a shortcut the whole time?"

His gaze shifted upward, noticing for the first time the red metal ladder bolted to the wall above.

"Of course," he groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. "If only I'd bothered to look up."

But then he paused, letting the thought sink in. Sure, this shortcut would've saved him time… but he wouldn't have fought the Taurus Demon. He wouldn't have faced the Black Knight. He wouldn't have gotten his swordsmanship. He wouldn't have found his cute little crystal lizard.

Speaking of the little guy…

Naruto suddenly had a sinking realization.

"What the hell has Oscar been up to while I was in a coma?"

His mind immediately raced to worst-case scenarios. Were Sakura and Sasuke taking care of him properly? Did they feed him? Did they give him warm baths? Oh god, were they even giving him baths at all?

Naruto grimaced.

What if they just let him run around filthy, rolling in dirt and licking rocks? The worst image imaginable hit him—Oscar, starving, his little gem-covered body dull and dusty, scurrying around the house like a goblin while Sakura screamed at him to get off the furniture. Or—worse.

"What if they tried to make him eat normal food?"

Crystal Lizards didn't eat normal food! They ate minerals, ores, and metal! He could already picture it—Sasuke, stone-faced as he tried to shove a rice ball into Oscar's tiny glowing mouth while the poor lizard screamed in crystal noises, trying to escape the unholy fate of carbohydrates.

Naruto shook his head violently.

No. No. I refuse to let this be happening. There was only one option. Fix this mess. Get home. Rescue Oscar. He would not let his little shiny gremlin son suffer like this. Dattebayo.

---

Naruto walked to the ladder and kicked it down with a loud clang. The metal screeched as it extended, hitting the ground below with a satisfying thud. He climbed down to the bonfire, sitting down to rest for a moment.

He placed his empty Estus flasks on the ground, watching as the bonfire's warm light filled them back up. He felt the soothing warmth of the flames seeping into his body, easing some of the tension in his muscles.

After a moment, Naruto stood and walked out of the small chamber, back into the familiar open area with its crumbling walls and narrow pathways. His eyes immediately landed on the crossbow hollow standing at the far edge, its weapon already aimed at him.

"Really? We're doing this again?"

Fifteen minutes later, Naruto stood victorious. Every hollow in the area lay dead.

His Zweihander resting against his shoulder, Naruto made his way down the familiar staircase that led to the merchant's hidden nook.

"Alright," he muttered under his breath. "Let's see if that creepy guy knows how to fix a hand."

Naruto walked to the merchant's corner.

The merchant, now restored to his human form through the use of humanity, turned to Naruto with a sly grin. His unkempt brown hair, squinted eyes, and scraggly beard gave him the same shifty, scheming look as before—only now with a bit more life in his pale features.

"Wow. You're even uglier than before."

The merchant barked out a laugh. "Ha! Good one, boy. Always quick with the tongue, aren't you? But I see that arm of yours has seen better days." His eyes lingered on Naruto's hand, his grin faltering for just a moment before returning.

"Yeah," Naruto replied, raising it. "Tried to add chakra to my Pyromancy Flame for extra firepower. Big mistake."

"Playing with fire, were you? Foolish. But that's the curse of youth, eh? Always tinkering, always breaking things."

Naruto sighed. "Alright, funny guy. Any idea how to fix this?"

The merchant rubbed his chin theatrically, making a show of deep thought. "Fix it, you say? Hmm. Well, no. Pyromancy isn't really my thing. Too much fuss, too much fire. But—" He raised a finger dramatically. "I did meet a pyromancer recently. A curious fellow, that one. If anyone can help you, it'd be him."

Naruto's face lit up with hope. "Great! Where is he? Can you point me in the right direction?"

"Eh…" The merchant gave a noncommittal shrug. "People around here don't leave maps or forwarding addresses, boy. Lordran's a big place, full of little hidey-holes. You'll just have to search for him yourself."

Naruto groaned. "Of course. Thanks for nothing."

The merchant chuckled, ignoring the jab. "Or…" He leaned closer. "Why not cut it off?"

"Cut it off? Are you insane?!"

"Think about it," the merchant said. "Hack it off, clean and simple. Start fresh. I could even whip you up a prosthetic, eh? With my skills, it'd be a marvel to behold!"

"Your skills? You mean the same skills that made the 'Reinforced Club'?"

"Of course!" the merchant replied, puffing out his chest. "A masterpiece of engineering, that club is! Reliable, strong, and oh, so fashionable! Nee hee hee hee!"

Naruto snorted. "So the prosthetic would just be a stick tied to my arm with leather straps?"

"Hmph! You've no taste, boy. But fine, if you don't want a marvel of craftsmanship, I've got something else that might help." He reached into his cluttered wares and pulled out a small, glowing orange crystal. "Feast your eyes on this."

"What is it?"

"An Orange Guidance Soapstone. A simple tool, but powerful. Lets you write and read messages left by others in this cursed land. Perhaps someone, somewhere, has written a little tip about curing your ailment, eh?"

"How much?"

"100 souls."

Naruto glanced at his HUD.

[ Souls: 1630 ]

He grinned. "Deal."

The merchant handed over the soapstone, cackling softly. "Thank you kindly! Nee hee hee hee!"

Naruto examined the crystal in his hand as a notification appeared:

[Item Acquired: Orange Guidance Soapstone]
[Description: A common tool favored by wandering clerics and errant paladins. Enables the carving of messages into the very fabric of the world. In the fractured lands of Lordran, where the flow of time bends and breaks, these messages serve as lifelines—words of guidance, warning, or deceit. Trust is a fragile thing in Lordran. Be wary.]

"Anything else?"

"How many firebombs can I get for 500 souls?" Naruto asked.

"Ten firebombs for 500 souls? A bargain, if I do say so myself."

Naruto nodded, making the deal. While the merchant counted out the firebombs, the boy asked, "So, anything new going on around here?"

"Treacherous in these parts, boy. A horrible goat demon's moved in below. Felt its presence not long ago—nearly gave me a heart attack, I tell ya."

"Well, once I fix my arm, I'll go and kill that goat demon."

"For my safety, is it?"

"Nah, just for the souls."

"Spoken like a true fool. Don't go dying, now. I still have to scam you out of your souls!" The merchant let out another sharp laugh before suddenly tossing something at Naruto.

The boy caught it—the reinforced club.

"One-handing that massive sword of yours will get you killed," the merchant said. "Take that club. Easier to use with one hand, and it's got a nice bite to it."

Naruto smiled, slipping the club into his inventory. With a flick of his wrist, he took out a cup of ramen and tossed it back to the merchant.

"What's this?" the merchant asked, holding it up and squinting.

"Ramen," Naruto replied. "Food of the gods."

The merchant snorted but pocketed the cup. "Many thanks, but I prefer booze. Real food's wasted on me."

"I'll bring some booze next time I stop by."

The merchant chuckled, already turning back to his wares. "Don't keep me waiting too long, boy."

Naruto left, equipping the reinforced club as he walked. The weight felt natural in his hand, easier to wield than the Zweihander. For now, it would do.

A few minutes later, he climbed the familiar stone stairs, returning to the bonfire on the bridge, its flickering warmth greeting him like an old friend.

Sitting down, he pulled out the Orange Guidance Soapstone and activated it. Three faint orange lines appeared on the ground before him, glowing softly. He tapped one with the soapstone, and a familiar message appeared:

[Solaire: My dear brother, I await you at the Undead Church for some jolly cooperation.]

Naruto sighed, his breath escaping in a visible puff of mist as he stared down the unfamiliar path. He wasn't sure why he was walking toward the route Solaire had taken—it wasn't like he could follow him now with his arm the way it was. Still, curiosity got the better of him. Maybe getting a lay of the land would help when he returned.

The path wound upward, stairs carved into ancient stone leading to an imposing set of castle walls. The sheer size of them loomed like a reminder of how small he was in this world. Naruto hesitated as his eyes landed on a massive doorway ahead, wide and tall enough to accommodate something far larger than a man.

Naruto's moment of reflection was cut short as a hollow soldier that stood guard ran forward, sword raised. Without hesitation, Naruto hurled a firebomb, the explosion consuming the hollow in a burst of flame. Another firebomb finished the job, leaving the charred remains crumpled on the ground.

"Easy enough," Naruto muttered.

He turned back toward the bonfire, ready to leave Lordran behind for now, when he felt it.

The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as a wave of pressure washed over him. Way of Focality told him that something was coming. Something big.

The air grew still, heavy, as if the very world was holding its breath.

BOOM!

The ground quaked as something massive landed in front of him, kicking up a cloud of dust that obscured everything. Naruto staggered back, his heart hammering in his chest as he tried to peer through the haze.

Then he saw it.

A hulking figure emerged from the white cloud, its jet-black armor telling him exactly what the enemy was—the Black Knight.

But this one was different. It carried no sword. Instead, it wielded a shield—a massive, jagged monstrosity. The shield's large, rectangular surface tapered slightly at the top and bottom, with wicked, serrated edges extending outward like cruel spikes. It wasn't just a defensive tool; it was a weapon in its own right, designed to crush and tear.

"Oh, hell no."

Without a word, it began to advance, its heavy footfalls reverberating through the stone path like the toll of a death knell.

Naruto didn't wait. He turned and sprinted toward the open courtyard ahead, desperate to put distance between himself and the knight.

He burst into the courtyard, his eyes scanning the area for an escape route—and then his heart stopped.

The courtyard stretched out before him, an open expanse of stone bordered by pillars and walls. Fires burned in iron braziers on either side, casting shadows that seemed to dance mockingly. To the right, stairs led upward toward a narrow path.

But it wasn't the architecture that caught Naruto's attention.

It was the thing standing at the far end of the courtyard.

An enormous, grotesque boar.

The creature was a monstrosity, its body covered almost entirely in gleaming steel armor. Plated metal encased its thick neck and shoulders, jagged and cruelly designed to deflect any strike. Its glowing red eyes burned like embers in the dark, and its tusks, each as long as Naruto's forearm, curved upward in a wicked arc. Steam hissed from its snout as it scraped a hoof against the stone ground, lowering its head in preparation to charge.

Naruto's stomach twisted as the boar let out a guttural, bestial snarl that echoed through the courtyard.

"Are you kidding me?" he whispered, his voice barely audible over the pounding of his own heartbeat.

Behind him, the Black Knight entered the courtyard, its jagged shield glinting ominously in the firelight.

Naruto's head snapped back and forth, his panic mounting. On one side, the knight; on the other, the armored boar. Both predators slowly closed the distance, their movements deliberate and methodical, as if savoring the hunt.

[Souls: 1120]

"I can't die," Naruto thought, panic clawing at his chest. Normally, death in Lordran was an inconvenience at best—a reset button that let him try again. But that was only because his shadow clone carried the effect of the Ring of Sacrifice, allowing him to avoid losing his hard-earned souls.

Now, with no shadow clone and no way to exploit the ring, the stakes were higher. If he died here, his souls could be lost forever—taken by a hollow or worse... the armored boar.

"How the hell am I going to survive this?"

He was trapped. The Black Knight to his rear, its massive jagged shield glinting ominously in the firelight. The armored boar ahead, its tusks gleaming as it lowered its head in preparation to charge.

Both threats were advancing. Both intent on tearing him apart.

Naruto's mind raced, grasping for a plan, a solution, anything.

But the only thought that surfaced was one word:

Fuck.

The courtyard erupted into chaos.

---

Naruto knew trouble. Trouble was the language of his life, the force that demanded his attention as a child and shaped him into a troublemaker. Getting into it? That was second nature. But getting out of it? That was where Naruto excelled.

This wasn't any ordinary trouble, though.

This was Lordran trouble.

Naruto's mind raced as he assessed the situation. On one side, the towering Black Knight advanced, its jagged shield raised like a predator savoring its kill. On the other, the hulking armored boar scraped its steel-plated hoof against the cobblestones, snorting with a sound like grinding iron.

Naruto's instincts kicked in, his mind rapidly sketching out a plan. He channeled wind chakra into his armor, feeling the familiar resistance vanish—his movements unhindered. With a swift motion, he threw a smoke bomb into the center of the courtyard. The small sphere shattered with a sharp pop, releasing a dense cloud of choking gray smoke.

The boar squealed, disoriented, as the knight slowed its advance, the black mist obscuring its path. Naruto didn't waste a second—he bolted for the staircase to his left.

The stone steps led to an upper platform, exposed to the elements. The right side was broken, revealing a drop into a sprawling sea of trees below. The left was cluttered with wooden crates and barrels, their fragile shapes offering little cover. Naruto's eyes locked onto the next threat: three hollow soldiers stationed ahead.

Two stood far back on a raised bridge-like platform, crossbows aimed at him. A third hollow, armed with a spear, stood in front of them like a gatekeeper, its skeletal head jerking to attention as Naruto ascended the steps.

Naruto immediately reached into his pouch and lobbed two firebombs at the spear hollow. The crude explosives detonated on impact—one engulfing the hollow in flames, while the second finished it off, leaving it to collapse in a heap of burning rags.

But the crossbow hollows were already firing.

Two bolts whistled through the air, aimed straight at Naruto's chest.

Naruto raised his talisman and invoked the Force miracle. A shockwave burst outward, deflecting the incoming projectiles with a metallic clang. He exhaled in relief, thankful he could still use miracles even without his dominant hand. But miracles weren't going to win this fight—they were defensive tools, not weapons.

The crossbows clicked again as the hollows reloaded, their movements jerky but practiced. Naruto clicked his tongue in frustration, equipping the reinforced club. The rusty nails embedded in its head gleamed faintly as he channeled chakra into his muscles.

With a burst of speed, Naruto closed the gap.

The hollow on the left raised its crossbow to fire, but Naruto was faster. The club swung like a bat, slamming into the hollow's skull with a sickening crunch. The hollow collapsed instantly, its head caving in like a smashed pumpkin.

The second hollow, perhaps dumber than its counterpart, threw down its crossbow and drew a sword. It lunged at Naruto, aiming for his throat.

Naruto gripped the club tightly—but then paused, unequipping it mid-swing.

The hollow's blade sliced through empty air where the weapon had been, throwing it off balance. In that instant, Naruto equipped the handaxe and swung backward. The hollow's head separated cleanly from its shoulders, its body crumpling as the decapitated head rolled across the stone.

Naruto took a shaky breath, surveying the area for more threats. His eyes caught something unusual near the ledge—a skull resting on the stones, its empty eye sockets glowing faintly with a cold blue light.

Curious, Naruto bent down and grabbed it.

[ Item Acquired: Alluring Skull ]

[ Description: A skull with meekly lingering souls. Throw to shatter and spread souls to attract certain types of enemies. Souls are a concentration of life, and the life-starved Hollows are lured by its power. Not effective for all enemies. ]

Naruto's eyes narrowed as he read the description. This could be useful, he muttered, tucking the skull into his inventory.

A sound from below brought his attention back to the courtyard. The smoke bomb had dissipated, revealing the armored boar and the Black Knight facing each other. The boar pawed at the ground again, its massive plated body shimmering in the firelight. It let out a deafening squeal before charging, its steel tusks aimed directly at the Black Knight.

Boom!

The ground shook as the boar's weight barreled forward like a freight train. The Black Knight stood its ground. At the last moment, it raised its massive spiked shield and angled it toward the boar.

Clang!

The sound of the impact echoed like a thunderclap. The knight barely budged as the boar's charge was parried, its tusks sliding off the jagged edges of the shield.

Naruto's jaw dropped. Did he just parry that giant boar?

The Black Knight didn't hesitate. With a calculated step, it shifted its weight and slammed the spiked end of its shield into the boar's neck.

The force of the strike was terrifying. The boar squealed in pain, its armor denting under the blow. The knight twisted the shield, forcing the jagged edges deeper into the creature's throat. Blood sprayed from the wound, dark and thick, splattering across the stone courtyard.

Naruto's heart stopped as he watched, frozen in horror.

The boar thrashed wildly, trying to dislodge the knight, but it was no use. The knight shifted its grip and, with a horrifying show of strength, ripped its shield free—along with the boar's head. The armored boar's body crumpled to the ground, twitching for a moment before falling still. Its severed head dangled from the spikes of the knight's shield, blood dripping in thick rivulets onto the stones. The Black Knight turned its helmeted gaze upward, as if sensing Naruto's presence. The hollowed sockets of the severed head seemed to stare back at Naruto, accusing and lifeless. This was no fight. This was execution.

And he was next.

The Black Knight's shield tilted slightly, and with a single, effortless swing, it hurled the boar's severed head toward Naruto.

Naruto's eyes widened, his body barely reacting in time as he tried to dodge. The massive skull struck him in the chest with bone-crushing force, sending him flying backward into the cold metal of a closed gate. The impact rattled his entire body, knocking the wind out of him. He coughed violently, feeling a sharp, throbbing pain bloom across his ribs.

There was a silver lining to all of this.

The sheer force of the Black Knight's brutal swing had flung Naruto backward, but by some miracle, he managed to twist midair, feet sticking to the massive metal gate with well-timed chakra control.

High ground, he thought, catching his breath. Good.

It lasted all of a second before his Way of Focality screamed at him to dodge. Naruto threw himself to the side as the Black Knight's shield came hurtling toward him, cutting through the air like a spinning guillotine. For a fleeting moment, Naruto considered grabbing it and taking the thing into his inventory—but the Black Knight moved. With inhuman strength, the armored juggernaut leapt, launching itself toward its own shield.

Naruto's eyes widened. No way—!

The Black Knight's gauntleted hand gripped the embedded shield, dangling high up like some kind of demon hanging off a ledge. The entire gate groaned under its sheer weight, metal warping and creaking.

"That ain't fair!" Naruto shouted, using Force Miracle, sending a shockwave of white outward.

The Black Knight's hand punched straight through the shockwave, the raw energy rippling uselessly around its outstretched fingers.

The second Naruto saw that, he cut his chakra control. He dropped from the gate, landing hard on the ground before bolting full speed toward the bonfire.

Above him, the Black Knight moved.

With a deep, echoing creak, the gate's mangled surface gave way, and the knight kicked off with monstrous force, using the shield as leverage. The impact dented the iron, leaving behind a crater-like footprint.

The Black Knight was airborne.

For something so massive, it shouldn't have been possible—but it was.

And worse? It brought the shield with it. The moment it reached the peak of its jump, the shield came flying down. Way of Focality's spatial awareness screamed at him—death was right behind him.

Naruto didn't think. He moved. His body twisted instinctively, spine bending as he launched into a backflip, just as the spiked edges of the Black Knight's shield came within inches of skewering him.

A cold shiver crawled up his back—had he been even a fraction of a second slower, that thing would have turned him into a bloody smear on the stone floor.

BOOM.

The shield obliterated the stone floor, shattering the ground beneath it in a deafening eruption of dust and rubble. The shockwave blasted outward, sending cracks snaking across the surrounding stonework. Debris flew everywhere, thick plumes of gray smoke rolling out like an avalanche.

Naruto landed in a crouch, coughing, eyes darting wildly through the dust cloud.

THUD.

The Black Knight landed.

The impact was earth-shattering. The stone beneath its feet buckled and cratered, deep fissures webbing outward like the ground itself was recoiling from the sheer force of its existence. Naruto barely caught a glimpse of the massive figure emerging from the dust, its glowing red eyes cutting through the haze like demonic lanterns. And it was blocking his only escape.

Without hesitation, Naruto turned and ran, his feet pounding against the cold stone as he sprinted toward a narrow staircase leading down.

Maybe if I can get into an enclosed space, my hiding skills will keep me safe. Because fighting that thing head-on? Not a damn chance.

The air felt heavier in the confined space of the hallway, the dim torchlight casting flickering shadows along the rough walls. Naruto's breath came in ragged gasps as he descended, the sound of his heartbeat thundering in his ears. Ahead of him, a Hollow stood in the middle of the hallway. Its broken sword hung limply in its hand as its hollowed eyes met Naruto's.

For a brief second, it hesitated—then turned and ran in the opposite direction.

Naruto didn't have time to process the strange behavior. He kept running, emerging into a larger, open space.

It looked like the ruins of an underground restaurant. Broken barrels and tables were scattered across the room, torches flickering faintly along the walls. Narrow staircases led up to more levels, and the faint glow of firelight cast long shadows across the area.

But the room was far from empty.

A horde of Hollows filled the space, their gaunt, twisted bodies shambling between the wreckage. Their empty eyes locked onto him as one, and they let out guttural, ear-piercing screams that sent a chill racing down Naruto's spine. But that wasn't the worst part.

From the doorway behind him, the Black Knight emerged. Its massive frame filled the narrow entrance, its armor gleaming faintly in the torchlight. It ducked slightly to fit through the doorframe.

Naruto's heart pounded.

He couldn't fight them all at once—he barely had enough strength to handle a single Hollow right now, let alone an army. And then there was the Black Knight. Even at full strength, that fight would've been hell.

But now?

He wouldn't even last five seconds. Should I just die, use my Ring of Sacrifice, and try again?

---

Any normal person in an impossible situation would freeze up, hesitate, and make mistakes, choking on their own fear as death tightened its noose around their neck. But Naruto's mind worked just fine—because he had died before.

Too many times to count.

He had felt his body shatter on impact after jumping off cliffs just to go back home. Death wasn't an ending anymore; it was an annoying inconvenience. A setback. Something to avoid if possible, but never something to fear. So, despite being the frog in boiling water, Naruto did not panic.

He calculated and planned.

His hand slipped into his inventory, fingers brushing against the weird skull that was perfect for this situation. "This will work, dattebayo," he muttered under his breath, pulling the alluring skull free. The hollow screams grew louder as he held the glowing skull aloft. Every hollow in the room turned toward it, their movements jerky and frantic. Naruto threw the skull directly at the black knight, watching as it shattered against the knight's chest. The glowing blue mark spread across the knight's armor, and the effect was immediate. The hollows turned toward the black knight, their screams now directed at it as they swarmed forward in a frenzy. Six, maybe seven hollows lunged at the knight, their broken weapons and skeletal fists striking against its armor with little effect.

Naruto didn't wait to see the result. He sprinted toward a metal ladder on the far side of the room but stopped when he spotted something shiny on a corpse below.

His eyes darted back toward the black knight. The towering figure didn't even flinch as it swatted one hollow away with its shield, sending the unfortunate creature flying into a wall with a wet crunch. Another hollow climbed onto its back, clawing at the gaps in its armor. The knight reached back and grabbed the hollow by the head, its gauntlet crushing the skull in a single motion.

The sight sent a wave of nausea through Naruto, but he forced himself to focus. He slid over the railing, landing softly on the lower level beside the corpse. He grabbed the item quickly, his hands shaking as he read the description.

[ Item Acquired: Mystery Key ]

[ Description: The purpose of this key is unknown. It appears to be a basic prison cell key. ]

Naruto's breath hitched as he heard the heavy footsteps of the black knight. He pressed his back against the wall, trying to steady his breathing. The sound of his heartbeat roared in his ears, drowning out everything else.

The room fell deathly silent.

Then he heard it—a low, guttural growl.

Naruto's eyes darted to the staircase beside him. A hollow was slowly ascending, its head tilted unnaturally to the side as it locked eyes with him. Naruto silently shook his head, pleading with the creature not to make a sound.

The hollow let out a deafening roar.

Before Naruto could react, the black knight was there. It moved with terrifying speed, its gauntlet striking the hollow's skull and slamming it against the wall. Blood sprayed across the stone as the hollow's head exploded like a melon, painting the wall in a grotesque red splatter.

Naruto didn't wait. He jumped, using a wooden beam as a foothold to climb higher. His fingers gripped the support beams above him as he scrambled onto a narrow platform, finding another soul orb resting there.

[ Large Soul of a Lost Undead ]

The black knight turned its head upward, its burning gaze locking onto Naruto.

Desperate, Naruto pulled a firebomb from his pouch and hurled it at the knight. The explosion sent sparks and flames flying, but when the smoke cleared, the knight stood unharmed. The fire had barely scorched its armor. "Not even a scratch," Naruto muttered, his voice trembling. "If only I had explosive tags…"

Spotting a small, tight corner, he jumped, landing in a crouch beside a pair of hollows shuffling aimlessly near the shadows. "Yeah, you guys can take the big guy."

The glowing blue mark from the alluring skull still clung to the black knight, drawing their attention. With low, guttural growls, the hollows lurched away from Naruto and staggered toward the knight, their broken weapons raised.

"Have fun."

The black knight landed with a deafening crash, its spiked shield smashing into the floor as it stepped forward to meet the hollows. The two hollows snarled and charged, swinging their rusted weapons wildly at the towering figure. Naruto didn't stick around to watch. He darted toward the red ladder at the far side of the room, his hand gripping the rungs as he began to climb. His muscles ached with the effort, every movement fueled by sheer adrenaline. Below him, the sound of metal on flesh filled the air. Naruto glanced back just in time to see the knight's shield cleave through one of the hollows with brutal efficiency, splitting it in half at the waist. The second hollow jumped onto the knight's back, clawing at its armor in a mindless frenzy.

The knight's armored hand shot forward, clamping around the hollow's skull with an iron grip. With a sharp twist and a brutal yank, it tore the head clean from its shoulders.

Naruto gritted his teeth, forcing himself to climb faster.

As he reached the top floor, he spotted a doorway leading outside. Light spilled into the room from the opening, and he didn't hesitate.

"Time to go back," he muttered under his breath. "I am going to force Sakura to make me a box of explosive tags."

With that, he ran into the light, leaving the horrors of the underground restaurant behind him. The arena Naruto stumbled into was a narrow bridge leading to two distinct paths. The bridge itself was open, the edges crumbling and barely reinforced. Far below, Naruto could see the courtyard. It wasn't too far down; he could jump, land safely, and make a break for it.

The boy leaped off the edge—but something caught his ankle mid-air.

Before he could even process what had happened, he was ragdolled into the wall. The impact sent a shockwave of pain through his entire body. His spine screamed in protest, his head rang like a struck bell, and his breath was knocked clean out of his lungs. Stars danced in his vision, and for a moment, the world blurred into a haze. The only reason he was still breathing was because of his armor, its reinforced plating absorbing much of the blow.

Naruto groaned, his vision swimming as he looked up—only to see the Black Knight towering over him, its jagged shield raised high, ready to crush him.

Instinct took over.

He thrust up his right arm, the blackened, charcoal limb sparking to life. Flickers of flame danced along its edges. The Black Knight froze. For a fleeting moment, Naruto thought the fire had scared it. Then, without hesitation, the knight released him—only to seize his cursed arm instead. Naruto barely had time to gasp before pain exploded through his body.

The knight ripped his arm clean off.

Flesh tore like brittle bark, embers spilling from the wound instead of blood. The severed limb burned brighter, its eerie fire crackling as if feeding on the pain itself. Naruto was thrown aside, his body skidding across the stone bridge. His vision blurred as he gasped for air, clutching his now-missing limb. Where his arm had been, there was no flesh or bone—only a stump, jagged and charred, like the burned remains of a tree. The edges still smoldered, faint embers glowing within the cracked surface.

"What the hell…?" he breathed, staring at the place where his arm had been.

Why had the Black Knight reacted like that? He didn't have time to wonder. The knight was tearing into his severed arm, its shield crushing the burning limb into the stone.

Naruto forced himself to his feet, stumbling left toward a narrow staircase. His boots slammed against stone as he bolted up the steps and eagerly tipped the Estus Flask back, the golden liquid sliding down his throat, warmth spreading through his battered body. Relief flooded him—his wounds sealed, his strength returned. Any second now, his arm would regenerate, good as new.

Then he'd go back down there and blast that Black Knight to hell.

But as the glow faded, Naruto looked down—his breath catching. His arm was back. Still blackened. Still cursed. Naruto groaned. Of course it's still cursed. Because why the hell would anything ever be easy in lordran?

The path ahead led to a small clearing, where a hollow knight paced, a long spear gripped tightly in its decayed hands.

Naruto lifted his remaining arm, flame flickering to life. If the fire had stopped the Black Knight, maybe...

Nothing.

The hollow let out a low snarl before lunging, its spear aimed straight for his chest. Naruto barely twisted away, sprinting past it with a frustrated groan. "Why did the Black Knight respond to my cursed hand?"

Behind them, the heavy, thunderous footsteps of the Black Knight echoed louder and louder. Naruto's heart pounded as he pushed forward, entering a closed hall that led to an open path outside. The moment he stepped into the open, Way of Focality screamed at him—attacks came from both sides. Naruto ducked instinctively, his body moving just in time to avoid a spear thrust from one side and a stabbing motion from the other. The second attacker was different—a hollow clad in full plated armor. It wore a red, tattered cape that trailed behind it, and in its gauntleted hands was a thin, elegant sword. Both hollows reared their weapons back for another strike.

Naruto thrust his talisman forward and used the Force miracle. The shockwave exploded outward, sending both hollows staggering back.

But the relief was short-lived.

A loud, bone-chilling thud echoed behind him. Naruto turned, his stomach sinking as he saw the Black Knight stepping into the area.

The knight barely spared him a glance. Its attention was on the two hollows, their weapons drawn and their minds still gripped by the Alluring Skull's influence. The spear-wielding hollow lunged, its decayed fingers tightening around the haft of its weapon, aiming straight for the Black Knight's chest. With a single backhanded swipe, the knight batted the spear aside like a child swiping away a twig. The hollow staggered back, unbalanced, panic blooming in its dead eyes. It tried to flee.

It never got the chance.

The Black Knight lunged forward, seizing the hollow by the throat with an iron grip. Bones cracked like brittle twigs beneath the gauntlet's crushing force. The hollow thrashed, kicking wildly, letting out a gurgling, broken cry. Its jaw hung open in a silent scream—until the Black Knight grabbed it and tore it clean off. The lower mandible snapped away with a wet, stomach-churning pop, leaving a ragged, gaping hole where a mouth had once been. Tattered sinew and shattered teeth dripped from the knight's fingers, slick with blood and rot. The hollow convulsed, choking on nothing, its head jerking in grotesque spasms—but the Black Knight wasn't done. It wrenched the spear from the hollow's feeble grip, spinning it once in its gauntleted hands. Then, with pitiless strength, the knight drove the weapon up from below, spearing the wretched undead like a pig for roasting.

The Balder Knight advanced with precision, its rapier held at a perfect angle, the tip hovering in the air like a coiled viper. Its stance was impeccable—one foot forward, weight balanced, shoulders relaxed—the textbook form of a fencer. A lunge—lightning-fast.

The rapier streaked forward toward the Black Knight's visor, aiming for the eye slit.

The Black Knight turned its shield inward, catching the thrust against its reinforced edge. The rapier's blade bent slightly before the Balder Knight snapped it back, repositioning in an instant. The hollow didn't hesitate. It twisted on its heel, feinting left before whipping the rapier back around in a circular motion, aiming for the inside of the elbow joint. A perfect counter to an advancing opponent.

But the Black Knight was done playing defense.

The shield swung sideways in a forceful bash, slamming into the Balder Knight's chest like a battering ram. The impact dented armor and knocked the hollow off-balance, sending it sprawling onto the ground. The Black Knight pressed its boot down on the hollow's chest, forcing it to the ground before delivering the final blow. The shield came down like a guillotine, crushing the knight's skull with an earsplitting crunch.

All of this happened in the span of five seconds.

And even then, Naruto was already running—he didn't wait to see the brutal death the Black Knight would give him. Naruto felt his butt clench in fear as he sprinted down a narrow pathway lined with crumbling pillars. The broken roof above let in faint beams of light, illuminating the moss-covered stone.

Finally, he emerged into a breathtaking sight.

Before him stood a massive church, its stone walls weathered but towering. The structure loomed over the surrounding ruins, its spire stretching high into the dark, cloud-filled sky. Naruto paused for a moment, marveling at the sheer size and grandeur of the building.

But the sound of creaking wood brought him back to reality.

He found himself standing on a poorly constructed wooden bridge. The planks were loose and rotting, the structure swaying slightly with every step. Below, the courtyard stretched out like a yawning void.

The Black Knight stepped onto the bridge.

Naruto turned to face it, his charcoal hand crackling with embers, the fire licking hungrily at his skin. The knight paused, its heavy armor groaning as it shifted its weight. The old wooden planks beneath it creaked ominously.

Naruto didn't give it a chance to react. With a sharp sweep of his Zweihander, he severed his own cursed arm, the limb igniting into a roaring inferno as it tumbled forward. The Black Knight's visor gleamed, reflecting the flames. Then, with an eerie calm, it raised its massive shield. The arm struck metal with a burst of embers, the fire splashing out like liquid light.

The knight, undeterred, slammed its shield downward, smashing the burning limb into the bridge.

CRACK.

The weakened planks shattered beneath its force. Naruto staggered back as the entire structure gave way.

The knight dropped, vanishing into the abyss below.

His breath came in sharp, uneven gasps. He had made it or so he thought. A gust of air rushed past him, sending a splinter of wood slicing across his cheek.

Naruto froze and turned.

The Black Knight was rising behind him. It had used the bridge as a ramp—launching itself back up with monstrous force.

Naruto wanted to scream. He felt the urge to give up, to let the knight crush him under its might. But before he could act, the sharp whistle of an arrow snapped him out of his despair.

Ping!

The arrow ricocheted off the Black Knight's back, harmless against its thick armor. Another arrow followed, this time hitting its shoulder. The knight slowly turned, its menacing helm shifting toward the source of the attack. Three hollows stood at the edge of the church steps. Two wielded swords, while the third held a crossbow, already loading another bolt.

The knight turned fully, focusing on the hollows. Naruto wasn't about to waste this miraculous distraction. He threw a smoke bomb and dashed down the stone steps, his boots slamming against the uneven surface.

At the bottom, the path split in two. One route led directly into the looming, ominous church. The other was a narrow pillared walkway, much like the one he had just come from.

Naruto didn't have time to think.

An arrow zipped past his head, embedding itself into the wall behind him. He bolted into the pillared path, his mind racing. He had a plan. It wasn't a good plan, but it was better than nothing.

Quickly, he rifled through his inventory.

[ Item: Black Firebomb ]
[ Description: Black bisque urn filled with black powder. Explodes, inflicting fire damage. A very precious item at low levels. Black Firebombs are especially destructive. ]

"Alright," Naruto muttered to himself. "This better work."

A few seconds later, the battle above took a brutal turn.

The Black Knight had impaled the crossbow hollow with the spiked edge of its shield, tossing the lifeless body aside like garbage. Its gaze locked onto Naruto, who stood at the edge of a staircase leading further down.

Naruto stepped backward, slow and measured. His breath was steady, his eyes locked onto the looming Black Knight. "Come on," he muttered, voice barely above a whisper.

The knight advanced, its heavy boots clanking against the stone.

As it reached the top of the staircase, Naruto made his move—he hurled his severed, flaming arm forward. The Black Knight reacted instantly. It swung, intent on obliterating the unnatural limb—but in doing so, it stepped into the trap.

Naruto smirked, raising his hand slightly. The intricate web of wire strung around the pillars gleamed in the firelight—thin, nearly invisible, but deadly. Five Black Firebombs. Eight regular Firebombs. All primed.

The knight, oblivious, continued its assault on the burning arm.

Wind chakra raced through the wires, a sharp, focused burst. The metal groaned, then ruptured. The firebombs ignited simultaneously, triggering a chain reaction of deafening explosions.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The knight was engulfed in a violent inferno, the fire roaring louder as Naruto's wind chakra intensified the flames. The pillars groaned under the force of the blasts, and the roof above cracked and gave way. The stone structure collapsed onto the knight with a thunderous crash, dust and debris filling the air. Naruto squinted through the haze, his heart pounding. The once-pristine pillars were now shattered, the roof reduced to rubble.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then the stone beneath the rubble shifted.

"Oh, come on, DIE already," Naruto muttered, exasperated but not surprised.

The Black Knight's helmet burst free from the debris, clawing at the air. It was pinned, but it wouldn't stay that way for long. Naruto knew he had to act fast. He climbed onto the pile of rubble and grabbed the knight's helmet with his left hand.

"Alright," he muttered, remembering his wind chakra training. Just like he had cleaved through the waterfall with pure wind chakra, Naruto channeled that same energy into his arm. With a sharp motion, he released a concentrated blast of air directly into the knight's helmet.

The force was precise and devastating, severing the knight's head cleanly at eye level.

The body fell limp, collapsing under its own weight.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, just like before, the Black Knight's body began to glow. The light intensified, pouring out of every crack and seam in its armor. The heat and brightness were almost blinding as the knight's body crumbled, turning to ash.

The ashes scattered in the faint, cold breeze. From the remains, a spectral image of the Black Knight emerged—a white, ghostly figure. The apparition gave a bow to Naruto before vanishing.

[ You have defeated the Black Knight ]

[ You have obtained: ]

[ Souls: 800 ]

[ Titanite Chunk ]

[ Broken Black Knight Armor ]

[ Broken Black Knight Gauntlets ]

[ Broken Black Knight Leggings ]

[ Broken Black Knight Great Shield ]

Naruto let out a shaky breath, dropping onto the stone path. His muscles screamed in protest, and his heart felt like it might burst out of his chest.

He glanced at his HUD, and his relief turned into confusion.

[ Souls: 4200 ]

"Wait… what?" he muttered.

Where had those extra souls come from? Had the Black Knight somehow transferred the souls of all the enemies it had killed? That didn't make sense—enemies usually claimed souls for themselves. "Guess they don't," Naruto said aloud, shaking his head. "Or maybe… Black Knights are different."

Whatever the reason, Naruto wasn't going to question it too much. He had survived, and he had his souls. That was all that mattered. As he stood, he noticed three glowing orange lines etched into the ground nearby.

"A message?" Naruto said, stumbling over to read it.

[ ?: Blacksmith ahead ]

Relief flooded him as he read the words. "Finally," he muttered, staggering down the broken pillar path. The trees surrounded him as the path wound its way to a tall, crumbling building. A faint metallic ringing echoed from within, the sound of a hammer striking steel.

Naruto grinned, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. "Blacksmith, here I come. Dattebayo."

---

Ting!

The rhythmic clang of a hammer striking metal echoed through the air as Naruto descended the stairs, the sound resonating with a steady pulse. The staircase creaked under his weight, each step accompanied by the faint groan of old wood. He found himself on a moss-covered wooden platform. Above him, the ceiling was a patchwork of stone and rotting wooden beams.

The metallic rhythm grew louder as Naruto moved forward, his eyes scanning the dimly lit area. The soft orange glow of a bonfire flickered on the floor below, visible through the gaps in the wooden planks.

"Yes!"

The hammering stopped.

Naruto froze, his breath catching as the sudden silence pressed down on him. He glanced at the floorboards, suddenly hyper-aware of every creak they made under his weight. Then, after a moment that felt far too long, the hammering resumed—steady and unbothered.

"Guess he doesn't mind visitors."

He made his way carefully down the next set of stone stairs, the air growing warmer with each step. The bonfire beckoned to him, its soft glow promising a moment of rest. Naruto reached it and sat down, letting its warmth seep into his tired body. The flames danced in the light, their crackling rhythm blending with the distant clang of metal on metal. To his right, Naruto noticed a stone doorframe leading out to a narrow path. Trees crowded the edges of the trail, their gnarled branches creating an almost impenetrable canopy overhead. Beyond the doorframe stood a massive, foreboding structure.

Naruto pulled out his binoculars for a closer look.

The fortress loomed like a sleeping giant, its stone walls aged and cracked, yet still imposing. Three colossal portcullises barred the entrance, their iron bars thick and unyielding. Above them, sharp spikes jutted downward—a clear warning to anyone foolish enough to approach unprepared. The air around the structure felt heavy, as though the building itself radiated a challenging aura, daring anyone to come conquer it.

Yeah… I'll check that out later.

The sound of hammering brought his focus back. Right—priorities.

Naruto stood, dusting himself off as he turned toward the torchlit staircase that spiraled deeper into the space below. His boots clacked softly against the stone steps as he descended, peering over the wooden railings.

The blacksmith's workshop came into view.

It was a sprawling, cluttered space dominated by the warm glow of a roaring furnace. A massive anvil stood at the center, surrounded by tools and weapons in various states of completion. Hammers of different sizes rested on a sturdy wooden table, next to a barrel upon which sat an axe and a cup of frothing beer—the scent of it carried faintly on the air. Racks of swords, shields, and other weapons lined the walls, their polished edges glinting faintly in the firelight. Then there was the blacksmith himself. The man was a towering figure of muscle. His skin was rough and weathered, marred by burn scars that spoke of years spent toiling in the heat of the forge. His thick white beard hung down to his chest, wild and unkempt, matching the shaggy white hair that framed his face. Thick, bushy eyebrows shadowed sharp, piercing eyes. He wore heavy gloves and pants, covered only by a dirtied apron tied at the waist.

Naruto crouched low, peering through the wooden railings as the blacksmith raised the blade he'd been working on. The firelight danced across its surface, illuminating every sharp line and polished curve.

"A beauty, isn't she?" the blacksmith said, his deep, gravelly voice cutting through the air like the blade in his hands.

"Uh… yeah. It really is."

"Well now, what have we here?" The blacksmith set the blade down on the anvil, giving Naruto a once-over. "An elite Astora knight, eh? Been a long time since I've seen one of you lot."

Naruto blinked in surprise before shaking his head. "Not quite. This armor belonged to my master." He removed his helmet, tucking it under his arm. "Naruto Uzumaki, Squire of Oscar of Astora."

"A squire, eh? Hah! Well, ain't that somethin'." The blacksmith chuckled. "I'm Andre. So, tell me, Undead Squire—how's Astora faring these days?"

"You can just call me Naruto. And, uh… I wouldn't know much about Astora. I met my master in the asylum. Never been to Astora myself, but I'd like to go someday."

Andre grunted, his expression darkening slightly. "Hmph. Don't get your hopes up, boy then."

"Why? What's wrong with Astora?"

"Astora... it used to be a land of beauty and invention. A place where craftsmen and artisans flourished, where every blade, shield, and tool was forged with care." His voice carried the weight of nostalgia, tinged with something heavier—bitterness. "But before I came to Lordran, I saw the seeds of my beautiful nation's downfall."

Naruto, who had been quietly listening, glanced at the binoculars strapped to his hip. He unfastened them and handed them to Andre, who took them with a gloved hand, studying the fine craftsmanship with a small, almost wistful smile. His thick thumb ran over the engravings, the smooth, polished metal.

"Ah, this… this is the kind of work Astora was known for," the old blacksmith muttered. "Every little detail, every curve—done with purpose, with pride." The smile faded as he passed them back. "But that was before. Now? The land's beauty is tarnished, its legacy twisted by gods and nobles who think they know better. What once belonged to the people is just another prize for the powerful to mold to their liking."

Naruto frowned, taking the binoculars back. "So… Astora's not like the people I've met from there? Not like Solaire or Oscar?"

"Hmm. Don't know these people you speak of, boy. But I'll tell you this—don't judge a land by the men born from it. Some rise above their home's sins. Others sink right into 'em."

Naruto nodded at that, then smirked. "Y'know, for a guy I just met, you sure share a lot."

"Hah! Must be drunk then. I tend to do that when I'm workin'."

Naruto's eyes flicked to the ale. "Really? You being poisoned—uh, I mean drunk—wouldn't that mess up the process?"

Andre scoffed, taking a swig before wiping his mouth with the back of his gloved hand. "A smith with a sober mind may craft a sword, but a smith with a belly full of mead crafts a legend."

Naruto snorted. "Yeah, well, I hope you're crafting my gear, not a legend. My armor's seen better days."

"Then let's have a look at it, eh?"

Naruto removed his armor, setting each piece down as Andre inspected them with a practiced eye. His gloved fingers traced over dents, scratches, and worn edges, grunting occasionally in approval or disapproval. When he picked up the Zweihander, he gave a firm nod.

"Now this here's a fine blade. Solid work, good weight. But that armor o' yours? Needs proper repairs—not that powder you've been usin'."

"Hey, it works!"

"Oh, aye, it works for now. But you wanna bet your life on 'good enough'?"

"You don't like repair powder?"

Andre shrugged. "It's a quick fix, not a proper one. Works in a pinch, but a weapon or armor deserves better. Pay it the respect it's owed, and it'll never fail you."

"Glad I found you, then."

Andre smirked, picking up the helmet. "It'll cost you, boy. Sit yourself down—this'll take a while."

Naruto obeyed, settling onto a nearby bench. He watched as Andre dismantled the helmet, carefully removing the damaged parts. He held one piece up to the light, frowning at the cracks.

"Repair powder's left soot all over," Andre muttered, tossing the piece into the furnace for a moment before retrieving it with tongs. He placed it on the anvil, scraping away the blackened residue with a small tool. The soot flaked off, revealing clean, shining metal beneath.

Naruto watched in fascination as Andre worked, the rhythmic clang of hammer against metal filling the air like a steady drumbeat. The heat from the forge pulsed around them, sweat glistening on the blacksmith's brow as he hammered out the cracks in Naruto's armor with practiced ease. Sparks flew, cascading like tiny golden stars, and for a while, it was mesmerizing.

Then it got boring.

Naruto sighed, shifting on his feet before deciding to check something in his inventory.

[ Item: Broken Black Knight Armor ]
[ Description: Armor of the Black Knights who haunt Lordran. The knights followed Lord Gwyn when he departed to link the flame, but they were burned to ashes in the newly kindled fire, wandering the world as disembodied spirits ever after. ]

Naruto's eyes nearly popped out of his skull. "…Wait a damn minute." He reread the description. Then again. Then a third time. The Black Knights… were ghosts? That would explain that eerie apparition he saw fading away after he took them down. The realization sent a shiver down his spine. All this time, he'd been fighting spirits puppeteering burned husks of armor. That meant the real Black Knights, when they were alive, must have been… Naruto swallowed.

That was terrifying.

He let out a nervous chuckle. "Man, I've been way luckier than I thought."

"What's got you giggling like a fool?"

"Just, uh… contemplating my life choices," Naruto admitted as he shook his head. "Hey, Andre, I got a question."

"Hrm?"

Naruto materialized the battered, broken armor from his inventory, letting the scraps clatter onto the floor. "Can you fix Black Knight armor?"

Andre finally stopped hammering, looking at the pile with a raised brow. "That came from a Black Knight?"

"Yup."

Andre bent slightly, examining the metal. He poked one of the shattered pauldrons with a gloved finger before straightening. "No."

"No?"

"No," Andre repeated. "That armor's in worse shape than a Hollow's sanity. Unless you've got the ore it was forged from, it's as good as scrap."

Naruto pouted. "What if you substitute the ore for something else and make it brand new, dattebayo?"

Andre stopped. Then, slowly, he turned to give Naruto a look so flat the boy physically flinched.

"That, lad, is Black Knight armor," Andre said. "It was crafted to slay dragons, demons, and more. Every single piece—even now—was forged with care, its materials tempered for battle against nightmares." He crossed his arms. "You think I can just slap some tin on it and call it a day?"

"…No?"

"A blacksmith's work is his honor. I won't disgrace a master's craft with cheap shortcuts. A half-assed job would just get you killed." Andre gestured at the scraps. "Best keep it till you find the proper ore. Otherwise, all you've got is an expensive pile of junk."

Naruto frowned, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, that… makes sense. Sorry, didn't mean to disrespect the craft."

"Bah, don't be sorry, lad. Just means you care about your gear." Andre's tone softened. "But trust me on this—armor that don't hold up when you need it ain't worth the steel it's made from."

Naruto nodded, storing the armor away. "Yeah. I want my armor to be, y'know… good."

"Good lad," Andre said, cracking his knuckles before picking up his hammer again. "Now let me get back to work."

Naruto stretched. "Gonna check out that fortress. Be back in a few."

Andre didn't even look up. "Aye. Just don't go dyin' on me. Got your gear to finish, and I'd hate to waste good work."

"You got it, old man."

As he climbed the stairs, the rhythmic ting of hammer on steel followed him, steady as a heartbeat.

---

Naruto's steps slowed as he neared the fortress, its sheer scale pressing down on him like an unseen weight.

The stone path leading to the entrance was narrow, flanked by short, weathered walls that did little to make him feel safe. Beyond them stretched an abyss of swirling mist—a bottomless void that sent a chill down his spine when he dared to peek over the edge. The air smelled damp, rich with the scent of moss and decaying leaves, earthy and old, nothing like the crisp pine and wildflowers of Konoha's forests.

And then there was the gate.

It loomed ahead, impossibly massive, carved from ancient stone, standing taller than any structure Naruto had ever seen—even the gates of Konoha paled in comparison. What the hell was the point of making a door that big? Were there giants here? Given everything he'd encountered so far, he wouldn't even be surprised.

But something else caught his attention.

To the left of the gate, a figure sat, slouched slightly, seemingly lost in thought.

Naruto's eyes were immediately drawn to the armor—thick, rounded, and layered in overlapping plates that gave the man a distinct, onion-like appearance. The segmented design made him look bulky, yet not in a way that suggested clumsiness. Instead, it was sturdy, almost like a protective shell, each layer reinforcing the one beneath it. His conical helmet, with only a thin slit for vision, added to the effect, making him resemble a knightly onion wrapped in steel.

But what really made Naruto's heart leap? The massive sword resting beside him. A Zweihander. Just like his. Excited at the rare sight of another Ultra Greatsword user, Naruto grinned and called out, "Yo! That's one hell of a blade you've got there!"

No response.

The man barely moved.

Naruto blinked. "Uh… hello?"

The figure tilted his head slightly, as if only just noticing him. Then, with a slow exhale, he spoke.

"Mmm…mmm… Mm! Oh-hoh! Forgive me, I was absorbed in thought."

The voice, though muffled by the helmet, carried a deep, hearty warmth. He straightened slightly, gesturing toward the immovable gate before him.

"I am Siegmeyer of Catarina. Quite honestly, I have run flat up against a wall—or a gate, I should say. The thing just won't budge. No matter how long I wait. And, oh, have I waited! So, here I sit, in quite a pickle, weighing my options, so to speak! Hah hah hah hah!"

Naruto found himself smiling at the man's booming laugh. Something about it was so damn genuine. "Nice to meet you, Siegmeyer! I'm Naruto Uzumaki, squire of Oscar of Astora."

At the mention of squire, Siegmeyer hummed thoughtfully. "A squire, you say?" His helmet tilted slightly. "Curious. Forgive me, but you look more like a Pyromancer than a knight."

Naruto glanced at himself. He was still wearing his Pyromancer set, not his Elite Knight armor.

"…Yeah, well… Andre's fixing up my Elite Knight armor right now, so this is just for now."

The moment those words left his mouth, something shifted in the air. In an instant, the massive Zweihander that had been resting by Siegmeyer's side was suddenly pressed against Naruto's neck.

Naruto's breath hitched.

The speed of the movement sent a shudder down his spine. His senses, his Way of Focality, couldn't register the attack at all. If Siegmeyer had truly meant to kill him… he would have been dead already. Then there was the sword itself—a beautiful, well-worn Zweihander with darkened patterns dancing across the blade. Unlike his own.

"Tell me, boy," Siegmeyer's voice was heavy now, layered with something unreadable. "Have you stolen that Elite Knight armor?"

Naruto froze.

His first instinct wasn't fear.

It was pure, undiluted anger.

"What?!" Naruto's voice snapped like a whip, loud and sharp, cutting through the air between them. His fists clenched so tightly his nails bit into his palm. "I didn't steal a damn thing, you overgrown onion! That armor belonged to my master! It was Oscar's! I'm wearing it to honor him—not because I looted it off some corpse, you bastard!"

Siegmeyer didn't flinch at the outburst, nor did he lower his blade. But he watched Naruto carefully, as if studying something beneath the surface. Then, after a long moment of silence, he exhaled. "…Mmm. I see."

Slowly, deliberately, he lowered his sword, setting the massive blade back beside him. "My apologies, young squire. I may have… overreacted." He let out a deep, thoughtful hum. "It is an obligation of a knight to honor another's armor. And to ensure it is worn by one who deserves it. You understand, I hope."

Naruto huffed, rubbing his neck. "Yeah, well, maybe don't point a sword at someone's throat next time, huh?"

Siegmeyer chuckled, his previous warmth returning. "Hah hah! A fair point, my boy! A fair point indeed!"

Naruto grumbled under his breath but let it slide. The man had moved so damn fast—it was proof that Siegmeyer wasn't just some jolly, bumbling fool. No. Beneath that humor was a true warrior. And something about that made Naruto respect him a little more.

"…I suppose we got off on the wrong foot," Siegmeyer mused, rubbing his gauntleted chin. "A blade drawn in suspicion is no way to greet a fellow warrior. Hah! Consider that a lesson in vigilance, young squire—one I imagine you won't soon forget." He patted the ground beside him with a heavy clang. "Come, young squire. Sit with me a while. I sense you have stories to share." His helmet tilted slightly, his gaze lingering on Naruto's cursed arm, curiosity glinting behind the narrow visor. "And I suspect yours is a tale unlike any I've heard before."

Naruto exhaled, resting his elbow on his knee. "Well, let's just say… thanks to the Pyromancy Flame and my own brilliant decision-making, I got cursed." He flopped his twisted hand in demonstration. "Even if I cut it off, the damn thing regenerates, cursed all over again."

"Mmm… yes. That would be because curses don't simply affect the body, young squire. They stain the soul. The flesh may change, but the spirit remembers."

Naruto blinked. "...That's not comforting."

"Hah! It isn't meant to be! But knowing the nature of curses is the first step in breaking them."

"Wait, you know a way to cure it?"

Siegmeyer's expression turned thoughtful, his voice lowering.

"...Arstor."

Naruto tilted his head. "Who?"

"Arstor, Earl of Carim," Siegmeyer said, his tone laced with something akin to wariness. "A most... peculiar man. A noble by blood, a scholar by trade… and a butcher by inclination."

Naruto frowned. "A butcher?"

Siegmeyer let out a long sigh. "Mmm, well, that may not be the word he would have used, but it fits well enough. He dabbled in… experiments. Most famously, he studied the curse of undeath. He believed it to be a gift—an opportunity to transcend mortal limitations."

"...Okay. That's creepy as hell."

Siegmeyer nodded. "Aye, and he took great interest in his research subjects."

"Subjects," Naruto repeated. "...You mean people?"

"Undead, mostly," Siegmeyer said.

Naruto's stomach twisted. "That's… that's a lot. So, what? You're saying if I want to break this curse, I need to track down this sick bastard?"

Siegmeyer chuckled. "No need. Arstor has long since perished. But his greatest treasure remains—The Purging Stone."

Naruto exhaled sharply. "Yeah, yeah…" At least he now had some lead on how to fix this mess.

"Still," he muttered. "Thanks for the help, Onion-senpai."

Siegmeyer chuckled. "Onion… senpai?"

Naruto grinned. "Well, since I'm a squire and you're a knight, that makes you my senpai. And your armor kinda makes you look like an onion, soooo…"

Siegmeyer let out a long, contemplative hum. He seemed to weigh the words carefully, as if they carried some deep, philosophical meaning. "Senpai, you say…" A pause. Then he nodded. "Hmm… I suppose I shall allow it, if only for the novelty of it."

Naruto pumped a fist in victory.

Siegmeyer then pointed a gauntleted finger at him. "But remember, boy—if you wish to become a knight, you must behave like one. A knight's code is not to be taken lightly!"

"Yes, Onion-senpai!"

Siegmeyer grumbled under his breath. "Enough of this onion nonsense."

But the amusement in his tone betrayed him.

Naruto, however, grew serious. "Senpai… I'm sorry if I've disrespected the honor of knighthood with my behavior." He hesitated for a beat, then continued, "My master… he didn't have much time to teach me what it truly means to be a knight before I lost him. Please… will you teach me?"

Siegmeyer went very still.

For a moment, the knight of Catarina did not speak. He simply regarded the young squire before him, watching the determination in his eyes. Then, with a deep breath, he straightened his back, crossing his arms. "Mmm… Well, I suppose it can't hurt." He nodded firmly. "After all, the gate isn't going anywhere, and it would be dishonorable to turn away an aspiring squire in need."

Naruto's face lit up. "Really?! You mean it?"

Siegmeyer placed a hand on his chest. "A knight does not go back on his word, boy! Very well! But first—tell me what you already know of knighthood, and we shall go from there!"

Naruto bowed deeply, grinning wide. "Thank you… Sir Siegmeyer!"

Siegmeyer hummed contentedly, settling back down as the mist curled around them. He did not say it aloud, but as Naruto spoke—so eager to learn, so willing to carry on his master's honor—Siegmeyer could not help but think… Perhaps this boy was already a knight.

---

Naruto and Siegmeyer sat on the steps of the fortress, deep in conversation. What had started as a simple exchange about Oscar's teachings had evolved into something far greater—an exploration of knighthood itself.

Siegmeyer spoke at length, offering insights that went beyond mere combat. He spoke of duty, of honor, of the burdens a knight carries not just in battle but in life itself. His words carried both wisdom and warmth, a stark contrast to the cold, brutal lessons Lordran usually offered. Naruto found himself captivated, drawn into the sheer charisma of the man. Despite the heavy topics, talking to Siegmeyer felt natural. Comfortable. Like training, but without the grueling exhaustion.

It wasn't until much later that Naruto finally stretched, cracking his neck. "So," he said, glancing at the fortress, "how are you planning to open this big-ass door?"

"Hmm... I believe fate will open it for me."

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Fate?"

"Indeed!" Siegmeyer nodded sagely. "Patience is often rewarded in the most surprising of ways. Sometimes, all one must do is wait, and the path shall reveal itself."

"Uh-huh… or we could, y'know, find another way? Maybe a lever or something?"

"Hah hah hah! A fine suggestion, young squire! Your eagerness to act is commendable, though one must also learn when to wait."

Naruto grinned. "Well, lucky for you, I'm not much for waiting. Maybe I can speed things along."

"Hmm?" Siegmeyer made a curious noise as Naruto walked toward the portcullis, eyes scanning the structure. He couldn't sense any kind of magical barrier, which meant…

He smirked. "Alright. Let's see if this works."

With a quick hop, Naruto planted his foot against the gate. Siegmeyer let out a confused hum. Then, with ease, Naruto began running straight up the iron bars. "By the gods!" Siegmeyer boomed, nearly toppling over. "What manner of trickery is this?!"

"Ninja trickery, Onion-senpai!"

"I thought we had moved past that title!" Siegmeyer huffed. "And I must say, young squire, this does not seem wise!"

"Relax, I got this," Naruto called back. "I'll just chuck a kunai ahead to see if anything dangerous is up there."

Before Siegmeyer could protest, Naruto pulled out a kunai and flung it upward.

The moment it neared the upper walls, something snatched it out of the air.

Naruto's eyes widened as the kunai stuck to the stone surface, held fast as if by an invisible force. Then, in an instant, a pulse of yellow energy rippled through the fortress. Naruto's instincts screamed. Oh shit—! He immediately turned and bolted back down the gate, chakra-enhanced speed pushing him faster than he had ever moved before.

"RUN!" he shouted the moment his feet hit solid ground.

Siegmeyer didn't hesitate. Despite his heavy armor, the knight turned and sprinted alongside him just as a column of lightning erupted where the kunai had been. The explosion of golden energy tore through the fortress walls, leaving behind a smoldering crater of scorched stone.

The two barely made it to safety before coming to a stop, panting as they stared at the aftermath.

"That…" Naruto swallowed, wiping his forehead. "That could've been me."

Siegmeyer exhaled loudly. "Indeed! Immediate death, no doubt. I would expect nothing less from the defenses of Sen's Fortress!"

Naruto whistled, glancing at the lingering sparks of energy. They crackled along the stone, glowing with raw power.

Naruto squinted at the lingering sparks dancing along the ruined fortress wall. The crackling energy looked far too familiar.

"…Kinda looks like the Lightning Spear miracle from the Nameless King."

"That's to be expected."

"How so?"

"Simple, really. Sen's Fortress once belonged to the Nameless King."

Naruto blinked. His gaze flickered between Siegmeyer and the fortress, the weight of that revelation settling in. "Wait. Wait. You're telling me this whole place used to be his?"

"Indeed."

Naruto's brow furrowed. "Hold on a sec. Then does that mean Sen is actually the Nameless King's real name?"

"Oh-hoh! No, no, nothing so simple, I'm afraid."

Naruto groaned. "Damn. Thought I was onto something."

"Well," Siegmeyer said, "if the gods erased his name from history, do you truly think they'd leave it hidden in plain sight?"

"Yeah, yeah, fair point… But considering I've already met two people who know about the Nameless King, I feel like the whole erased from history thing is kinda… I dunno, weak?"

"Fair enough." Siegmeyer nodded. "But the knowledge I have of the Nameless King? That came from my wife. She actually met the god of war."

"And you're just telling me this secret?"

"Well, you already know about the Nameless King, so…"

Naruto narrowed his eyes. "Dude, I feel like you just sold her out in, like, two seconds."

"Hah hah hah! Ah, perhaps! But I trust you will keep this between us."

"Fine, fine. But if your wife finds out, I am not taking the blame."

"Oh, I assure you, my dear already knows most of my slip-ups. A husband's fate, you see."

Naruto chuckled before turning his gaze back to the fortress. "So… if 'Sen' isn't the Nameless King, then who is Sen?"

"Ah, now that is a far more interesting tale. 'Sen' is not a man at all, but a woman."

"…Huh?"

Siegmeyer nodded. "The Nameless King's wife."

"WHAT?!"

"Hah hah hah! Surprising, isn't it?" Siegmeyer leaned on his Zweihander. "Sen's Fortress was built long before the war against the dragons. Back when Lord Gwyn sought to raise his Silver Knights, his eldest son ventured east, seeking warriors of great skill. There, he encountered a land ruled by a mighty Stormdrake, worshipped as a god by its people. Gwyn's son, already a warrior of unparalleled might, slew the beast and claimed its throne."

Naruto frowned, folding his arms. "So… that's why he's called the Nameless King. Even if his name got erased, he was still king of the east."

"Precisely," Siegmeyer said. "But the most interesting part of his tale was his wife, Senhime. She had been betrothed to the Stormdrake—whether as a sacrifice, a consort, or simply a plaything for the beast, no one truly knows. But when the Nameless King struck the drake down, he did not claim her as a prize. Instead, he took her as his queen."

Naruto's eyes widened. "…Wow."

"Hah! Indeed." Siegmeyer nodded. "To honor her, the Nameless King named this fortress after her—Senhime's Fortress. It was meant to be a proving ground, where only the worthy could ascend to Anor Londo. But when the gods erased his name from history, they left only a twisted remnant of his legacy. They shortened her name, left it without context, without meaning. And so Sen's Fortress remained—a forgotten name, an unknown relic of a forgotten king."

"That's… tragic."

"Mm. Courtesy or insult, it is difficult to say." Siegmeyer sighed. "The gods gave him one courtesy—to leave her name untouched. But what is a name with no meaning?"

Naruto thought back to Solaire—the way the man spoke of the Nameless King with unwavering reverence, the unshaken faith that carried him forward despite the gods' attempt to bury the past. He had laughed before at the idea of following a forgotten deity, one whose very name had been stripped from history.

Maybe Solaire was right.

His gaze locked onto the fortress, its towering walls whispering of a history few still remembered. A trial that had once shaped warriors under the Nameless King's rule now loomed before him, daring him to step forward. It was a test not just of strength, but of conviction.

Maybe… once he became stronger… he'd try again.

At the Sunlight Altar, beneath the gaze of a forsaken god, he would stand once more. He would see if he was worthy. Maybe, when his faith burned higher, when his strength matched his ambition, he'd walk the path of the Sunlight Warrior.

But fate does not wait for faith to grow.

Naruto didn't know it yet—how could he? He was still just a boy, a squire chasing after legends. A stubborn flame refusing to flicker out.

But the path he walked, the choices he made, they would carve something new into this world.

Something beyond knighthood.

Beyond gods and men.

Something Everlasting.

Not even the Nameless King himself would remain untouched by the storm Naruto would bring.

Calamity and chaos would sweep across these lands like an unrelenting tide.

And in the end…

The world would bow to a New God.

Whether it wanted to or not.

Hah.

Truly, the echoes of the Everlasting never fade… only slumber, waiting to rise once more.

---

Author's Note: Well, Wasn't That a Fun Chapter?

You guys know how this works—time for me to ramble about lore, give you some background info, and, most importantly, get your thoughts.

A few things I want to clarify:

1. Why is the Black Knight using a shield?

Answer: Honestly, if you've played the games, you'll know that the Black Knight of the Undead Parish just uses a greatsword. However, we've already had Naruto fight two Black Knights who used greatswords.

To make this fight more memorable—and because Naruto doesn't learn much from this one in terms of narrative—I decided to make this Black Knight unique by having him use a shield as a weapon.

The first Black Knight fight had Naruto "cheese" his way through it. The point was to show that Naruto's Shinobi side can be really helpful in Lordran. That, and I wanted to highlight more of Naruto's prankster skills.

The second Black Knight fight focused on Naruto improving his swordsmanship.

Since Naruto doesn't gain much narratively from the third Black Knight, I made it more brutal and memorable by changing its weapon to a shield.

I'm curious—who do you think would've won if Naruto wasn't nerfed? I mean, the Naruto who fought Zabuza at full strength versus the Greatshield Black Knight. Who comes out on top?

---

2. Why does Naruto absorb the souls of Black Knight kills?

Answer: Simple—Naruto's system allows him to absorb any souls in his vicinity.

---

3. What's the deal with Naruto's charcoal hand firing up?

Answer: Remember how Naruto's Pyromancy Flame needed a specific number of spell uses to activate (like eight Fireballs) and that the count would reset afterward?

Similarly, Naruto's spell count has reset—but unfortunately, his hand is cursed. That's why it lights up like a fire rather than forming a proper fireball.

---

4. Why was the Black Knight so focused on Naruto's cursed arm?

Answer: The answer lies in the lore.

The Black Knights were originally the Silver Knights of Gwyn, who went to war with the Izalith Kingdom. (For context, the Izalith Kingdom is the kingdom of demons.) This war burned the Silver Knights into the Black Knights. So, essentially, Naruto's cursed hand's demonic aura reminded the Black Knight of Izalith.

For the record, the Black Knights that Naruto has fought so far are actually just puppet corpses animated by sheer will for their king, Gwyn. If Naruto had fought an actual living Silver or Black Knight, he would've been killed immediately.

So thankfully, he's been fighting puppets rather than flesh-and-blood warriors capable of thinking. Lol.

---

5 - Siegmeyer's Characterization

How did I do? Did I capture his charm? Let me know what you think because writing him was an absolute blast.

---

6 - Now, Let's Talk Arstor, Earl of Carim

If you know your Dark Souls lore, you'll recognize Arstor as one of those super obscure characters—one of those names you only see attached to random items like the Purging Stones, the Shotel, and the Bite Rings (Cursebite, Bloodbite, Poisonbite).

But here's where things get interesting.

Let's take a step back and look at the evidence.

Arstor's Spear (DS3 Item Description):

"One of the curses that festered within the belly of the Greatwood, and a terrible weapon favored by Earl Arstor the Impaler. The spear is enwreathed in rotten, heavily poisonous meat. Defeating foes restores HP."

Now, let's break that down. "Arstor the Impaler"? C'mon. That's about as subtle as a sledgehammer to the face. The dude's clearly inspired by Vlad the Impaler, who, as we all know, is the historical inspiration for Dracula.

But let's not stop there.

Arstor commissions rings that resist bleeding, poison, and curses.

His greatest treasure is the Purging Stone, which absorbs curses instead of dispelling them.

His weapon restores HP from defeated enemies.

Tell me that doesn't scream Vampire.

So why am I bringing this up? Because I have one question for you all: Should Naruto meet Arstor?

Think about it—Naruto vs. the Dracula of Dark Souls. A character who's only been mentioned in the lore, fully fleshed out as either an enemy or an ally in Chosen Undead.

So, you tell me—does Naruto get to fight the Vampire Lord of Carim, or do we leave this mystery buried in the past?

---

7 - Why Does Siegmeyer Know About the Nameless King?

Simple. As stated in the chapter—because of his wife.

But hold up, don't brush past that line too quickly. That little detail? That's one of the most important breadcrumbs I've dropped so far.

It matters for Naruto's journey. It matters for Havel. And it definitely matters for Siegmeyer's quest in Lordran.

And here's where it gets crazy: Naruto's already met Siegmeyer's wife. Now the only question is—who was she?

I'll let you stew on that one. Drop your guesses in the comments.

Trust me, when the reveal happens, jaws are gonna hit the floor.

---

8 - The Mystery of Sen's Fortress: A Wild Theory, But Hear Me Out

Alright, let's be real—Sen's Fortress is one giant enigma.

We know barely anything about it, other than the fact that it serves as a proving ground for the Chosen Undead.

Even the whole "it was a training ground for Silver Knights" idea? Just speculation.

But here's the thing—every speculation has some kind of evidence behind it. And today, I'm going to take you through why I believe Sen's Fortress originally belonged to the Nameless King and how this all ties into him being the King of the East.

Now, before we dive in—yes, I know this theory is flimsier than a hollow's spine.

Unlike my argument that the Nameless King was erased from history for cutting out his mother's tongue and that Rosaria is Gwyn's wife (which, by the way, I stand by), the connection between him and Sen's Fortress is way less solid.

But here's the thing—I added this lore because it makes the story way more interesting.

Who is Sen?

One of the most common questions about the game: Who or what is Sen? And why does this death trap of a fortress bear that name? Some folks think Sen isn't actually a person but a title, or just some random name slapped onto the place. But I dug around and found something cool.

Enter Senhime, or "Lady Sen."

She was the sister of Oda Nobunaga, one of the most famous warlords in Japanese history. Depending on the legend, she was either known for her kindness or her wild, hedonistic lifestyle.

Nothing about her screams "this is definitely where Sen's Fortress comes from," but stick with me for a second.

The Japanese name for Sen's Fortress is 千姫, which literally translates to "Thousand Princess."

Now here's where it gets fun.

Senhime lived in two castles:

Osaka Castle (which endured multiple sieges, was rebuilt bigger and stronger).

Himeji Castle, which had insanely intricate defenses designed to confuse and trap intruders.

The gates, baileys, and outer walls were arranged in a maze-like fashion, forcing attackers to spiral their way toward the keep. Sound familiar? Because that's exactly what Sen's Fortress does to the Chosen Undead.

So Why Did I Go With This Theory?

Easy—I loved what it added to the story.

The Eastern Lands in Dark Souls are a complete mystery, with only vague mentions from characters like Shiva of the East. We know they exist, but we know next to nothing about them.

So I thought—why not expand on it?

Here's my idea: The Nameless King was sent east by Gwyn, where a Stormdrake ruled as a god.

He killed the Stormdrake and became the new king of the East (hence the name Nameless King—even if his name was erased, his title as a ruler remains).

He married Senhime, who was originally meant to be a sacrifice to the Stormdrake.

To honor her, he named the fortress after her—Senhime's Fortress.

When the gods erased him from history, they allowed one remnant of his legacy to remain—but twisted it into just "Sen's Fortress," a name without context or meaning.

Is this theory canon? Hell no.

But does it make the Nameless King's story even cooler? Absolutely.

---

The New God: What the Hell Was That Ending?

Alright, let's talk about that last paragraph.

That ominous narrator? The talk of Naruto forging a path that not even the Nameless King could ignore? The hints of something Everlasting stirring in the world once more?

Now, whether the narrator is saying Naruto himself will become a god, or whether something much, much worse is waking up— That's for you to decide until the st0ry reveals it.

Drop your thoughts in the comments—I love reading what you guys come up with.