Dark Harmonies

Dark Harmonies: Northern Undead Asylum

In the Age of Ancients, the world was unformed, shrouded by fog. A land of grey crags, archtrees, and everlasting dragons.

But then there was Fire. And with Fire, came Disparity. Heat, and cold, life and death, and of course… Light and Dark. Then, from the Dark, They came, and found the Souls of Lords within the flame.

Nito, the first of the dead, the Witch of Izalith and her Daughters of Chaos, Gwyn, the Lord of Sunlight and his faithful knights, and the furtive pygmy, so easily forgotten.

With the Strength of Lords, they challenged the dragons. Gwyn’s mighty bolts peeled apart their stone scales. The witches weaved great fire storms. Nito unleashed a miasma of death and disease. And Seath the Scaleless betrayed his own, and the dragons were no more.

Thus began the Age of Fire.

But soon, the flames will fade, and only Dark will remain. Even now, there are only embers, and ponies see not light, but only endless nights. And amongst the living are seen, carriers of the accursed Darksign.

Yes, indeed. The Darksign brands the Undead. And in this land, the undead are corralled and lead to the north, where they are locked away to await the end of the world.

…This is your fate.

I had lost track of time is this Celestia forsaken place. Had it been years? Weeks? Days? Can’t tell. That damned window above me—reminding me of life’s past that I can no longer remember—just out of hoove’s reach. This musky and dank cell smelled of rot and putrid waste. The bricks and mortar chipped, crumbling, browned with age, and stained with rotten moss, trailing down from the ceiling where the rain leaked.

Huddling in the corner, I let my mind go blank as I tend to do, letting the rat squeaks, the water dripping, and the noise of that damned Undead Hollow rattling his cell door endlessly—as if someone around would relent and let him free, ridding themselves of that abhorrent noise, once and for all—fall against my desensitized psyche.

This, was to be my fate? Sitting here as an Undead until I faded away into dust? I guess, this truly is a fate worse than death…

Just then, I heard a crunch. Loud and intrusive, slamming down into the middle of the floor of my cell was another Undead, come to join me in my sentence. There, his corpse lay, unmoving, until the Darksign could fully claim him. There was a glowing cloud—Soulfire, shimmering above his body.

Warily, I turned my gaze upward, looking through the window above. There was a knight in Elite Knight's Armor, crouched just at the ledge, having just dropped the Undead. Our gazes met and we stared at each other.

I couldn’t tell what his face was like or what their expression was behind his close-faced helmet, but mine was of such apathy and hopelessness that I could assume that his expression was most likely one of pity.

My empty eye sockets and decayed skin drawn over brittle bone were probably a testimony to how far along I was to becoming Hollow; to the point where my mind would be lost and I could no longer think or function as a normal pony.

For a moment longer, his gaze stuck to mine, before he finally stood up and stalked off, once again leaving me to my own devices.

Once more, my head turned downward, but stopped at the newcomer’s body, the Soulfire still billowing above him.

Standing up with a grunt, I pushed myself closer, reaching a withered hoof out to grasp the Soulfire and pull it close to my chest. Strangely, it solidified into a key. Rusted and warped, tarnished beyond any amount’s worth of polishing to restore its luster.

Curious, I thought to myself. Glancing up at the cell door, then back down to the key. Surely, it couldn’t be? I hefted the key, lightly tossing it in my hoof as I contemplated just how this came to be and if this was some strange twist in my destiny.

Standing fully erect on all four hooves, I shuffled closer to the door, my Hardened Leather Armor creaking and stretching as it detested the way it was shifting after so long sitting idle. The metallic components clicking and scratching against itself, demanding oil.

Tentatively, I reached out, key in hoof, and pushed the head into the eye, surprised to find that the shape was permitted inside. But really, there couldn’t be a real chance that this key would be the one to free me, could it?

With another push, I fully inserted the key, mouth falling open as the tumblers parted and sat appropriately on the key. This was, indeed, the key to my freedom! Who the Tartarus was that just now!? The one who dropped that Undead here!?

I shoved forward, pushing the heavy iron bars that made up the cell door open. With a loud, metallic groan, the way before me was open.

This was truly a miracle to reach me this day! I am free!

I made to step forward, and then stopped.

It isn’t safe out there to prance about unarmed, I thought, turning back around to glance about my cell.

There, in the corner, was a sword hilt, a small margin of the blade still intact enough to act as a defensive weapon. I leaned down and took it into my teeth, testing the awkward balance with my jaws and giving it a few test swings. My time as a Warrior from my life before, had greatly atrophied, but I felt that I could regain my skill in due time.

Turning to face the corridor outside of cell once more, I took in a deep breath, calming myself before the plunge.

Torches crackled just on the other side, the dank and moistness having permeated this area just as it had in my cell. But the smell of rot and putridity had lessened…very slightly so.

With cautious steps, I moved forward, watching the Hollow in his cell, across from mine, continue to rattle the door, his eye sockets following me. Within the pits of black, there was a tiny fire, points of light that telegraphed where his focus was.

I shuddered at the hollow stare, continuing to move through the corridor. I passed an Undead who was leaning against the wall. His back was to me and his head was in the crook of the arm that propped him up against the wall.

He didn’t seem to notice or mind my passage, so I continued walking past, keeping an eye on him should he decide that attacking me would be a nice relief from the monotony of this Asylum.

Further along I traveled, reaching a change in the wall to my right side. The other was still brick, but the opposite was now iron bars, of which did nothing to conceal a monstrous demon who lumbered about in a large chamber.

He was giant, brandishing an outrageously large hammer that seemed clumsily hobbled together, albeit still formidable against anypony my size. He was not aware of my presence, much to my relief.

I swallowed thickly, jogging forward at a faster pace, hoping to maintain his ignorance of me. In my haste, as I was watching him rather than my hoof path, I stumbled over something that was hard and slightly malleable.

A raspy gurgling and voiceless curse broke the silence in response to my clumsiness. I had tripped over an Undead Hollow who had been sitting against the wall, legs splayed out before him, the cause of my stumble.

Stepping back, I narrowly avoided his swinging hoof that had aimed for my face. He had the same fire in his eye socket that told me that there was no reasoning to be had here.

I was a Warrior, and my instincts remembered that. Letting his hoof swing carry him off balance, I darted in, plunging my sword hilt deep into his ribs, twisting slightly and yanking out and to the side.

The Hollow gurgled and collapsed backward, the fire leaving his sockets. I sighed, letting the momentary tension fall away from me.

Suddenly, from his body, a white flame poured out and flowed into my mouth and eyes. I jerked back, startled by the sudden warmth, but stilled soon after, realizing I had not been burned. Rather, I felt a little… heavier. Not weighed down, per se, but more bound together. No longer at threat of turning into ash as I feared I would in that miserable cell.

It didn't last for much longer, however, the sensations slowly fading away. But it never reached to the point where I felt before. I still felt more… complete then I did moments ago.

A thundering growl came from the demon in his large cell. Taking the sound as a warning, I quickly darted along the corridor and up a short flight of stairs. Once on top, I slowed down, breathing deeply to settle myself.

I wasn't winded, but the fright of the demon noticing me, and knowing that he could easily smash through the iron bars to get me, was terrifying. I took another breath and stood back to my full height, continuing forward and entering a doorway.

There was a scent on the air, or rather, a lack of. There was fresh air somewhere nearby. In this room, the floor was flooded and a Hollow was half submerged in the stagnant filth.

His eyes raised and locked onto mine, but he made no indication that he was interested in me. Even so, I kept my sword hilt ready, sidling along the wall of the room and to the other doorway on the adjacent wall.

After seeing me enter the new doorway, the Hollow dropped his stare again, content to just soak in the water.

In this little room, the scent of fresh air was stronger. I looked up and saw light! Much brighter than what I could see in that cell of mine. And this time, there was a ladder to reach it!

Carefully, I put my hoofs on the lowest steps and tested the rusted metal. It groaned with my weight, but held firm.

Tentatively, I lifted myself up in earnest, setting my entire weight on the rungs, letting out a breath I hadn't realized I had been holding. Hoof over hoof, I raised myself up, taking the next step up to the light and fresh air.

This is truly a blessing! I had thought I'd never been graced by the outside world again. Yet, thanks to that faceless savior of mine, I had another chance. However, I felt an ominous sensation in my heart.

What is my fate, truly? Why was it I that was set free? And of this time? Has it to do with the Darksign? There was something amiss, and it didn't bode well.

Finally, I reached the topmost rung of the ladder and pulled myself over the ledge. I stepped forward, eyes roaming the courtyard I now found myself within. But my attentions were drawn to a strange sight precisely in the center of it all.

Carefully, I trotted closer, head low, jaw gently working the hilt handle in my mouth, should an ambush await me. Nothing came from my motion, but I didn't relax.

The strange object was a sword, rusted beyond any useful condition. On its own, it wasn't too strange a sight, but the strangeness was the pile of ash and charred bone that the sword pierced into. There was also a flurry of dying embers rushing from the center, a few embers glowing just within the ash mound.

I reached out with a hoof, feeling a yearning for the heat of the flames. It was there, but I could tell that it was not going to last much longer.

It had been a some time since I had employed my attunement to sorceries, but I think I still remembered enough for a simple spark. Closing my eyes, I envisioned the Seed of Pyromancy, and thought of it jumping from my hand to the cinders of the ash.

With a small roar of life and a plume of heat, a small Bonfire burst to life from the ash, giving off a calming light and a soothing heat. I was drawn to the warmth than earlier and felt… safe. The dark of my mind being illuminated by the enchanting dance of the flames.

With a weary sigh, a sat down on my haunches and let my eyes close. In this moment, I was happy, secure, and felt utterly rejuvenated. For the time, I meditated on just what my intentions were.

Obviously, I should find that knight and question him for his intents on releasing me. Surely, there must have been great risk to him for releasing an Undead from their cell. Other than that, I suppose I should also try to remember who I am. It was so long ago that even my own name took a moment to recall.

"Architect," I breathed. I know not the origin of the name, or if it had a clue to from where I hailed. Simply uttering the word seemed to push away the fog that I now noticed over my mind.

My thoughts became clearer, my goals sharper. This magical flame was a Godsend. One that I would not take advantage of.

With the new clarity, I opened my eyes and stood up. Before me was a massive set of heavy wooden door. It looked slightly charred, seeming like it warned of a dangerous trial beyond.

I did not let it deter me, and I approached it. Hopping up on my hind legs, I placed both hooves against the doors, and pushed forward. The wood creaked, loudly echoing through the air, announcing my trespass. Once it opened fully to accept my person, I came down to all fours once more.

At first, the room seemed empty, just a mere storage room for jars that lined the perimeter of the room.

The weathered stone bore no markings of struggle or stray fire or sorcery marks. The was a large gap in the ceiling, allowing more sunlight to illuminate the room than the scattered torches along the walls could provide on their own.

Slowly, I crept into the empty room, eyes constantly scanning my surroundings. There seemed to be no apparent danger, which was only cause for more concern.

I had just made it only a small distance within when I noticed a glowing on the floor. It was a message, written in a strange glowing substance.

RUN AWAY! I tensed up and madly whipped my head about, trying to find a source of danger, terror filling me up once more. I backed up, trying to get out from where I came in, but my rump collided with the doors in their closed position. There was no way out, but I didn't see any source of danger around me.

Alas, the danger did not come from around me. It came from above. Another demon, similar in appearance to the one I saw below, fell from the gap in the ceiling and smashed into the ground, throwing up stone and dust.

I stumbled backward from the quakes, eyes wide at the size of the thing. It was more awesome face to face.

The demon set its eyes upon me. It roared and hefted its massive hammer, lifting it over his head. With another roar, it brought it down, aiming straight at me.

I threw myself to the side, rolling with motion and narrowly avoiding being crushed. I could not face the beast with nary a weapon! The sword hilt was now a mere nuisance than an assist.

Tossing the worthless thing away, I got back to my hooves just as the beast swung its hammer sideways. This one I could not avoid.

The broad side slammed into my flank, lifting me clear off the floor and tossing me the entire distance of the room. The wind left my lungs and my head began clouding over, my vision becoming obscured.

Struggling to get my hooves back underneath me, I caught something in the corner of my gaze.

There! An exit!

The beast roared once more, catching my attention. Its hammer was swinging toward me again. Throwing myself toward the door, I made another narrow dodge, the hammer grazing my tail hairs.

With a mad dash, I sprinted toward the door, not daring to look back. I could hear the beast following me with lumbering footsteps, urging me to run even faster.

I was only a pony's length away from the door now, and I heard the air bend around the hammer again. The demon was making a desperate swing to kill his prey before it got away.

Just as I cleared the threshold of the doorway, an iron gate slid from above. With an ear shattering clang, the demon's hammer slammed into the gate, threatening to collapse it, but it held firm. I didn't entirely escape, however, as the force of the impact was enough to send a wave of force over me and toss me deeper into a new room.

With a grunt, I fell, tumbling a short ways to a few stair steps and tumbling down those as well.

I laid there, panting and wincing at pains that wracked my body. I craved the light of a Bonfire. And bless my luck, therein lay another rusted sword, pierced into a mound of ash.

Groaning, I crawled over to the dying flame and reached a hoof toward it, once more letting a spark of life jump from my hand and into the almost lifeless embers.

Once more, I felt myself grow calm, lured into sleep by the soothing light. I let my eyes close and succumbed to the slumber.

I lost track of the time that I had laid there, but once I opened my eyes again, I felt healthy once more. My side free from the ache of the demon's hammer, and my head cleared from the dizziness of being thrown about.

I heaved myself back into a sitting position, "Should mine path continue so, I fear for only a short run freedom."

Checking myself over to insure that there were no lasting wounds or rents in my armor, I decided that it was time to move on.

Once more taking to my hooves, I examined the room. It was another flooded room, much like the first one I went in. I kept out of the deepest of the water and cut across to the other doorway that shed light into the dark.

It was another long corridor, but this one covered in earth and no ceiling. I didn't have much time to examine, as the next instant, a painful lance was thrust into the side of my shoulder.

I ducked into a cove next to me, taking myself away from wherever the danger was. I slowly looked around the corner. It was there, a Hollow with a bow. I leaned back into safety and checked my shoulder.

Fortunately, the wound was superficial, the leather of my armor catching most of the fore shaft from entering my flesh. I gripped the offending thing with my other hoof and yanked it free, tossing the arrow away.

Where it clattered caught my attention. It was a corpse of another, Soulfire shimmering over it. Upon stepping closer, it solidified in a shield. A Heater Shield in particular.

I relieved it from the corpse and strapped in onto my left arm. The sling of it going over my shoulders to loop under my right arm, where it would gain its stability. Should I need to defend myself, simply raising my left leg and bracing myself should block the entirety of most attacks, while the stability sling over my right arm would allow me to swing the shield for a bash or parry, without accidentally casting it off.

Stomping to make sure the shield was tight and not at threat to come free, I knelt by the corridor, poking my head out to check for the Hollow. He saw me and shifted his aim, releasing his teeth from the arrow's nock, letting it fly free.

I tucked my head down, letting the arrow bounce off the stone above and took the opening to dash out and race toward the Hollow. He let loose another arrow that collided strongly with my shield, but the stout metal deflected the projectile, untarnished from the impact.

With a growl, the Hollow turned and fled into an alcove at the end of the corridor. Seeing him flee before I could reach him, I slowed down and put my arm down, lowering my shield.

He could be laying in wait, and I've no weapon to defend myself. But imagine my continued luck when I moved closer to where the Hollow initially stood, and found yet another corpse, Soulfire shining over it.

This time, the fire turned to a Longsword. An old favorite of mine! I pulled the sword from its scabbard and tested the weight with my jaw, feeling the balance between hilt and blade. It was perfect.

I took a moment to strap the scabbard to my belt, then continued to the place where the Hollow retreated, sword ready. Listening closely, I tried to sense where he may have hid just behind the doorway.

There was a muffled rasping, further within, but it sounded like it came from above. With a careful peek, I saw a set of stairs leading up to where the Hollow was now standing, but with no arrow nocked to his bowstring.

Confidently, I strode into the hallway, approaching the Hollow with deadly intent. He sighted me and drew and arrow from his quiver, nocking it to the string and firing it.

I batted the thing aside and kept my approach, staring at him menacingly. Unwisely, it decided to stand his ground and try to fire another arrow. I sprinted at him, darting to the side and around him just as he fired. Before he could turn, I kicked his hind leg out from under him, dropping him to his haunches, allowing me to plunge my sword through his back. The Hollow gurgled its death throes, dying on my blade. I raised an arm and brutally shoved the Hollow off my sword, letting his body tumble forwards and down the steps. That same peculiar light leaving his body and coming to me.

"Away with you," I hissed. Then I turned and faltered in my steps. Where I saw a doorway, was blocked by a wall of White Light. Warily, I stuck my sword through it, finding it provided no real resistance. Only a slight push was necessary to penetrate it.

I sighed to steel my nerves and put my head down and into the wall, pushing through the veil. It parted before me, allowing me passage, then dispelled into the air once I made it through.

"Queer," I muttered at the strange obstacle, "To what advantage was that?"

I didn't pay it much more thought, so I continued onward. Stopping at a strange sight before me. It appeared to be another living soul, lying in rubble, light filtering down on him from above. However, I could not reach him, as he was behind an iron bar door that was sealed in place by more rubble. I looked around to see how I could reach him.

This time, I found myself above the courtyard where I made the first Bonfire. It was an enclosed balcony, surrounding the entire perimeter. Once again, I saw the heavy wooden doors where the demon waited.

I shivered at the thought of facing the thing again, and continued on. I took some stairs up to see if maybe they led to the hole above the fallen pony. Then I heard a rumble and felt the ground quake. What happened next, nopony could expect.

A large ball of iron, about the size of a pony, was rolled down the stairs I currently stood on. I couldn't move in time, the heavy ball slamming into my chest and throwing me down to the ground.

The ball, not all slowed by my unintentional interference, continued on and slammed into the wall, reducing the stone to a pile of rocks.

I coughed and hacked, desperate to try and get the air back into my lungs. It took a bit before I was able to stand again, but when I could, I saw that the place where the pony laid had a new entrance.

Groaning in pain, I stood up to see the pony. To my surprise, it was the knight I saw who dropped the corpse into my cell!

Carefully I approached, "Hail," I called to him.

His head jerked up and faced me, his body tensing slightly in fear at the sound of a potential attacker.

"…Oh, you… you're no Hollow, eh?"

"Nay," I answered, shaking my head.

"…Thank goodness…" his voice sounded weak, "…I'm done for, I'm afraid…I'll die soon, then lose my sanity…I wish to ask something of you… You and I, we're both Undead… Hear me out, will you?"

"Of course," I answered with a firm nod.

"…Regrettably, I have failed in my mission…But perhaps you can keep the torch lit… There is an old saying in my family… 'Thou who art Undead, art chosen… In thine exodus from the Undead Asylum, maketh pilgrimage to the land of the Ancient Lords… When thou ringeth the Bell of Awakening, the fate of the Undead thou shalt know.'"

That is why he released me; to fulfill his family's prophecy. But what of this fate he spoke of?

"Well, now you know… And I can die with hope in my heart…"

"I accept this quest then," I said.

"…Oh, one more thing…" he reached into a satchel on his side and withdrew a glowing flask, made of glass, "Here, take this… An Estus Flask, an Undead favorite."

"I thank thee," I took the offered flask and put it into my own satchel.

"…Oh, and this…" I looked back to him. He was holding a key. I took it and looked on the side for the inscription. Undead Asylum F2 East Key. "…Now I must bid thee farewell… I would hate to harm you after death… So, go now… And thank you."

"Thank you, Friend," I pocketed the key and turned to leave. As I did, I heard him grunt, and then sigh his final breath as the life finally left him.

My head fell in a silent prayer, hoping peace for him after death. I took the stairs once more, teeth grit in anticipation. I made it to the top and found the culprit responsible for hitting me with the iron ball.

He growled and rushed me, although this time, he was armed with a chipped and Broken Sword. He swung wildly overhead that I easily sidestepped, then retaliated with a counter strike to his torso.

The Hollow stumbled backward, growling with pain, holding the wound and swinging his sword again sideways. I ducked under and turned at the same time, buck kicking him away.

With his balance completely off set, I turned back and stabbed, piercing his heart. The Hollow rasped and the light left his eyes, that familiar light leaving him and entering me. He collapsed and lay still.

"Vile cretin. Should thou have engaged me in a more fair manner, thou might have lived," I stepped over his body and walked to the gate he stood guard in for.

The little inscription above the keyhole said F2. I took the key the knight had given me and used it to open the door, pushing it forward and walking through.

Out here, I found myself on the actual perimeter of the Undead Asylum. The cliff edge just below the buttresses that held up the fortress. I came forward along the path and turned a corner, alerting three Hollows of my presence.

The two with swords stalked forward while the one archer stayed behind, readying a shot.

I crouched in a battle ready stance, shield up and sword ready, and waited. The first Hollow swung against my shield with all his might, the blade bouncing off with a clang and throwing his head back. I didn't attack yet, instead, tracking the motions of the second Hollow. The archer couldn't shoot yet with his allies blocking his shots. Once the second Hollow's sword began to come down, I swung out with my shield, catching his jaw just as the sword hit the arc of its swing. His head and sword rebounded, completely forcing him to drop his guard. I moved in quickly, plunging my sword entirely through his body.

The Hollow gasped and fell to his knees, dropping his sword as well. The first Hollow had regained his bearings and made to swing at me again. Quickly, I shoved the second Hollow off my sword and held up my shield, just in time to block his second blow. The strength of the impact almost enough to break through my guard after blocking and parrying them beforehoof. Once more, the solidity of the block staggered him, granting me an opening to slash at him. The attack across his chest staggered him again, letting me strike double, renting apart his chest twice and finally ending him.

The archer saw his chance and let the arrow go. Had his bow been in better condition, or perhaps the arrow head a little sharper, my skull would have been pierced and ended my short journey. Instead, the arrow bounced off my helmet and threw me into a state of disorientation, my ears ringing and my vision blurry.

Instinctively, I held up my shield and faced where I last remembered the archer standing. I held my ground until I regained myself, letting two more arrows bounce off my shield.

Once my vision was cleared, I began moving toward the Hollow, letting him pummel into my shield twice more, before I reached him. Before he could attack again, I slashed twice, scoring hits along the length of his barrel and side of the head. He went down silently, the flame of his body leaving him to come to me, marking the end of this little battle.

I panted over the bodies, trying to regain my wind before continuing on. Wind regained, I looked to my side where another strange wall of White Light blocked an entrance way.

"I've come so far, not to be afraid of a mere nuisance of a blockade," I walked to the light and pushed my way through.

I came to regret my boldness the very instant I came through the light. The demon was sitting below, just underneath me and the little slab of stone I stood upon. Silently, I tried to backpedal back out of chamber. Surprisingly, the White Light didn't dissipate when I came through and this time, it did not yield to my push.

In my panic, some stone was kicked below, alerting the demon to my presence. He looked up, lips pulled back into a sinister growl.

Seeing no other option but to engage the demon now, I gathered my courage and jumped off the little ledge I stood on. With a shout, I pointed my sword down, making use of my height advantage for a plunging strike.

The demon did not expect such a bold attack, and didn't move in time to avoid my fall. With a firm strike, my sword burrowed deep into the creature's skull, blood spurting thickly from the wound. With a roar, the demon whipped its head about, trying to throw me off.

I held firm for a moment, timing the next motion of his head for me to shove off and pull my sword free. It came soon after my thought, and I launched myself off his head, landing back on the ground where I initially confronted the demon, and rolled to ease the impact of the fall.

The demon howled and fumbled about, one hand against his wound, and the other desperately clasping his hammer.

I waited for him to still before darting in for a strike, but it seemed like he wouldn't be disoriented for too long. I had almost closed the distance between us when he spotted me and swung his hammer to the side.

Being too close to back away safely, and too far still to roll from the strike, I lifted my shield. The force behind the impact was truly unrivaled. There was no way for any pony to stand firm from such a strike. I felt myself lifted off my feet and thrown away, but no damage was done to me. Going with the momentum of the impact, I let myself fall backward and roll out in a tumble back to my hooves.

More ready now, I moved back in, keeping an eye on both his motions, and the giant hammer. It wasn't long before he began to heft the thing and raised it over his head.

I allowed myself a small grin and waited for the strike to fall. Once it did, I rolled forward, dodging the strike, and striking upward when I came up from the roll, letting the blade of my Longsword bite deep into the beast's belly.

More of its blood spurt forth, splashing my shield and staining my armor. The demon howled and jumped into the air. I expected it to land almost immediately afterward, but when I looked up, I saw the beast had wings! They were much to small for proper flight, but they provided enough lift to hover away from me.

He set down a distance away and roared, angered by my audacity. I didn't allow him his reprieve, rushing in as fast as I could to continue my attack. Too quickly did I rush in as he swung his hammer at a moment where only blocking was feasible. The impact rocked me again, forcing me to perform the same tumbling maneuver as last time.

Darting back in, I readied my sword, letting the beast strike, only to have me outmaneuver him with a sidestep or a rolling dodge. Again and again I cut into the demon's belly, legs, and sometimes—and I'm not to keen on admitting I did so—his rump.

But, there was one motion I made that was severely mistimed. On another of the beast's strikes, my shield was not up in time, and I felt myself picked up and thrown backward, head over heels, a good distance away. My head grew fuzzy, my entire side ached, and it hurt to breath.

With thundering steps, the demon moved closer, and I heard it grunt in effort as it lifted its hammer over its head for another strike. I struggled to get up and move out of the way, but again, I was not fast enough.

The great blow struck me on my other side and along the top of my head, throwing me straight down to the ground where my already aching chest impacting and released my air.

With a rasping gasp, I tried to get the air back within me. Now, I heard my heartbeat in my ears, deaf to all other noise. I was mostly blind, save for the pinpricks of vision I still possessed.

My right leg couldn't take my weight anymore, and my right arm felt very swollen. Fighting through the pain, I managed to half-stand and see another strike coming, just in time to hobble forward, safe inside the in-strike zone.

Desperate, I plunged my sword's point as deep as I could through the monster's hide.

Over the course of the fight, as the creature bled more and more, it's motions and strength began to dull, testimonies to my inflictions. But with my last and desperate strike, the demon seemed to halt, roaring in pain. With the roar, came a torrent of blood and a wet, tearing sound.

The multitude of strikes and wounds all accumulated and weakened the muscle holding the demon's entrails within it. It was with the beast's pained roar that the muscle wall split and released the contents of the beast's belly, washing me and everything around me, with a red river.

With another final roar, the beast fell backward, collapsing onto the ground, heaved one more strained gasp of air, then stilled.

I fell to my knees, letting the sword fall from my teeth. I believed this was where I was to actually die now. My wounds were great, and I would do no more moving around with my bad legs. There were two Bonfires that were tantalizingly close by, but I wouldn't be able to reach either of them.

However, the thought of the fallen knight brought back the memory of the flask he had gifted me. The Estus Flask!

I struggled to reach my hoof into my satchel and withdraw the glowing flask. I stared at its strange glow, and saw the same swirl of the flames of a Bonfire dancing within.

I brought the nipple to my lips and tipped it back, allowing the warmth of the flames to wash down my throat. There was no particular flavor, but I could feel the warmth traveling my entire body.

It was a truly strange sensation, to feel the heat moving in, but with it, I felt energy return to my limbs, the aches and pains residing to much more manageable intensities. My vision returned to normal and I could hear once more.

I gave another sip of the flask and continued to feel even stronger, almost back to full health and strength.

"Thank you for this favor, friend," I whispered to the knight. I wondered why he had gifted it to me instead of using it for himself, but I also remembered his words of him turning Hollow.

He had tried to rid himself of it to reduce the chances of him harming another and healing himself to cause more pain. He had made himself a martyr, probably in hopes that I was the Chosen Undead in his family's prophecy. I could not let his sacrifice be in vain.

I heaved myself back onto my hooves, and shook myself free of as much of the demon's blood as I could. It wasn't much, but at least the stench of iron and musk was slightly diminished.

Once I was finished, a glimmer on the demon's corpse caught my eye. I looked over and saw a large key hanging on his hammer's hilt.

I looked to the key and the other massive door across from the door I first came through. I picked it up, walked to the new door and pushed the key in. It was a perfect fit.

"Such a journey! I pray it gets easier once I leave this place," I pressed my entire weight against the door and shoved hard, prying the large door open. Outside, for this is where I was, was a small peninsula of land, bare to the elements and dotted with headstones.

I walked along the path, heading closer to the tip of the cliff edge. There was not a soul out here and none a way to leave. It was strange. Closer and closer, I made my way to the very tip before there was no more to travel.

There was no more path! From here, it was a fall to my doom! But, before I could turn, I heard a great rush of wind coming from below.

I looked over the edge, then reared far back, startled. A massive crow flew up to me, talons outstretched, and they wrapped around my arms, lifting me clear off my hooves and carrying me away.

At first, I struggled desperately, thinking the crow was going to either eat me, or drop me for sport.

But upon realizing how gentle the crow was in handling me, I let it carry me along. At least, I was to be away from this dreary place…

Only, in the ancient legends it is stated, that one day an Undead shall be chosen to leave the Undead Asylum, in pilgrimage, to the land of the ancient Lords,

Lordran.

Level 4 —> Level 6

Vitality 11 —> 12

Attunement 8

Endurance 12 —> 13

Strength 13

Dexterity 13

Resistance 11

Intelligence 9

Faith 9