Corruption of Souls

Ch.4

“That was terrifying.” I groaned as sat down in a chair as we hid in a room from a group of feral undead. I’m having trouble remembering how we even got here right now. Things have been kinda hazy for a while, I’m just following Daring’s lead by this point.

Uh...right. Daring had taken us to someplace called the Untended Graves to look for something called Firekeeper Eyes. The undead here were different than the Iron King’s and those in Equestria. They were entirely feral and they even had the undead dogs here. There were also Black Knights walking about and the area was pitch dark somehow even with the sun overhead.

“So, why are we here for Firekeeper Eyes again? We already have the Jade Crystallite to make Estus Flasks.” I asked as Daring and I snuck along the thin cliffside path along the walls of the ruins.

“Finding them and giving them to the Natural Equestria Museum, for the Age of Fire Exhibit, will allow them to complete the section on Firekeepers. They also have a Firekeeper there that can make Estus Flasks. Giving them the eyes will allow us to utilize her abilities without going through the church.” She explained as she picked an ancient lock to a lone tower.

“Uh...doesn’t that violate some sort of rules? Also, why not just use the church? Won’t they buy the Jade Crystallite we don’t want to use for flasks?” I’m confused. I thought we were already going to make some bank on that deal, why go around them like this? Daring got the door open with a loud screech which made me wince before we entered. Oh boy, it’s full of ornate coffins. I just realized we’re Tomb Raiding! “I suddenly feel like I’m partied with Lara Croft…”

“Well, we won’t technically be bypassing the church. She’s obligated as a Firekeeper to work with them, but she’s allowed to make her own business so long as it doesn’t endanger people. Besides, if we trade the Eyes for the Flasks, we won’t need to lose some of the pay we’d get for the rest of the Crystallite.” Daring smirked deviously. “I’m head of the Archeologist Guild for a reason.”

“But...isn’t this Tomb Raiding? I thought these sort of things were what archeologists were against.” I gestured around at the sealed sarcophagi recessed slightly into the walls.

“Yep! But the only difference between being a real Tomb Raider and an Archeologist is that we are preserving the relics for the sake of history and education.” Daring gave a cheesy toothy grin and a thumbs-up. I just blandly looked at her.

“So you're justified to be a thief?” Kinda losing some respect points here Daring, but I get it, you’ve gotta make a living somehow besides donations.

“Whatever helps you sleep at night Willow. Ah, here we are.” Daring hovered up towards a sealed casket, and she grunted as she tugged it out slightly, and pushed the lid inwards. “Blegh! I forgot their preservation methods were so lax since they were for fully Hollowed Undead.”

“You okay?” I really don’t like how cavalier Daring is with the bodies of inert Undead. This wasn’t the first time she’s done this...I think? Why do I feel like I’m forgetting stuff?

“Yeah, it just stinks worse than death.” Daring pulled out some sort of bladed scoop that looked like an evil ice cream scoop. “Sorry old girl, but your eyes are more useful to-.”

“Oh, what do we have here? A living maiden, and undead demon? Quite the sight!” An elderly woman in red robes that entirely concealed her form declared with a disturbingly kindly voice as she entered through the door with keys in hand, causing me to jump away from her. “What can this old Firelink Maiden do for you dears?”

“HOLY FUCK!” I gasped and patted my chest between my breasts to steady my racing heart. With how this place is crawling with hollows and Black Knights, I thought it was empty!

“Now, now no need for such language.” The elder chided as she sat on a casket and opened the bag she carried with her over her shoulder. She pulled out a modern electric lantern and turned it on, lighting up the large tower interior.

“Um...sorry for trespassing. I didn’t know someone was still living in this crumbling place.” Daring sheepishly moved away from the coffin and put her sharp scoop back in her magic breast pockets. Why doesn’t my shirt do that? Not fair.

“Ah, no worry. But a Firekeeper Soul would be best for what you want. There are five such souls in this place. One at the bell, one guarded inadvertently by two black knights, two hanging on branches on the side of the cliffs in back, and the last in the nest of the long past Pickle Pee on top of the shrine.” The Elder explained.

“Uh...that’s swell, but we just need the Eyes for a historical museum exhibit. Specifically on the archaic and outdated practice of blinding the Firekeepers.” Daring replied with unease.

“Hm, you want a strong flask though? The souls plus shards of old flasks could help.” She suggested.

“Oh! Um, well, we live in a much less harsh world now. A normal flask is amazing enough. But...well, Willow is a Displaced. She’s bound to get into serious trouble.” Daring mused hesitantly.

“Hey!” I yelped, feeling slightly offended. Sure, I got into trouble the moment I woke up here. I died a few times, ate demon souls, got maimed, raped, mutated. Uh...fuck, she’s right. “Bah!”

“Seeing as you can fly, the souls on the cliffs and the tower should be easy, they rest with their bodies. The Bell Tower is directly above us, so you’ll just have to flutter up and use the elevator. Pickle Pee’s nest is on the roof, so you could also just pick that up while you’re at it. Lastly, the two guarding the last are in Firelink, over a broken Lordvessel, and the remains of the Coiled Sword. Shards of Estus Flasks can be found throughout the world, just look for undead explorers.” The elderly and kindly shrine handmaiden explained.

“I’m so glad you’re here Daring. Just that last one seems to be the dangerous one with you here to make the others so easy.” I cheerfully pointed out to my friend, eager to get my hands on some good-ol’ Sunny-D Estus.

“Yeah, yeah. Sing my praises later fluffy butt.” Daring teased before flying back up to the coffin. “But we still need these Eyes for the museum. I’ll get these, then go fetch the easy souls. You get ready to fight some haunted knights from the First Era.”

“A-ah...right. Shit.” I muttered worriedly, knowing just how dangerous those possessed suits of armor are. I unholstered the pistol Daring gave me from my thigh holster...at some point. When did she give me this? Whatever, I wasn’t much of a fighter. At least not yet. “Uh, how useful will this be against them?”

“Considering they’re empty suits of armor dear? Not much. But if you aim for their heads or joints, you might disrupt their spirits enough to defeat them for a short time.” The old shrine maid informed me.

“Oh yeah, they’re empty. Any ideas why?” I questioned as I headed for the exit.

“Well, the Black and Silver Knights have been long gone. Their bodies nothing but ash and dust respectively. All that clings to their dutiful suits of armor are their lingering spirits, like the Alonne Knights at the Keep.” Daring answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“Just curious.” I shrugged, ignoring the disgusting squelching noise coming from Daring’s direction before I left the tower and got into the branches of a dead white tree overlooking half the graveyard in front of the shrine. “Okay, let's lure a few of those guys over here with rocks.” I held up the stones I used my tail hands to gather, then tossed them at the undead and the knights, trying to get them close enough for me since I’m not exactly a pro at shooting. Especially not in this unnatural Dark. Why does this place exist if Luna exists? Ugh, I’ll ask later.

“Grah~!” A hollow groaned before I delivered 9 millimeters of hot lead into its a nearly-empty skull. I quickly followed up with shooting the other hollows and the one knight that responded to the noise in the heads as well.

“Hope there’s not demons, or something else hostile with an actual mind.” I sighed, reloading after the seventh shot and no more enemies responding. Guns are overpowered, but then again I’m not exactly Bruce Lee. “I am taking this though, yoink!” I cheerfully declared as I picked up the oversized sword of the knight. “Holy fuck! What did you guys lift for exercise? Trees?!” I huffed and let the amazing piece of weaponry drop to the stone-paved ground with disappointment. “I’m gonna need to dump a ton of souls to get buff enough for that.”

I whined, not seeing me being a giant slab wielding juggernaut anytime in the future. However. “Are they still aware of what’s going on?” I questioned myself as I picked up the helmet of the downed wolf-anthro Black Knight, which had fallen off the rest of the armor. It seemed to have been made for diamond dogs if the shape of the helm meant anything. Feeling curious and excited, I put it on my head after removing my pith helmet, only to yelp as it shrank and hugged every contour of my head save my muzzle as if it was tailor-made! “Crap!” I yanked it off, but it retained its new shape. “Uh...well, that explains how every suit of armor you pick up fits perfectly.”

Wait...if this is the case. Couldn’t I have worn any of Daring’s clothes and they would’ve fit?! I didn’t have to get them tailored?! Ignoring that injustice, I put the helmet back on, and quickly tore apart the inert knight’s former body, putting it on in excitement. I feel so badass! SL1 Black Knight RP! But, uh, is it hugging me a bit much? I don’t remember the armor being so...busty for a female character. Then again the armor already had feminine curves to it...

I groaned at my sexy new armor as I walked towards the front entrance of the Shrine, finding the two guards pacing about. One was wielding a Black Knight Sword, the other a Great Sword like the one I failed to use. Strangely, I could see faint orange shimmers on five thrones at the back of the shrine, each holding what looked like different species. On the far left to me was a Minotaur, next to him a Pony, in the middle was another sickly looking pony, to the right of the sickly pony was a huge dragon, and lastly a wolf.

They were all just outlines though, not even saying or doing anything. Just sitting there. Ignoring them, I waltzed into the main chamber and shot the two knights before they could properly respond. Reloading the gun...I just noticed I pulled the magazine from my cleavage. Fucking sexist as hell armor...cool though. I moved to the smashed Lord Vessel and picked up the writhing black and white soul from the shattered fragments of the Coiled Sword.

It was so...beautiful. Just brimming with Anthromanity to the point it was twisting in on itself. I then put it in my cleavage, which was apparently the ‘pocket’ of this outfit like the pockets of Daring’s shirt. I can get used to-a roar from a Minotaur Black Knight from behind me got me to roll. It was carrying, was that a small blacksmith hammer? Really?

It tried smashing my face as I rolled out of the way again. But when the hammer hit the already crumbling wall, the wall was suddenly brand new. What. The. Absolute. Fuck? I didn’t dodge as it swung at me, and instead of getting sent flying, my new armor was suddenly completely shiny clean, and any aches I was feeling were gone. Well, this might explain why this place wasn’t a pile of dust. But what is with that hammer?

It roared in a language I could not understand and started banging its head on a wall, breaking it before hitting the hammer into the pile, fixing it. The Minotaur fell to the floor in some internal defeat. “Uh...you okay big fella?” It threw the hammer at me, and I yelped as it flew right into my cleavage, disappearing. Okay, this is ridiculous. “My tits aren’t that big! I’m just a C-cup!” As if in response, my armor seemed to get even bustier, giving me pointed nipples. “FUCK YOU!”

“Are you okay?” Daring asked as she entered the deeper section of the shrine I and the morose minotaur armor had wound up in. “Whoa~! Looking good there Willow!” Daring cat-called, and I felt suitably embarrassed at this, but thankfully my apparently semi-sentient armor shrank the bust down to how it was before. I’m not looking forward to seeing myself in the light in a mirror now. I’m worried about what it’s done to my butt and tails.

“I’m fine. Just...fine.” I looked at the sullen minotaur Black Knight and quickly began pushing Daring back outside. “I just got a few souvenirs.” As we passed by an abandoned anvil, one of my tails brushed by the bones draped over it, and I felt a shock of energy bolt up my back! “WHOA!”

“Ah! What is it, Willow?!” Daring spun around, looking me over as I blinked and panted to recover from whatever just happened. “You, uh, look a little...bothered there Willow.” Daring’s eyes were looking down at my suddenly H-cup tits, swollen and heavy with my sudden arousal.

“I’m fine!” I yelped, feeling like pure ice water had washed over me, but also that my body is ready to breed like when I was Corrupted. “Just...horny!” Oh, f~uck~! I wanna fuck so bad, but this isn’t the time or the place! “I’ll just...okay, baseball. YuGiOh cards. Margaret Thatcher naked on a cold night. Hillary Clinton. Yep, I’m good now!” My tits rapidly shrunk down from their magically boosted size, thinking of unsexy things had worked! Yay~! I’m unreasonably happy!

“I can tell. Well, we’re done here, but we’ve got a passenger. You’ll have to buddy-up with her.” Daring informed me before we left the shrine and walked down the now-clear path through the graves towards the open area Daring had landed our plane.

“Ah, what do you mean?” I asked as we journeyed to where the plane was down in an empty courtyard where an epitaph to a warrior named Gundyr was eternally lit by a magic brazier. This memorial was the only source of light in this place since the overhead sun somehow can’t actually light up anything here more than a few yards away from personal perspective.

“That sweet old lady is coming with us. Something about needing to move to the new shrine.” Daring replied, and I had to wonder, and worry about such a concept.

“Ah, Gundyr, such a sweet boy, He had pledged to being a sheath when he failed his duty.” The Elder said as we approached the plane while she was looking at the monument. “He tested Coldra to see if she was worthy like all Ashen that had passed through this Courtyard.”

“You knew Coldra?” Daring asked, her eyes lighting up in excitement.

“Yes. I sold her wares to aid in her journey to The First Flame. I never knew she had fallen in love with the Keeper until after they snuffed the flame together. My split soul rejoined this body soon after.” She told us. “I at least had the solace to know her act allowed the Light and Dark to finally find balance.”

“Oh, I see. I guess.” I unsurely replied as she walked back to the plane. Wait, this thing only has the two seats! “Uh, how am I gonna squeeze in with me wearing this armor?” My question was answered when Daring messed with the copilot seat and she unscrewed the yoke after it was locked so it couldn’t be moved and there wasn’t a stick in the way. “Great, I had to ask.”

(<3)

By the time we finally got back to Neighapplous, I was sore all over from being rattled around in the footwell of the copilot seat, the nice old lady besides herself with guilt about my discomfort. I climbed out without any grace, tumbling to the dirt of the small airfield of the small city/town with a groan.

“I’m so sorry, but I’ve been waiting a long time for the Corrupted Undead to come and retrieve me, dear.” The kindly handmaiden apologized as she slowly and feebly climbed out of the plane, her red hood, cloth mask, and robes still hiding her appearance completely.

“Uh, what?” I asked in confusion as Daring froze. “I get I’m Corrupted and Undead, but why does that sound more like a title?” I asked as I got up and dusted my armor-hello~! Damn this thing is a pervert. It’s outlined my pelvis like a second skin. Mm, I love the shape it gives to my ass in spite of the skirt, and my tails are still out.

“Hold on, before we get sidetracked. Are you saying Willow is a Prophesied Undead?” Daring asked with sweat beading her brow.

“Yes, dear. I was told shortly after I respawned that an Undead vixen of Corrupted body and a perverted mind would arrive at the Untended Graves, seeking not Fire, but Guidance. I believe those Eyes may well serve you more than you thought.” The old woman mused. “Now, I must go to the new Shrine. I feel it is in that direction.” She pointed, and Daring swallowed.

“Uh...that’s the direction of the Museum…” Daring stated worriedly.

“Wait, what is going on?” I asked as the Old woman, still unsure of her species due to her billowing red robes, walked off.

“Willow...I need to take you to the Way of White again. I have to report this and maybe have that old lady detained…” Daring wilted with exasperation, and I had a figurative light bulb go off in my head. The Chosen Undead, The Brave Undead, and The Ashen One. Now that woman has called me The Corrupted Undead. I’m a ‘hero’ of prophecy!

“...Well shit.” At least it’s better than playing video games. Or not. I’d rather not die multiple times, thank you. However, this is the most excitement and fun I’ve ever had.

Also boobs.

And the booty…

God, I wanna fuck Daring so bad right now for some reason...