Chapter 473: The Last Undead Squad's Etiquette |
The azure mountains and the mist.
The ancient dragon and the flames.
When the Ashen Ones, after endless trials, finally stood atop the colossal, ancient dragon,
everything felt both familiar and alien.
Once upon a time, these Ashen Ones who had come out of Collapse Valley in Ashina were so small, yet they had smashed that ferocious pale-white beast.
And now, after so many twists and turns, they had arrived at Ancient Dragon Peak, a similarly isolated place, and faced a presence even more terrifying than the White Serpent God.
Next, falling attacks will be very useful.
Shala.
Gray Explosion clenched the dagger in his hand, standing atop the tower, looking down at the thunderous, roaring ancient wyvern beneath him.
the dragon beneath his feet did not look any smaller despite the increased viewing distance.
It was hard to imagine where such a savage, immense dragon had come from.
What had this place been like before the world’s fire began to wane?
Many questions might only be answered in later sequels.
But for now,
Gray Explosion took a few steps backward.
The ancient dragon was right below him.
To uncover the true secret of Ancient Dragon Peak, they first had to deal with this ancient flying dragon blocking the way!
Huu—!
Just as they had in Collapse Valley before.
The Ashen One leaped from the tower, both hands raising the sharp, deadly dagger, drawing an arc through the air, and struck with precise, fierce accuracy at the dragon’s crown!
Puu—!
The blade plunged into the dragon’s head!
A searing pain made the ancient wyvern emit a ghastly, ear-splitting roar of fury!
Boom—!!!
The massive dragon beat its wings, the broad, grim wings flailing wildly!
The tower’s old bluestone collapsed and scattered in an instant; broken walls and rubble rose and swirled like an age-old storm, converging chaotically across Ancient Dragon Peak!
Greenish stones rained down like pellets on Gray Explosion’s armor with crackling sounds,
the dragon’s head thrashed left and right, hurling his body into the air!
Clatter—!!!
Gray Explosion was flung and slammed into the ground, rolling fully more than ten meters away!
When he lifted his head again,
he saw that from the dragon’s mouth, a thick, blazing breath of flame was gathering anew!
That molten fury, carrying a scorching heat, was about to erupt down onto Gray Explosion’s head!
At the critical instant!
Slash—!!!
Klang—!!!
Suddenly!
From behind the dragon came the sound of a greatsword tearing through the air!
The sound of the blade cutting flesh rang out, and the dragon’s final, furious breath stalled at that precise moment, filled with regret.
Boom—!
The enormous body collapsed with a thunderous crash, like an explosive demolition of living mass, smashing the tower beside the steps and sending up a billowing cloud of dust!
The choking dust rose so high it nearly stole everyone’s breath.
The Ashen One raised a hand to shield against the shockwave, and through the hazy dust he saw the silhouette of someone.
The figure was not tall, about his size, a long greatsword planted point-first in the ground, the hilt slightly bent.
A cloak whipped about in the dust and wind, and under his left arm he cradled a pointed battlehelm,
as the dust dispersed!
A familiar friend’s figure, unexpectedly clear again in this mysterious place!
"Hawk...wood?
Right!
The familiar silhouette who had struck the ancient dragon’s final blow was none other than Hawkwood, Discouraged Bro — the depressed fellow who had vanished after the Ashen One defeated the first Lord of Ashes at the start!
Only now, Discouraged Bro no longer seemed discouraged.
He had set down the shield that once represented cowardice and stagnation, taken up the Fran Greatsword that embodied the Fran Undying Host’s pride, and donned the undying host’s signature pointed battlehelm.
[My comrade, as you said, there is only one true form of heroism in the world: to love life even after seeing its harsh truths.]
......
Discouraged Bro gazed at you.
And you looked back at Discouraged Bro.
Both silent.
Perhaps too many emotions were entangled to find the right words.
Perhaps the strange bond between you moved both of you so deeply that you were at a loss for how to respond.
Or perhaps neither of you were the expressive sort.
Clap.
You took the hand Discouraged Bro offered, brushed the dust from your clothes, and rose to your feet.
The thin, cool light of Ancient Dragon Peak fell over you both, and in the identical glint along your matching Fran Greatswords there was a resolute radiance.
The path to Ancient Dragon Peak had not been easy.
Many serpents had blocked the way, failing those who sought the dragon’s power; some were cunning and quick, others tall and formidable,
but for you two brothers, none of them were truly troublesome.
So Ancient Dragon Peak ended up with two boys dancing on the stones,
your Wolf Sword Technique both graceful and fierce, blades and shadows moving in seamless coordination,
maybe your dance was exceptional, or maybe the Fran Greatsword simply hurt a lot.
In any case, after you stood back-to-back and cut down the final two serpents, looking out over Ancient Dragon Peak, there was no one left who dared challenge you.
"This is the summit of Ancient Dragon Peak.."
The azure mountains flowed like floods, the waning sun burned like fire.
In the dusky gloom, Ancient Dragon Peak was shrouded in mist, and far at the horizon a titanic ancient dragon the size of a mountain looked back from the distance.
Discouraged Bro took the first step to the summit’s stone coffin, sat down cross-legged, and struck the pose of one who has set foot on the dragon’s path.
Beside him, a place was intentionally left for you.
Calm, composed.
You sat down as well, taking the dragon-path posture.
Looking back on the journey, many feelings swelled up.
Discouraged Bro had accompanied you from the moment the kindling-path first opened; there were so many things you wanted to tell him.
Hey, you know, after you left the bonfire I met so many people and lived through so many stories—
Remember Thief Bro? The one who always lurked in the corner of the bonfire, hood up?
Back at Lothric high walls, he had asked me to find his fiancée.
Sadly, I only found their token of love in a sack inside the Undead Settlement’s house—his keepsake and hers.
He thanked me, and from then on often scoured for good things for me,
I knew scavenging was only a reason for him; in this world where people constantly lose memory and soul, one needs a reason to keep moving, right?
In his last theft, he died in Lothric’s Great Library.
I brought his ashes back and buried them with his fiancée.
There was also the knight who always wore an onion-shaped helm.
He was generous, warm, sleepy, and a bit muddled; I helped him hunt a demon, and he bought me warm beer and stew.
Later I learned he was actually a close friend of Ym, the Giant King and second Lord of Ashes.
Because the sin-fire of the Sin City drives men mad, much like the Depths’ curse, Ym had forged a greatsword called Storm Reins and entrusted Onion with it, instructing him to slay Ym when Ym lost his mind.
To keep his promise, Onion Bro and I went to the Sin City and fulfilled that vow.
He slept forever in that city afterward.
Of course, there were many more people.
Like Gudda, the hero who missed kindling at the Unkindled Bonfire because he was late; Yeur, the pilgrim of Londo; Anri and her silent knight Horace; Komikus, the pyromancer of the Great Swamp.
Oh, and that rotten fellow, Bald Patch, who almost doomed me into the giants’ dung pit.
I met so many people, and so many things happened along the way.
In this twilight, chilly world, people live for this mission and that,
and when the mission is finished, the shared road walked together comes to an end.
Life is always full of farewells.
I did not do as Roderis advised; I gave the Fireguard Maiden’s eyes, which I found in the Unkindled Bonfire, back to the Fireguard Maiden.
She said the extinguishing of the flame will mark the coming of the Deep Sea Age.
But the coming of the Deep Sea Age does not mean the world’s absolute end;
in that boundless, long age, there will always be an opportunity, a time when a tiny initial ember will reappear in the endless dark, like a cycle of reincarnation, again illuminating the world.
Until then, fulfill your duty and do not betray this life, isn’t that enough?
You spoke on and on in a calm, steady voice.
Until a [Radiant Dragon Body Stone] imbued with the dragon’s power suddenly appeared in your hand.
It is said only by combining the Dragon Body Stone with the Dragon Crown Stone can the holder inherit the dragon’s true, mighty power.
At this moment, the Dragon Body Stone was in your hand.
Looking at the now-empty spot where Discouraged Bro had just sat, you realized—
perhaps, from the first entry into the bonfire to Ancient Dragon Peak,
it was time for you and Discouraged Bro to part ways.
Back at the bonfire, the blacksmith gave you a wolf-blood swordgrass—this was how the Undying Host expressed resolve.
The place, naturally, was Firelink Fortress.
This was where the Undying Host stood watch, and where the Undying Host was laid to rest.
He might not know why you came to Ancient Dragon Peak, nor how you would decide the world’s fate,
but unquestionably, in Discouraged Bro’s heart, from the moment you set foot in the Undead Settlement, you had already been his example and compass.
You were his comrade, and the last friend left in the world.
Yet your ambitions differed.
As a former deserter, he wanted to atone for his past and, as an Undying Host member, stand in Firelink Fortress to inherit their duty, using the dragon’s power to hold back the abyss.
Your own aim was clearly elsewhere: you would go to the place of all heroes’ ends—the First Furnace.
Your meeting had been fate, and your destinies were likewise fated.
In Firelink Fortress, ultimately only one person could leave with the complete Radiant Dragon Stone.
If he won, he would continue to fulfill the Undying Host’s oath, stand watch here day after day, year after year, forever guarding against the Abyss until his final death.
If you won...
Amid the rolling smoke and faint fires of Firelink Fortress,
standing on ancient stone tiles stained with blood, Hawkwood placed the pointed battlehelm on his head, and looked at you with sharp, resolute eyes—
If victory belongs to you, then this Dragon Stone I hold will be my gift to you, my final token of admiration.
With this ancient dragon power, complete your mission; at the First Furnace, in the heroes’ final place, it will lend you strength.
You have defeated all members of the Fran Undying Host, so you can surely help us defeat the Abyss in our stead.
As for me?
I will die beneath the smoke of war, surrounded by my comrades, dying at the Fortress we vowed to protect with our lives.
This is my fate.
This is my glory.
In the dim light, Hawkwood raised his left fist and pressed it against the right shoulder where his Fran Greatsword was planted.
The last Undying Host ritual.
A salute to you, Ashen One.
Now.
It is time to say farewell.