What Remains of Ash and Cinders (Dark Souls x MGE)

[Dimiel]

He looks up at the darkened sky, lit by what was left of the sun.

The ringed sun that was fading.

Sit at the center of where it all started surrounded by countless blades of fallen Unkindled, was the Kiln of the First Flame or what remains of it. The First Flame that was a shred of what it once was glows dim, a testament of the many times the First Flame was linked. The First Flame...

The cause of it all.

His journey in Lothric had not been easy-far from it. He had faced countless deaths just so he could reach here. Many monsters he slain, many Lords of Cinder defeated, many horrors, foes and allies alike...it was not an easy journey. When he came face to face with the Soul of Cinder, he knew his journey had come to an end.

He has a choice to make.

Preserve, let the Age of Fire continue. Do what he was reborn for again, link the flame like the many exalted lords before him.

Or...end the fire, let it fade so darkness may settle once more.

He stares at the remnants of the Soul of Cinder, nothing but ashes, much like himself. The Age of Fire, the First Flame, did more damage than good. Gwynn tried to preserve it for so long and countless other Undead followed, even the current Soul of Cinder. Because of that, the world turned upside down, time was shattered and the lands distorted. Continuing to preserve is to continue to destroy the very place they all lived in.

He turned his head at the summon sign, he was ready to make his choice.

---

What Begets Fools

The Ashen One awakes under the sound of distant cries.

His eyes shoot open and sits up, shaking his head from the grogginess fogging his mind. The chaos that permeates through his eardrums did not help but he knew very well that it wasn't anything normal. Gaining his senses, the Ashen One frowned and immediately set out to see what was happening. It didn't take long for to find out.

Through the window, he can see the city of Lescatie covered in fires and mysterious purple mist. Roars of violence and moans of lust told him what he needed to know.

He had been in Lecastie for about a year. After he smothered the First Flame and let darkness settle, he somehow wound up in this strange new world known as Eos. Lescatie is the city state under the theocracy of the Order of the Chief God. A grand city built to be an impenetrable jewel, a jewel that fools the fools. It has its own sets of problems but as a foreigner not just to these lands but to the world itself, he finds it too bothersome to get too involved and merely wanted to be left alone. The only reminder of his old world was his job as a mercenary, nothing more.

It was only natural the Ashen One didn't join the Order. He was not one for faith, disillusioned after the events of Gael in the Ringed City. Even the Hero of the Generation, Wilmarina Noscrim, tried to convince him to join but he adamantly refused. Priests and Inquisitors alike also tried to get him join through various methods. Intimidation didn't work, the Ashen One received far worse threats. The fanatics' masks fell to reveal the ugly truth beneath the surface; Lescatie was not a jewel and the Order weren't people of good faith.

Their greed for power and materialism sits above all else and faith was last...most likely never even to be considered.

While fanatics or lunatics are nothing new to the Ashen One, what was new are the monsters of Eos disguised as shameless harlots craving for the embrace of men. Despite being monsters themselves, when faced with unrestrained violence, they called those that impose such things as monsters.

How ironic.

This world was strange, even stranger than he had anticipated.

His questions remain unanswered, what were these monsters?

The Ashen One got his answer after stealing a certain book; the Monster Girls Encyclopedia. A book that details many entries of every single type of monsters, or Mamono as they are called in these lands. All their needs, how their bodies work, their behavior, habitats, their weakness. From what he had read, they were made or changed more specifically by the current Demon Lord who was once a Succubus after the previous Demon Lord fell at the hands of a hero. She also happens to be another fool with an ambition of uniting all humans through mindless pleasure.

Such notion sickens the Ashen One. Uniting the world was itself a fool's ideal let alone through such crude and depraved method. The urge to bash her head in was ever present even now. The Order was even more ridiculous which brings him to now.

This one book can help the Order in their crusade by a huge margin. Knowledge is power after all, intel from opposing forces are invaluable. However, as he continues on his days in Lescatie, he learns two things. The first is that the book was said to be cursed, that it was presumed to transform any woman into Mamono and any men into Incubi which was a profoundly idiotic assumption considering it was made by a human, not a Mamono. The second issue is that the Order demanded these books to be destroyed should any devout believers find them, and anyone found holding it will be executed as well.

This had dwindled down their chance of victory by a lot. Not helped by the fact that he noticed as the year went by, Mamono presence around Lecastie's borders were getting abundant. And it was here he also noticed the nobles' sins. They failed terribly at handling the welfare within the city and instead of taking this threat seriously, they opted to serve their own greed by raising the tax on the commoners, causing anger and unrest over ninety percent of the population.

It was only a matter of time.

And now it happened.

The Invasion of Lecastie.

The Mamono appeared and began unleashing their combined might. It was clear what they were aiming for; Lescatie was known to be the Order's pride and joy as well as the Impenetrable Jewel, a safe haven from the terrors of the Demon Lord. By taking over such a famed city, they will show the world their power while also striking fear into the hearts of the Order. If it were to fall, then the Order would be backed into a corner of which they have no escape from.

And in this very moment, it was precisely what the Ashen One was going to do. But escaping the city was harder than it seems especially with the chaos that was unleashed by both sides.

"..." He held in the urge to sigh at the sight of the burning city.

He needs to pack up the bare necessities before he goes out on a long journey. He managed to get his gears into his arsenal, some spare casual clothing, the materials, and most importantly his hard-earned money from all the quests he had done as a mercenary. Everything was ready and now he merely needed to plot a route out of the ci-

KNOCK KNOCK!

Just then, he heard a knock on his door.

Hearing knocking made the Ashen One raise an eyebrow. The knock was far too casual for a city about to fall at the hands of the Mamono. Clearly, something was wrong. Narrowing his eyes to form a glare, he took his Lothric Straight Sword out in a slow but thoughtful maneuver. The blade let out a glow as the knock began to get louder.

BOOM!

'As I suspected...' The Ashen One thought to himself as the door flung open, hitting the wall.

In came a couple of the Order Inquisitors, three of them. They brandished their weapons out into their hands and their intentions were laced on their faces. It didn't help with their killing intent covering his abode like smokes. It seems they were ready to kill for whatever incredulous reason they have for a foreigner such as him.

"Inquisitors." The Ashen One grips the hilt tightly. "What do you want?"

They glared at him, "Foreigner, you are found guilty of treason and assisting the Mamono!" Said one of the fools.

"...treason?" The Ashen One could feel disgust climbing into his being. "Lescatie is under a siege...and you dare come into my abode and claim myself as the enemy of the Order? Imbeciles, the lot of you. It is no revelation that Mamono managed to ambush this city."

The Order Inquisitors growled at his rebuttal. They were well aware why he had thought so and getting it placed in front of them to make them swallow the truth was quite unpleasant. The Order wanted him dead, that much was clear. But without evidence, any accusations would be baseless and considered tyranny.

The leader looked down and smirked. "It seems we have the evidence." The leader said as he stabbed something with his sword and pulled it up to reveal their evidence. "The book of the heretics…"

"By the Chief God, what heresy!"

"This will serve you no good, Foreigner!"

"The book of the heretics..." The Ashen One sighs. "The book of the heretics as you claimed would help the Order in their crusades." He said as he grips the Lothric Straight Sword tightly while putting his left arm behind his back. "That book is a key to defeating the Demon Lord but you refused to use it due to your "faith"..."

"Face it, heretic!" The leader yelled with a manic look. "Your reasoning bore the symbol of treachery! You can't fool us! You are at an end!"

"Fools..." The Ashen One growled, irritated at their idiocy. "If this is how you deem it to be..." The cinder that was hidden within him sprouted forth as he conjured up a pyromancy spell. "Then by all means, suffer."

He pulled his left hand and threw the devastating spell at the Order agents who weren't quick enough to respond as nearly all of them were killed save for the leader. He was able to take the flame due to his Mana Level albeit he was still left screaming as he flails his arms around to try and put out the fire but to no avail.

"AHHHHH!" The leader roared out as the flame continued to eat his skin to crisps. "Heresy! HERESY!" He fell down to his knees, clutching his face. "I will kill you!"

The leader was then used as a stepping stool as he can feel the sole boots of the Foreigner weighing down his back. "Your words befit a lunatic, the pathetic kind as well. Licking the feet of your superiors like dogs." The Ashen One stares down, even when his face is hidden under the helmet, the leader could feel the look of disgust. "You chose to chase a foreigner who is doing a better job at keeping the Mamono from consuming this city than the Order ever will be, instead of saving the countless pleading innocents."

"Lunatic? Me? H-Heresy..." The leader grits his teeth, blood seeps out from his mouth. "DIE, HERETIC SCUM!"

The leader took out something the Ashen One would describe as a dagger. Doing nothing, the inquisitor fool stabbed the Ashen One with his dagger, feeling the blade entering the once empty vessel of ash.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA! YOU INSIGNIFI-" Before he could end his sentence with his maniacal laughter, the Ashen One merely grabbed his head.

"You wish to die a painful death?" The gauntlet made a clunking sound as the lunatic's laughter morphed into torment. "Very well." Mustering his strength, the Ashen One begins to slowly crush the inquisitor's head, slowly as the skull begins to crack like an egg. "The only heresy here is assuming a puny blade is enough to take an Unkindled down."

"AHHHH-"

The lunatic didn't get to scream louder as his head was burst under the Ashen One's grip, splattering brain matter and blood all over his gauntlets and floor. Although his head was crushed, it still left his lower mouth which remains open, clearly showing how agonizing his death was. The Ashen One threw the body to the side and flicked his hand to get some of the blood and gore off.

He scoffed, "Getting your vile blood on my blade would mean staining my honor." His urge to spit was there but even he considers his spit to be too high for a fool like the inquisitor. "In the end, fools will remain fools." He looks outside through the door frame, seeing the chaos getting worse by the second. "Hopefully, it isn't troublesome to escape from the city."

He knew hoping was nothing short of idealistic, but he had enough of cruelty to wish for otherwise.

---

Seems like he was being idealistic indeed.

The path to escape was more of a problem than he'd like.

After leaving his home, the Ashen One began to look for any pathways that lead out of the city. However, he is finding the situation dire by the minute. He kept crossing through the streets as he witnessed panic mobs of humans trying to escape from the doomed city all the while the Mamono took advantage of the situation, venting their carnal desires onto the unknowing innocents as they claimed their "husbands" and transformed human women into more Manono.

The Ashen One gritted his teeth, this was getting ridiculous. It seems the Mamono won't be able to learn their lesson unless he does something about it. They masked their lust under the justified "love". Their beliefs on the Demon Lord was already idiotic enough, because she herself believed the Sabbath would fix the damages they've done when nothing is confirmed yet.

The entry in the Monster Girl Encyclopedia did say that they are very knowledgeable and advanced for Mamono as they brought innovations that even left him baffled. Ideas like airships, music boxes, advanced mine carts and the like. But unfortunately, the book also mentioned that this group of Mamono are also a cult of sorts. Trying to spread this insane ideology of 'Loli Superiority' to the rest of the world.

They were no better than the rest of their kind, dictated by their own carnal desires.

And they were supposed to be the smarter bunch.

Growling, the Ashen One kept going before seeing a group of humans running from the Mamono, heading towards the north west gate, the only side that hadn't been cornered yet. Narrowing his eyes, the Ashen One realizes that this may be his chance.

One poor sod was about to be jumped by a werecat. He closed his eyes to accept his fate before feeling a liquid of sorts splashing onto his being. He opened his eyes as he gagged in shock at the now beheaded feline humanoid, spurting blood from the decapitated head like a fountain before falling down.

Even the other Mamono froze in place at such a violent display.

"Don't just sit there, escape." Spoke a deep voice.

The poor peasant looked up as he saw the foreigner wearing knight armor of unknown origin. He was famous around the poorer parts of Lecastie as he sometimes offered help in exchange for information and money. After his appearance, the slums had never been more safe as the thieves, the local bandits were all slain by this one single man. So to see his figure made the peasant breathe a sigh of relief.

"I'll take care of them. Take this moment to flee."

Not wanting to be told twice, the surviving humans agreed as they ran as the foreigner glared at the Mamono before him. "T-Thank you!"

"Hey! Don't you dare deny us our future husbands, you Order monster!" A Mamono shouted, the intimidation only works against her as the Ashen One can see her quaking in her boots.

Or hoofs to be exact. The Mamono in question was a Minotaur, the bastardized version of it.

All she got in response was a spine-shivering chuckle as the foreigner pointed his sword at her. "Calling me a monster yet again?" The Ashen One huffed as he took his stance. "Then I'll use you lot as a message to your superior." This made the Mamono to gulp nervously as he took a stance. "I may be outnumbered, but I am not outmatched. You all are hesitant to murder which makes this easier for me."

With that, the Ashen One charged at them with the intent to kill as the Mamono stood frozen in fear.

It became a gore fest.

The Ashen One started to kill any Mamono that rushed him, and he wasn't kind enough to let the fleeing ones go as they're the ones to face a gruesome death the most. Any Mamono that tried to claim the escaping humans or capture him met their end to his blade. His claymore bathed in the blood as he fought and killed vigorously. He soon began to march forward as he had to find better ground. The Ashen One walked amongst the countless corpses of Mamono, the fire behind him shadows his figure as he soon came face to face with an Ogre.

A commander who had half her company with her was wondering what was the cause of the many frightened Mamono retreating.

She soon finds the reason. "You..." She took out a waraxe made purely out of Demon Silver. "You will fall for me and I will spend the rest of my days violating you."

"Then you will join the rest of them." The Ashen One replied, motioning his head towards the towering mountain of corpses behind him.

As expected of a commander, she put up a better fight than the rest. Her strength as an Ogre proved to be much stronger than he initially thought as he was thrown hard to a wall. He felt that but it wasn't enough. He took out the Lothric Straight Sword and flared pyromancy on his left hand to make a short work of these harlots. Although she was stronger than the many other Mamono he had fought, the things he had faced in Lothric was far greater.

In the end, the fourth commander is dead as well as her entire followers. Luckily, their dying breaths told him that the rest of the Mamono were converging into the castle. The Ashen One decided if he goes there now, there is a good chance the superior who commands the army would be there along with her generals. He vowed to make an example out of them all, effectively killing two birds with one stone.

The foreigner huffs out as he flicks his blade before going to the castle. Along the way, he slaughtered many Mamono who assumed he was a defenseless weakling open for gourmet. He then arrived to see the courtyard, where most of the generals and Mamono had already breached the perimeters and were assaulting the guards.

The Ashen One narrowed his eyes as he put the straight sword back into the scabbard by his hips. "Seems this beckoned to be more thorough," He said before he took a look into his arsenal. "I have all I need." He got up as he held out a pair of Kukris, poison daggers, firebombs, his Talisman and Pyromancy ready. "Let this be done with."

---

Kirsch began running away.

Like a coward.

Something she thought she abandoned since she became Bishop Noscrim's assassin.

Yet some things haven't changed.

Lescatie was ambushed and everything had gone to hell. The Mamono somehow managed to breach the defenses and overran the city. The very city claimed to be impenetrable and safe haven for outsiders. The city now was nothing more than its former glory, fires erupted and the Mamono crawled in every corner. She needed to escape fast and without detection.

Her lord promised to meet up with her after they got separated. He ordered her to go and save his daughter, Wilmarina. Unfortunately, that turned out to be naught.

Wilmarina Noscrim.

The Chosen Hero of the Order.

Leader of the Ice Flowers.

And Bishop Noscrim's daughter, and only child.

She had transformed into a monster.

A Succubus to be exact, and she is currently having fornication with the boy that her father banished; Elton Dragmire. And she wasn't alone in the act, he was also assaulted by other Mamono that she would rather not list off. The unholy sight sinks onto her being as the realization hits.

She failed.

Kirsch, for the first time, failed in a mission to save her lord's daughter. And now the purple-haired assassin is on the run now. Trying to escape from this place alive. However, she had the displeasure of facing the Fourth Born, Druella herself. She claims that she could 'liberate' Kirsch from the horrors of being a human, that she is cursed and must be freed from the Chief God.

Kirsch continues to flee before slipping on the floor. She grits her teeth in frustration, this must be due to all that running and the Demonic Mana in the air weakening her. Kirsch tried to stand up but fell down to her knees again. Just then, a shadow was casted onto her being, her blood immediately ran cold. She looks up to see Druella smiling rather seductively.

She was at the end of her ropes now that Druella found her.

Quickly, she used the remaining strength within her and threw a couple of knives in her last attempt to escape only for the knives to be deflected by Druella's barrier. "Dear Kirsch..." The Fourth Born had a naughty, prideful and arrogant smirk as she now walked stridently as she won now. "Just give up, there's nothing else you can do. Lescatie had fallen and so did the Order."

"You...heretic...!" Kirsch cursed under her breath. "You will not get away with this!"

Victory is now in her hands.

Lecastie is now hers.

"On the contrary, I will." Her smile widens to form a sickening grin. "Once I overtake Lescatie, the world shall face the might of the Demon Lord! And then we will finally..." The thought of conquering the world aroused the Fourth Born so much her breathing became erratic. "Ah, what joy! And you will be one of the lucky Mamono to be able to witness utopia!" She raised both her hands, as if handing out a revelation. "Mother will-"

She didn't get to finish her sentence as an explosion shook the castle.

"What the-!?"

A figure shot through the glass panes. Dust covered the room, hindering their vision. Druella jumped back in shock while Kirsch stayed frozen in place. They stared at the figure that stood between them, his feet crushed the shattered glass as his armor can be seen. The individual in question sighed in relief, his armor clanking as he stood up, causing the Lilim to growl.

'What...?' As an assassin, she could smell blood.

"Who goes there!?" Druella demanded.

It was when the dust cleared that they received their answer.

Lying on the floor was a corpse, the upper half remains of one of Druella's generals to be specific. An Arch Succubus, dead. It seems she was decapitated by a powerful blade with tremendous strength to back it up.

Both women gasped in shock at the corpse now settling into their minds. Druella snarled while Kirsch wished she could stand, but remained frozen in place. The two then continue to observe as the dust clears up completely. Shifting as he brought his greatsword over his shoulder, his stance unwavering and his armor covered in blood. Even under the scent of her fallen comrades, Druella can smell that he was a man.

The man's armor was colored silver that seems to have seen better days with its lack of luster. There were also some patches of clothing and belts to keep the pieces in place. Around his neck is a brown cloth that can be mistaken as a scarf. The other piece of clothing was the blue rags of some kind wrapping around his torso.

Strapped on his person were a variety of equipment; a shield, one sharing the same color and state of his armor with strange engravings they are not familiar with and three weapons, two equally large blades and a straight sword by his hips. The large blades had strange designs as well, one had the color of an eclipse and seems to be broken while the other one which was the one he had on his shoulder seems to be in a better condition as evident with its glowing veins, teeming with unknown energy. It was shaped weirdly but even they could tell how deadly it was.

The two women immediately recognized this person.

To Kirsch, he was the foreigner who rejected their offer to join the Order ranks to get rid of the revolting Mamono. She was surprised to find that out considering the fate of many before him. Kirsch still remembered the time her lord, Bishop Noscrim, ranting in anger when foreign knight refused to listen to them. Not just her lord, even to the people of higher status like the nobles, priests and the king.

As for the Lilim, she was made aware of this man-no.

This monster.

She had heard of this monster's exploits. How he ruthlessly killed and maimed Mamono without any disregard of their livelihood. Even the spies that were sent to his way, from Hero class Mamono to Kunoichis, stood no chance to him. Nothing from charming to seduction to outright rape worked on him. They all failed. The rumors surrounding him grew and the Mamono became restless. Even Hel took notice of it and demanded all Mamono to avoid contact with this man at all costs.

However, Druella did not heed Hel's warning and went to search for him. Have him kneel before her to face the consequences of his actions. She even assumed he would have been held captive by now due to the chaos of Lecastie and would be easily ambushed by her soldiers. But she was wrong.

It looks like he found her instead.

He swung the greatsword to his right side, flicking away any blood still fresh on it as he pulled it back to his shoulder. He did not care where the blood splattered, he had bigger concerns now. He then did something unexpected and plunged his greatsword in between Kirsch and Druella. This was surprising for both as this knight is standing between a human affiliated with the Order and a Lilim, one of the strongest of the Mamono.

He takes a look around, seemingly surprised. "It looks like I'm in the right place, what a coincidence." He then stared at Druella. "I assume you're the cause of all this." The Ashen One said as he placed his hand on top of the hilt like a proper knight. "I will deliver upon you death, demon." Just as he said that, his armor lit up like fire, releasing cinders around.

The two shivered at the venom laced in his tone but Druella aren't one to be intimidated by such a display. "Ah, the dreaded Rusted Slayer." Druella said as she glared at the man before her. "What an honor to see you in person if not for..." She looked down at the corpse of her general, releasing a sigh. "Was it really necessary to make a mess? Killing one of my own generals...she was still looking for a husband, you know?"

"I care not for her aspirations..." The Ashen One trailed off, as if mocking her. "...along with others'."

Kirsch had her eyes immediately widened, 'D-Did he...?'

"W-What?" Druella's lips began to quiver, she had just noticed now that the sounds outside were unnaturally quiet. "You killed them all!?"

"Yes, most of your generals are all dead now." The Ashen One repeated. "I also slaughtered the sways of Mamono they commanded. Enough numbers for them to stop pursuing me and the innocents." Cracking his neck, he pulled out the greatsword from the ground. "Now all that remains is you, demon."

"Challenging me?" She looked like she wanted to laugh, but with how many he had slain, she couldn't. "Many before you had fallen for this very reason...are you adamant about this decision?"

"For a harlot, you sure speak a lot."

"So be it, Rusted Slayer..." Druella snarled as she unleashed a full miasma of her Demonic Mana.

She swiped her hands in an arc motion and immediately floored the corridor with her magic. The Ashen One let out a grunt as he held his blade up and bent forward a little to resist the surge. The surge was powerful enough to blow his Knight Shield away, skidding across towards Kirsch who was still kneeling on the floor. Due to being a human born in the world of Eos, she is vulnerable to the mana that Mamono exudes. Add in her rapier that is actually a secret demonic sword and it's a miracle she hadn't transformed yet. She could feel the Demonic Energy coursing through the ground. It was trying to reach for her, but she refused to turn into Mamono.

Quickly, with all her strength, she stood up and reached for the Knight Shield. Once she grabbed the handle on its back, she lifted it and was surprised at how heavy it was but didn't want to pay it any more attention and slammed it on the ground, performing a barricade stance. It was a good move as the shield was powerful enough to direct the surge of Demonic Mana away from her, like a huge rock in the middle of a downstream river.

Druella narrowed her eyes, that was the most power she had mustered and it should be able to change any humans within a mile radius into Mamono or Incubi almost instantly. The Demonic Mana had no effect on the foreigner as he stood up unscathed, looking more unimpressed than he was surprised. He wordlessly raises his hand. In that moment, a magic circle with unknown purple sigils formed around him. Druella's eyes widened as she could feel the Demonic Energy around her immediately vanish.

An unknown magic that was able to cancel out other magic...it was practically unheard of. And considering Demonic Mana was a more powerful variant of the normal mana, what he just did was nothing short of sacrilege. He rejected love and that is a crime not easily forgiven.

"You..." Druella growled. "I will defeat you...and once I do, I will enjoy ravishing your body and have you beg for my embrace."

"Pathetic demon." The Ashen One scoffed, he more or less mocked her for her taunt. "I will paint these halls with your entrails."

He places the Twin Prince's Greatsword back, pulling out the other one which looked more damaged; Gael's Greatsword. The accursed blade used for execution, the browning parts of the blade weren't rust, it was dried blood. The many blood spilled by Gael himself.

Druella gathered more Demonic Mana and slammed her hands down to the ground, trying to send a much more powerful surge but it all deactivated. Her eyes widened, was the magic from before affected the area and not just a one-time cast that disables magic for a brief second? Preposterous...his magic is a danger to many! If he uses it correctly...then he may also cancel Mamonization!

"No matter!" Druella taps into her other reserve, the reserve used by Demon Lords of the past.

The hues of purple began to darken, a color similar to starless nights. The Dark Energy began to envelop her body as her horns grew longer. Her eyes went from the color of ruby to the color of blood, her fangs grew longer and her wings spread bigger. Rather than a Lilim, she actually looked more like the Devil.

"Irony doesn't even to begin..." The Ashen One muttered.

"You may be able to stop magic...but magic isn't the only thing I have, Rusted Slayer!" Druella smiled widely, her body brimming with energy. "Prepare yourself!"

The Fourth Born charged up a dark energy ball before throwing it at him. The Ashen One quickly reacted and rolled to the side, avoiding most of the attack. He still got hit by the explosion radius but wasn't affected much and immediately swung down the Gael's Greatsword. Druella raises an arm to block, powering it with Dark Energy. She expected to be immune to it, as the Dark Energy is that powerful.

Instead, the barrier around her arm shattered and she was sent crashing onto the wall. Widening her eyes, she had no time to react and raised both of her hands to conjure a barrier.

The Ashen One wastes no time and jumps in air, using the momentum to perform a complete 360 swing with enough strength put into it to shatter the barrier once more. He didn't let up, once his sword landed on the ground, he didn't give Druella time to recover and immediately brought the sword to his back and swung again, letting the momentum carry him.

The momentum was strong enough to make him swing a complete circle over two times, one to shatter the barrier again though much easier since Druella didn't complete the barrier in time and another managed to strike horizontally over her abdomen. She hissed in pain as her Dark Energy tanked half of the damage but found that it wasn't enough as evident by the large cut on her exposed belly. She widened her eyes as some of her intestines tried to climb out of her being but she uses her other hand to keep it in.

'Impossible...!' Druella gritted her teeth.

Kirsch was also shocked to see what had transpired; a human like her was able to injure a Lilim. It was not possible in this world.

Making a good decision, Druella evaded an oncoming swing and flew back. Flapping her wings in the air, she glared at the dreaded Rusted Knight. In shock and confusion, what he just did was unheard of. No one in this world could take on Lilims, not humans, not heroes, no one. The only ones who could are the heroes of old, people that are similar to her father. But they were long gone, leaving only his father as the final capable hero of old.

"I-It seems your reputation holds enough truth, Rusted Knight." Druella forced out a smirk, trying to heal her wounds but it took much longer due to the unknown energy from the blade. "You are dangerous, you are a monster." She ends as she drops down on the ground, healed most of her injuries.

"..." The Ashen One only held his greatsword by his shoulder, quiet as he let what Druella said sink in. "Your kind calls me a monster...I find it ironic considering the situation right now. Who was it that ambushed Lescatie and plunder its people? Who is it that forced innocents to bend their ways and plunge them into pits of mindless pleasure? Tell me, who was it?" He spits down on the ground. "In the end, you are not so different from the inquisitors I've slain. Preaching your beliefs, calling me heretic and monster. You disgust me." He wastes no time and dashed towards her, performing another full round swing.

"I am only doing it to save them!" She growled as she ducked down and delivered a punch to him hard in the stomach but he took it. "They are suffering under the rule of the Order and you are aware of it! You even lived amongst them, in the commoner district...in the slums! Where they are taxed beyond belief!"

The Ashen One strikes her on the head, causing her to be stunned as he tries to slam his greatsword on her but she avoiding by flapping her wings. "Yes, I'm very well aware." He replied, causing Druella to be even more confused. "But as much as fools the Order are...you are just as foolish." He spat out. "Death is inevitable, demon."

'That blade of his did more damage than I initially thought, I need to avoid it at all cost.' Druella thought, a bead of sweat trickled over to her forehead before her eyes went toward a heavily damaged wall. 'This place is too tight, making it harder for me to evade his large strikes...I know just the solution.'

The Lilim rushed at him this time, forcing the Ashen One to carefully swing his greatsword as he had no shield on him to block any of her attacks. He swung down but Druella uses her wings as an advantage and dashed, narrowly avoiding getting cleaved in half. However, she wasn't able to avoid it completely as it managed to graze her left leg. She held the pain in. Druella conjured up dark orbs with both her hands and hurled it towards the Ashen One. He quickly tilted his head, avoiding one of the orbs and immediately diving into a roll to avoid the many others.

He gritted his teeth, her barrage of attacks were getting irritating. "Coward." The Ashen One muttered before dodging another dark orb. "I have enough." Opening his palm, pyromancy burst forth in a brilliant display. "Burn."

Druella merely smirked. Her plan worked. Her goal was to lure him close to the damaged wall which would give her an opportunity to turn the tides of the battle. Before he could cast his pyromancy on her, Druella uses her wings to dash and get behind him. Quickly acting, she charged a dark orb on her palm and struck the Ashen One on his back. Caught off guard, he was sent crashing through the wall and flew into the air as he collided with the statue by the fountain, shattering it in the process. With a grunt, he recovered and with masterful acrobatic movement, he used the momentum to flip, reducing the speed and landed on the ground.

He felt that one.

"There, much better." Lilim commented though inside, she was holding her urge to wince as the two slashes he got in really were taking its toll.

He looked around, cursing under his breath. "I see…" Mutters out the Ashen One as he realized he was outside which gives her an advantage.

The Lilim did not take any chances and immediately created clones of herself. They all let out devilishly seductive giggles before each powered up dark orbs. Though he managed to evade her previous onslaught, it would be much harder this time as he had to deal with the clones along with the real Druella.

"There's no running now!" All of Druella's clones and the real one said as they launched spells at him.

The Ashen One growled as he immediately rolled to the left, ducking after as to avoid countless dark orbs. He ran and slid down towards a concrete wall, covering himself from harm. However, he underestimated the power behind the dark orbs as once it collided with the concrete wall, it blew up. Pain surges on his back, he could feel blood trickling down from his head.

He shook his head and the cinders from within burns bright. He barrel rolls to the right, avoiding yet another onslaught as each orbs explodes in contact. He slammed his hand onto the ground and the force behind it was powerful enough to make him stand up and ran again. He took out his Estus Flask and downed it, his injuries healed almost instantly.

Glaring at Druella, he pulled out the Twin Princes' Greatsword and swung it as hard as he could. The veins within the blade grew bright and torrents of flames cleaved through like a wall of fire. Druella and her clones managed to evade it just in time but one of her clones was not prepared for his next move. The foreigner got close to one clone, holding the hilt near his face and thrust forth with all of his might. The Druella and her clones winced as the clone let out a shriek in agony as she was pierced through by the greatsword's thrust that somehow extended its reach in a form of a light before dispelling away.

Druella threw the dark orbs towards him but the Ashen One uses the Twin Princes' Greatsword to cut it in two. He proceeded to slice more of her dark orbs, somehow managing to keep with how many dark orbs there were. She once again tries to overwhelm him with some new tactics but it wasn't working as the Ashen One sees through her tactics.

It seems she wasn't thinking of killing him, the Fourth Born was adamant on her decision to get him to submit. Unfortunately, no matter what she does, it will not work. She didn't realize it but the Vow of Silence's timer had ran out quite a while ago. He decides to use this to repay her.

The Ashen One got close and swung his greatsword, harming the clones and Druella to keep them in check. He kept moving and rolled out of dodge as he charged up a pyromancy spell. With the clones getting within the estimated range, he had to do it now.

"Submit, Rusted Slayer!" Druellas shouted.

"...die." The Ashen One slammed both of his palms down to the ground.

Soon the ground shook as a fire erupted from the courtyard. The fire erupted out, spewing magma and caught a few of the clones, even harming the real Druella in the process. The Fourth Born let out a pained scream at the surprised burns as she and her clones were scorched. She gritted her teeth and flew up, trying to get some distance. However, as she ascended upwards, she screamed once more and as she collapsed to the courtyard, landing on one of her generals' corpses-a Hellhound to be Precise. The Fourth Born looked at her back in confusion and was shocked to see her right wing was burnt and was not healing.

He immediately casted the Vow of Silence once more, the fight was coming to an end. "You are not getting away." The Ashen One stated, slowly he strides in between the countless corpses in the backyard as his imposing figure made its way towards her. "Remember what I promised?"

Panicking, Druella frantically looks around and grabs a sword, a blade filled with Demonic Mana. While used to corrupt humans, she will use it to kill and defend herself. The Rusted Slayer swapped his blade back to Gael's Greatsword, perfect for execution. Druella held her sword tightly as she knew this might be the end as well.

In an instance, they flash towards one another and a sickening sound of a sword plunging into flesh can be heard.

Both gasped in pain as they looked at each other. Druella stabbed him in the gap of his armor on the left side of his torso while the Ashen One plunged her in the stomach on her right side. He couldn't move his greatsword and he had to pull up before he collapsed backwards, groaning in pain while Druella gasped, trying to squeeze out her breath as the gaps on her abdomen was suffocating. The Fourth Born couldn't heal as she couldn't access her magic.

From afar, Kirsch watches over the gaps of the destroyed wall and couldn't believe it. A human defeating a Mamono, not just any human and certainly not just any Mamono. A foreigner not blessed by the Chief God and a Mamono classified as a Lilim, one of the strongest Mamono in the world. And she was the direct fourth child of the Demon Lord as well.

Her rapier lets out a red glow and quickly acting, she throws it away out of her hands. It seems her admiration could be used against her. Grabbing the Knight Shield with two hands, she raises it up and with her all and slams it down, completely shattering the rapier as it lets out a haunting silent scream. Sighing in relief, she can feel her strength returning. Even though it was a prized weapon from her lord, it was a burden more than it is a help.

Back to the two, the Ashen One stood up, stumbling a bit. He shook his head, she got him alright. Had it not been the many experiences he went through in Lothric, this would've been fatal. And unlike her, he had the means to heal himself.

He pulled out the blade from his being and tossed it aside. Taking out the Estus Flask, he took a swig and almost immediately, his wound closed up and not before long, he was brand as new.

Huffing out, the Ashen One opens his mouth. "You have outdid yourself, demon." The foreigner said to her. "All I wanted was to be left alone, my reputation should tell as much but as a fool, you did not heed the warning." He grabbed the hilt of his greatsword, Druella gritted her teeth as he slowly pulled it out, water accumulating in the corner of her eyes. "But maybe with your death, the world would understand to leave me be. Let this place be a reminder of a fool's consequences."

Tears streaming down from her eyes, blood seeps through the corner of her lips. "Spare…me…."

Instantly, his movement halted. "...what?"

"Have….mercy…" She pathetically squeaks out.

His grip tightened and his hands were shaking in anger. "Mercy…? You want mercy?" He could feel his teeth bleeding, he was now beyond furious. "Asking for such a thing after countless people you've forced into submission!? You're as much of a coward as you are a fool!" Grabbing the hilt with two hands, he raises it up. "Heed this, all of this is what begets fools…"

However, before he could finish her off, he was caught off guard when his greatsword was deflected by another weapon and a kick landed on his helmet, sending him skidding across the ground towards the center of the courtyard again. Glaring forward, his sight came upon a child wielding a scythe. His eyes caught their most prominent features; their horns and their hooves. It was a Baphomet, the Mamono who mostly make up the Sabbaths besides the Witches.

"So there are still some of you arrogant enough to interfere." The Ashen One speaks out in a quiet tone, ice laces his words.

"You have killed our kind, our comrades in cold blood…even going as far as harming the Fourth Born! A sin that will not be forgiven!" The Baphomet lists off his "sins" and points her scythe at him. "I am Kuroferuru, My Lady's Shadow. And you will pay for these transgressions, Dreaded Rusted Slayer!"

"If death is what you seek, then you may join your mistress in hell." The Ashen One said coldly, his slouched figure giving out more animosity than before.

"Stand down! All of you!"

The two turn as they see another Baphomet walking with the remaining few generals in tow. The survivors gagged and gasped in horror at the sight of their dead comrades' mutilated corpses. It seems they are not the combat-centric type.

Kurofuru and the newly arrived Baphomet glared at each other as she had one of the generals go to fetch Druella. The fight did more harm to Druella than it did to the Ashen One, his weapons managed to overpower what was once thought to be the most powerful.

"Rusted Slayer, I beg of you to cease this violence." The Baphomet started, "I am well aware that the situation has obviously deteriorated greatly. But still, I plead." She places her hand on her chest, a show of sincerity. "I, Doctor Griselda, beg of you to listen so that there'll be no more bloodshed."

The Ashen One raises his eyebrows as he finds her words to be both amusing and suspicious. "If you speak the truth doctor, then tell me; why should I take your word and not assume any signs of treachery?"

"I understand that you are skeptical, Rusted Slayer." She responded before she let out a sigh. "But as a doctor, I am a healer first and foremost. I want to be the voice of reason and wish to make sure this deal is honored all the way through."

"And the generals behind you?" Voltaire asked.

"We specialize in handling orderly affairs." One of the generals, a black harpy, explained. "We are basically the cleanup if Druella needs us or isn't available."

"..." He thought for a bit. "Your offer, am I to assume I will be left alone once the deal is made?"

She nodded, "Precisely, sir…?" Griselda trailed off, asking for his name.

"...I have no name to speak of, refer to me as you wish." He replied, surprising them.

"Very well, Rusted Slayer." Griselda nods. "You can leave peacefully, there will be no repercussions. I'll go the extra mile to make sure of it." The doctor said as she sighed again. "We have more concerning matter to worry about."

"But-!" Kuroferuru tried to argue and was quickly silent by Griselda when she sent a spine-shiverring glare at her direction.

"Silence!" Griselda shouted, her eyes dilated and her face contorted. "Rusted Slayer, you are free to go."

"Then I shall take your word for it." He turns around, putting Gael's Greatsword on his back. "But if you fail to meet the end of your deal…I will come back." He turned his head slightly. "And I will have her head, her siblings' heads, the Demon Lord's head, your head, and the heads of those related to you…and I will decorate the Demon Lord's palace with it."

Everyone froze in fear, his threat was sound and Griselda knew very well not to take it seriously. Having nothing more to say, he walks away, disappearing over the distance.

The doctor looked over Druella's form, her wings burnt and a hole through her stomach can be seen. After enduring the pain for quite some time, she had lost consciousness. The medic squad are tending her whilst Kuroferuru holds her hand with tears in her eyes. Griselda knew what she was thinking, and she wasn't about to let her have her way. Not after what had just transpired.

"Whatever it is you're thinking, don't." Griselda narrowed her eyes. "I will not condone any search for that man."

"You just let him get away!" Frustrated, she bared her fangs at Griselda. "You should've just let me defeat him!"

"Defeat?" Griselda blinked, surprised at Kuroferuru's assumption. "You? Defeating the very individual that had caused your mistress to be in this state? The very same man that managed to eviscerate fleets of Mamono? As a Baphomet, I'm surprised you think you're capable of handling that man."

"I am capable! I can-"

"Look around you!" Griselda glared at her. "We have received enough damage for today and we are not going to suffer more. Any attempts at reaching the Rusted Slayer will be swiftly met with punishment. I will meet my end of the bargain."

"Her Highness won't be happy with this!" Kuroferuru replied, still angry.

"No, but she will have to accept it." Griselda looks over the mountain of corpses. "Lest this will be the sight of our home."


The Ashen One stared at Lescatie, the fires had all been extinguished and smokes were coming out of the city. The city was done for and all the innocent people had escaped elsewhere. He was sure that the Mamono won't chase him or them anymore, not after the massacre he left. His reputation will be known throughout the lands and he wasn't sure what to think of it. He supposed he had let his emotion get the better of him this time despite not wanting any attention...

Closing his eyes, he turns and continues to walk. Where, he wasn't sure. But he wanted to leave and be nowhere near any Mamono territory…or Order territory.

As he wanders out of Lescatie's borders, he hears footsteps from behind. "Wait." He turns around to see the woman who was under the mercy of Druella earlier.

"What are you doing here?" He asks bluntly.

"Your shield." Kirsch unstrapped the Knight Shield from her back and presented it to him. "You forgot your shield."

"..." The Ashen One wordlessly took the Knight Shield and put it on his back. "You have my gratitude."

"No, thank you for coming in." Kirsch shook her head. "Had it not been for you, I would've…" She trailed off, Kirsch didn't want to think of the fate had Druella succeeded in her take over of Lescatie. "So thank you, for saving me."

"..." The Ashen One was not used to receiving gratitude, he merely did what he did for himself. "It is of no consequence." He turns around and continues his track.

"Wait…" He halted his tracks. "How…how did you get so strong?"

"..."

He began to reminisce about his time in both Lordran and Lothric, the fights, the deaths, the foes he defeated. His path to getting power was not an easy one, one might go hollow but he managed to pull through. He was an Unkindled now, he was just one of the many failures who was foolish enough to attempt to link the flame and got overwhelmed by the First Flame's power. Yet he was able to end it all.

This world was not like his, the endless cycle of violence and rule was what made him strive for greater strength. It doesn't exist in this world…

"Struggle." The Ashen One finally replied.

"Struggle…?" Kirsch blinked, confused.

"Struggle is key to power." He continues.

Silence filled as wind brushes over them. Kirsch did not understand what he exactly meant, but that was precisely why she wanted to know.

"...can I follow you?" She wasn't sure how to ask, the foreigner doesn't seem like the type to have companions on his travels.

The Ashen One lets out a quiet sigh, the woman didn't mean him any harm and she did return his shield. "Do what you want."

A smile of relief appeared on her face, it was subtle and can easily be missed but it was there. As the Ashen One walks away, an assassin with no lord to serve follows…