Authors Notes

Hey its me again. Spring Break is finally here for me. So anyway I thought I should give this fiction another chapter before I worked on my Pokemon one.

This chapter took me a while to write. Had to edit this a few times and make the sentences flow into each other. I believe I managed to continue the 'atmosphere' I created since the first chapter. I'll continue with the dread building for the MC up until he leaves the asylum. From there I'll abuse the MC's knowledge of the games to make his journey easier.

I added a Post Author Notes for you to answer. Don't skip a head lol.

Anyway let me know what you think of this chapter. I do hope you enjoy this and tell me any corrections/mistakes I should add.

Thank you for reading.

-3/15/2020

Radio Free Death's Review: [READ THIS FOR LORE EXPANSION]

Housing the chosen undead in the asylum is not the asylums function. There is only a urban legend that it'll be were the chosen undead will appear. The real purpose is to remove the undead from Lordran and relocate them there.

Now the hollowing bit has never been explained. It has been hinted to in Dark Souls 1 to be the lack of ambition that will finally make someone become a hollow. In dark souls 3 and 2 you have a hollowing meter for your character but they still retained there sanity.

I hope this helps others.

3/16/2020

A deep calm took over pushing away his anxiety. His first kill felt easy. It didn't faze him as he took deep breaths as his sword drop to the floor.

Moving his eyes off the body he checked himself. Noticing mud mixed with rust layered his legs with a few splotches covering his stomach. An itch was building and he automatically moved his hand to his chest and turned his gaze across the room.

Where is a good pair of clothes at? Nothing but stone and metal...

His attention focused on a piece of clothing sticking out of the rubble. A sudden thought halted his hand.

If he could stomach it he could get a pair of pants. It is already worn and covered in filth.

However can I actually do it?

The answer naturally came and there wasn't a need to think more on it. The chill is bothering him and some modesty would go a long way to ease his shaken mind.

Kneeling down next to the Balder Knight he started to uncover the body. The armor is filled with holes punctured from its long fall down and not from some murderous kidnapper he has imagined.

As if a hollow could've taken it down. John joked to himself.

He ripped off the gauntlets and chest piece. Fractures spread rapidly through the metal and broke off into chucks from a simple squeeze. The pants on the other hand is the standard Hollow Waist Cloth. Coming with a set of flimsy boots as a welcomed surprise.

With his loot secured and the knight laying bare on the ground made John feel slightly disturbed of what he has done. However, there was still a 'new' pair of pants to try on before questioning his conflicting morals.

Wiping off the layers of mud on him he managed to fit into his pants. It fit snugly over his pale legs. Just by being properly dressed made the corridor appear less frightening

No average Joe is going to take a bite out of me any time soon.

Grinning at his joke he still had a enclosed helmet to try on.

It is rusted over and the visor was getting in his way. Removing the helmet he pried off the visor before trying it on again. His sight was no longer going to be impeded or an issue in the dark.

Grabbing his sword again he wanted to check himself. To admire his new look.

Ah I'm but a humble knight. If only tis lady would ignore my outfit I would be rather dashing. But at last this isn't going to help me in here.

Dropping his sword he released a sigh as he realized no amount of jokes is going to help him out. There is still a long hallway to transverse, and he'll need to keep a focused mind when going forward.

After that he'll find the ladder which leads to the courtyard and to the first bonfire. However, there is no telling how much this place differs from the game and the amount of time it'll take to get out.

Dreading the start of his journey he made sure to secure his belongings and double check himself. Fastening his helmet tightly before practicing with his sword.

From what he recalls, a proper swing should be with a straight arm and a twist of the waist. One must avoid the toes unless they want to cut them off. By doing this anyone could become a half decent swordsman.

As he practiced he built up a sweat. Making sure to not tire himself out he continued for a few minutes. Stopping shortly afterwards as he kept his sword drawn for his journey a head.

Getting ready to leave the room a piece of fabric caught his eye. It is hidden underneath the bed of petrified hay. Only visible now that he was by the doorway.

Unconsciously he bent down and reached. Attempting to tug it free.

"Ouch."

Blood fell from his finger and dripped. In his hand is a doll, depicting a figure of a blonde man with blue sapphire eyes staring back at him.

Creepy, but isn't this the Peculiar Doll? Why is it here already? Sucking on his finger. Another difference to make note of in this world?

Lacking any pockets John had to tear off a string from his rags. Securing the doll to his waist. In hopes he'll be able to bring it out of this place. And perhaps in the future he'll be able to visit the painted world. However, that shall be after he gotten himself a fresh pair of clothes.

It would be a good idea to avoid a bad first impression with anyone. Like Patches, that mother f***er.

The flash of anger seemed to had helped his anxiety to calm down. Just thinking of what he'll do to Patches made the dark hall seem a bit easier to traverse. Making it the perfect opportunity for him to leave his cell.

The stone hall seemed endless. Cells laid collapsed with a few submerged in water. Dried out bodies are scattered against the walls where the Dark Brand had destroyed everything they ever had and left them as lifeless husks.

Further on is a hollow lingering around with a torch in hand. The light flickered off its red skin as it grasped its face with both hands. Unaware that John stealthily closed in.

Not wanting the hollow to react once it discovered him, he raised his sword. Striking fast as it cut clean through its neck and tugged a bit on the spine.

The hollow dropped with a thud. Never knowing how it died that day. Staring up with its lifeless eyes before its souls flicker out of it and into John.

"Mmh... a little disappointing." Rolling his shoulder. "Thought you would've needed at least a second blow."

Stepping over the corpse John ignored the slight throbbing coming from the brand. He continued fighting the enemies appearing in his way as he strolled through the hall. Dispatching the hollows who stumbled out of the darkness like his first fight. Using a quick slash to their neck and watching them fall like a sack of potatoes. Before bracing himself for the influx of souls given to him on a silver platter. Feeling the 'high' his Dark Sign gave off.

Smacking his lips. "Dam this is addicting."

Dopamine continued to flood his system. Giving him a quick high until the very last soul got sucked into himself. By the time he started to feel normal he felt emptiness building up inside him. Making him crave for more souls, nudging him to reap more hollows for the 'high' he enjoyed.

"No stop..." Shaking his head. "Its all in my head."

I've had a shit day already and don't need the curse making it worse.

Clamping down on his frustration he started to feel normal. The hunger he felt was fought back and out of his mind. Receding into the Dark Brand on his chest as it waited until he let his guard down again.

Once he escapes this place he'll have to visit the Duke's Archives and see how to mend this. If he could not lift his curse then at the very least he'll remove the debuffs that were affecting him.

Ignoring his headache he swung his sword and watch the blood splattered off and onto the ground. And as he stood still he managed to hear a faint noise echoing. Almost like a person was stomping.

Checking to see if there was any white eyes peering at him from the darkness, John decided to head towards the origin of the noise. Knowing fully well that he couldn't avoid the place up a head if he wanted to continue.

What ever this thing is, has to be huge. Large enough for me to hear it from all the way down here.

The further he went the louder the noise grew. Eventually a faint green light filter into the hallway from a window. Slowing his steps, John looked through the bars on the wall. Getting up on the tips of his toes to catch a glimpse out of the barred window.

A demon.

It lingered on the other side of the thin wall. Inside of a pit filled with bones of the dead shaped into a nest like that of a bird. And the beast that roosted here is walking around the room. Patrolling its territory without breaking its pace with a great hammer leaning against its shoulder.

The demon has green leathery skin with petite wings on its back. It stood at 15ft tall, with a stomach bulging out and a deformed face with horns.

John didn't know when he forgot to breath. His whole body shook a little. He forgot the Stray Demon is here. It is larger than he ever thought it would be in real life.

A whistle brought him back to reality. Warmth spread out from his back as a sword sliced through him.

"AUGH!"

He twisted his body and saw a hollow. It snuck up on him before cutting a shallow grove across his back. His blood was still dripping from the broken sword as it went in for another swing.

Dodging the attack, John slammed his sword into the hollow. Running it through as he pushed his enemy against the wall. Pulling back his fist to punch the hollows face in until it stopped moving.

"Fuck! It hurts!" Fighting and tensing his body. "Who the hell told me its like a god damn paper cut!?"

To say the truth, the cut burned more than anything else. The shock prevented him from feeling the pain from registering, but the blood running down his arm wasn't a good sign.

"Okay okay. I just need to find a bonfire." Keeping his thoughts away from the pain. "T-that should help and fix me... I-I hope."

All the noise he made managed to catch the Stray Demon's attention. And it didn't like John being here one bit.

Right as John managed to calm down a second whistle exploded in the air from behind. Almost catching him off guard.

Forcing his body to move he sprinted. Away from the cracks appearing behind him as a great hammer took his previous place. Blocking off any chance of going back before it swept across the ground towards him.

MOVE! He shouted to himself.

The hairs on his neck stood up and the coldness of the iron chilled his back. However, before the dread could set in black smoke burned out of him. Coming out of his brand and giving him the extra push he needed to escape.

His footsteps got further away. The demon howled in fury as its rage increased. Thrusting its fist forward into the wall, barely missing John by a mere inch as he tumbled over the hand and out of harms way.

The Demon grunted in displeasure. It wanted to strangle the little rat scurrying away. However it was too large to fit into the tinny tunnel its prey ran into. If only its large muscles didn't impede it...

Leaving behind the wreckage it has caused, the demon sat down. Opening up the jars in the corner of the room. Devouring the hollows found with in. Bringing its mood back to normal as it thought of its younger brother and how it'll take care of the rat that got away. Making it grin as it imagined its brother showing off its kill to it.

Unaware of the demon's thoughts, John was already dodging his way past the hollows coming towards him. Weaving around a corner he manage to finally catch a break. Sucking in fresh oxygen as he checked behind him. Glad to see no giant hammer coming down upon him.

"That was a bit close." He said as he started to relax.

If only I've found Oscar already. This would've been so much easier.

He'll convince the knight to drink an estus when they meet. Keeping Oscar alive long enough to fight the tutorial boss together. Preventing his death like in the games.

As he played with the idea of having a comrade, John gradually noticed a ladder inside of a opposing room. It slowly became visible the longer he stared at it. Almost like a sign that things were about to go his way.

Backing away from the wall he entered the submerged room. Making his way towards the rusted steps as he pulled himself out of the thick sludge he traversed. Having the ladder creaking under his weight. Until he managed to peak his head up to the next floor.

"It was too good to be true." He sighed.

Another floor laid out before him. Another dark hallway to move through filled with hollows hidden in the darkness. With no sign of a courtyard in sight along with its bonfire.

"Lets just get this over with" John groaned.

He forced himself through the place. Fighting multiple battle while keeping himself agile enough to prevent the patrolling demon from below from pinning down his position.

As he filled the hall with corpses, his encounters became more frequent with groups of two hollows coming at him at a time now.

With these duos he wasn't able to aim properly without the other swinging towards him. It made his fights take longer and by the time he reached the end of the hall he felt his body straining to keep up.

This time a set of stairs greeted him. Leading towards a faint light that filtered down towards him.

"Finally."

Keeping his pace steady he stepped off of the slick stairs. Entering the outside world that is blanketed in a grey sky. Completely devoid of any color as mist fell from the clouds. Dampening the courtyard covered in over grown grass and trees which tangled over the rubble giving off an ancient vibe. As if this place hasn't been touched in eons.

There is no sight of hollows here. In the center of the courtyard he saw a small burnt circle. Having charred grass and ash piled up around a familiar sight. Which gave off a warm glow as it awakened a hidden belonging/acceptance he never knew he could feel.

The bonfire beckons the undead. A place where they could sit and allow their fatigue body and soul to rest.

I just need to sit down. Approaching the fire. To let my wound heal.

The closer he came the more at ease he felt. Allowing the coldness he retained from the depths to be replaced with warmth. Making his brand throbbed silently with comfort.

The cut on his back healed at a visible pace until his fatigue came in waves. Battering his tired mind until it began to shut down. Forcing him to lay down as he felt safe with in the confines of the bonfire.

Tossing his helmet off he closed his eyes. Barely noticing the fire connecting to his soul as he fell asleep in front of the doors leading to the Asylum Demon.

[Authors Post Notes]

So should I add levels and stuff? Or should he just become stronger every time he rests with souls inside of him? Let me know your thoughts.

And from with in his subconscious he saw something that he never thought possible.

Name: John Smith

...

Level 0?

Souls 1503

ReqSouls 639

...

Vitality 14

Attunement 9

Endurance 15

Strength 18

Dexterity 12

Resistance 8

Intelligence 18

Faith 6

...

Humanity 0

Note: The average stats for a level 4 is around a 86 stat points. The MC has 100 total at level 0. Guess he's OP now.