Naruto: The Chosen Undead

[theaceoffire]

Ring my BELL-el-el, oh ring my bell...

 

[Adamos_Amet]

Chapter no.57 From Sin to Salvation

---

Nothing.

Ringing the first Bell of Awakening had done nothing.

Naruto stood there in stunned silence, staring up at the massive bell as if waiting for the heavens themselves to shatter open and answer him. He still could not believe it. In Lordran, every action always carried a consequence. Yet after the Bell of Awakening had rung, something so widely spoken of throughout the land, nothing had happened at all.

Do I need to ring both bells before anything changes?

"Can you believe this?" Naruto muttered as he glanced down at Oscar.

The small crystal lizard lay limp in his arms. The little guy gave no reply, only a soft, rumbling chirr in his sleep.

Naruto sighed. They had waited long enough for something to happen that the world had reset around them, time and the world pretending as if nothing had occurred at all. If fate was going to spit in his face, then he might as well enjoy himself while it happened.

And so he decided to climb down the great ladder of the spire in style.

He hooked one arm loosely around the rung and let his weight drop, boots scraping along the wood as he slid down with a reckless grin. At the last stretch he twisted his body, letting go entirely, spinning once in midair before landing lightly on his feet as though gravity had been nothing more than a suggestion.

Oscar stirred at the motion, blinking awake, little claws clinging to Naruto's glove.

Naruto chuckled and gave the creature a quick scratch along its side. That was when he noticed the presence waiting for him below.

He stopped dead in his tracks.

A man stood near the entrance to the spire. His entire form was draped in black. A long coat fell to his boots, with a cape-like mantle spread wide across his shoulders. His gloves were as black as the rest of him, fingers curled and rigid as he stretched both arms outward, as though embracing the world or mocking it. The gesture was strangely theatrical, like the familiar posture of one proclaiming Well, what is it! but delivered with an aura that made it feel more like a challenge than a jest.

Naruto froze, instincts prickling.

Is he here because I rang the Bell of Awakening? he wondered, keeping his movements cautious, sidestepping slowly along the wall while adjusting Oscar in his arms.

The man's face was a study in unease. Pale, almost bloodless skin, a mask of lifeless calm that betrayed no emotion. Long strands of silvery white hair spilled down from beneath his helm, veiling part of his features.

The helmet itself was striking. It crowned his head in dark metal, adorned with curling golden patterns that traced across its surface. At its center a sharp piece of metal ran down between his eyes, narrowing into a cruel point along the ridge of his nose. It lent the impression of a bird of prey. The longer Naruto stared at him, the more oppressive it felt, as though the helmet itself was watching him.

Creepy, Naruto thought, lips pressing thin as the air grew heavy with awkward silence.

Oscar gave a chirp.

"No, don't shoot him," Naruto hissed in warning, clutching the little lizard tighter.

Oscar grumbled, clearly displeased at being denied the chance to shoot someone.

That was when the man spoke.

"Greetings."

The word carried through the ruined spire like a tolling bell, deep and sonorous, resonant enough to crawl into the bones. It was not a shout, yet it filled the chamber all the same.

"Yo," Naruto replied quickly, voice casual and clipped, if only to cover the tension crawling up his back.

"I am Oswald of Carim. The Pardoner."

"A pardoner?!" Naruto blurted out, the echo bouncing off the ruined stone walls.

Oswald tilted his head slightly, as though surprised by the boy's tone. "Thou dost seek to recognize me?"

"Yes… no. I mean, I don't even know who you are, dude. But I do know pardoners… they deal with sin, right?"

Oswald gave the faintest nod. "Cometh thou to confess? Or to accuse? For indeed, all sin is mine domain."

Naruto's eyes lit up. He stepped forward with sudden eagerness. "Rank. What's your rank?"

"Bishop of Velka."

The words struck like lightning.

A wide grin spread across Naruto's face, his voice bursting with excitement. "Yo, looks like lady luck finally smiled on me. I didn't even know where to start looking for you guys!"

For once, Oswald's voice held a trace of uncertainty. "Hast thou been seeking mine services?"

Naruto nodded so fast it nearly became a bow. "Yes! Yes, absolutely! I need you to pardon a sin against the gods themselves!"

Oswald grew very still, his helm tilting as though he peered straight through the boy. "Heh heh… Now that is no small transgression. Few dare to walk so boldly. Yet all sin, no matter how black, may be absolved…" He raised one hand, fingers curling inward, beckoning as though drawing a soul to judgment. "For a price, of course."

"I figured. Didn't think something that heavy came for free."

"Then speak it," Oswald intoned. "Confess thine misdeeds, that Lady Velka might weigh them."

Naruto threw up his hands, shaking his head. "Whoa, no… not mine. I'm clean. This is for a friend. Firekeeper Anastacia."

The name made Oswald's head incline with recognition.

Naruto's tone sharpened with determination. "She sinned, right? Her punishment was having her tongue cut out. Last time, I healed her… and some bastard crow tried to rip it out again. After talking with Rickert, he told me I'd need someone from the Church of Sin to step in."

For a long moment, silence clung to the spire. Then, Oswald's voice returned, smooth and unhurried. "Ah… intercession. How noble. Few there are who would bear the burden of another's stain. Bring this friend before me, and I shall see what strings of sin may yet be untied."

Naruto gave a firm nod, his eyes burning with resolve. Without waiting another second, he turned, sprinted across the rooft, and vaulted down the church.

"Quite the curious soul, that one," Oswald murmured, tone heavy with dark amusement. The sin of murder bled thickly from the boy's soul, yet twined with it was the karma of a savior, glimmering like a halo. "Thou art no saint. Nor art thou a mindless butcher. Just a human… flawed, fractured, yet striving."

The words lingered as he gave a soft chuckle.

"Despite being a dragon. I see that you are still human. For it is only human… to commit a sin. Heh heh heh heh…"

---

"Guess Anastacia can finally be free," Naruto said, and Oscar gave a short, bright nod in reply.

The elevator rattled and creaked as it descended toward Firelink Shrine. The motion was familiar now, the chains and gears almost like background music.

Oscar peered over the open back. Below, in the broken church, Petrus stood with several others. The crystal lizard chirped softly, trying to call Naruto's attention to the gathering, but the boy was somewhere else entirely.

Naruto's gaze was downcast, his thoughts circling.

Oscar chirped again, a curious note, almost like a question.

"Nothing," Naruto muttered. "It's just… I was honestly expecting more from the bell of awakening, you know?"

Oscar tilted his head, confused.

"For most of my life, my dream was to become Hokage." Naruto's voice was low, almost wistful. "That dream kept me going no matter how many times people laughed, no matter how many times I failed. And when that dream got replaced with the bells of awakening… I wasn't even sad. The bells became my reason to come back to Lordran, to keep going forward. To fight." He drew in a breath, slow and heavy. "And Lordran has changed me a lot."

The elevator clanked on.

"But now that I've rung one of the bells, I think I finally get it. The bells were never really my dream. They were a promise to my master… but not mine. At least being Hokage was my dream, right? That was mine."

Oscar chirped again, his tone curious.

"My point is…" Naruto looked at his hands, fingers flexing slightly. "I feel lost. Like I'm just drifting down the river of life, letting the current push me wherever it wants. Doing one thing, then another. But there's no end goal. No Hokage at the finish line anymore."

Oscar trilled in a questioning note, almost like he was asking if such a goal was even necessary.

"I don't know. Maybe it isn't. But me… I like having something big to reach for. Something worth bleeding for. Maybe I should make it about my clan. Maybe that's the answer."

The conversation stilled as the elevator door creaked open. A woman stepped in quickly, clutching an ivory talisman close to her chest as though it might shield her from the curse of the land.

Her presence struck Naruto immediately as unusual. She was no warrior. Her long, plain dress brushed her shoes, beige with a faint brown panel running down the middle. The trim was modest, tied at the waist with a rope-like belt. Draped over her shoulders was a hooded shawl, shadowing her face, leaving only the pale outline of her cheeks and the glimmer of her wide, earnest eyes visible. Her brown hair was tucked neatly beneath the hood. Her features were soft, fragile, touched with the solemnity of prayer.

[Name: Reah of Thorolund]
[HP: 1,433 / 1,433]

Her lips moved faintly, a prayer whispered to whatever higher power still lingered in Lordran.

The door clanged shut, the panel clicked into place, and the elevator began to rise.

"Look, lady," Naruto said. "I know you seem in a hurry, but I was just about to get off."

Her prayer broke. She turned to him with a start. "Y-you… you speak? You are Undead as well? Then… Petrus, he… oh, Flame preserve me. He lied to us."

"Petrus? What are you talking about?"

"Brother Petrus did speak to us of a crazed Hollow he had encountered. He claimed it was relentless, dangerous… that it must be put down. He asked for our aid."

The truth dawned quickly on Naruto, and his voice hardened. "So you were planning an Undead Hunt. On me?"

Her hands trembled, but she did not falter. "Aye… such was the plan. I was to ride with you upon this lift, and when the time was right, to strike with Force and push you down. And if you survived the fall, Petrus and the others below would end it."

Oscar's body rattled with a warning growl that made her flinch.

"That's a clever plan. So why are you telling me this now?"

Her gaze lowered, shadowed by her hood. "Because to raise my hand against another Undead, one who yet bears his humanity… that is a grievous sin. I was deceived, and my weakness near led me to carry out a wicked deed. I cannot abide it. Better to confess my failing, and accept the burden." Her eyes lifted, clear but sorrowful. "I thank thee for lending me thine ear. Most would have struck me down without pause."

Naruto studied her in silence before letting out a long breath. "If you had attacked me, we'd be having a different talk. But you didn't. Which means you get to walk away clean." His gaze hardened, mouth twisting into a sharp grin. "As for Petrus… this is the last time I let that scammer slide."

"Scammer?"

Naruto snapped his fingers. A shadow clone burst into being, already crouched and ready. "Tell her," Naruto ordered. The clone nodded and began to speak, recounting Petrus' endless lies, his greed, his schemes, the trail of betrayal he left behind.

Reah listened, horror dawning on her features as the truth unraveled.

Meanwhile, the real Naruto adjusted Oscar on his shoulder and stepped toward the open edge. "That's enough for me. I've got justice to deliver." Then, without hesitation, he leapt from the moving elevator.

Reah stood alone in the rattling lift, her ivory talisman pressed tight against her chest. Her breath trembled as she whispered a prayer, but it did little to steady her. "By the Flame… who, or what, have I spoken with this day?"

The words hung heavy in the air, echoing her fear and her awe.

Using wall-walk to run vertically along the shaft, Naruto created a shadow clone and ordered it to plummet like dead weight. As the clone fell, it activated the Force miracle, a shockwave of white light echoing through the stone shaft. To Petrus and the others watching, it looked like their plan had worked.

The shadow clone splattered against the stone floor with a resounding crash. Smoke filled the tunnel, curling like a thick fog around the chamber where Petrus, Vince, and Nico waited with weapons drawn.

"What is going on?" Vince asked, his voice tense, when suddenly the fog split with motion.

Naruto burst out of the haze, descending like a predator, both legs extended in a double flying kick that smashed into Petrus's chest. The blow sent the rotund cleric flying back, into the hidden area beyond.

Before Vince or Nico could react, jagged crystal shards erupted from the ground, impaling the floor around them and staggering them off balance. Two shadow clones lunged in, reinforced clubs whistling through the air, cracking against their skulls with brutal precision. Both clerics dropped like sacks of meat, unconscious before their bodies even hit the stone.

Meanwhile, on the outside, Petrus grunted as he forced himself back onto his feet, clutching his morning star. His round face twisted into a sneer.

"You must be Naruto's older brother."

Naruto sweatdropped, scratching his cheek. "…Do I look that different?" he muttered, glancing back at Oscar. The crystal lizard tilted his head and chirped, as if to say a little.

Petrus used the moment of distraction to lunge. The morning star whistled through the air, a vicious overhead strike meant to pulp Naruto's skull.

CLANG.

The impact rang out like a church bell as Naruto caught the strike with the flat of his Zweihander, angled in a high guard so the force slid down into the ground rather than against his body. Sparks spat from the steel as Petrus staggered back from the recoil, his arms trembling from the sheer weight of the blow rebounding against him.

Petrus grit his teeth and came again, this time trying a sweeping horizontal strike. Naruto sidestepped, the morning star smashing tiles into rubble, and countered with a cross-cut. The Zweihander's massive blade smashed into the haft of Petrus's weapon, twisting it violently to the side, forcing the cleric's arms open and leaving his chest exposed.

Naruto stepped in, delivering a brutal mordhau, gripping the Zweihander by the blade and slamming the pommel into Petrus's helmet. The iron cap rang like a drum as Petrus reeled, blood dripping down his face.

Petrus screamed and thrust forward wildly, aiming the morning star like a spear. Naruto dipped low, pivoting his body to the side, and drove the flat of his greatsword into Petrus's ribs in a brutal set-aside counter. The air blasted from the cleric's lungs as he was thrown back against the stone wall.

He coughed, wheezing, yet still swung again. This time Naruto didn't even bother with elegance. He shifted into a low guard, the Zweihander low and ready, and when Petrus came crashing down with another overhead strike, Naruto simply rose upward in a descending cut.

The morning star's shaft snapped in two. The spiked head of the weapon went spinning across the stones.

Petrus froze, eyes wide, unarmed.

Naruto advanced, pressing his advantage without pause. The Zweihander whirled in his hands like an executioner's blade, driving Petrus back step by step. Each strike was calculated: a horizontal cut that smashed into Petrus's failing shield, a rising cut that nearly split his arm open, a crushing shoulder-check that slammed him against the wall again.

By the time Naruto stopped, Petrus was on his knees, his shield shattered, his face bloodied and gasping for air. The Zweihander's point hovered at his throat.

Naruto stared down at the man, eyes sharp, Zweihander's tip hovering just above Petrus's chest. "Wow," he muttered, voice flat. "That was pathetic. I was hoping for at least something from you. But you're nothing but a fraud."

"P-please… spare me."

Naruto snorted. "This would be funny if it wasn't so damn pitiful."

The cleric pressed a hand to the ground, his other held aloft in a desperate gesture of supplication. "I… I have given you so much, have I not?"

"Yeah," Naruto said coldly, "you lied, scammed, and tried to kill me. Real grateful for that last one."

"No, wait, listen. You like Miracles, yes? I can give you more. So much more."

Naruto tilted his head, feigning interest. "Oh yeah? How?"

"M'lady Reah," Petrus said quickly, words spilling out like a drowning man clawing for air. "She is of noble blood, high ranking in the clergy. She knows many Miracles. If I had her trust, I could… extract them for you."

"So what, I steal them from her?"

Petrus shook his head furiously. "No, no. Leave that to me. I will say I slew you. With Vince and Nico gone, M'lady will turn to me. In her grief, I shall coax her to part with her teachings. And then, you and I… we shall share in her treasures."

Naruto gave him a blank stare, the silence stretching until sweat dripped down Petrus's temple.

Panic overtook him. "And… and more! Once she is pliant, you can do as you wish with her. A noble girl without her station is nothing. Worthless. Yet… pleasing enough to warm your bed."

Naruto's eyes went wide, his grip on the Zweihander tightening. "What did you just say?"

"I-I meant no offense," Petrus stammered, scrambling backward, his voice breaking. "It is merely… she is no use otherwise. A trinket for pleasure, nothing more. You..."

"Shut up!" Naruto roared. His fist shot forward, smashing into Petrus's jaw with a sickening crack. Bone snapped, teeth scattered across the stone, and the cleric collapsed, a mangled ruin of blood and spit where his smug face had been.

Naruto lifted him with a single motion of his telekinesis, Petrus flailing weakly in the air. The boy's palm glowed gold as he forced the Heal miracle into the cleric's body. Flesh knit together, bones reset, and in moments the man was whole again, only for Naruto's killer intent to cut him deeper than any wound.

"I… I am sorry!" Petrus gasped, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Forgive me! I did not mean to offend. It was a slip, a fool's thought!"

"Shut the hell up, you scum," Naruto spat. "Oscar. Crystalize this bastard's soul."

The crystal lizard chirped once in acknowledgment.

"No, no! Wait! Please, wait! I beg of you!" Petrus cried, thrashing. "I will serve! I will do anything! Spare..."

Oscar's body pulsed, a beam of pure crystal light bursting from his maw. It struck Petrus in the chest, freezing his scream in his throat as crystal spread across his body like frost. His eyes widened, terror immortalized in stone as the creeping crystal devoured him whole.

With a final chime, Petrus was no more than a grotesque statue. Then, with a sound like shattering glass, he broke apart into a thousand glittering shards, scattering across the dirt floor.

Naruto let his telekinesis drop, dusting his hands off as he stared down at the pile of broken crystal. His voice was quiet, but carried venom. "Good riddance, you worthless scammer."

Oscar chirped in agreement.

[You have acquired:]
[100 Souls]
[2 Humanity]
[Thorolund Talisman]

"Wow," Naruto muttered, shaking his head as the last motes of Petrus's soul drifted away. "Your soul drops are even more pathetic than Mizuki's." He crouched, plucking the talisman from among the shards.

[Item: Thorolund Talisman]
[Description: A medium for casting Miracles of the Gods. This talisman is only granted to high-ranking Thorolund clerics. Its miracle adjustment is high, and thanks to divine protection, is not dependent upon faith.]

Naruto twirled it once in his fingers and slipped it into his belt. "Guess I've got a new and stronger talisman to work with. That's about the only useful thing from this mess."

From the tunnel, soft footsteps echoed. Reah of Thorolund emerged, her shawl drawn close, her face pale. Her hands still clutched her ivory talisman as though it were the only anchor keeping her upright. "I… heard everything."

Naruto gave the woman a sympathetic look.

"I had my doubts about Brother Petrus. I wished to believe he was a man of good heart, that his cold manner was but formality. I thought perhaps this undead hunt was but a misunderstanding, that my own inexperience clouded my judgment. Yet to hear such words with mine own ears… to be so swiftly bartered as if I were chattel…" Her shoulders shook, her talisman rattling faintly as her voice broke. "It rends my faith to tatters."

"Hey." Naruto's voice cut sharp through her grief, making her head snap up. "Don't give scum like that your thoughts. Trash like him isn't worth a second of your mind. Don't let him live in your head rent free."

Reah blinked, tears glistening but held back. Slowly, she bowed her head and whispered a soft prayer. "Your words are firm, Brother Naruto. You defended my dignity as a Sister of the cloth, and you brought justice upon someone who twisted the Gods' name for his own greed. For that, I'm deeply grateful. I owe you more than I can say."

Naruto gave her a lopsided grin and a thumbs-up. "Don't mention it. But… actually, Sister Reah, I do have a small request."

"You have only to ask. What is it you want?"

"Can you teach me the Great Heal miracle?"

---

A few minutes later, Naruto found himself back at the same broken church area where he had first met Petrus.

The boy sat on the worn stone stairs, leaning back against the wall with his helmet tucked at his side. He was trying to balance a coin on Oscar's snout, the little crystal lizard blinking rapidly as he fought the urge to sneeze it off. The simple game was enough to keep Naruto distracted from the uncomfortable atmosphere that hung over them.

Nico and Vince stood nearby, their eyes fixed on him. Their hands twitched near their weapons out of habit, but they did not move.

After all, it had only been minutes ago that the two of them had been planning to kill him, and now here they were, standing awkwardly while their so-called comrade Petrus had been reduced to shards.

"You two should probably get checked for brain damage. I did knock you both out pretty hard."

The two paladins clicked their tongues and looked away in unison. Their pride had clearly taken a greater wound than their skulls. Naruto smirked faintly. He honestly did not care. Let them stew. His attention shifted when he noticed Reah finishing the last strokes of ink on a parchment scroll. The soft glow of divine light shimmered faintly across the completed prayer.

"I am done, Brother Naruto," Reah said, taking a careful step forward. But Vince immediately moved in front of her, blocking her path.

"I will deliver it to the knight. You should keep your distance. He is dangerous."

Reah blinked, her face calm but her tone carrying quiet reproach. "Vince. Sometimes your protective side overwhelms your judgment. Brother Naruto has shown no malice toward us. He does not mean harm."

Vince's jaw worked, but before he could argue further, Nico placed a firm hand on his shoulder. Nico's only response was a low grunt, but the meaning was clear: if Naruto had truly been a threat, we would already be dead.

Vince hesitated, then stepped aside with visible reluctance.

Reah approached Naruto without hesitation and held out the scroll with both hands.

Naruto grinned as he accepted it, unrolling the parchment slightly to scan its contents. The prayer was long, the script tight and complex. He gave a low whistle. "This is a big one. Guess I better start practicing."

"I hope the miracle serves you well, Brother Naruto. And once again, I apologize for Petrus' actions against you. His betrayal is a stain on us all."

Naruto rolled the scroll and tucked it away in his inventory. He shook his head. "You don't need to apologize for someone else's sins. He made his choices, and he paid the price. That's all there is to it. Besides…" He stood, stretching his arms, his grin returning. "I finally got the miracle I wanted."

As Naruto made to leave, Reah hesitated. "Brother Naruto, wait… Do you require something else?"

Naruto paused, scratching his chin. "I don't know. Do you have anything stronger than Great Heal? Something better for healing a comatose patient?"

Reah's brows furrowed slightly as she thought. "The Great Heal is among the highest miracles taught to clerics. It is advanced and rare, known only by high-ranking members of the Church. In terms of healing, it is surpassed only by the miracles said to come from the Goddess Gwynevere herself."

From within her robes, she drew a small bottle. The others shifted uneasily as she presented it.

The item was beautiful. Long and thin, shaped like a stretched teardrop, its body made of flawless glass. The lower half was wrapped in ornate golden work, sculpted into twisting flames that seemed to climb up its sides. The neck was narrow, capped with a small rounded stopper. It radiated purity, and even from a distance Naruto could feel its warmth. A divine light hummed quietly inside.

"This," Reah said softly, holding it out with reverence, "is holy water, blessed by the Goddess Gwynevere herself."

The chamber went still.

"Cool. I can already feel it's got some serious power. So… how much do you want for it?"

Reah shook her head. "No price. I would give it freely."

"What?" Vince barked, stepping closer. "Reah, what are you doing? That divine blessing was a gift from the Bishop for our mission. You cannot simply hand it over to a stranger!"

"Brother Naruto is no stranger," Reah said firmly, her usually gentle tone carrying a rare strength. "He is a knight who defended my dignity when it was so nearly profaned. That alone is reason enough. I would grant him this blessing, for such power should be placed in the hands of one who will use it for the sake of others."

Nico and Vince looked at each other in disbelief, their mouths opening in protest but no words escaping.

Reah extended the flask to Naruto.

Naruto scratched the back of his head, giving an awkward laugh. "Thanks, sis, but I don't wanna take advantage of your kindness. I'd rather earn it."

"Then let it be a fair exchange. A thousand souls will suffice."

Naruto's jaw dropped. Beside him, Oscar chirped in equal disbelief. "A thousand? That's… you're basically giving it away."

"What good is a treasure if it rots unused? A gift given to one in need is of greater worth than a relic sitting idle."

"Alright, how about this... we make it a barter instead."

Vince's hands tightened into fists, and Nico shook his head with disbelief. The gall of this boy after being offered a divine blessing for next to nothing, and he still haggled?

"Very well. What dost thou offer?"

Naruto selected an item from his inventory, and with a faint shimmer, a crate materialized in front of them. The three clerics froze as he shoved it forward with his boot. The sound of clinking glass filled the chamber.

Inside were rows upon rows of Estus flasks.

The sight left Vince and Nico speechless, while Reah gasped outright, her composure breaking for the first time. "By the gods… how did you come by so many?"

"Hollows. Everywhere I go, they've got one of these strapped to their belts. I just take 'em after I kill the hollows. I've been storing them up. Guess you could say I've got a collection."

The clerics stared at him as if he were insane.

Reah, however, studied the crate quietly, then gave a single nod. "This is more than enough. A divine blessing in exchange for such bounty will serve our mission well. Then it is settled."

[ Item Acquired: Divine Blessing ]

[ Description: Holy water from Goddess Gwynevere. Fully restores HP and cures all irregularities. The Goddess of Sunlight, cherished daughter of Lord Gwyn, is revered as the symbol of bounty and fertility. ]

Great Heal, Estus, and now a Divine Blessing. No matter what, I'm going to save Hinata's mother, one way or another.

Naruto smiled faintly, looking up at Reah. "Thanks for the stuff, sis. I'll make good use of it. Guess I'll see you around."

"Then may you be safe, Brother Naruto. And may the light of the gods guide thy steps. Vereor Nox."

"What does that mean?"

"It is an old benediction. It means: Fear the dark. For within the dark lies the hunger of humanity. The light must always be earned, lest we fall to the shadow that sleeps in us all. Vereor Nox… fear the dark, and walk ever toward the light."

Naruto's grin faltered slightly. Something about her words struck him deeper than he expected, like they carried more weight than a simple blessing. It felt less like a prayer and more like a warning.

Still, he gave a wave over his shoulder and started down the steps toward the bonfire. "Got it. Fear the dark. Easy enough."

Oscar chirped and scurried after him, though the little lizard kept glancing back at Reah, who remained still with her talisman in hand, her lips moving in quiet supplication as the knight and his companion disappeared into the Firelink Shrine below.

---

The climb back to Firelink Shrine was quiet, save for the crunch of boots on stone and Oscar's occasional chirps. Yet the silence shattered the moment Naruto stepped past the crumbled archway into the shrine.

A staff rose immediately, its tip glowing faintly with blue sorcery.

"State your business," Griggs demanded. His voice was firm, but it wavered at the edges, like a man unsure if he was about to face friend or foe.

Naruto threw his hands up. "What is it, huh? I grow my hair out a little, get taller, my eyes start looking cool, and suddenly everybody wants me dead? That's discrimination!"

Oscar blinked up at him, then gave a low, unimpressed chirp.

"Don't give me that look. You're just jealous you can't pull this off."

The crystal lizard tilted his head, chirped again, and flicked his tail in a way that definitely felt like mockery.

Naruto muttered, "Great, even my pet thinks I'm too handsome for my own good."

Griggs' eyes flicked to Oscar, and recognition dawned. "That creature… yes, I know it. You are the companion of the boy Naruto. Then…" His staff wavered as he studied the tall, armored knight before him. "…who are you?"

"I am Naruto."

The sorcerer blinked rapidly, as though struggling to reconcile what he saw. "What… what happened to you? Your body bears the marks of something unnatural. It is etched with resistance, as if sorcery itself cannot grasp you. You stand like an archtree, immovable."

"Dragon scale grafted onto my soul. Changed my body. Taller, tougher, stronger. It is what it is."

Griggs' grip tightened on his staff. His mouth went dry. "By the scholars of Vinheim… you should not be alive. Countless experiments were tried in ages past. A human soul cannot withstand the weight of a dragon scale. Every attempt ended in death. You should have perished."

Naruto tilted his head. "That's a rude thing to say."

"No," Griggs insisted, his voice shaking. "You must understand. Souls collapse under that strain. They dissolve, or worse, they fracture into madness of the abyss. The flesh fails, the mind breaks. But you… you endure."

"Guess I got lucky. Or maybe I'm just stubborn. Either way, I'm still here. Dattebayo."

Griggs shook his head, disbelief written across his face. "This is beyond me. Master Logan… yes, only he might make sense of this. He is unmatched in his knowledge. He must see you."

Naruto shrugged. "Then you can tell him when you find him. I have my own work to do."

The sorcerer's voice cracked, almost pleading. "Naruto, wait. Give me just a moment. A glimpse, a measure of your condition. Even the smallest detail could advance the study of souls. Please, allow me this chance."

"Not happening. Maybe another time, but not today. I'm busy helping my friend."

"…Very well. I will not press. Then I wish you luck in what lies ahead. May you remain whole, for as long as fate allows."

Naruto gave him a casual thumbs-up. "Thanks. You too, Griggs. Try not to get yourself Hollow chasing answers."

The knight walked off, Oscar padding faithfully at his side.

Griggs stood rooted in place, eyes haunted. His hand twitched toward his staff, the temptation to open Soul Sight burning in his veins. To look. To know.

But the old warnings whispered in his mind. To peer too deeply into the soul is to risk one's own.

He shut his eyes and muttered to himself. "Not worth it. Not worth the madness."

And yet, as the boy's silhouette faded from view, the thought gnawed at him. A human carrying a dragon's scale. An impossible survivor. A living contradiction against all that Vinheim's scholars believed true.

---

Naruto made his way to the familiar cage nestled beneath Firelink Shrine.

He hadn't expected company.

Casually sitting near the bars was Lautrec of Carim. His arms draped over his knees, golden armor faintly gleaming in the gloom. His eyes weren't on Naruto, but locked forward with a hollow stillness, focused on Anastacia.

She sat inside the cage, cradling the tiny crystal lizard Naruto had once brought her. The creature trembled slightly under Lautrec's gaze, pressing into Anastacia's hand for comfort. She too looked wary until she saw Naruto. Her face lit up immediately, and the little lizard practically sparked with joy, chittering as it spotted Oscar behind him.

Oscar gave a hesitant chirp and then dipped his head low, awkward and shy. The female crystal lizard raised her tail in the air and twitched her head side to side in a figure-eight, glowing faintly with bright blue energy. Oscar blinked, fluffed up his little frills, and puffed out his chest proudly.

The two lizards began a tiny ritual, Oscar thumping his tail softly on the ground while the female circled him in spirals, stopping to nuzzle his chin.

"Yo."

Lautrec turned slowly, as if remembering the world outside his own head. "Ahh… hello there." His voice was smooth, almost warm, but the edge beneath it stayed sharp. "I heard the bell ring. Congratulations. You're well on your way to becoming the Chosen Undead."

"Yeah, I don't really care about that. I just rang the bell to fulfill my late master's wish."

"Interesting…" Lautrec murmured, as he pulled a small, gold-plated medal from within his armor. The symbol of the sun gleamed on its surface. "I have your reward. Please accept it. I am… grateful to you for freeing me. Keh heh heh heh…"

Naruto took it and glanced down, watching as it shimmered and faded into his inventory.

[ Item: Sunlight Medal ]

[ Description: This faintly warm medal, engraved with the symbol of the Sun, is the ultimate honour, awarded to those who summon the Warrior of Sunlight and complete a goal. The symbol represents Lord Gwyn's firstborn, who lost his deity status and was expunged from the annals. But the old God of War still watches closely over his warriors. ]

Huh… did he get this from Solaire?, Naruto thought.

"Not enough for you? Let's not be greedy now… keh heh heh…"

"What? Oh, no, the reward wasn't even needed. I was just… thinking."

"Hm," Lautrec hummed, unconvinced. "Strange boy."

Oscar's happy chirp broke the awkward silence. He was gently rubbing his forehead against the female crystal lizard, producing a faint shimmer of light where their crystals touched.

"Awww," Naruto giggled again. "Get a room, you two."

"Ah… love," Lautrec said, wistfully. For a moment, his voice was gentle… almost human. "How fragile. How dangerous." He stood and stretched lazily. "Well, that's enough rest for now. If fate has plans for us… we shall meet again."

He gave Anastacia one last lingering glance, then went to the Undead Parish.

Naruto exhaled, the air suddenly feeling a little lighter with the man gone. He stepped closer to Anastacia's cage, crouching near the bars. "Hey. Like the new hair?" he asked, brushing back a few long golden strands now reaching past his shoulders.

Anastacia nodded, her eyes crinkling with something that might have been amusement.

"I'm thinking of keeping it," Naruto mused. "Or should I cut it?"

Anastacia raised her hand and gently patted his head, fingers brushing against his scalp with silent affection.

That was answer enough.

"Guess long hair it is."

Anastacia gave a soft, hopeful nod when Naruto knelt beside her cage and asked, "I want to talk to my friend."

She lowered her eyes, shame creeping into her expression as the memory of her sin returned to the surface like a splinter she couldn't remove. Naruto reached through the bars, gently lifting her chin so she'd meet his gaze.

"I found a way to absolve your sin."

Anastacia inhaled sharply. Her lips parted, but no words came… only a small shake of her head as she tried to look away again.

"You don't think you deserve to be freed, do you?"

Another silent nod.

"Well, that's stupid."

The word struck like a stone in still water. Anastacia stilled, wide-eyed.

"I'm serious," he continued. "Anastacia, tell me… at what point is a punishment enough for a crime? A year? Ten? A hundred? Because from where I'm standing, you've paid for it a thousand times over. Whatever happened in the past… you've suffered more than enough."

Her eyes dropped to the small crystal lizard curled beside her. It chirped, nuzzling her hand with innocent affection. She looked up at Naruto again, eyes shining with uncertainty, then nodded.

"Good."

Without hesitation, he gripped the iron bars and bent them outward with a soft grunt of effort, his muscles straining as metal groaned. He paused for a moment, glancing at Anastacia's legs that were twisted and lifeless. He raised a hand instinctively, considering a healing miracle… but stopped.

No. Healing her now might only draw attention from the gods. Right now, it's better that the world still sees her as broken. Safer.

"I'll carry you."

He lifted her bridal-style, slow and careful. Anastacia trembled in his arms from fear. The world outside the cage was bigger than she remembered.

"Anastacia, don't be afraid," Naruto said, voice soft but confident. "A knight is here for you."

It was corny. He knew it. She knew it. But it worked.

Her breath steadied. The lizard climbed up onto his shoulder, nestling close to Oscar, who rode perched on Naruto's other shoulder.

Naruto made his way back toward the bonfire, ignoring the shocked gasp from Griggs as he stepped into view. The sorcerer opened his mouth but Naruto was already moving, heading toward the elevator. He passed Reah and her group on the way. Vince and Nico immediately tensed at the sight of Anastacia in his arms.

"Brother Naruto… what are you doing with the Firekeeper?"

"Oh, I'm taking her somewhere," Naruto replied casually, not even breaking his stride.

"But if you take her away, the bonfire here at Firelink Shrine will go unattended. Do you understand what that means? Without her presence, the flame could fade, and the Shrine would lose its heart."

"Relax, we'll be back in a few minutes. I'm just getting her a new pair of shoes."

Reah blinked at him, her expression one of pure confusion. Vince and Nico exchanged baffled glances, clearly unsure if they had misheard him.

The joke fell completely flat.

Naruto didn't slow down. He stepped onto the elevator, shifting Anastacia gently in his arms as it began to rise with a grinding rumble of chains.

"Before you leave!" Reah called after him, raising her voice so it would carry over the sound of the elevator's ascent. "I must tell you something important. My bodyguards and I—we will remain here at Firelink for a time before continuing onward. Our mission is to descend into the Catacombs. We seek the Rite of Kindling… Brother Naruto, I would like to formally invite you to join us on this expedition. You have proven your strength and your character. With you beside us, the task may truly be possible."

Naruto leaned against the railing of the rising platform and cupped a hand around his mouth. "I can't hear you!" he shouted back, his grin wide.

The elevator carried him higher, the distance swallowing his words. But Reah caught only fragments as he turned his head and muttered something else.

"…joining the Warriors of Sunlight after this… don't know how that's going to go…" His voice grew fainter, carried away by the rising platform.

Reah lowered her hands slowly, her shoulders sagging as she stared upward until he vanished above.

"What did he say?"

Nico shook his head. "Couldn't make it out."

Vince grunted, folding his arms. "Whatever it was, he isn't staying with us."

Reah stood in silence, her lips pressed into a thin line. Then, she whispered a short prayer under her breath. "Let's wait a few more minutes before we move onto the Catacombs. Make sure your weapons are ready to strike down some necromancers."

---

"This is… interesting," Oswald murmured, his gaze following Naruto as he stepped into the bell tower with Anastacia held in his arms. Her eyes were wide, shimmering with awe as she looked upon the world from such a height for the first time.

"Okay, Mister Oswald, can you pardon her?"

"Of course," the Pardoner replied. "Though I am surprised thou wouldst bring such a sinner before me."

Naruto narrowed his eyes, his jaw tightening. Anastacia's face fell toward the ground, shame pressing her lower as though invisible chains were still fastened to her.

"Just help her," Naruto growled.

"Indeed, indeed… for a sin is ever a sin, no matter who commits it."

From the folds of his black robe, he withdrew a small crimson ledger bound in strange, taut skin that shimmered faintly under the light. The cover bore the sigil of Velka.

"Confess," Oswald intoned, and the air itself seemed to hush. Even the wind that whispered through the bell tower stilled. His voice no longer carried the lilting amusement from before, but the solemnity of a priest upon his altar. "A Pardoner standeth before thee. A servant of Velka, mistress of retribution, whom the very gods cast aside. Yet she seeth all falsehoods. If thy soul tremble with regret, it may be cleansed. But beware… absolution cometh not without cost."

The mask turned toward Naruto. "Dost thou understand? Pardoning a sin—any sin—demandeth a toll."

Naruto met his gaze without hesitation. "Tell me the price after this. I'll pay it."

Oswald inclined his head, a slow, solemn nod. Then he turned to Anastacia, the ledger shifting in his hands as though it pulsed with unseen life.

"Now, Firekeeper. Confess, in full. Or speak not, should thy tongue falter. Thy silence shall bear thy guilt, for the ledger itself will hear thee, and the goddess of sin shall know."

Naruto felt Anastacia stiffen in his arms, her whole body trembling. Immediately, he rested his hand on her shoulder, his grip gentle but steady.

"You deserve this forgiveness. If the gods want to say otherwise, I'll punch their faces until they get the message. But as your friend… all I can do is stand here and make sure you know you're not alone."

Anastacia's expression was torn between disbelief and fragile hope.

Oscar made a sound that caused the smaller female lizard to nudge Anastacia's side gently.

For a woman who had been told her entire life that she was a sinner, cursed and unworthy, the gesture was overwhelming. In that moment, Anastacia did not feel like an outcast or a burden. She felt love. She felt companionship. She felt… seen.

For the first time in what seemed like eternity, she allowed herself to believe that perhaps she was worthy of forgiveness. Not because of a decree, not because of ritual, but because those around her had chosen to love her as she was.

Her face pressed against Naruto's chest, muffling the sob that tore its way free. She tried to stifle it, but the tears came anyway. Her breath shook against him, her hands clinging to the fabric of his armor. Then, as her eyes slid closed, the atmosphere shifted. A current of wind stirred through the tower; subtle, almost imperceptible, yet unnatural in its stillness.

The ledger pulsed faintly in Oswald's hands, its crimson surface alive with iridescent light. "Speak, Firekeeper. Let Velka weigh thy silence. Let her raven wings judge what the gods have abandoned."

Suddenly the pages turned on their own, flipping with speed and force, then slowing until the book opened to a blank page.

Anastacia did not speak, but her soul… weighed down by guilt, by a sin old and deep… began to unravel itself in the presence of the goddess's pardoner.

Her sorrow bled into the air like ink into water. And under the gaze of Velka's servant, she let it go.

The pages of the ledger lit with violet fire, burning but not consumed. A final breeze stirred the tower, and a small halo of purple shimmer surrounded Anastacia, then faded like dusklight.

"Anastacia of Astora," Oswald intoned. "For the sin of thy birth… for the silence thou didst choose… for the life thou didst bind thyself to… thy burden is lifted. Velka hath heard thy sorrow." He pressed a gloved hand to the book's cover. "Thy name remaineth, yet the stain upon it is no more. To the world, thy sin shall be but a shadow faintly remembered. To thy soul, it shall endure only as wisdom dearly bought. Thou art… absolved."

Anastacia broke. Tears fell freely. She did not cry aloud, but her sobs shook through Naruto's arms like tremors. She clung to him, burying her face into his shoulder.

Naruto held her close, rubbing her back slowly, quietly.

Oswald stood over them, unmoving, like a priest who had completed a sacred rite.

Finally, Naruto glanced up. "Thank you," he said simply.

"I am but doing mine office. For the right price."

"How much?"

"Seven thousand souls. A steep toll, yet fitting for so deep a sin."

Naruto gave a quiet nod, forming a shadow clone that gently guided Anastacia outside while he remained behind to settle the toll with Oswald. The exchange was short, the Pardoner's hollow voice fading behind him as the boy made his way down the winding steps once more.

When he finally emerged from the spire into the open air, he found Anastacia sitting at the edge of the tower's rooftop. Her eyes, wide and shimmering, were fixed on the horizon. For years she had known nothing but the suffocating walls of her prison. Now, the sky opened before her in endless breadth. Pale clouds stretched outward like brushstrokes across a canvas.

To her, it was not merely a view. It was freedom. It was life.

She blinked rapidly, as though afraid that looking too long might cause the vision to vanish. Then she sighed, a fragile, trembling sound, and lowered herself onto her back against the rooftop. Her gaze never left the expanse above.

Naruto stepped closer, his armor clinking softly, and crouched beside her. "Now that you're free," he said with a small smile, "you can look at the sky whenever you want. No more cages. No more bars."

Her lips parted slightly, but no words came. Instead, a quiet noise escaped her throat, halfway between a sigh and a hum.

Naruto watched her for a moment, then asked gently, "So… should I heal you?"

Anastacia gave a faint nod.

"Alright," Naruto murmured. With a thought, the menu shimmered into existence before him.

[Item: Great Heal]
[Description: Great miracle cast by advanced clerics. Restores high HP. Great Heal is a long tale, only learned by a select few. No caster will be disappointed by the bountiful life that it yields.]

[Requirements: Faith 24]

Naruto pulled every soul drop from his inventory, setting them before him in a small glowing pile. He reached into the system, willing his status screen to open and update. For a heartbeat he expected the familiar flicker of light and the rush of growth whenever he updated his stats. Instead, nothing happened. His stat screen appeared duller than before, the colors muted as though the very system itself had gone stagnant.

He blinked, confused. What…?

"Thou art going to need thy Firekeeper for that."

Naruto spun around to Oswald and asked, "What? What does Anastacia have to do with this?"

"The souls of the dead are fuel for strength," Oswald said. "But the question is not whether thou usest them. It is how thou usest them."

Naruto frowned. "I know that. Affect the soul, and you affect the body."

"Indeed," Oswald replied. "But ponder this. How is it that humanity alone is able to draw upon the essence of souls? An ability not even the gods themselves possess."

Naruto's brow furrowed. "I… don't know." He said it bluntly, though in truth his thoughts strayed to the system of the furtive pygmy that he had. He kept that to himself.

"The Dark hath the power to bend souls, to shape them into strength," Oswald revealed. "Yet what humanity carries is but a shard, a fragment of that abyss. For men and undead to wield souls as power, they cannot act alone. They require a Firekeeper. She is bound to the bonfires, her spirit laid bare beneath the weight of infinite humanities. Through her burden, thou art granted the gift… to use the soul's power for thine own becoming."

Naruto drew in a long breath, the truth of Oswald's words sinking into him. He turned, his eyes resting on Anastacia. "Hey… I guess all this time I've been getting stronger because of you."

In all her years tending the bonfire, few warriors had ever spared her more than a passing glance. None had spoken her name with kindness, none had given her credit for their power. Yet Naruto was different.

Her chest tightened, the feeling strange and overwhelming. Slowly, she lifted her hand toward him, offering her strength. Though the Way of White had forced her into the role of Firekeeper for all undead warriors who came to Lordran, in that moment she chose for herself. She would be the knight's Firekeeper.

"If thou didst not know the worth of a Firekeeper, then why all of this toil? Why carry her so far? Why ask for her absolution?"

Naruto replied, no hesitation in his voice. "Because she's my friend."

For a moment Oswald was silent. The Pardoner had witnessed lords burn and kingdoms fall. He had seen men trade faith, family, and flesh for the smallest edge of power. Yet he had never once encountered a soul that spoke so simply, so surely, and believed it. His gloved hands tightened slightly on his crimson ledger, though his face betrayed nothing.

Naruto clasped Anastacia's hand.

The system stirred.

The dull, lifeless screen that had refused him before now blazed with fresh light.

[ Name: Naruto Uzumaki ]
[ Level: 54 → 61 ]
[ Faith: 18 → 25 ]

The power of Faith was always difficult to describe, but this time Naruto felt something entirely different. It was not just confidence. It was not just clarity or assurance. This was heavier, stranger, as if the very fabric of reality bent a little closer to him, like he could mold it with his will.

He compared it to Soul Sight. That same overwhelming awareness pressed at the edge of his mind now.

Faith and magic, he reminded himself, truly were two sides of the same coin. Both let him touch the unseen, both let him grasp what was not meant to be grasped.

Naruto took out the scroll of Great Heal and began to attune it. The system pulsed in response. His vision blurred, and suddenly the world tilted into the visions he got every time he attuned a miracle.

This time, his vision caused him to feel pain flood through his body. For a moment, his breath caught in his chest. He had endured plenty before, but this was different. It felt real in a way that went beyond his flesh, as though his very soul had been crushed.

Through that pain, a light broke through. White, soft, and blinding. And within it, a figure emerged.

At first, he could only make out the outline of a woman standing before him. The pain receded, replaced by warmth that flowed through every vein. Her presence alone soothed him, as if the simple act of existing in her radiance was enough to heal.

Then his vision sharpened, and before Naruto stood a vision that blurred the line between mortal woman and goddess. Her face was serene, framed by silken streams of brown hair, her eyes warm yet mysterious as if they knew every truth about him and still chose to accept him. A faint smile touched her lips, tender and knowing, crowned by a circlet of gold that marked her as something far above the reach of men. White cloth trimmed in gold wound around her body in deliberate artistry, hugging her curves while leaving her midriff bare, every line of her form sculpted to perfection. Her chest was framed with teasing dignity, her hips flowing into long, graceful legs draped by loose folds of fabric that pooled at her bare feet among blooming roses and sunflowers that seemed to glow in her presence. Pale skin shimmered like moonlight over marble, soft yet commanding, and when her arms extended in quiet benediction, Naruto felt as though he was looking at a goddess of bounty and beauty, sacred and sensual in equal measure.

Naruto's heart stuttered. He had once thought Sakura was cute. He had even found Haku more beautiful than he would ever admit aloud. But this… this was something else entirely.

His lips parted. The words slipped out without thought. "Who… who are you?"

"Gwynevere."

The vision shattered like glass. The warmth faded, the flowers and light gone. Naruto gasped, pulled violently back into the present.

So that is… Gwynevere? Naruto swallowed hard, his chest tightening at the memory. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and the thought stirred feelings in him he hadn't even known were there. But his mind quickly shifted to the strange part—why did using regular Heal and Great Heal excerpts give him visions of the Allfather, yet Great Heal itself showed him Gwynevere?

[ Great Heal has been attuned. Emit Force Miracle removed. ]

The system message finally brought the boy fully back to the present as Naruto took out his Thorolund talisman and cast the spell.

A wave of blinding white radiance exploded across the rooftop.

When it faded, Anastacia exhaled softly. She looked at her legs, then to the world below, eyes full of awe.

"It feels like a dream I don't want to wake up from," she said. "I just want to stay here… under the sun."

"Then stay as long as you like."

He walked over to Oswald and said, "Thanks for the help, man."

"I serve only judgment. Thanks and condemnation alike are not mine to give."

Naruto shifted, uneasy, before asking, "If it's not too much to ask… what was her sin?"

The Pardoner was still for a long moment. "The sins of another are not thine to know. Confession is sacred. What is spoken to Velka is veiled forever. Heh heh heh…"

Before Naruto could reply, Anastacia's voice rose from behind. "My sin was to be born."

Naruto turned. She hadn't moved from her place by the wall. Her eyes were fixed on the far horizon, the soft breeze brushing strands of her hair across her face.

"My parents… I can't even remember their faces," she said. "But they were worshipers of Queen Rosaria."

She gave a hollow laugh as Naruto remembered how the Nameless King cut the tongue of Queen Rosaria.

"I don't know why, but the church branded them heretics. They were executed. I was just a child, but my soul could tend to fire. That made me… useful." Her voice tightened.

"They spared me, but punished me for my blood. My tongue was cut so I could never speak heresy. I grew up in chains, in silence, carrying a sin I never chose."

There was a long silence.

Naruto didn't speak. He just stared, jaw clenched.

Anastacia turned her head. "Can we go back to my cage now?"

Naruto looked at her, then silently nodded. He summoned a shadow clone, who stepped forward gently and knelt beside her.

"Hey," the clone said softly. "Just remember… you always have a choice now. If you ever want to leave that place, just say the word and I'll take you somewhere even the gods won't find you."

Anastacia didn't answer. She simply leaned against the clone's shoulder, resting her head there as her eyes closed.

"Let me enjoy this dream a little longer, my dear friend."

The rooftop grew quiet again as the wind carried the silence away. The crystal lizard chirped softly, nestled in her lap.

Naruto stood still upon the spire, watching the trio leave. When they were gone, he exhaled sharply and clenched his jaw, trying to quiet the storm boiling inside him.

Oscar brushed against his leg with a soft chirp, a gesture of calm.

"Tell me, art thou wrathful at the gods?"

Naruto shook his head, though his eyes burned like flint. "No. I'm angry that people suffer for things they never chose. That someone can be branded with sins that aren't theirs, and still be forced to pay for them."

"And what is it thou intendest to do with such fury?"

Naruto was quiet for a moment. Then he spoke with a steady voice. "Anastacia's punishment is gone. That was the goal."

"That is not what I asked. I ask what thy will desires, not what thy hand hast done."

Naruto glanced down at his gauntleted hand, slowly laying it against his chest. His words came low, but firm. "Precept number fourth. It is a knight's duty to rise for the innocent. To bring justice not with rage, but with a blade tempered by honor. Even should evil wear a crown or a halo, the blade must not falter."

The Pardoner gave a quiet laugh, the sound echoing strangely in the spire. "How quaint. A nameless knight who speaks of challenging crowns and halos alike. Heh heh heh… I wonder how thy gods would greet such defiance."

"Even without my defiance, I don't think the gods would look at me favorably."

"Of course. Thou art… one of a kind."

Naruto's eyes narrowed. There was weight behind those words. Oswald knew a lot more. Testing the waters, Naruto asked, his tone edged with suspicion, "What do you know of a crow that punishes sinners?"

"Crows are ever the messengers of gods… and sometimes, their talons. Some bring pardon, some bring ruin. To know which is which? That is a matter of faith."

"And what god would call Anastacia's silence justice?"

For a moment, Oswald's amusement faltered. His tone cooled. "That, I cannot say. The courts of the gods are barred to me. I am no longer welcome. Branded heretic, my wings clipped long ago. I dispense judgment still, but I sit not at their table."

Naruto stood in silence, studying him. Then he gave a single, slow nod, and turned away with Oscar following close.

Behind them, Oswald lingered in silence. When Naruto's presence had fully faded, the Pardoner slipped a hand into his robes and drew out a Ring of Sacrifice.

"It seems that my words were insufficient to gain the boy's trust."

A voice answered in his mind, smooth and sharp. Trust doesn't matter. As long as that fire burns in him, he is worth the gamble.

"I see it now. The boy has the makings… of the Chosen Undead."

Velka's voice came again, tinged with amusement. Praise, from you of all people. That's rare.

"Not praise," Oswald replied, fingers tightening on the ring. "Truth. That boy's power to split himself into many clones is perilous. A lone warrior with the cunning of a sorcerer, the faith of a paladin, the blade of a knight, and the strength of a soldier. He is not one, but many. If the gods had sense, they would fight to claim him or seek to destroy him before he grows beyond their reach."

But that's not what impressed you, is it? Velka's voice pressed. Even Alastor never managed to stir you. And yet this boy does?

Oswald let out a slow breath. "His character. He risked so much… for a single friend. That heart of his will become his greatest strength. And his undoing."

Velka's tone shifted, almost contemplative. I agree. But Lordran was never kind to hearts like his.

Oswald's grin sharpened. "And yet, I expected you to order me to bind him to our cause."

A pause followed, long enough that the wind itself seemed to still. Then her voice came again, soft but edged with certainty.

Oswald… the gods claw at the Age of Fire, desperate to keep their flame alive. The serpents hunger for the Age of Dark, whispering of destiny and inevitability. And the boy… one day, both sides will try to shape him. They will feed him promises, burden him with prophecies, twist him for their own designs.

Her tone hardened, carrying the weight of inevitability. But they will all miss one truth.

"And that is?"

You don't tell a dragon what to do.

Oswald's grin widened, shadow stretching long across the stone. He glanced downward, watching the blonde knight make his way toward the Sunlight Altar of the Nameless King.

"No. You do not. Heh heh heh heh…"

---

Author Note: Honestly, the chapter itself is pretty straightforward, but since you guys enjoy the Q&A sections, I'll give you one here.

Q1: What is Vereor Nox?

Answer: I have always been interested in what exactly is worshipped by the Way of White. It is clear they serve the gods and their mission is to kindle the flames that sustain those gods, but what do they really believe about themselves?

Reah is such an interesting character in Dark Souls because she does not say much. After becoming Undead, her life spirals downhill. She despises her mission and openly despairs over her purpose. But what really stood out to me was her farewell line: "Vereor Nox."

At first glance, you would think this translates to "I fear the night" or "The night is feared." That is how most quick translations interpret it. But if you look at the Latin more closely, it gets more complicated.

"Vereor" is a deponent verb. That means it looks passive, but it is actually active. It is first person singular, so it translates as "I fear." Then you have "Nox," which is nominative, meaning "night" or "darkness." Here is where it gets strange: you cannot really make "fear" into a linking verb, so the phrase does not line up with a simple "I fear the night." What it more likely means is that the subject and object are the same, and the reflexive direct object is omitted, which is common shorthand in Latin.

That gives us: "I, the Night or Darkness, fear myself."

It is worth noting that this may not be the only meaning. Medieval or church Latin often bent grammar, and sometimes phrases were translated loosely. But I personally like this interpretation because it fits so well thematically.

The Way of White believes that humanity harbors the Dark Soul, and they fear it. Their entire mission is feeding fire to stave off the darkness inside every human. Their undead hunts make sense if you think of it this way, because Undead who do not serve the church are treated as heretics who would disrupt the balance between light and dark.

And remember, the leaders of the Way of White ultimately serve Gwyn and the other gods, who themselves feared the darkness of humanity. So Vereor Nox works almost like a coded blessing or curse, a quiet reminder of how deeply this fear has been taught: humanity told to fear its own dark.

---

Q2: Are Firekeepers the reason the player character can level up?

This is a question some of you might already know the answer to, or at least think you do, but I wanted to take the time to break it down. It is one of those little details in Dark Souls that is both ambiguous in canon and fascinating in lore.

In Dark Souls II and Dark Souls III, the games make it very clear that the Firekeeper, like the Emerald Herald or the Firekeeper in DS3, is the reason the player can level up. Likewise, in Demon's Souls, the Maiden in Black serves this purpose as the "level-up lady."

But in Dark Souls I, things are a little different. Anastacia of Astora does not act as the level-up NPC. The player can level up at any bonfire. Honestly, I always found this a little disappointing, because it feels like a missed opportunity. Imagine how horrifying and impactful it would have been if Lautrec killed Anastacia and suddenly you could not level up until you reached Anor Londo. That would have made her death not only emotionally devastating, but mechanically crippling in a way that reinforces the story.

So, how does Anastacia—or any Firekeeper—actually tie into leveling up in lore?

The truth is… we do not know for sure. The game never directly tells us. But, like always, I have my own speculation backed with some evidence, so let's get into it.

The Lords and the Dark Soul

Consider the four Lords of Dark Souls: Gwyn, the Witch of Izalith, Nito, and the Furtive Pygmy.

Gwyn took the Light Soul, granting him dominion over lightning and holy flame.

Izalith took the Life Soul, which gave her power over life and creation.

Nito claimed the Death Soul, ruling over decay and the domain of the dead.

The Furtive Pygmy took the Dark Soul, which split into fragments known as humanity.

So what did the Dark Soul actually give the Pygmy?

The answer: the power to absorb souls and grow stronger. That is what separates humanity and undead from the gods.

And here is the evidence: only humans (and those tied to the Dark, like the primordial serpents) are shown to be able to truly use souls for growth and power.

Now, let's bring in this item description:

Soul of a long-lost Fire Keeper
Description: Each Fire Keeper is a corporeal manifestation of her bonfire, and a draw for the humanity which is offered to her. Her soul is gnawed by infinite humanity, and can boost the power of the precious Estus Flasks. It can be used to gain Humanity and restore HP at the cost of losing the Fire Keeper soul to reinforce the Estus Flasks.

Focus on this line: Her soul is gnawed by infinite humanity.

Humanity is literally fragments of the Dark Soul. An "infinite humanity" is essentially as close to the original Dark Soul as anything could get.

So yes, the reason Firekeepers can help people level up is because their souls are constantly being gnawed at by the Dark Soul. That connection lets them channel that power and basically turn regular souls into stat boosts.

Which means, in this story, all of Naruto's current strength is thanks to Anastacia. Every time he sits at a bonfire, he is unknowingly linking himself to her soul, and that is what actually lets him grow stronger.

---

Q3: Is Anastacia's sin really that her parents worshipped Rosaria?

Nope, that is completely fanmade for this fic. Nothing in the actual lore says that. I just added it as part of my story to flesh her character out more.

---

Q4: Why did Naruto get a vision of Gwynevere when he attuned the Great Heal miracle?

Because Gwynevere is the Goddess of Sunlight, and she is directly tied to healing miracles and divine blessings. Now, the interesting thing is… why does Great Heal connect to Gwynevere, while regular Heal and even the Heal excerpt feel more tied to Allfather Lloyd? That is an excellent question, and I promise it will be answered later. Let's just say I have got something big cooking with the Way of White, and they are going to play a much larger role in the future of this fic.

---

That's It… For Now.

And if you can't wait for the next update, the next chapter drops on Sep 5th! You can read ahead to Chapter 99 on Patreon.

As always, I want to thank you all for taking the time to read, comment, and follow along with this story. Your feedback means more than you know, and it helps push me to make each chapter bigger, sharper, and more true to the worlds of Naruto and Dark Souls.

Until next time, Be safe, friend. Don't you dare go Hollow..

—Adam

 

[CornCorn]

Focus on this line: Her soul is gnawed by infinite humanity.

Humanity is literally fragments of the Dark Soul. An "infinite humanity" is essentially as close to the original Dark Soul as anything could get.

So yes, the reason Firekeepers can help people level up is because their souls are constantly being gnawed at by the Dark Soul. That connection lets them channel that power and basically turn regular souls into stat boosts.

Which means, in this story, all of Naruto's current strength is thanks to Anastacia. Every time he sits at a bonfire, he is unknowingly linking himself to her soul, and that is what actually lets him grow stronger.

Click to shrink...

That is an interesting take. I personally always took that line to mean something similar but more in line of being linked to every single fragment of the Dark Soul due to mutations we don't see in the gods because they don't reproduce enough for it pop up, the linking of the souls of fire keepers to all the fragments of humanity and thus the soul of every human being why they can help level up in first place so easily when soul magic is typically so hard. This also explaining why they don't create giant abysses like what happened with Manus and Oolacile, the Dark Soul still being spread around yet still connected. At least, that's my interpretation.