7,070
I walked toward the tombstone which would sent me back to Yharnam, a feeling of... anticipation coursing through me.
The battles ahead were going to be long and hard... and no doubt quite painful. A single mistake would spell my death, I knew- and I now knew quite well how painful being killed by Beasts truly was.
And yet... And yet.
Godhood.
In the name of such a Dream, was any sacrifice not worth it?
The answer should have been yes... but the very problems of Yharnam were caused by such End justify the Means, the leaders of the Healing Church believed.
But wasn't I meant to be better? To be the Good Hunter?
Personal sacrifice was one thing... but I knew that the Hunt would require more from me than that. That my Dream would require more from me than that.
How much innocent Blood was I willing to have on my hand for the sake of my personal ambitions?
And how different would I really be from those I was meant to fight against by the end of it all?
I sighed. There would be no easy answer- and really, I did not expect any.
Certainly not in Bloodborne.
The Doll stood close by from the Tombstone, and I smiled at her.
She nodded back.
"Good Hunter. Did your talk with Gherman go well?"
I nodded. "It did, actually." I tilted my head, looking at her curiously. "Tell me, what do you know of him?" I asked.
True, I already knew the answer to that... but my knowledge of Bloodborne was something that I no intention of revealing. That was one rabbit hole of a topic that just gave me headaches just thinking about it.
My best theory on the matter, considering the now obvious existence of the Omni verse, was some kind of "Bleed effect" between realities.
Anything beyond that was way beyond my understanding.
"Gherman?" she asked. "He was a Hunter long, long ago. But now serves only to advise them. He is obscure, unseen in the Dreaming World. Still, he stays here, in This Dream. Such his is purpose."
I hummed. "I actually asked him to teach me... though he wants me to prove myself first. Which, well, fair enough."
She blinked. "I see. I hope you succeed- I am certain that you would learn a lot under his tutelage."
I nodded in agreement... and then looked at a group of Little ones not far from us.
"Could you tell me more of the Messengers, too?"
"The Little Ones?" she asked, and I noted the happiness in her voice at the question. "Of course! They are inhabitants of the Dream. They find Hunters like yourself, worship and serve them. Speak words, they do not, but still, aren't they sweet?"
I chuckled, nodding. "They are. Helpful, too, considering what you told me I could use their Baths for."
She nodded happily. "Indeed. Grant them Echoes of Blood, and they will gladly grant you aid in whatever way they can."
I nodded, then looked back at the tombstone before me.
Taking a deep breath, I draw out my weapons from my Inventory- the Doll staring once again in fascination at the sight- and then looked with determination towards that which will send me to Yharnam- and the Hunt.
"See you later, Doll- I am afraid that, as charming as your company may be... The Hunt calls."
The Doll bowed. "The pleasure was mine, Good Hunter. May you find your worth in the Waking World."
And with that, I stepped forward, focused on the Tombstone... and then felt a pull sending my body forward.
Let the Hunt begins, I thought with a smirk.
I stood up from the floor, a Lantern lit and surrounded by Messengers close by.
I immediately turned and walked up the stairs, to where I knew Iosefka's was waiting at the door.
Iosefka... that is going to be a mess and a half, I couldn't help but think with a frown.
"Are you... out on the Hunt?" I nodded "Then I'm very sorry, but I cannot open this door. I am Iosefka. The patients here in my clinic must not be exposed to infection. I know that you hunt for us, for our town, but I'm sorry. Please. This is all that I can do."
She passed me a blood vial through a broken window.
"Now, go. And good hunting."
I sighed.
"Thank you. And... I'm sorry."
"No need to apologize. I understand that you Hunters need all the help that you can get. Sadly, I have nothing else to offer. I can only pray for a fruitful hunt."
I walked away, my heart heavy.
I hadn't apologized because of the Blood vial.
I did it because I knew what was going to happen to her.
Could I save her? I didn't know, but I doubted it- I would need to constantly watch over her to be there when the imposter-to-be would make her move.
More than that, though... The imposter would help give me one third of a Cord. One that I had every intention of claiming from her corpse.
So in the end... I would profit from her suffering. And as good a person as I liked to think myself as...Godhood.
My only hope was that I could make amends somehow- some of my long term plans might allow me to give her a second chance.
A better life to live, too.
But that... was not for a long, long time- and I was thinking in term of godly standards, here.
Not even a day in Yharnam and already I'm thinking of people as sacrifices to my ambitions, I couldn't help but a hero I'm turning out to be.
Then again, that was the problem, wasn't it? I wasn't here only to help people- I was here to claim Godhood.
To claim Greatness.
No matter the cost.
So let's get on with it.
I stood up from the floor, a Lantern lit and surrounded by Messengers close by.
I immediately turned and walked up the stairs, to where I knew Iosefka's was waiting at the door.
Iosefka... that is going to be a mess and a half, I couldn't help but think with a frown.
"Are you... out on the Hunt?" I nodded "Then I'm very sorry, but I cannot open this door. I am Iosefka. The patients here in my clinic must not be exposed to infection. I know that you hunt for us, for our town, but I'm sorry. Please. This is all that I can do."
She passed me a blood vial through a broken window.
"Now, go. And good hunting."
I sighed.
"Thank you. And... I'm sorry."
"No need to apologize. I understand that you Hunters need all the help that you can get. Sadly, I have nothing else to offer. I can only pray for a fruitful hunt."
I walked away, my heart heavy.
I hadn't apologized because of the Blood vial.
I did it because I knew what was going to happen to her.
Could I save her? I didn't know, but I doubted it- I would need to constantly watch over her to be there when the imposter-to-be would make her move.
More than that, though... The imposter would help give me one third of a Cord. One that I had every intention of claiming from her corpse.
So in the end... I would profit from her suffering. And as good a person as I liked to think myself as...Godhood.
My only hope was that I could make amends somehow- some of my long term plans might allow me to give her a second chance.
A better life to live, too.
But that... was not for a long, long time- and I was thinking in term of godly standards, here.
Not even a day in Yharnam and already I'm thinking of people as sacrifices to my ambitions, I couldn't help but a hero I'm turning out to be.
Then again, that was the problem, wasn't it? I wasn't here only to help people- I was here to claim Godhood.
To claim Greatness.
No matter the cost.
So let's get on with it.
I stared at the BEAST before me.
The one which KILLED me.
Once again, it was eating a corpse, and this time the sight of it ENRAGED me.
True, it wasn't MY corpse- but all things considered, it quite literally could have been!
Still, (Gamer's Mind) help me keep focused, so I carefully sneaked behind it, raised my axe- which was in it's "extended" form- over the head of theDAMNthing- and then smashed it against it's skull!
And again.
And AGAIN.
And a fourth time for good measure.
Then I stared at the corpse, calmly dismissing the messages about creating the "Stealth" skill and the "Sneak attack" skill, and took a deep breath.
Exhaled.
And then let out a string of cursed words that would make a Beast blush.
"F* * it, that was * satisfying as , you * * * * * *!"
... What? I'm French!
Exhaling again, a feeling of utter satisfaction coursing through me, I took note of my six level up from killing a beast two dozen levels above me- even if one already badly wounded- and hesitated for a moment, wondering where to put the thirty stats points I just gained... before putting it all in Intelligence.
I was going to need all the cunning I could get, after all. That, and-
*Ding!*
Your Intelligence is now (101)!
For having an intelligence of (100), you gain a new trait!
Int (100): You now have a stronger affinity to Mana/Arcane! You have a natural ability to clearly perceive the world through forms of Extrasensory Perception. Takes the form of enhanced visual acuity and perception beyond the limits of normal eyesight, as well as optical interpretation of information. 20% Increase in Mana Recovery Rate. 20% Increase in total MP. 20% Increase to Magic/Arcane Attack damages. 50% learning speed increase to MP related skills.
I blinked, then blinked again.
If before my vision was good, then now it was excellent- I could perfectly see the spider moving in it's web at the opposite corner of the room that I stood in, see it's individual legs and-
And-
... I turned away.
Note to self- don't look at spiders to closely. They are really, REALLY disturbing to look at with a vision as good as mine now was.
That vision of horror beside, it would certainly comes in handy. Especially once I actually find some arcane Spells to learn/use...
Oh, and I gained three blood vials from killing the beast, which I put into my inventory.
I shook my head, walking up the stairs to go beyond the building. Enough marveling at Gamers powers, I had Beasts to kill!
I kept moving forward- though not before picking up the two blood vials from the dead body in the next room- until I reached the doors to the outside.
Opening those, I walked out- and I finally had a good look of Yharnam.
It was... honestly breathtaking, I had to admit- if rather intimidating.
The city was BIG, after all, and I knew that meant there were a LOT of Beasts crawling all over it.
And I was the one meant to kill them all.
This was... certainly more responsibility that I ever had- hell, more than anybody from my world ever had, since I was meant to kill gods to succeed at my mission of giving humanity a chance to actually survive what it had foolishly brought unto itself.
I exhaled, taking in the city around me- the scent of Blood, the faraway screams of Beasts, the sheer tension in the air, which almost felt like I could cut it with a knife- yes, this was what I expected.
Welcome to Hell, Aeon, I thought to you rise to Greatness, or will you remain forever a prisoner of this accursed place? Only one way to find out.
All journeys begin with but a single step... and now, here is mine. Let there be Glory... Or Death.
I stepped forth.
As I expected, it did not take long before my first foe appeared.
A single mad man, a torch in one hand and an axe in the other, which immediately started to rise threateningly when it's owner saw me.
The man roared, bloodlust in his eyes, and threw his all in an overhead strike.
I immediately side-stepped and brought my own axe to his neck, using his unbalanced state against him.
My axe met flesh and Blood, cutting through it like a knife in butter, and in a second more I was staring at the decapitated corpse of a man at my feet.
Despite (Gamer's Mind), I couldn't help but pause- sure, I had killed a Beast before, but this was a man- or at least, he looked like one.
And I killed him. In a second.
Just like that.
Then (Blue and Orange) kicked in, and I shook my head- he was trying to kill me. He was a madman, one that was already part of the Lost and the Damned of this world.
And my time in Yharnam will require me to kill any and all such beings standing in my way.
So I kept on moving forward without so much as a backward glance.
Two more madmen died soon after, the two having been on the ground, seemingly asleep for... some reason, and I ended up with six molotov cocktails and some blood vials which ended up in Inventory.
I then activated the mechanism for the ladder to go on the city level above (the gates for the proper path to it being closed), got up and found myself before a Lamp, which I quickly activated, waving at the Messengers which soon appeared around it.
Some incenses was lit next to one of the barred window, and I came closer.
"Hello there! Can your hear me?" I called out.
"Oh, you must be a Hunter. And... not one from around here, either. I'm Gilbert. A fellow outsider. You must have a fine time of it. Yharnam has a special way of treating guests... Well, I don't think I could stand if I wanted to... But I'm willing to help, if there's anything that can be done."
He coughed.
"This town is cursed. Whatever the reasons might be, you should plan a swift exit. Whatever can be gained from this place, it will do more harm than good..."
He coughed harder.
"Have you heard of Paleblood?" I asked.
"Paleblood, you say? Hmm... never heard of it. But if it is Blood you're interested in, you should try the Healing Church. The Church controls all knowledge of Blood ministration, and all varieties of Blood. Across the valley to the East of Yharnam lies the town of the Healing Church, known as the Cathedral Ward. And deep within the Cathedral Ward is the old grand cathedral... The birthplace of the Healing Church's special blood, or so they say." he coughed, before explaining more. "Yharnamites don't share much with outsiders. Normally, they wouldn't let you near the place, but... The Hunt is on tonight. This might be your chance..."
He went quiet, before coughing hard again and I grimaced before nodding.
"Thank for the help, I appreciate it. Now, if you will excuse me, I must be going. Keep safe, alright?"
It took a bit of time, but he eventually recovered.
"You too, Hunter. Have a good hunt tonight..."
I thanked him and then stepped away- there was work to be done.
After walking down the path (and finding some big pebbles looking like eyes that were present in the game), I encountered some more madmen.
The first two were easily taken care of (The first came screaming and swinging his weapon everywhere without even trying to hit me, while the second was just staring blankly ahead while sitting on the ground) but the third had a makeshift shield, and just kept blocking my attacks.
Then he charged me, and I narrowly avoided a shield bash in the face.
Deciding that enough was enough, I charged the madman myself, before kicking his wooden shield hard, to the point he barely kept himself from flying backward- but he certainly couldn't avoid my axe smashing his skull in.
I nodded, going further down the path- before stopping and stepping back, noticing the four mad Yharnamites walking down the street below me.
I let them pass, then walked down the path they were coming from- before opening the closed gates that led to the first part of the city.
Glancing at a side-passage from the gate, I stared at the massive hulk of a man with an equally massive axe who stood there, his back to me, while pursing my lips in thought.
I knew that in the game, the Executioner could be killed, even with a starting character like I effectively was. But should I try?
True, he would give me quite a bit of exp, especially since (Insight) was telling me he was level 20, but even so...
I took a deep breath, and then walked towards him.
I was the Good Hunter. "Taking Risks" was an entirely acceptable course of action for an immortal like me.
Didn't mean I was looking forward to what would happen if I screwed up, though...
I came closer, holding my extended axe over my head and mentally praying my (stealth) skill was going to hold... before striking as hard as could.
Yes! I screamed in my mind as the massive man stumbled forward, a gasp of pain leaving his lips.
I stepped forward, eager to kill him and to get my- wait DANGER!-
I went flying back, a gasp of pain leaving my own lips as the wide, sweeping strike caught me in the chest, before a second gasp left me when I collided with the wall behind me.
I barely had time to check my (status)- and boggle at how closely that single strike came to killing me- before my enemy came charging in, a wide, heavy overhead strike hitting the ground that I barely rolled away from, the blow hard enough to leave a crater in where I was.
Scowling, I used his overextension to give me the time to smash my axe on his right knee, his leg flying away. His bellow of pain had barely left his mouth as he collapsed before I stepped on him and brought my axe down on his head.
That killed him, and I let out a deep sigh- before blinking, as for the first time I actually noticed the blood echoes flying from his corpse to me.
What-?
Oh! The Int(100)perk! It did mention Extrasensory Perception allowing me to see things normal people couldn't...
I shrugged. That was nice, but ultimately not really as helpful as better vision in general.
Still, I was pretty happy- I got several levels from that kill, plus the blood echoes, two Tempering Blood Gemstones and some blood vials.
Speaking of which, I looked at my status, seeing my health regenerate thanks to (Blood Saint), until eventually I was "full" again.
I nodded- Blood vials were useful, but only in long battles- otherwise, my personal healing could handle things on it's own.
With all that said, I went back from the path I came from, before quickly going up the stairs I had originally come from when I saw the four patrolling madmen coming down the street.
Waiting for them to pass me by, I then silently sneaked behind the two at the back.
The first warning the four got that something was wrong was when my axe slammed on the skull of the madman I had sneaked up on, while my gun fired and killed the second one at the back on their four-men team formation.
The two remaining one immediately turned around, but by then it was too late- my axe first slammed into the madman on the right, before taking the legs-followed by the head- of the last.
I breathed deeply, satisfied by how smoothly things had gone, before reloading my gun and continuing up the street- and killing quickly the one who thought he could hide behind a carriage- before staring at the many madmen gathered around a dead beast that they had stringed up and were in the process of burning.
Yeah, I was going to focus on them later. First, I got up the stairs on my right, killed the moron who tried to hide- except his hat could still be seen moving above the small wall he was behind- got up the stairs some more, heading toward the corpse I remembered had some loot, followed by putting my gun underneath the jaw of the madman who jumped out of the corner, both of us freezing at the same time.
I smiled, he paled- I shot.
Then I looted the bodies. Oooh, three blood stone shards!
Mine!
Then I returned looking at the gathering of madmen, reloaded my gun, and exhaled.
Here we go, I thought.
I killed the first one on the right path, then a second one at the end of said path... and then turned around to see all the madmen staring straight at me.
Shit.
The first came at me with an axe, and I used mine in it's extended form as a makeshift spear to stab him.
The second one had a sword, and deflected my first thrust, but after a bit of back and forth I got him in the right shoulder- and then his neck.
So far so good,
The next one had an axe, and I readied myself-
*Bang!* "Ow!"
I stumbled, quickly spotting the man with a gun who just shot me on the other side of the street. before frantically looking back at the madman with his axe before me-
The axe came down.
I woke up.
The serenity of the Dream surrounded me.
"Fuck." I declared angrily.
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath.
Then I exhaled and relaxed.
"Well, that could have gone better..." I muttered,
I brought up my status and-
"Wait, where are my points?!"
I had leveled up several times, now being a much more respectable level 15, but I had neither blood Echoes or points to spent-
Wait.
Oh, Damn it all... my stats points were back where I died alongside my Blood Echoes, weren't they?
A *Ding!* confirmed my thoughts- and I even got (5)Int points for learning yet another part of being a [Gamer].
Well, at least I didn't ACTUALLY lost them for good. That would have SUCKED.
I got up, said hello to the Doll, returned at the Lantern of Central Yharnam, killed the same enemies, gathered back my blood Echoes and stats points, and THIS time made sure to not alert the bulk of the madmen of my presence while doing all this.
Hiding in a corner, I looked thoughtfully at my (Status)- killing the Executioner again got me to level 18, which meant...
I put all my points into WIS.
*Ding!*
Your Wisdom is now (110)!
For having wisdom of (100), you gain a new trait!
WIS(100):Higher W̨̅̉̆̐̚o̟̱̫̠̹̼ͭ͐̇̕r͐ͩ̽ͤ̅̑̒͏ĺ̶̪̘͙̝͙̞ḍ̷͓̪͎̞̄̍ Affinity. You are wiser than the majority of people in the way of the W̨̅̉̆̐̚o̟̱̫̠̹̼ͭ͐̇̕r͐ͩ̽ͤ̅̑̒͏ĺ̶̪̘͙̝͙̞ḍ̷͓̪͎̞̄̍. 20% Increase in Mana Recovery Rate. 20% Increase in total MP. 40% Increase to Elemental Attack. 40% Increase to Elemental damage resistance. 40% Increase to learning speed for (Science) and (Mystical) related subjects.
Well, that was nice, but again I hardly had an arcane build yet. Still, that was two Stats at/above (100), and I was looking forward to seeing them all at such height- and beyond, in Time...
I took a deep breath, and then walked firmly towards the gathering of madmen.
Surely, my newly enhanced mental Stats would help me win this time?
I woke up.
For a moment, I just stared at the sky of the Hunter's Dream.
Then I violently shuddered, before mumbling several praises to (Gamer's Mind) and (Gamer's Body).
Note to self: Being burned alive HURT. From now on, don't die by fire.
Oh merciful Great Ones, the smell of my burning body will never leave me...
I woke up.
I let out a deep sigh.
Then I raised my right hand's middle finger to the Heavens, before loudly declaring
"Fuck dogs. I always knew I was more of a cat person anyways!"
I slammed my axe in the dog's face, face twisted in a scowl that quickly turned into a vicious smirk as I saw all the corpses surrounding me.
"I did it! I fucking did it! Hahahaha! Take that, you bastards!"
It took me a few tries, but eventually I successfully killed them all!
Sure, there was a few embarrassing moments- like that time where I tried to use pebbles to lure a few madmen, and everyone promptly came to investigate where the damn thing had come from- but I did it!
I stood, bloodied but victorious, before looking at my (status).
At least I was now level 23- the strongest enemy around was level 20, so even several times of killing the same guys quickly dried up just how fast I could level up myself.
I quickly put my 25 stats points into Luck- I wanted that All (100), and Luck seemed better than Charisma right now- before looting everything I could around me.
Some bullets, some blood vials, several Coldblood dews, and a few more stuff beside.
I took some time to knock on the doors who had incenses burning, but...
"Hahahahahaaaaaaaaa!"
"Damned outsider! Got caught out on a night of the Hunt, did you? Good! Now go away!"
"Get lost!"
... They weren't anywhere near as friendly as Gilbert was.
In any case, I kept going, encountering more madmen and even more dogs, until eventually I opened the massive doors close by to the Lantern in central Yharnam- that'll be useful to go directly from the Lantern to the Bridge.
Oh, and I ended up finding another for bonding message. In my Inventory it went.
I eventually came across two Brick Trolls, but... well, they were so dumb it was easy enough to kill one from behind and then throw a molotov cocktail at the other.
Got some loot here and there, too, until I finally came across another house with incenses burning. If I wasn't mistaken...
I knocked.
"Oh, you're a Hunter, aren't ya? Then, well, do you know of any safe place? Because I heard, I have. Shutting up indoors isn't always enough. If you Hunters got off your arses, we wouldn't be in this mess! You're obligated to help me, you hear me?! So what'll it be? Are you gonna tell me or not?"
I grimaced, then hummed. I technically haven't been there yet, but...
"I haven't been there personally, but I heard of a place called Oedon Chapel. If you know where that is, you could always go there?"
"Well, whaddya know? An Outsider worth a lick of salt. Well don't just stand there! Don't you have work to do? Go slit some throats, get this mess done with!"
I rolled my eyes and walked away. Job's done, as far as I am concerned.
With that done, I went back on my steps, walked up the stairs of the house I found the message in, killed the two madmen waiting there, walked up more stairs...
And there it was. The Bridge.
Where the first Boss awaited.
First thing first, I took a sharp left and stared at the several massive, bloodthirsty crows surrounding a Brick Troll without a care in the world.
I just... why weren't they trying to kill one another? Why?!
Deciding not to question the insane in Yharnam- that way lay only madness- I took a pebble, threw it at one of the bird, waited for it to drag himself to me (thank goodness they couldn't fly!), bit back a curse when the damn thing JUMPED several meters straight at me with murder in it's eyes, and then quickly put my axe in it's head the moment it was back on the ground.
Rinse and repeat, following by sneaking up on the big guy, and I now had more Blood echoes than before.
Then I took a good, long look at the end of the Bridge, before turning on my heels with a "Nope!" leaving my mouth.
No way in the Hell I was stuck in that I would challenge a Bloodborne boss without spending my Blood Echoes first!
So I walked back all the way to the Lantern- which thankfully wasn't far thanks to the doors I previously opened- and then knelt before it.
A second later, and the Hunter's Dream stood before me in all of it's beauty. No howl of Beasts, no distant screams, no scent of disturbingly alluring Blood...
I smiled, relaxing at last.
I'm starting to really like this place...
I looked at my screen, frowning in thought.
There were several messages that I took note of- skills like(Axe wielding mastery)or(Pain tolerance), stuff like that.
I was now level 25... though by the amount of exp I now needed to get to level up more, it was definitively a good time to go to more, higher level zones.
Though to be fair, I was about to fight a Boss...
I walked toward the Doll. There was one last thing that I wanted to do before the Boss- use my Blood Echoes.
"Welcome home, Good Hunter. What is it you desire?"
"You told me that you could strengthen me through Blood Echoes, correct?" I asked.
She nodded. "That is correct. Do you wish me to do so now?"
"Yes, please."
"Very well. Let the Echoes become your strength. Let me stand close. Now shut your eyes."
I closed my eyes, feeling the Doll taking my right hand, and then I could...FEEL where the Blood Echoes I had could be used.
I- mentally- blinked. Sure, the Blood Echoes could be used to strengthen my stats- for around a (1000) Blood Echoes I could gain (1) stats point for a stat in the (100), and I had (4000) Blood Echoes right now...
But the real surprise was my skills. I had noticed that, at the difference of Bloodborne, I didn't have a [Skill] Stat, only various (skills) created by my actions.
But apparently, I could upgrade a (skill) for (1) Level per (100) Blood echoes if they were in the (10) level, (200) for a skill in (20), etc.
I... hesitated, but eventually decided to level up my(Axe Wielding Mastery). It was currently at lvl 15, and with four thousands Blood Echoes...
I boggled when it stopped at level 31, over twice my precious level!
Sure, the number of Blood Echoes necessary to upgrade a (Skill) at the higher levels would explode into ever closer to a thousand by level the more skilled I become... and it was just my skill with Axes, so technically I was getting shafted hard compared to having a catch-all [Skill] stat... but still!
[Gamer] The Doll OP, Plz don't nerf!
I happily thanked the Doll, took a deep breath... then returned to Yharnam.
Time to kill a Bloodborne Boss!
I stood before an archway, beyond which was the last part of the Bridge leading to where the Boss Battle will take place.
Once again, I checked to make sure I had everything- bullets, blood vials, gun loaded and ready...
I took a deep breath, released it... and stepped forth.
And with a Scream, The Cleric Beast jumped unto the Bridge in all it's unholy glory and madness, the mere sight of it giving me a sharp headache, before looking straight at me, howling loudly enough that I genuinely wondered if all of Yharnam heard it.
BOSS BATTLE
CLERIC BEAST
I took one look at it with (Insight) and gulped.
Cleric Beast
Lvl 50
I was level 25! This thing was twice my level and had much better physical stats than me!
... I was totally going to die painfully, again, wasn't I?
A flash of memory, of the first beast I encountered, of the one who gutted me and feasted upon me with dark, vicious glee in it's eyes went through my mind.
My hands tightened on the handles of my weapons, my gaze burning a hole in it's misshapen head with the sheer hatred and contempt I held for this Abomination.
Fine, then! If it is my Blood you seek, come and get it- but make no mistake, one way or another, I shall be the one to have the final laugh!
And with that thought, I charged.
The Beast jumped, slamming both of it's fists right where I was. I rolled to the side, quickly getting on my feet before my axe cut a gash in it's right leg, hot blood pouring out.
The Beast tried a backward sweep of it's right hand, but I jumped back before charging again, and yet another gash was open on it's leg. I was trying to get at it's tendons- If I could take away the mobility of the Beast, victory would be mine.
It howled, the sound so loud the very air almost vibrated, and I gladly took the opportunity to keep slashing and slashing.
Then my instincts screamed, and I threw myself back as hard as I could- just before both of it's fists came down on the ground again.
I ran towards it, well aware than one of the rule of a good hunter was attack, attack, attack, and I managed to get behind it and stab my axe deep in it's injured leg.
The Beast howled again, before literally trying to kick me- an attack which missed me by an hair's breadth, before I kept attacking, kept slashing-
It jumped away from me, quickly turning to look at me with eyes full of hate and bloodthirst. It began to glow red, and I grimaced- I could see with my perfect vision it's wounds closing.
For a moment, we both stood there, Beast and Hunter... the two of us taking each other measure... before the Beast charged.
I stood ready to greet it- until it screeched to a halt, took one of the statue decorating the bridge in it's inhuman, mutated left hand and then proceed to throw the damn thing at me!
Eyes wide, I barely managed to dodge the flying stone statue-
And then it's left hand came crashing down on me.
I woke up.
Looked at the sky blankly for a moment.
And then started cursing.
"That'll teach me to rely too much on what I remember from the game... Seriously though, since when did the Fucking Cleric Beast learnt to throw goddam STATUES at people?!"
I returned to the Bridge. Started fighting the Cleric Beast again.
Everything went well, then it threw a statue at me again.
I rolled, rolled again to avoid it's left fist, turned around and stood ready to charge-
And then the bastard let out a Beast Roar so powerful it sent me flying up and beyond the Bridge.
At least falling to my doom was a surprisingly clean and swift death...
I went at it again.
Dodged the statue.
Dodged the fist.
Avoided being sent flying.
And then got trampled to death when the antlered-headed Beast literally charged at me like some kind of maddened deer.
I went at it again.
Dodged the statue.
Dodged the fist.
Avoided being sent flying.
Dodged being trampled to death.
Charged the Beast-
And then died when it basically threw a temper tantrum and started hitting the ground over and over again like an angry three-years old spoiled brat being told "No".
Ow, my dignity...
Again, I slashed his leg, jumped back at the backward strike of it's right hand (I was getting really good at spotting those) and then charged again.
The Beast tried to kick me, but a shot of my gun made it quickly retract it's limb.
One more slash at it's leg-
It went flying.
The Beast collapsed with a scream.
I barely dodged it's falling body, too shocked at finally making proper progress, and then I grinned widely.
It tried to hold itself upright on three limbs, but I charged, got close to it's chest- and then I performed my very first visceral attack on that asshole.
It felt incredibly satisfying, made even more so by it's scream of agony, to the point I barely noticed how drenched in it's blood I became.
Not that I really cared.
It collapsed again, weakly twitching on the ground-
Until my axe slammed on it's head.
For a moment, neither of us moved... and then it exploded in Silver Light and Mist, it's Blood Echoes flying into me.
4000 worth, plus three Insights for it's death- I was now at (6).
I also got the Sword Hunter Badgeand... Huh.
A (25) stats points disk for Strength. Yoink!
Oh, and I was now level 32! Yey!
For a moment, I breathed deeply, satisfaction coursing through me.
PREY SLAUGHTERED
I grinned widely at the (Gamer) message.
Yes. Yes, indeed- the first prey of many.
I would make sure of that.
I then activated the Lantern which had appeared in the middle of the Bridge and returned in the Hunter's Dream.
Home sweet Home.
I stared at my (Status) with approval.
Name: Aeon
Title: Hunter of the D̘̬̼ͨ̾ͫ̾r̰̲̳̳̥͂͊͢e̩̺͍͕̲̣ͨ̑͌ͨ͢ͅå̙ͥm̗͈̻̫ͦ̾̈ͥ̓ͅ
Race: Ḧ̘͚͔͉̯̲́ͬ̇ū̋ͤ̏̊͑͌m͎͑̔ͦ̔ͪͯa̸̰͕̱̜̪̰ͮ͐n͚̻̩̤͕̫̯̄̂̅̔
[The Gamer] [The Jumper]
Alignment: Neutral Good
Lvl: 32
HP: 6000 (reg: 1%/s)
MP: 3710
Insight: 6
Blood Echoes: 4000
Vit: 100
Str: 125
Dex: 100
Int: 106*
Wis: 110
Cha: 85*
Luck: 85*
Points: 0
Bloodtinge: 10
Arcane: 10
I was six levels away from having All (100), which was pretty good.
I also gained a Trait: Novice Hunter, which basically allowed me to do 10% more damage in general.
Figures it took killing a Cleric Beast to be considered a Novice Hunter by the (Gamer System)... That is, until you consider the enemies which awaited me.
In comparison to what was coming, the Cleric Beast wasn't even that bad- it was big, strong, had quite a few HP... but it was much slower than what I expected Father Gascoigne to be like, for example.
I grimaced. Now, that was one Boss I wasn't looking forward to fighting... for more than a few reasons.
I let out a sigh,
Well, at least I know enough to know how to protect his two daughters...
That was one tragedy- and two deaths- I did not need on my conscience.
Iosefka's fate was more than enough as it is. (Blue and Orange) was useful, but only in that it allowed me to manipulate my own morals to better handle Yhanarm and all the death and killings I did/would do.
It did not, however, help when you did something you knew was wrong but did it anyway. A fact I was actually thankful for- My Humanity was going to be ground into the dust enough as is, in no small part deliberately on my part, but there were limits to how Inhuman I was willing to become.
The day I knowingly tainted my hands with innocent blood and did it with no remorse whatsoever- or worse, with joy- was the Day I needed to be put down as a Beast myself.
May that day never comes, I prayed.
Beyond that, I took in the sight of the Hunter's Dream, enjoyed it's beauty and calm (No screams of Beasts or madmen! You never know what true peace feel like until you've experienced those and then the utter lack of them!) and-
I blinked. Actually, didn't I receive a notebook from the Messengers?
I checked. Yup, I did.
I took it out of my Inventory and looked at it thoughtfully... before I started writing in it.
Then I stopped, looked at my Gamer menus... and then blinked when I saw the Option for music/soundtrack.
I grinned, and soon after the Hunter's Dream theme music washed over me. Somehow, the place became even more soothing than before. Then I refocused on the Notebook and started writing.
And that's how I passed the next hour, relaxing while writing my thoughts and experiences since my arrival in Yharnam in my Notebook, the light of theMoonabove more than enough to write easily.
It was surprisingly cathartic, even if the things I wrote about were all about Blood, Madness and Death.
Note to self: keep doing it throughout the Long Night of the Hunt. Every little bits help, right?
Once that was over, I made my way to Gherman. I wanted to talk to him, after all- about the Cleric Beast... and about all the Blood stone chunks and the like I got my hands on.
Time to hopefully learn a few things from the First Hunter himself...
A.N: Alright! Here was the next chapter, this one about the beginning of the Hunt and the fight against the Cleric Beast.
On the matter of Aeon's rather impressive levels up- from level 1 to level 32 in one chapter- keep in mind, he quite literally is just a Novice Hunter right now.
I am basically going to go with this:
Level 10 are regular armed Yharnamites civilians;
Level 20 are weak beasts and trained civilians;
Level 30 are Novice Hunters; (Aeon right now)
Level 40 are Regular Hunters;
Level 50 are Experienced Hunters;
Level 65 are Veterans Hunters. (Think Eileen the Crow)
Level 80 are Master Hunters;
Level 90 are Legendary Hunters. (Think Lady Maria)
Level 100 are Mythic Hunters (That's Gherman).
From now on, his level up are going to be much harder- especially the higher a level he reaches. The only exceptions will be with Bosses, who for obvious reasons will allow him to gain several levels once he wins.
The only thing I'm still uncertain on, is the limit for the Stats. I'm thinking of having (499) as the max, with anything further being locked for Gods only.
It'll also means I won't really have to worry about (500) Stats traits, which is nice too.
In any case, I hope you all enjoyed this update! Next time, Aeon keep exploring Central Yharnam... And get ever closer to one of the most tragic Boss of Bloodborne.