In Astoria, where the sun never closes its eyes, time passed heavily for those who had tasted the stillness of Lordran. The heat that once empowered the masses had become, for the five (Baros, Rakan, Elina, Myra, and Cale), mere sensory noise—a reminder of the facade of their radiant world. There were no night cycles to shroud secrets; instead, light poured over marble rooftops like molten gold, making the chill emanating from Leon's alley feel like a black hole absorbing the city's energy.
The five gathered before the small shop. The atmosphere was charged with silent competition; the shop housed only two capsules, and the burning passion in their hearts to enter far exceeded the capacity of the space. Baros stood with his usual majesty, yet he eyed Rakan and Cale with the look of a man determined to claim the seat first. Elina attempted to maintain her noble poise while nervously rubbing her palms, as Myra watched with stony resolve.
Leon emerged from the shop, carrying a cup of cold Ashen Tea. He did not look at them as customers, but as novice "disciples" in a world where he was the master.
"I see you are growing weary of this narrow alley," Leon said, his calm voice cutting through the silence. "Two capsules are not enough for five hungry wolves. Therefore, I shall make you a one-time offer. The System restricts the expansion of this place, and the condition for growth is the total elimination of the Asylum Demon. If I enter now and defeat him—and then two of you follow and succeed based on what you witness from me—I will expand the shop immediately. There will be no more waiting in line, and I will increase the playtime for each of you to an hour and a half instead of one."
Every eye in the group gleamed. "An hour and a half in Lordran?" Cale whispered in awe. To them, every extra minute in that world meant power equivalent to years of training in Astoria.
Technical Mastery: The Methodology of the Pro
Leon entered the primary capsule. Above its metallic lid, a magical crystal screen flickered to life, projecting what his eyes saw within Lordran. The five huddled around the capsule, silent, as if standing before a sacred shrine.
The moment Leon awakened in the "Undead Asylum," he did not run frantically as Baros had on his first attempt. His steps were calculated with geometric precision. He encountered the first three Hollows in the narrow corridor. Instead of a direct engagement, Leon utilized Line of Sight (LoS) manipulation; he moved at an oblique angle, forcing the first monster to obstruct the movements of the second.
In Leon's world of Lordran, there were no "invincibility frames" (i-frames); every strike that touched you caused harm. Thus, Leon relied on "Effective Zero Distance." When a Hollow raised its rusted sword, Leon did not retreat. Instead, he took a semi-circular step to the right, allowing the enemy's blade to pass just centimeters from his shoulder without contact. In that moment, he exploited the enemy's Recovery Frames and drove his blade into the gap between the neck and the tattered armor.
Upon reaching the long corridor where the giant iron boulder rolls, Leon did not leave his survival to chance. He calculated the trap's timing based on the distant sound of grinding gears and ran in a zigzag pattern to minimize foot friction, granting him the maximum velocity needed to leap into the side opening a fraction of a second before the boulder arrived.
Facing the smaller knights, Leon employed the "Deflective Shield Parry." He did not take the blow head-on to have his balance shattered; instead, he angled his shield at 45 degrees, causing the enemy's sword to slide away from his body and opening a massive breach in the opponent's defenses. His movements were devoid of wasted effort; he wasn't fighting—he was "disassembling" programmatic obstacles with the coldness of a surgeon.
Facing the Demon: Spatial Management
Leon reached the grand gate. Behind it, the Asylum Demon waited. Leon entered the arena, and the beast dropped from above with a violent tremor. Elina and Myra instinctively recoiled before the screen.
The Demon raised its gargantuan hammer. Here, Leon's genius shone; since there were no i-frames during a roll, any mistimed dodge meant certain crushing. Leon did not roll "through" the strike, but "away from the path of force." He watched the Demon's wrist; the hammer was massive and possessed immense inertia. The moment the Demon began to bring the hammer down, Leon had already moved into the "Blind Spot" behind the beast's left foot.
"He isn't just dodging," Baros whispered, his eyes unblinking. "He is forcing the Demon to strike the void!"
When the Demon attempted a butt-slam to crush him, Leon did not stray far. He stood at the exact point where the Demon's tail would land. As the beast hit the ground, Leon unleashed a flurry of stabs into the soft tissue. The Demon roared in fury, swinging its hammer in random arcs, but Leon was always "out of range" by a hair's breadth. It was a battle of Spacing; Leon knew the exact reach of the Demon's arm and stood consistently at the point where the strike's effectiveness ended.
With a final, precise strike driven into the knee nerve, the Demon fell on its face. Leon ended the battle with a deep plunge of his blade into the head.
The Birth of the Ash Stronghold
Leon emerged from the capsule, and his composure was terrifying. There was no sweat, no heavy breathing. He looked at the group. "You have seen the methodology. No pride, no recklessness—only distance and timing. The capsules are ready. If you succeed, this shop changes forever."
Baros and Rakan stepped forward with a reverence they had never shown any Emperor. "Master Leon," Baros said in a deep voice. "Today you have taught us that we were not fighting; we were merely flailing. I will show you that the 'Golden Wolf' can learn from the Ash."
As the two entered the capsules, Leon sat behind his desk and poured tea for the rest. Elina, Myra, and Cale stared at the screens above the capsules with absolute focus.
Astoria burned with its gold outside, but inside this alley, five warriors were being reborn under the cloak of Ash. They were preparing to turn this small hut into the first "Stronghold of Ash," where time extends and power is snatched from between the fangs of demons.
"An hour and a half..." Cale muttered, looking at the capsule with longing. "An hour and a half of Truth... Thank you, Master Leon."
Leon smiled, watching the System's progress bar nearing completion. "You're welcome, Cale... for the journey has not even begun, and Lordran has much more to teach you