Chapter 52: The Deadman vs The Dragonslayer (Patreon)
Content
We both leaped at each other at the same time, our weapons clashing. Although Ornstein still outclassed me in strength slightly, I could cover that gap with dreadnought and dead man style.
*Clash* *Clash* *Swish* *Stab*
As our blades were clashing Ornstein suddenly disappeared from my sight in a flash of lightning and appeared behind me. Piecing my spine. But even with that surprise, I didn't forget to leave Ornstein with a gift.
{Gravelord Greatsword Dance}!
*Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!*...
Even though tens of crimson phantom blades Nito popped out of the ground like geysers, Ornstein still managed to evade and shatter them with graceful ease. Only getting hit by one, which actually managed to stagger him slightly, and the moment it did I rushed in and lashed out with my blade, successfully landing a blow on Orsnsteim. The damage done was negligible though.
*Zap!* *Boom!!!*
But even though my blade had hit Ornstein, that did not stop him from casting a miracle(?) for the first time since we started battling. 'Finally taking this seriously are you?'
Just as I was about to retrieve my blad and execute another blow, he held his off-hand out and released an explosion of lightning that was not dissimilar to combustion that sent me flying and electrocuted my muscles, stunning me even with my lightning resistance. Just that attack nearly killed.
*Crash!*
I crashed through the gigantic windows of the cathedral and started plummeting down to the streets of Anor Londo. And since my focus was bottomed out now, there was no chance of me casting fall control to save my ass from being turned into paint. To top it off Ornstein leaped after me and was now falling toward me like a guillotine made out of lightning.
At that, I felt my self-preservation instinct that I had thought long gone kick in. Focus pushed itself to the max as the world seemingly slowed down. Suddenly I felt the vague desire to help coming from around me before I realized.
{Affinity}
It allowed me to sense, interact, and slightly command as well as increase my affinity toward humanity and the shards of the {Darksoul}. And thanks to the Londo Slam Jam there were plenty of remnants of humanity from the previous undead that were lost to them. And I welcomed their help with open arms.
'Thanks people, I will be sure to give Orny an extra just for you fellas.'
Seemed like the humanities were very eager to help me as I felt new energy get welcomed into my body before Ornstein reached me. Just before he did I summoned Havel's shield in front of me and covered it in an imitation of {Iron Flesh} using {Umbra}. But that wasn't all as I reinforced my entire body in the new energy. Just in time as the thunder comet hit me.
*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!!!!!* *CRASH!!!*
I broke the sound barrier as I slammed into he pavements of Anor Londo unable to cast fall control. The shield was nearly shattered but still held still because Havel shit was just built differently. The dark armament faded as my mangled body laid on the pavement as Ornstein hopped down next to me, not even fazed or tired.
Fucking monster.
*Scrape*
His spear dragged across the ground as he walked toward me like an executioner. But he was going to regret taking his time as my friends pumped me full of juice, recovering my health and energy. But I still laid still. And just as he was about to bring his spear down to decapitate me, I jumped up with my fist covered in black flame. I grabbed his spear and slammed my fist into his gut as hard as I could.
'{Deadman Style: Umbra Blow}!'
*Crunch!* *Booom!!!* *Crash!*
Ornstein's body hit the Cathedral but I wasn't done as my body transformed to a more beastlike form, borderline demonic. My form grew to 2 meters and giant wings carved from void emerged from my back, my head forming to that of a cross between a hound and a dragon. Letting out a demonic growl I dashed forth.
*Bam!*
My fist slammed on Ornstein as he crossed his arms and blocked it, even with this form our strengths were basically equal.
*Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!*...
Fists started raining down as the cathedral shook from the onslaught of blows. Although Ornstein might severely outclass me in weapon combat I didn't lose in a brawl. Managing to land several blows that made Ornstein wince. But his electrified fists hit like freight trains too. Suddenly I kicked Ornstein and dashed back before opening my mouth wide.
'{ Dragon Aspect: Hellbreath }!'
*Rooooaaaaaarr!!!!!!!*
Black and white flames hot enough to melt steel shot out like a stream from my gaping maw. Thanks to partial dragon transformation using transformation as well as Umbra and Armageddon Blade, I could release genuine dragon flames that could be comparable to true everlasting dragons.
But I seemed to have forgotten that Ornstein was far too familiar in dealing with dragon flame as he deftly avoided the flames as reached above me before summoning his spear back into his hand in a flash of lightning and stabbed it through my throat. Causing me immense pain as the flame turned on me.
If he thought he could get away with that then he was sorely mistaken. {Dreadnought} allowed me to blitz through the pain as my arm grew monstrous proportions using umbra and transformation. My arm slithered up like a snake and grabbed Ornstein's ankle, pitch-black claws digging into his calf even through armor.
'/Gotcha Bit*h!/'
*SLAM!* *SLAM!* *Boom!* *Crash!*
I slammed him into the ground a few times as the pavement shattered, my tentacle-like shadow arm allowing me to basically use him as a flail against the ground. The moment I saw him charge an attack I flung him with all my might back to the arena and flew in after him with my wings.
*Squeeze* *Crackle!* *Zap!* *Slam!* *Slam!* *Slam!* *Slam!* *Slam!*...
The moment I reached him midair using combustions to boost myself as well as grabbing him with my elongated limb, I retracted it and slammed him into pillar after pillar. But even as I did so he did not relent in flooding me with obscene amounts of electricity. But I forcefully moved my body through the spasms using {Dreadnought}.
*Bam!*
I suddenly received a headbutt from Ornstein who hadn't gone down even after all that. But he was definitely weaker, but so was I. Even though humanity might fuel me with obscene amounts of energy overuse and fatigue was catching up with me. But the adrenalin and dreadnought kept me at peak condition.
I put my hands on either side of Ornstein's cracked helmet.
''That's cute. But when you headbutt someone, you gotta add a bit of... STYLE!''
*BAM!*
Ornstein's head shot back as my forehead slammed into the lion helmet and made a crunching sound. I let him go for a moment as I summoned the Dragon King Axe and swung using Dragon Shockwave. Knowing Ornstein couldn't dodge. And he didn't instead he crossed his arms and took the blow on the chin, the blow ripping apart his gauntlets and showing his scarred and muscular arms.
*Boooom!!!*
'{Inferno}!'
I released a chaos flame explosion after him as a parting gift. He slammed into the railing with a heavy crash and slammed into the double doors. But just as I was about to chase he suddenly appeared in front of me like a ghost and slammed his fist into my ruined helmet, making me feel like I got struck by actual thunder as my brain played pinball around my skull.
*Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!*
After that his foot met my stomach as I lurched over and shot into the air, he appeared midair once again as he kicked me like a ball toward the wall as I got embedded in it. Just as I regained my bearing I was met with a lightning spear that paralyzed me. Immediately after that Ornstein's spear carved into my body over and over again, going so fast it left after images.
'{Wrath of the Gods}!'
*BOOM!!!*
The wave of power exploded around me and pushed Ornstein back and letting my sprites heal me to a non-fatal condition. I immediately dashed out of the wall and struck Ornstein with my shadow-covered fists. Using emit force, combustion, and umbra along with it. hitting Ornstein square in the chest and sending Ornstein flying like a kite. I felt his ribcage crunch from that hit and his organs mangle.
*Cough!* *Cough!* ''Fuck!''
I coughed into my hands as blood invaded every one of my organs. Most of my skeleton shattered. Numerous organ failures. The only thing that held my body together was {Dreadnought} and the sprites of humanity around me providing me with support. I walked over the cloud of smoke and dust to finish off the Dragonslayer.
But unluckily for me, Ornstein landed right next to Smough. And as the smoke and dust cleared I saw a ragged Ornstein with his hand over Smough corpse. Before I could reach them Ornstein absorbed Smough in a giant explosion of lightning that sent me back. My feet skid across the ground as I took in the sight in front of me.
In front of me stood Ornstein, but twice as tall with rippling muscles that bulged with power. Violent lightning crackled around his fists and spear as he glared at me with a promise of pain. I shot back with a murderous glare of my own.
My instincts and soul sight said certain death. But when did I care for death anyway? The only thing that mattered right now was putting Ornstein in the fucking grave.
''You aren't the only one with a second phase!''
'{Soul Release}!'
My body got covered by flamelike black and white aura as the true power within myself was forcefully released. Blood leaked out of every orifice but heal was being basically spammed nearly permanently at this point. The strain on my body felt like it would break it but I didn't care.
Transformation tuned my body even further to handle the strain of so many things at once. I looked a far cry from a human being. Instead looking like a bipedal nightmare beast fused with armor covered in black and white flame.
''TIME TO FINISH THIS!''