Embedded Files
It was supposed to be easy
Use the invitation to hitch a ride to Cainhurst. Kill all the inhabitants there. Confront Annalise and find out about the Hunter's true identity before I came to be
A three-step, fool proof plan. What could go wrong?
Everything. The hunter thought. Everything went down the sewers because he had underestimated the difficulty of a hunt, one which he was supposed to know before
Maybe that was a lesson I had yet to learn. To always be prepared for all outcomes, no matter how small they may be
"Welcome home, good Hunter"
The doll's serene voice snapped me out of my trance
Mary slightly bowed in greeting as I walked up to her. She held her hand up expectantly, to which I accept
The Blood Echoes I've saved up were spent in one go
This time, I poured it all on Strength
Two in [Ferocity], and the last to [Heavy Weapon Mastery]. That way I can get a more diverse range of damage boost and specialization with Ludwig's blade
Then there's the 6 unspent points collected from the Vilebloods and Executioner.
Should I invest them in Strength to further the damage? Wisdom to expand upon my vast arsenal of skills? Endurance to temper my flesh? Luck would be a nice addition if its effects aren't so randomized most of the time
No, at the moment I'm ahead of the curves. I am, to put it as humbly as possible, stronger than the average Hunters in terms of both skills and power, so investing anymore is quite excessive
There's no need to rush myself
I looked up, my eyes met Mary's emotionless one. For a moment we were locked in a trance. Me, lost in thought, and her in whatever it is the doll always thought- or dream of
"Is something the matter, good Hunter? You look pale tonight"
A frown crossed my face, I raised up a hand and inspect it. True to her word, the tone of my skin seems to have lean toward the lighter side. Under the moonlight above, it almost look bleached
Consequent of spending too much time at night, or the tainted blood running through my veins?
I shook my head and smiled
"Is Gehrman here?"
"He always has, Good Hunter. Tonight, his dreams lay undisturbed, and hollowed imagination gave birth to torment of a past long forgotten"
Her words made me narrowed my eyes. That's just fancy paraphrasing for the old hunter having one of his nightmares. Of the promise with Laurence, the betrayal of master Wilhelm, and the loss of...Maria
I coughed. Somehow the fact had slipped my mind again. I'm just not used to it, and the fact a replica of her is standing in front of my face doesn't help the case
"Have the Messenger me Ludwig's blade, eight Bonemarrow Ash and purchase the Chikage in my stead" I hand her the remaining Blood Echoes "I'm going to take care of something"
I turned arund and walked upstairs to the Workshop
The fortifications done to the Reiterpallasch went without a hitch. Due to [Scavenger] the amount of Tempering Blood Gemstone and other material were doubled on many occasions, which lead to a stockpile of reinforcement ingredients readily available for me
Still, from research I know there is a glitch which when combined with [Create Workshop] will give me unlimited items. Maybe if I can level it up using more Blood Echoes it'll be feasible, but it's still too soon to think about it
Exiting the Workshop, I passed by Gehrman, who is slumping against the back of his wheelchair. His posture, from my perspective, was peaceful
His words were anything but
The wind blew past us. Our coat ruffled among the white flowers adorning the Dream's garden. A silence night, it was, and so serene was the moonlit melody sung to ease one's suffering
"Oh, Laurence... what's taking you so long... I've grown too old for this, of little use now, I'm afraid..."
Laurence, the first Vicar, the one who started the beast Plague, the one who started the chain of events that lead to the creation of the Hunt. Ultimately, he is responsible for the pain and suffering of all Hunters that came before me, and those that came after
Why he would pray and wait for that man, I did not know
Perhaps there's something between them. There was, after all, so many things in Gehrman's past that even I as his student do not hold the knowledge to. Indication in the lore has pointed out his acquaintanceship with members of the Healing Church
Before Yharnam's fall, the First Hunter seems to be familiar with many faces from Byrgenwerth. I have no doubt a little digging at said school will reveal secrets that only exists buried beaneath a mountain of blood
I shook my head and turn around. My footstep slowly fading away from the garden
Nonetheless, it does not concern me. Hopefully I did not have to do any quests investigating their pasts just like I did with Cainhurst
Walking out to the front of the courtyard, I see Mary standing just beside the gravestone
"Good Hunter" She handed me the bag containing all the items I need. As I pocketed it she pulled out the Chikage and presented it to me handle-first
I inspect the weapon. For a Workshop made armament it was of excellent marksmanship, but perhaps it could use some more modifications to improve on
The red blade clicked into its sheathe
"Let the echoes of blood guide you"
I nodded to her. Reality faded into a blurry haze, as the phantom awakens from their Dream
<><><><><><>
Using the link to Edgar, I easily navigated my way toward the Grand Cathedral
The confrontation must have reached their ending points by now. If things go according to plan, Eileen will take the cooperation and defeat the Crow with a 2vs 1. If she proved to be more resilient, the old woman can choose to retreat while Edgar buy her some time
I ascended upon the stone steps. As I got closer the feeling of anxiety in my chest only grows more profound.
The sound of fighting was faint, and it was more the gasps and grunts of a brawl fight than what I would expect from a graceful Hunter like her. This could only point to two distinct possibilities. Neither of them are good
Finally I got near, and the result was as I expected. I stared with no emotions at the stone pillar, on which lies the prone form of Eileen the crow
Blood caked her from head to toe, and with every breath she drew the old woman gasped, as if the act of inhalation is enough to send her into frenzied pain
"Oh, you again" She greeted as I got near. The crow's tone was casual, despite the state of injury she is in "I'm afraid I've made a bit of a blunder. I'm just going to have a short rest."
I knelt next to her. Instinctively my hand went to her head as I placed it into a more comfortable posture. She didn't make any protests, being too tired to do so effectively
This shouldn't have happened if I had sent him after her sooner
The fight between these crows were supposed to take place after the fight with Rom. However, something the night had changed, something that doesn't belong in the original game. Perhaps I know just what it was that made it that way
I have stayed too long in the castle of Cainhurst
The night waits for no one. In game, you can hang in an area for as long as you want and nothing would happen, that is because certain events are only triggered by your actions, and yours alone.
But in the real world, that is not the case. After Cainhurst I was supposed to go to Byrgenwerth. but I missed it by a long period of time, which caused for this shift in atmosphere.
The time this fight happened must have been roughly when I see the Blood Moon...if I did it in the first place
"It's my fault" I took out a Blood Vial, but like a caring mother her gloved hand gripped around my wrist
"Child, save it for yourself. I've taken blood. Enough to save an old woman" A mirthless chuckle escaped her mask "It's been so long since I remember I am no longer a Hunter of the Dream. I must tread carefully now" She struggled to breathe "No more dreams...no more chances for me"
"Don't" I whispered softly, but firmly
With one hand I pushed her down to rest. With the other, I injected the Blood Vial into her vein
Eileen may be a good Hunter, but she is a bad liar. If she is tired and out of equipments, she should just say it to me.
Instead she stood proudly while not acknowledging her weakness in front of the Hunter. A reminder of strength for them, so they can summon the courage to continue this dayless Hunt
I watched as Eileen's body stiffened, before they slowly relaxed under the blood's miraculous healing properties. The wounds on her flesh seems to be mended together, as the blood stoped flowing from their respective openings.
"That was awfully generous of you" She remarked, to which I offered a shrug
"I am undying. I have all the time in the World to get to know my prey better. It's best if I learn not to get hit rather than getting better at being hit, you know?"
"A fair analogy. I suppose that makes you one of the more opportunistic I've seen around these parts"
"Not being opportunistic as I am being rational"
Most people in Yharnam are pretty fucked in the head should I say, and you could see being apart of them for some time did wonders to my mind
"Who did this to you?"
"Someone who I should have taken care of until now. Don't go inside. This is my score to settle, and mine alone"
"Tough word for a woman at death's door to say. "
She let out a chuckle at the joke, so did I. It was after a while that the woman slowly relaxed in my arms. Her breathing stayed even as she dozed off under the effect of the sedatives put in my Blood Vial
It was only then did the smile dropped from my face
"Sleep well, Eileen"
I stood up and walked toward the door. Inside, the sound of cawing grows ever weaker, the flapping of wings echoed, before lines of blood spurt from the space toward me
I dodged them, unsheathing my Chikage and absorbed the blood into my blade midair. It did not take a genius to figure out which of them was losing
Under the moonlit hall, two figure clashed. Edgar, whose feathers are stained with blood, and the Bloody Crow, who is standing in front of him, her boot stamping down on the stump of his decapitated wing
"Caw! Hunter comes! Hunter hurry!"
Edgar's weak voice is the only incentive I needed. The bullet burst forth from my pistol and hit the Bloody Crow by the shoulder. She jerked back, allowing for the tiny window of time needed for me to continue with a second strike that sends her skittering backward on the floor
That overhead slash was meant to slice her in half
The fact that the Bloody Crow managed to dodge them with minimal reaction time proved she is more dangerous than I had thought her to be
"What happened?" I asked without turning my head around. Doing so around an opponent of this caliber would be suicide
"Hunter. Crow. Fast"
An amused chuckle caught my ears. I narrowed my eyes at my opponent, who is laughing behind her mask
"The old crow and your...pet, I presume? They put up a good fight" She drawled, drawing forth her Chikage "I don't know how you manage to tame a beast like so, but if you think an animal is enough to bridge the gap of strength between us, you are sadly mistaken"
"It appears that I am"
I made no motion toward her. My eyes gaze at the Crow's form, taking in any information available from her as I compiled them in my head
Agile fighter. Chikage indicates a burst-type attack pattern. Old Hunter Bones and Numbing Mist to take care of those who relies on brute strength to finish their prey. Her style is roughly the same as Eileen and Henryk
That means Old Hunter's Bone + Quick hit + Sidestep +-Quick Hit + Shoot + Heavy hit. In that case if I move in a counter clockwise formation
Having made my deduction, I took a step back, hand resting on my own Chikage
Both of us blurred forward, our respective crimson weapon clashing against each other.
Zephyrs burst forward from our position, creating howling wind that spreads throughout the Cathedral's space itself.
I twisted my arm to the side, sending her to an overextended position before reversing my grip and stabbed her in the back
My strike was swiftly deflected to the side as she leveled the gun at me. Having anticipated the move I kicked her back at the same time drawing my pistol to shoot her
Only, the Crow is faster as twin barrel lit up in the darkness, two spinning bullets followed soon after, penetrating through my flesh at point blank range.
Immediately, pain blossomed within me. I Quickened back, just in time to avoid another set of trajectories aiming at my head
Something is not right. Quicksilver bullets aren't supposed to fly this fast
Though the numbers of time I was hit in combat can be count in one hand, it is common knowledge that the Hunter's bullets are made from his blood. Their effects vastly differs, as the rounds carry more stopping power than normal ones
A conjecture formed in my head. Deciding to test that theory I dashed forward in a second bout. Our weapons crashed in a cacaphony of steel as we twisted around each other, I drew blood from my Chikage and engage in a fast melee clash between us
Clicking her tongue, the Crow Quickened through my stab and reappeared behind me. My [Instinct] roared up and I dodged to the side, now anticipating her next move using the patterns she's displayed so far
One, two. I counted the rhythm. Four. Five. Six
As expected, upon the end of her combo she fired another shot at me. I leaned my body back so they hit my chest, a blood of spurt burst out from the holes of my wound
This time there was no doubt. The pain is real
Why is it that her bullet deals this much damage to me?
Widening the distance between us but still maintaining the optimal engagement length, I gyrated on my foot to deflect her blood slash and unsheathe my sword for a counter quickdraw
Don't tell me this woman has 99 stat in Bloodtinge?
[Unnatural Recovery] kicked into gear. I quickly grabbed a Blood Vial to supplement the healing time, but a bottle crashed through me just as I inject it into my vein. I gritted my teeth in frustration as the once invigoring pleasure was now replaced by a cold feeling where the liquid have went through, rendering my healing ineffective
Opposite from me, the Crow held her damned pistol in her grip, the chamber opening up and she tossed two separate rounds in it, closing the lid with a flick of her wrist
I had underestimated her tempo. Of course a woman of experience would see through my strategy
Another twin bulets whizzed past my head. I returned with a countershot. The bullet soared through the air and she dodged it mere seconds before contact. In that same moment, I Quickened to her side
Our blade once again impact the other. We exchanged several blows that unfortunately ended up cutting me more than I did her due ot my inexperience with the Chikage.
With a laugh, she ducked under one of my overhead swing and stabbed her blade into my stomach
"Are you alright? Did I somehow breaks your concentration?" The Crow, if possible, just teased me. I sucked in a sharp breath as I realize that yes, she is teasing me
The audacity of this bitch
As it is, I said nothing but calmly disengage and sheath my katana weapon. Another taunt would be the preferrable approach to this situation. Sadly I'm not in the mood for it
She hurts Eileen, the one who has helped me out of kindness at the start of the Hunt, someone whom I owed a debt to. The fact that I would fail her when she needs assistance the most is...inexcusable
She almost died for my failure. For that, I am obligated to pay my debt in full
[Gravitational Push]
Nothing in the world could have prepared the Hunter for the sudden unleashment of force from him.
The Crow was blown back, crashing into the stone wall. Cracks spread across its surface in weblike pattern, and she coughd at the suddenness of the pressure forced down on her
[Gravitational Push]
The pressure doubled. A smile overtook my face at the sound of labored breath coming from under the Cainhurst mask
[Gravitational Push]
Tripled. The wall exploded outward and the figure pinned on it followed
A sudden drowsiness overtook my frame - proof that my stamina were depleted. I lowered my hand, the attack was reluctantly canceled
I narrowed my eyes. At nearly two tons of pressure, a normal human would have long been reduced to paste, yet except for her prone form, the Crow is still not dead. She is far more resilient than I thought
A displacement is all the warning I needed to prepare myself for the next attack
From the mist she burst forth. Her body crashed into mine as the Crow's Chikage burrowed itself into my shoulder. With a twist of the handle she ripped it out from my messed up organs, blades of wind further tearing up my insides
In return I moved my wrist forward, my own blood-infused Chikage blurred past where her neck was before she dodged it. The blade cut through her mask, revealing the scowling face of a woman beneath it
She did not anticipate my pistol firing a bullet at point blank range for a following attack, hitting the woman by the face.
The Crow staggered back, barely sidestepping the blasts of wind fired from my blade toward her
"What the bloody hell are you?" She snarled, one hand holding up to a thin line of red near her throat
A wound that has already been healed. She should have been able to dodge that, yet the Hunter's relentless pursuit proves more effective than she'd thought it would be
"A damn good Hunter, my dear" I said, bonemarrow ash falling from the shot from my gun. I leveled it up at her and pressed the trigger. The Crow blurred forward, blade slicing through the shot with practived ease
With less than a moment to swing my blade, I abandoned that route in favor of [Martial Art]
I Quickened to the side to dodge her initial thrust. Using my hands as foothold on the ground I flipped backward to avoid her second swing, my foot shot forward, catching the Hunter in a chokehold
She choked as I forcibly removed the blade from her hand. A moment of struggling passed, before iron gaunglets were forced up clamped down upon the edge of her mask
CRACK!
I fell backward from the sudden loss in hold, using my hand to swung myself to a crouching stance
Across from me, the crow touched her chin again. There was another crack, and she returned to normal. By loosening the bones in her jaw at the last second, she had avoided an ungraceful end at the hand, or leg, of that Hunter
Had it been a little tighter...had she been a little less flexible...
"Impressive tricks for a monkey" The Crow ocked under panting breaths. This time there was caution in her voice
The catious tone of a Hunter who realize it's not always wise to toy with their prey
Nonetheless, I did not give a fuck
I threw the Chikage at her. As expected, the Crow evaded with ease, returning with two bullets from her Repeating Pistol which I deflected back at her.
Jumping away from the two projectiles she tried to inject another Hunter Bone to put some distance from me, but I was already upon her
"ORA"
My fist impacted against the Cainhurst Crow's jaw
"ORA ORA-"
Two punch shattered her gauntglets as she attempted to block my attack
"ORA ORA ORA-"
Three punch that broke through her final defence
In that split moment, I went all out
"ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA-"
A barrage of punches smashed against her face as I howled.
[Martial Arts] and [Ferocity] combined into a deadly combo that immediately plummets the Crow's health to its red zone.
"Enough, you thug!" She roared, sidestepping my punch and spun to deliver a rear kick. As I ducked under it she changed the trajectory of her attack, allowing for a second attack from her Chikage, one that splits the floor I'm stanind on in half
Nonetheless, her blade was stuck. i took the opportunity to Quicken behind her
The Crow, perhaps not expecting a vulgar martial approach like this, could only gasp as I wrapped two hands around her hips. I roared as I bent backward, the momentum carried her along wit me, smashing her head first into the ground
"A-a suplex?" The stunned Crow utter in disbelief
"No" I said
"A quadruple suplex"
Before she could scream, I crossed one leg over her head and twisted my body 180 degree to deliver another slam- one that completely disoriented my enemy
"W-wait"
I used my other supporitng limb to stabilize our position, before flipping around and did the third slam
The Crow gurgled, her HP slowly approaching that much needed endgame. All her nerves has been overworked to the point of paralysis in our previous bouts, enabling her struggle useles before me
I took a deep breath, before bouncing up into a standing position with her still wrapped around the hip. My legs bent as i launched myself upward, breaking throuh the Grand Cathedral's ceiling and up to the cosmos
When the zenith of the jump had been reached, I applied [Razor's Edge] to my feet and kicked it, sending us back down with us travelling at twice the velocity from before
Wind blasts through our form as our coat billlowed furiously in the air. Our back arched, and in that moment I could feel myself performing a German suplex at twice the speed of the sound barrier
I brought my arm forward, and with it, the Crow's face, watching as the ground rapidly closing in on us
When it did, the Cathedral exploded
<><><><><><>
The explosion awakened Eileen from her slumber
How long has she been asleep? Did the crow kill her? No, where is she? She hastily took in her surounding. Rarely before had the crow fallen asleep without a touch of wariness, but she supposed the fatigue must have overtaken without her being awaare of it
After the initial confusion was over, she made an assessment of her condition. All her wounds had been healed, the bleeding had been stopped either by natural healing, or by use of the old blood which she had ran out
Ah, of course, the Hunter gave it to her. She mused. Possibly with a touch of sedative in them as well if the drowsiness in her system is any indication
Click. Click. Click
The sound of boots hitting the ground caught her attention, and Eileen turned her head to the side where the Grand Cathedral laid.
At least, the pile of cobblestone and woods that is what remains of it
What happened here?
Out from the debris's smoke there came a figure carrying two others in his arms. It was the Hunter whom she helped before
His pet crow was held in one arm, while the other was busy carrying the unconscious form of the Cainhurst crow, who was slung over his shoulder like a sack of potato
He stopped in front of her
"Ah, apologies. It seems the noises have woken you up" the Hunter inclined his head in a sorry gesture
Eileen however was focusing on the person on his back. The Cainhurst woman who just minutes ago was close to killing her, now looks wholly unmoving across the boy's shoulder
Did he...against her? But that's impossible. The Bloody Crow was someone who has killed Hunters far more experienced than her. There's no way he could have beat her in combat
But yet, the person himself was standing before her, with a nary a scratch on him
"Don't you ever listen to your elder?!"
He flinched at her voice. Eileen forced herself to calm down. Even when she had told him not to intervene in her stead...the reckless action displeased her more than it should
"I'm sorry"
"No matter, you did save my life" The older crow sighed, gesturing at the animal in his arm, Edgar is his name if she rememebred right "Will your pet be okay?"
"He's my hunting companion, not a pet. And yes, it's nothing a little bit of blood healing cannot uncover"
"Good, and the Bloody Crow, is she dead?"
THe Hunter and her looked at the unconscious woman on his shoulder
"Unortunately no" He eventually said "I need her for...something"
He sifted on his foot. For some reason, Eileen was now gazing at him with an uncomfortably persistent gaze, and the Hunter does not know why
"You know, if I ever get wind of you sexually abusing the Doll in the Dream..."
"I'm not! Why would I even abuse her?"
"Well, are you not going to use Catherine here as stress relief? She pack some pretty nice baggage that no sane men of Yharnam would hesitate sowing their seeds into"
A normal person might have gawked, blushing up a storm before turning away while sputtering out denials, but the Hunter deadpanned at her accusations
"What?"
Eileen was still suspicious "What makes you think I won't believe for the worst with such a suspicious attitude, hm?"
"I saved her, and this is how the old hag treated me" The Hunter snorted "Rest assured, I'm a gentleman through and through. The only needs I have for this woman is for questioning purposes"
She looked further, but saw no dishonesty behind those eyes. Eventually she nodded
"Fair enough" She won't pry. Hunters are entitled to their own little secrets as long as it does not harm those around them "The only thing I'll say is to be careful. She wasn't the type to loosen her lips to stranger, or those who had bad blood with her"
I nodded absentmindedly. It does not matter anyway. If Catherine doesn't want him she wouldn't have sent the Cainhurst invitation in the first place
"What is the history between you anyway? You're both wearing the Crowfeather garbs, and you know her name" He pointed at the similar outfits "Is she your former apprentice? If so how did you come across each otehr in the first place?"
She, in return, could only sigh
Curious be the murdered cat. But she knows just what kind of person the person in front of her is
The Hunter is no real cat, he knows what he is asking and will not stop until he'd had his answers. Byrgenwerth would have been interested in a person of intellect like him
"It's a long story. Perhaps I will tell you of it when the Hunt's over"
"Okay"
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