Chapter no.60 Dark Souls

Chapter no.60 A Flower Amid Darkness

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Naruto's thoughts spun like leaves in a storm, but one clarity pierced the whirlwind in his chest. I need to go back to Lordran.

The idea didn't feel like a choice. It was a pull; cold, quiet, insistent. After Tsunami's words, after what he'd seen, he knew he wouldn't find the answers here. Not yet.

The wind brushed across his face as he stepped into the courtyard. Kiba was near the edge of the yard, tossing a stick for Akamaru, who barked with joy as he bounded after it.

"Oh, you're back. Did you get the stuff?"

Naruto handed over the bags without meeting the Inuzuka's eyes. "Yeah. All yours."

"You alright, man?"

Naruto didn't answer right away. "Where's Oscar?"

Kiba pointed a thumb over his shoulder. "Last I saw, he was roasting himself in the fireplace again."

Naruto gave a small nod and moved toward the house. He'd barely taken a step when Kiba called out, quieter this time.

"Hey. If you wanna talk or… y'know, vent or whatever, I'm around."

Naruto snorted. "What, did I punch the sensitivity into you?"

"No," Kiba said, serious for once. "You've got blood on you. And your face… looks like you left something behind."

"Protection duty," Naruto said.

Kiba shrugged. "So, you did your job."

"Yeah. A job."

Without another word, he turned away. "I'm taking Oscar for a walk. Guard duty's all yours."

Kiba gave a casual salute, only half joking, then turned just in time to see Tsunami approaching the house. His grin faded a little, watching the woman's quiet, thoughtful expression.

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Inside, Naruto found Oscar nestled deep in the fireplace, coated in soot like a sleeping lump of coal. The little crystal lizard blinked up at him lazily, his normally radiant shell dulled by ash.

Naruto crouched beside the hearth. "You filthy little gremlin," he muttered, though there was fondness in his voice.

Oscar gave a small chirp and tilted his head, his tail curling in the warmth.

"You in there 'cause it's warm?"

Oscar chirped again, content.

With a sigh, Naruto scooped him up. Oscar wriggled in protest but settled as soon as he felt Naruto's familiar hands.

"Alright. Let's get you cleaned up."

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The stream near the house was still and shining under the afternoon sun. Naruto knelt at the edge, lowering Oscar into the clear water.

The lizard thrashed instantly, letting out a sharp, offended squeak.

"Come on. Don't be dramatic," Naruto said, splashing water over his back. "You're not made of sugar."

Oscar puffed up indignantly like a tiny balloon, his crystals refracting sunlight in fractured rainbows. He whipped his tail and splashed water directly into Naruto's face.

"Really? That's your payback?"

Oscar sulked, but he stopped struggling. Naruto worked gently, fingers brushing over slick, soot-stained crystal until the little lizard gleamed again.

"There," Naruto said. "See? You're shining like treasure now."

Oscar chirped again, this time in what sounded suspiciously like reluctant agreement.

Wrapped snugly in a towel, Oscar was set down beside him, clean and gleaming like a polished gem.

Naruto sat beside him on the grass and hesitated.

"Hey," he said softly. "We are going back to Lordran again."

Oscar tilted his head, eyes narrowing slightly in that weirdly intelligent way.

"Don't be scared, alright?"

Oscar blinked slowly. Then, to Naruto's surprise, he let out a low, content chirp and nudged his hand with his head.

"Thanks, partner."

He pressed two fingers to Oscar's crystal-studded back and focused his chakra. With a faint poof of smoke, the lizard vanished, safely sealed in a scroll now resting in his inventory. Naruto stared at the empty spot beside him for a long moment. Then, in silence, he reached into his coat and pulled out the Darksign.

He didn't hesitate.

The sigil flared to life, and golden light enveloped him, dissolving the world around him in a quiet roar. He was going back. To the place where pain had a voice, and fire had memory. To Lordran. Where answers and dangers waited in the dark.

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The crackling warmth of the bonfire greeted Naruto as he opened his eyes. He stood slowly, the weight of the elite knight armor settling comfortably on his frame. The rhythmic sound of Andre's hammer echoed through the air.

Naruto immediately retrieved Oscar from the scroll. The lizard appeared with a puff of smoke and scurried over to the bonfire, nestling close to the flames.

Naruto chuckled, folding the blanket and placing it near the fire. "How do you feel, buddy?"

Oscar chirped in response, clearly pleased to be back near the warmth. "I'll take that as an okay."

After making sure Oscar was comfortable on the folded blanket, Naruto turned and headed toward the closed fortress, finding a figure gazing intently at a glowing green soul drop. This was how Naruto managed to go around the problem of losing his souls, especially since he couldn't waste the ring of sacrifice. He just asked Seigmeyer to protect it.

"Sir Seigmeyer," Naruto called out, his voice lower than usual, burdened. He bowed with quiet respect.

The knight turned, the ever-cheerful lilt in his voice already ringing out. "Mmm… mm! Oh-hoh! My bright-eyed friend from beyond the veil!" He opened his arms with familiar mirth. "What a joy it is to see you again, truly!"

Naruto gave a faint smile but didn't return the warmth.

"Now then, my good squire. What weighs so heavily upon that brow of yours?"

"Is it that obvious?"

"Indeed. Heavier than your sword, I'd say."

Naruto hesitated, then began to speak. He told him everything. The Wave. The pickpocket. The gang. The villagers. Tsunami's words. How his code, his path, felt cracked beneath his feet. He didn't hide the guilt. Nor the anger.

Seigmeyer listened without interrupting, arms crossed beneath the rounded bulk of his helmet, his posture patient and quiet. When Naruto finished, the knight did not immediately respond.

"…A heavy tale, that," Seigmeyer said at last, voice subdued. "Tell me, young knight… this 'Wave Country.' Do you hail from it?"

"No," Naruto muttered. "I'm from the Land of Fire. Konoha."

"And yet your heart bled for strangers," Seigmeyer mused."A foreign land, a foreign people… and yet you chose to act. Hah, the mark of a true knight indeed."

"I didn't come here for praise," Naruto snapped, sharper than intended. "I came because I don't know anymore. Tsunami, she said I might've made things worse. That I stirred up danger. And maybe she's right."

Seigmeyer didn't flinch. "Mmm. And did you protect someone?"

"Yes."

"Face down cruelty when none else dared?"

"Yes."

"Then you did what a knight must," Seigmeyer replied. "Even if the world fails to understand it."

"But what if I should've done nothing?" Naruto pressed. "What if all I did was stir the pot and get someone else hurt later?"

Seigmeyer let out a low chuckle, not mocking, but tired. "Ah, yes. The age-old question: the group or the individual. Safety or sacrifice. Action or endurance." He paused. "Let me ask you this: when you strike down a hollow beast that offers no fight, how many souls do you gain?"

Naruto blinked. "Barely any."

"And when you slay something dangerous? Something that fights back?"

"…A lot."

"Therein lies a truth this world does not hide," Seigmeyer said. "What is the value of a soul that kneels and bleeds for survival, but never raises a hand? What worth has a life that endures without ever daring to live?"

Naruto's lips parted, but no words came.

"The people of Wave have been beaten into fear. That woman, Tsunami, she doesn't speak from strategy. She speaks from scars. From losing someone. From watching her world crumble. But what she fails to see is that her silence... feeds the very evil she fears."

Naruto looked away.

"The thief wasn't stealing for greed, was he?"

"No," Naruto said. "He was desperate. He needed food."

"And Gato's men? Would they have punished him with mercy?"

"No. They wanted to make an example of him."

Seigmeyer nodded. "Then evil was already setting fire to the village. You merely chose to pour water where others turned their backs. And she chose to scold you for it. Because you dared to do something that made her feel again. Dared to fight when she had already surrendered."

Naruto's fists clenched at his sides.

"She says your actions stirred danger, but what she fears is the burn, not the blaze. She's already living in ashes. She just can't admit it."

Naruto's voice cracked. "But what if I made it worse? What if someone gets hurt now because of me?"

"Then let me ask: if you'd done nothing, would they not be hurt tomorrow?"

Naruto said nothing.

"Gato doesn't need an excuse to harm," Seigmeyer said. "He does not wait for rebellion. He punishes to remind people of their place. That's how tyrants maintain power... through example, not justice."

The sunlight flickered in Seigmeyer's visor.

"So I say this: what is the value of a soul that cowers and allows itself to be chained? Meager. Pitiful. Small. In this world and in yours, it is those who resist that carry the weight. That earn their place. That shape the world."

Naruto took a slow, shaky breath.

"You acted," Seigmeyer said, his voice steady. "That alone places you above those who chose silence. But do not stop there. A single act is not enough. Be consistent. Be bold."

Naruto looked to the flame. "But… I'm still not sure what the right thing is."

"Then be a knight," Seigmeyer said. "Not because the world is watching, not because you seek to prove a point but because something within you knows it is right. Swing your sword not for glory, not even for justice but to defy the lie that says fear must win."

"And if I'm wrong?" Naruto whispered. "If I fail?"

"Then fail as yourself, not as someone else's echo."

Seigmeyer stepped forward, placing a gauntlet on Naruto's shoulder. "You bind your ideals too tightly to the knight who gave you your code. Oscar is a fine spirit, but he is not your purpose. You are not his shadow. Your path is your own. Your mistakes will be your own. That is what makes you real."

Naruto swallowed, hard. "But... if I walk that path… I might hurt people."

"You will. And when you do, own it. Learn from it. A knight who never falters learns nothing. A knight who never questions becomes a tyrant."

"I… I think I understand now," Naruto said softly.

"Then go," Seigmeyer said, his voice warm again. "Not because you're certain but because you're willing. Walk into the storm. Swing your blade. And if the world asks why… let your soul answer for you."

Naruto bowed low, the weight in his heart beginning to lift. "I will."

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The heat of the forge rolled over Naruto like a wave as he stepped into the stone chamber, the rhythmic clang, clang of Andre's hammer ringing out through the hall. Sparks danced in the air as the blacksmith pounded away at a half-forged blade.

"Well, hello again. You seem to be doin' all right. Need anything forged?"

Naruto approached with Oscar tucked in one arm. "I've got something for you to look at," Naruto said. "But first, uh… this is Oscar."

"Mmm? What's this, then? A pet?"

"Yeah. He's… family."

Andre leaned over the anvil and studied the lizard for a moment. "Well, I'll be. That's a crystal lizard, sure as steel. But I've never seen one sit still. Let alone let someone cuddle it."

Naruto chuckled. "He's different. And before you ask, no. You're not melting him down."

"Hah! What do you take me for, lad? A butcher?"

Naruto gave him a wary look. "A merchant once told me how valuable they are to blacksmiths."

"Aye, true enough. Their scales make fine shards. But you can't forge trust with a hammer, can you? Don't worry, your little friend's safe here."

"Good. Anyway, I came about this."

He pulled the Drake Sword from his inventory, setting it on the bench with a dull clunk.

"Hoh… now that's a fine piece. That's a Drake Sword, sure as the day is long." The old man ran a gloved hand along the damaged blade. "But... mm. You've done it a number, haven't you?"

"I might've used the special attack… a lot. And, uh, also tried channeling chakra through it."

"Hrrrm… yes, that'll do it, lad. That'll do it. These ain't no ordinary blades. Weapons like this... dragonborn well, they've got a heart, see? Not the beating kind, but the kind that remembers."

"What does that mean?"

Andre gestured at the blade. "That blast you've been firing? It don't come from nowhere. You're drawing from the sword's essence. Its will. And each time you do… you chip away at it."

Naruto frowned. "So every time I use it, I'm breaking it from the inside out?"

"Aye." Andre nodded solemnly. "Think of it like swingin' your own life force. It's powerful, sure. But no weapon, no matter how grand, can take that forever. Even the strongest steel has its breakin' point."

Naruto sighed. "Can you fix it?"

"Aye, I can. And I've just the trick."

He wiped his hands on his apron and strode to the side of the forge, grabbing a set of empty Estus flasks.

Naruto tilted his head. "What are you doing with those?"

"Goin' to fill them," Andre said matter-of-factly. "Estus'll heal more than just bone and blood, lad. This sword's part dragon, its soul will drink from the fire like you do. Won't restore it to new, mind you, but enough to mend the cracks."

Naruto raised a brow. "Estus works on weapons?"

Andre laughed as he climbed the stairs. "Don't overthink it. Magic's funny like that. You'll go mad tryin' to sort every why and how. Just trust the craft." He stopped at the top of the stairs and looked back. "And don't touch anything while I'm gone. Not unless you want to be wearin' your fingers on your belt."

Naruto held up both hands. "Noted."

As Andre disappeared up the steps, Naruto turned back to Oscar, who was curled happily near the furnace.

"Stay put, buddy. I'll be back in a bit."

Oscar nudged his hand with a warm, soot-smudged nose, then nestled back into the forge's warmth.

Naruto stood, curiosity tugging at him, and made his way down the stone steps that led deeper into the abandoned church.

The air grew cooler, and the light from above barely reached the chamber below. The room was vast and desolate, broken pillars scattered across the floor like the ribs of a long-dead beast. Moss and vines clung to the damaged walls, and faint echoes whispered through the darkness.

In the center of the room, Naruto saw it.

The creature was massive, its body made of jagged, blackened stone. Two crescent-shaped horns jutted from its faceless skull, and it dragged itself across the ground with a grotesque limp, one leg severed long ago. In its hands, it held a massive polearm, its circular blade incomplete, like a broken moon.

Naruto's breath caught as the creature turned, its horns beginning to glow with a sickly yellow light. Sparks crackled between them, and the air became charged with the scent of ozone. His Way of Focality screamed at him to move.

"Crap!"

Naruto channeled wind chakra into his armour to reduce air resistance, leaping back up the stairs just as a bolt of yellow lightning struck the spot where he'd been standing. The impact shattered the stone floor, sending shards of debris flying in every direction.

He stumbled back, his heart pounding in his chest, as Andre appeared at the top of the stairs, holding the Estus flasks.

"Oh, looks like you met the prowling demon."

"Demon?!" Naruto gasped, still catching his breath.

Andre worked methodically, dipping the Drake Sword into a bucket of Estus-infused liquid, the orange glow of the healing concoction reflecting in his eyes.

"Some folks call it the Titanite Demon," Andre said. "Others call it the Prowling Demon. Whatever name you use, it's a damn nuisance."

Naruto kept his helmet on, fingers tightening around the hilt of the Zweihander. "Why is it even down there?"

Andre set the sword down, turning the blade over to inspect his work. "Ah, that's on me, I suppose. The ones who brought me here handed me this strange slab one day... demon titanite, they called it. The stuff's useless for regular smithing, only works on special weapons. But it was radiating some kind of magic, and I didn't want it mucking up my forge, so I tossed it into the ruins below."

Naruto tilted his head. "And then the demon showed up?"

Andre grunted. "Aye. The slab started humming, and before I knew it, the thing burst out of the ground. Destroyed half the bloody pillars down there in the process." He shook his head. "It's been lurking ever since, dangerous as sin. I'm no fighter, so I just leave it be."

Naruto nodded, his mind made up. With a firm tug, he secured the straps on his armor, the sound of steel buckles echoing in the forge.

"You're going to fight it?"

"Yeah," Naruto said. "Give me some practice before I get back and give Gato some justice."

"Well, I won't stop you, but be smart about it, lad. That thing's no ordinary beast."

Naruto turned toward the stairwell, his armored boots clanging against the stone floor as he descended.

"And don't get yourself killed, lad. Neither of us wants to see you go Hollow."

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Naruto's footsteps echoed faintly as he entered the ruins below the church.

The smell of ozone hit him like a wave, sharp and acrid, as the air became charged with power. The demon released a deafening roar, though it lacked a mouth. Lightning gathered between its horns, forming into a bolt that screamed toward him with the force of a thunderclap.

"Shit!" Naruto dived behind a crumbling pillar as the lightning bolt struck. The impact detonated with a sound like the heavens splitting apart, sending a shockwave that rattled his armor and knocked loose chunks of stone from the pillar. Even behind cover, the heat and force of the strike made him flinch, his ears ringing.

Gritting his teeth, Naruto channeled wind chakra through his armor, reducing the drag on his movements. He darted out from behind the pillar, moving like a blur as he closed the distance to the demon. His Zweihander gleamed in the torchlight.

The blade struck the demon's torso with a resounding clang, sparks flying from the impact. But the Zweihander bounced back, unable to pierce the stone-like flesh.

The demon responded instantly, pushing off with its single leg and arm in a surprising display of agility. It jumped back, the massive polearm spinning in its grip. With a wide sweep, it sent the weapon whistling through the air, aiming to crush Naruto in one devastating blow.

Naruto leaped back, narrowly avoiding the strike. The polearm smashed into the ground where he'd been standing, pulverizing the stone and sending debris flying. Seeing an opening, Naruto surged forward, aiming a thrust at the demon's exposed side.

But the Way of Focality screamed in his mind, slowing the moment to a crawl. He saw it clearly... the horns glowing brighter, electricity arcing along the polearm as it spun back toward him.

The demon's trap was flawless... a calculated lure, exposing its side just enough to draw him in. The true threat was the lightning bolt, concealed within its feint. With the speed of lightning, the attack was nearly impossible to evade, leaving no room for error.

"Damn it!" Naruto twisted at the last second, angling his body to avoid a direct hit.

The lightning bolt slammed into his shoulder.

Agony erupted through his body, a searing, blinding pain that tore a guttural scream from his throat. His armor buckled under the force, the lightning searing through the metal and flesh alike. Blood splattered the ground as his right shoulder was obliterated, leaving his charred arm dangling by a few shreds of muscle and tendon. The smell of burning flesh filled the air, nauseating and acrid.

Naruto stumbled, his vision swimming, but the demon wasn't finished. It swung the polearm in a backhanded strike, the sheer force of the blow sending him hurtling through the air. He smashed into the church wall with a sickening crunch, the breath knocked from his lungs.

Pain lanced through his body, his chest heaving as he struggled to stand. The demon closed in, dragging its massive weapon behind it. The polearm gleamed with electricity, its jagged edge crackling as it raised the weapon for a finishing blow.

Naruto's instincts took over. Using what little chakra control he had left, he ran up the wall, his feet finding purchase on the crumbling stone. The polearm stabbed into the wall beneath him, the incomplete circular head scraping as the demon tried to catch him.

Naruto flipped forward, the Zweihander in his good hand. The weapon sank into the demon's shoulder, cutting deep enough to crack the stone flesh and expose the glowing energy beneath.

The demon's massive hand grabbed Naruto and yanked him free of the blade. With a violent motion, it hurled him across the room like a ragdoll.

Naruto's body hit a boulder with enough force to splinter the rock, his vision blurring from the impact. He slumped to the ground, blood pooling beneath him as he struggled to catch his breath.

Naruto ducked to the side just as another bolt of lightning screamed past him, the air vibrating with the crackling energy. The bolt slammed into the boulder behind him, shattering it into fragments that flew in all directions. Dust and stone filled the air as Naruto stumbled, reaching for his Estus flask.

With trembling hands, he downed one flask, then another, the golden liquid sliding down his throat like liquid fire. Warmth spread through his body, knitting his destroyed shoulder back together. By the time he drank a third, his shoulder was fully restored, though his body still ached with the memory of the demon's brutal attack.

"Why isn't it chasing me?" Naruto muttered under his breath, crouching low as he peeked around the entrance of the stairwell. His breath caught when he saw the Titanite Demon slowly dragging its massive body up the stairs, its polearm scraping along the stone with an ear-splitting screech.

"You alive down there?" Andre's voice called out.

"Yeah, I'm alive," Naruto yelled back. "But why isn't it coming after me?"

"Who knows? Maybe it doesn't think you're worth the trouble."

Naruto scowled. "Whatever. Is the Drake Sword ready?"

"It's done."

"Then throw it to me!"

"No." Andre's response was blunt and immediate.

"What do you mean, 'no'?!"

"I've got a better idea. Your lizard can bring it to you."

Naruto stared up at the ceiling in disbelief. "Are you insane? Oscar will get killed by that thing!"

"Don't worry," Andre replied. "It'll dig its way to you."

Before Naruto could respond, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed above. His jaw dropped as Andre, massive hammer in hand, leapt down the stairwell, landing with enough force to crack the stone floor beneath him.

"Old man, what are you doing?!" Naruto yelled.

The blacksmith didn't answer. Instead, Andre charged the titanite demon head-on, his massive frame moving with a speed and grace that seemed almost unnatural. As the demon's horns crackled with energy, a bolt of lightning erupted toward him with a deafening roar.

Andre shifted his weight to the side in one fluid motion, his body weaving just out of the bolt's path. The air around him sizzled, the ground where he'd stood moments before erupting into charred stone and smoke.

Is he... dodging lightning?!

The titanite demon snarled, dragging its polearm along the stone as it unleashed another strike. Andre ducked low, his head snapping to the side as the bolt tore through the air where it would've struck his chest. He bobbed and weaved, his movements so smooth and precise that it seemed as if he was dancing around the deathly strikes.

The demon screeched in frustration, slamming its weapon into the ground, sending sparks cascading in all directions. But Andre, calm and focused, slipped around the attack with the ease of a seasoned fighter who had seen it all.

Naruto's awe deepened as he watched the blacksmith's feet shuffle quickly, keeping his stance balanced and ready for the next move. His thick arms were loose at his sides, his fists clenched and ready as if preparing to strike. Andre wasn't just dodging—he was toying with the titanite demon, closing in and drawing its focus with every step.

"Come on, you lumbering beast," Andre taunted. Another bolt arced toward him, and with a sharp pivot, Andre avoided it by a hair's breadth. "That's all you've got? You hit like a rusty nail!"

While the demon roared and continued its relentless assault, Oscar scurried through the chaos. The crystal lizard darted into a hole Andre had smashed into the floor, its small form expertly maneuvering through the broken stone. Naruto could hear the faint scrabble of claws as Oscar made his way toward him, unharmed and determined.

Andre, satisfied that Oscar was clear, gave the demon one last dodge—a clean sidestep that made it look foolishly slow—before retreating back toward the stairs. He didn't even look winded, his steps steady and casual.

"Guess I'm not as out of shape as I thought," Andre said with a chuckle, giving Naruto a quick wave as he climbed the stairs, his hammer resting on his shoulder like an afterthought. "Good luck down there, lad."

Naruto shook his head in amazement, muttering to himself, "Not a fighter, that was such a lie."

The boy exhaled deeply, finally taking a moment to absorb his surroundings. The titanite demon, thankfully, had retreated back to its original position, its movements slow and disinterested now that Andre had left.

The ruins of the old church stretched out before him, but beyond the broken walls lay something else entirely.

The air here was different. Thick with moisture, it smelled of moss, damp earth, and faintly sweet flowers. The ground was a carpet of vibrant green moss, dotted with ferns that swayed gently in an unseen breeze. Tall trees loomed overhead, their ancient trunks twisting toward the sky like reaching arms. Their dense canopies allowed only slivers of moonlight to filter through, creating an otherworldly interplay of shadow and glow.

Moss-covered stones jutted from the earth, some forming crude pathways that led deeper into the garden.

One flower, in particular, caught Naruto's attention.

Nestled among the moss and shadows was a small, delicate bloom. Its slender stem swayed faintly, supporting a cluster of petals that shimmered softly, as though lit from within.

The petals were a pale, translucent white, tinged at the edges with soft hues of gold. They seemed to drink in the surrounding darkness, casting a gentle light on the damp earth around it.

The orange soapstone at his waist began to hum faintly, and words etched themselves onto the stone's surface:

[ ?:Follow the shining flowers. ]

Before Naruto could dwell on the message, the sound of water splashing reached his ears. Then, something shot out of the darkness.

A vine, thick and sinewy, lashed toward him like a striking serpent. It coiled around his neck in an instant, the force of it snapping his head back. Naruto's hands flew up, clawing at the vine as it tightened, cutting off his air.

The next thing he knew, he was being dragged. The world spun as he was pulled off his feet, the mossy ground scraping against his armor as he was yanked into the shadows. The splashing sound grew louder.

Naruto managed to free one hand, his fingers sparking with wind chakra. With a desperate slash, he severed the vine around his neck, falling to the ground with a heavy thud.

He gasped for air, his lungs burning as he staggered to his feet.

In the dim light, the creature emerged—its body a twisted mass of dark, gnarled branches and tangled vines. Damp moss clung to its jagged limbs, and sharp twigs jutted out at chaotic angles. Its uneven legs dragged like broken tree trunks, and its head, a misshapen cluster of branches, loomed eerily above.

"Sometimes," Naruto muttered, raising his Zweihander, "I really hate this place."

The creature lunged.