Chapter no.32 Dark Souls

Chapter no.32

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Naruto tore through the remaining hollows like clockwork, his movements fluid and efficient. After so many loops, it wasn’t even worth drawing the Zweihander anymore—just fists and kata were enough. He sidestepped a clumsy slash, grabbed the hollow by the head, and twisted sharply, the sickening snap of its neck echoing through the narrow hallway.

“Next,” Naruto muttered as he made his way toward the black knight, eager to test his new strength.

But the moment he entered, his excitement fizzled. The path was empty.

“What the—?” Naruto muttered, frowning. He scanned the area, expecting the knight to appear from the shadows.

He scratched his head, confusion mounting. “Did I… beat it for good? That doesn’t make sense. Doesn’t everything reset in this world?”

Still grumbling, he continued up the stairs, hoping for a flaming barrel to come rolling his way. But the staircase was unnervingly still.

Naruto dodged an incoming spear thrust from a hollow at the top of the stairs. His fist shot out, the jab sending the hollow stumbling backward. Before it could recover, Naruto yanked the spear from its grip, pulling the hollow toward him and driving his knee into its chest with bone-crunching force.

“Why is the black knight gone?!” Naruto growled, tossing the hollow aside.

Reaching the tower’s locked door, Naruto fished out the residence key he’d bought earlier. Sliding it into the lock, he turned it—and nothing happened.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Naruto stared at the door, dumbfounded, before groaning. “Don’t tell me I got scammed again!”

Frustrated, he slammed his fist into the door, only to be met with a sudden pulse. A shimmering barrier of blue light rippled across the wood, absorbing the force of his punch.

Naruto blinked. “What the hell?”

The door stood unscathed, the barrier flickering faintly before fading back into invisibility. Naruto huffed, turning away.

“Fine, you stupid door. Guess I’ll just take my anger out on the Taurus Demon instead.”

Naruto climbed the staircase to the top of the tower, only to find the final section of stairs destroyed. With a shrug, he began walking up the walls themselves, his chakra keeping him anchored to the stone. Reaching the top, he stepped onto the roof just as two crossbow hollows turned and fired their bolts at him.

Naruto disappeared in a flash, reappearing directly in front of the first hollow. He spun into a devastating tornado kick, the force obliterating the hollow’s crossbow and sending it flying. Before it could even hit the ground, Naruto followed up with a side kick, slamming the hollow into the stone wall so hard it was reduced to a bloody paste.

The second hollow unsheathed its sword, charging at him with a wild swing. Naruto brought up the Zweihander, blocking the strike with ease. The clash rang out, sparks flying as the smaller weapon glanced off his massive blade. With a swift counter, Naruto cleaved through the hollow, cutting it down in one precise cut.

He exhaled, letting the Zweihander rest on his shoulder as he turned to the real challenge. Across the wall walk, perched atop the far tower, sat the Taurus Demon.

The massive beast glared at him with glowing yellow eyes. For a brief moment, they locked gazes, and then the demon moved.



Naruto’s heart skipped a beat as the Taurus Demon leapt from its tower, the stone beneath it cracking under its massive weight. The massive monster soared through the air, its glowing eyes locked onto Naruto.

“Nope, nope, nope!” Naruto yelled, quickly forming a hand sign. In a flash of speed, he used Shunshin no Jutsu, disappearing just as the demon’s massive form crashed onto the wall walk.

Naruto reappeared further down the path, skidding to a stop as he turned around, half-expecting the Taurus Demon’s sheer weight to send it crashing through the floor and into the tower below.

But instead of the stone crumbling, his eyes widened in shock. A faint blue shimmer spread across the tower’s surface where the demon landed, holding firm against the impact.

“What the hell?” Naruto muttered, staring at the glowing barrier that had briefly flared up. It’s like this tower was made to not be broken.

Naruto shook off his surprise, quickly pulling the golden pine resin from his inventory. He smeared the resin along the Zweihander’s blade, watching as golden lightning sparked to life, crackling and hissing with energy that made the air feel alive.

The demon raised its massive weapon, adopting a predatory stance as it let out another ear-splitting roar.

Naruto smirked, stepping forward, the lightning on his blade casting flickering shadows across his face. “Alright, you overgrown cow. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

The Taurus Demon raised its massive, jagged greataxe above its head—not to swing but to throw. With a guttural roar, it hurled the weapon like a spinning disc, the blade slicing through the air with a high-pitched whine.

Naruto leapt backward just in time, the greataxe slamming into the stone wall walk. The impact was devastating. The stone cracked and shattered, chunks of debris flying in all directions as a massive crater formed where the weapon struck. The force of the hit caused nearby sections of the wall to crumble, leaving jagged edges and exposed gaps.

Naruto’s eyes widened as he landed on his feet, his breathing uneven. “Okay… let’s not get hit by that,” he muttered, his heart pounding. Even with his increased physical defense, he had no doubt that a single hit from that would send him straight back to the bonfire.

The Taurus Demon, unfazed, leapt down from its perch on the tower to retrieve its weapon. The ground shook violently as its massive frame landed with a thunderous crash, dust rising around it like a shroud.

Now’s my chance! Naruto thought, activating Shunshin no Jutsu to close the gap. With the Zweihander raised high, he aimed for a precise thrust to pierce the demon’s chest.

But it was a trap.

As Naruto’s blade neared the target, the Taurus Demon grinned—a grotesque, mocking expression—and yanked its greataxe upward. The axe’s blade caught the Zweihander mid-thrust, sending shockwaves up Naruto’s arms.

“Crap!” Naruto gritted his teeth as his hands shook violently. His grip nearly faltered, but with a surge of chakra, he managed to hold onto the Zweihander. However, the strain left him staggered, and his Way of Focality warned him too late of the incoming attack.

The Taurus Demon swung its greataxe in a wide horizontal arc. Naruto barely managed to react, forming a quick Substitution Jutsu. In a puff of smoke, he appeared above the demon.

Time for a plunge attack!

But the Taurus Demon had learned from their earlier skirmish. It tilted its massive head upward, its glowing yellow eyes locking onto him with a sadistic gleam. With a roar, the demon dug its greataxe into the stone wall walk and scooped, hurling chunks of stone and debris into the air like projectiles.

Naruto’s instincts kicked in.

Shadow Clone Jutsu!

Dozens of clones materialized around him, each reacting instantly. Clones on the ground deflected the flying projectiles with their weapons, shattering the chunks into harmless pieces. Meanwhile, the remaining clones threw themselves at each other, launching to either side of the wall walk to surround the Taurus Demon.

The real Naruto clung to the side of the tower, chakra anchoring his feet to the stone as he analyzed the chaos. One of his clones on the far side began hurling fireballs at the demon, each explosion lighting up the narrow battlefield.

The Taurus Demon turned, growling, and charged straight toward the fireball-throwing clone. The ground trembled with each thunderous step, and it was clear the demon wasn’t flinching—despite taking the full brunt of the fireballs.

“Now!” Naruto thought, pushing off the tower with chakra-enhanced speed. He blurred across the wall walk in a burst of Shunshin, his Zweihander crackling with golden lightning.

The moment the demon reached the fireball-throwing clone, Naruto struck. With a downward slash, he brought the massive blade onto the demon’s back, cutting deep into its thick hide. Blood sprayed in an arc as a massive gash opened, golden sparks dancing along the wound.

The demon roared in pain, spinning to face him, but two clones appeared behind it in perfect synchronization.

“Force!” they shouted in unison, their hands glowing white.

Shockwaves exploded from both, slamming into the Taurus Demon and momentarily stunning it. Its hulking frame staggered, caught off balance.

Naruto wasted no time. With another precise swing, he delivered a second downward slash, forming an X-shaped gash on the demon’s back. Blood poured from the wound, and the clones moved in for a follow-up, thrusting their weapons toward its exposed sides.

But then, they froze.

[ Name: Taurus Demon ]

[ HP: 100 / 1,215 ]

[ This near-death experience has awakened the memories of the demon under its master. The Taurus Demon casts Pyromancy—Power Within. ]

The Taurus Demon’s body began to glow with an eerie red light. Heat radiated off its form as blood ignited along its wounds, forming a fiery aura around it. The clones faltered as a sudden wave of oppressive heat emanated from the demon, melting the air around it.

Naruto’s eyes widened in horror as he saw the numbers tick down.

[ HP: 99 / 1,215 ]

[ HP: 98 / 1,215 ]

Wait… is that spell draining its health? Why?!

Before he could process it fully, the Taurus Demon let out an earth-shaking roar. The force of the roar alone sent Naruto flying backward, his clones popping like balloons from the shockwave. He hit the ground hard, coughing as the impact rattled his ribs.

As he staggered to his feet, he got his answer. The demon, now burning with an aura of raw, fiery rage, charged toward him with renewed speed and power.

“The spell’s making it stronger,” Naruto realized, gripping the Zweihander tightly. “It’s do-or-die now.”

With golden lightning crackling on his blade and sweat dripping from his brow, Naruto prepared for the final phase of the fight.

The Taurus Demon snarled, hefting its massive greataxe high into the air. With a guttural roar, it slammed the weapon down into the stone wall walk, the sheer force of the strike creating a shockwave that snaked forward like a living serpent, tearing through the path with brutal efficiency. Chunks of stone were ripped from the ground, the cracks spreading fast toward Naruto.

Naruto’s hands flew into a seal.

Shadow Clone Jutsu!

Two clones appeared instantly, both moving in tandem to use the Force miracle. White shockwaves erupted from their palms, colliding with the destructive wave of energy.

For a brief moment, it seemed like they might stop the attack. But the Taurus Demon’s overwhelming power melted through their defense like a hot knife through butter. The clones disintegrated, popping in an instant, as the real Naruto used Shunshin no Jutsu to dart toward the relative safety of the tower.

The shockwave smashed into the tower with unrelenting force. Naruto gritted his teeth, chakra anchoring him to the floor as the magic barrier surrounding the structure absorbed the brunt of the attack. The impact rattled his bones and sent a deafening crack through the air. Barrels inside the tower exploded into splinters, wood scattering like shrapnel.

Among the wreckage, Naruto caught sight of something: a small, stubby creature hiding inside one of the barrels. Its body was covered in shiny blue crystals that sparkled faintly despite being covered in dust and debris. The lizard-like creature’s tiny legs trembled, and cracks ran through its crystalline surface, as though it had been injured by the shockwave.



Naruto bit his tongue, weighing his options. The dust still filled the air, concealing him for the moment. He didn’t have much time.

“Shadow Clone Jutsu!” he muttered again. Two clones materialized beside him.

“You,” Naruto whispered to the clone, pointing to the injured creature. “Take that thing and get it to safety. You go up and attack the demon.”

The clone nodded, darting forward to scoop up the crystal lizard before leaping down the stairs to tend to its wounds. Meanwhile, Naruto transformed himself into a broken barrel, hiding among the debris as he waited for the dust to clear.

The Taurus Demon snarled, scanning the area, its yellow eyes glowing as the dust began to settle. Suddenly, a fireball streaked through the air, slamming directly into the demon’s face. It howled in rage, turning just as the Naruto clone leapt from above, Zweihander raised for a plunge attack.

The demon wasn’t caught off guard this time. With terrifying precision, it swung its greataxe upward to meet the incoming blade. For a split second, the Zweihander’s edge collided with the demon’s weapon, sparks flying as the two forces resisted each other. But the demon’s raw power proved too much. The greataxe carved through the clone’s body, shattering it in a violent explosion that sent chunks of bloodied flesh and shadow fragments scattering across the wall walk.

The real Naruto seized the opportunity. “Now!” he shouted internally, using Shunshin no Jutsu to appear on the demon’s exposed flank. With all his strength, he drove the Zweihander forward in a brutal thrust.

But the demon wasn’t done. Its hulking muscles tensed as it shifted its momentum, swinging its greataxe back with terrifying speed and force. Naruto barely had time to process the counterattack before he felt it.

The greataxe connected with his body like a battering ram, catching him square in the chest. The sheer force launched him backward like a ragdoll, the air leaving his lungs in an instant. He crashed into the wall of the tower with a sickening crunch.

The magic barrier around the tower absorbed most of the physical damage to the structure, but the reaction sent the force rebounding into Naruto’s body. Pain exploded through him as he slid down the wall, collapsing onto the stone floor.

Every bone in his body felt like it had shattered. His ribs screamed in agony, his arms hung limp at his sides, and his legs refused to respond. His breathing came in shallow gasps, blood dripping from his mouth.

The only reason Naruto had survived was the blue tearstone ring—the magic ring activated in his critical condition, surrounding him with a faint blue aura that shimmered like a protective shield, its energy dulling the force of the otherwise fatal blow.

The worst of it, though, was the state of his armor. The once-pristine armor of Oscar—the armor that had been his shield and identity in this cruel world—was now in pieces. The breastplate had been ripped apart, the gauntlets shattered, and his helmet was missing entirely.

Naruto coughed, spitting blood as his half-exposed face glared at the Taurus Demon. His right eye twitched, blood running down the side of his face. He was angry—no, furious—but deep down, there was fear. Raw, primal fear.

His hands twitched as he tried to grip the Zweihander, but they wouldn’t respond. His fingers felt like they were made of lead.

“At least… at least I’m still in the tower,” Naruto thought bitterly, slumping against the wall. He had come so far, gotten so strong, and yet here he was again: broken, barely alive, clinging to scraps of survival.

The warmth of the Estus Flask pulled Naruto from the haze of numbness as he felt the golden liquid trickling down his throat. His vision swam as a clone knelt beside him, carefully tilting the flask to his lips.

“Come on, boss. Drink up,” the clone urged, its voice steady but laced with urgency. Naruto groaned, his trembling hands too weak to grip the flask on his own.

Golden light spread through his battered body, knitting broken bones and sealing deep gashes. The pain dulled, but it didn’t disappear entirely. It took three full gulps—administered by the clone—before Naruto’s body had recovered enough for him to lift his head.

“Ugh… I still feel like I got hit by a mountain,” Naruto muttered, managing to sit upright, though his ruined armor hung loosely on him as he saw the clone carrying the unconscious crystal lizard cradled in its arms. “Hey, it’s safe!” the clone called out triumphantly, holding up the creature like a prize.

Naruto blinked at it, still trying to gather his strength, and opened his mouth to tell the clone to get the hell out of danger. But before he could speak, the clone grinned and pointed to the system screen floating nearby.

“Boss, look!”

Naruto’s blurry eyes focused as the words on the screen came into view.

[ Victory Achieved! ]

Naruto froze, his eyes widening.

— [ 3000 Souls ]

— [ Humanity ]

— [ Homeward Bone ]

— [ Demon Greataxe ]

Naruto stepped out of the tower, his eyes locked on the Taurus Demon’s smoldering remains. Flames crawled over the massive corpse, consuming it from the inside out. The air reeked of burning flesh, thick and acrid, while the crackling fire punctuated the silence. The demon’s body was crumbling inward, undone by its final desperate spell.

A shadow clone appeared beside him, waving a hand in front of its nose. “Ugh, this thing stinks. Like burnt pork.” It smirked, nudging him. “Hey, boss, think we could turn this into Taurus Demon ramen?”

Naruto didn’t respond. His eyes remained on the burning wreckage, his fists clenched at his sides.

“What’s wrong?”

Naruto exhaled slowly. “We didn’t win,” he muttered.

“What? It’s dead, isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” Naruto said, his voice tight. “But not because of me. It burned itself out. I just survived long enough for it to self-destruct.”

The words twisted in his chest, bitter and heavy. He’d fought tooth and nail against the beast, thrown everything he had at it. But in the end, it wasn’t his strength that had finished the job. It wasn’t victory—it was luck.

The clone scratched its head. “But… dead is dead, right? Isn’t that what matters?”

Naruto didn’t answer right away. His gaze lingered on the flames as they devoured the last traces of the demon, leaving only ash. A glowing orb of souls hovered above the remains, and he reached out, absorbing the energy. The rush of power filled him, but it felt hollow.

The ashes scattered in the wind, leaving only scorch marks behind. Naruto’s shoulders sagged slightly.

“We’re going back,” he said finally, his voice firm.

The clone frowned. “Back? But we can keep going now—”

“No,” Naruto interrupted, shaking his head. “The merchant said there’s a drake ahead. A humongous one.”

“You think it’s that red dragon from the bridge?”

“Yeah. After this, we’re probably going to have to fight it.”

The clone was silent.

“We’re not ready for that,” Naruto continued. “We barely made it through this fight. If we keep going, we’ll get ourselves killed. I need to get stronger. Learn more jutsu. Then we’ll come back.”

“And the Taurus Demon?”

Naruto’s eyes hardened. “I’ll fight it again. And this time, I’ll beat it with my own strength. No dumb luck. No shortcuts. When I’m ready to fight that dragon, I’ll know.”

The clone nodded, its usual grin replaced with quiet understanding.

Naruto took a deep breath, rolling his shoulders and adjusting the battered remnants of his armor. Without another word, he turned toward the bonfire. Lordran wasn’t going anywhere. But next time, the victory would be his.

And next time, he wouldn’t just survive. He’d win.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

The undead merchant perched on his stool, lazily dragging his uchigatana along a whetstone. The sharp screech of metal on stone halted as he spotted Naruto approaching.

“Well, well... Look who’s back. What do you want this time, boy? Here to lighten your soul pouch again?”

“I need the repair box,” Naruto replied flatly.
“Nee hee hee! Told you, didn’t I? You should’ve listened when I warned you, boy. But nooo, you thought you knew better. And now? Broken gear, broken pride, and you come crawling back to ol’ me.”

Naruto swallowed his irritation, his shoulders stiff. He deserved it, after all. Oscar’s armor—his armor—was in shambles because he had assumed Lordran would magically mend the damage.

“Three thousand souls,” the merchant said with a smirk, sliding the repair box forward. “Fair price, don’t you think? Though I doubt it’ll patch up your bruised ego.”

Naruto’s jaw tightened as he handed over the souls. He turned the box over in his hands, frowning. “How the hell do I even use this thing?”

“Heh! What a greenhorn. Fine, hand over the armor. I’ll show you how it’s done—for a fee, of course.”

Naruto sighed, setting the crystal lizard on a nearby crate and unstrapping the battered armor. The merchant grimaced at the sight of the ruined breastplate, dented helmet, and shattered gauntlets.

“Tch. Did you headbutt a demon or something?”

“Can you fix it or not?”

The merchant’s smirk widened as he reached for a mortar and pestle. “Of course I can, boy. But good craftsmanship takes time—and patience, neither of which you have. Sit tight.”

Naruto leaned against the wall, watching as the merchant worked. The man poured glittering repair powder into the mortar, followed by a single drop of golden liquid from an Estus Flask. He stirred the mixture until it shimmered faintly.

“What’s that?”

“Repair paste,” the merchant said without looking up. “Does for metal what Estus does for flesh. Fills the cracks, smooths the edges. If you’re lucky, it’ll hold ‘til you find yourself a proper blacksmith.”

“Where do I find a blacksmith?”

The merchant chuckled darkly. “Information like that doesn’t come cheap, boy.”

“You’re already fleecing me for this repair job."

“Fine, fine. Beyond the Taurus Demon, there’s a bridge. Follow it, and it’ll take you to the Undead Parish. There’s a smith holed up near the big church ruins. Can’t miss it.” He paused. “But if you want the best path, that’ll cost you extra.”

“I’ll take my chances, thanks.”

The merchant shrugged, dabbing the paste onto the armor. “Suit yourself. But don’t come crying to me when your shiny new armor ends up in worse shape than before. Nee hee hee!”

Naruto tilted his head, watching the paste shimmer as it mended the armor’s cracks. “For someone who acts like they hate people, you’re awfully good at keeping them alive.”

The merchant paused, his bony hand hovering over the armor. “Hmph. Don’t mistake necessity for kindness, boy. I couldn’t care less what happens to you. But souls don’t spend themselves, and dead men don’t buy wares.”

“Why stay here, then? What’s the point of this place?”

“Lordran’s for the desperate, the lost, and the mad. Folks come here chasing glory, redemption, or maybe a cure for the curse. But all they find are more questions. The kind that gnaw at your brain when you try to sleep.”

“And you?”

“Me?” The merchant said. “I came here to be left alone. Back home, I was just another hollow. Something to kick around. Here, at least the demons are honest. They’ll gut you outright. No games.”

“Yeah, I get that. Back home… life’s complicated. Lordran’s simpler.”

The merchant’s laugh turned into a low hum. “Simple? Oh, boy, you’ve got it wrong. Lordran’s a tangled mess. The harder you dig for answers, the more it gives you questions. But if you’re not looking for anything…” The man nodded solemnly. “Well, then anywhere can be simple, can’t it?”

Naruto thought back to Konoha, to the time when life had been simple—when he hadn’t known about the weight of secrets, the sting of betrayals. He exhaled softly. “Ignorance is bliss, huh?”

The merchant nodded, his hollowed eyes gleaming faintly. “Now you’re catching on.”

A heavy silence settled between them, broken only by the faint crackle of the repair paste as it hardened.

The undead merchant’s hollowed eyes shifted to the shimmering crystal lizard. “Well, now… What do we have here?” he crooned. “How about selling me that shiny little thing? Oh, I could make it worth your while, boy!”

“What would you even do with it?”

“Kill it, of course. Crack it open, see what treasures lie within that glittering heart of its. They say these creatures hold rare materials—ones that smiths would spill blood for. Oh, the profit I could make…” The merchant’s voice trailed off, almost salivating at the thought.

“No.”

The merchant’s smirk faltered, replaced with a frown of disappointment. “No? Bah, what are you planning to do with it, then? Toss it in a pot and make stew? Or perhaps you’ll sell it yourself and cheat an honest merchant like me?”

“It’s not for sale,” Naruto barked. “He’s my pet!”

“Your pet? Nee hee! That’s rich, boy. Truly. You must be joking.”

“Nope.” Naruto straightened, defiant. “I’ve always wanted a pet. And this guy’s perfect. He’s tough, shiny, and way cuter than your ugly mug. Plus, I want to see if he can be trained like Kakashi’s Ninken.”



The merchant let out a screeching cackle, doubling over. “Oh, that’s a good one! Training a crystal lizard? What’s next? You’ll teach a dragon to fetch? Oh, wait, wait—hold on!” He wheezed. “You’re serious? Nee hee hee hee! Let me laugh even harder!”

“Keep laughing, and I’ll throw you off the ledge.”

The merchant abruptly stopped, his laughter vanishing as he took a cautious step back. “My, my… What a cruel customer I’ve got here! Threatening the very man who helps keep your precious armor in one piece. Tch, such ingratitude.”

“I didn’t threaten you. I promised.”

“Still… a pet, eh? Haven’t seen someone care about anything in ages. Most folk here… well, they forget. Forget what it means to care for anything—or anyone. Hell, they even forget themselves.”

Naruto tilted his head, curiosity breaking through his annoyance. “What about you? Don’t you want to go back to how you were? Reverse the hollowing?”

The merchant froze, his breath hitching for the briefest moment before he let out a bitter laugh. “Nee hee hee… Sharper than you look, aren’t you? I’ve thought about it, boy. More times than I care to admit. But humanity doesn’t come cheap. And souls? Well, souls are easier to come by. I’ve made my peace with this face—this wretched, hollow thing.” He gestured vaguely at his sunken features.

Naruto reached into his inventory, pulling out a small black wisp of humanity. Without a word, he tossed it to the merchant.

The merchant caught it on reflex, his hollowed eyes widening as he stared at the swirling essence in his bony hands. “This… this is humanity,” he muttered. “What’s the meaning of this, boy?”

“Think of it as a thank you. This armor? It belonged to my master. Fixing it means more to me than you know.”

The merchant’s hands trembled slightly as he looked from the humanity to Naruto, his usual mockery replaced by something quieter—something almost vulnerable. “You’re a strange one, boy. Most folk wouldn’t waste something this precious on a shriveled old corpse like me.”

Naruto shrugged. “You’re not as bad as you think, old man. Besides, you’ve been helpful. So… thanks.”

The merchant stared at him for a long moment, the faintest trace of a smile creeping onto his face. “Nee hee hee… Helpful, am I? Well, I suppose even an old wretch like me has his uses. But you’re gonna need more than gratitude, boy. That armor of yours? It’ll keep breaking until you find a proper smith.”

“I know,” Naruto replied, grinning as he picked up his gear. “But still, you did your part. Thanks.”

As silence fell, the merchant continued grinding repair paste, his movements slower, more deliberate. Naruto hesitated for a moment, then scratched the back of his head. “Hey… I also wanted to apologize for throwing that reinforced club off the ledge. I was going for a scare, but…”

“No worries, boy. Accidents happen, even to fools like you.” His grin widened as he gestured to the wares around him. “Still, if you’re so sorry, why not buy something more?”

“Fine. Let’s see… I’ll take that chain armor set. It’ll make a great gift.”

“Gift?” The merchant snorted, handing over the polished chain pieces. “Who in this forsaken land do you have left to gift armor to?”

“Someone I owe an apology to,” Naruto said simply, tossing the armor into his inventory.

The merchant handed over the last piece of the Elite Knight set, his tone turning uncharacteristically genuine. “There. All fixed. Good as new.”

“What’s the price?”

“Well, well, since I’m in a good mood today… let’s say free.”

Naruto blinked. “The repairs and the armor set?”

“Sure,” the merchant said with a lazy shrug.

“What’s the catch?”

“Oh, nothing much. Either take it and shut up, or pay me twice what it’s worth. Your choice.”

“Fine. Thanks… I’ll be back soon.”

“Ah, thank you very much! Come back anytime, boy! Nee hee hee hee!”

As Naruto’s footsteps faded down the stone stairs, the merchant remained still, staring at the black wisp of humanity in his hand. He turned it over slowly, his hollowed eyes gleaming faintly as a long-forgotten warmth stirred in his chest.

“Strange kid,” he muttered, his voice quieter now. His fingers brushed the hilt of his uchigatana as his gaze drifted to the empty space beside him. “What do you think, Yulia? Maybe this place… isn’t so bad after all.”

The undead merchant let out a hollow chuckle, his voice shaking as he pocketed the humanity. “Come again, boy,” he said, his tone almost pleading. “And remind me who you are… before I forget what kindness feels like.” His hollowed eyes drifted to the cracked floor, and for a moment, he wondered how many more memories he could lose before there was nothing left of him at all.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

[ Author Note: Alright, let’s break it down Q&A style.

1. The Taurus Demon is different from the game. Why?

Okay, so for all of you who’ve played Dark Souls, you probably noticed that this version of the Taurus Demon was way stronger and even got a second phase with *Power Within*. Why did I do this? Simple: I wanted the Taurus Demon to stand out as an actual boss.

In the game, the Taurus Demon is cool and all, but it’s really just an intro fight. Later on, you find Taurus Demons as common enemies in the Demon Ruins, and that kind of takes away its uniqueness. To fix that, I gave this boss some extra love, like *Power Within*, which is a pyromancy that sacrifices life force for increased strength. I wanted this fight to feel intense and leave a lasting impact on Naruto.

2. The Taurus Demon is technically optional in the game. Why make Naruto fight it?

Good question! The reason Naruto fights it is because I want every boss in this story to matter. Each boss has to leave some kind of mark on Naruto, whether it’s physical, emotional, or mental.

Take the Asylum Demon, for example—it ripped Oscar away from Naruto and left him carrying that grief. Now with the Taurus Demon, it’s a reality check. Naruto goes in thinking he’s getting stronger, and he is, but this fight proves he’s still not ready for everything Lordran can throw at him. That failure forces him to pause, reflect, and refocus.

So, what’s next? Naruto’s going to head back to Konoha to regroup. This break will give him a chance to train, learn more jutsu, and build himself back up before returning to Lordran. Speaking of which—what ninjutsu do you guys want to see Naruto learn during his time in Konoha? Let me know!

3. The Crystal Lizard: Why give Naruto a pet?

Yup, Naruto got a pet! What do you think about this new development? I figured it would be a fun way to balance the dark tone of the story with something lighthearted. Plus, it’s just so Naruto to see this weird little creature and immediately decide, “This is my friend now.”



Isn't this little guy the cutest?!

Also, I need your help: what should we name this little guy? Drop your suggestions in the comments!

4. The Undead Merchant: What’s the deal with him?

You guys know how much I love fleshing out NPCs—Oscar, Alexander, and now the undead merchant. In the game, he’s kind of just… there, but I wanted to expand on his character and give him a proper dynamic with Naruto.

In my version, he’s jaded, sarcastic, and a bit of a loner, but Naruto sees past all of that and treats him with decency and respect. I wanted to show how even in a world like Lordran, small acts of kindness can have a huge impact. What did you guys think of his character and his interactions with Naruto?


Thanks so much for sticking with this story! Your support and feedback mean the world to me. Let me know your thoughts in the comments, and don’t forget to throw out ideas for the crystal lizard’s name and the ninjutsu you want to see Naruto learn. Have an awesome day!