Firelink Shrine

After receiving the Estus Flask from Oscar, Zed decided to leave the Asylum. He defeated the 3 hollows upstairs before he jumped the down the ledge and opened the big pilgrim gate with the key he received from the Asylum Demon.

Zed sighed as he walks towards the end of the cliff.

That giant crow would probably take me away and bring me to Firelink Shrine. But I never felt good at flying. I remember stepping on an airplane once and that was my horrible flying experience. I vomited for 4 hours on the flight.

When Zed neared the edge of the cliff, a giant crow suddenly descended in front of him.

As if the time had slowed down as Zed was taken away by the giant crow.

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(Firelink Shrine)

[Only, in the ancient legends it is stated, that one day an undead shall be chosen to leave the undead asylum, in pilgrimage, to the land of ancient lords, Lordran.]

Firelink Shrine. This ancient and crumbling shrine is used as a gathering hub and safe haven for many trainers, merchants, and other kinds of people. This central bonfire will be visited often, since it is also a crossroads for many regions and shortcuts.

Zed was dropped off in front of the firelink bonfire 5 meters away. He looks around and saw the Crestfallen Warrior sitting on a long log. The coward.

The Crestfallen Warrior is a coward. But considering the things he has been through, he has the right reason to be so.

It is of no matter, he is still a person. Every person in this cruel world is a coward, even if they don't notice it.

Like me, I was a coward to put a burden on my parents. I know that they would've been glad to see me safe but not so well. They would've been happy to help me cure the disease, but I was a coward.

"Hahahaha, " Zed laughed at his self mockingly. The Crestfallen Warrior looks at him weirdly.

Zed calmed himself down and walked towards the bonfire before lighting it up.

Zed then heard the Crestfallen Warrior talk to him.

"Well, what do we have here? You must be a new arrival. Let me guess. Fate of the Undead, right? Well, you're not the first."

Zed turned his eyes away from the bonfire and he looks at him before replying, "Yes, that's what Oscar told me, at least his prophecy did."

"Oscar? Never heard of such a name. You see, I've been staying here for awhile and I have met many undead but no Oscar ever comes to mind, tell me, who is he? I am very curious."

Zed never thought that the Crestfallen Warrior would be curious about someone he didn't know. But who's Zed to deny him of the knowledge?

"He was the one who rescued me from the cell I was thrown upon. He was a knight from Astora, who seeks a prophecy that his family foretold for many generations. But alas, he died." Zed seemed to be speaking in a somber tone. (He is faking it).

The Crestfallen Warrior seems to notice his somber tone when he answered his question, so he decided to not ask anymore and just continue to move on to the next subject.

The Crestfallen Warrior beamed his face up and said, "Well since you're here, I'll help you out."

"Really? Thanks." Zed said. He faked his somber tone earlier and hoped that he would be able to notice it. Voila, he did. He didn't want anymore questions to be ask, I mean, do you know how annoying it is for someone to ask you repeatedly? You can go to one of my big brothers and he will ask you everything.

"There are actually two Bells of Awakening. One's up above, in the Undead Church. The other is far, far below, in the ruins at the base of Blighttown. Ring them both, and something happens… Brilliant, right? Not much to go on, but I have a feeling that won't stop you. So, off you go. It is why you came, isn't it? To this accursed land of the Undead?"

Zed shook his head and said, "No, that is only one of my objectives. The only reason I came here, is to kill Manus and relit the Flame."

The Crestfallen Warrior looks at him confusingly and asks, "What do you mean kill Manus? He had already been slayed by the hands of one of the greatest hero of the world, Artorias."

Suddenly, Zed started chuckling before it bloomed into a full blown laughter.

"Hahahaha, you really don't know anything, do ya? Well, I'll tell you this; Artorias never killed Manus, but someone from the future did."

As he heard that, the Crestfallen Warrior grew more confused. Someone from the future? What is he talking about?

The deeper he dwelled on it, the more he thirsts for more questions.

Zed notices his confusion and said, "You don't have to dwell on it. In time, you will know the truth about what really happened to Artorias."

He did as Zed told him and he did not dwell on it any further.

He chuckles lightly and said, "The more you speak, the more I grow confused. A mysterious one, eh?"

Zed also chuckles before saying, "What can I say? I am the Chosen Undead after all."

The Crestfallen Warrior smirks and said, "Ah, Chosen Undead. How many times have I heard that? Many undead from the Asylum has escaped, and they too, proclaimed that they were the 'Chosen Undead', but in the end, they all perished. I don't know how, but they never returned here."

"You'll know in time," Zed said to the Warrior mysteriously.

The Warrior just chuckled at that and did not reply anymore.

"Welp, off I go now, don't go dying somewhere, " Zed said as he walks off towards the stairs near the Crestfallen Warrior.

The Crestfallen Warrior just waves his hand to Zed before doing his usual thing, brooding.

As Zed walks down the stairs, he suddenly remembered something.

"Uh, game? Where is my mission reward?" Zed asked the game.

The game screen appears in front of his face.

________

Oh yeah, the mission reward...I definitely did not forget about that. Nope, not at all.

Anyway, here it is.

________

Zed sweatdrop as he read the content of the game screen. Such a forgetful game.

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[Mission Reward]

20,000 Souls and The Gamer's Body.

I shall explain the Gamer's body to you.

[The Gamer's Body grants a body that allows for the user to live the real world like a game. Sleeping in a bed restores HP, MP and all mass effects.]

Now, you can create your own skills. Just like in the comics. But you will need to be at a certain level to create some skills.

There are some limitations on the Gamer Ability but don't worry, it is not that big of a problem. I'll explain it to you later.

Ta Ta.

_________

"Why is my game so lazy? Is it really that much of a work to just tell me the goddamn limitations of this ability?" Zed grumbled under his breath.

Zed sighed and he continued walking towards where the Firekeeper was.

When he neared her cell, he saw her.

Shiny blond hair, blue eyes that shines with life. She adorned clothings that can keep her warm for the winters and two small handbags by her side. Her cute face seems to be devoid of any sorrow, but there was no happiness either. It was just...empty.