Chapter 906 The Wandering Fire Usurper

Using the artifact given by the Fire Keeper, the group directly summoned her to their location.

"So this is the final flame? Thank you all for your help, but the flame is no longer of any use. Let it serve as my final gift!"

The Fire Keeper slowly approached the flame. Though her eyes were long gone, her connection to the flame remained intact. Having lost her sight, she gained the ability to see into the depths of souls. This unique ability to strengthen souls had been her compensation.

In the original work, even failed Fire Keepers, though they never became true keepers, ascended to similar statuses. Now, many of the failed candidates had been recalled and granted the same powers as the Fire Keeper.

They were actively boosting the combat power of Orario's adventurers, rivaling the guild in influence. Responsibilities they couldn't manage were delegated to the guild, with no imposed restrictions.

"Don't think you can just claim the flame for yourselves! Attack!"

As the Fire Keeper prepared to act, shadowy figures emerged one after another. At the forefront stood Yuria, leading the Darkwraiths. Their mission was clear: seize the flame and crown the Lord of Hollows, spreading their dark doctrine across the world.

By logic, the flame should eventually extinguish unless it is continuously fueled. But even then, who could guarantee it would burn forever? Who could ensure future generations would keep it alight?

The existence of the Darkwraiths presented an alternative. They had the power to reshape the world. However, their methods came with severe consequences. The souls they transformed bore little resemblance to ordinary people, let alone the monstrous byproducts of their experiments, ghouls stripped of humanity, turned into mindless creatures with no self-awareness.

This was survival of the fittest at its cruelest. The Darkwraiths' process eliminated the majority, leaving only a handful of elite survivors. Such a path was widely rejected, after all, who would willingly turn into a pale, monstrous husk?

"Darkwraiths? This isn't the time for your meddling. Get lost!"

Finn twirled his Lightning Spear with blinding speed as the others sprang into action. They were no longer the same as when they first encountered the Darkwraiths. Their strength now was formidable.

The group repelled the Darkwraiths' assault, forcing them into a retreat. However, the Darkwraiths had their own ace in Yuria, a powerful foe capable of summoning allies on par with the Lords of Cinder to combat them.

Yuria's strength was undeniably formidable. Of course, in the game, players could simply defeat her outright. Upon her death, she would drop Yuria's Ashes, which could then be handed over to the old hag.

That crone, unflinching in her grotesque ways, would even consume ashes, a fact that often left players speechless.

"Though your power is impressive, your companions leave much to be desired. Leave now, we won't trouble you this time." Finn declared firmly!

Finn understood the Darkwraiths' objective, which is to place the world under their dominion. If the flame was destined to fade, their plan offered a grim but arguably practical solution: instead of sacrificing the majority, sacrifice everyone equally. This, in Finn's eyes, made their methods all the more pitiable.

But now wasn't the time to risk everything. The two sides weren't aiming for mutual destruction, and Finn decided to let them go. It was as simple as that.

Yuria cast a reluctant glance at the flame, now so tantalizingly close, before retreating. She knew she had failed, she had lost the flame's power, and the Lord of Hollows had not been summoned.

While the Darkwraiths could continue their plans, the loss of the flame rendered them far less impactful.

Moreover, the inhabitants of this world had the option to migrate to another realm. This realization only deepened the tragedy, for there was little left for them in this dying world.

Once the Darkwraiths had departed, the Fire Keeper approached the flame and took hold of it. Instantly, its power transformed into streaks of crimson energy, which surged into the bodies of Finn and his companions.

In mere moments, their physical strength skyrocketed, reaching an awe-inspiring level.

"This change… this truly is the flame that once illuminated the world. Even its final remnants yield unimaginable power. Our strength has now reached the absolute peak of what adventurers can achieve."

The sheer amplification of their power left Finn and the others stunned. It was overwhelming, but understandable, this was, after all, the flame that had once fueled an entire world.

"Since we've come this far, the next step is clear. We should consult Loki on how to take the final leap. Now that we possess both power and divinity, only one step remains," Finn said with determination.

"Even with the end in sight, it feels unreal. To think that one day, we could become gods. It's unbelievable!"

The group shared a collective sense of disbelief, as though they were trapped in a dream. Their impending rise to become gods felt surreal, and they couldn't shake the strangeness of it all.

"It doesn't matter much. Fire Keeper, thank you for everything. We'll take our leave now. With the flame extinguished, who knows what might crawl out from the depths above!"

With these words, Finn and his companions returned to the Firelink Shrine. The world, however, underwent a dramatic transformation. In an instant, all light vanished, plunging everything into an impenetrable darkness.

The original flame, which was once a source of illumination akin to the sun itself, had been extinguished.

It was more than a light, it was life. Now, without the flame, the world began to unravel. Without its radiance, the question loomed: why had they even let it burn in the first place? Without it, cracks in the fabric of existence began to show.

"What's going on? Why has it suddenly gone dark? What just happened?"

Adventurers who had ventured out to slay monsters froze in shock, overwhelmed by the abrupt change. Everything about the world was different now. It wasn't simply nightfall, but a complete, suffocating blackness. The kind of void where one couldn't see their hand in front of their face, as if they had stepped into a dilapidated Firelink Shrine.

"I don't know, but staying out here in this state is too dangerous. Everyone, back to the Firelink Shrine! We need to regroup and figure out what's going on!"

Hearing the call, all the adventurers abandoned their hunts and returned to the shrine. The previously desolate space became bustling with activity, voices echoing off the ancient stone walls.

All of this had been caused by Finn and his companions' decision to remove the flame. Now, the world was shrouded in the oppressive shadows of their actions.