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Chapter no.2Oscar of Astora
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"Hey, who are you?"
"Oh, you haven't gone full hollow?"
"What does that mean?" Naruto shot back, but before the knight could explain, he threw down what looked like a corpse at Naruto's feet.
The blonde jumped back, his heart racing. The corpse's skin was pallid and sagging, its eyes hollow and lifeless, and it wore tattered clothes that hung off its frame like rags.
"Hey, weirdo! What's the big idea, huh?" Naruto yelled, his anger flaring up as much as his fear. The knight, unfazed, pointed toward a key hanging from the belt of the corpse.
A key? Yatta, I can finally go free. Oh, Jiji owes me a lot of ramen for making me go through this shit.
Just as this thought crossed his mind, the entire room began to shake violently, dust and small pebbles raining down from the ceiling. It felt like something massive was moving above them, threatening to bring the whole place down. The knight quickly moved away from the hole in the ceiling through which a sliver of sunlight had been shining. Glancing up, Naruto saw something huge nearly blocking out the light, its massive silhouette ominous and foreboding.
He needs my help! Naruto's mind raced. Should he use a clone to build a ladder? Would that even work? If only I had my grappling rope...
Right then, the grappling hook appeared in his hand. It was his. His name was scratched into the side. Where did you come from? he wondered, but the thought was cut short when the entire roof trembled overhead. He ran beneath the hole in the ceiling, uncoiled the rope, and threw the hook upward. It clanged against the edge. He yanked it back, adjusted the angle, and threw again.
Naruto focused, narrowing his eyes at the cuffs digging into his ankle. He clenched the old chain while drawing chakra into his palms and flooding it through his arms. The metal groaned under the sudden pressure.
With a sharp exhale, he twisted and yanked.
The chains snapped apart with a loud crack, fragments clattering to the floor.
Shaking off the last bits of metal, he flexed his fingers.
Naruto crouched down and grabbed the key from the corpse. He stuffed the key into his pocket but the second it was in, it vanished. Confused, he slapped the pocket, then turned it inside out. Empty.
Where did it go? he muttered, glancing around in case he had dropped it.
A deep, thunderous roar ripped through the dungeon, silencing his thoughts.
"I'll figure this out later. Dattebayo."
He tightened his grip on the rope and pulled himself the rest of the way through the hole. Up top, there was no time to take in the view. His eyes locked on the figure waiting for him. It wasn't the knight he came to help.
It was something else.
The creature was a monstrous sight. Its skin was a grotesque patchwork of bulging, mottled flesh, each fold glistening with a slick, oily sheen. The bloated mass of its body looked ready to burst. Its limbs were twisted and swollen, barely able to support its immense weight. From its head, a horrific face leered down, crowned with a chaotic tangle of horns that jutted upward like the gnarled branches of a dead tree. Its eyes burned with a sinister red glow, full of malevolence. In its gargantuan hand, it held a massive club, more like a weaponized tree trunk.
Naruto gulped, his throat suddenly dry. This thing was bigger than his entire room back in Konoha.
Every ounce of bravado drained out of him. He was frozen, locked in place like a statue. He had fought bullies, sparred in the academy, faced classmates in training. But this was different. This was danger he could feel in his bones. This was life or death. And all the loud words he usually threw around meant nothing here. He was terrified. The thought of that club smashing down and splintering him into pieces shut everything else out. He couldn't move. Couldn't think. Couldn't even breathe.
It can kill me.
Then, like lightning, the knight moved. He slid between the demon's legs. The blade bit deep into the demon's calf. A fountain of dark blood sprayed out with a sickening sound. The creature howled, stumbling back as it swung its club in wide, panicked arcs.
Naruto's heart still pounded against his ribs. Sweat dripped from his hands. But he wasn't frozen anymore. This thing wasn't untouchable. And if it could bleed, it could be beaten.
[Name: Asylum Demon]
[HP: 2,000 / 2,195]
A glowing window appeared in front of him. Naruto blinked, barely able to register it before the world seemed to slow down. The Asylum Demon raised its massive arm. The weapon came up for a brutal backswing.
Naruto didn't hesitate. He formed the cross sign as fast as his fingers would allow.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
A dozen copies burst into existence, smoke rolling across the rooftop.
"Get that ugly bastard!"
The clones swarmed the demon, striking from every side. But their attacks did nothing. Not a scratch. One by one, they were smashed away, vanishing into puffs of smoke.
The knight looked around in disbelief, stunned by what he was seeing.
"Come on! Let's get out of here!" Naruto yelled while grabbing the knight by the arm, but not just that. With his free hand, he reached out, caught the grappling hook's rope, and swung them both toward the hole in the roof. The two of them dropped fast. The knight gripped the rope with all his strength, wrapping it around one arm to slow their descent, feet bracing against the wall.
They hit the ground hard, but not broken.
Naruto dropped to his knees and began scrambling across the floor, eyes darting.
"What are you doing?"
"Trying to find the key! We need to get out of here before that thing—"
A gust of wind roared through the hole. The demon had swung again.
Naruto cried out, grabbing his head. Memories crashed into him all at once, like a wave slamming against a cliff. He saw every clone destroyed, wiped out instantly. None of them had made it past a single strike.
He didn't even know that was possible. But he had felt it. All of it.
"Don't worry," the knight said, calm despite the chaos. "The demon won't come into the asylum."
"What?"
He followed the knight's gaze.
The Asylum Demon loomed above the hole, staring down at them. Its massive eye locked on Naruto, burning with hate.
Naruto felt it like a weight pressing into his chest. That gaze wasn't just looking at him. It was judging him. Measuring him. And it wanted him dead. But the demon didn't move. It stared a moment longer, then slowly turned and walked away.
Naruto sat there, shoulders trembling, his breath ragged.
"Are you alright?"
Naruto wiped his forehead and forced a grin. "Of course I'm alright. You think a fat ugly demon like that can scare the great Naruto Uzumaki?"
"Naruto Uzumaki," the knight repeated, rolling the name around like he was testing the sound of it.
"Yep, that's me! And I'm gonna be the greatest Hokage in Konoha!"
The knight tilted his head slightly in confusion. "You are a strange one, aren't you?"
"Well, this strange one just saved your life, dattebayo!"
The knight chuckled. It was surprisingly warm, considering the cold stone around them. He extended his hand. "That you did. I am Oscar, Knight of Astora. Pleased to meet you."
Naruto grabbed his hand and gave it a quick shake. "You're not from Konoha?"
"I know no such place. I am a knight of Astora, on pilgrimage to Lordran."
Naruto blinked. Lordran? Astora? The words spun around in his head, knocking loose every question at once. How did I get here? Where even is here? What happened to Konoha?
His pulse climbed, but outside, he kept his face still. That alone surprised him. Usually his emotions poured out like an open faucet. But now, despite the storm building inside, he kept it contained.
"Is something wrong?"
"No," Naruto said quickly, though it rang hollow even to his own ears.
"Then why are you still shaking my hand?"
Naruto blinked and looked down. He hadn't let go. His hand was still clamped around Oscar's. "Oh... uh, right!" He pulled back fast and rubbed the back of his neck, his face turning red. "Sorry, I just... I mean, with everything going on, it's a lot."
He stumbled over the words, then caught himself and pivoted.
"Where's the key?"
It was easier to focus on something physical. The questions in his head could wait. Getting out of here came first. As he turned, his eyes drifted toward the glowing system window still hovering in the air. And suddenly a thought hit him.
The grappling hook. It just appeared in my hand like it had been summoned. But I didn't carry it with me. I didn't see it on the ground.
His brow furrowed.
Could it be a storage seal? Some kind of invisible inventory? Maybe it's tied to this window. Some jutsu, I don't understand yet...
Curiosity burned through the panic.
"I wonder..." he whispered under his breath and focused on the thought. Item.
Nothing happened at first. Then the window blinked. A new line of glowing text flickered to life.
"Okay... now we're getting somewhere."
[ Inventory ]
[ Upgrade Materials ]
[ Key Items ]
[ Spells ]
[ Weapons ]
[ Ammunition ]
[ Armour ]
[ Rings ]
Naruto opened the glowing window and navigated to Key Items. He focused on the Dungeon Cell Key and selected it.
A faint shimmer pulsed in his pocket.
He reached in and there it was. The key had just appeared. He held it up, still amazed by how the system responded not just to his actions but to his thoughts.
Oscar didn't comment. He simply watched.
Is this normal around here or something? Naruto wondered. He'd never seen any jutsu like this. Storage seals were one thing, but this was on a whole different level.
"Come on, let's get out of here," he said, shaking off the weirdness as he turned to the rusted metal gate. He slid the key into the lock, turned it, and pushed the door open with a long, low creak.
What lay beyond stopped him cold.
The dungeon hall stretched far ahead, the ceiling arching high above like the ribcage of some dead giant. Rows of prison cells lined the walls, their bars bent and broken like something had ripped them apart by brute force. Torches flickered in rusty sconces, casting long shadows across the stone floor. But what made Naruto's skin crawl were the shapes moving in the distance.
Figures with their skin peeling away in patches, some revealing raw muscle, others exposing bone. Hollow sockets stared out from half-decomposed faces. Their bodies were hunched and malformed, and the only thing they wore were tattered loincloths. Each one dragged a broken sword hilt or splintered wood, moving with a strange, twitchy stillness.
Naruto's voice dropped to a whisper. "...What are those?"
Oscar stepped up beside him, sword already drawn.
"Hollows," he said. "The undead that have lost their purpose."
The phrase echoed in the boy's head. An undead that has lost its purpose...
He didn't know why, but that hit something deep. Something unspoken. He blinked and shook the thought loose. Then his eyes dropped to Oscar's blade. He could use the kunai in his inventory, sure. But a sword?
That sounded awesome.
"Hey, um… can I use your sword?" he asked, his voice hesitant. "I've never used one before, and… well, it looks really cool."
Oscar looked at him, not with caution but with curiosity. "Why do you want to use a sword?"
"I dunno. I just think it'd be fun to learn," Naruto admitted. "And maybe helpful."
"Very well," Oscar said, offering the weapon.
"Wait, really? Just like that?"
"You saved my life," Oscar said simply. "Teaching you is the least I can do. Besides, you should know the basics if you plan on surviving here."
Naruto grinned, practically glowing. He took the sword in both hands, feeling the cold weight of it settle into his grip.
Oscar nodded toward the hollows.
"They're empty and docile. Perfect for training."
Naruto's heart jumped. No one had ever taken the time to teach him anything before. At the academy, he was just the loud troublemaker. The kid everyone ignored or avoided. But here was this total stranger was offering to teach him something with no judgment and hesitation.
Oscar gestured to the sword in Naruto's hands. "That is the Astora Straight Sword."
The Astora Straight Sword was almost too refined for him. Its double-edged blade was long and tapered, perfect for thrusts and clean cuts. The metal had a weathered sheen, marked by old battles. The curved crossguard flared like talons, etched with delicate detail. The grip was slim and leather-wrapped. Even the pommel looked like it belonged to a knight, not a kid still figuring out which end to hold.
"So, what kind of special move are you gonna teach me?"
Oscar didn't flinch. "I remember thinking the same thing when I was younger. Always chasing some flashy technique."
Naruto paused. He was used to teachers lecturing him, telling him he was doing everything wrong. But Oscar wasn't doing that. He was just... talking. Like he actually wanted Naruto to learn.
The boy nodded to himself. I'm not wasting this. I'll take it seriously.
"But real fighting taught me something more important," Oscar said. "Forget the flashy moves. Master the basics. That's what keeps you breathing."
He raised two fingers.
"I'm going to show you two strikes. Learn them and use them. They'll get you through this place."
Oscar drew his side sword with a clean motion.
"First is the light cut. A quick, tight strike with one hand."
He swung in a horizontal arc.
"That's it? Seems easy enough."
"No," Oscar replied calmly. "It's not just about swinging. It's about speed, timing, and control. You strike before your enemy can react, then recover just as fast. Stay mobile. Keep your form clean. If your edge isn't aligned properly, you're just flailing. You may as well be swinging a stick."
Naruto nodded.
"Now for the heavy cut," Oscar said as he adjusted his footing and took the sword in both hands. He raised it high and brought it down in a powerful vertical strike.
"This strike is all about force. You drive it down with your whole body. It's slower, but if it lands, it can end a fight in one blow."
"What if I miss?"
"Then you're exposed," Oscar answered. "That's the tradeoff. You commit to a heavy cut, you better be sure it's going to land. Otherwise, you leave yourself wide open to a counter."
He stepped back and ran through a few strikes. A thrust. A rising cut. Another heavy downward swing.
Naruto watched every move, but a question was already forming in his head. "Hold up, why only two attacks?"
Oscar didn't even blink. "That's enough."
"What about something cool like a spin slash or reverse grip?"
Oscar gave a short breath, almost a sigh. "You want to look cool, or stay alive?"
Naruto paused, then muttered, "Stay alive."
"Exactly. You can learn more when you're not surrounded by danger. Right now, I'm giving you what matters. Solid footing. Clean cuts. Read the distance. Keep your guard up. That's swordsmanship."
Naruto's grip tightened on the hilt. "Got it."
Oscar stepped closer, adjusting his hands. "Keep your elbows loose. Let the blade move. Don't fight it."
Naruto inhaled, then faced the nearest hollow. It just stood there, barely moving.
"Okay, light cut," Naruto muttered while swinging at the first hollow but he misjudged the distance. The sword barely grazed the hollow's side as he nearly tripped over his own feet. His heart pounding as he jumped backward, expecting the hollow to lunge at him.
But it didn't move, just stood there, swaying slightly.
"Failure is part of learning, young man. Don't let it define you. Learn from it and do better."
"Yeah," Naruto whispered to himself, raising the sword and focusing on the hollow in front of him. This time, he swung with more control, keeping his movements compact. The blade connected solidly, cutting into the hollow's chest with a clean motion.
"Excellent," Oscar praised. "Now, the strong cut."
Naruto turned toward the hollow at the end of the hall. He raised the sword high, gripping it with both hands. "Here goes nothing," he muttered, and then he swung down hard, using all his strength. The sword cut through the air and struck the hollow with a force that reverberated up his arms. It wasn't perfect, but it was a huge improvement from his earlier attempts.
The boy let out a breathless shout, his heart racing with exhilaration. Swinging a sword is awesome! He turned, ready to ascend the stairs, when Oscar's voice stopped him. "Wait, young Naruto."
Naruto blinked, remembering the sword in his hand. "Oh, yeah. This is your sword. I should give it back."
But Oscar shook his head. "No, you forgot to claim your prize." He pointed to the hollows Naruto had defeated. Naruto followed his gaze and saw a strange white vapour swirling above the fallen enemies, forming into small orbs.
"What is it?"
"This is a soul," Oscar explained. "It can be used to strengthen your aspects of your body, like strength, dexterity, and more."
Naruto glanced at the status screen that had appeared earlier, at the numbers that represented different attributes of his body. Maybe, if he collected these souls, he could make those numbers go up and get stronger.
"How do I claim this soul?"
"Just grab it."
Naruto reached out and touched one of the white orb. It seemed to dissolve, the light sinking into his skin and spreading through his body. It felt warm, a strange, almost tingly sensation that surged through him like a jolt of energy.
"Do you still want your sword back?"
But Oscar just pointed down the hall. Naruto turned to see another hollow, this one moving toward them, its steps uneven and jerky.
"Looks like I've got a moving target now, Dattebayo!"