"I can't! I can't do this! How the hell am I supposed to beat something that massive?!"
Solaire paced through the hallway, hands gripping at his head as he tried to suppress the tremors in his chest. His mind swirled with doubts and desperation. For several minutes, he simply walked back and forth, wrestling with the single question pounding in his skull.
"Do I just whittle it down? Hit it over and over until it dies?"
It was the only idea he had left. But knowing the plan didn't make it any easier. Just the thought of facing that hulking monstrosity again sent a chill down his spine.
Still, with dread weighing down his limbs, he walked toward the fog gate.
"I need to get the sword from its eye… plunge it into the other. If I can blind it, maybe—maybe—I'll have a real shot at damaging it."
Stepping through the fog, he immediately scanned the arena.
"Sword, sword... where is it? Where is it?! Why is it not in its eye?!"
His eyes darted around in panic. The dim light barely illuminated anything beyond the immediate floor. Then he saw it—the same bloated abomination that had crushed him minutes ago, looming in the center.
But something was off.
"No…"
The sword was gone.
The eye he had stabbed before was intact. No wound. No metal sticking out. Just two perfectly gleaming eyes, cold and alive.
He backed away, heartbeat hammering against his ribs like a war drum. "What is this? Why is it completely fine?!"
The demon raised its head slowly, letting out a guttural snort before unleashing a roar that shook the very walls. Whether it remembered him or not didn't matter—it wanted him dead.
Solaire turned to flee, only to find the fog gate sealed once again.
A ragged breath escaped him. His hands trembled as he raised his rusted but sturdy shield. It was heavy, and its pointed edge could serve as a weapon if wielded right.
"Let's try that again," he muttered, clutching the shield in both hands.
With no blade, no plan, and only fear coursing through his veins, he jumped. The wind roared as he fell. The demon looked up, but too late—Solaire crashed into its shoulder with all his weight. The shield struck against its rocky hide, and he heard a crack—but it wasn't from the beast.
The creature grunted, twisting violently, and Solaire was flung off like a rag doll. He slammed into the floor, bones rattling. Dazed, he lifted his gaze just in time to see the axe descending. He barely raised his shield before darkness swallowed him whole.
He woke again near the fog gate. The memory hit him instantly.
The demon jumped before the slam. If I move faster, maybe I can roll to the side.
He leapt back in. This time, as he fell, he angled his shield forward. The landing was smoother, cleaner, and he managed to avoid getting tossed.
Again, the axe came down. He rolled right—barely escaping the impact, but the shockwave still staggered him. Before he could recover, the demon swept its axe sideways. He caught a glimpse of the blade before everything went black.
Five deaths. He had only learned three of its moves: the overhead slam after he jumped in, the follow-up sweep, and the tail swipe if he was behind it.
Each failure taught him something.
By the 18th death, he could read all its moves.
Jump slam. Wide sweep. Tail swipe. Left-drag. Roar. Leap.
He learned the rhythm. The steps of its violent dance.
By the 27th death, he began to move with purpose. Dodge early. Position toward the left hip—the blind spot. Jab when it stomped. Retreat before the tail came swinging.
His legs ached. His arms burned. But the monster never tired.
In the 32nd death, his body gave out. Collapsing mid-fight, the demon crushed him effortlessly. No amount of Estus could restore stamina.
Try 45.
He stepped through the fog gate with no hesitation.
"If it takes damage, then it can be killed."
The shield was strapped tight. His breath steady. No pause at the ledge—he jumped. The demon turned—too slow. Solaire struck its shoulder and rolled upon landing.
The beast roared and swung. This time, he didn't block. He sprinted left, then sharply curved back and rammed the shield into its knee. Again. Again.
The rocky skin cracked.
The demon launched upward and slammed down. He was too close to escape. He ducked and raised the shield.
The shockwave sent him flying, slamming into the wall. Winded and gasping, he counted aloud. "Two seconds…"
He downed an Estus. The pain faded. Bones realigned. He stood again.
One more hit.
The demon readied another overhead swing. Solaire angled left, sprinting full speed, and dodged. As the axe hit the ground, he slipped in close and rammed the shield into its knee once more.
The beast buckled and fell.
The axe clattered across the stone floor. Its limbs twitched weakly.
Solaire didn't waste a moment. He ran forward and began smashing the shield into the demon's head—again and again. The creature's tiny arms clawed at him feebly, unable to reach.
And then, the final blow. He slammed the shield down with every last ounce of strength he had.
Squelch.
The demon stopped moving.
[You have slain Awakened Tyrant: Newborn Asylum Demon]
[You have received a memory: Pilgrim's Key]
"A key? What is this for…"
Memory: [Pilgrim's Key]
Key to the inner door of the Undead Asylum main hall. Big key belonging to a chosen Undead pilgrim. But this Chosen Undead knows not what this pilgrimage has in store.
"So… this leads out of here."
Solaire made his way to the heavy door on the opposite side. He inserted the key. The lock clicked. As the doors creaked open, blinding light poured in.
[Aspirant! Your trial is over.]
[An undead condemned to the asylum. After meeting a fellow undead, he learnt of his fate and chose to escape the asylum. After a long-fought battle against your prisoner, you left your prison heading on a pilgrimage.]
[You have defeated an Awakened Undead: Oscar of Astora]
[You have defeated a Dormant Beast: Hollow Soldier]
[You have defeated an Awakened Tyrant: Newborn Asylum Demon]
[You have achieved the impossible!]
[Final Appraisal: Legendary. Your grit is truly praiseworthy.]