HOLLOW IV

I woke up to find myself on top of dead bodies. They all had adventurer gear, and I was claimed to be dead. I crawl out of the bodies, and I finally stand up. I walk forward, and see a yellow light that seems like an orb moving in the air. It moves away, and I decide to follow it. It’s allowing me a way out, as it doesn’t seem to mind me following it.

I kept following it, and it led me through an open area. It suddenly stopped, like it was signaling danger. Suddenly, a pack of Giant rats the size of dogs came out of the grates. They were all covered in black substance that was pulsing, and had orange glowing eyes. I drew my sword, ready for battle. I proceeded to charge at them so I could continue on my path.

As I charged, I managed to slash 2 of them. They bleed the same black substance, and die. I charge at the remaining 2, and they come at me as well. I held out my shield, as they leaped towards me. I blocked their fangs, and skewered the two of them onto my blade. They’re all dead.

The light continues moving, and I continue to follow it. It leads me to a narrow maze, and it starts moving fast. It’s like it’s trying to shake me. I quickly follow its path, and manage to get past the maze. As I beat the maze, the orb feels like it’s staring at me. I can see it clear as day, floating in front of my face. I don’t understand what is going on. I can’t seem to remember what happened, and why I’m following this.

I disregard the sudden confusion, and continue following it. It leads me to a piece of barricade, and it seems breakable. I slash it, and it shatters. Behind it, a man sits cross-legged on a mat with supplies around him. He looks up, and signals to me to come closer to him.

“Care to buy something stranger?” He spoke. I clearly didn’t have any money, and asked him what this place was. “You mean you don’t know? Jeez, the last time I saw one of your kind was 3 years ago. Times change, the infection from the castle is spreading.” I ask, “What Infection? Why am I here? Who am I? What am I?”

“Calm down Hollow. You’re not fully human yet, but I’m surprised you’re keeping your composure. Last time I saw a hollow, they attacked me. I guess not all of your kind are evil.” I’m confused, what is a hollow? Is that why my body looks starved? I ask, “Sir, can you explain what I am doing here? I woke up to a strange light bringing me from a pile of corpses to you.”

“So you don’t know. Three years ago, the king of this kingdom sent flyers out to adventurers. Most of them were like you, they were hollows. They were sent in to stop the infection, but they all failed. My guess was, you were one of them. You were on top of your kind’s corpses.” No no, this can’t be true. I can’t remember any of this, but what he is saying seems familiar.

I ask him, “If all of this is true, how do I get outta here?” He points to his left, and tells me to continue down that path to the exit. He gave me a warning of a giant rat that was plagued with the infection. He said it was the size of a brown bear. That doesn’t seem real at all. I disregard the warning, and head straight down the path he gave directions to.

I continued down the path, and managed to reach a very big open area. The exit was right in front of me, and I was about to see the sunlight. But I heard a giant thud behind me, and I turned around to see the giant rat the merchant was warning me about. It was massive! It had the same pulsing dark matter, and orange glowing eyes. It grabbed me with its jaw and threw me back to where I came from.

I drew my sword and shield, ready for a battle. I held up my shield as it started to charge at me. My shield couldn’t hold up, and the rat broke my stance. I quickly rolled to the side. The rat was stunned, and I managed to stab my sword through its dark pulsing skin. It screamed, and it started a rampage of attacks. I managed to roll past some of them, but one of them hit me.

I’m injured now, and the rat still screams in pain. I quickly pull out the sword, and climb onto it. I stab it through its head as it tries to throw me off, and then it dies. I pull the sword out, and I get off the corpse. Some money drops from the corpse, and I proceed to count. It was 1000 currency! I was thrilled.

Instead of exiting, I decided to head back to the merchant. I walked back to him, and he said; “Need anything adventurer?” I tell him to pull up the shop, and I browse through it. He currently has a Hollow’s Estus flask, a Hollow’s Ashen Estus flask, firebombs, throwing knives, and a mystery key. I ask him what the Estus and Ashen Estus flask are for, and he replies with: “Oh that, it’s what your kind uses to heal. The Estus heals your health, and the Ashen Estus heals your mana.”

I bought the Estus, and Ashen Estus for 500 currency in total. I have 500 left, but the mystery key cost 2000. He says to bring back more of those Remnants to him to buy more stuff, and I ask what Remnants are. He explains that the currency I just used to buy the two things I needed for my journey. I wave goodbye, and head back out to the area where I slain the beast.

I proceeded to exit the Sewers I was in, and I now see the clouds, they’re dark with yellow and orange streaks. I can see ashen buildings, and infected people in front of me, down below in the neighborhood I’m seeing. I see a sign that explains this place is The Slums District.