Infinite Journey: Dark Souls

Visiting other local residents would allow them to ask both questions at once, so they stuck to their original plan and decided to explore the entire neighborhood first.

As soon as they stepped into the neighborhood, darkness enveloped them again. The sunset they had seen from the long staircase could not penetrate the town at all. Although the mist had disappeared, it still felt like stepping into a slum in London. The threat here was no longer the Ripper in the mist. In the chaotic streets, even a little beggar might pull out a dagger.

Since accepting the commission, Asahina's condition has improved considerably. She seems to have protected something from the flowing darkness and is now carefully examining the Victorian-style street, searching for the light of lanterns and trying to figure out which room might have residents she could talk to.

Even so, the timid girl still couldn't lift the weapon in her hand.

The creatures wandering the city at dusk are either hunters or monsters that hunters hunt. The little girl's words revealed some information; at least the term "Night of the Hunt" seemed very fitting to both Ashes. The whole city was in a frenzy, and everyone who dared to leave their room had to be prepared to hunt or be hunted.

Asahina is not a qualified hunter, and Homura does not want to be a qualified hunter either. She has the persistence of an Ash, and she disdains and does not want to take the lives of those who step onto the battlefield unprepared. What the Ash do is not hunting, but fighting. On the battlefield, everyone is equal, and the hunter is above the prey from the beginning.

The battlefield is not a food chain, but a meat grinder, where all flesh, will, and soul are pulverized and melted together; here, no one can swallow another whole, turn them into food, lick their blood and entrails, and plunder the remaining value of others to complete their own evolution.

So Xiao Yan hated the atmosphere here. Those townspeople should have stayed in their homes, and their families should have been huddled together around the fire for warmth. It was a night that was already terrifying, but their families had to endure the bloodshed in the city while also worrying about their loved ones.

They were rushing irrationally toward what they thought were hunters—or prey, their weapons raised high, thirsting for blood, completely unaware that they were pushing their lives toward the edge of a cliff.

It wasn't until their confused eyes met those resolute black pupils that they realized their hearts had been pierced by a sharp blade.

Walking silently in front of Asahina, Homura abhorred slaughter, but she would not show mercy to her enemies. Every townsman who raised his weapon against her would be embraced by her longsword, sprayed with the blood they craved most, and drowned in the crimson water. She did not mind letting those townsmen who still harbored fear escape, because she found that death here was far heavier than that on the other side of the fire.

When they die, they are truly dead. They will not be reborn in flames, nor will there be a grave for them to crawl out of. Their families will bid them farewell forever, and only in the quiet of the night can they embrace each other again in their dreams.

When they entered the city, the revelry must have been going on for some time. Blood seeped into the cobblestone streets, and every step was sticky and disgusting. It was hard to imagine how many people would be left in the city after such a night.

Without fighting, there is no understanding of fighting. Asahina only felt that Homura's back as she wielded the long sword was so heroic, completely unaware of the last moment of clarity in the eyes of the blood-soaked corpse. From this point of view, the environment can really change a person very thoroughly. Even the most timid girl, after seeing too much death, will no longer scream at the corpse. Instead, she will envy the figure wielding the butcher's knife, simply because she herself has a weapon but does not even have the courage to wield it.

"Are you outsiders? Um, sorry, but I don't want to deal with you. Please leave now, okay?"

They knocked on a door and were met with words of disgust and resistance. But then again, they had left a trail of corpses in front of his house, and it would be very strange for a normal person to give them a friendly look.

It was Asahina who knocked on the door. She felt she couldn't be of much help in the battle, and she knew that Homura had mostly taken on the little girl's side quest because of her. She also wanted to help with that; or rather, she wanted to help with more than just that. Watching Homura fight, she raised her hand axe many times but then put it down. She also carried a lot on her mind. Her death before falling into the abyss was probably no less heavy than Homura's.

"I don't believe you're from around here, haha, locked out on the night of the hunt! You're really unlucky, incredibly unlucky! Hahaha!"

The knock on the door was met with merciless mockery. The girl, who had finally mustered up some courage, hadn't even uttered a word before the gloating laughter silenced all the words she had prepared along the way.

Xiao Yan probably needs to retract her previous associations. The madman's family members are likely to be madmen as well, and there will always be someone who stays at home, hugging the warm fireplace, cursing this damned night, and cursing the family members who abandoned them to participate in the revelry.

He stroked the girl's head again, her long chestnut curls becoming disheveled as he touched them. The petite girl slowly stopped trembling, and she mustered her courage once more to search for the next room where she could have a conversation.

"You annoying outsider! Who's going to open the door for you on Hunt Night? Get out of here right now! Now!"

"You're hunters, aren't you? Then what are you standing around in front of my house for? Go and kill those monsters! Ah? Strangers, well then I have nothing more to say to you!"

"A crazy night... sweet blood... oh, death is knocking on my door, but I don't want to open it."

"Hahaha! Hahahaha!"

She pounded on the heavy wooden door again and again, trying to make a sound from the thick, reinforced structure meant to prevent monsters from entering. Her hands were already red and swollen from pounding. She wasn't pure ashes yet; her flesh and blood were colliding with the sturdy door time and time again. Even just a single hand must have been excruciatingly painful.

"There's still one family there, we still have hope. As long as I explain things clearly this time, we're sure to be able to..."

Rather than explaining to Homura, it was more like she was talking to herself. The girl named Asahina Mikuru had unknowingly become completely absorbed in the little girl's request. However, this request had become imbued with her own hopes and dreams. She knew why she had fallen into the abyss and was struggling to climb out in her own way.

So, even she didn't realize that the first question she asked was already...

"Have you seen a lady wearing a ruby ​​brooch?"

"Oh, you must be a hunter, but I'm sorry... cough cough... no woman like that ever passed by my window."

Finally, her efforts yielded a response from someone she could communicate with. Not far from the clinic where they woke up, a hoarse male voice came from a window bathed in dim yellow light, answering her question directly for the first time.

However, the answer still disappointed Asahina; the information she most wanted remained elusive.

"It's alright, sir. Since we're new here, we would be grateful if you could provide us with some more information about the town."

After a moment of frustration, the girl finally began to formally inquire about information. This time, her words were different from her usual timid and hesitant manner. She spoke clearly and politely, which showed that her preparations along the way had not been in vain. It was just that the villagers had not given her a chance to speak.

Xiaoyan stood behind her, keeping watch on their surroundings while silently encouraging the timid girl.

“You’re from out of town… What a coincidence, my name is Gilbert, and I’m also from out of town. I’m sure you’re having a great time; the people of Yharnam have a very special way of treating guests.”

"Um... I think it's just that we came at the wrong time. If it weren't for a night like this, they would probably be just as hospitable, right?"

"Haha!...cough cough...that's a very apt description, it really captures the feelings of us outsiders. Okay, young lady, I don't know if I can still stand up freely...cough cough cough...but if you need anything, I'm willing to help."

“That’s great. Like I just mentioned, we need to learn more about the city.”

“Well, where should I begin… Yharnam is the land of blood healing, but in my opinion, this town is cursed. Whatever your reason for coming here, you should plan to leave as soon as possible. What this place gives you will only bring harm.”

The sounds from inside the window paused for a moment; it seemed the ailing man was carefully choosing his words.

"However, most outsiders who come here are probably interested in blood, so you should try your luck at the Healing Church. The Church possesses all the knowledge about blood healing and controls all kinds of blood. Cross the canyon to the east of Yharnam, where the Healing Church's town is located, also known as Church Town. Deep within Church Town lies the ancient cathedral, the birthplace of the Healing Church's special blood, at least that's what they say... cough cough cough... The people of Yharnam don't share much with outsiders. Generally, they won't let you get close to there, but tonight we're going to hunt, this might be your chance..."

Asahina really wanted to say that they weren't interested in blood, but she couldn't bear to interrupt this kind-hearted person who was also from out of town and had promised to help them.

She ultimately lacked experience in handling such situations, and seeing that the information he provided was becoming increasingly off-topic, she finally turned to Xiaoyan for help.

"So, as local Yharnam people, they can easily reach the church town?"

“That’s right. As the most famous organization in the area, the Church’s Church Hunters also participate in the ‘Night of the Hunt’… cough cough… someone should go there for help.”

"In that case, if the person we are looking for has no trace in Yharnam, then she has most likely gone to Church Town."

"Yes, you can try your luck."

“We understand. This is very useful intelligence. Thank you very much, Mr. Gilbert.”

"...Ahem...It's only right. People from other places in Yanan have it tough, so we should help each other even more."

Having identified a useful clue, Homura looked at Asahina. The petite girl clearly hadn't expected that she would prioritize finding out the clue the little girl had asked for, and she had indeed achieved the desired result. At Homura's signal, she quickly said goodbye, bringing this successful communication to a close.

"Well then, Mr. Gilbert, we'll take our leave now."

"...cough cough...I hope you will not be troubled by bloodshed."

PS: Yunxi: 744486102, as usual, please vote!

Chapter Ten: What is the Ashes For?

The enraged giant crab blocked the only way to the Farron Fortress, leaving Zhi and the four Farron guards in a situation where they were surrounded by powerful enemies ahead and pursuers behind.

Oh, it seems that only Zhi is in this situation, because the invading spirits are not attacked by the monsters projected by the Heartfire unless Zhi uses the Giant Tree Seed to completely pull them into her world, otherwise they can safely pass through all the powerful enemies.

"What the hell? You won't be attacked by monsters?"

“That’s right, so Captain, let’s just go back on our own. We’ve killed quite a few enemies on this trip, and we can get a lot of Wolf Blood Sword Grass based on our achievements. It’s already a good deal. Do Misaka suggests that we abandon this arrogant person who is being protected and run away on our own.”

"Hey, where's your professional ethics? Shouldn't it be your duty as guards to protect innocent passersby?"

"Strictly speaking, killing an uninvited passerby like you would also count towards our achievements. Do Misaka used the information gap to deliver a beautiful finishing blow."

"You've won against the girl, so now that I don't have any Giant Tree seeds, do I only have two choices: be crushed to death by a crab or be killed by a Dark Spirit?"

"Haha, killing those who enter Farron Fortress used to be our duty. Now, protecting the Ashes of the Past is also part of our mission. Don't listen to Misaka's nonsense. We won't abandon you and leave first. We'll hold you off for a while. You just need to hurry up and take down the crab."

"Tch, Captain, you're such a nice guy. Misaka reluctantly accepted the order."

Although the tea-haired girl expressed her dissatisfaction through tone... no, it should be said that she expressed it through words, she still stopped in her tracks with their captain, and the white-haired boy who had been silent all along used the meat cleaver technique again, and after sharpening the knife, a hazy white light once again appeared on the blade.

"Well, it doesn't really need to be that complicated."

However, seeing their sincerity, Zhi was no longer in a hurry, simply because—

As they were talking, a large crab had already reached Zhi's side. It ignored the three Qinglings and raised its large claw, striking their only enemy with a heavy blow.

The golden-white magic pupils flickered, and the unsheathed katana leaped up with its master, slicing along the crab's chest and abdomen, which were raised by its claws. The next moment, light dust scattered, and a smooth cut appeared on the hard shell. The severely injured crab stood there stunned, while the ash in mid-air held the blade upside down and, as it fell, carved another cut along its back, scattering light dust.

After two attacks, the normally troublesome creature had its hard shell cleaved open. If you sprinkle some seasoning on it and roast it over a fire, the beautifully cut edges will burst open on their own due to thermal expansion and contraction, revealing the tender crab meat underneath.

Well, judging by the length of the katana, it should have broken into two pieces at the same time the shell exploded.

"Hey Captain, this guy is no rookie at all, he's definitely playing dumb to fool everyone, right?" Do Misaka exclaimed, dumbfounded.

"Haha, she doesn't know about the Giant Tree Seed, so she must be a newbie. Maybe she was stronger before she became Ash...probably."

"Hey, you guys, stop badmouthing others behind their backs, okay? Do you think I can show off without consequences?"

Zhi once again felt the pain of being a poor student, simply because the structure of living things is equally intricate and complex. She had already reached her limit by simply analyzing the structure of the carapace. Even so, she could not completely turn it into light fragments like she did with Mami's magic bullet and ribbon. She could only destroy a small part of the carapace.

Incidentally, when she slew the Dark Spirit, she only analyzed the structure of the shield; the other weapons and armor were truly cut open by her swordsmanship in one go.

"Ugh, this brain-burning feeling is really unpleasant. Should I upgrade my katana into a unique weapon? Hmm, that would reduce the need for Mystic Eyes, which is definitely a good idea."

The first one was analyzed, so the second one wouldn't be so painful. While she was complaining, the second crab followed in the footsteps of the first one, its shell was mercilessly cleaved open, and it became a delicacy on the grill.

The delay was short, but the soldiers caught up quickly. They did not intend to kill the World Master immediately, because their target was the Farron Guards. In order to completely control the passage from the Forest of Crucifixion to the Cathedral of the Deep, they always used the World Master as bait after defeating the guards to lure them over.

While the Ashbringers are known for their 'immortality,' they can also become ghouls due to a loss of will and be repeatedly tortured and killed. This is a significant blow to some Ashbringers with weak minds. Even if they cannot become ghouls, they can still force some to leave the Farron Guard. As long as they can effectively weaken and reduce potential enemies, it will be beneficial to their future plans.

After all, although these soldiers are now ashes, some lunatics have really labeled them as cannon fodder.

Trading cannon fodder for elite ashes is a worthwhile deal no matter how you look at it.

But at this moment, the soldiers realized that the most troublesome one in this invasion was actually the world's master. Since they were powerless to capture her as bait, they had to make sure she died here and delay her journey to Farron Fortress. If such a person also became a Farron guard, the pressure she would bring them would be unimaginable.

Motivation influences behavior. They completely abandoned their plan to fight the guards head-on. The soldiers who caught up once again transformed into a wolf pack, but this time the pack split into smaller groups. They bypassed the three guards who had turned around to intercept them and infiltrated towards the Farron Fortress.

"I think I've already said this before, but I still want to say that the Ashes are definitely not to be underestimated."

"Therefore, Ash's only opponent can be Ash."

"Captain, what do we do now? It seems they'll reach the entrance to Farron Fortress before us. If they block it there, it'll be easy for you, but it looks like it won't be easy for me to get in."

"Perhaps this time we can try a direct assault. After all, in terms of strength, we are stronger. As long as we can coordinate well with you, Miss, it's not impossible to annihilate them all."

"Captain, don't forget, this is the first time this guy has come to Farron Fortress," Misaka poured cold water on the idea once again.

"Right, that means there will be two more formidable enemies waiting for her at the entrance..."

"Do you need help? I'll go back and get some help."

Suddenly, the silent white-haired boy spoke. His voice was very hoarse, and it didn't seem to be natural; it had a tearing quality to it, like the sound of someone shouting at the top of their lungs.

"Let's not do it. Mr. Li and the knights should be on the battlefield. The rest are some newcomers. A few seniors might be available, but if they come, the battle will escalate again."

"So we still have to go it alone," Misaka concluded.

"Hey, you guys have been muttering things I don't understand since just now. Can someone explain them to me?"

The group's discussion left Zhi completely bewildered. Suddenly, she realized that while the people in front of her might not have a deep understanding of the essence of the world, their understanding of the world situation was definitely better than hers, a girl who had just returned from another world. This gave her the illusion that even her inner fire world would continue to operate normally after she left.

Even though she knew that the world that was truly functioning was the world of the torch.

"Well, this is a bit complicated to explain. In Granny Wolf's words, 'This is an old grudge that we old folks have made up because of our differing ideologies.'"