Lord of Cinder in American Comics

Ash Solar

----------

Author's Remarks

Item found: Rusty Coin. An ancient coin with rust spots. Crushing it temporarily enhances your treasure-hunting ability. Those who have lost their wealth will one day encounter even greater riches. This is an ancient blessing.

2022-01-23 00:05

Chapter 3: Ash's Identity

After giving Clint her instructions, Natasha drove the car to the east side of Long Island and let it sink to the bottom of the sea. Then she stood quietly on the beach, watching and waiting, until Clint called.

"Xiao Na, I don't know why you want to investigate this person, but I advise you to stop everything and not take any action against him."

As soon as the call connected, Clint impatiently warned Natasha, his tone urgent and firm. This made Natasha take it seriously, and she hurriedly explained.

“Clint, don’t worry, I just happened to run into him today and found that he had built a dilapidated church in this prime location on Long Island, which he called something like a sacrificial site. He also had a blind nun with him who was called the Fire Keeper. I just want to know his identity, that’s all.”

"I hope what you're saying is true, Xiaona, otherwise there's nothing I can do to help you."

Clint didn't offer any further rebuttals to Natasha's explanation; he simply kept advising her against taking any inappropriate actions towards this person.

"So, is this person the heir to some big conglomerate, or another genius like Tony Stark? Even if you were investigating Stark, you wouldn't be this nervous."

"He was and still is a big shot. Don't be fooled by his current position as a so-called high priest of some sect. If an investigation is launched against him, the consequences will be something we can't afford."

Natasha knew that Clint's constant advice stemmed from his concern for her, preventing her from doing anything wrong due to negligence.

"Clint, if you don't explain clearly, I'll become even more curious. Please, just tell me."

Clint sighed on the other end of the phone.

"Okay, just don't have any other bad ideas."

Clint then slowly recounted all the information he could find about Ash Solar.

Gradually, through Clint's words, Natasha learned about Ash's past and why Clint was so excited.

Ash was once the best surgeon in all of New York. Before him was the surgeon of death, Whitley, and after him was Strange. Ten years ago, Ash suddenly enlisted in the army. According to his profession, he should have gone to the medical support department, but he chose the position of military chaplain.

In the time that followed, Ash not only served as a chaplain to alleviate the soldiers' anxieties, but also as a medic to treat the sick. His rambling words were not disliked by the soldiers; on the contrary, many soldiers enjoyed listening to him recount stories of the linking of the fire.

“There’s no problem with that. Even if he’s popular with many soldiers, the Pentagon won’t have any objections to S.H.I.E.L.D.’s investigation.” Natasha asked, puzzled, after hearing Clint’s words.

"Don't rush, the worst is yet to come. Remember the Graveyard of Empires two years ago? The United States suffered huge losses and was forced to leave."

"According to the information I have, it was a madman named Makarov who detonated a thermonuclear mushroom egg?" Natasha quickly gave her answer.

"That's right, but you have to understand that there were about 30,000 army troops and a number of air force personnel there at the time. And he played a huge role during that period."

According to Clint's account, General Sheffield attempted a swift and decisive attack but instead fell into a trap. Meanwhile, it was Ash who, through his personal charisma, persuaded the others at Phoenix Firepower Base to form a joint task force to conduct a deep rescue operation. Even before convincing the Army, he had already convinced the Air Force to begin dropping supplies to the front lines.

After that, Ash's reputation in the military continued to rise, and even Air Force General Ross said that as long as Ash continued to serve, he would be assigned to the Air Force General Staff.

“You understand what Ross means. If he agrees, he could become the future Chief of the Air Force. And there are rumors that Sheffield personally had a friendly talk with General Ross after Ross made his statement. After that, Ash somehow left the military. So, Natasha, do you understand why I'm so excited?”

"So he's retired now?"

"No, according to my investigation, he still holds positions in various departments, even in all departments of Quantico. He was even knighted by the Knights Hospitaller in Europe. Fuck!"

Clint swore as he spoke. Natasha understood Clint's agitation. He wasn't afraid of targeting Ash alone, but the chain reaction would offend two of the four major violent leaders, not to mention the so-called investiture.

"Xiao Na, according to some information, after his investiture, he collaborated with General Hawke in Europe for a period of time, conducting an expedition in Egypt. Only after that did he return to New York and establish some kind of Firelinking sect."

“Ever since we left the Imperial Graveyard, the military has been holding back a lot of anger. Any action we take will provoke a counterattack. Even if General Ross were to blow up Fifth Avenue right now, the Pentagon and the White House would just handle it discreetly, understand, Natasha?”

“I understand, Clint. That’s enough, don’t worry.” Natasha understood the danger and explained to Clint.

After hanging up the phone with Clint and learning Ash's identity, Natasha felt relieved. Ash, capable of such actions, was clearly no fool, which gave the Fire Keeper a degree of protection; Natasha's worries were unnecessary.

"As long as I don't end up like you, with nowhere to turn," Natasha said softly as she stood alone on the beach, gazing into the distance.

At Firelink Shrine, Ash unexpectedly received two more visitors.

Ash sensed someone's arrival and went out with the Fire Keeper to greet them.

It was a man and a woman. The woman had long black hair and was wearing a sky-blue dress, walking in front. The man was wearing a fitted suit, had a neatly trimmed short beard, and was carrying a basket, following behind the woman, constantly looking around the sacrificial site.

When the woman saw people coming out, she greeted them, "Hi, hello. I noticed a car was parked outside earlier, so are you new neighbors?"

“Oh, by the way, I’m Helen, and this is John. We live not far from you. This is a gift for our new neighbors.”

As she spoke, Helen took the basket from John and handed it to Ash.

"These are some cookies I baked. I hope you like them."

Taking the basket, Ash looked at John behind Helen. In his eyes, John was surrounded by numerous souls. These souls combined were probably equivalent to the soul of a valiant warrior, and John was equivalent to a large chunk of the soul of a battle-hardened hero.

Ash was calculating the amount of souls before him when Helen noticed Ash looking at John and introduced him: "This is John, my husband. He's an actuary and doesn't talk much."

After that, Ash simply introduced himself and the Fire Keeper without saying anything more. They agreed to have a party with the neighbors after they had dealt with the Firelink Shrine matter. After exchanging pleasantries for a while, the two left.

Not long after, a man and a woman arrived. They stood at the entrance of the sacrificial site. The man straightened his clothes, then made a mock cough, sticking his fist to his mouth. The woman watched his behavior with great interest.

As Ash came out, the man was about to speak when the woman stepped forward first and said to Ash, "Hi, I'm Jane, and this is John. We're neighbors who live next door."

Upon hearing the brief introduction, Ash blurted out, "Another John?"

----------

Author's Remarks

Based on the fact that Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare takes place in 2011, this has now been revised to 2004. Furthermore, considering Price's statement that he went to Chernobyl fifteen years prior, the first Modern Warfare film should also have taken place in 2004. It also utilizes the enchantment of enchantment: a special spell of Klara, one of the witches of Izalith. This spell can charm enemies into becoming temporary allies. Fire can attract life, and this technique reveals another side of enchantment. It can be used regardless of gender.

2022-01-24 00:05

## Chapter 4: Can Lord Ashes hear my voice?

There was a John earlier, and Ash could guess who it was. His wife was named Helen, and he had a melancholic, handsome face, a short beard, and always wore a tailored suit. It must be John Vick, the guy who could reunite your whole family without a second thought.

Now there's another John, and Ash is a little unsure; it's hard to distinguish between people with the same name.

At this point, Jane spoke up: "You mean John Vick? He lives across the street from us. I am Jane Smith, and this is my husband, John Smith."

After the brief introductions, Ash realized: one was John Wick, the other was Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Good grief, assassins form groups now? Is it more convenient to live together, or is it easier to find neighbors to pool resources for their targets?

Throughout their conversation, John couldn't get a word in edgewise, and his numerous attempts to initiate topics were repeatedly interrupted by Jane. Jane maintained control of the conversation. Ash also learned about their professions: Jane worked at a consulting firm, and John was a manager at a construction company.

Finally, during Jane's conversation with Ash, Jane even managed to secure a business deal for her husband John: the modernization of the shrine. John, however, remained completely silent, except for the two coughs he uttered at the entrance at the beginning.

After finishing their business, Jane pulled a reluctant John away. Seeing John's hesitant expression, Ash was sure he had a lot to say.

Ash returned to the campfire, where the Fire Keeper was holding the cookies Helen had given her, looking at them over and over.

“Yes, you can eat them. Although the undead don’t have a sense of taste in the world of the Firelinker, we can still taste things here,” Ash explained, noticing the Fire Keeper’s hesitation.

In the world of Dark Souls, the undead and even the ashes have no sense of taste. The only things they can feel are the stimulating sensation of drinking flasks and Jack Baldor's onion wine.

These two 'foods' that can be tasted are what Ash often indulges in and pursues.

The Fire Keeper took a biscuit, put it in her mouth, took a small bite, and savored it carefully.

"As expected, Lord Ash, is this the smell before the world's destruction?"

Ash understood what the Fire Keeper meant: the world hadn't been destroyed, but it was still barely surviving. No one knew what the extinguishing of the fire would bring—whether it was the prophesied Deep Sea Age or the arrival of the Faded Ones.

However, a new method has emerged. By combining the power of the entire Dark Souls world with Ash's decades-long planning, the era of extinguishing the flames will not come.

"This is just the taste of ordinary wheat that has been roasted. Don't worry, I'm here for you."

"Lord Ash, you gathered the power of all the Lords of Cinder, and instead of turning them into firewood at the First Forge, you told us that there was new hope. This is exactly what the Lords of Cinder, who have been reluctant to link the fire, have been hoping for. It is also the hope of every Undead who has embarked on the path of linking the fire."

The Lords of Cinder became firewood to keep the First Hearth burning, a rule established since the time of Gwyn the Sun King. The Lords of Cinder who once performed the duty of linking the fire also carried the spirit of the Sun King, constantly dedicating themselves.

However, this constant self-burning in a physical sense became unbearable for wave after wave of Lords of Cinder, causing them to abandon their duties and flee into hiding.

At this moment, the Ashbringers, heeding the ringing of the Firelinking bells, crawled out of the unclaimed graveyard, took their equipment, and embarked on their journey to 'advise' the Lord of Cinder.

But this was merely a precarious existence, offering only a sliver of help for the world's continuation. Those who truly understood the situation were thrown into turmoil by internal strife. The Prince of the Fire locked himself in the highest levels of Lothric, laying down heavy defenses. The Farron Undead Legion, corrupted by the Abyss, had long since lost their minds, yet they still stood guard at the entrance to Carthus's Tomb.

Yhorm the Giant, despite his lofty ideals in life, was ultimately defeated by his mission, which was repeatedly extinguished. As for Aldrich, who had long since become an abyss, Ash doubted whether he still had a brain; a simple silencing order would turn him into a useless lump of mud that could only be hacked down repeatedly.

Only Ludows, before he could escape, had his leg broken by a fire-keeper who wished to remain anonymous, and was dragged to the Firelink Shrine and placed on the Throne of Desire.

Everyone was already aware of the deception surrounding the Fire linking ceremony, and was thoroughly fed up with the responsibility of doing so. The only thing they could do was persist in linking the Fire, which would lead to the destruction of the world, thus delaying the inevitable end.

"Don't worry, my Fire Keeper, the Deep Sea Age will not come, and the Age of Linking the Flame will end," Ash reassured the Fire Keeper.

"Did you know that after I gathered the Lords of Cinder, I didn't immediately begin linking the Fire but instead went to the Ringed City?"

The Fire Keeper recalled for a moment before slowly saying, "I remember that when Lord Ash gained power surpassing that of all the Lords of Cinder, he went to explore the Ringed City but kept being teleported back to the Firelink Shrine. In the end, Lord Ash even summoned Mr. Orbeck, the witch Karula, the blacksmith Andre, the sisters Julia and Fried, and even the annoying Patches."

"Yes, I was constantly being killed by someone and sent back to the sacrificial site. It was also at that time that I gained power from this world."

Ash slowly explained to the Fire Keeper the past that he had never told her before.

After Ash explored the world in the painting, she took the young lady to find her grandfather Gale. However, just after defeating the black dragon Mibo Midil, they were met with the destruction of time. At first, Ash thought that Gale had started it, but she unexpectedly met someone she never thought of in Felene's palace.

A bald woman wearing a monk's robe.

"At that time, I met the guardian of this world, the Ancient One. She removed the time seal that was attached to Ferrenor. After that, Gale rushed in and was killed."

At this point, Ash sighed. Although she spoke lightly, Gale in the Ringed City had absorbed the power of all the Lords of Cinder, and Ash wouldn't fare well against him. Then, after a brief entanglement with the Ancient One, Gale was sealed away by the Ancient One.

"After that, I sent the young lady back to the sacrificial site and then clashed with Gu Yi."

Ash didn't describe the battle between Ash and the Ancient One in great detail, but the Fire Keeper who guarded the Firelink Shrine knew very well that every now and then, her Ash Lord would be teleported back by the campfire in different poses and with different shouts.

After repeating this countless times, Ash went to the Grand Archives to call back Orbeck and Karula, kicked Patchi, pasted the Painted World on the back of the blacksmith's table, and woke up the Yulia sisters. Afterwards, they discussed something together.

During the time Ash discussed things with Orbeck and the others, they created some weapons that the Fire Keeper found quite amazing. These included the Moonsword, which could be used in two stages, and enchanted gauntlets that could be worn under armor.

What surprised the Fire Keeper most was the process by which the Ashes solidified the emanation of the Deadly Mercury spell, creating what was known as the Mercury Bullet.

"In one attempt after another, we found that neither of us could overcome the other, and I knew her inside and out. With my friendly advice, she took my suggestion and handed over the final decision on the six gems to me, and all I had to do was grant her a small request."

As she spoke, Ash pinched her index finger and thumb together, the gaps between her fingers conveying a subtle meaning.

"All we need to do is establish the Firelink Shrine, then anchor this location completely today, and promise the Ancient One that we will send back and destroy anything from other dimensions that appears around the shrine. Also, we just need to avoid displaying too much power before the time of the major event."

“See, it’s very simple, right?” Ash said to the Fire Keeper with a smile.

"Lord Ashes."