As the beam of light cooked me to ash, I had given up. Then when its scorching light dimmed, then finally faded, I was dead—or so I thought.
'It was a very... interesting life I had,' "probably," I said out loud, breathing out a sigh—"wait, I'm talking?" I grab my neck, then arms, then face. I snap my head left, right, and behind. I had teleported?
"Wait—maybe I died and this is some kind of hell... shit, what the hell did I do?" Suddenly my body stood up, echoing the words—what I could only describe as a command. 'Seek the Elden Ring' was the only thing I could remember.
Hm... I steady myself and take a better look at my surroundings, finding nothing too important, until my eyes settle and sadden on a broken body.
I walk slowly, inspecting the body, blood trailing to a closed door ahead. They looked to be a young girl, 16—maybe 18? Regardless, it seemed she bled out through her side, and as I try to inspect her face, dim glowing from the ground catches my attention. I almost chant it as a prayer—
'Though the path be broken and uncertain, claim your place as Elden Lord!'
I look back to the girl's face, her smile and hope contrasting as I stand back up, now with two people of my past urging me forward. Pushing through the door, I look back once more with a grim face.
"I'm sorry you had to die for me—whoever you are."
With that, I push through the door outside.
A small gust of wind tries pushing me back as I breathe it in. Foggy.
"Always so damn foggy," I mutter as I look out carefully.
I'd have to be a fool not to, with whatever happened to that girl. I don't need that happening to me. I grab the conveniently placed dual curved swords.
To check sharpness, I slice into my leather armor, making a small gash.
"Sharp. That's good. I'd be fucked if I didn't have these."
I traverse the deep fog, stopping where this... platform? ends. As I reach the edge, I see it.
Through the fog—past the horizon—shining brilliantly. A golden tree stood above all.
It stood as a god watching below, yet I felt it calling to me. The same feeling as those words, "Seek the Elden Ring."
While thinking about it, his body turned, making its way down stairs he never saw.
"Damn it—not this again." My face strains as I try to escape this spell while crossing a bridge I would never choose to cross. The planks were cracked, the rope ready to snap. After crossing, my legs stop moving, and the feeling vanishes.
"What is happening to me?! I can't control my body, and it walks right through that shitty bridge? What if it makes me fall off a cliff?"
Shuddering, I look ahead—through a broken arch stands a huge statue. Past orange grass and a stone circle, a woman holds her arms out. Three circles of light surround her as her braids and dress flow.
'Well-as much as a stone statue can, I suppose.'
I walk forward, the only path, when a shiver runs down my spine. A rumble.
I look around. Nothing-or not.
A gigantic... human spider drops from the sky like a meteorite. The ground shakes, dust filling my face and eyes.
"What is that?" I grab both swords, swinging them, then settling into a stance. "Huh—I swing again—can use these?"
As my confidence peaks, I notice three things. Two swords... and a great shield.
"FUCK!" I yell, turning and running.
I look down at my body as I run through the arch-
"You wanted me to fight that?! I don't know what I was before, but I can't beat that thing."
I sprint for the bridge, glancing back. The beast still chases me.
CRACK—THUD!
"GAH-MY LEG!" My leg breaks through the wood. I'm stuck as a pile of heads and hands charges at me.
"Ha. I—I'm going to die."
The beast almost smiles as it runs onto the bridge. I glance at my swords.
I smile, gripping the wooden handle.
Lifting the sword, I declare, "Haaa, if I'm going to die—better make it both of us, no?" I chuckle as the beast understands, too late.
I slash both ropes holding the bridge.
Leaving us to gravity's mercy.
___________________________________________________________________
Hiya, it's Gerald.
For the most part, this is my first webnovel, and I wanted it to be special enough to stand out—but not so much that my brain hurts to write it.
This takes heavy inspiration from those Nuzlocke comics and, of course, Elden Ring.
I don't really care about donations or whatever webnovel authors get. If you want to motivate me to bring out another chapter or continue the story in general… send comments. I'd love to hear everything you have to say—good or bad, even trolls.
Till next time, peeps—WAIT. Also, I'll make… hmm, let's say four chapters a week? Yeah, that's good for me. Again, if enough of you comment and want more, I'll of course do so. But for right now, I'll probably make 20 chapters and stop there, then wait for at least one person to comment. I don't want to write to a wall 😅
For real this time—
Till next time, peeps.