Agreeing to Create Bad Games, What the Hell Is ‘Titanfall’? Chapter 474: If You Were a Dragon, That Would Be Good

Swish—!

A greatsword cleaved through the air!

At this mont, Gray Explosion and Hawkwood simultaneously brandished their greatswords and charged at each other!

There was no holding back, because at this mont, only an all-out fight to the death was the greatest respect they could show each other!

Boom—!

Sword light flashed!

Hawkwood spun through the air, slamming his greatsword heavily onto the ground, exploding the area into flying stone fragnts!

Clang—!

He pulled back and countered with a slash!

Gray Explosion nimbly rolled away from Discouraged Bro's attack, imdiately retaliating with a sharp sword thrust through the air!

The sounds of clashing tal rang out within the Firelink Fortress altar.

Amidst the flurry of blades and sword shadows, both n exerted their utmost, using the most ferocious attack thods of their lives to seize the other's life!

The fierce assault fully demonstrated the power of the Wolf Sword Technique.

Their swift footsteps were like agile snow wolves under the dark night.

As their sword edges crossed, sparks flew, bursting into brilliant light, as if trying to use their most ager strength to reignite this world where the fla was about to die!

Co to think of it, since we t at Ancient Dragon Peak, we haven't really had a proper chat.

There's still so much I want to say...

To talk about my experiences along this journey, to hear about what you've witnessed on your path.

Perhaps countless tis along this road, we've brushed past each other without knowing.

If we didn't each bear our own missions, maybe we could have stood guard together at Firelink Fortress, resisting the Abyss, making promises between close friends like Onion and Ym did.

If we didn't each bear our own missions, maybe we could have gone together to the First Furnace, regardless of whether the world continued or not, standing silently behind each other like Anri and Horace.

There's still so much I want to say.

Swish—!!!

Blood splattered.

The cold blade pierced through the chest, bringing forth dripping blood, splashing in crimson colors.

Blood droplets gathered and condensed at the edge of the Fran Greatsword, then transford into a black-red line on the cold steel.

The arena grew quiet again.

The blood on his chest converged into a crimson river, winding down along the sword hilt, flowing through Gray Explosion's fingers, dripping onto the already mottled ground.

Hawkwood looked at the Fran Greatsword piercing through his chest, just like watching the cold weapon his captain had once used to pierce through his comrades' bodies.

But what was different this ti—

This ti, he felt no fear or panic.

Instead, there was so sense of relief.

He opened his mouth as if wanting to say sothing, but it ultimately turned into a brief, soft sigh:

["If you were a dragon..."]

["That would be fine too..."]

Just as you said.

The Fran Undying Host has never failed, and never will fail.

There has never been a loser in our duel.

Because no matter who ultimately achieves victory, it will be the victory of the Undying Host.

Long silence!

The intricate and stunning plot at this point simply made all players who reached this part gasp in amazent!

After all, Discouraged Bro Hawkwood, as one of the NPCs in this Dark Souls ga, already had one of the longest storylines.

Moreover, Hawkwood had already made an appearance in the demo version.

Whether it was familiarity with him or the weight of his character throughout the story, it was enough to resonate deeply with players.

And this kind of profound narrative texture was sothing that even Golden Wind, and indeed the entire gaming industry, had never achieved before!

Destruction and hope, redemption and futility, honor and escape.

When these conflicting yet unified emotions were outlined through fragnted storytelling and plot performances rich with room for imagination, the unique "flavor" of Souls-like gas—complex and obscure, moving yet sigh-inducing—was truly embodied.

Perhaps when first raising the small banner high, overlooking the magnificent yet decaying city of Lothric, every player felt their heart surge with excitent, determined to bring the four Lords of Ashes back to their thrones, beco heroes saving the world, and continue the great title of Ash Seeker.

But as the journey progressed and ti passed.

The bright and warm Onion Knight died, the gentle and sincere Thief Brother died, the kind and gentle Anri died, the rekindled yet heroically sacrificed Discouraged Bro died.

After each seed to have completed their destined missions.

Gray Explosion.

As the one in this world who has discovered the four great embers, about to step into the First Furnace.

How will you choose the ending of this world?

...

Finally!

Players have set foot on the ruined high walls, the chaotic and filthy Undead Settlent, fought through the eerie and magnificent Painted World, and fought all the way through the majestic and grand Lothric Royal City.

The heads of the four Lords of Ashes who hadn't returned to the Bonfire Ritual Grounds were all brought back by Gray Explosion!

This initially unknown, unkindled garbage, with no one optimistic about, no one caring, and no one even noticing, through hardships and difficulties along the way, has finally gathered the kindling needed to continue the world!

The Abyss Watchers, the Fran Undying Host.

The King of the Profaned Capital, Giant King Ym.

The Deep Saint, God-devourer Eldritch.

The end of the bloodline of Lothric, the Twin Princes of Lothric.

Plus the little old man Rudolf who never escaped—

Five Lords of Ashes!

All present!

Regardless of whether they're alive or dead now.

But, the five Lords of Ashes have once again begun the ritual ceremony for the First Fla, adding fuel to continue the fire!

Gray Explosion ca to the campfire at the ritual grounds.

The Fireguard Maiden approached.

"Ashen One, all five Lords of Ashes have returned to their positions. This is all your achievent, and also the proof of kingship."

"Now, please face the Lords of Ashes and perform the kneeling ceremony at the campfire."

"And you shall inherit the ember state of the five Lords of Ashes."

Gray Explosion tightened the armor on his body, ca before the campfire, and knelt on one knee.

The Fireguard Maiden's voice rang out.

"Great Lords of Ashes,"

"At this mont, the fla is about to die out, yet we cannot see the shadows of kings."

"Everyone, please hand over your ember state to the one who will carry on the legacy."

Hiss—

The rekindled flas on the five great thrones suddenly extinguished with the Fireguard Maiden's words!

Then, visible on the thrones, five clusters of sparks gathered into beams of light, floating toward the Fireguard Maiden!

After gathering the final ember state of the five great Lords of Ashes, the Fireguard Maiden solemnly ca before Gray Explosion and bestowed this power upon him.

After a mont of complete darkness.

A bundle of bonfire before them was reignited.

Whoosh—

[First Furnace of the Fla]

Accompanied by the crackling sound of flas, everything seed unchanged.

Yet everything seed completely different.

All around, as far as the eye could see, everything was withered and decaying.

The ground was covered with thick dust, with even the slightest movent stirring up clouds of dust,

But, even if turned to ashes, Gray Explosion would recognize this place.

This was the Bonfire Ritual Grounds.

However, this Bonfire Ritual Grounds was clearly not the sa as the one he ca from, nor was it the sa as the Unkindled Bonfire where the hero Gudda once was.

Perhaps there were countless Bonfire Ritual Grounds, like hubs, guiding one to different ti periods.

With footsteps moving slowly forward.

Outside the door, everything was gray and white!

All players gasped in amazent the mont they stepped outside!

"OHHHHHH—So this is the place!"

In the distance!

At the end of the empty canyon, the horizon was covered with rolling black clouds.

A crimson setting sun emitted its final rays of light, dyeing the horizon blood red.

Black shadows almost completely blocked out the already struggling setting sun, forming a dark shadow at the center of the sun,

Looking from afar, it was as if a massive abyss-like black hole had been carved out from the middle of the sun.

All around, only a ring of crimson sunset still struggled to emit light.

Massive pillars of light connected heaven and earth, rising from the distant horizon, linking with the setting sun in the sky, unknown from where they originated,

Black-gray dust covered the ground, with broken swords and shattered weapons everywhere!

This was the place!

The ga's cover was actually this First Furnace!

Many had previously wondered—according to Golden Wind's habits, whether ga covers or promotional videos, they were usually taken from real-life ga scenes.

But this ti, they hadn't found any location corresponding to the ga cover.

So the cover artwork when starting the ga was actually the final end location of the ga.

Looking into the distance, everything around was chaotic.

The collapsed royal city, twisted great trees, various buildings of completely different styles—all piled and intertwined together as if having experienced ti-space distortion.

Clearly, this was a place where ti-space converged. The Ashen Ones moved forward along the narrow, rugged gray-white path while looking around.

All around were broken swords and ruined walls.

It seed countless challengers had co here before,

But the ground full of broken weapons also represented that they had all failed.

This place was like a sword tomb. What crunched underfoot, making cracking sounds, unknown whether it was the ashes left after the flas burned out, or the remains of those forr challengers' bodies.

Finally, the Ashen Ones slowly reached the end of the rugged path.

Before them was a vast empty field!

So enormous!

The massive crimson light pillars connecting heaven and earth were shooting up from this enormous canyon!

Whoosh—!

Under the imnse sense of danger, the Gray Explosions all drew their weapons.

There were Lothric straight swords that had accompanied them since the ga's start, Fran greatswords inheriting wolf blood and fighting spirit, exile great blades only worthy of true tough n, and even the non-existent Dark Sword.

Of course, there were also branch staffs, cool toys, and even gloves.

Every Ashen One who reached this place slowly stepped forward.

And the next mont!

Boom!

Suddenly!

At the center of the open space, a burst of fla erupted from the ground.

And within such intense flas, a figure slowly stood up.

His body wasn't as enormous as Ym's, nor as strange as the Dancer's, and his attire was far less flashy than the Fran Street Dance Team's.

But he carried an overwhelmingly imposing and majestic presence!

Because in his hand was what players had seen countless tis, had searched for countless tis—the core of the bonfire they sought!

The Kusabimaru!

Final BOSS—[The Lords of Ashes Incarnate]!

Blasting heat waves rushed toward them, making one tremble with fear involuntarily!

But, having co this far, the Ashen Ones had no reason to retreat anymore!

Co!

The final decision! The end of the First Fla! The fate of the world!

It all cos down to this battle!