Orario's morning sun bathed the city in gold, but Bell Cranel felt a chill as he stood outside the Hestia Familia's church, the Hestia Knife in his hand. Its runes, now stabilized after his battle with Manus in the Abyss, glowed faintly, their violet light a constant reminder of Lordran's lingering influence. Ember of Resolve burned alongside Liaris Freese in his soul, pushing his stats closer to Level 5, his movements sharper, his Firebolt infused with the chaotic edge of Lordran's Chaos Fireball. Yet the victory over Manus felt incomplete—the runes' power was his to wield, but their whispers persisted, Anastacia's voice soft yet urgent: The Dark Soul is tamed, Bell Cranel, but its price is eternal vigilance.
Inside the church, his Familia prepared for a new day. Lili sorted magic stones, her sharp eyes darting to Bell. "Master Bell, you're staring at that knife again. Lili's still not convinced those runes are safe."
Welf, polishing a new dagger at his forge, grinned. "Relax, Lili. Bell's got it under control. Those runes make him a walking volcano—did you see him in the Dungeon last week?"
Haruhime's fox ears twitched, her voice gentle. "Lord Bell's strength is our pride, but… I sense a shadow in you. Are you truly at peace?"
Bell's ruby eyes softened, meeting hers. "I'm okay, Haruhime. The runes are part of me now. I just need to keep them in check." But doubt lingered. The Abyss battle had sealed the immediate threat, but the Dark Soul's power felt like a living thing, stirring within the knife. He hadn't told his Familia about Anastacia's latest warning, fearing it would worry them more.
Hestia burst from the church, her divine aura bright but tinged with concern. "Bell! You're not brooding again, are you? Those runes are giving me a headache. I swear, if they cause more trouble—"
A tremor cut her off, the ground shaking as a faint violet glow pulsed from the city's center. The Hestia Knife's runes flared, and Anastacia's voice whispered: *The Dark Soul seeks new vessels, Bell Cranel. Its embers spread.* Bell's heart raced, his adventurer instincts kicking in. "Goddess, something's wrong. It's coming from Babel."
Hestia grabbed his arm. "Not without me, Bell! If this is your Lordran nonsense again, I'm sticking with you."
---
Babel Plaza was chaos. Adventurers gathered, weapons drawn, as violet cracks split the stone, leaking mist and the stench of ash. The Guild's Fels floated above, their skeletal form tense. "Bell Cranel," they called, "the Dungeon's reacting to your blade again. These cracks—they're spawning something new."
Bell's stomach twisted as a crack widened, revealing a *Chosen Undead*—not him, but another, its armor tattered, its eyes glowing with the Dark Soul's power. It wielded a *Black Knight Greatsword*, its swings radiating a chilling aura. Behind it, *Hollow Sorcerers* emerged, casting dark orbs like Gwyndolin's sorcery. The crowd scattered, but Bell's Familia and Loki Familia—Finn, Ais, Tiona, and Tione—stood firm, joined by Freya Familia's Ottar and Allen, their presence a grim necessity.
"Bell, these are your monsters, aren't they?" Ais asked, her saber ready, her golden eyes steady.
"Yeah," Bell said, gripping the Hestia Knife. "From Lordran. The Dark Soul—it's spreading, like it's looking for someone else to carry it."
Finn's spear gleamed. "Then we stop it here. Bell, you know these foes best. Lead the charge."
Bell nodded, *Ember of Resolve* burning within him. He cast *Firebolt*, its chaotic flames staggering the Chosen Undead, while the Hestia Knife's runes amplified his strikes, cutting through its armor. Ais's *Ariel* spell wove wind around her saber, her strikes a perfect complement to Bell's precision. Tiona's axes whirled, Tione's spears pierced, and Welf's greatsword smashed through hollows. Haruhime's *Uchide no Kozuchi* boosted their strength, while Lili's crossbow bolts targeted the sorcerers' weak points.
But the Chosen Undead was relentless, its greatsword forcing Bell to rely on Lordran-honed dodges. He imagined Solaire's *Lightning Spear*, Siegmeyer's *Zweihander*, Anastacia's calm: *Thy fire is enough.* He parried a swing, the runes flaring, and struck with the Hestia Knife, dispersing the Undead into ash. The sorcerers fell to the combined might of the Familias, but more cracks appeared, spawning *Darkwraiths* and a *Mimic*—its toothy chest snapping at Tiona.
Ottar's voice cut through the chaos. "Cranel, your blade's drawing them. End this, or Freya will intervene."
Hestia bristled. "Back off, Ottar! Bell's handling it!"
Bell's mind raced. The runes were the key, but severing them risked his falna. He plunged the knife into a crack, its divine light clashing with the violet energy, sealing it. But the runes pulsed stronger, and a new voice—not Anastacia's—hissed: *The Dark Soul chooses its champions. Thou art but one.*
---
The party retreated to Twilight Manor, where Riveria examined the Hestia Knife. "The runes are evolving," she said, her elven eyes narrowed. "The Dark Soul's seeking new hosts, using your blade as a conduit. It's not just affecting the Dungeon—it's targeting Orario's adventurers."
Finn's gaze was sharp. "If it's choosing champions, others could be corrupted. We've had reports of adventurers acting… hollow, losing their will. Bell, your control over the runes might be our only way to stop this."
Freya's voice interrupted, her presence sudden and overwhelming as she entered, her silver eyes locked on Bell. "My Ottar speaks true, Bell Cranel. Your soul burns with the Dark Soul's fire, drawing its attention. I can help you master it—but you must join my Familia."
Hestia's aura flared. "Over my divine corpse, Freya! Bell's mine!"
Bell stepped forward, his ruby eyes resolute. "I'm Hestia's. Always. But I'll stop this, for Orario."
Freya's smile was predatory. "Then prove it. My mages have traced the Dark Soul's source to the Dungeon's thirtieth floor. Join my Familia there, or I'll take matters into my own hands."
Ais's hand brushed Bell's, her voice soft. "You don't need Freya, Bell. We'll do this together."
Her touch sparked *Liaris Freese*, and Bell nodded. "Let's go, Ais."
---
The thirtieth floor was a labyrinth of molten rock and jagged cliffs, the air thick with heat and the stench of ash. The Hestia and Loki Familias moved as one, Freya's Ottar and Allen trailing warily. The Hestia Knife's runes glowed brighter, reacting to the Dungeon's corruption. Cracks spawned *Black Knights* and *Chaos Eaters*, their forms twisted by the Dark Soul. Bell led the charge, his *Firebolt* burning with chaotic precision, the runes amplifying his strikes. Ais's *Ariel* complemented his attacks, while Finn's strategies kept the party cohesive.
But the floor's heart held a new threat: a *Darkwraith Lord*, its armor wreathed in violet flames, wielding a *Lifehunt Scythe* that drained vitality with each swing. Its presence was like Manus's, but more focused, as if the Dark Soul had chosen it as its true champion. Bell's heart pounded, Anastacia's voice whispering: *The Dark Soul tests thee, Bell Cranel. Prove thy will.*
"Everyone, focus on the scythe!" Bell shouted, dodging its draining swings. He cast *Firebolt*, staggering the lord, while the Hestia Knife's runes flared, cutting through its armor. Ais's saber slashed, Finn's spear pierced, and Ottar's greatsword crushed, but the lord's vitality-draining aura weakened them. Haruhime's *Level Boost* kept them fighting, but Bell knew he had to end it.
He imagined Anastacia by the bonfire, her calm steadying him. *Thy fire is enough.* He plunged the Hestia Knife into the lord's chest, the runes blazing as they absorbed its power. The lord dissolved, but a crack opened, revealing a void where a *Primordial Serpent* coiled—its scales a mix of Kaathe's darkness and Frampt's light.
"Bell Cranel," it hissed, "the Dark Soul is eternal. Thou hast tamed its champion, but its embers spread. Choose: sever the runes and lose thy fire, or wield them and risk thy world."
Bell's grip tightened, Hestia's blessing warm against the Dark Soul's chill. "I'm an adventurer. I protect Orario, not destroy it. I'll wield the runes—my way."
The serpent laughed, fading as the crack sealed. The runes glowed softly, now fully under Bell's control, their power a part of his falna.
---
Back at the church, Hestia updated Bell's status, her eyes wide. "Bell, your stats—they're at Level 5's threshold. And *Ember of Resolve* has grown: 'Master of the Dark Soul, the user wields its power without falling to its curse.' You did it."
Bell smiled, relief flooding him. "Thanks, Goddess. I couldn't have without you."
Ais, visiting with Loki Familia, offered a rare smile. "You're a hero, Bell. Keep growing."
Freya's shadow lingered, her interest undimmed, but Bell stood firm, his Familia at his side. The runes remained, a bridge to Lordran's power, but Bell wielded them as Orario's protector, his fire burning brighter than ever.
---