Developing Games: To scare players all around the world! Chapter 105: Severing the Undying

Natalie quickly descended the stairs. Below the platform, a vast library unfolded, its walls lined with ancient scrolls. In the very center, the frail yet determined boy emperor stood.

The Wolf knelt, his voice resonating, "I have come to see you, my lord."

"Ah, I knew you would arrive to rescue me!" Lord Kuro's visage brightened considerably upon sighting the Wolf. However, his expression swiftly dimmed, his head lowering with concern in the next moment.

"...Wolf, my blood... the Dragon’s Heritage prevents your death, does it not?"

"Yes," Wolf replied, his tone calm and unwavering.

"As I suspected..." Kuro let out a soft sigh. "The Dragon’s Heritage disrupts the natural cycle of life. As long as it persists, it will inevitably attract perilous attention towards us. I have contemplated this extensively; evasion is futile. What we must achieve is its complete severance. The Dragon’s Heritage... this illusory immortality must vanish from existence. Wolf, will you lend me your strength?"

"Naturally," Wolf responded without a moment's delay. His master's decree was his sole directive.

Kuro's eyes gleamed, his tone laced with near elation. "Excellent! Though I know not how yet. You should depart and seek counsel from Lord Isshin. He resides in the watchtower adjacent to Ashina Castle." He indicated the path with a slender finger.

The Wolf nodded. "Understood."

Natalie, observing this scene unfold, mused aloud, "So, the next objective is to sever immortality, is it? But truly, with such an overpowered ability, endless resurrection... why would the Imperial Heir desire to relinquish it?"

The chat feed ignited with activity.

"Right? If it were me, I'd never give that up!"

"Immortality is incredibly potent, but the narrative is strangely melancholic..."

"Kuro's just built differently, I suppose."

Disregarding the torrent of comments, Natalie directed the Wolf to leap from the balcony, setting a course towards the location Kuro had indicated. He soon reached the watchtower. Silently scaling the outer wall, she peered within.

Through the window, an aged man sat in quiet contemplation upon a mat. His physique was frail, his hair entirely white. He wore a simple, thin robe, his body as withered as a dry twig. A prominent scar bisected his left eye, rendering it blind.

Natalie’s breath hitched. "Wait... this decrepit old man is supposed to be the Sword Saint, Ashina Isshin?! The Sword Saint mentioned in the title?!"

The chat feed exploded once more:

"Bro's been nerfed by time itself."

"The years spare no one. From an invincible swordsman... to a grandpa with a bad back."

"Still, he probably has hidden boss vibes. Tread carefully!"

Before Natalie could voice further bewilderment, the old man spoke from within, his voice low yet firm. "Wolf, since you have journeyed this far, why not enter and converse face to face?"

Natalie chuckled. "As expected, just like in the movies – true masters can sense you lurking in mere seconds." She guided the Wolf through the doorway, initiating the dialogue sequence.

"In the name of my lord, I seek to pose some inquiries," Wolf stated with humility.

Isshin emitted a warm chuckle, though his voice bore the undeniable resonance of extreme age. "Of course. After all, thanks to your efforts, my wayward grandson Genichiro was halted. Inquire freely."

Wolf inclined his head slightly. "What is the key to severing immortality?"

Isshin's eyes intensified with focus. "Severing the undying? You shall require two elements: the Mortal Blade... and the Dragon’s Tears."

"The Mortal Blade? Dragon’s Tears?"

"Indeed. The Mortal Blade possesses the might to fell the undying, beings who would otherwise endure eternally. This encompasses you, bound by the Dragon’s Heritage... the monks of Senpou Temple harboring their centipede parasites... and even Genichiro, who partook of the waters of Rejuvenation."

Wolf reiterated his question, "Where is the Mortal Blade situated now?"

"Two exist. One is believed to be housed within Senpou Temple. As for the other... even this old man has no knowledge of its whereabouts." Isshin sighed. "Should you resolve to venture to Senpou, proceed westward from Ashina Castle. But be cautioned, the monks there have forsaken their very humanity in their fervent quest for eternal life. They have abandoned both compassion and reason, much like my own grandson."

The Wolf's expression remained unchanged, yet he pressed onward. "And the Dragon’s Tears?"

Isshin's gaze drifted towards the distant mountains. His voice deepened with solemnity. "That... is a lengthy account. Legend tells of a divine dragon that once traversed from the western lands, eventually resting atop the peaks of Ashina. This dragon bestowed the power of immortality. It was known as the Everblossom Dragon. Devotees erected the Fountainhead Palace in its honor, a place referred to by some as the 'Divine Realm.'"

"The Dragon’s Heritage, the centipede parasites of Senpou, and the waters of Rejuvenation – all their potent abilities originate from the Everblossom Dragon. However, the latter two are mere corrupted imitations, rife with imperfections. Only the Dragon’s Heritage remains pure, closest in essence to the dragon itself. Therefore, if your true aspiration is to sever immortality... you will require the Dragon’s Tears, the very quintessence of the Everblossom Dragon."

"So, to acquire the Dragon's Tears, I must first reach the Fountainhead Palace?" Wolf inquired.

"That is correct," Isshin affirmed. "As for the method of reaching it... this old man is unaware. However, perhaps Lord Kuro could delve into Ashina Castle's archives. Ancient texts might hold certain clues."

"...I understand."

Wolf departed from Isshin's study. Natalie, observing this, suddenly grasped the direction for the next quest. The chat immediately buzzed with excitement:

"Hold on, did he just mention a dragon?!"

"No way, are we actually going to face a dragon in this game?!"

"It's not impossible. We've already encountered a colossal white snake god; adding a dragon makes perfect sense!"

"Knowing New World's penchant for lore twists... it's likely true. Damn, this story is unfolding with increasing complexity."

The viewers were not merely surprised; they were thrilled. Everyone ardently hoped the game would eventually permit them to battle a genuine dragon.

Natalie guided Wolf back to Ashina Castle, where he conveyed Isshin's message to Kuro.

"So that is how it is..." Kuro responded with a grave nod. "Then I shall commence my search through the ancestral records here for any information on the Fountainhead Palace. Wolf, regarding your task, the Mortal Blade at Senpou Temple must be retrieved. Please... exercise extreme caution."

Wolf bowed. "I shall be careful."

Natalie enthusiastically clapped her hands. "Alright, team! Our next objective: Senpou Temple!"

Following Isshin's guidance, Senpou Temple was situated on Mt. Kongo, to the west of Ashina Castle. The sole route to this location necessitated passing through a mountain village.

Moving with his customary stealth along the rooftops, Natalie soon arrived at Ashina's westernmost gate.

Only four guards were stationed there. Natalie's eyes gleamed. "Excellent. Let's put the [Bloodsmoke Ninjutsu] to the test!"

She stealthily approached one soldier from behind and, with a swift thrust, embedded her blade into his heart. As blood erupted, she yanked her sword free, and the ensuing spray coalesced into a dense crimson mist that enveloped the vicinity.

"Cough! What in the blazes is this smoke?!"

"Damn it, I can’t see anything!"

The remaining guards sputtered and stumbled in disorientation, blinded within the haze. However, Wolf's vision pierced through the blood mist unimpeded.

Moving like a phantom, he incapacitated two more soldiers before the fog even began to dissipate. The final guard had barely managed to draw his weapon before Natalie prompted Wolf to finish him with a precise execution.

"Hoo... this skill is truly overpowered!" Natalie exclaimed. "Even if I were surrounded, I could simply deploy the smoke and eliminate everyone!"

The chat erupted in laughter.

"Bloodsmoke equals Sekiro's smoke bomb DLC."

"Except it's derived from BLOOD. New World, you brilliant deviants."

"It’s a shame it has a cooldown... otherwise, Natalie could single-handedly conquer Ashina Castle in one go!"

Once the fallen guards were out of sight, Wolf utilized his grappling hook to ascend the wall and swiftly exited through the west gate.

By this point, the sky had become heavy with impending rain. Whether this was a consequence of Genichiro's lightning abilities or some other factor, no one could ascertain, but the atmosphere felt somber and oppressive. The muddy mountain track lay ahead, slick under Wolf's sandals, each step sending splashes of cold rain onto his legs.

For a brief moment, as they traversed the solitary village road, Natalie experienced an unusual sensation of solitude creeping into her awareness.

Before long, the outlines of wooden dwellings and thatched roofs materialized through the mist— an outlying hamlet belonging to Ashina.

However, something was amiss.

The surrounding rice paddies were neglected and overgrown. The houses ahead showed no signs of habitation; no cooking smoke curled from chimneys, no dogs barked, no chickens clucked. Only the ceaseless drumming of the rain persisted.

Natalie frowned. Wolf advanced into the village. Not a single soul was visible.

"Wait, what's happening here? Where are all the villagers?" Natalie questioned aloud.

"It appears abandoned."

"Either they fled... or they've all perished."

"Yeah, there's no way a place this quiet is normal."

Just as the chat was hypothesizing, a rustling sound broke the prevailing silence.

From the shadowy recesses of the dilapidated huts, figures gradually emerged—villagers, emaciated and poorly clothed, their skin sallow and gaunt, encompassing men, women, and even children.

The previously desolate village suddenly stirred with activity. Their eyes, imbued with an unsettling luminescence, fixed upon Wolf as they shuffled forward.

"Ah, such an esteemed guest graces our village!" one man rasped. "Indeed, yes, a rare visitor!" another echoed. "We must offer our guest a proper welcome!"

Natalie froze, stunned. "...What in the world?!"

The chat exploded with bewilderment.

"Bro, what IS this?!"

"Weren't we just saying the place was deserted?!"

"Why are they acting like members of a cult??"

"This is sketchy. Extremely sketchy."