Elden Ring: The Heir of WuKong

Hey guys 👋 I hope you've been enjoying this story because I've been having a blast writing it. I'm already on chapter 13 now so that's so much fun. Also after chapter 8 I'll be uploading the companions,status etc. As always if you have ideas you want to see please comment but yeah I love everyone one of you who reads this. Also I need to know if you guys would rather have Monday or Friday uploads 😀

Regular text

Venom talking

(Thoughts)

[Health Bar]

[System talking]

ON TO THE CHAPTER

Tarnished Pov

The air crackled, thick with a potent stench of sulfur and burnt earth. Stinging my nostrils and making me gag. A primal roar, laced with fury, ripped through the stillness of the lakeside ruins, echoing off the crumbling remnants of what looked like an ancient temple. Jagged stones littered the ground, and the air shimmered with heat.

"Unless you want to be hit, DUCK!" Venom's voice, a distorted echo in my mind, was a life-saving command, laced with a familiar urgency. 

Listening to Venom I dropped to the ground, the rough stone scraping against my knees. A split-second later, the huge tail of a dragon full of spikes. Slammed into the space where my head had been mere seconds before. The impact sent tremors through the ground, a tangible demonstration of the creature's raw power. Dust and pebbles rained down around me.

Agheel, the monstrous dragon, its scales shimmering like obsidian catching the light like polished shields. Its eyes are cold, burned with an ancient rage. A low rumble began in the depths of its chest, a sound that promised devastation, like rocks grinding together deep within the earth. 

Then, with terrifying ferocity, a torrent of searing flames erupted from its maw, a molten river of pure destructive energy aimed directly at me. Even from this distance I could feel the heat as all the water in the air evaporated. My heart hammered against my ribs, but I didn't give into my fear.

Quickly thinking, I put my hands together and said "Rika, barrier!"my voice straining against the oppressive heat. Two fairies flying out of my hand before turning into a shimmering, translucent wall manifested before me. Absorbing the full force of the dragon's fiery breath. The magical barrier rippled and pulsed,but held as it took on the full brunt of the attack.

[Magicka 350/450]

Hated the idea of these hairpins at first, but I wear my hood(which is basically always). Glad I decided to keep them. After leveling them up they're paying for themselves, especially after all the training Nicole puts me through. It also helps I don't have to burn extra magic activating them anymore.

"Still could've just dodged the fire", Venom whined" I just rolled my eyes at his response. He always gets jealous when I use other abilities instead of him.

The heat was intense even behind the shield, the air around me distorting like a mirage. The smell of burning stone filled the air. As I huddled behind the barrier, the sheer absurdity of the situation washed over me in waves. A fleeting thought that if I would've just gone back to the church with Nicole things would've been different. 

Just a few moments ago, I was enjoying the relative peace after training with my magnet release ability. Redirecting swords and being able to crush armor. The satisfying thud of taking out Godrick soldiers slamming into me. Now, I'm facing a freakin' dragon!

It had started simple enough. A few more soldiers of Godrick scattered near a Site of Grace north of the lake were easy prey and only offered minimal gains in XP. But the system had then pinged a new mission, directing me to the seaside ruins. A simple quest, as it had seemed then, had escalated into a boss fight.

Now here I stand,in the heat of Agheel's inferno. Wondering how such a simple errand had turned into a life-or-death struggle. It wasn't enough to simply survive behind this shield. Agheel was too formidable, too powerful to simply be waited out. I needed a plan, a strategy that could even the odds. The barrier held, but it was draining my magicka with each passing second. A notification popped up in front of me.

[Emergency Mission]

[Defeat Flying Dragon Agheel]

I scanned my surroundings with desperate eyes, a grim sense of urgency beginning to set in. The landscape offered little in the way of cover. There were a few ancient pillars, weathered and crumbling. The Site of Grace, offering nothing more than a promise of temporary respite in case I were to survive this encounter. Beyond that, it was a steep drop-off into the river below, the cold water offering no comfort from this inferno.

[Flying Dragon Agheel]

[HP- 3,200]

My mind raced, desperately trying to piece together a viable attack strategy. My usual explosive abilities were useless against a flying target. My magnet release was useless without any metallic object to redirect. My gaze swept over the landscape once more, looking for anything that could be of use.

Then it hit me, I had a powerful weapon, one that was inherently metallic.The Power Pole, a weapon I haven't used at all. It was the answer I had been searching for. The ends were made of metal and it possessed the potential to adapt and grow. Plans began forming in my head, as I came up with different ideas to hurt the dragon.

"Partner, one of my abilities is to shapeshift parts of my body into weapons?" Venom's voice was tentative, laced with a strange mix of excitement and uncertainty.

"Wait, really? I thought only Carnage could do that?" I questioned, my attention briefly diverted by this newfound information, even in the midst of battle.

The fire began to wane, and I could feel the anger in Venom's reply. "Don't bring up that ingrate child, anything he can do I can match! I am the original, the superior!" Venom roared with unrestrained fury, his voice reverberating through my skull like a thunderclap, causing a sharp pain to pierce through my mind.

"Ugh Venom, can you not yell? Geez, trying to survive a giant dragon here," I muttered, rubbing my temple with one hand. "And you call Carnage a child?"

Venom mumbled something unintelligible, his displeasure rolling off him in waves. Ignoring his sulking, I focused my attention on the Power Pole that materialized in my hand. I began to examine its surface quickly.

[Power Pole]

[Staff]

[Abilities - Unbreakable, Growth(5 magic per cast), Shrink(5 magic per cast)]

"Huh," I murmured, a spark of inspiration. I wonder if I could split the pole in half, and use it as escrima sticks, channeling Nightwing. My gaze drifted down to my outfit, a chuckle escaping my lips as I noted the similarities in our attire.

"Partner, giant dragon incoming! And he looks PISSED!" Venom's voice, sharp and urgent, snapped me back to reality.

My thoughts scattered as I saw the massive shadow of Agheel descending upon me. With lightning-quick reflexes, I unleashed my webs. Launching them towards the ancient pillars. I yanked myself away from danger just as the dragon landed, its claws tearing into the ground with a bone-jarring thud. Agheel's landing shook the very ground, the earth itself recoiling under the weight of the behemoth. I felt the vibrations through my body, each tremor a reminder of the raw power I was facing.

With adrenaline surging through my veins, I channeled my magic, focusing on the growth spell. The pole vibrated in my hand, lengthening and thickening with a low hum. Within seconds, the staff had expanded to around five feet, becoming a formidable polearm.

Without any hesitation, I gripped the weapon tight. Focusing my magnet release, I launched the extended power pole toward Agheel, aiming with precision for one of its wings. The staff hurtled through the air like a javelin, striking the wing with a loud crack that echoed through the ruins, a sound of splintering bone and torn flesh. The dragon shrieked, a piercing cry of pain that was a strange melody to my ears. The power pole then shrunk, falling back towards the ground near the dragon's claws.

[Flying Dragon Agheel]

[HP- 2,500]

Agheel roared again, a sound that was less a battle cry and more an expression of pure agony. The dragon thrashed in place as its wounded wing hung limp, its movements becoming more erratic. The impact of my attack had been more effective than I had hoped for. Taking advantage of the dragon's momentary disorientation, I leaped off the pillar, launching more webs toward the earth.

I used them as anchors as I pulled myself with force towards the dragon, attacking Agheel's head with both of my feet. The impact rattled my bones, but the dragon staggered under the blow. I felt the dragon's scaled hide beneath my boots as I launched myself backwards, twisting my body in a controlled backflip. As I landed I used magnet release to quickly bring the power pole back to my grip.

[Flying Dragon Agheel]

[HP- 1,500]

Agheel stumbled, the blow having left it disoriented, the impact on the head taking its toll. Now, the beast's movements were sluggish and its breath came in ragged gasps, the initial ferocity replaced with a growing sense of vulnerability.

With the staff firmly in hand, I allowed Venom to reshape the staff, the tip morphing into a sharp point. I advanced toward Agheel, each step measured and purposeful. This was it, the opportunity to end the fight. My eyes focused on the still exposed wound in the dragon's eye as my body moved with the practiced flow of a well trained fighter.

"Now, Venom! Let's finish this overgrown lizard!" I yelled.

"Finally! About time you stopped playing around!" Venom responded with clear glee.

With a yell, I plunged the power pole into the soft tissue, piercing the brain of the beast. Agheel's body convulsed for a moment, muscles spasming, before collapsing onto the earth. Its colossal frame landed with a resounding crash that shook the ruins, dust and debris exploded outwards. The air, thick with the smell of burnt flesh and ozone, hung heavy in my lungs.

The world seemed to grow silent as the echoes of the dragon's final breaths faded into the air. The dust settled, revealing the lifeless body of Agheel, its scales now dull and lifeless. A wave of exhaustion washed over me, but I couldn't help but feel a sense of grim satisfaction. It was over. I had survived.

"Pathetic," Venom hissed, though there was a hint of grudging respect in his tone. "Barely a challenge."

"Oh, shut up," I muttered, wiping sweat from my brow. "You weren't the one getting roasted."

[Level Up]

[Staff fighting acquired][level up x2]

[Emergency mission over]

[Flying Dragon Agheel slain]

[Reward flying nimbus, x2 gacha spins]

I stared at the text floating in front of me, the familiar message barely registering. It seemed surreal that a battle against the dragon had ended so quickly. I had to admit though, the fight was honestly a little disappointing. Besides the initial burst of fire, it was almost too easy.

I rationalized that perhaps I was simply stronger than the enemies in this area now, the levels earned with Venom and the countless battles making me stronger. Still, I couldn't help but be surprised by the effectiveness of my initial attack on Agheel's wing. The magnet release combined with the strength of the power pole had clearly been a strong combo.

As I took deep breaths, I could feel my stamina and magic slowly return. The intense adrenaline began to fade, and I could finally feel the aches of the battle that I had just partaken in. I made my way to the Site of Grace nearby, each step a little heavy. 

After activating it, I allowed myself a moment of respite, the gentle warmth of the magic a small comfort. I then had a feeling like I was forgetting something, and with a snap of my fingers it came to me, I quickly went to check my rewards.

[Side Quest - Activate Seaside Ruins Grace]

[Completed]

[Reward - Teleport Between Sites of Graces, 1 gacha spin]

"Huh I can teleport now," I muttered, a grin spreading across my face. "Honestly, that saves me so much time from walking everywhere."

"Less time for sightseeing, more time for carnage," Venom rumbled in agreement.

Look there, it's on my menu now so as long as I'm not in danger I can teleport to any site of grace I've been to before. With my inventory I can abuse this, and it also makes taking over the castle I want easier too. I can make it our main base, maybe raise an army to take on Godrick's forces. 

Though I really don't think Godrick will have an army left by the time I make it to his castle." My senses began to go off as I felt someone I didn't know approach. I summoned the power pole to my hand but stayed sitting down.

"Ah, you must be the new Tarnished," a deep voice rasped out.

Clad in the dark, tattered Ronin's set, he cut a mysterious figure. His face was hidden beneath the wide brim of his helmet, leaving only an impression of grim determination. He moved with the easy grace of a seasoned warrior, his Nagakiba held with practiced precision. A silent watcher, his armor worn from countless battles.

The man with a deep voice sat at the Site Of Grace with me. "Beautiful work, felling that dragon. And as such there's something you might like to know. That heart you brought back, it's used in Dragon Communion. 

"We got a dragon heart?" Venom asked, a note of curiosity in his voice.

("Apparently,") I replied, shrugging. I studied the Ronin. There was something familiar about his stance, the way he held his weapon… as if he was someone I once knew. It was a weird, unsettling feeling.

"Hahah mind my manners young one," the deep voice laughed, a dry, humorless sound. "I am Yura. Hunter of Bloody Fingers. Tarnished held in thrall by cessblood. Zealots who stalk their own. If you stay on the path, you are certain to face more of them."

"Bloody Fingers?" Venom hissed. "Sounds messy. I approve." Before it dawned on us both. "Is he…?" Venom started, a question hanging in the air.

"Are you a Tarnished?" I questioned, excitement starting to bubble up in my chest.

"Indeed I am," Yura confirmed, tilting his head slightly. "Like yourself. Drawn to this land by the call of grace."

"So, you hunt these… Bloody Fingers?" I asked, leaning forward slightly. "What are they exactly?"

"They are Tarnished who have succumbed to a terrible bloodlust," Yura explained, his voice taking on a grim edge. "They revel in slaughter, marking their victims with bloodstains, a twisted mockery of grace. They are a blight upon this land."

"Sounds like our kind of party," Venom muttered, a low growl rumbling in my head.

"Not exactly," I retorted mentally. "We're not just mindless killers, Venom."

"And why do you hunt them?" I asked Yura, ignoring Venom's comment.

Yura paused, his gaze fixed on the fallen dragon. "Someone must. They are a danger to all who walk this land, Tarnished and otherwise. It is a duty, a burden I carry."

"A burden you carry alone?" I asked, a thought forming in my mind.

Yura was silent for a moment, then a small almost unnoticeable nod came from him.

"Perhaps… perhaps not for much longer," I said with a grin, a spark of an idea igniting within me.

Yura tilted his head slightly, the brim of his helmet obscuring his expression. "What do you mean by that, Tarnished?"

"Well," I began, gesturing towards the still-smoldering corpse of Agheel, "I'm looking for members to join my albeit burgeoning army. I'll even help in hunting down bloodthirsty maniacs. For your joining us, it sounds like a good time".

"Finally, some sense!" Venom roared in my mind, a wave of approval washing over me. "Let's paint this land red!"

"We are not painting anything red, Venom. We are bringing justice," I retorted mentally, rolling my eyes.

"Justice?" Venom scoffed. "Justice is for the weak. We deliver punishment."

I ignored Venom's grumbling and focused on Yura. "So, what do you say? Need a hand?"

Yura was silent for a long moment, the only sound the gentle crackling of the nearby Site of Grace. The wind whispered through the ruins, carrying the faint scent of rain and distant wildflowers. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and measured. "The path of a hunter is a lonely one. It is fraught with peril and shadowed by despair. Are you certain you wish to walk it?"

"Certain as I can be," I replied, meeting his unseen gaze with a determined look. "Besides," I added with a smirk, "I've got a pretty good partner." I glanced down at my hand, a faint ripple of black tendrils briefly flickering across my skin.

Yura's posture shifted slightly, a subtle indication of surprise. He seemed to sense the presence of Venom, the unseen entity that resided within me. "Indeed," he murmured, his voice laced with a hint of curiosity. "A… unique partner."

"He can sense me?" Venom hissed, a note of surprise in his voice as well. "Interesting."

"So?" I pressed, eager to move forward.

Yura let out a long sigh, the sound carrying a weight of weariness. "I appreciate the offer, Tarnished. Truly. But my path… it is one I must walk alone, for now." He paused, his gaze shifting towards the horizon, where the last vestiges of daylight were fading. "My pursuit of the Bloody Fingers is a personal one, a debt that must be repaid. It is not a burden I can easily share."

"Typical," Venom grumbled. "Always the lone wolf routine."

"Understandable," I replied, though a slight disappointment tugged at me. I paused, a question that had been nagging at me finally surfacing. "Actually, there's something I've been wondering… why are there so few Tarnished around? And why are some… hunting others?"

Yura's posture stiffened slightly, as if the question had touched a nerve. "The Lands Between are… fractured. The shattering of the Elden Ring has warped reality itself. Many Tarnished have lost their purpose, their guidance. Some have succumbed to madness, driven by the whispers of the Greater Will or by their own desperate ambitions." He paused, a flicker of sadness in his voice. "And some… some have chosen a darker path. They see other Tarnished as obstacles, or as… prey. They crave power, seeking to claim the Great Runes for themselves, even if it means spilling the blood of their fellow Tarnished."

"Sounds like our kind of competition," Venom rumbled with dark amusement.

"So, it's a free-for-all then?" I asked, a sense of unease creeping in.

"In a way, yes," Yura confirmed. "But there are those who still cling to some semblance of honor, who seek to restore the Elden Ring and bring order back to this fractured land. And then there are those like the Bloody Fingers, who embrace the chaos, reveling in the bloodshed."

"And you hunt those that revel in the bloodshed," I said.

Yura nodded. "Indeed. They are a stain upon the honor of all Tarnished." He then turned to leave but stopped and turned back towards me. "One last thing, if you ever find yourself drawn to the power of dragons, seek the decrepit church on the small island off the western coast. It is a place of… communion." With that, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the growing twilight.

"Communion, huh?" Venom mused. "Sounds… interesting. Maybe we should check it out sometime."

"Maybe," I replied, watching Yura's retreating figure. There was something about him that intrigued me, a sense of shared purpose and a deep-seated weariness that resonated with my own journey. I had a feeling this wouldn't be the last time we met.

I turned back to the Site of Grace, activating it once more. The warmth of the grace washed over me, a comforting sensation that eased the lingering aches of the battle. For now, I would continue my own journey, exploring this strange and dangerous land, but I would keep Yura's words in mind. The hunt for the Bloody Fingers, and the mysteries of Dragon Communion, would have to wait for another day.

[Side Mission - Find The Answers of What Happened to the Tarnished]

[Completed]

[Reward - Quirk: Honing, Mutant ability bullseye]

Huh, I gained new abilities, it seems it helps with my aim. Even after killing the starter dragon it seems, the system continues to gift me powers. I put the rewards into my inventory before standing up from the site of grace. I decided to walk back to church, just in case I can gain extra levels in my skills.