Chapter 63: I Heard Elden Soul Is Hard? (3)

I Heard Elden Soul Is Hard? (3) As popular as the Elden series was, countless players and streamers saw the ending upon release. However, there had never been an opening as unique as this. The chat window buzzed with excitement. ― Godple's broadcast truly is legendary -5252! Is this the rise of Elden President after Bark President? ― What is this, some hidden route collector or what? LOL ― The amazing thing isn't luck, it's all skill LOL ― Fr lol there were lots of streamers here but nobody ever found this Lee Gyeongbok, too, felt a sense of exhilaration, but he had to keep the broadcast's focus. "The cutscene's not over yet, so let's keep watching." Only then did the viewers collect themselves. As he said, the cutscene was still ongoing. The protagonist was standing vacantly, gazing at the place where the knight had been. "What is this...?" He muttered, alternately gazing at his own hands. ― Fr, looks like he's really shocked LOL ― We're confused, so imagine how shocked the protagonist must be! ― Hearing Godple's voice all flustered is refreshing LOL ― His voice is perfect for the protagonist, not even the slightest bit off LOL ― Please release a Godple voice pack! Seeing the viewers' playful chatter, Lee Gyeongbok couldn't help but smile. Meanwhile, the cutscene's protagonist took a tense step forward. He walked in the direction where the knight, who vanished leaving behind a soul, had been staring. "This is...?" The gradually widening passage led to a small chamber. Within it were a spiral staircase and a stone tablet engraved with strange patterns. ― Oooh! Something's up! ― The atmosphere's great! ― Wow LOL who knew there was a place like this in the graveyard ― Something big is coming! The viewers could barely contain their anticipation. Matching that expectation, the protagonist quickly approached the stone tablet. "Rune script? But... I can't make it out. My memory is unclear." He shook his head after glancing over the tablet. But it wasn't without result. When the protagonist absentmindedly placed his hand on the tablet, some letters shimmered with a golden light. ― Ooooh! ― Big Thing is coming! ― Big thing! Big thing! Big thing! Big thing! The viewers' expectations soared. But the flash lasted only an instant before fading away. Just as the chat window was about to fill with disappointment— "Soul...! Does it react to souls?" The protagonist instead monologued in a joyful voice. "Indeed! If I recover my lost memories and soul, I may be able to decipher this tablet." ― Ah! So you have to gather souls and come back? ― Don't people almost never return to the graveyard? ― Wow LOL this really is different ― This must be unreleased story content ― And the dialogue fits that sorcerer background LOL ― Fr, gives total seeker-of-origins vibes ― Even with no memory, having that curiosity is so romantic, right? The protagonist stared at the stone tablet for a moment before turning away as if resolved. He then ascended the spiral stairs, and the screen gradually faded to black. "Wow, this is really immersive." Catching a brief break, Lee Gyeongbok spoke up. The viewers instantly responded. ― If Godple likes it, so do I! ― Ah LOL the Elden series is all about its atmosphere! ― This is true dark fantasy, I'm telling you ― Fr ever since Darkling on PC and console, the atmosphere has always been top-tier ― And the challenge and sense of accomplishment are insane LOL ― But Purple is so good he probably can't feel that flavor LOL ― True LOL LOL The scene changed. "Ah, it's starting again. I'll focus." But control hadn't returned yet. The cutscene wasn't over. "Is this a storage room?" Reaching the top of the stairs, the protagonist pushed aside some stones and climbed up. The floor and all the walls were evenly built out of stone blocks. Shovels and lanterns hung on the walls, and in the corner were piles of old gear, likely belonging to the dead. ― Huh? ― Isn't this that place? ― Wow LOL wasn't this a shortcut ― He comes out right away ― Isn't that too fast? Tang Some among the viewers seemed to know this place. But perhaps wary of spoilers, they said no more. The protagonist looked around for a bit, then headed toward the exit where light streamed in. Stepping outside, warm sunlight and a gentle breeze wrapped around his body. But Lee Gyeongbok had no time to enjoy the sensation. 'A killing intent...!' A shiver, like a cold blade, ran down his entire body. Someone was watching him. But the protagonist, seemingly oblivious, looked around and headed toward the entrance of the graveyard. "They don't seem like an undead..." A low voice came from behind, and Lee Gyeongbok whipped his gaze around. At the end of that gaze was a giant figure sitting atop a stone coffin, a huge shovel planted in the ground beside him. His face was hidden. He wore a robe covering his entire body, making it questionable whether he was even human. "Who are you?" "To think you'd even ask a question. A 'broken one' whose mind is intact... How many ages has it been since then?" The chat window immediately reacted to his words. ― That title always gives me chills ― In English it sounds even cooler LOL ― Fr, 'Broken One' just sounds awesome ― That's an Elden series tradition! ― Part 1 was 'Exile From Death', part 2 was 'Savior of Humanity' LOL ― It's a bit cringy sometimes but ingame it really hits hard LOL ― So are we room-dwelling viewers actually the 'Exiled from Death' and 'Savior of Humanity'?! ― Ah LOL don't compare it to real life! Using in-game titles for the protagonist was a trademark of the Elden series. Lee Gyeongbok found the names a bit embarrassing, but the title in the third game, elden Soul, was at least tolerable. "Today, I hoped there would be no more graves to dig..." Meanwhile, the giant slowly stood up. Even sitting, he hadn't been at eye level, but now he seemed even larger. ― But is the boss fight the same then? ― Seems like nothing's changed? ― One, two, three! Godple fighting! ― Isn't this the moment where we should cheer for the gravekeeper instead? LOL ― Ah LOL go, gravekeeper! ― Please invite Miss Yudahee! By now, anyone could guess the identity of the giant. This was the tutorial area's boss, "the Gravekeeper." The Gravekeeper hefted his shovel, the size of the protagonist, onto his shoulder and muttered quietly. "But I can't let any more like you out into the world." With that, control returned. The cutscene ended, initiating the boss fight. "Just looking at him, a single hit probably means death, right?" Lee Gyeongbok put some space between them and began quietly preparing sorcery. The broken longsword, red-hot, looked pitiful compared to the Gravekeeper's shovel. ― If you're a sorcerer, even a glancing blow is instant death LOL ― Wow... He has to face that thing with just a broken longsword? ― The intimidation is crazy, Tang ― How do you even get in close to that! ― That's why most beginners pick the demonic beast background for range LOL ― Fr, if you use magic for ranged attacks, it's easier ― But what about sorcerers tho TT Some viewers hadn't played Elden Soul. Even this first tutorial boss left them terrified. But Lee Gyeongbok was different. "It doesn't look all that difficult to me." Just as question marks filled the chat, the Gravekeeper swung his shovel in a great arc. But Lee Gyeongbok didn't retreat—instead, he darted inside. A booming wind howled past his ears. "Pointlessly..." Lee Gyeongbok kicked off the ground and spun to the side. Without stopping, he used the shovel's momentum to press down with his own weapon. "His actions are really big." Using the rebound, he regained his position and slashed at the exposed waist. ― Insane LOL LOL LOL ― Who am I to worry for who now LOL ― Hey, gravekeeper! Here comes the perfect sorcerer! ― Ah LOL I'm rooting for the Gravekeeper now! ― Play! Play! Gravekeeper! Lee Gyeongbok's one decisive blow instantly dispelled the viewers' concerns. The chat window instead filled with cheers for the Gravekeeper. "Ah, you guys are so mean." Lee Gyeongbok twisted his body with a laugh. The Gravekeeper's shovel crashed down vertically and missed him by a hair. A crashing roar and a cloud of dust rose up. Lee Gyeongbok darted forward, grabbed the shovel's handle. As the Gravekeeper lifted the shovel again, Lee Gyeongbok used his strength to vault himself upward. Bursting through the dust cloud, he aimed straight for the Gravekeeper's head. "Kraak!" A cry rang out as the Gravekeeper staggered. The chat window was stunned again. ― Wait, what is this action?! ― Excuse you; the Elden series isn't this kind of game! ― Ah LOL off he goes, playing a different game all on his own again ― The way he's rolling and hitting thighs and ankles, where's the struggle gone! ― He landed a critical with a broken longsword? ― This... this isn't even Elden Soul! ― Elden elitists are vomiting blood LOL ― The class difference is insane, damn Of course, none of the existing players had ever fought the boss as Lee Gyeongbok did. But Lee Gyeongbok was preoccupied with something else. 'Something feels off.' Already, he felt no tension facing the Gravekeeper. Maybe it was just because this was the tutorial boss, but with such obvious pre-attack motions, he could predict every move without even relying on spiritual energy or his sixth sense. He could easily pour attacks onto the Gravekeeper. 'There's definite killing intent, but something's missing.' The undead encountered in the graveyard radiated not just killing intent but a distinct displeasure. The Gravekeeper, however, lacked that. Lee Gyeongbok calmly studied the Gravekeeper while counterattacking. ― Did the drop in Elden Soul sales start like this? ― What's with the sales drop talk now? ― Ah LOL newbs all refund after failing the Gravekeeper! ― For real, Lol. I tried 10 times then refunded right away ― But actually, it's pretty considerate of the developers ― Fr, if you can't even beat the Gravekeeper, you shouldn't be playing Elden Soul ― It's a real filter, Lol ― But [Per][fect] sorcerer is different, I tell you ― Sorry, gravekeeper! With his overwhelming dominance, viewers knew victory was near. The only difference was, it came sooner than they expected. "Krrrgh...!" The Gravekeeper fell to his knees, blood pouring beneath him. -???? ― Wow LOL that's nuts ― Has there ever been a scene where the Gravekeeper coughs blood? ― You're supposed to land a certain number of crits for this to happen ― Yep, there's a test video ― I think it's at least 20 times or something LOL ― You did 20 with a broken longsword? ― LMAO maybe more because it's a broken sword? ― He's not even using a HUD—how'd he spot the weak points? ― Godple just being Godple... The chat window was filled with shock and admiration. Lee Gyeongbok tilted his head as he read the messages. "He may be big, but he's still just a person, right? It's not hard to aim for the weak spots." He'd had some help from spiritual energy, but it wasn't a lie. It was too soon for any non-human bosses to appear. If they started with impossible bosses in the tutorial, who'd ever want to play? Though, some people still found that too hard and quit. ― Excuse you;;; Just because he's human doesn't make it easy! ― I've only seen the Gravekeeper cough blood in a video! ― Did you just use mocking breath on the Gravekeeper as the finishing move? Right? ― I think you used it on the viewers LOL ― The real crit was on us, the viewers LOL Lee Gyeongbok chuckled and glanced at the Gravekeeper. Reduced to gasping for breath, he was barely clinging to life. ― Goodbye, gravekeeper! ― Ah LOL he got speedrun'd ― Unlucky to face Godple, Lol! ― For real, the Gravekeeper shouldn't go down this easy ― Oh? Does that mean you can get the Gravekeeper's soul too? ― Oh, right! The soul feature is already unlocked! ― Oh LOL maybe things diverge from here ― Normally, how would you get it? -〈Message deleted by moderation bot. (Warning 1)〉 ― LMAO, treats it as spoilers, sorry ― You get it after leaving the graveyard The chat window became lively again. Everyone anticipated the Gravekeeper's execution. Lee Gyeongbok watched him. Now that the Gravekeeper was kneeling, their eyes met. Still, nothing inside the robe was visible. 'Is it right to finish him off now?' Taking down the boss and moving on was the obvious next step. But Lee Gyeongbok felt something off. Something kept bothering him during the fight. 'Might as well try it and see.' He made up his mind. Instead of finishing the Gravekeeper, he headed back to the storage room. -????? ― Where's he going? ― What's this? Is this foreshadowing? ― Something... something's coming up! ― Godple, you make us look forward to everything LOL Choked with question marks, the chat window watched as Lee Gyeongbok searched the storage room. He picked out one of the pieces of equipment he'd noticed lying on the ground. "Fighting the Gravekeeper, I kept feeling this." He explained to the curious viewers. "I feel like he'd be more suited swinging this than a shovel." What he held was a greatsword. Though old, dust-covered, and dulled, its size alone was impressive. Just as the viewers started to type— "Is this yours?" Control vanished, and a cutscene started. Lee Gyeongbok realized his intuition was right. -???????? ― What is this! What IS this! ― Wow LOL there's a hidden cutscene? ― Was the earlier shot of equipment in storage meant to be a hint? ― How did Godple even notice that! ― He's got both physical and brain skills! Godple! ― I want one too! ― What would a viewer even use one for, Lol ― Facts (painful ones) The chat window was in a frenzy. Lee Gyeongbok wanted to laugh, but instead he smiled quietly to avoid breaking immersion. "I thought you were different from the other broken ones... How many times have you been broken like this?" The Gravekeeper's question shocked the viewers once again. ― What? LOL LOL LOL ― How many times? ― Insane LOL is this a New Game+ content? ― Yet this is Godple's first time LOL ― New Game+ expert streamer (but on first playthrough) -??? : Why do a replay when you can start over? ― The cognitive dissonance is real LOL ― Wow LOL watching this live is legendary! ― Broadcast genius, is he Godple or what! -5252, is this another [Per][fect] run?! Unlike the riot in chat, the cutscene unfolded in a serious mood. "Why did you show me that? To mock me as the victor?" "No, that's not it." The protagonist shook his head at the self-mocking, laughing Gravekeeper. "I am a seeker of origins." He placed the greatsword before the Gravekeeper. The protagonist stepped back and continued. "I just realized, what you should be wielding is not a shovel, but a sword." The Gravekeeper's robe quivered at that. His shoulders began to shake harder. What hit the floor was not a droplet of blood, but a clear bead of water. It was a tear. "Shameful. Even I had forgotten that truth." The Gravekeeper grasped the greatsword. A faint drumming sound began to fill the air. "Do I still have the soul of a knight left within me?" The Gravekeeper's demeanor transformed. The booming drumbeat grew louder as solemn music began to play. Lee Gyeongbok felt his heart pound in time with it. "Forgive me, broken one. I failed to see the honor in your fractured soul." The Gravekeeper drew the greatsword up vertically before his chest. A deep blue aura flowed down the blade. "My name has been forgotten by the ages, but my spirit as a knight remains. Nameless broken one, I challenge you to an honorable duel." The Gravekeeper saluted and raised his sword in proper knight's stance. The explosive energy sent his robe billowing. As if in response, the forest around the graveyard trembled. ― Wow... The Gravekeeper was a knight? ― Now that I look, his attack moves do seem kind of similar LOL ― But Godple's never even met a knight, right? ― That's what makes this legendary, Lol -〈Message deleted by moderation bot. (Warning 1)〉 ― It's not a curse, I was just shocked! ― Damn, that's crazy! ― That was epic! Absolutely epic! ― Was there really a sequence like this for the Gravekeeper?! The chat window exploded. At last, control returned, heralding a restarted boss fight. The aura of killing intent weighed down on him, stronger than ever before. Even so— "Now this is going to be fun." Lee Gyeongbok couldn't help but smile. ---