Because I Am Surtr

As power gathered and flowed within her, she felt the scorching aura of the flame.

Perhaps it was time for a change. Perhaps it was time to view the world from a different perspective.

Tomorrow, when she woke up… she would try greeting someone she knew.

She released her grip, her eyelids gently falling as she leaned against a pillar. The moon was high in the sky; now was the time for an adventure in the dream realm—she hadn't used the word 'adventure' in a long time. After all, in the past, she had always viewed her journey in the dream realm as a responsibility rather than a stroke of luck.

So, she closed her eyes. Perhaps this was the first time on the land of Terra that she would fall asleep with hope, rather than merely a sense of duty. Laevateinn silently flew up, hovering beside her. And the moment she sank into the profound dream, she seemed to feel a faint, cool breeze brush against her.

Had someone arrived?

She didn't know, but she felt a flicker of curiosity.

However, at the same time, the world of dreams had already appeared before her eyes.

Another 4k... Ah, my head hurts (:з」∠)

Chapter 42: One Should Have a Positive Mindset in Life

Dream.

At the end of the dream lay the ocean and the starry sky.

Beneath the pure black curtain dotted with stardust, the world's transformation was achieved.

"Welcome back... No, I'm back again."

Miss Surtr opened her eyes, and what greeted her gaze was the familiar yet unfamiliar shrine plaza. She saw the pitiful Gundyr, haphazardly planted on the platform in the center of the plaza like trash. His sturdy halberd and coiled sword were carelessly tossed aside, and there were a circle of panicked footprints around him.

She had deliberately adjusted the time, setting her arrival for half an hour after she had last left. And just as she expected, the Fire Keeper, who had shown her a side she hadn't known, had already retreated, perhaps tidying herself up in a suitable place.

However…

—But was this person in such a hurry? Could it be that when I ran away, she was even more surprised than I was?

—And it's a bit strange. I ran away because of my own cognitive issues. But she… she shouldn't know me, and this world shouldn't be one that values courtesy and deference. She had no reason to panic just because she revealed a violent side, even if her ancestor had some connection to me…

—Strange, truly strange… Could this person really want to trick me into kindling the First Flame?

Doubts swirled in her mind, and these doubts couldn't be resolved anytime soon. Since she couldn't figure it out, she'd just put it aside for now and not think about it. After all, the cart had already reached the mountain; whether it was a small path or a main road, she would eventually find a way to drive through.

—Let's go to the Firelink Shrine first.

The flame-haired girl pondered. She stepped forward and picked up Gundyr's halberd—its rather poor feel and balance made her frown slightly. This weapon was custom-made for Gundyr; every detail was adapted to the original owner's habits and repelled external use. Although she knew how to wield a halberd, its power would inevitably be discounted before it was reforged.

—But I don't need it. For me, a better weapon is already in sight. And on me… I remember I still have some Cinder Shards for reinforcing weapons.

She patted her satchel. Without a four-dimensional pocket, she had no choice but to carry the spoils dropped by the miscellaneous enemies she had dealt with on her previous journey. While reality and games were not the same, the essential items were still there.

A few Cinder Shards, Estus Flasks containing flame, the Firebombs she had saved to deal with Gundyr, and the spoils from defeating a Crystal Lizard during her recent rehabilitation—these items weren't many, nor were they heavy. Carrying them in the pouch on her belt didn't hinder her movement. Besides these, she also had a few materialized Souls.

Souls, Souls were the most common currency in the Age of Fire.

As an Ember, Miss Surtr, even if she hadn't absorbed these Souls yet, could use her own shell as a vessel to contain them within her torso. After all, the body of an Ember was different from that of a mortal. The shell was merely a soul container that could be reassembled at any time. Even with severed limbs or a severed head, as long as the soul flame was not extinguished, she could act for a long time.

In simple terms, it was a template body. It had a health bar but no vital points. Even with a special Anor Londo dragon-slaying electric pole stuck on her head, she could charge into a horde of monsters and unleash a rampage as if nothing were wrong.

So, everything was ready.

—Well, that's good. Everything is here. As long as I successfully reach the Firelink Shrine, I can resupply well and reinforce the condition of this shell. That way, I can at least recover one percent of my level from when I kindled the First Flame in DS1. I should be able to clear the High Wall at least.

—But… never mind. I won't be speedrunning this time. Since I've decided to view the world from a new perspective. Then my view of the dream realm also needs to be corrected.

—This time, I will enjoy… no… I will properly experience the various customs and traditions of this world. Before, I always treated it like submitting a report, wanting to finish quickly. But this time, I can't be like before.

She put down the halberd and picked up the Coiled Sword that had fallen at Gundyr's feet. The familiar feel immediately surged into her heart. From the Coiled Sword, imbued with remnant fire, a warm current silently flowed out, circulating through her limbs.

The Coiled Sword, the King's Heirloom, the foundation of bonfires—after the game became reality, many conveniences for gameplay naturally ceased to exist. In the era of DS1, there was only one Coiled Sword that she had seen and touched from beginning to end. And although Undead bonfires existed, their operation was entirely different from that in the game.

Different in that they could burn without the Coiled Sword.

And because of this, this weapon, whose effect was similar to Laevateinn, could be wielded in her hands. It was like that in the past, and it was the same now.

—Let's try it.

She took a deep breath, raised the Coiled Sword in her hand high above her head. The tip of the sword immediately dispersed into specks of fiery light, and its form synchronized with her will the moment her spirit converged. In an instant, a small part of her mental energy flowed out from her consciousness, converging inside the Coiled Sword and unleashing a directional burst of power!

—Weapon Skill, Remnant Fire.

The flame boiled and erupted, descending like waves in the direction of the sword. The solidified flame wave was nearly three meters high and rapidly expanded into the distance. Accompanied by high-speed blast waves and the scorching of burning air, a Remnant Fire channel, over a meter wide and tens of meters long, was left in this not-so-spacious shrine plaza. The ground showed clear signs of melting, and at the end of the plaza, the heavy gate leading to the Firelink Shrine opened under the shockwave's tremor.

The Coiled Sword was stained with flame and gradually dimmed over the next half minute. The mental energy that flowed from Miss Surtr's mind was quickly replenished, along with the consumption of some unowned souls stored within her body. She could probably recover to normal within a minute or two.

"Hoo…" The girl let out a soft breath. The familiar feel, the familiar combat style, the familiar sword. Apart from the fact that the sword in her hand was not Laevateinn, everything was exactly the same as in a certain ancient point in her memory. And all that was left to do was…

"Hmm?"

She turned her head, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw a white shadow quickly flee beyond her line of sight. It was somewhat familiar, somewhat strange. The shadow seemed to be hiding around the shrine gate, constantly observing her. But when she looked closely, she couldn't tell where it was hiding.

Was it a White Phantom? Or the Fire Keeper hiding? Or had the White Preacher Saintess, who was imprisoned, arrived early?

Unfortunately, this body was still very weak now; it was far from being able to locate the visitor's trace through the sound of the wind. But this didn't really matter. After all, she still had a long time to stay here. Whether it was a friendly visitor or a malicious eavesdropper, there would be a time to meet them in the future.

No rush, no rush.

She could no longer rush to clear exclamation marks as soon as she saw them, like she used to.

She rubbed her forehead. It was a bit strange not having the two horns on her head after switching bodies. Although she'd adjust quickly, the feeling was still peculiar.

So, she headed towards the Firelink Shrine—

And half a minute later, from where the streak of white finally disappeared. A pair of white rabbit ears, which absolutely shouldn't exist in this world, peeked out from behind a concealing rock. Her ashen, crystalline eyes watched the departing figure, the tips of her ears twitching slightly.

"Surtr... is that you?"

There should be another class tonight.

Chapter 43: When Trouble Blocks the Door.