SAO x Dark Souls Volume 1: Cinders of Aincrad

Aincrad Pt. 17: The Nameless King

Once I returned from Archdragon Peak, I notified the guilds of the opening to the Nameless King. Needless to say, they were all upset that I'd cleared the area by myself, but they calmed down once I explained why.

While everyone was gearing up for the coming battle, the leaders as well as Kirito and Koharu gathered with me inside the meeting room of Grandzam.

Klein: From what I've heard before being stuck here, this guy is supposed to be one of the hardest bosses in gaming.

Kirito: If that's the case, then I sure hope we can do it as quickly as possible.

"If you follow my instructions, we should be able to accomplish that. But first, you need to know why he's called the Nameless King" I said

Heathcliff: Is a lore dump necessary? All I need to be concerned with is how quickly I can beat it.

"That's the problem with big guys like you, commander. You're always focused on who's got the bigger stick rather than knowing your enemy" I said

Agil: I agree with U/n. Knowing your enemy is important because you can predict their attacks by knowing their combat history.

Koharu: That's right.

Heathcliff: I suppose I got too hasty there. Very well U/n, fill us in on this boss while we wait for the troops to prepare.

"Ok. There will be callbacks to Dark Souls 1 in the information I am about to reveal" I said

Heathcliff: Understood.

I cleared my throat before I began to recount the tale of the Nameless King.

"Though it was never proven true, the Nameless King is speculated to be the firstborn son of Gwyn, the Lord of Sunlight. To tell the story of Gwyn's children is to tell the story of Gwyn himself. His children were all born to fulfill a purpose. Gwyn's first daughter, Gwynevere was a figure of maternity. She was born to soothe the kingdom of Lordran after a war with the dragons. His son Gwyndoline was a master of illusion and disguised the fading light after Gwynevere fled Lordran in fear. And finally, Gwyn's youngest daughter, Filianore, was a product of her father's pride, for as long as she slumbered, Gwyn's world of light would never crumble" I said

Asuna: Which of them is the Nameless King?

"None of them were. There was a fourth, Gwyn's eldest child and his firstborn son. The Nameless King...a god of war. All records of him were erased from the history books. The first war ever fought was the war for disparity. It was fought for the right to flesh and blood, where before there was only stone. The everlasting dragons were introduced to the concept of the end, and it was Gwyn's firstborn son who, like his brothers and sisters to come, was conceived for this very purpose. The firstborn inherited the golden lightning from his father and a powerful predisposition for war and weaponry" I said

Kirito: He sounds like a badass.

"That he was. His weapon was a sword spear that utilized the user's body weight, allowing it to be plunged deep into dragon hide. This weapon was what the cross spear used by Ornstein the Dragonslayer was based on. Ironically, Ornstein eventually became a loyal subordinate to the Nameless King. The firstborn wore attire consisting of sharp dragon scales, which were impervious to fire. It soon became apparent that the best tools against the dragons were taken from the corpses of the dragons themselves. It was with strength, cunning, courage, and unity that the disparity war was won. From the ashes of the war rose the kingdom of Lordran" I explained

Agil: What happened next?

"After the war was won, Gwyn and his knights faced an uncomfortable truth. Their glory would not last forever. The dragons were vulnerable for the first time in their very long lives, and they were forced to adapt to a strange and hostile world. Despite Gwyn's best efforts, the dragons and their kin lived on while evolving through the course of history. With the dragons no longer a threat, Gwyn's war was with the darkness and he would do anything to keep his age of fire from dying out. That begs the question, how righteous could the war with the dragons have been if Gwyn refused to cede to the natural order of things?" I said