The Powder Keg

Choir of Blood

The Powder Keg, sniffed the air. The blood of innocent enters his nose. A cave were Porcelain Adventurers entered. "Yeah, about forty of them, maybe a hobgoblin, a few humans, we're at the right place," Powder Keg surmised.

"Can I use your Flamesprayer? It might be necessary," Goblin Slayer asked his partner. "It drains my quicksilver stash, it doesn't matter if I give you some or not. It drains the bullets corresponding with the hunter who forged them," Powder Keg countered.

Goblin Slayer nodded in understanding. They entered, with Goblin Slayer taking point. Four goblins rushed at them. All four of them sliced apart.

More of them jumped from the darkness. A loud ringing sounded off, and the viscera of goblins stained the walls. With the Whirligig Saw in hand. Goblins were ripped apart.

They continued onward, and they met a young blonde Priestess. A dying witch gurgled in pain. Goblin Slayer, checked on the Priestess. Powder Keg tossed Goblin Slayer a small white pill. It was a Yharnam antidote for poison. Powder Keg forced fed one pill into the Witch.

"She's no longer poisoned, but I lack the healing items to save her. Unless you give her one of your potions," Powder Keg said with his back turned. "We were too late then, you know what to do," Goblin Slayer replied.

Pulling out his blunderbuss, he aimed it at the Witch's head. Then, in one second, it was over. He didn't hesitate, not like he used to. Not when he was that idealistic boy. That boy who transcended the hunt. He hated himself, he hated how much he enjoyed killing. He hates the beast blood within him.

The Priestess was shaking at Powder Keg's brutality. He just killed her with no remorse or delays. She wanted to vomit, but can't. She was pulled up by Goblin Slayer. Who asked her various questions.

"Powder Keg, I need you to scout ahead, we'll mop up the rest," Goblin Slayer ordered. Powder Keg merely growled in response, and continued onward.

"Is he going to be alright with no source of light?" Priestess asked. "He can see in the dark, and he can sniff out prey like a hound. He is thorough, and we might be a liability to him. Let's go, and tell me everything you saw," Goblin Slayer replied, while changing the subject.

A Goblin squealed in agony as it's neck was being crushed by Powder Keg's knee. It's brothers sliced apart by his Whirligig Saw. The Fighter watched in awe and fear. She never felt such raw bloodlust. Which begged the question, is she truly saved? Did she entered a bigger predator's pathway?

The answer to those questions are yes, maybe. He equipped his signature Stake Driver, and charged it. Steam billowing out of the weapon. The whirring of the mechanisms growing louder. Vibrating, looking like it's about to explode in his arms.

A goblin charged at Powder Keg's back, but it was kicked away. Fighter stood up with new found resolve. Anger, hatred, and blinding trauma fueled her actions. Acting purely on instincts, charged by the predator who saved her. She wishes to return the favor by helping him.

She is much more sluggish, and weak. Yet, her stamina increased twice fold. The explosion of the Stake Driver knocked her out of the frenzy. Reality sinking in, and it crushed the once found hope. She cried out in emotional pain. Gutteral and primal, no filters or grace. Just pure animalistic sobbing.

She felt herself being picked up before she fainted. Seeing the face of her savior, but to everyone who knew him. A monster undeserving of a chance.

Powder Keg, Priestess, and Goblin Slayer exited the cave together. They watched the cart of women leave the horizon. "Well, that was an adventure! I'll see you tomorrow friend!" Powder Keg excitedly said. Priestess deadpanned at his excitement. Goblin Slayer unhooked a lantern from his belt, and Powder Keg dissolved into mist.

Priestess jumped and screamed. "What happened?! Where did he-" Priestess was about to ask questions "He went to his home. I don't know either, he'll come back soon. Come on, we need to move," Goblin Slayer cut her off.

In the hunter's dream, a Plain Doll sat on stones. Unmoving, and unspeaking, no twitches, or sounds. Just a Plain Doll. Powder Keg took off his hat and pulled down his facemask.

His messy red hair fell down to his back. Tears brimming his glowing red eyes, and falling down his pale, sharp face. Bags under the eyes taint his otherwise handsome face. Some claw scars dot his face as well.

"Wake up, please, the Hunt should be over right?! I need you! Please wake up! I need my hunter's helper to clean up my messes! Doll, please come back. Doll, please come back," he repeated those last words. He fell in front of the lifeless doll. He gripped her cold hands. He stood up and hugged it. Crying into it's flawless neck. Staining the beautiful dress with tears.

"The nightmares don't end! The blood keeps calling me! To enter it, and go mad! I don't want to be a unsightly beast like Ludwig! I don't want to be a mad hunter like Maria!" He ranted towards the Doll.

"YOU WERE ALL I HAD LEFT! YOU SAID YOU WOULD NEVER LEAVE MY SIDE! NOW YOU ARE GONE LIKE THE REST!" Powder Keg screamed at the listless toy. He gripped it's neck and squeezed. Hoping to gain some reaction out of it.

"WAKE UP YOU STUPID DOLL!! WAKE UP AND FUCKING HELP ME!! WAKE UP AND GRANT ME STRENGTH!! WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP...." Powder Keg continued to scream in the face of the Doll he's strangling. Spitting on it's face with his sharp words.

Yet Dolls feel no pain, they can't die. They don't talk to you, nor do they help you. It is a Doll, and always will be.

In rage, he threw the Doll onto a gravestone. Roaring in his blood filled state. Until he looked at his hands. He shook and cried into it. In that one moment, he was almost destined to the Hunter's Nightmare. It doesn't matter if he killed the Orphan. The Nightmare is a hell awaiting him.