Stories of days gone by. Boogeyman. First stagnation.

Suddenly voices in the hunter's head called him back to the chapel.

Arriving at the destination, the previously closed door was thrown open.

- Do you know who opened it? - Pointing to the door, the hunter asked a question to the inhabitants of the chapel.

- Ah... kind hunter. We don't have the slightest idea. At one point the door swung open with a bang, but after that nothing happened.

It sounded like the creature in red was telling the truth.

- Thank you for your reply.

{Okay, so another leap into the dark. Who else if not me to do this?}

Walking inside the small room, at the end of it there was an elevator.

During the ascent, hunter notice a passage leading to the balconies located at the top of the chapel. Having taken a strange rune and jewelry from the chest, which would later be given to the messengers, Crowley again went to the elevator.

This time, when he reached the end, a room appeared in front of him, in which an old man sat in a wheelchair equipped with a machine gun.

Fortunately, due to the design features, the old man was unable to turn the cannon towards the hunter in time; the reward for the victory was another rune.

From the room there was a small bridge leading to a multi-story circular tower, each floor of which, inside and out, was filled with weak infected.

{ Purge? Once again? Well, let's get started! }

Having reached the top floor, Crowley found a closed door and a chest inside which lay a shining hunter's badge in the form of a sword.

{It looks like one of the badges I found earlier, but if I can assume the owner of all the previous ones, then who could the object emitting such a bright light belong to?}

Having descended to the lower part of the tower, Crowley stood on the wooden platform.

Throwing the torches prepared in advance down in different directions, the hunter discovered a well-hidden door on the lower floors. Fortunately, the ropes tied on the upper tiers made it possible to descend without risk to health.

After opening the door, the hunter froze. A copy, or rather an original, from a workshop located in the Hunter's Dream.

{ What does this mean... Gehrman used to be a hunter. Perhaps this was where his base was located? Need to check.}

Upon entering the workshop, one could find some semblance of an altar. On it lay a strange-looking thing that vaguely resembled a cord with eyes.

{ What an abomination, but I think it might come in handy. }

Behind the altar lay a doll, but unlike the dream resident, this version was a lifeless prototype.

{ How did he manage to revive her? I'll ask later. }

The exploration continued, in the chest in the corner of the room there was a set of doll clothes, but in addition to it was a small hair ornament with a flower pattern.

{ Perhaps we should give it to the Doll? I wonder how she will feel? }

At the back exit of the workshop there was a grave, in front of which lay a bone that exuded a mysterious aura.

{ And the questions are not getting less. }

After spending a few more minutes in research, Crowley left the workshop and, going out to the tower, began his descent down.

Somehow reaching the ground, Crowley met a beast that seemed to be praying. Deciding not to risk it, the monster was killed with a couple of quick blows from behind.

Then the hunt began in the lower district of the church. The main problem of this place was a large humanoid monster carrying a sack over its shoulder.

{ Boogeyman? Well, being kidnapped by an unknown monster is not part of my plans. }

Possessing amazing strength, the kidnapper was able to defeat the hunter several times, fortunately for the second, each time was fatal.

Oh, and another creature with a leech instead of a head, which was determined to reach the hunter's brain.

- I'll never let that thing get to me.

Having overcome both after several attempts, Crowley's reward was another strange stone and a gate connecting the upper and lower districts of the church, as well as opening the way to the cathedral.

After exploring the surroundings of the cathedral, Crowley discovered several passages.

The first led to the bridge, where the horned monster is usually located.

The second through the cave led to the Hemwick village.

The third passage was sealed by the church and supposedly led to the so-called forbidden forest. It can only be opened with a password.

The fourth and final option is to enter the cathedral.

- Considering that I have nothing to do in Central Yharnam, and the path to the forest is closed, I think I'll go to the cathedral.

Decision is made. Opening the main door of the cathedral, Crowley was confronted by a frail female figure dressed in white, praying at the altar with both hands clasped on a gold pendant.

- Sorry, did I disturb you? I need to find out the password to enter the forest.

There was no answer, it seemed the woman was so absorbed in prayer that she did not notice the hunter behind her

- Our thirst for blood satiates us, soothes our fears. Seek the old blood, but beware the frailty of men. Their wills are weak, minds young.

The foul beasts will dangle nectar and lure the meek into the depths. Remain wary of the frailty of men. Their wills are weak, minds young. Were it not for fear, death would go unlamented.

Seek the old blood. Let us pray, let us wish to partake in communion. Let us partake in communion and feast upon the old blood.

The last words seemed to become a trigger.

With a scream, the woman's flesh and clothes began to tear, blood flowing from her body. She was transforming. But unlike the others, this happened instantly.

The previously gray hair formed a thick mane, the skin was replaced by matted fur, and in place of the head there was now a wolf's muzzle with a charming smile.

- I must be crazy, but I want to point out that you look amazing!

The hunter's sanity, shaken after the deaths he experienced, made itself felt.

A colossal monster now stood in front of him, which unfortunately did not appreciate the compliment.

Unlike the horned monster, the creature in front of him walked on three or four limbs, still holding the golden pendant in its hand.

So keeping him off balance was a difficult task. And this does not even take into account that the strength of the limbs far exceeded anything visible to the hunter before.

*Death*

This opponent was the most terrible of all those encountered up to this point. There seemed to be minimal progress with each new attempt.

It's time to return to the Hunter's Dream.

....

- Miss Doll, on my way I came across a workshop that exactly replicates the appearance of this place. I found several things in it that raise questions for me. But first, take this.

- What? What is this? I-I... can't remember, not a thing... only, I feel... a yearning, something I've never felt before... what's happening to me? Tell me hunter, could this be joy? Ahh.

- Looks like you enjoy it, glad to hear it.

-Please, tell me what you know about these things, - in the hands of the hunter was a glowing talisman, an eye-covered cord and a strange bone.

- I'm afraid I don't know anything, good hunter. But somehow the bone gives me a feeling of familiarity. What is it for? Perhaps Gehrman will answer your questions.

.....

- Badge, bone and umbilical cord. These are things of days gone by. You don't need to know all the details. But if you want to satisfy your curiosity, so be it.

- The badge belonged to the first church hunter, Ludwig. Unlike us, who secretly got rid of the beasts at night, their detachment began to openly patrol the city in the light of day. Ludwig used a sword found in the ruins of Pthumeru, by which he himself was controlled in battle. The only living weapon of its kind. That same sword ultimately made him a monster.

- The bone...It belongs to my dead student Maria. By holding it you will be able to use the old hunting technique of "quick step". But you know what, I will teach you this technique, and you, in turn, will return the bone back to Maria's grave.

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35.The accumulated power allowed the old hunters to learn supernatural skills.

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- And finally... The umbilical cord... I can't tell you. This is most likely our biggest mistake.

Having finished the story, the elderly hunter stared into the distance, remembering days long past.

- Oh! One more thing, I found this instrument in the basement of the chapel, is it familiar to you?

- Of course, this is a bloodgem machine. We usually divide weapons into 4 levels. With each of the first 3 levels, it is able to store 1 gem. Level 4 is the pinnacle of weapon mastery. Only a few have weapons of such power.

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11. Improved weapons can withstand the power of up to 3 inserted gems, which provide unique effects.

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In his favorite cane, by that time improved 5 times, the hunter put a bloody stone obtained from Viola's necklace and a stone that, upon collision, ignited the edge of the blade with fire, causing burns to its targets.

Before leaving, the master and student agreed that after every 10 deaths, a young hunter would return to learn the technique of the first hunters.

....

- I think now your hunt will sparkle with new colors. Wish you luck, good hunter.

Death count - 1976.

Books read - 75.

Body empowerment - 2.35x