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Gene began the slow harrowing ascent up the lengthy staircase with the beastly serpent not too far behind. Dressed in his black knight armor with a hood that hid all but his canine snout from view, his feet clamped and clattered against the stone of the stairs as he made his determined ascent to the Kiln of the First Flame. The deteriorating arena awaited him past a thick veil of heavy mist and he stopped for a moment to ponder at its presence. He could already hear the crackling of what remained of the great fire and the orange glow of its light managed to break past the veil of ominous cloud and illuminate the shimmering finish of the black armor he wore.

The air grew heavier and butterflies churned in the stomach of the determined coyote as he knew he had reached the point of no return and he broke through the veil before him to set foot in the ash littering the floor of the arena. He gazed at the armored lion kneeling over a dying flame a stone's throw away from him. Gene's primordial companion had disappeared in the heavy shadows that covered every inch of the labyrinth that Gwyn's flame didn't reach as the lord of cinder slowly rose from his hunched over crouch and glared at the coyote, as if he already knew why he was there. In all likelihood the presence of Kaathe peering out from the dark with his menacing blood-red eyes was what gave it away.

The lion unsheathed his massive blade and the dying flame before him disappeared in order to coat the impressive weapon in fire, the orange glow of the flame gleaming off of his tarnished ancient golden armor as he stood firm and ready. Gene glared back, his chest heaving as he stood ready and prepared for what he had set out to do; to avenge the betrayal he and countless others had befallen as the dying lord sent countless undead to their death in a meaningless crusade only to be reborn into torment once again. There was no turning back and the armored coyote drew his large wooden club rather than the longsword sheathed on the right of his hip. The swishing of the air as he freed the large club from its holster echoed throughout the dark chamber and broke the still silence that consumed them as the old lion narrowed his eyes at the coyote.

There were no words. The moment Gene had brandished his club and stood ready his opponent charged. His eyes widened and he let out a quick gasp as Gwyn lunged at him, the coyote managing to roll out of the range of his swing as he tried to decapitate the new challenger. A wave of blistering heat brushed past Gene as he ducked underneath the flaming pyre being sent in his direction. An orange glow lit up the world around him as well and was still glowing bright as Gene stood back up and swung his club at the lion, smacking him hard in the side with the blunt weapon and causing him to grunt just before he turned back around to face the coyote. Anger was plastered on his face while he glared at his opponent and the lord of cinder's flaming blade appeared to intensify for a moment as he lunged yet again. Despite the fading strength of the great flame and the fleeting condition of the old lion he moved with outstanding poise and vigor as he glared menacingly at his opponent.

Gwyn swung his sword, but the coyote was just in time to guard against the strike. Gene fell back from the force of the blow but was left unharmed; his club still shaking in his tight grasp as he quickly jumped back up onto his feet. He retaliated with a strike of his own but the Lord of Cinder managed to counter with a block of his own. A few splinters shot from the blunt weapon as it struck the flaming steel, but the amazingly sturdy club managed to stay strong and whole.

From the corner of his eye Gene saw two massive blood red eyes peering out from the blackness of the shadows surrounding the two combatants in the old arena. Kaathe watched the battle intently from the safety of the dark as his newest companion battled the dying king for the fate of the world. The primordial serpent was hidden entirely by the cloak of the shadows, except for his eyes of course, but nevertheless it gave Gene an idea. Although his armor gleamed from the orange glow of his opponent's flame-cloaked sword it was still agile and blacker than the night sky during a new moon.

The enraged lion swung at Gene with a downward strike but he was ready for the attack and parried the strike with an opposing strike from his club. More splinters flew from the blunt of the weapon but he was still able to knock Gwyn's swing away from him. The lion stumbled and with a swift hard strike the club found itself slamming into the side of his face, a fleshy cracking noise erupting from the club as Gene smacked it against the side of Gwyn's head.

"GAAAH!" The king cried out in agony as he spit blood out from his mouth, grabbing at his bloodied cheek while he stood back up. Gene had vanished into the shadows. Gwyn picked up his weapon once again and held it out into the dark like a torch, successfully illuminating the dark but failing to find the clever coyote.

"What do you hope to accomplish here?!" He demanded to know. "Do you know what will happen if you are successful here? The world will die, everyone will die! I am giving this world the time it deserves. Without me it will die and you will hollow out along with it!" He continued to shout and rant as he searched the dark for his attacker, trying to make him see sense even after all that had already happened. However Gene had already made up his mind; the world had suffered long enough and it was time to put it out of its misery.

He lunged out from the dark, shouting out as he struck Gwyn in his side once again. The lion was caught entirely off guard but was unmoved by the attack as the club struck his ancient golden armor and released even more splinters into the arena. Gwyn turned around amazingly fast with his pyre of flame getting closer to Gene as he did. With another block their weapons rang out as they collided and both combatants took a step back only to charge each other once again. They swung their weapons over and over and over and over again, colliding them into each other each and every time they tried to strike one another until the relentless coyote managed to make a successful side-step and cause the lion's blade to slam into the ground. Gene swung once again and struck the Lord of Cinder on his previously undamaged cheek, leaving it bloodied and bruised just like the other side of his face. However the old lion rose to his feet and readied his weapon with the most impressive burst of speed that Gene had never though he'd be capable of.

They coyote's eyes widened and the towering lion raised his sword in retaliation. Gene was able to duck just in time but his hood was still pulled off of his head from the sheer force of Gwyn's swing. The flaming pyre struck a cracked pillar, causing the deteriorating construct to crumble away into dust and rubble. A cloud of dust rose from the rubble and managed to shadow over both of the combatants, clouding them both from each other's vision with the exception of the massive flaming weapon wielded by the old king.

Gene saw his chance and took it; diving towards his opponent and striking at his ankles with the club. Gwyn stumbled forward and lodged the tip of his sword into the ground to keep himself from falling over completely. With another roll the black knight was at the king's front, face to face with the aging lion, and raised the club as high above his head as he could; his knuckles turning white underneath the cover of his armored gloves as he gripped the blunt weapon harder than he ever had before. With a determined cry he swung down with the club hoping to deal the final blow, only to be stopped inches from his target. Gwyn had reached up just in time to grasp the club in his hand, digging his fingers into the wood and raising his head to stare into Gene's eyes.

The coyote was awestruck, his eyes wide and his mouth agape in bewilderment as he watched the broad-shouldered lion rise up to his feet. The black knight could not react. He was frozen in his stance even as Gwyn ripped the club from his grasp and glared down at him. The Lord of Cinder's gaze of pure anger burnt a hole through whatever was left of Gene's tattered soul. He watched as the enraged lion closed his fist and the club split apart into a cluster of splinters that shot off like a barrage of miniature arrows; crashing into the ground and brushing past Gene's face allowing a few to even scrape sharply past his fur and scratch his cheek before he managed to move his arms to cover himself, catching a few splinters in his blackened armor as well.

As he put his arms down Gene watched as Gwyn raised his huge foot and kicked him directly in the stomach. He winced painfully as he was lifted off of his feet and thrown a good distance behind him before landing harshly back into the ash-covered floor. A cloud of dust overwhelmed him as he let out a raspy cough. The air slowly came back into his lungs and he managed to crawl up onto his hands and knees, still gasping for air as he did. Unfortunately Gwyn would give him no time for reprieve and charged in for another attack. With an underhand swipe the lion's sword struck Gene in the stomach, causing his armor to spark and ring out with the sound of clashing metal as he was lifted him up and thrown back once again.

He rolled in the ash as he landed again, smearing the grey dust all across his armor and fur. Gene rose up more quickly this time, facing his opponent as he charged at him once more. With a swift roll he dodged another attack but found himself rolling, jumping, and sliding away from swing after swing of the old king's burning blade; pure hatred strewn across his face as he tried his hardest to end the coyote's life. Gene knew he couldn't keep this up forever and waited for another opportunity. Gwyn struck once more, missing the frantic coyote by mere inches before slamming his hot sword into the ash once again. With his window of opportunity open Gene took off and disappeared into the shadows once again.

"Hiding will not save you, dammed one," the lion boomed as he marched to where Gene had vanished, holding his weapon like an effective torch once again, "and you know you will not survive this, even if you defeat me! Come out here, and face your fate!" He approached the section of shadow his opponent had disappeared him and was surprised to find him in the same spot, brandishing his backup longsword and waiting for the king to find.

Gwyn was surprised and taken back for a moment but wasted no time in preparing his blade for one last powerful stab towards the black knight. However Gene was prepared and with vigorous speed he was able to parry the lion's blade with his own. Spinning his arms to hold the hilt of his sword above his head he had prevented Gwyn's attack from reaching its target and instead poked at his throat with his own pointed blade. Gwyn's eyes widened and he gasped as he realized what was happening but it was already too late for him. Quickly and smoothly Gene drove his sword forward, piercing the old king's neck.

The lion gasped and choked on his own blood as it poured from the open nape of his neck, dropping his sword into the ash as he tried fruitlessly to grab at Gene. The coyote drove the longsword further and the flames of Gwyn's sword instantly died out while his eyes rolled back into his head. One last long ghastly breath escaped Gwyn's open maw as his color drained and his fur disintegrated away right before Gene's eyes. The rest of his body, including his armor, followed suit and he transformed into a lifeless statue of dust. The figure crumbled away and fell to the floor in a single pile, revealing a single fading bonfire as it was blown away by a sudden gust of wind. The Lord of Cinder was dead and the final flame was all that remained of him, but it too would soon fade away.

Gene sat cross-legged before the flame, almost unable to believe that finally his journey was over. Life, death, undeath, and fire were all finally over. He thought back on everything he had been through on his way here. Each and every death at the hands of some vile beast that crawled from the darkness, only to be hollowed out into an insane shell of himself until he can regain his restless soul. Every friend he made along the way who fell victim to the unending cycle of undeath, rendering them insane and tortured for eternity upon death, could finally rest for good. Although as Gene sat and wandered through his memories he could feel them start to fade in his mind, leaving nothing but bleak darkness in their place. The fire was dying and much faster than he originally though.

"Goooood," a deep nasty voice hissed from behind him, "now stamp the fire out into nothing so that the darkness can take its rightful place in the word and you will rule it as the Dark Lord; slayer of the Lord of Cinder, bringer of the new world." The serpent cackled behind Gene as he reveled in his victory. The extinguishing of the first flame would cement his victory even more than the fall of Oolacile and New Londo. Gene was quiet as he sat in front of the flames, listening to the primordial serpent but not acknowledging him.

"No," the coyote said quietly, "I won't."

"Wait, what?! You would seriously deny my servitude and the opportunity to rule this new dark plain?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact I do you disgusting worm!" Gene stood up to face Kaathe, glaring angrily into the serpent's crimson stare as he looked bewildered at him. "I am going to stay here an protect the flame from any other linkers. The fire will die, but it will die on its own like it's supposed to." Kaathe reeled back a bit, disgust painted on his face.

"Are you serious?! You are going to throw all that away and for what, honor? You have the chance to become a lord more powerful than Gwyn! Hollows and creatures will be powerless to resist you and with me by your side we will-"

"Shut up you gutless, wretched, cock-filled, ignorant-ass, pig-fucking, son of a headless whore! Go find someone else to be your puppet! I am well aware of what is about to happen, if I didn't want this I wouldn't have slain the old lion. It was his time, and so it is the rest of the world's too. Leave me be. I want to hollow in peace. Without your disgusting breath behind me or your ratty eyes staring me down."

Kaathe grumbled angrily as he backed away and disappeared once more into the shadows that seemed to encompass even more of the arena than before. The air was cold and sharp against Gene's fur, making the heat from the fire completely unnoticeable. He could barely recall any of his old memories now and the sky above him seemed to grow darker and darker each time the flame seemed to get smaller.

The world was overwhelmed with the dark as it swept across the land. Everyone it passed over was powerless to stop it and running away or hiding was pointless. The dark consumed all. Those who were not killed outright merely became hollow; empty soulless undead husks of the people they once were. Their new existence was agony as they wept for their old lives, unable to accept their new reality. The monsters and serpents that had hidden away eons ago reclaimed the world for themselves with no resistance from the new undead. Consequently no one came to the rekindle the flame either. The world's time had finally come to an end.

Since he was so close to the original flame Gene was the last to become fully hollow. The coyote lay on his side beside what were once the remains of the first flame that had since become a few dim embers and even more greyed ash. His memories were gone and his mind was slowly starting to wander off the deep end into the blackened abyss of insanity. The coyote laughed to himself as his fur shriveled up and died on his very flesh, his eyes losing their color, and the last of what made him a living man turning into an empty husk of what he once was. It was awful, painful, and heart-breaking but in time all of that would fade away into nothing. Soon the madness was take over and he would be unable to resist. Gene laughed again as his transformation became complete and the hollow coyote stayed curled in a ball in the same spot on the floor of the Kiln of the First Flame.

At last everything had come to an end.