[YOU ARE DEAD]
The familiar death screen appeared, displaying three big characters.
At the same time, Wang Han's joyful exclamation filled the air.
"That's it?"
Ash Gouda had only lost about a third of its health. Wang Han couldn't help but laugh as she watched.
Zhang Yi, sitting in front of the computer, remained expressionless.
Reality was far from what he had imagined. In his mind, rolling to evade attacks and executing a perfect shield counter should flow seamlessly—just like the demonstration at the previous online press conference.
However, when it came time to act, his execution was no better than a beginner's.
The immense figure of Ash Gouda loomed before him, an oppressive force that unsettled him completely.
Despite mentally preparing to fight strategically—maintaining distance and managing the energy bar carefully—panic took over in the heat of the moment.
When Ash Gouda raised its arm to attack, all he could do was frantically mash the dodge button. Worse, rolling too early drained his energy bar while failing to avoid damage entirely.
As for the shield counter, not only did it cost him two bottles of potions, but he hadn't succeeded even once.
Zhang Yi turned to look at Wang Han, who was still grinning. Silently, with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, he got up and handed over the controller.
"It's your turn."
Wang Han's grin froze.
From that point on, the two took turns facing Ash Gouda, with one life each.
At one point, Wang Han suggested a bold idea:
"If melee combat is too oppressive, why not try long-range attacks?"
Intrigued, they decided to try a mage class. The allure of abilities like Soul Arrow and Great Soul Arrow was too tempting to ignore.
The damage output was impressive; each hit chipped away at Ash Gouda's health.
But there was a catch—casting required precise aim and came with a painfully slow wind-up.
Despite Ash Gouda's towering size and seemingly sluggish movements, the boss's attacks felt relentless. The timing was critical, and the smallest mistake was punished brutally.
Their time blended together as they rotated strategies, trying to balance timing and skill.
After measuring the distance with 7 deaths, the efficiency of Ash Gouda's close-range attacks becomes evident, though not overly high.
One move—a jump and a split akin to cleaving space—and another, a precise pace and sweep, vividly illustrate what it means for mages to face soldiers at close range.
At this point, Wang Han finally understood why this special class is labeled a mage, even though it comes equipped with a short sword and a metal round shield.
The magician role undeniably shines when fireballs are thrown—it's a spectacular move—but its weakness lies in the slow casting speed. The fragility of the mage is also apparent. Several attempts at casting fireballs ended with Ash Gouda countering with a deadly leap.
Wang Han and Zhang Yi experimented with different classes one by one and discovered that the knight was the most forgiving choice. The knight offered significantly higher fault tolerance without compromising attack power.
Among the funerary items, the two most useful turned out to be the health-boosting ring, the goddess blessing for full health recovery, and the black flame pot. While other items might prove helpful later, they offered no immediate advantage in defeating Ash Gouda, the Inquisitor of Ashes.
Through repeated deaths, with both players breaking into double-digit attempts, they distilled an essential lesson about the game Dark Soul:
Don't be greedy for knives!
One of the game's critical mechanics is the energy bar. Without energy, players are essentially sitting ducks. Every action—attacking, shielding, running, rolling, or blocking—consumes energy. Exhausting the energy bar slows its recovery significantly.
Thus, maintaining rhythm during combat is essential. Greediness—letting the energy bar deplete—leaves you vulnerable to the boss's counterattack. At that point, survival becomes unlikely.
When it came to funerary items, the consensus was clear: the black flame pot was the best choice. Though it's challenging to hit Ash Gouda, each successful throw deals 120 damage. With five black flame pots available at the start, paired with one or two standard attacks, players could whittle down half of Gouda's health.
After countless lessons from Teacher Gouda, Wang Han and Zhang Yi finally felt they had found the right strategy for victory. By fighting cautiously and retreating strategically, leveraging items effectively, and maintaining energy levels, they gained the upper hand. For attacks that were hard to dodge with a roll, the large shield became an invaluable defense.
This time, wasting only one black flame pot, they managed to reduce Ash Gouda's HP by half. Zhang Yi still had three fruit oranges left.
"Victory is in sight! Stay steady!" Wang Han, watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but get excited.
"I know!" Zhang Yi exclaimed, his eyes fixed on Ashes Gooda's movements on the screen.
But just then, Ash Guda in the game suddenly squatted down and froze, leaving Zhang Yi in shock.
A large black mass of an unknown substance erupted from Ashes Guda. These black masses intertwined like flowing pitch, forming shapes resembling vines. The vines spread and wove together behind Guda, eventually transforming into a monstrous figure with horns and claws resembling a dragon and a snake.
Scarlet eyes glared straight at the game's characters. The newly transformed Ash Judge Gouda now stood taller and more menacing than before.
Second form!
How could the very first boss have a second form?
Before Zhang Yi could react, the grotesque creature lashed out with one massive paw, instantly draining a third of Zhang Yi's health. Before he could create distance to heal, another strike slammed into him, depleting the rest of his health bar.
Clearly, the second form didn't just alter Guda's appearance; it introduced new moves and even more aggressive attacks.
"Chen Xu, you old thief!" Zhang Yi cried out in despair. "Who is this even designed for?"
The demo shown during the online press conference had only showcased half of the fight. Now, it was clear why. The village's first boss had a second form all along!
Zhang Yi's anguished wail echoed through the room. He was utterly defeated.
In truth, Ash Judge Gouda is one of the more straightforward bosses in Dark Souls. In terms of difficulty, Gray Guda isn't even ranked highly. Some elite mobs can be more challenging than him.
Guda's moves are simple and predictable, with no overly elaborate attack patterns. This simplicity has earned him the nickname Shield Training Instructor among players, as his attacks are easy to block and dodge.
However, for many beginners just diving into the punishing world of Souls games, Guda remains an unforgettable opponent. His unrelenting attacks and unforgiving design make him a nightmare for novices.
With full health and dreams of spreading the First Flame, countless players have stepped into this fight—only to be mercilessly schooled by Teacher Guda. It's an experience that lingers. Never underestimate any gatekeeper.
The only consolation for players comes when they reach Crystal Lizard or Ash Gouda in online mode. There, the bloodstains scattered on the ground serve as proof: countless others are suffering the same fate.
It ringed to them, 'WE ARE NOT ALONE'.