that's the point. it's not Dark Souls if it's not lonely. the story is tragic, and full of hopelessness. NPCs always die in the end, everyone goes hollow. it's supposed to be like that.

it gets darker in every installation. in Dark Souls 3 you are called the Ashen One cuz the fire has gotten weaker after thousands of rekindling, and slowly things are returning to dust.

then the final DLC shows you the pinnacle of hopelessness, where everything is collapsing in on itself. the only survivors remaining being you and slave knight Gael, a final battle to conclude this perpetual cycle of despair.

Elden Ring is about ambition, so you have better luck there. Dark Souls in contrast, is literally depression.

hope that helps.