Disclaimer-I do not own Naruto or Overlord, or any other game or manga, which I used while writing this...unfortunately.
Note: found a good cover image for my fic, all rights reserved.
Overfox.
Chapter II.
Naruto's POV.
I told many times before, that my father can't do a shit without screwing something, his last deed surpassed, all that were before it. It started when he decided to power up a little. When I tell "little" it means by the standards of the unstable candidate for Overlord position. It means that he ordered to steal several "godly" artifacts from different shrines across the world, and put them into special shrine created according to the blueprints of Florian's shrines.
His actions made sense, but due to his arrogance and lack of knowledge about classical magic, lacked logic, several artifacts reacted quite… aggressive to each other. So instead of power up for himself he created a bunch of portals all around the world. Portals, that will lead you to any world, if you know how to use them right, so my current position with busty, white-haired succubus in my hands, with a bunch of bodies all around me and a lot of inquisitors thirsting for our blood, doesn't seem so insane.
"FUS! RO! DAH!" Oh and of course thu'um, my hands were full with my very sexy friend.
"Dear, could you please look this way." next thing I remember is my mask in her hands, and very tasty lips of hers.
I stopped the kiss only shout another thu'um: "YOL! TOOR! SHUL!" stream of fire annihilated another "saint" brother.
"Well, it's time for us to leave, dear, but like all Super – villains do." ]
White-haired succubus raised her brows: "And how it is?" Her melodical, soft voice, called to Ner'jal begged him to… He made a deep breath, they will have a time alone later, Naruto somehow knew it.
"The difference between evil and supreme evil is very simple: special effects." Ground where they stood erupted and a stream of magma shoo into the sky. Naruto opened his black spectral wings and with unimaginable speed passed through the portal into his world.
Portals which were created had an interesting characteristic: from the world of Overlords' anybody can pass through the portal, but to pass from other side you must move with certain speed. Hence, why Naruto created a mini – volcano. He slowly put the girl back on her feet.
"Well, the question maybe will sound a bit ridiculous, but how are you?"
Her black and red eyes pierced Naruto's soul when she turned her gaze back to him. "Well, I was nearly burned on a stake, then epically saved, when you, even more epically, with just you voice, defeated a hundred of warriors of the church, then send us into the sky with created volcano, and here I now am in another world I might add, looking at the beautiful sunset. All in all, best first date ever!"
Her mood swings confused Naruto too much, so he wasn't really surprised, when seconds later he was lying on his back, looking into the eyes of succubus who was sitting on his chest, giving him a great look on her "assets".
"Not that I am against such… activities, but I prefer doing this… somewhere dark and comfortable, and you?"
Girl smiled and answered "I'm in. By the way what is your name?" Golden mask turned to her. "You may call me Miraak, that's after all the one I use currently."
Her smile grew wider. "And my name is Deruella."
Naruto raised his hand and dark blue light consumed them. They appeared near the entrance to the throne room of Netherworld Tower. "Well Deruella, welcome to my home."
Naruto looked at the walking Deruella and the view was rather… intoxicating, suddenly he was ripped from his dreams, by small grey arm, which pulled his robes.
Gnarl.
Of course his little adviser in the name of evil traditions will be a spoilsport.
"Sire…" started this… little… Minion Master… "Do you know that she told you her True Name?"
Naruto looked at the Gnarl a bit dumbstrucked. "True name? Shouldn't it be somehow different? You know with some effects?"
Gnarl sighed "You didn't notice because it's natural for you, but she has spoken in the maab'roring, the Demonic Language of Power, and due to the ancient traditions…"
Naruto raised his brow "Specify please."
Gnarl was silent for a minute. "Sire you must understand, many rituals, starts with the revealing of True Name, but only difference is answers, and if my memory serves me right… you two are now the newly married couple."
With a loud "THUD" Naruto, the Bane of the World, person who, due to his birth circumstances can be called The Beast of Armageddon, fainted.
Several hours later, Overlord's personal chambers.
Naruto returned to his senses in his large comfy bed, naked with equally naked Deruella near him. "Married couple, eh?" thought he.
He looked at her left arm with a tattoo of a dragon with opened out wings. He looked at his left arm, a black slit eye was looking from it, his tattoo.
Their "wedding rings" of sorts. Their bond and their vow. Naruto never thought about himself as a husband of some woman, Gnarl's lessons didn't do anything good either "Overlords never marry, sire. Bad guy never gets the girl, sire, he TAKES her." So, such… willingness was a bit new to him. He once again closed his eyes and let himself rest and fall into embrace of Morpheus.
Naruto's dream.
Overlord's power is a tricky, things, especially when there so many members of their family alive. Sometimes their dreams became one, but for this you need to qualify into several categories: you must be related to the line in some way (lovers included), you must have your own body, you must have your own soul. Three rules which let linked several people related to Overlord line.
When Naruto opened his eyes he found himself in some old castle, already dressed in his Infernal Armor. He could sense how Kurama sniffed an air in the depth of his mind.
"I sense the stench of betrayal and cowardice, very familiar by the way. Judging by the way reality shifts near us, we are in some kind of… dream or shared mindscape. Right now follow my lead kit, time for family reunion." without a question Naruto slowly went into direction showed by Kurama.
Minato Namikaze better known in Alnus Empire as Emperor Arthurus, was having a tough time with several opponents clad in black armor with ripped faces of his defeated opponents stretched on their black helmets, those nightmares were like a dream of some madman turned flesh and bone, and of course metal.
Behind him in cages were his daughters and "wives", technically he had only one wife: the Emperess Lysandra, a beautiful young lady. After a death of his late wife, Kushina, he never thought that he would marry again and live with two "legal" lovers, Celestina and Discordia. The priestesses of Light and Dark Elves.
Each of them gave him a daughter, so an Emperor, happy husband and proud Father found himself in some twisted reality, protecting his helpless family and even if some part of him told him, that it's just the dream, all that he represented and fought for in his life, made him continue his pointless fight.
He was on his knees with his neck slowly crushed by dark metal glove, when a blue lightning struck his enemies, slowly burning them to a crisp, Minato tiredly looked as bodies lay on the stone floor burning with blue flames. He turned his head to the left, so he get mighty left hook right into his face.
"Yes, say goodbye to your pretty face Minato." strange distorted voice said above him. At first Minato couldn't understand what his new enemy was saying, his voice was… unnatural like screams, and whispering of several people put together.
"You should at least get your family out of the cages, Namikaze." Minato raised his head and met the gaze of glowing red eyes, large demonic warrior was very intimidating, but instead of fear he felt strange sense of kinship with that menacing figure.
"Father!" Chloe's, his daughter from Dark Elf Priestess, cry returned him to his senses. Next moment he was near her cage trying to break it. "Trying" was key word. Looking at his desperate "father" and then to his sisters, who suffered because of his stupidity, Naruto decided to interfere and with a click of his fingers all of them found themselves in comfortable chairs, near a hearth in large room, once again Naruto clicked his fingers and fire started to burn.
"Where we are?" asked Minato. "In your dream, Namikaze."
Everybody turned to the Naruto. "Dream? So all of this was your doing?" Minato instantly became angry.
"Wait a minute! Why are you calling Arthurus Minato?" asked Lysandra.
"Because it's his name and no, it wasn't me who did that, Yellow Flash, it was you, it's your dream after all." replied Overlord.
"Then why are you here? Certainly, you don't have a random increase in your humanity or mercy, or conscience?"
"You are right, because I have neither of them, but revealing to you certain information is a basic move in psychological warfare." Overlord raised his left hand, clad in massive metal glove and black claw touched Minato's forehead. Sudden surge of information, forced him to his knees.
"What have you done to him, you Fiend?!" screamed Discordia, who instantly appeared near her husband's side.
"I used the mightiest and most terrifying weapon in my arsenal: Truth."
"Was that true? Everything I had seen? And how did you showed me this?" asked pale Minato
"Power showed me this, stones of Dark Tower, which you destroyed, know about every descendant ever born. You just need to ask the right question, and know how to ask."
"You… will not win…" even in his weakened state Minato was still sure in his power.
Naruto chuckled "Against you are God of Death, King of Bijuu, Overlord and your own blood. You already lost Namikaze , at that night on the 10th of October."
Overlord clicked his fingers and dream shattered.
Week later. Netherworld Tower. Portal Chambers.
Naruto walked around his first important investment: Great Portal. He managed to create it using a migrating rift, all rifts, which lead to other world were connected in some kind of net, this particular rift, didn't had a constant place to lead unlike other rifts.
But it could connect to other rifts and lead to the world, which was connected to Girvaaga by nearby rift. So when Naruto connected it to the net, he gained access to the every world with rift. That's how a prototype of magical Internet was created, with Naruto as main admin.
And led by curiosity he made a step into the new world. He didn't make a mistake, after his teleportation, he found himself in the laboratory of a mage with an owner right in the middle of interesting necromantic experiment.
Naruto found a very interesting colleague in master Daenur, strange snake - like creature, who belonged to duoth race, in appearance they were much higher than humans, completely bald with a bit pointed ears, their skin resembled scales or strange exoskeleton like different bugs had, clawed hands, powerful muscles and basic talent to Dark Magic made them fearsome opponents.
But like all dark mages of this world duoth were loners, their only country situated on large continent – like isle, where they lived, sometimes waging wars or going in raids to main continent, which kept their numbers in check.
It was also surprise for Naruto that this particular world, Edwus, has "Rule of One Gift", some say that it was curse from Gods of Fate, when, for example, somebody with talents of both magic and sword, had chosen the path of Magic, that person after several years couldn't became a warrior anymore.
Naruto read about something like this: it was a rare mutation when Energy created by body and soul were incompatible and cannot mold. But seeing something like this worldwide… certainly not natural and very suspicious.
Also Naruto's new colleague had a certain problem… he was a dean of faculty of Necromancy and Malephicism … and as dark mages were rare, other faculties wanted to cut the budget of dark mages, to tell the truth currently there was only one necromancer: Daenur himself.
Headmaster Aneto managed to hold their greed, but recently through the use of old traditions and laws they managed to corner Aneto and made him announce that the funds would be divided through the progress of their students, therefore they announced the start of Magical Tournament.
In total there were twelve faculties: of General Magic, of Fire, of Air, of Water, of Earth, of Alchemy, of Holy Magic, of Evil Spirits and Monstrology, of Ancient Magic, of Methaworld, of Healing and of Necromancy and Malephicism. So a lone necromancer living for money that could be theirs was for them like a red carpet for bull.
But unlike them Headmaster Aneto, who was rather open –minded, was also a leader of Thunder Organization. This world union of mages was created to combat a greatest threat of Edwus: Undeath (Also named after Artheus Thunderbearer, who died battling this threat. He was ripped to shreds by Undead, veeery inspirational indeed. (Naruto's comments)).
Monsters were selfrising everywhere and in certain places in masses. Since they were creatures of Necromancy the powers of other mages were useless against them, hence why Masters of Death were so feared and despised.
Only thing which was effective was Holy Magic, but powerful enough monsters withstood even that and when everything was deemed useless, dark aspects of Ancient Magic were used. Ritual tortures, sacrifices… it was the same necromancy, but in more crude and archaic form. So through countless sacrifices they managed to stop the threat for several years. When all they needed was calling an experienced Necromancer.
And now all magic community is trying to cut the branch they are sitting on.
Not on Naruto's watch. The only one who was truly worth Naruto's time was Theodore, young Fire Mage, most promising student of the Agnus, dean of faculty of Fire. He hated Daenur and everything connected to him with passion, most funny thing he hated him because of his race, not his dark talent.
Many members of his family were lost in last duoth's raid, it didn't bother him, that nearly half a century already past since that tragic day. All mages had only one thing common: they are all bunch of grudge – bearing bastards.
So unlike his other opponents, who didn't pose a threat to him, Theodore had a potential to be one, but Naruto learned his lesson, he would prevent him from becoming a threat, by disposing of him. Looking at Theodore's face, while he consumed his flames through the Darkness element, young mage could nearly feel his fear with his skin. Then Naruto put his hand through Theodore's chest, ripping out his heart, with loud "THUD" his enemy's body fell near his legs.
Naruto's first and bloody win, scared other competitors and as last one he was chosen as winner. Since he proved his strength his opinion started to gain "weight", after a vile Naruto made a project and showed it to headmaster and councilmen. According to his project, since Dark Mages are rare, facultative lessons in Dark Arts should be appointed for other mages.
Theory and practice, the lack of both was the main reason of high death rate among young mages. After several days of heated debates, all councilmen, with exception of deans of Fire and Holy Magic faculties, approved Naruto's project, hence now he was sitting in class waiting for his first students.
He sighed, deans, who were against his project, still managed to sabotage it. They decided to create a "testing class" of sorts and of course they put there only those, who hated Dark Arts with fanatical passion.
His teachings met violent resistance from his students, it made him furious enough to tell, that only those, who wish to learn can stay. Only two stayed: Rodolphus, young Air mage, Naruto thought that young idealist was sent here in hopes, that Dark Mage will kill him. And Elluveite Blond haired elven maiden, who stayed, under the orders of her clan, invaluable information about undead, would come in handy for elves of Darkwood.
That forest slowly succumbed to strange "disease" as druids called it, dark magic slowly turned it into the center of selfrising. So young she – elf gritted her teeth and stayed. Rodolphus on the other hand was a bit idealistic, but talented mage. He was naïve and honest and completely charmed Elluveite with it.
Unfortunately for her Rodolphus was as dense as his Dark Master was once, but also fortunately for her, said Dark Mage wasn't so unwilling to help in their case as people of Konoha were with him and Hinata.
So for several months he taught them "Defense against Dark Arts" Naruto style, which meant a lot of Undead ("I didn't do anything to them, maybe upgraded them a bit… maybe not…"), which meant "do or die" situations. After several months his program was made official and could not be banned, but his enemies managed to foul his plans yet again.
In recent years Orsen, the kingdom where Magic Acadamy situated was trying to colonize lands near the Black River. (Reason was very simple: harvest was poor, taxes were slowly rising and Nobles took the best lands as their hunting grounds. So some "wise" advisors decided to colonize new lands. So with a lot of alcohol and drugs they obtained signs of leaders of native people. So all lands officially belonged to Orsen, caravans of people who wanted new lands and better lives went to new province, but pickts the native people, who lived near Black River for generations, didn't give their lands away so easily. They were the great hunters, whose power was only increased by heir primal culture. They were masters of sneak attacks and hiding in shadows. And they were cruel to anyone who they dimmed as a threat to their lands. Due to the ancient agreement between Government and Mages, the former could ask a battalion of mid ranked mages or one powerful mage in time of war. And my enemies made me the lucky one.)
Naruto, or as many knew him in this world, master Ketch, arrived to Bolvin fortress several weeks after his "exile" of sorts. Naruto gritted his teeth; he remembered smiling faces of his enemies and their snickering behind his back. Suddenly he smiled, fools had forgotten, that Dark Mages remember their enemies till their death (and sometimes after, if said Dark Mage is necromancer), he will have his revenge and if for it he will need to destroy every tribe beyond Black River, then so be it!
When Naruto met Valios, the governor of Kholbas province, he instantly felt respect for this man, high, dark haired warrior with dark green eyes and face covered in scars; he was as rough as lands under his rule.
They instantly felt respect for each other, one for the magical power, and other for his leadership skills. However this night showed Valios one more talent of Ketch, for this night was the one, when pickts decided to test the fortress defenses. It was too late to use magic, too little time, to create something massive, so Naruto used his sword and some quick magic spells from his dark arsenal.
Pickts fought like animals, without any understanding of warfare, they just tried to overwhelm their opponents with power and numbers, half naked figures armed sometimes wit just clubs pushed heavily armed troopers from the walls.
Their instincts and primal power gave them the upper hand in first clash. Seeing only red in their battle frenzy, they didn't feel pain from the wounds and didn't fear death. Only thirst to kill existed for them at that moment. However, when Ketch also joined battle, their instincts played a bad trick on them.
Fear of magic, of something supernatural, of something unknown lies deep within human soul, buried by mind, stubbornness and overconfidence attained in human evolution, but when instincts rule over human, that particular little fear once again receives his original power, and when Naruto appeared on battlefield, that fear instantly clouded their minds, pickts left the walls, but the horde near them still stayed and those, who fled, slowly returned, fearing their leader, Chief Warlock Zogar Sag, more than alien Dark Mage…
Then were long negotiations, Zogar Sag was wary of Ketch, being the son of ancient spirit of nature, Jagger Sag, he was aware of Naruto's demonic powers, yet he still didn't want to return sacred lands and lands near fortress, but after long negotiations, he received the sacred lands and several landscapes for growing heather. Soon the famous heather mead once again, returned to the markets of Orsen. But nothing is constant, peace moreover….
Several months later. Borderlands.
Rodolphus accompanied with several riders, slowly rode to the Bolvin fortress. He alongside with several templars, his aunt, knight – commander Maria and his old friend Eluveitte, were sent to Bolvin to strengthen the garrison.
Young mage sighed he was certain that he was sent here in hopes, that some wild pickt may kill him, having several influential cousins as rivals for inheritance, had its negative perks. He looked at his aunt, who followed him with her own goals, she was rather young looking woman, even in her forties nobody would gave her more than twenty, her long brown hair reached her shoulder – blades and her cute face never left any male uninterested. Rodolphus suspected that his aunt wanted to meet his teacher Ketch, yet her goals were still unclean.
Rodolphus turned his head to Eluviette, she alongside her mother and young sister, with loyal guards left Darkwood without explanation, yet it was also known that nobody tried to stop them, they traveled without any destination, and when Rodolphus met her and asked her opinion about his new appointment, she offered her and her warriors' support. He turned his gaze to Sylvana, Eluviette's mother and sleeping form of Dana, her sister. He didn't know why those three left Darkwood, but certainly it was something serious.
Rodolphus' thoughts were interrupted by screams from the forest, screams of wounded and dying people, he saw how half naked, grey – skinned figure appeared from the shadows of the trees, Rodolphus instantly recognized pickt, a native of the Border Lands. Then suddenly something hit him into the back, power from impact was so great that it dragged him to the hooves of Rodolphus' horse. In pickt's back was sword, not just any sword, such strange completely black blade with glowing red runes, young mage saw it only once: on his teacher's, master Ketch's, belt before he went to Bolvin.
Everybody turned when they heard cracks sounds from the forest. Man, like a pickt before him, emerged from the shadows, down his waist he was covered by leftovers of black robes and wide pants, his foots were bare, fingers had claws on them, above his waist was no clothing, so everyone could see his mighty frame covered by tattoos, his hands were also clawed, large spiked mane of blonde hair waved behind his back, beast – like, glowing red eyes looked at them with wary, on his cheeks were marks in form of three black lines on each, his mouth was opened, showing his long fangs and his breathing was hard. He was also covered in blood and dust and appeared even more barbaric than pickt before him, but red glowing eyes, black runic blade and staff that he squeezed in his left hand, were enough for Rodolphus to recognize him:
"Master Ketch?!"
Blond haired mage focused his gaze on first rider and replied with question of his own:
"Rodolphus? What are you doing here?"
"We are here to strengthen the garrison of Bolvin fortress." said Rodolphus. Naruto meanwhile slowly walked to the pickt's corpse, while he moved closer everyone put their hands on their weapons fearing an unprovoked attack from feral warrior. Naruto smirked looking at them; he grabbed the hilt of his sword and pushed his weapon out of the corpse.
"You are too late; there is no Bolvin fortress anymore: Zogar Sag and his hordes ravaged and burned it to the ground."
"And what about the defenders?" ringing voice of knight – commander, made everyone turn to her.
Naruto shook his head: "They are either dead or escaped the massacre, at least I hope so."
Maria raised her brow: "Hope so?"
"You don't know what these grey devils do their prisoners. Anyway we need to return to Vaolet until the dark. If we are not fast enough I cannot guarantee our survival."
Town of Vaolet. Midnight.
They returned to the town in grim silence, many citizens knew the dark mage, through his visits and deeds on the Black River, and seeing him in such sorry state, when he could be recognized only by his glowing eyes and prized possessions, staff and sword, filled their hearts with dread.
After several hours, when Naruto bathed, ate and got himself a new clean dark robes from somewhere, he can be found sitting behind the table with Maria, Rodolphus and Elluviette slowly drinking wine and telling the story of the fortress fall.
"After my confrontation with Zogar Sag and our eventual grants for him, everything was silent on the border, pickts grew their heather and made their mead, traders were buying it and fortress slowly turned into the trade center. Everything collapsed in one moment, maybe some bureaucrat decided that our bribes were not high enough, or some influential trader decided to get his filthy hands on new trading center, but our reports were faked and made us look like incompetent leaders, governor Valios was stripped of his position in his stead was appointed some young idiotic noble, by the name Krozen, whose power and knowledge as he said "are above some commoner's understanding". The brat ordered mercenaries, who came with him, to burn the heather fields. He thought that demonstration of power will terrify the "primitive tribes"."
Naruto sighed and gulped all the wine in his goblet. He grabbed the bottle and refilled it.
"It was an unsuccessful event, wasn't it?" asked Maria.
"Unsuccessful?! Lady, it was disastrous! What he didn't understand is that Zogar Sag attained a lot of influence through his deeds: he led them to victory, he returned them sacred lands and he made the tribes rich through the trade. He made it possible for East traders to pass through Black River unscratched, but only if they also traded weapons for pickt's gold. From Chief Warlock he turned into Warcheif, and he is damn good tactician. His pickts are armed much better than before and unlike the rangers of Border Lands can move unnoticed, while they are heavily armed. The only things he lacks are siege machines."
"So behind the walls of Vaolet we are safe?" asked Rodolphus.
"There would be enough of them to use dead bodies of their brethren as shields, or made mounds from bodies near walls, that wouldn't bother them in slightest, our only hope is to wait for reinforcements, and then somehow push them to the open fields. Without their forests and any understanding of battle formations, they will be destroyed in first cavalry attack."
Suddenly loud screams pierced through the silence of the night. Loud terrifying screams from North Gates. Pushing each other from the way Rodolphus and Co. ran to the gates. Naruto didn't follow them, slowly without haste he dealt with the bottle of wine and only than rose from his seat and followed his companions. He already knew what he will see. So he just pushed the people from his way and unlike his friends he reached the wall much faster. All of them were on parapet and tried to see something on the other side of the wall, Naruto's glowing eyes gave him alongside the sharp vision ability to see in complete darkness, so unlike his friends he quickly saw the three battle axes, stabbed in the wood of the gates.
That was official declaration of war in these wild lands.
Somewhere in forest he could hear the sound of drums.
Vaolet. Week later.
Pickts unlike Naruto's predicaments didn't attack the town, they started besiegement, taking the town in ring of their forces. From the wall Naruto could see Zogar Sag dancing near the fire, summoning spirits from the depth of the forests. Naruto understood, that they will not survive the siege, unless he uncovered more of his "shady" abilities, his necromantic powers need death mana and everything around was surrounded by life, druids, who followed Elluviette, were powerless too. Lands, trees and animals here were followers, children and vassals of Jagger Sag, therefore protecting them from the power of the druids.
"Sire!" Naruto turned his head to see a young man, nearly boy in a form of the guard, which was several sizes bigger than him. "You are waited in the war council room!" with a sigh Naruto followed young lad.
Knight – Commander Maria made a big gulp of wine, it was only thing, that kept her sane in recent days. Horde of barbarians, which were nearly enslaved just several months prior, now marched to capital as unstoppable force of nature. Their only hope is now mages. Only their combined might, will stop the horde.
Mages… I f somebody told her , that she will work with Dark Mage and trust him fully with her life, she would have gutted that "somebody" for such heretical thoughts. Now though, everything changed. Ketch was only one, who held them together, he was the leader people needed in this dark time, and also he didn't fear these barbarians' warlock.
Zogar Sag feared Ketch.
Horde Leaders felt it, old warlock didn't try to siege the city, instead he waited for defenders to weaken from starvation and thirst and only after they wouldn't be strong enough to held their weapons, will he attack. But situation wasn't good for long – lasted besiegement, pickts wanted blood and thirsts for battle slowly prevailed over fear of Zogar's supernatural powers, several heads of his lieutenants were already attached to the city's walls.
Maria's stray of thoughts was interrupted by the sound of opening door; she turned her head to see Ketch, as always covered in black robes head to toe, walking into the room. She caught herself on thought, that she liked his appearance more without the robes. She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts, but annoying images of topless Dark Mage didn't let her go. "It's all because I …" Her thoughts were interrupted by Ketch, who took the bottle from her hands and dealt with the leftovers in it.
"Ahh, that was really good one. So, what did you want from me, Maria?"
Maria sighed straightforwardness of necromancer was something she liked, it was really good to not think about choice of the words, but his tone and manners… Anyway she didn't have much of a choice in companions. Ketch with all his flaws was still better than most "noble" knights.
"I want to know: can you kill Zogar Sag?"
"If he will lead the attack – without a doubt, if you want to kill him in forest from shadows, then chances are zero."
She raised a brow: "Why?"
Ketch sat on the table. "Very simple: I need energy from suffering and death for my powers to work, or a lot of neutral energy to turn it into one I use. Zogar on the other hand need power of the nature for his magic to work, understood now?"
"Not quite, elaborate please."
"Sesh, Zogar feels himself natural in forests. He is in tune with nature, if I try to kill him there he will found about it before I could say "ramen", on the other hand battlefield is like a free buffet for necromancer, a lot of pain from living and free energy from dying men, he will be on my territory and my place means my rules."
"So we only need him to start a siege?"
"He will start it, he needs our heads to cement his authority in the Horde, barbarians after all respect only power, he will come for us tonight, his logic dictates it, that I swear."
Grim predicament of Ketch started to fulfill itself right after the dusk. Pickts prepared for the siege.
Naruto looked at the countless torches in the forest, he could hear loud beating of the pickts' drums and parts of their crude speaking and singing. They waited for something, but for what? Answer came in form of loud steps and after the first one everything became silent. Birds didn't sing, wind didn't blow and nor pickts, nor defenders dared to even breath. Second step was louder; creature was moving closer to the fortress and moving fast. Finally he saw, how several trees fell in the forest and then several more, whatever answered warlock's call it was massive.
Massive and angry.
With loud roar it jumped from the forest to the open field and Naruto managed to see who or rather what, was Zogar Sag's trump card. It stood nearly six meters tall, under it bluish skin moved powerful muscles, skulls of dead humans looked from different places of his body, unnaturally large horns attached to the small head, big enough and certainly strong enough arms, to destroy walls. Creature didn't had eyes, all space on its head was given to large, powerful jaws filled with sharp fangs. On massive muscular shoulder sat Zogar Sag.
And he smiled in triumph.
"What is that monstrosity?"asked Maria, who stood behind Naruto's left shoulder.
"Tokolosh." replied he. "Never thought, that this little warlock can do something like this."
Mara pouted "Can you elaborate, please? Not all of us are such powerful and knowledgeable necromancers."
"Stop pouting, Maria. Did you ever hear about draugir?"
Maria felt, how cold shiver run on her spine. Draugir, the highest form of undeath, alpha – predator of the Death Kingdom, lion among the undead, instructions said "flee on sight, if you ever meet such a thing". And now something like that was their opponent.
Naruto as if nothing happened continued: "If draugir can be made from one body, then tokolosh is much more crude form of it, you require hundreds of sacrifices to create him. Tokolosh is more like golem of flesh, than true undead."
It didn't make much of a difference, thought Maria, it's still several meters tall and have big enough fists to punch through stone walls.
Tokolosh slowly walked to the fortress, each his loud step was like a melody of doom for defenders, and when it was near the wall shadow jumped on the right shoulder of the creature. Naruto with his black staff in left and sword in right hand, looked into the Zogar Sag's eyes, who was staying on the creatures left shoulder.
Naruto took his staff into both hands and stabbed it into the creature's neck. Loud roar shattered glass in the windows in entire city. Golem raised his hands to shake Naruto from his back. Dark mage dodged the massive arm and blocked massive bronze sickle of Zogar Sag with a sword of his own.
Zogar jumped back at the left shoulder of the creature. He touched its arm pouring his magical power into it, trying to calm down the beast. Naruto on the other hand once again grabbed his staff and pushed it deeper into creature's neck. Roar was much louder than previous and tokolosh started to glow from inside.
"Fool!" screamed Zogar Sag, his gruff, raspy voice was filled with fear "You are destabilizing my magic! If you don't stop you will turn tokolosh into giant magic bomb!"
Naruto just gave him one of Kurama's trademark smiles "That's what I'm aiming for!"
Defenders hearing this moved from the walls to the secondary positions in the city, which they created, if walls would be destroyed or taken by pickts.
Zogar Sag, meanwhile, once again roared and clashed his weapon with Naruto's sword, his strikes were strong, but lacked finesse and technique. It was clear, that warlock, like all pickts preferred more to strike from behind with daggers and clubs, then facing opponent face to face like Naruto. Zogar made a large, horizontal swing with his sickle, Naruto ducked under his hand and threw a punch to his knee, old bones of Zogar Sag didn't manage to withstand demonic might of Naruto, with a loud cracking sound warlock's knee broke inside.
Zogar roared from pain and surprise. Naruto meanwhile was already on his legs. He grabbed warlock's head and headbutted him, knocking him off. Zogar slowly fell from his position and with a loud "THUD" his body fell to the earth. Naruto, meanwhile, prepared his teleportation spell. He grabbed his staff and pushed it to himself and only when it left the wound he activated his spell. He managed to get away from there right in time.
Second later great explosion destroyed the pickt's forces and city's walls. Explosion wave lasted for a several minutes and only then mages get down the shields and ordinary people get from hiding places.
Maria looked at the black spot where was once tokolosh and thought about Ketch. She felt really bad, him being a dark mage was the only flaw in her eyes, she after all was a templar first and woman second. Suddenly somebody gently touched her shoulder. She turned to se Ketch's glowing eyes.
"As I wanted to say before everything started: tokoloshes are also quite unstable magical constructs."
Aftermath of the battle was rather… disappointing. Though they didn't lose anyone dead, there were countless wounded in city, walls were destroyed and civilians' homes were heavily damaged, but the alternative was far worse, so nobody complained. Main forces repelled pickt's Horde, but the cost was too high, nearly half of the army was lost, wild barbarians didn't surrender and beg for mercy.
High Commanders, after the meeting, decided to pull borders back to Thunder River, Vaolet city was abandoned and its former residents founded new fortress near Thunder river: Dark Spire, in memory of the man who defeated Zogar Sag. Maria was made a governor in this fortress, nearby forests was given to Elluviette, her mother and sister, and their vassals with their families, nobody asked why they left Darkwood, officially they just created a new brunch of Darkwood elves, in the new forest, but never before it was created by resident Queen and two current heirs to the throne. Only completely naïve man will not think that something was fishy there.
Rodolphus, meanwhile returned to his family estate, he wanted to see how his mother was doing and what his cousins prepared for war with him. He already knew, that they will not decide the problem with inheritance without bloodshed.
Naruto, on the other hand, took a vacation to stay out of the radar for a while, until everything became calm and higher – ups didn't lost their desire to make him guilty in all their mistakes. So, he just said "goodbuy" to Daenur and returned to the Netherworld.
Netherworld Tower. Portal Chambers.
Naruto get out of the Portal Chambers and with a click of his fingers changed his wardrobe, his dark robes turned to his Overlord Armor and getting sparks from stone floor with his metal boots he marched to the Throne Room.
Gnarl patiently and obediently waited for his return. "It's good to see you again, Sire" greeted he "You were absent for entire week, so you didn't lose much. Our "Hero" project went as planned items are hidden in specially made dungeon and map is nearly completed. Forces of the Third Overlord didn't take much of a ground recently. They just built fortified posts and prepared their arsenals also they are raising additional new undead from north warriors, they resemble Draugir from Skyrim, which you hid in your Miraak temple, after you took control over them from Alduin. Also Lady Deruella awaits your arrival in your Personal Chambers, she also said something about bubbles and bath…" the rest of the sentence he said to the Naruto's back, while his Master ran to Personal Chambers.
Another week later. Netherworld Tower. Personal Chambers.
Deruella laid on her back and looked at the ceiling, recently her personal life became rather… satisfying. She never thought, that being an offspring of the Demon Queen ( read Dark Goddess of Lust), she will find someone good enough to be her husband, much more satisfy her.
But everybody could be proven wrong and to her happiness she was. She turned her head to see the sleeping form of her husband. She smiled thinking about all the things they had done and will do. With a smile on her lips she once again succumbed to her sleep.
Several hours later Naruto opened his eyes and silently get out of the chambers. Seconds later he sat upon his throne listening to Gnarl's report.
"I remind you, Sire, that you promised Lord Edmund to visit him in his mansion, due to his son's unfortunate… demise. Also there is something else requiring your attention. Rumors have been circulating in spawning pools recently. Your antipode – Hero is returning once again. As I told you due to ancient agreement between Dark Courts, we focus our attention on continent and Court of Blades can have Albion. But the light side of your family, Heroes, destroyed the court and became the royal family of Albion. It looks like one of the heirs to the throne is a new Hero. Albion is one of the most advanced countries we will need their technologies in our army. Pistols and rifles will come in handy. We found out that Theresa already started the training of the young Hero. He will need additional persuasion from the Dark Side… you still have enough time for a family reunion. Step on the teleporting rune."
Blue energy engulfed Naruto, he felt how it took him and moved him somewhere. When Naruto opened his eyes, everything was covered in white mist, he was on the road, which led to the castle on the horizon, from left and right sides road was washed by endless sea. Several zones were blocked by iron gates, near second gates stood young, black haired lad.
"Well, hello there young prince." Prince turned his head to see a figure covered in glowing ebony armor wearing a dark cloak, black spiked helmet and long sword with glowing runes. "Who are you?" asked young prince.
"Past, Present, Future. What you are, what you can be, I am one of the closest thing in this universe to you. In a way I am you, as you are me."
"ENOUGH OF THIS." she appeared silently without anyone noticing, but her appearance was even more spectacular, than the one with lightning and thunder.
"Theresa such… an honor, but you are overstepping your boundaries, we are here not as Overlord and Hero, but as rulers and future kings, you have no say in political decisions of your young charge."
"Kings?" asked young Prince.
Naruto turned his glowing eyes to him "But of course, since we both are fighting against old rulers and we both are trying to prove our rights for crowns and thrones, and also counting the facts that our enemies are our relatives, logic dictates that this one time we combine our forces. I need your technologies, you will need my power over the Dark Creatures. Deal?"
Prince looked at the stretched hand covered by black metal glove and finally took it.
"Deal. The name is Henry."
"Good to know you, Henry. I'm Fifth Overlord. I have too many faces and names for you to remember, but those, who will bear this sign…" on his hand glowed the seal of Overlord. "…Are the ones who speak my words, only through them and by personal meetings of course we will communicate."
He turned his back to young prince and with a bright blue glowing, teleported from the Theresa's pocket dimension.
Tistain. Near Lord Edmund's mansion.
"Rain, rain, rain… May Dark Gods curse this fucking rain!" thought Naruto, while clad in his Miraak attire he walked to the mansion of his old Commander.
Under the veil of heavy rain Naruto could barely see the large mansion, finaly he managed to locate the road and followed it to the mansion. Large iron gates opened and closed by the move of his hand, then Naruto went to the main doors.
He knocked in the doors and waited for answer.
Doors opened revealing spears pointed to his chest.
"If that's how you met old friends, Edmund, then I should had stayed home."
"Miraak!" old warrior was realy glad to see him. "Your arrival never was so needed as now, come, I will show you."
They passed nearly all estate, until lord Edmund lead him to the dead end, he pushed one of the stones and secret passage opened in the wall. They passed through dark tunnel.
"What are you hiding here Edmund?" asked Naruto.
"Well Ketch, let me call you that, it's much easier this way and nobody can hear us. I needed this secret passage for a meetings with certain person."
"Please tell me you didn't build it to simply go fuck random woman?"
"Close, but not actually."
He led Naruto to massive woof doors. "Here you will understand everything."
Edmund opened the door leading Naruto into the room, in room three women were waiting for them, one in massive black armor with dark skin, blonde hair and blue eyes was holding massive hammer in her arms, second busty red haired women in very revealing outfit with mace and shield, last one was also blonde in mantle of the mage, her deep green eyes burned with magic power.
"So?" asked Naruto.. But Edmund went to the other part of the room where large bed situated. What Naruto didn't see was that bed isn't empty, young blonde woman laid in it, she and female mage were nearly identical, of course if you don't count age difference. Girl made a deep breath opened her bright blue eyes and closed them; her breathing once again became calm.
"Blue eyes…" thought Naruto "…same as Edmunds'". Now everything fell to right places. Edmund met his wife here, Naruto remembered, that he told about her being a mage, he knew that she gave birth to Argus, but never heard about daughter, so he decided to voice his suspicions:
"She is your daughter isn't she?"
Edmund nodded his head "Yes, as you know, girls are strictly raised by mothers, that is the rule of our mercenary society…"
"Yeah, yeah, to protect them from our enemies." Naruto got closer to the bed, got off the blankets, which covered her and revealed her bandaged body and blood on them. "Continue while I do my duty."
He stretched his arms to the wounds and bright light engulfed his hands.
Edmund sighed. "As you already understood she is my daughter Celia, she is two years younger, than Argus, if you want to know." Others saw, how Naruto flinched after hearing the Argus' name.
"It should have been our first meeting, but while they secretly went here, with only most loyal protectors and friends of my daughter, they met a beast on the road, very unnatural one, it looked like it was created from several beasts combined together. Originally I wanted to ask you to protect my girl, but right now it would be good enough if you managed to save her."
Naruto meanwhile ended the healing process. "I already did. Now, could you introduce me to the ladies?" asked Naruto.
"We will manage ourselves, I'm Minerva, Celia's mother as you already understood. She…" the sorceress pointed at the redhead. "…is Risty, she was once a bandit, who was forced to steal to protect and help her family. After my daughter helped her family she acquired most loyal warrior. This one…" she pointed at the black armored female. "…is lady Helga one of the childhood friends of my daughter, she is also paladin from the Order of Black Hammer."
"Nice to know you all I'm…"
At that moment Celia sat with a groan and opened her eyes. "Where am I? Mother who are those two men?"
While the happy family reunion happened, Naruto excused himself and said, that he will wait in mansion.
Several hours later sitting around the table they drunk wine, and prepared to listen to Miraak, who sat near fireplace in comfortable and soft chair. Doors and windows were closed, servants send away, spells casted by Miraak and Minerva, safely covered them from any unwanted attention.
"You may get off your mask, sire, you are among your friends."
"It's still hard to hear such official greetings from my old commanding officer." He got off the mask revealing his face. Three girls were immediately on him asking questions and saying things like "Cute!", "Adorable!", "Are they real?", "Cam I touch them?" last question was asked by all three at once.
Naruto raised his hands and replied: "I'm answering in order: yes, they are real, no, you cannot touch my whisker marks."
Gils pouted and immediately made the puppy eyes.
"Still no, lady Mineva, please stop laughing and do something."
"Oh it's just hilarious: Ketch the Great Butcher, The Black General of Beowulfes is afraid of three girls, I just can't hold my laughter!"
Girls blushing from embracement, returned to their seats.
"Thank you, before we start, why so much secrecy with meetings with your family? I thought after the war elders decided it was needed to recreate old bonds?"
Edmund waved his hand "Witches. We don' want them to get an upper hand in our conflict, just think what gift it is to them: our wives and daughters in their grasp! Hence, that's why so many complications."
"Other question: you think all of them need know about Argus?"
He managed to see, how lady Minerva flinched.
"Who is that Argus?" asked Celia.
"Your elder brother" replied lord Edmund.
"I have a… brother?"
"Correction, you had a brother. He died at his Day of Challenge." said Minerva with a pain in her voice.
"I was there." said Naruto. "there were no bodies, which led me to assumption that either your son is alive, or somebody took the bodies, until I heard your tale about your daughter's arrival. We too were attacked, only by the beast changed by the Magic Plague, the similarities between attacks led me to conclusion that it wasn't coincidence, but very cunning plan."
"And what would that "somebody" receive from such a plan?" asked Edmund.
"Aside from our heirs to the greatest lines of Beowulfes? Our weakening on the field, thinning our numbers and taking a bit of power from us? Personal army of Beowulfes in future."
"This is… But why did they take Graham's body with them? By you report you did a number on him."
"My memories are… blurry, after I found Argus, I never said that I killed Graham, all I can be certain about is that my enemy had a red blood, and no matter who he or she was, I will find the source and deal with our problem."
Authors Note: see links on profile t for better understanding, how characters looks…