Disclaimer: Yet again I don't own Naruto, Overlord, or even Fable, or any of the other things that I've commandeered for this warped little tale!
[Gnarl: And so we come again!
Jester: Why do I have the feeling I'm going to be hurt today?
Goby: Because we LIKE to hurts you!
Moldy, Gubben, Giblet, and Grubber: YEAH!!!
Snake: Besides, who else we have to destroy?
Venom, Carnage, Hiss, Slash: YEAH DESTROY HIM! DESTROY!!!
Doc: I am SOOO glad that is not me…
Shin: You're not the only one.
Espio: Ditto…
Lord Pain: ARGH! Shut up and start the damn fic already!]
NU: Dark Lord…
Chapter 20: Envy…
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Normal Speech…
Normal Thoughts…
Radio/Tower Heart In Use…
Jutsu In Use…
Demon Speech…
Demon Thoughts…
Inner Spirit Speech…
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(Dark Tower…)
Naruto appeared in the Dark Tower and walked over to Gnarl with a smirk, the strange double sword in hand while, Will followed. The brown haired boy then took off Jack of Blades masks from around his body and then tossed them to Gnarl. "I'll see to it that these are placed somewhere Secure from thieves and anyone else who might try to use their power… can't have someone like Jack running around if you want to rule the world." Gnarl muttered while holding the mask with a deep frown on his face.
"Could you see if you can make a few of these as well?" Naruto asked while handing Gnarl the dual-Sword, which he looked at with some small fascination and then nodded his head with a grin, heading down into the Tower Forge. Naruto himself then went over to his throne and sat down, awaiting Gnarl's return while Will went down into the Spawning Pit so he could then journey down into the Catacombs.
"Sire!" Shin called out while rushing to the blond who looked at him with one eye, his head propped on one arm. "Sire, I have just learned that we will be able to bond a Doppelganger to you soon, but that the Drow request that once that is done that, Will remain with them to pick a new priestess for them." Shin said with a bow and Naruto grunted, annoyed that when he was getting used to having the kid follow him that the Drow want him for such an insignificant reason…
"Why is that? Why would they even need a new priestess?" Naruto questioned of Shin who took a breath. Naruto knew why they would need one before, having read up on them he knew that a Priestess was to communicate with him in some way. But seeing as they lived right under him and had Will to do that anyway, he didn't see the point of a new Priestess being chosen… he'd said as much to Shin and Gnarl once as well…
"Well, Sire… It's because Will is both a Male and a Human that they won't accept him as the one who will speak to you for them. Akore is by all rights a Slave so they don't want her as their speaker either. Besides that it's a matter of pride to become the next priestess, whoever is chosen is above all the other Drow. They believe it would be best to keep the tradition, and I feel it would be best to accommodate them, we don't want them allowing someone threw into the Tower after all." Shin explained then said and Naruto grumbled under his breath.
"Racist Sexist bigots…" He muttered and Shin nodded his head, being the only known Gray or any Minion for that matter who had even a tiny speck of good in him. He was also fast becoming Naruto's favorite Minion, that and he had a strange Feeling that Gnarl's time in this world was soon coming to an end, he felt that perhaps Shin could be the Next Minion Master in his stead.
"True Sire. But their Mage's have agreed to bind the Doppelganger to you so you can continue your quests unhindered." Shin reminded and Naruto nodded his head before narrowing his eyes.
"What of the Goblins, have we found out where this Pryor is yet?" Naruto questioned and Shin gave a nod of his head before sighing.
"Unfortunately, Sire you will have to make your way through both the Dunmer and the Vampire Tribes in order to get to her within Goblin Valley, she apparently has a castle there, but a barrier has been erected to stop teleportation their directly as well. The Dunmer will probably be the more accommodating of the however, given that you're the Dark Overseer. The Vampires however, are a haughty race if anything, they are stubborn and prideful and will undoubtedly want something from you if you wish for an alliance with them." Shin replied then reminded and Naruto nodded his head slowly before stretching out his limbs.
"Anything else Shin?" He questioned and Shin nodded his head.
"We've managed to fully unearth and repair the Vault, Sire. We currently have several Green's guarding it and I believe that is where Gnarl will undoubtedly place Jack of Blades masks until if can be of use to us in the future." Shin replied while Jester ran by, his hat on fire and several Browns laughing their asses off, catching Jester with one arm Naruto looked at his flaming hat then started hitting him on the head to put it out before throwing him back to the browns who began to beat on him with renewed vigor.
"Right. What about the Servants? How are they?" Naruto asked and Ayame walked up from the Servants quarters before looking at him with a smile.
"Morning, Sire." She said and Naruto rolled his eyes.
"You mean evening, Pet." He reminded and Ayame blinked.
"Well you weren't here for me to say morning too earlier so I decided to say it now." She replied with a smile and Naruto rolled his eyes once more before looking to Shin who nodded his head.
"As you can see, the Servants are all well feed, healthy, and happy as per orders sire. I must admit they are certainly more productive when they are as well." Shin said then added with a nod of his head and Naruto rolled his eyes.
"When can we bond the Doppelganger to me?" Naruto asked and Ayame looked at several Browns throwing Jester to one another, screaming…
"That will be later tonight Sire. Until then Akore wishes to start training you in the Draa-Velve style." Shin replied and Naruto nodded his head before getting up and watching as Jester was thrown out a window by the browns…
"We're going to need a new Jester at this rate…" He said with a shake of his head and Shin snickered while following him down into the spawning pit while Ayame sighed and went to sit beside his throne seeing as Gnarl didn't let her sit IN it anymore… even if it was uncomfortable it had unfortunately become a habit for her…
Naruto arrived in the Spawning pit and found the Doppelgangers Hive had been taken into a new area, this one made to look like the caverns of the Mirror Cave. Ignoring that oddity, Naruto walked over to Akore, who was currently sitting down and glaring at Espio as they seemed to be having a contest, though it was widely known to be foolish to try and beat a Drow in a staring contest since they didn't have to blink for hours at a time much like a cat.
"Akore." Naruto said and the girl slyly turned her eyes to him without blinking. "Its time for training, play with Espio another time." Naruto stated and she nodded Espio grunting as he then wondered off into the tower. Akore then stood up and tossed the wooden swords from earlier to the blond who caught them then removed his Tanto and his Kunai Case and put them onto the ground.
"First of all my Dark-Overseer, I only know the first few basic techniques of this style. Shin has been studying the rest and will train me in the more advanced techniques so I can teach those to you as well." Akore offered and Naruto shrugged his shoulders, though wondered when Shin learned how to use any type of sword.
"Alright then Dark-Overseer, this is the basic stance of the Draa-Velve style." Akore said before forming into the stance, holding her two wooden swords, the right pointing up while the one in her left hand was held in a reverse grip, and tilting her body slightly forward. "Now you try." She then said and the blond overlord nodded his head while slowly crouching and taking the same stance as Akore. "Good work, Sire! Now then we should move onto basic combat in Draa Velve." Akore said while twisting her body and swinging her right sword down as she brought her left arm up as if too block, before quickly twisting herself back into the original stance.
Nodding his head Naruto then moved in the same way as Akore had, however nearly tripped as his armor restricted his movements. "Hmm… I'm sorry Dark-Overseer, but you should probably remove your armor for this training." She offered with a smile and Naruto wondered why she was so happy before removing his gauntlets, grieves, cuirass, pauldrons, and last his Hittai-ate making Akore blink. "Sire… did you know your hair has turned white and your Will-Lines are now more prominent?" She asked and Naruto's eyes shot wide open in surprise before getting down to his Tanto and pulling it open to see that the Drow was correct.
"My Evil-Energy is accumulating, I should have guessed it would start the more drastic changes soon…" Naruto mused while sheathing his Tanto and standing up, leaving his facemask on incase Ayame came down. "Alright Akore, lets continue." Naruto then said and Akore nodded, then looked at what he still had on with a frown.
"Are you sure you don't wish to remove anything else, Sire? It would make learning Draa-Velve much easier on you." Akore asked then offered and Naruto rolled his glowing blue eyes.
"No. I'm fine in this, now continue." He stated and Akore pouted while nodding her head and then retook her earlier stance.
"I'll show you the last move I used and we'll see if you can get it properly this time." She offered while twisting into the attack/block maneuver she used before, Naruto then twisted into the same move managing it this time, but noted Akore had a point about his clothes as they didn't allow a free range of movement. "Excellent, Sire! Now I'll show you a different move!" Akore offered while backing up, taking the first stance then twisted forward into a horizontal slash, twisted around almost like she was dancing as she swung her left arm into a vertical slash and then spun on one heel as she then flipped the blade in her left hand and brought both forward into a stab.
The girl then backed away from Naruto and made a waving motion as the blond then crouched down before moving into the same attack she had. It was hard to do as he noted his clothes did indeed restrict his movement greatly and he made a mental note to have Hiss try and make clothes for him to accommodate to this style. However he eventually managed the attack and then looked at Akore who nodded before taking a thoughtful position.
"Alright then Mileage, lets try a defensive maneuver now." She offered while flipping her wooden swords into a reverse grip and holding her arms into an X before herself. "Come at me so I can show you what to do." She said and Naruto nodded, moving forward into a swing of his right sword Akore easily blocked with her left arm before moving her right arm forward, the pommel of the wooden sword connecting with his gut and knocking him to the ground with a grunt.
"Now you try, sire." Akore offered and Naruto got up, flipped both swords into a reverse grip and held his arms into an X like Akore did. The Drow then came forward, swinging her left arm and Naruto blocked with his right, then moved his left forward to knock her back with more force than she had used. "Excellent Sire…" Akore offered while placing a hand to her gut and got up. "You even used the appropriate arm for the appropriate side, I'm impressed. On my first try I thought to use the other arm…" Akore admitted and Naruto rolled his eyes while returning to the basic stance of Draa-Velve.
"Good, now we move to a basic "Knock-Back-Move" which most magical sword styles have at least one version of. The technique basically does as you could tell, knocks back a group of enemies surrounding you to give you some breathing space. But in the Draa-Velve style, it has a basic, moderate, advanced, and expert variation, each for you to learn as you become proficient in the style." Akore explained and Naruto nodded his head slowly, getting that he was basically learning the best style available.
"The first move is mostly just called charged-slash or Twister-Cut. I'll show you how to start…" Akore said while crouching down slightly and holding her left blade in a reverse grip with the blade also in reverse, her arm stretched over her front, her right arm posed at her side and in a reverse grip as well. "Now channel a bit of Mana into the blades and…" With that Akore did as she said, a shine flowing over the two wooden swords before she suddenly spun on one heel. Her swords however moved into a perfect circle once she stopped after one rotation, a visible trail of energy having formed into two separate rings from her blades.
"Now you should try as well Sire." Akore offered while taking a step back and Naruto nodded his head, forming his body into the same position before taking a breath and channeling his Mana into the blades. The blond Overlord then watched a brief flash of energy form over his blade before spinning on his heel; the same energy burst forming from his own body into a perfect circle and two separate rings of energy.
"Excellent work my Dark-Overseer!" Akore said as Naruto looked shook off a bit of dizziness and crossed his arms. "Now lets see how well you retain this knowledge in a light spar…" Akore then offered as she took the basic stance and Naruto inwardly grinned while taking it as well, both lunging forward at the same time…
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(Meanwhile…)
Gnarl was sitting in the vault, the room was massive, gold and other precious items were held within but no where near the amount there would have been long ago, Jack of Blades masks hanging on a wall, one beside the other with him before them. "I must admit I was slightly surprised that the master actually managed to fight your influence, Jack. Even if he is the Overlord your will power alone is legendary." Gnarl admitted to the masks and Jack gave a slight chuckle in response.
"I find myself unable to disagree with you, Gnarl. It seems that this new Overlord is truly destined for greatness…" Jack mused to himself and Gnarl nodded his head in agreement while a smile the formed over his lips.
"Yes, I sense it as well, the Master was born with a unique power, the power to change those around him for good or ill…" Gnarl mused mostly to himself while Jack chuckled darkly to himself.
"Such a Power in its raw untapped form, an invaluable tool for any Overlord." Jack Mused and Gnarl absently nodded his head before he had a sudden thought.
"Yes, you would know seeing as the Hero who defeated you had a similar untapped power…" Gnarl said with a grin and could practically feel the glare he was being given from Gnarl in response. "However, why did you agree to help the master someday Jack? That really doesn't seem like you…" Gnarl questioned then stated suspiciously and heard a cold chuckle from Jack in response.
"The King of Blades was the Overlord of my time, I simply feel that the new "Prince of Blades" could use my help is all…" He said cryptically and Gnarl clicked his tongue before he nodded his head in agreement with the ancient spirit.
"Still, it's surprising your going to work with the Master. He IS the descendant of the sister of that Hero who bested you after all." Gnarl mused to himself and a chuckle came from Jack in response.
"Ah yes, Theresa, she became the very first "Left Hand" of the Overlord. That boy lived for such a long time because of both her powers as a seer and that system of rule he created… Though I think he was a bit high strung most of the time for an Overlord…" Jack explained then commented and Gnarl grunted with a frown, crossing his spindly arms over his chest before tapping his fingers onto his biceps as he thought of the past.
"Yes, and through Theresa, the former master managed to give the powers of Foresight and Extrasensory Perception to future Overlords, as well as the ability to gain "Will Lines", though the current Master has yet to learn how to wield the powers yet… Anyways, what did you REALLY think of the new Master, Jack?" Gnarl questioned and Jack gave a light chuckle in response to the old Minions Question.
"The boy amuses me Gnarl. That much is certain, anything else is yet to be seen. I suppose I'll merely watch for the time being, watch something new considering I'm free from that accursed Cave. However, as I told the boy, I SHALL be free no matter what you or he do to stop me… and on that day, we shall see where my allegiance should be…"Jack mused then said with a dark chuckle and Gnarl chuckled lightly as well in agreement with the ancient spirit.
"Possibly, Jack. But you never know what the future holds…" Gnarl muses mostly to himself while Jack was dead serious. "Oh well, I best return to my work Jack, undoubtedly the master will need my help soon enough. And as for telling the master about his relationship to you, I think he has had a bit too many surprises recently to take another one." Gnarl mused and Jack agreed with him while the old Minion Master then walked out of the vault and went to head back down to see Naruto…
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(With Naruto…)
Naruto stood panting lightly with Akore doing the same, both had been practicing the moves Akore taught Naruto in the spar and both had to admit it had been a strain on them to do so. "It seems that you are a model Student milord, I can't wait to learn more so I can teach you myself further." Akore said with a bow and Naruto rolled his eyes then stabbed the two blades into the ground and retrieved his armor and weapons.
"Sire!" Gnarl said and Naruto turned to him while stabbing his wooden swords into the ground at his sides. "I'm pleased to tell you that the Drow mystics are ready to bond a Doppelganger to you. They are presently on the roof and require your presence to do so immediately." Gnarl explained and Naruto nodded his head, seeing as the sooner he got that done the sooner he could go after Pryor and rip her fucking heart out of her chest with his bare claws for his mothers death…
Ignoring the fact he had such a disturbing thought, Naruto climbed up the tower with Gnarl, Akore following them as they soon reached the roof of the tower where they all saw a shell of some kind was generated by the tower to keep them all dry. The roof of the tower was circular, with an old staff resting on the ground, a silver mass, obviously a Doppelganger, in the center of it, and numerous Drow in dark robes all around the edges of the roof. Looking to Gnarl he saw the Minion Master motion towards the Doppelganger and the white haired Overlord walked over to it and looked down on it.
"Begin!" Gnarl called out while the numerous robed Drow moved, one in front and behind him, one to either of his sides, and four who would make an X in pattern with him thus leaving him completely surrounded by the Drow, a single Drow then walked forward out of the nine and held a hand towards Naruto.
"Please hold out your hand my Dark-Overseer…" She said and Naruto held his hand out, the woman then cut his hand, allowing blood to flow and making him glare at her. "It is necessary…" She then offered and Naruto grunted while the Drow moved back and out of the circle, the nine Drow slowly getting down, seemingly on their knees but the dark cloaks kept him from being able to tell. They then began to chant something out in Drow from what he could tell while the Doppelganger then moved over to the blood on the ground coming from his still bleeding hand.
Soon however Naruto noticed that glowing rings of red energy were growing from the ground and expanding towards him. Soon enough he was surrounded by tow rings of the energy, both expanding, the first ring at the outer edge of the circle he stood within expanding inward, the second circle was in the center and was expanding outward. Soon these rings had converged on one another, the Doppelganger the only thing within the center when the rings suddenly shrunk back down. The first formed around the Doppelganger, the second around Naruto who had to grit his teeth and fell down to one knee as his body was racked with pain.
Lightning arched over his form and that of the gelatinous Doppelganger, the silver quivering mass slowly sliding upwards into a generic human shape. "Master! You have only to hang on, the spell will do the rest don't worry!" Gnarl called out as Naruto was lifted into the air by the power of the spell gritting his teeth in pain as it coursed through every cell, the Doppelganger being risen into the air as well. Naruto grunted and tried to keep from screaming out as he threw his arms to the side as energy exploded from his body, only succeeding in roaring out in pain as both he and the Doppelganger began to glow with a bright red light.
Gnarl and Akore watched on in fascination as then a burst of red light and wind was expelled from the two. They and the mages had to brace themselves or risk being pushed off of the tower entirely. Looking on once both had passed Gnarl saw his Master was still standing breathing heavily but still standing, his eyes wide while lightning arched over his form.
"Master…" Gnarl whispered as then a second form became visible, a grin slowly splitting across Gnarls face as it did so. It was a boy the same height as Naruto, with bright spiky blond hair, tanned skin with no Will-Lines, three whisker scars on each cheek, and his eyes were giving off a mysterious glowing blue and a slightly dazed look formed his expression at the moment. He was dressed in a sleeveless shirt with a tattered red scarf around his neck, a pair of black pants with a tattered red sash around his waist, a belt circling over the sash, black bands over each of his biceps, and last was a pair of dark-blue Shinobi-Sandals to complete his look…
"And so our master's voice is truly born!" Gnarl called out while Naruto looked to his "Voice" with some amazement before the former doppelganger looked to Naruto and bowed before him. "Our shall know the name of our lords new Voice, all shall know the name of Envy!" Gnarl called out loudly as the Drow bowed as well, "Envy" then seemed to shift into, a strange form with black clothes dark green hair violet cat like eyes and pale skin, then just as quickly he turned into Naruto's Overlord form in a flash of light, then his original Dobe self, and finally into the Betrayer all in a matter of seconds before returning to his original form while Naruto's eyes widened.
However, not even a second later a wide fanged grin formed onto the blonds lips, he now had his voice, a shape shifter who could pose as anyone he wanted. A deep, menacing chuckle escaped Naruto's throat as he could easily see the uses of such a servant to his cause. "Come Envy…" Naruto said while raising a hand, his Shape-Shifting servant looking up to him and getting back to his feet. "… we have much work to do…" Naruto then intoned darkly and Envy nodded his head as both her and Naruto then walked over to Gnarl and Akore.
"Gnarl, I want Espio, Slash, Snake, and Carnage to head into the Dark Mountains and check around the Dunmer and Vampire tribes for me." Naruto ordered and Gnarl nodded while Naruto and Envy then walked into the tower. Gnarl and Akore also following them down into the Tower with the Drow Mages… an evil glow piercing through the darkness of Naruto's mask…
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(??)
The Betrayer was walking with his Succubi by his side; the two were heading towards the lands of "Evernight Forest" in order to speak with the Remaining High Elves about defeating the Overlord… However as they walked and the Betrayer inwardly plotted his new rule, he felt a chill run down his spine and turned to look towards the distance. "Is something the matter darling?" She questioned while the Betrayer felt like someone had just walked over his own grave…
"No… just a bad feeling, nothing more…" He offered and the Succubus shrugged her shoulders before sauntering off, the Betrayer looking into the distance could feel something, the Overlords power was growing… "A storm approaches…" He said cryptically before turning around so he and his Succubus could reach the High Elves Tribunal in order to speak with them about the so-called Overlord and how they needed to ally to defeat him… now more than ever…
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TBC…
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