~NRK~
"So, this is the Stellar Graveyard," Flonne said as she looked up at the sky.
"Never been here myself," Naruto said. "But, yes, it's where all forms of junk that comes from this place's human world, space, and I guess other planets, lands," he said in Prinny form. "Right now, we need to find out where that Prinny saw that thing," he added, turning to Aramis who grinned while he sweat. "... You don't know, do you?"
"The Prinny didn't either!" The boy said before grabbing his flipper and dragging him forward. "Come on! We can just look and I can tell you all about this new Zombie-type I just learned about!"
"Huh?!"
"I was unaware," Draconis said. "Does he have a child? I was under the impression he's a Prinny but then again."
"W-What?! No!" Etna squealed as Clarissa snickered.
"It's not like it's a harmful question. No. Aramis is a boy we've sort of unofficially taken in as a vassal. It happened about a week or two ago," the Cleric explained as the Harpy Senator hummed loudly. "... Why are you here?" The woman asked.
"Hmm! Present given! Give help!" The Harpy said simply with a grin and a blush.
"..." Clarissa had a feeling that wasn't everything. "Very well, a pleasure to have you."
"Hmm!"
Corrin snickered. "Man, Bellona should have come. We'd have so many different Skills!" She declared as they chased after the two. "Besides, I'm actually curious about what that kid was talking about."
"I'd hate it," Laharl said flatly as Circe hummed.
"It's like we can never avoid that Class," she sighed. "But, then again, it's not like it's not one of the most easily accessed classes in the Netherworld, so," Circe shrugged.
As they followed after them, they found Naruto lifting Aramis onto his shoulders as he held up a half-hand seal.
"... Alright, I can feel some forms of life over there," Naruto told the group as they reached them. "Now, if only you would stop with the Zombies."
"I'm tellin' ya! These are different!" Aramis said from his perch. "I was always wondering what the demons of the past were like so I looked it up and, apparently, there are Classes that were lost many years ago. It was weird, too. The thing is, it even said there were other Netherworlds. There used to be a sort of Squad for that stuff."
"Huh?" Laharl blinked as Flonne tilted her head.
"W-Wait, b-but we never knew!" She yelped and Aramis grinned nervously.
"I-I don't know! I was, uh, just carrying the book for the past 50 years. I just found it, s-so…"
Etna frowned at that. 'Wait… a book that knows about all that stuff?' She considered mentally. 'But, then, why didn't the Netherworld update? Also, two new Zombie-types?' How had that gotten lost? 'Something stinks here and it ain't Zombies.'
They traveled over brownstone hills, light blue sand dunes, and water that glistened purple in the light from the several stars and planets above.
"It really is a beautiful sight," Sardia said with a grin. "Why's it called Stellar Graveyard, though?"
"It's known for becoming the grave of Angels, weirdly enough," Corrin said as Flonne froze. "NYAHAAHHAAH! Calm down, Flonne. It's a joke. No, the real reason is because of the types of demons who used to exist back in the day and the space junk."
"Types of demons can claim an entire Map like this?" Draconis was impressed.
"Yes but these guys were… different," the Thief explained with a nervous grin. "Demons who used to come from the stars themselves. Galactic Demons."
All screens came up and the Class shot into their Subclasses.
"... Oh, fuck," the Senator cursed harshly. "Fuck! Fuck! No! We do NOT want that!"
"Why?" Avarice asked curiously. "Bad?"
"Yes, fuck," Corrin groaned. "The Galactic Demon Class is supposed to be sealed away. Why is it open for use? Was it that update? But, if that's the case, how?"
"Netherworld Updates aren't supposed to undo seals," Draconis frowned. "Someone did."
"... Dammit, why do we keep dealing with this shit?" Laharl groaned. "So, are you telling me, these guys were super-bad news?"
"... Yep."
"Fantastic. Can we finish up here? Please? I'm done."
"Thursday!" Came a voice from their side and the group turned to see a woman running after a robot. "We don't-Oh, hello?" She went from worried to smiling, waving at the group as her robot came to a stop.
[LIFEFORMS! NOT GORDON. RIP IN PIECES] Thursday said as Jennifer sighed.
"Huh? I didn't know there were other humans in the Netherworld," Jennifer said as she looked at them all. "Oh no! Did they kidnap you all?! I heard demons aren't any easier on women and children!"
"What is she on about?" Etna asked flatly. "Uh, ya-hoo~ I've got a tail and wings. I ain't no human."
"To be fair, you guys look a lot like humans," Naruto said as Jennifer saw him before squishing her cheeks.
"His fur looks. So. Comfy!" She squealed and Aramis grinned.
"It is," he said proudly as Naruto snorted.
"So, uh, ya wanna tell us why humans are in the Netherworld?" He asked and Jennifer blinked.
"W-Wait! Have you met Gordon?!"
"I don't know a 'Gordon' but I can feel another human in this place."
[BEEP! BEEP! LIAR LIAR PANTS ON FIRE!] The robot said as Naruto grinned nervously. [MY DETECTORS AREN'T-] There was a beep. [GORDON'S LIFE SIGNATURE HAS BEEN FOUND!]
"Right," Corrin smirked. "Guess you ain't an Android."
[I AM THURSDAY.]
"Of course, you are."
"So, there's one more human here?" Circe asked and Jennifer nodded obediently. "That's not good. We need to find them before something bad happens."
"You'll… help us?" Jennifer asked with shining eyes.
"Hmph, as the part-time Overlord," Laharl spoke up as Etna snickered. "It's my job to make sure no one messes up our lands. Human chunks don't sound pleasant."
"... Wait, y-you're the Overlord?"
"Yeah?"
"... B-But you're but a child!" Jennifer spazzed. "I-I thought the Overlord was a monster by the name of Krichevskoy who tortures puppies and eats women!"
"What?!" Etna balked. "W-Who the hell told you that?! The King's not even up right now!"
"T-Then you're not invading Earth?" She asked, confused.
"Why the hell would I invade Earth? That place is a dump. Humans destroyed their own planet with toxic fumes and waste. Who'd spend their time on that?" Laharl scoffed.
"W-Well… It's still my home, so…"
"So, why are you here?" Draconis asked and Jennifer gasped.
"I'd forgotten! We have to find Captain Gordon! We were sent here to slay the Overlord but now I don't know what to believe!"
"Slay… me?" Laharl raised a brow.
"W-Well, Gordon, really. He's the 37th Defender of Earth! A global hero who goes on many adventures to fend off the evils who'd threaten our world!"
"That sounds so cool!" Flonne said as Aramis grinned while Naruto chuckled.
"He sounds like a swell dude."
"... Hm, hm, hm… a hero, huh?" Laharl grinned widely as Jennifer tilted her head. "I must meet this 'Captain Gordon'!"
"R-Really?!" Jennifer grinned. "Thank you, cute little boy!"
"Hmm? Brain not full?" Avarice considered and Clarissa sweatdropped.
"Perhaps a little."
"It's not 'cute little boy'! It's Laharl! Son of King Krichevskoy! The current holder of the Overlord title!"
"Hm, hm, thanks, Harlie."
"Not Harlie!"
"Still, it's rather nice of you, Laharl," Flonne smiled before sweatdropping as Laharl chuckled darkly.
"It's an Overlord's job to fight a hero! I haven't gotten to do that before! This might be my one chance for another thousand years!"
"Ah, there it is," Clarissa said as Aramis hummed.
"Well, he should fight one of my Zombies!" The boy said and Jennifer gasped.
"Z-Z-Z-Zombies?!" The woman shrieked and Aramis grinned.
"Yes! I'm going to make the Ultimate Zombie!" He cackled. "And with information on the Chimera and Maid, I'm one step closer!"
The group, including Jennifer and Thursday, found their screens appearing in front of them. The demon-side gawking.
"W-W-Wait! How is a Maid a Class?!" Was serving people a specialization?! "Huh?!" Naruto choked at the idea.
"W-Wait! Maids exist already! It's a job!" Corrin gaped. "In what world-"
"H-Huh?! What are these?! S-Subclasses?! Overload?! What is all of this?!" Jennifer bugged out, looking at her maxed Martial Artist, Fight Mistress, Professor, Gunner, and Masked Hero Subclasses. "O-Oh, some of them are maxed out."
"Huh?" Clarissa blinked. "Which ones?"
She told her and the group looked shocked. "What are you?! Some kind of superhero?!" Circe gawked.
"Hm, hm, hm. No, nothing like that. I just fight alongside Captain Gordon often. Why I bet he has more than a couple of these Subclasses maxed."
"Humans are more impressive than I remember," Draconis said as Sardia sweatdropped.
"I mean, I've got a few of those, too," she said and Avarice cawed.
"Me! Too!" She said with a grin, sending Naruto her screen.
"Huh?" He read it. "So, she's a maxed Witch, Sorcerer, Beast, Chimera, and… Sage. Well, those make sense," Naruto noted as Clarissa's eyebrow twitched. "Wait, how'd she get that already?"
"You could have sent that to all of us," the Cleric said but the Senator shook her head dismissively. "..." Green eyes narrowed as the Harpy smirked.
"... I don't like where this is going," Naruto said nervously as Jennifer giggled alongside Circe and Flonne. "S-So, let's just say, things got weird. I'm more surprised that humans have screens."
"Oh, no, these have been with humanity ever since 10,000 years ago," Jennifer smiled. "Why, when you're growing up from where I'm from, I got picked on for having high stats."
"... I pity you," Laharl snorted. "Let's go already. I want to meet this so-called hero and see what he's made of."
"You shouldn't underestimate this guy, Laharl," Naruto transformed into his spirit form. "He's actually kind of, really, strong for some reason. It's weird."
"Oh, that's not," Jennifer smiled. "As I said, Gordon's a hero. He's been training ever since he was but a baby in the womb thanks to special tests on earth."
"Huh?" The entire group blinked.
[SPECIAL BABY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM!] Thursday explained. [MAKE SUPER BABIES FOR POTENTIAL HERO CANDIDATES!]
"Yu-huh. From when they're born, those babies also receive special bonus stats from items passed down since times immemorial. From there, they're trained to combat all forms of foes. Humans, robots, aliens, and even monsters on Earth. Gordon passed it all to become the greatest hero we've known for a long time. He was so special, they gave him a Battle Suit."
"What's that do?" Sardia wondered.
"In times of crisis, once donned, it increases his abilities 5-fold, making him a true hero like those in legends but it's a one-use machine if used to its absolute limits," Jennifer said confidently. "But Gordon's never needed it!"
"... Okay, I'm liking where this is going," Laharl said with a grin. "What level are you guys?"
[BEEP! I HAVE THE ARTIFICIAL LEVEL 500!] Thursday said as his female comrade nodded.
"And I'm level 200," Jennifer explained. "Gordon's level is only 250 but, as I said, his stats aren't normal."
"So, if he donned that suit. He'd be level 1250 but his stats would be higher?" Laharl grinned wider. "Yea… I'm liking where this is going."
"Let's go. This might be an interesting battle," Draconis said with a grin. "A human with such power, that's something else."
The group agreed, moving further into the Map as they followed Naruto's senses.
"So, what kind of weapons do you all use?" Naruto asked as he switched to Prinny form. "It must be something-"
"He's so cute!" He was scooped up in seconds and nuzzled to no end.
"No! Stop! I don't want to go through this again! Do you realize how hard it is to make a five-layered pudding?!"
"But you're so fluffy for some reason! It's so good!" Jennifer squealed as Naruto began to sweat at the heated auras behind him.
"P-Please put me down!"
"Oh~ Alright, alright. Next time~" She threw him a wink and Naruto began to tremble.
"I'm in so much trouble, dood!"
Laharl snickered at that while Circe hummed.
"That's gonna be quite the group to manage," she said to herself and he looked at her, confused.
"Huh?"
As they continued to walk, and Naruto began to plan several more apologies, the group came to a stop by a large lake with a similarly large hill of stone nearby.
[GORDON'S SIGNATURE IS NEARBY!] Thursday declared as Jennifer gasped before running further into the area.
"Gordon!" She called out worriedly. "Gordon! Where are you?!"
"Never fear! Jennifer! Is that you?!" Came a voice from the rock hill, a figure appearing atop it. "Hmph! Nailed it," he said with a smirk as they saw his fair skin.
His eyes were a powerful blue and his hair was brown, cleanly combed, while he wore an impeccable grin.
Captain Gordon had entered the scene within a flash of light only known to Masked Heroes.
"So, that's the hero, huh?" Laharl grinned as his aura flared. "Ain't that somethin'?"
"Hmm?" Gordon blinked before floating down with his jetpack. "Who's this? A bunch of humans and-DEMONS!" He cried out in shock and horror as Naruto snorted in Werefox form, Draconis chuckling as Avarice beamed.
"Yes!" She declared and Gordon did his best to not look a bit below her- "Pervert!" She squawked with a blush, hiding behind Naruto whose eye began to twitch.
"Why is this falling on me?" He whispered in horror as Etna and Clarissa's eyebrows twitched. "Oh, God."
"Gordon! Wait!"
A gun seemed to appear in his hands and fired.
A lashing-out tail deflected the laser as its owner smirked, Gordon's eyes locking onto him in an instant.
"... Hmm, that powerful aura," he began with narrowing eyes as Laharl grinned. "Those fierce eyes! Those powerful tails! A Nine-Tailed Fox Overlord?! It's kind of different but you must be Krichevskoy."
"... Huh?!" Laharl choked as Etna, Corrin, Sardia, and Avarice started laughing. "The hell are you on?!"
"Shush, young man, I'll handle him!" Gordon declared as Jennifer tried to interfere.
"G-Gordon, no, wait!"
"Don't worry, Jennifer! I eat guys like him for breakfast!" The captain declared before lunging at the blonde fox who shrugged.
Their forearms cracked against one another before they separated.
A laser-gun shot off thrice and Naruto grinned as the blasts were dodged with ease.
"I see! I'll turn up a notch!" The man roared as he pressed a button on his suit. "50%!"
Naruto's mouth set into a bigger grin. 'So, that's the suit, huh?' This seemed like fun.
Then several beams of light passed him by, his pupils dilating. "Faster hands, huh?"
"Only for the best!"
The fox lunged before spinning through some lasers to bring his leg down.
Gordon dodged back as the blow destroyed the earth where it landed.
The man's gun shot off twice, the fox dodging before his eyes widened as Gordon grinned, snapping his fingers so a spark could come from them.
Those lasers shot back around the blonde who batted them to the side with his tails. "Not bad, old man."
"O-Old?!"
"Heh."
"Oi!" Laharl came stomping over with a growl. "What's your deal?!"
"I'm stopping the evil-doer!" Gordon declared before Laharl's eyes glowed and the man jumped back from lightning. "W-What the-?!"
"I'M THE OVERLORD, YOU DICK!" He shouted at him and Gordon looked back and forth between the waving Naruto and the annoyed-looking Laharl. "... What?!"
"... Are you sure? I expected someone… taller and post-puberty."
"I am post-puberty!"
"His first of two!" Circe explained from the sidelines as Gordon looked confused.
"Two puberties? My word, life must be hell down here… wait."
"NO SHIT!" Etna cackled.
"Ah, right," Gordon nodded sagely as Laharl facepalmed. "So, a child is the Overlord? I don't know how I feel about this."
"You're an idiot!" Laharl growled. "For the love of! If you're a hero, fight. Me."
"... Can't I just fight him?"
"No!"
"Hmph… I'll do what I must! Captain Gordon! The 37th Defender of Earth! Here to bring you down!" Gordon declared as Laharl huffed before grinning.
"I'm noticing, you're actually kind of strong," he said as Naruto came up to his side. "You'll be fighting me and my greatest vassal, Naruto the Reborner," Laharl said as Naruto hummed.
"I'll live with the title. So, how are we doing this, Gordon?"
"Hmph. Defeating you two is what I'll do if I have to!" Gordon said before pressing a button on his suit. "Release my hundred percent power!"
The suit glowed bright blue before Gordon grinned as he put his gun away and cracked his knuckles. "It's time for you to feel the will of the DEFENDER OF EARTH!"
He crouched before the two did the same.
And they slammed into one another in the middle.
'His strength ain't bad!' Naruto realized with a growing grin, going into his Divine Spirit form. "Not bad at all!"
Laharl threw the man back and it seemed like his form was blurred, ten pinpointed lasers shooting off his body in consecutive volleys.
Naruto spun in front of Laharl as wind picked up, knocking the shots off-kilter, the lasers tearing through the landscape around them.
Listening to something, Laharl nodded before the two of them erupted into smoke before two Laharls lunged out of it.
"Oh, a Doppelganger, ey?!" Gordon raised his arms and grabbed both Princes' wrists before they grinned.
The swords exploded into smoke and Gordon gasped before being kicked in the face twice over by two Werefox Narutos.
"Got 'em!" They shouted in unison.
"Ya know! We should have passed that Magichange Bill already!" Etna said from the sidelines.
"W-Well…" One of the Narutos looked nervous. "... Maybe."
"I know you want to be my tool~"
"Dammit! No, I don't!"
Laharl snorted before wielding his actual weapon. "Hey, Gordon. You know, if we beat you, you have to follow my command, right?" He said viciously as Gordon flinched. "I mean, you're coming after my life."
"... D-Damn you, Overlord! Attacking my honor and pride like that!" Gordon said as Clarissa sweatdropped.
"He does realize he doesn't have to, right?" She asked Jennifer who blinked.
"He doesn't?"
'Oh no,' these humans were starting to make her concerned.
Back with Laharl and Naruto the two were clawing and slicing at Gordon who dodged his opponent's moves with a grin.
"Not so fast, huh?!" He kicked out and Naruto blocked it as Laharl came overhead with a swipe at the man's neck. "Huh?!"
He leaned back before three tails locked around his waist and slammed him into the floor, the blow rocking the landscape and erupting into smoke.
"Ooooofff!" The man said dramatically before Naruto and Laharl backed off from his numerous lasers. "I-I see! I'm not enough like this!" Gordon said with eyes burning with determination, finger hesitating over a button. "... HMPH!" He pressed it.
From far in the distance, something shined before shooting down towards them, landing by Gordon.
[THE BATTLE SUIT!] Thursday declared and Naruto and Laharl balked.
"Wait, it wasn't his actual suit?!" Naruto gaped while Gordon grinned. "... Bring it!" Naruto said as he made several clones.
They shot out into the distance at his sides while the Werefox cast his buffs.
Invigorate
And then he cast the second one he'd gained once he passed level 200.
A skill he'd been happier to have than any other.
Kurama Formula Boost
Laharl grinned as he and Naruto were engulfed by a mix of Target Lock, Braveheart, and Shield. And it came with one more effect that caused his Skills to burst up a rank.
The Prince gained a small golden bandana over his arm to signify the increase. For Naruto, it was as simple as a familiar seal finding its way onto his stomach.
"Yeah! Let's get wild!" They roared at Gordon whose eyes burned at the challenge.
His Battle Suit was a thick-looking spacesuit with white armor on the chest, feet, hands, and bowl-like helmet. It was riddled with red and blue lights that formed an intricate circuit all over it.
"I'm bringing you down, Overlord!" He declared as the suit glowed in a powerful aura. "Welcome to humanity!"
Naruto was already above him, leg swinging out and rupturing the ground… but it was grabbed mid-air by Gordon's suit's hand.
"Haaaa!" He spun before throwing the fox boy away, forearm coming up to block Laharl's downward slash that split the floor beneath his feet. "Not so tough!"
Pushing the boy down, Gordon hesitated before there was an opening in the suit's hand, a blazing light building that Laharl rolled out of the way from, ducking into the crevice he'd created.
The beam lit up the ground as the Prince slipped out, the ground turning to ash beneath Gordon's feet.
"Suit! Sequence locked! Four max! Overdrive!"
[Yes, sir]
The back of it burst open and missiles shot out, locking onto Naruto and Laharl who held their ground, back-to-back.
"Hit 'em all!" Laharl declared as his fist burned dark.
"All at once!" Naruto grinned as his fist burned with similar power.
The two swung out and a burst of light and dark distorted the air and caused all the projectiles to explode mid-way.
"Whaaaa?! Dual-attacks?!" Gordon gasped. "It's time to bring you down with some SCIENCE!"
The suit's hands unleashed something from its back.
"... Is that a sniper rifle?" Naruto asked in disbelief as Gordon grunted.
"Yes. One of the most dangerous weapons known to the human world. The Deep Down Under," the man declared as he got into a shooter's stance. "Prepare."
The bullet slipped past Naruto's cheek, shocking him as he looked down at the blood coming down his face.
"... Oh, fuck."
He made his most notable handsign. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
More clones popped into existence around him and Laharl.
"Splitting Bullet!" Gordon declared as the sniper glowed bright red before shooting out a spread-shot of bullets towards the rushing crowd of Narutos.
They curved around and began tearing through the opposition.
"Go under," Naruto whispered as Laharl vanished. "Are you ready, you guys?!"
Yellow towers of energy shot into the sky before shooting down onto the blonde whose copies began to pop out of existence, leaving Gordon looking at one opponent.
"... You truly are worthy of being called an Overlord, aren't you?" He said as he saw the new state Naruto was in.
Around the blonde's slightly narrowed eyes were black marks as nine long tails flared out behind him.
Around his body, sun-like marks and accents shifted over his fur. His pants were now decorated by yellow suns as he clenched his white claws.
"Alright, let's see how you like this form, Gordon," he said, eyes burning gold as they bore cross-pupils.
"Bring it, demon! I'll bring my best to beat-"
The fox vanished from his sight and Gordon blinked, looking around.
"Where did he-" He began to say before his suit tilted, the man flinching as he turned around to see the fox at his back, grinning as he held an Odama Rasengan in his off-hand. "NOOOO-!"
An explosion of gold rocked the air as wind tossed those on the sidelines' hair back.
"Huh!" Corrin grinned as she crossed her arms in front of her eyes. "Didn't think he could get this powerful!"
"Yes, he accomplished a form like this in his fight against me," Draconis said with a grin. "I still don't know what his power is. This skill takes his transformations to their highest states. An ability that can push his Class Boundaries, so to speak."
"Ah!" Avarice cawed as she flapped her wings.
The winds fought before canceling out, the woman grinning widely as her eyes shined, eyes on their target.
"That bitch!" Etna yelled as the winds ended. "Dammit!"
Circe hummed as Flonne held onto her for stability. "That's strength for you. Power to bring the very world to its knees, Flonne, Etna."
"..." Clarissa wore a worried look as Naruto unleashed a series of blows onto Gordon's suit while Jennifer looked uncomfortable.
"T-Thursday, this will end well, right?" She asked the multi-purpose robot who beeped.
[BEEP! BELIEVE IN GORDON'S GOODNESS!] He said and she smiled softly.
"I know."
'His speed is greater than mine as is?!' That was shocking! 'I'm already at 4 times my maximum! Any more and…' He grimaced.
The fox man's arms lashed out with pulsing aura extensions that Gordon couldn't predict as he was pummeled down into the ground.
Naruto jumped up and formed another Rasengan that burned with Wind.
"Futon: Rasengan!"
The attack barely missed him as Gordon shot back with the rockets on his boots, his sniper raised-
Naruto appeared in front of his helmet, another Odama Rasengan held back.
"AHHH-!"
Another explosion rocked the area as they continued their battle.
Circe's eyes narrowed. 'Where's Laharl?' Her gaze went around the ground before seeing something in the crevice that Gordon was being driven near. '?!' Smart!
Gordon slammed his fists into Naruto's as they went back to the crevice.
"It's time to end this, fiend!" The man's right hand raised in the blonde's face. "Taste BEAM!"
Then something flashed by and skidded to a halt by Gordon's side, a grinning boy with two long hair-antenna.
"Hah?!" Gordon screamed as his gloves came off. "No! Not the Battle Suit!"
Naruto grabbed the man's Battle Suit's shoulder as he raised one of his hands reared back.
The Rasengan that sprung to life in his palm burned bright with demonic energy.
"Demon-Style: Rasengan!" The fox slammed it forward into Gordon's stomach.
"Nooooooo!" The man went flying backward and slammed into his original starting place before the ball exploded into a black orb with red within.
When the explosion came to an end seconds later, Naruto and Laharl watched the dust and wind settle and grinned before bumping fists.
"Our win!" They declared as Gordon sat there, defeated.
"N-Noooo," the man groaned as Thursday and Jennifer ran over to him. "I-I lost, Jennifer! Thursday!"
[IT'S OKAY, GORDON!] Thursday said.
"It's fine, we promise. We're in this together," Jennifer added with a smile as she helped him out of his suit. "S-Still, the suit's totaled," she said as they looked at it.
The attacks on it had been too fierce. Stronger than even the Defense Force could have expected.
"Haa," Gordon sighed with a frown. "I can fix it but I'll need parts from the ship."
"Hm, hm, hm! Aren't you forgetting something, Gordie?" Laharl said as he and Naruto came up to the three, the Prinny back to his 'default'. "Remember, from here on out, you're the vassal of OVERLORD LAHARL! MWAHAHAHAHAHAH!"
"NOOOOOOOOO!"
"Well, this ended well," Draconis said with a grin. "I really should spar with him in my true form. I question how that skill fares against my actual power. Oh, of course, after powerleveling, Mrs. Uzumaki."
Etna, Sardia, Clarissa, and Avarice's heads snapped in his direction, cheeks rosy as he chuckled.
"I don't remember saying any of your names," he grinned and Corrin laughed as the women in question blushed like fools. "Hm, hm, hm."
Yes, he'd gotten great mileage out of that joke.
~NRK~
Gordon, Thursday, and Jennifer blinked as they looked around after leaving the dimensional portal.
"I-Is that what all demons have?!" Gordon gaped at the portal. "T-That kind of technology would revolutionize mankind!"
"You guys are the ones who are slow," Laharl snickered. "Maybe you all should have worked harder on those suits. Might have won."
"A-Argh!"
"Hmm, Harlie, I'm curious. Didn't you say you weren't the true Overlord?" Jennifer asked and Laharl scoffed.
"My old man's in dire straits. We're currently working on getting him back to normal."
'I didn't think demons were so… kind,' the fact had been rattling everything Jennifer knew they'd been told under debriefing.
Demons were without love, happiness, and understanding but that ran opposite to everything she'd witnessed up to this point.
'Father… what's going on?'
"Alright, Aramis is back in the yard," Etna said with a huff. "So, what's next?"
"I guess we should just keep powerleveling then," Laharl said. "Wait, didn't you need to do something?" He said to Clarissa who nodded.
"It's time to put my future to the test. We need the Cave of Ordeals," she said as Naruto nodded.
Getting to Plenair, they found her with more Bills around her feet and a twitching eyebrow.
"... I'm sorry," Naruto said immediately as she pouted a bit.
"Bills."
They got down to business as Naruto invited them to watch his work in the Dark Assembly's Bills.
"So, what do we want?" He asked as he immediately picked the Lands of Carnage Bill. "So, with that, I've bought it, right?"
"Make sure the Senators… vote," Plenair said as she pulled a button out of her pocket and pressed it.
A similar one appeared in front of Corrin and Avarice, the latter fumbling with hers before Naruto caught it.
"Geez," the Prinny handed her it but she grinned and tapped it with her foot. "... Take it."
"Hold like princess!" She said with a blush and grin as he choked.
"Right," Etna said with narrowed eyes.
The votes came in and the group sighed in relief at the 70% voting in their favor.
Following that, he bought the two Magichange Bills, getting a 65% rating.
"Anything else?" Naruto asked the others. "I've got 30,000 and some left."
"... It's time we bought some utilities," Circe said as she came forward and pointed out several items. "The Chara World, Food Station, Innocent Farm, and all the classes we can nab."
He bought them and, even with all that, they were left with ten thousand mana to use up.
"So, we now have a ton of Classes. What else do we need?" Naruto suggested and the group looked at what else they had to choose from. "Hmm?"
-Netherworld Investigation Squad (Not Unlockable, Buy the Squads Station)
"Huh? Squads Station?" Naruto looked for it and choked at what it was suggesting. "Why does it cost so damn much?!"
"What?" Laharl looked before frowning. "Squad Station? What's that?"
"... I don't know," Circe said with a frown. "That's not something I've heard of."
"But Aramis spoke about it from that book of his, remember?" Naruto said. "That Netherworld Squad thing?"
"He did say somethin' to that effect," Sardia said. "But, still, if that's one piece of all of it. What could the others be?"
"... We don't know," Corrin said. "I've never heard of that, either. Are more Bills coming in that we just don't know about?"
"It seems so," Clarissa said. "For now, why not hold onto that mana? What if we need it immediately down the line?"
"Not wrong," Naruto said as he closed the screen before Plenair nodded. "Thanks, Plenair-chan. This is gonna get weird, I know it."
"... I figured," she said. "For now, training is important," Plenair added with some oomph.
"Heh. Yep. For now, we've gotta hit those Lands of Carnage."
"Carnage! Carnage!" Avarice cheered as Naruto sweatdropped. "I find new shiny things!"
"Maybe? Actually, what level are you?" He asked and got another, solo, screen invite. "... Huh, level 1703. Damn, that's some level," Naruto praised and she preened, metaphorically.
"Hmm~"
"So!" Etna said forcefully. "We're going, yeah?"
"Yu-huh. It'll be nice to see how much we can really get from one floor," Laharl said as he raised a brow at everything. "This is getting weirder," he mumbled as Circe nodded.
"It comes with experience."
~NRK~
The moment they'd set foot in that place… they knew everything was off. A red haze, harsh winds, rough earth, and painful steps seemed to exploit their every move.
"W-What the hell is this feeling?" Naruto shivered with a growl that surprised him, the man realizing he was in Werefox form. "The hell?"
"You're reacting to the space itself. The Lands of Carnage aren't normal, that's the absolute truth," Draconis said as the group shivered, their weapons involuntarily in their hands.
Avarice's pupils dilated along with Corrin's whose fingers trembled.
Circe's skull brimmed red as Flonne's wings popped out, shaking.
Sardia looked unwell as magic buzzed at her fingertips while Clarissa clenched her bow tightly, an involuntary Giga Heal spell hanging off her lips.
And, finally, Laharl's eyes throbbed in the wicked space, his antennae seeming to elongate as the marks appeared on his back. Wings. Wings sprung out onto his back as the boy looked around with his sharper than usual teeth.
And Etna… whose eyes glowed in the red area, her wings flexed and grew bigger while her tail curled in its soon increased length, felt something.
In fact, she frowned as she looked down at her hand. '... What?' Something was off, wasn't it?
Everyone else was acting like there was an enemy around them already… but she felt… outright PISSED and she didn't understand at all.
'What's wrong with me?' She clenched her hand and felt her demonic energy bubble within her as she looked around. 'Something about this place is bothering me,' but she didn't know what.
"T-T-This doesn't seem like the Netherworld!" Gordon choked as Jennifer shivered.
"S-Something about this place isn't right!" She whispered in horror, a chill running down her spine like something was looking at her.
She latched onto her captain who didn't look much better as Thursday ran calculations.
[ATMOSPHERE… DANGEROUS. FULL OF EVIL INTENT FROM NETHERWORLD ITSELF!] He explained and Etna frowned.
'How the hell is this supposed to explain what's going on with me, though?'
"Don't lose yourselves," Draconis said to them, snapping the group out of their reveries. "Right now, the Lands are attacking you. This is one of the reasons that this world is one of the most impossible to face. Had any of you been any weaker in will or stats… you'd have fallen unconscious on the spot."
The group grimaced. "Where are the enemies…?" Naruto hissed out and he closed his eyes, covering them with his hand. 'What the hell?!' This wasn't just wrong, it felt downright awful.
One of his eyes peeked through his fingers and the pupil had almost thinned out of existence, red coloring his irises.
"Come, walk. Acclimate yourselves to the world. Doing something as simple as that will make you stronger."
They did and, the more they traveled, the more it felt like the world was rebelling against them.
Naruto's eyes closed as he felt it all before he transformed into his Divine Wind Spirit form.
"That's… enough!" He shouted to the world at large and a sphere of green light expanded over the group. "You think you can attack us like that and NOT expect me to fight back?!"
He slammed his palms together and the world seemed to shoot in on his focal point.
"BACK OFF!"
And the winds burst back, the air grew lighter, and the energy around them was battled against constantly.
"Haa… Haa…" Naruto lowered to the floor before landing on his hands and knees. "Take… That… dammit," he groaned, switching back to Prinny form. "Why's it feel like my lungs are killing me?"
"Impressive," Draconis chuckled. "The world has accepted you, for now. It'll fight back quickly enough but now you all should have a simpler time, for a moment. Focus."
"T-Thank you, Naruto," Clarissa's ears wilted as she let out a long breath of relief.
"Y-Yeah, thanks," Etna said as she held her chest, cheeks red. 'Seriously?! Right now?!' What the hell was going on with her!?
"... I-I think I feel them," Flonne said as the group crested a hill. "There!"
And when they all looked… they choked at the size on some of those bastards.
There were only two of them but the two seemed to stand taller than a pair of three-story homes.
One of them was shark-like but bipedal with powerful-looking muscles and two horns atop its head that looked like coral.
The other, though, was a wooden golem of sorts. Its form was humanoid with brown 'skin' and light tan wooden armor around its head, arms, chest, shins, and shoulders. Its eyes were pure yellow and its head capped off with a long, lone, leaf.
Both of their color palettes seemed to lean towards tinted reds, blacks, and pinks. Their eyes remained yellow.
"... Those aren't like the Item Sea…" Laharl and Etna realized in horror.
"Correct," Draconis said. "Those creatures… are living beings who lost themselves to the Lands of Carnage and are nothing but beasts by this point. As you defeat a level, it'll become stronger and you'll fight opponents that will be twice as strong as the ones before us before being allowed onto the next stage. I've made it to the second Map before being left to keep trying here."
"Damn!" Corrin choked. "That sounds horrible!"
"It is. Now, those two should be around level 2000," Draconis said before Sardia hummed and swiped her fingers over her eyes, the others gaining a similar transparent blue visor. "Oh, that's also convenient."
"Yup! Now… They're level 1940," Sardia finished his query. "Their stats aren't exactly normal either."
They could see them and the group's spines trembled at the idea of stats so close to the hundred thousand ranges!
"W-We're not even past 30,000!" Circe said, horrified.
"That's why you approach them sneakily," Corrin said with a frown as the group circled the two demons who began to beef with one another. "Well… that's convenient, at least."
"Yes," Draconis said as they got into position, the ground rumbling from the two's blows on one another. "... Naruto, now might be the time to test that Magichange ability."
Naruto blinked before nodding. "So, who's doing it? You?"
"It'd be for the best."
The two of them nodded before Naruto focused on that Magichange setting.
He clicked the button and his form flew into the sky before flashing.
Something came back down and landed in Draconis's hands and when the group looked, they blinked.
It was a yellow wooden staff with black accents along its shaft, the markings forming intricate designs as they flowed.
Around the top of it was a crooked curl that had nine, floating, flame-like blocks around it, the objects stayed in perfect place no matter which way he held them. Finally, in the center, was a glowing orange gem that the group marveled at.
"That's his soul, I'm guessing," Corrin said as Avarice's eyes shined. "No! Don't!" She pulled on the Harpy as she tried to grab it repeatedly.
Etna growled before noticing something within that orb. "...!? H-He's inside of it."
Looking closer, yes, the group could see Naruto within, the Werefox was a simple outline that sat cross-legged within the crystal.
"Hmm," Draconis closed his eyes before his hand flicked out.
Familiar sealing tags appeared and the group gaped.
"So, this helps us learn some things," Circe said. "Those who use the Magichange Monsters can use their skill sets."
"That's kind of rad. Do you think it changes depending on what form he's in?" Laharl asked with excitement.
"Most likely. Now, we should attack while we have the chance," she said. "I can see that those two are a bit roughed up but they're still occupied."
Draconis breathed out before seeing a new skill. "Ah, there are Magichange SKILLS," he noted and the group looked interested.
"What's Naruto's?" Clarissa asked.
"Hmm. It's called Rampage," he said the name with an interested gleam in his eyes. "It hits a truly wide area and is based on my highest attacking stats. So, for me, it's my ATK and HIT like a bow but with a spear," Draconis nodded before crouching low and jumping high into the sky.
The Great Wyrm's eyes narrowed as he floated above the fighting monsters.
"Return to the ether!" Draconis declared as he raised Naruto, the Magichange Monster Weapon glowing brightly. "Rampage!"
Then Draconis felt energy surge throughout his body as he landed atop a fox whose size couldn't be lacking compared to the two monsters below.
Its large three tails splayed out as it, and he, burned in gold energy before slamming down on the two monsters.
The impact was deafening along with earth-shaking as the group barely held onto their slope before it happened again.
And again. And again. And again before reaching nine hits in total.
The giant fox skirted to a stop before opening its mouth and a ball of terror formed within.
"UNLEASH!" Draconis called out, the mental connection made.
The attack shot at the trampled, shocked, monsters.
The destruction it wrought couldn't be considered just a big explosion.
It was as powerful as their combined attack from the throne scam. An attack that bordered on planet-destroying was this a normal world, Laharl was sure.
And, when all was said and finished, the winds died down, the earth stopped crumbling, and the shaking came to a halt.
The hole that found itself inside the ground was likely the size of an entire city in width and depth.
The sounds of Level-Ups weren't enough to drown out their shock as Draconis returned to them with a grin that spoke of delight in destruction.
"That is power beyond our understanding," he said as he looked at Naruto once more. "Goodness, I question what'd have happened if Krichevskoy had this."
"He might have just destroyed Baal," Etna said with a growing grin, eyes alight with fascination. "So, whoa, those are some levels," she added, whistling at the Level-Ups.
Clarissa shivered as she looked at her screen before swallowing.
It was time as she saw Level 1028 on her screen. 'Three hundred Level-Ups?!"
Absolutely bloody terrifying.
Naruto's form glowed before he returned to normal shape, groaning on the floor as his ear flicked up, the number of his Level-Ups catching his attention.
Along with a pair of new things in his Skills menu.
{
SKILLS:
Seal Tags (Max: 6, Add: 3)
Soul-Searching Tags (Max: 4)
Kage Bunshin Tag (Max: 2)
Invigorate
Kurama Formula Boost
Transformation
Celestial Prinny (Default)
Werefox
→ Aura Arms
→ Medium (Passive)
→ Next Tail (Passive)
Divine Spirit (Wind) (Current)
→ Wind Manipulation Plus
→ Elemental Creation (Wind)
→ Elemental Protection (Max:2)
→ Next Stage (Passive)
Frog-Oni
→ Enhanced Blood (Self-Buff)
→ Magnificent Strength (Passive)
→ Frog Kumite
→ ?
?
?
}
"Whoa?!" Naruto's mouth dropped as he looked at the sheer number of changes he'd undergone. "Holy hell!"
"Did you get another transformation?!" Flonne asked in excitement. "Let us see!"
Naruto chuckled before sending his screen around to the others.
"... These Passive Skills… Next 'Blank', I think that means you can increase those transformations to another level," Circe said as Draconis nodded, pointing to something on the floor.
"He's also gained two more tails," he said and the group looked to see, yes, there were now five tails on Naruto's behind. "So, in this same vein, you can possibly upgrade this form more than the others. Nine-Tails aren't new but your situation is different."
"Not wrong," Naruto said as Avarice appeared in front of him. "Not again!"
"Give shiny!" She pleaded with him.
"HOLY MACKEREL!" Gordon choked at the sheer jump he'd made in levels. "OH MY GOODNESS!"
"O-Oh my!" Jennifer gaped at her own stats.
[BEEP! I FEEL ALIVE!] Thursday said.
"... With this, I'm ready," Clarissa said with determined eyes, clenching her fist. "Avarice," the Harpy perked up. "So, I should do this wherever?"
"Hmmm…" The woman hummed. "Do when safe! Dangerous places, dangerous for you!"
"Huh?"
"... Is she saying that transforming outside of the castle isn't safe?" Circe considered. "In what way, Avi?"
"Outside forces!" The Senator explained. "Energy not in body come in! Cause bigger change!"
"... Ouch, I don't like the sound of that," Laharl said with a grimace. "Imagine doing that here."
"... Yes, imagine that," Clarissa said with a frown of thought. "I'd assume that doing so here would boost the Class drastically."
"H-Hold on! Clarissa, please, think this over!" Circe said in horror as Naruto's eyes widened at the Cleric's grasp on a contract. "You don't know what'll happen! You might not even be a person anymore."
Clarissa hesitated at that, the thought causing her to freeze.
And then turbulent, malice-filled, winds resumed around the group, causing them to yelp, yell, and shout.
"Dammit! We need to get out of here!" Laharl declared as a portal home opened by them. "Get in! Get in!"
They rushed in, Naruto helping the others through with his tails and energy arms.
When he had Clarissa within his grip, he held her close as they walked through.
Never noticing how the winds tossed the Cleric's document against her finger and sliced it.
Never realizing that blood splashed on its words that glowed in activation.
~NRK~
When the group got back, they groaned in relief, many of them whistling as they looked at their screens once more.
And that's when Naruto looked at Clarissa's horrified face. "Clarissa-chan?"
S-She trembled as the others looked to show her lifting something… and they paled.
Blood from a long cut on her finger was splayed along the parchment and its words began to fly about.
"I-I think the paper cut me and-!" She tried to say before the words tossed Naruto back. "Naruto!"
They surrounded her before forming an orb of darkness that blocked all visuals of Clarissa.
"Dammit! What happened?!" Laharl growled as he brought out his sword before taking a swing.
An arc slice ran along the orb's surface but no damage remained.
"The hell?" He stepped back nervously along with the others save for Naruto and Avarice who ran forward.
"What do we do?!" He asked her and she frowned.
"Contract sealed! B-But this is new! This never happened before!" Avarice said in concern as they banged on the sphere.
"Clarissa!"
~NRK~
She fell.
She fell…
Clarissa fell, thoughts hazy, form numb, and eyes barely open.
'Where am I?' She wondered as she eyed a light at the top of this black pool. '... Am I dying?'
That didn't make sense, she'd been… What had she been doing?
… the more she tried to recall, all she remembered was a fox. One with blue eyes and a bright smile-
Green eyes widened as she flailed about. "Naruto?!" Her voice was muffled and distorted as if she'd spoken underwater. "Where am I?!" She shouted again before stumbling a bit as her feet hit the ground.
… the 'ground' being more darkness as she looked around in confusion before her 'ground' began to flake away into motes of dark light to reveal… a mural?
The person on the mural was odd. Her hair was adorned with a quartet of black wings, right near the back of her head, as her body was covered by a long black dress with a window for her cleavage and fur on the collar that came up to her neck.
Over the dress was armor along the legs, along her bust, and another pair on her biceps that were shadowy and looked like they were composed of wisps.
The more motes that floated away, she saw a book in the woman's hands and, on her back, was a cloak that was furred at the top and was frayed near the bottom, also seemingly made of wisps and its ends were like hands that held a bow in one and a wicked knife in the other that looked almost like a key.
"Who is this?"
You.
She jumped at the voice and looked around, eyes looking around but finding no one there. "W-Who's there?!" She summoned her weapons… and nothing came. "W-What?! Come!"
Nothing once more, her vacant fingers seeming to be filled with nothing… before something formed in it.
As it did, she blinked as a book sat in her hands.
"A tome?" Her mind was shouting at her to not open it and she barely fought off the urge to do otherwise. "W-Where am I?"
In your blood.
Her eyes widened at that, looking behind her to see a shadowy form on the platform with her.
"... You're the woman from the mural," Clarissa said slowly as she watched that being of shadows walked closer, a red mark on its face cracking before growing wider. "Stay back!" She hissed and a force shot back against the woman. "?"
The book in her hand throbbed and the figure was chained down to the mural itself, its constantly chomping teeth, sharp and inhumanly, to her form, terrifying her.
"... That's not what I…" She looked at the book's cover and saw two small figures on it.
One with a book, the other in chains-
The platform tilted and Clarissa stumbled as she rolled head-over-heels backward, barely stopping herself from falling off with her clawed fingers latching onto the mural.
…?! Her eyes widened at hands with long claw-like nails at the end and she faltered, letting go in her shock.
She fell before bursting out of the water.
~NRK~
Naruto growled as he sat in the hub in Prinny form, watching the orb of darkness all the while with his Sealing Tags at the ready.
If something came out that shouldn't, he'd seal it away so they could get back-
The orb throbbed and Nakano shivered as it did.
"O-Okay, that's not cool," he said as he and Kana looked on with Plenair and the Dimensional Transporter Prinny. "What?"
The ball burst like a water balloon, causing Naruto to lunge and barely catch the close-eyed form of Clarissa.
"Clarissa?!" He held her close before placing his head by her chest. "... Still beating, thank God," Naruto sighed in relief, changing into Werefox form. "Dammit, why's everything getting so complicated?"
"... M-Mmm?" Clarissa's eyes creaked open and he looked down at her with concern. "Naruto?" She blinked even as Naruto blinked back at her darker green eyes. "Mmmm," she sat up with a groan as he looked at her.
"You alright?" He asked and she shivered before leaning into his touch. "We might need to go and see the Priests."
"I-I don't think so," Clarissa said as something formed out of the black ball onto the floor by her feet.
Looking, Naruto saw a black tome and picked it up, much to Clarissa's shock.
"I-It's here?" She uttered and he looked at her with more worry. "N-No, well… It's a weird story."
She explained everything that'd happen in her… dream? Maybe? They weren't sure.
As the others returned into the hub, they got the rundown of what happened.
Avarice frowned as she tilted her head. "This not normal…" She looked at the book with a frown. "... No Class comes with items like this… none of them."
"So, this is new," Laharl frowned. "But, she's still a new Class, right?"
Clarissa frowned as she checked her Status and title… She smiled a bit.
{
Name: Clarissa
Level: 1028
Class: Dark Apostle
}
"Y-Yes, it changed… huh?" She blinked as she shared her screen. "B-But my level didn't…"
"It's still the same," Sardia frowned. "... Call it a hunch but, uh, what if what got consumed during the contract was Carnage Energy?" She asked. "If that's the case, that thing inside your book is a manifestation of it and you did the right thing by locking it up."
"If that's true, though, what's it mean?" Etna asked with a frown. "She's got a new Class so everything should be different, right?"
Clarissa checked some more.
{
Notable Ranks & APTITUDES (All other Aptitudes and Ranks are 90% 0r C, respectively):
Bow: A
Staffs: B
Books (Shadow Creation): S
INT Monster Weapons: S
Armor: A
ATK: 150%
HIT: 150%
INT: 130%
RES: 250%
}
"My stat proficiencies have changed along with my favored weapon types… I'm confused. Why do I have such an aptitude for INT Monster Weapons?" She looked confused if not startled.
"... I think you guys need to look at her Evilities page," Naruto said with an ominous frown as the group blinked. "It's… I don't like it."
As they did, the group's eyes widened.
{
Evilities: Continuous Carnage, Dark Light
Continuous Carnage: Each new level allows the power within one to grow and access their Carnage Spells but be warned. Each spell used allows that Carnage to slip into the user each time, causing a change in conscience. (Carnage Spells: Increased Damage 300%)
Dark Light: For every spell or ATK skill used in succession, the stronger that chain grows but so too does the stamina cost. (Chain Increases During Casts: 2x 4x 6x, etc. Stamina Drain: Increase by 10% of original spell cost per use)
Class Information: Creatures of the 'light' of Clerics and the abyss where Dark Knights pulled their power, these individuals aren't considered of the Netherworld at all but a Class that can't have been spawned from anywhere other than the Carnage Dimension.
}
"Carnage Spells?" Circe looked both intrigued and worried. "That… can you open your book?"
Naruto was on standby with Avarice and Sardia, the three kneeling by the now-Dark Apostle.
Clarissa swallowed before opening her book… to, thankfully, no dark fanfare.
{
Skills:
Mega Heal
Giga Heal
(Max Chain: 10. Starts at half-effectiveness) (INT/ATK technique)
Abyssal Usage (Lowers Stamina Cost of spells/skills used in succession. When the chain is at max, gain a temporary effect.)
Shadow Conjuration (ATK. SP Drain. Starts at half-effectiveness. Max Chain: 5)
Alt-Performance (Create a realm where all Dark Skills can flourish. Allows Dark spells to start at normal effectiveness when activated.)
(All active Bow Skills she had before)
(All active Buffs she had before)
CARNAGE SPELL:
Rampant (INT. Causes dark forces from the Carnage Dimension to rattle the target and weaken them. Debuff: Depraved. Max Chain: 3)
}
"That's…" Naruto balked at the list.
"... It's like it's forcing her to use them," Sardia frowned. "Of course, she has those Alt-Performance and Abyssal Usage skills but it's like barely getting on the starting line while others are already running. Those things' stamina costs are no joke, either."
"That Class is dangerous," Circe realized as Clarissa wilted. "... It's dangerous but it's all your own, Clarissa. The fact remains, you can still easily get by without using a single Carnage Spell."
"Yes, I understand," the Dark Apostle smiled as she looked at her skills. 'With this… I can be useful no matter what!' This was her amazing middle-of-the-race start!
"So, for now, you use daggers?" Etna asked with a sly smirk. "Thinkin' of stabbin' someone? Because I can think of a couple assholes who deserve it."
"I better not be on that list," Laharl grumbled.
"It'd probably be better for her to get used to using her Class," Corrin said. "It's one thing to know you have power. It's another to know how to use it."
"Hmm, well, how about we just go and try out some target practice?" Naruto asked with a grin. "I can just make some clones and you can try out combinations with your skillset."
"That sounds good," Clarissa agreed with a smile.
~NRK~
Ten Narutos stood at the ready as Clarissa breathed in and out.
"Focus, Clarissa-chan," the Naruto beside her, the real one, said. "Remember, this is practice for a reason."
She nodded with a smile. "Okay… Dark," she raised her book and it flashed.
One of the Narutos blinked before being attacked by darkness from below, shivering as it came to an end moments later.
"A-Alright, that's weird," he said and she hummed.
"Dark!" She cast it again and that clone squeaked as he hit his rump. "Dark!"
It burst on the third go, leaving the group to nod.
"Alright, try one more on a fresh clone."
She did and the group watched as it popped.
"So, when it's four times stronger, it's worth something," Etna rolled her eyes. "That's good."
"To be fair, it's only two times regular strength," Circe said as Clarissa blinked and remembered that, yes, that was the case. "The fact remains, Clarissa's going to need to get used to this new way of fighting. It's completely different from most normal Classes' way of doing things. She'll need to know how to get a proper set-up of skills after she knows how all of them work."
"It sounds complicated," Flonne said with a vacant expression as Laharl snorted.
"It's not that complex but it sounds annoying. Man, that thing really wants you to use those Carnage Spells," he realized with a frown. "Like, damn, that's some effort to screw someone over."
"Well, the only way to do things is to learn them," Draconis said. "I'll need to take my leave. I have to handle some reconstruction for the following week so take your time doing things."
"Alright, thank you for your work, Draconis," Naruto said and the man nodded.
"I'll be back," he threw them the victory sign before vanishing.
"So, next is Abyssal Usage," Clarissa cast the spell and the area around her formed a circle of darkness by her feet, wisps of dark energy shooting up her form. "Hmm."
She walked around and it followed, much to her relief. "Okay, so that's definitely worthwhile to use outright. And next is Alt-Performance."
Within the sphere, shades of Clarissa appeared before shifting into her with a small flash of light.
"... Dark!" She cased it on another Naruto who nodded. "Dark!"
The clone puffed away and she grinned.
"Alright, so those two are the staples but how do you feel, stamina-wise?" Flonne asked and Clarissa hummed.
"... Give or take 75% stamina left," she said and the group considered it.
"And with those two spells active, you have more than enough of your usage to last a battle. This is good," Circe chuckled.
"What about your other spells?" Sardia reminded her. "Shadow Conjuration sounds useful but it's a full ATK skill," she reminded the others as Clarissa nodded.
"... Shadow Conjuration!" She cast and the group blinked as a black mantle floated around the Dark Apostle without much thought. "... It's just hanging around me?"
"... Wait, Clarissa-chan," Naruto spoke up, gaining her attention. "Do you remember that mural you saw?" Her eyes widened as he nodded. "If that's a good showing of how the spell is used, then try and do that."
She nodded before focusing on the image of arms from her spell.
They extended out and she used them to pull her weapons out of Hold, the items in their hands.
"I-I did it!" She smiled as they held her weapon before considering something. "... But what about that dagger? That one that looked like a key?"
Then her book burst open and said implement stuck out of its pages with a harsh aura around it.
"... There's no way that's not a trap," Laharl said as Flonne and Circe nodded. "That's, like, the most ominous-looking object I've ever seen!"
"Well, it's there, are you going to use it?" Corrin said as Avarice looked at the item nervously. "... Avi?"
"... Item dangerous," the Harpy said as she hid behind Naruto. "Not shiny. DARK! Very very dark!"
"..." Clarissa grew more nervous before the sound of steps came to her side, a familiar fox man at her side. "?"
"I'll pull it out for you, then. Or, better," he made a clone. "He will pull it."
The copy chuckled before going over and grabbing the handle-
It puffed into smoke and was absorbed into the weapon.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"... So, uh, that didn't look nice," Sardia said and Clarissa began to sweat. "If I can guess, it absorbed Naruto's energy. Now, is that because he's not the owner? Or is it a weapon that needs a lot of energy?"
"We sadly don't know," Circe frowned. "The best way would be to have Clarissa use it but we don't know if that'd work."
Clarissa frowned at that before taking a deep breath. "I-I'll do it," she said as she walked forward with Naruto's forearm in her grip. "Not alone," she added immediately after as he chuckled.
As reached out and grabbed the handle, Clarissa waited for her life force to drain from her body… before looking at it with a blink.
She pulled it out with ease before looking at the weapon.
It was dark black and blazed with an angry-red aura. The blade had no hilt and was all one thing, having jagged edges on the shuba-style blade end with a flat backside. The 'key-like part being the four 'teeth' it had.
"... Hmm," she waved it around before looking at it up-close. "..."
Something peeked back at her in the reflection with red eyes, her hair stood up on end before she sent it back in.
"Nope! Nope! Nope!" She hid in Naruto's chest and shook her head. "Nope! Nope! Nope!"
He winced as her tome closed before the group sighed.
"Well, I guess we're not going to be doing any more today," he said to the others who nodded. "Come on. Nee-chan, can you-"
"I'll have some tea ready in a bit!" Circe hurried off.
Things had gotten more interesting.
~NRK~
That's a wrap!
So, for the sake of simplicity. I applied Adaptational Badass to Gordon and his crew if that wasn't obvious.
Sure, he lost but he's literally saved the world numerous times said so by numerous people. I kind of believe such a person is a BIT more competent even if it's only in battle. Oh, and I used the Battle Suit from Disgaea 4. So it's not a Class but an item.
Next, we enter the Carnage Dimension before coming to some clues that will help transition into Disgaea DD2, especially considering its plotline and Etna's part in all of that.
And, the final thing, we see Clarissa's new form. A Dark Apostle Class with Carnage rocked into the situation. We'll see moments where that's relevant both to the story and to the characters, Etna especially.
And we haven't seen Naruto's new form yet but I've already got it in my head. That and I want to know how you guys like the Skills set-up? Naruto doesn't have a lot of attacking Skills but, like his previous life, he has a LOT of BUFFS.
And we got introduced to his Magichange weapon (Werefox Mode). I already know the others.
For now, we'll leave it for now. Time for some Hell and Goats.
Ciao.
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~NRK Out~