A/N: Read this note, would you kindly?
First, make sure you turn ON your email alerts in account settings, else you won't be notified when anyone updates. Apparently that's a thing we all have to do every ninety days or so, now. Unfortunately, not many are aware of it. Its also cut everyone's viewership/reviewers in half because folks don't know about it.
I hope they change/update it. This sudden change is driving authors away, because no one knows, which means they don't read or review...which makes us write even less...
So here we go. The fate of this story depends on you, the reader.
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story, and others. If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? Well, it won't be continued. I'm working two jobs, so I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy. So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard!
As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that. Working nearly all hours of the day keep me absurdly busy, and I can't bring myself to write something folks don't like.
Now for your questions, comments, and concerns! We'll keep it brief this time around:
Q: Update schedule?
A: God of War is back in the rotation. We'll see if it becomes weekly. Hopefully The second half of the month also tends to vary.
Q: What the hell happened to Gostoc?!
A: Grafting and a whole bunch of other nasty business. This chapter elaborates.
Q: How different are the Lands Between?
A: Things have changed. Using the Frenzied Flame altered the world. While some things remain the same, others have changed.
Oh yes, the times are a' changing.
As ever, I own no references, quotes, memes or themes. Nope, not me, no sirree! Not a wit or a one. They're merely tributes to those far greater than I.
This iteration of Naruto is not the one from "Grace". This be a different beast. He's a mystery. One that will slowly unfold as the story progresses...
Last but not least there's some cut content here regarding Kale. Not hard to find on youtube.
"It doesn't matter if this world isn't entirely the same.
Even so. These are my people. My friends.
...I...I have to try. I have to."
~?
Third Frenzy
Gostoc struck hard.
Naruto almost found himself impressed by the savagery of his tackle; there was no rhyme or reason in his attacks, just wild, mindless fury as he tried to force him down to the ground. He had no thought for anything other than victory. Countless grasping arms rained down upon him; trying to rip and tear, rend and slash, claw him to pieces with single-minded savagery, and in doing so add his strength to his own. Whatever he'd once been, nothing remained. In that moment the mad spider managed to move his heart; if only a little.
It wasn't enough. Not nearly enough. Never could be.
His right foot slid back half an inch under the assault before he steadied himself. Golden flame burned in his eyes as he gazed upon the Spider. Gostoc reared back to bite, fangs flashing in the low light. They'd never reach him. He hammered a knee into what passed for the abomination's stomach and left him retching for breath.
...is that it?" Naruto sighed and stepped back, leaving him wasted and gasping for air. "I expected more."
The Frenzied Flame sang in his chest, giggling like a small child. "Weak, weak, weak!"
Kurama barked a laugh of his own. "She's not wrong there...
On that, they were in agreement. For a moment there he'd almost been shaken. Clearly his "return" had changed things. Gostoc had never become such a twisted creature the first time around. He'd been an insignificant wretch back then, neither worthy of killing or true contempt. Killing Godrick wasn't an accomplishment rather-merely a surprise. If this was all he could amount to in this new life; if this was the extent of his newfound grafted strength...
...then he was a joke.
A wry smile touched the corner of his mouth.
Gostoc lunged with a yowl. "Stop staring at me like that! I'll gouge your eyes out!
The Flame needled him. "Shield?"
"Nah. Don't need it."
Naruto planted his feet and took the tackle head on. Drove an elbow into the back of Gostoc's neck, staggering him. Two scything arms slashed at his throat. He caught them by the wrists and squeezed in a vicious display of force. Wrists shattered in a shower of bone and blood.
Gostoc recoiled with a shriek, scuttling away like his newfound namesake. "What are you?!"
Naruto stalked after him with a grin. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you...
He'd learned his lesson with Ranni. No matter how furious he was, how angry he got, he couldn't go revealing himself.
He saw the moment Nepheli's fear fnally gave way to revulsion, then revulsion to anger. She must've seen her chance to join the fray; because ducked beneath him to slam an ax into Godrick's flank. It bounced off his hardened hide and he rounded on her with a shriek, but she remained unfazed, just as always. Ducking the counterblow, she chambered another swing and brought her sparking weapons cracking down on his neck. Blood flew through the air. Gostoc squealed, reminding him a struck pig, recoiling with a shriek.
Nepheli grinned and gave chase, eyes alight.
Naruto felt his heart soar at the familiar sight. Just like old times.
In an instant he found himself caught up in a bittersweet memory. He remembered the last time he'd seen that look in her eyes. Wrestling with one another before a warm hearth, firelight dancing over her dusky skin, the faint smile on her face and laughter in the air, fire in her eyes as she settled in his lap. Pulled him close and smashed her lips against his...
"Never forget me."
Lightning flashed from her axes, snapping him back to the present.
Naruto shook his head and waded back in, crackling his knuckle to dispel his past. Nepheli took a glancing blow to her ribs hit that drove her back half a pace and forced her to drink from her flask of crimson tears. He took the chance to step in, granted Gostoc a wry smile and kicked him in the face, launching him across the courtyard.
"I just wanna feel something!" the wretch cried, flailing at him. "Is that so wrong?
"It is when you become something like this." He batted aside another blow, then ducked as Nepheli raced in. She saw her chance and leaped off his shoulders, using him as a springboard to alight on Gostok's spine. Her axes swung up and came down, biting deep into what passed for his twisted spine. The lunatic paid her no heed; those baleful eyes remained fixed on him as he dodged a grasping hand, snagged another, and tore it clean off. "This is where it ends for you."
"This from the man with burn marks all over his body!"
The last of Naruto's smile died an ugly death. He went cold. Cold as ice.
Nepheli favored him with a baffled look atop the Spider's back, not quite comprehending. "What doe he mean by that?"
Naruto didn't answer. He kicked out instead. Godrick's right knee shattered, but he used the remaining seven to scuttle backward. Nepheli vaulted away off his back, taking three more as she swept by.
"Finish him. It'd be a mercy at this point."
Naruto blew out a sigh. Kurama wasn't wrong. This had become tedious.
"What's wrong?" his voice rose over the creature's pained whimpers. "You were talking a pretty big game there, but outside your speed, you aren't much. Even Godrick was stronger than you."
Gostoc clutched at his ruined legs, glaring bloody red daggers at him. "Quiet."
No. Never again. "You didn't even give him a fair fight, did you?
"I said shut up!"
"Make me." He waved away from the clawed swipe that followed, casually snatched up Godrick's axe as he went, and swung it around. The blunt end brained the grafted Gostoc with it, flattening him to the floor. "You probably ambushed him, struck when he didn't expect you. Really," he ground the ax in, eyes flashing as his victim howled in pain. "How else could someone so WEAK possibly kill him?" All his weight pressed against it now, further pinning him. "You only had one arm after all. I'm sure you were so jealous of him."
"How did you know that?!"
"How?" Well, he was going to die anyway. He twisted the ax. "I suppose you could say...this is my second time around." He let up on the ax, giving Gostoc a chance to breathe, if only for a moment. A hand closed around his chest. "And you're going to help me...friend."
He grasped the great rune within. It sang at his touch. His fingers closed around it. Squeezed-
"NO!"
Gostoc batted him away and spat fire at him. Curious. He'd never done that before. "SILENCE!"
"Not a chance!" the flames died as they stuck an open palm as he waded through; taking the heat in to fan the flame within. "I kept my mouth shut, once. No longer. If I have something to say...
BAM!
Gostoc's head snapped back, spitting fangs.
...I'm damn well...
SLAM!
A spinning kick cratered his chest.
...going to...
WHAM!
He clasped both hands over his head and brought them smashing down on Gostoc's engorged head. The grafted creature reeled and fell to the floor, trying to defend himself. Naruto didn't give himself the chance. Closing his heart to Gostoc's gasp, he channeled chakra to his hand. A familiar whine filled his ears. Then he struck. A massive rasengan smashed down on the abomination's back, shredding through it to crater the earth beneath and finish what he'd started. He heard something crack. Howled over the noise, now.
...SAY IT!"
Gostoc slumped in the crater he'd made. Wasted, broken, but still alive. His neck cracked, craning back to look at him.
...I know you. Usurper."
The Frenzied Flame recoiled in him, and Kurama with her.
"How in blazes is he moving? We broke every bone in his body!"
"Usurper of Flame." Bleary eyes focused their way, bringing with them an awful realization; he wasn't speaking to Gostoc anymore. This...this was something else. "You will fail just as you did before...
Naruto twitched. "Who decided that? You? Did you do this?! I don't even know who you are."
"You will soon, you mad little fool." the thing puppeteering Gostoc's body sneered. "You cannot save them all. Perfection is a fleeting dream. All shall become ash-
Nepheli swept down upon him.
The final blow belonged to her; even as Gostoc tried to curse him her storm axes bit deep into his neck and tasted victory. It was a clean cut, biting through his armor to neatly sever his head in a single stroke. His crown skull struck the cobblestones, bounced once, rolled off the edge, and plummeted into the abyss, never to be seen again.
Naruto found it fitting end for such a monster.
Swaying on her legs, she turned to face him. "...well fought." a faint smile touched her dark face. "T'was a battle most bracing indeed."
Only then did he noticed the gaping tear in her collarbone, leading a good way down. It had also torn off her top. "You're bleeding all over the place."
"Hmm?" she dropped an ax and touched a hand to her injury. "So I am."
She shook her flask of tears. "Oh. It would seem I'm out.
Her legs buckled.
Naruto stepped to her and caught her without thinking. From there, he bit her to st. Laid hands on her collarbone, just shy of her bosom. Kept them there. His chakra, old and tired, stirred to life at his bidding once more and began to glimmer gold. Warm light rushed into her to mend her wounds. Nepheli shifted a little, offering a pleased hum as he went to work. Her eyes met his, but she held her tongue for a time, letting him mend her body as best he could.
Finally, she frowned at him and he knew she would be silent no longer. "Are you certain we've not met? You seem most familiar...
A hand rose to cup his cheek.
Naruto shivered. It would be so easy to tell her. A part of him wanted to. To just tell her. Confiding in Kale had helped, but he'd only ever been a friend. To tell one of his lost loves...that carried risks. Would she look upon him the same way? If he told her such a fantastic tale, would she even believe him? He knew the answer. She'd push him away. And if she knew the fate she'd befallen in her first life...
...no." he choked down the truth. "We haven't."
"Oh." Bleary eyes blinked. "Strange I couldn't sworn-no, nevermind. Do you have the Great Rune...?"
"Here." he took his hands from her and held up his prize. "You can have it."
She faltered. "You're giving it to me?"
"I don't need it."
And he didn't. He could smash right through to the Erdtree if he wanted; just as he'd done last time. That had been his mistake. Rushing. He was going to be careful this time, thorough, just as he'd promised. It seemed a sound plan. But these changes were beginning to worry him. Melina appearing in the wrong place was one thing, but now this madness with Gostoc?
'Just how much has this world changed?'
Nepheli's hand squeezed his, drawing him back to her.
"You've fought nobly and well," her voice made his blood burn pleasantly. "I live because of you. How shall I reward your efforts.
He could see the spark in her eyes; the vague pretense she was using to get at him again. No surprise their; she'd always been the excitable sort; her blood was up; she'd not forgotten where they'd left off in the castle. And if he was being honest, he wanted her just as badly as she wanted him. A distraction. Something -someone!- to take his mind off the long road ahead. He let her raw him closer, until her lips were an inch from his own, even less now...
"Wait!" A cry cut through his thoughts. "Hold a moment!"
As one, they turned toward the noise.
Someone clad in banished knight armor was racing their way from the way they'd come; taking the steps two at a time to catch up.
Tall. That was Naruto's first thought of them.
It proved a worrying one.
With their face concealed in that full helmet, they were utterly unknown to him. Not quite a giant, but clearly not a normal human, either. They were at least a good head taller than him. He couldn't tell if that was a man or a woman, not with that thick plate armor. His brow furrowed at the sight. No that wasn't quite right. He could feel something from this one. Muted perhaps, hidden, but still present.
The knight looked past them to Gostoc's corpse, and Godrick's with him. "He is dead?"
Nepheli holstered her axes, preening a little. "He is. Slain by our hand."
The Frenzied Flame cooed in Naruto's chest. "Familiar...
"I thought as much." The knight rumbled, shoulders slumping in defeat. "Blast it. I wanted to be the one to slay him...still, you have my thanks." A frustrated sigh echoed within their helm. "Forgive me my brusqueness. I am not...used to wearing armor such as this."
Naruto found himself "Then why not take off your helmet?"
"I believe I shall!" A merry laugh echoed within the stoic helm. "With him dead, I suppose the need for this ruse is over...and here I had hoped to sneak into the castle...it would have been a grand ballad indeed...
The knight lifted their helmet. Long scarlet hair spilled forth, tumbling down their shoulders.
"Ahhh~!" a rich, leonine voice rumbled. "That's much better."
Naruto's heart slammed against his chest.
The sun shone through the clouds in that instant and struck the stranger's face, forcing him to squint. For a wild moment he didn't know who he was looking at. He'd known many with red hair. Even fought a few. But this voice...where had he heard it before? Had he heard it at all? He couldn't be sure. As though sensing his confusion the light gradually dimmed, allowing him to glimpse the face framed by those scarlet tressers. He'd seen them before. He knew them. They'd been an implacable foe scoured by rot. Yet here they looked almost...healthy. Younger, too. A bit smaller perhaps, but still, utterly unforgettable.
He was looking at a dead Demigod. One he'd slain personally.
His mind revolted. No, no, no! This was wrong! All wrong! He shouldn't be here!
He flung up his arms with a frustrated shout, unable to contain himself any longer. "What are you doing here?!"
"My name is Radahn, good sir, General of Caelid and leader of her majesty's armies." The "knight" granted them a jovial grin, though he spoke quickly. "For your deeds here today, I owe you a debt of honor. You two seem like an honorable sort. I ask of you:
Thus speaking, the great Gerneral Radahn thrust a large hand at them.
"Might you be interested in a bit of jolly cooperation?"
A/N: SURPRISE~!
As stated earlier, Lands Between are well and truly altered thanks to Naruto's "reset". Things are a changing~!
For instance, we have here a healthy-and somewhat short- demigod Radahn...which begs the question; what happened to Malenia in Caelid? Or gods forbid...?
Hyetta next chapter. Well? Should this be a story? Did you like it? Yay or nay?
Really need to hear from you on this; I'll likely be upgrading this bad boy to an M-rating pretty darn soon...if that's what folks want.
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this particular story, and others.
If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? POOF! Gone. Completely. I'm working two jobs -might need a third soon!- so I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy. So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that. Working nearly all hours of the day keep me absurdly busy, and I can't bring myself to write something folks don't like.
Aaaand there we go. As ever, reviews keep me alive. Without them, I cannot write. So...in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review...Would You Kindly? T_T
Here have your previews, wild though they are.
As ever:
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!
SPOILERS AHEAD!
(Previews)
"That was...lovely." Slick with sweat and spent, she curled against him and laid a hand on his bare scarred chest. The wound there seemed to pulse with life; indeed, it was almost warm to the touch. "But I must ask, who inflicted such an injury on you? .
..a friend. They're fine, now. Nice and calm, really."
"Ah! I see you've met Leonard. A fine steed he is. I could ask for no other!"
Radahn really was a rather nice fellow. Turned out he was a decent cook at that, too.
She kissed his cheek. "That was kind of you. My thanks."
...now how did this follow me?"
The frenzied flame sang in his chest. "Promise. Kept it safe."
Miraculous little flame. He didn't know why he was surprised by its wonders anymore.
"So you did. I remember this weapon." he hoisted it high, watching it gleam in the moonlight. "Hello, old friend."
The moonlight greatsword shone sadly, a dark reminder of a pact once made, a promise left unkept. He touched his head to its cool surface and sighed softly.
You disappoint me. Surely you can do better."
He sensed her.
"Begging your pardon sir, but do you have any grapes?"
Naruto bit his tongue until it ached. He knew what fate awaited her if he answered. Did he dare...?
Melina could feel him breaking. Something must be done.
He needed comfort. Succor, perhaps. But what to say? What to do?
On a whim, he touched the bloody medallion beneath his chest. There was something he needed to be certain of.
Another way to confirm his theory.
"I'll be right back...
"Chaos?" he rasped the word. "No, this ain't a flame of chaos any longer. This is purification."
His victim died screaming.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"No reason. Regrets. Maybe a few. But don't worry."
The sword sang in his grasp. A headless body hit the floor.
The last thing they saw was his smiling face. "You won't have to worry about anything at all; not anymore...
EDIT: Hey, you made it!
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story, and others. If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? Well, it won't be continued. I'm working two jobs -might need a third soon!- so I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy. So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that. Working nearly all hours of the day keep me absurdly busy, and I can't bring myself to write something folks don't like.
Looking forward to chatting with you all~! Have a great day~!
R&R~!