Author's Notes: Jeez, it's been a long time hasn't it? I apologize, but I keep getting new ideas that sound much better than old ones, so here's the edited (ten times over, literally) chapter 36!
Chapter 36: Finding the Way Home
Thoughts of Athaniar ran through Lina's head during the conversations, as she recalled what her brother had said. Fel Energies? Using Arcane Torrent in that sense? That contradicted everything that Lina had been taught about the usage of magic, yet… even said usages called out for her, scaring her to no end. Sensing her discomfort, Naruto wrapped an arm around her.
"What's wrong, Lina-chan?" Naruto asked as Lina leaned onto Naruto's shoulders.
"I'm scared…" Lina said, "I'm scared that Athaniar might be right… that this was our destiny…"
"Destiny is a load of crap, for those who are too weak to defy their so-called 'fate'," Naruto replied easily, "So what if you have the feeling to feast on the Fel Energies? Prove your brother wrong by fighting it off and showing that you don't need such energies to be strong. Prove it to him the next time we meet."
"He's one of the stronger elves… during my time in Dalaran, he was in the same league as Prince Kael… though he is younger than Price Kael, he has that much potential," Lina replied.
"You were compared to him a lot, aren't you?" Naruto asked as Lina nodded, "Idiots… you are you, and he is he. You may be his brother, you may share the same lineage as him, but that doesn't make you the shadow of him. Don't listen to what they say and just try your hardest. In the end, the only one you are trying to surpass is yourself, not him, and not anyone else."
"Thank you… Naruto," Lina said quietly as they walked in silence.
"If he wants Fel Energies so much… then I'll show him exactly why he should not mess with it in the first place…" Naruto growled out lowly as Maiev stopped in front of Naruto.
"What do you mean by that?" Maiev asked as Lina turned, shocked.
"Naruto! No! You've barely recovered, there's no way I'm going to let you access his chakra even if I have to seal it up myself!" Lina said as Naruto turned, raising an eye.
"You're going to meddle with a seal that's all over my body, and operates on the power of the God of Death?" Naruto asked in amusement, "You're welcome to try, of course."
"I hate it when you do that, you know that?" Lina said with a pout as Naruto laughed.
"God of Death?" Illidan asked as he walked over, "You mean you can use the energies of the God of Death?"
"Well… no, but that gives a good question… if I have some of his powers as a channeling matrix, does that mean I can, in theory, access said energies…?" Naruto wondered, "But still, since it acts more like prison bars, taking them might not be a good idea… Ah hell, what are they doing now?"
"What…?" Illidan asked, confused before he sensed the trickling demonic energies.
"Great… more demonically charged people wanting to kill us…" Naruto sighed, "Is there anymore information on Darkterror's boss? I'd like to know more about him before I do anything."
"Kil'Jaedan is much like Archimonde if memory serves me right," Illidan recalled, "But unlike Archimonde, he was more of a recruiter for the Burning Legion rather than the commander of the armies, but that also means not only do we not know of his powers but we can presume that his powers either rival of surpass Archimonde's in order to force their needs onto those they want, like the Dreadlords, only the Dreadlords joined willingly. He is more manipulative than his counterpart, however, but Archimonde, as you can guess, is more adept at battle strategies than Kil'Jaedan is, but he is still one of the top commanders for a reason."
"We're under attack!" an archer hurried over to tell Maiev as she looked over, and saw several Infernals.
"Great… they got Warlocks within their midst," Maiev groaned as Naruto moved over.
"I'll take care of those Warlocks, Maiev and Illidan you take out the Naga. Lina-chan… if you find any Blood Elves, incapacitate them," Naruto said as he streaked off in a blast of lightning, the only indication that he was ever there a set of boot prints that ended abruptly, as suddenly a gigantic fireball erupted in front of the Infernals, searing through their immunity and sending them stumbling back. Naruto reappeared in a blast of lightning as he weaved through seals.
"Raiton: Gian!" Naruto yelled as he blasted a concentrated bolt of lightning at the Infernal, tearing through the weakened stone foundation even as he fell forward, a Rasengan in his grips, tearing through the first Infernal, only to have to dodge a second one as it tried to pummel Naruto's body to paste. Turning around, Naruto tore through the second with a powerful blade of wind that not only took out the second, but a third Infernal and even the edges of a cliff that was a couple dozen meters away. Leaping up, Naruto prepared two kunai, throwing them into the midst of the other lesser demons and watched with satisfaction as they multiplied and impaled into the miniature army, before he formed a seal.
"Boom," Naruto said quietly as all the kunai detonated, the exploding tag that was cloned also detonating with as much power as an original, enveloping the area in a cloud of smoke, before Naruto rushed in, his blade popping out from his wrist seal as he twirled and slashed through the first demon he found, a spirit beast, before arcing under and stabbing it through a second beast, tearing through the belly and allowing him to use the new carcass as a projectile to launch it at another group of enemy, setting it on fire as well as it soared and impacted, sending many other demons tumbling away aflame. Flashing through seals, he targeted the cluster of enemies right in front of him.
"Katon: Goukakyou no Jutsu!" Naruto yelled as he sent the giant violet fireball right at the cluster, forcing some to scatter even as the others were unable to escape and were torched to death, the potent flames of the phoenix proving to be too much for them to handle. Twisting around, he quickly ducked under a slash from yet another spirit beast, growling in anger.
"Why the hell are there so many of them here?" Naruto growled as he leapt up, "Shinra Tensei!"
A powerful blast of force sent a good portion of the demons tumbling away, dead, even as Naruto's breath hitched in his throat as he squeezed his eyes shut in pain.
"Bad idea, so let's try something else," Naruto groaned to himself as he charged up his body, "Chidori Nagashi!"
With the blades of electricity active across his body, he charged forward, activating the preliminary Paladin powers he learnt. Sure he was a novice in it, but his Divine Shield should be enough that he would sustain no damage for a good few seconds – the seconds he needed to zip around and eliminate more than half the remaining forces as they were fried from the electric output, the voltage too much for even the Fel energies to heal. Without wasting anymore time, he charged forward, converting the Chidori into a blade and thrust his arm forward, sending an electrified hawk right at the enemy lines, smashing into them and spreading out as the energies fed into each other, forming a conducting loop that took out the remaining demons.
"Wow... I didn't expect that..." Naruto commented as he looked at the smoking carcasses, "Looks like something I can investigate..."
Meanwhile, he heard twin blasts of lightning as the powerful beams casted two long shadows, and as he turned, he was met with the sight of Lina and Athaniar casting Laguna Blade at each other, the twin beams of lightning struggling for dominance, at least until Lina's eventually overpowered Athaniar's, forcing the elder to blink away to avoid being struck, whereas the stray bolt crashed into a Spell Breaker, and, regardless of his spell shield, was torn apart by the power.
"Most impressive, sister, that you managed to cast such a powerful Laguna Blade," Athaniar commented, truly impressed. Not many could say they were more powerful than he was - not counting major power figures such as Kael, Antonidas, and Kingston - but here his sister was, a year ago at only three quarters of his power, and now overwhelming him with a spell he had taught her. Sensing a sudden disruption under his feet, he blinked away again only to witness the ground he was just standing on erupt into a giant pillar of fire, before Athaniar launched two Laguna Blades in succession, one hitting Lina while the other missed, but just barely. Lina was sent tumbling back, as both she and Naruto wondered the same thing.
Why is she/am I always attacking someone who is most likely more powerful than she is/I am and is always blasted back with a ridiculously overpowered attack? they wondered at the same time even as Lina righted herself and sent a Dragon Slave over at Athaniar, who countered with a blast of frozen air that dissipated the attack. Lina frowned as she looked around, seeing the carcasses.
"You're looking for Hecate, aren't you?" Lina asked as she looked, "I've had a suspicion why you were the one leading the group, but when you brought all these demons in I think I understand now..."
"Yes, you're quite right. She's one of the few that can sate our addiction, by providing us Fel Energy to feed on. Next to Lord Darkterror, she's our last hope, and we will not give up on searching for her."
"This is futile, brother. Don't listen to a thing Darkterror says. He's nothing but a liar!" Lina replied furiously as Athaniar shook his head.
"You really have no idea where our origins are, do you?" Athaniar asked, "No matter. It is none of your concern, not anymore."
"Do not underestimate me, brother," Lina replied as she launched several fireballs at Athaniar, who returned the favor with blasts of near pure energy, hurtling at untold speeds, until moments before it struck Lina that Naruto intercepted them thanks to a quick Lightning Dash, taking the blasts into his chest so that Lina could return fire, falling to the ground in pain.
"Oww..." Naruto groaned out, "Your brother has a mean energy blast."
There was no reply from Lina as Naruto turned, before seeing... nothing, "Lina-chan?"
There was only dust from behind him, before a scream was heard before a sigh, and he whipped around quickly, seeing Darkterror disappearing, a familiar figure slung over his shoulder, limp.
"Lina-chan!" Naruto roared as his Rinnegan eyes activated, and he rushed forward, but Athaniar stopped him.
"If you don't want Lina to be killed, you will stay put," Athaniar said as Naruto stopped dead in his tracks.
"What do you want?" Naruto asked coldly as he flared his killing intent, securing his presence. Thanks to years of combat experience, Athaniar was able to hold his own, though his eyes widened all the same and his knees trembled, even if slightly, but Naruto capitalized on it, "You don't tell me, I will obliterate everything. You, your band of traitorous Blood Elves, the Naga, and Darkterror. Tell your master that I will spare no one if any of you hurt Lina. Now, what do you want?"
"Information," Athaniar gasped out, "Lord Darkterror needs information on how to attack Theramore and Darnassus. You're obviously too powerful to go after so I volunteered my sister."
"You turned against your sister, for what? Salvation? To sate your own hunger?" Naruto asked as his killing intent doubled, "Make no mistakes, Athaniar, you will do as I say. Bring. Me. To. Darkterror."
"I do not know where he will conduct his interrogation," Athaniar replied, straining to talk, "But I can assure you-"
"That she will be alright? Damn it to hell, she's my girlfriend!" Naruto roared out, "Stay out of my way."
Athaniar said nothing as he blinked away right before Naruto's Chidori went through where his head had been merely a split-second ago.
"Kuso!" Naruto yelled angrily as he scanned the horizon, before sensing something that made his blood run cold. Looking behind him, he knelt down, and with careful hands, dug out a pendant - the very same pendant that held the Hiraishin seal to protect her in case. Maiev walked over, and, seeing the pendant, sighed.
"Naruto," Maiev said, "We will get her back, I promise you. Darkterror will pay for his actions."
"I know, and I intend to be his executioner, sorry Maiev, but he's mine," Naruto said as he stood up and walked away briskly, his mind on the one thing that Lina had told him - the Warlock.
No one noticed the darker patches of dirt that was situated right below his eyes, nor that his eyes were slightly redder than before. Without so much as a warning, he disappeared in a small cloud of dust as the wind whipped around him, obscuring his shunshin.
Sprinting through the Outlands, he extended his ranges as far as he possibly could, searching for any source of Nature Energy to aid him in his search. Finding nothing but slivers each time, he growled in frustration and summoned Ace.
"Ace, search and rescue," Naruto said roughly, "Find Lina-chan."
"What? What happened!" Ace asked in shock as he looked over the horizon, "I know you were crazy, but Outlands? This place is obliterated long ago!"
"You've been here before?" Naruto asked as Ace nodded.
"My last... master was an Orc," Ace replied, "Before he abandoned me. He laid the final assault against the humans on this devastated world and I was sent as one of the expendable scouts. When I returned I found him all but dead, and in one final act, he broke our link, setting me free."
"Then you know the terrain well," Naruto replied, "Search for Lina-chan. I need to find someone."
"Understood," Ace said as he bounded off into the distance, shrinking into a dot quickly and disappearing. Naruto stared into the far distance, where, with his dojutsu active, he could still see a faint outline of Ace, before he quickly sped away into the wilds once more, searching.
For a whole day, he searched, to no avail, and as he watched the lands in desperation and despair, he sensed demonic energy, but it was not the same signature as those of the Blood Elves' nor Darkterror. Blinking in confusion, he looked over, only to see three towering Infernals.
Well... why me? Naruto thought to himself grimly as he got ready for battle, only to remember a single aspect of the conversation with Lina.
Flashback
"So just who exactly is this Hecate?" Naruto asked Lina.
"She's a mage... or rather a warlock now," Lina replied, "One of the most powerful Warlocks of any race, in fact. She has the ability to banish and enslave demons easily, though I don't know her limit. She disappeared in the Outlands in the later stages of the war, but it's very possible that she's still alive, somewhere out there."
As Lina gestured to the surroundings, Naruto looked around.
"And how are we suppose to find her?" Naruto asked as Lina giggled.
"She likes to show off... a little bit at least, but its mostly for protection. She has three Infernals guarding her at nearly all times unless she wants to be discreet. With her abilities flaring out like a supernova, it's nearly impossible to hide her signature, so that's one of the reasons. If you ever see three Infernals gathering around, chances are you've found her. Let me talk to her, I know her from a while back, even if the last time we talked has been ten years ago."
End Flashback
"Hecate?" Naruto shouted loudly as the Infernals looked in his direction and prepared to charge.
"Who are you to trespass this territory?" a voice said from over the ridge as Naruto turned a bit to the right, to see a woman in her mid-thirties, standing with literally a regiment of demons behind her, "And who are you?"
"My name is Naruto Namikaze, and I've come to request your help. Azeroth has been devastated by the Burning Legion, and Lina told me of you."
"Lina! Is she here?" Hecate said with some delight as Naruto shook his head.
"She's been captured. I've sent a scout to look for her, but I don't know how to find them effectively," Naruto replied.
"Tell me, Namikaze, who is leading the Alliance right now? Is it still King Terenas?" Hecate asked as Naruto shook his head.
"His majesty has died a whole year ago, Hecate. Jaina Proudmoore now leads the Alliance Remnants. The Kingdom of Quel'Thalas and Lordaeron has been devastated, and Dalaran has been destroyed. We've moved to Kalimdor, leaving the Eastern Kingdoms behind in pursuit for safety. Archimonde is killed by my hands, but his armies still run rampant throughout the regions as well as the undead plague," Naruto replied, "And that's why we need your help. With the oncoming struggle, we need beacons of hope that will guide our people in the times of darkness. Even Fenix Skywalker has fallen to the plague, though he fights on to free himself."
"Fenix Skywalker... the Champion..." Hecate replied, "I remember him, that old asshole... I'll help you, on one condition."
"What?" Naruto asked as Hecate looked over at him.
"Tell me why you have demonic energy running in your veins," Hecate replied as Naruto shrugged helplessly. If he wanted Lina back, he needed to do this, plus Lina had said to trust in Hecate.
"In short, my village was attacked by a demon of an extremely powerful caliber, and to save it my father sealed it away inside of me, having no other options," Naruto replied.
"Sealed? As in it cannot be killed?" Hecate said with doubt present in her voice, and was about to continue her speech had Naruto not interrupted her.
"Hecate, there's a difference in the demon that's sealed in my gut and the common kind, but can we get back onto the subject? Lina's been captured, and we need to save her, please," Naruto begged as Hecate looked at him, before her eyes softened.
"You're courting her, aren't you?" Hecate asked before unsummoning her demons, leaving three Infernals in place, "Very well, follow me, I think I have an idea of where she's been held captive. I sensed her energies but I was not sure, considering how precise it's turned. She always had problems in control for an Elf, so excuse me for not recognizing her in the first place."
"Do hurry," Naruto implored as Hecate looked back at him.
"I do not have as much energy as you do, Naruto Namikaze, please do excuse me," Hecate replied, "And no, I will not use my demons to aid me in my traveling, I consider myself still enough for such a mundane task, and three Infernals are already pushing my boundary of concealment. Once we get closer, I will have to unsummon them as well."
"Very well," Naruto replied heatedly, "Make it quick, please."
"Naruto," Ace's voice suddenly appeared beside Naruto, "I have found the location for Lina, but she is guarded by an army while Darkterror is interrogating her..."
"What?" Naruto all but shouted out, "Bring me there at once... they will not escape."
Hecate's attention was drawn to the white cloak that suddenly surrounded Naruto, its potency screaming out at her senses as she probed it curiously, only for Naruto to turn to her.
"If you know what's good for you, follow me on your fastest demon, and stay out of my way," Naruto growled before disappearing in a burst of raw speed, two footprints where he used to be, nearly half a meter deep. Hecate shook her head.
"Troublesome blond... off to the rescue without even thinking of the consequences..." Hecate said before summoning her own army, "Follow the demonic presence, and prepare for combat.
We're returning to Azeroth, I guess."
With that, her army set off to rescue Lina.
Meanwhile, as Naruto approached the site, he felt, more than heard, a distant scream that he identified as Lina's, and doubled his speed, while roaring out a cry to the heavens.
"Lina-chan!" Naruto roared as he sped forward, creating a trench beneath him as the Naga turned to the disturbance, and Darkterror moved forward, blood on his blades, roaring to his troops.
"Prepare yourself! The prisoner must be kept safe!" Darkterror hollered as he readied his bloodied blade, as Naruto appeared on top.
"Darkterror... what have you done to her?" Naruto growled in an ominous voice, synchronizing with the distance thunders that seemed to resonate in the nether worlds that Outland resided in.
"Why, nothing much... I've got to admit her blood is delicious..." Darkterror grinned as he licked the blood off his blade, and Naruto's eyes narrowed. Without so much as a cry, he created a black ball of energy between his fingers, spreading them out. And as Hecate arrived, her eyes widened at the usage of that technique.
"That... demonic beam?" Hecate wondered as she looked, before, with a roar, Naruto pointed the black ball at the enemies.
"Imari!" Naruto roared as the ball discharged, sending a powerful beam right at the enemy, disintegrating them on impact as the raw demonic energy overloaded their senses, sending them haywire and breaking their minds and bodies. As Hecate watched, the beam subsided, revealing a scarred terrain that lasted for miles, the land behind torn to pieces and a new trench made from the residual blast. Even Darkterror was forced to transform to avoid being overloaded with the energy. Hecate shook her head.
"That's not how you do it, you put too much power into it and not enough guidance," Hecate replied before, in front of her staff, a black sphere of energy bloomed, and as Naruto watched, she discharged a much thinner beam of energy that speared through the enemy forces easily, tearing a thin line through the ground as she systematically guided it through, and finally focused on Darkterror.
"Banish and seal," Hecate whispered as her hands glowed, and the crystal on her staff glowed as well, before ethereal chains sprung out from under the ground, binding onto the demon hunter, and Darkterror howled in pain as his transformation was forcefully taken out, reverting himself back to his original form.
"What have you done to me, you wretch?" Darkterror roared as he stood unsteadily on his legs, before Vashj appeared on the scene and shot her arrows at Hecate, only for it to be blocked by an Infernal.
"You stand no chance, Darkterror. I am Hecate, the Demon Enslaver, and you shall die today, for what you have done," Hecate declared as she focused on Darkterror, but it was thwarted as the Naga suddenly swarmed, intent on taking her out even as Darkterror escaped quickly, and Vashj casted her own spells, sending several bolts of lightning at some of her weaker summons, killing the demons, before disappearing.
"Hecate, take care of the vermin, I'll go find Lina-chan," Naruto said as he quickly disappeared in a tornado, reappearing in front of a structure, where Ace was waiting.
"She's in there, Naruto... but I sense despair and blood in there..." Ace said as Naruto strode in, looking around, before finding Lina, bloodied, on the floor. Rushing over, Naruto cradled her.
"Lina-chan... Lina-chan... answer me, please!" Naruto pleaded as he rocked her gently, "Lina-chan... please..."
"Naruto..." Lina whispered as her eyes focused on her savior, "You're... here..."
"Lina-chan, what did Darkterror do?" Naruto asked as Lina shook her head, weakly, panting even as a thin line of blood dribbled.
"I... don't know... it's hurts... my abdomen... he's forced demonic energy in..." Lina panted out as her eyes closed and squeezed shut in pain, "Is... this what you feel... every time... you use the Kyubi's chakra?"
"Rest," Naruto replied, "I'll get you home, right away, just rest."
Without saying anything, Lina collapsed, finally, into Naruto's arms, as unconsciousness overtook her. Hecate chose, at that very moment, to come in.
"What happened?" Hecate asked as Naruto shook his head.
"Darkterror injected Fel energy into Lina-chan, who isn't used to it nor did she take it willingly... she said her abdomen hurts from the injection," Naruto said softly, "I'm not sure if I want to know what he did... or how it'll affect her.
"She'll be fine, Naruto, trust me on this, Lina's strong," Hecate said as she attempted to sooth Naruto.
"How can I face her later, knowing that I failed her...? How can I face everyone else?" Naruto whispered, "I failed..."
"Not yet..." Ichigo's voice appeared around him as he looked up. Perched high on the building was the majestic phoenix, along with Hikari.
"Ichigo... how are you here?" Naruto asked as Ichigo glanced at Hikari, before Naruto's eyes widened as he banged his head against the floor repeatedly, "Stupid, stupid, stupid... if only I had remembered..."
"It is not your fault," Ichigo replied, "Under such conditions it would not be expected for you to remember and take every single route possible to retrieve her in the most efficient manner."
"It is," Naruto replied, "I told her to sign the phoenix contract to protect her, and I told myself that I would not allow them to get hurt, yet this happens..."
"You have not failed yet, Naruto," Ichigo replied, "A phoenix's special ability is rebirth... the rebirth into wholeness once more."
"And what must she do then?" Naruto asked desperately, "What will she need to do?"
"She will need to become a Sage, the Sage of the Phoenix," Ichigo replied, "The road is harsh and long... and only the most determined will succeed. Only then can she access our unique ability, the one you also have."
"Rebirth from Ashes..." Naruto whispered, "With any hope she can do it... we must return. Ace."
"Yes Naruto?" Ace asked as he stood at attention.
"Tell Maiev... tell Maiev I'm sorry, but I need to leave," Naruto replied as Ace nodded and disappeared, moving to tell Maiev of the news. Naruto turned to Ichigo.
"Let me," Ichigo said, but Naruto shook his head.
"It should be me who does the ritual," Naruto replied as he laid her gently on the ground, before flashing through seals. As he did so, Ichigo moved closer to Naruto.
Ichigo merged with Naruto, forming a sphere of fire that enveloped the two together. The burning sphere glowed brightly, before it dissipated, revealing, still, a glowing, burning ball, but as it unraveled, it showed Naruto's eyes, before the flames whipped apart into four flaming wings, revealing Naruto, in a completely golden armor. His helmeted head looked around, the three trident spears mounted on the tip of his helmet glowing faintly. His streamlined armor glowed as each line placed itself into the correct position, and as the glowing subsided, Naruto landed, his flaming wings flapping gently before folding itself behind him. Bending down to Lina, he flashed through seals before placing his burning hand on Lina's skin, on top of her chest. The fire then spread quickly, covering Lina, before it condensed into a glowing cocoon that Naruto lifted gently.
"It is time for us to return... Hikari, stay by her side," Naruto murmured with a deeper voice, "And stay close."
Hikari did as instructed, and a torrent of fire erupted from a concentric ring around Naruto, blasting up into the sky and breaking through the roof of the building, before it crashed down, swirling like a maelstrom of chaotic energy, before finally disappearing. All trace of them being there had disappeared, Lina's blood mysteriously gone, and the only remnants were the dead carcasses of the Naga and demons, and the large presence that was present in the entire area.
Theramore
Mei had just turned, finishing with her spar with Sylvanas when a flare of chakra caught their attention, as they turned and faced the point. A bright dot appeared in the middle of the air, by the clearing, and expanded, violet flames flaring along the dot as it grew into a sphere of fire.
"Phoenix Fire..." Sylvanas said, "It's Naruto, I think. I don't recall Lina having that much control over those flames yet, even if she has a high affinity for it."
"Naruto-kun..." Mei replied, "What's happened that he needs to go into that mode?"
"Sage Mode?" Sylvanas asked, but Mei shook her head.
"Something else... I'm not sure what it is, only that it's got to do with Phoenix... and Naruto-kun merging with them," Mei said, "But from what I felt before... it is powerful, I would even hazard a guess at equal power with Sage Mode, or even more."
Suddenly, Naruto appeared, carrying a dark, glowing yellow cocoon.
"Mei-chan, Sylvanas-chan, someone get the Priests here, now," Naruto said in a deeper voice as flares of violet fire circled his body, complete with the golden armor. Without saying anything Mei disappeared in a swirl of water, left immediately to inform the medics even as Naruto carried the cocoon up carefully and began walking off.
"Naruto, where's Lina? I thought she was with you?" Sylvanas asked, but Naruto simply pointed at the cocoon, "She's in there? Why?"
"Injuries. She's in stasis right now," Naruto replied, "How long was I away?"
"A week, about," Sylvanas recounted as she thought back, "Why?"
"The Outlands have a sense of distorting time, thus tracking it will not work," Hecate replied as Sylvanas looked over.
"Hecate? You've returned?" Sylvanas asked as Hecate nodded.
"You are Ranger General Sylvanas Windrunner, of the Ranger army of Quel'Thalas, correct? How is King Sunstrider?" Hecate asked.
"His majesty is dead, Hecate. Killed by Arthas Menthil. King Terenas is also dead," Sylvanas replied as Hecate nodded.
"I see... it is most unfortunate, though I had been informed by Naruto of King Terenas' fall," Hecate replied, "If needed, I am here to offer my assistance."
"I thank you, on behalf of Theramore, then," Jaina said as she walked over, with a group of Priests, "Naruto, what happened? Mei rushed in here yelling about getting Priests and injuries."
"Lina-chan's been hit by demonic energy during an... interrogation," Naruto said as he became covered in flames once more, which flowed off him as if it was water, cascading and twisting to form a rough outline of a bird, before the flames were blasted out into a ring, dissipating to reveal Ichigo, "I'll reverse the stasis lock I placed on her."
As he said that, he waved his hand, and the glowing cocoon vanished in a swirl of fire as well, revealing Lina, unconscious and battered. Mere instants after that, however, he hacked, before coughing up blood.
"Naruto! What did you do?" Jaina asked in alarm as Naruto coughed harder, before spitting some more blood out.
"The powers of the Phoenix clashes with Kyubi's power. Until I can master both energies this will happen every time I merge with Ichigo... not that I'll do it unless under extreme circumstances. This mode isn't meant for heavy combat in any case," Naruto replied as he plopped onto the ground, "Someone scan Lina-chan and purge her of the demonic energy."
Several Priests who had training in identifying demonic energy and expelling them walked forward, before placing their hands on Lina's body and scanning through, and as they scanned closer to the abdomen a dark, purple energy suddenly showed itself, floating and speeding away inside Lina's body despite, well, being inside. Hecate narrowed her eyes.
"The energy is rampant..." she muttered as the Priests tried to get it out.
"I'm sorry, Lord Namikaze, but the residue energy is affecting our ability to scan her injuries and preventing us from healing, and in addition we cannot get it out for some reason, as if it's more tainted than normal," the head Priest of the group replied as they stopped their scans, and the purple energy faded back into the skin. Hecate moved forward.
"Let me take a look. Power up your abilities again," Hecate ordered as the Priest did as she commanded, the soothing glow once more on their hands, and the purple energy reappeared. Hecate looked at the energy carefully, before placing her hands close and weaving through some strange array on top of Lina's stomach. The purple energy slowed, but it still sped about as Hecate narrowed her eyes a bit.
"Banish," Hecate whispered as the energy suddenly stopped and flowed, following Hecate's hands as she stood up, the energy following, before, with a brush of her hand, she dissipated it, "There, now scan her."
"As you wish," the Priest said once more as they moved on. This time, they were successful. The news that followed, however, was not.
"Lord Namikaze?"
"Yes?"
"I regret to inform you... the energy that Lady Inverse had been infected with has corrupted her ovaries. Please forgive us for our inability, but we cannot reverse the damage. She can no longer bear children."
Lina, who just returned into the land of consciousness at that moment, had her world shattered.
End! Now, I gave a bit of a leeway on whether she can have children or not in this story, from a previous hint, so don't flame me for doing this. But finally this part is done. Await for the next chapter while I finish up on my Extended Essay, people. That thing is some hard stuff, but Theory of Knowledge sucks too... it's a good thing we're just reviewing what the Presentation is about instead of actually doing it... otherwise I would have to put this on hiatus... well I might anyways, two weeks per update is quite long in any case.