Lord of Frenzy Chapter 6: Sixth Frenzy, a Naruto + Elden Ring Crossover fanfic

A/N: EDIT: Not a lot of feedback, but I suppose thats what I get for branching out and putting it an M-rating.

Ah, well. I tried. Back in the update rota it goes.

Still wretchedly ill, but I'm trying to push through. Got a lot to update this month, Running to the Edge, Beast Hero, RWBY, more Elden Ring, and despite my chest flaring up, I'm still getting back to updating Game of Thrones again.

Thanks for sticking with me.

As my fifteen year anniversary on this site draws near, I find myself reflecting on the little things in life. What was once a lazy pastime meant for me and a few friends really grew and evolved over time. There are days when I look back on the last fifteen years here and I wonder if anyone will remember me; if I made an impact, despite never making a single cent on any of these stories. Some days were happier than others, and some stories I enjoyed writing WAY too much; to the point where I'd stay up all night working on them.

And of course, there are times when I look to the future and wonder what will become of things when I'm gone.

Of course, I try not to dwell on the latter overmuch; I'm still alive and still writing. In an ideal world, I'd like to keep doing so for as long as I can. But old age is catching up to me and these days, the world is filled with so much madness and death. The recent earthquake in Turkey/Syria serves as a terrible example. Even before that, so many friends and fellow writers I once knew are gone, now. Will I still be here in twenty years? Ten? Five? Its a chilling thought. But for now, I'm still here, still writing.

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.

Once more, 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...

Modified Quote hails from those Elden Ring "If I lose it all" videos that seem to be making the rounds on youtube.

I prefer the VGW jack one myself...

"If I lose it all, slip and fall, will you laugh at me?"

"Lose it all...ha. Ironic, isn't it? I already lost everything the first time around.

So choose your words carefully. Because right now, I don't have anything left to lose. NOT ANYMORE."

~Lord of Frenzy.

Sixth Frenzy

Raya Lucaria was...much changed from Naruto's last visit.

He remembered this awful academy well; recalled the puppets and the traps, those annoying archers and all manner of spells and sorceries here. There was also the Red Wolf of Radagon, a feral beast he'd been forced to slay in self defense. Then that annoying trap with the giant ball and the pesky-parrying bastard he'd encountered at the end of it. Then of course there had been Rennala herself, a madwoman whom he wouldn't kill until much later with Sellen's aid. All in in all, he recalled it as a long, annoying slog, and had no real desire to deal with it again.

This was not that Academy.

Everything looked...cleaner, to start, but also livelier. Once deserted, dusty halls now teemed with new life; commoners, nobles, peasants all from every walk of life, each cut from a different cloth. Little children chased one another through the corridors without a care in the world, waving wooden swords around pretending to be knights. More than a few recognized Radahn and paused to cheer at the gentle giant before continuing their merry race. Some of the older lads and lasses were ferrying books to and from the shelves. Were they going to burn them to stay warm? They must be in a bad way if they'd gone this far.

Hyetta smiled softly at his side. "It seems the children are fond of you."

The good general had the grace to cough into a fist to hide his flush. "So it would seem."

Naruto shrugged one shoulder and followed, not quite sure what to say, or if he should say anything at all.

He felt like an outsider here, now more than ever. These people were safe. More than that, they were happy. He'd just muck it all up if he stayed.

It proved a depressing thought. 'Do I even belong here...?'

"Hey, hey! Don't go thinking like that."

A flash of long red hair shifted in his peripherals, causing him to stiffen.

It didn't belong to Radahn.

He rounded on them just in time to see a young girl dart around the corner. That couldn't be Ranni, not when she was holding sway over that puppet body. Which meant it could only be one of three people; none of whom he wanted to meet right now. It also presented another, unlikely possibility. This could be someone new. Someone different. One of Radahn's children? He'd mentioned having three, with a fourth on the way...

"Nope." Naruto shook his head and kept walking after his guide. "Not dealing with whoever that is."

They encountered still more strangers as Radahn led them to the library, thankfully, he recognized none of them. Just as well, because this lot proved more vocal. Within a matter of minutes the people were cheering his name, hailing him as though he were some long lost hero. Several even dared to bow. Rennala's son shook hands with whomever he could, spoke with more, and led them ever onward, ever upward.

Finally they took one last lift and ascended into an area most familiar.

"Ah." Radahn heaved a sigh. "Here we are. Lets be done with this and have a meal, eh?"

Naruto shrugged. "Sure."

"Don't mind him." Hyetta tugged at his arm. "He's a bit grumpy when he's hungry."

A wry smile touched his lips despite his best efforts. "I am not."

"You are, my lord."

At Radahn's touch the doors parted. Now they came to the grand library itself. Naruto tensed inwardly at the sight, but no attack came. What was once a dim room home to moldering shelves, dusty tomes and wretched girls biting at his feet, it had since been retrofitted into something of a large audience chamber with what looked like a large throne at the end of the hall. He could see someone sitting on it.

"I should warn you," Radahn rumbled, "Mother can be a bit odd at times. She has ever been fond of foreigners that come to court."

...Okay?"

"No, you misunderstand." Radahn shook his head, setting his great crimson mane swaying. "She is fond of them."

His warning didn't make much sense; nor did he have a chance to ponder it; because there, seated atop that throne, was Lady Rennala.

Naruto almost felt compelled to call her that this time around; if only because se looked like a proper queen. Younger perhaps, as was Radahn, and all the sharper for it. Gone was that silly hat of hers, in its place her hair flowed long and free. Her eyes were sharp, with no sign of the madness that once plagued her in a past life.

And was it his imagination or was she...smaller than he remembered?

When and why had that changed? He recalled a towering woman draped in loose red-and-blue robes and while she did wear those same colors, her current robes clung to her body, hinting at the figure within. She held her staff in hand at that, ready to cast at the slightest provocation. She looked like a monarch tried and true, every bit the woman who had once bested Radagon on the field of battle.

Her gaze locked onto him.

Who are you, those keen eyes seemed to say. Why have you come here?

"Mother." Radahn knelt before the throne. "I have returned, with good news. Godrick is dead."

"Is that so?" her voice was just as he remembered, rich and powerful. Tension seemed to bleed from her pale visage. "Well done, my dear boy. And good morrow to you as well, Hyetta." full lips quirked in a faint smile. "A pleasure to see thee again."

Hyetta sketched a curtsy behind him. "You do me honor, your grace."

"T'was not I who struck Godrick down," Radahn stood and swept an arm behind him in a single seamless movement. "This young man struck the killing blow, as did Lady Nepheli."

"Truly?" the monarch tilted her head to regard him as one might a curious dove. "Then you have my thanks, stranger. That runt was a bane upon Limgrave; the Lands Between are well to be rid of him. With his death we might yet be able to expand our reach into the region and better feed our people. You have done us a great deed today.

As he looked on she stood and descended the steps to greet him properly.

It wasn't his imagination; she was shorter after all; they were nearly of the same height. Or maybe he'd grown taller since becoming the Lord of Frenzy...? No, no, that wouldn't make any sense-

"Heads up."

Warm lips alighted up his forehead, snapping him out of his thoughts.

Radahn absolutely choked, having seen the act. "Mother?!"

"Hush, son." she turned back to face him. "Might I know thy name, brave knight, so that I may thank thee properly?"

Hyetta elbowed him.

...Naruto." his tongue betrayed him in the same instant. "I'm no knight."

No recognition passed through her dark eyes when he spoke. None at all. Perhaps that was for the best. He'd barely known her in the first go around, but he knew enough to pity her all the same. Rennala's last life had been one of madness and pain, a world where she'd lost everything, even her own life by the end. It might be better for her to forget. Ignorance was bliss after all. Better she live out this new life in peace and pay him no mind.

And then she leaned forward.

Her lips brushed the outer lobe of his ear and:

"Come to my chambers tonight." her voice sent a shiver shooting through him. "I shall reward you most handsomely."

The Queen of the Full Moon drew back before he could hope to react.

"In any case, you must be tired. Allow me to see you to your chambers; you will have a chance to rest before supper. We will speak more then." She tapped her staff against the ground twice, producing a faint musical chime with each strike. "Moongrum! I have need of thee!"

A familiar knight stepped out the shadows. "As you will, my lady. Your wish is my command."

Naruto resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Some things never changed, it seemed.

"Mother," Radahn removed his helm to step to her side, "Now that I have returned, I must speak with you on the matter of Malenia...

"Yes, yes, of course." she slung an arm around his shoulders and steered him away. "Our scouts have spotted someone matching her description in Caelid...

His ear twitched. Caelid? Was Millicent still there? Or had Malenia actually returned...?

Hyetta looped an arm in his and tugged him away before he could listen. He could feel Moongrum staring their way. Irritated, he let her drag him to safety. To linger here any longer would've drawn undue suspicion to him and that was the last thing he could afford. His mind turned inward as Moongrum guided them through the academy, trusting in Hyetta to guide him. Ha. The blind leading the blind. He found some amusing irony in all that, given her sight appeared to be returning.

Well, at least he knew his next destination now. That helped.

"Here you are, my lord, my lady." Moongrum paused before a single door, fished a ring of keys from his belt, and unlocked it. "I do hope you find the guest quarters to your liking. A servant will come by to fetch you for supper in a few hours."

Hyetta curtsied once more, ever the lady. "You have our thanks."

"And you have mine." the old knight retorted quietly. "Godrick took one of my boys long ago. This world is well to be rid of him. If ever you have need of my sword, you've but to ask."

His peace said, the aging warrior loped back the way they'd come at a brisk pace. In a matter of moments he was all but gone from sight.

Naruto scratched the back of his head. "Well, I guess we'll rest for now."

He was still speaking when someone shot out of a side corridor and slammed into him, physically wrenching his body to one side. If not for Hyetta he might've fallen clean over. bumped into someone.

"Do watch where you're gong!"

"That's my line! You ran into us you..." he growled halfheartedly only to pause as he recognized them. "Sellen?"

He knew that familiar glinstone crown anywhere, and that haughty voice within only confirmed it.

"You know of me? My, my. I didn't realize my work had reached the ears of the common rabble." she waved a hand their way. "That said, I'm afraid I don't have time to chat. If you would be so kind as to move before I move you...?"

He did so on numb legs and let her go. "Another time them."

"Hmmhmm, yes, yes, as you say."

She sashayed away in a swirl of irritated silk, leaving him to blink in her wake. It had all happened so fast.

Hyetta tugged at his arm. He could feel her gaze on him beneath her blindfold. "You know her." she whispered. "Don't you?"

"I do."

A tiny smile tugged at her lips. "I know that look. You loved her."

"I did." the words escaped him in a hollow rasp. "I still do." A flash of panic seized him. "Whatever you're thinking, stop. I can't let her remember me."

"Whyever not?"

A headache stabbed at his skull. "You weren't there. You didn't see...what she became."

The memory hit him like an azure comet.

A monstrous ball of glowing glinttone and crowns fused with flesh.

The halting plaintive voice that came from within.

"Please...my love...kill me...

He shuddered and shook it off with a groan. "I can't let that happen again. I won't."

The flame hummed sadly in his chest. "Sorry...

Not your fault. We won't stay here for long.

Hyetta looked like she wanted to argue; to her credit she held back instead. "Where will we go next?

"Southeast," he said after a moment's consideration. "I want to have a look at Caelid."

She granted him a small smile. "You're looking for Milicent."

"So what if I am? If I can help her the way I helped you..

Hyetta sighed. "Sellen would be a powerful ally toward that end.

He firmed his lips and shook his head. "Better for her to live a quiet life in peace than remember what she became."

Her lips pursed. "Could the same not be said of me, then?"

"No, no," he pushed a finger against her lips to quell her protest. "That's an entirely different beast. You died. He rounded on her with a hiss. I had to watch you melt in my arms unable to do anything while you crumbled away. Sellen was worse. She lived. She couldn't die." when she didn't try to speak, he removed his finger from her mouth. "If she remembers that, she'll go mad or worse.

"What would be worse than madness?"

"A great many things. She might even try to kill Rennala again."

Hyetta frowned. "She's better than the last; a good and fair queen holding the lakes together through sheer force of will.

"She is. ow imagine what will happen to this place if she dies."

Hyetta's already pale face drained completely of color. "Chaos will take the world."

"That's what I'm afraid of; and what I intend to prevent." he whirled away from her hating himself for his restlessness. "If she tries to kill Rennala I'll have to put her down. Hard. And I don't think I can. I miss her. Her wit, her grit, her determination." A bitter bark of laughter escaped him as he palmed his face. "Sometimes I think my heart is too big for its own good.

I disagree." Hyetta reached up, grasping his hands. "If it weren't, we never would've met. Please try. If not for yourself, then for me. You deserve the utmost of happiness."

"..."

"I shall rest for now, I think." she nudged past him, hip brushing his as she opened the door to their quarters. "But do think on what I said."

"And if I have to kill her?"

"You won't." she kissed his cheek. "You are my Lord. What is a Lord without a bit of faith...?"

(.0.0.0.)

She knew him.

It was a decidedly strange feeling for Sellen all things considered; academically she knew she'd never met this man. When would she have? As apprentice to Lady Rennala, she spent most of her time here in the castle keep, learning at her feet. When would she had have time to meet this stranger?

And yet.

His stride drew her eye.

And his voice, it tickled something in her brain.

There was a staid boldness to his stance that hearkened to the familiar, a foggy dream one might forget upon waking. It was all so very perplexing...and curious. So very curious. At her heart she was a scholar, and as a scholar she had to know. Who was he? What was his purpose here? Why did her chest ache whenever she looked at him? Why did her eyes water when she saw him? Why had her heart begun to pound in that brief instant he'd held her?

Had she been cursed?

T'was entirely possible she supposed...

She stopped in the hall, leaning against a wall. She had to know why. She must.

There were spells made to erase and save memories she knew, preserve them, even, but she would have...well, remembered doing that, pardon the pun. More than that, this man looked upon her as if he knew here innermost secrets; stared through to the very heart of her...and seemed all the sadder for it.

Lady Rennala was waiting for her. She would be cross if she was late...

...with a frustrated hiss, Sellen doubled back.

Imagine her surprise when she ran into him again.

This time she was properly prepared for his presence; the moment she saw a flash of blond hair she twisted herself, diverting her momentum to avoid him. The second she did, she grabbed a this sleeve, latching onto his hand for dear life. He froze and she used the chance to strengthen her grip.

"Hold!" She growled at him. "Who are you? What have you done to me?

The blond balked. "I haven't done anything to you-

"Liar!" Sellen hissed back. "You must have!"

His face closed down. "...I'm sorry.

"Sorry?" she frowned at him, not quite comprehending. "Sorry for whaaaaaiiiiieeee?!"

His fingers touched hers, a spark of golden flame traveled between them, and Sellen heard her words pique into a pained shriek as the world pitched backward. Her head hit the floor, bouncing horribly within her glintstone crown. Knowledge rushed in. It was a flood of sights and sounds, images nostalgic and terrifying all the same. And there at the end of it all, she saw it.

What she did.

Why she did it.

Who she became.

Her body arching, growing, swelling to become something hideous. Death. No, worse than death. An abomination. The Graven Mage.

Sellen screamed. She screamed and screamed and screamed until she lost her voice; until her fingers ripped off her glintstone crown and clawed at her face in a desperate attempt to rip the knowledge fro her skull. He caught her hands, stopping her before she could claw her skin off.

"What did I do?! What did I become?!"

Naruto -she remembered his name now, oh yes, she knew everything- stepped in and held her; bereft, she latched on without a second thought. Memories were coming back, but they were flowing in reverse. She'd seen the worst first, the best second, and the treasure third.

"Take it away!" She babbled at him. "I want to forget!"

But there were other memories coming to her now. Softer ones. Kinder.

She remembered the first time she felt his fingers thread through her, the way those baby blue eyes and grown so wide when she first removed her glinstone crown. She heard her own voice laugh at him as her dark hair spilled free and for a wonderful moment she lived the past again.

"Did you think some old crone, boy?"

In an instant another memory snatched Sellen up and she was carried somewhere else. Sights sounds and smells assailed her. The taste of his lips on hers, the delight when he finally gave in. The flash of panicked glee when she realized she was with child. She hadn't told him back then. She wasn't certain at the time, by the time she was, it was too late. Tragedy struck. She became that thing, losing her body as much a the child she might've carried. All of it came crashing down. Sellen felt herself shatter under the weight.

She clung tightly to Naruto.

As she did so, she wept.

How she wept.

A/N: Aaaand scene.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Really need to hear from you on this; should this stay M-rated or not?

Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this particular story, and others.

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.

If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? Well...it won't continue! 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.

I hate begging for feedback, but its genuinely all that keeps me going at times.

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)

Rennala smiled. "Thank you for meeting with me at this hour...

Sellen sighed.

Well! She'd certainly never attempt that ritual with Azur and Lusat's bodies now, assuming she ever found them.

Ah, but Naruto was still looking a her. She had already lost both herself and her child that day. Time tor rectify that mistake. She stepped in and kissed him fiercely, trying to drive the darker memories away. She succeeded, if only because he didn't respond. Not right away.

"Sellen-

"Be silent!" she hissed as she t

She tore at his armor and he helped her out of that dress. In a matter of moments they were both as naked as the say they were borne. She remembered this too, a moment not unlike this own when she first discovered the pleasure of the flesh with him. He'd awoken it again, that carnal desire.

"You did this to me! You ruined me! You will take resonisiblity for this!"

Wait, were you-

Yes!

And I shal be again...

Melina stared at him for a long moment. "Who are you, really?"

He couldn't tell her. Couldn't risk her remembering.

Not yet. "...no one."

"You'll be Elden Lord yet."

Is it better to live in ignorance and forget one's pain?

Or is it better to remember and move forward?

Even if it leads to madness?

Memory is a wonderful thing, isn't it?

Caelid was both better and worse than he expected it to be.

"What the actual hell."

He vaguely remembered there being dragons here, but this...was not one of those dragon. Nope. Not at all. He certainly didn't remember one talking!

"Right, then. I'll just leave you to it-

"Wait!"

Gotcha. He paused, smiling in the shadows, feigning ignorance. "Hmmm? What is it? I've got a castle to conquer."

"P-Perhaps I shall deign to allow your assistance." the wyrm raised a wrecked wing and considered him with her good eye, tattered tail twitching painfully behind her. "As you can clearly see, I've landed myself in a bit of a bind after that tussle with Ekzykes. If I lay here to rest, the rot will surely overtake me as it has others." When he didn't answer she barreled on. "I must return to Lady Ranni and make my report, but I cannot do so in this form. Might you spare a few runes?

...Ranni? Color him interested. Still, he wasn't about to let her off that easily. Not after the tongue lashing she'd given him a minute ago.

"You seemed just fine earlier." he thumbed his chin. "I believe the words, I need no mortal aid were used."

The dragonling made a pitiful noise akin to a squeak, but didn't speak.

Naruto's grin grew. "Say please, and I might consider it."

She whimpered. "Please, I beg of thee! Heeelp~!"

"Good girl." He laid a golden hand on her head. "You gotta name?"

"...Adula."

"Do you see now how fruitless this is?!" they spun with a flourish, driving their weapon deep into his unprotected chest. "The future will not change! Now die! Die and-

Clenched fingers closed hand closed around their wrist, around the blade even now impaling him. Blue eyes snapped open, smoldering with golden flame.

He gripped them by the arm and dragged them in to whisper. A single word caressed their ears.

"GOTCHA~!"

Her good eye narrowed. "Pray tell, where did you get acquire that blade?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

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...

She yelped and jolted as he slapped her flank. Rounded on him now, clutching her hindquarters. "What was that for?!"

"Told you not to dwell on bad thoughts."

"Good sir, I must protest!"

"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...

"Is this all you can do? I am not impressed-

Naruto's head snapped up, eyes bleeding tongues of flame. Open palms swept forth, latching onto either side of their face.

A single word pierced the gloom. "BURN."

Fire flashed. The scent of charred flesh fill the air

His foe toppled back with a yowl, clutching at their ruined visage.

"What chaos is this?! What have you done?!"

"Chaos?" he rasped the word. "No, this ain't a flame of chaos any longer. This is purification."

He grabbed them again. His victim died screaming.

EDIT: Hey, you made it!

And of course, there are times when I look to the future and wonder what will become of things when I'm gone.

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~!