Chapter 2: Echo's of the Past, Dreads of the Future
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Progress within the webway was going much more smoothly than anticipated. Naruto had just inspected another area within the corridor that his clones had made, giving a satisfied nod as he can hear the echoes of music rather clearly.
Around him the shuffling of footsteps and establishment of battleline sections were in full swing, mechanicum personnel were giving commands to shadow clones as they acted as their muscle in all issues regarding fabrication and assembly. Fire jutsu's were being used to weld sections of area's as terrain was being supplied by earth jutsu's. A few dozen clones were floating above the air as they assisted with multiple defensive platforms, these being installed across the ceiling and other area's within the corridor to allow for mobile command centers to be used. These were installed on a magnetic rail systems that was attached towards the roof and moulded into the skeleton of the structure by applications of songs by other Naruto's within the area.
Naruto looked around as he could see that multiple personnel had now exclusively relied on his clones to achieve their objectives, with servitor units being escorted by other clones and left to those clones discretions. In return the manpower that was being achieved was nothing short of monumental, many within these circles of the Imperium not truly realizing the force multiplier Naruto contained in his person until now.
Naruto through his clones had heard prayers of reverence and awe spoken upon those imperial citizens whom were working within this massive project, they had said it was by the glory of their god Emperor and his god son that this miracle was being realised.
"Blessed be the son for he carries the burdens of us all. Blessed be our holy father for his wisdom brings prosperity to us. Blessed be our god emperor for his benevolence brings hope to our lives" a scribe next to Naruto uttered quietly, yet Naruto was still able to hear despite the volume.
"Hey... um... what is your name?" Naruto asked the scribe, they squeaked in fright as he lowered his head to the ground, finding himself unworthy to gaze upon Naruto's face.
"Artimitas my lord... Forgive me for I have brought shame upon you... forgive me ohh holy son"
"Enough about that Artimitas. You don't need to be forgiven for anything"
"But my lord... You bring such blessings before us... one as low as me does not deserve your compassion let alone your attention... I have stepped out of line and must be punished for my sin"
"Hey" Naruto said, placing his hand upon his shoulder which Artimitas flinched upon
"Me and my dad aren't gods... were just human like you. You don't have any obligation to us or anything. You shouldn't place your faith in others, but rather looks into yourself. Find something you wish to cherish and protect. From that you will find true strength. Believe me"
"My lord... such wisdom" the scribe said, tears pooling from his eyes.
"Look, if you would like it, we can be considered friends?"
"You would wish to be... friends with me?"
"Yea... a friend is just a stranger you haven't met yet. Is what someone had said to me."
"My lord Naruto... thank you... thank you!" Artimitas said as he held onto Naruto, tears pooling in his eyes as he continued to bow towards him. Naruto just gave an awkward look as he stared around the area, a grown man grovelling before him making the situation even more awkward than usual.
Thankfully his father and Malcador were away from the webway area tending to other matters within the Imperial palace so right now he was thankfully saved from explaining to his father why a grown man was grovelling before him and crying.
Yet somehow he could feel something different in the air, with his access to sage mode within the webway the songs of memories were becoming more tolerable to hear, in the first few hours he would be compelled to follow the songs of memory within this realm yet now he could without much effort just channel it out from his mind.
Yet as he tried to silence all the songs from his mind he couldn't help that the music would become more distorted and different as he tried to mute all of the music, which left him puzzled why such sounds were being heard in the first place.
Resting upon a clear area away from the main works he sat in a meditative state. Focusing himself he opened his mind and body to the unfiltered music of memories within the realm. As he tried to focus on different elements of the music he started to hear the discordant notes being played.
He pulled himself to where these notes were and was assaulted by memories.
He could see a sky of blood and fire, the smell of death hung heavy as the sound of slaughter and laughter echoed in the air. He could see thousands of people locked in combat, their fury and hatred overshadowed by their unsettling laughter as they suffered mutilation and death by their foes.
Flashes of green light and the sounds of moans and cries of pain echoed through the area as the environment changed once again. This time he could see a sea of battles happening before him, mighty machines of war and death reaping a bloody toll across the field as the sounds of war pelted his mind and soul.
He could smell the fear and death as though he was on the battlefield itself, every pain and suffering was an echo that pushed through his mind. He could feel himself start to shutdown, his mind unable to cope with the untold carnage as his breath had started to increase in pace, mind starting to race in panic.
This is too much... THIS IS TOO MUCH... PLEASE STOP!
Naruto screamed in fright as he held his chest, the rapid beating of his hearts continued as he struggled to breathe, a contingent of Custodes that were nearby rushed to Naruto's aid, seeing the young primarch in such a state they tried to assist the young master anyway they could.
"Lord Naruto... you are okay? You must calm down" one of the custodes said as Naruto looked around in panic, his eyes according to the custodes looked wide and terror induced. As though Naruto had seen a horror beyond his understanding.
A few minutes had passed as Naruto could feel his hearts now slowing their rate. Yet the memories that assaulted his mind were fresh upon his conscious, yet now he could feel that those memories were not real.
Yet why did he feel the pain from those memories as though they were inflicted upon himself?
"Lord Naruto... are you okay?" A custodian asked him as he regained his focus once more.
"uhh Yea... Yea I'm okay. Nothing to worry about"
"Young lord, you were screaming but a few seconds ago. We rushed here to investigate but found you shaking in fear as you were suffering a serious anxiety attack"
"I... I was?" Naruto asked, not even realising that he had done such actions.
"We tried to help you but you started to push us away in fear. I had never seen such a thing happen before to one such as a primarch." The custodian said as Naruto started to think more about what was happening.
He was pulled from his thoughts by Kurama, who's tone of voice suggested the fox was rather annoyed at him.
What the hell just happened Naruto? You just started to scream random gibberish inside your mindscape and next thing you know you started to run amok laughing as you trashed the place!
Kurama? What are you talking about? I didn't...trash my mind?!
Naruto was pulled from his reality to witness the mess that was his mindscape, all around him he could see the pillars of his mind were ripped apart from the main structure. The Seal around Kurama's resting area held strong but Naruto could even see that the seal had suffered some nasty damages. Yet as he looked more into his mind he was more confused than ever as to what was happening.
Kurama... I don't remember doing this... Was there something different about me when I went into this episode?
Yea... You were carrying a lot of hatred within yourself. It was like you before the waterfalls of truth, your body was just radiating hatred, I would even say that it was more potent than even what I had once pushed onto you long ago.
But that should be Impossible... The falls of truth allowed me to accept my darkness. This shouldn't happen Naruto replied to Kurama, willing his mind to fix all that he had destroyed.
Maybe we are not looking at this the right way Kurama said
What if the merging of your two personalities also carried over your hatred from your past lives. Maybe this is more than just your own personal history in Konoha but also your lives within Elementia.
That... That would kinda make sense. I mean we haven't gone back to the falls to confirm this but I think having our persona's merge would leave some underlying problems
And now those problems are actually being a nuisance... I think it's about time you have a good look upon yourself. Strengthen your mind and your heart, remember your acceptance.
I'll... I'll try Kurama
Good... cause I won't have my partner be weak to anything! Even to their own self hatred... You hear me Naruto!
Naruto opened his eyes as the custodians were still near him. He gave them a look of assurance and told them to return to their duties, saluting the primarch as they continued their patrol routes.
Naruto returned to a quiet area within the webway. This one just beyond the operations of the Imperial project. He focused his chakra inward, finding himself once again within his mindscape.
Bee had imparted him knowledge on being able to return to his inner most consciousness through meditation and chakra usage, it was here that the duo had once again stood before each other, one from the persona of the primarch, the other from the life of a hero of Konoha.
Judging from what I heard you are having a bit of trouble with something.
You could say that Naruto replied to himself, the younger version had to give a small chuckle as the area around them morphed to a familiar setting.
Remember... Everything that is in here is merely our own reflection. You cannot defeat your darkness, only accept it for what it is and make your peace with it.
Doesn't make this easier when you say it like that.
Since when did we ever take the easy way?
Naruto had to give a chuckle as he readied himself, the falls before him were of a darkness that he could not see beyond, yet as he sat there channeling out every distraction he started to see a figure appear from the waters beyond.
What he saw he gave an involuntary flinch as he realized the problem was much more severe than what he thought.
The Entity before him looked like himself, yet his form was twisted beyond normal. Etchings of red blood flowed from his body as he gazed upon the primarch with eyes of blood red and black. A pulsating red slit greeted the middle of the eye as the being 's skin was a blackened shadow, the shape of a crown along with two distinct horns jutting from his head like rabbit ears reflected upon his head, while two wings of flesh spanned behind the figure, giving them a true look of terror as the mark of an eight pointed star pulsed with a sickening blue flame upon his bare chest.
So my other half decided to grace me with their presence... how quaint of you
Your much different from the last time we met
That was before we were injected with an infusion of chakra and the warp. Or did you forget that little detail about where we came from already Naruto?
That was a long time ago, the planet had changed our warp energy to chakra. Our power had evolved with our home!
Do you really think such a thing was going to 'magically' change our very nature? We were created from the warp, shaped into our being by our 'father' and given a mortal vessel to contain our essence. We are part of the warp, just like anything else in this existence.
So Why did Be'lakor feel no pain while within our body? Why did we feel no pain when in the presence of those silent sisters? Why is it that we were able to stand up to those so called gods?
Because it is in our very Nature to be driven to change. We are an aspect of our father, one that by it's very nature is a dangerous aspect to inherit. Without it we would have fallen to despair when the daemon possessed our body, without it we would have never strived to better everything and everyone we have ever met.
Determination...
That is our drive! Our purpose! We are determined to better ourselves, to better those we call friend, to strive for the impossible even when everything around us is falling apart... We just cling to our determination and strive forward. Ever onward, ever better, is that not a true irony?
You say that like it's a bad thing
You are truly ignorant aren't you?
Judging from the barely held anger you contain you are going to explain why
You only see your determination from the perspective of what can you do to improve yourself and others. Yet you do not realise that the same determination can spell the death of many, including those whom you care for.
Think of this. A person you care about starts to expand their ideology to include things that you find barely tolerable. That person is changing to better themselves which leads to them accepting something that you cannot stand. You try to pull them back from this path which starts to induce conflict. From this a bitterness settles between the two of you and you with your so called determination would want nothing more than to resolve that discord because you think it would be much better than what is happening now.
You try to push them more towards what YOU think is the better path for them. Yet they just refuse to budge from their idea's because they had already changed to accept it. Your not making the problem better, your just making it progressively worse.
Now try and think of this on a bigger scale. These servitors you are trying to 'rescue' are less than people now, their souls are a broken mess that you are trying soo hard to mend. But in doing so you are going to just break a system that has been here for countless centuries, all made from people who were just trying to survive in a harsh life and decided to use people who were worse then them in a more useful manner.
Those 'people' are still humans. They do not deserve that punishment. No one deserves that! Who are we to determine who becomes a broken shell of themselves? Unable to pass on and just existing in a life of torture! Unable to even feel what it means to be human anymore! That is horrific!
And yet that same injustice is the reason humanity has survived for this long! You just can't expect people to forsake a system they have relied upon to survive for millennia! You must realize that evil is necessary when survival is the main goal of a race! There must always be an evil for good to prosper! Both are necessary because one cannot exist without the other.
So your saying I just give up? That what I am trying to do is just a pipe dream? I cannot do that!
What I'm saying is that you must accept that! You must realize that everything we see in this existence sometimes cannot be changed! We have to accept that there are some things we just can't change... And that is okay
Both Naruto's looked at each other, one held a notion that his actions will make everything better than what it was, while the other was in the mindset that not everything can be changed with ones actions.
Both entities were at an impasse as they stubbornly held their side of the argument, yet Naruto realized that in essence he was merely fighting with himself, a fruitless conflict because in the end both idea's were from his own mind.
I just can't give up on people like that. If there is but a small chance I can make it better for everyone I care about then I will take that chance. Better to have tried then to never have done anything at all.
The darker Naruto gave out a frustrated sigh, already seeing that this Naruto will not see reason. Yet he still looked upon him with a calculating look.
I know you have already accepted what I am to you... Yet I fear what event would need to happen to get you to understand where I am coming from Naruto... You can't change everyone, the sooner you can accept that... the better off you will be when It inevitably happens.
But for now... Perhaps this sign of mutual trust will be enough for the task at hand Dark Naruto said as he extended his hand out towards Naruto.
The primarch looked upon the hand and gave a small nod, his hand firmly gripping his counterparts hand as they both blazed into a golden light.
Standing where the two once were now only one stood, Naruto looked upon his hands as he could now feel that darkness within him, his mind now had more clarity as he could feel the songs of the wraithbone return him to the memories of conflict.
The sounds and smells of war complimented the sights he now saw with his eyes. Yet unlike before where the stimulation was too much, now a guiding hand made the experience more tolerable.
This has already happened. Do not get involved with what you see. Just acknowledge that It has happened and move onward. Accept it for what it is His inner darkness said.
Naruto took a deep breath, focusing his mind to accept what is happening before him and being unable to act. As his mind moved onwards from the conflict the memories faded into nothingness.
Now there was only silence, yet somehow Naruto could still sense something here, like a word being whispered or an idea at the edge of his mind. He continued to still himself, blocking everything that was within his mind, his fears, his thoughts, everything was being washed from his soul as he tried to find closure.
The silence was being shifted, little by little his senses pushed into the silence, patiently waiting for something that resonated within his very soul.
His world faded into white as he felt his consciousness be pulled upon something... otherworldly
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Rock Lee ventured through his battle barge Justice, attending to the needs of his company.
After his expedition with the Salamanders and the liberation of a few outlying worlds within the galactic West, known as pacificus in Imperial maps. Lee was regrouping with other aspects of the legion to discuss any relevant information that involves Elementia and their next mission objectives. To Lee this felt like the calm before the storm so his mood was overtly cautious.
He crossed one of the training area's within the ship as he heard the grunts of a person within the room, from the sounds of their tone they seemed rather upset, not passing up an opportunity to help those under his command Lee entered the area.
Various training targets were destroyed by the person, their upper bodies destroyed through a massive shotgun blast. While he looked upon the lone astartes with a look of concern.
Golden flowing hair pooled from this figure as their size and shape showed that they were female, while her neck area contained an orange scarf that was not the norm for astartes, yet their armour was decorated with various items, with one being a golden crest of a blazing heart contained on their belt.
Her Lilac eyes looked upon the targets as she smashed them aside with her fist, with one of them being a cybernetic limb, an inbuilt arm cannon installed within while her other side contained a gauntlet that contained a rotor of shotgun based slugs.
"I see those targeting dummies are too dull for your youth to shine Yang, perhaps I would be a better sparring partner?"
Yang Xiao Long looked at her captain with surprise, she didn't expect to be caught venting her frustrations out on the targeting dummies used mostly for the new recruits. Her lilac eyes changed to a more calm look as a cheeky grin appeared upon her face.
"Sure Cap. I could use the practice. Fighting those orks back there was not the most challenging thing"
The two lined each other up, Lee settled himself into a basic combat stance while Yang looked at him, her eyes changing to red.
"Not gonna use your servo's Cap? I'm a bit disappointed..." Yang said, her tone coming through as snarky.
"Now now Yang. You know If I use my servo's it means I am not holding back. My strength could kill you if I am not careful, I want you to learn and stay youthful, not to be broken"
"You know Capt'n. That just makes me want to hit you even harder!" Yang said as she blasted towards Lee, a vicious right haymaker coming for the young captain, yet Lee dodged the attack with a grace that was inhuman.
Yang poured her attacks into Lee, each strike would leave a shock wave echoing through the room as Yang's hair started to glow more golden, yet Lee would look at Yang with a look of kindness as he continued to dodge and deflect her attacks into the environment.
This continued for a few minutes until Yang screamed in frustration, her aura blazing around her in a haze of red and gold as she tried to deliver a lightning fast straight punch into Lee.
The room shook as Yang's fist was being held in Lee's hand, the blast not effecting him whatsoever as the room shuddered from the violent aftershock of Yang's destructive attack. Lee merely gave a small tap with his other hand to Yangs face as she stumbled back from the attack.
"Something is troubling you Yang"
"What?... Uhh Nah... what could you mean Cap?" Yang said, her tone now suddenly becoming more defensive at Lee's statement.
"I have noticed you have become more aggressive lately. You latest deployments have been more sloppy than usual. Even your team has commented to me that you are mostly distracted in the field... I know something is wrong"
The room was silent as Lee watched the array of emotions pouring from the young lady, yet even when she smashed aside a training dummy and looked away from him he knew something was wrong with Yang.
Lee walked towards a seating near the side of the room as he gestured Yang to sit down, which she did so hesitantly. A few minutes of silence went by as Lee merely looked across from the room as Yang looked upon her clenched hands.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Lee asked.
"What is there to talk about?" Yang said in a dry tone, her eyes starting to mist over with tears
Lee gave Yang a firm tap on her shoulder as tears started to pool from her eyes.
"Why?... why does it hurt soo much" Yang started to say
"I just want what's happy for them... But my heart hurts that they didn't choose me... and now they are happy and I'm just left here... to suffer in solitude"
"Ohh Yang" Lee said as he gave her a gentle hug.
"Love is a complicated thing. We crave the warmth of love soo much in our lives that we bring pain to ourselves when we are rejected... Yet love is not fully reciprocal. We leap into love blind and hope the other catches us while we fall"
"How do you cope with it? Not being loved back?" Yang asked, her eyes puffy as tears still leaked from them.
"You have to endure... Support that person with your all even though they will not return your feelings. Be the best person they need as support and find closure with it. In time this hurt will heal, but until then you must be the best you can be for them"
"And who knows?" Lee said "Maybe something will happen later down the line. So you never know what could happen"
"Thanks Cap... You know I never would have thought you of all people would be good at giving love advice"
"Well this face is just more than a handsome smile" Lee said as he gave her a toothy grin.
"You still have a terrible sense in fashion Capt'n"
At this Lee showed a shocked look as Yang as he stood up, pointing a finger at her while she giggled.
The two continued to talk about things until part of Lee's command staff notified him to return to the bridge as communications within another legion company was established.
Yang looked upon her hands once again as Lee walked out of the training room, even through the pain was still there, she had agreed with herself that she would be the best friend she can be for them, supporting her friend through thick and thin.
No matter what
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[Entry Log 20-003-006.M30:]
[Leonard here]
[Well I am happy to say my Crystallic fusion creator is finally completed after a month of 'tinkering' and such. Who knew creating a variable vacuum chamber would be bloody difficult]
[Anyway, during this time I found that the fusion process can be safely achieved in a chakra liquid state, this is good because I didn't want to crap myself every time I decided to make a new crystal for some reason]
[The initial Crystallic combinations have had wild variation of effects from them. One combination even decided to alter the gravity of my lab by a factor of zero, meaning it was a hell of a surprise trying to grip on the walls to get to the ground when all your stuff is starting to float to the ceiling. Got a bit of an earful from Alabast for that little accident, thankfully crystals can be stored in a chakra nullifier field to stop their energy from leaking out where you don't want that. Thank shinobi for seals right?]
[In terms of power output. I have hit a bit of a roadblock, I have tried hundreds of different combinations lately and it seems the best combination I can create results in only about half the required energy output I need for a theoretical testing of the gate system.]
[You would think just making two crystals and putting them together in the same system would solve the problem... but it's not that easy. For one thing it seems when similar crystal compositions are close to each other they lead to a cascading failure within the crystal structure, essentially leading to the crystals becoming unstable and leading to an explosion... again experience...I'm just going to leave it at that]
[So my plan is to try and see what specified combinations at specified volumes of chakra can produce the result I need... Hopefully I can find something that works... I only have probably thirty different types of liquid chakra on hand at the moment...]
[Yea... This is not going to be a simple case of guessing...]
[Leonard out]
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[Entry Log 21-008-006.M30:]
[Leonard here... Ill be quick]
[Turns out most of Elementia is now on elevated alert. Communications with astropaths have been getting progressively worse as our scanners have detected more of these anomalies within deep space. Since they are of warp classification we have coined the term 'warp storm' to describe these phenomena. Personally I would have gone with shitstorm cause of how much they make everything else go to shit but that is just me]
[I have still got nothing on the crystallic part of my gate drive but have had a brainwave idea on how I could potentially create an anchoring point. I have to thank lord Naruto again for the idea since it's based upon his biological fathers most famous technique]
[The Hiraishin, or flying thunder god technique is a marvel of seal arts. It allows the user to essentially become faster than the speed of light through the use of a sealing matrix and anchor points across a vast distance, essentially making the user able to travel at speeds that are beyond the scope of even faster than light travel. Lord Naruto had explained it to me in summary but he mentioned using his chakra to create an anchor point at the target and then using his own chakra as a beacon to instantly appear where he needs to be]
[So using this method I have devised that I could in theory create a first 'probing' phase. This is where a miniaturized gate would be opened in the general target area, from this a chakra 'pulse' would be sent out and received back using specialized chakra receptors, acting as a semi radar system.]
[In turn this information would be fed into a central system and calculations and data would be used to determine a viable area in the targeted zone for the gate to jump towards. Kinda like a marker used on the other side to allow a much bigger opening to be used.]
[I have no idea if this theory would even work or if the process would result in something... dangerous... But I have a companion on Menagerie whom I have been in contact with to provide a secondary point by which my gate would be used as a 'test' target. Menagerie Prime is roughly 41 million Kilometres away from terrarian orbit so it would be a good ball park to test if this system could actually work. I have estimated that my current chakra crystal would allow a hole the size of a basketball to be opened for approximately thirty seconds before I run the risk of chakra depletion from the crystal...]
[I am a bit hesitant to admit success with this... after all I have had many MANY different problems to even get this far... But here's hoping this might be a break?]
[I feel like I'm going to regret this decision]
[Leonard out]
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[Entry Log 22-009-006.M30:]
[Well... I kinda regretted this decision as things didn't go exactly as I had theorized]
[Turns out the information my 'probe' had provided was beyond the scope of any current system that is in use as of this moment... The information overload was extreme, so much so that I would hesitate even the cogheads in the mechanicum would even be able to make use of this data. But on the upside this is actually a good sign that I might be on to something]
[My companion on Menagerie had said the area experienced an abnormally high concentration of chakra before a 'distortion' had appeared across the clearing. According to my information the area had actually been swept soo thoroughly that I even had soil composition of the surrounding area that was accurate to the micrometer. Which would be incredibly impressive if it didn't overload the processing power of my damn terminal when the data started to pour in]
[I have an idea of how I can circumvent this problem... only thing is that I would have to talk to the old man Alabast in regards to 'that'. I know that at the moment the only iteration of 'it' is currently within the Will of Fire... But I think it's the best option I got at the moment]
[Here's hoping no mechanicum people find out about these journals... Cause that will not be a pretty sight]
[Leonard out]
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Inari looked upon the various systems across the Will of Fire within his captains quarters. Giving a few approving nods he had to give it to his technica crew, their work is almost on a daily basis but is so vital to the functions of this mighty vessel.
"Captain. I can safely say apart from some superficial damages to the outer hull, the Will of Fire is functioning at optimal levels" a figure to Inari's left said as various projections showed before the figure, with Inari being the only other person within this room.
Inari looked at this person, yet that was a misconception to describe them as such.
Hair flowing red with streaks of gold, their figure was of a feminine look, yet their skin was not of this world, golden with streaks of blue echoed along lines upon their form as she looked upon Inari with a smile.
"Any other problems that require my attention... Aria?"
"Apart from incessant hails from the local mechanicum personnel that continue to grate my patience from Lions gate port... Nothing else comes to mind Captain"
Inari gave an approving nod as he looked upon Aria.
An anomaly that was impossible to imagine, very few knew of her as that information would be catastrophic if it falls into the hands of those whom couldn't understand. Only himself, Naruto, those whom he calls friend and those whom were there when she was created know of how she came to be, a process that was so simple yet would have a profound effect upon the Imperium if that knowledge came to light.
For she was created by accident in a time of desperation.
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"Alabast... are you sure this chakra core will work?" Naruto asked the old man as the both of them along with the Emperor of mankind and a few terrarian tech adepts occupied the room. The idea of Son's plan of dust crystals being used to power this creation would ensure that the incursion would have the greatest chance of success, many lives hindered upon this one moment.
"My calculations are not absolute. But they will suffice in the task that we need to get done. Relax Naruto, I know what I am doing"
"Somehow that doesn't instil me with the greatest confidence" The Emperor said as he looked upon the mixtures of machine around the room as flows of power started to pulsate a glowing blue.
"Bah... ye of little faith. Watch and you might learn something new, Emperor" Alabast said, a look of smugness upon his face as his contraption started to begin.
The area itself started to pulse and rumble, chakra flowed from the room in great burst of light and energy as his creation started to pulse and crackle, currents of energy fired from multiple chambers as all manner of colours started to fly across the room.
The Chakra core whined a mighty tune as arcs of lightning crackled around the spacious room as Alabast himself was looking at his monitoring equipment, ensuring no abnormalities happened under his close scrutiny.
The sounds and displays across the room reached a crescendo as it seemed the core was starting to glow with barely restraint energy, when suddenly the room was brought into a sudden pitch darkness, the various lights all blown out from their sockets as the machine suddenly stopped.
"hmm" Alabast said in the surrounding darkness.
"It seems your device is not working Alabast... was that intentional?" The Emperor said, a smug look upon his face as his voice carried said smugness with it.
"Not... a... bloody... single... word." Alabast said, his voice barely holding back his annoyance.
"Perhaps we should bring Archmagos Kane to look at your machine to see what the problem is"
"If you bring in that bag of rusted bolts into this part of my workshop I swear I will shove my foot"
Alabast was going to finish what he was saying until a massive energy pulse blasted the three of them to the wall, as the device pulsed with barely restrained power, each ripple of energy was blasting the three with incredible pressure that their bodies were being embedded into the walls as they were groaning in pain.
"Urrghhh... If I die because of your machine I will beat the crap out of you Alabast" Naruto said as they continued to struggle against the overwhelming force.
"It should be stabilizing soon! It just needs to expend the excess reaction!"
"How long will that take!" The Emperor said as the room started to groan in protest at what was happening.
"I don't know!" Alabast screamed in reply "I didn't anticipate this much of a reaction!"
"Well then I will finish it" The Emperor said as his eyes glowed with his monstrous psychic energy, giving a mighty cry his eyes pulsated with living lightning as he focused upon the core.
"Wait! Bloody Wait!" Alabast said in alarm as he saw the arks of lightning snake themselves onto the device.
As soon as the Emperor's attack reached the core, a violent wave of energy pulsed out from the device, before the room started to return to some form of normalcy. The three men gave out groans as they tried to fix themselves, checking each other to ensure their bodies were not seriously damaged.
The Emperor, eyes still glowing with fury grasped Alabast by his shoulder, his look anything but happy as he looked upon the Terrarian with a look of scorn.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't put my fist into your chest now Alabast" The Emperor said as the other man just looked at the master of mankind with no fear.
"Cause you know I'm all you got for chakra tech. I'm too much of an asset right now for you to kill. I know it, you know it. So lets just be civil about this and keep a calm, collected head on ourselves"
"Look"
Naruto calling out to the pair made them look away from each other and where Naruto was pointing. The chakra core was pulsating in a brilliant display of multi colours, the surface glowed a viscous blue as the steady hum pulsating beneath it's surface made Alabast give a smug smile.
"See... told you It'll work"
"So it would seem" The Emperor said as he released Alabast, the trio of men looked upon the core as it pulsated with an almost mesmerizing glow, Naruto looked in awe as the other two continued to look on with more critical eyes.
The room was quiet, it seemed that the adepts had evacuated the room before the main reaction had happened so the trio were the only ones left. Yet they all paused in alarm when they heard a sound echoing through the darkened room.
"Is that... giggling?" Naruto uttered as the sounds of giggling echoed across the room.
A light blazed across the room, it's form too fast for the three to make any real details about, this made the Emperor on high alert as his sword was drawn from his person, a beam of golden light blasted across the room as the sounds of startled crying echoed from the impact zone.
"Wait dad!" Naruto said, as the Emperor was raising his sword, a golden flame pulsing out from it's shell, Naruto started to walk towards the other side, his eyes focusing as a red glow popped behind one of the crates that had taken a blow from his fathers strike.
Taking careful steps, Naruto walked calmly around the crate and looked in surprise at what he saw, he extended his hand towards the light as the other two in the room looked on in anticipation.
"It's okay... I'm not going to harm you" Naruto said, a gentle smile upon his face.
The Emperor and Alabast looked in anticipation as a slim hand reached out towards Naruto's hand, the limb drew curiosity from the two scientist as they could tell that it was not a natural hand, the dead giveaway being that it was glowing a wondrous red in the darkness.
Naruto's hand grasped another, as the figure looked in a word, otherworldly. Their skin was of a golden colour mixed in with red streaks, the figure looked almost feminine yet was a young body, likely one in their childhood. Their hair was of a mesmerizing blue as their eyes looked upon the group, as their pupils pulsed with power, grid lines appearing across their surface to pupils of a crystal white,inverted from normal.
The Emperor and Alabast were silent as they looked upon the young looking girl that Naruto had pulled into their sights. Yet she skirted herself next to the primarch as she looked at the duo with a timid look.
"Fascinating" Alabsast said as he looked upon the girl "Not an organic body. Reading large outputs of chakra coming from her, yet no detection of bio organic matter at all. Perhaps a concentration of energy manifested into a tangible form?"
"What... what are you?" The Emperor muttered as they looked upon the girl, the Emperor reached out towards the girl yet she pulled herself backwards, a look of fear on her eyes as she looked upon the Emperor.
The Chakra core behind them pulsed a different colour, changing itself into a more cautious orange, yet the girl herself changed in colour as well, her skin now reflecting an orange colour as their hair changed to a cautious red, while the chakra core in the middle started to also pulse angry red wisps of power as a warning.
"Dad... your scaring her. She fears you because you had tried to hurt her before" Naruto said, his tone calm as he walked towards the girl. "Sheathe your sword dad. She is scared, there is no need to make her even more frightened"
The Emperor gave a sigh as he slowly sheathed his blade once again, his hands were put to a resting position to either side of his body, he showed his hands to the girl, showing he was now willing to not induce conflict.
"It's ok little one... I am here, you are safe" Naruto whispered in a soothing tone.
The girl looked hesitantly at the trio, yet slowly walked towards Naruto, he opened his arms as the girl moved into them, being given a warm embrace that made her form change to a more mellow green colour upon her skin, the chakra core in the background changing colour with the girl.
"My name is Naruto... what is your name?"
The girl looked on, a confused look upon her face as she opened her mouth but no sound was uttered, the girl placed her hand across her throat as she tried to emit any sound yet slowly a faint noise was echoing from her mouth.
"N...n...a...r...r...u...u..t...t..o..."
Her voice was crackling, as though it had never been used to say anything, yet she took hesitant steps to try and make her voice mimic what she had heard from this person in front of her.
"That's it little one... my name is Naruto... Na..ru..to"
After a few minutes of trial and error, she began another attempt as her voice became more clearer
"Na..ru...to"
"That's it little one"
Her face pulled into a bright smile as her skin changed to a vibrant yellow, the chakra core behind her changed in colour as the area was bathed in a vibrant yellow glow.
"Naruto!" The little girl said in excitement as Naruto continued to support her, all the while the Emperor and Alabast looked on in fascination.
It would be many months of tests after the incursion that the both of them would finally figure out what this girl was, in that period her bond with Naruto would become that of family. Naruto in his spare time would teach the young girl how to speak and understand him while her curiosity and innocent nature would be infectious to Naruto, giving him another reason to defend his home.
In time Naruto would introduce her to his closest friends, chief among them was Hinata and Inari, whom the girl had struck a friendly bond with the former fisherman's son, in that time Naruto had given her a name that would over time be cemented in myth and legend.
For she was given the name Aria, and her purpose was that of greatness.
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Inari had to give a small smile as memories of times past flooded his mind, whom would have thought that a manifestation of a machine would choose him to be their partner and captain the mighty vessel in which she had taken as her own.
"Are you okay captain?" Aria asked, her look one of confusion.
"I... I'm just remembering how we met for the first time. You were such a timid little person"
"Well... It was the first time I had ever seen another normal human... you just struck me as something curious. I had a feeling you were someone I could trust"
"I... thank you Aria. You telling me that means a lot to me. I could not ask for a better partner in these trying times"
"Same here Inari... I mean Captain"
Aria had given the captain a heartfelt smile as the systems within the Will of Fire pulsed with an almost joyful tune, various tech adepts and personnel on board would comment how the ship felt more vibrant, as though the gloom of the beyond was just a distant memory, while those whom were adepts of the mechanicum would be giving small praises to the machine spirit of the mighty vessel, feeling a sense of reverence as they continued their blessed work.
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'How interesting'
Naruto was pulled into conscious thoughts as he heard a voice next to him, opening his eyes he stared in silence.
He sat within a realm unlike anything he had ever seen, lush plants and all manner of different life wandered around him, great tree's of massive size dotted the landscape as the sky itself was an iridescent array of colours, great swaths of the sky were littered with the sparkles of stars as though the entire universe was within eyesight, in the center of this configuration of stars was a wondrous sight of a singularity, perfectly in balance within the artistic landscape before him.
He could feel the grass beneath him, even though such a thing should not be possible. His thoughts reminded him that he was still within the webway, that all that he is seeing cannot possibly be real.
'It doesn't matter what is real or not. So long as it gives meaning to itself and others. That is what is truly real'
His mind was invaded once again by that voice. Curiosity made him address his environment for the source of these thoughts, his eyes travelling to a lone figure whom was merely sitting before him, appearing in front of him as though by impulse.
This creature was unlike anything he had ever seen in his lifetimes. His size was much larger than a humanoid, yet his posture suggested he was someone of sentient quality. It's head was of a lizards shape as though aged many lifetimes, yet it's eyes were glowing of a vibrant blue, teeming with untamed power and wisdom beyond lifetimes.
It's body looked old and frail, yet it's form did not posses any form of entropy or degradation. It's scales looked hardened and weathered yet did not seemed to be out of place upon it's body. Sitting upon it's large hind legs the figure was clothed in ancient robes that are unlike any within this time.
"What...who...where?" Naruto uttered, his mind trying to comprehend the person before him.
'I see you have many questions. Yet the answer to some you already know.' The figure looked upon Naruto with a small smile upon it's face.
"What is this place?" Naruto asked first, trying to sate his curiosity of his location first.
'This is a place you are already familiar with. Yet the question you seek is not what. But why'
"I'm... in the webway... I was trying to find the source of the memories within the wraithbone?... is this a memory?"
'Rather astute observation my friend. This is indeed still the webway. Yet you are not within a memory, for this realm is beyond such frivolous concepts'
"Then... is my mind inside the wraithbone?"
At this the figure smiles, as he raised a single finger towards Naruto. A glowing blue flame sparked to life upon the finger as it travelled and entered Naruto's body, at once Naruto could feel himself feel an almost disconnected feeling to something. Looking behind him he could now see his physical body, still in meditation as he observed the area around him.
He could see the countless workers, their forms almost incorporeal towards his own as they ventured and toiled across the webway realm. He watched as his clones, whom were assisting where they could glowed a different shade of colour compared to the others within the realm. Even the custodians and Silent sisters whom were his protection projected their own unique aura across the different planes.
All around him, he could see the environment merge together, two different realities into a single harmonious scene. All within sight of his now incorporeal body.
"What is this place?" Naruto uttered, as the figure floated next to him.
'This place is the realm beyond. Where the spirit and the material are in perfect harmony. Very few ever will see such a place. Yet here you are'
Naruto turned around, his gaze now upon the figure, answers given to questions of the past now pushed aside for new questions.
"Who are you?"
The figure gave a small smile, as his eyes looked upon Naruto with a sense of wisdom, aged and tired as though lifetimes flashed before the figures eyes.
'I would give you the answer you seek. Yet there would be no value upon such a discovery. I can feel that one such as yourself values self discovery more than mere words alone'
"Huh... I don't know if I find that insulting or humbling that you can tell that... So I guess I'm just going to ignore it"
'Willing to acknowledge one's failings. A rather rare trait in these trying times. Yet not unexpected from one given life through hardship and loneliness. Truly such a trait is indeed one to be cherished'
"Look. I appreciate that you are willing to let me find the answer on my own terms... but can you at least give me something to go along? Like maybe a hint or some other thing that I can piece it together?"
The figure gave a chuckle at how brazen Naruto asked that question. It was expecting something more sinister or narrow in terms of answers, yet he was surprised that the young shinobi was still showing an uncommon side of humanity.
'I suppose if you are asking me of such a thing without any motive of repulse or bigotry then I can at least give you guidance to what you seek'
'To know of our history is to know of life and death. Pathways of life bloomed from the roots that which we had seeded upon both sides, life and death entwined in eternity. Forever bound to each other, always separate yet sharing a common medium. That is our legacy to this existence, a legacy in which life still uses to this day'
Naruto sat upon the floor, his mind pondering what this person had just told him. In his thoughts he started to gaze upon the realm he was within. Taking in all of it's splendor as his mind continued to ponder in awe at what he could see.
He could, with some focus see beyond the veil of the webway, looking as the warp beyond, which should have made his mind falter was instead something that made sense to him, as though the veil of madness that was once part of it had no effect here.
He could see beyond, his gaze now looking upon the vastness of space, his sight reaching beyond Terra as he gazed upon the stars, planets and light as far as he could see spanned his reach, with the echoes of stars in the distance being the only indicator that this universe was beyond anything he would ever know.
"Life and death... If life is meaning our homes. Meaning our planets and systems... what would mean death?" Naruto said to himself, thinking his thoughts among the two of them.
The other figure's smile started to brighten, slowly giving an encouraging look upon Naruto as he tried to piece together what he had said.
"And this thing you mention of a common medium... Well this would entail something that is used in both places at once. And you said both were entwined with each other?"
'Correct'
"Hmm..."
Naruto closed his eyes in meditation to take time pondering the information presented to him. It would be hours that Naruto would meditate, yet he would feel as though he was at the cusp of understanding.
All the while the figure would be still there, his eyes looking at Naruto with a calm, almost encouraging look as the planes around them continued around them.
Naruto while in this state had begun to collect Nature energy around his surroundings. His vision and sense of self would begin to wander around the various paths of the webway, he would discover that this network, even though fractured from other sections was still connected. It would be this path that Naruto would journey through, seeing the galaxy from a new perspective.
Every world was connected through the tunnels and pathways within the webway. His spirit would glide itself upon the winds as his souls would fly alongside him. He would feel life bloom upon countless worlds, yet it would be the emotions that flooded the webway which would truly give him pause.
If he had to describe it, it would be a kaleidoscope, many intersecting colours in patterns that made no rhyme or reason, yet were beautiful to gaze upon. From the webway he would see these emotions drift into the Immaterium, where a few would drift away while others would gather together and become a part of something larger. Gazing upon the edge of both realms he would see an inversion of both. Like two sides of a coin, separate yet existing together.
It was with this sight that he opened his eyes in understanding.
"The warp is the realm of death. Where life goes after death. A plane where the emotions and spirits of life return... a place where souls take refuse after life"
'Correct'
"So the medium of which you speak... it is here, the webway. This whole network is embedded itself into both the warp and reality. As though it was grown from both"
'indeed you are correct'
"So... you would be... an old one?"
At this the figure would give a smile, his eyes shining as though confirming Naruto's suspicion.
'Well done young one. Indeed I would be what you would call an old one. Yet now I am merely a guardian, fated to be bound here to guard what remains of our legacy'
"If you are still here. Does that mean you could return to the galaxy? Why still confine yourself here?"
The old one gave a sigh, his eyes sombre as he looked upon Naruto with a sense of acceptance.
'Alas I am not what you call alive. I am merely an echo, a memory. This form before you is but a collection of memories of my previous life. Yet that is all, merely memories given form'
"So the old ones... they are truly dead"
'Sadly this is indeed true'
"How did you all perish? What happened to cause ones as old as you to no longer exist?" Naruto asked in curiosity and caution.
'You are the first in a long time whom would be given the privilege of hearing our story. Yet I feel it would be vital you hear of our rise and fall from history. For it will allow you to guide your own people to not make the same mistakes we made'
'In the beginning all was silence. From this came the first flash, the great chain of fire burst upon the nothingness and pushed the silence away.
From this the concepts of light and dark emerged. Time and space would follow their new siblings as reality itself began to experience it's first steps on it's long journey.'
'We had been birthed by these primordials. From their monumental strength our world would be born, under the light of a young star, one whom was birthed along with life. From this union did we; the old ones. Begin our journey'
'In our youth, we eagerly drank all the knowledge of our creators. We used the teachings of these aspects to craft all we would ever need, the concept of light would give way to fire and warmth, Time would give us the concept of knowledge and understanding, as the dark would teach us to adapt to any scenario in which we were not prepared to face. Such is life during these times.'
'Though this life was harsh, it was fulfilling. Each step of our journey was filled with untold wonder and excitement, each trial would test us to ever push onward. Our lessons were many and our cause was, in our minds; righteous.'
'Yet we were still naïve, unknowing that what had been our beginning would also be the seeds of our end. For we had forsaken a truth that we so foolishly believed we had conquered.'
'For there to be life, there must also be death. One cannot exist without the other, a symbiotic twin that showed us the truth. That all things are merely a cycle. One that we were foolish into thinking we were not apart of.'
'It was in the early times of our journey that we discovered the Aether, what you would call the warp. In our time it was only silence, as it merely reflected our own lives. Like a mirror; this reality took upon a reflection of our own'
'It drew our curiosity, something so different that we would spend entire lifetimes exploring it's secrets, it's very core. Until we had achieve complete mastery of it's Nature'
'From this we became Aether touched. Those whom the aether could be moulded to reflect our actions, and those actions able to be pulled into this reality. Thus began the age of creation'
'In the beginning we took to our station as creators with gusto, seeding planets beyond counting with the concept of life. We delighted ourselves when life finally took it's first steps upon these worlds. We mourned when life did not prosper and we then became indifferent when the concept began to bore us. Through time did we learn that to create life was not an excitement, it was a burden. One we had neither the patience nor the enthusiasm to continue'
'It was during these times that we came across them. They called themselves Necrontyr, a race in which we had foolishly created as a curiosity. For we had seeded them onto a world where life should never had succeeded. This indeed surprised us for we had foolishly believed that these people were doomed to fail, yet they continued to persevere'
'They came to us, begging for a way to be given vitality. To be rid of the shackles of death. At the time we had enjoyed the privilege of endless life, yet our selfishness would be the beginning of our fall. As we had created enemies whom would come to hate life and all that stood for it'
'They declared a war upon us. Yet the aether proved to be a tool in which the Necrontyr could not use nor overcome. Their means of battling us was futile, as our mastery ensured that everything that they tried would amount to nothing when faced with our power. We claimed countless victories yet in our arrogance we chose to ignore them, this was a foolish ploy'
'In their desperation, they discovered the silence that had been there in the beginning. Aspects anathema to life that was to be their entwined twin. They called these beings C'tan or star gods in their tongue. Yet to us they were called Yngir, these beings had once battled us while in our youth. Yet their powers were unable to overcome the Aether that we had mastered. This ensured our victory against them,banishing them to the farthest reaches of the void. Exiled to never interfere with life. Ohh how foolish we were to expect our words to be honoured'
'Our two enemies, whom hated us and all that we stood for had struck a deal with each other. One was given the strength of souls while the others were given flesh of metal. Each had been given what they wanted, yet that was only the beginning'
'A war, terrible and great to imagine, our battlefield was the universe, our battle was the survival and perseverance of life. Many lives had been lost, horrors and engines of destruction were unleashed upon a universe that was bathed in the deaths of countless'
'Our desperation drove us to create life as weapons to be used against our foes. First the Eldari, whom we crafted to follow in our shadows, from the immaterium we fashioned them, forever connected to the aether and blessed with long life, we crafted anchors for their race, these being their gods whom were to be our followers against the coming tide'
'Second were the Krork, our most aggressive creation that was designed for war. Like avatars we emboldened them in mighty armour befitting of war, created an anchor whom we poured into our knowledge of war. They were crafted to only know war, to breath only war. They were to be war incarnate. Yet that still was not enough'
'Every moment we grew ever desperate. Foes we had considered beneath us would spell our doom as our own hubris and arrogance would deliver the death knell long overdue to us. It was indeed a cruel irony that our death would lead to the rebellion of the Necrontyr against their masters, the silence given form. These servants, these Necrons would shatter their gods, for they too were deceived by the silence. Yet they would release their moment of greatness to instead fall into a great slumber'
'Yet the damage had already been done. Our war had left many scars and wounds upon the universe, as reality bleed so too did the Aether, until only suffering and death was all that remained within. The warp was born in a display of blood and death, it's birth destroying what once was beautiful. Tainting it until nothing but misery and suffering remained'
The old one gave a sombre sigh, as though a great weight had been shifted off it's shoulders, Naruto could feel that the old one before him was relieved when he finished his story, as he looked into Naruto's eyes and saw only understanding.
'I thank you youngling. Such a burden was unbearable. To speak of it and not be treated with ill will is a relief that is beyond appreciation'
"I kinda get what you guys went through" Naruto said, as he felt his hand travel through a patch of life, giving a small smile.
"You guys had only yourselves for soo long. You thought everything you had done was right because it was the only thing you knew. Yet life is not that simple. We all make mistakes, we all have different opinions and experiences. I truly believe that there is no one way that something has to be done. Because how are we supposed to grow as a person? The answer is that we will always have conflict, no matter what we do or what we know there will always be a moment where it will all smash into itself. But ultimately it is up to us to learn from it. To acknowledge that we don't know or can control everything"
The old one gave a surprised look at Naruto, even as the young primarch touched the life around him, a smile upon his face.
"And I guess... That sometimes we don't get it right, or perfect. But that's okay, so long as we learn from it, and become better because of it"
A soft sound of chuckling echoed from the old one, Naruto was pulled from his contemplation as he saw the smile upon their face, his eyes shining with a spark.
'Countless millennia... to be humbled by the words of one so young...'
'May I ask you. Young one, what is your Name?'
"My name is Naruto... Naruto Uzumaki"
'Naruto... a beautiful name, one worthy of being carved into the history of the universe'
The old one floated towards the young primarch, his hand outstretching towards Naruto as he looked at him with a gentle smile.
'Well then little Naruto. Would you like to come with me for an adventure of a lifetime?'
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"This council has been assembled to address the news that has been divined. Of treason to mankind and the coming of a bloody civil war"
This was the words Magnus spoke as the room was drawn into silence. Before him layed a massive table, it's surface was of an ancient word, runes of warding and deeds etched upon it's surface as the figures around sat equally among each other.
Twenty figures sat before the primarch, each one representing a part of the legion. The heads of the librarius sat on either side of their gene father as their apprentices sat next to them. While on the opposite side sat a man of great stature.
He was a humble man, his astartes figure was weathered and aged, yet the light of wisdom echoed upon his eyes as he looked upon his father with a grim look. His armour was adorned with deeds and warding seals as a grim faced helmet, this representing the gaze of the master of mankind, rested upon the table's surface.
His armour was painted black, to show his status as one whom would judge those within his legion. A grim reminder of the price of knowledge, while resting near his helmet lay a sceptre, golden and fearful with the symbol of the twin eagle shown upon it's head.
"This is a grave concern my father" The figure spoke "To be given an omen of civil war is not to be taken lightly. Such omens have lead to many delving the path of damnation in the hopes of avoiding it"
"Indeed you are correct Lumnos. Speaker of my father's will, this is why I have requested the reclusiam. To speak of a way in which we can resolve this"
Lumnos Phaeros was once a battleline brother of the thousand sons, his life was to be as ordinary as those whom did not have the powers of the immaterium coursing through his veins. Yet it was this unique position that elevated him after the council of Nikea to position of Sanctifier, the highest office within the reclusiam. The burden of judgement ultimately fell upon his shoulders, a duty entrusted to him by the Emperor.
"The enemy would be counting upon us using the normal channels of astropaths to relay this message. Obviously such a straight forward tactic would be the most unwise" one of Lumnos's chaplains said.
"And delivering such a message would carry it's own troubles. Least of which if the message would be intercepted in transit... Indeed what grim tidings we are given. Such trials are to be the potential death of us" another of his chaplains said, their faces set in grim stone.
"I sense you have accounted for these father" Lumnos said as he could tell that his father had already devised a plan of action "What plan is it you wish to seek council for"
"With your blessing my son. I wish to use the ancient art of spirit walking. So I may warn of this danger to the Emperor personally"
The room was still, as Lumnos closed his eyes, all others looked upon him as he gave a sigh upon his breath.
"To invoke such arts is considered forbidden. The book of truth deems such acts as an invasion of the sanctity of the soul... is there no other method considered?"
"Sadly... nothing else would work. No knowledge we have will work nor can be utilized with the state of the current galaxy at large... there is simply a lack of options"
The room echoed with hushed voices as debates and arguments were being given. In the middle of this Lumnos continued to close his eyes, as his chaplains took upon their tomes within their hands, reading hundreds of pages within their books.
Ahzek was nervous as he glanced towards his father, his hands continued to shake as he tried to reign in his brashness to act. Such a moment was both grating and anxious as he awaited his brothers judgement.
A chaplain to Lumnos's right took the attention of the Sanctifier, as his eyes were drawn to a page within the book the chaplain held in his hand. Lumnos looked upon the weathered tome with a look of indifference as whispers echoed from the chaplains lips as Lumnos's eyes wandered.
"It seems that the tome has accounted for such a scenario. To your father such an action must only be taken as a last resort. Such consequences must be weighted upon the severity of inaction. Indeed such an omen would spell the death of countless lives, those whom have no blame in such a conflict yet are victims all the same. Yet what is to say that our action would not hasten this path to destruction?"
"I believe" Magnus said, his eyes shining with conviction "If we are to do nothing. Then we would be condemning ourselves. By not acting we would indeed be seen as those whom would be content to let such atrocities continue. I will not be seen as a traitor to my family. I would rather die then let such a path be laid upon our feet"
"I see" Lumnos said, his eyes shined with a fire as he looked upon the resolve of his father "Then I will shoulder this burned with you my father. Your heart is indeed of sound mind, such a path will be fraught with danger yet we must endure such hardship to ensure humanity is safe. Continue forth with my blessing and may humanity guide us to the path of truth"
"Thank you my son. Your council is most appreciated"
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Naruto and the old one drifted upon the tides of the warp, their spirits guided by an unseen wind as Naruto looked upon the environment with awe and concern.
When he had first ventured into the warp, the sight nearly drove him mad, an overwhelming image of horrors beyond counting, yet now the warp was different, vestiges of once former life echoed through his sight as area's of the land were touched with a taint. Before him he saw the shape of a tree, or what once was a tree. Now the skeleton was rotting, it's bark pulsed and groaned in a variety of colours, as blood and bile flowed from wounds. The sky above it shattered like crystal glass, each reflection adding more colours of intensity that even his soul felt repulsed.
The old one had lead them beyond this great tree, towards a lonely island that floated in an abyss of nothingness, yet a mighty maelstrom of energy collected itself among the sky as great arks of flashing lightning and wind rampaged across the abyss.
"What is this place?" Naruto asked as they chased the wind towards the lonely island.
'This was once the great tree of life we had planted in the Aether. It's grand roots became the webway in which we tread. Yet our death and the corruption of the Aether lead the nightmares to gnaw at the great tree. Now only the roots remain, unable to heal or grow as the tree itself withers away, unable to be saved yet doomed to remain a ghost of itself'
'Our destination was once a sacred place to us. In times past when our souls could not contain the knowledge that the primordials had bequeathed us, we would cast it into this place. It was to be the source of all knowledge, given sanctuary against those whom would use it for ill purpose'
The both of them floated among the lone island, as Naruto looked upon the center in wonder.
A great swirl of colours twisted into a maelstrom, as the remnants of lights travelled upon it's surface into a pool within it's center. It's surface reflected endless stars, as though the universe was shown as a pulsing image. Wisp of spirits drifted upon winds only to be pulled into the pool itself, where they disappear into nothingness.
'This little Naruto. Is the well of eternity. It is the origin of knowledge, given freely to all life. It is from this well that knowledge is given, yet it is also where knowledge shall return come it's time.'
"Wow... but why have you shown me this?" Naruto asked as he looked upon the old one, their eyes looked weathered, as though their soul was accepting an inevitability.
'I have stood as guardian of this place for countless millennia. I have seen many whom would use this knowledge for their own selfish desires. I had thought my duty would be eternal as I had begun to lose any semblance of hope, everyone that I have seen whom tried to claim this knowledge as their own only had their own selfish desire'
'This reality is a realm of darkness and death. We in our hubris and arrogance had doomed everything to oblivion. We had created monsters and unleashed a horror into the lives of countless innocents, forced them to embrace this darkness and perpetuate it in an endless cycle of hatred and death'
'Yet you are different Naruto. In all my existence I have never seen such a selfless soul. You who have been bathed in suffering and hatred yet are still willing to understand and forgive others. You who do not wish for power for yourself, but to only protect others.'
'You are what I have been waiting for Naruto. A champion of life, one whom the light of hope will shine once again in the darkness. There is no one else whom is worthy of this honour'
Naruto looked upon the reflection of the pool, he could see the light of stars as the image continued to mesmerize him, yet though force of will he gazed away from it to look upon the old one.
"What will happen to you?" Naruto ask
'I will finally be able to pass on. To be given my eternal rest, and with that the final legacy of the old ones will be gone, only to be remembered in memory and within you'
Naruto took a moment to just sit before the pools surface, his mind going into overdrive as an array of emotions passed through him. He considered the scale of this burden he was going to carry and what it would mean not only for humanity but for all life in the galaxy.
After what felt like an eternity he looked upon the old one, a cautious look upon his face
"Can I be given time to think about this?" Naruto asked humbly, the old one merely gave him a smile as his hand rested upon Naruto's shoulder.
'I understand that this will be a great burden I am placing upon you. Yet I will respect your wish should you not wish to accept. Indeed I can see that what I am placing before you cannot be given haste'
Naruto gave a smile, yet his mind was suddenly jolted, as though he was being summoned somewhere else. A look of concern appeared on his face as he looked upon the old one.
"Something is happening back where my body is...I have to go"
As Naruto's spirit started to disappear into golden plumes of energy, the old one one again took on a sombre look as a resigned sigh escaped upon his lips.
'It seems it is about to begin...Why must this moment be so hard to watch?'
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Magnus couldn't shake the anxiety within his body, thousands of scenario's appeared within his vision, all calculated and assessed among each other, yet this one moment will perhaps define him and his legacy for generations to come.
His inner sanctum within Tizca echoed with the sounds of chants and hymns as chaplains and librarians echoed sounds across the room. He sat meditating within the center of a massive runic circle as his three most senior librarians stood in front of him with Lumnos standing before him, a small uttering of passages from the book in his hand softly escaped his lips as he carefully placed drops of golden water upon the shoulders of his gene father.
"Thus onto truth you shall be guided. Thus truth will set forth the path. In the light of truth shall you be free of doubt,free of shame and guilt. On wings of truth shall your journey reach it's end. In the name of truth and in the spirit of mankind shall you be given strength. In the name of those before and those to come. Hail, hail and farewell. In nomine veritatis"
"It is done father. I wish you strength for what must be done" Lumnos said, his eyes looking upon Magnus's with a look of careful optimism.
"Thank you my son. I will succeed... I Must succeed"
As the chants reached a crescendo of music, Magnus felt the telltale signs that his spirit had detached from his body. Now he turned his sights upon the light of the Astronomican, towards Terra.
His plan was simple, find the energy of his father and manifest himself to explain the betrayal of Horus. Yet as he journeyed closer to Terra his vision stumbled, for he could no longer sense the great power that was his fathers. Instead Terra itself had changed in his psychic vision, no longer was it a beacon of single golden light, instead it was as though Terra now shone more brightly with an array of colours that almost made Magnus feel something more.
'This is a minor setback. I must still find father and deliver the warning'
He expanded his psychic sight, trying to pierce behind the arrays of colours until clarity reached him. Yet it seems that the dilution of energies was enough for even his sense to be dulled.
'Perhaps the largest source will be father's presence. It is only logical'
Drifting among the sources within Terra itself, he could feel his fathers presence within the Imperial Palace, yet as he drifted towards the area a great seal appeared before his astral form. It's power pushing him back as he looked upon in surprise.
Since when did the Imperial palace have such a seal upon it?
'It doesn't matter. I must deliver this message. The fate of many count on this'
Magnus tried to probe the seal, yet finding no weakness or fracture in the seal he could use to keep the seal from collapsing.
Whatever this seal is for. It must be of great importance
'If such a seal was important. Then surely this information is even more so. I might need to breach this seal to deliver it'
As Magnus continued to probe the seal, his options were becoming less by the second. For all he knows this seal could be fore something Important or merely a secondary seal to strengthen the defences of the Imperial palace. Yet the time to act was becoming more scarce as he could feel the slight pull of his soul back into his body.
'I must act now. Before the moment is lost'
Forgive me father... but I must
In a show of pure psychic might, Magnus used his spirit as a lance to pierce the seal. Breaking through the protection his form coalesced into his body before the figure before him.
Yet something was horribly wrong.
When he opened his eye, what should have been his father instead was the look of shock of another. Golden blond hair with blue eyes looking at Magnus with shock as beyond him the sounds of cracking echoed just within the perspective of his ears.
"Magnus... what have you done?"
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Well hello there fellow humans
This chapter was a pain to produce. I had a few moments of contemplation on how much of the story I wanted to cover in this chapter. At first I had thought what I first envisioned would not be enough of a chapter, hence why in some moments I added other things to kind of pad the story. But then I was surprised at how big this chapter turned out to be.
I must have gone through a few of the scenes in this chapter a few times over cause it either didn't sound right or some parts didn't add up in my head. But overall I am okay with how it turned out.
Anyway. With the 'ohh no' moment that is the final part of this chapter. I hope that gives you guys at least something to look forwards to? Here's hoping.
until Next time.
P.S To the person who keeps PMing me (You know who you are) please stop that. It is actually getting on my nerves and is making me SERIOUSLY considering scrapping the whole story. WOULD YOU PLEASE JUST STOP DOING THAT! As a show of respect i will not be telling ur username, but this is my last warning. I do not want to disable my PM's but you are REALLY testing my patience
