A/N: Miss me~?
Had a few hang-ups, but I'm back. That said...
I know its Black Friday and all, but hopefully folks see, read, and enjoy this.
Do let me know what you want to see updated next. I'm inclined to update Surpass Your Limits early once it reaches 200 -so close now!- but there's also Forgotten Son, Set Your Heart Ablaze, etc...
With my fifteen year anniversary on this site finally here, 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. Feels like everyone's lost their minds, the world over. 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.
Not Q&A for a bit, as someone complained. Ah, well. Can't please everyone I suppose. Trying my best to keep everyone entertained here.
Alight, I've kept you long enough. As ever, I own no quotes, references, quotes, themes or memes!
They're simply tributes to legends far greater than I; an old man who writes as a pastime.
And the pairing continues to grow. At present its Mirelia, Rishia, and of course, Eclair.
We've also got a full-on Gojo moment coming up in three...two...one...
You're about to see what happens when Naruto truly cuts loose.
"It only took him a a minute. Barely sixty seconds to accomplish his goal. That was all he needed to save everyone.
Do you understand now? In that First Wave, the Beast Hero made his mark upon our World.
That is the man you have made your enemy.
May the gods have mercy on you...
...for he shall not.
~A warning.
Legends come in Waves
"Incoming!"
Naruto never heard who said it exactly; only that someone saw the dragon and all hell broke loose. He was too busy bringing both arms up, palmed slayed to conjure Kurama-and defend everyone from the beast's breath-to pay it any heed. Flame burst down and roiled harmlessly against golden light as his old friend crouched over them. Shrouded by light as he was he didn't get the best look at the creature above; it was large with glistening black scales and frightful red eyes. That was all he had time to see before he spat a half-formed Tailed Beast Bomb upward with a snarl.
'Lets how he likes it when we fight fire with fire!'
Not very much at all apparently; although his hastily made attack did little more than clip the beast in the chest; the shockwave that followed sent it winging backwards with a pained squeal. Anything else would've been blown clear out the sky outright. Instead the enraged wyrm retreated with an outraged cry into the cloud-ridden skies and vanished from sight.
"After it!" Mirelia's voice rang out after him. "That must be the boss monster! If you kill it, the Wave ends.
That brief moment of inattention on his part cost him dearly; because the Wave did not wait for him; it barreled onward as he feared it would. Thankfully they still had time; precious seconds in which to act. In that regard, the precious preparations he'd made back in Lurolona village had paid dividends. The defenders were holding thanks to the clones he'd left if only just. No one had died yet.
But if he went after the Dragon, they would.
"They're doomed!" Rishia despaired at his side. "There's no way we can get there in time!"
Kurama scoffed in his head, disparaging the doubtful girl. "Never say never."
"Even so...!"
"Don't be such a worrywart." Naruto reached to the side knowing Mirelia wouldn't let him down. "Would you hold Amber for me?"
The girl granted him a fearsome pout. "Aww...but I wanted to fiiiight~!"
His Queen patted her head. "This is a little too high level for you. Don't worry. There will be plenty of time to learn...
The slime girl kicked sullenly with a little whine but otherwise didn't protest, which gave him a chance to glance at the newest member of his party.
"Rishia."
"Y-Yes?!" She straightened up and all but squeaked out the word under his gaze. "Did you need something Beast Hero?"
Hmm. They'd have to work on that confidence of hers under pressure.
"Earlier you said you wanted to see what a hero was, right?"
She nodded slowly, not quite comprehending. "I did...
"Watch closely now. And don't blink."
Then he moved.
To the naked eye, time seemed to stop as all the colors of the world faded to grey. Every monsters, defender and companion ceased moving in his mind's eye. Even Mirelia and Rishia, who had been following so closely in his wake a second ago were no longer moving for him. Naruto was sure they could still see him, but they probably wouldn't be able to process most of what was about to happen. He didn't pay that thought any heed. He was already in motion, moving, surging forward.
Two tenths of a second. Less than a blink. A single sliver of eternity.
That was how long it took to close the gap between him and his prey, bridge the distance, and kill hundreds. He didn't bother trying to tame the beasts; wasn't even sure they could. These creatures were trying to kill the people. His people. He'd trained them, taught them, protected them, and now they were screaming for aid.
And so he ran.
He mowed the monsters down as one would fruit through a blender -did this world have those?- and kept going, moving onto the next. Another two tenths of a second now. He'd reached the halfway point. Golden chakra arms burst from his back in a grim parody of a demonic Ashura, each tethered to his will. He had but to think and they acted; rending, ripping, reaping any enemy reach.
Level up.
Blood spattered across his face, staining his right cheek an ugly shade of scarlet. He snarled and moved onto his next victim.
Level up.
Stringing insects, undead knights, giant lumbering creatures. Didn't matter what they were. They died.
Level up!
He tore through them all.
Level up!
And the Voice just kept chiming. It even became exasperated.
Please stop leveling up!
Six tenths of a second now and still he didn't stop. Those golden hands simultaneously slew every monster he saw while saving everyone in sight, anyone he could sense. Every. Single. Soul. He snatched a babe from a wolf's giant's jaws before they could clamp down, plucked a man from the beneath the foot of a giant, healed a mother with a gut wound then flowed onto the next person who needed him. On and on he went, duplicating himself as he went, constantly splitting his attention between dozens, no, hundreds of clones until his head ached and his skull threatened to burst.
'No one dies! Nobody dies! Absolutely no one dies here today-not on my watch!'
Time began to unwind around him; everything was moving again now, but slowly, oh so slowly. He felt more than a few clones pop and their memories rush into him; it only made him fight ever harder. No deaths. Even a single casualty here was unacceptable because he should have been here, should have been ready for this, should have done so much more.
Eight tenths and someone screamed; he pivoted so hard the ground burst beneath his feet. He knew those voices.
'Rifana! Raphtalia!'
Where-there, just to the right, by the fences. One of them was covered in blood -not hers!- the other was driving a knife down into the skull of an undead soldier. Another reared up behind them but neither noticed busy as they were. He did, grabbed it by the face, stove its head in against a wooden pole, grabbed the girls one to each arm and blurred back to safety. He didn't so much drop them as he did toss them into a bale of hay. A flick of his hand conjured three clones, to which jabbed a finger at them with a snarl, baring his teeth.
"Guard them!"
He didn't pause to see if the words took and blitzed away again.
(.0.0.0.)
Rifana beamed up at the swirling sky as she plonked down on the half bale with a pleased sigh.
Raphtalia crashed down atop her with a dazed groan, eyes spinning in her head.
Rifana only laughed. That settled it. Her mind was made up.
Come rain or shine, hell or highwater, life or death...
'I am SO following that guy...
(.0.0.0.)
"What is this...?" Eclair cut a monster in twine. "I feel stronger. Why is that, I wonder...?
No, more than that, she felt good. Really good.
And her face felt so very warm.
Someone was laughing.
It was her.
(.0.0.0.)
Rishia gripped her head as she stomped down on a monster's skull.
The noise only made her headache worse.
She couldn't think. Couldn't focus!
Her breath came in fierce little pants as she slumped against a wall. She could feel Naruto's presence even from here; gone was the gentle hero who'd saved her; he was living up to his moniker as the Beast Hero, all that and more, now; a wild beast that would kill you just for looking its way.
Breathe. She had to breathe.
It was okay to breathe, right?
He wouldn't kill her if she breathed, right?
(.0.0.0.)
Where was the damn dragon?
He hadn't seen it since he hurt the damn thing.
Had he scared it off with his Tailed Beast Bomb back there?
No, it was somewhere above in the clouds, far out of reach. He could sense it way up there, nursing its wound.
Deal with it later-enemy!
A giant two-headed dog lunged at him, twin jaws slavering, forcing him to catch each with both hands. It snapped at him, to no avail. He'd only just begun to contemplate the idea of tearing it in half when Eclair swept in out of nowhere from the side and severed its heads with her sword. She was gone before he could even think to thank her, flinging herself at the next enemy with a maddened giggle. She looked crazed; more than that, she was smiling. Why...?
Berserker activated. A screen flashed over his eyes as he gazed at the girl's rapidly receding form. Party member has temporary heightened strength and invulnerability to pain at cost of sanity.
Gotta watch that. He felt strange too, come to think of it-no, think about that later. Couldn't stop. Mustn't stop.
He stepped over the canine's corpse and looked for his next target, eyes aglow.
A serpent jumped him, fangs bared for his shoulder.
He drove a fist backward without looking, rending it a pulpy mass at his feet.
"NEXT."
An undead giant accepted his challenge and brought its club smashing down on its head.
Said club shattered, as did the arm holding it, followed by the rest of the abomination as he blitzed through it.
Don't stop. I can't stop. They'll die if I stop.
He didn't even notice how many he had must've saved now, nor how many he'd killed. He'd long since lost count. He found the next swarm and mowed them down at speed, tearing out throats, slashing down with fingers hooked into claws. No wait, those were actual claws sprouting from his fingernails. A brief bleat of confusion flashed through his mind. Was that one of the perks he'd gained? Everything else felt fine. Didn't matter. Had to run. Had to move. Each second was another in which one of his clones popped. He had to be...
Fast.
A dozen rasensheurikens flashed out and devastated the bulk of the horde.
Faster.
He vaulted atop a manticore harassing a pair of guardsmen, tore off its horns and drove them down into its eyes. The beast crumpled with a yowl and he rode its corpse to the ground before kicking it at another squad of undead. From there he leaped over the corpse and barreled into them, fingers flashing as he blitzed past. Their rotten remains crumbled to the floor and he didn't care because there were more to fight, more to KILL, to slaughter and sunder!
Fastest!
His eyes flicked nine different directions and nine enemies dropped dead not a second later. From there he found his next victims...why were they running away? Didn't matter. They attacked the village. They die. There could be no other answer for this trespass. A single leap brought him back to the broken gate; another had him crashing down on an undead's ribs. His fist scythed down and the ground burst. Dry dust spattered his face. A sword stabbed into his golden back, only to shatter. He clicked his tongue and writhed upright, bringing himself face to face with his attacker.
Blank red eyes stared back at him-no, not so blank he realized; he could feel the bleating terror in its gaze. Even mindless monsters could feel fear. Who knew?
He swept their spindly legs and stomped down, caving in their exposed ribs with an awful crack. The undead groaned woodenly.
"Let me ask you somethin'." he leered down at them. "Can a creature like yourself experience fear?"
It clawed wildly at his leg, to no avail. Bone alone could not pierce his cloak.
He heard the rattle of armor and bone as more rushed him.
Good. He wasn't satisfied yet.
"Lets find out."
Whirling, he brought his hands together in a cataclysmic clap and conjured a shockwave, flattening the lot of them. The defenders gave a ragged cheer from the rooftops. He barely heard it. Not enough. This wasn't nearly enough for him! Where was the challenge?! Where was the thrill?! Where was a proper enemy to fight?! He whirled on one heel, searching for his next target in vain.
Slim arms closed around him from behind. Something warm, soft, and infinitely yielding pressed into his back.
"Breathe, beloved." a familiar voice crooned in his ear. "You need to breathe."
Naruto paused. Had he not been breathing this entire time...?
With an effort, he forced himself to inhale-
Reality rushed back.
Countless aches and pains returned with all the colors of the world, bringing sight, sense and sanity with them. He blinked, feeling somewhat ashamed upon realizing there were no more monsters to say. Although the sky still swam with the strange colors of the Wave overhead, he'd slain most of the monsters it brought to bear...and was left covered in their blood, dust, and debris. Someone wiped his face with a damp cloth, cleaning it. He let them, squinting a little as his double vision centered itself.
A full minute had elapsed.
"There you are, my Hero." Mirelia's face swam into focus mere moments before she delivered a quick peck to his lips. "Welcome back."
Amber hopped down and squeezed his leg for all she was worth. "Don't do that again! You were scary!"
Naruto winced despite himself. "Was I...?"
Rishia nodded tremulously.
He opened his mouth to reply further, only to choke a little as fatigue crashed down on him. He'd never run so fast in his entire life, never pushed himself so far, so hard, so fast without rest. Whatever his upper limit was, he'd gone crashing right through it and he felt it now. Everything ached. He'd be right as rain once Kurama sped his regeneration along-
"You're welcome for that, by the way!"
Speed Threshold Increased. The Voice informed him primly. Congratulations.
He rolled his eyes Thanks ever so much...
"You brought us a reprieve but its not enough." she dabbed his chin one last time with a sigh. "They'll keep coming until you kill the boss monster.
"Back there...was that really a dragon?" If it was indeed a dragon, he was glad he hadn't killed it outright. "Ha! Always wanted to wrestle one of those!"
"Fight?! Not kill?!"
"I mean hey," he clasped both hands behind his head, "He's not harming anyone up there. C'mon, a dragon! That's so metal!"
...enough of that. You have a speech to make."
"I do? Oi! No need to drag me!"
In short order she brought him to the town square where the garrison had gathered; he was pleased to see everyone there and accounted for. Some had injuries of course, but not a single casualty to speak of. His clones had held the line well and these people were clearly thriving under the training regiment he'd put them through. They were battered, but not beaten, and awaiting his orders. Stilll
That...was a big crowd.
And they were all looking to him, now.
Kurama gave him a jab. "Say something!"
'I ain't good with speeches! Not with this many people!'
...fine. Switch with me real quick. I'll handle this one.."
"What?" he recoiled, made a little sullen by the lack of faith. "Why?"
"I've been around for centuries! I know a thing or two when it comes to speeches. And you're exhausted."
He winced despite himself. "Eeeeeh, I don't know. You're not gonna make me say anything stupid, are ya?
"Just switch!"
"Fiiiiine...
His eyes flashed red, drawing a few curious sounds from those closes to him.
Mirelia noticed right away of course, she was far too sharp not to. Rishia squeaked at the sight.
He certainly didn't miss the way Eclair gasped at his flank, nor the pleased noise Amber made from her perch on his shoulder.
"Pretty colors...
Kurama chortled a little.
Of course she'd find that pretty...
"People of Lurolona village! Hear me!" His voice boomed out at the crowd. "Bravery isn't having no fear; bravery IS having fear. But you do it anyway. That's what a hero does! No matter the odds. No matter the danger. Today, you are all heroes! You are all STRONG! This is your village! Your lands!" behind them, the village gate shook as a fresh horde pounded against it. "Those bastards want to get in here and kill us! To kill you! Your women! And your children! Are you going to let them?!"
A roar went up.
Kurama grinned down at them.
"Then stand your ground!" he slammed a fist against his chest. "Hold the line! FIGHT!"
The dragon chose that moment to swoop down and flame them again.
Swooping was bad. Very bad indeed...but not for Lurolona village.
Kurama barreled up into the beast with a cackle.
Just like that, battle was joined once more.
A/N: Wave ends next chapter...with a few surprises!
Aaaand scene.
We might be upgrading this story to M soon. Why, you ask?
Well, well, well. You'll just have to read and see now, won't you?
Would you like weekly updates? Do let me know! Feedback is pivotal and important!
As ever, the Embers rule remains: If people don't like this story? If they don't enjoy it? Well...I'll not be able to continue. That's no joke, folks. I'm so busy these days with two jobs; basically, I don't have time off. Not anymore. My free time is limited and as such, I can't afford to focus on something folks don't like. Reviews keep me writing in these times, and keep the daily updates flowing. Silence...silence only hurts. I hate having to beg for feedback, but without it...well, it feels like I'm not making an impact.
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review...Would You Kindly?
And enjoy the previews!
POTENTIAL ones!
Mind you, many are in the far flung future, but still.
Why not have a taste?
(Previews)
It really did feel nice having a human body sometimes. How nice of Naruto to lend him his.
Kurama swayed backward, grinning from ear to ear as the dragon lashed out at him. With its wings clipped, it was effectively grounded, little more than an overgrown lizard. Even someone like Shukaku could have bested a beast like this. Honestly, it was so...dissappointing.
"What's wrong?" he sneered. "I thought dragons were legendary beasts! Keep trying, keep trying! Make me work for this!
Flame burst from its jaws to engulf him where he stood, swallowing his body in a haze of napalm.
He walked right through it, unscathed. "Do you want me to praise you a little? Here~!"
The dragon yelped as he blasted it away with a rasenshuriken.
"Huh. That's an oddly girlish sound you just made."
He conjured another Rasenshuriken to his hand.
"Lets hear it again!"
"New skill unlocked. Obliterate. Confirm?"
'No, no, no! Not using that! Do NOT apply!"
Raphtalia and Rifana weren't hard to find; they were having it out by the walls when they finally found them.
"Why do you get to go and I don't?!"
Was it his imagination or was Rifana a little taller?
"Hey boss!" She waved their way. "I gained a level!"
Raphtalia didn't look much pleased at being left behind, bu ther time would come. Hey, it'll be alright...
"That's not fair!"
Grow up big and strong, Raphtalia. We'll see you again. As for you, Rifana...
The girl perked up.
...do you really want to join us?
"Yes! Her tail was swaying so fast it may as well have been a blur. "More than anything!"
"I have conditions."
"Anything! I'll do whatever you say!"
"Careful with your words. We'll start light. You're too small for a sword right now. How do you feel about daggers?"
"Aren't you afraid of fighting?
Here at last, her smile faded. She looked down.
"...of course i am. Her knees knocked together. "Blood is scary and most monsters are bigger than me. But I have to do this!" Her head snapped up, eyes gleaming. "I want to protect Raphtalia.
"So she can meet the shield hero?"
"Meh." She waved a hand. "He's probably cool 'an all, but you're better. Besides, you're the one who came and fortified our village. He isn't here right now, you are. I wanna join YOUR party. Not his.
"Fine. He plucked a kunai from his sleeve and tossed it at her. "Catch."
She caught it nimbly around the handle.
Good reflexes. We can use those. "I'll train you up a bit before we set out. Until you can kill something with those, you'll be in a support role. Afterwards,
Its kind of hilarious in a mundane way, isn't it?
...what is?"
"That you don't realize how outmatched you are."
"We've compiled a list of those willing to join you on your quest." Mirelia pulled forth a sheet of vellum. "You may inspect them at your discretion."
That...was a lotta names.
"Would you prefer they be brought in one at a time, or all together?"
"No point," Kurama drawled. "They'll only slow us down.
On that they were in agreement.
"You need to at least be seen making an effort. Humor me...
It was a disaster.
One after the other, he just couldn't bring himself to mesh with them. Warriors, scholars, barbarians and rogues alike. None of them were to his liking. In an hour alone, it was beginning to look hopeless.
"Perhaps a small recess is in order?
And you are?"
She dipped a curtsy. "Myne, lord hero."
A lie from the start. Still he had a feeling he needed to keep an eye on this one, if only because he didn't know what she might get up to.
The queen frowned. "I didn't send for you.
"All must serve in this dangerous time, mother. I must insist...
"You keep going on about that. Magic, magic, magic. Well as luck would have it, I've picked up a few new tricks myself. Care to see them?"
As he looked on, a beat of sweat ran down the face of his foe. He didn't give them time to respond. A hand rose.
From the heavens! From the sea! From the earth!"
Mirelia saw the sky darken. No. Not just the ocean. Even the very ground underfoot.
"Oh. Amber, dear, come here. I think he's about to-
Naruto's palm snapped forward.
The world erupted.
R&R~!