002: The Terror of Tal' Dorei part 1
It was in the early hours of the morning, and the air was thick with the scent of sweat and exhaustion. None of them had slept, and they all smelled worse than they looked. The sun began to rise over the great city of Emon, casting a golden hue on the cobblestone streets, while a darkness loomed ominously over the nation of Tal'Dorei. Vox Machina stumbled their way toward the Royal Palace, their weary eyes squinting against the brightening sky.
"Scanlan, I loved the enthusiasm and all, but that is a lot of fucking stairs," Naruto grumbled, leaning against the nearest wall, his arms crossed over his chest as he tried to catch his breath.
"Come on! We have to beat the group to it!" Scanlan replied, his voice infused with an infectious energy that set off Naruto's internal alarms.
"You did read the request, right?" Naruto asked, raising an eyebrow sceptically.
"Yeah, of course I did! What do you take me for, an idjit?" Scanlan shot back, brushing off the scrutiny. "Look, it said they wanted mercenaries to serve the king by ridding some kind of evil and get a huge reward."
'A huge reward does sound nice,' Naruto thought, glancing over at the rest of the hungover and battered Vox Machina. "Fine, let's go. Only got 2000 steps to go anyway; maybe the fresh air will help."
"That's the spirit, my boy! I need all my backup dancers at their very best!" Scanlan exclaimed, his enthusiasm unwavering as he began warming up his vocal cords, preparing for another one of his infamous songs.
"Not the fucking song again," Naruto complained, rolling his eyes as he turned his attention to Emon's most powerful mascot.
"It's going to be legendary, just you wait!" Scanlan sang, his voice echoing off the stone walls as they began their arduous journey up the long stairwell to the palace.
"If he sings all the way up these bloody stairs, so help me, brother, I will strangle that gnome," Vex muttered, her tone dripping with exasperation.
"Just think of the gold and the notoriety that comes along with it, sister. It's what keeps me going," Vax'ildan chimed in, his eyes sparkling with the prospect of a paying job.
"You're right, Vax," she acknowledged, turning to her companion, only to catch Naruto petting Trinket, Vex's armoured grizzly bear. 'I forget he's really good with Trinket ever since they met,' she thought, a small smile creeping onto her face. "Come along, Trinket."
The bear roared in response, lumbering after Vex'ahlia, who was now focused on the stairs ahead.
"Trinket, if I die on the way, carry me, yeah girl?" Naruto joked, giving the armored grizzly a playful pat as she walked by.
Walking in line next to Percy, Naruto glanced over at the gunslinger. "How much do you want to bet Scanlan does the song?"
Percy scoffed, a smirk playing on his lips. "That's a loser's bet, and you know it."
"Ah, you're right on that damn," Naruto conceded, shaking his head with a chuckle.
As they continued their ascent, the camaraderie among the group was palpable, their banter a welcome distraction from the fatigue weighing them down. Each step brought them closer to their goal, and despite the gruelling journey, a sense of purpose, mainly the prospect of fame and gold, fueled their resolve.
As Vox Machina reached the top of the grand staircase leading to the palace, they were met with a pair of guards stationed outside the throne room. The group, still dishevelled from their previous exploits, approached the guards cautiously.
"Are we really going to see the sovereign looking like... well, this?" Keyleth asked, gesturing to the group's current state with a sheepish smile.
"If this works, it would be a miracle," Naruto muttered, earning a nod of agreement from Percy. The guards eyed the group warily, their gaze settling on the massive armoured grizzly bear at the back of the group.
"Is that a bear?" one of the guards asked his partner, his voice tinged with disbelief.
"What do you mean, 'is that a bear'?" the other guard looked up, his eyes widening in shock. "Holy shit, that's a bear!" Both men backed up slightly, their hands instinctively reaching for their halberd weapons.
"Halt!" the first guard commanded, his voice wavering slightly.
"Whoa, whoa, easy there, boys. You don't want to become breakfast this morning, yeah?" Naruto spoke up, stepping in front of Trinket protectively. The guards exchanged a wary glance before the first one spoke up again.
"Well then, state your business."
Scanlan cleared his throat and produced the parchment from the notice board with a flourish. "I believe we have some business to attend with the Sovereign," he announced, his voice dripping with confidence.
The guards hesitated for a moment before the second one nodded. "Ah, the mercenaries. Fine, we'll take you in, but the bear waits outside." Trinket let out a sad, rumbling growl but remained put as the guards opened the doors to the throne room. As Vox Machina entered, the guards recoiled at the collective stench of the group, their faces contorting in disgust. Vex'ahlia and Naruto lingered behind for a moment.
"Try not to eat anyone while we're gone, yeah?" Naruto said light heartedly, tapping Trinket on the nose before turning to catch up with the others.
"It's okay, buddy. We'll be back soon," Vex'ahlia whispered to her second-longest running companion, giving the bear a gentle pat on the head before following Naruto into the throne room.
The group entered the grand halls of the palace, the morning sun filtering through the large glass panes and casting a warm glow on the white marble floors. The hungover group looked around in slight awe, except for Vax, Vex, and Percy, who had been in similar settings before.
As they approached the throne, the Sovereign's voice reached their ears. "-join us." A worried-looking woman in armour interrupted him. "Sire, Whitestone hasn't been heard from in months."
"Excuse me," Keyleth called out, but the Sovereign continued, his voice grave. "They must be made aware of the attacks, Lady Kima. Send another guardsman straight away."
Keyleth tried again, but Grog's loud belch echoed through the room, silencing the conversations and drawing all eyes to Vox Machina. A halfling warrior in armour turned to face them, his expression sceptical. "Excuse me, but who the hell are you?"
Percy stepped forward, adjusting his glasses. "Vox Machina," he chuckled awkwardly. "A somewhat clever play on words."
"Honestly, we don't care," a condescending voice spoke up. A dark elf eyed the group with disdain, causing Naruto to narrow his gaze. "Sire, I did warn you that the notices would attract the scum of Emon."
"Scum?" Naruto spat, annoyance written across his face. 'Don't gut him, don't gut him,' he repeated in his head.
"Er, excuse you?" Vex responded, too hungover to care.
A large, armoured blonde general stepped forward, attempting to let Vox Machina down gently. "What my fellow councilman, Sir Finch, is trying to say is that the jobs from this request require more seasoned mercenaries."
"General Kreig, don't waste your time on these drunken buffoons," Finch said with contempt. "Guards!" he called out.
The guards tried to escort the motley crew out, but Vex shoved one away, and another grabbed at Pike, causing Naruto and Grog to snarl at the guards, forcing them to back off slightly.
"Buffoons? Clearly, you've never heard the Legend of Vox Machina," Scanlan boasted, pulling out his lute from Grog's pouch.
"Goddamnit," Naruto muttered, realizing where this was going.
"Allow me to give you a proper introduction," the bard spoke before strumming his instrument.
"Gods here we go again." The male half elf rolled his eyes as the rest of the troupe let out an exhausted sigh.
"Your excellence tried the best fighters," Scanlan sang as he stepped forward a few paces. "Who have adventured far and wide, but I promise, you've never met a troupe so qualifieddddd." The gnome held the last note before tapping into his mana, a spark of purple lit up the lute and his fingertips.
"There's Grog the might giant, he's a simple-minded hulk,"
Grog roared and flexed along with the tune.
"And Percy's Pepperbox can blow apart your fucking skull,"
The gunsmith flashed his rather unique pistol daring not to fire it in front of guards.
"Nature has no fury quite like Keyleth the Ashari. Controlling plants and animals, she's a magical safari."
The elven druid manipulated some plants and spoke to the conjured animals as if they were people.
"The Twins Vex and Vax, she shoots, he hides in the pitch. They're stealthy and quite deadly, but I forget which one is which."
"He's Vax," the half elf said as she drew back the string of her bow.
"She's Vex," the half said as he flipped a dagger in his hands.
"Pike's divinity is pure, her hands can always heal,"
The halfling summoned holy light to her side forming it into a shield.
"And let's not forget about Naruto the whiskered menace of a monk, his hands mainly cause harm, but he's always down for a laugh."
Naruto created an echo of himself to which they started sparring at fast speed but never landing a direct hit as he showed off his martial prowess.
"Oh, and did I mention we have a bear, Trinket is no big deal,"
Trinket charged past them all and gave a soft roar.
At this point the beat changed as a purple hand appeared behind the singing gnome as he pulled out a pair of sunglasses.
"My name is Scanlan, the man with the phat purple hand." Scanlan boasted and hyped as he danced. "My music is a jam, going ham, get some water and hide your daughters."
"EHHEM," the Sovereign coughed out loud.
"Oh, right sorry."
"I think you were feeling yourself a bit much there," Naruto commented only to receive a discreet middle finger from the bard in response.
"Brave warriors are we and far more clever than a fox,"
'Oi, that's a new line.' Naruto thought at the fox jab.
"They'll tell tale of our exploits,"
The group seemingly leapt up into the air.
"In the Legend of Vox!"
Before the group landed in various hero poses showing them at their best.
"Machina," Scanlan finishes dropping the illusion provide by his magic revealing the drunken beat-up versions of the troupe showing Keyleth throwing up once more.
The group did look exhausted, but Scanlan was determined to finish his pitch.
"Uh thank you very much."
There was a pause, and uncomfortable muttering amongst the nobles.
"Give the council a moment to discuss your curious group," Sovereign Uriel ordered, as the council turned away from the adventurers of fortune.
"Sire you can't be considering this?" Finch spoke first.
"Sire, their reputation is less than stellar." The blonde councilwoman spoke up in concern.
"They do know we can hear them, right? Naruto asked from where him and his team stood.
"Well, they do have a bear." Uriel spoke with slight glee "It looked quite ferocious, and the song was entertaining too."
"Sire, why not give them a chance." General Kreig spoke up in the groups defence. "I'm sure there is more to these warriors then meets the eye."
"Eh!" Scanlan waved over to them while Pike had passed out on Grogs leg and was quietly snoring away.
"Yeah, I doubt it." Kima spoke again. "Let's just call in Agar's assassins again."
"Uh Agar apparently had his hand chopped off in a barroom brawl last night." A kingsguard spoke up from beside the council members.
"Oh shit," Scanlan coughed whispered to himself.
"Then that's another reason they should hire us," Naruto spoke up sick of the disrespect. "Oi Red!" the former shinobi glared up at the halfling woman.
"The names Lady Kima, you miscreant." Finch snapped before he was halted by Kima's hand.
"We whooped those punks what were they called Agar's assassins." Naruto said before throwing a few shadow jabs in the air. "Those assassins couldn't even fight my grandma from back in my old village let alone hang with the likes of Vox Machina."
'These guys defeated Azar and his men?' Kima thought as she looked down at the group her vision focusing on the blonde. "Interesting." She said simply as she ignored the gaze of her fellow councilwoman Allura.
While Naruto was talking Vex started to feel a high pitch ringing in her head, causing her to groan and look up. 'Gah why is it so bright and why is that man giving us evils?' the archer thought as her vision continued to swim, before her brother steadied her.
"Very well." Uriel spoke with authority and power. "You're hired Vox Machina, mainly because I like the bear." The sovereign pointed towards the beautiful blonde councilwoman next to him. "Lady Allura, will accompany you to the Shale steps the village closest to the latest attack."
Smirks spread about all of Vox Machina's faces apart from Pike as she snored away.
"So, what are we killing, and how much are we making?" Vax'ildan questioned with a smirk.
"We don't know what you're killing, but once you kill it all of this will be yours." The general spoke up while holding up a pure golden box.
The golden box changed those smirks to smiles of pure glee and joy, Grog even hopped up waking up Pike who also began grinning away as she saw the box of gold.
"Just one more question when do we leave? And how do we get there?" Scanlan asked.
[Fast Travel]
Vox Machina quickly left the safety of Emon behind in a magic powered air ship with Allura acting as the groups guide. As the airship took the skies the party quickly broke off finding rooms with hot running water and beds to recharge before this mission.
Naruto had bathed and already slept for two hours, dreams plaguing him from complete rest. His mind was drawn from his previous imprisonment.
It was a void, an empty, ocean of nothing but ink. Naruto couldn't move, just float their helplessly.
He crashed into rip in space time caused by a miss calculation on Orochimaru's part as he had underestimated the amount power Naruto in his four tails demon cloak had access to and was a fraction of a second too slow.
Naruto's miniature bijuudama cracked through the Rashomon at the very moment the snake summoned them into existence that very moment the blast connected space time summon the bijuudama cracked through infinity itself tearing a hole sucking everything near in towards including Naruto and the remains of Orochimaru whose body was left half incinerated by the blast as he lay prone and unmoving.
The tear remained open for a few more seconds before the crack seemingly repaired itself sealing shut. Leaving the young jinchuuriki alone in a realm of pure darkness.
Has he floated in the darkness unable to move the rage fuelled demonic cloak receded leaving him floating, in a destroyed tracksuit, melted chainmail that had seemingly stuck to his own burnt form. That wasn't even worst thing about it, he quickly lost track of time in darkness.
Th pain of his skin regrowing was one of the worst experiences he had ever been through.
'The Kyuubi's chakra was always such a boon in power, but the cost was always so high,' Naruto thought to himself before he felt a pull on his mind.
'What the?' the lost shinobi thought as his world of darkness began to spin as he landed in what appeared to be a familiar dimly lit sewer.
'Oh, now he wants to talk,' Naruto snarked as he walked along the lone corridor towards the gate of his unwanted tenant.
After what felt like eternity for Naruto, he came across a cage with a paper seal in front of the in front of the lock.
Red eyes filled nothing but seemingly rage and hatred blinked awake in darkness.
"My jailor, how wonderful." The bijuu growled lowly as its cage became illuminated could see the tailed beast lying down sneering in his host direction.
'Kyuubi…'Naruto was short with the fox. 'You are the bane of my existence; you have brought nothing misery and grief.' The Uzumaki paused and glared towards the beast. 'But, since we've been stuck here you healed, and I want to just say.'
Naruto bowed.
'Thank you, I appreciate the help.'
The kyuubi did not respond but a rumble came from its chest.
Naruto straightened up and the nine tailed fox struck lashing at the cage with a deceptive speed, its palms crashing into the sealed gate with humongous clan, but its claws made it through its point stopping an inch away from the boys face.
Naruto's hair was blown back briefly from the force of the strike, but he didn't flinch or move at all and after staring at the claw an inch away from piercing his skull for a few seconds Naruto tiled his body to the side and locked eyes with the beast.
'Interesting, his eyes, he's been in the dark so long. Perhaps too long.' The bijuu thought. 'Naruto I did not invite you here for a fight or idle chit chat. Your Chakra is being siphoned off.'
'My chakra is what?!'
'Just shut up and listen brat. The space is siphoning off your chakra slowly killing you, but I guess you can that bastard the Forth for this but you're in luck.' The kyuubi spoke as he retracted his claws behind the cage bars.
'I'm dying and I'm in luck?'
'It's turns out this does more than lock me in here, the Death Reaper seal is supposed to drain my chakra into your network at a controlled rate increasing your natural reserves.'
'But?'
'But this void has affected the seal and now my chakra is draining into yours replacing what you are losing.' The fox paused for a moment. 'But that's not going last forever.
'And my body can't handle all of your chakra yet, pervy sage said so.'
'Before we arrived in this void you could barely handle four tails even though you're current reserves are closer seven of my own tails. That is the only reason you are alive right now.'
Naruto's jaw dropped, that fact he was not aware of, quickly he began focusing back on the conversation at hand. 'And what does that mean for us now.'
'I have a way out before we both die.'
'If this is a trick I really don't care at this point.' Naruto spoke up as stepped forward into the range of where claw had just been. 'What do we do? Do I rip the seal?'
The kyuubi shook his head no 'No, while that would free me, where would I go, like you I would be stuck in this nightmare.' The fox growled lowly before continuing. 'What I propose is something that should cause enough to eject and possibly separate us at the same time and luckily you have enough in your reserves to survive this.'
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
"Uzumaki! Get your ass in gear we are landing in, erm I forgot what Pike told me!" Grog shouted from outside the door
Banging on the door snapped Naruto of his thoughts of his old tenant.
"It's cool Big Guy if she told you its probably soon anyway, see you on the deck." Naruto shouted back. 'I'm sorry you couldn't experience the freedom you craved so.' Naruto thought as he stood up walked towards the chest of draws where his fresh and clean attire and arms. 'So, I'll live this life to the fullest, that I swear.' Naruto thought as he flicked out his left wrist causing his axe to fly off the wall it was hanging out of and straight into his open hand.
On the upper deck everyone from Vox Machina, even Trinket who was asleep at Vex's feet were on the deck as Naruto walked on he saw Keyleth, Grog and Pike run by excitedly as they looked over the railings looking at the clouds pass them by. Off to the side the twins stood.
"Brother I'm telling you, I felt it right there in the throne room," Vex whispered. "I haven't felt that since."
Naruto walked by and heard what the ranger was saying but didn't have the context to care.
"Isn't this ship amazing!" Scanlan said as he walked over to the twins. "There are like two bathrooms downstairs, can you believe that, and why are you both whispering like we can't here you." The gnome said getting progressively louder drawing the groups attention.
"Just mind your business gnome." Vex snapped at the bard. Before Allura came out and walked over to them.
"As you can tell villages and miles of farmland razed, without this beast taken care of Emon and quite possibly Tal' Dorei could starve, if it spreads.' The councilwoman explained as she indicated below to the destruction caused by the mystery beast.
Smoke still rising into the air from the charred remains of homes and land.
The group looked on in much more sombre manner then a few moments ago.
"This mission sounds kind of deadly, do we really want to do this?" Keyleth asked with a nervous chuckle.
"Come on Key we got this," Naruto supported "And I for one want to eat this winter without having to hunt for our own food in the snow again."
"Yes this task is dangerous, but that is why only the most noble and true-"
"Yeah, yeah nobility and heroism are fine and all but we are in this for the money." Vax interrupted causing Naruto and Grog to snicker.
"Lady you're preaching to the wrong crowd for the most part,"
Allura straighten up casting a look towards Naruto and Vax. "I see, its coin over character, not surprising."
Naruto just shrugged the lady had her opinion. "Coin keeps us fed and clothed."
The continued flying for few more minutes before descending on a empty space. Dismounting was an easy enough task and as they were off Allura gave her final instructions.
"The Shale Steps are beyond that ridge. Good luck" she turned to walk back up the ramp before pausing. "Please don't oh," the woman paused for but a moment. "Fuck this up as they say.
"Thanks for the sweet ride," Scanlan hollered as the air ship began to hover once more. "You'll be back to pick us up later, right?"
The air shot up into the sky and disappeared into the clouds.
"Well now I think that might be the fastest way I have ever seen a woman leave you Scanlan." Naruto laughed as he patted the bard on the shoulder as the others turned toward the ridge.
"Nah, she'll totally be back."
A few minutes had passed before the group walked into a small fishing village.
'This must one of the few left in the region completely untouched.' Naruto thought.
"Erm why are we here?" Grog asked not expecting this monster to already be here.
"The last attack came from the south of this village, so were going to ask around see if anyone saw or heard anything." Pike said as the pair walked past Keyleth muttering to a tree.
"Uh?"
"Yup that's kind of weird." Pike said as Grog just followed along weirded out about the druid talking to a tree.
Naruto stopped walking around town as his friends were talking to the people, but the Uzumaki could feel something off, but he wasn't sure what it was. He quickly leapt to the roof of a building and stared off into the cloud covered mountain tops.
'Something is definitely up there, I got goosebumps.' Naruto thought based off intuition.
"Are you a holy person? Could you bless our house please?" the mother asked Pike after recognising her necklace. "You know to protect it from evil."
"A blessing," Pike stuttered out "Erm no problem. Ok here goes." The halfling said before stepping forward and shaking out her limbs and taking a deep breath.
"May the Everlight shine upon your home and may everything be just tip top." Pike relaxed, "I'm sure you will survive these trying times, so good luck." She finished with an awkward chuckle.
"Are you sure you're a holy person," the husband asked as the group and family stayed uncomfortably silent at the blessing attempt.
"I-Im just a little out of practise, don't bless a lot of houses these days."
"Thank you either way dear. I'm sure it will keep our family safe." The mother said but just as she spoke, she felt her son run from her grasp and straight toward the brooding handsome elf who fiddling with a silver piece.
"Your sons got quite the role model," Naruto commented as he flipped off the roof landing in front the family making the mother jump in shock.
"You mean flying." The sister of the boy spoke as she joined her brother in front of Vax.
A comment that the whole party's attention.
"What was that?"
"Something flew overhead last night, but we couldn't see due to the storm. But it did fly right over us, and it knocked over the big tree on the hill over there." The girl pointed. "Even heard wings beating."
"And it was big, like really big." The brother added as waved his hands around to try and demonstrate just how big it was.
"Yeah," the sister agreed while still pointing at the destroyed tree used to stand tall.
The monk and rogue both exchange an uneasy look before having their gaze follow the girl's arm and the saw their next destination.
"Vox Machina, we got a starting point let's move out." Vex'ahlia called out to the group.
With the twins and Trinket in the lead, using all of their roguish skills to discern a path for them to follow.
"Trinket's got a scent, and we got footprints of some kind, but the rain has muddied up the shape." Vex'ahlia explained.
"Not bad but were too next." Percy asked.
"Follow the destruction, whatever it was flew in this direction along the coast."
"Then that's where we head." Naruto said as he walked up next to the archer of their group. "You wanna lead the way miss ranger." Naruto teased lightly to ease the tension of nerves everyone had become.
"You would be lost without me Whiskers." Vex lightly flirted back as her and Trinket took the lead with the rest of the troupe following along.
It took around an hour and bit, but the group made it to a clearing that the larger footprints took the form of a man.
'This doesn't make any sense?' Vex thought as she looked downed at the now human footprints before the ringing inside her skull began once again 'Just like in palace.' "Everybody get ready." She told with a serious edge to her tone as her gaze followed the footprints into mist forest ahead of them.
It was at that moment that the nearest large bush began to shake violently, causing Vox Machina to instinctively draw their weapons. The air was thick with tension, every member of the group poised for a fight, eyes locked on the frantic movements of the foliage.
Naruto felt his patience wane as he prepared to swing at the bush, but a nagging instinct held him back. If the creature lurking within was as dangerous as he suspected, he didn't want to risk an unnecessary confrontation.
After a few more moments of suspense, a small, adorable lamb hopped out of the bush, bleating innocently before skipping away.
"Buhahahaha!" Grog erupted into laughter, his booming voice echoing through the clearing. "Get the fuck out! A little lamb was behind all that mayhem?" He mocked; a wide grin plastered across his face. "Oh, don't let that thing bite you, Vex!"
Just as Grog finished his jest, a piercing noise shattered the momentary calm, a sound so intense it felt like it could bring one to their knees.
'What the? Did I just collapse?' Vex'ahlia thought, glancing down to find Naruto supporting her, having caught her before her legs could fully give out. "Thanks, Whiskers," she whispered, regaining her footing.
"Guys, we need to run!" Naruto ordered, his shinobi instincts screaming at him. But it was too late. With one final bleat, a massive, clawed foot descended from above, crushing the innocent lamb into a bloody paste.
The new beast snarled as it towered over the adventurers, its presence forcing them to shuffle back in fear.
"Oi Grog how's that fucking boot of yours tasting?" Naruto quipped at the half giant for his earlier comments.
"Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck!" Scanlan cursed, his voice a mixture of panic and disbelief as the beast roared at them.
"Scatter!" Naruto shouted, and the group leapt aside just as a bolt of lightning erupted from the dragon's maw, obliterating the ground where they had just stood.
Naruto watched from the shadows as the dragon's neck crackled with energy, lighting up like a winter solstice before it unleashed a more massive bolt of lightning.
"Incoming!" he called out, alerting his companions to either move or take cover.
The group successfully dodged the dragon's initial barrage, but they were left exposed when the beast roared again, levelling the trees that had provided them with cover. The once-thick grove was now nothing but stumps and ash.
Keyleth gasped, her heart sinking at the sight of the charred remains of nature surrounding them. The once-lush forest now reduced to stumps and ash, a grim reminder of the dragon's devastating power.
"I suggest we run, right now," Percy urged, gripping his pepperbox tightly. His usually calm demeanour betrayed by the tremor in his voice.
"Fuck that!" Grog spat, his eyes gleaming with reckless determination. "We fight!" He let out a thunderous war cry, his massive frame charging forward without a moment's hesitation.
"Goddamnit, Grog!" Naruto facepalmed, shaking his head in exasperation as he sprinted after the barbarian. Grog's bravery was admirable, but his disregard for strategy often put the group at risk.
"Grog, you dumb brave asshole!" Vax shouted, his voice laced with equal parts worry and annoyance. The rogue's fingers tightened around the hilts of his daggers, ready to support his friend and protect his family.
The dragon, alerted by Grog's reckless charge, lashed out with its massive claws, backhanding the barbarian with bone-shattering force. Grog's body crashed into the nearest rock face, a sickening crunch echoing through the clearing.
"Gah!" Scanlan screamed, ducking just in time to avoid being crushed by Grog's falling form. "Grogs down already?! Come on!" The gnome's voice wavered; his usual bravado replaced by raw fear. He took cover next to Vex'ahlia, sending forth a purple magical fist as she launched burning arrows at the dragon.
Both attacks bounced harmlessly off the indigo scales, barely drawing the beast's attention. It snapped its jaws toward the pair, ready to devour them whole.
"Shit, it's fast!" Vex thought, her heart racing. Just then, a large axe handle with a chunk of ice smashed into the side of the dragon's snout, knocking it off target and diverting its attention. By sheer luck, a stray bullet grazed the unarmoured part of the beast's body beneath its eye.
The axe handle floated back into Naruto's grasp. 'Jotun runes are the best,' he thought, feeling the ice magic build up in his Leviathan axe, transforming it into a massive block of ice—a perfect weapon for smashing. The force of the blow was heavier than looked due to the denseness of the ice hammer forcing the beast's skill in to the path of a bullet before it could move the bullet graze the flesh just underneath the draconic eye, drawing a thin but shallow cut underneath
Not liking that it had just been wounded by mortal hands, the dragon unleashed its lightning breath with renewed fury. While no one had been directly hit, the concussive force of the blasts was enough to send shockwaves through the area. Naruto was grazed by the dragon's tail, the impact lifting him off his feet and sending him tumbling toward Grog and Keyleth, who was still frozen in fear.
"Can someone get me the number of the asshole who just hit me?" Naruto muttered, struggling to get back on his feet but falling back onto his backside. His body ached, but his determination burned brighter than the pain.
"Keyleth, we need you! A little magic might help the situation!" Vex shouted, grabbing the terrified druid and snapping her out of her paralysis. Keyleth was their best chance at turning the tide, but her fear threatened to cripple them all.
"Sorry, right!" Keyleth responded, determination flooding her as her staff began to glow. She concentrated on the dark thunderclouds above, channelling her connection to nature into a powerful spell.
Naruto, back on his feet, dove back into the fray, his axe glowing with a soft blue light as frost began to emanate from its edges. He dragged his weapon along the ground, creating sparks before swinging too early to instil fear. The dragon took a step, only to realize its right foreleg was frozen in place.
The beast followed the trail of ice, its eyes locking onto the grinning blonde. Thunder crashed ominously in the background, a fitting backdrop for their battle against this ancient terror.
"Naruto, get out of there!" Pike shouted, her eyes widening as she saw the dragon's tail whipping around. Seeing the danger, Naruto met the tail in mid-air, attempting to deflect it. He created an echo clone in front of him to take the blow, but the force was too strong. The tail smashed through Naruto's echo clone with little resistance, the explosive dispelling resulting in a shockwave that sent him flying back toward his companions.
Blood burst from Naruto's lips as he flew through the air. 'Damage feedback on that echo was insane,' he thought, ignoring the familiar sting of death. He shifted his body, flipping over and coming to a skidding stop next to the newly awakened Grog. "Grog? You're up. Good, I've got a plan."
Grog glanced at the shorter warrior, his eyes burning with a warrior's fire. "Alright, what's the plan?"
"We keep up the pressure. The blasted dragon is clearly on the ropes; we just need to hit it harder." Naruto said in a completely deadpan tone, not at all helping with the situation.
"You're insane," Scanlan muttered quietly, his voice barely audible over the roar of the dragon. He watched in awe as Vox Machina's resident druid dropped her hand, summoning a mana-enhanced bolt of lightning from the heavens to strike the dragon.
"Never claimed to be sane, Scan. Look at the company I keep," Naruto responded before his brain could fully process what Keyleth had just done. 'Did she just drop a thunderbolt on a lightning dragon?' he thought incredulously as the smoke cleared, revealing the dragon appearing even more powerful.
"Did I just make it worse?!" Keyleth cried out, looking on in shock as the beast lowered its head, the back of its throat glowing with a cerulean light.
"Pike!" Percy yelled, diving in front of the party and conjuring a hard light shield large enough to protect them all. The gunslinger's usually calm demeanour was shattered, replaced by a desperate need to keep his family safe.
"Yes!" Naruto answered Keyleths question, as he ran past her and up to Pike and placing a hand on her shoulder. She nodded back at him, focusing on maintaining the shield. 'Ok, it's been a while. Let my yin chakra flow, baby,' the whiskered teen thought as he began channelling the spiritual side of his chakra, guiding it to flow into the gnomish battle mage.
It was a technique the group had discovered Naruto could use to either amplify a mage's power or surpass any mage under the right circumstances. The light shield grew six times in size, fully covering the entire party and then some.
"Thanks for the boost, Naru," Pike thanked, her voice strained as she tensed up, awaiting the inevitable blast of lightning breath.
It was at that moment that they noticed the dragon's dark sclera eyes looking above them before it fired at the rock face behind them, destroying the natural formation and bringing boulders crashing down on Vox Machina's heads.
'Shit!' the holy person cursed, realizing the dragon's intelligence. 'Dragons are intelligent?' the gnome thought as both Naruto and he launched ethereal chains, whipping them through the rocks in a desperate attempt to stop the larger ones from crushing them. But it was too much debris for one man alone.
As rubble continued to fall, seemingly burying the group, the dragon roared in triumph, signifying its victory before flying off, leaving the forest as an unmarked grave.
Underneath the rubble, there was a twitch of disturbed rocks before Grog and Naruto burst out, roaring in defiance. Their cries echoed through the clearing, allowing those close enough to Keyleth to survive the rockfall via her protective thorny shrubbery. Both Grog and Naruto were bleeding profusely, with Grog being the largest target and having little defence except for his natural durability. Naruto's wounds, however, came from shielding Pike, as they were just out of Keyleth's range for her own natural protection spell.
Naruto collapsed after taking a few steps, looking up at the now cloud-free sky. 'Oh fuck, that was an actual dragon. Like an actual fucking dragon,' he thought, a massive grin spreading across his face despite his injuries. He summoned his axe back into his free palm, feeling it's comforting weight. 'Must've dropped her when the dragon decided to use my body to work on its backhand.'
"Grog, you're hurt," Keyleth pointed out to the goliath, her voice laced with concern.
"Nah, just a flesh wound," Grog replied, removing his hand from the gaping wound in his side. Blood poured out of his body in alarming quantities. "Is this normal?" he questioned, his bravado wavering as Pike rushed over to him, her hands glowing with healing energy.
"Oh no," Percy and Vax said simultaneously, their expressions a mix of horror and disbelief.
"I think I'm going to be sick," Scanlan muttered, his stomach churning at the sight of Grog's injuries slowly mending under Pike's righteous light.
"Don't worry, old buddy. I got you," Pike reassured him, focusing her energy on the life-threatening wounds. Her healing magic flowed into Grog, knitting his flesh back together with the grace of the Everlight.
"Once you're done healing Grog, I got next," Naruto called from his position on the floor, his voice strained but his eyes shining with pride. This was their first encounter with a dragon, and they had survived. Not many could ever tell the tale of meeting a wild dragon.
Grog watched the concentration on his best friend's face. "Thanks, Pikey. I feel better already." The half-giant offered a grateful smile as the last of his wounds stitched themselves closed beneath the power of the healing grace of the Everlight.
As Pike finished healing her best friend, her arms became heavy as lead, and her vision began to swim. She stumbled over her own feet, about to hit the ground before Scanlan caught her in his arms.
"I got ya," the bard said softly, a slight blush creeping across his face as he held their party's healer.
Unaware of the healer's current predicament, Naruto coughed up blood, causing Pike's eyes to widen. "You can put me down now," she requested, rushing over to Naruto. Her healing magic mended his wounds faster than they could heal themselves. "Hey, Naru. Thanks for the save today."
"No biggie," Naruto chuckled through bruised ribs. "You were about to do the same for us."
As Pike healed the lone Uzumaki, the party began discussing their next steps.
"Alright, so fuck Uriel and all of this," Vax spoke up first, his frustration evident. "We're done here; we did not sign up for certain death."
"Must I remind you we gave our word to the council?" Percy countered, unwilling to abandon their mission after so much struggle. "Our word, if nothing else, should mean something."
"Who gives a soggy anus about the council?" Scanlan piped up. "The only word I care about is Scanlan Shorthalt. And yes, I'm aware it's two words, but you know what I mean."
"Yeah, what have those fuckity fucks ever done for us, outside of giving us a job and gold?" Grog grumbled, his voice a low rumble.
"We've faced a lot of things, but a dragon—like an actual dragon?" Keyleth's voice trembled, still haunted by the encounter with the flying terror.
"You're a selfish prick when you want to be," Naruto interjected, sitting up with Pike's assistance as she continued to channel her healing magic. He aimed his comment at Scanlan before turning to the group. "Look, where I'm from, if you take a mission, you tend to complete it regardless. But we have a chance to do something incredible, something glorious. We now know what we're facing; we can actually prepare before the next encounter. I fully believe we are capable of taking that beast down together."
His words seemed to raise some spirits, but not all, as Keyleth and Scanlan still looked unsure.
"It's not about the nobles; it's about protecting the people from that winged nightmare. The people need us. We can't just run away," Naruto continued, his voice steady and resolute.
"This is why I hate traveling with holy people," Percy groused. "They are always so damned good."
"This creature is beyond us," Vex spoke up, stepping forward. "When Vax and I were young, one of those monsters killed our mother." Vax's fist clenched in anger and despair, and Naruto could see the fear and disdain both twins had for the creature that haunted their past.
"I've studied dragons my entire life, hoping to find the one who did it," Vex paused, as if debating with herself. "I have this sense whenever one is near."
'That's like what I got, but for mine, it's any danger I cannot comprehend at the time,' Naruto thought, realizing the depth of Vex's connection to her past.
"A horrid pain in my mind's eye."
'Okay, not like mine,' Naruto thought, as his warning system didn't cause him pain; it was more of an early alert for sneak attacks.
"Alright then, we head for Emon and get ourselves out of the contract," Percy suggested, his voice firm.
"Always so sensible, Percy," Naruto said through a scowl, not liking this idea very much.
"What do you have me do, Naruto?" Percy snapped back; frustration evident in his tone.
"Did you not shoot it just under the eye?" Naruto asked, pointing at his own face.
"Yes, one shot grazed it, and?"
"Did it not bleed?"
"A little."
"So, with that being said, if it can bleed, then we can fucking kill it," Naruto finished, determination shining in his eyes.
"It's still a dragon, Naruto." Percy reminded.
"Pah," Naruto spat. "That thing is more like an overgrown eel with wings." He felt the healing effects fade, causing the whiskered face teen to turn toward his healer. "Thanks again, Pike. I know that must not have been easy," Naruto said, offering a hand to the shorter girl to steady herself as she looked exhausted.
"No problem... I couldn't finish healing you like Grog, so take it easy for now, okay? I'm out of juice," Pike explained, her golden palms flickering on and off before losing their glow completely.
"Naruto, Percy, you both don't understand. I felt it at the palace too," Vex said, her voice anxious.
"Wait, you're just telling us this now?" Scanlan hopped into the conversation, incredulous.
"I'm sorry, I was hungover and unsure it was a dragon," Vex apologised genuinely to the group. "I wasn't certain it was a dragon; it's been years since Mother," Vex said, anxiety wafting off her every word until Vax placed a hand on his twin's shoulder.
"Are you sure, Vex'ahlia?"
"I know what I felt, brother. Someone on the council must be in league with the dragon itself."
"And the plot thickens," Naruto muttered to himself, piecing together the implications.
"Look, we're walking away from this. We were lucky to survive a dragon in the first place, and you heard my sister; it's not worth the risk. I say we leave and never set foot in Emon again," Vax locked eyes with Naruto, who returned the intensity before Vax led Vex and Trinket back the way they came.
One by one, the group followed the twins, leaving Grog, Pike, and Naruto in the rear. Grog silently picked Pike up and placed her over his shoulders for her to rest.
"Don't worry, Pike. This conversation is far from over," Naruto reassured her before walking ahead with Grog.
As Vox Machina trekked back to their initial starting point, the rain began to fall, heavy and cold, drenching them to the bone. The journey was somber, each step weighed down by the knowledge of what they might find. Naruto's eyes widened in shock as he caught sight of the horizon. "Guys!" he called out, urgency in his voice.
The group turned to see the fishing village they had left behind, now reduced to nothing but smoke and ash. Pike gasped, guilt and sorrow filling her heart. Vax's eyes widened in horror as he sprinted toward the village, Naruto hot on his heels. What should have been a twenty-minute trek took only five, with the rest of Vox Machina arriving shortly after.
The destruction was evident—charred homes and scattered remains littered the humble town. Vax and Naruto made a beeline for the home of the last family they had met before journeying up the mountain. Vax's heart pounded in his chest, a silent prayer on his lips. 'Please be safe,' he thought as he rounded the final corner, only for his heart to shatter at the sight before him.
The house was burnt and destroyed, the air thick with the acrid scent of smoke. Inside, Vax found three bodies, bloody and burnt—the mother holding her daughter, and the father nearby, covered in blood from large gashes. Naruto entered shortly after, the scene before him prompting him to recite an old shinobi prayer he had learned in his homeland for the deceased.
The rest of the group entered the house, their faces reflecting remorse, sorrow, and guilt. But then, hope flickered in the form of a weak cough that rang out in the rain. 'Holy shit?' Vax thought, rushing toward the sound coming from a broken wardrobe.
Naruto, Grog, and Vax quickly moved the beams of lumber and debris out of the way, revealing the young boy they had met earlier that day. "Pike!" Vax shouted, urgency in his voice. "Get over here."
Pike came running, her heart aching at the sight of the innocent child they had found. The boy was groaning, shivering from the rain, his wounds refusing to stop bleeding. Pike instantly began trying to heal him. "Please, Everlight," she prayed, her voice trembling. "Let your power reach him."
Naruto, deciding to help, placed a hand on her shoulder and began channeling yin chakra in an attempt to embolden her healing. "Pike, please," Vax almost begged, desperation in his eyes.
Her healing light flickered on and off, even with the boost from Naruto. "Shit!" Pike cursed, frustration and despair in her voice. "I can't do it, even with Naruto's booster. I'm still too weak from earlier."
"If you multiply anything by zero, you still get zero," Naruto said quietly, stopping the flow of his own power. The child let out one last gasp before his arms fell limp in Vax's embrace.
The only living people in the entire village looked on solemnly as the rain fell and thunder sang through the skies. "We could have stopped this," Vax said, his voice heavy with regret. "No, we should have."
The familiar sound of lute strings being plucked drew everyone's attention, and Vax's and Naruto's ire. "What the hell, Scanlan? This is no time for a jig and a dance," Naruto shouted, beating Vax to the punch verbally.
Standing on the threshold of the former family's home, the bard retuned his lute. "Thinking of a rhyme for 'dead dragon,' 'cause I guess we're killing one," Scanlan said, determination in his voice.
"I'm in," Keyleth spoke up for the first time since their walk back to the village. "Uh, I mean, I am not going to lie, I am terrified out of my mind, but I'm in." The young druid spoke as if she had found her resolve.
Grog looked down, a solemn weight pressing against his shoulders. "I don't like losing, but now I'm feeling things on the inside, and they don't feel right." He finished, looking up and locking eyes with everyone in the room one by one. "So yeah, I'm with ya."
"That was actually well stated, Grog," Percy complimented.
"What was?" Grog asked, confusion in his voice.
"For crying out loud, never mind," Percy frowned before turning to face Vax and Keyleth. "You can count me in as well."
"You all know where I stand, and now I want to skull-fuck a dragon with my axe," Naruto spoke almost poetically, as the rain began to fizzle out and rays of sunlight peeked through the clouds.
"So, we're doing this?" Pike questioned, her voice steady as everyone nodded in response.
"You all realise we're going to die a truly horrible death?" Vex'ahlia said, walking between her brother and Naruto.
"Perhaps, sister," Vax said, holding the blood-soaked silver coin he had handed the boy earlier that day. "But we will die gloriously."
"And we'll kill a fucking dragon," Naruto finished, his voice filled with resolve as Trinket roared in agreement, the sound echoing through the clearing.
The End
A.N
And we back once again
holy hell I didn't realise people actually wanted this kind of fic
thank y'all for the support, some of y'all gonna make act like a fan boy dafuq authors that ive read for years and got me to actually write on this site/app following my shit ngl ive been grinning teeth. but seriously thank you all for the support
Now down to business, this chapter was a lot i realised we cover
how Naruto arrived in the void.
Do we like that a mini bijuu bomb connected with a summoning which is a space time techinque at very moment where space time is at its weakest btw not a physicist on magic anime bs so if it don't work for ya what can I say.
now this void is where the dark gods were banished to
while Naruto escaped their influence
Kurama is no longer in Naruto is he alive/dead/reforming?
I wanted to capture a kurama who wasn't best buddies with Naruto but wanted to live more than be petty
Anyone who wants Naruto to be one shot people are going to be disappointed we on similar levels as are party and as such the foes we face along the way.
Also I've got the perfect vestige for Naruto which I wont spoil yet
Pairing not locked in i'm going to go with whats the most natural as I write.
Now Naruto's chakra issues the world he is currently in does handle mixing of physical and spritual energies well so whhile Naruto can utilsie his physical energy to enhance himself and spiritual chakra for his more mystical looking abilities
so essentially im having Naruto unknowingly recreate ninshu before he knew what it is
The void drained Naruto of his chakra.
the shiki fujin drained kurama of its chakra and transfered into Naruto to keep in alive but Kurama's chakra could not actually be drained like they both believed
Now we know Vox Machina have some tense moments and are not all buddy buddy besties all the time which is what like about their dynamic.
i do have a question for anyone and everyone and if you don't want to review send a message while ill be mainly sticking to the main tv storyline would anyone want to see any quests from the live streams or any original arcs which i might add anyway at some point
Also Naruto while no one did much Naruto and Percy made a dragon bleed.
Anyways I have had three hours sleep so hope you had a good read.
note to everyone if you want to comment and review actually leave one not ask about other stories, I got in the bank.
Remember this is fanfiction.
Leave a review as fuels my engines of creativity...
Stay Chilling Y'all
