Of Whispers & Bones
As the first rays of dawn painted the sky in hues of pink and gold, Pike found herself surrounded by fellow devotees of Sarenrae at a temple dedicated to the Everlight. The events of her vision still weighed heavily on her mind, a stark contrast to the peaceful atmosphere of the morning worship.
The temple's alabaster walls gleamed in the early morning light, and the air was filled with the soft murmur of prayers and the gentle tinkling of ceremonial bells. Despite the serene setting, Pike couldn't shake the lingering unease from her troubling vision.
As the other worshippers began their morning rituals, Pike stood apart, her brow furrowed in concentration. She closed her eyes, trying once more to reach out to Sarenrae, hoping for guidance or at least some clarity about the ominous future she had glimpsed.
"Everlight," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the quiet chants of her fellow clerics,
Pike knelt before the altar of Saranae, her hands clasped in fervent prayer in an attempt to reconnect with the Everlight, after being cursed by Lady Briarwood. At first she saw nothing but darkness, an empty void one filled with such darkness even dark vision could not penetrate, but then flames blind her, her consciousness expanded, and a vision unfolded before her mind's eye.
The scene that materialised was one of chaos and devastation. The sky above was torn asunder, streaked with otherworldly hues of crimson and violet. The ground beneath was scarred and broken, the remnants of a battlefield that stretched as far as the eye could see.
At the centre of this maelstrom stood a figure Pike recognised yet seemed changed by the passage of time. Naruto, older now, his once youthful features hardened by years of conflict. A beard, blonde with flecks of grey, adorned his face, giving him an air of weathered wisdom. In his hands, he gripped his staff - Tempesta's Embrace - crackling with barely contained energy, winds swirled around the blonde in an almost vicious dance.
Arrayed against him was a horde of enemies, a sea of faces both familiar and strange. Some bore the marks of celestials, others the twisted visages of fiends. Light and dark, good and evil, all united against this singular force.
Leading this impossible alliance were two figures that made Pike's heart ache with recognition. Vax'ildan, his raven-feathered armour now etched with silvery runes of power, stood at the forefront. Beside him, Keyleth, her antlers now a crown of elemental fury, her eyes blazing with primal energy.
Both of her old friends showed signs of aging - lines etched into their faces, a touch of grey at their temples. Yet they radiated power beyond anything Pike had witnessed in her mortal life.
The three figures - Naruto, Vax'ildan, and Keyleth - stood at the pinnacle of this new era, their very presence caused the earth to rumble once more. The air crackled with tension, a silent moment before the storm.
Naruto's voice, deeper and more resonant than Pike remembered, carried across the battlefield: "So, it's come to this, old friends. Light and dark united against the wild card."
Vax'ildan's reply was tinged with sadness and resolve, Whisper had been drawn and aimed toward the blonde. "You've gone too far, mate. You need to stand down."
Naruto smirked stepping toward the raven queen's champion. Letting the blade tip press against his chest. "Oh Vax, seems like your edge needs honing, and I was in need of a back scratcher."
A hand placed itself over his shoulder causing the whisker marked man to glance in the direction of the druid. "It really has been a while."
"Stand down," Keyleth, her voice carrying the weight of nature itself, added "The balance must be maintained, Naruto. No matter the cost."
"You may be the Voice of the Tempest now Kiki but me, I know its very nature," Naruto responded to the Ashari as Vile crimson chakra spilled forth forming his trademark kyuubi cloak all nine tails floating menacingly behind him.
The suddenness of the corrosive crimson cloak forced Keyleth to rip her hand away with a his as the power burnt at her palm slightly, smoke wafting from her fingertips.
The champions of Melora and the Raven Queen tensed as Naruto barely regarded the black dog that emerged from Vax'ildan's shadow.
"Watch as I slaughter each mongrel who attempts to impede me, those below," he cast a glance towards those who hail from the abyss. "Those above." As he gazes raised to the celestials in air. "Even that black mutt of yours." His gaze dropped to Vax'ildan as the direwolf which had emerged from Vax's shadow growled at the threat.
"It doesn't have to be this way Naru." Keyleth tried an attempt to keep the peace.
"Kiki don't… It's too late for that." Vax'ildan muttered with regret in his tone. 'Is this our fate my lady?' he thought hoping for a response from his deity only to hear silence in return.
A smirk played across Naruto's lips as he twirled his staff, lightning arcing in its wake. "Then come," he challenged his ocean blues now a baleful red. "The Sage of Ion Storm is in need of a fight but even I'm not sure you brought enough."
As the forces clashed in an explosion of divine/abyssal energy and mortal will, Pike gasped, the vision dissipating like mist in the morning sun. She found herself back before Sarenrae's altar, trembling with the weight of what she'd witnessed - a possible future where the lines between hero and villain, god and mortal, had blurred beyond recognition.
"Did I just see the future?" she whispered as she wiped her sweat covered brow. She closed her eyes once more but was rejected in almost the same instant. The halfling was suddenly flung across the room like ragdoll until she landed in a heap and came to a stop. "Why won't you speak to me!" Pike cried as she punched the floor in frustration and worry.
Naruto casually stepped away from the guard embedded in the floor, his eyes scanning the room for new threats. The twins, Vex'ahlia and Vax'ildan, flanked him on either side, their weapons at the ready. Grog loomed behind them, his massive frame practically vibrating with anticipation for the coming fight.
"Well, that was a nice warm-up," Naruto quipped, twirling Tempesta's Embrace nonchalantly. "Who's next?"
As if in answer, a fresh wave of guards burst through the doors, their weapons glinting in the dim light of the manor.
Vex nocked an arrow, her keen eyes already picking out targets. "I've got the ones on the left," she called out, letting loose a volley that found its mark with deadly precision.
Vax, daggers in hand, seemed to melt into the shadows. "I'll take care of the stragglers," his voice echoed from somewhere in the room.
Grog let out a bellowing war cry, charging forward with his greataxe held high. "GROG SMASH!" he roared, cleaving through the guards' ranks like a battering ram.
Naruto grinned, lightning crackling along his staff. "Guess that leaves the middle for me," he said, launching himself into the fray.
With the two brawlers teamed once again the room erupted further into chaos. Vex's arrows whistled through the air, finding gaps in armour with unerring accuracy. Vax appeared and disappeared in flashes, his daggers leaving a trail of fallen guards in his wake. Grog was raging against the machine as his axe sang a song of destruction, each swing sending the guards bodies flying sometimes with their limbs still attached.
And at the centre of it all was Naruto, a whirlwind of lightning and deadly grace. Tempesta's Embrace crackled with energy as he danced between opponents, each strike precise and devastating.
"You know," Naruto called out as he ducked under a guard's wild swing, "I'm almost disappointed. I thought the nobles would have better security than this."
Vex loosed another arrow, pinning a guard to the wall. "Don't get cocky, darling. We still need to find the Percy's sister and get her out of here."
"Aye," Grog grunted, headbutting a guard into unconsciousness. "Less talky, more smashing!" the goliath then leapt upstairs in a single bound speared to guards crushing their chest plates underneath.
With Vex'ahlia she was currently out shooting every guard with a bow and arrow
"Pin the bitch down!" a brash sounding guard called out.
Vex just smirked as she turned toward the voices and shot two arrows in quick succession sniping down the men that surrounded the loudmouth guard.
The guard ducked before she could draw again. "Your unbelievable!" he called out with a smirk as he removed his helmet to wipe the sweat from his brow, revealing a scared face.
"I know!" she hollered back as she notched another arrow. "It's annoying isn't it."
"I realise it's a long shot, but any chance for a private lesson."
Naruto's ears twitched in annoyance before he hit a guard with a backfist striking his exposed chin. "Seriously what's the point if I can still punch you in the face." The blonde pulls a kunai from his leg holster spinning the blade around his finger before launching it across the room.
Vex leapt out of cover just as the guard stood up both shots set loose and her arrow split his in two.
The cocky guards barely had a moment to react her arrow and a dark object filled his field of vision.
The arrow pieced him straight between the eyes and there was a kunai buried deep in his right eye.
Vex glanced toward the blonde who shrugged her way.
"I didn't like how he was talking to ya, simple as."
"Jealous?"
"Of a one-eyed corpse, I think not."
"Anyone still alive downstairs?" Vax shouted in desperation as he and Percy were fighting walking armour golems. "If you're not dead down there we could use some help!"
Grog who was already on the balcony ran towards Vax'ildan's voice.
"You go after Grog we don't need him to get lost again." Naruto commented.
"But?" Vex said quickly.
"I got this," Naruto winked at the ranger. "Trust me Darling…"
"Don't get hurt Whiskers," Vex said, a determined glint in her eye before she turned and rushed upstairs hoping to catch up with the goliath
"Me hurt? I may be rusty with a staff, this just an opportunity to really shake the rust off." Naruto whispered before he turned to face the remaining guards who were eyeing him with an enhanced like caution.
Naruto's lips curled into a predatory smirk as he surveyed the sea of guards before him. The cacophony of battle echoed from the upper levels, where the twins were carving their path through the second floor. Tempesta's Embrace, a cloak of barely contained lightning, draped over the blonde's shoulders, crackling with anticipation. His arm hung loosely around the staff, a deceptively casual pose that belied the coiled tension in his muscles.
With deliberate slowness, Naruto rolled his neck, each pop reverberating through the tense silence like thunderclaps. A deep sigh escaped his lips, tinged with a hint of nostalgia. "It's been a minute since I've faced this many foes," he mused, his voice carrying a dangerous edge of excitement.
His azure gaze flicked towards the entrance as another wave of guards flooded through, their weapons glinting in the dim light. A wolfish grin spread across his face eyes gleaming with barely contained bloodlust. "This is going to be a fun warm-up," he declared his voice dripping with dark amusement.
In an instant, the atmosphere shifted. Naruto's eyes narrowed to slits, and an oppressive aura of killing intent blanketed the room. The air grew thick and heavy, pressing down on the soldiers with an invisible, suffocating weight. Some buckled under the pressure, falling to their knees with gasps of terror, while others stumbled back, their resolve crumbling in the face of such overwhelming malice.
"Children of Whitestone, who serve this dark court," Naruto's voice rang out, clear and commanding as he momentarily lifted the crushing pressure of his killing intent. The guards struggled to regain their composure, many still trembling in fear.
A crossbow bolt whistled through the air, aimed at Naruto's head. Without breaking his speech or even glancing in its direction, he tilted his head slightly, allowing the projectile to sail harmlessly past. "If you survive this, let your masters know this," he continued his tone laden with ominous promise.
His eyes, now glowing with an otherworldly light, swept across the room, meeting the gaze of each guard in turn. "I'll slaughter them all," he stated, his voice devoid of emotion, a simple declaration of fact rather than a threat.
In a blur of motion, Naruto launched himself into the fray. Tempesta's form erupted with wild, arcing bolts of lightning that danced across the room, illuminating the terror-stricken faces of the guards. The air filled with the scent of ozone and the deafening crack of thunder as Naruto became a whirlwind of destruction, his staff a blur of motion, each strike accompanied by a flash of blinding light and the sizzle of flesh.
The battlefield transformed into a macabre dance floor, with Naruto as its deadly conductor. He moved with fluid grace, stepping over fallen bodies with casual indifference, his eyes locked on the next target. The air crackled with energy, the scent of ozone mixing with the metallic tang of blood.
An iron plated guard swung his glaive, the edge set to bite deep into the blondes back.
"I don't think so," Naruto spat as his wrists twisted faster than the guard to react and the electrified staff had parried the blade using his momentum to bury the weapon deep into the floorboards.
"Shit!" the guard cursed as he felt the light dim over him causing him to look up to see the blonde in the air.
Naruto had leapt into the air toward the guard and his left leg tensed and coiled up like viper and as he passed the brute of a guard his leg lashed out with a house call stomp into his targets exposed jaw.
The next thing the guard saw was darkness.
To the remaining guards Naruto's movements defied prediction, a whirlwind of lethal precision. He spun and flipped through the air, his body a blur of motion as he engaged the heavily armoured guards. Tempesta's Embrace pulsed with barely contained power, arcs of lightning illuminating the room in stroboscopic flashes.
"Didn't they tell you boys iron and electricity don't mix?" Naruto's taunt rang out, his voice laced with dark amusement. The staff in his hands became an extension of his will, transforming from a blunt instrument into a lightning-wreathed rapier. Each strike found its mark with unerring accuracy, the thunderous echoes of metal on metal punctuated by the sizzle of electrical burns.
Shield-bearers among the guards quickly learned the folly of their defence. A single strike from Naruto's electrified staff sent numbing shocks through their arms, rendering their shields useless. The clatter of dropped metal added to the cacophony of battle, a discordant symphony of fear and pain.
"Don't give up men," a brave shield bearer shouted as he shook his defending arm and drew his spear. "It's just one man." He shouted hoping to inspire only to have Tempesta's Embrace dent the side of his helmet, the force sent the man straight into the far wall his head and torso crashing through the wall.
Those fools, unfortunate enough to face Naruto without the dubious protection of a shield fared far worse. The lightning-covered strikes found their marks with devastating effect. Corrupted hearts, tainted by dark allegiances, stood no chance against the purifying fury of Naruto's assault. Bodies hit the ground hard, muscles spasming uncontrollably as cardiac arrest claimed them. For a few agonizing moments, they writhed on the floor, caught in the throes of their final dance.
Then, as suddenly as it began, the violent motion ceased. The fallen guards settled into an eerie stillness, their faces frozen in expressions that might almost be mistaken for peaceful slumber, were it not for the tell-tale scorch marks and the acrid smell of burnt flesh that hung in the air.
Naruto stood amidst the aftermath of his devastating assault, Tempesta's Embrace still crackling with residual energy that danced across his form. His piercing gaze swept the room, searching for any remaining threats, his body coiled and ready to unleash another barrage of destruction at a moment's notice.
"And then there were 10," the blonde remarked, a glint of mischief in his eyes as he looked down at the men before him. His casual demeanour stood in stark contrast to the carnage surrounding him.
To the ten guards still standing, frozen in terror, Naruto was no longer a mere teenager. In their eyes, he had transformed into something otherworldly – a monster, a vile creature straight from the depths of the Nine Hells itself.
"H-h-he's not human. He can't be," one guard stuttered, his voice trembling with fear.
"Monster in human flesh," another muttered, his eyes wide with horror.
A third guard, overcome by terror, lost control of his bodily functions, a dark stain spreading across his trousers.
Naruto's eyebrows raised slightly at the sight. "Well, that's just embarrassing," he commented, his tone almost conversational. With fluid grace, he shrunk his staff into its hairpin form and tucked it behind his ear, as if he were merely adjusting his appearance after a light workout. "And there were nine."
"N-n-ine?" the guard with the stained trousers whimpered.
"Well, you see, that is just embarrassing," Naruto pointed at the man's lower half "I just have to kill you now… you know save you from even more ridicule."
The guards watched in mounting dread as Naruto flicked out his right hand, a seemingly innocuous gesture that held untold power. Suddenly, an axe ripped itself free from a nearby frozen corpse, the violent action causing the body to shatter as it hit the ground. The weapon spun through the air like a deadly buzzsaw, trailing ice shards with each rotation.
The axe's handle found its way into Naruto's waiting grasp, settling there as if it had always belonged. The ease with which he summoned and caught the weapon only added to the guards' terror, reinforcing the image of Naruto as something beyond their comprehension.
The young man stood before them, axe in hand, a small smile playing on his lips. The juxtaposition of his youthful appearance and the raw power he exuded created an unsettling tableau. To the remaining guards, it was clear that they faced not just an enemy, but a force of nature – unpredictable, uncontrollable, and utterly devastating.
"Grog snap out of it!" Vex'ahlia voice rang from the upper levels of the manor.
'Well shit,' the blonde thought as he glanced backwards, making him miss one of the guards lunging toward him sword drawn.
CLANG!
Axe head met sword edge.
Two hands struggled against one.
"You know I box with a Goliath on the daily right?" Naruto mocked before breaking the blade lock and relieving the guard of his head with a single horizontal swing.
The headless opponent fell to his knees and as his head hit the ground nine shuffling feet made a break for and escaped the way they entered.
"Well, I wasn't wrong about their being nine," Naruto snickered as he spun on the spot and began heading towards the upstairs.
In the opulent lounge of the Ander's manor, Percy stood, his breath ragged and his mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. The ornate furnishings and lavish decor stood in stark contrast to the chaos unfolding within. Anger and frustration etched deep lines on his face as he realised the gravity of his impulsive actions. His friends, now adversaries, faced him with an eerie silver gleam in their eyes - a telltale sign of the insidious control exerted over them.
'Shit, think, I need to think,' Percy's mind raced, his fingers tightening around the grip of his pepperbox. With a swift motion born of years of practice, he took aim at Professor Anders, the portly figure who seemed to be orchestrating this nightmarish scenario. The gun's report echoed through the room, but before the bullet could find its mark, Keyleth - her movements unnaturally fluid - raised her hands. In an instant, a wall of thorny vines erupted from the floor, their wicked barbs glistening in the dim light as they formed an impenetrable barrier.
"So close but so far, young Percival!" Anders' taunting voice drifted from behind the verdant shield, dripping with smug satisfaction. The words stung Percy, fuelling the rage that simmered just beneath the surface of his calculated exterior. "All alone and your friends have betrayed once again."
The gunslinger grunted as he was pinned to the wall Vex'ahlia's arrows just before being gut punched by a magical vine.
Percy never let go of his weapon no matter what.
Suddenly, Percy's keen ears picked up an anomaly - a subtle, yet distinct rattling of chains. His eyes darted around, searching for the source of the sound that seemed out of place in this arcane confrontation.
Without warning, a black chain, shimmering with an otherworldly golden hue, burst through the doorway. It snaked through the air with unnatural speed and precision, making a beeline for Grog's massive greataxe. Before the goliath's mind could process what was happening, the chain had coiled tightly around the weapon's handle. With a violent jerk, it wrenched the axe from Grog's grasp, sending it spinning through the air.
In that same heartbeat, Naruto's Leviathan axe cleaved through the space, its icy blade singing a deadly song as it intercepted Grog's weapon mid-flight. With a resounding thud, both axes embedded themselves in the wall, effectively disarming the formidable barbarian.
Naruto himself followed, bursting into the room with explosive energy. He swung from the doorframe with acrobatic grace, his body a blur of motion. As he sailed through the air, his hands came together in three rapid claps, each one punctuated by a flash of light.
CLAP - CLAP - CLAP
In the wake of each clap, spectral echoes of Naruto materialised, each one a perfect copy of the original. Without hesitation, these phantoms launched themselves at the twins and Keyleth. Vax and Vex found themselves grappling with these ethereal assailants, while a third echo engaged Keyleth, who had transformed into a snarling tiger in response to the sudden threat.
Glancing towards pinned friend. "I got your back, Percy! Now end this!" Naruto's voice cut through the chaos as he redirected his momentum towards Grog, his body becoming a human missile aimed at the towering goliath.
With a display of martial prowess that defied human limitations, Naruto's legs lashed out in a furious split kick. Both feet connected simultaneously with Grog's wrists, the impact reverberating through the room. The goliath's arms were forced apart, leaving him momentarily vulnerable.
"Snap out of it, Grog!" Naruto's plea was tinged with desperation as he locked eyes with his friend, searching for any sign of recognition in the silver-tinted gaze. In the same fluid motion, Naruto retracted his legs and, coiling like a spring, launched a devastating two-footed stomp directly into Grog's broad chest.
The impact was thunderous. Despite Grog's immense size and strength, the force of the blow sent him stumbling backward, his feet leaving deep gouges in the polished wooden floor as he struggled to maintain his balance.
Naruto executed a graceful backflip, landing with catlike agility several feet away from the reeling goliath. He settled into an open palm stance, his body taut and ready for the next exchange. A fleeting frown crossed his features as a thought passed through his mind 'Sorry, Pike. Can't really afford to hold back here.'
The blonde knew all too well the raw power that Grog possessed. Even in this mind-controlled state, the goliath was a force to be reckoned with. Naruto's eyes narrowed, his muscles tensed, ready to react to the slightest movement. The air in the room crackled with tension, a palpable energy that seemed to build with each passing second.
Grog, his eyes still glinting with that eerie silver sheen, stomped towards Naruto with the unstoppable force of an avalanche. The floorboards creaked and groaned under each thunderous step, threatening to give way beneath the goliath's immense weight. As he closed the distance, Grog wound up his right arm, muscles bulging beneath his grey skin, preparing to unleash a devastating haymaker.
Naruto, reading the telegraphed move, made a split-second decision. With the fluid grace of a dancer, he stepped inside Grog's guard, just as the wild punch whistled past his ear. In that same heartbeat, Naruto unleashed a vicious uppercut, his fist connecting with Grog's jaw with a sickening crack that echoed through the room.
Time seemed to slow as Grog's head snapped back, a single tooth flying from his mouth in a spray of crimson. The tooth arced through the air, leaving a trail of blood droplets in its wake before clattering to the floor in a far corner of the room.
For a moment, the two stood frozen in tableau - Naruto's fist still raised, Grog's head tilted back at an unnatural angle. The silence was deafening, broken only by the soft patter of blood dripping from Grog's split lip.
Slowly, agonisingly, Grog's head lowered, and Naruto's eyes widened in disbelief. Instead of pain or anger, a possessed smirk spread across the goliath's bloodied face. It was a grin that spoke of primal joy, of a beast revelling in the thrill of combat.
"That's not fair," Naruto whispered, his voice a mix of awe and trepidation. He watched as veins bulged beneath Grog's grey skin, muscles swelling and twitching with barely contained power. The silver in Grog's eyes seemed to pulse, a testament to the dark magic fuelling his enhanced rage.
The goliath stomped forward, each step shaking the floor beneath them. Grog came in swinging, his massive fists cutting through the air with deadly intent. Naruto, his blue eyes sharp with focus, slapped the first punch away, the impact sending shockwaves up his arm. He sidestepped the next, feeling the rush of displaced air tousle his golden locks as Grog's fist whistled past his face.
Seizing the opening, Naruto pivoted on his right foot, his left leg whipping out in a low kick. His heel connected with Grog's knee with a resounding thud. Though the strike didn't fell the behemoth, it disrupted his rhythm, causing him to buckle slightly.
"Guraagh!" Grog's roar reverberated through the room, a primal sound of rage and pain. The goliath lashed out with a backhand, the movement blurring with inhuman speed.
Naruto, relying on his smaller stature and lightning-fast reflexes, ducked beneath the wild swing. In a display of acrobatic prowess, he reached up, fingers wrapping around Grog's thick wrist as it passed overhead. Using the goliath's own momentum, Naruto swung himself upward, maintaining his grip on Grog's arm.
At the apex of his swing, suspended upside-down and face-to-face with his mind-controlled friend, Naruto's eyes flashed with determination. "Maybe this will wake you up," he grunted, unleashing a spinning roundhouse kick that connected solidly with Grog's neck.
The impact echoed through the room, but Naruto wasn't finished. Reversing his momentum in a feat of aerial mastery, he unleashed a technique homed in the hidden village of Konoha. "Leaf Hurricane!" he shouted, his body becoming a whirlwind of motion.
As he spun, Naruto's innate wind nature responded to his will. The air itself seemed to coalesce around his legs, amplifying the force of his kicks. The Leaf Hurricane connected with devastating effect, the wind-enhanced blows driving Grog to one knee.
Landing in a defensive crouch, Naruto eyed the downed barbarian warily. "Grog? Buddy?" he called out, concern evident in his voice. A memory of Pike flashed through his mind, and he tried a gentler approach. "The sun's getting real low, big guy."
A low, menacing growl was his only response. Naruto's eyes widened as he noticed the subtle changes in Grog's physique. 'Did he get even bigger?' he thought, a flicker of apprehension crossing his features.
Suddenly, Professor Anders' voice cut through the chaos. "Don't move," he commanded, his words laced with insidious power.
Naruto's body went rigid, his muscles locking in place against his will. His eyes, usually a clear blue, began to flicker - silver, blue, red - as he fought against the magical compulsion. His entire frame shook with the effort of resisting, sweat beading on his brow as he struggled against the silver-tongued instruction.
Due to the interference Naruto couldn't avoid Grog's massive arms as they shot out. With a roar that shook dust from the rafters, the goliath dove forward, tackling Naruto with the force of a battering ram. The impact drove the air from Naruto's lungs as they crashed to the floor, the wooden boards splintering beneath them.
Grog's enormous frame pinned Naruto down, the goliath's hot, blood-tinged breath washing over the blonde's face. As they grappled on the ground, Naruto realised with growing concern that this fight was far from over. The mind-controlled Grog, empowered by dark magic and his own innate rage, was proving to be a formidable opponent indeed.
In the midst of their frenzied grappling, Naruto managed to trap one of Grog's massive arms, deftly manoeuvring the half-giant into a triangle chokehold. The blonde's legs locked around Grog's neck and shoulder, muscles straining against the goliath's inhuman strength.
"Go to sleep," Naruto whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of their laboured breathing. He could feel the rage building in Grog, like a volcano on the verge of eruption. The air around them seemed to thicken with tension, the very floorboards creaking under the weight of their struggle.
For a moment, it seemed Naruto had the upper hand. But Grog's eyes, still glinting with that eerie silver sheen, flashed with primal fury. With a roar that shook dust from the rafters, the goliath surged to his feet, Naruto still clinging to him like a determined limpet.
Time seemed to slow as Grog, with one arm free, reached back and grabbed a fistful of Naruto's shirt. The blonde's eyes widened in realization, but it was too late. With a feat of strength that defied belief, Grog lifted Naruto overhead, the blonde's grip finally breaking.
"GROG STRONGEST!" the goliath bellowed as he brought Naruto down in a devastating one-armed power bomb.
The impact was catastrophic. Naruto's body slammed into the floor with such force that the wooden boards splintered and cratered beneath him. A sickening crash echoed through the room, followed by the ominous crack of what could have been ribs or floorboards – or both. The blonde's grip on Grog's neck was forcibly released, his body going limp for a terrifying moment.
But Grog wasn't finished. Before Naruto could even gasp for the breath that had been violently expelled from his lungs, the goliath followed up with a left hook that seemed to carry the weight of a battering ram.
Powered by Grog's inhuman strength and fuelled by whatever dark magic controlled him, the punch connected with Naruto's skull. The impact was thunderous, sending visible shockwaves rippling through the blonde's body. The sound of the collision was like a clap of thunder in the enclosed space of the room.
For a moment, time seemed to stretch into eternity. Naruto's head snapped to the side, a spray of blood and saliva arcing through the air. His vision blurred, the room spinning in a dizzying kaleidoscope of pain and disorientation. The back of his skull bounced off the already damaged floorboards, sending another wave of agony through his battered body.
Grog swung once more but for Naruto instinct took over as he kipped up slightly as he kicked up towards the goliath's bicep preventing the punches complete motion, before Naruto's sole of his boot connected with the goliath back off of him, creating breathing room.
As Naruto lay there catching his breath back, his vision swimming and ears ringing he heard a simple click before.
KRA-KOOM!
The deafening report of Percy's pepperbox shattered the momentary silence. The acrid smell of gunpowder filled the air, mingling with the ozone from Naruto's earlier lightning display. The bullet, imbued with Percy's rage and precision, tore through the air.
Several metallic pings echoed through the room as the bullet ricocheted off various surfaces, its trajectory a deadly dance of angles and velocity. Each ricochet seemed to build the tension, a deadly game of chance determining its final destination.
Professor Anders, his face contorted in a mixture of shock and dawning horror, began to scream. The sound, high and reedy, had barely begun to form when it was abruptly cut short.
The bullet found its mark with devastating accuracy. It tore through Anders' lower jaw, separating it from his face in a gruesome display of marksmanship. What was once a smug visage becoming a bloody ruin in an instant. The professor's infamous silver tongue, the source of so much manipulation and pain, fell to the floor. It landed with a wet thud, a burnt and mangled mess from the heat of Percy's enchanted shot.
Blood sprayed in an arc, painting the nearby walls and floor in a macabre Jackson Pollock. Anders' body remained upright for a heartbeat, swaying slightly, before collapsing in a heap. The room fell into a stunned silence, broken only by the soft patter of blood dripping onto the floor and the ragged breathing of the combatants.
Percy stood, his pepperbox still smoking, a mixture of satisfaction and horror etched across his features. The silver glint faded from his companions' eyes as Anders' control over them was severed along with his jaw.
Naruto, still dazed from Grog's punch, pushed himself up onto his elbows, blinking away the fog of concussion. His eyes widened as they took in the grisly scene before him, the professor stood there his lower jaw mangled and left hanging off his face.
The moment Professor Anders' silver tongue hit the floor the ethereal glow faded from the eyes of Vox Machina. It was as if a veil had been lifted, clarity rushing back in a disorienting wave.
Grog, still looming over Naruto, blinked in confusion. The rage that had fuelled him moments ago dissipated, leaving him bewildered. "Naruto?" he questioned, his voice a mixture of concern and confusion as he looked down at the prone blonde.
Naruto, his head still ringing from the goliath's devastating punch, managed a weak smirk. "Oh, you're back. That's great," he quipped, his voice strained. "I'm just going to nap my concussion away, big guy." With that, he let his head fall back to the floor, closing his eyes against the spinning room.
The echoes. Pinning the others faded from existence peacefully allowing the others to get up and hunt after the silver tongue wriggling away..
Meanwhile, Percy's demeanour had shifted dramatically. Gone was the hesitation and conflict; in its place, a cold, focused rage took hold. He donned his mask with deliberate slowness, the action seeming to complete his transformation. As he stalked towards the gurgling, choking form of Professor Anders, tendrils of smoke and black powder seemed to materialise with each step, swirling around him in an ominous dance.
With surprising strength born of fury, Percy grabbed Anders by the collar, yanking him up and pinning him against the large window. The glass creaked ominously under the pressure. "We trusted you!" Percy's voice was low, dangerous, each word dripping with betrayal and barely contained violence. "You were our teacher. We would have done anything you asked of us."
The barrel of the List, still warm from its recent discharge, found its way to the exposed roof of Anders' ruined mouth. The professor's eyes widened in terror, blood bubbling from his throat as he tried to form words that would never come. "And you betrayed us when we needed you most," Percy continued, his finger tightening on the trigger.
The name "Professor Anders" burned brightly on the barrel that was primed to fire next, a testament to Percy's meticulous planning of his revenge.
"Yours is the face I saw when murder entered my heart," Percy whispered, his voice carrying a near demonic finality that sent chills through the room.
"Guys, the smoke?" Keyleth's worried voice cut through the tension. The others had begun to notice as well. The unnatural tendrils of darkness curling around Percy, a physical manifestation of the darkness that had taken root in his soul, but her words came too late.
Another deafening shot rang out, shattering the window and silencing Anders forever. The professor's body jerked once before going limp, slumping against the broken glass as Percy released his grip.
The room fell into a stunned silence, broken only by the tinkling of falling glass shards and the soft thud of Anders' body hitting the floor. The acrid smell of gunpowder mixed with the metallic tang of blood, creating a potent reminder of the violence that had just unfolded.
Percy stood motionless, the List still smoking in his hand, as the reality of what he'd done began to settle over the room. The shadows around him seemed to pulse, growing darker and more substantial with each passing moment.
"Percy?" a voice Naruto most of Vox Machina did not recognise causing all to turn.
'Oh, it's just unconscious girl cool." Naruto muttered before returning to his nap and Percy strode on by him towards the woman.
"Cassandra!" Percy said as he raced over to the once thought deceased.
In the depths of the temple, Pike knelt before the altar of the Everlight, her small form dwarfed by the towering stone edifice. The air around her grew thick and heavy, as if the very darkness itself was pressing in on her. Shadows crept along the walls like living tendrils, extinguishing candles one by one, their dying flames hissing in protest. The faint glimmers of hope that had guided her here were swallowed by an encroaching void.
Pike's voice, usually strong and resolute, now quavered like a fragile leaf in a storm. "Everlight, hear me... please," she pleaded, her words seeming to dissolve into the oppressive silence. The void threatened to consume her, its emptiness a stark contrast to the faith that had always filled her heart.
As the shadows deepened, Pike felt a crushing weight on her chest, each breath a laborious struggle. The darkness was no longer just around her; it seeped into her very being, filling her lungs with its inky essence, clouding her thoughts with doubt and fear. She could feel herself slipping, drowning in an ocean of absolute nothingness.
"I... I can't..." Pike gasped, her fingers clawing desperately at the cold stone floor, leaving faint scratches as if trying to anchor herself to reality. The light of her faith, always a beacon in the darkest times, flickered dangerously low, a dying ember in a sea of shadows. "I won't go!" she cried, her voice a mixture of defiance and terror as she struggled against the darkness trying to claim her. "Not without an answer!"
Just as all seemed lost, as Pike's consciousness teetered on the brink of oblivion, a pinprick of light appeared. Tiny at first, barely visible in the overwhelming darkness, it pulsed with a faint but steady rhythm, like a distant heartbeat. The light expanded, warm and golden, pushing back the shadows with increasing intensity. It was as if the sun itself had decided to rise within the confines of the temple.
Suddenly, a brilliant celestial orb burst into existence above Pike, its radiance so powerful it seemed to shatter the darkness like fragile glass. The warmth of its rays caressed Pike's face, breathing life back into her trembling form. She felt the light seeping into her pores, chasing away the cold grip of despair that had nearly claimed her.
From within this celestial light, a figure emerged, its form coalescing from pure radiance. Sarenrae, the Everlight herself, descended towards Pike. The goddess's presence was overwhelming, a perfect blend of nurturing warmth and awe-inspiring power. Her golden hair flowed like liquid sunlight, each strand seeming to contain the essence of a star. Her eyes, deep pools of wisdom, held the knowledge of eons within their gaze.
The goddess extended her hand, radiant and inviting. Pike reached out, her small fingers enveloped in Sarenrae's warm grasp. With gentle but irresistible force, the Everlight pulled Pike up and out of the lingering shadows. As Pike rose, she felt the darkness fall away like a discarded cloak, disintegrating into motes of nothingness. Light suffused her being, chasing away the last vestiges of despair and doubt. She stood straighter, her eyes shining with renewed purpose and the reflected glory of her patron deity.
"You heard me?" Pike spoke in awe, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you, I was trying so hard to find you." She shielded her eyes from the Everlight's power, the intensity almost too much to bear. "Is that really you?" she questioned, a part of her still fearing this might be some cruel illusion.
"Speak, child. Who are you?" An ancient, powerful voice echoed throughout the ethereal plain, each word resonating with the weight of divine authority.
"I-I'm lost," Pike stuttered out, feeling small and insignificant in the presence of such celestial might. "I try to live up to your standards, to be a steward of your faith but I… I failed." The halfling took a shaky breath, her voice gaining strength as she continued, "I need to find a way back toward your light."
"Lies will not lead you back." The words cut through Pike like a blade of pure truth.
"I am not lying?!" Pike protested, her voice rising with a mixture of indignation and fear.
The power of Sarenrae flared angrily, the air around them crackling with divine energy. Pike began to burn, wreathed in flames that didn't consume her flesh but seemed to reach deep into her soul.
"The flames shall burn away your falsehoods," Sarenrae intoned, her voice both terrible and beautiful.
Pike's mind raced, panic rising within her. "I'm not lying, I swear! I just want to live up to your image and understand that vision."
"Not lying to me, little one." Sarenrae's form flashed and flickered, causing Pike to close her eyes against the blinding light. As the radiance dimmed, Pike opened her eyes to find a flame elemental version of herself standing in Sarenrae's place. The sight was both terrifying and mesmerizing. "To yourself," the elemental Pike finished, its voice a mixture of Pike's own and Sarenrae's divine timbre.
Pike's shoulders slumped as the weight of realization settled upon her. "The truth is I left the righteous path," she began steadily, each word feeling like a confession long overdue. "I was drawn to depravity and violence. I have felt lust, I have embraced my greed, burned the world around me with wrath and suffered pride." Pike paused, gathering her courage to look her goddess in the eyes. "When I'm with my friends and we-we mix it up. We drink, fight and curse and I love it. But I know it's wrong."
"Why do you think it's wrong?" Sarenrae's voice was gentler now, probing rather than accusing.
"Because I put them before you," Pike admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "They're why you cut off the connection to my light."
"Foolish little Trickfoot," Sarenrae's voice held a note of fondness beneath the admonishment.
Pike's eyes widened as understanding dawned. "Unless you didn't sever it. I did."
"Now you speak truth." Sarenrae's form shifted back to her divine visage as she descended to Pike's level. "Your friends hold your passion. Your temple shares your faith."
"Then I have to choose?" Pike asked, her voice tinged with sorrow at the thought.
"We do not choose. We simply walk down a path." Sarenrae's words were filled with ancient wisdom. With a wave of her hand and a flash of light, an image of Vox Machina standing by Pike's side materialised. "Any path can be a holy one." Another wave conjured an image of Pike with her sisters who serve under the Everlight. "So long as one walks it with truth."
Sarenrae raised a hand to the halfling cleric, her touch warm and comforting. "You can be whomever you want to be in the light, Pike Trickfoot. So, I ask a final time… Who are you?"
The question hung in the air, pregnant with possibility. Pike stood at the crossroads of her destiny, the warmth of Sarenrae's light filling her with strength and clarity. She took a deep breath, ready to embrace her truth and declare her identity to the cosmos.
As the rain subsided, Vox Machina, minus Scanlan, began to search through Anders' residence. The air was thick with tension and the lingering scent of battle.
"Seems the professor had nothing of real value," Vex'ahlia said, her voice tinged with disappointment as she unrolled a peculiar map. "Other than that thing in his mouth, however, we did find this."
Naruto, his keen eyes scanning the room, spotted an unopened bottle of whiskey. With a roguish grin, he swiped it from the shelf. "To be fair, with the number of guards stationed here, they probably cleared this place out," he mused, uncorking the bottle. The smoky aroma of top-shelf whiskey filled his nostrils. "At least they left the good stuff."
Grog, his brow furrowed in confusion, peered at the map. "Oh, right yeah," he began, scratching his head. "Is this one of those connect-the-dot things?"
Keyleth, ever patient, explained, "It's a star chart, Grog. At a specific time and date. Well, that's what the symbols show."
Naruto's eyes narrowed as he studied the chart. "I'm going to guess it's how the constellations over Whitestone will look, and the date is within the next few days, right?"
"It's the Solstice," Keyleth confirmed with a nod.
"That's five days from now," Percy added, his voice distant as memories of past celebrations flooded his mind. "That's the Solstice. We used to celebrate it every five years to honour our bounty and the prosperity of the land."
Naruto's expression darkened. "Well, that gives us a timeline. If we can't stop whatever they're planning in five days, they win no matter what." His gaze flickered between Percy and Cassandra, concern evident in his blue eyes.
"Why would he have this?" Keyleth asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Naruto's brow furrowed in thought. "Clearly, they either forgot or, more likely, it's to throw us off what they're doing." Suddenly, his eyes widened. "Take back what I just said. It's a trap."
"A trap?" Vax questioned, his hand instinctively moving to his daggers.
Naruto elaborated, his voice low and intense. "Look, you clear this place out, set up all those guards even with Scanlan's distraction. You leave behind a star chart that signals a specific time and date for an event coming up. Like that's the one thing forgotten?" He shook his head. "I don't think so. It was left here to allow us to think we have time that we probably don't."
Vex, ever practical, interjected, "We can figure that out later. Right now, we still need to contact Archie and let the resistance know that Cassandra is safe."
A mischievous smirk played across Keyleth's lips. "I might have something for that," she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she made her way outside, carefully stepping over the fallen guards.
As the group followed the druid into the cool night air, Keyleth tapped into her arcane reserves, channelling power through her staff. The winds began to swirl around her, responding to her will. Naruto, attuned to the air himself, felt the currents twist and turn at the Ashari's command.
With graceful, hypnotic movements, Keyleth shaped the very sky above. The clouds spun and parted, forming the de'Rolo crest, illuminated by the full moon and reflecting across the night sky.
Vox Machina stood in awe behind the mage, each member reacting in their own way.
"Kind of terrified," Vex spoke up first, her voice a mix of fear and admiration. "Kind of impressed."
The de'Rolos stood with their jaws dropped, overwhelmed by the sight of their family crest reclaiming the Whitestone sky.
Even Grog looked impressed, his eyes wide as he took in the display of power, even if it wasn't strength related.
'She's amazing,' Vax'ildan thought to himself, his gaze fixed on Keyleth's silhouette against the transformed sky.
Naruto's mind raced with possibilities as he eyed the clouds. "This is good," he said, his voice filled with grim satisfaction. "Force those bastards to react on the back foot for a change." Percy nodded in agreement, a spark of hope igniting in his eyes.
Throughout Whitestone, residents emerged from their homes, drawn by the spectacle above. Whispers grew to a crescendo as more and more people gathered in the streets their eyes fixed on the de'Rolo crest shimmering in the night sky.
In the castle, Lady Delilah stormed inside, her face contorted with rage as she beheld the crest.
Lord Briarwood and Orochimaru, engaged in a swordsmanship spar, paused as they caught sight of the transformed clouds through the large castle window.
"Oh, that can't be good," Sylas muttered, sensing his wife's distress through their bond.
Orochimaru's serpentine eyes narrowed. "I shall find Delilah. You ready the castle forces," he suggested, his voice cold and calculating.
Sylas hesitated, torn between his desire to comfort his wife and the tactical necessity of Orochimaru's plan. Finally, he nodded. "Magic begets magic. As always."
With a silent nod of agreement, Orochimaru and Sylas stalked out of the room, heading in opposite directions. The air in the castle crackled with tension as the Briarwoods and their allies prepared to face this unexpected challenge to their rule.
Down in Delilah's sanctum sanctorum, the air hung heavy with the acrid scent of melted wax and arcane residue. Flickering candlelight cast eerie shadows across the cluttered room, illuminating towering bookshelves and scattered pages of forbidden knowledge. Shards of refined whitestone glinted ominously amidst a forest of bubbling cauldrons, their contents emitting an otherworldly glow.
When Orochimaru entered, his serpentine eyes adjusting to the dim light, he found Delilah kneeling over a fresh corpse. The body lay at the centre of an intricate circle etched with glowing residuum. "My Lady, I'm here to assist," the snake offered, his silky voice barely masking his eagerness as he stopped at the base of the stairs and offered a deep, theatrical bow.
Delilah's eyes, burning with dark purpose, never left the teal-coloured stone in her hand. "If you're going to help, add your power at the other side of the circle," she commanded, her voice resonating with arcane energy.
Orochimaru nodded, a cruel smile playing on his lips as he glided around the pulsating circle of mana. The air crackled with tension, magical energies swirling invisibly around them.
More footsteps echoed through the chamber as Sylas entered. "Guards have been given their instructions and are preparing for battle," he reported, his gaze shifting between the two magic users. "Delilah, what are you doing?"
"Protecting you," she responded, her focus unwavering. "Amun braun," Lady Briarwood chanted, her voice taking on an otherworldly timbre. The teal stone in her hand began to glow, resonating with her dark soul and amplifying her arcane abilities.
The magic circle flared to life, bathing the room in an eerie green glow. "Dreezala kruum," she continued, her words seeming to twist the very fabric of reality.
Orochimaru, his face a mask of concentration, began to channel his own power. "Kazaam shoukere," he intoned, his voice a sibilant hiss. Corrupted nature chakra, visible as writhing tendrils of sickly amber energy, spilled forth into the circle, intertwining with Delilah's magic.
Blood began to flow from the chosen sacrifice's neck wound, forming intricate patterns within the circle. "Venz-shi-thradi," Delilah continued as the corpse before her withered, its life force draining away. "Dwem rastathek."
"Psycom-vere," Orochimaru added, his eyes glowing with malevolent glee as he tapped into the darkest pits of his soul, pouring corrupting influence into the spell.
Sylas watched, a mixture of awe and unease etched on his face, as the two spellcasters wove their dark tapestry of magic.
Lady Briarwood's eyes rolled back, her body trembling with the effort of channelling such immense power. "Oshem Sutreeporvas!" she cried out, her voice echoing unnaturally through the chamber.
Blood swirled around all three of them, their shadows flickering and twisting grotesquely on the walls. The air itself seemed to warp and bend before an implosion of power sent a shockwave rippling across the astral plane, its reach extending for hundreds of miles and encompassing all of Whitestone.
As the magical energies dissipated, leaving behind a lingering sense of wrongness, Sylas broke the silence. "What did you two do?" he questioned, steadying Delilah as she swayed on her feet.
Orochimaru's cruel laughter filled the room. "You and those half-wits are not the only undead things walking around anymore," he declared, his eyes gleaming with malicious triumph.
"Half-wits?" Sylas asked, confusion evident in his voice.
"He means the nobles you turned into vampires, my dear," Delilah explained, leaning on her husband for support. A wicked smile spread across her face as she continued, "And with my reanimation and Orochimaru's madness enhancements, I believe we have the perfect undead fighting force to keep the resistance and Vox Machina... preoccupied."
The air in the sanctum grew colder as the full implications of their dark ritual became clear. Outside, unbeknownst to the citizens of Whitestone, an unholy army was stirring, crawling their way to freedom, ready to be unleashed upon the unsuspecting world above.
The End
A.N
We back with an action heavy ass chapter
well i think so anyway
guards for vox machina are more like obstacles not really challenging for their level
did we enjoy Grog vs Naruto?
And more on Pikes accidental glimpse of potential future more on that next chapter.
ngl wasn't too sure about the vision stuff but BMW has been living in my head rent free.
Ander's battle in canon show is a bad play for Naruto either he helps them stomp or with his low intelligence get brainwashed and this give me an excuse to tease a Grog Vs Naruto Preview because we going to the crucible at some point in this story.
How are we finding the changes and differences.
Next chapter I think we know whats happening, we getting the band back together again
I need to show some love to Percy, Vax, Pike and Scanlan combat
Thoughts on the latest chapter.
Stay Chilling Y'all