Vanadis Odr

by Slurpy Noodles

The death of his parents broke something in him. A black flame ignited, consuming his soul in unholy vengeance. The darkness within him ran rampant and free, yet there was light that could also be seen. The journey is an arduous one, full of trial and grief, but he will persevere until his goal's complete. It started with the dragon of dread, it will all end with the dragon's head.

4. Chapter 4: Level Up

Hello, everyone! Welcome to chapter 4 of Vanadis Odr! Glad to have you all here, because this chapter will be awesome.

Before we start, however, I do want to make known that I will be changing the way new

Skills and Magic will be added. For new Skills or Spells added into the status sheet, I will be using *. For evolutions in Skills or Spells added into the status sheet, I will be using (). For the development abilities, I will be using ]. This is to make sure you all are aware of the new changes that happen to the character's status. Shout out to Narulemons for the suggestion, who has been on my review page for just about all of my new stories posted.

Thank you so much for following me, I hope I can continue to deliver good fics for you and everyone else at home. Now let us begin with the story.

—

His goddess was angry. He could feel it. Her rage had been manifested in the worst possibleway, and he didn't know why.

Ottar was panicking. No, panicking didn't even come close to describe what he was feeling. Like the world was placed on his shoulders, and all of its rage decided to drum on his head like a metal club.

It was painful. It was so very painful.

And it was terrifying.

'What the hell happened for Lady Freya to react like this?!' he thought worriedly, gasping for breath as he crawled on the floor. The beating Freya gave to him earlier was still affecting him, and he was cursing every moment of it. 'Damnit! Naruto, what did you do?!'

"CAPTAIN!" The voice of Allen screamed through the room as he banged the door open, his eyes wide with fear and panic. "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH GODDESS FREYA?!"

The catman's eyes landed on Ottar's bedridden form, sprawled out on the ground as he attempted to move, and they widened further than they already were. "WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOU?!"

"There's no time for that, take me to Lady Freya immediately!" The urgency in Ottar's tone made sense and Allen wasted no time in doing just that. He picked Ottar up, adjusting him on his back so he could be mobile enough to get them there faster, and took off.

As Allen was running, Ottar looked out the window, witnessing first hand the heavens themselves respond to his goddess's rage, lightning piercing the darkened sky and rain pelting the buildings below. The wind was loud even through the window, the screeching of its speed nearly made his ears bleed. On closer inspection, Ottar could actually see blood coming from his junior's ears.

"Allen, are you ok?" He shouted, hoping that his voice was heard through the sounds of the howling winds. Allen nodded his head. "Yes captain! My pain is merely a small price to pay for the comfort and safety of our goddess!"

"Good! Continue at the pace you're moving right now! We should be making it to her room in a few minutes!"

"Roger that!"

Allen continued his running, not slowing down in the slightest. He could never disrespect Freya's strife like that, not to the one person who was responsible for saving his life. Not to the one who gave him back his life, and guaranteed the safety of his sister. No, he would not ever do something even remotely close to that.

With that thought, Allen amped up his speed. If this were any other situation, Ottar would be impressed with the catman's speed, however he didn't currently have that luxury. As they approached the stairs, they were joined up by Hogni and Hedin.

"Captain! Do you know what's going on?!" Hogni yelled as they ran, barely being able to keep up with the fast level 5. His usual theatrics were long gone, too worried about his goddess to do so. The bedridden captain shook his head. "No! But I have a feeling I know who the cause of it is!"

His voice was scratchy from his screaming, both from the current moment and his previous beatdown, but the others heard it just fine. Hogni and Hedin quickly realized who the captain was talking about, and their teeth grit.

"What do you mean, you know who it is?!" Allen, the only one not in the know, yelled in confusion.

"It was meant to be kept a secret until tomorrow!" Hedin answered for them, swiveling to the left as they reached the top of the stairwell. "But we have a new member in our familia! He's a level 1, but he possesses potential no one could ever fathom!"

His bleeding ears and the increasingly loud wind made it hard to hear, but Allen somehow managed. "A new familia member?! Why the hell is a level 1 in our familia?! Weaklings don't belong here!"

"He's anything but weak, Allen! He was personally recruited by Ottar, and Lady Freya is obsessed with him!"

"The captain recruited him?!"

"Yes! And he managed to kill an infant dragon on his first day in the dungeon! With no help!" Hogni yelled.

"Are you kidding?!"

"That isn't important right now! We're nearing Lady Freya's room!" Ottar interrupted, mustering enough strength to point towards the war goddess's room. "Be ready for anything! We must calm her down!"

"RIGHT!"

The door was busted down in a flash of lightning, the four executives ready to fight for their lives against their enraged goddess. They were disappointed.

"There's… no one in here…" Allen muttered. The wind outside the room was muted, so their ears were free of the terrible noise.

Hedin nodded, eyes narrowing. "But if that's the case… Where is goddess?"

They split up in the room, searching every spot in the room in case the goddess was hiding somewhere. The bedroom was empty, as was the main room and kitchen. No closets held any Freya and the bathroom was still accessible.

As they were searching, Ottar decided to think. 'If Lady Freya's room is empty, then where could she be?' Ottar didn't know why, but he felt like he was forgetting something. Like the answer was right in front of him, but he just couldn't find it.

Hedin walked into the bedroom, cautious steps creaking the floorboards ever so slightly, his eyes in constant vigilance for any abnormalities. There didn't seem to be anything out of place at all. The bed was made, the clothes were in the closets, her makeup was on the dresser, and the ritual needle was laying within its case.

'Wait.' Hedin backtracked to the ritual needle case, and his eyes widened. 'It isn't there! Why isn't the needle there?!'

Allen chose that exact moment to join Hedin, Ottar still slung on his back. Allen looked at Hedin, opening his mouth to say something, but closed it as soon as he saw Hedin's face. Worry was written all over it. The two followed Hedin's line of sight and found themselves looking at the needle case.

The empty needle case. No words were spoken, but there was no need to. Ottar finally realized what he was forgetting.

'Oh no…'

Hogni walked into the room. "She isn't here."

'Oh no…'

"If she isn't here, then where is she? The ritual needle is missing too." Allen said.

'Oh no'

Hedin adopted a thinking pose. "If she isn't here and the ritual needle is gone, then that means…"

'Oh no no no no no NO NO!'

"EVERYONE! GO TO NARUTO'S ROOM NOW!"

Everyone jumped at the urgency in Ottar's room, but only Hedin and Hogni truly understood why their captain was so pale.

"MOVE ALLEN! GET TO THE OTHER ROOM NOW!" Ottar roared as Hedin and Hogni sprinted past a confused Allen, who was too startled to do anything. Ottar's roar snapped him out of it, quickly following the two elves out of the room.

It didn't take more than a few seconds before they reached Naruto's room and immediately they could feel the entire concentration of Freya's anger centered there. It was nearly too much to bear, the full rage of the goddess. They thought they were prepared, that they were ready.

They didn't feel like that anymore.

'This is… insane!' Allen thought to himself, feeling the back of his neck prick up in feral urgency to flee. The amount of bloodlust that the room was exuding was more than anything he had ever experienced before. Not even the dungeon was this bad! 'You're telling me there's a level 1 in there taking on the entire brunt of that?!'

Allen's opinion for Naruto raised quite a few notches.

'I can't breathe. What happened for Goddess to be like this!' Hogni couldn't believe the power his goddess possessed, even as restricted as her powers were. The atmosphere reminded him of the war his kingdom suffered, full of malevolence and blood. It dawned on him that Naruto, an eight year old level 1, was experiencing the full force of this aura.

Hogni felt admiration for his charge.

Hedin grit his teeth tightly, feeling them chip and grind against each other to calm his frantic nerves. Nothing could have prepared him for the full rage Freya harbored. No, he knew this wasn't her full rage, that was reserved for the room that this door protected them from. The room Naruto was in. 'Naruto… just what are you?'

Hedin's fascination for Naruto increased marginally.

Ottar had seen rage similar to this once before, when his former captain was nearly killed during the war against Zeus and Hera. It was weaker, but it was still up there. He knew Naruto was in there, taking on the entire force of it and probably trying to survive. He wouldn't be surprised if Naruto was trembling in fear thanks to this, but the fact that the door wasn't blown open when they got there told Ottar that the blonde kid still had the resolve to face their goddess, something not even Ottar thought he would be able to do. His will was incredibly strong, but even he would have buckled at this point.

Ottar's felt his respect for Naruto reach the apex of its capacity, and then shatter the limit.

Allen gulped loudly, trying to steel himself in place so he wouldn't run away. He knew what needed to be done, but he was still afraid to do so. He felt the weight on his back lighten up and turned to see Ottar struggling to stand. The boaz was still injured, but he had regained enough energy and strength to stand on his own feet.

He nodded at the scared catman, placing his hand on Allen's shoulder as he trembled past him. He looked at the Hogni and Hedin, receiving nods of affirmation from them. They were ready.

Just as Ottar was going to place his hand on the door knob, the oppressive atmosphere vanished. As though it were never there.

"What?" Ottar's mutter was able to be heard by the 3 executives. The wind outside, just like the

malevolent air that had surrounded them, disappeared entirely.

Blinking the sweat away from his eyes, Hedin spoke, feeling just as confused as the rest of them felt. "The energy stopped…"

"Wait, did something happen to Goddess Freya?!" Allen worried that the missing aura was due to Freya being in danger. "We have to get in there quick, captain! Goddess Freya might be in danger."

"No, I don't think so." Only Hogni, surprisingly enough, managed to think rationally about this. "I don't think Goddess Freya is in danger, but let's open the door just in case."

Ottar nodded and did just that, turning the knob and slowly opening the door, peeking his head inside to make sure the danger was clear.

"It's safe, no one is in here." Ottar said, opening the door fully and walking in, prompting the other three to follow. The main room was devoid of any damage, the opposite of what anyone would expect from the center of a horror storm, and there was no sign of life to be seen. The furniture was in pristine shape, no cracks were found on the glass overlooking the city, and the broken weapons Naruto came back with rested in their holsters on the wall.

The only thing out of place was the open door towards their right, the one connecting to the bedroom, and muffled talk made its way to their ears. It was evident to the four that one of them was Freya, but Allen couldn't remember if he ever heard the second voice. Maybe it was his wounded ears, but it didn't seem familiar to him.

Ottar sighed in relief, and felt the inklings of astonishment creep up to him. It was Naruto's voice, there was no mistaking that. It was muffled, but it was there, and that was all that mattered. Once again, Naruto exceeded his expectations by astronomical margins.

As the group of four got closer to the door, the conversation the two were having became clearer, and so too did the reasoning of the goddess's rage.

"-promise I won't leave or talk to her again."

"Good, because I will be very mad if you do. Metis isn't a goddess you want to deal with yet, Naruto. She is far more cunning than you could possibly imagine."

"Ok, if Metis comes up to me, then I'll ignore her."

"See to it that you do. Otherwise, there will be hell to pay."

"Mm."

'So Metis is involved with this huh? That just means things are going to become more complicated here.' Ottar quickly concluded why Freya was in a bad mood, and he couldn't blame her whatsoever. If Metis is involved with Freya now after so many years of inaction, then Ottar knew it could only mean one thing.

Naruto caught Metis's attention, and Metis was vying to steal Naruto from their familia.

"Goddess Freya, is everything all right?" Hedin questioned when he reached the doorway, gazing into the room with concerned eyes. He was silenced when his eyes first landed on the kid in Freya's lap, sitting there with his foxy face, eyes closed and enjoying being petted by

Freya's dainty hands. Light purring sounds escaped his throat all the while Freya massaged his scalp. From the look on Freya's face, it seemed that Naruto's reaction to her petting was making her extremely happy. Hedin couldn't blame her, Naruto's cute expression just screamed "pettable".

"Yes, Hedin. Everything is fine now." Freya said sweetly, eye smiling at the elf while focussing on her petting. "I just came to the discovery of something unpleasant, but it's been resolved for now."

"Amazing to hear goddess. I'm happy you're better. But I have a question." Allen's interjection brought him the attention of everyone but Naruto's. "Who's the pipsqueak in your lap?"

Freya increased her ministrations to keep Naruto distracted from Allen's words, lest he jump and attack the Vana Freya. She was delighted to be rewarded with more purring.

"This is Naruto Uzumaki. He's our newest familia member." Freya said, finally introducing the blonde bundle in her arms to Allen.

Allen looked put off by this, but Ottar came to defend Naruto before Allen could make any scathing remarks. "He is the level 1 we mentioned earlier, Allen."

"Him?! That brat?!"

"Yes, he is. And mind your tone, Allen, he possesses far more potential than you or I could imagine. I will not have you jeopardize it with your words or actions, so shut down any thoughts that would negatively impact Naruto's growth right this instant."

Ottar knew of Allen's tendency to bully those weaker than him and his jealousy over others that caught Freya's attention, but this time he was not going to condone it.

"Fine, I won't do anything, but does he have to be that way with Goddess?"

"Yes he does." This time Freya was the one to speak, but her tone was full of malevolent intent.

"He is the cutest little eight year old in the world and he purrs when I pet his whiskers and head. This is my new therapy, and if you or anyone gets in the way of this then I will destroy them."

"But what abo-"

"You're almost twenty now Allen, you are far less adorable then our little fox here." Hogni said, patting the jealous catman on the shoulder in comfort. "But I understand where you're coming from. He's making me jealous too."

"Indeed, it's our loss this time." Ottar sighed in disappointment, his own boar ears twitching in desire of being pet by the goddess.

All Allen could do was cry a bloody river of tears at the cruel fate presented to him. 'It should've been me! Not him! Why, why must this world be so cruel!'

Ottar took the situation as a chance to intervene, crossing his arms and staring hard at Freya. "I overheard what you and Naruto were talking about. Am I right to assume that Metis is trying to get Naruto into her familia?"

"You would be correct." Freya sighed. "She gave him a grimoire before his dungeon trip today, it's how I found out about her ploy to steal Naruto from me."

Ottar raised an eyebrow. "Oh? He gained access to new magic then, has he? Can I see the status page?"

"Let me remake it. The paper I used earlier got ripped to shreds from my divine aura."

Freya finally stopped her petting and allowed Naruto to return to reality. His eyes snapped wide open, displaying his cerulean eyes full of confusion. "Huh, what?"

A giggle escaped Freya's lips, causing Naruto to look at her in confusion. She didn't say anything, pointing at her four executives. Naruto blushed brightly when he saw them. He never knew he could get this embarrassed, but here he was.

"...This isn't leaving this room, you got that?"

No one would admit it, but all of them collectively felt shivers down their spines. The message got through, and Naruto knew it.

"Naruto dear, can you take your shirt off again? I need to copy your status again for Ottar to see." Freya said.

"Sure." Naruto took his shirt off, waiting for Freya to finish copying his status down onto the paper. When the glow died down, Freya handed the paper for Ottar to see. The bulging of his eyes and the drop of his jaw caused the Hogni, Hedin, and Allen to become curious as well and take a peak.

They followed Ottar soon after.

-Status-

Naruto Namikaze Wallenstein

Level 1

Strength: EX 2000

Endurance: EX 2000

Dexterity: EX 2000

Agility: EX 2000

Magic: X 1659 - X 1701

Magic

Shadow Clones: allows the user to create one or more copies of themselves. The user's mind is evenly divided between themselves and their clones: creating one clone will give it half the user's mind, creating two clones will give each a third of the user's mind and so on. Depending on how much mind the user has and how many clones they make, this rapid depletion of their reserves can be dangerous. Clones can also utilize the magic technique Shadow Clones. Dispelling the clones transfers its knowledge and experience to the original. Excelia gathered by the clones do not count towards transfer.

Erdtree's Protection: Grants greater durability to those casted for a determined amount of time. A minute of time for each drop of mana put to use. The more people this is casted on the more mana used. 1 person is 1 mana point per minute, 2 people are 2 mana points per minute, 3 people are 3 mana points per minute, and so on.

Fireball: Hurls a ball of flames. The greater the size the more mana utilized. Enchanted with death due to the skill *Godslayer's Black Flame, but only if the user wishes.

Magic Enhancement; Fortification and Conjuration: The user possesses mind pathways that flow through the entire body, allowing magic to flow through the body and make it easier to use magic. Fortification enhances the capabilities of the body the more mind is pushed into the muscles and organs. Example being greater physical prowess and greater senses such as sight and touch. Conjuration allows the magic to be expelled at certain points of the body, specifically the hands and feet, granting the user access to greater damage and new magic attacks, as well as making it easier for other spells to be used. No incantations needed.

Skills

Will of Fire: The stronger the will of the wielder, the greater boost in stats will occur. In times of trouble, when all else would fail, a single strike will turn the tides.

Slaughter Demon: Monstrously increases attack power for every kill the user makes. Permanently increases stats by 1 for every 3 kills.

Kyuubi no Yoko: The greatest spirit that descended from the gods. Provides passive greater regeneration, heightened senses, greater durability, and extreme magic capacity to user. When cloaked in the Kyuubi's energy, each effect granted is quintiples in its power, at the expense of being filled with hate. Can be stacked up to 9 times, counted by the number of tails present in the cloak. Each time a tail is added to the cloak, the user will be exposed to more hatred from the Kyuubi. Should the user fall into rage and hatred, they will fall into a berserker state. Berserker status effect shall last until either the target of the user's hatred is dead, the Kyuubi takes over, or the user is knocked unconscious. If the user can conquer the full hatred of the Kyuubi, the skill cloaks the user in gold and increases effects, combat ability and attack power to the maximum. Can only be used by those with spirit blood.

Vanadis Odr: Destined love of the goddess Freya. Grants immunity to all charms of every strength and grants greater excelia count to the *Power, *Endurance, *Agility, and *Magic*. Combat ability permanently and higher battle IQ is increased alongside it, due to Freya also being the goddess of war.

Liaris Freese: Fast growth as long as the user is in love. The strength of the effects corresponds with the level of the user's feelings. As a side effect it makes the user immune to charms.

Great Sage: Favored by nature and excelia, extreme growth is inevitable. Increases excelia count gathered and increases power when actively gathering energy from the surrounding atmosphere. Can only be used by those in tune with the spirits or possess spirit blood.

Avenger: Heavily increases the user's attack power against monsters, massively increases the user's attack power against dragon type monsters. Effect rises based on the user's hate

Godslayer's Black Flames: The flames enchanted by death, capable of burning even divinity itself. Grants all fire spells the enchantment of death, slowly burning through the life and divinity of all that it touches. Can only be put out through spirit magic or the user's will. Effect increases based on user's hate

Balance Breaker: Normal doesn't apply. Limits typically found on the falna are nonexistent. Allows user to possess an infinite number of magics to be used and eliminates the cap of stats that others are bound by.

Dragonslayer: Massive increase in attack power when dealing with dragon type monsters. Effect increases when dealing with dragon types previously dealt with.

Sage of Six Paths: Increases the user's level by 1, keeping all the stats they possess in their level before the increase. Example being a high level 5 going into a high level 6.

Mark of the Sun: Gives user the ability to manipulate all physical matter, ranging from complete annihilation to absolute restoration of a person or object. Can be used to heal others. It is said that when it comes into contact with he who bears the Moon, all shall be sealed away in the eclipse that forms.

Truth Seeker Orb: Grants 6 orbs of nothingness that erase anything it comes in contact with, the exception being the user, those the user chooses not to harm, or those with high enough overall resistance.

Development Ability

-Status-

"What the fuck…" Allen was the first to break the silence, stumbling back with frantic eyestrembling between the eight year old and the paper.

"Impossible…" Hedin muttered. Even though he was aware of Naruto's innate ability to ignorethe standard limits of the falna, even he didn't expect his stats to increase as much as it did.

"Truly, you are remarkable. Your power is as deep as the darkest shadows." Hogni said indelight. The prospect of such power being within their familia made him happy. "Nay, perhaps iteven surpasses it…"

Ottar was the only one silent, his hair shadowing his eyes, preventing anyone from seeing hisexpression. The only tell of his mood was the light shaking and the occasional twitch of hisshoulders. Finally, he laughed.

He laughed loud and hard, harder than he had ever laughed before. Never would he have imagined that the boy he picked up from the forest would reach such heights, but Naruto's power proved him wrong. It brought him joy, that he would be the one to foster such greatness into the world, and to regain the challenging battles he had lost with the eviction of the Zeus and Hera familias.

"HAHAHAHAHA! Boy, your potential never ceases to leave me surprised! Only a level 1 and yet you can rival even low level 3's with just your stats alone, I am blown away once more! At this rate, there's no way you wouldn't be able to kill Goliath tomorrow! HAHAHAHAHA!"

"HE'S GOING TO KILL WHAAAAAT?!" Allen, Hogni, and Hedin yelled in shock

"Ottar, don't just say that out loud! That was supposed to be a super secret mission."

"It's fine, Naruto. It was going to be revealed the day after tomorrow when we'll introducing you to everyone anyway, so there isn't anything that's lost."

"But stiiillll~" Naruto whined, much to the amusement of Freya. His squinty eyes shedding their large tear drops brought a much needed comedic relief after the horror storm that had just occurred.

—

"Are you ready, Naruto? Today is your greatest trial yet." Ottar said, walking with Naruto towards the Tower of Babel, on their way to pick up his new weapons and armor. Naruto walked beside him, hands behind his head and already wearing his all black cloth armor, something they decided to pick up from the Demeter Familia. It was a whim decision on Naruto's part, but Ottar found merit in that idea and took him. And of course, the hood came with it.

"Duh, I've been ready for this since yesterday." Naruto raised an eyebrow at Ottar, a silent implication of 'are you serious?' hitting the boaz like a sledgehammer. Naruto got a fist to his skull as a reward for that. "Ow! What was that for, you crappy pig?!"

"For being a smartass, you idiot child."

"You frickin…"

"Quiet down, we're here. Don't cause anymore trouble, or I'll triple your training."

That got Naruto to clamp down instantly. The threat of more training was like a nightmare for the boy and Ottar knew it. Opening the door, the two were once again greeted with a flare of heat, but this time Naruto was prepared. He didn't falter even once as he strode into the deepest parts of the forge, towards the master smith.

"Oh, so yer 'ere? Good, was gettin' real impatient wit ya." Anad said, coming out from the corner full of sweat. "I got yer weapons and armor right 'ere, so don' ya worry bout em."

Removing a cloth that was propped beside him, he revealed Naruto's new equipment. The glinting metal drew Naruto's awe towards it.

It was nothing like he had ever seen! The silver blades that made up the chokuto and daggers seemed to be glowing in the forges' light. Their edges were razor sharp, sharp enough to cut a fly just by it landing on the blade. The sheathes that rested beside them were black in color, with hints of burnt orange line around the opening.

His armor looked a lot similar to his old ones, however the spiked gauntlets he had before held no candle to this one. The spikes on his previous one were there permanently, whereas these ones were retractable. Naruto could see little runes inscribed on the metal that made up the armor, moving along ever so subtly in a set path. The pauldrons protruded from the shoulders ever so slightly, offering greater protection for him. His boots reached shin height, black metal reinforced to allow greater damage to his opponents.

Anad stared at him in approval, taking in the sight of Naruto in his newly acquired gear. "Looks like they all fit ya, kid. How they feelin' on ya?"

"It's amazing," Naruto swung his sword experimentally a few times before putting it back in its sheath. He removed his daggers from his sides and sliced through the air as well, relishing the feeling of the blades crisply cutting the air. "The chokuto is really easy to swing around, and my daggers feel like they're super sharp."

"Well, that's the point of em bein weapons, kiddo. You won' need ta worry bout em breakin' though, yer weapons are extremely mana conductive so it won' it'll become stronger the more mana ya feed em."

"Oooaah~ that's awesome old man! You really know your stuff don't ya?"

"Damn straight, kiddo. I been a blacksmith fer almost 40 years, ain't no ol' two timin punk like you gonna wear me down."

"If that is all then, we'd best be on our way. Naruto needs to defeat the monster rex today and the less time we waste getting to it the better."

"Ah! That's right, I totally forgot about that! Alright, see ya later old man! I'll show ya the loot when we get back!"

Anad chuckled at the rambunctious blonde that sprinted out of his doorway. "Ya, ya better. I'll make ya some extra good gear if ya do, brat!"

—

Blood flew through the air as the minotaur head blew apart, a black gauntlet replacing it. Monsters of every kind were piling up on them, but they were of no trouble for Naruto, ducking and weaving through the horde like it was an everyday occurrence for him.

He rammed his shoulder into another minotaur, causing it to stumble from the unexpected force of the tackle. It kicked its leg at Naruto only for him to dodge it, taking the leg with a swing of his blade. Pain couldn't even register into its brain before it exploded into dust.

"Fireball." A large ball of black flames was sent hurtling towards the other group of monsters running towards him, exploding upon contact and reducing them to ashes within an instant. He ducked beneath a wild chomp of a hellhound, twisting his blade towards the hellhound and splitting it open before it could even land.

"Man, these guys are like chumps now," Naruto said, leaning back to avoid the jaws of another hellhound and reduced it to dust. He dashed towards a minotaur closing in on him, blocking its swinging arm with his own and headbutt it in the chest. The minotaur bent forward in pain, not noticing the dagger that buried itself through its face until it was too late. The monster exploded into dust. "It's not even a challenge anymore. Oi old man! When are we going to get to the Goliath?!"

Ottar appeared from the shadows behind him, holding a massive bag full of drops and magic crystals. "We're currently on the sixteenth floor, Naruto. We will be there soon."

Naruto nodded, making his way through the hole in the wall on his way towards the seventeenth floor, twirling his daggers absentmindedly. He didn't even look when he slammed his dagger through the skull of an approaching ligerfang, the handle just barely protruding from the inside of its mouth as it exploded into black dust. "Then let's get a move on, old man. I wanna fight Goliath right now, and I ain't wastin' no more of my time on these chumps."

"With your consistent use of your magic enhancement spell and the slain monsters here, I'm quite sure you're already at the max for the magic stat as well. Very well, let us depart to Goliath. Remember, I will not provide assistance in the slightest amount. Even if you were to die, I will not move from my spot. This test is yours, and yours alone. No intervention shall occur from me or any other."

"Ya, ya, I got it. No need to tell me that, old man. I won't need your help at all, just you watch. I said it before and I'll say it again. I'm killing that thing on my own, so just sit back and look pretty while I do my thing."

"So long as you understand."

As they walked, Ottar's mind wandered. To him, Naruto was an anomaly. His growth, his mannerism, his potential, his mindset, everything about him was just far too abnormal for him to just brush off. It was like watching the growth of something beyond any human's comprehension. Call him paranoid, but there was something to his charge that grated his instincts wrong.

Something that, if his memory and recollection hadn't failed him, Freya saw. That Freya feared. That terrified him, beyond what measly words could possibly describe.

He watched as the boy slaughtered his way to the monster rex's location with an ease and comfort no child should possibly have. His fluidity, his movements, they were too natural for even the most experienced killer. No amount of training or exposure could possibly allow a literal child to kill with such laughable ease.

It made him proud that Naruto had these skills, because they would be absolutely necessary when in the dungeon. It might have scared him, but he had faith Naruto wouldn't fall into the deep end.

He stopped his train of thought very quickly. He could quickly see the approaching entryway towards the crystal room that held Goliath, and steeled himself. No matter what, he wasn't going to interfere with Naruto's test. Even if the boy's life was at risk, he wouldn't do anything.

Not even if he died. A fate Ottar prayed wouldn't happen. And so, he would watch. Whether Naruto's destiny was to live in glory, or die in duty.

Naruto, unaware of Ottar's thoughts, walked into the crystal room and looked around with awe. The rainbow colored crystals reflected all around him, bringing light into the cave that should have otherwise been dark. It was a beautiful sight to see.

Towards his right, he noticed the Goliath monster, still in slumber and not aware of his presence. It worked towards his favor, since it gave him time to buff himself.

"Erdtree's Protection" He said, slamming his hand to his chest as golden light erupted from him, fortifying his durability even further. Golden light erupted from him as he went all out once more, gathering the natural energy around him and increasing his level. It was at this moment Goliath took notice of him, and burst out of its crystal cage with a roar.

Naruto didn't let it deter him, red miasma encompassing him, completely cloaking him in its shroud. One tail protruded from the back where his tailbone would be, and his power increased once more.

An excited grin formed on Naruto's face. "Let's go."

*BOOM*

The ground shook as the Goliath's fist slammed into the ground where Naruto was, the tremor could be felt all the way up to the tenth floor. A streak of red trailed down its extended arm. Wait, not down. Up!

Sword in hand, Naruto hacked and slashed his way to the Goliath's head, leaving cuts and streaks of blood trailing behind him. He carved through the arm ever so steadily, the blade having no effort in cutting through the Goliath's tough skin.

Naruto dragged his sword through the arm as he ran, causing monster blood to gush everywhere around him. Roaring in pain, it swung its arm wildly, launching Naruto away from its arm and onto the crystals.

"Gkh!" Blood coughed up from his mouth as his back slammed into the crystal, shards and dust bursting around him. His vision was blurry, but he couldn't let it bother him as he dodged just in time to avoid a fist slamming where he once was. A slight stab could be felt in his ribs, however he paid it no mind. Already he could feel the broken rib mend itself.

Naruto leapt once again, creating lacerations on the Goliath's legs while making his way up, leaping from leg to leg to avoid getting hit. As he made his way to the knee, the giant's fist came to intercept him. There was little panic within Naruto, not allowing his focus to waver as he parried the attack.

He was launched away from his perch on the knee, but recovered in time to land on his feet and regroup himself. He didn't allow himself the slightest bit of rest, and launched himself back at the beast.

The Goliath took notice of this, stomping its bare feet on the ground in an attempt to crush the blonde boy. Dust piled up in the air with every stomp, the only thing visible being the streak of red. A ball of black flames burst through the cloud, hitting the Goliath straight in the crotch and exploding violently.

The force of the explosion was massive, shaking the entire cave and beyond. No sound could be comparable to the roar of agony that escaped Goliath's maw as it was launched into the air, black flames receding very slowly. It continued to burn the Goliath and weaken it even further, its death inducing properties slowly draining the life out of the monster rex. Naruto leapt back to gain distance and regroup himself, watching the goliath slam into the ground. The flames had receded by then, and Naruto could clearly see the wounds he gave the Goliath slowly heal itself.

'So it has regeneration too…' Naruto's narrowed eyes honed on the steaming wound, assessing the speed and potency of its healing. 'It isn't healing all too fast though, so I'll be able to kill it if I'm quick enough. But how do I go about killing it?'

Goliath roared in anger, charging forward like a bull in a red haze, its focus entirely set on slaughtering Naruto. His blade glinted in the crystal cave as Naruto jumped high in order to avoid being flattened by a palm. The ground where he had been standing moments before cracked and splintered under the force of the blow, sending shards of stone flying in all directions.

'Let's see if this'll work' Naruto thought to himself, coating his chokuto in his black flames with a well controlled Fireball. He landed on the back of the palm and stabbed his chokuto into it, causing the black flames shrouding the blade to erupt magnificently, burning the Goliath from within its new wound. He could clearly see the black flames spread beneath the skin of the Goliath as it burned through its muscle

'Sweet!' Naruto grinned at the burning flames. He didn't get to rejoice in his little victory for long, however, because a giant shadow loomed over him. There was no time for him to think as Naruto was forced to leap away from his perch, just in time to escape another attempt from the Goliath. The force of the blow, however, created a shockwave that sent Naruto careening through the floor. 'Uh o-!'

The collision with the ground wasn't pleasant in the slightest, the stone floor scraping and tearing Naruto's skin and muscles with a vengeance as he tumbled and crashed across it.

Multiple boulders were destroyed by him crashing through it, and it was only with ironclad will and his fortifications that Naruto hadn't fallen unconscious.

His regeneration worked overtime as Naruto made his way to his feet, his eyes staying trained on the Goliath. He could see the monster rex writhing in pain, flailing its burning hand around in an attempt to extinguish the flames. Naruto channeled his Mind into his eyes to enhance his eyesight. He focused on the giant's hand, and noticed that the wounds he gave Goliath earlier were healing slower.

Unfortunately, his chokuto was also there, buried deep within the wound. 'Looks like my sword is weakening its regeneration,' Naruto observed. A plan was slowly forming in his head, one that would The Goliath turned its enraged eyes towards Naruto, violent murder gleaming in its balefully red eyes.

"Shadow Clones!" Naruto cried out. In a puff of smoke, three identical copies of Naruto appeared beside him. The Goliath paused, momentarily confused by the sudden multiplication of its prey. Its red eyes darted from one Naruto to another, trying to discern which was the real one. Naruto seized this opportunity, directing his clones to attack with a nod. Summoning their Truth Seeker Orbs They charged forward, Truth Seeker Orbs formed into blades in their hands, aiming for the monster's legs in hopes of weakening it further.

But the Goliath was far from helpless. With a sweep of its enormous arm, it dispelled two of the clones instantly. They vanished in puffs of smoke, leaving no trace behind. The third clone managed to slash at the creature's ankle, but the attack seemed to do little more than annoy the beast. The Goliath's tough hide had barely been scratched by the transformed Truth Seeker Orb. Naruto gritted his teeth, frustration building inside him. His clones' attack had barely fazed the monster. 'Of course it's ankles are the toughest part of it! My clones are helpless against durability like that!'

He needed a new strategy, and fast.

The Goliath's muscles began to expand rapidly, coiling like a spring ready to be launched. The air around it seemed to distort, like a vacuum absorbing the air around it. Naruto could feel the hairs on his arms standing on end. He sensed the buildup of power and realized with growing dread that the monster was preparing for a devastating attack.

Just as the Goliath unleashed its devastating punch, Naruto dove behind a large boulder. He felt the heat of the attack as it passed overhead, the strength of a thousand winds passing through the air above him. Mounds of crystals and stones, small and large alike, danced across the ground, leaving craters and indentation marks on the stone floor.

"This is bad," Naruto muttered to himself, peeking out from behind his cover. His mind raced, trying to come up with a plan. "Gotta find a way to stop it from doing that again."

As he wracked his brain for ideas, the Goliath approached his hiding spot, its heavy footsteps growing louder with each passing second. The ground trembled beneath Naruto's feet, and he could hear the monster's heavy breathing getting closer. He prepared himself for what was about to come.

With a thunderous roar, the Goliath smashed the boulder to pieces, leaving Naruto exposed. Chunks of rock rained down around him, and he had to shield his eyes from the dust and debris, yet he didn't let that stop him from jumping back and escaping immediate danger. His cross shaped pupils, surrounded by burning orange, glared death into the red eyes of the Goliath.

Thinking quickly, Naruto created another shadow clone. As the clone darted to the left, throwing fireball after fireball at the Goliath and drawing its attention, the real Naruto scrambled up the cavern wall. He focused his energy into his feet, improvising a new technique in the heat of the moment just to survive, and ran vertically on the wall. By channeling his power this way, Naruto could stick to surfaces, allowing him to climb the uneven dungeon walls without the use of his hands.

Naruto tensed his hands like they were claws and gathered his magic to it. Two black orbs of fire formed, throwing them at the Goliath's head. "Fireball!"

The attack struck, the flames spread quickly across the Goliath's head as it sucked the life out of it once more. Again, the familiar roar of pain escaped its lips, blood leaking slightly from the side of its mouth. The clone continuing its barrage didn't help in the slightest.

Naruto, seeing the effectiveness of his clone distracting the injured giant, created more to help. A large puff of smoke appeared behind him, revealing fifty more clones when it disappeared.

"Go. Help the other clone distract Goliath." Naruto said, crossing his arms as he patiently watched his clones go about their task. He was content to observe from above them.

Down below him, the Goliath's head was still burning, but most of the flames had been gone, revealing massive burn wounds to its scalp. 'Pft, it's bald now'

The clones got to work, dashing and moving from side to side in erratic fashion as they bombarded the Goliath with fireballs and blades. The monster rex couldn't keep up with the number, its wounds weakening it enough for the clones to finally begin dealing damage to it. It noticed its wounds regenerating slower, the strength it once boasted now dwindled by large fractions, and its durability weakening even more so.

A deep gash opened in its achilles heel, causing it to fall to its knees. Overwhelmed, Goliath was left at the mercy of the shadow clones.

From his elevated position, Naruto could see the regenerating wounds more clearly. It steamed with an eerie hiss, yet seemed to be slower than it had been minutes ago. It was the same wound that had been hit with his Fireball full on, and it healed much slower than the other ones around it. Naruto's eyes lit up. He finally connected the dots.

"That's it!" Naruto exclaimed, a plan forming in his mind. "If I can damage it with my fire enough times, maybe I can completely nullify its regeneration long enough to kill it!"

But doing so would be no easy feat. The Goliath, weakened as it was, was still a monster rex of a higher level. It was bound to notice his attempt at weakening it, and would most definitely do something that could jeopardize his plan.

The trick? To weaken and distract it without break, then kill it in one decisive blow. It would be tricky, but it could be done. There was only one problem… there was only going to be one opportunity for this. If it failed, then he would fail. He could feel his stamina depleting, and his mind running dry.

Downing a mind potion he retrieved from his pouch, Naruto steeled himself. Seeing the Goliath's midsection open, Naruto bent his knees and blasted off the ceiling, straight into the Goliath's gut. His legs, when he connected, sank into the weakened hide, and not a second later the Goliath launched violently towards the other side of the cave.

"GROOAAAAAAAGGGHHH!" Its groan shook the cave, the depths of its agony could be heard in the intensity of its voice. Pieces of crystals and stalactites detached from the roof and slammed into the ground, piercing some unfortunate clones who were in the way. All that was left to remember them by was their memories and the smoke they left behind.

Luckily, most of Naruto's clones were still alive and kicking. They wasted no time in swarming the downed goliath, making full use of the opportunity their creator gave them.

"ORAAA!"

"GET IT!"

"FOR THE EMPEROR!"

"Dude what?"

"It sounded cool…"

"Fair enough… FOR THE EMPEROR!"

"FOR THE EMPEROR!"

Naruto slapped his forehead at the stupidity of his clones. "Seriously…?"

He ignored the feeling within him that told him that yes, that did sound very very cool.

The Goliath roared in frustration, swinging its massive arms wildly as it tried to catch the nimble clones. Its movements were powerful but uncoordinated, creating openings in its defense. Openings that the clones exploited gleefully, gashes and wounds galore forming in the Goliath's sides and abdomen.

Using the distraction his clones gave him, Naruto sprinted up the wall, leaping off of it when he felt he was high enough and poised his daggers for Goliath's head. Time seemed to slow as he soared through the air, flaming daggers in hand, ready to strike at the vulnerable skull. He could feel his heart pounding, adrenaline coursing through his veins as he approached his target.

'This is it! You're dead!'.

But the Goliath was faster than Naruto anticipated. Just as he was about to pierce its skull, the monster whipped its arm, its massive hand catching Naruto in mid-air. The wind generated from the motion caused all the clones to pop. The young adventurer gasped as the breath was squeezed from his lungs, the Goliath's grip tightening around him. Panic set in as Naruto struggled to breathe. He could feel his ribs creaking under the pressure, and black spots danced at the edges of his vision.

"GAH!" Naruto screamed in pain as he felt himself getting crushed. His arms bent in directions it shouldn't have, his bones cracked within him, and his lungs failed to breathe in oxygen. Tears leaked from his eyes as the pain built up, his regeneration just barely keeping him alive. The kyuubi cloak that shrouded him helped mitigate the pressure, with its corrosiveness burning through the skin of the Goliath's palm, but it did little in stopping Goliath from crushing him.

'I can't die like this! There's no way I can die like this!' Naruto thought in desperate agony. He could feel his life slip away from him with each passing second. 'I still have to… save my mom! To be a hero for Aiz! To make Miss Freya and Captain Ottar proud!'

He felt more bones crack, and his screams of pain became louder. 'I still have… to kill… the dragon!'

He began to fight. 'I won't…'

He continued to fight. 'I won't…'

His rage bubbled. 'I won't…'

And he erupted. "I WON'T FUCKING DIE HERE!"

*BOOOOOOOM*

His will, his rage, his strength… was all for naught.

For they he laid, buried in blood, lifeless on the floor.

The Goliath had felt the increasing power growing within Naruto, and acted. The slam to the ground destroyed everything around him, cratering the floor deep enough for even the giant to lay in. Crystals, rocks, and everything else that was once there were obliterated following the crash, and all that was left was the broken body of a child holding hands with death.

'Why…' Naruto coughed blood. He was fortunately not pierced through, but that still didn't change his fate. 'Why did this happen…'

The Goliath's thunderous steps rang like water in Naruto's ears, not even registering the fact that he may be devoured. His vision flickered in and out, the wavering sight of the slowly approaching monster rex barely registering in Naruto's brain. 'I have… to move'

Try as he might, his body couldn't respond. It was far too broken to even twitch.

'Hehe… crap… I can't move…' Tears left Naruto's eyes as he closed them shut. He knew what was going to happen. The fact that Ottar hadn't intervened meant that he was on his own. 'I'm going to die… I don't wanna die…'

'He did warn me earlier that he wouldn't do anything, even if this was going to happen…' Naruto thought to himself, his inner voice growing quieter and quieter. By now, the tremor of each step the Goliath took reached his prone body, causing it to tremble each time. He opened his eyes once more to glare his death in the face. 'I… hate you…'

A giant palm was the last thing he saw.

—

Deep within Naruto's soul, black encompassed all. There was no light to be seen, no semblance of structure or life anywhere near to be seen. Just the black grasp of darkness.

But there was something. Sound. Wind.

Breath.

Vile eyes, black slitted blood moons peering through the darkness.

And the body of a boy, bleeding and broken

It watched all that had happened from within the boy's soul, from the beginning of his fight, all the way to the end of his life.

Hatred and wrath radiated from its presence at the sight of Naruto's shattered body, its bloodlust saturating the void in crimson rage.

But none of it was directed at him. The rage was all directed at the Goliath, who lived beyond the confines of Naruto's soul.

"It was a valiant effort…" Its deep and guttural voice echoed through the void, its tone full of respect. "Your battle was worthy of legends."

An orange paw flickering with power emerged from the darkness and, with an extended claw, pierced Naruto's chest. The claw released orange miasma from its tip, allowing it to seep into his body. The wounds steamed until they closed, the blood returned to their vessel, and the bones realigned itself stronger than ever before.

Naruto's body fully healed, and it strengthened beyond anything it had ever been. A parting gift from the mysterious creature.

"But it is not over yet, Naruto. Your mission is still not complete." The being removed its claw from Naruto's chest, revealing no wound in its place. Its red eyes stared down at the child softly, almost fondly, as though he were precious to it. "There is still much for you to do, and I will not rest until you see it through."

The darkness around them rumbled as these words were said, as though Naruto's very soul agreed with the creature's declaration.

And from behind the creature's eyes, nine tails appeared, illuminating orange light within the darkness they resided in, circling around Naruto's prone body and embracing him.

"So Arise! Arise, my friend! Bring glory to your name, and show everyone the truth of your power! Allow all those around you to witness as you plunge your foes into the deepest depths of Crimson Purgatory! ARISE, AND AWAKEN!"

—

'It's over… He lost.' Pain encompassed Ottar's heart as he watched Naruto lie dead against the wall. He knew that there was a chance of this happening, but to actually witness it was an entirely different thing. 'Damnit, Naruto… Why did you have to lose?'

The light thumping of Goliath's footsteps grasped his attention, his eyes widening at the limping giant slowly approaching Naruto's form. Oh, how desperately he wanted to intervene, how desperately he wanted to go in and save the poor child from death. But he couldn't, he wouldn't do that. To do that would be to spit in the face of Naruto's effort and dignity, to reject and go against the promise they had made to each other prior to entering here.

He couldn't do it, no matter how much he wished he could. A man's promise was a man's promise, and to break that would be the epitome of disrespect. So he watched with a heavy, cracking heart as Naruto's life reached certain doom. He could feel the despair coming from the magic viewing mirror he carried on him, no doubt it originating from Freya who was watching from behind it.

'I pray you a peaceful passage into the afterlife, my boy.' He clenched his teeth tightly, grinding them together violently. His arms were shaking. 'I'm sorry for not doing more.'

*BOOM* *CRASH*

"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHH!" The abominable roar of the Goliath pierced Ottar's ears, along with the crashing sound that happened just before, caused the boaz to turn his head back to the monster rex. When he did, he stood shocked.

The Goliath, once on its feet and making its way to his little brother in all but blood, was now down with a giant stalactite pierced through its abdomen, courtesy of the wall it crashed into. Its roars of agony were louder than anything he'd ever heard before as he watched Goliath's head thrash side to side as it tried to compute the overwhelming pain it was feeling.

"What?..." Ottar couldn't help but feel hope blossom within him as he turned his head to where he knew Naruto was resting. His eyes graced him with something he never thought possible.

Violent orange miasma swarmed where Naruto had once laid, crashing into the very ceiling above them and swarming the area surrounding it. Within it, Naruto stood, leaning so far back that his stomach was facing the crystal roof above him, knees bent and his arms hanging behind him. His wounds could be seen healing at an astronomical rate, far greater than he had seen occur with any dungeon monster, boss or otherwise, in the lower floors. There was nothing to be done about the tears and pieces of his armor, but Ottar had a feeling Naruto wouldn't need it.

"Ahhhh… I can see it… as clear as day~" Naruto's voice was so guttural and destructive Ottar almost couldn't believe it. "The path… to killing the dragon… and all who stand against me."

Naruto's vile aura radiated death and destruction, the Goliath in front of him shaking in fear as it watched the boy it thought dead arise once more. The beam of crystal it was pierced through could no longer be felt as all its brain could register was its imminent death.

"Hehehe~ This feels amazing!" Naruto yelled, his tone as high as he felt. "I've never felt power like this in my life! I feel like I can do anything! NO- EVERYTHING! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA~!"

The boy laughed and laughed, rejoicing in his revival and the absolute power flowing through his veins. His wide, unblinking red eyes were full of joy and elation, the iris and pupils clearer than it had ever been before. Slowly, the orange aura bled away, leaving only black and darkness to surround him.

He never paid attention to the Goliath freeing itself from its position and standing up, too enraptured in his own awakening to even care about it. It felt as though he could feel everything around him, from the heavy breathing of the monster in front of him, Ottar standing by the exit beside him, to even the dungeon walls surrounding him. He could feel it all, and it was exhilarating.

"You," Naruto snapped his neck to gaze at the Goliath, who was trembling more than it had ever done before. His body, which was once aching all over, now felt lighter and stronger than before he even entered the dungeon. Like he was beyond his peak, like he broke through another limit. "I need to thank you…"

Naruto straightened himself forward, but ended up slightly slouched over. He raised his arms in front of him, hands wide open as though they were waiting for something. A pair of daggers zoomed into his grasp not even a second later, and Naruto grinned menacingly. "FOR BEING THE REASON FOR MY NEW AWAKENING!"

The air crackled with energy as Naruto barrelled across the room in a blink, unleashing another devastating attack in the form of black fire. The cavern lit up with an eerie glow, casting long shadows across the uneven terrain as a resounding boom echoed once more. Naruto landed feet first onto the chest of the Goliath, knocking it off its feet as it and sending it flying through the air. His dagger was buried to the hilt inside its chest, and Naruto's grin stretched even larger.

"EXPLOSION!" Naruto yelled at the top of his lungs, his sadistic glee reaching new heights as he was launched off the Goliath and into the direction of the crystal roof. Goliath roared as it was ruthlessly slammed into the ground from the force of the explosion, pain encompassing the entirety of its body. Black flames danced inside the body of the Goliath, circling the muscles and skin yet completely ignoring the crystal within.

Naruto slammed into the roof at the same time, sticking to the ceiling and creating numerous shadow clones. Over a hundred shadow clones could be seen beside him, all wearing the same malicious smile.

No words were spoken as they fell onto the prone Goliath, groaning in misery and pain.

And exploded.

The shadow clones, each and every one of them, blew up on every part of Goliath's surface. It's arms. it's legs. it's chest. it's head. No limb, no area, no piece of Goliath was left untouched. The black flames, ruinous in their potential and horrifying in their purpose, covered the monster rex from head to toe.

The pain was so bad, it couldn't even scream.

Naruto laughed merrily at the sight of his foe's suffering, feeling justified righteousness in repaying the Goliath the pain he had felt previously. At this moment, Naruto couldn't remember any greater joy he had felt before this.

He watched for what felt like hours as the Goliath suffered, burning under his black flames. Naruto idly noted the feeling of his fire's strength, noticing that it was much hotter and stronger than it was just earlier. 'Then that part about hatred increasing its effects is true. Good, that's going to help a lot in the long run.'

He waited for the flames to subside, counting every second that the fire rampaged on the beast. It took five minutes for the flames to subside, and by then the Goliath was nothing more than a burnt husk of its former self. Its regeneration was long gone, and all that it had left was its dilapidated muscles to show.

As the Goliath laid there, prone and vulnerable, Naruto began to think. With the monster as weakened as it was, he felt that he could afford to experiment. His mind was clearer than it had ever been, so he wanted to use this opportunity to its fullest.

"Grrrrghh…" The Goliath groaned miserably as it stirred, lifting itself up to sit upright. It struggled to stand, to Naruto's amusement, constantly stumbling and tripping over itself everytime it attempted to do so. Finally, it succeeded.

"Alright then, guess it's time for me to wrap this up." Naruto said, releasing his hold on the ceiling and plummeting down to the ground. He landed with a loud thud, not even feeling the impact in his legs as he stood to look at the corpse looking Goliath. Its once gray skin was now a burnt black, and its once luscious black hair was gone.

"I've got one more experiment to run, so just stand there like a good boy and wait for your death, ok?" Naruto said, focusing his attention on what he was about to do. The Goliath didn't even have the strength to move anymore, if what he was feeling in the atmosphere was correct, so he could afford to take his attention off the monster rex. "Now, to go about this…"

Naruto raised his palm up to his chest, fingers wide and open as he focused his magic into it. A blue glow encompassed Naruto's hand as he pushed more magic into it. Naruto nodded at the feeling of the magic in his hand, and continued. "Good, I know the feeling for this now. Time for step two."

He slowly began to expel the magic outside his palm, causing a wild tornado of magic to form on his palm. He nodded, narrowing his eyes as he focussed more on the escaping magic, condensing it so it didn't turn into a haphazard mess. Slowly, but surely, the furious magic calmed itself above his palm, condensing itself until it was a controlled tornado in his hands.

Here, Naruto smiled. "Good, good. This is awesome. Now for the final part."

The magic in his hand glowed softly, calm as Naruto directed the tornado into motion, condensing it further and further until it was just a ball. The result was a crackling, unstable ball of energy that quickly fizzled out. Naruto frowned and tried again, only to be met with the same result.

"What am I doing wrong?..." He muttered to himself, reverting back to step 2 to watch the controlled tornado's movements for any hints. He was aware that his time for experimentation was dwindling rapidly as Goliath slowly regained its strength. 'Damn, that regeneration is powerful.'

He stared and stared, and stared some more as the tornado continued to move. Naruto moved his palm from side to side, studying the reaction the magic tornado had to each movement. It didn't change, but Naruto noticed something.

'When I'm tilting my hand to the left side, the tornado gets faster and droops. When I tilt it to the right side, the rotation slows down, and it droo- wait, rotation?' Naruto grinned happily at the realization. 'Of course! I don't need to just condense the magic into a ball, I gotta make it spiral like the tornado too!'

Realizing this, Naruto began again. He slowly condensed the magic energy into the ball, keeping its rotation in the same direction the tornado was moving. It didn't fizzle out.

Naruto's grin grew wider. In his hand, he held a ball of swirling magic the size of an adult's head. He could feel the sheer amount of power within the new spell he created, and he knew it was only thanks to his magic enhancement's Conjuration ability that he had succeeded in it.

"This is awesome." Naruto laughed, relishing in the power the orb exuded. "I think I'll name this… the Rasengan."

Naruto turned to Goliath, who was still standing there with a hateful aura around it, no doubt feeling humiliated by being reduced to such a pitiful state by a child. Everything from the neck down had fully healed. Naruto nodded at the beast, took a step forward, and ran. "Time to test this thing out!"

Goliath, surprised by Naruto's sudden advance, swung its massive fist once more. But Naruto was ready, sliding under the Goliath's legs, feeling the rush of air as the fist passed just inches above his head. Using his wall-climbing technique, he ran up the monster's back, his small size and agility allowing him to avoid the Goliath's attempts to shake him off.

With a cry, Naruto leaped above the Goliath's head right as it tilted its head up to look at Naruto. For a brief moment, he locked eyes with the monster, seeing the surprise and fear in its glowing red orbs. Then, without hesitation, he plunged his new technique directly at the monster rex's wounded skull.

"RASENGAN!" Naruto shouted, his voice filled with determination as he thrust the energy sphere towards the monster's head.

The technique connected with a thunderous impact. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the swirling energy exploded outward, enveloping both Naruto and the Goliath in a blinding light. The force of the explosion sent shockwaves through the cavern, causing more stalactites to fall and cracks to form in the walls.

When the light faded and the dust began to settle, Naruto found himself lying on his back, his hand spasming slightly in pain. He blinked, clearing his vision from the blinding light's residual effect, and slowly sat up. He searched the room, looking for any signs of his adversary in case it survived his attack. When his eyes landed upon it, He was greeted with glory.

The Goliath lay motionless several meters away, its head nowhere to be seen. Its powerful body, once primed and ready to end his life, now laid dead across the ground. The monster's massive form began to disintegrate, turning into ash and magical energy that dispersed into the air.

Naruto, after all that happened, won.

"YyyyeeAAAAAAAHH! HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Naruto thrusted his arms into the air, screaming at the top of his lungs in elation. "I DID IT! I WON! I WON! I REALLY REALLY WON!

HAHAHAHAHA!"

"NARUTO!" Ottar appeared by his side in an instant, lifting the boy up off the ground and onto his shoulders "You're amazing, my boy! Well done, simply splendid work!"

"Right, right? I totally whooped that thing's butt~!"

"You're amazing Naruto! You've made me so proud!"

"Hahahahahaha~!" Naruto and Ottar laughed merrily as they celebrated the victory, making their way to the drops and loot that was left behind. The giant magic stone that once rested in the confines of Goliath's chest now clattered on the ground right next to a giant pile of skin and bones.

Putting Naruto down, Ottar began to pick up the loot dropped by the Goliath. His enormous bag, which was only halfway full when they first arrived at the entryway, was now nearly overflowing thanks to the size of the crystal and the drops. As Ottar was collecting the drops, Naruto began to speak.

"I can't believe I actually won, Ottar. Is this real?" he said, whispering in his soft, childish voice as his brain struggled to compute the reality of what happened. He had finally dropped his enhancements, deactivating his Sage of Six Paths, Great Sage, and Kyuubi no Yoko, as well as his magic enhancements, and now rested on the ground.

"Yes," Ottar walked up to Naruto with chokuto in hand, gesturing for Naruto to reach and reclaim it. Naruto did just that, grasping its hilt and placing it back in its sheath. His daggers were already in their own sheathes as well, so there was no need to look for them. "This is real, you truly did the impossible and defeated Goliath as a level 1. Congratulations, Naruto. You deserve it."

"Mm. Thanks captain." Naruto took the outstretched hand and used it to hoist himself on his feet. He didn't expect to be placed on the boaz's shoulder once again, but he didn't fight it. Now that the adrenaline ran out, he was way too tired to even move. "Also, thanks for not getting in the way of the fight. I wouldn't have awakened like that if you had."

Here, Ottar went silent. The memory of Naruto's dying body was all too fresh in his mind, and caused him to pause. Naruto took notice of that. "Ottar?"

Ottar shook his head to clear his mind and looked at Naruto with a small smile. "I heard you. It was hard staying back, Naruto, but I'm glad you survived."

"Me too. Being dead kinda sucks."

"Mhm. I'm sure it does."

"You're not even the least bit sympathetic, are you?!"

"Mm."

"Why you!"

As they chattered and bantered on their way out, Ottar allowed a small tear to escape his eye. He had made a terrible mistake by promising to not intervene, a mistake he won't ever make again.

'I'll protect this light with everything I have, goddess. Even if it kills me.'

—

Wow.

"Your total earnings is 32,442,966 Vallis. Thank you for your patronage!"

"THAT'S WAY MORE THAN LAST TIME! WHAT THE HECK?!"

"It's a given outcome, Naruto, considering the fact that today you killed Goliath alongside all the monsters in the dungeon."

"Fair." It's really not.

After securing the massive fortune that is their reward, Naruto and Ottar began their journey back to Folkvangr. The air between them hung heavy with a comfortable silence, a shared peace that neither was eager to disturb. Each step they took seemed to draw them further from the clamor of the world and deeper into their own quiet thoughts.

The crowd around them moved like a blur, faces shifting in and out of focus. Strangers who would never leave an impression, faces that would never again cross their path. People came and went, oblivious to the captain and his charge, as they walked side by side along the stone road. Above them, the sky stretched out clear and unmarked, an expanse unmarred by clouds or the faintest trace of light. Only the stars shone, free and untethered, dotting the night with their ancient, serene glow. The houses and shops they passed were alive with light and laughter, the sounds of joy spilling into the streets, painting the night with a warmth that seemed almost too beautiful to capture.

Everything around them felt profoundly different. so vibrant, so peaceful. It was as if the world had shifted, or perhaps it was Naruto himself who had changed. He realized that, until now, he had never fully appreciated the serenity that surrounded him. Only after the shadow of death had passed so closely had he come to understand the simple beauty of existence. The quiet moments that went unnoticed, and the stillness that could carry so much weight.

The thought filled him with a quiet sorrow. He had wasted so much time, always caught in the rush of life, never stopping to breathe, never allowing himself to simply be. But now, with the raw clarity of near-death in his chest, he vowed to change. From this moment forward, he would not let these small treasures slip through his fingers. He would savor them, immerse himself fully in the fleeting peace that life offered.

As they continued walking, time seemed to blur, hours passing like mere minutes. The familiar silhouette of Folkvangr slowly began to emerge on the horizon, its towering walls and elegant, pointed roofs rising against the night. In the moonlight, the city seemed to shimmer, its structures bathed in a silver glow, as though the goddess Selene herself had lovingly draped the city in her embrace. The beauty of it all- the stillness, the majesty- was overwhelming, a silent testament to the quiet power of the world around him.

The gate, a formidable structure of cold metal yet stunning in its intricate beauty, groaned in protest as it slowly parted beneath Ottar's commanding touch. The guards, their eyes briefly flickering over the unusual sight of Naruto resting upon Ottar's broad shoulders, did not question it. They exchanged only a cursory glance as the two passed, the weight of their indifference pressing no further on their quiet journey.

The white halls stretched out before them- lonely, cavernous, and void of life. Ottar's footsteps were sharp and deliberate, the sound of each echoing through the stark silence like the beat of a distant drum. In his other hand, the soft jingle of Valli sang a gentle, almost melancholic tune. The rhythm was like a lullaby, its subtle melody wrapping around Naruto's senses, pulling him into a quiet reverie. The tune evoked memories of a time long gone, of a place now distant. It was the kind of lullaby a mother might hum to her child, tender and full of warmth, even in the absence of its source. Nostalgia stirred within him, a quiet ache for something he couldn't quite reach.

They moved swiftly through the silent expanse, their destination drawing nearer. Soon, they arrived at Naruto's room. The door was ajar, allowing a sliver of light and sound to escape into the hall. Soft flickers of candlelight danced across the room, illuminating a scattering of desks, each one marked by the glow of flickering flames. Yet it was the sound of quiet sniffling that caught their attention—subdued, almost imperceptible, but there nonetheless.

Ottar pushed the door open with careful precision, the hinges protesting with a faint creak. As he lowered Naruto to the floor, his movements were slow and deliberate, mindful of every shift in weight. Naruto, understanding the reason for his descent, didn't linger. He stepped forward, his resolve firm and unwavering. The room was his now, the space in which he would shed his past.

With a practiced efficiency, Naruto began to disrobe, methodically removing each piece of his gear. First the armor that had once been his shield, then the weapons he had carried with him through countless battles. One by one, they were carefully returned to their places on the wall.

The once-empty armor stand now stood full, its metallic surface gleaming in the flickering candlelight. The holsters along the wall, once vacant, now held the familiar weight of his weapons, ready for their next use.

And with that final motion—stripped of his dungeon equipment, of his defenses—Naruto stood vulnerable, yet unyielding. No longer a warrior burdened by the weight of armor or weapons, he was poised for something more. The battle had not ended, but it had changed. With the quiet strength of one who had faced trials unspoken, Naruto readied himself for a new challenge—one that would demand not the power of steel, but the strength of his spirit.

The challenge? Console a sobbing goddess. Optional challenge: Convince said goddess to not murder Ottar the next day.

"Miss Freya?" He whispered, poking his head through his bedroom door to look for the goddess. A shadow, sitting on his bed, swiveled its head towards him. Naruto opened the door wider to let himself in, his socks padding the ground with soft steps as he approached the bed. He lit a candle that sat beside his bedside, illuminating the room and revealing the shadow to be Freya.

Her eyes were bloodshot, puffy from the crying she had done. The sight of her tears made Naruto feel unbearable guilt, knowing he was the cause for this. Yet still, he spoke, never raising in volume. "Are you ok, Miss Freya?"

"Naruto…" Freya wobbled. She grabbed Naruto and dragged him into a desperate hug. Naruto reciprocated this, feeling the amount of desperation she held in her hug. Her form flickered violet over and over again as she lost control over herself, charm automatically active in accordance to her emotions. The soft violet light pulsed like a heartbeat, beating with every breath.

"Thank goodness you're alright..." she choked out, her voice a fragile whisper teetering on the edge of a sob. Amethyst eyes, once wells of despair, now glistened with a tempest of relief and lingering anguish. Tears, each a crystalline testament to her fears, cascaded down her cheeks and baptized Naruto's golden crown. Her chest heaved with each shuddering inhale, struggling to draw air into lungs constricted by overwhelming emotion.

Hiccups punctuated her cries, causing her entire frame to shudder against Naruto's steadfast form. Her fingers, trembling and desperate, clutched at his clothes, twisting the fabric as if it were her only lifeline in a tempestuous sea of relief and residual fear.

Naruto's shoulder grew damp with her tears, the fabric darkening as it absorbed her outpouring of emotion. Her nose ran, mingling with the salt of her tears, but she was beyond caring about such trivial matters. Her face, usually a picture of composure, was now a canvas of raw feeling – eyes squeezed shut, brows furrowed in a mixture of pain and relief, lips quivering as they formed soundless words of gratitude.

Naruto, a silent pillar of comfort, tightened his embrace. His arms became a sanctuary, shielding her from the maelstrom of emotions threatening to sweep her away. In his warmth, she found the courage to let go.

"Thank goodness you're alright!" she wailed, the words barely intelligible through her sobs. Her entire body trembled, wracked by the force of emotions too powerful to contain. In this moment of vulnerability, she allowed herself to break.

"AAAAAAAAAHHH!" Freya cried. Though she muffled her cries in the crook of Naruto's neck, it still filled the room with anguish. Naruto could feel his heart break under her intensity, his shaking shoulders resonating with Freya's pain. Relief, sorrow, fear, pain, happiness- all of these emotions, all of these feelings, he could feel from her. Her sobbing voice drowning in emotions he didn't know could possibly escape in tandem.

Seconds stretched into minutes, and minutes blended into an hour as Freya wept, her sobs wracking her body. She clung to Naruto with desperate, trembling hands, as though the very act of holding onto him could keep him anchored in this world, as though he might vanish if she loosened her grip.

Slowly, the storm of emotion began to ebb, her sobs softening until they were little more than quiet sniffs. Gradually, she found her breath, her heart quieting, the worst of the pain leaving her. She gathered the strength to pull away just enough to look at him, her gaze still blurred by the remnants of tears, but her voice steadier now.

"I'm sorry, Naruto," she whispered, her forehead resting lightly against his, her arms still wrapped around him. "I didn't mean to break down like that on you."

Naruto, his eyes, shimmering like the deep sea under the sun's golden light, lifted his gaze to meet hers. His face was calm, reassuring. "It's alright, Miss Freya. I know it was hard to watch... me nearly dying, I mean."

Freya shuddered at the memory, her voice thick with emotion. "Very painful. I... I almost went back to Tenkai, just to search for your soul."

Naruto's lips quirked into a gentle smile, though his eyes held a knowing warmth. "That would've been bad, y'know?"

Her lips twitched upward at his teasing tone, and she nodded with a soft chuckle. "Yes, it would have. I'm just... so glad you're alive."

A quiet moment passed between them, and then Naruto's voice broke the silence, filled with sincerity. "I am too. Thank you, Miss Freya."

They pulled away from each other, sitting up straight, the tension between them easing.

Naruto's face lit up with a wide, beaming grin as he turned toward Freya, his eyes sparkling with excitement. Without hesitation, he took her hand in both of his, his tone full of playful confidence.

"But you don't need to be sad, Miss Freya!" he said, his voice bright with enthusiasm. "I won and got stronger, y'know?!"

Freya's lips curled into a soft, affectionate smile as she chuckled lightly. "Yes, you did. You really are something special, darling."

Naruto let out a carefree laugh, his energy infectious. "Hahaha~"

They both laughed merrily together, their laughter ringing through the air like a melody, their spirits glowing as brightly as diamonds scattered across the night sky. In that moment, their joy was contagious, filling the space between them with an undeniable warmth.

But as the laughter lingered, Freya's gaze shifted, her eyes falling not on Naruto's face, but on something deeper—on his soul.

'His soul…' Freya gasped. 'It's changed...'

What had once been a faint, flickering light, soft and uncertain, now blazed with an intensity that took her breath away. The core of his being shimmered like a supernova, a radiant explosion of energy where darkness and light no longer fought for dominance. Instead, they danced together, intertwining in perfect harmony—two forces, seemingly opposites, yet in a delicate balance. It was as though the very fabric of his soul had transformed, becoming a galaxy in its own right.

The colors—endless and vivid—swirled through the vast expanse of his being, each hue complementing the others in a seamless symphony. The dark and light didn't clash, didn't compete. They existed together in perfect unity, each part elevating the other. No longer was his soul a battlefield; it was a masterpiece, a dynamic dance of energy that flowed without resistance.

In that instant, Freya knew. With a certainty that pierced her heart, she realized that she had never seen anything more beautiful in her life. Not the stars in the sky, not the rarest of treasures, not even the most breathtaking sunrise over a distant mountain—nothing could compare to the breathtaking magnificence of Naruto's soul, now shining with a brilliance that could rival the cosmos themselves. It was as if the very essence of creation had woven itself into his being, an unspoken promise of infinite potential and boundless light.

"Miss Freya?" Naruto called, bringing Freya back from her awed gaze. His blue eyes were wide as they stared at her curiously.

"It's nothing, dear. I was just admiring your soul, is all."

"Oh, ok." Naruto smiled. "In that case, do you think I can do a status update now? I wanna see if I leveled up."

Freya nodded. "Of course we can. I brought the ritual items here so we can do just that. Now go shower, you reek of blood and guts. We'll update your falna after, ok?"

"Ok!"

A quick shower later, and Naruto was sprawled comfortably across his bed, his toad-patterned pants proudly on display for all to see. Freya, poised beside him, pricked her finger, allowing a single droplet of blood to fall onto his back, activating his falna with a soft shimmer of light.

Without hesitation, she began to examine it, her focus intense. But when she was finished, her breath hitched, and her eyes widened in complete astonishment.

"N-N-N-Naruto…" she stammered, voice barely a whisper.

Naruto raised an eyebrow, glancing back at her with curiosity. "Hm?"

"Just… just what in the world were you doing in the dungeon?!" Her voice trembled with shock. "I've never seen anything like this in my life!"

Naruto's gaze sharpened, a flicker of confusion crossing his features as he turned to face her. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

Freya, still in disbelief, carefully copied the status onto a piece of paper, her hands slightly shaking as she handed it to him. She couldn't tear her eyes away from the piece of parchment, as though she feared she might misinterpret what she was seeing.

Naruto took the paper, his eyes skimming over the lines of text. As his gaze passed over the details of his falna, something unreadable passed over his face.

-Status-

Naruto Namikaze Wallenstein

(Race: Demi-Spirit)

Level 1 (2)

Strength: EX 2000

Endurance: EX 2000

Dexterity: EX 2000

Agility: EX 2000

Magic: X 1701 - EX 2000

Magic

Shadow Clones: allows the user to create one or more copies of themselves. The user's mind is evenly divided between themselves and their clones: creating one clone will give it half the user's mind, creating two clones will give each a third of the user's mind and so on. Depending on how much mind the user has and how many clones they make, this rapid depletion of their reserves can be dangerous. Clones can also utilize the magic technique Shadow Clones. Dispelling the clones transfers its knowledge and experience to the original. Excelia gathered by the clones do not count towards transfer.

Erdtree's Protection: Grants greater durability to those casted for a determined amount of time. A minute of time for each drop of mana put to use. The more people this is casted on the more mana used. 1 person is 1 mana point per minute, 2 people are 2 mana points per minute, 3 people are 3 mana points per minute, and so on.

**Flame Grant Me Strength: Imbues the user with a ball of flames, increasing the Strength stat by 10%.

Fireball: Hurls a ball of flames. The greater the size the more mana utilized. Enchanted with death due to the skill *Godslayer's Black Flame, but only if the user wishes.

Magic Enhancement; Fortification and Conjuration: The user possesses mind pathways that flow through the entire body, allowing magic to flow through the body and make it easier to use magic. Fortification enhances the capabilities of the body the more mind is pushed into the muscles and organs. Example being greater physical prowess and greater senses such as sight and touch. Conjuration allows the magic to be expelled at certain points of the body, specifically the hands and feet, granting the user access to greater damage and new magic attacks, as well as making it easier for other spells to be used. No incantations needed.

**Rasengan: A condensed sphere of pure, rotating magic capable of devastating damage. The amount of mind used to power this spell determines the strength and power of its impact. Mind added in tandem with impact can create an explosion. No incantation needed.

**Explosion: Creates a large burst of flames that explode when impacting a physical object. The more mind powering the spell, the greater the explosion. Enchanted with death due to the skill *Godslayer's Black Flame, but only if the user wishes. Short incantation: Explosion.

**Ruler's Authority: Telekinetic spell that allows the user to control anything imbued with their magic signature. There is no limit to this in regards to weight. No Incantation needed. No Mind required for usage.

Skills

Will of Fire: The stronger the will of the wielder, the greater boost in stats will occur. In times of trouble, when all else would fail, a single strike will turn the tides.

Slaughter Demon: Monstrously increases attack power for every kill the user makes. Permanently increases stats by 1 for every 3 kills.

Kyuubi no Yoko: The greatest spirit that descended from the gods. Provides passive greater regeneration, heightened senses, greater durability, and extreme magic capacity to user. When cloaked in the Kyuubi's energy, each effect granted is quintiples in its power, at the expense of being filled with hate. Can be stacked up to 9 times, counted by the number of tails present in the cloak. Each time a tail is added to the cloak, the user will be exposed to more hatred from the Kyuubi. Should the user fall into rage and hatred, they will fall into a berserker state. Berserker status effect shall last until either the target of the user's hatred is dead, the Kyuubi takes over, or the user is knocked unconscious. If the user can conquer the full hatred of the Kyuubi, the skill cloaks the user in gold and increases effects, combat ability and attack power to the maximum. Can only be used by those with spirit blood.

-(SubSkill: Second Life Berserker: If the user perishes yet their body is not unsalvageable, revival is possible. However, the consequence of this revival is the loss of sanity and partial or complete takeover of the Kyuubi for 24 hours. Can only be used once every 31 days. If the user were to die during this recharge time, their death will be permanent. 1/31)

Vanadis Odr: Destined love of the goddess Freya. Grants immunity to all charms of every strength and grants greater excelia count to the *Power, *Endurance, *Agility, and *Magic*. Combat ability permanently and higher battle IQ is increased alongside it, due to Freya also being the goddess of war.

**Art is an Explosion: Increases the power of all explosion based magic astronomically and reduces the cost of mind by half.

Liaris Freese: Fast growth as long as the user is in love. The strength of the effects corresponds with the level of the user's feelings. As a side effect it makes the user immune to charms.

**Magician's Workshop: Creativity knows no limits! Allows the user to create new magic so long as the user is capable of using it, fitting the parameters and limits that the user currently possesses. Increases odds of new magic creation being successful.

**Ashen One: Increases proficiency with all fire based magic, including submagics involving fire in any kind of way. Passively increases the power and range of all flame based spells while decreasing its charging time and mind depletion. 1/3

Great Sage: Favored by nature and excelia, extreme growth is inevitable. Increases excelia count gathered and increases power when actively gathering energy from the surrounding atmosphere. (Grants increased perception of the user's surrounding passively, and with active use the user can visualize anything surrounding them within a 200 meter radius.) Can only be used by those in tune with the spirits or possess spirit blood.

**Budding Spirit of the Malefic: The more destruction and negative energy surrounds the user, the greater the increase in overall power and combat ability. Can only be used by those with a specific mutation within their spirit blood. 1/4

**Restriction of the Gods; Equivalent Exchange: The Gods have now witnessed your impossible feat, and demand that you entertain them more. They have set conditions to restrict your ability to level up in exchange for astronomical growth and luck. The only way for you to level up is to either defeat a monster rex, defeat any being classified three levels or higher above, or to save the majority from a great tragedy.

**AxA: No information available. Max evolution of *Budding Spirit of the Malefic* required.

Avenger: Heavily increases the user's attack power against monsters, massively increases the user's attack power against dragon type monsters. Effect rises based on the user's hate

Godslayer's Black Flames: The flames enchanted by death, capable of burning even divinity itself. Grants all fire spells the enchantment of death, slowly burning through the life and divinity of all that it touches. Can only be put out through spirit magic or the user's will. Effect increases based on user's hate

Balance Breaker: Normal doesn't apply. Limits typically found on the falna are nonexistent. Allows user to possess an infinite number of magics to be used and eliminates the cap of stats that others are bound by.

Dragonslayer: Massive increase in attack power when dealing with dragon type monsters. Effect increases when dealing with dragon types previously dealt with.

Sage of Six Paths: Increases the user's level by 1, keeping all the stats they possess in their level before the increase. Example being a high level 5 going into a high level 6.

Mark of the Sun: Gives user the ability to manipulate all physical matter, ranging from complete annihilation to absolute restoration of a person or object. (Those with high enough overall resistance or have a higher level than the user can resist its effects). Can be used to heal others. It is said that when it comes into contact with he who bears the Moon, all shall be sealed away in the eclipse that forms.

Truth Seeker Orb: Grants 6 orbs of nothingness that erase anything it comes in contact with, the exception being the user, those the user chooses not to harm, or those with high enough overall resistance.

Development Ability

[Luck]

[Hunter]

[Abnormal Resistance]

[Assassin]

[Swordsman]

[Mage]

-Status-

"HOLY SUPER CRAP, WHAT IS THIS?!

"Shhh!" Freya shushed Naruto quickly, bringing her finger to his lips urgently. "This is no time tobe loud, Naruto. We don't want to wake anyone up, do we?"

"Right, sorry…"

"Mufufu, it's fine darling. If it were any other time, I would have reacted just like you. But that's not important now, you have a few options to choose for your development ability." Freya leaned over and pointed at the options inscribed on the paper. "Which one do you want?"

There was not even a second of hesitation in Naruto. The moment he had first laid his eyes on the development ability, he knew he was hooked. That he had found his destiny.

"I want luck." Naruto stated resolutely, staring at Freya with resolved eyes. Freya nodded at Naruto's choice.

"Yes, that's understandable. With one of your new skills revolving around luck, it would be good to help bolster it." Freya pondered as she went to work on Naruto's back, updating the Falna to level Naruto up. Naruto sweatdropped. 'I didn't think of that. I just wanted to run Captain Ottar's pockets dry by gambling.'

He made a silent promise to never reveal this piece of information to Freya. May the gods help him if she finds out.

"And done. You are officially a level 2, Naruto. Congratulations!" Freya cheered, re-copying the status page onto the paper and handing it to the blonde boy.

"Thanks, Miss Freya."

"It's no problem dear. Tomorrow, we're going to have a big party to celebrate your level up, so look forward to it ok?"

"Ok! Where's it going to be at?"

Freya giggled cutely. "That'll be a secret, ok?"

Naruto nodded, setting aside the paper in his hand and laid down on his bed, Freya joining him soon after. Sleep took them quickly, excited for the new day.

The status sheet laid there, open for anyone to see, yet no one did. No one knew it, but there was evil lurking amok, and the boy that status sheet belonged to would be at the very center of it.

-Status-

Naruto Namikaze Wallenstein

Race: Demi-Spirit

Level 2

Strength: EX 2000 - H 100

Endurance: EX 2000 - H 100

Dexterity: EX 2000 - H 100

Agility: EX 2000 - H 100

Magic: EX 2000 - H 100

Magic

Shadow Clones: allows the user to create one or more copies of themselves. The user's mind is evenly divided between themselves and their clones: creating one clone will give it half the user's mind, creating two clones will give each a third of the user's mind and so on. Depending on how much mind the user has and how many clones they make, this rapid depletion of their reserves can be dangerous. Clones can also utilize the magic technique Shadow Clones. Dispelling the clones transfers its knowledge and experience to the original. Excelia gathered by the clones do not count towards transfer.

Erdtree's Protection: Grants greater durability to those casted for a determined amount of time. A minute of time for each drop of mana put to use. The more people this is casted on the more mana used. 1 person is 1 mana point per minute, 2 people are 2 mana points per minute, 3 people are 3 mana points per minute, and so on.

Flame Grant Me Strength: Imbues the user with a ball of flames, increasing the Strength stat by 10%.

Fireball: Hurls a ball of flames. The greater the size the more mana utilized. Enchanted with death due to the skill *Godslayer's Black Flame, but only if the user wishes.

Magic Enhancement; Fortification and Conjuration: The user possesses mind pathways that flow through the entire body, allowing magic to flow through the body and make it easier to use magic. Fortification enhances the capabilities of the body the more mind is pushed into the muscles and organs. Example being greater physical prowess and greater senses such as sight and touch. Conjuration allows the magic to be expelled at certain points of the body, specifically the hands and feet, granting the user access to greater damage and new magic attacks, as well as making it easier for other spells to be used. No incantations needed.

Rasengan: A condensed sphere of pure, rotating magic capable of devastating damage. The amount of mind used to power this spell determines the strength and power of its impact. Mind added in tandem with impact can create an explosion. No incantation needed.

Explosion: Creates a large burst of flames that explode when impacting a physical object. The more mind powering the spell, the greater the explosion. Enchanted with death due to the skill *Godslayer's Black Flame, but only if the user wishes. Short incantation: Explosion.

Ruler's Authority: Telekinetic spell that allows the user to control anything imbued with their magic signature. There is no limit to this in regards to weight. No Incantation needed. No Mind required for usage.

Skills

Will of Fire: The stronger the will of the wielder, the greater boost in stats will occur. In times of trouble, when all else would fail, a single strike will turn the tides.

Slaughter Demon: Monstrously increases attack power for every kill the user makes. Permanently increases stats by 1 for every 3 kills.

Kyuubi no Yoko: The greatest spirit that descended from the gods. Provides passive greater regeneration, heightened senses, greater durability, and extreme magic capacity to user. When cloaked in the Kyuubi's energy, each effect granted is quintiples in its power, at the expense of being filled with hate. Can be stacked up to 9 times, counted by the number of tails present in the cloak. Each time a tail is added to the cloak, the user will be exposed to more hatred from the Kyuubi. Should the user fall into rage and hatred, they will fall into a berserker state. Berserker status effect shall last until either the target of the user's hatred is dead, the Kyuubi takes over, or the user is knocked unconscious. If the user can conquer the full hatred of the Kyuubi, the skill cloaks the user in gold and increases effects, combat ability and attack power to the maximum. Can only be used by those with spirit blood.

-SubSkill: Second Life Berserker: If the user perishes yet their body is not unsalvageable, revival is possible. However, the consequence of this revival is the loss of sanity and partial or complete takeover of the Kyuubi for 24 hours. Can only be used once every 31 days. If the user were to die during this recharge time, their death will be permanent. 1/31

Vanadis Odr: Destined love of the goddess Freya. Grants immunity to all charms of every strength and grants greater excelia count to the *Power, *Endurance, *Agility, and *Magic*. Combat ability permanently and higher battle IQ is increased alongside it, due to Freya also being the goddess of war.

Art is an Explosion: Increases the power of all explosion based magic astronomically and reduces the cost of mind by half.

Liaris Freese: Fast growth as long as the user is in love. The strength of the effects corresponds with the level of the user's feelings. As a side effect it makes the user immune to charms.

Magician's Workshop: Creativity knows no limits! Allows the user to create new magic so long as the user is capable of using it, fitting the parameters and limits that the user currently possesses. Increases odds of new magic creation being successful.

Ashen One: Increases proficiency with all fire based magic, including submagics involving fire in any kind of way. Passively increases the power and range of all flame based spells while decreasing its charging time and mind depletion. 1/3

Great Sage: Favored by nature and excelia, extreme growth is inevitable. Increases excelia count gathered and increases power when actively gathering energy from the surrounding atmosphere. Can only be used by those in tune with the spirits or possess spirit blood.

Budding Spirit of the Malefic: The more destruction and negative energy surrounds the user, the greater the increase in overall power and combat ability. Can only be used by those with a specific mutation within their spirit blood. 1/4

Restriction of the Gods; Equivalent Exchange: The Gods have now witnessed your impossible feat, and demand that you entertain them more. They have set conditions to restrict your ability to level up in exchange for astronomical growth and luck, and your stats will always start at H rank. The only way for you to level up is to either defeat a monster rex, defeat any being classified three levels or higher above your current level, or to prevent or stop a great tragedy.

AxA: No information available. Max evolution of *Budding Spirit of the Malefic* required.

Avenger: Heavily increases the user's attack power against monsters, massively increases the user's attack power against dragon type monsters. Effect rises based on the user's hate

Godslayer's Black Flames: The flames enchanted by death, capable of burning even divinity itself. Grants all fire spells the enchantment of death, slowly burning through the life and divinity of all that it touches. Can only be put out through spirit magic or the user's will. Effect increases based on user's hate

Balance Breaker: Normal doesn't apply. Limits typically found on the falna are nonexistent. Allows user to possess an infinite number of magics to be used and eliminates the cap of stats that others are bound by.

Dragonslayer: Massive increase in attack power when dealing with dragon type monsters. Effect increases when dealing with dragon types previously dealt with.

Sage of Six Paths: Increases the user's level by 1, keeping all the stats they possess in their level before the increase. Example being a high level 5 going into a high level 6.

Mark of the Sun: Gives user the ability to manipulate all physical matter, ranging from complete annihilation to absolute restoration of a person or object. Those with high enough overall resistance or have a higher level than the user can resist its effects. Can be used to heal others. It is said that when it comes into contact with he who bears the Moon, all shall be sealed away in the eclipse that forms.

Truth Seeker Orb: Grants 6 orbs of nothingness that erase anything it comes in contact with, the exception being the user, those the user chooses not to harm, or those with high enough overall resistance.

Development Ability

Luck H

-Status-

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And there we have it folks! Naruto has finally leveled up, and boy was it thrilling. There isn't anything I feel the need to say except that I'll be opening a pretty soon to start posting more chapters there quicker and finally setting up an updating schedule for these stories.

School just started again so I'm going to have less time to write on my hands, but I promise to release a chapter every week after I publish one on . My will be updating every 2 weeks, so you can expect chapters to come out every 3 weeks instead. Next chapter is going to be very light and refreshing compared to these past 4 chapters, so stay tuned for "Chapter 5: It's Party Time!"

And so, like usual, I wish everyone a safe, prosperous, and blessed day. And for everyone in California, please stay safe and sound! I have you in my prayers every day and night.