A/N
Hello everyone, and welcome to the final chapter of the first arc! Before we dive in, let's take a moment to answer some reviews -
Archer headass – Hmm, Isha will definitely be fun to write. I'm excited for that! And yes, Jinx will be absolutely crazy.
Camrin Finnerty2 – Season 2 is pretty good, but for now, I'm sticking with Season 1 as the focus.
kokichi2002 – That route indeed! May chaos take the world!
LightingAbyss – Thanks, dude!
Lichi Sechino – Oh hey! Missed having you around here. I'm happy you're reading this. I hope it's to your liking. Your kind words mean a lot to me.
Now, let's begin!
Chapter 4 – Monsters Arc 1
Jayce and Viktor sat huddled over a sprawling array of notes and calculations in the dim light of Jayce's repurposed study. Pages of equations and diagrams covered the table, their focus razor sharp as they pursued a solution to the problem that had plagued Jayce's dream: stabilizing the hex crystals.
"This should work," Viktor said, tapping the table with his finger. His voice carried a note of quiet excitement. "If we adjust the parameters and reduce the energy fluctuations, the crystal's instability can be contained."
Jayce leaned back, running a hand through his hair. "If only we could test it," he said with frustration. "All the equipment I need is locked away in Heimerdinger's lab, and it's scheduled to be destroyed tomorrow."
Viktor raised an eyebrow, pulling a set of ornate keys from his pocket. "What if we retrieved it?"
Jayce's eyes widened, and he shook his head fervently. "Viktor, no. That's stealing! If we get caught, we're done banished from Piltover. Everything we've worked for will be gone."
Viktor's expression remained calm, his eyes locked on Jayce. "This hextech dream of yours has the potential to change the world. You know that."
Jayce hesitated, his resolve faltering as Viktor's words sank in.
"Our hextech dream," he corrected softly, meeting Viktor's gaze. The two men exchanged a determined nod, and with newfound purpose, they prepared to act.
In the dead of night, Jayce and Viktor crept through the corridors of the Academy, the weight of their plan pressing heavily on their shoulders. As they approached Heimerdinger's lab, Viktor began unlocking the door with steady hands. The faint click of tumblers turning filled the silence.
Before the door opened, a beam of light illuminated them. They froze, turning to see Mel Medarda standing in the hallway, her expression more intrigued than angry.
"Well, well," Mel said, a smirk playing on her lips. "This is quite the display of conviction."
Jayce scrambled to explain, his words tumbling out. "We need this, Mel. Hextech has the potential to change everything to make Piltover better."
Mel tilted her head, studying them. In the distance, the sound of a security guard's footsteps approached, growing louder.
"You've got one night," Mel said finally, stepping aside. "Impress me, or you'll be exiled. Simple as that."
Before Jayce or Viktor could respond, she turned toward the approaching guard, engaging him in conversation to steer him away from the lab. Viktor finished unlocking the door, and they slipped inside.
In the lab, the equipment hummed as they worked swiftly. Viktor arranged the runes and panels, while Jayce carefully placed the hex crystal into its casing. With trembling hands, Jayce turned the machine's dials, the runes beginning to glow faintly as the crystal stabilized and started to levitate.
"It's never done that before," Jayce murmured, awe in his voice. For a moment, he allowed himself a flicker of hope. "If Naruto is alive... this could be his future. His chance."
Viktor glanced at Jayce but said nothing, focusing on the machine as its hum grew louder. Jayce adjusted another dial, causing the runes to rotate. The crystal levitated higher and higher, glowing brighter with each passing moment.
But the energy became unstable.
"Disengage it!" Viktor shouted as the machine emitted a powerful pulse of force, sending objects flying. Jayce struggled to reach the switch, shielding his face as shards of glass burst from the windows and pulled back inward in a chaotic display of arcane power.
"Hold on!" Jayce cried, his mind racing. He closed his eyes, remembering the mage who had saved his mother. His fingers moved instinctively, dialling the switches in the same sequence he had seen all those years ago.
The runes locked into place, and the machine released one final, massive pulse of energy. Jayce and Viktor were lifted from the floor, their bodies suspended in a shimmering, weightless field of blue light.
The doors to the lab burst open as Heimerdinger and two enforcers barged in. Viktor's cane snapped in two as the field dissipated, and the two men landed heavily on the ground. Heimerdinger stared, his wide eyes filled with both wonder and dread.
They had succeeded.
The crystal hovered in the air, surrounded by a dazzling display of soft blue light. Objects floated in midair, as if suspended in water. Heimerdinger's voice was soft, but his words were heavy. "You've done it… you've created magic. But this is not what Piltover's future looks like."
Before Jayce could respond, Mel stepped into the room, her confident tone cutting through the tension. "Perhaps it is," she said, folding her arms. "Maybe it's time for a new era an era of magic."
Jayce stood, his cheek still bleeding from the glass shard that had cut him earlier. He met Mel's gaze, his voice steady as he corrected her.
"No. The era of hextech."
The dark, winding streets of Zaun echoed with the steady, heavy footsteps of the enforcers as they marched down, led by Grayson herself. Their presence cut through the quiet of the undercity, their arrival casting an eerie stillness over the people who watched from the shadows, sensing the gravity of what was unfolding. Vi, meanwhile, had already taken matters into her own hands, determined to protect those she loved at any cost.
She had broken into Benzo's shop, her heart pounding as she sat alone in the dim light, waiting for the enforcers to arrive. She would face them head-on, take responsibility, and put an end to the danger hanging over her family. The thought brought her a measure of calm, but it didn't make the waiting any easier. Her fingers tapped nervously against the wooden countertop, her mind racing with half-formed thoughts and a sense of resignation.
The stillness was broken by footsteps outside. She straightened, taking a deep breath as the door creaked open. But instead of enforcers, two familiar faces entered the shop Vander and Benzo. Vi's eyes widened in surprise, her voice catching in her throat.
"Vi," Vander said, his voice firm but laced with sadness. He crossed the room in a few quick strides, and before she could protest, he reached out and gently but firmly shoved her toward the back room.
"No!" Vi protested, her voice rising in desperation. "You can't do this! This is my responsibility, Vander. I'm not letting you take the fall."
Vander's face hardened, his gaze unwavering as he pushed her into the back room and shut the door, locking it securely. She pounded on the door, her fists slamming against the wood as she shouted, begging him to let her out. But Vander stood firm, his back pressed against the door as her cries echoed in the shop.
"Vi, I told you," he said softly, more to himself than to her. "I protect my family."
Moments later, the door to the shop opened, and Grayson and Marcus entered, their faces set in stone. Grayson looked around the shop, her gaze settling on Vander, her expression flickering with understanding and sorrow.
"Vander," she began, her voice calm yet carrying the weight of disappointment. "Is this really necessary?"
Vander nodded, his face etched with resolve. "It's the only way, Grayson. If you want someone to blame, take me. Let Zaun have peace."
Grayson sighed, her gaze softening with reluctant acceptance. "You know what happens if you leave, Vander. Without you to hold things together, it all falls apart."
Vander gestured toward Benzo, who stood quietly at his side, watching with a silent nod of solidarity. "Benzo will keep things under control. But if this doesn't end here, more people are going to get hurt. This is what has to happen."
Grayson hesitated, understanding both the weight of Vander's decision and the role he played in maintaining the fragile peace between Zaun and Piltover. But she could see the determination in his eyes the resolve of a man willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for those he loved.
Marcus, his patience waning, stepped forward and pulled out a set of handcuffs, his expression cold as he moved to restrain Vander. "Fine. But don't expect Piltover to forgive or forget," he muttered.
As Marcus locked the cuffs around Vander's wrists, the sound of metal snapping into place seemed to echo through the shop, mingling with Vi's muffled shouts from the back room. She pounded on the door, her voice hoarse with desperation, but the thick walls swallowed her cries.
Grayson's gaze lingered on Vander for a moment, her face clouded with the burden of their long-standing, complicated understanding. She hesitated, then asked softly, "And what of the boy? Is there any truth to the rumours that he's hiding in Zaun?"
Vander met her gaze without flinching, his expression steady. "I swear, Grayson, I don't know anything about a boy. There's no one hiding here."
Grayson studied him for a moment, then nodded, her tone resigned. "It was a long shot. If that's the case, I'll consider the boy dead. It'll stop the search."
Vander's expression softened with relief, grateful that she would finally let this matter rest. It was one less threat hanging over the lives of those he cared about.
With a final nod, Grayson turned, her expression unreadable as she led the way out of the shop. Marcus followed closely behind, hauling Vander along with a harsh grip.
Locked in the small back room of Benzo's shop, Vi paced restlessly, her heart pounding with a mix of anger and fear. The room was silent save for her own breathing, a dark, suffocating kind of silence that weighed on her like a heavy shroud. She pressed her ear against the wall, hoping to hear anything that might hint at Vander's safety.
Suddenly, muffled shouts broke through the stillness, followed by the unmistakable sound of a scuffle outside. Vi's eyes darted to a small, grimy window on the wall, and she scrambled over, pressing her face close to the glass to get a glimpse of what was happening. Her heart leaped into her throat as she saw Grayson, Vander, and Marcus standing outside, but her view was blurred and narrow, the angle giving her only fragments of the unfolding scene.
Then she heard Marcus's voice, his shout barely muffled by the glass. "Stop! Someone stop it!"
A sudden, horrifying splatter of blood sprayed across her view, blotting out the window with streaks of red. Vi recoiled, her heart hammering as she realized that whatever had caused that bloodshed was no ordinary enforcer or enemy. She struggled to wipe away some of the blood on the glass, squinting through it to see more.
Outside, Grayson and several other enforcers lay dead, their bodies strewn across the ground, blood pooling around them. Vander and Marcus stood frozen, both of them in shock, their faces pale with fear and confusion. The monster a twisted, hulking figure with inhuman strength had appeared as if from nowhere, striking and killing with terrifying speed. Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, it vanished into the shadows, leaving a silence heavy with horror.
"What… what was that?" Vander whispered, his voice barely audible.
But before he or anyone else could react, a familiar, sinister figure stepped out from the shadows: Silco. He moved with a cold, calculated calm, his gaze focused and unbothered by the carnage around him. Benzo, his face etched with fury, stepped forward without hesitation, preparing to attack.
"Silco!" Benzo's voice rang out, filled with defiance and anger. He lunged at the man who had once been his friend, but before he could strike, the monstrous figure re-emerged, its movements almost a blur. With an inhuman swiftness, it intercepted Benzo, grabbing him and snapping his neck with a sickening crack. Benzo crumpled to the ground, lifeless, as Silco watched, his expression cold and detached.
Vi's breath hitched as she watched from the small window, her horror mounting as she saw the monster the thing that had slaughtered the enforcers, killed Grayson, and now Benzo. Her fists pressed against the glass as if she could somehow break through it, her eyes wide and helpless as she watched the nightmare unfold.
Marcus, his face drained of colour, shouted in disbelief. "This… this wasn't the deal!"
Silco turned to him with an almost bored expression, as though Marcus's outburst was nothing more than an annoyance. With a casual flick of his wrist, he tossed Marcus a heavy sack of coins, which hit the ground with a dull thud.
"The deal has changed," Silco said dismissively, his voice smooth and unfeeling. "Consider this compensation."
Marcus looked down at the sack of coins, anger and confusion warring in his expression. But he said nothing, his gaze darting nervously between Silco and the monstrous figure that loomed in the shadows, its very presence radiating a palpable sense of dread.
Before anyone could react, the monster lunged forward, aiming for Vander. It struck him with a brutal punch to the face, knocking him to the ground with a force that rendered him unconscious. Vi watched in helpless agony as the creature dragged Vander's limp body away, following Silco as they melted into the darkness of Zaun's labyrinthine streets.
The silence that settled afterward was thick, oppressive. Marcus stood alone, still holding the sack of coins, his face twisted with a mixture of horror and frustration. He glanced back at the bloodied remains of the enforcers, at Grayson's lifeless body, and then at the shop. He knew that nothing could fix this that the balance they had so precariously maintained was shattered.
Sometime later, Vi sat on the cold floor of the back room, her body numb, her mind racing with fragmented images of the horror she had just witnessed through the small window. Benzo, gone. Grayson, dead. And Vander taken. Her heart felt like it was tearing apart, her desperation turning to helpless rage.
Suddenly, the door clicked and swung open, startling her. She looked up to see Ekko, his face pale, his eyes wide and filled with tears. He rushed over, his expression a mixture of fear and sorrow as he knelt beside her, pulling her into a tight embrace.
"I saw everything, Vi," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "All of it… I couldn't believe it."
Vi's tough exterior crumbled, and she hugged him back fiercely, clinging to the one familiar face she had left. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she held him, the weight of everything that had happened pressing down on her.
"Ekko…" she choked out, her voice breaking. "They took Vander. Silco… that thing, that monster he took him."
Ekko pulled back slightly, his eyes brimming with tears as he nodded. "I know. I saw them… they took him into the industrial sector. I followed them as far as I could, but they went into the old warehouse district. That place… it's like a maze."
Vi took a shaky breath, wiping her tears away as a spark of determination reignited in her eyes. Vander was still alive. If she could get to him, if she could find a way to free him, maybe just maybe she could still save her family from the nightmare that Silco had unleashed.
The Last Drop was tense, buzzing with an undercurrent of fear and uncertainty. Mylo and Claggor paced restlessly, their faces set with determination, already discussing plans to fight if the enforcers dared to show their faces again. But Naruto barely heard them, lost in his own thoughts as he sat nearby, Vi's words echoing in his mind.
"When your memories come back… don't forget us."
He knew he was different, knew he had come from a world far removed from the undercity. But if he did have a family, where were they? Why did it seem like only the enforcers were interested in him and not in the way people looked for loved ones, but as if he were a dangerous, lost item that had to be contained. He was happy here, in Zaun, with people he'd come to love as family. But that lingering question of his past tugged at him, even as he looked over at Powder, hugging her stuffed rabbit tightly, her eyes filled with a quiet worry.
He promised to protect her. That much was certain. And as he looked at her, a faint blue glow flickered in his eyes, the Hex Crystal's power calling to him once more, a reminder of the promise he'd made to keep her safe, no matter what.
Just then, the door swung open, and Vi burst in, her face pale but resolute. Mylo, Claggor, Powder, and Naruto all looked up, their expressions shifting from confusion to alarm as they took in her appearance.
Vi took a shaky breath, her voice breaking as she spoke. "Benzo's dead. Vander… he's been taken by Silco."
The room fell silent, a collective shock passing over them as they tried to process her words. Naruto's heart pounded, his worst fears realized. He had seen Vi as strong, unbreakable, but the haunted look in her eyes as she described the monster she'd seen a monstrous, twisted creature that had slaughtered Grayson and the enforcers, that had killed Benzo in the blink of an eye made his blood run cold.
"We're getting him back," Vi declared, her voice filled with fierce determination. "Ekko followed Silco to his workshop. We know where Vander is. We're going after him."
Mylo and Claggor immediately straightened, ready to join her without hesitation. But as Powder moved forward, a glimmer of hope in her eyes, Vi turned to her, her expression softening with sadness.
"No, Powder," Vi said firmly. "You're not coming."
Powder's face fell, hurt flashing in her eyes. "But… you said I was strong! You said I was ready!"
Vi knelt down in front of her, her expression soft but unwavering. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small flare, pressing it into Powder's hands. "You are strong, Powder. But this is different. It's too dangerous, and I can't risk losing you too."
Powder shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes as she clutched the flare tightly. "But I can help! I've got all my inventions, my bombs… I know I can help!"
Vi placed her hands on Powder's shoulders, her gaze filled with love and sorrow. "I know you want to help. But you're not ready for this. If something goes wrong, if anyone comes for you, light this flare. Wherever you are, I'll find you. I promise."
Powder's lower lip trembled, but she nodded, clutching the flare as if it were her lifeline, her last link to her sister. Vi pulled her into a tight hug, whispering soothing words that none of the others could hear. Powder's small form shivered with silent tears as Vi finally pulled away, looking her in the eyes with a mixture of love and determination.
Vi stood up, turning to Naruto next. "Ruto, you stay behind too. You promised me you'd look after her. This is where she needs you most."
Naruto opened his mouth to protest, his heart sinking at the thought of staying behind, of not fighting to save Vander. "Vi, I—"
"You promised," Vi interrupted, her gaze unwavering. She gave him a firm nod, silently thanking him for the sacrifices he had made, the loyalty he had shown. There was a weight in her eyes, a trust that spoke louder than words. She was entrusting him with the one thing she held dearest.
Reluctantly, Naruto nodded, the weight of his promise settling heavily on his shoulders. He wanted to fight, to stand by her side, but he knew he couldn't break the vow he'd made. He glanced at Powder, who was staring down at the flare in her hands, her face filled with sadness and uncertainty.
"Look after her, Ruto," Vi said softly. Then, without another word, she turned to Mylo and Claggor. With a final nod to Naruto and Powder, she led them out of the Last Drop and into the dark, winding streets of Zaun.
As the door closed behind Vi, Naruto sat beside Powder, his mind swirling with uncertainty and fear. He wanted to comfort her, to tell her everything would be okay, but he could feel the weight of the truth pressing down on him. The silence between them was thick, as though words would break the fragile balance, they both clung to. Powder's face was streaked with tears, her hands trembling as she gripped the flare Vi had given her.
Suddenly, a surge of emotion broke through Powder's fragile composure. She let out a heart wrenching scream, the sound filled with frustration, rage, and despair. Naruto flinched, watching as she grabbed the cymbal-banging monkey toy and hurled it across the room. It hit the wall with a loud crack, the cymbals falling silent as the toy shattered, pieces scattering across the floor.
Powder's sobs filled the room, her breaths ragged as she crumpled to the ground, her face buried in her hands. In her anguish, she grabbed a bag from her side and threw it down, the contents spilling out. Several Hex Crystals rolled across the floor, their eerie blue light casting a glow in the dim room. Naruto's heart clenched as he watched her stare at them, her sobs quieting, her expression shifting from despair to something darker.
One crystal in particular caught her eye, and Naruto could see the recognition in her gaze. She understood what it could do. The memory of the explosion at the apartment, the raw power of the crystals—he could see it all flickering behind her eyes. His heart raced as he realized what she was thinking.
"Powder…" he whispered, his voice filled with caution, though he struggled to find the right words.
Powder looked up at him, her eyes wide and fierce. "I want to go with them, Ruto. I want to show Vi that I can be strong that I'm not just some jinx."
Naruto reached out, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "You're not a jinx, Powder. You're strong, just like Vi said. And you'll get your chance to prove it someday. But Vi just wants to keep you safe… I do too."
For a moment, Powder's shoulders sagged, her face falling as her defenses crumbled. Tears filled her eyes again, and she leaned into him, her small frame shaking as she released her pain and frustration. Naruto wrapped his arms around her, holding her close, feeling the depth of her anguish as she cried silently into his shoulder.
But just as he thought she might relent, Powder straightened, a glint of determination sparking in her eyes. She pulled away from him, wiping her tears. "No. Not this time. They've saved me too many times. This time, I want to be the one to save them."
Before he could react, she rose to her feet, gathering up the Hex Crystals with a grim determination. She turned to the door, her resolve evident in every step.
"Powder, wait!" Naruto called, struggling to think of something... anything that would stop her.
But in that moment, he realized he couldn't hold her back. Powder had made up her mind, and he knew that nothing he said would change it. Her desire to prove herself, to protect her family, burned too brightly. And as much as he feared for her safety, he understood that same need to protect, to stand by the people he loved.
Naruto looked down at the Hex Crystal he carried, feeling its pulse, the strange energy that felt almost alive around him. With a surge of resolve, he quickly looped a string around it, tying it as a makeshift necklace and slipping it over his head. The power hummed against his chest, like a reminder of the strength he held within himself.
He stood and sprinted after Powder, his decision made. Whatever came next, he wouldn't let her face it alone. She glanced back as he caught up, her expression lighting up with relief.
"Ruto," she breathed, her voice filled with a mixture of surprise and gratitude.
Naruto managed a small, reassuring smile, his hand resting over the Hex Crystal. "I'll always be by your side, Powder. No matter what."
The two of them shared a look of understanding a promise of loyalty and protection that transcended words. Together, they left the Last Drop, venturing into the night, ready to face the dangers of the undercity. They were stepping into the unknown, bound by their love for the family they had chosen, and a fierce resolve to bring them back.
As they moved through the darkened streets, Naruto could feel the power of the crystal pulsing in time with his heartbeat. He didn't know what awaited them, or if they would be enough to change the tide. But he did know one thing he would protect Powder with everything he had.
Vi, Mylo, and Claggor moved with silent precision along the edge of Silco's workshop, their hearts pounding as they climbed higher, the looming shape of the building casting long shadows over them. They reached a broken window near the roof and slipped inside, landing quietly on a narrow catwalk that overlooked the dimly lit expanse of the workshop below. The air was thick with the scent of oil, smoke, and something darker, a tension that crawled under their skin.
Beneath them, the workshop sprawled out in eerie silence, various strange machines whirring softly in the dark. In the centre of the room, they spotted Vander, bound to a metal chair with thick chains and padlocks securing each limb. His head was slumped forward, his expression weary but defiant. Seeing him in that state made Vi's heart twist, but she forced herself to stay focused.
The three of them crept along the catwalk, moving swiftly toward a small, enclosed room where Vander was held captive. As they entered, Mylo immediately knelt down, pulling out a small set of lockpicks and setting to work on the restraints around Vander's legs.
Vander's eyes fluttered open, and he looked at Vi, a mixture of relief and alarm crossing his face. "How did you get past all of Silco's men?" he asked, his voice hoarse but laced with concern.
Vi flashed him a small, determined smile. "Piece of cake. They barely put up a fight."
But as the words left her mouth, a chill crept over her. Vander's eyes met hers, and in that instant, they both realized the same truth: It was too easy.
Before Vi could react, a slow clap echoed through the workshop, chilling her to the bone. She turned, her heart sinking as she spotted Silco standing on the opposite side of the catwalk, a smug smile twisting his scarred face. Behind him stood a group of henchmen, their eyes cold and predatory as they stared down at her and her friends.
"Welcome," Silco drawled, his voice smooth and mocking. "I must commend you on your bravery… or perhaps, your foolishness."
Vi's fists clenched as she shot him a defiant glare. "Let him go, Silco. This is between you and me."
Silco chuckled, his expression darkening. "You're in no position to make demands, Vi. But since you're so eager to play the hero… let's see if you're up to the task."
Vi turned to Claggor, her voice urgent but steady. "Claggor, find another way out. Mylo, keep working on those locks. I'll hold them off."
Vander's eyes widened with alarm, his voice strained as he protested. "Vi, don't! This is exactly what he wants."
But Vi ignored him, reaching down to strap on Vander's metal gauntlets, the weight of them grounding her, fuelling her determination. She glanced at Mylo, who was hunched over Vander's legs, his fingers moving swiftly over the lock.
"Keep going," she said softly, then turned to face Silco's men.
One of the henchmen stepped forward, a twisted grin on his face as he raised a knife. Vi raised her fists, bracing herself. The man lunged at her, his blade flashing in the dim light. She blocked his strike, twisting his wrist and retaliating with a powerful uppercut to his jaw, sending him sprawling back.
Another henchman rushed at her, but Vi dodged his punch, delivering a swift kick to his stomach before slamming him against the wall. The adrenaline surged through her, each strike fuelling her drive to protect her family. But as more of Silco's men closed in, she knew she was outnumbered. She would fight as long as she could, but they had to hurry.
Meanwhile, Naruto and Powder approached the workshop, their footsteps muffled against the dirt as they moved cautiously through the shadows. They had followed the faint sounds of fighting, the adrenaline keeping them on edge. Naruto's heart pounded as they neared a small opening in the wall, a narrow gap that allowed them a glimpse inside.
Through the crevice, Naruto spotted Vi, fists raised as she took down another henchman with a brutal punch. She was fighting with everything she had, but he could see the danger closing in around her, the sheer number of opponents threatening to overwhelm her. His heart clenched with worry, but before he could react, Powder was already moving, her face set with determination as she began climbing the side of the building, her small hands gripping every ledge she could find.
Back with Vi ducked another punch, countering with a swift elbow to her attacker's face. She could feel her strength waning, but she pushed through the exhaustion, her determination unyielding. The odds were stacked against her, but she refused to give up.
Meanwhile, Mylo managed to crack the first lock, freeing one of Vander's legs. He gave Vi a quick nod, signaling his progress, but there were still several locks left to go.
Claggor, who had been scouting for an exit, discovered a weak section of the wall leading outside. He tapped on it, testing the structural integrity, then glanced back at Vi with a look of hope.
"Vi!" he called, his voice low but excited. "We might have a way out over here!"
But before anyone could act, Silco stepped forward, his eyes cold and calculating as he watched Vi's every move. "You're brave, Vi, but that bravery is going to get your family killed. You could have walked away, left Vander to his fate. But you had to come here, didn't you?"
Vi gritted her teeth, ignoring him as she took down another henchman. But her resolve wavered as she heard Silco's voice, the twisted satisfaction in his tone.
"You can't save everyone," Silco sneered, his words a twisted mockery of the love Vi felt for her family. "In the end, you'll be just another broken soul left behind in Zaun."
Naruto and Powder crouched together on the narrow ledge, peering through a hole in the wall. They had a clear view of the chaos unfolding inside Silco's workshop, the scene below a clash of strength and desperation. Vi had taken down several henchmen, her strength and skill unwavering, but the arrival of Deckard a monstrous, hulking version of himself, fuelled by the shimmer coursing through his veins shifted the balance.
Naruto watched as Deckard, barely able to control his own power, threw a nearby henchman off the catwalk with terrifying ease. The man's scream echoed as he plummeted, hitting the ground below with a sickening thud. Vi, ever fearless, saw her chance. She surged forward, both gauntleted fists raised, ready to strike Deckard down with all her might.
But Deckard moved with a speed that defied his massive form, his hand shooting out to catch Vi by the neck, lifting her effortlessly off the ground. Naruto's heart dropped, his mind racing as he saw Vi struggling against the monster's grip, her face contorted in pain.
Inside the room, Vander fought against his restraints, his voice hoarse with desperation. "Silco, stop this! She's just a kid! Let her go!"
Silco only watched with cold indifference, a satisfied smirk tugging at his scarred lips as he dismissed Vander's pleas with a wave of his hand. "Your sentimentality will be the end of you, Vander. Strength is the only way to survive."
With a forceful throw, Deckard tossed Vi across the catwalk, sending her crashing to the floor. One of Vander's heavy metal gauntlets clattered to the ground, torn from her arm by the impact. Vi scrambled back to her feet, her gaze darting to Vander as she crawled towards him, her mind racing to come up with any plan that could give them a fighting chance. She managed to slide the heavy metal door shut between them and Deckard, locking it in place, but she knew it would only buy them a few precious moments.
Outside, on the ledge, Naruto clenched his fists, his heart pounding with a mixture of fear and adrenaline. The need to protect the people he had come to see as family overpowered his own doubts and fears. He had to help. But as he was about to move, a sudden vision flooded his mind fragments of memory, vivid and unsettling.
"Oh, look at this. The kid wants to play hero."
He saw the flash of a blue crystal, tumbling to the floor. He heard the distant echo of two voices, screaming a single name, filled with fear and urgency.
"Run, Naruto!"
The memory faded as quickly as it had come, leaving Naruto breathless, his pulse racing. He looked at Powder, who was watching him with wide, worried eyes, her hands clutching one of her makeshift bombs.
A small, determined smile spread across Naruto's face. "I remember… my name," he whispered, almost to himself, a spark of something powerful igniting in his chest. He felt a strange surge of energy, a connection to the crystal at his neck, its power resonating with something deep within him. "It's Naruto."
He grinned, feeling the weight of his own identity settle over him like armour. Turning to Powder, he gently placed a hand on her shoulder, his gaze steady and filled with confidence. "You got this, Powder. I'll jump in first. You make one of those bombs, and when the time is right, use it. I believe in you."
Powder's face was a mixture of fear and awe as she nodded, her hands steadying as she clutched her tools. "But… be careful."
Naruto gave her a reassuring smile, his blue eyes bright with a newfound resolve. "I will. Just trust yourself. We're going to save them."
Without another word, Naruto pushed off the ledge, leaping down into the chaos below. The air around him seemed to hum with energy as he fell, the Hex Crystal around his neck glowing brighter with every second. He landed in a crouch, the impact sending a small shockwave through the ground. Deckard, who was slamming his fists against the metal door where Vi and Vander were hiding, stopped and turned, his bloodshot eyes locking onto Naruto.
Naruto straightened, his heart steady, his gaze unwavering as he faced the monstrous figure before him. The crystal at his neck pulsed, filling him with a strange, fierce energy. His hair, usually wild and unruly, seemed to shift, a few strands spiking up as if charged with power. For the first time, he felt truly connected to the strange, potent force that had lingered in the back of his mind since the explosion. He was ready to fight, not just for himself, but for Vi, for Vander, and for Powder.
Deckard let out a guttural snarl, his massive form lumbering toward Naruto, each step shaking the catwalk. Naruto braced himself, his muscles tense, his mind focused. As Deckard swung a massive fist toward him, Naruto dodged with a fluid, almost instinctual motion, the energy of the Hex Crystal guiding his movements.
Seizing his opening, Naruto launched a counterattack, his fist connecting with Deckard's side. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, knocking Deckard back a few steps. Naruto's own strength surprised him, the power surging through his veins as if he were tapping into something deep within himself.
Outside, Powder watched the fight, her heart racing as she frantically assembled one of her bombs. She worked with a new kind of focus, driven by Naruto's faith in her, the desire to protect her family fuelling her hands as she tightened the final components.
Back on the catwalk, Naruto continued to dodge Deckard's attacks, each move precise, each strike filled with a fierce determination. Deckard, consumed by the shimmer, roared with frustration, his swings becoming more erratic as Naruto deftly evaded him. The monster lunged forward, fists swinging wildly, but Naruto twisted out of the way, using the momentum to strike Deckard's knee with a brutal kick, forcing the creature to stumble.
Vi, watching from behind the metal door with Vander, felt a surge of hope as she saw Naruto standing his ground. Vander's gaze softened with a mixture of pride and astonishment, realizing that Naruto was no ordinary kid he was something much stronger.
In that moment, Powder finished her bomb, her face set with resolve. She took a deep breath, steadying her hands as she aimed for the perfect opening. Her fingers trembled slightly, but Naruto's words echoed in her mind, filling her with courage.
With a final nod to herself, she hurled the bomb through the hole in the wall, aiming for Deckard as he stumbled back from Naruto's latest strike. The bomb sailed through the air, the fuse sparking as it neared its target.
The explosion rocked the workshop, a burst of blue light and energy engulfing Deckard as he let out a guttural roar of pain. The force knocked him back, sending him crashing into a pile of machinery. Smoke filled the air, the acrid smell mingling with the faint scent of victory.
Naruto shielded his eyes, grinning as he looked up to see Powder on the ledge, her eyes wide with a mix of relief and excitement. She had done it.
The aftermath of Powder's first bomb still hung thick in the air, the acrid scent of smoke mingling with the metallic tang of blood. But Deckard, the monstrous figure fuelled by shimmer, had somehow survived, his hulking form pushing through the debris. His enraged gaze landed on Naruto, who was just beginning to stir, dazed and bloodied from being thrown around like a ragdoll.
With a terrifying growl, Deckard lunged forward, grabbing Naruto by the arm and swinging him like a weapon, slamming him against the metal floor. Naruto's vision blurred, the world spinning as pain coursed through him. He struggled to stand, but his limbs wouldn't respond, his body broken under the weight of Deckard's monstrous blows.
Vi, Vander, Mylo, and Claggor watched in horror as Deckard advanced on the door to Vander's prison cell, his massive fists pounding against it, each impact sending cracks through the metal. Powder, perched on the ledge outside, her heart pounding with fear, realized that time was running out. She had only one option left the last bomb she had crafted, the one with the Hex Crystal attached.
Her hands shook as she lit the fuse, her gaze shifting to Naruto's crumpled form, then back to the weakened door separating her family from certain death. She knew this bomb was different, stronger, something she'd poured her entire heart into. She'd wanted it to save them, to prove she wasn't just a jinx. And now, she had to use it, no matter the consequences.
She carefully guided the toy monkey her last bomb through a small hole in the window, watching as it clapped its cymbals rhythmically, each step bringing it closer to Deckard. The little toy made its way steadily toward him, clapping a Hex Crystal between its cymbals with every small, deliberate step. Deckard, mid-swing, froze, his gaze narrowing as he noticed the strange contraption approaching him. He tilted his head, bewildered, and took a step back, staring at it with a mixture of confusion and annoyance.
Inside the room, Mylo finally cracked the last lock, releasing Vander from his chains. Relief flooded Vi's face as she helped Vander to his feet, but they all knew they weren't safe yet. Claggor began pushing against a section of bricks in the wall, creating a narrow, human sized hole, the light from the outside spilling in like a small ray of hope.
As the monkey clapped one final time, its cymbals closing around the crystal in its tiny hands. There was a brief, dreadful silence as Deckard's eyes widened in realization. And then an explosion...
The blast tore through the workshop, a searing blue light erupting from the crystal as shards of debris rocketed in every direction. The force of the explosion was unimaginable, shaking the walls, sending shockwaves through every corner of the building. Powder, perched on the ledge outside, was caught in the blast's edge, the force knocking her off the ledge. She fell, her face filled with a strange mixture of awe and horror as she watched the bright, deadly beauty of her bomb unfold.
Inside, chaos erupted. The blast threw a girl off her feet as she rushed to protect Silco, who stood in shock at the power of the Hex Crystal. She managed to shove him out of the way just before the explosion engulfed her left arm, the sheer force tearing it from her body. She screamed, her voice lost in the roar of flames and metal, as the shimmer residue ignited, a trail of blue fire snaking through the room, all the way back to Singed's lab. The explosion consumed the lab, a flash of flames devouring everything in its wake as Singed himself was lost within the blaze.
The crystal's power ricocheted through the room, unleashing a torrent of energy that shook the very foundations of the workshop. Inside Vander's cell, a piece of shrapnel was propelled with brutal speed into Mylo and Claggor's bodies. Their expressions froze in shock and pain as the roof above them, weakened by the blast, began to collapse. With a sickening finality, the ceiling gave way, burying them under a crushing weight of metal and debris.
Naruto, who had been thrown back by the force of the explosion, was sent tumbling across the catwalk, the ground falling away beneath him as he plummeted downward. He hit the floor below, his body crashing against jagged pieces of metal, one piece driving through his chest, the pain sharp and blinding. His mind swam as he lay there, barely able to move, his breath coming in shallow, ragged gasps.
Outside, Marcus stood in the distance, his gaze fixed on the massive plume of smoke rising from Silco's workshop. His face twisted with horror and dread as he realized the full extent of what had happened.
The devastation surrounding Silco's workshop was a twisted landscape of rubble, blood, and smoke. Flames licked the walls, casting flickering shadows over the destruction that Powder's bomb had unleashed. Somewhere in the chaos, Vander lay trapped beneath heavy debris, his body battered and bruised but his spirit unbroken. He could hear Vi's cries, her sobs filled with anguish as she lay pinned beneath a collapsed metal door, helpless and mourning the lifeless bodies of Mylo and Claggor beside her.
With a surge of desperation, Vander summoned all his strength. Gritting his teeth, he pushed the debris off himself, his muscles straining as he rose, raw determination blazing in his eyes. A nearby henchman, approaching to finish him off, was dispatched with a swift, brutal punch. Vander seized two metal hooks from the wreckage, gripping them as improvised brass knuckles. He moved forward, unstoppable, dispatching a second henchman with a single strike and locking his gaze on Deckard, who had just recovered from the blast, his monstrous form looming in the flickering light.
Vi's sobs grew louder as she took in the bodies of Mylo and Claggor, their broken forms lying beneath the head of Powder's monkey toy, shattered and lifeless. Pain flooded through her, an unbearable weight of grief settling on her chest as she saw the consequences of Powder's attempt to save them. Her tears blurred her vision as she lay beneath the heavy metal door, powerless to do anything but watch.
Vander and Deckard clashed in a brutal fight, Vander's raw strength matching Deckard's monstrous might. For a moment, it seemed that Vander could hold his own against the creature, each punch resounding with fury and resolve. But suddenly, a flash of silver cut through the chaos Silco, moving with deadly precision, stabbed Vander in the back. Pain shot through Vander, but he refused to yield, his focus unbroken. He turned, fury in his eyes as he seized Silco by the neck, ready to end the man who had brought ruin to his family.
But Silco struck again, driving the dagger into Vander's side. Vander's strength faltered, his grip loosening as his vision blurred. Silco stepped back, watching as Vander crumpled, the strength seeping out of him. With a cold, satisfied look, Silco nudged Vander over the edge of the catwalk, and Vander's body fell, crashing onto a crate filled with shimmering vials below.
Gasping for breath, Vander lay amidst the shattered vials of shimmer, his body weak and broken. But his eyes flickered with a final, desperate resolve as he reached out, fingers closing around a single vial of shimmer. He knew the price of what he was about to do, but for Vi, for his family, he would pay it.
Above, Deckard lifted the metal door off Vi with a single, monstrous hand, casting it aside as he loomed over her, ready to strike. But before he could land a blow, a loud, guttural roar filled the room. Deckard turned, his eyes widening as he saw Vander rising from the crate, his body transformed by the shimmer. Now larger and more powerful than Deckard, Vander moved with a terrifying strength, every inch of him radiating fury.
With a single, brutal motion, Vander seized Deckard by the throat, slamming him against the wall with unrelenting force. Deckard struggled, his monstrous strength nothing against Vander's newfound power. Vander's grip tightened, his fingers digging into Deckard's neck until the creature's body went limp. With a final snarl, Vander cast Deckard aside, his body collapsing into the rubble.
Vander's gaze shifted, locking onto Silco, who stood frozen, a flicker of fear flashing in his cold eyes. Vander took a step toward him, his massive form casting a menacing shadow over Silco. But in that moment, the flames surged higher, inching dangerously close to Vi. Vander's eyes softened as he looked at her, and he knew what he had to do.
With one last, mournful look at Silco, Vander turned, rushing toward Vi. He scooped her up, holding her close as he charged through the weakened wall, crashing through to the outside. Together, they plummeted to the ground below, their descent cushioned by the rough, dusty earth as the building continued to burn above them.
Amidst the rubble and the chaos, Naruto lay motionless, his body broken and bruised from the explosion's blast. The Hex Crystal around his neck glowed faintly, its light pulsing as if in sync with his slowing heartbeat. Gradually, the crystal began to shift, a strange energy flowing from it, seeping into the wound on his chest, almost as if it was being absorbed into his body.
A memory stirred in Naruto's mind a distant voice, filled with love and urgency, calling his name. "Run, Naruto." The words echoed, filling him with a sense of purpose, of belonging. The crystal's energy pulsed stronger, fusing with him, healing his wounds from the inside out. His broken bones mended, the bruises faded, and as the last of the crystal's power sank into his chest, he opened his eyes, gasping as he took his first deep breath in what felt like forever.
Weak but alive, Naruto staggered to his feet, his vision clearing as he saw Vi crouched over Vander, her hands cradling his head. She was sobbing, her face etched with pain and grief as Vander looked up at her, his own expression softened by a mixture of love and sorrow.
"Vi…" Vander's voice was weak, barely more than a whisper, but filled with the weight of a lifetime of love and sacrifice. "You… you have to take care of Powder. She's… she needs you."
Vi shook her head, tears streaming down her face as she clutched him tighter. "No, Vander. You can't leave us. We need you. I… I need you."
A faint, sad smile crossed Vander's lips as he looked up at her, his hand reaching up to gently touch her cheek. "You're strong, Vi. Stronger than you know. You'll… you'll protect them… I know you will."
As his strength faded, his eyes rolled back, his body going limp in her arms. The light in his gaze dimmed, and with one final, shuddering breath, Vander was gone.
Vi's anguished scream tore through the night, a sound of pure, unfiltered grief that echoed through the burning ruins of the workshop. Naruto stood nearby, his own heart heavy with sorrow
The air was thick with smoke and grief as Powder emerged from the shadows, her face flushed with excitement as she skipped over the wreckage, her eyes bright and gleaming with pride.
"Vi! Naruto! Did you see? My monkey bomb it worked!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with innocent joy as she approached them, completely oblivious to the destruction her creation had unleashed.
But her enthusiasm faded as she took in the scene before her: Vander's lifeless body lying nearby, Claggor's bloodstained goggles abandoned on the ground, and Mylo's broken, unmoving form. Powder's smile faltered, her eyes widening with horror as the reality of what she'd done sank in. The light in her face dimmed, replaced by a growing dread as she stumbled back, her breath coming in shaky gasps.
"No… no, no, no…" she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. She dropped to her knees, clutching her head as she began to cry, her voice breaking. "I… I just wanted to help. I thought… I thought I could save you."
Vi's face twisted with a mix of grief and rage. She took a step toward Powder, her fists clenched, her voice low and furious. "I told you to stay away, Powder. I told you."
Powder looked up, her face streaked with tears. "But, Vi, I was trying to help! I just… I thought—"
Without warning, Vi's hand shot out, slapping Powder across the face, the sound of the impact ringing in the air. Powder stumbled back, clutching her cheek, her expression one of utter shock and betrayal.
Naruto, who had been standing nearby, took a step forward, his face filled with concern as he moved to intervene. "Vi, stop! She didn't mean to—"
But before he could say another word, Vi turned on him, her eyes blazing with anger. She swung her fist, catching him in the jaw with a powerful punch that sent him stumbling back. Naruto hit the ground, his head spinning from the blow, a deep pain settling in his chest not from the punch, but from the accusation in Vi's voice.
"You promised to keep her away! To keep her safe!" Vi shouted, her voice filled with rage and hurt. "If you had just left things alone, none of this would've happened. If I just never brought you back with us… if I just left you to die, then maybe… maybe Powder would've listened."
Naruto's eyes went wide, his heart shattering at her words. The depth of her resentment struck him like a physical blow, leaving him breathless, hollow. He had trusted her, promised to protect her family. And now… she was saying he was part of the reason everything had gone wrong. He felt the weight of her words settle over him, the cruel, unforgiving sting of them cutting deeper than any wound.
Powder's face crumpled, her sobs breaking free as she held her hands to her head, her mind unraveling with the weight of Vi's rejection. She looked up at her sister, her voice a broken, pleading whisper. "Vi, please… I was just trying to help. I didn't mean to… I didn't want this…"
But Vi's expression remained hard, her voice dripping with bitterness. "You're a jinx, Powder. Mylo was right… you've always been a jinx."
The words landed like a dagger in Powder's heart, her pleading gaze filling with despair. She reached out for Vi, her hands trembling. "No… no, I'm not… Vi, please, don't leave me…"
Vi turned away, her chest heaving as she fought to contain her rage. She knew she'd gone too far, but the hurt and anger in her were too much to bear. She needed to get away, to clear her head, before the weight of everything crushed her. Without another glance at either of them, she stormed off, disappearing into the shadows as Vi collapses against a wall in exhaustion. Powder's broken voice called after her, pleading, "Vi… Vi, don't go! Don't leave me!"
The sound of Vi's footsteps faded, leaving only the silence of the ruins and the soft, anguished cries of Powder. She sank to her knees, her hands trembling as she reached for Naruto, clutching him as if he were the only thing tethering her to reality.
Naruto, still reeling from Vi's harsh words, wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. Powder's body shook with sobs as she buried her face in his chest, her fingers clutching his shirt with desperate force. She was falling apart, unravelling under the weight of everything she'd lost.
He felt his own tears welling up, a raw pain gnawing at him. Vi's words echoed in his mind, piercing and cruel: "If I just left you to die, maybe Powder would've listened."
Naruto held onto Powder tighter, his own heart breaking as he whispered to her, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm here, Powder. I'm not leaving you. No matter what happens, I'm here."
She sobbed harder, her fragile frame trembling against him as she clung to his words, his presence, as if he were her last remaining anchor. For the first time, she felt truly alone, abandoned by the one person she'd thought would never leave her. But Naruto's arms around her offered a small comfort, a reminder that she wasn't entirely alone.
Around the corner Silco appeared emerging from the smoke and shadows. His cold, calculating gaze landed on Naruto and Powder, who were still huddled together, the pain of Vi's rejection and the horror of everything they had just endured etched into their faces. Powder clung to Naruto, her small frame shivering as she leaned into his protective embrace, but as she noticed Silco's approach, her tear-streaked face filled with confusion and fear.
From a distance, Vi spotted Silco standing over her sister and Naruto, the sight jolting her out of her anguish. Her instincts took over, and she tried to rush forward, her only thought to protect Powder and Naruto. But before she could reach them, Marcus stepped out of the shadows, grabbing her from behind. His hand clamped a drugged cloth over her nose and mouth, his voice low and urgent as he restrained her.
"Silco will kill you if he sees you. I'm keeping you safe," he murmured, though his grip was far from gentle.
Vi's vision blurred as the drug took effect, her struggling growing weaker as her strength drained away. She barely heard Marcus's words, her consciousness fading as her desperate gaze remained fixed on Powder, the last sight she saw before everything went dark.
One of Silco's remaining henchmen approached, one of them carrying an unconscious Sevika, her body limp and battered from the explosion. Silco's gaze lingered on Powder, noting her tear-streaked face and trembling form, but his expression betrayed nothing. With a practiced calm, he shifted his hand behind his back, clutching a knife, his eyes narrowing as he took a step forward.
"Where's your sister?" he asked softly, his tone almost soothing, though the blade glinted ominously in his hidden hand.
Naruto tensed, a strange sensation prickling through him as if he could sense the threat in Silco's calm voice. He stepped forward, putting himself between Silco and Powder, shielding her from Silco's gaze. Though still weak from the battle, he clenched his fists, every fibre of his being focused on protecting Powder. He took a tentative step, hoping to draw Silco's attention, but stumbled, his body barely able to keep up with his determination.
Silco's gaze lingered on Naruto, an intrigued glint sparking in his eyes as he took in the boy's defiance. But then something happened Naruto's eyes glowed, an intense, vibrant blue, as if the energy from the Hex Crystal within him was responding to his anger and determination. Silco's expression shifted, his interest deepening as he saw the raw power in Naruto's gaze, a power he had never seen in anyone else.
For a moment, Silco hesitated, the knife lowering as he weighed his options. Here was a child with a potential he couldn't quite place, a unique strength that pulsed beneath the surface. Silco's instincts told him to end this now, but his fascination kept him rooted, his gaze calculating as he sized Naruto up, considering the possibilities.
Seeing Silco's pause, Powder clutched Naruto even tighter, her voice breaking as she looked up, her face a mixture of fear and hurt. "Vi… Vi left me. She called me a jinx… she said she's not my sister anymore. It's just me and ruto... Naruto now. We don't have anyone else."
Naruto's glowing eyes softened as he looked down at Powder, the bond between them strengthening in the face of their loss. He felt her anguish, her desperation, and he tightened his grip around her, giving her the silent reassurance that she wasn't alone.
Silco's calculating expression shifted as he watched them, his gaze returning to Powder. He could see the potential in her pain, in her need for acceptance. But it was Naruto's fierce protectiveness and the strange energy that radiated from him that intrigued Silco the most. Here, in these two children, he saw something that could either be a powerful threat or a valuable asset. The glow in Naruto's eyes told him that the boy was no ordinary lost child, there was a dormant power waiting to be harnessed.
Silco's knife slipped back into his coat, his voice softening with false sympathy as he took a step closer. "It's hard, isn't it? To be abandoned by the people you trusted most." His words were laced with manipulation, but his tone was carefully gentle, coaxing.
Powder looked up at him, a glimmer of hope mingling with her confusion and pain. She glanced at Naruto, seeking reassurance, but also curious about Silco's words.
"They call you a jinx," Silco continued, his voice lowering to a murmur. "But I see someone different. Someone strong, someone who doesn't fit into their perfect world. They'll never understand what you're capable of… but I do."
Naruto's eyes narrowed, his glowing gaze fixed on Silco as he sensed the trap in the man's words. He could feel Powder's need to believe in something, to find comfort in the aftermath of Vi's rejection, and he knew that Silco's words were weaving into the cracks of her heart. But he couldn't deny the intrigue in Silco's expression as he looked at him the way Silco's gaze lingered on his glowing eyes with a mixture of fascination and cunning.
Powder looked up, her eyes filling with a glimmer of hope as Silco's words took root in the cracks of her heart. She glanced at Naruto, torn between the familiarity of his loyalty and the promise Silco was making to her a chance to belong, to prove herself, to be seen.
Naruto's gaze was wary as he met Silco's eyes, his own determination burning behind the soft glow of his blue irises. He understood Powder's need for acceptance, but he could feel the hidden motives in Silco's words, the manipulation woven into every syllable. Yet, he also knew that Powder's heart was shattered, and that she needed stability even if it came from a place he couldn't trust.
"Come with me, Po- no Jinx," Silco said, extending a hand. "You're not alone. I'll show you what you're capable of. I'll help you show them all… you and your friend here."
Powder hesitated, glancing up at Naruto, a mixture of confusion and hope in her tear-streaked eyes. Naruto looked back at her, his heart sinking as he saw her resolve begin to waver. She needed something to believe in, and right now, Silco's words were filling the empty spaces left by Vi's rejection. He didn't know what Silco's intentions were, but he knew he couldn't let Powder face them alone.
Naruto let out a soft, steadying breath, and gave her a small, reassuring nod. "I'm with you, Powder. No matter where we go… I'm with you."
Gratitude passed over her face as she reached out towards Silco, as a flicker of something almost like sympathy crossed his face, a trace of understanding for the pain and loneliness that radiated from her. He held her and Naruto close, his arms wrapping around them in a gesture of strange, twisted comfort.
"It's okay, little ones," he murmured, his voice gentle in a way Naruto hadn't expected. "We'll show them. We'll show them all."
Chapter 4 – Monsters Arc 1 End
A/N
That's the end… so, how did everyone like it? The first arc is now fully completed, and the timeskip is about to begin.
Did you feel the emotional impact I was aiming for at the end? Keep in mind, they're still just children.
The next chapter will be coming soon!
Thanks for reading, and until next time,
byebye!