Chapter 26
Beta: Old man of the mountain/Darklord331
Naruto waited for the girls. They were recovering from their brother. He couldn't blame them, the pain they were feeling, it was horrible. If he was honest, he wanted to continue but he knew better than to rush. Especially since they were in the land of the demons. Meaning they had to tackle things one step at a time. Or they would be overwhelmed before they knew it.
Eventually, the sisters settled down, and Quelaag walked over with a smile on her face.
"Thanks Naruto we appreciate this."
Naruto smiled sadly, "It is horrible to lose the ones you love. Especially when there is nothing you can do for them." He sighed, "I know that feeling better than anyone. Especially from," Naruto bit his lip, "Never mind. If you guys are ready lets get moving."
Quelaag frowned. Her family owed him so much, but they knew so little about him. She remembered when fighting Nito, he mentioned knowing him and his nation. He stated that he had some encounters with other people. That would explain his unique look and personality, as well as his lack of knowledge of their lands. But at the same time, she wondered what kind of land was isolated, so much so that they wouldn't know. Almost all the far-off countries knew about Gwyn; almost no one was untouched. SO hwo could they avoid it?
She sighed, it was too much work to think about.
Turning to sister Quelana, she saw her staring off in the distance. She always wondered how she avoided the worst of the flames, but it would seem she didn't get away unscarred.
As for their youngest, she was sitting on the ledge with dry tears. Her hands were in a prayer motion, wishing her brother's soul peace on the next journey.
Quelaag closed her eyes and imagined seeing her younger brother when he was smiling with them and the rest of the family.
'Wait for us mother, sisters, we are going to end your suffering.' She gripped her hand around the sword at her waist. She was ready now.
Quelana, her mind was a mess but she knew they had to focus. She promised she would continue to live for her brother, making sure his sacrifice was not in vain. She was going to bring down the throne that Gwyn created and make sure it is seared with flames.
Quetiva stood up before turning to Naruto and walking to him. It was time to get to their mother and end their family's suffering.
Naruto watched as the sisters approached.
"You okay?"
"Yes," Quelaag said as she drew her sword. "We are ready; it's time to forge a path to our mom."
Naruto nodded. Picking up his sword, he began walking down the ramp. Some of the sick people were trying to crawl close to him; he could see their eyes were blank. The pain had probably driven them mad, making them lash out at anyone nearby—at least anyone who didn't 'feel' or smell like them.
Naruto quickly slashed his blade through them, and they disappeared in a spray of dust.
He heaved the sword onto his shoulder and glared at the demons before them.
It was a group of Taurus Demons like the one on the castle walls in the Undead burg. Then he saw Capra Demons littering the land scape. He sighed, one was bad but these guys weren't that much of a threat now.
Naruto held his sword in front of him and charged forward.
The girls followed behind with Quetiva forming her bow of flame. She pulled back, and an arrow of fire formed, then it soared through the sky and pierced its target.
The nearest Taurus demon screamed from the pain, but it was still standing.
Quetiva snapped her fingers.
The arrow exploded and soon the monster fell to the ground without its head.
Naruto saw another Taurus Demon slowly lumbering to them.
Naruto reacted on instincts and swung his blade sideways.
The creature lifted its club up and brought it down.
The heave created cracks in the ground but had missed Naruto.
He had appeared behind the demon, turning around slightly.
The demon's feet were gone and it was now stuck crawling on the ground.
Quetiva fired another arrow, killing the demon.
The nearby demons saw what was happening and quickly proceeded to the sisters and Naruto.
Naruto cracked his neck and put his sword in front of him.
"This is going to take a bit."
Quelana growled,
"Stand back."
Quelaag eyes widened, her sister wasn't about to?
Quelana held her hands up. Two balls of flame appeared in her hand. They started spinning slowly before the speed increased. It was gradually getting faster, and the balls were slowly lifting out of her palms.
"Naruto don't get near the demons!"
He raised an eyebrow, but he saw the pissed look in Quelana's eyes and quickly rushed past the demons. He dodged under the swing of the Capra demon and managed to avoid a stomp from a Taurus Demon.
Quelaag quickly rushed back to hide behind her sister's attack while Quetiva pulled her hands back on her bow. Aiming it at the demons, four flaming tips appeared in her bow.
"All of you." Her eyes were visible, glowing with a dark flame. "Die."
She pushed the balls into the air and soon the flames expanded.
Then, it exploded in the air, releasing more balls of fire.
Each one shredding through the air, heading to each of the demons. More flame balls were aimed at the Taurus Demons, but it was still impressive that each one was targeted—at least three balls of fire aimed at each one.
Naruto was in awe, Quelana was really talented in pyromancy. She had created an attack that was tearing through the air. Hitting multiple enemies at once, and killing them in quick succession.
The explosions shook the floor, and all the demons screamed from the searing pain.
The smoke covered the demons, but Naruto could see the dust that was coming off them. The monsters flew into the air and soon headed in his direction.
He couldn't believe it. Their souls were worth so much, but Quelana managed to kill them all in a single sweep.
They only took down two of them and she managed to wipe out more than 10 of them.
Naruto knew she was definitely the most advanced pyromancy user alive. There was no doubt in his mind.
Having cleared the floor, Quelana sighed,
"Lets keep moving."
Quelaag gulped. This was one reason she never messed with Quelana. While she was certain in her strength, her sister was a monster on another level—so powerful that people wouldn't think of crossing her. She was a master at using the flames and being more creative with them, even more so than their mother, who always praised her for her talent.
It always rubbed the other sisters the wrong way but she always admired and feared her sister.
Quetiva could feel her sister's heart. She was heavy. The guilt is eating her alive from the inside due to losing her brother and being blamed for it. At least she blamed herself.
None of them would, but she wouldn't let go of that sin—not until she was long gone. She prayed she could find peace soon.
Naruto and the girls gathered back up in the middle of the lava fields and walked to the ledge. There, they saw a large lava pit at the bottom of the hole and ruins along the side of the wall. Spotting more, Capra Demons littered the walkway, making Naruto sigh. Each one standing there as if they were guarding something from being reached. Or at least not knowing where to go beyond this point. They weren't sure, but they were sure that was one of the reasons.
Naruto noticed something.
"Hey what is that thing?"
The girls looked at where he was pointing. It was a giant creature sitting alongside the wall. He couldn't make out much of the being, but it seemed to be waiting. However, he felt its gaze.
"That would be the result of the ring."
"The Ring?" Naruto raised an eyebrow, "You mean your brother's ring."
Quelaag nodded.
"Yes, our brother's ring seemed to become monstrosity whenever he left it off his hand for too long. We had to kill the creature a few times after he got the ring. it wasn't too difficult, but the damn thing was annoying to deal with. As it was nearly immune to our pyromancy. However, it can still feel pain, and it will always choose a place where it has a advantage. Such as this place, with all the lava on the ground and having few places the enemy can move freely."
Naruto nodded but he got curious. So, summoning one of the daggers, he threw it at the monster. The blade soared into the monster but bounced off its skin.
"Huh looks like it has hardened skin."
"Probably because it is not awake." Quelana sighed, "There are some creatures that when sleeping or dormant can't be harmed unless it is something truly powerful."
Quetiva summoned her bow and fired a flaming arrow at the creature. The Arrow hit the skin and exploded.
But nothing, it didn't move, and there was no sign of damage to the creature.
"Damn." Naruto was hoping to avoid fighting it down in the crater but it looked like they won't have a choice.
Turning back to the bridge he narrowed his eyes,
"Okay, we need to cut our way through quickly. We can't afford to waste time with all the monsters."
Quetiva nodded.
"Leave that to me."
"Are you sure?"
She smirked, "Yep I have a trick that will definitely work."
Naruto and the girls agreed to the plan and soon proceeded to the demon ruins. Naruto managed to dispatch one of the Capra demons that was waiting for them when it jumped into the air to bring down both blades. Only to find itself impaled through the crotch by his sword and screaming in pain. Naruto felt for them if they were male but it was the easiest way to get the kill.
Naruto and his team continued down the walkway cutting through some of the capra demons.
Quetiva managed to fire off some fire arrows, and they pierced through their skulls with ease.
Arriving at the main ramp, they saw a fog door below, and Naruto frowned. There were several paths that they could take, mostly for exploration and collecting unique items, but only one way down.
Naruto started walking to the stairs until he heard an explosion behind them.
Turning their head, he saw Quetiva firing off a flaming arrow at something behind them. It was a person clad in black armor carrying a shield and sword.
Naruto narrowed his eyes,
"Someone you guys know?"
Quelaag growled,
"It is Kirk. He was a servant of my sister when she was stuck to her spider half."
Naruto frowned,
"If he is a servant then why are we attacking him."
"Because WAS being the operative word. He had originally served my sister, but after time, he started to drift away, only aiming for his own goals and ambitions. I knew the man was not to be trusted, but sadly, my sister's kind nature made it easy for him to move around."
Kirk, that prick. She had known he was a traitor, he always had something to say or do that was outside the normal scope. He swore his loyalty to her sister, but she never saw him actually 'do his duty' as he claimed. Sure he came by with Humanity once and while, but not enough for all the time he was away. Hell, she knew that they did not forge the armor but by those living in New Londo.
Naruto on the other hand sent away Dragon Slayer and summoned his katana.
"Well, then, that means we should deal with him. Something tells me he won't leave us alone unless he gets what he is after."
"Naruto, let us deal with him. This is our fight; you should keep moving forward."
"But-"
"Naruto," Quetiva glared at the knight and then back at Naruto. "This is our fight; we need to make sure we deal with it. Please, go."
"My sisters are right," Quelana chimed in. "He betrayed us, and we need to deal with him."
Naruto wanted to argue against them. But he knew better, women were stubborn.
Was this what Shikamaru meant when women are troublesome?
He shook his head, no that was just Shikamaru.
Traversing down the stairs he heard explosions going off in the background. He knew that the group was powerful enough to handle him but he didn't stop worrying about them.
He barely missed the stone statue that was moving slowly to him.
Rolling around the monster's flame breath, he slashed its back. Making the monster groan from the pain and slowly turning. But Naruto reacted quickly and performed a downward slash killing the beast. Sighing he collected what he could find on this floor but he saw something that made him smile.
it was a bond fire but it was hidden behind a giant bug monster.
Walking around the staircase, he proceeded to the bug monster that either didn't see him or acknowledge his presence.
"Screw it I don't have time for this today." Naruto held his hand out, formed a fire ball, and made it into his classic move.
He thrust his hand, and the ball of fire slammed into the worm, causing it to scream in pain and wiggle around. But the pain was too intense, and the creature exploded into dust.
Naruto sighed before going to collect the soul that was laying on the ground nearby. There, he walked to the bond fire and lit it.
"Good just in case."
Naruto walked away from the fire and proceeded back up the stairs to check on the girls. He was sure they could handle the guy but that didn't mean he wasn't worried. Especially since two were long-range fighters while only one of them was good at fighting close up.
But his fears were unfounded, as expected, as the girls were waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs.
"Done?"
"Yes." Quetiva sighed, turning to her sisters, "I apologize again sisters. I never should have trusted that man."
Quelana rubbed her head, "It is fine sister we know better now."
Naruto nodded, "You never know who is going to stay loyal to you and who isn't. In the end, all you can do is forge forward and know better in the future."
Quetiva sighed. She knew that he was right but it still ate at her. She should have known better, but for some reason she just failed to recognize it. How annoying.
Naruto and the girls gathered and proceeded down the stairs. They walked into more of the stone creatures spewing fire. Naruto quickly sat through them, with Quelaag providing support.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs the Taurus Demon jumped out of the corner. He had his hammer raised.
Naruto quickly rolled under his attack and Quelaag formed a ball of flame. Shaping the sphere she created a spear and flung it through the monster. It fell backwards almost crushing Naruto in the process.
"Watch it!"
Quelaag rubbed the back of her head sheepishly.
He shook his head, and they continued to the fog door. Walking up to the door, they pressed against it and passed into a hallway with branches growing through the walls and ruins buried under the earth. Naruto had to admit, this place was quite haunting.
Looking down he saw a jump path down to the bottom floor.
He turned back to his friends and thought of Quetiva. While she was healthier, he wasn't sure if she was up for jumping down. He shook his head. He would just ask; it was that simple.
"So, do you girls want to head down or continue along the path?"
Quelaag walked past him and jumped down on the branch and then to the ground floor.
"There is some kind of maggots down here. But it looks like they are weak."
Naruto sweatdropped,
'Given we just had a battle with Nito the god of death and had to traverse the realm of death. Of course these would seem like nothing.'
Naruto shook his head before turning to Quetiva. Kneeling he motioned her to come over.
She smiled, jumping on his back and wrapping her arms around his neck tightly.
Naruto stood up before jumping to the branch below. There, Naruto quickly jumped off it and to the ground floor.
Quetiva hopped off his back and frowned.
"Parasites." She quickly formed a small orb of fire and flung it at one of them. The creature screeched from the pain and collapsed. "They latch to the target's face and blind them with a flame that they produce from their bodies."
Naruto frowned, "So that means they are a threat to anyone that happens to find this place?"
"Yes." She flung another ball of fire, killing another, skittering across the floor. Her sister was cutting them down as quickly as she could find them. "Best to eliminate them before someone happens to find them."
Naruto nodded, quickly cutting down one of the monsters that aimed for his face.
Quickly wiping out the monsters Quelana joined them on the ground floor and proceeded to a nearby wall.
"Oh, it seems this is still in one piece."
"This wall?"
"I wouldn't be surprised that you didn't know."
Quetiva touched the wall and soon it started sliding downward.
"You see, people of my covenant could access this door if they offered enough to me. But most times, those who did join had alternative reasons and never returned or became puss monsters."
Naruto's eyes widened and he quickly grabbed Quetiva and pulled her back.
The girls were shocked but then looked up and saw that someone was standing there. He had a sword in his hand and was covered in one of those bugs from earlier.
Naruto's heart sank,
"Solaire."
Standing there was Solaire, the man Naruto had come to think of as a friend while traversing the land. While traveling, he had hardships, but he was always there to listen and cheer him up. It was something he cherished, but then he noticed that his own joy was slowly diminishing. Over time, his mind wavered, and his body moved more rigidly.
"I can see it Naruto! My sun I have found my Sun!"
Naruto gritted his teeth. Putting Quetiva behind him and pulling out his sword.
"Solaire, you're not seeing a sun you're seeing the flame of that thing strapped to your face."
"Nonsense! I can see the sun, it is my sun, the sun that was my guiding grace!"
Naruto shook his head,
"Solaire listen to me! That thing is warping your mind!"
"No, the only person trying to warp my mind is you!" he pointed his sword at him. "If you plan to disturb me when staring at my sun, then I shall smite you here and now!"
He couldn't believe it. His friend was completely lost; he had been brainwashed by that damn bug.
'Gwynevere is there anything we can do?'
He really didn't want to kill him.
'Naruto, that thing from before, that flame, it almost killed you, and you want to try and confront it again.'
'Unlike the time before, this one is smaller and, I think, manageable.'
'You think!? Naruto thinks with reason: if you try to confront that fire again, who knows what will happen.'
'I don't care!' Naruto gritted his teeth and blocked a strike from Solaire's sword. 'I know he is still in there and that damn bug can be destroyed. Meaning I can still save him.'
Gwynevere bit her lip. Should they try? There was a good chance whatever that flame was before could kill him. She didn't advise using that same method again, but he was right to an extent. This creature didn't seem to be as powerful or massive as the sister's infection, so there is a chance this will be easier. But the risk was too great!
'Naruto use it again.'
'Kurama!'
'If you can stop him for a few seconds and push your Senjutsu into the bug then we can possibly kill it without hurting Solaire. But he definitely won't be happy about this.'
'Better than him dying.'
Naruto parried his next swing and quickly closed the distance to him. Pushing him to the floor without difficulty. He pushed his empty hand into the bug's core.
He flinched at the intensity of the bug's fire. It was burning his flesh, but he wasn't going to give up.
He focused, slowly pulling in the world around him. The chaotic flame inside the voice, it was there.
But he wasn't going to back down.
The girls watched as Naruto pushed his hand into the bug's eye socket. They were terrified of what this meant for him, but he didn't hesitate, which meant he was confident.
Soon, a high, piercing screech was heard with Solaire screaming.
Naruto grunted from the pain before pulling his hand up.
The bug in his hand, laying limp.
Solaire was breathing heavy.
Naruto sighed, before rolling off his chest and sitting upright.
"You okay Solaire?"
He threw the bug across the room. Not caring where it landed.
"Why?"
"Why?"
"Why did you take my sun from me." He sat up, "I finally had found it-"
"What you found was a parasite that was draining your life. It was trying to use you as a vessel for its own sinister purpose."
"But I finally found my sun! Now it is gone."
"Even if it was a lie!"
"That lie was giving me hope!"
"False hope!" Naruto grabbed him by the front of his armor. "You are looking for something that doesn't exist. At least not in a place like this!" Naruto growled, "You need to let go of this obsession! Find peace with your own life!"
"Easy for you to say." He pushed him off, "What is my life if I can't find a sun to guide me."
Naruto shook his head,
"Your an idiot." Giving him a serious stare, "Don't you get it Solaire? Your are the sun."
"Huh?"
The girls smiled.
"You do realize that you had inspired me? A person that had become suspicious of everyone in my life. Feeling that I had to harden myself to avoid feeling hurt again." He put his hand to his chest and gritted his teeth. It was still painful to remember how the Leaf treated him after the war. "I was drowning in my desire to find something or anything, just to give myself a purpose. But when I met you and started talkign to you it was like, I was looking into the mirror of the past. You provided me with hope for the future and reminded me it is okay to care for others. To reach out and offer them a hand, not everyone was going to turn against me."
"Before long, I started to form bonds again. When I wondered why I was able to trust people so easily again, I thought of you. The one that showed me back to where I once was. I might not be the same person I was back then, but I believe I'm a better person thanks to you."
Solaire looked down at his lap, "Am I really a sun though? Unlike Gwyn I haven't-,"
"FUCK GWYN!"
Naruto jumped to his feet and glared,
"YOU WANT TO BE COMPARED TO HIM! YOUR A HUNDRED TIMES BETTER!"
Solaire looked up in shock.
"You didn't betray those that mattered the most to you! You honored your word, you care for those around you, and you made sure they could smile! You didn't kill your own people just because they disagreed with you! You stood with them and helped them find a path of their own! Mark my words, Solaire. One day, you are going to rise to a level beyond Gwyn and become a warrior that the heaven will sing about! So stop trying to be like him and start being more like you!"
Solaire sat there.
Had he really been that much of a fool? Did he really push himself that far just because he wanted to be like Gwyn? A monster in human flesh? he was once his idol but after seeing the horrors of the land and learning of the things he did to other races and beings. He grew out of this idolization, but he admired the strength he commanded. The power he had over the fire that was burning.
But now, maybe.
He smiled,
"Your right. Thank you Naruto."
He stood up and looked up to the sky. "Thank you, friend. You have brought some peace to my mind. I will continue on my journey and hopefully find more to accomplish." He smirked. I hope you find your own solace, my friend."
Naruto nodded before holding his hand out. "I'm always a call away."
Solaire nodded before shaking his hand and walking back into the lost city of Izalith. Naruto had noticed that the exit was there and they could walk through the door.
Naruto sighed, thank goodness. He saved his friend.
"You girls ready?"
Quelana and her sisters nodded. Staying quiet while the boys hashed out their issues.
Boys had a weird way of dragging one another up.
Walking up the stairs they walked out to the filed of lava and magma, there they saw it.
Their home.
Lost Izalith.
"So we have arrived."
Naruto sighed, "Man with all those demons, it was quite the hassle getting here."
Quelana frowned,
"Indeed but the biggest issues now is all the lava on the ground. I'm afraid to point this out, Naruto, but you aren't exactly fireproof."
Agreed.
Quetiva waved her hands around and soon Naruto felt something covering his body.
"There, this pyromancy spell should prevent us from being able to touch the lava."
Naruto smirked, "Alright then lets head to the inner city and find your mother and sisters."
The girls hardened. It was time to end this long standing conflict.
The four began proceeding into the open lava field looking for the nearest bond fire just in case.
After exploring the field for a few minutes they found it and lit it.
But upon returning to the lava field they were forced to jump back.
A loud explosion was heard, drawing their attention to the center. The lava covered their field of vision, but soon, it gave way. This revealed another Stray Demon, like the jail, but this one had flames covering its body and seemed to be slightly bigger.
"Are you kidding me another one?"
"No this is one." Quelana sighed, "It is Harviika."
"Who?"
"He was the first student in our family to learn how to channel pyromancy. He was very proficient with it and proved to be a valuable asset during the war. But his arrogance started to grow as time passed, and we became more and more aware of his desire for more power. He started to conduct more experiments with pyromancy. He hoped to advance even further than us but didn't have the creativity for it. In fact most of the spells he had came from us."
"He also hated the fact that we could use it with ease while he had to study harder than us. Our mother eventually just appointed him a high ranking position but he still wasn't satisfied."
"So basically the guy was a student, wasn't as good as the masters, and blamed the masters for his own lack of initiative."
"Pretty much."
The demon growled and slammed his hammer into the lava before swiping it upward. Waves of lava flew through the air and were about to cover them.
But they quickly moved out of the way of the attack and proceeded with their own attack.
Naruto couldn't get close to the beast, so he chuckled fireballs at him. He was annoyed by this and quickly turned his attention back to Naruto. Hoping to squash him for everything he was doing.
However, Naruto quickly rolled out of the way of the monster, and Quetiva fired a set of fire arrows at his back. he screamed at the searing pain before it exploded. His body slumped over.
Quelana gathered a giant ball of fire and threw it down on his back. The creature tried to fight against the pressure on his back, but she just added more power, leaving him nearly face-first into the lava.
Naruto quickly summoned Dragon Slayer and rushed at him.
Quelaag grabbed him and jumped back.
A giant explosion came out of the demon. It knocked off the fireball and caused all the lava to lift into the air.
"Shit he packs a hell of a wallop."
"All that was an area-of-effect spell, nothing special." She smirked. I was wondering when I would get to use this. Now is a good time." She put her sword into its sheath.
Naruto stared at her in confusion, he wasn't sure what she was doing but for some reason she was very confident in it.
The sage was back to his feet and glaring at the two of them. He roared and charged at Naruto and Quelaag making him nervous.
"Be at ease, there is nothing I can't do with this technique."
Naruto kept his blade ready, but Quelaag kept her hand on her sheathed sword.
Then, the monster was on them, and he lifted his hammer in an attempt to create a massive slam.
The hammer fell behind him.
He was confused, trying to understand how he dropped his hammer behind him.
Pulling his arm back it noticed his hand was missing.
The sage screamed at the pain.
"What the?"
The demon soon felt several burning cuts appearing on his body. he was tumbling backward in pain and staring at the daughter in shock. Then fear started to creep in when she saw the smile on her face.
The demon turned, and before it could take a step, its body started convulsing. It moaned at the pain; the burning was growing; it couldn't stand it. It was going through its entire body, and he fell to his knees.
"This is the end for you. Fair well student you always were a slow study."
Quelaag turned from him and smiled, "Now then shall we continue on to our mother?"
The Sage screamed and soon he exploded in a torrent of flames and vanished into the lava.
Naruto sweatdropped.
Thank god she never was using this against him when the fought.
They had decided to take a small break to recover their lost strength by the bond fire but then continue on their path.
In another location, a woman stood by the entrance to the Witch's domain. She was playing with a dagger in her hand and covered her face with a hood.
"So you have returned." She smirked. "Goodness, to disparage the gift of our mother. I should really punish you all; that is the role of a big sister after all."
Her head lifted up slightly and her eyes gleamed with a burning flame, one that was erratic and full of madness.
Chapter End