A/N: Dark wrote this, I simply adjusted and made edits.

Please have mercy on these shorter updates, we are, all of us, overworked and VERY TIRED due to insane holidays shifts. Rest assured, things will go back to normal come January.

In other news, Elden Ring: NightReign is a thing. Everyone's raving over the Nameless King~! Hey, that rhymed! Maybe I'm a poet and didn't even know it!

Just wanted to say, I appreciate you all! More feedback means faster updates! It's especially important, in these, trying times, with the main site notifications down. Every word counts and i appreciate you all! All these reviews really keep me inspired! Looking forward to hearing from you~!

Still, given all we've seen with the new the new game...

What. Was. THAT?! How am I to sleep after seeing NightReign?! This new addition to the series forced me to change up a few story beats in several of my stories for Elden Ring, while, oddly enough, enhancing others. I'm curious to see just how grand this crossover of FromSoftware's will be.

As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes. They're tributes to legends far greater than little 'ol me.

I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time.

Time and feedback will determine if this remains a story. Simple as that.

In other words...its up to YOU, the reader. Do let me know~!

SPOILERS FOR SHADOWS OF THE ERDTREE AHEAD!

"Dragons respect one thing, and one thing alone.

You already know what that is.

Ask away...

~?

Omen of Servitude

Naruto Uzumaki sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor of the grand hall, his trademark frown etched deeper than usual. The flickering torchlight gave the chamber a moody vibe, as if it wanted to be taken seriously. But it was hard for him to focus when his opponent in this absurd conversation—Fortissax, the smug, dragon-turned-human—was sipping what looked like golden tea out of a ridiculously oversized goblet.

"So, let me get this straight," He began, his voice heavy with the weariness of a man already regretting his life choices. "In dragon culture, all of you respect just one thing, and that's strength? That's it? Nothing else matters?"

"Quite so!" the disguised dragon replied, his grin wide enough to showcase all his unnervingly sharp teeth. "Only strength. Strength is life. Strength is honor. Strength is..."

"...Weird," Naruto interrupted, blinking at the dragon-turned-dandy. "You guys are weird."

Albedo, standing behind him like a hawk ready to strike, nodded so hard her long locks whipped the air. "Finally! Someone said it." She crossed her arms, glaring at Fortissax. "And for the record, your tea smells awful."

Fortissax sniffed his goblet and shrugged. "It's distilled essence of volcano flowers. Acquired taste."

...well, that certainly explained a lot.

The horned blond sighed, rubbing his temples. "Why do I always get dragged into these situations? I should be eating ramen right now..."

Omen and Dragon alike regarded him with confusion, but it was the latter who ultimately found their voice first. "What, pray tell, is ramen?"

Naruto lifted his chin and huffed. "Food of the gods, is what it is is. Look, Godwyn sent me as a liaison for a reason. Have you found anything on the Dung Eater? Who was supporting him? Hiding him? Empowering him?"

"Ah, that." the dragon took another long sip of his tea before continuing. "We have reason to suspect a man named Gideon, but there is little to connect him to-

Before Fortissax could finish weaving his tale, the sound of a colossal crash ripped through the chamber.

BOOM!

"What is THIS POWER?!" A shrill, almost theatrical voice screamed from the hallway.

The tension in the room skyrocketed as all heads turned toward the entrance. Moments later, a very human-looking Lansseax burst through the oversized wooden doors like a gust of chaos. Her silvery hair, which shimmered like liquid starlight, streamed behind her dramatically as she scanned the room with wild, electrified eyes.

And then, her gaze landed on Naruto.

"You!" she declared, pointing an accusatory finger at him as if he'd stolen her lunch money. "You are... STRONG!"

Naruto blinked. Once. Twice. "...Yeah?"

Before he could process what was happening, Lansseax was suddenly right there. Inches from his face. Her golden eyes sparkled with the intensity of a thousand overdramatic sunsets.

Albedo growled from behind, the sound practically dripping venom. Her wings twitched ominously, and her glare could've melted steel.

Unfazed by Albedo's hostility, Lansseax spun around on one heel, spreading her arms wide like she was performing on stage. "Such strength! Such power! My brother always said humans were interesting, but YOU—YOU are beyond compare!"

"Oh, dear." Fortissax said, smirking as he set his goblet down. "It is as I said, is it not? Dragons respect strength."

"This is why I don't hit people unless I have to," Naruto muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Coward!" the voice of the Formless Mother hissed inside his mind. "Hit her again! Harder this time!"

"Not helping," He whispered under his breath, glaring at nothing in particular.

Suddenly, Lansseax whipped around to face her brother. "Brother! He must be tested further! A warrior of his caliber must prove his worth through the Trial of the Draconic Embrace!"

Fortissax's eyes lit up with glee, clearly entertained by the prospect. "Oho? That would be most amusing. What say you horned omen? Up for a little dragon game?"

Albedo's wings flared dramatically as she stepped in front of Naruto, her protective instincts kicking into high gear. "He's NOT doing any stupid dragon trial!"

"Guys, I'm still sitting here," Naruto interjected, waving his hand as if to remind them he existed. "Maybe ask me if I want to do this?"

"Oh, but you must!" Lansseax pleaded, her tone brimming with melodramatic desperation. She was practically on her knees now, looking up at him with big, shining eyes. "Your strength! Your courage! Your everything! Please, allow me to test you!"

Naruto stared at her blankly, unamused. "...What's the catch?"

"No catch!" the dragoness chirped brightly. "We just wrestle a little! Maybe some light sparring. And if you win, you'll have my eternal respect!"

"And if I lose?"

Lansseax paused for a fraction of a second, her expression turning a bit too innocent. "Oh, you won't lose! You're amazing!"

"No pressure," Fortissax added with a grin, sipping his tea. "But if you do lose... she might eat you."

"WHAT?!" Naruto and Albedo screamed in unison.

"I won't!" Lansseax snapped, puffing her cheeks indignantly. "Probably."

She grabbed him and hauled him off.

(.0.0.0.)

The arena looked like it had been designed by someone who thought subtlety was for cowards. Fire spewed from decorative stone dragon heads, the floor glowed with ominous runes, and the ceiling was covered in murals of dragons breathing lightning on terrified humans.

Honestly, Naruto couldn't decide if it was intimidating or just tacky.

"Both, perhaps?"

The Formless Mother really wasn't helping on that front.

He'd been dragged here against his will; arguing all the while. There was work to do, they had a killer patron to catch, but noooo, neither Fortissax or Lansseax could be dissuaded. He and Albedo could've fought their way free, but in doing so would've lost any lead on the Dungeater's backers. A name wasn't enough; he had to know more, needed to know more...

Hence him entertaining this farce

Motion at the edge of his peripherals commanded his attention, and with a put upon sigh, he turned to face the inevitable.

At one end of the arena, Lansseax stood in all her golden, scaly glory, flexing muscles that shouldn't have existed in her human form. Her gaze was sharp, her smile sharper still. On the opposite end, he stretched casually in return, cracking his knuckles and loosening his joint warily. There would be no talking her out of this he knew; he'd already tried.

He could feel Albedo glaring at him from the sidelines.

Whyyyyyy?! It wasn't as though this was his fault, ya know!

"Alright," Naruto muttered, glancing around. "Let's get this over with."

"BEGIN!" Fortissax bellowed from his seat above, slamming a scaled fist against oversized gong for dramatic effect.

Minemineminemine!

Naruto had time enough to blink before she barreled into his side.

Credit where it was due, Lansseax didn't waste a second; with a roar that shook the ground, she launched herself forward, her fists crackling with crimson lightning.

Unimpressed, he sidestepped the attack and tripped her.

She yelped smashed into a pillar, causing a chunk of stone to crash to the floor and crush her into the ground.

It was too much to hope that would knock some sense into her.

Sure enough, she thrashed her way upward and dislodged the boulder biting into her back. Staggering, she spun around, eyes blazing. "You're fast!"

"And I'm annoyed," Naruto replied, ducking as she swung again.

What followed wasn't so much a fight as it was a game of dodgeball, with him effortlessly dodging every wild attack Lansseax threw at him and smacking her away in return. She tried punching, kicking, headbutting, and even a poorly executed suplex, only to miss every time. One particularly ambitious attack sent her flying into a wall, leaving an almost cartoonishly perfect humanoid-shaped hole.

"This is pathetic," Albedo grumbled, her arms crossed as she watched the chaos unfold. "Why does he always attract the crazy ones?"

"Because he's strong," Fortissax replied with a knowing smirk.

She clicked her tongue at him.

Naruto finally had enough. With a quick burst of chakra, he appeared behind Lansseax and delivered a flick to her forehead. The force sent her sprawling across the arena like a deflated balloon, her human form flickering to reveal shimmering dragon scales beneath.

Even then she tried to rise...

.

..

...or would have, had he not planted a boot on her back.

"That's enough," Naruto said, dusting off his hands. "Are we done here?"

Her head bobbed once, eyes hidden by her hair.

"If I let you up, are you gonna attack me?"

A shake of said head.

...alright, but I swear, if you're playing me, I'm gonna tan your hide...

Lansseax wobbled to her feet, her eyes spinning like pinwheels. Then, to everyone's surprise, she dropped to one knee and bowed deeply, punching the floor with a pale fist.

"You win, great warrior!" she declared, her voice echoing with dramatic reverence. "From this day forward, I, Lansseax, pledge my eternal loyalty to you!"

Naruto blinked. "Wait, what?"

Quick as her namesake, she lurched to her feet and spread her arms wide. "By all means, take me now~!"

"WHAT?!"

"It's a dragon thing," Fortissax explained, clapping his palms with a merry grin all his own. "You just became hers. Congratulations!"

"NO!" Albedo roared, stomping her foot like a petulant child. "He's mine! I mean—he doesn't need a dragon lackey!"

"It's not like I asked for this!" Naruto snapped, throwing his hands in the air.

She practically mirrored the motion. "What does she have that I don't?"

Fortissax hummed at her, bemused. "Are you...jealous?"

Albeto sputtered. "I-I most assuredly am not!

"You certainly are...

A/N: Hope you enjoyed the chapter. I wish I could've made this longer, but the Holidays are doing my head iiiiiiin.

I'm well aware that this story isn't as popular as the others, but even so, I'll try to keep going.

Aaaand there we go. As ever, reviews keep me alive. Without them, I lose hope. Guess that makes me weak. So...in the Immortal Words of Atlas...

...Review...Would You Kindly?

Here, have some previews.

Some are the same.

And as ever.

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!

READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!

HERE BE SPOILERS!

(Preview)

Marika faced herself in the mirror and forced herself to smile.

Slapped her cheeks, now.

"He is not a Hornsent," she muttered to herself. "That boy is your grandson. You are his grandmother. Act like it!"

Even so, she couldn't quite conceal the instinctive revulsion in her heart...

A blade whistled down at his head. He caught it with one hand and reeled his attacker in. "Hello, there! Is there a particular reason you're trying to kill me?"

"Wretched Omen! Die!"

"Hmm, hmm." Naruto thumbed his chin and. "You make a good point. Allow me to offer my rebuttal."

CRUNCH.

...whaddya want now, witch?"

Ranni puffed out her cheeks. He would've called it adorable if the redhead didn't look so angry.

"I require thy aid."

"Funny way of asking for help...

A pleasure to meet you.

He didn't trust this Gideon guy. Not one bit.

EDIT: Hey, you made it! Hope you enjoyed this chapter, it was a blast to write.

Looking forward to chatting with you all when I get back from work~!

Seriously, writing only to receive silence hurts. It hurts alot.

Tired,

~Nz.

R ~!