The light faded as quickly as it had come, leaving Naruto standing in the courtyard again.
Wait… I know this place.
Instinct took over, and he jumped back, his eyes darting to the entrance where the Asylum Demon had been. But the door—it was closed.
"Didn't we open that?" Naruto muttered, frowning as he looked up at the second floor. Oscar had gotten flung up there.
I need to find him first—then we'll deal with that demon bastard.
Without wasting any more time, Naruto pulled out his ninja wire and grapple hook. His hands worked quickly, tying the wire around the hook before launching it upward. The hook caught the edge of the second-floor ledge with a satisfying clink. He yanked the wire tight and started climbing, his feet pushing off the wall as he scaled the inner side of the asylum.
As soon as he reached the top, a hollow came rushing at him.
Didn't I already kill this thing?
It lunged, swinging its rusted sword at his head, but Naruto ducked under it, rolling to the side. Too slow. He pulled out a kunai and, in one swift motion, lodged it into the hollow's skull. The hollow crumbled to the ground, lifeless.
These things just keep coming back… how did everything reset?
He didn't have time to dwell on it because his eyes caught something in the corner—a room, partially collapsed, and inside, lying on a pile of rubble…
"Oscar!" Naruto almost choked on the word, his chest tightening.He's alive, right? He's gotta be!
But Oscar wasn't moving. Naruto swallowed hard, panic rising in his throat.
I need to get to him.
The room was a mess of rubble and debris. Oscar must've been thrown through the ceiling. There wasn't an easy way in.
Naruto ran to the right, scanning for an opening.
If there's no way in, I'll make one.
Explosive tags flickered in his mind, ready to blow a hole in the wall if he needed to.
Then he heard it—the sound of something rolling.
Naruto's heart skipped a beat.The ball!That giant iron ball that had almost crushed him before.
If everything reset… it's coming right for me!
He threw himself forward into a roll, his body hitting the ground hard as he tumbled out of the way. The sound of metal crashing into stone roared behind him. He turned, breathless, just in time to see the ball smash into the wall, creating a massive hole where it had hit.
Well… that worked out in my favor, dattebayo,Naruto thought, his face lighting up in relief as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. Through the dust and debris, he could see the hole the iron ball had left—a jagged gap leading right into the room where Oscar lay.
"Thanks for the assist, you big metal jerk," Naruto muttered under his breath, grinning.
But then he heard the hollow—the one that had kicked the ball down the stairs. Its footsteps echoed in his ears, and Naruto's grip tightened around the kunai.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
A few clones poofed into existence, rushing up the stairs. Naruto would have loved to deal with that hollow himself—kick it down the stairs and make it regret messing with him—but Oscar was more important.
As Naruto entered the room, his breath caught in his throat. The sunlight filtered through the hole in the ceiling, casting a soft, golden light on Oscar. He was lying there, unmoving, on a pile of rubble. For a split second, it was one of the most beautiful things Naruto had ever seen—a warrior bathed in sunlight, like something out of an old story. But reality snapped him out of it just as quickly.
"Sensei!" Naruto screamed, his voice bouncing off the cold stone walls, swallowed by the emptiness around him.Please… please respond.
Oscar didn't move.
No, no, no, not like this.Naruto's legs moved before he could think, carrying him toward Oscar, his heart hammering in his chest, driven by pure panic. When he reached Oscar, he froze—a few empty estus flasks lay scattered around his feet, their golden glow long extinguished.
But then Naruto saw it—the faintest rise and fall of Oscar's chest. His breath caught.Oscar was breathing. Barely.He's alive. He's still here.
Relief washed over Naruto like a wave, but it quickly faded. There were no visible wounds, no blood—nothing he could see to fix. His eyes darted around, searching for a clue.Maybe he's just knocked out?
His gaze landed on the empty estus flasks again.Yeah, those weird bottles… they healed him. Sensei's just resting. He has to be.Naruto wasn't ready for any other possibility.
He knelt beside Oscar, placing a hand on the knight's armor, as if somehow his touch could bring him back. "Come on, Sensei," Naruto whispered, his voice trembling. "Just wake up." But deep down, the knot of fear in his stomach only tightened.
He carefully removed the knight's helmet, revealing his hollowed face. It looked worse than anything Naruto had seen before—worse than the hollows they had fought. Oscar's skull—his skull was caved in on the right side.
Naruto froze, his stomach turning.How… how is he still alive?
Suddenly, Oscar stirred. His eyes fluttered open, weak and unfocused. Naruto felt his heart leap into his throat.
"You're awake!" Naruto shouted, barely able to contain his relief. His hands fumbled as he pulled out the medicinal pills he had brought. "You're gonna be fine, Sensei. I—I went back to my world and got these. Just take them, and you'll be fine, and then we'll go kick that demon's ass… together!"
Naruto tried to smile, tried to be strong, but his hands were shaking so badly that the pills rattled in their container. Come on, Naruto, calm down.
"Save… save them for yourself, Naruto."
Naruto's heart clenched, a feeling of dread sinking into his stomach. "No!" he cried, shaking his head, his voice breaking. "I got these for you! Don't you dare give up on me!"
Oscar's faint smile faded, his eyes softening with something almost like pity. "Naruto… I'm beyond repair." His voice was weak but steady, as if he'd already accepted what was coming. "I can feel it. My soul… it's slipping away."
Naruto's eyes burned as he knelt beside Oscar, gripping his hand tightly. He could feel the tears starting, even though he tried to hold them back. He wasn't ready for this. He wasn't ready to lose Oscar—not now, not after everything. "Please, Sensei… don't go," he choked out, his voice barely more than a whisper. "Please… don't leave me."
Oscar's gaze softened even further, the gentleness in his eyes contrasting with the pain etched across his face. "I'm… I'm sorry, Naruto," he said quietly. "But… I can't keep my promise."
That did it. The tears broke free, streaming down Naruto's face in hot, unrestrained rivulets. He clenched his jaw, trying to be strong, but the more he tried, the more it hurt. His heart felt like it was being crushed under an impossible weight. He'd just met Oscar hours ago—a stranger who had somehow become his teacher, his friend. And now he was dying, slipping away right in front of Naruto. It felt too fast, too unfair.
"Don't cry, Naruto," Oscar murmured, his voice almost scolding, but there was a gentleness to it. "Be… brave."
Brave. Naruto was supposed to be brave. But how? How could he be brave when he felt like his entire world was crumbling? He tried to nod, tried to force a smile, but it was impossible. "Yeah… I'm brave. I'm… I'm brave," he whispered, sniffling, his hands shaking as he clung to Oscar's. He bit his lip so hard he tasted blood, but he couldn't stop the tears.
"I… I can't be brave, Sensei," Naruto finally admitted, his voice breaking, feeling like a little kid who didn't know what to do. "I… I don't know how."
Oscar's hand trembled as he reached up, resting it gently on Naruto's shoulder. "Bravery… doesn't mean not feeling fear, Naruto. It's… standing up despite the fear. Despite the pain." He took a shaky breath, each word coming slower, weaker. "This world… it's a cruel one. But it doesn't deserve your innocent tears. Being brave… means standing tall and proud… even when everything else is falling apart."
Oscar's words sank into Naruto like stones, heavy and unyielding, each one filling him with a strength he didn't know he had. The tears kept coming, his heart still ached, but somehow, Oscar's words steadied him, gave him a small piece of solid ground to stand on, even as the world crumbled around him.
"I'll… I'll be brave, Sensei," Naruto whispered, his voice trembling but filled with a new resolve. His eyes were swollen and red from crying, but he wiped his face with the back of his hand, trying to pull himself together, even if it was just for a moment.
"Naruto… may I ask? What does… 'Sensei' mean?"
The question caught Naruto off guard, and for a second, he almost forgot his pain. He looked at Oscar, swallowing hard as he tried to find his voice. "Sensei… it means teacher. But it's more than that. It's… someone you trust. Someone who shows you the way, who believes in you when no one else does."
"Then… I am honored… to be your Sensei."
"If you've… if you've given me the honor of being your Sensei… then let me give you… a title from my world." His voice was faint, barely audible, but filled with meaning. "A Squire. In Astora… a Squire is someone who follows a knight. Someone who learns from him… who will one day become a knight themselves. Someone who… inherits the knight's will and mission."
Naruto's tears fell harder, his heart aching with every word. He didn't fully understand what a Squire was, but the weight of the moment pressed down on him, and he knelt beside Oscar, trying to be strong, trying to be worthy of the title his Sensei was giving him.
Oscar's hand trembled as he placed the sword on Naruto's shoulder, the cold metal pressing against his skin. His voice, though faint, carried a gravity Naruto had never felt before. "Naruto… I've never had a Squire before. I've always walked this path alone. But now… I ask you to continue where I've fallen. To carry on my mission… to keep the torch lit."
Naruto's heart pounded, each word sinking deeper into him, filling him with a purpose he hadn't known he needed.
Oscar's hand lifted the sword to Naruto's other shoulder, his movements slow and deliberate. "There is… a saying in my family… 'Those who are Undead are chosen.' You're leaving this place, this asylum. But it's not just an escape—it's a journey. A pilgrimage… to the land of the Ancient Lords. When you ring the Bell of Awakening, your fate… the fate of the Undead… will be revealed."
Oscar paused, his breath shaky, and Naruto held onto every word. "Now you know… and because of that… I can die with hope in my heart."
"Yes, Sensei," he managed to say, though his voice was thick with emotion.
Oscar looked at him with a gentle, tired smile. "I'm sorry, Naruto… but you'll have to face… the world without me. The demon… without my help. Without the healing of Estus flasks."
Naruto forced himself to smile, through the pain, through the tears. "It's okay, Sensei," he said, trying to be strong, just as Oscar had told him. "I heal fast. I'll… I'll be fine."
"Naruto… I believe… you are the chosen undead."
Naruto shook his head. "No, Sensei. I'm your squire," he said, as if that title meant more to him than any prophecy or destiny. To be a squire to this knight—a knight who had given him strength, hope, purpose—was all that mattered.
"Then… I will make you my squire, Naruto Uzumaki. I'll pass to you the honor and the duty of my order."
Oscar took a trembling breath and, with the last of his strength, lifted the Astora straight sword, the blade gleaming faintly in the light. Naruto knelt down beside him, feeling the weight of the moment press upon him, his heart pounding with both sorrow and pride.
Oscar's hand was unsteady as he held the sword over Naruto's shoulder, his voice barely a whisper, but every word carried the weight of tradition, of honor, of a knight's legacy. "Naruto Uzumaki… by this sword, I name you Squire of Astora. To serve in the light of the first flame… and to defend against the darkness."
Naruto's chest tightened, and he swallowed hard, forcing himself to stay still, to listen, to absorb every word. The weight of the blade on his shoulder felt heavy, yet right, as if it was binding him to something greater than himself.
Oscar lifted the sword and tapped it gently on Naruto's other shoulder, his voice growing weaker but filled with resolve. "As a squire… you will walk the path of the knight. You will carry the torch… where I have fallen. You will uphold… the Knightly Precepts of Astora."
Oscar's hand wavered, and Naruto reached out, steadying his Sensei's arm as he held the sword. "Teach me, Sensei," he whispered. "Please… teach me the way of the knight."
"Then listen closely, Naruto," he whispered, his voice so soft that Naruto had to lean forward to catch each word. "The first precept… A knight's purpose is to serve… to protect those who cannot protect themselves."
Naruto wasn't the brightest in school. Frankly, academics were his worst subject, and lectures had always put him to sleep faster than a lullaby. But Oscar's words—the Knightly Precepts of Astora—were different. These weren't just lessons; they were pieces of his Sensei's soul. They were a legacy, each word etched into him with the weight of a thousand promises. And as Oscar's voice grew weaker, Naruto held onto every word, carving them into his heart, letting them settle deep into his being.
"And finally…" Oscar whispered, his voice little more than a breath. "A knight… never falters in the face of fear… nor does he waver… in the face of death."
Naruto's hands trembled as he clutched Oscar's, feeling the warmth slowly slipping away.
"A knight doesn't go… Hollow," Oscar finished, his voice fading to silence, his hand going limp in Naruto's grasp.
And then, there was nothing.
Naruto stared, his breath caught in his throat, waiting for something—anything. A sign that his Sensei was still here, still fighting, still… alive. But Oscar's hand was still, his chest no longer rising, his eyes now vacant, the life fading from them like the last flicker of a dying flame.
The silence that followed was like a punch to the gut, an empty, deafening void that seemed to swallow everything whole.
"No…" Naruto whispered, his voice barely audible, as if speaking too loudly might shatter what was left of this moment. "No… Sensei… please don't…"
But Oscar didn't respond. He was gone.
Naruto felt like his world had collapsed around him. The room felt cold, so cold and empty. He sat there, clutching Oscar's lifeless hand, his mind spinning, his heart pounding in his chest like it was trying to tear its way out.
Then, just above Oscar's body, a soft, pure light began to glow—an orb, warm and beautiful, floating like a final blessing. Naruto's breath caught as he looked at it, transfixed, the tears on his cheeks catching the light as it shone brighter, illuminating the room with a gentle radiance.
It was Oscar's soul. Naruto could feel i. The warmth drifted closer, and as it touched Naruto's hand, he felt a surge of strength, a resolve that filled the hollow ache Oscar's absence had left behind. It was like a final embrace, a parting gift, a last act of faith from his Sensei.
And in that moment, Naruto made a silent vow, a promise as sacred as the Knightly Precepts.
I'll carry on your mission, Sensei. I'll ring the Bell of Awakening. I'll finish what you started.
[ Name: Naruto Uzumaki ]
[ Weapons ]
- [ R Weapon 1: Astora's Straight Sword ]
- [ R Weapon 2: Pyromancy Flame ]
- [ L Weapon 1: Crest Shield ]
- [ L Weapon 2: Fists ]
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
[ Armor ]
- [ Head: Elite Knight Helm ]
- [ Chest: Elite Knight Armor ]
- [ Hands: Elite Knight Gauntlets ]
- [ Feet: Elite Knight Leggings ]
[ R Weapon 1: 96 ] → [ R Weapon 1: 174 ]
[ Equip Load: 10.0 / 51.0 ] → [ Equip Load: 29.8 / 52 (57.31%) ]
[ HP: 573 / 573 ] → [ HP: 594 ]
[ Stamina: 93 ] → [ Stamina: 95 ]
[ Physical Defense: 73 (20) ] → [ Physical Defense: 118 ]
[ Magic Defense: 73 (13) ] → [ Magic Defense: 60 ]
[ Flame Defense: 99 (21) ] → [ Flame Defense: 67 ]
[ Lightning Defense: 59 (16) ] → [ Lightning Defense: 54 ]
[ Poise: 0 ] → [ Poise: 49 ]
[ Bleed Resist: 104 ] → [ Bleed Resist: 101 ]
[ Poison Resist: 194 ] → [ Poison Resist: 72 ]
[ Curse Resist: 35 ] → [ Curse Resist: 30 ]
Naruto whispered to himself, the words heavy in his chest.
"Precept the Fifth: A squire inherits the will, the arms, and the sacred duty of their master."
He pressed an explosive tag against the wall and stepped back, shielding his face as the blast rang out, sending debris and dust flying. When the smoke began to clear, he saw the cracks already knitting back together, the stone walls reassembling themselves almost as if they were alive.
The Asylum… it felt like a beast with its own heartbeat, rebuilding itself piece by piece with some unseen magic. No matter what he destroyed, it would always come back.
I guess that's why Oscar's armor was intact, even though his body was broken.
As the dust settled, Naruto caught a glimpse of his reflection in the gleaming edge of the Astora straight sword. He paused, taking in his new appearance—Oscar's armor now fitting snug against his frame. The chainmail and plate had somehow resized to him the moment he'd equipped it, the heavy metal feeling almost natural against his body, as if it had accepted him as its new master. He wondered briefly if it had something to do with the strange window.
The weight of the armour had felt strange at first, but now, with the sword in his right hand and the crest shield strapped securely to his left arm, he felt a strength he hadn't known before. A quiet, steady strength, as if Oscar himself was there, guiding him.
He took a step forward, the armor clinking softly with each movement.
Suddenly, a cluster of hollow soldiers emerged from the shadows, their rusty swords held high, their dead eyes locked onto him. They charged as one, their steps uneven but relentless, closing the distance with frightening speed. But Naruto was ready. His body moved before his mind had even caught up, his senses heightened, the world around him sharpening. In a single swift motion, he brought the Astora straight sword down in a clean, sweeping arc, cutting through the air with a precise, deadly grace. The hollows fell instantly, their brittle bodies collapsing in a heap on the cold stone floor, defeated in one strike.
A faint whistling sound caught his ear—an arrow.
Way of Focality.
Time seemed to slow as he raised the crest shield, catching the arrow just in time, the shaft clinking harmlessly off its surface. In one fluid motion, he lunged forward, his body and sword moving as one, driving the blade straight into the hollow archer's chest.
"Precept the Second," Naruto murmured, watching the light leave the hollow's eyes as he withdrew the sword and wiped it clean on his sleeve. "Honor thy weapon, for it is thy companion in battle."
Taking a deep breath, he turned to the foot of the staircase that led to the demon's arena. He could hear it breathing up there, a low, guttural sound that reverberated through the stone floor, each exhale like a distant rumble of thunder. The ground trembled slightly under his feet, and he knew that this time, there would be no running. No hesitation.
This is it. Round two.
Naruto tightened his grip on the Astora straight sword, adjusting his stance, feeling the shield balanced on his back. His fingers flexed around the sword's hilt, grounding himself in the weight, the reality of the fight ahead. This was no longer just a battle—it was a duty, a promise.
One step at a time, he climbed the stairs, his footsteps steady, his mind focused.
Naruto… genin of Konoha. He snorted at the thought. That title meant so little to him now. No, he was something more—something greater. Naruto Uzumaki, Squire of Oscar.
With that thought steadying him, he leaped into the air, raising the Astora straight sword high above his head, just as he'd seen Oscar do before with the plunge attack. The air rushed around him, the world blurring for a split second, and then he came crashing down, the blade driving deep into the demon's flesh.
"Round two, you fat bastard!" Naruto yelled, a fierce grin splitting his face as he twisted the sword, feeling the demon roar and writhe beneath him, its massive form shaking with rage and pain.
This was for Oscar. For the knight who had believed in him, even in his final moments. This fight, this mission, this path—Naruto would walk it to the end. He would carry Oscar's torch, and he would not go hollow!
----------------------------------------
[Name: Asylum Demon]
[HP: 1900 / 2,195]
Naruto gripped the Astora straight sword tightly in his hand, his knuckles turning white as he stared down the demon just a few meters away. In his other hand, he clenched something else, hidden in his closed fist—a smoke bomb, ready to spring his trap. The demon's face had a chunk missing now, thanks to the plunge attack he'd landed, just like Oscar.
"At least now I don't have to throw up when looking at you, dattebayo," Naruto muttered, forcing a grin that felt more like a snarl.
The demon shifted, its massive form tensing up, eyes narrowing as it prepared to leap at Naruto. He saw it in its stance—You're gonna try the same move again? Fine. Let's play.
Naruto threw the smoke bomb to the ground, and a thick cloud enveloped the arena. The demon took the bait, lunging straight into the smoke, just as planned. He didn't have to see it to know what was coming—the thunderous sound of its hammer swinging down confirmed it.
As the smoke thinned, Naruto saw the demon's monstrous form breaking through, hammer raised high. That's when his clones moved, their shield formation snapping into place. The hammer came down hard, colliding with the shields.
And then—boom!
The moment the hammer hit, every single clone exploded.
The plan was simple. Naruto had attached explosive tags to his body, knowing that when he used the Shadow Clone Jutsu, everything he wore—including the explosive tags—would be copied onto his clones. This meant each clone was a walking explosive trap, primed to go off when popped. Even though the yield of the clone explosions was weaker than the actual yield of the original explosive tags, the sheer number of clones made up for the reduced power.
The blast threw the demon backward, the shockwave tearing through its massive body. Its hammer—that damn hammer—shattered into pieces, fragments flying everywhere. The force was so strong that the demon stumbled back, arms flailing, its ugly head jerking wildly.
Before it could even process what had happened, Naruto hurled a fuma shuriken from behind one of the pillars. He watched it spin through the air, slicing straight toward the demon's face in a perfect arc. Just a little more...
The demon's head jerked back, and Naruto shouted, "Kai!"
The flashbangs attached to the fuma shuriken erupted with a blinding light, igniting the arena like a miniature sun. The demon let out a guttural howl as the brilliant flash seared its vision, stumbling backward, its massive hands flying up to clutch its face in agony. The deafening sound of its pained roars echoed through the arena, sending tremors through the ground.
The demon thrashed wildly, disoriented, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground beneath Naruto's feet.
"Now!" Naruto roared, his voice cutting through the chaos.
From the second floor, two clones stood tall, their eyes locked on the target. On either side of the arena, hidden in the forms of pots, more clones revealed themselves, their hands glowing with pyromancy flames.
The fireballs flew in unison, streaking across the arena like meteors, each one finding its mark on the demon's body. The impact was brutal—flames swallowed the demon whole, wrapping around its flesh, consuming it in an inferno.
The demon roared to the heavens, its cries like the wails of a beast being torn apart from the inside. The fire ate away at its skin, charring it black, the flames dancing like serpents around its body.
Blood poured from the demon's wounds, thick and dark, like rivers of molten metal. The fire seared its way through the flesh, turning muscle and bone to ash.
And through it all, Naruto stood there, watching the flames do their work, feeling every moment as if it were his own heartbeat.
[Name: Stray Demon]
[HP: 900 / 2,195]
Naruto's eyes flicked up to the name hovering above the demon, the text that had changed with a finality he couldn't ignore.
The asylum demon had destroyed the chains that once held it down, chains forged by Lord Gwyn himself to bind the demon's soul, forcing it into obedience. Those chains kept the beast as the final obstacle for the chosen undead, containing it so its true power wouldn't turn the Northern Undead Asylum into a smoldering ruin.
But now... those chains were gone.
The beast wasn't bound anymore—it was just a stray demon now, consumed by rage and the memory of its home.
Flames licked at its charred skin, embers glowing across its massive body, almost as if the fire itself was alive. The demon's body, blackened with soot, seemed to pulsate with heat, like it had been born in the heart of an inferno. And maybe it had—maybe these flames reminded the demon of its home. Izalith, the land of fire. The land where it had been captured and enslaved by Gwyn's army.
The demon's eyes locked onto Naruto.
For a moment, he felt the weight of that gaze—ancient, filled with anger, with pain, with something far more powerful than he was ready for. But he didn't flinch. Naruto gripped the Astora straight sword in his right hand, while his left held the crest shield firmly in place.
The demon raised what was left of its hammer, the once-great weapon now little more than a crude staff. Naruto braced himself, double-handing his shield in front of him, ready for the strike.
I'm ready. Come on, you bastard, make your move.
But then... it didn't attack.
Instead, the demon slammed its staff into the ground with a force so powerful that the floor beneath them crumbled. Naruto's eyes widened in shock as the ground gave way, and before he could react, he was falling—they were falling—into the darkness below.
They crashed into the basement of the asylum, Naruto's feet barely touching the ground before he stumbled, struggling to regain his balance. The room was massive, a circular chamber with a weathered, stone floor cracked and uneven. Broken tiles lay scattered everywhere, and stone pillars loomed around him, some shattered into pieces, others standing like silent sentinels.
The walls stretched high, built from aged stone blocks that were crumbling with time, moss creeping up their surfaces like nature's fingers reclaiming what was hers. A faint light filtered through the gaps, casting long shadows across the floor. Naruto looked around, his breath catching in his throat when he realized the truth. This was it. The entire asylum was built around this chamber—the demon's cage.
Naruto's mind raced as he tightened his grip on the Astora straight sword, his knuckles turning white. I need to keep my eyes on those spells. That's what worries me most about this demon. Just as he was bracing himself for the next move, the demon lunged, swinging its massive staff in a wide horizontal sweep.
His heart sank. There's no room to dodge. The basement was too small, the space too cramped. Naruto knew he couldn't outrun that attack. Damn it!
In an instant, he used the Substitution Jutsu. The staff hit the spot where he'd been, detonating the explosive tags he left behind on the substitution log.
Boom!
The explosion shook the chamber, filling it with smoke and debris. For a split second, Naruto let himself hope that maybe he'd destroyed the demon's staff.
But then, through the thick smoke, the staff came swinging once more, almost unaffected. The explosion had only delayed it for a fraction of a second. The demon was back on him, faster than he could react.
Did it... did it just figure out my substitution jutsu?
A cold realization hit him.
The substitution only works over a few feet. From point A to B. If someone knows where point B is, they can time their attack to land right when you reappear.
And that's exactly what the stray demon had done.
Naruto barely had time to lift his shield before the staff connected. The force of the blow was like nothing he'd ever felt, a crushing impact that sent him airborne. His shield arm shattered instantly, the bones snapping like twigs. He felt his ribs cave in, sharp splinters piercing through his side. The pain shot through him like a lightning bolt, spreading to his chest as his lungs screamed for air.
He crashed into a pillar with a sickening thud, feeling his spine twist and his head whip back, his vision swimming with darkness and stars. His legs crumpled under him as he slid down the pillar, his whole body feeling like it was on fire. Breathe, just breathe, he told himself, gasping for air that wouldn't come, each breath like knives stabbing into his ribs.
The demon's staff hit the ground again, and Naruto knew what that meant. His pulse spiked.
Oh no... not that attack.
Forcing himself up, his whole body screaming in protest, Naruto staggered toward the nearest corner of the room. His hands were shaking so badly he could barely open the pouch at his waist. He didn't care what pills he grabbed; he just stuffed as many as he could into his mouth, chewing them like they were his last lifeline. Stamina boosters, painkillers, chakra pills—anything to keep him conscious, to keep him from blacking out.
The demon raised its staff high, and Naruto saw the glowing orb forming at its tip—an orb of fire, purer and hotter than anything he'd ever seen. His own pyromancy flames were nothing compared to this. The orb pulsed and expanded, growing brighter and hotter until it exploded in a massive shockwave of fire.
The heat hit him first, a searing wave that made his skin feel like it was peeling off. Naruto barely threw himself into the corner before the blast reached him. All my clones... they would've been wiped out if they were too close to the explosion. If only they'd been outside the radius, they'd have survived.
Adrenaline and hormones coursed through his veins, setting his whole body on fire, his nerves screaming with pain and energy all at once. He felt like his heart was going to explode out of his chest, his muscles twitching with the urge to keep moving, to keep fighting, to survive.
And then he saw it—the demon's face. It was grinning. Enjoying this. Enjoying watching him struggle, watching him suffer.
Oh, that made Naruto's blood boil. His vision went red, and he felt a vein throb in his forehead. You think this is funny, you overgrown barbecue? He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to his feet despite the pain that tore through every inch of him. You haven't seen anything yet.
Naruto's senses were on high alert as he kept a tight grip on the Astora straight sword, adrenaline coursing through him like lightning. The stray demon reared back, its grotesque body tensing as it prepared a brutal stab with its massive staff. Way of Focality was on overdrive, heightening his perception, slowing everything down as he analyzed the demon's every move. He could see the exact angle of its attack, the precise moment the staff would pierce the ground.
Without hesitation, Naruto jumped, the air rushing past him as the staff shot beneath his feet, narrowly missing him. He landed on the staff's shaft with perfect balance, his feet steady on the twisted wood. He dashed up its length, adrenaline burning like fire through his veins, and leaped into the air, bringing the Astora straight sword down in a heavy downward slash aimed right at the demon's eye.
The blade met its mark with a sickening crunch. Dark, thick blood splattered from the demon's eye socket as the sword dug deep, blinding one of its massive eyes. It roared in agony, the sound echoing in the chamber like the tortured wail of a beast in hell. Naruto felt the vibration of the roar run through his bones, rattling his insides, but he didn't stop.
The demon twisted, snapping its jaws at Naruto, trying to devour him whole. He was ready for it. One of his shadow clones launched him backward just as the demon's mouth closed in, exploding with a deafening boom inside its gaping maw.
Chunks of flesh and teeth sprayed from the explosion, the demon's lower jaw ripped apart into a gruesome mess. Blood poured from the open wound, drenching the floor beneath it in dark liquid. The demon's roar was now a garbled mess of pain, more like a guttural growl than anything resembling a scream.
Naruto stuffed more pills into his mouth, barely chewing as he forced them down. Come on, body, heal faster! He gritted his teeth, shoving the pain to the back of his mind. He needed to keep moving. He couldn't afford to slow down now.
He saw the demon slam its staff into a nearby pillar, feeling the energy building near the center of the room. It's a spell—it's trying to set up another blast. The staff slam was a distraction, and he knew it. Naruto bolted, trying to get outside the blast radius.
Too slow.
The red orb exploded, sending a shockwave that hit Naruto like a freight train. He was flung off his feet, the ground spinning out from under him as he slammed into the floor, the impact rattling his bones. His helmet saved his skull from cracking open, but his vision blurred, and he tasted blood.
The sound of wings flapping filled his ears. Naruto looked up just in time to see the demon lifting off the ground, its massive wings beating the air, only to fold them in as it prepared to dive-bomb him.
Fat bastard is going to squash me like a bug, Naruto thought, his fingers already flying through the hand signs for the Substitution Jutsu. At the last second, he vanished, but he didn't leave behind a log or stone this time.
No, he left behind a very special gift—a fuma shuriken, glinting in the dim light as it spun up toward the descending demon. It landed right in the worst possible spot—the demon's rear end.
The impact was grotesque, the fuma shuriken lodged deep in the demon's hindquarters. Naruto didn't even have time to savor the moment before he shouted, "Kai!" activating the explosive tags wrapped around the shuriken.
The explosion was catastrophic. The blast ripped through the demon's lower body, tearing apart its insides. A mess of blood, entrails, and what looked like shredded organs sprayed out in all directions. The demon's guts spilled out in a steaming pile on the ground, the smell so foul it made Naruto's stomach lurch. Its butt region was obliterated, shredded beyond recognition.
Naruto swallowed hard, trying not to vomit at the sight, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from the mess he'd created. Part of him felt a flicker of sympathy for the monster, but then he remembered Oscar's words—his precept burned into his mind: "Precept number fifteen: Do not show sympathy for the enemy, for they shall show you none when you fall."
Naruto clenched his jaw, his resolve hardening. No sympathy for a beast that would have torn me apart without a second thought.
But then he heard it—the flapping of wings again. His muscles tensed, ready to defend himself, but he saw something that made his blood boil. The demon wasn't coming back for a fight. It was trying to fly away.
"Oh, hell no," Naruto snarled, eyes blazing with fury. "You're not getting away, not after everything you've done!"
Naruto watched as the demon shot out of the hole like a massive, flaming boulder, and he knew he had to act fast. His muscles tensed as he channeled chakra into his legs, feeling the surge in his thighs and calves that powered his jumps. He launched himself upward, pushing off the cracked ground with everything he had. Not enough. The demon was too fast, already climbing higher, but he wasn't going to give up. Not now.
One after another, Naruto's clones formed beneath him, their hands locking together to fling him higher and higher. Each one threw him further into the air like a human slingshot. The wind rushed past as he soared, adrenaline pounding in his ears as he finally found himself above the demon, the entire scene blurring for a split second as he caught a glimpse of its burning wings beneath him.
This is it.
Without hesitation, Naruto pulled two kunai from his pouch and hurled them with all his strength. The blades tore through the demon's wings, ripping into the charred flesh with sickening precision. It roared, spiraling downward, losing control as Naruto gripped Astora's straight sword with both hands. Gravity did the rest, pulling him down with incredible speed, the sword poised for a final, crushing blow.
But the demon wasn't finished. As he closed in, Naruto saw it point its staff directly at him. A red orb began to form at its tip, growing larger, more intense. He knew this was it—the moment that would decide everything. Either he'd win, or he'd be nothing but ash in a crater.
No choice. Naruto channeled chakra into the explosive tags strapped to his back. They detonated in a deafening blast that should've torn him apart, but Oscar's armor—his armor—saved him. The explosion flung him forward, propelling him with enough force to break through the demon's defenses.
Naruto screamed as he brought the sword down, his blade connecting with the red orb just as it was about to explode. Fire engulfed him instantly, the heat so intense he thought it would melt him from the inside out. His skin screamed, his nerves went numb, and he could feel every fiber of his body wanting to give out.
But he didn't.
Maybe it was Oscar's armor protecting him, or maybe it was sheer willpower. Either way, Naruto knew without looking at the system window that he was down to his last bit of strength—One HP. One last hit. His body felt like it was falling apart, but he didn't stop. The roar that escaped his throat wasn't just from pain; it was everything—every struggle, every loss, every push forward. It felt like Oscar himself was with him, pushing him to keep going, to not give up.
Naruto's blade hit the demon with all the force he had left.
Like a meteor, the demon's body slammed into the floor with a bone-crushing thud, the sound echoing through the chamber. The impact cracked the stone beneath them, sending dust and debris flying as light poured in from above, illuminating the chaos. The demon's body lay still, his sword lodged deep in its skull, the once-pristine blade of Astora now broken, shattered from the final blow.
He stood there, panting, barely able to keep himself upright. But he had done it. He had won. He had slain the demon.
The adrenaline left him all at once, and he collapsed backward onto the demon's corpse. His body was numb, every nerve frayed and useless. His vision blurred as he lay there, staring at the hole in the ceiling. It was over.
But then Naruto saw it—the soul of the stray demon. It gathered above him, swirling into a massive ball of light, pure white with a black shard at its core. It was bigger than him, pulsing with energy, more beautiful and terrifying than anything he had ever seen.
He smiled, weakly raising his hand toward it.
I did it.
A single tear slipped down his cheek as the soul absorbed into him, filling him with a warmth that reminded him of Oscar. Of everything he had taught him. And as the last bit of that soul merged with his, Naruto let his hand fall to his side, his body finally giving in to the exhaustion.
We did it, Sensei. We did it.
[ Victory Achieved! ]
[ You have gained ]
— [ 10,000 Souls ]
— [ 1 Humanity ]
— [ Titanite Slab ]
— [ 1 Homeward Bone ]
— [ Big Pilgrim's Key ]