NOVEL NEXT Chapter 129: 128. The Battle for the Anchor
Naruto and Ryusei stood side by side, their gazes locked on the pulsing core of the convergence's anchor. Tendrils of raw energy lashed out from the vortex, carving deep grooves into the ground and scorching everything in their path. The air hummed with a palpable tension, each wave of energy pressing down on them like the weight of an entire dimension.
"This thing's putting out way more energy than anything we've seen before," Naruto muttered, his voice tight with focus. His hands were already glowing with the beginnings of another Rasenshuriken, the swirling energy casting harsh shadows across his face.
Ryusei nodded, his Time and Void aura flickering erratically as he sized up the task ahead. "It's not just the anchor. It's feeding off everything—the storm, the energy we're giving off, even the rift itself. We'll need to cut through it before it fully stabilizes, or it'll call in more reinforcements."
Naruto grinned despite the tension. "Good thing we're pretty good at breaking stuff, huh?"
Before Ryusei could respond, a deafening roar echoed from the vortex, and a massive figure emerged, its body composed of swirling black energy and jagged, crystalline armor. The creature's glowing red eyes locked onto the two shinobi, and it let out another roar, shaking the ground beneath their feet.
"Of course," Ryusei muttered, drawing his blade. "Nothing's ever simple."
Naruto stepped forward, his grin widening. "I've got this one. You focus on the anchor."
Ryusei hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Don't get reckless. I'll be close if you need me."
Naruto didn't respond. He was already charging forward, his Rasenshuriken crackling with Void-infused energy. The creature swung a massive arm at him, but Naruto ducked under the blow, launching his attack directly into its chest. The explosion sent a shockwave rippling through the battlefield, but the creature barely staggered.
"Alright, big guy," Naruto said, cracking his knuckles. "Let's see what you've got."
As Naruto engaged the creature, Ryusei turned his focus to the anchor. The vortex above it pulsed erratically, each beat sending out waves of destabilizing energy. He could feel the pull of the convergence, a chaotic force that threatened to unmake everything around it.
Drawing on his Time and Void mastery, Ryusei began to weave a complex sequence of attacks, each one aimed at destabilizing the anchor's core. His blade flashed as he carved through the tendrils of energy that lashed out at him, and with each strike, he felt the vortex's pull weaken slightly.
Behind him, Naruto was a blur of motion, his attacks relentless as he kept the massive creature at bay. He had already shifted into his Kyubi cloak, the red and orange energy swirling around him like a living flame. Each strike of his fists sent ripples through the creature's body, but it refused to fall, its crystalline armor absorbing the brunt of the damage.
"C'mon, is that all you've got?" Naruto taunted, dodging another swing from the creature's massive arm. "I thought you convergence guys were supposed to be tough!"
The creature responded with a guttural roar, its armor glowing brighter as it charged at him. Naruto leapt into the air, forming another Rasenshuriken as he flipped over the creature's head. He hurled the attack downward, the explosion carving a deep crater into the ground.
Ryusei spared a glance over his shoulder, his expression tense. "Naruto, keep it moving! We don't have time to play around!"
Naruto landed in a crouch, his grin unwavering. "Don't worry, I've got this under control!"
Turning his attention back to the anchor, Ryusei poured more energy into his strikes, each one aimed at the swirling core of the vortex. Time folded around him as he moved, creating afterimages that confused the anchor's defenses. He could feel the convergence resisting, its chaotic energy pushing back against his attempts to destabilize it.
With a final, concentrated effort, Ryusei unleashed a surge of Void energy, the blast cutting through the vortex's outer layers and exposing the glowing core. The anchor pulsed violently, the energy within it threatening to explode outward.
"Almost there," Ryusei muttered, his grip tightening on his blade.
Before he could strike the final blow, a shadow loomed over him. He turned just in time to see another creature emerging from the vortex, its form even more massive and imposing than the first. This one was armored in jagged plates of black metal, and its eyes burned with an otherworldly red light.
"Great," Ryusei muttered, bracing himself.
The creature lunged at him, its massive claws slashing through the air. Ryusei dodged to the side, his movements fluid and precise. He countered with a slash of his own, the blade cutting through the creature's armor and sending a spray of dark energy into the air.
"Ryusei, need a hand?" Naruto called, his voice tinged with excitement.
"I've got it," Ryusei replied, his focus unshaken.
Naruto grinned. "Alright, don't take too long. I'm almost done with this guy."
The two shinobi moved in perfect sync, their battles playing out like a deadly dance. Naruto's relentless energy and Ryusei's calculated precision created a rhythm that left their enemies reeling.
As Ryusei struck another blow against the new creature, he felt the anchor's energy begin to waver. The vortex above it pulsed erratically, its light flickering like a dying flame.
"Just a little more," Ryusei muttered, his blade glowing with Void energy.
With a final surge of power, he drove his blade into the anchor's core, unleashing a concentrated blast of Time and Void energy. The vortex shuddered, its tendrils retracting as the core began to collapse in on itself.
Naruto, seeing the collapse, redoubled his efforts, launching a barrage of Rasenshuriken at the remaining creature. Each explosion tore through its crystalline armor, leaving it vulnerable to his final strike. With a triumphant yell, Naruto leapt into the air, forming one last Rasenshuriken and slamming it directly into the creature's chest. The resulting explosion sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield, and when the dust settled, the creature was gone.
Breathing heavily, Naruto turned to Ryusei, a grin spreading across his face. "Not bad, huh?"
Ryusei sheathed his blade, his expression calm but satisfied. "We're not done yet. That was just one anchor. There are still two more."
Naruto's grin faltered slightly, but he nodded. "Right. Let's get moving."
As the two shinobi turned to leave, the faint sound of laughter echoed through the air. They froze, their eyes scanning the battlefield for the source.
From the remnants of the collapsing vortex, a figure began to emerge—a dark silhouette wreathed in flickering red and black flames. Its eyes glowed with a sinister light, and its presence sent a chill down their spines.
"Did you really think it would be that easy?" the figure said, its voice low and mocking.
Naruto and Ryusei exchanged a tense glance, their hands instinctively reaching for their weapons.
"Looks like we've got company," Ryusei said, his voice steady despite the tension in the air.
Naruto cracked his knuckles, his grin returning. "Good. I was just getting warmed up."
Together, they faced the new threat, ready to fight once more.