NOVEL NEXT Chapter 130: 129. Shadows of the Void
The figure that emerged from the remnants of the collapsing vortex radiated a presence unlike anything Naruto and Ryusei had ever encountered. It was humanoid in shape but veiled in a twisting shroud of Void energy, tendrils of red and black flames licking at the air around it. Its glowing eyes pulsed in rhythm with the faint remnants of the convergence's energy still clinging to the battlefield.
"You've done well to make it this far," the figure said, its voice layered with a distorted, almost melodic quality. "But your struggles are meaningless. This world is already marked for erasure, and your defiance will only delay the inevitable."
Ryusei stepped forward, his blade already drawn, the faint hum of Time and Void energy vibrating in the air around him. His eyes locked on the figure with unyielding intensity. "If it's meaningless, why are you here? You wouldn't have come unless we were a threat."
The figure chuckled, the sound echoing unnaturally. "A threat? Perhaps an annoyance. But threats are meant to be extinguished."
Naruto clenched his fists, the Nine-Tails cloak flickering to life around him. "Yeah, well, we've got a habit of being annoying to people like you. So why don't you stop talking and show us what you've got?"
Without warning, the figure raised a hand, and the air around it began to ripple. A wave of Void energy surged outward, distorting reality as it spread. Naruto and Ryusei braced themselves, their combined energy clashing against the wave as it crashed over them. The ground beneath their feet cracked and groaned, and the sky above seemed to ripple like the surface of a disturbed pond.
Naruto lunged forward, forming a Void-infused Rasengan in his palm. The swirling orb pulsed with chaotic energy as he hurled it at the figure, the force of the attack tearing through the distorted air. The figure caught the Rasengan in its hand, the energy flickering and writhing as it struggled against the figure's control.
"Is that all?" the figure asked, its tone mocking. With a flick of its wrist, it sent the Rasengan hurtling back toward Naruto.
Ryusei intervened, stepping into the path of the attack and slashing through it with his blade. The Rasengan dissipated into harmless sparks, and Ryusei's gaze never left the figure. "Naruto, don't rush in. This isn't an ordinary opponent."
Naruto scowled but nodded, his cloak flickering as he took a step back. "Fine. Then what's the plan?"
Ryusei's aura flared, the faint glow of his Time and Void mastery intensifying. "We figure out what it's hiding. No one comes this far unless they're desperate to protect something."
The figure tilted its head, as if amused. "Hiding? You flatter yourselves. There is nothing you can learn from me. Only oblivion awaits."
With a sudden burst of speed, the figure surged forward, its movements a blur of twisting shadows. Ryusei met its charge head-on, their blades clashing in a shower of sparks. The force of the impact sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield, and the ground beneath them cracked and splintered.
Naruto moved to flank the figure, his hands forming the seals for a barrage of Rasenshuriken. Each one glowed with Void energy, their edges crackling with the distortion of space. He launched them in rapid succession, the air around him vibrating with the sheer force of his attacks.
The figure dodged with unnatural grace, each movement leaving behind a faint afterimage of shadows. It weaved through the storm of Rasenshuriken, closing the distance to Naruto with alarming speed. Before it could strike, Ryusei appeared in a flicker of Time energy, his blade intercepting the figure's attack.
"You're not the only one who can bend reality," Ryusei said, his voice steady despite the strain in his movements.
The figure's glowing eyes narrowed. "Impressive. But it won't save you."
The battle intensified, each clash of energy shaking the battlefield. Ryusei and Naruto moved in perfect synchronization, their combined attacks forcing the figure to constantly adjust its strategy. Naruto's relentless energy and Ryusei's calculated precision created a deadly combination, but the figure's mastery of Void energy made it an elusive and formidable opponent.
As the fight dragged on, Naruto began to notice subtle changes in the figure's movements. It was favoring its left side, and its strikes were becoming less precise. "Ryusei," he called out, "it's slowing down. I think we're getting to it."
Ryusei's gaze flicked to the figure, and he nodded. "Good. Let's press the advantage."
Naruto charged forward, forming another Rasenshuriken in his hand. This one glowed brighter than the others, its energy condensed to a dangerous level. He hurled it at the figure, the force of the attack creating a shockwave that flattened the surrounding terrain.
The figure raised its hand to block, but the Rasenshuriken detonated on impact, engulfing it in a blinding explosion of Void energy. For a moment, the battlefield was silent, the air thick with the lingering energy of the attack.
When the dust settled, the figure stood in the center of a smoking crater, its form flickering like a fading shadow. Its once-imposing presence had diminished, and the glow of its eyes had dimmed.
"You… are more troublesome than I anticipated," it said, its voice strained.
Naruto smirked, his cloak flickering with renewed energy. "Yeah, we get that a lot."
Ryusei stepped forward, his blade at the ready. "It's over. Whatever you're protecting, it won't matter if you're gone."
The figure let out a low, distorted laugh. "You think this is over? You have no idea what you've unleashed."
Before Ryusei or Naruto could respond, the figure raised its arms, and the air around it began to ripple violently. A swirling vortex of Void energy formed above it, the tendrils lashing out with wild abandon. The energy crackled with chaotic intensity, and the ground beneath them began to tremble.
"What's it doing?" Naruto shouted, his voice barely audible over the roar of the vortex.
Ryusei's eyes widened as he realized the figure's intent. "It's trying to collapse the anchor! If it succeeds, it'll destabilize the entire area!"
Naruto clenched his fists, his expression hardening. "Then we stop it. Together."
The two shinobi surged forward, their combined energy radiating with unyielding determination. The figure watched them approach, its form flickering as the vortex above it grew larger.
"You may have won this battle," it said, its voice barely audible over the roar of the vortex. "But the war is far from over."
With a final burst of energy, Ryusei and Naruto unleashed their most powerful attacks, their combined force slamming into the figure and the collapsing anchor. The resulting explosion sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield, and the light of the vortex flickered before finally dissipating.
When the dust settled, the anchor was gone, and the figure had vanished without a trace. The battlefield was silent once more, but the air still hummed with residual energy, a reminder of the battle that had just taken place.
Naruto turned to Ryusei, his expression a mix of relief and exhaustion. "Think that's the last of them?"
Ryusei shook his head, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "No. This is just the beginning."