Published at 16th of September 2024 5:11 pm

Chapter 40 Lost in Reality: Into the Abyss

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Naruto felt the familiar pull of the portal once again, but this time it was different. The energy swirling around him seemed heavier, more oppressive, as if the very fabric of space was resisting his passage. He braced himself, tightening his muscles as the force dragged him through the endless tunnel of light. Flashes of images—worlds, places, faces—whirled by, but none of them made sense.

Just when Naruto thought the pressure would crush him, the pull stopped abruptly, and he was flung out of the portal.

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Naruto hit the ground hard, rolling across a rocky surface before coming to a stop. Groaning, he pushed himself up and looked around. His vision was still blurry, but he could tell right away that this was no ordinary place. The sky above him was dark, an unnatural shade of red that cast an eerie glow over the landscape. The ground beneath him was cracked and barren, devoid of any vegetation or signs of life.

It was like he had landed in a wasteland.

As his senses sharpened, Naruto felt a strange, oppressive energy in the air. It wasn’t chakra—at least not the kind he was used to. It was thick, heavy, and it made his skin crawl.

“Where am I this time?” Naruto muttered, standing up and brushing the dust off his clothes.

He surveyed the landscape, squinting as he saw something in the distance—a massive fortress-like structure rising from the ground, surrounded by dark, swirling clouds. The energy seemed to be emanating from that place, drawing everything toward it like a vortex.

Naruto clenched his fists, his instincts screaming that something wasn’t right. He took a deep breath, feeling for Kurama’s chakra inside him. The nine-tails was still there, but the oppressive energy in the air was interfering with his connection to the fox. It was weaker than it should have been, and Naruto didn’t like it.

Before he could take a step toward the fortress, he heard a low growl behind him.

Naruto spun around, his eyes widening as he saw what was approaching. From the shadows of the cracked earth, monstrous figures began to emerge. They were humanoid, but their bodies were twisted and grotesque, covered in black, writhing tendrils. Their eyes glowed a sickly green, and their mouths were filled with sharp, jagged teeth.

“Great,” Naruto muttered. “More weirdos.”

The creatures moved with unnatural speed, lunging toward Naruto with a feral hunger in their eyes. Naruto didn’t hesitate—he summoned a Rasengan in his hand and charged forward, meeting the first creature head-on. The Rasengan exploded against its chest, sending it flying backward, but as soon as it hit the ground, it began to writhe and reform, the tendrils pulling it back together.

“What the—?” Naruto stepped back, watching as the creature reassembled itself.

More of them closed in, surrounding him from all sides. Their growls filled the air, a cacophony of unnatural sounds that made Naruto’s skin crawl.

“Looks like you guys don’t go down easy, huh?” Naruto said, cracking his knuckles. “Guess I’ll have to get creative.”

He formed a series of hand signs, summoning several shadow clones that sprang into action. The clones engaged the creatures, launching attacks in every direction, but no matter how many Rasengans or punches they landed, the creatures kept reforming, regenerating faster than they could be destroyed.

Naruto gritted his teeth in frustration. “These things just won’t stay down!”

Then, one of the creatures lunged at him from behind, moving faster than he expected. Its claws slashed through the air, but before it could strike, a wave of energy erupted from the ground, knocking the creature back.

Naruto turned, his eyes widening as he saw a figure standing on a nearby ridge. It was a man, tall and cloaked in shadow, his eyes glowing with a faint red light. He raised his hand, and the creatures recoiled, as if terrified of his presence.

“You’re not from this world,” the man said, his voice calm but filled with an unsettling power. “What business do you have here, outsider?”

Naruto narrowed his eyes, his instincts on high alert. The man’s energy felt just as oppressive as the creatures’, but there was something different about him—something far more dangerous.

“I’m just trying to get home,” Naruto replied, keeping his guard up. “What is this place?”

The man’s lips curled into a small, cold smile. “This is the Abyss—a world between worlds. A place where the lost and forsaken are drawn, never to escape.”

Naruto frowned. “The Abyss? So it’s some kind of limbo?”

“In a sense,” the man replied, stepping closer. “But it’s more than that. The Abyss feeds on those who wander here, draining them of their power until there is nothing left. Only the strongest survive.”

Naruto’s heart sank. Another dimension, another trap. But he wasn’t about to give up. He had faced worse odds before.

“Who are you?” Naruto asked, trying to gauge whether this man was an enemy or potential ally.

“I am known as Erebos,” the man said, his red eyes glowing brighter. “I’ve been here for a long time, longer than you could imagine. And I can tell you this, outsider—there is no escape from the Abyss.”

Naruto clenched his fists, his eyes flashing with determination. “We’ll see about that.”

Erebos raised an eyebrow, seemingly amused. “You’re strong, but strength alone won’t save you here. The Abyss is different. It bends the rules of your world. Chakra, jutsu—they will only take you so far. The more you use your power, the more it draws the Abyss’s attention.”

Naruto’s mind raced. He could already feel the strange energy pulling at his chakra, like a parasite trying to drain him. But he didn’t have time to dwell on it. More of the creatures were gathering in the distance, their numbers growing by the second.

“If you want to survive, you’ll need to be smart,” Erebos continued. “But even then, the Abyss may claim you.”

Naruto wasn’t about to back down. He took a deep breath, focusing his energy. “I’ve got people waiting for me. I’m getting out of here, no matter what.”

Erebos chuckled, though his eyes remained cold. “Then perhaps you’re worth watching, outsider. But be warned—the Abyss doesn’t let go easily. And those who linger too long become something far worse than lost.”

Before Naruto could respond, Erebos vanished into the shadows, leaving Naruto alone once again with the growing horde of creatures.

Naruto tightened his headband, his resolve hardening. He had fought through impossible odds before, and he wasn’t about to give up now. He had to find a way out of this twisted world, no matter what it took.

And as the creatures closed in, Naruto steeled himself for the battle ahead.

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To be continued...

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