Published at 16th of September 2024 5:35 pm

Chapter 41 Lost in Reality: The Final Journey

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The Abyss felt like it was alive, pulsing with an ominous energy that gnawed at Naruto’s chakra with every step he took. The ground shifted beneath him, cracking and reforming as if the world itself was on the verge of collapse. The fortress in the distance loomed larger, a beacon of danger and, possibly, a way out.

Naruto could feel the oppressive energy of the creatures stalking him from the shadows. Though they hadn't attacked again since Erebos had left, their presence was like a constant weight pressing down on him. Every step felt heavier, every breath more difficult.

"This place is trying to wear me down," Naruto muttered under his breath. "But I won't let it."

His eyes flicked to the swirling storm above the fortress. He didn’t fully trust Erebos, but something told him the fortress was his best shot at finding a way out. The energy it radiated felt like a gateway, a place where the boundaries between dimensions were weakest.

Naruto took a deep breath, focusing on the power inside him. Kurama stirred.

"You feeling it too?" Naruto asked, speaking to the fox inside him.

Kurama's voice rumbled in his mind. "This place is dangerous, Naruto. The energy here isn't like chakra. It’s feeding on everything—your strength, your will. The more you fight, the more it drains."

Naruto nodded, his jaw clenched. "I know. But there’s gotta be a way out of here."

He continued toward the fortress, moving cautiously. The ground shifted beneath his feet, but he kept his balance, his senses alert for any sign of an ambush. He knew the creatures could strike at any moment, and the further he went, the more oppressive the energy became.

As he neared the base of the fortress, a low growl echoed from the shadows. Naruto tensed, his eyes darting toward the sound. From the darkness, one of the Abyss creatures emerged, its form more twisted and monstrous than before. Its eyes gleamed with a hunger that made Naruto’s skin crawl.

"Great," Naruto muttered, stepping back. "You again."

The creature lunged, moving faster than it had before. Naruto dodged, flipping through the air and landing a few feet away. He summoned a Rasengan in his hand, ready to strike, but something stopped him. A thought flickered in his mind—fighting these things head-on wasn’t going to work. He had learned that the hard way.

Instead, Naruto dashed toward the fortress, using his speed to outmaneuver the creature. It gave chase, its monstrous form barreling through the cracked ground, but Naruto was faster. As he reached the entrance of the fortress, he felt a shift in the air—the energy here was stronger, more focused.

Naruto hesitated for a moment, glancing back at the creature that was still pursuing him. Then he made a decision. He summoned several shadow clones, sending them to engage the creature while he slipped through the massive stone doors of the fortress.

The interior of the fortress was dark and cold, the air thick with the same oppressive energy that filled the Abyss. Naruto's footsteps echoed as he walked deeper into the structure, his eyes scanning for any signs of life.

The walls were etched with strange symbols, glowing faintly in the dim light. The further he went, the more the energy seemed to press down on him, like a weight trying to crush him into the ground.

As Naruto reached the center of the fortress, he found a massive, circular chamber. At its center stood an altar, carved from dark stone and surrounded by swirling vortexes of energy. Above the altar, suspended in the air, was a massive, glowing crystal. It pulsed with power, its light casting eerie shadows on the walls.

Naruto's heart raced. This had to be it—the source of the Abyss’s power. If he could harness it, maybe he could open a portal back to his world.

But before he could move, the air behind him rippled, and Erebos appeared once again.

"You made it," Erebos said, his voice calm but laced with something darker. "I’m impressed, outsider."

Naruto turned to face him, his fists clenched. "What is this place? And what’s that?" He gestured toward the crystal above the altar.

Erebos smiled faintly, stepping closer. "This is the heart of the Abyss. The crystal contains the energy that binds this realm together. It is both the key to its creation and the source of its power."

Naruto narrowed his eyes. "So, if I use it, I can get out of here?"

Erebos tilted his head slightly, his red eyes gleaming. "Yes. But using the crystal’s power comes with a price. The Abyss doesn’t let go of its prey so easily. To leave, you must take its energy with you—and doing so will leave a mark. You will never truly be free of the Abyss."

Naruto frowned. "I don't care about marks or whatever. I just want to go home."

Erebos's expression darkened. "Then prepare yourself, outsider. The moment you touch that crystal, the Abyss will fight back. The creatures you’ve faced so far are nothing compared to what awaits you if you disturb the heart of this realm."

Naruto took a deep breath, his resolve unwavering. "I’ve been through worse."

Without another word, Naruto stepped forward, his hand reaching toward the glowing crystal. As his fingers brushed the surface, a surge of energy shot through him, almost knocking him back. But Naruto held firm, gritting his teeth as the power of the Abyss flooded his body.

Suddenly, the ground began to tremble, and the air around him crackled with dark energy. From the shadows, more creatures began to emerge—larger, more grotesque versions of the monsters he had fought before. Their eyes glowed with a sickly green light as they closed in on him, their snarls filling the chamber.

Naruto’s heart pounded, but he didn’t falter. He tightened his grip on the crystal, channeling his chakra into it. The energy responded, swirling around him like a storm. His body felt like it was being torn apart, but he forced himself to stay focused.

As the creatures lunged, Naruto summoned every ounce of strength he had left. His chakra flared, mixing with the energy of the Abyss as he formed a massive Rasengan in his hand. The power surged, growing larger and larger until it was almost too much to control.

With a roar, Naruto unleashed the Rasengan, sending a shockwave of energy through the chamber. The creatures were blown back, their forms disintegrating as the power of the Abyss consumed them. The walls of the fortress shook, and cracks began to spread across the ground.

The crystal in Naruto’s hand pulsed one last time before shattering into a thousand pieces. The swirling energy around him collapsed, and the air grew still.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then, in the center of the chamber, a portal began to form. It was unstable, flickering with light and dark energy, but it was a way out.

Naruto staggered toward the portal, his body exhausted but his spirit unbroken. He glanced back at Erebos, who stood watching him with a strange expression—almost like respect.

"You made it," Erebos said softly.

Naruto nodded. "Yeah. But I’m not staying."

With one final glance at the abyssal fortress, Naruto stepped through the portal.

_______________________________________________________________

The feeling of being pulled through dimensions was overwhelming, but this time it was different. The oppressive energy of the Abyss was gone, replaced by a familiar sensation—one that Naruto hadn’t felt in what seemed like ages.

When he opened his eyes, he was lying in a field of grass, the bright blue sky above him. The air was fresh, filled with the sound of birds chirping and the rustle of wind through the trees.

Naruto sat up, blinking in disbelief. He was home. He was back in the Hidden Leaf Village.

In the distance, he could see the Hokage Monument, the faces of the past leaders carved into the mountain. A sense of relief washed over him, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Naruto smiled.

He had made it. After all the battles, all the challenges, he was finally home.

As Naruto stood up, his legs still shaky, he felt a faint, lingering energy inside him—the mark of the Abyss, just as Erebos had warned. It was subtle, barely noticeable, but it was there.

But Naruto didn’t care. He had beaten the odds once again, and nothing—no otherworldly mark or lingering darkness—could change that.

He took a deep breath, feeling the warmth of the sun on his face.

"I'm home," he whispered to himself.

And with that, Naruto began walking toward the village, ready to reunite with the people he loved and resume his life in the world he had fought so hard to return to.

The End.

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