Chapter 12: Of Flame, Feathers, and Falling Monsters
(In which dragons fall, harpies rise, and wind-born nightmares learn not to mess with a very angry blond.)
Naruto had faced down monsters, Immortals, and enough ancient curses to make your average demiImmortal wet themselves. But three days of nonstop dragon-back travel? That was a new kind of torture.
Albion—massive, majestic, and as full of attitude as a satyr at a dryad poetry slam—was showing signs of wear. His once-mighty wingbeats had slowed to labored flaps, and the steady rise and fall of his breath had turned into low, growling huffs. Naruto didn't miss it. Even dragons had limits.
"All right, that's enough," he said, raising a hand as a gust of wind blew his bangs into his face. "We land. Now."
Albion didn't argue—which, frankly, was weird. Instead, the dragon glided toward a clearing below, his wings slicing the air like blades before folding in with a weary rustle. The descent was graceful, sure, but Naruto could feel the strain. Albion's muscles trembled, and his talons dug into the earth with more force than necessary—as if he resented needing rest at all.
The clearing they landed in was almost unnaturally peaceful. Wildflowers swayed under a soft breeze, tall trees ringed the field like sleepy sentinels, and mountains loomed in the distance, blue shadows against the late afternoon sky. For once, there were no monsters waiting to ambush them, no angry Immortals popping out from behind oak trees shouting "Gotcha!"
Just silence. Blessed, golden silence.
Naruto slid off Albion's back, landing with a wince. His muscles ached in ways that made him consider writing a breakup letter to gravity.
He turned to Ella first—still unconscious, her soft scarlet feathers twitching now and then like she was dreaming of flight. Gently, he scooped her up, cradling her with a tenderness that didn't quite match the world-shattering power that simmered just beneath his skin. He laid her down in the grass, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
Next came Alice. Naruto unstrapped her carefully, noting how pale her face was. They had all been through hell and back—and while he was technically the one doing the punching, the emotional toll hadn't spared any of them.
He lay beside them both, glancing up at the sky that was turning the color of fire and forgiveness.
"I'll sleep too," he murmured, mostly to himself, though the words were as much for Albion as anyone. "You should rest."
No reply came.
Naruto didn't need to look to know the dragon had moved to the far edge of the clearing, curling in on himself like a sulking teenager who also happened to weigh a few tons and breathe fire. The message was clear: we're not friends. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
But Naruto didn't push. Not everyone could be won over with words or even with saving their scaly hides.
People—and dragons—didn't change in a day. That was a lesson he'd learned the hard way.
He sighed and lay down next to Ella, letting the warmth of her body reassure him that at least they'd made it this far. The stars were starting to blink into existence above them, one by one, like shy campfire stories waiting to be told.
Then came the soft weight on his chest.
Gaea—tiny, ancient, and completely unbothered by the awkwardness of perching like a sleepy cat—settled on him without a word. Her presence was grounding, like roots burrowing into his heart.
"I'll keep watch," she said simply, her voice a whisper of wind and old trees.
Naruto smiled faintly. "Thanks... and good night."
Sleep pulled him under, slow and relentless, like waves over sand. His mind, usually a battlefield of memories and half-formed strategies, finally surrendered to peace.
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In the stillness of the night, danger slept like a dragon curled in the shadows—quiet, but never gone. Albion, that exact kind of dragon, stood like a silent gargoyle on the far side of the field, his molten-gold eyes reflecting the moonlight. He didn't sleep. He didn't need to. Not when he didn't trust a single soul sharing the same grass as him.
If he'd had his way, he would've flown off already. But he'd given his word to Naruto—a promise bound not just by words, but by something ancient. Still, trust? That was a long way off.
Gaea, meanwhile, had not moved from her perch on Naruto's chest. Her leaflike wings occasionally fluttered as she gazed over the others: Ella, sleeping in a curled heap of feathers; Alice, lying stiffly but soundly nearby; and Naruto himself, snoring softly like a mortal who'd finally allowed himself to collapse. The quiet was rare. And precious.
For now, they were safe.
But the world doesn't stay kind for long.
The sun cracked open the sky like a golden egg, spilling light across the dew-soaked field. A breeze whispered through the tall grass, nudging the slumbering travelers awake one by one—except for Naruto, who remained as stubbornly asleep as a satyr after harvest wine.
Alice was up first, brushing the tangles from her wind-blown hair and stretching with military precision. Ella was next, practically glowing with energy despite the trials they'd faced. Even Albion stirred, letting out a low, earth-shaking growl of boredom and impatience.
It wasn't until a certain Immortal poked Naruto in the forehead that he groaned and blinked awake.
"You're the last one up, sleepy hero," Gaea teased, hopping off his chest with a flutter.
Naruto sat up with a yawn, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. His limbs were still sore, but the weight on his shoulders—at least for now—felt lighter. He blinked around at the group, offering a bleary but genuine smile.
"Good morning," he said.
"Good morning," Alice replied, though her tone was... off. She stood a little too straight, spoke a little too calmly. Something was simmering just under the surface, like tea right before it boils over.
Naruto stretched and sat beside her, sensing the tension but not really understanding it.
"You must've heard what happened. So… do you want to come with us, or leave now while the path's still safe?"
Alice's eyes flashed with something unreadable, and for a moment, Naruto thought she might say no. But then she looked him straight in the eyes, her voice clear and decisive.
"I'm staying. Not out of obligation. I want to be with you."
Naruto smiled, relieved. "That's great. I'm glad. You're a big help, and I like you too."
Alice blinked. Once. Twice. Then she looked away.
He didn't get it. He so didn't get it. The words she'd said had meant something deeper, heavier, personal. And he'd treated them like friendly teamwork banter.
He's impossibly dense. Alice wanted to groan. Or scream. Or throw a pebble at his oblivious face.
Gaea, of course, found it hilarious.
She stifled a giggle behind her tiny hand. How do you survive fighting Immortals but can't dodge an emotional gut-punch? she thought.
Before Alice could decide whether to stew or explode, Naruto turned to Ella.
"You've done well, Ella. You deserve a reward," he said warmly.
Ella's face lit up like the sun. She straightened, her wings quivering in excitement.
"Ella wants a kiss!"
The entire field went silent. Even the birds stopped chirping.
Naruto choked on air. "W-what?"
"With the power I gained… my thoughts are clearer," Ella said with alarming composure. "And I want a kiss. That's what people do when they like someone."
Naruto's brain short-circuited. "But—uh—you should do that with someone you love!"
"Ella likes Naruto," she said, completely serious. Her emerald eyes locked with his, radiating sincerity, innocence, and just a hint of you're not getting out of this.
Panic. Pure, mortal, heart-thumping panic gripped Naruto. I made a promise, he remembered. But if I do this, I could be leading her on. But if I break it... that's just wrong.
Before he could decide whether to run or turn invisible, Ella leaned forward.
A feather-light kiss brushed his lips.
It wasn't fiery. It wasn't magical. It didn't summon rainbow fireworks or cue romantic background music. It was sweet. Soft. Sincere.
And deeply confusing.
Ella pulled away two long minutes later, frowning.
"It didn't taste like the books said," she said, puzzled. "They said it would be like strawberries and sunshine. This tasted like… skin."
Naruto coughed and looked away, face flaming. "It's not supposed to taste like anything!"
Gaea was cackling now. Albion rolled his eyes so hard it was audible.
But Alice? She was not laughing.
Her arms were crossed, and a storm was brewing behind her narrowed eyes.
Why do I feel like this? she thought. Jealous? It wasn't a feeling she liked. It was sharp, unfamiliar, and worst of all, it made her want to throw something at Ella.
Before Ella could lunge in for Round Two of Kiss the Hero, Naruto held up a hand. "Okay! One kiss is enough. Let's move on."
But Ella's smile turned mischievous. She opened her arms—and launched.
Alice had seen it coming.
With reflexes born of battle and budding heartbreak, she intercepted Ella mid-leap, tackling her in a flurry of wings, limbs, and indignant squeals.
The two girls rolled in the grass, half-wrestling, half-shouting about "boundaries" and "fair chances" and "romantic clarity." Gaea floated overhead, narrating like a sports commentator. Albion turned away in disgust.
Naruto buried his face in his hands.
Monsters? Fine.
Curses? He'd manage.
But girls?
He was so not ready for this quest.
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Albion had seen many things in his long, scaly life. Humans who thought they were heroes. Heroes who barely counted as humans. DemiImmortals, monsters, sorcerers who talked too much, and the occasional talking goat. But none of that quite prepared him for the sight in front of him now.
High above the battered skyline of what used to be a peaceful part of the city, he watched Naruto joke and stretch like this was just another gym session with a cute girl. Which it was. Except the air was electric—literally—and Albion could feel something churning inside Naruto. Something old. Something… wrong?
What kind of being is he? Albion wondered, folding his wings and narrowing his eyes. The chaotic warmth of Naruto's power curled in the air like smoke, almost taunting him.
"Is this his true form?" the dragon muttered aloud. "He said he'd make me stronger than I could fathom. Was he bluffing?" Albion wasn't sure whether to scoff or be impressed.
Whatever Naruto was, he was no ordinary human. That much was clear.
Below, Naruto and Alice had just finished a light warm-up routine—if you could call dodging fireballs and practicing lightning-enhanced squats "light." Naruto rolled his shoulders, and Alice did a series of sharp punches that crackled with sparks.
"Alright," Naruto said, stretching his arms behind his head. "Let's go make some friends."
That's when Alice froze.
Her head snapped toward the horizon. "Enemies incoming!" she shouted, her voice slicing through the wind. "It's a dragon… no, three dragons!"
Albion's pupils contracted. He felt it before he saw them—three burning stars in the sky, diving with murderous grace.
A wide grin split Albion's face, cruel and oddly hopeful. "Brothers," he whispered. "Come and free me from this disgraceful state."
"Not if I have anything to say about it," Naruto growled.
He raised his hand, lightning crackling around his fingers like playful spirits. With a swift motion, he hurled a series of bolts toward the incoming dragons. The sky lit up like a glitching video game. The dragons twisted mid-air, dodging most of it, but a few bolts made contact—singeing scales and making one of them sneeze a small fireball in annoyance.
The dragons didn't even slow down.
"Oh, come on," Naruto muttered. "Can we have one day without homicidal sky-lizards?"
"Albion! Dive down and zigzag through the buildings!" he shouted.
Albion hesitated. He didn't like being told what to do—especially by someone who technically rode on his back like an oversized pigeon—but something in Naruto's voice left no room for debate.
With a grunt, the great dragon tucked his wings and dove like a missile. Glass windows shattered as he whipped past, his body weaving through concrete canyons with an elegance that defied his size. Behind him, the three dragons gave chase, roaring loud enough to wake traffic spirits.
"We need to slow them down!" Alice called from beside Naruto, her hair whipping like white fire in the wind.
"I've got an idea!" Naruto said, his hands already in motion. From his pouch, he pulled out two spiked chains, enchanted with runes that glowed faintly. He threw them across two buildings ahead of them, locking the ends with a metallic snap.
Wind surged behind them—Naruto's doing—amplified by Alice, who thrust her hands forward, commanding the gusts.
The dragons, too close and too cocky to notice, roared toward the corner.
And then—CRASH.
The first dragon hit the chains like a wrecking ball into a steel trap. The second clipped its wing and tumbled sideways into a billboard for chicken nuggets. The third managed to veer away—only to get a lightning bolt to the face, courtesy of Naruto.
"Nice shot," Alice said, grinning.
"Thanks. Remind me to put 'dragon trapper' on my résumé."
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If there was one thing Naruto had learned over the last few weeks, it was that buildings were really bad at staying intact when dragons got involved. And now, as three angry, overgrown lizards tried to turn the city into modern art with fire and claws, it looked like they were going for extra credit.
The first crash was less like a boom and more like a declaration of war. The dragons hit the hastily rigged metal chains at full speed. The sound was a mix of screeching steel and dragon indignation, followed by an explosion of masonry as half a block of buildings imploded under their sheer mass.
Naruto flinched. "Oh, shit," he muttered, watching a particularly fancy clocktower crumble like a Jenga tower in an earthquake.
But there was no time for regret. Regret was a luxury for people not being chased by fire-breathing missiles.
"I got this," he growled, hands sparking as he summoned his wind and lightning to grab control of the debris mid-air. Broken girders, shattered bricks, even a rogue window frame – all halted in their fall like they'd hit pause on gravity.
The dragons weren't so lucky.
Still entangled in Naruto's metal chains and the very architecture of the city, they flailed wildly in the sky. Albion, flying overhead, looked about as calm as a cat in a bathtub.
"Steady!" Naruto called. "I need a crash site!"
"You say that like we're not already crashing!" Albion yelled back, but he banked hard, dragging the dragon trio toward a massive, half-finished skyscraper looming ahead.
"Oh look," Naruto said dryly, "a convenient construction site. How very video game of us."
As if to punctuate his sarcasm, the dragons slammed into the unfinished building. Beams cracked, scaffolding exploded into confetti, and cement bags burst like popcorn kernels. Naruto clenched his fists and willed the metal framework to respond. Iron rods twisted like vines, binding the thrashing dragons even tighter.
"Let's throw in some good ol' medieval justice," he muttered, yanking on a pulley system.
CLANG.
A wrecking ball the size of a minivan swung down and slammed into one of the dragon's skulls. It screeched in rage, then promptly lost interest in moving. Naruto directed two more into the mess like a conductor of chaos, and each one hit its mark with the subtlety of a sledgehammer to the face.
"Think they've had enough?" Alice called, hair whipping in the wind beside him.
Before Naruto could answer, a blast of searing heat surged from behind them.
One of the dragons – not tangled, not amused – had launched a jet of fire hot enough to cook a dozen pizzas and the delivery guy too.
Albion shrieked and veered wildly.
"Friendly fire!" Naruto shouted. "Your siblings have a really weird way of saying 'hello.'"
Albion, his pride officially bruised and flame-scorched, growled. "They were never my siblings. Just... competitors."
"Then compete harder!" Naruto shouted. "Blast him!"
Albion inhaled, chest glowing, and released a stream of fire. It looked more like a campfire burp compared to the inferno they'd just dodged, but it did the job. Naruto and Alice flanked the stream with a coordinated gust of wind, intensifying it into a vortex of fire that rushed back at the enemy dragon.
The effect was instant. The attacking dragon roared, wings flaring as it spiraled back, scorched and disoriented.
Naruto didn't wait. With steel rods floating around him like deadly satellites, he launched them forward. They punched through the dragon's wings like sewing needles through parchment. With a howl, the beast spiraled downward and crashed hard.
Naruto landed beside it, panting, the scent of smoke and adrenaline thick in the air.
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By now, the neighborhood looked like a monster truck rally had collided with a fantasy novel. Mangled steel beams jutted into the sky like metallic trees, clouds of dust hung low over the streets, and the three downed dragons lay in a very "we lost and now everything hurts" pile of shame under what used to be a construction site.
Naruto stood atop a bent traffic light, arms crossed, cloak flapping dramatically behind him as if on cue from some unseen wind director. "Well," he muttered, surveying the chaos like a chef who'd accidentally deep-fried his kitchen. "That escalated."
Beside him, Alice was still half-glowing with leftover wind magic, one eyebrow raised. "You said this was going to be a quiet mission."
"I also said we'd be back before lunch," Naruto replied. "Plans change."
Below them, Albion hovered unsteadily midair, wings twitching, growling low. The former dragon prince didn't like any of this—being forced to slam his brothers into buildings, getting shown up by a blonde demiImmortal, and worst of all, being caught in emotional whiplash every time Naruto called him "buddy." It was exhausting.
"If you had been good," Naruto called to him, voice edged with regret, "it wouldn't have come to this."
Albion roared in frustration, but the sound was more wounded pride than real threat. Maybe he hated Naruto. Maybe he respected him. Honestly, he hadn't decided.
But Naruto didn't have time to play dragon psychologist. The battle had drawn attention, and now the city stirred with dangerous energy—strange shadows creeping along the rooftops, tremors running through the street, and whispers of bigger things waking up in response to the racket they'd just caused.
"We're not done," Naruto muttered, scanning the skyline. "We just punched the beehive."
Before anyone could ask what he meant, Gaea materialized beside them with her usual "I'm better than all of you, but I'm here anyway" aura. Her hands were cupped, holding glowing shards of something that shimmered like liquid fire and coiled like smoke.
"Essence," she said, offering the collection to Naruto as casually as someone handing over a bag of trail mix. "Freshly harvested. Don't waste it."
Naruto nodded. The essence thrummed in his hands, pulsing with heat, rage, and power older than any one lifetime. It smelled like molten gold and storm winds. With a deep breath, he closed his eyes—and devoured it.
It didn't taste like chicken. It tasted like swallowing a lightning bolt, chased with peppered lava. Naruto doubled over briefly, his body rejecting and then absorbing the force. Muscles twitched, his skin glowed, and his eyes briefly flickered reptilian yellow before fading back.
When he stood up, he was… different. Taller maybe. Wilder. Like something ancient had stirred in his bones and decided to take up residence.
"Okay, that was intense," he muttered. "Note to self: dragon soul shots are not for amateurs."
But he wasn't the only one. He reached back into the essence, drew out a piece, and offered it to Ella—who had collapsed earlier and still bore wounds across her arms and wings. She blinked at it. "You sure?"
"Take it," Naruto said. "You've earned more than pain."
She took it—and changed.
Her form shimmered, feathers sprouting like wildfire down her arms and legs. Red scales coiled along her cheeks and collarbones, and a radiant crimson halo glowed behind her head like a rising sun. Scarlet dragon wings burst from her back, powerful and alive.
A scarlet dragon harpy now stood before them, eyes shining with fury and pride.
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You'd think downing a few dragons would earn you a moment to catch your breath. Maybe a high five, a cold drink, or at least a dramatic sunset to stand in front of while your theme song plays in the background.
Nope.
For Naruto, the universe didn't work that way. As soon as the last dragon let out its final screech and collapsed under a mess of twisted steel and wrecking ball justice, the sky decided to throw a tantrum.
The clouds above churned like someone had shaken a snow globe full of nightmares. From the darkness came shapes—tall, wailing, and twisted. Wind spirits. Dozens of them. Their forms shifted constantly: part bird, part smoke, part "run before it eats your soul." Their shrieks sounded like a thousand whistles screaming in unison.
"Oh great," Naruto muttered. "The cleanup crew."
"These aren't just any spirits," Gaea warned, her expression grim. "They serve the Gigantes. They want vengeance for the dragons."
"And they smell like wet laundry," Albion added with a huff, recoiling as one swooped close.
Naruto narrowed his eyes. He could feel it—their essence weaving through the winds, trying to claim dominion over the skies. But he had eaten the heart of dragons. He was the storm now.
"Hold on!" he shouted, grabbing the nearest chunk of twisted steel and launching himself onto Albion's back beside Ella and Alice. The newly empowered scarlet dragon harpy crouched with her claws digging into Albion's spine, wings flaring wide as a pulse of fiery aura crackled around her. She looked half angel, half wildfire—and all terrifying.
As they rose into the air, the wind spirits followed in a vengeful swarm.
"Time to send a message," Naruto said, eyes glowing with emerald intensity. He raised his hand, calling upon nature—not just the trees or rocks, but the raw force of storm and sky, the balance beneath the elements. He whispered in a voice older than the wind itself.
The wind spirits hesitated.
Then the sky turned against them.
It began to rain.
Not water. Not fire.
Them.
The spirits began to plummet from the sky, one by one, like startled birds hit by an invisible wall of gravity. Naruto's control over nature smothered theirs. His power surged through the clouds, twisting the air around them, turning the spirits' own essence against them. Where once they had ridden the wind like lords, now they fell like broken leaves.
Some vanished in screams. Others turned tail before they too were dragged down by the storm.
None dared follow.
Ella, wings pulsing with scarlet heat, stared in awe. "That was… wow."
Naruto gave a tired grin. "Nature and I had a chat. She's on our side today."
They soared through the clouds, the wind now calm and respectful beneath Albion's wings. For now, the skies were theirs