The journey to their destination was long, stretching across three days of travel. Albion, despite his strength, had begun showing signs of exhaustion. With each passing hour, the dragon's movements grew more sluggish, and his breaths came heavier. Recognizing this, Naruto decided to find a suitable place for them to rest. They had traveled far, and even he was feeling the toll of their journey. He couldn't afford to keep pushing forward with everyone in their current state.
The landscape they landed in was serene—an open field surrounded by tall trees and a distant mountain range. It offered a peaceful atmosphere, perfect for recuperation. Albion touched down gracefully, his massive wings stirring the air as he landed. Naruto dismounted carefully, feeling the weariness of the flight in his muscles. As he made his way to Ella, he gently lifted her unconscious form off Albion's back, followed by Alice, and laid them down on the soft grass. He made sure they were comfortable, positioning them in a way that would help them rest undisturbed.
"I will be going to sleep. You can rest as well," Naruto said softly, his voice weary from the exhaustion that had settled in his bones. He lay down beside Ella, closing his eyes, but his thoughts lingered on the battle they had just fought and the strained relationship with Albion.
Albion, observing Naruto's actions, couldn't bring himself to feel anything but disdain. He turned away, settling on the other side of the field, keeping his distance from the others. The dragon still saw them as enemies—people who would eventually die, whether at his hands or some other fate. To Albion, this brief alliance was nothing more than a temporary arrangement, a means to an end.
Naruto sighed, realizing that some things didn't change so easily, even with words. His hopes of persuading Albion to become an ally had been in vain. The dragon's pride remained unshaken. People don't just change with one conversation, Naruto thought, his mind filled with the weight of the situation.
I can't let my victories get to my head, Naruto reminded himself. Though he had come out on top in the battle, there were still so many unknowns, and he couldn't afford to become complacent.
"Go to sleep, Naruto. I will watch over everything," Gaea's voice broke through his thoughts. The comforting weight of her presence settled on his chest, her small form perched there like a guardian. Her warmth was a steady reminder of the support he had, even when things seemed uncertain.
"Thanks and good night," Naruto murmured, already drifting off. The exhaustion was overwhelming, and his body finally surrendered to the deep, much-needed rest. The world around him faded as his mind and body shut down for the night.
In the stillness of the night, Albion remained alert, his eyes scanning the surroundings, while the others slept, unaware of the dangers that could come at any moment. But for now, they were safe, and the promise of rest and recovery lingered in the air.
Gaea, ever watchful, sat on Naruto's chest, her gaze softened as she observed the sleeping group. She knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy, but for now, all they could do was rest and prepare for whatever would come next.
The morning air was cool and fresh when Naruto woke, feeling the weight of exhaustion still hanging on him, but he knew they needed to continue their journey. His eyes flicked open, only to realize that he was the last one to wake up. Everyone else, including Albion, appeared healthy and ready for the day. The dragon, having recovered fully, stood at a distance, eyeing the others warily.
Naruto quickly gathered himself and approached the group, where Alice, Ella, and Gaea had already begun preparing for the next leg of their journey.
"Good morning," he greeted them with a warm smile, though he was still feeling the aftereffects of the last few days.
"Good morning," Alice replied, her voice steady, though there was a subtle tension in her demeanor.
He sat down next to her, his gaze shifting to her for a moment. "You must have heard about what happened, so do you wish to accompany us or leave?"
Alice didn't hesitate, her voice resolute. "I wish to join your quest. This isn't just out of a sense of obligation, but because I want to be with you."
Naruto smiled, not quite grasping the deeper sentiment behind her words. "I'm happy you're joining us. Your help is valuable, and I like you as well."
Alice felt a pang of frustration as she realized Naruto hadn't understood her true feelings. He's so dense, she thought, but suppressed the urge to express it out loud. Instead, she simply nodded, trying to push aside the hurt she was feeling.
On the other hand, Gaea found the situation amusing, her lips curling into a small smile. He never fails to put a smile on my face, she mused, watching the scene unfold.
Naruto then turned his attention to Ella, who had been eagerly waiting for his attention. "Ella, you've done well. So, what would you like as a reward?"
Ella's face lit up, and without hesitation, she jumped up with a bright smile. "Ella wants a kiss!" she declared, her voice filled with innocence and excitement. With the increase in power, her wisdom had grown, and she understood that Naruto might only understand her request if she was direct.
Naruto's face turned beet red, flustered and unsure of how to respond. "You should do that with someone you like," he stammered, trying to deflect.
Ella, however, was resolute. "Ella likes Naruto," she said, her gaze unwavering as she locked eyes with him. Her powerful gaze held him captive, and for a moment, he felt completely lost in her intensity.
What do I do? Naruto thought frantically, his mind in turmoil. I promised, and breaking promises goes against my code, but I don't love her. How can I lead her on?
Before he could come to a decision, Ella leaned in, closing the gap between them. A soft, innocent kiss landed on his lips, her touch light but filled with love. Naruto, still shocked, didn't know how to react. It wasn't until two minutes had passed that she pulled away, her eyes wide with curiosity.
"It didn't taste like anything the book described. Ella is confused," she said, her words innocent and yet profound in their simplicity.
Naruto couldn't help but laugh, despite the overwhelming awkwardness of the situation. "It's not supposed to taste like anything," he muttered, still embarrassed.
Alice, however, was not amused. She felt deflated, having seen Ella take such a bold step, and jealousy began to bubble up inside her. Why am I feeling like this? she wondered, her thoughts filled with an unfamiliar, dark desire. Am I jealous?
As Ella seemed to focus on the subject at hand, Naruto nodded, trying to find some semblance of peace. "Okay," he said quietly, not wanting to disrespect her feelings. "But we should move forward. One kiss is enough for now."
Ella beamed, but before she could act on her excitement, Alice moved swiftly, jumping on Ella to prevent her from latching onto Naruto again. The two girls wrestled for a moment, their playful struggle breaking the tension in the air.
Albion, observing the scene from a distance, couldn't make sense of what he was witnessing. What kind of being is he? the dragon thought, confused. Is this really his true form? What does he mean by making me stronger than I could fathom? Was he bluffing?
After a few more moments of lighthearted banter, Naruto decided it was time to continue their journey. He and Alice went through some warm-up exercises to get their bodies ready for the challenges ahead.
But just as they were preparing to leave, Alice suddenly sensed something. "Enemies incoming," she shouted in worry, her voice carrying to everyone. "It's a dragon... no, three dragons!"
Albion's eyes widened in recognition, a twisted smile spreading across his face. Brothers, come and free me from this disgraceful state, he thought eagerly.
Naruto, realizing the urgency of the situation, quickly focused his energy and shot lightning bolts toward the incoming dragons. However, his elemental power was still weak compared to theirs, and the bolts only managed to singe their scales. The dragons roared in delight, sensing their prey.
"Albion, dive down and zigzag through the buildings!" Naruto commanded urgently.
Though Albion was reluctant, he obeyed, diving down into the city with full speed. The dragons followed, and as they passed through the narrow spaces between the buildings, Naruto swiftly threw two spiked chains to connect the structures. Using his wind powers, he created a strong gust, and Alice assisted him to ensure that when the dragons made the turn, they collided with the chains.
The impact caused a massive destruction of the buildings, and Naruto quickly realized the full extent of what he had done. "Oh shit!" he muttered under his breath, but there was no time to dwell on the mistake. He concentrated on controlling the falling debris and the chains, keeping the dragons entangled while Albion flew above, trying to steady the chaos.
The struggle was intense, and Naruto forced Albion to carry the captured dragons toward a construction site, where they collided with the unfinished structure. The debris from the building rained down on the dragons, and Naruto manipulated the steel to entangle them further, using wrecking balls to bash them into submission.
A roar of fury echoed from behind them as one of the remaining dragons unleashed a massive flame toward them. "Albion, it seems your friends don't really care for your safety," Naruto said with a smirk. "Blast him!"
Albion, his pride wounded, was reluctant but breathed flames toward the attacking dragon. However, his flames were smaller and less potent than his opponent's. Naruto and Alice quickly fanned the flames with their wind powers, turning them back toward the dragon and causing it to stagger.
Without wasting any more time, Naruto used metal around him like spears, throwing them at the dragon's wings, ripping through them and causing it to fall to the ground. "Let's go," Naruto urged as he captured the remaining dragon.
But as the battle raged on, Naruto knew they had made too much noise. The area was now crawling with danger, and they needed to move fast.
"If you had been good, it wouldn't have come to this," Naruto muttered, his voice tinged with regret as he glanced at Albion, who roared in frustration.
With their mission still incomplete and enemies closing in, the group knew they had no choice but to push forward.