Naruto's mind raced as he observed the sprawling Camp Half-Blood from the distance, his gaze focused on the protective barrier surrounding it. The camp was far more vibrant and alive than he'd expected, with numerous figures moving about, the atmosphere filled with both the calm and the undercurrent of energy that only children of the immortals could exude.
"Let's land here," he instructed Albion softly, pointing to a nearby open field that was miles away from the camp's perimeter. The dragon landed gracefully, avoiding drawing attention with any loud roars or aggressive movements. As Albion's claws gently touched the earth, Naruto dismounted, still holding Ella and Alice, who had remained silent for much of the journey.
Gaea's voice echoed in his mind. "You know, Naruto, they will be watching. The Olympians are not fools. Be careful."
Naruto took a deep breath, nodding. "I know, Gaea. I'll keep my distance. We're not here to cause trouble."
He looked around, taking in the sight of the camp from this vantage point. The trees were thick and lush, and the structures looked modest but sturdy. The boundaries of the camp were marked by a golden aura, shimmering faintly with an almost divine presence. There was no mistaking it; this was the work of powerful beings, the immortals themselves, no doubt.
Turning to Alice and Ella, Naruto addressed them, "You both should stay hidden for now. We don't know what to expect, and I can't afford to put anyone else in danger."
Alice gave a silent nod, her face set in a serious expression, while Ella simply smiled and held onto him a bit tighter, her curiosity about the camp clear. It was evident she wasn't too concerned about the potential dangers, but Naruto wasn't taking any chances.
Naruto took a seat against a tree, feeling the weight of their journey. "I have to learn more about these Olympians and their powers. I can't let them see us as threats if we're to survive here." He glanced at Albion, who had transformed back into his more manageable form, now resting but keeping an eye on the horizon. "We've been through a lot, but this next part might be even more challenging."
Gaea's voice hummed in his mind, a touch of caution laced within her words. "Patience, Naruto. Time will reveal what needs to be done. Don't rush into anything."
"Yeah," Naruto muttered, looking out towards the horizon. "We'll just wait for the right moment."
As the hours passed, the camp seemed to go about its normal business, with no sign of the Olympians themselves, but there were children of the immortals moving in and out, seemingly unaware of the distant observer. Still, the barrier kept the camp secure, and Naruto understood the weight of Gaea's warning.
For now, they would remain in hiding, watching, waiting for any opportunity to learn more about their surroundings without drawing attention to themselves.
Naruto stood quietly, watching the camp in the distance, his mind working through the possibilities. The barrier that surrounded the camp shimmered faintly, a reminder of the divine protection it was under. He knew his next steps had to be careful; the Olympians were a force to be reckoned with, and he couldn't afford to make any rash decisions.
Gaea's voice broke his contemplation, her tone laced with concern. "How long do you plan to stay here?"
Naruto's gaze never wavered from the distant camp. He replied in a calm, measured voice, "It shouldn't be long, but I want to learn more about them before making any judgments. Sooner or later, I'll have to face them."
Gaea appeared on his shoulder, her tiny figure perched with an air of wisdom. "Remember, your life is more important than anything else. The Olympians have made their choices when they accepted their immortal parents. Don't forget that."
Naruto smiled softly at her warning, his expression serious but filled with determination. "Don't worry, Gaea. Even I wouldn't go that far." He gave a gentle laugh and rubbed her head affectionately before starting to walk toward a higher vantage point, where he could observe the camp better.
As he moved, he turned to Albion, who was resting at a distance. "Albion, you did well. Relax now; I'll make sure to reward you for your service," Naruto said with a smile, genuinely appreciating the dragon's assistance despite their complicated relationship.
Albion, however, was far from pleased. He growled, a low, guttural sound that vibrated in the air, clearly irritated. The golden dragon turned away with a huff, his wings flapping in agitation before he took off, disappearing into the distance.
Naruto chuckled at the dragon's mood. "Aww, the dragon is so grumpy despite everything. He's just upset because his friends were fighting against us," he said, half-amused, half-sympathetic. He glanced at Ella, who stood close by, her form still striking despite the lack of proper clothing.
Naruto quickly averted his gaze, making a conscious effort to focus on the task at hand. He had grown increasingly aware of Ella's beauty, but the circumstances made him uncomfortable, and he needed to remain focused. He couldn't afford distractions, not now.
Alice, who had been quietly observing, felt a surge of frustration. She had seen how Ella's proximity to Naruto seemed to capture his attention, and it gnawed at her. Wanting to show her value, she decided to speak up, her voice carrying a hint of determination.
"Naruto, there's a much more effective way to learn about the camp," Alice said, her tone shifting from neutral to serious.
Naruto looked at her with interest, raising an eyebrow. "How?"
Alice's eyes flickered with a hint of resolve. "I can summon the wind nymphs from the camp to deliver the information. They are more loyal to me than to the Olympians. They only live inside the camp because it's the safest place for them, even if it means sacrificing their dignity."
Naruto's expression softened, a deep understanding of Alice's words settling in. The pain of her past was something he could never truly fathom, but he knew that she had been through much, and that was something that needed to be acknowledged.
"Don't worry, Alice," he said, his voice sincere. "They will pay for what they've done to you and your comrades."
Alice nodded slightly, her eyes glinting with a mix of vengeance and hope. The pain from her memories still lingered, but the comfort of Naruto's words seemed to bring her a measure of peace. She felt the warmth of his hug, the unexpected affection momentarily soothing the turmoil inside her. She gave a small smile, though it was more subdued than anything genuine.
"Please summon them, Alice. I need to know more," Naruto muttered into her ear, his voice barely audible but full of quiet urgency.
Alice pulled back, taking a moment to gather herself before she concentrated. Her hands spread apart, and a gust of wind swirled around her. The sound of the wind, sharp and clear, rang out, reaching only the ears of the wind nymphs who were connected to her.
Minutes passed, and the air around them seemed to shift. Suddenly, a few wind nymphs appeared, fluttering down toward Naruto and Alice. Their small, ethereal forms glimmered in the sunlight, their eyes filled with a calm focus as they approached.
Naruto studied them carefully. They didn't seem unhappy or burdened, a stark contrast to the nymphs Alice had known. Their expressions were neutral, but there was no trace of the fear or pain Alice had once spoken of.
He wondered to himself, Has the situation changed for the nymphs since Alice's time? His gaze lingered on the nymphs, trying to gauge whether they were truly safe or if the Olympians had simply learned to hide their cruelty better.
One of the nymphs, who appeared to be the leader, fluttered forward, her voice gentle but firm. "How may we be of service, Mistress?" she asked, her tone respectful but cautious.
Naruto exchanged a glance with Alice, his curiosity piqued. This was the opportunity they had been waiting for, and the information the nymphs could provide could change everything.
The wind rustled around them as Alice addressed the nymphs, her voice calm but firm. "I want you to answer to the commands of Naruto." She gestured to him as she spoke, making sure the nymphs understood who was in charge now.
The lead nymph, her wings glimmering in the sunlight, responded without hesitation. "Very well, Master. What is your command?"
Naruto looked at the nymph thoughtfully, his expression serious. "Relax," he began. "I wish to know of your treatment inside the camp."
The nymph's face softened, a dreamlike expression crossing her features as she spoke. "It used to be hard some years ago, but since the young hero Percy Jackson made a request to right the wrongs of the Olympians, our lives have been much better. We just have to work now, and we don't have to worry too much about being attacked by lust-driven immortals."
Gaea's voice interrupted, cutting through the nymph's optimistic tone. "But the attacks still happen." There was a hint of bitterness in her voice, a reminder of the reality that remained.
The nymph's head dropped slightly, and she nodded solemnly. "Yes... It's improving, though. It's 100% better than before."
Naruto felt a twinge of discomfort at the topic, and he quickly shifted the subject, eager to move away from the painful memories. "How are the demi-children? Are they similar to their parents?"
The nymph looked down, her wings fluttering gently. "No, most of them are scared. The camp is the only place where they can live peacefully. Only rarely do some of them go insane and cause massive damage, but they are just sad little pups who can't even live longer than twenty years."
Naruto's eyes narrowed with concern. "Is that so? Would they give their lives to save their parents, or perhaps avenge them?"
The nymph's face twisted in confusion, as if the idea had never occurred to her. "I don't know." She shook her head, her voice tinged with shock. 'Is this guy trying to say he will kill the Olympians?' she wondered silently.
Naruto, sensing her unease, shifted his gaze and continued, "Is there a way for me to watch what's happening inside the camp?"
The nymph seemed to consider it for a moment, then nodded. "It is possible. Do you wish to start now?"
"Yes," Naruto answered firmly.
The nymph turned to communicate with the others still within the camp's barrier, and a moment later, a shimmering water basin materialized before them. Through its surface, Naruto could see images flicker—views of the camp's interior. "This will show what the water nymph inside the camp is seeing," she explained.
Naruto nodded in appreciation, his gaze fixed on the water basin. As he peered into it, he felt the weight of his decision hanging over him. The world inside the camp was full of life—teens moving through their routines, training to fight, living out their everyday struggles. He watched them use weapons, their faces filled with determination, yet their movements seemed clumsy and unrefined.
'Training to fight,' Naruto thought grimly, noting how primitive their methods appeared. "Why don't they use modern firearms instead?" he questioned out loud, unable to understand why the camp's leadership didn't equip the children with better tools to defend themselves.
Gaea, equally baffled by the lack of progress, responded after a brief silence. "I don't know... it might be because they think it's honorable, that using such weapons shows real skills and manliness." Her voice faltered, as if she, too, was grasping for a reasonable explanation.
Naruto's frown deepened. The image of the Olympians, who had the power to shape the world yet chose to leave their children unprepared for the harsh realities they would face, began to crack even further in his mind. 'How many could have survived if they had just given them modern weapons or, better yet, if they had undone their sins?' he thought bitterly.
His frustration was palpable, his hands clenching as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing. The sight of these young people, thrust into a world of war without proper support, stirred something dark within him. His jaw clenched so tightly that his fists began to bleed from the pressure.
"Smile, Naruto," Ella's voice broke through his thoughts, her gentle touch on his head a reminder to pull himself back from the edge. "Ella doesn't like it when your face becomes like that. It's scary."
Naruto managed a strained smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Sorry, I'll try not to," he replied softly, feeling Ella's warmth as she pinched his cheeks. She giggled in response, her laughter a bright spark that momentarily lifted his mood.
The nymphs, too, were left reeling from the scene. They had never questioned the methods used within the camp, but now they were troubled by how simple solutions seemed to elude those in charge. 'Couldn't the blacksmith's sons do such an easy job instead of creating those useless toys?' one of them wondered silently.
The days passed as Naruto continued to observe the camp's inner workings. With each passing moment, his anger and sadness grew as he learned more about the tragic lives of the demi-children. He witnessed their brokenness, their constant struggle, and his own helplessness in changing their fate.
'So many human lives destroyed,' he thought mournfully. His gaze turned to the Big House, where Rachel resided. 'That tragic little girl… Why couldn't you have done anything, Hermes? You destroyed your son's life and his mother's too.' His emotions overwhelmed him, and his fist tightened again, blood dripping from his palm as he struggled to contain the rage building within him.
His thoughts were a whirlwind of frustration and confusion, but he heard his own voice, soft yet filled with a strange madness. "Sorry. I get really emotional sometimes. These incidents were so avoidable. If they had just tried… You were right. I'll end them as planned. They've lost the right to exist. Even my limits have been breached. Once I gather my power, I'll erase everything wrong in this world. It will be a pure world."
The words sounded hollow in his own ears, as if someone else was speaking them. His gaze hardened, and something cold and ruthless flickered in his eyes.
"Relax, Naruto. Don't connect to the world," Gaea's voice cut through, her tone laced with worry as she bopped him lightly, trying to pull him from the brink.
Naruto blinked, shaking his head, but when he looked at Gaea, his expression was alien, a foreign darkness swimming in his eyes that made her feel threatened. She stepped back instinctively, her heart pounding in her chest. What was that?
"Wake up, Naruto! You're scaring me!" Ella's voice was frantic as she rushed to him, wrapping her arms around him in an attempt to ground him.
For a moment, Naruto was lost in a haze of visions—destruction, chaos, and worlds crumbling. The voice in his head urged him to act on his darkest impulses, but with the support of Ella and Gaea, he slowly emerged from the madness.
Breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling in rapid bursts, he staggered back. "I'm okay. I don't know what got into me," he murmured, his voice raw. "I… I connected too deeply with the world. It almost swallowed me."
Gaea, her expression full of concern, stepped closer to him. "Take a deep breath, Naruto. You need to rest. We'll leave tomorrow."
Naruto nodded, feeling drained, as if every ounce of energy had been sapped from him in that brief moment of darkness. He collapsed to the ground, his body too heavy to move.
"Thanks, Ella," he muttered meekly, feeling her warmth beside him. Alice, too, was near, her presence enveloping him in a calming embrace. It didn't take long before the weariness claimed him, and he slipped into an uneasy slumber, the weight of the world still pressing on his chest.
Naruto's dreams had always been a strange mix of vivid imagery and unsettling visions, but tonight's dream felt different. As his awareness shifted, he realized he was once again a mere spectator, unable to control the events unfolding before him. Frustration bubbled up in his chest.
"What is it this time?" he thought with clear annoyance. "Can't you give me a break?" His exhaustion from the journey and his recent emotional outburst weighed heavily on him, and the last thing he wanted was to be dragged into another vision.
Despite his fatigue, Naruto's gaze sharpened, unwilling to miss any crucial detail. The world around him began to clear, and he instantly recognized the familiar landscapes of his world. Something felt off, however—an oppressive tension hung in the air, as if the very atmosphere was brimming with danger.
Suddenly, two beams of green energy shot into the sky. One originated from the planet itself, and the other, from the moon. The beams collided, their light shimmering in a violent clash of power. The sight was almost too much for Naruto to process, but he couldn't look away. He heard a roar—an earth-shattering cry filled with indignation and hatred. The sound came from the planet itself, resonating deep within his chest.
A figure emerged from the green mist, one that Naruto had seen before, but now it was different. The figure's form had darkened, and it raised its hand as if preparing for some catastrophic move. Energy gathered around the figure, but in an instant, it was crushed by a powerful, unseen force. The move misfired in an explosion of energy, and the figure was enveloped by the destructive force, disappearing from Naruto's view.
'Who was that? What happened to the other?' The questions flooded his mind, but no answers came. His heart raced, a sense of dread creeping in as the atmosphere around him became more ominous. 'Damn, these visions are making me more worried than ever. I need to get back quickly, or I might not see my world again.' Worry gnawed at him, the foreboding future unfolding in front of him threatening to consume everything.
Before he could process any more of the scene, the vision shifted abruptly. Naruto felt himself plummeting, falling endlessly through an abyss. Despair and deep, unrelenting rage filled him—emotions so intense that they threatened to tear him apart. His chest tightened, suffocating under the weight of it all. It was as if there was no outlet, no way to escape this overwhelming emotion.
With a sudden jolt, Naruto woke up, gasping for air. His body was drenched in sweat, his heart pounding in his chest. The first thing he noticed was the warmth of the girls beside him, their presence grounding him, calming the storm that had raged inside his mind. A gentle smile tugged at his lips as he allowed himself to relax.
'There is no need to worry. I will face the problems as they come. Worrying won't make them disappear, so wasting energy on it is a wrong choice. Relax and fight it like usual.' His thoughts were a quiet reassurance to himself. He had faced countless challenges before and emerged victorious—this would be no different.
Gaea's voice, soft yet laced with concern, broke through his thoughts. "I thought I might need to help you, but it seems you are okay. It's good that you've recovered. You feel different than before."
Naruto looked up at her, grateful for her support. "Thanks," he replied softly. "I just let the feelings of worry depart. It really makes you feel so different."
As he rose slowly, carefully avoiding disturbing the girls, Gaea landed on his head, her tiny form barely noticeable against his hair. She tilted her head, a curious glint in her eyes. "I can see that," she said. "So, what had you wake up with such fright?"
Naruto hesitated for a moment, but he felt a strange sense of trust in Gaea. He smiled faintly, his expression softening. "I saw danger heading for my home. I need to return to fight once again."
His words felt like a promise, something deep and unshakable. Gaea remained quiet, but Naruto could sense her understanding. She didn't press him for more details, instead letting the moment linger in a comfortable silence.
Naruto's thoughts drifted briefly as he stared at the horizon. 'She really is special; I've never felt anything like this before. I don't want her to leave my side.' The realization caught him off guard, and he quickly stopped himself from thinking too much about it. The last thing he needed was to complicate things further with these emotions.
But despite his efforts to push it aside, he couldn't shake the thought that Gaea had become someone vital to him—someone who, in the midst of everything, brought a sense of stability and understanding that he had never known before.