Chapter no.37 Dark Souls

Read advance chapters of all my works or want to support me.

https/www.p.a.t.r. /Adamo_Amet

Join us on discord:

https/di.. /h3kDw7ma

••••••••••••••••••

Chapter no.37 Graveyard Scavenger

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Naruto opened his eyes to the familiar sight of Firelink Shrine. The soft, steady glow of the bonfire crackled in front of him, its warmth washing over him. This place… it was starting to feel like his new Hokage Monument. A place where he could just sit, take a breather, and think without anyone bothering him. Well, except for maybe Alexander.

He glanced around, half-expecting the ever-gloomy crestfallen warrior to be muttering something depressing about fate or despair. But the shrine was quiet. Too quiet.

"Huh. Guess ol' Alexander finally stopped sulking and decided to go out for once," Naruto muttered with a shrug. "Good for him, I guess. Maybe he finally got his life back on track after eating that cup of ramen—proof that even in a cursed world, ramen fixes everything."

Naruto shook the thought from his head and stood up, brushing off his hands. "Alright, time to get to work," he said, cracking his knuckles.

He made a cross-sign with his fingers, concentrating as he pushed a big chunk of chakra out of his body. The feeling was intense, like forcing water through a narrow pipe. The mechanism behind the Shadow Clone Jutsu was complicated, but in his head, it was like blowing a bubble: his body was the wand, his clone was the bubble, and chakra was the solution. Lots of chakra.

Then, with a sharp exhale, he released it.

Poof!

Standing before him was his clone, grinning back at him like he'd just been born for mischief.

"You ready for the plan?"

"We're going grave robbing, dattebayo!" the clone declared, throwing a fist in the air like it was something to be proud of.

"Can you not make it sound so… so bad?! It's not grave robbing! We're just… strategically scavenging stuff that nobody's using!"

The clone just grinned and gave him a thumbs-up. "Strategic grave robbing. Got it."

"Just… go do your job, will you?"

The clone gave a mock salute. "Aye-aye, boss!" And with that, it took off toward the graveyard, disappearing into the shadows with more enthusiasm than Naruto was entirely comfortable with.

He slumped back down by the bonfire, letting his chakra pool refill. That particular clone had taken a lot of chakra—not enough to leave him dry, but enough to make him feel it. It was fine, though. That clone was smarter and tougher than the average ones. It'd even make more clones if it needed backup. Meanwhile, Naruto leaned back, letting his body recharge.

His gaze drifted to the Estus Flask hanging at his side. The thing had already saved his life more than a few times by healing his injuries, but something had been nagging at him. If it could restore his body… could it restore his chakra too?

"Only one way to find out," Naruto muttered, pulling the flask to his lips and taking a swig. Warmth spread through his body, the familiar sensation of healing. But this time, he focused inward, on his chakra.

And there it was.

His eyes widened in shock as he felt his reserves refill, a rush of fresh energy flowing through him. He stared at the flask like it was the Holy Grail of ninja tools.

"This… this thing is amazing," he whispered in awe, his lips curling into a grin. "Oh, I'm definitely keeping you around."

Placing the now-empty flask in front of the bonfire, Naruto watched as it slowly refilled itself. He chuckled. "You, my friend, just became my new best friend. Sorry, ramen."

Before he could plan his next move, he heard the distant BOOM of an explosion. A smug grin spread across his face as memories from his clone flooded into his mind. Apparently, the cemetery skeletons were proving to be a pain, but his clones had blown a few to bits using explosive tags.

"Stupid skeletons," Naruto muttered with satisfaction, leaning back against a rock. "That's what you get for messing with Naruto Uzumaki."

Another set of memories hit him—this time of the loot the clone had grabbed. He felt a tingle of excitement as he sat up straighter, rubbing his hands together like a kid about to open a birthday present.

"Strategic scavenging, huh? Yeah, that's got a nice ring to it."

[ Item: Winged Spear ]

[ Weapon type: Spears ]

[ Description: A long-hilted spear with a barbed point. Long reach, and can be used with shield up. Effective against hard exteriors, and hits for high damage at the right moment of an enemy's swing. But the hit radius is small, and it is easily blocked by shields. ]

Naruto hefted the spear in his hands, feeling its weight. It had a long, sturdy shaft, with a sharp, narrow tip that gleamed faintly in the light of the bonfire. Just below the blade, small, wing-like protrusions flared out on either side, giving it an almost elegant design.

"Looks pretty badass," Naruto muttered, turning it over. He gave the tip an experimental jab at the air, but his enthusiasm faded quickly. "But… seriously, am I gonna use this?"

He pictured himself lugging it around in battle and immediately cringed. It just didn't feel right for him. The Zweihander was his weapon—big, heavy, and full of destructive power. This? This was too… precise.

"Yeah, not really my style," he decided, letting the spear rest against the side of the bonfire. "Guess it's backup, or maybe… can I sell this stuff?"

He rubbed the back of his head, wondering how selling even worked in Lordran. He'd have to figure that out later. For now, though, it was just one more thing taking up space in his inventory.

[ Item: Caduceus Round Shield ]

[ Weapon type: Small Shield ]

[ Description: Round wooden shield crafted in Lordran. Decorated by an ancient blue Caduceus. The giant trees in Lordran are distant offspring of the great stone archtrees. This shield inherits their properties, and the wood greatly reduces magic damage. ]

Next, Naruto picked up the shield. It was small and round, made of wood with a faded green background. The design on its face—a pair of curved lines resembling snakes meeting at a "U" shape—was faint and worn, but still visible. The edges of the shield were reinforced with a thin rim of metal, though it had seen better days.

"Huh," Naruto said, giving it a once-over. "Not bad. Feels pretty sturdy, I guess." He rapped his knuckles against it, hearing the dull thud of the wood. "Wonder if this thing could hold up against a jutsu."

But he frowned, already feeling its weight dragging on his arm. It wasn't that heavy, but still—he'd need to pump more points into strength before he could wield it comfortably alongside the Zweihander. And, honestly? Shields just weren't his thing.

"Yeah, probably not gonna use this either," he muttered, setting it down with the spear.

[ Item: Binoculars ]

[ Description: Binoculars made of Brass. Use to peer at distant scenery.

This advanced device was built by a famous craftsman of Astora. Its utility is singular, but its applications many. The value of these specs depends greatly on the imagination of their owner. ]

Finally, Naruto picked up the binoculars. They were made of brass, slightly worn but still solid, with two cylindrical eyepieces connected by a small hinge in the middle. He turned them over in his hands, feeling their smooth surface.

"Binoculars?" Naruto muttered, squinting at them. "What am I supposed to do with these?"

His mind wandered for a moment, and then a wicked grin crept onto his face. He remembered the onsen near his apartment in Konoha.

"I mean… I could test these out there… Just, you know, for research purposes," he said to himself, chuckling quietly. But the thought made him blush, and he quickly shook his head. "Nope, nope, bad idea. Focus, Naruto!"

Grinning at his own ridiculousness, he brought the binoculars up to his eyes, curious to see what they could do. He aimed them at the bonfire—and immediately regretted it.

"ARGH! My eyes!" he yelped, pulling them away as spots danced in his vision. The light of the bonfire had practically burned into his retinas. He blinked furiously, wiping at his eyes until the pain subsided.

Once his vision cleared, he raised the binoculars again, this time aiming them at the far edges of the shrine. Through the lenses, he could make out winding paths carved into the massive stone walls surrounding the area. The paths twisted and turned, disappearing into the distance like trails leading to the unknown.

Naruto lowered the binoculars, a grin spreading across his face. "Well, looks like I know where I'm going next," he said, standing up and stretching. He stashed the binoculars in his pouch and gave the bonfire one last glance.

"Let's go see what this world's got for me next!"

Naruto made his way to the cliffside where Alexander had once stood guard over his soul drop. The ground sloped sharply, giving way to a sheer drop below, and just ahead, the massive castle wall loomed like a giant sentry. The dark stone was ancient, scarred by battles long since forgotten, and stretched so high that it vanished into the thick, cloudy sky above. Naruto tilted his head back, taking it all in, feeling impossibly small in its shadow.

"Man," he muttered to himself, "this place always knows how to make you feel tiny."

As he stepped closer, his sharp eyes caught sight of a set of staircases carved right into the cliffside. They clung precariously to the rock face, winding upward toward a series of ancient, crumbling archways that disappeared into the castle walls. The steps themselves were a mess—cracked, uneven, and overgrown with tufts of wild grass and moss.

Naruto let out a deep breath, rolling his shoulders.

He stepped onto the first stair, his hand instinctively resting on the hilt of the Zweihander strapped to his back. His senses were on high alert, his eyes scanning the shadows ahead. He didn't have to wait long. A few hollows shuffled into view, their vacant, hollow eyes staring at nothing, their battered armor barely clinging to their decayed bodies. They gripped rusted short swords with hands that shook as if they'd forgotten how to fight.

Naruto smirked, his confidence swelling. "Pfft, this is gonna be easy," he said under his breath. These hollows were barely holding themselves together, and he figured he wouldn't even need chakra to deal with them. This would be a good warm-up.

He took a step forward, hand on the Zweihander, ready to attack. Then it came—a sharp whistling sound cutting through the air.

BOOM!

The explosion slammed into the ground beside him, a burst of searing flames and heat that sent Naruto stumbling backward. The blast hit his chest like a hammer, forcing the air out of his lungs as flames licked at the edges of his armor. Smoke filled his lungs, and his instincts screamed at him to move.

"Damn it!" Naruto coughed, patting at the charred edges of his armor as he tried to regain his balance. His skin tingled from the heat, and his head pounded from the force of the blast. He barely had time to recover when one of the hollows lunged forward with a crazed howl, its short sword swinging wildly.

The first blow slammed into his shoulder plate with a harsh clang, and the hollow didn't stop. It hacked at him relentlessly, the strikes landing with the ferocity of a wild animal. Naruto gritted his teeth, his arm vibrating with every impact as he tried to block and hold his ground. The hollow's attacks were so wild, so frenzied, it almost pushed him off the edge of the staircase.

Then, with a sharp snap, the hollow's rusted sword shattered against his chest plate. The creature froze for a split second, almost as if it were confused, and Naruto seized the moment. With a burst of chakra, he disappeared in a blur of motion, shunshining backward to put some distance between them.

"Alright, that's enough of that," Naruto muttered, his breath ragged. His smirk was gone, replaced with a hard glare. "These guys are supposed to be pushovers, so what the hell's going on?"

Movement above caught his eye. Another hollow was scrambling down the upper staircase, its empty gaze fixed on him. Below, a second hollow—this one clad in dented, rusted armor—emerged from the shadows.

Naruto didn't wait for them to close in. Triggering the pyromancy flame in his hand, he hurled a fireball at the staircase. The explosion rocked the stone steps, engulfing the two hollows in flames. Smoke and embers filled the air, and Naruto charged through the chaos, his Zweihander raised high.

The first hollow, still stumbling forward, didn't stand a chance. With a roar, Naruto brought the Zweihander down in a devastating swing, cutting the hollow clean in half. Blood sprayed across the stone, the creature's remains crumpling to the ground as Naruto's focus sharpened. His Way of Focality screamed in his head—more attacks were coming from all sides.

But those attacks landed on nothing but smoke. His clone had taken his place.

BOOM!

Another firebomb went off, consuming the area where his clone had been standing in a burst of flames. Using the distraction, Naruto appeared behind the group of hollows, his Zweihander already in motion. The massive blade swept in a wide arc, slicing clean through two hollows in one fluid motion. Their heads hit the ground before their bodies even registered the impact.

The Zweihander crashed into the stone floor with a heavy thunk, dust and blood scattering in all directions. Naruto stood still for a moment, his chest rising and falling as he caught his breath.

But it wasn't over. Above him, another hollow was already prepping another firebomb. Naruto glanced up, his eyes narrowing. "Not this time," he muttered.

Letting go of the Zweihander, he pulled a kunai from his pouch and flung it with precision. The kunai struck the firebomb mid-air, detonating it in a fiery burst that sent the hollow stumbling back. Naruto didn't hesitate. He sprinted up the staircase, the wind whipping past him, his legs pumping hard as he closed the distance.

His smirk returned as he thought about what he was going to do. "Oh, I'm gonna enjoy this," he muttered under his breath, picturing himself tossing the hollow right off the edge.

The hollow raised its arm to throw another bomb, but before Naruto could close the gap, a massive axe swung out from behind the staircase. His instincts screamed, and he substituted, vanishing in a puff of smoke just as the axe cleaved through where he had been.

Naruto reappeared mid-air, just in time to watch the hollow with the axe get slammed by the firebomb intended for him. But it barely flinched, its bony face turning toward him with soulless rage.

He landed on the upper staircase, his feet skidding against the stone. "Alright," he growled, summoning the Zweihander into his hand, "no more games."

Chakra surged through his muscles as he charged forward, raising the massive blade. The hollow swung its axe, but the Zweihander cut clean through it, the blade continuing its arc and splitting the hollow's body in two. The strike shook Naruto's entire frame, but he held steady, his grip firm.

Another firebomb came his way. Naruto ducked into a low crouch, just like Kakashi had taught him, the bomb sailing harmlessly over his head. He glared up at the hollow, his patience officially gone.

"You really wanna keep throwing stuff, huh?" he growled, stalking toward the hollow, fists clenched.

The hollow hesitated, but Naruto didn't. He closed the distance in an instant, slamming his fist into its jaw. The impact sent it staggering, and he followed up with a quick left-right combo, each punch landing with a satisfying crack.

"Here, let me help you with that whole 'falling apart' thing!" Naruto snarled, delivering an uppercut that sent the hollow flying off the edge of the cliff. He watched as it tumbled into the abyss below, its limbs flailing uselessly.

A smirk crept onto his face. "Yeah, that felt good," he muttered, brushing off his hands.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

[ Personal Note: First off, thanks a ton to all of you for sticking with this story. Seriously, you guys are awesome. Now, if you're interested in supporting me on P treon, let me just say that over there, I post these massive 5k-word chapters. But heads up, if you're jumping to P treon, you'll need to start from Chapter 19, since that's where this chapter lines up with the content there.

To everyone here just reading along, please don't forget to leave a comment! Honestly, your comments make my day, and they let me know you're as invested in this story as I am. So yeah, thanks again, and I hope you have an amazing rest of your day!