Naruto: The Chosen Undead

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Chapter no.89 Jolly Cooperation?!

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"Ah, hello! You don't look Hollow—not in the slightest! Far from it!" The man's voice was calm, almost hypnotic. His tone was upbeat, almost too cheery for a place like this. "I am Solaire of Astora, an adherent of the Lord of Sunlight."

"Wait, you're from Astora?!"

The knight chuckled, a deep, hearty laugh. "Why yes, indeed! That great, noble land. But, ah, forgive my curiosity—how do you know of Astora?"

Naruto straightened up, suddenly feeling a need to look presentable. "My name is Naruto Uzumaki, and I'm the Squire of Sir Oscar, an Elite knight of Astora." His voice carried a pride he hadn't felt in a while.

"A Squire, you say? Ah, the honor of it! How splendid to meet another soul from my homeland!" Solaire exclaimed, clapping his gauntleted hands together. His tone turned softer, though still warm. "Tell me, does your master still walk these lands?"

Naruto's shoulders sagged slightly. "He… he died. He saved me from the Asylum Demon. Gave me everything so I could escape." His voice dropped, the memory still fresh.

Solaire tilted his head slightly, as if offering an invisible smile beneath his helm. "A pilgrimage, then. Like so many of our order, he must have sought the truths hidden within Lordran." He paused, letting the words settle. "And he gave his life for yours? Truly, he was a knight of great conviction. Be proud of that bond, young squire."

Naruto nodded, though his throat felt tight. "Thanks. I… try to honor him."

Solaire's voice brightened. "And so you should! From what I see, you have already come far—close to the bell, even!"

Naruto's eyes narrowed. "Bell?"

"Ah, yes," Solaire replied, gesturing beyond the bridge. "The first Bell of Awakening lies within the Undead Church, just past that formidable structure. Quite the destination, wouldn't you agree?"

Naruto grinned. "First bell, huh? Sounds like I've got my next target. Thanks, Solaire."

"Think nothing of it, dear squire." Solaire's tone turned whimsical again as he looked toward the pale mist in the distance. "I myself have come to this land for a purpose—to seek my very own sun."

Naruto furrowed his brows. "Your own sun? Uh, you know the sun's right there, right?" He pointed to the sky, his expression deadpan.

Solaire chuckled again, the sound rich and full of amusement. "Ah, yes! Quite the literal interpretation. But tell me, what do you think the sun is?"

Naruto shrugged. "A burning ball of gas that gives us daylight?"

"Hah hah hah!" Solaire's laugh echoed across the platform, rich and warm like sunlight breaking through clouds. "I see! A fair answer, indeed. But to me, the sun is far more than that. It is not just a burning ball of gas; it is the beacon of hope, a symbol of life's brilliance. Did you know, young squire, that the sun itself was once said to be a creation of Lord Gwyn, the Lord of Sunlight?"

"Wait, Lord Gwyn made the sun?"

Solaire nodded, his voice softening. "So the legends say. But Lord Gwyn… he sacrificed himself to sustain the First Flame, the source of light and life in this world. By offering his very soul to the fire, he prolonged the Age of Fire, holding back the encroaching dark. But in doing so, he abandoned his sun."

Naruto frowned. "So, what, the sun's fading?"

"The light of his sun has waned," Solaire replied. "Though it still hangs in the heavens, it is but a shadow of its former glory. The warmth it once radiated grows colder, dimmer with each passing age. And so, I find myself here, in Lordran, seeking my own sun. A sun unbound by the fading flame, a light that will never dim."

Naruto blinked, unsure how to respond. "That's… a lot."

Solaire chuckled, the sound tinged with melancholy. "Yes, perhaps it is. To seek one's own sun may seem a strange and impossible quest, but it is one I cannot abandon. For what is life without purpose, my young friend? Without something brilliant to strive for?"

Naruto scratched the back of his head. "You're weird, you know that?"

"I've been told as much," Solaire replied. "But I find your honesty refreshing. You, young one, seem to shine with a light of your own."

"Thanks… uh, Sunbro."

"Sunbro?"

"Yeah, I like giving nicknames to people I like. And I like you. So, Sunbro it is."

Solaire let out a soft laugh. "Well, I must admit, I rather like the sound of that. Sunbro it is, then."

Naruto glanced back toward the bridge, the hulking form of the red-scaled wyvern perched atop the tower at its far end. "Anyway, I think I'm gonna go take that thing down. The bell's on the other side, right?"

"A bold claim, young squire. Do you even know what you're up against?"

"Yeah, a dragon," Naruto replied casually.

"Not quite," Solaire said with a faint air of correction. "That, my friend, is no dragon—it's a Hellkite Wyvern."

Naruto frowned. "What's the difference?"

Solaire raised a finger as if giving a lecture.

"A dragon," Solaire began, "is a creature of ancient power—true dragons have four legs, four wings, and two jaws capable of rending the heavens. They are beings of unparalleled strength, resilience, and majesty. But there is a difference, young squire, between the Everlasting Dragons and those born of lesser bloodlines. The Everlasting Dragons are eternal; their scales, formed of stone, render them impervious to harm. They are not just creatures—they are embodiments of the world's primal order, existing beyond time and death. They do not fear, nor do they hunger. They simply are."

Naruto nodded slowly, though his eyes betrayed a mix of fascination and bewilderment.

"A wyvern, however," Solaire continued, "is something altogether different. It has but two legs and two wings, and it lacks the eternal grace of its draconic ancestors. The wyvern is a cunning predator, born to hunt, strike swiftly, and dominate its domain. Its fiery breath can incinerate even the hardiest foes, and it is far more agile than any dragon. But while a dragon is a force of nature—an unyielding embodiment of the world itself—a wyvern is a mortal creature, subject to the limits of flesh, blood, and bone."

Naruto scratched his chin, trying to keep it all straight. "So dragons are like… ancient gods, and wyverns are their wannabe cousins who took steroids?"

Solaire chuckled at the analogy, shaking his head. "If you wish to simplify it, perhaps so. But do not let the wyvern's lesser stature fool you. Its ferocity and cunning make it a fearsome opponent. To underestimate it is to invite death."

"Toh-may-toh, toh-mah-toh. Still gonna kill it."

Solaire's voice grew lighter. "Oh, are you now?"

"Yeah," Naruto said confidently. "That thing's sitting between me and my goal. Can't let it live, can I?"

Solaire straightened up, a newfound excitement in his posture. "Well then, young squire, I have a proposition."

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "What kind of proposition?"

Solaire stepped forward. "I propose we engage in jolly cooperation—to vanquish this beast together! What say you?"

Naruto smirked. "I could use the help carrying its corpse back. Let's do it, Sunbro."

The two warriors stood side by side, gazing at the wyvern in the distance. Its form exuded menace, its wings shifting slightly as it remained perched on the tower.

"So, any ideas?" Naruto asked. "Because that thing's fire breath is insane."

Solaire chuckled softly, reaching behind him to retrieve a talisman. Its design was intricate, with white cloth flowing from the top like a banner. Naruto immediately felt the air change, an electric charge building in the atmosphere.

"No need to worry, my little friend. Observe."

Solaire's voice carried an unusual gravity as he raised the talisman high, golden light crackling in his palm. The air grew thick with the sharp, metallic tang of ozone, the pressure building as he formed a spear of pure lightning.

Naruto's eyes widened as he watched the miracle take form. The golden bolt hummed with energy, a radiant beacon of power in the misty air. Solaire's arm drew back, and with a fluid motion, he hurled the lightning spear toward the wyvern.@@novelbin@@

The bolt tore through the air like a thunderclap, faster than Naruto could track. The impact was immediate—a flash of golden light, followed by an ear-splitting roar as the wyvern screamed in pain. Its massive body twisted, wings flaring as it leapt from the tower toward the bridge.

Naruto grinned, his muscles tensing. Now that's my cue.

Without hesitation, he activated the Fist of the Peregrine, his body enveloped in the invisible wind cloak as he surged forward with unparalleled speed. The bridge became a blur beneath his feet as his senses honed in on the wyvern. For a moment, his jaw almost dropped—Solaire was keeping up with him.

Naruto's grin widened.

"Let's show this thing what jolly cooperation looks like, Sunbro!"

He leapt forward, ready to strike.

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[ 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 43, 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!