A soft groan escaped Shin as consciousness slowly returned. He blinked, the gloom of the forest canopy above him replacing the dust and rock of the tunnels. A dull ache throbbed in his muscles, the lingering protest of a body pushed beyond its limits. He became aware of hushed voices around him, the crackle of a small fire.
"Took you long enough, sleepyhead," a playful voice chirped from nearby.
Shin pushed himself up, rubbing his eyes. Ka Ryo Ten stood over him, an amused smirk on her owl-like face. "Kaelen carried you on his back for the entire night and half the day," she revealed, gesturing to the burly warrior who was now overseeing some of his men setting up camp.
Shin's eyes widened, a flush creeping up his neck as he glanced at Kaelen, who merely offered a stoic nod. To be carried like a child… the embarrassment was potent, but a grudging respect flickered in his chest. "Alright, alright, let's just get moving," he grumbled, pushing himself fully to his feet.
The group resumed their journey, the last vestiges of twilight fading into proper night. Olivia, ever practical, voiced her concern. "Your Majesty, are we certain of our direction? We've been running for so long; it's easy to get lost in these woods at night. Are we sure this 'rendezvous point' even exists?"
Ei Sei, who had maintained a relentless pace, suddenly came to an abrupt halt. His keen eyes, sharper than any nobleman's you'd seen, had noticed something hidden in the deepening shadows. He pointed. "There."
He led them to a small, almost imperceptible cave entrance, hidden behind a thick curtain of ivy. Stepping through it, they found themselves in a vast, open cavern. The air was cool, fresh, and surprisingly clear. And there, perched majestically atop a towering, natural rock formation within the cavern, stood the small, four-hundred-year-old building. Its clean lines and preserved stone seemed to glow faintly in the ambient light filtering down from unseen openings above. This was it. The rendezvous point.
Upon their arrival, a sense of quiet disappointment settled. The area was deserted. "It seems Shou Bun Kun hasn't arrived yet," Ei Sei observed, his voice calm despite the slight letdown. "We shall wait here."
Ka Ryo Ten, ever opportunistic, seized the moment. "Well, if we're waiting, someone should prepare a meal! My stomach's been rumbling for hours!" She immediately set about gathering kindling, her hunger overriding any lingering doubt.
You turned to Kaelen. "Kaelen, have your men secure the perimeter of this cavern. We need to be aware of any approach, from above or below." Kaelen snapped a crisp salute, immediately delegating tasks to his warriors, who efficiently fanned out to establish watch positions. Akame, ever vigilant, positioned herself discreetly near Ei Sei, her eyes scanning for threats. Olivia settled beside the king, intent on learning more about his situation and the wider political landscape.
Meanwhile, you approached Tsunade, who was stretching, her chakra flowing freely. "Tsunade," you began, a slight smile on your face. "You're not just a summoned character anymore. The System has recognized you as a 'Companion.' And that means... you have powers of summoner now."
Tsunade's eyes widened. "Summons?" A flicker of excitement, something rare and vibrant, crossed her features. "Alright then. Let's see about this." She bit her thumb, smearing blood across her palm, and slammed it down onto the cavern floor. "Summoning Jutsu!" she bellowed, the familiar incantation echoing with surprising power.
A puff of smoke erupted, far larger than you expected, and then, with a soft thud, a gigantic, slug-like creature shimmered into existence beside Tsunade. Katsuya, the medical slug from the Naruto world, rippled across the stone floor. As the enormous slug stabilized, a tangible surge of pure, raw chakra flowed from Katsuya directly into Tsunade. Her body hummed, her own chakra reserves visibly expanding, pushing her power to new heights. "Incredible!" she breathed, a wide grin spreading across her face.
Watching Tsunade's success, you knew it was time for your own grand gambit. This was for Erza. You needed immense power. You quickly began to draw a complex summoning circle on the cavern floor with your blood, the arcane symbols glowing faintly in the dim light. Around the circle, you carefully placed the reagents: Hyou's dead body, still pristine from your inventory, lay centrally. Beside it, the preserved pirate body and the recently decapitated assassin's body. You placed the Lesser Dragon Heart at a key nexus point, its surface still faintly warm. Beside it, you laid the Dreadspawn's runed bone, its dark energy swirling. Finally, you placed two generic bodies as pure energy reserves.
As you began the incantation, the air in the cavern grew thick with potent, wild magic. The Lesser Dragon Heart began to beat, a faint, rhythmic pulse that echoed through the stone. It swelled, growing brighter, and then, with an almost predatory surge, it overpowered the Dreadspawn's runed bone. The bone shrieked, dissolving into black mist that was instantly absorbed by the pulsing dragon heart. The heart itself began to throb with intricate, glowing runes, absorbing all the residual negative energy and transforming it into raw, potent magical power.
[TSUNADE HAS GAINED CHAKRA (CHAKRA POOL INCREASED)]
A jolt of uncontrolled energy surged through the circle, threatening to destabilize the ritual. You gritted your teeth, pushing more of your own willpower into the spell, but it was immense.
"Alex!" Tsunade's voice cut through your concentration, laced with alarm. She saw the volatile energy, the potential for catastrophic failure. "He's losing control! Katsuya, now!"
Without hesitation, Tsunade and Katsuya linked their consciousness, and a torrent of pure, refined chakra, flowing from both of them, surged into your summoning circle. The overwhelming power of the dragon heart, now fueled by two chakra masters, stabilized, the runes pulsing with steady, controlled might.
Then, the cavern exploded with light, blinding and majestic. A figure began to materialize, slowly at first, then with increasing clarity. She was tall, clad in gleaming, intricate armor, a magnificent sword already in her hand. Her long, flowing scarlet hair was unmistakable, framing a face of fierce determination and striking beauty.
This was Erza Scarlet.
A shiver ran down your spine, not of fear, but of sheer awe and raw power. You could feel it, an innate connection, a deep resonance with her very being, even though your eyes had only just met hers. Her power was palpable, raw and elemental.
[SWORDSMANSHIP MASTERY INCREASED!]
[YOU HAVE GAINED MANA (MAGIC POOL INCREASED)]
[YOU HAVE GAINED NEW MANA TRAIT (DRAGON MAGIC POOL)]
[YOU HAVE GAINED DRAGON ELEMENT)]
A sensation surged through you, a feeling of greater connection to your blade, and a raw, volatile energy coiled deep within your being—a powerful well of dragon's magic itself.
Erza, sensing the undeniable bond with you, her summoned lord, stepped forward. Her voice was strong, clear, like ringing steel. "I am Erza. Erza Scarlet. And I wield the Ancient lost magic: Knight Dragon Slayer Magic. I am yours to command, my Lord."
You took a breath, the thrill of the successful summoning still coursing through you. "Blaze.D.Alex," you replied, extending a hand in greeting. "Just Alex for short."
'He is my Lord?' Erza thought, her gaze fixed on Alex. 'I've only just laid eyes on him, yet there is this undeniable pull, this intrinsic connection. It's as if my very existence is tied to his command, a destiny forged in this summoning. No... it's more than that. It's a sense of purpose, a rightness that feels as fundamental as breathing. He summoned me. He is my origin in this world. And I will serve him. Fully.'
"Everyone!" you called out, gathering your group's attention. "This is Erza. She was on a critical task that had just concluded. She's now arrived to assist us with our mission."
You quickly rearranged the group. "Alright, listen up. Alex and Tsunade, we'll stay together, ready for any direct threats. Olivia, you'll have two of our summoned men with you; stay close to Ei Sei and provide your invaluable counsel. Kaelen, your five men—your pages—will serve as Ei Sei's primary guard rotation. Akame, your five men will be the second rotation, and Erza, you will lead the third five-man rotation. Your primary task is the King's safety." You paused, looking at Erza. "And Erza, in your free time, I'll need you to train Kaelen, Akame, and their pages. Hone their swordsmanship and combat prowess. We need every advantage we can get." Erza nodded, her expression serious.
As the new command structure settled, Shin and Ka Ryo Ten, having observed the incredible summoning, now turned their attention back to the ancient building. Shin squinted at the perfectly preserved stones. "How is this place still standing? It looks like it was built yesterday, not four hundred years ago!"
Ka Ryo Ten nodded, her sharp eyes scanning the perfect craftsmanship. "It's strange. No signs of disrepair at all."
Ei Sei, having seen their curious glances, finally offered an explanation. "This building… It belonged to a man named Boku Kou. He was a rare and benevolent lord, a Qin King from over four centuries ago. He was a man of the people, truly. There's a legend, you see… the horse and liquor legend."
He paused, a faint smile touching his lips. "Boku Kou had a precious horse stolen. His men caught the culprits, savages from the mountains, and brought them back. Boku Kou, instead of punishing them, gave them wine. He told them to drink their fill before he would execute them. The savages, bewildered, drank, and then he executed them. His men were furious. He then explained that if he executed them without showing mercy, their clans would seek revenge. But by showing them respect, even in death, he had shown them the way of Qin. The mountain people understood. They revered him."
Ei Sei's gaze softened. "That was the man he was. He loved people from the bottom of his heart, and he showed the same level of respect to nobles and commoners alike. Boku Kou befriended the savage mountain people, forging a strong bond. However, when he died, Qin, under new leadership, shattered all ties. The mountain people were forgotten, left to their mountains in the west, seen as barbarians once more."
"But they never forgot Boku Kou," Ei Sei continued, his voice resonating with admiration. "They honored his resting place, this very building. And they have maintained it, meticulously, since his death. It is a testament to his character, a symbol of a lost bond between the plains and the mountains."