NOVEL NEXT Chapter 110: 109. The First Assault
Ryusei stood at the northern defense point, his gaze fixed on the dark shapes forming out of the shadows. The figures were twisted, their forms constantly shifting as if they were made of smoke and darkness itself. Their eyes glowed an unnatural red, piercing through the gloom and locking onto him with an unsettling intelligence. They moved as a single mass, a tide of darkness surging forward with relentless purpose.
He took a deep breath, his senses attuning to the Void energy around him. His power resonated with the energy of Time and Void, amplifying his perception. He could feel each ripple in reality, each distortion that signaled the arrival of more enemies. It was as if the convergence itself was manifesting these creatures to stop them, a physical embodiment of its desire to consume.
Ryusei's hand crackled with power as he summoned his Void-infused chakra, forming it into a dense, swirling orb. With a swift motion, he hurled the orb at the advancing creatures. The orb exploded upon impact, creating a shockwave that tore through the front ranks of the dark mass. The creatures dissipated on contact, their forms unraveling into nothingness, but more surged forward to replace them.
"They're relentless," Ryusei muttered, his eyes narrowing. "But so are we."
To his left, he noticed Kakashi and Guy leading a squad of Anbu shinobi, each one wielding a mixture of traditional jutsu and the newly learned Void techniques. Kakashi's Sharingan flashed as he directed his team, his movements precise and efficient. Guy, ever the fierce warrior, charged into the fray with a ferocity that seemed to defy logic, his fists glowing with the Void energy he'd recently mastered.
"Ryusei!" Kakashi called out as he dispatched another shadow creature with a strike of lightning. "These things aren't stopping! They keep reforming."
"They're feeding off the convergence," Ryusei replied, moving to support Kakashi's squad. "We have to disrupt their link to the energy source. Otherwise, they'll just keep coming."
Without hesitation, Ryusei raised his hand and summoned a barrier of Void energy around the perimeter of their defensive line. The barrier shimmered with a deep, dark light, repelling the creatures as they tried to advance. For a moment, the line held, giving the shinobi a brief respite.
Over at the eastern defense point, Naruto's voice could be heard as he led his team against a similar wave of shadow creatures. He unleashed a series of Void Rasengans, the swirling spheres of energy tearing through the darkness with devastating force. The Rasengans exploded in bursts of energy, illuminating the battlefield as Naruto moved with relentless speed and precision.
"Come on, guys! Don't let up!" Naruto shouted, his voice carrying over the din of battle. His clones spread out, each one launching Rasengans into the horde of shadow creatures, their attacks coordinated and unyielding.
On the western side, Sasuke was a whirlwind of power, his Rinnegan and Sharingan both active as he manipulated Void and Time energy to devastating effect. He moved through the shadows with lethal precision, his Chidori enhanced by Void energy as he struck down one creature after another. Each slash of his blade left a trail of lightning and Void energy, cutting through the creatures with ruthless efficiency.
"They're endless," Sasuke muttered, his voice filled with irritation as he surveyed the mass of enemies before him. But he didn't falter. If anything, his resolve only grew stronger. "Then we'll destroy them all."
Meanwhile, Sakura fought at the southern defense point, her chakra-enhanced fists glowing with Light energy as she smashed through the shadow creatures. Her punches sent shockwaves through the ground, disrupting the creatures' forms and scattering their essence. She moved with a strength and grace honed by years of training, her focus unwavering as she fought alongside her team.
"Stay together! We can't let them break our line!" Sakura commanded, her voice carrying a fierce determination. Her fists slammed into the ground, creating waves of Light energy that rippled through the battlefield, disrupting the creatures and giving her team a chance to regroup.
Back at the northern defense point, Ryusei could sense the intensity of the battle all around the village. Every shinobi was giving their all, their skills honed and refined to perfection. But he knew that this was only the beginning. The shadow creatures were a test, a way for the convergence to gauge their strength. The true threat was still out there, waiting for the moment to strike.
As the last of the shadow creatures at his defense point dissipated into the air, Ryusei lowered his hands, the Void barrier dissipating. He took a deep breath, his senses still heightened, searching for any signs of the next wave.
Then, in the distance, he saw it—a massive rift opening in the sky, larger than any they had encountered before. Dark energy poured out of it, casting an eerie glow over the village. From within the rift, a new figure emerged, cloaked in shadows and radiating a power that sent a chill down Ryusei's spine.
The figure floated above the battlefield, its eyes glowing with an unnatural light as it surveyed the village. Its form was indistinct, shifting and changing as if it were made of pure darkness, but the power emanating from it was undeniable.
The creature's voice echoed across the battlefield, cold and mocking. "So, this is the Leaf Village, the proud defenders of this world. Pathetic. Do you truly think you can stand against the power of the convergence?"
Ryusei clenched his fists, his jaw set as he glared up at the figure. "We've done it before, and we'll do it again."
The figure laughed, a sound that seemed to vibrate through the air, filled with malice. "Foolish mortals. You may have delayed the inevitable, but you cannot stop the convergence. It is beyond your understanding, beyond your power. Surrender now, and I may spare your miserable lives."
Naruto's voice rang out from the eastern defense line, filled with defiance. "We don't surrender to anyone! Especially not to some shadowy creep who hides behind a rift!"
The figure's eyes narrowed, and it raised its hand, gathering a massive sphere of dark energy above its palm. "Then you have chosen your fate. Prepare to be erased."
With a sudden motion, the figure hurled the sphere of energy toward the village, the dark orb streaking through the sky like a meteor. Ryusei acted instantly, his body moving on instinct as he summoned a massive barrier of Void energy to intercept the attack. The sphere collided with the barrier, the impact sending shockwaves through the air as the two forces clashed.
Ryusei gritted his teeth, feeling the strain as he held the barrier in place. The dark energy pressed against his Void shield, pushing it to its limits, but he refused to back down.
"Hold the line!" Ryusei shouted, his voice filled with determination. "We won't let them through!"
As the other shinobi rallied around him, the dark figure in the sky continued to laugh, its voice echoing with a chilling certainty. "Fight all you want, Leaf shinobi. Your resistance is futile. The convergence will consume everything, and you... you will be nothing more than a memory."
But Ryusei didn't falter. He met the figure's gaze, his eyes burning with resolve. "We are the defenders of this world, and we don't give up. Not now, not ever."
The dark figure hesitated, a flicker of uncertainty passing through its eyes before it sneered and vanished back into the rift, leaving only its chilling laughter in its wake.
The battle was far from over, but for now, they had held their ground.