Chapter no.13 Dark Souls

Chapter no.13: The Way of the White

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

Naruto sighed, bored out of his mind in the empty classroom. Everyone else had already left, their senseis having taken them away. Some of them had given him strange looks, but he didn’t know how to feel about that. He used to do anything to get their attention. But now? Now that he finally had it, he didn’t even need it anymore.

“Precept the Ninth: A knight’s deeds are done not for praise, but in faith.”

He muttered it under his breath, like it would somehow explain why he’d stopped caring. But, honestly, he still didn’t get it.

Faith in what, exactly?

Naruto stared at the reflection in his shiny gauntlet, his hand outstretched in front of him.

Was it because of the old man? Because Hiruzen had revealed all those lies that everyone seemed to know but him? Did that just make him stop caring about people who’d lied to him for so long? Maybe. Maybe he was just disillusioned now. He sighed, trying to shake the thoughts away, but they stuck like glue.

Then, there were his two new teammates. He didn’t know how to feel about them.

Sakura Haruno… his crush? He blinked, realizing how ridiculous that sounded now. Why did he even like her?

She wasn’t the prettiest, definitely not the kindest, and she’d always been so rude to him. Every time he’d tried to ask her out, she’d hit him. Why did he put up with that? What did he even see in her? He glanced at her, noticing how she flinched when their eyes met.

He looked away. Whatever.

As long as she didn’t treat him like before, they’d be fine.

And then there was Sasuke Uchiha.

Naruto had always seen him as his rival, even after everything that had happened to him. Why was that? He couldn’t figure it out. Maybe it was because Sasuke felt like someone he had more in common with than anyone else.

No, that wasn’t it.

He still saw Sasuke as his rival because he represented something Naruto couldn’t overcome before—the old Naruto couldn’t beat him. If he could overcome Sasuke, then he’d know he’d truly gotten stronger.

He stared at his hand, lost in thought. Iruka-sensei was right. He had gotten smarter. Dattebyo.

Was it because of everything he’d been through in that other world? Or was it something else? Naruto summoned his system window, his eyes drifting over the stat numbers. Were these numbers the reason for all of this? Did they have something to do with how different he felt? The thought nagged at him, but he shook it off as he glanced at the clock.

Naruto stood up, causing Sasuke and Sakura to glance in his direction.

“Naruto, where are you going? Sensei could arrive any minute,” Sakura said, looking at him with an eyebrow raised. Sasuke just grunted his usual Hn.

“Gotta take a massive dump,” Naruto said without hesitation, watching the disgust on Sakura’s face. She didn’t say anything, though. He guessed he had earned a little more respect these days.

Should’ve beat Kiba sooner if I knew I’d get this kind of respect, Naruto thought, smirking to himself as he walked out the door. He made his way to the bathroom, making sure it was empty before locking himself inside a stall.

He pulled out the Darksign, feeling the familiar weight of it in his hand.

“Take your sweet time, I know I am … Dattebyo,” he whispered to himself.

And just like that, a bright light flooded the stall.

Naruto blinked against the brightness, trying to adjust as the warmth of the bonfire washed over him. The familiar crackling flames brought a sense of comfort, grounding him in this strange world. He looked around, taking in his surroundings, when—

“Welcome back.”

Naruto nearly jumped out of his skin, spinning around to find the Crestfallen Warrior standing there, just staring at him with that dead expression.

“Don’t do that! You scared me!” Naruto muttered, clutching his chest. His heart was still pounding. The warrior didn’t even react, just pointed toward the side.

Naruto’s eyes followed his gesture, and that’s when he saw it—a giant glob of souls hovering there, and… an apparition of himself.

He’d seen his clones plenty of times before, but this? This was different. It was creepier, like staring into a ghost of himself. Naruto didn’t even like ghosts.

“What… What is this?” he asked, unease creeping into his voice.

“Soul drop,” Alexander said flatly.

Naruto turned back to him, waiting for more of an explanation. The warrior just shrugged.

“You die, you drop that.”

Naruto gave him a deadpan look. Seriously? That’s all he’s got? Seeing the warrior wasn’t going to elaborate any further. Naruto reached out and grabbed the soul drop, and the moment he touched it, he absorbed all 11,000 souls.

Suddenly, he felt… full. It was a strange sensation, like something inside him had just grown stronger, but he couldn’t put his finger on how or why. Then he remembered something Oscar had told him before—souls could be used to strengthen oneself.

“Hey, how do you use souls to get stronger?”

The warrior paused, as if contemplating whether to tell him or not. Naruto started tapping his foot impatiently, waiting for an answer.

“I’ll tell you if you do something for me,” Alexander said after a long moment.

Naruto groaned. Of course, there was a catch. “Fine. What do I need to do?”

….

A minute later, Naruto found himself walking up some old, ruined stone stairs, the grass brushing against his legs as he moved. The ruins stretched out before him—an old, decayed place, filled with overgrown grass and a lifeless tree. The walls were crumbling, archways half-collapsed, and the air felt thick with age and abandonment.

The temple ruins loomed ahead, the stone worn and covered in moss. And there, under the massive branches of a gigantic tree that seemed to grow straight out of the mountain itself, was what remained of the dome of the temple. Naruto could barely make out its shape, but it was impressive in its own right. Near the dome, he spotted the gigantic crow—the same one that had brought him here.

He hummed to himself, trying to make sense of it all. Alexander wanted him to talk to some guy in the temple ruins. Why? The warrior didn’t say. He just wanted him to go and talk. Simple enough, Naruto guessed.

As he continued up the stairs, his eyes wandered to a second path that led to another part of the temple. Unlike the decayed ruins of the first area, this section had a roof and a building that still stood, despite being covered in moss.

“This is where I need to go, right?”

He glanced at the third path and made a quick decision. Summoning a clone, he sent it off to check that one out. No point in leaving any stone unturned, right?

Naruto focused back on the task at hand, his boots thudding softly against the old stone as he climbed the stairs of the second path.

Naruto stopped in his tracks as he looked ahead. The stairs went up, leading to some kind of platform, with giant pots lined near the back. But what really caught his eye was the guy standing to the left, near the wall.

He’s bigger than Choji.

Naruto took a few cautious steps forward, getting a better look. The guy was stocky, heavily armored, and looked like he could crush a boulder without breaking a sweat. His armor was made of layered, metallic plates, and he held a spiked mace in one hand. His shield had some kind of colorful, fancy design on it. But, honestly, what nearly made Naruto laugh was the guy’s ridiculous blonde bowl-cut haircut and his huge nose.



Naruto watched the guy from a distance, still trying to figure out if this was the person he was supposed to talk to. The man hadn’t noticed him at first, too busy reciting something that sounded like a prayer. So, Naruto did what any sensible person would do—he sat on the stairs and waited for him to finish. Alexander had sent him here, but the longer he sat, the more it felt like some weird prank.

“Hello there. I believe we are not acquainted? I am Petrus of Thorolund. Forgive me for being cautious, but I must ask that you maintain a respectful distance,” the blonde bowl cut man said, his voice breaking the silence.

Naruto blinked, caught off guard. “Uh… right. Sure,” he muttered, trying to piece his thoughts together.

“Do you have business with us?” Petrus continued, his tone calm but still holding that cautious edge.

“Well… I don’t actually know,” Naruto admitted, scratching the back of his head. “Alexander sent me here. I thought you might have something for him?”

Petrus just stood there, staring at Naruto, but not at his face. His eyes seemed to fix on something else—his armor, perhaps? The silence dragged on, and Naruto felt a weird sense of unease creeping in.

“I could go back and ask him what he needs from you,” Naruto quickly offered, realizing that maybe Petrus didn’t trust him or thought he was just wasting his time. After all, he probably looked like a lost kid to him.

Then Petrus’s gaze shifted slightly, landing on Naruto’s armor.

“That armor… belongs to the knights of Astora,” he said slowly. “You are quite young to be an elite knight.”

Naruto stiffened, realizing what Petrus must be thinking. “No, no, it’s not mine. It belonged to my master, Oscar. I’m just his squire. I wear it because… he passed away.”

The weight of Naruto’s words hung in the air. He wasn’t sure why he felt the need to explain himself, but something about the way Petrus looked at him made him want to justify why he had Oscar’s armor.

Petrus’s lips curled into a small grin, his eyes narrowing just a bit. It wasn’t a mean smile, but there was something behind it, something calculating. He seemed almost… interested.

Without warning, Petrus reached into his pouch..

“Here,” he said, tossing it gently to Naruto, who caught it out of reflex. “Take this. As a token of peace.”

Naruto blinked, looking down at the coin, unsure of its value or significance. He started to raise his hand to give it back. “Uh, thanks, but—”

Petrus shook his head. “No, go ahead. It’s for you.”

Naruto stared at it, still confused. The coin felt solid in his hand, its dull surface catching the light just slightly. He rubbed his thumb over the worn markings on it. “What’s it for?”

Petrus smiled faintly, a softer expression than before. “It’s a small funeral gift, something given to warriors of the Way of White. A tradition. We offer these as a sign of peace, and to ensure the soul finds its way to the Flame.”

“Thanks, but what do you mean by the warriors of the Way of White?” Naruto asked, still trying to wrap his head around what Petrus had said.

“Well, your master was an elite knight of Astora, so he must have been a warrior of the Way of White,” Petrus explained, his tone calm and assured, like this was something the boy should have known all along.

Naruto opened his mouth to say something, but the words didn’t come out right away. He didn’t want to admit that he didn’t know much about Oscar’s traditions, but… he didn’t. So he just asked, “Can you tell me more?”

Petrus’s face lit up with a broad smile, the kind that made it clear he was more than happy to share. It was almost like he’d been waiting for Naruto to ask.

“Is this your way of honoring your fallen master?” Petrus asked, his voice softening as if they were discussing something sacred.

Naruto hesitated. “Yeah. I mean, he taught me a lot, but I don’t really know what it means to be a knight. I only know some of the precepts Oscar explained to me before he… before he died.”

Petrus stood there, looking at Naruto in a way that felt… strange. Like he was sizing him up, not just physically, but on a deeper level. It felt like he was trying to figure out who Naruto really was beneath the armor and the bravado. It made Naruto uncomfortable, but he stood his ground.

“The Way of White,” Petrus began, “is a path of devotion. It is the way of the gods, of miracles, and of faith. To honor your master, you must first understand the power of miracles and the covenant you make with the gods.”

Miracles? That piqued Naruto’s interest.

“Miracles, huh?” Naruto asked, feeling a spark of curiosity. “Like… Pyromancy?”

Petrus snorted, shaking his head. “Not quite. Miracles are gifts from the gods, born from faith and devotion. But their power is determined by your commitment and your belief.”

Naruto sat up straighter, suddenly more invested in the whole conversation. “Okay, so… how do I start?”

Petrus smiled, a genuine warmth to his expression now. “To begin, you must form a Covenant with the Gods. It is a sacred promise, a bond that grants you access to the power of miracles.”

“Right,” Naruto muttered, trying to follow. “And what do I have to do?”

Petrus gestured for Naruto to come closer. “You will need to accept the light of All-Father Lloyd, the patron deity of Thorolund, and in doing so, you will be granted the power to call upon miracles.”

“Okay, show me one,” Naruto challenged, half-expecting him to blow him away with something cool.

Petrus huffed softly, stepping back as he prepared something. He pulled out a simple, weathered cloak. It didn’t look like much, just an old piece of cloth, but then, all of a sudden, it lit up with a brilliant white light. The air around him seemed to vibrate, and as he crossed his arms and stomped the ground, a shockwave blasted out in all directions, shattering nearby clay pots. Naruto could feel the force in his bones.

“Whoa!” Naruto gasped. “You’re gonna teach me that?!”

Petrus nodded, his expression serious. “Yes, but only if you are willing to make the Covenant.”

“Wait, you’re gonna teach me that?!” Naruto practically shouted, his excitement surging. He could barely contain himself. A new attack, a cool new technique—and he’d get to honor Oscar too. This was perfect.

Petrus nodded but then added, “Of course, but first, you must establish a Covenant with the Gods.”

Naruto blinked, the excitement fading just a little. “Oh, right… that,” he muttered, trying to focus on the idea of learning the miracle and not get caught up in the whole “covenant” thing. Whatever that meant.

“What do I have to do?” Naruto asked, not really caring about the details. He just wanted that miracle.

Petrus raised his hand, and a glowing ring of white light formed around him. It was kind of mesmerizing, honestly. “To establish the covenant of the Way of the White, you must first accept the light of Allfather Lloyd, uncle of Lord Gywn, patron deity of Thorolund, and before your first baptism.”

Yeah, okay, all that talk about gods and deities went right over Naruto’s head. He just nodded like he understood. “Sure,” he said, keeping his focus on that miracle. That was all that mattered. What could go wrong, right?

“Then let us begin,” Petrus said, holding out the white ring and starting his chant.



“By the grace of All-Father Lloyd and in the light of Lord Gwyn, we gather to welcome a new soul into the sacred Way of White. Today, we renounce the darkness of the Abyss and pledge ourselves to the Flame that sustains the Age of Fire. The Dark Sign, accursed by the gods, will never lay claim to this soul, for they now walk in the divine path of light.”

As he spoke, Naruto felt a warmth wrap around him, like he was being covered in a blanket of light. It was soft and comforting. He didn’t understand most of what Petrus was saying, but for the first time in a while, he felt… at peace. After everything that had happened lately, he needed this. More than he realized.

“Do you renounce the Abyss, the servants of darkness, and the curse of the Dark Sign that plagues the Undead?” Petrus asked, his voice ringing with authority.

Naruto barely thought about it. “I renounce them,” he said automatically.

Then Petrus asked, “Do you pledge to uphold the teachings of the Way of White, to serve the gods, and to maintain the bonfires that stave off the darkness and preserve the Age of Fire?”

Again, Naruto’s words came out without hesitation. “I pledge my soul and my will,” he said, not really sure what that even meant.

Suddenly, the white ring in Petrus’s hand shattered and started swirling around Naruto like a spiral of light.

It was kind of beautiful in a strange, magical way.

Almost like something out of a dream.

“By the will of All-Father Lloyd and the light of the Flame, I baptize you into the Way of White, in the name of the gods of Fire, the Seers of the Flame, and the great Lord Gwyn. May your soul burn bright, and your faith remain unbroken.”

Naruto’s hands came together on their own, like he wasn’t even in control of his body anymore.

“Awaken, faithful servant of the Way of White. In times of darkness, may you serve the bonfires, and in times of despair, may you carry humanity to the flames. You are now reborn, not of darkness, but of light. Praise be to the gods, for you are their vessel.”

Naruto blinked, trying to make sense of it all. He felt… peaceful. Safe, even. It was strange, but after everything that had happened lately, that feeling was exactly what he needed. He still didn’t understand what Petrus was going on about—the “Age of Fire” or “maintaining bonfires” or any of that—but who cared? He was here for the miracles. That’s all that mattered.

Petrus turned to him with that grand, serious tone still in his voice. “Now, let me share my Miracles. Only, their ultimate effectiveness will be determined by your efforts, and your faith.”

“Okay,” Naruto said, grinning. “Let’s go with that weird white shockwave jutsu!”

Petrus paused and gave Naruto a kind of knowing smile. “That is the Force Miracle, yes,” he said, holding out his hand. “But first, I must explain something. Normally, a squire spends many long days, killing a few undead foes at a time, under the protection of their master, to earn this miracle, as well as affording better equipment.”

Naruto frowned, trying to process what Petrus was saying.

“You, however, already possess the armor and an enchanted weapon of a knight of Astora, albeit broken,” Petrus continued, his eyes glancing at Naruto’s gear. “It is because of this that I am making an exception for you. Usually, a squire would need their master’s word before learning such a powerful miracle.”

Oh. That was… kind of cool, Naruto guessed. But then Petrus dropped the bombshell.

“4000 souls.”

Wait. What?

Naruto blinked, his smile dropping like a stone.

“Wait, I have to buy them?!”