Naruto-ReBorn as a Baker

Chapter 246: The Abyss of Power

Naruto and Temujin stood side by side, sweat dripping down their faces, their bodies battered and bruised. Across from them, Haido stood in his monstrous humanoid form, his grey skin glinting under the eerie light of the Gelel Vein. The red orbs behind his back pulsed with energy, black tendrils shifting, pulsing, and twisting. His light red eyes burned with an intensity that matched the raw power coursing through his body.

"Give up," Haido snarled, his voice distorted and echoing as if amplified by the Gelel energy. "You cannot defeat me. I am invincible!"

Naruto clenched his fists, his blue eyes blazing with determination. "Yeah, well, I've heard that before! And guess what? They all lost!"

Temujin wiped blood from the corner of his mouth, his faded Red eyes steady despite the fear and guilt weighing on him. "Haido, this ends here. No more lies, no more destruction. You've taken enough lives!"

Haido laughed, a guttural sound that sent shivers down their spines. "Foolish boy. Everything I've done was for the dream of a utopia—a world without suffering. If sacrifices are necessary, then so be it!"

With a roar, Haido lunged forward, his speed blinding. Temujin raised his retractable shield just in time, but Haido's strength sent him skidding back, his boots carving deep grooves into the stone floor, leaving his shield dented with a fist-shaped Indentation. Naruto leaped into action, creating a dozen shadow clones that swarmed Haido from all sides.

"Take this!" Naruto shouted, his clones diving in with coordinated attacks.

Haido spun, his tendrils whipping out like living weapons, destroying the clones with ruthless efficiency. Explosions of smoke filled the chamber, and when the air cleared, Haido stood untouched, his red eyes glowing with triumph.

"You'll have to do better than that," Haido sneered.

Temujin charged in, his sword slicing through the air in a blur. He aimed for Haido's chest, but one of the tendrils morphed into a solid shield, blocking the strike effortlessly. Haido retaliated with a punch that sent Temujin flying into a crumbling pillar.

"Temujin!" Naruto called, running to his fallen ally. "Get up! We've got this, remember?"

Temujin groaned, pulling himself to his feet. "He's too strong. Every time we hurt him, he heals instantly."

Naruto gritted his teeth. "Then we just have to hit him harder!"

Summoning his chakra, Naruto formed a Rasengan in his hand, the swirling sphere glowing brilliantly. He dashed toward Haido, dodging the tendrils with deft agility. Temujin followed, his sword glinting as he aimed for Haido's exposed flank.

The two launched a coordinated attack—Naruto's Rasengan collided with Haido's chest while Temujin's blade struck his side. For a moment, it seemed as though they had succeeded. Haido staggered back, black liquid oozing from his wounds.

But then, the veins of Gelel energy running through the walls and air pulsed violently, and Haido's wounds began to close. His twisted limbs straightened and popped as they were tightened back into place, and his monstrous form seemed to grow larger, more unstable.

"You can't stop me!" Haido roared, the energy around him intensifying. "The power of the Gelel Vein is infinite!"

Naruto and Temujin were thrown back by a shockwave of energy, their bodies hitting the ground hard. As they struggled to rise, the chamber shook, and chunks of stone began to fall from the ceiling.

 -- It was then that Malik and the others arrived --

The golden-pink glow of Malik's magic mixed with the Greens and Blues of the wild and pure Gelel Vein above, their lights lit up the dark chamber as he descended the crumbling staircase, his presence commanding attention. Behind him, Ranke, Fugai, and Kamira followed, their armor gleaming and their eyes sharp. All three knights looked physically restored, their wounds healed, though their expressions were still shadowed by lingering guilt, hesitation, and worry.

Malik's face was calm but focused as he took in the scene—the chaotic battlefield, the massive veins of Gelel energy pulsating through the stone floors and walls, and the monstrous figure of Haido standing triumphantly over Naruto and Temujin.

"Now, this is what I call a mess," Malik muttered, his voice carrying a hint of amusement despite the tension. He clapped his hands together, a ripple of magic spreading outward. "Let's fix this, shall we?"

Naruto, struggling to stand, looked up and saw Malik. His eyes widened in surprise. "Malik? What are you doing here?"

Malik gave him a sly smile. "Oh, you know me. Always fashionably late."

Naruto had to lean against a nearby wall, his arms falling to his side. "Took you long enough. We could've used you earlier."

"Patience, Naruto," Malik replied smoothly. "I had other lives to save on the way here. But don't worry—I'm here now, plus your plot armor is way stronger than mine."

Haido turned to face the newcomers, his glowing red eyes narrowing. "You…" he growled, his distorted voice filled with malice. "You dare to interfere?"

Malik tilted his head, his pink eyes glinting with mischief. "Interfere? Oh no, Haido. I'm here to finish what you started."

Haido just closed his eyes and shook his head, "First trash, now rubbish… part of me still wants to know your secrets but someone like you is better off dead. "

With a confident stride and a grin spreading across his face, Malik waited for Haido to open his eyes and As their eyes met, Malik raised his hand and snapped his fingers with a crisp, echoing click that cut through the cracking and crumbling of the temple. Without missing a beat, he pointed both hands at Haido, fingers shaped into playful guns, and winked. His smile, bright and infectious, "Very true Haido, Very True, but will you be able to do it, that's the question."

With a wave of his hand, Malik sent a surge of healing magic toward Naruto and Temujin, their wounds closing instantly. He then turned to his knights, giving them a firm nod. "Ladies, keep the distractions at bay. I've got a warlord to deal with."

Ranke smirked, her lightning-charged armor crackling as she stepped forward. "With pleasure."

Fugai growled low in her throat, her wolf-like features sharpening as she transformed into her hybrid form. "About time we got to smash something."

Kamira twirled her bat wings coming out, her eyes gleaming with wicked delight. "Let's play."

As the three knights engaged Haido's tendrils, Malik approached Naruto and Temujin, his expression softening. "You two have done well," he said, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "Now, let's end this together."

Naruto grinned, his strength renewed. "You got it."

Temujin nodded, gripping his sword tightly. "Let's put an end to Haido's madness."

The air in the Gelel Vein chamber was growing thick with tension as the battle unfolded.

Haido, towering in his monstrous form, unleashed a barrage of attacks, the dark tendrils from the glowing orbs on his back lashing out like whips. His deranged laughter echoed off the rocky crystalline and stone walls, mingling with the roars of energy pulsing through the chamber. Every time he was struck down, the Gelel Vein poured its energy into him, healing his wounds and amplifying his already terrifying power.

Naruto and Temujin stood at the forefront, struggling to hold their ground. Despite their combined efforts, Haido's relentless power and ability to heal left them at a standstill. Malik, watching from the sidelines with calm determination, knew the time to tip the scales had come.

With a wave of his hand, Malik sent healing energy coursing into Kahiko, the elder groaning as the pain in his body eased. Malik crouched beside him, his pink-glowing eyes locking onto the elder's face. "There we go, good as new. Well, mostly. You might want to take it easy for the next... forever."

Kahiko let out a weak chuckle, sitting up slowly. "You have my thanks, Malik. But... this fight, Haido's madness—it's too dangerous."

Malik smirked, the glow of his magic highlighting his milk-chocolate skin. "Well, if you really want to thank me, you can give me your blessing to marry your granddaughter, Emina."

Kahiko's laughter boomed unexpectedly, the tension of the moment momentarily forgotten. "Over my dead body, young man."

Malik's grin widened. "Guess I'll just have to keep you alive a little longer, then."

The humor faded as Malik stood and turned back toward the fight. His knights—Ranke, Kamira, and Fugai—were fiercely battling Haido's tendrils, their powers clashing with the twisted energy. Ranke's lightning cracked and burned, Kamira's bat-like agility and smoke screens kept the tendrils at bay, and Fugai's werewolf-like howls sent shockwaves that momentarily disrupted Haido's control.

But it wasn't enough.

Malik raised his hand, a wave of golden-pink light rippling outward to bolster his allies. He stepped forward, his voice calm and firm. "Naruto, Temujin, listen closely. It's time to end this."

Naruto glanced back, his blue eyes wide with determination. "What's the plan, Malik?"

Malik smirked, his confidence unwavering. "Oh, it's a surprise. Just keep him busy."

Without hesitation, Naruto created more shadow clones, charging forward with reckless abandon. Temujin followed, his sword flashing as he struck at Haido's exposed flank. Meanwhile, Malik turned to Kahiko, placing a hand on the elder's shoulder. "I'll need you to stay here. And no heroic sacrifices this time, alright?"

Kahiko nodded reluctantly. "Do what you must."

Malik reached out to Temujin, and as if placing a hand on the young knight's back, he linked up with him. The warmth of Malik's magic seeped into Temujin, linking their energies. Malik's voice was soft but firm. "You've done well, Temujin. Trust me now. We'll finish this together."

A notification appeared in Malik's mind:

Quest Update: Infiltrate Haido's Group

Objective: Gain the trust of Haido's four knights

Status: Complete

Reward: Full access to the Vein of Gelel and one level increase

"Ya know, someone might ask, why I didn't just gain the trust of Temujin earlier to complete the quest, and I say to them where is your sportsmanship," Malik felt the surge of power course through him, his level rising from 12 to 13. He pushed the sensation aside, focusing on the battle ahead.

Haido, watching his knights fight alongside his enemies, roared in fury. His voice echoed with deranged malice. "You traitors! You dare stand against me after everything I've given you?"

The sight of his former knights fighting alongside Malik and Naruto only fueled his insanity. The Gelel energy coursing through him began to distort further, his form growing more grotesque. His attacks became more erratic, the black tendrils thrashing wildly as he lashed out at anyone in range.

"You've lost, Haido," Malik said, his voice steady as he stepped closer to the fray. "The power you crave is consuming you. You're not even in control anymore."

Haido snarled, launching a beam of Gelel energy directly at Malik. With a flick of his wrist, Malik summoned a shimmering pink shield, the energy dissipating harmlessly against it. "You really should've listened when I said I'd finish what you started."

Haido's grotesque form loomed in the chamber, his tendrils thrashing wildly, barely restrained by the glowing energy coursing through him. His red eyes, once sharp and calculating, were now clouded with madness. Malik stepped forward, the pink and gold glow of his magic casting a calming light in the chaos.

"I will say it once again, You've lost, Haido," Malik said, his voice steady but laced with a rare tinge of sadness. "This isn't power anymore. It's desperation."

Haido snarled, his distorted voice reverberating through the cavern. "Power is all that matters! Without it, we are nothing. This world would be mine if not for traitors like you!"

Malik sighed deeply, his hand resting on the hilt of his stomach. "You're right about one thing: power can change the world. But not like this. Not through pain, destruction, and betrayal." He gestured toward the three knights still fighting around them—Fugai, Kamira, and Ranke, their expressions torn between loyalty and shame. "Look at them, Haido. They cared for you, even when you didn't deserve it."

Haido's laughter was bitter, his monstrous face twisting further. "They were tools! Nothing more. Tools to achieve the perfect world I envisioned!"

"They're people, Haido," Malik said sharply, his tone cutting through the chaos. "They're people who followed you because, for a moment, you showed them something they believed in. Even if it was a lie, you gave them hope. You gave them purpose."

Haido hesitated, his tendrils pausing for the briefest of moments. Malik pressed on, stepping closer despite the danger. "You've done unspeakable things—I'm not denying that. But even someone like you has the chance to stop, to make a different choice. This power isn't saving you; it's consuming you from the inside out."

Haido's form trembled, his tendrils lashing out in frustration. "You think I'll stop now? After everything I've sacrificed? After everything I've lost?"

"You haven't just lost, Haido," Malik said softly, his gaze steady and unflinching. "You've given up your humanity. The power you crave isn't worth the cost. And deep down, I think you know that."

For a moment, the monstrous warlord faltered. His red eyes flickered, the overwhelming energy of the Gelel Vein wavering. But then his face twisted into a furious snarl. "Enough of your pathetic words! You think you're better than me, Malik? You're nothing but a meddler, a pretender!"

Haido roared, launching a beam of raw Gelel energy at Malik. With a flick of his wrist, Malik's body flickered in and out, the attack moved through him and dissipated harmlessly. He sighed. "I was really hoping you'd prove me wrong."

Malik signaled to the others. "Now!"

Shikamaru, Kankurō, and Sakura emerged from the shadows, their attacks perfectly coordinated. Shikamaru's shadow possession held Haido in place for a moment, just long enough for Kankurō to send a flurry of puppet strikes and Sakura to charge in with her earth-shattering strength. The combined assault staggered Haido, his monstrous form faltering as cracks began to appear in his defenses.

Naruto and Temujin seized the opportunity. Malik extended his hand, channeling a portion of his own power into Naruto. The glow of Malik's magic merged with the chakra of Naruto's Rasengan, transforming it into a radiant sphere of swirling energy.

"Let's finish this!" Naruto shouted, leaping toward Haido with Temujin at his side.

The first Rasengan, a brilliant blue orb, collided with Haido's chest, breaking through his tendrils and defenses. The second, glowing red with Temujin's energy, struck next. The combined force sent Haido reeling, his monstrous form beginning to collapse.

As the Rasengan struck, Malik raised his hand. The connection to the Vein of Gelel resonated within him, his mastery over its power solidified by the completion of his quest. With a simple gesture, he severed Haido's link to the Vein, cutting off the flow of energy that had sustained him.

Haido screamed, the sound filled with despair as his body began to disintegrate. "No! This can't be! I was supposed to be a god!"

"You were never a god," Malik said quietly, his voice filled with both pity and resolve. "Just a man who couldn't let go of his greed."

As Haido's form crumbled to dust, the chamber fell silent. The Vein of Gelel dimmed, its energy returning to a calm, dormant state.

Naruto and Temujin stood side by side, their breaths heavy but their spirits triumphant. Malik approached them, a small smile on his lips. "Well done, both of you."

With the battle over, Malik turned to his knights, who stood silently nearby. He gave them a nod of approval. "See? I told you we'd get through this."

Even though Malik gave them all his brightest smile, all they could muster in return was a head nod.