NARUTO RONIN TRAIL: REINCARNATE WITH THE POWERS OF MALENIA

Only Ryan and Cedric were left, both bloodied, agitated, furious.

-We have to activate the bomb and get the hell out of here," Ryan growled.

Cedric nodded.

They made their way to the control room. Inside, the scientists were screaming in terror.

-No!!! wait!!!! - shouted one of the scientists.

There was no wait. The bullets silenced their pleas. Ryan made his way to the control panel, and Cedric covered the door while Ryan inserted the code.

-Let's go! - Cedric shouted

They ran to the exit. The last guards tried to stop them, but it didn't matter. They felt like the others; both had so much adrenaline in their beings that they advanced like two arrows, killing anyone who crossed their path.

Ryan and Cedric made their way through the blood and fire. When they crossed the last door, the complex was burning in flames.

Mission accomplished, although not everything could go as well as they thought, they lost many of their own, and besides... Cedric was wounded.

-Hold on, Cedric! -

Ryan carried him in his arms, and Cedric was bleeding too much, and every step was torture for both of them. Ryan was too worried, and despite Cedric's insistent pleas to leave him and escape, Ryan wasn't going to let him die.

-We're almost there! Just a little more! - said Ryan

-Ryan... Cedric coughed up blood.

-Don't talk! I'll get you out of here! -

After running for yards and yards, they finally saw the armored van of their allies.

-That's us!!! We accomplished the mission!!!!! - Ryan shouted at the top of his lungs

The soldiers got out of the van, but they pointed their rifles at him. Ryan stopped in his tracks.

-What the hell are they doing? -

The head of the operation got out of the vehicle. He stood in front of them, smiling.

-Mission accomplished... but we lost the others, Private Frederic missed a shot and alerted everyone, only we survived, Cedric needs help, he is wounded - Ryan gasped.

-All right. - The boss smiled even wider and then turned away. -Recover for the next mission in a week. -

Ryan frowned.

-What? -

The boss turned around again.

-I said, get ready for the next one. -

-They promised us freedom! They told us this was the last one! - Ryan felt an indescribable rage

The boss laughed, and then he kicked him in the face hard. Ryan fell to the ground, and the boss stomped on his head brutally.

-How can you be so deluded? -

Ryan tried to move, but the boss's foot kept him on the ground.

-You belong to us. You have always belonged to us. - The boss pressed harder.

-You'll never be free. -

After a few seconds, he removed his foot and walked slowly back to the van.

Ryan boiled with rage. His hands were shaking, and His whole body screamed for revenge. Desperate, he pulled a knife from his kit. He stood up in fury and lunged at the boss with all his might.

But something stopped him in his tracks: A blow to the chest. Ryan stuttered. He felt an unbearable burning and looked down.

A knife was buried in his torso. His own blood dripped on the blade. Ryan looked up, and then he saw him, Cedric.

With sad eyes, with an expression of utter defeat, and still bleeding.

-I'm sorry, Ryan... -

Ryan wanted to say something, but his mouth filled with blood, and Cedric withdrew the knife. Ryan fell to his knees.

The boss chuckled with satisfaction.

-Good job, Cedric. -

Cedric looked away and walked, staggering from side to side because of his wounds.

-Let's go," the chief ordered.

Cedric hobbled to the truck.

Ryan watched him walk away. The engine roared, the lights came on, and the van drove off, leaving Ryan alone.

Ryan fell to the grass. The grass felt strangely comfortable. The air was cold. The blood warmed the earth beneath him.

He felt the cold take over his body. The blood was leaking out of him, staining the grass beneath his body. His eyelids were heavy, the world was becoming a blur, and the wind blew softly, lulling him into one last caress.

It was all a lie. His whole life was suffering. They always used him. Ryan tried to move, but his body no longer responded. The night breeze caressed his face.

And then... Darkness, Silence, Void, Peace... Finally, peace. Ryan closed his eyes and died.

For a moment, Ryan felt like he was floating in nothingness. There was no pain, there was no fear, just an infinite abyss that enveloped him like an endless ocean.

Until...A light appeared in the distance, and with it, a female voice, soft and warm.

-Ryan..." The voice was ethereal, full of compassion and power. -Come to me. -

Without knowing why, Ryan began to walk towards the light. Each step was light, as if weightless.

The light enveloped him completely... And when he stepped through it... He appeared in a place no human had ever seen before.

Ryan was standing in a huge room, so large that the sky itself seemed to have been placed within it.

The floor was pure white marble, reflecting the golden light emanating from everywhere.

The air was warm, with a gentle breeze that brought with it the scent of unfamiliar flowers.

The walls were not walls. They were waterfalls of crystal clear water floating in the air without wetting the ground.

Giant trees with golden leaves grew at the edges of the room, and small lights floated among them like celestial fireflies.

The ceiling was a night sky covered with stars, but at the same time, the sun was shining overhead.

Everything was impossible, Everything was perfect, and in the center of the room... There she stood, A woman of indescribable beauty, with delicate and ethereal features. Her skin glowed like the moon, and her hair fell like a cascade of silvery silk. On her head floated a crown of pure light. Her eyes... were the very representation of the universe. When she spoke, her voice was a whisper and thunder at the same time.

-Ryan... what a cruel life you've had. -

Ryan was silent. For the first time, someone had pity for him.

-You suffered. You were used. You were betrayed. And now, your story in that world is over. - The woman walked toward him with a sympathetic look.

Ryan clenched his fists. Yes. That was all true.

-But," she continued, "All is not lost.

-What do you mean? - Ryan looked up.

-I'm offering you something very few have... a second chance. - The woman smiled sweetly.

-Second chance...? - Ryan frowned.

-You will be reborn in another world. A world far different from yours... more primitive, more chaotic. A world where the mightiest warriors are not soldiers with guns, but ninjas with extraordinary abilities. -

Ryan kept silent. It was hard to believe, but if, after death, there was a place like this... then anything was possible.

-However... -His voice became more serious. Every rebirth has a cost.

-What cost? - Ryan felt a shiver.

The woman turned slowly as if her words would change everything.

-It depends on chance. Some are immortal and doomed to live forever, unable to die, endlessly suffering loss, and destined for loneliness. Others live a full life, but their end will be the most painful of all, and some will be constantly sick, fighting against their own body until the end, but being happier than any being can imagine. -

- Every blessing comes with something bad. I can't tell you what your destiny will be... but I can help you endure it. -

The woman held out her hand, and a small golden light floated towards him. And Ryan narrowed his eyes.

-As a blessing, I will grant you accelerated healing that will reduce the impact of your punishment. In addition... You will be able to control the five elements of nature. -

Ryan's eyes widened in surprise, not knowing what the woman was referring to.

-Why help me?

The woman smiled.