The Summoner of Legends

Naruto stood motionless, his eyes fixed on the immense stained glass window dominating the hall. Rays of light filtered through the colorful panes, bathing the room in brilliant, almost ethereal hues, as if the place itself were alive. Each figure depicted in the window seemed to tell a story—heroes and creatures of mythic proportions that Naruto couldn't recognize, yet they radiated a sense of grandeur, of something far beyond his understanding.

For a moment, he forgot entirely where he was or how he had come to be there. Everything around him enveloped him in a mixture of awe and confusion. The immensity of the space and the way it seemed to pulse with energy filled him with a childlike curiosity but also a faint fear he couldn't ignore. Taking a deep breath to steady the storm of emotions swirling within him, Naruto began walking slowly, his footsteps echoing faintly against the polished marble floor.

His eyes traveled from one hologram to the next, captivated by the floating figures scattered across the room. Up close, the holograms were even more impressive. Each depicted a unique figure—some humanoid, others monstrous in size and shape. There were knights in gleaming armor, winged beasts, and beings with forms so impossible they seemed plucked from a dream—or a nightmare.

One hologram, in particular, caught his attention immediately. It was the figure of a robust man clad in heavy armor, battered and scarred from countless battles. A helmet obscured most of his face, revealing only a stern gaze through the narrow visor. In his left hand, he held a round shield adorned with intricate designs, and in his right, a spear whose tip looked sharp enough to pierce anything. There was something about his stance that radiated power and authority, as if he were a legendary warrior who had faced hundreds of battles and emerged victorious every time.

—"Who are you?" —Naruto murmured, his voice barely a whisper that was swallowed by the vastness of the hall.

The hologram didn't respond, but its presence remained imposing. Naruto took a cautious step closer, his curiosity outweighing his apprehension. As he reached out to touch the figure, an invisible force stopped him. His hand met something soft yet unyielding—an imperceptible barrier that kept him from getting any closer. It felt like a bubble of energy protecting the hologram, sealing it off completely.

Frowning, Naruto pulled his hand back and studied the figure carefully. There was something strange about that protective shield. It wasn't visible to the naked eye, but its presence was undeniable—a silent warning that he wasn't meant to cross that line.

—"Why can't I get closer?" —he wondered aloud, his tone tinged with frustration.

He slowly stepped back, letting his gaze wander around the room. There were dozens of other holograms scattered throughout the space, each one unique. Determined to try again, he approached another hologram, this time one with a more graceful appearance: a slender woman with long, majestic white wings stretching out behind her. In her hands, she held a spear that gleamed as though it were forged from pure light. The figure exuded a sense of divine grace and power, as if she were a celestial guardian.

Naruto reached out toward her, but the result was the same. The invisible barrier rose again, preventing any contact. His frustration grew with each attempt. He tried one hologram after another: a being with massive claws and eyes that burned like embers; a reptilian creature seemingly cloaked in flames; a man shrouded in shadows, emanating an aura of palpable danger. All of them were protected by the same impenetrable, silent barrier.

Finally, just as he was about to give up, something in the distance caught his attention. Among the gray holograms floating in the hall, he spotted a figure that made his body tense instantly. It couldn't be…

There it was: Nocturne.

Naruto felt his heart stop for a second before it began pounding furiously in his chest. His breathing quickened, and a shiver ran down his spine. There was no mistaking it. That dark figure, with its elongated blades and spectral form, was identical to the monster he had seen in his nightmares. Its eyes glowed with the same terrifying intensity—two points of light that seemed to pierce through the darkness.

"Nocturne…" Naruto whispered, his voice trembling slightly.

Fear kept him frozen for a few seconds, but soon, curiosity began to take hold. Nocturne was there, among the holograms, but something about it was different. Unlike the other figures, which were completely gray, Nocturne had a faint dark blue hue to its form, as if it were partially colored. Moreover, its eyes shone with an intensity that none of the other figures possessed.

Summoning all the courage he could muster, Naruto took a step forward. His legs trembled slightly, but he didn't stop. If all the other holograms were harmless, maybe this one was too.

"Hey! Can you hear me?" he shouted, his voice echoing through the vast hall.

The hologram didn't move, but Naruto didn't look away. He waved his arms, took a few more steps, and even jumped, hoping for some kind of reaction. But Nocturne remained motionless, like a statue. Yet, as he got closer, an oppressive sensation began to weigh on him. It was as if the air around him grew heavier, denser. With each step forward, he felt an invisible force pushing back, as if the very space around him was warning him not to approach.

When he got close enough to see every detail, that sensation intensified. The aura surrounding Nocturne was unlike any of the others. It didn't radiate majesty or grandeur but pure malice, a void that seemed to suck all the energy from its surroundings.

Naruto swallowed hard, his thoughts spiraling into chaos.

—It's just like in my dreams… —Naruto thought, as a mix of fear and confusion washed over him. His legs trembled for a moment, but he didn't retreat.

He stood there, facing the hologram, wondering what all of this meant and, more importantly, why Nocturne was here.

Even though his instincts screamed at him to step back, Naruto couldn't help but examine Nocturne more closely. The figure wasn't entirely solid—it seemed like a living shadow, shifting and flickering as if it were made of pure darkness. Despite this, the creature exuded a presence so tangible, so oppressive, that it was impossible to ignore. The air around Nocturne felt heavy, charged, as though something ancient and unnatural surrounded it.

Finally, instinct overpowered curiosity. Naruto took a step back, then another, never breaking eye contact with the figure. His breathing was slow, labored, as if just being near the hologram was draining his energy.

—I'll deal with you later... —he muttered under his breath, as if trying to convince himself that leaving was the best choice.

He retreated quickly, but he couldn't shake the shiver that ran down his spine as Nocturne's aura faded behind him. With one last glance at the hologram, Naruto turned his attention to the two massive doors at the end of the hall.

Both doors were identical—enormous and ornate, adorned with intricate engravings he couldn't decipher. Without thinking too much, he chose the one on the left. As he approached, he pushed the heavy door, and to his surprise, it opened easily. The light on the other side was soft yet vibrant, bathing the room in an atmosphere that felt almost magical.

What he found took his breath away.

Before him stretched an enormous shop, unlike anything he had ever seen. Shelves towered up to a ceiling that seemed endless, packed with objects that defied logic and imagination. Swords with translucent blades that looked like they were made of crystal, staffs glowing with golden energy, potions bubbling inside bottles that floated slightly above the shelves. Every corner of the place was filled with mysterious and unique artifacts.

The floor and walls radiated an intense blue light, as though they were made of pure energy. Naruto walked forward slowly, his eyes scanning every detail of the room. There was something about the atmosphere that felt welcoming, yet deeply unsettling. Everything was perfectly arranged, as if someone had taken great care to ensure that each object was in its exact place.

At the far end of the room, a counter caught his attention. Above it floated a sign with golden letters that read: "Under Repair." Naruto raised an eyebrow.

—What kind of shop is 'under repair'? —he asked aloud, as he made his way toward the counter.

When he reached the counter, he realized there was no one there. He looked behind it, searching for any sign of life, but all he found was an empty space. Curiosity got the better of him, and he tried to jump over the counter to see what was on the other side. But as soon as he did, an invisible barrier suddenly appeared and gently pushed him back.

Naruto fell to the floor, dazed.

—These barriers again? —he grumbled, getting back on his feet and brushing the dust off.

Frustrated, he spent several minutes exploring the shop. Every object seemed to tell a story, though he couldn't decipher any of them. Everything was cloaked in an aura of mystery, as if these artifacts were waiting for someone who truly understood how to use them. However, no matter how much he tried to interact with them, the invisible barriers always stood in his way.

Eventually, finding nothing else he could do, he decided to return to the main hall. He walked toward the shop's exit, casting one last glance at the endless shelves and the empty counter before stepping through the doorway.

When he reentered the hall, his eyes were once again drawn to the massive stained glass window. The light streaming through the colorful panes cast intricate patterns onto the marble floor. Naruto moved forward slowly, studying the figures depicted in greater detail. Heroes, monsters, warriors, and impossible creatures—all immortalized in that masterpiece. They seemed so lifelike, as if they might step out of the window at any moment.

—This is incredible… —he murmured, awestruck.

He made his way to the other door, the one on the right. He tried to open it, but this time, the door wouldn't budge. Naruto frowned and applied more force, pushing with all his weight, but the door remained firmly shut. Before he could try again, a brilliant light flooded the room, blinding him completely.

The world around him dissolved. It was as if an invisible force had seized him and dragged him through an endless tunnel. The hum of energy filled his ears, and he felt as though he were floating in a void, weightless and formless. The sensation lasted only a few seconds, but to Naruto, it felt like an eternity.

And then, suddenly, it was over.