First to Explore [Event - Halloween]

Jun carefully listened to Hikari’s words as she came up with a plan to cleanse and purify the Dream Realm. “Damn, she’s indeed pretty smart...” The Young Shinobi wandered as she went on. Suddenly, a distorted voice echoed through the twisted fabric of the nightmare realm. "Jun Shibasaki," it whispered, sending a shiver down his spine. Before him and the party materialized a nightmarish version of the 4 young shinobis, corrupted and consumed by darkness. This doppelgängers, born from the depths of their fears and insecurities, grinned malevolently as Hikari pointed out what was going on. “Yep, I think you are once again correct, Hikari-chan…”

Jun’s evil counterpart kept starring at him with a grim smile and eyes full of rage and violence, ready to snap and attack at any time. Hikari’s counterpart started talking as it was as if all the evil version spoke at the same time the exact same words. "This is who you are. This is what you seek. The land of dreams brings naught to you but suffering. You live within my domain. Acceptance of the pain you have felt, the pain that has been dealt to you will bring you closer than you care to admit." It stated, chuckling loudly as a sphere of some kind of dark version of Solar Chakra, black in color instead of the regular orange, red and yellow started forming at the palm of his hand. "You hide yourself because you know if you could. You. Would. Burn. Them!"

The nightmare Jun launched the first assault, unleashing dark tendrils of chakra that sought to ensnare the real Jun. Reacting swiftly, Jun countered with a burst of Sun Release, using his Sunlight Burst jutsu, creating a blinding radiance that repelled the encroaching darkness. The two clashed, their opposing forces creating a dazzling display of light and shadow in the eerie landscape.
The two drew theirs Katanas and the battle raged on, with the sound of steel clashing resonating through the air as the katanas collided in this fierce battle. Jun dodged an attack and went on to punch his counterpart, but the evil version also threw a punch at the same time, as if they had the very same idea at the very same moment. Both fists collided, and it was when Jun and his “evil twin” shared a vision:

“As the fight went on, in a moment of vulnerability, real Jun's defenses eventually faltered. The nightmare's tendrils snaked around him, ensnaring him in a suffocating grip. The corrupted doppelgänger, fueled by the very fears and insecurities Jun sought to suppress, tightened its hold. The air resonated with Jun's agonized cries as the darkness embraced him. With a final surge of dark power, the nightmare version shattered the real Jun's resistance. The blinding radiance of Sun Release dimmed, and the corrupted doppelgänger stood amidst the fading brilliance, a sinister grin etched across its face. The nightmare Jun absorbed the defeated shinobi's essence, merging with him in a grotesque fusion of darkness and light.
The nightmare version now not only bore Jun's physical appearance, but also had control over his body, a perfect mimicry that extended to his memories and mannerisms. Disguised as the real Jun Shibasaki, the corrupted doppelgänger made its way back to Kumogakure, seamlessly infiltrating the village under the guise of one of their shinobi.

As the imposter Jun returned to the village, nobody suspected the treacherous transformation that had taken place. The corrupted doppelgänger seamlessly integrated itself into the daily life of the village, all the while manipulating events from the shadows to sow discord and chaos as he grew among the ranks of Kumo. The village that once took Jun and his family would soon face a malevolent force from within. The nightmare version's presence in Kumogakure grew like a cancer, its influence spreading insidiously. Villagers began to notice subtle changes in Jun's behavior, an unsettling coldness that replaced the warmth they once knew. Whispers of unease circulated through the village as the corrupted doppelgänger plotted its nefarious schemes.

The true Jun, trapped within the nightmare realm, struggled against the chains of darkness that bound him. In a realm of perpetual torment, he fought to break free and reclaim his identity from the malevolent force that now masqueraded as him. As the nightmare version continued to manipulate Kumogakure from within, the village faced an unprecedented threat—one that emanated not from external enemies, but from the corrupted heart of one of their own.
The once-united village now stood divided, torn apart by mistrust and chaos sown by the imposter within their midst. The evil Jun architected a masterplan and as his influence among the village grew more and more every day, he manipulated everyone around him. Within time, the Raikage, his friend Saturn, his mother… they were all gone.

Soon, Nightmare Jun orchestrated a coup, seizing control of Kumogakure's government and military. The corrupted doppelgänger suppressed opposition ruthlessly, casting aside any semblance of democracy. The Land of Lightning, once a beacon of strength and unity, now fell under the shadow of a dictator. As the village transformed, so did Nightmare Jun. The radiant powers of Sun Release were twisted into dark and oppressive techniques. The once-majestic peaks of Kumogakure became adorned with ominous symbols, and the villagers lived in constant fear of reprisal. Nightmare Jun reveled in the newfound authority, his sadistic nature fully unleashed upon the village he once called home.

The nightmare version implemented draconian policies, restricting freedoms and suppressing dissent. Villagers who once celebrated Jun's heroism now cowered in the face of his tyrannical rule. The corrupted doppelgänger surrounded itself with loyal enforcers, shinobi who were either coerced or willingly embraced the darkness that now permeated Kumogakure. The village that had once thrived under the Raikage’s powerful leadershiplanguished in the perpetual gloom of Nightmare Jun's dictatorship. The once-vibrant community became a pawn in the nightmare's twisted game, a playground where the corrupted doppelgänger could indulge in its darkest desires. In the vision, Jun's friends and comrades suffered, their spirits broken by the nightmare's influence. The Land of Nightmares, once contained, expanded its reach, threatening to spill into the real world and plunge everything into eternal darkness.”

The glimpse into this dystopian future shook Jun to his core, and he felt the weight of responsibility for preventing such a catastrophe. Jun realized that his nightmare counterpart was not merely a physical opponent but a manifestation of the inner demons he had long suppressed. Not only that, but that it also wanted to take’s Jun body and become the real Jun Shibasaki in the material realm. That vision was only a glimpse of what could occur if the nightmare version won this battle “So you think you can stop me, boy? I’ll show what the ONE AND ONLY Jun Shibasaki can do, you poser”

The corrupted Jun laughed to Jun’s trash talking and taunted him with twisted versions of his memories, exploiting his deepest fears and regrets, like when his father died or when he abandoned his village for a while. Determined to overcome this nightmarish challenge, Jun delved into the depths of his own psyche, tapping into the reservoirs of inner strength that defined his true self. The nightmare version exploited the psychological aspect of the confrontation. Illusions materialized in the twisted air, depicting distorted memories and haunting visions of Jun's past. The nightmare Jun mocked him with twisted versions of his triumphs and failures, whispering insidious doubts into his mind.
Jun remembered at Hikari said early, about not only mentalizing things, but to actually doing it. As he applied all his resolve into facing his inner demons,

The Land of Nightmares seemed to respond to Jun's awakening, the twisted landscape shifting in his favor. Empowered by his resolve, Jun unleashed a torrent of Sun Release techniques, overwhelming his nightmare counterpart. The corrupted doppelgänger writhed in agony as the radiant energy purged the darkness that had consumed him.
As the nightmare version of Jun Shibasaki lunged forward, tendrils of dark chakra snaking towards the real Jun, the air crackled with malevolence. The nightmare's eyes glowed with an unholy light, reflecting the corrupted soul within. Jun, however, was not one to be easily overwhelmed by darkness as the Sun always can produce its own light. With a swift motion, he formed a series of intricate hand seals, channeling the essence of the sun through his very being.

A blinding radiance erupted from Jun's outstretched hands, creating a shockwave that repelled the encroaching darkness. The clash between light and shadow painted a surreal tableau in the distorted landscape of the Land of Nightmares. The nightmare version of Jun hissed, recoiling from the intense brilliance. But the corrupted doppelgänger was not easily deterred. With an eerie grin, he countered, summoning shadows that twisted and contorted into grotesque forms. The nightmare Jun moved with an unnatural grace, dodging Jun's attacks and retaliating with dark tendrils that seemed to have a life of their own.

Jun gritted his teeth, realizing that this battle extended beyond the physical realm. He closed his eyes, centering himself amidst the chaos. Drawing upon the reservoirs of inner strength, he silenced the cacophony of doubt within. The nightmare landscape responded to his resolve, the twisted forms gradually succumbing to the brilliance of his Sun Release. In a burst of determination, Jun unleashed a devastating surge of solar chakra from his eyes, illuminating the nightmare realm with a celestial brilliance when he fired his Laser Eyes technique towards his evil counterpart. The nightmare Jun tried to block the jutsu with his dark energy tendrils, but the Solar Chakra being just rammed through his barrier, hitting the nightmare twin. He convulsed in agony, the darkness within him writhing as if in protest. The corrupted doppelgänger fought desperately to maintain its existence, but the radiant energy relentlessly purged the shadows that had taken root in his soul. The nightmare version of Jun let out a final, agonized scream as the brilliance consumed him entirely.

The twisted illusions shattered like fragile glass, and the nightmare landscape began to lose its nightmarish quality. The shadows retreated, revealing a landscape that, while still eerie, no longer exuded the oppressive darkness that had dominated before, now truly resembling once again Lightning’s Country beautiful landscape.

Breathing heavily, Jun emerged from the ordeal, the radiant aura of Solar Chakra still lingering around him. He stood amidst the surreal landscape, the echoes of the battle fading away. He looked around, and it seemed as if the other also prevailed against their nightmare’s counterparts, each facing their own inner demons in the process. Minami seemed to be badly injured, but she refused Hikari’s aid, as she stated that the injuries sustained in this realm were not real (but they did look quite painful for Jun). She mentioned that she perceived something or someone lurking around, observing among the shadows as they fought against the nightmare counterparts. Perhaps it could be the same dark presence he saw when he first visited the Land of Nightmares? The young Shibasaki clansman started looking around in an attempt to detect this ominous presence, but he couldn’t see anything unusual… except for something. From very afar, looking toward north, he could see what seemed like a huge, black tower, rising above the darkened sky as it seemed to be bigger to even the mountains they were standing at. It appeared as the tower somehow popped into the landscape in the blink of an eye, as it definitely wasn’t there before. On the top of such gigantic tower, there was a huge blazing red Eye, starring at the Shinobi’s direction. Looking at the eye, Jun could feel the corrupted chakra emanating from it, as it chilled his spine by merely looking into it.

“Well… I have a hint that this wicked tower perhaps is our next destination… perhaps we can dream-teleport there? I feel like the epicenter of the corruption is coming from that spooky tower and the weird eye watching us. Perhaps this is the last place we must purge to save this corrupted realm…”

---

WC: 2015
TWC: 3385
TMWC: 13,537/15,500

Hikari was trying to process everything that had just happened. From one thing to the next it was starting to get overwhelming for the young Kitsune. She had pushed herself more than she initially thought she could. The endeavor versus herself really shook her to the core as she sorted out a bit of what happened when Jun pointed out the tower in the distance. As much as she wished she could just teleport over there an idea came to mind as she looked amongst them. “What if instead of going there, it was here?” She proposed attempting to bring the concept of the visual she saw closer and closer in hope the others also thought the same. With a little budging thankfully it appeared closer than before and a new pathway began to form for them. “Well I was attempting to have it right in front of us but I will take a walk if that is what it takes to get to the final moments of this unorthodox adventure.” She added in as she walked forward.

The final fight was at the doorstep as no more waves came after the group of Kumogakuran Genin. The adventure thus far was something well out or the standard scope of what they should have been handling but that did not deter the rather vigorous youth of the Land of Lightning from attempting such actions for their village’s safety. The final fight was going to be a difficult one with considerations of their skillset. Three of them were fresh out of the academy with little in their overall arsenal but that did not dissuade them from trying. With Jun as their trump and strongest force there, it boiled to the soon to be Chuunin of Kumogakure no Sato to really be the powerhouse they needed him to be. The others were rising well enough for the occasion. As Hikari stepped forward, her tails curled out as her guise shifted, her normal robes changing to that of a Shinto priestess, her hair being pulled out of her face into a bun at the back of her head, her hair length unchanging in the process. Her glasses thinning out as they disappeared as she began to think of the process of purifying and cleansing the entity that was threatening to corrupt the Land of Dreams into that of the Land of Nightmares.

Once they made it to the door, Hikari just kept focusing on her footsteps on the bridge bringing forth a concentrated channel of chakra to simply blast through the door announcing their presence. A bewildered Hikari stared looking at their palm surprised that her plan worked in that moment. “Guess we don’t need to knock.” She awkwardly smiled as her ears perked and swished as she heard a rumbling sound from within. She cautiously proceeded inside as a giant throne room was present before them. A humanoid looking entity sat there lazily watching the Shinobi as they entered. it’s form was an amalgamation of beast creatures, and other kinds of monsters there was no one trait that was visible to the fore as they entered. The only thing that stood out was the foreboding eyes of a viper, settled neatly into the sunken parts of a skull that made up its head. A wreath of green flames formed a crown around the creature as its eyes were piercing from one genin to the next. “Oh so you arrive. Clever trick on getting this place closer to you. Not clever enough to do anything else however.” It spoke, the voice deep like the roar of a tiger. He did not move an inch from the throne that it presented but that was its own volition of how it managed to accomplish its designated task. He flicked his wrist as a dismissive action towards the group, almost as if this trifle of an interaction was waste of his time. There seem to be something else on the avatars mind, but it was unclear why or what specifically was eating at the back of the skull it was obvious he paid no mind towards the group. Hikari stood surprised and baffled that such a creature sat there waiting as if someone was going to simply not take any actions against it, or its plans. She turned to look at the others and shrugged her shoulders gesturing towards the throne unsure of what would be the best course of action to remedy the issue at hand. Kits soon rocked to the back of her mind, trying to understand if there was any mythos any lower in the story, any fairytale that she could go back to an understand of what this thing could be representative of the skull, the eyes, green flaming crown or all pieces that signify something different something unique, something special but she did not know what.

It was at that moment, something clicked in her head. It didn’t matter what it was. It didn’t matter what it represented it matter that it stood upon the throne within the land of nightmares or what was the land of dreams. The village needed them to take action, needed to move forward and finish what they had started those many days ago. She wanted to do more she tried to do more, but there was always something standing in front of her. In this moment in time she stood beside others not behind them, not waiting for them but beside them this time she breathes deeply in closing her eyes, she focused heavily on what happened. Thus far she thought about the outfit she wore. Now she thought about blessing, and she considered what it all meant within this realm , there was much to consider. There was always something to think about here. She was not thinking for the first time in a long time she felt free to be herself free to pursue and think and dream in a weird way. She opened her eyes conviction before knowing what needed to be done no matter what way it was done at least. “ no matter what happens we need to keep pressing forward. I don’t know if there’s something higher up in this tower I don’t know if this is the end of the line but we need to press we need to continue. I think we all need to work together here we fought by ourselves against ourselves already there’s nothing that we can’t accomplish now at this point, our victory is not insured but I’ll take a gamble in a bit. That will be the winners here tonight.” Hikari spoke out loud not caring if the creature heard her since the creature did not care to move when they entered the throne room. Calling for Inari’s Wit, the young kitsune, knew fully well at this fight was going to likely be the last in this encounter. Her journey had only just begun. There’s still so much for her to learn, and for her to consider, and for her to witness in the world. She was still young and experienced, trying to find her own place within her village. She was not going to let some avatar Devour of dreams demons creatures nightmares whatever you want to call them stop her from pursuing what she knew was her path.

That was when she realized she needed to do something she hadn’t done before, stop thinking. She always was coming up with plans thinking of something trying to find an answer for the questions that came into her mind mom’s notice. She had to find a rationalization of everything that she saw everything she read everything she heard. In a world were dreams could become reality, the fact that her thoughts could shape what they saw, what outfit she wore, to even the weapons they had in their possession, there was no foreseeable limit. So if the idea was to purify the land, then all they needed to do was attempt… no… all they needed to do to purify it, was to purify it. The world they existed in, embolden their actions even if the danger it possessed was that much more prevalent to have to deal with. Simply considering someone gone would not work, thus consciousness, or subconsciousness, was a prerequisite for dominion within the Dreamscape Sea. The thought was becoming clearer to the young Kitsune as she moved her hand to grab something in midair as a staff simply materialized in her hand. The clang of metal rings that were inside the staff that clanged as she moved it and pointed towards the creature that at her movement along with the others, shifted, its eyes showing curiosity. “Oh ho! Let’s see if you’re worth devouring!” The Avatar of Nightmares that they encountered rose and began to grow in size, the crown slithering down to his neck and around its shoulder and down its arm into the form of a sword as a new fire erupted from its eyes giving it a new crown.

That was when the fight truly began. Hikari was thinking and conjuring mentally but there was no thoughts on what to say or do, she simply acted on the instinct that her body and mind took he through. Her focus was what was in front of her and anything that came her way, she would fine a way to deal with it. She was not simply standing around thankfully but as she dashed and ran around the throne rooms trying to find angles and parts for her to try to expand her domain within the space, she could felt the power within her resonant with the tails as she moved from one part to another. As she focused on just her mental power over the space near her, she hoped her companions were handling the avatar that had begun the fight. The sound of the throne room seemed to become filled with low rumbling to eventual choral singing as it truly felt like some sort of finale fight from some sort of narrative. There were points that were all across the room, some on the wall, others on the floor, that the kitsune genin was aiming for. Without discussing anything, there was a degree of surprise and wonder that she recognized would be in her favor as she was darted around the room. She ran straight and moved from one point to the next like connect the dots. It was when she felt satisfied that her body told her it was done, she did what she needed to do. Thus she jumped up into the air and spun around aiming the staff into the center floor spot of the throne room. An boom echoed into the world as the pathways that she walked and the points where she stopped. I’d the others defeated the entity that stood before them then even better as Hikari’s game plan was effectively to attempt to call upon Inari to bring her visage into the space. A bright light enveloped the space slowly and then rapidly. It was a baffling occurrence as the next thing Hikari saw was a chalkboard. She was back at the academy.

More specifically, she had arrived where they had started. Entering the hallway once more she found herself back at the Thunderpeak Campus awaiting to see about the others, to see if things simply had reset. After a while, hearing and seeing nothing unique or different, she figured it meant they won. Since there was no fire and brimstone to compare to in the area, she simply called out knowing that if someone else was dreaming the same space as her, it would be a miracle for to find each other once more. So she went home mentally, she went back to where they started and left to go back home. The degree of fear and danger had left so she too found her way back to home.

[exit]

WC: 2,000, TWC: 5,200 | TMWC: > 15,500

Mission Rewards wrote:Total Ryo Reward: 38,750 Ryo
Total AP Reward: 192 AP
Total Dream Tokens: 100 DTs + Dream Waiver

[Will claim WC later.]

[EXIT]

Claiming Rewards:

Total Ryo Reward: 77,500 Ryo (x2 via beloved presence)
Total AP Reward: 384 AP (x2 via beloved presence) - trading it for 19,200 ryo
Total Dream Tokens: 100 DTs + Dream Waiver

I will claim the WC later.

[EXIT]

Claiming Rewards:

Total Ryo Reward: 77,500 Ryo (x2 from beloved presence)
Total AP Reward: 384 AP (x2 from beloved presence)
Total Dream Tokens: 100 DTs + Dream Waiver
Claiming 652 WC:
- 400 towards Water Release: Mouth Shot - 500/500
- 252 towards (incomplete) Puppet Art: Puppet Transformation Technique - 252/500

Minami Outomo wrote:

[EXIT THREAD]

Requesting approval for the following claims:

Minami Ōtomo wrote:Claiming Missions' AP, Ryo, and Event Rewards
Reserving WC Claims for later

Approved

Sato Hibiki wrote:[EXIT]

Claiming Rewards:

Total Ryo Reward: 77,500 Ryo (x2 from beloved presence)
Total AP Reward: 384 AP (x2 from beloved presence)
Total Dream Tokens: 100 DTs + Dream Waiver
Claiming 652 WC:
- 400 towards Water Release: Mouth Shot - 500/500
- 252 towards (incomplete) Puppet Art: Puppet Transformation Technique - 252/500

Approved

Jun Shibasaki wrote:[EXIT]

Claiming Rewards:

Total Ryo Reward: 77,500 Ryo (x2 via beloved presence)
Total AP Reward: 384 AP (x2 via beloved presence) - trading it for 19,200 ryo
Total Dream Tokens: 100 DTs + Dream Waiver

I will claim the WC later.

Approved

Hikari Kobayashi wrote:

[exit]

WC: 2,000, TWC: 5,200 | TMWC: > 15,500

Mission Rewards wrote:Total Ryo Reward: 38,750 Ryo
Total AP Reward: 192 AP
Total Dream Tokens: 100 DTs + Dream Waiver

[Will claim WC later.]

Approved

Requesting approval for the following claims:

Investing 6,300 TWC into the following Skill(s):

► Training Heavenly Body (2,000/2,000) [4,300 TWC Left]
► Training Kitsunetsuki [Stage 1, 3 Tails] → [Stage 2, 5 Tails] to unlock Path of the Yako (4,000/4,000) [300 TWC Left)

Investing the remaining 300 TWC into the following Jutsu:

► Training Prepared Needle Shot (300/750) [0 TWC Left]

Investing the 6,300 TWC into the following Stat Points:

► Training +51 Chakra (-5,100) [1,000 TWC Left]
► Training +7 Vigor (-700) [0 TWC Left]
► Training +5 Speed (-500) [0 TWC Left]