Chapter 231 The Victor

Another sharp sound of something cutting through the air came from behind, and Logan cursed Gamabunta for his poor sportsmanship.

Just as he was about to muster all his strength to dodge, a figure sliced through the obstacles, cutting the air even sharper and louder, arriving at his side.

The faint crimson light cast a dreamlike glow over the dark forest. Logan barely had a moment to admire the fleeting beauty before a loud clash of metal shattered the scene.

Akiyama blocked the strike from the half-broken short blade. His wings, covered in translucent, shimmering feathers, glowed with a steel-like hardness, remaining completely unscathed under Gamabunta's assault.

Seeing his plan fail, regret flashed in Gamabunta's eyes. With Akiyama descending from the sky, his chances were slipping away. The damaged blade screeched as it ground against the impenetrable wings, but at least it had made contact. Gamabunta wasn't ready to give up just yet, and gathered Chakra once more in his mouth.

"Still resisting?" Akiyama observed Gamabunta's puffed-up cheeks, unimpressed by the repeated use of a move so predictable that anyone could memorize it. Akiyama's disdainful remark was punctuated by a fireball forming in front of his chest, which he launched directly at Gamabunta.

The Water Release and Fire Release collided at close range, resulting in a series of explosions that generated a massive amount of steam. Both Summoned Beasts remained relatively unharmed amidst the drizzling impact, but Logan wasn't as fortunate.

The shockwave hit like a gale-force wind, knocking Logan across the ground. By the time he got up, he was completely drenched by the steam.

"May I ask which Summoning Holy Land you hail from?"

Gamabunta's body was half-charred by Akiyama's True Fire, his wounds gnawing at his flesh. His limbs occasionally trembled from the searing pain, and he was already losing ground in the struggle of strength. Staring at his close opponent through the mist, Gamabunta solemnly asked.

Power was capital, and this was a stark contrast to the usual taunts exchanged between Summoned Beasts. Gamabunta even used a respectful term, directly referring to a 'Summoning Holy Land'. A Summoning Holy Land wasn't just any domain of a Summoned Beast, it was a title reserved for the most esteemed places. Gamabunta felt that the golden flames that could obliterate everything and melt all it touched had indeed earned such respect.

Akiyama was pleased to hear this but showed no mercy. He chuckled softly, continuously increasing the pressure, making his attacks heavier. A feather from his wing fluttered into the air and, caught by the wind, transformed into a fiery bird several meters tall. The bird made of flames flew straight at Gamabunta's body.

"Paulownia Forest."

Gamabunta was struck by the firebird, worsening his condition. Flames crackled on his already charred body, but having been baptized by the previous gold-red flames, the searing pain now felt almost numb.

'Paulownia Forest... where is that...?' Gamabunta, with trembling hands gripping the broken blade, searched his memory but found nothing.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, the feathers in contact with the short blade burst into roaring flames. The heat waves surged toward Gamabunta, engulfing him in an oven-like heat that was as agonizing as the desire to live or die.

Gamabunta stared blankly as the flames licked the damaged short blade, the places on his body previously scorched by the golden-red flames seemingly rekindling a deep-seated burn

His skin was cracking, and the water-loving toad was almost dried up... He had seen too much fire today, accompanied by pain that would be deeply etched into his mind. He feared that in the future, even the sight of fire would give him psychological trauma.

All he wanted was to get away from the blazing fire in front of him immediately... Gamabunta's Chakra was entirely used to maintain his body's moisture and fend off the dryness. His life was hanging by a thread, and he could barely even form a small water sphere now.

'Naruto, I'm sorry... I can't handle this opponent on my own.' Gamabunta sighed, gazing in Naruto's direction through his senses. He abandoned his futile defense, yanked out the half-broken short blade, and hurled it fiercely at Akiyama.

With no obstacles left, the sea of flames engulfed everything, and just before the fire could sear his skin down to the last unscathed patch, Gamabunta disappeared with a 'bang', vanishing into a cloud of smoke.

Akiyama's fiery wings struck nothing but air, as his opponent had canceled the summoning and fled. Unfazed, Akiyama let out a cold snort. The shimmering feathers on his body detached themselves with intent, and as the broken blade approached, they transformed into fiery birds that devoured the incoming weapon.

The momentum of the final throw was fully neutralized, and the flames seemed almost alive, attempting to melt the remaining steel of the blade. However, the battered, pitted short knife soon dissipated into a puff of smoke.

'That toad really gave it his all, even making one last strike before retreating.'

The massive figure that had been crouching heavily on the ground was gone, leaving only the flaming Divine Bird over the Valley of the End. Akiyama saw this and retracted all his flames, dimming his glow, returning to his simpler deep crimson form.

"Is it over?" Logan felt the pressure lift as he watched Gamabunta disappear. Even though Akiyama had maintained the upper hand throughout the fight, the physical and mental burden of being caught in the battlefield between two Summoned Beasts was immense for Logan.

"It's over." Akiyama confirmed, raising his head to survey the valley like a victor inspecting his territory. He glanced down at Logan and said, "I've dealt with your enemy. That toad wasn't weak, but facing me, he was barely adequate."

"..." Yu Logan could only nod in agreement. 'Well, winning always demanded some bragging. If it made you happy, so be it.'

With the opponent retreating, a trace of fatigue showed on Akiyama's face, his once-bright wings dimming slightly.

It wasn't just a matter of shedding his battle form, and there was evident exhaustion from the intense fight. Clearly, the grand display between him and Gamabunta wasn't as effortless as it appeared.

"Thanks, Akiyama." Logan said. Though Akiyama's demeanor was far from friendly, he had gotten the job done without holding back.

Akiyama took a glance at the towering statues of the Valley of the End, his gaze lingering. He ignored Logan's thanks.

"You were a great help this time. It seems my previous opinion of you was unjustified. I'll learn my lesson, and the next time I need something, I'll definitely call on you again."

Akiyama instinctively lifted his wing and denied Logan's suggestion, "No, don't call us next time. We're quite busy."

"Well, that's it. I'm heading back."

Bang!

Before Logan could say anything to persuade him otherwise, a massive cloud of smoke appeared, as Akiyama had already released the summoning.

"Busy my foot. In Paulownia Forest, you guys are practically idle and bored out of your minds…"

Logan muttered under his breath and brushed the dust off himself. The surroundings fell silent again, with only the scattered signs of battle serving as a reminder of the recent clash.

With the moonlight gone, Logan leaped onto an intact tree branch and noticed that without Akiyama's striking fiery glow, the sky had returned to its natural color. It wasn't the deep darkness he expected, as hints of dawn were beginning to show on the horizon.

"Dawn is coming." As time passed, Logan stood there for a while, feeling that a lot had happened amidst all the twists and turns, but in truth, it had only been one night.