บท 66: Chapter 54. The Rise of the Grand Magus

After clashing fists, both Naruto and Satria retreated, their stances unwavering as the air crackled with energy.

___

[Ding!]

[Challenge initiated: Defeat your opponent in a duel]

[Shin vs. God of Hope]

[Winner receives a special reward]

[Live stream now active]

King of Knights: "What are you doing, Naruto?! Why are you two fighting?"

Spider-Man: "Wait... sparring? Or is this an actual fight?"

Esdeath: "Hmm~ This should be entertaining. Who's stronger, the God of Hope or the so-called Dark Dragon?"

Cookies Maniac: "Friendly match? My friend and I do this all the time at the academy."

Kuroneko: "Satria! Naruto! Why are you fighting? Where are you? I can't find you near the inn!"

Evil Spirit: "Stay put, Fran-chan. They're not at the inn. Just watch the live stream—it's going to be... interesting."

_____

Satria's surroundings morphed into a twisted, infernal landscape. Rivers of molten lava bubbled and hissed, the air heavy with unbearable heat. The crimson sky was filled with ash, and an oppressive force pressed down on him.

"This... What is this place?" Satria muttered, wiping sweat from his brow as the extreme heat even began to test his endurance.

"This," Naruto said, his voice echoing, "is my Domain—The Throne of the Heavenly Demon God. You're trapped here now, Satria. There's no escape until I beat you to a pulp."

____

Robin: "'The Throne of the Heavenly Demon God'? Okay, now that's a badass name for a technique."

King of Knights: "You've been holding out on me, Naruto. I never saw this in our training sessions!"

Kazuma-sama: "That's horrifying. If anyone in my world got caught in there, they'd be toast. Literally."

Black Cat: "Stop fighting, both of you! This isn't the time for this!"

_____

Naruto's Domain was no illusion. It was a realm of scorching flames and unrelenting heat, designed to overwhelm his enemies. The fire surrounding the field was no ordinary flame; it was Hellfire, an unquenchable blaze hotter than Amaterasu. Inside the domain, Naruto held total control, manipulating the fire at will.

Satria grimaced. "A Domain Expansion, huh? Looks like you've been busy experimenting with your powers. But..." He cracked his knuckles, summoning his Dragon Belt. "You're not the only one with tricks up his sleeve. Henshin!"

In an instant, black armor materialized on his body, his presence growing more menacing as he became the Black Dragon Knight.

Without hesitation, Satria dashed forward, aiming a punch directly at Naruto. But before the strike could land, Naruto's body became encased in a fiery cloak.

The barrier held—briefly.

Satria's punch shattered through the fiery cloak, sending Naruto flying backward.

Naruto grunted as he hit the ground hard, coughing as pain shot through his ribs. "Damn... That punch almost broke something." He forced himself up, glaring at his opponent. "Not bad. You broke through my barrier. But..."

Satria froze mid-step, looking at his hand in horror. It was engulfed in flames.

"WHAT IS THIS?! IT'S HOT! IT'S SO FREAKING HOT!" Satria yelled, flailing and running in circles like a chicken.

____

[Ding!]

[Place Your Bets: Shin vs. God of Hope]

[Current Odds: 2:1 in favor of God of Hope]

King of Knights: "I'll bet 500© on Naruto. He's been my sparring partner, and I know how hard he hits. Sorry, Satria."

Spider-Man: "You're betting on Naruto? Hmm... I'll go with Satria, 300©. He's got that chaotic energy that makes him unpredictable."

Esdeath: "Interesting... While I respect Satria strength, Naruto has the experience and power I admire. I'll wager 1,000© on him."

Kazuma-sama: "Are you crazy, Peter? Satria's on fire—literally! There's no way he's coming out of this alive. I'm putting 700© on Naruto!"

Black Cat: "STOP BETTING ON THEM! They shouldn't even be fighting in the first place!"

Evil Spirit: "Relax, Fran-chan. This is how boys bond. I'll throw 800© on Satria. I like his persistence—even if he's flailing around like a roasted chicken right now."

Robin: "Hmm... Let's see. Naruto's Domain is incredible, but Satria has an annoying way of turning the tide. I'll play it safe with 500© on him."

Emilia: "Why are you all treating this like entertainment? Shouldn't we be stopping them?!"

Esdeath: "Oh, come on, Emilia. Where's your sense of fun? Don't be such a goody-two-shoes."

Kazuma-sama: "She's got a point. But since we're already here... does anyone else feel like this fight could level a city?"

Spider-Man: "We're all thinking it, but we're pretending it won't happen."

_______

"That's Hellfire, Satria. It's hotter than Amaterasu and impossible to extinguish. The more you panic, the worse it'll burn. Why don't you just give up and reflect on your attitude?" Naruto taunted, his face serious.

Suddenly, Satria's fist collided with Naruto's solar plexus, causing the blonde to stagger backward. Despite the burns searing his skin, Satria smirked through the pain.

"Ugh... How?"

"Feeling like you've already won, huh?" he taunted, clutching his scorched hand.

Naruto raised an eyebrow, confused by Satria's sudden burst of confidence. "What are you—"

Before Naruto could finish, Satria made a shocking move. With a swift motion, he sliced off his own burnt hand, leaving Naruto momentarily speechless. As blood spattered the ground, Satria activated the Fatalis regeneration ability, regrowing his limb in mere seconds.

"Thanks for the explanation, idiot," Satria said, flexing his newly restored hand. "Now I can do this without hesitation."

Naruto's eyes narrowed. "You're crazy. Cutting off your own hand like it's nothing? You've got guts brat, I'll give you that."

Meanwhile, Fatalis was in an uproar. "Why did you do something so reckless?!" she yelled in his mind. "Don't ever do that again, you hear me?! You could've died!"

"Relax," Satria replied calmly. "It's high-risk, high-reward. Trust me."

____

Kazuma-sama: "Of course Satria would do something insane like cutting off his hand and somehow survive. Only this guy, I swear."

Black Cat: "Satria! You're amazing! I know you can beat him!"

Esdeath: "To think he'd sacrifice a limb to gain an advantage... impressive. That kind of resolve is rare."

Evil Spirit: "Such dedication to victory... slicing his own hand without hesitation. I'm sorry, Naruto-san, but I have to root for Satria-kun on this one."

King of Knights: "Don't underestimate Naruto. He thrives in unpredictable situations. Trust me, this fight is far from over."

Spider-Man: "He just chopped off his hand like it was no big deal! I can't even imagine how painful that was."

Emilia: "This is too much... I can't watch anymore. I'm sorry."

[Emilia has logged out]

Cookies Maniac: "I thought everyone here was a good guy... now I'm not so sure."

[Cookies Maniac has logged out]

Spider-Man: "Hey! I'm still the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, right? …Right?"

Esdeath: "Oh, you sweet summer child. Reality is a harsh mistress. You'll understand soon enough."

[Pervert Sage has logged in]

Pervert Sage: "I heard my student and Satria are fighting. Is this true?"

Robin: "Yes. And it doesn't look like a sparring match. There's real tension here. Do you know what's causing this, Fran?"

Black Cat: "No... they were fine when I left them. I don't understand why they're fighting now."

Pervert Sage: "It's no mystery. Their personalities are polar opposites. Satria's rational, calculating, and willing to take extreme measures, while Naruto is an idealist who follows his heart. Conflict was inevitable."

_____

Satria POV

The intense heat of Naruto's Hellfire Cloak surrounded me, its oppressive energy making the air ripple like a mirage. I kept my composure, despite the sweat trickling down my brow. My plan had to be executed perfectly—there was no room for error.

Naruto charged at me, fists ablaze. I dodged narrowly, the Hellfire Cloak grazing past me and searing the air. He was powerful, yes, but power alone wasn't enough against me.

I raised my hand, channeling the energy required for Spell Steal. Green arcs of magic swirled around me, focusing on the fiery cloak that enveloped Naruto. It wasn't an instant process; tracing the ability required precision and timing. But as soon as I felt the essence of his Hellfire Cloak, I pulled it into my own body.

The flames that had once shielded Naruto now ignited around me, forming an identical hell fire cloak. The weight of the power was immense, but I smirked, embracing it as my own.

"Hellfire Cloak, huh?" I said, letting the stolen flames swirl around me. "It's not bad. I might just keep it."

Naruto skidded to a halt, his eyes wide with shock. "What?! How did you—? That's my ability!"

I chuckled, the flames dancing at my command. "No power is beyond the Grand Magus," I said, tilting my head arrogantly. "Even your Ultimate Skill is nothing more than a tool in my hands."

____

Esdeath: "I'm impressed. He didn't just steal it—he's already mastered it!"

Kuroneko: "Satria is so strong!"

Kazuma-sama: "Wait, there's no way he just casually copied Naruto's ability. That's busted!"

King of Knights: "He's strong, but I doubt he can maintain this pace for long. His ability must have its limits."

______

Naruto gritted his teeth, determination burning in his eyes. "You think stealing my power makes you invincible? Let's see how long you can keep that up!"

I didn't respond immediately. He wasn't wrong—Spell Steal wasn't infinite. Each use had a cooldown period, and during that time, I couldn't trace or absorb another ability. Worse still, the stolen power was temporary, fading after a few minutes.

But he didn't need to know that.

I dashed forward, flames trailing behind me like a comet. The stolen Hellfire Cloak absorbed Naruto's fiery punches as I closed the distance and landed a solid strike to his gut. He staggered back, clutching his stomach in shock.

"How does it feel to be outplayed by your own ability?" I taunted, spinning the flames around me for dramatic effect. "Maybe next time, don't flaunt your skills so recklessly."

Naruto recovered quickly, forming a Lava-Style Rasenshuriken in his hands. "You're underestimating me, Brat! I don't need Hellfire Cloak to take you down!"

I braced myself, knowing I couldn't afford to take the full brunt of that attack. My cooldown timer was ticking away, but it wasn't finished yet. If I wanted to steal another one of his abilities, I'd have to survive long enough for the window to open again.

The Rasenshuriken came hurtling toward me, spinning with destructive force. I used the Hellfire Cloak to shield myself, but the impact sent me flying, crashing into the molten ground of his domain.

______

Robin: "Naruto's attack is insane! How is Satria even standing after that?"

Evil Spirit: "He's stalling for time."

Esdeath: "Fufu... He's waiting for his moment to strike again. This duel just got more interesting."

____

As I rose to my feet, I felt the cooldown timer finally tick to zero. A sly grin spread across my face. "Your mistake, Naruto, is thinking I'm just playing defense."

Naruto narrowed his eyes, clearly sensing my shift in confidence. "What are you planning now?"

"Spell Steal: Ready." The words echoed in my mind as I locked onto his Rasenshuriken. My hand glowed with the signature green magic, and I traced the Rasenshuriken's structure, absorbing its essence into my arsenal.

The stolen Rasenshuriken formed in my hand, its fiery edges blazing with intensity. "Let's see how you handle your own attack!" I shouted, hurling it straight at him.

Naruto barely had time to react, leaping to the side as the Rasenshuriken detonated, leaving a fiery crater in its wake.

"You're not the only one who can innovate, Naruto," I said, my voice dripping with confidence. "A Grand Magus doesn't just copy—he perfects."

Matatabi's voice echoed sternly in Naruto's mind. "Idiot! I told you not to let his goofy act trick you. Look what he's done now—he almost knocked the wind out of you!"

Gyūki chimed in, his tone serious. "That kid knows where to strike. If you didn't have a healing factor, you'd already be down. You need to take him seriously."

Naruto clenched his fists, his expression hardening. "I won't make that mistake again."

His body flared with energy, transforming into his demonic form. His eyes glowed with power as he clapped his hands together. "Hand of the Fallen One!"

The arena trembled as enormous blackened hands emerged from the fiery ground, each one a colossus of destructive force reaching for Satria.

Satria darted between the incoming hands with superhuman speed, his movements fluid and precise. The colossal hands slammed into the ground, causing shockwaves, but he remained untouched.

"Too slow, Naruto!" Satria taunted, dodging effortlessly.

Fatalis's voice echoed in his mind, sharp and analytical. "Listen, we need to keep our distance. Those hands are a problem, and the Hellfire Cloak makes close combat impossible. Use ranged attacks, but aim for his blind spots. Strike with precision."

"Got it," Satria replied, summoning his Strike Vent. A bow materialized in his hands, glowing ominously with energy.

He drew back the string, infusing his power into the arrow. "Arrow of Calamity!"

The arrow shot forth, leaving a trail of destruction as it soared toward Naruto. It exploded upon impact, shaking the entire arena.

But when the dust cleared, Naruto stood unscathed, his hand extended toward a swirling black vortex that had absorbed the attack.

"Something like that is useless against me," Naruto said coldly, dismissing the attack as if it were nothing.

____

Robin: "This is incredible. Satria's speed is something else—he's using his powers better than some speedsters in my world!"

Pervert Sage: "Naruto... Just how strong are you now? I can't believe how far you've come."

Esdeath: "Fufu... Another ability you didn't show me, Naruto? You're making me jealous. I want to fight you even more now."

Kazuma-sama: "Damn it! Why do I have the worst luck? A girl walked into the bathroom while I was watching this awesome fight. I missed half of it!"

Spider-Man: "Bro, was that supposed to impress us? I have a girlfriend now. 😊"

Evil Spirit: "Stupid pervert."

______

Satria clicked his tongue, observing Naruto carefully. The vortex had rendered his ranged attack useless. He needed a new plan—and fast.

Naruto, meanwhile, smirked, his confidence growing. "Is that all you've got, Satria?"

But Satria's smirk returned as he began to charge another ability. "Don't get cocky just because you blocked my attack. I've got plenty more tricks up my sleeve."

Naruto's expression darkened, his fiery aura flaring even stronger. "Then show me, Satria. Let's see what you are truly capable of."

•

Fran gritted her teeth, frustration welling up inside her as she watched the fierce battle between Satria and Naruto. 'How? How can I ever hope to be as strong as them? They're on a completely different level. Do I even deserve to stand by his side?'

The sword, sensing her turmoil, spoke up. "What's wrong, Fran?" His tone was filled with concern, his connection to her making it impossible to ignore her emotions.

Fran hesitated, then asked quietly, "Do you think I'm weak, Shishou?"

The sword was taken aback. "No! Of course not! You're incredibly strong, Fran. Why would you even think that?"

Fran clenched her fists, her ears drooping slightly. "Don't lie to me. Compared to Satria or Naruto-san... Do you still think I'm strong?"

Her voice trembled, a mix of frustration and self-doubt. She hated being pitied and wanted the truth, no matter how harsh.

The sword sighed, understanding the root of her feelings. "Fran, listen to me carefully, okay?"

Fran nodded, giving him her full attention.

"Strength isn't just about power or abilities. It's about determination, growth, and heart. You're still young, Fran, and you have so much potential. The people you're comparing yourself to—Satria and Naruto—they weren't always this strong. They started from the bottom, just like you. They struggled, failed, and kept pushing themselves until they became who they are today. You're no different. If you keep striving, keep training, and never give up, you'll reach their level one day. I know it."

Fran's eyes shimmered with newfound determination. She hugged her sword tightly, her gratitude evident in her expression. "Thank you, Shishou. For everything."

The sword chuckled softly. "That's what I'm here for, Fran. To guide you, not just in battle, but in life."

As Fran released him, a curious thought crossed her mind. Her lips curled into a small, mischievous smile. 'Speaking of dreams... I wonder, what's Satria's dream? Hehe... I really want to know.'

•

A vibrant green aura radiated from Satria's body, his voice ringing out confidently: "Spell Steal!"

In an instant, the technique was traced, analyzed, and taken.

Naruto, realizing what had happened, summoned a sphere of his Hellfire Blast and hurled it directly at Satria. Yet, instead of panicking, Satria calmly raised his hand. The fiery attack was absorbed by the same black vortex Naruto had conjured earlier, disappearing without a trace.

Kurama's voice boomed in Naruto's mind, shocked. "No way... He stole our technique again."

Son Gokū, equally bewildered, muttered, "How is that even possible?!"

Naruto glared at Satria, his frustration evident. "How the hell are you copying my ability so easily?! Explain yourself!"

Satria smirked, clearly enjoying the moment. "Explain? Sure, let me break it down for you—BOBO KA?! Why the hell should I explain my power to you, idiot?!" With a mocking grin, he raised his middle finger. "Puck you!!!"

Naruto's eye twitched as rage boiled over. "You rude little brat! I'll definitely teach you some respect!"

Naruto charged at Satria with ferocity, his fists igniting in blazing flames as he prepared for a close-quarters assault.

____

Spider-Man: "Classic Satria, always knowing how to get under his enemy's skin. I respect the hustle."

Evil Spirit: "What is Bobo Ka? Is that some kind of secret spell?"

Robin: "It's not a spell. It's a Filipino insult that translates to calling someone 'very dumb.'."

Evil Spirit: "No wonder Naruto-san is fuming. But perhaps some discipline would do him good. I could personally—"

Kuroneko: "You can't do that to him! 😾"

Evil Spirit: "Oh? And why is that, little kitten?"

Kuroneko: "Because… I'm the only one who can punish him!"

Evil Spirit: "Ara~ That was an unexpected response. A protective streak, I see."

_____

Satria darted through the battleground, his mind racing. He knew it wasn't wise to face Naruto head-on, especially with the fire cloak that protected him. The cloak's flame-like aura shielded Naruto from most attacks, making direct confrontation a deadly gamble.

"He's too fast. I must create a trap to catch him," Naruto thought, his eyes narrowing as he began to form a complex seal instead of continuing the fruitless pursuit.

"What you're thinking now is… You'll create a trap to catch me, right?" Satria's voice rang out, sharp and confident. He had already anticipated Naruto's next move.

Naruto's eyes widened in surprise. "Did he just… read my mind?" He hesitated for a brief moment before shaking off the thought. "No, it doesn't matter. The only way to defeat him is with this spell."

Satria had stopped his pursuit. His eyes gleamed with determination as he shifted into a more aggressive stance. "Now… let's begin the real show." He prepared himself to strike again.

Naruto, now fully aware of the danger, made his move. "Mirror Image, go! Prevent him from disturbing me!" he ordered, sending his ten clones into the fray. The clones formed a barrier, each ready to fight Satria to give Naruto time to cast his spell.

Satria smirked, a flash of arrogance crossing his features. "You think a bunch of clones will stop me? I'm the fastest man alive, you asshole!"

In a blink, Satria vanished, his speed creating a vacuum as he moved at unimaginable velocity. A harpoon of energy formed in his hand, a weapon made from his own speed force. With a burst of movement, he launched himself at the clones. The first five were destroyed before they could even react—reduced to nothing but vaporized remnants of mana.

___

Robin: "So it's true that he has a connection with the Speed Force."

King of Knights: "Too fast! How do we catch someone this fast?"

Evil Spirit: "Can you explain to us what Satria's power is, @Robin? You seem familiar with it, right?"

Robin: "True, but my knowledge of the Speed Force is limited. Still, I can explain the basics."

Esdeath: "Speed Force? What is that?"

Robin: "It's a cosmic energy field that grants users the ability to move at extraordinary speeds. My friend, Wally West, can run around the world seven times in a second with this power. Imagine what Satria can do with it."

Evil Spirit: "No way... To have power like that and still not forget his other abilities..."

Kuroneko: "Satria is that fast? Unbelievable."

Pervert Sage: "Every power has its weakness, though. You've got a way to counter this, right?"

Robin: "Batman has a contingency plan for speedsters. But we're talking about Satria. He's the type of guy who has a plan within a plan. His unpredictability is his greatest weapon."

____

"Useless! Useless! Useless! Useless!!! HAHAHA!" Satria's laughter echoed as he effortlessly decimated clone after clone. He could feel the tension rise, the battle reaching its critical point.

"Aghhh!!!" Naruto's clones screamed as they perished.

"Damn it!" Naruto clenched his fists, determined to protect the original. "Don't let him get close to me!"

With desperation in his heart, the remaining clones began to form a magic circle, their combined power creating a barrage of powerful elemental attacks.

"Wind Dragon Fury!"

"Firefox Dance!"

"Waveform!"

"Eruption!"

"Thunder Strike!"

Five massive attacks launched at Satria, each one carrying the destructive power of nature itself. A colossal wind dragon soared toward him, flames danced in a fiery tornado, a massive wave crashed in his direction, the earth erupted beneath him, and lightning crackled through the air. Together, they formed a devastating assault aimed at obliterating him.

Satria's eyes narrowed, calculating his next move with precision. "The World!" He activated his stand, halting time in an instant. With the power of the cosmos, he juxtaposed—turning invisible and creating two clones as distractions. He disappeared into the shadows, hiding from the oncoming storm of destruction.

The five elemental attacks collided in a catastrophic explosion, ravaging the arena. But amidst the chaos, one of Satria's clones was caught in the wave, disintegrating instantly under the force of the combined assault.

____

Spider-Man: "I can't decide who's more amazing—Satria with his super speed, or Naruto with his destructive power."

King of Knights: "Both of them have their strengths. But what kind of plan is Naruto preparing to catch him?"

Pervert Sage: "I'm curious, too. If what he's doing now isn't his trump card, I can't even imagine what kind of surprise he's about to show us."

____

The battle raged on, the arena filled with the aftermath of Naruto's powerful elemental attack. A massive cloud of dust and debris enveloped the battlefield.

"Did we get him?" Naruto's clone whispered, his eyes scanning the destruction.

From the swirling cloud of chaos, a shadow emerged.

"Get over here!!!" A Satria clone hissed, launching his harpoon with lightning speed. It hooked one of Naruto's clones, pulling it toward him and obliterating it instantly.

Naruto's clone stared in disbelief. "He wasn't even scratched by all of that?"

"He's… strong," the clone muttered, his voice strained with exhaustion.

With a flick of his left hand, Satria made a fluid gesture as though manipulating invisible strings. Without warning, one of Naruto's clones turned and attacked another clone, a force pulling it into action against its will.

"I… I can't control my body! What are you doing to me?!" Naruto's clone cried out, his movements jerky and uncontrollable as Satria's influence took hold.

Satria laughed darkly. "Hahaha… You must be wondering how I can withstand your attacks and control your clone. To be honest, you've already entered my game. You should surrender now while you still can, Naruto."

With a cruel smile, Satria manipulated the clone, forcing it to attack the real Naruto. But before the clone could strike, Naruto dispelled it in an instant, his chakra dissipating in a flash.

____

Robin: "Seriously? He's still holding another card back?"

Evil Spirits: "Hmm… He can even control someone as powerful as Naruto-san? That was terrifying."

King of Knights: "Another trick? How slippery can this guy be?"

______

Naruto said, a wicked grin stretching across his face. "Now, my spell is finished. Be ready to be defeated by me."

He raised his hands, and a red magic circle flared to life beneath him, glowing with ominous power. "Cage of Misery!"

The ground trembled as a wall of infernal flames erupted around Satria, trapping him from every side. There was no escape, no way out. The blaze encircled him in a blazing cage, licking at the air with an intensity that would turn anything to ash.

Naruto's eyes narrowed with an unsettling confidence. "Let me show you the true power of Doom Bringer! You were so confident in your abilities that you forgot who you were facing—the most unpredictable ninja in thecontinue

With a snap of his fingers, the flames twisted together, forming a single, massive pillar that reached the heavens, engulfing Satria in a raging inferno. The heat was unbearable, scorching everything in its path.

"Did I kill him? Hahaha... Hahaha!" Naruto's laugh echoed through the arena, cold and twisted, a far cry from the usual carefree ninja the others had come to know.

______

King of Knights: "..."

Robin: "..."

Pervert Sage: "..."

Evil Spirit: "He looks... different. Is he perhaps possessed?"

Esdeath: "How regretful."

Spider-Man: "This must be a joke, right?"

Kuroneko: "No... It can't be real. Satria is dead... How dare you do this to him? @God!"

Evil Spirit: "Calm down, Fran-chan. Do you not believe in him? I thought your connection with him was deeper... Looks like I was wrong."

Kuroneko: "What do you mean?"

Evil Spirit: "Just watch. He's not the type who dies easily, little kitten. There's a reason why I put my faith in him."

____

"Pull yourself together, Naruto!" Kurama's voice boomed in his mind, filled with urgency. "Have you killed him? This isn't what we're here for! We're supposed to teach him a lesson, not end him!"

Naruto blinked, the weight of his actions sinking in. "What... have I done?" His voice faltered as the realization hit him. He quickly scanned his surroundings, activating his eye technique, but there was no sign of Satria. The battle's heat seemed to have clouded his judgment.

Before he could process further, a voice rang out behind him.

"Miss me?"

Naruto froze. His heart skipped a beat.

_____

Kuroneko: "You're right... My Satria is still alive! 😺"

Evil Spirit: "Fufu... see? This is what I mean, little kitten."

Spider-Man: "Good grief, this guy is going to give me heart attacks every time."

______

Naruto whirled around, his eyes wide in disbelief. There, standing behind him, was another Satria, unharmed and confident.

"Since... when?" Naruto stammered, his mind racing.

Satria grinned darkly. "Do you really think you're the only one capable of creating a clone? The one you trapped in that fire pillar was merely a distraction. It was futile for you to think you could stop me that easily."

Naruto's eyes narrowed in sudden understanding, but before he could react, Satria moved with terrifying speed.

A green arcane string shimmered to life, twisting around Naruto's body like a serpent. It combined with Satria's speed force energy, locking down Naruto's movements and stealing his ability to accelerate.

"Game over," Satria whispered coldly. With a swift motion, he stabbed his palm into Naruto's chest, sending a violent shockwave through his body.

Naruto gasped, blood spilling from his mouth as the shockwave reverberated through his organs. His vision blurred, and the world spun.

"You..."

Naruto knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, the life draining from him with each passing second. His body, ravaged by the sudden attack, couldn't keep up. He passed out from the pain and blood loss, his breath ragged and shallow.

____

King of Knights: "What are you doing to him?! Answer me, @Shin!!!"

Esdeath: "If he decides to use his full power instead of holding back... this could end very differently."

Shin: "That's just a little love tap. Don't worry about him. He's in good hands now. 😉"

Robin: "You just pierced his chest! How can you say there's nothing to worry about?"

Evil Spirit: "To be fair, Naruto-san nearly killed him too. It's almost kind of him to not finish off his attacker."

Kuroneko: "Are you okay, @Shin?"

Shin: "I'm in perfect shape, @Fran. But now, please excuse me while I heal this stupid blonde first."

[Shin logout]

[Shin is the winner!!!]

[Betting prize shared to the winner]

_____

Kurama, inside Naruto's mind, growled, "He's still alive? How?!"

Saiken, her voice cracking with disbelief, muttered, "Our Naruto was defeated... by this kid?"

Shukaku, irritated and angry, snapped, "This is because he was holding back! Why didn't he use his weapon?! He was tricked like a damn fool!"

Kokuo, usually calm but now impressed, added, "Even without a weapon, it should be impossible for anyone to defeat him like this. We were in his grip from the beginning. This boy... he's dangerous."

"Hnn~ My dear Satria is truly a remarkable man. From the moment we met, I knew you were the one for me. Your strength and determination drive me wild. Watching you strategize, your precision, and how you handle any challenge—it leaves me in awe. You truly outsmarted your enemy in the fight, and it was magnificent. Even though he had superior firepower, you still managed to outplay him. It was beautiful." Fatalis said in awe.

The scene returned to normal as Naruto's domain collapsed after his defeat.

"Help!!!" The receptionist of the inn cried out in fear as she noticed Naruto's injuries, but her voice was silenced when Satria placed a hand over her mouth.

"Don't worry," Satria whispered. "Everything is under control." He gave her a stern look, signaling that she needed to stay quiet.

The receptionist, frightened, nodded in agreement.

"Now, excuse me," Satria continued, lifting Naruto's unconscious form onto his shoulder. "I need to get him to his room and heal him before it's too late."

To be continued.