As Natsu landed, his feet barely touched the ground when two bursts of flames erupted from beneath them, propelling him like an arrow once more towards the Great Summer Ape.
His eyes burned with crimson flames, his gaze firm and his fighting spirit immense, the flames on his body churning like a rampaging beast, baring its fangs and claws.
"Again!" Natsu roared, his voice like thunder.
His thrown punch was enveloped in scorching flames, the fire flowing like a tangible substance, distorting the air in its wake.
The punch, carrying an unstoppable momentum, fiercely blasted towards the Great Summer Ape.
The Great Summer Ape showed no fear, its thick, pillar-like arm quickly rising, clenching into a fist, and striking out!
Fist against fist!
The moment they collided, a circular shockwave erupted, sparks scattering like dazzling fireworks, and the powerful impact caused the surrounding ground to crack, alarming fissures spreading rapidly like a spiderweb.
Natsu, slightly weaker than the Great Summer Ape, which was boosted by its magical beast bloodline, was instantly sent flying backward.
But he performed a nimble somersault in mid-air, landing steadily.
Flames once again burst from Natsu's feet, propelling him into a rapid slide, passing through the Great Summer Ape's crotch and instantly appearing behind him.
His leg muscles tensed instantly, and he delivered a powerful, whip-like kick to the Great Summer Ape's back.
The Great Summer Ape stumbled forward a few steps, each step causing the earth to crack, and he turned angrily, his bell-like eyes glaring at Natsu, as he suddenly spewed a torrent of raging flames from his mouth.
The flames, like a horizontally erupting volcano, swept towards Natsu with astonishing heat.
Natsu showed no intention of retreating; instead, he opened his mouth and took a deep breath, sucking in the entire incoming column of fire, which swirled as it entered his mouth.
"Thanks for the meal!" Natsu's mouth curved into a smile, and he patted his belly with both hands, making a crisp sound, his internal fire magic surging, his aura climbing once more, the violent fire magic distorting the air around him.
Yuumi, who had been attached to Natsu without speaking, suddenly shyly extended her small paw and tugged at Natsu's scarf, "Natsu, the flames you just swallowed seem to be from that big monkey…"
"Huh? I, this…" Natsu was startled, his face stiffening, his entire aura weakening, "I, this, this, this…"
Happy in the sky angrily shouted down at the two dunderheads, "You two are enough! Finish the fight already!"
The two cats and one person still found time to chat during the battle, infuriating the Great Summer Ape.
"Human brat! Argh!" The Great Summer Ape's eyes blazed with fire, and he roared to the sky, the flames on his body instantly rising several meters high, his entire body enveloped in a sea of fire.
Natsu opened his palm, and Yuumi consciously flew to the cherry-haired boy's head.
The Great Summer Ape charged forward in two steps, fiercely swinging a punch at Natsu, the fist carrying whistling wind and scorching heat, as if it could reduce everything to ashes.
Natsu agilely dodged to the side, and in the instant he dodged, he countered with a heavy punch, wreathed in flames, to the Great Summer Ape's ribs.
With a muffled 'thud', the Great Summer Ape cried out in pain, grunting, spitting out a mouthful of blood, and was knocked back several meters.
"Again! Again!" Natsu laughed, his eyes full of excitement.
Natsu's figure flickered, instantly appearing above the Great Summer Ape's head, he pushed off with his legs, plummeting like a cannonball, his flame-engulfed knee striking directly at the Great Summer Ape's crown.
The Great Summer Ape reacted quickly, raising his arms and crossing them to guard his head.
"Boom!"
With a loud bang, the ground beneath the Great Summer Ape instantly caved in, his legs sinking into it.
Natsu used the recoil to leap backward, performing a flip in mid-air, placing his hands to his mouth, taking a deep breath, his chest rapidly rising high.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!"
A crimson flame breath, accompanied by a low growl similar to a giant dragon, illuminated the night sky, distorting the air in its path, and almost instantly landed on the Great Summer Ape.
A thunderous 'boom' shook the earth!
The flame breath directly blasted a huge crater in the ground!
The Great Summer Ape lay sprawled at the bottom of the pit, his body charred black, covered in wounds, his breath so weak it seemed it could cease at any moment.
But his bloodshot eyes still stared fixedly at Natsu, flames slowly flickering within them.
"For… the New World!" The Great Summer Ape's fingers laboriously dug into the mud at the bottom of the pit, his knuckles white, as he strenuously propped up his broken body little by little.
Every movement was accompanied by a painful grunt, as if all the bones in his body were protesting.
"For the New Humans!" The Great Summer Ape gritted his teeth, forcing these words from his throat, his voice hoarse like a worn-out bellows.
Natsu frowned, "Truly persistent."
The Great Summer Ape swayed as he stood up, the flames that had been burning fiercely on his body now weak like a candle in the wind, flickering precariously.
He looked back at the black and white energy vortex still visible in the distant mountains, his gaze growing even more determined, and the Great Summer Ape suddenly threw his head back and let out a roar.
His internal magic power surged again, transforming into crimson flames that ignited his entire body, and he recklessly took heavy steps once more, charging towards Natsu.
Natsu agilely dodged to the side, the Great Summer Ape missed, but immediately turned and swung a punch with all his might.
Natsu raised his hand to block, and a powerful force came through, making him involuntarily step back a few paces.
"This guy…" Natsu was secretly astonished, he hadn't expected the Great Summer Ape to be able to unleash such power even after being so severely injured.
The Great Summer Ape seemed tireless, wildly swinging his fists, each punch carrying his final resolve.
Although his movements were slower than before, and his strength was not as great, that fearless aura made Natsu feel a hint of pressure.
"For the New World!"
"For the New Humans!"
"For tomorrow!" Each time the Great Summer Ape shouted a phrase, his attacks grew more frantic, his bloodshot eyes filled with madness and obsession.
His aura was ferocious, and his offensive was fierce, but the Great Summer Ape was, after all, badly injured, his movements somewhat distorted, and his flaws very obvious.
The Great Summer Ape swung a heavy punch into the air, and Natsu seized the opportunity, delivering a swift kick, wreathed in flames, to the Great Summer Ape's abdomen.
The Great Summer Ape once again flew out like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
The Great Summer Ape lay sprawled on the ground, breathing heavily, struggling to get up, his gaze firm, and once again charged recklessly at Natsu.
Natsu grew a little impatient, "This is endless!"
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" Natsu suddenly threw a punch, flames coiling around his fist.
The Great Summer Ape also ignited his fist and met the attack with a punch.
But this time, it was the Great Summer Ape who flew out.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded over 40 chapters of this story on Patreon.
If you're enjoying it and want to read ahead, feel free to check them out here:
[patreon.com/TripleCrown07]
Thanks a lot for your support, it really helps me keep going.