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Egghead, Lower Island.
Artillery fire echoed across the island.
The World Government had launched a Buster Call, but this time the target wasn't to eliminate enemies—it was to destroy the island's scientific facilities and researchers.
If everything was destroyed, Hoenn wouldn't get any useful technology. That was Saturn's intention.
Research Layer.
Vegapunk watched the war below through the screen. When he saw the Buster Call being initiated, his emotions erupted.
"Why are you doing this!"
Vegapunk's heart twisted in pain.
Egghead was humanity's future, gathering the world's most cutting-edge scientific achievements. Once it was destroyed, technological progress would be set back a hundred years.
As a scientist, nothing pained him more than this.
Stussy reminded him from the side. "Doctor, what we should do now is quickly separate a portion of the Mother Flame. Daichi needs its power!"
"I know."
Vegapunk looked at the fusion reactor.
He wasn't sure how Daichi would use the Mother Flame, but with things having come to this point, a decisive power was needed.
It still needed a little more time!
Center of the battlefield.
Daichi casually slapped away a cannonball.
"What a pity. So many technological facilities being destroyed so easily. Kizaru, you must be heartbroken too."
Kizaru turned his head away.
Don't ask him about such things.
"Crack!"
A huge black lightning bolt suddenly appeared!
Daichi's gaze shifted, looking at the magic circle that materialized with the black lightning. Black, muddy substances emerged from within.
"They've finally arrived. The Five Elders?"
Soon, the black mud coalesced and took shape.
Saturn in his Gyuki form!
His fierce eyes fixated on Daichi.
The next moment, two magic circles appeared on either side of Saturn, followed by the rest of the Five Elders.
They looked down at Daichi.
Last time at Reverse Mountain, they'd been restricted by the terrain, making it difficult to fully unleash their power. But this time they had an ample battlefield.
They absolutely couldn't let Daichi escape!
"Kizaru, go to the Research Layer!"
"Understood!"
Kizaru transformed into light and vanished.
Daichi didn't stop him. He'd already arranged an opponent for Kizaru who could easily reach the Research Layer as well.
"The Five Elders have descended. What a grand spectacle."
Daichi surveyed his surroundings, his body rapidly transforming into Groudon—even larger than the Five Elders.
"Boom!"
His thick claws crushed buildings beneath him.
Looking at the Five Elders who remained, their killing intent palpable, Daichi laughed loudly. "Jiehahahaha! It seems you really want to kill me, huh? Coincidentally, I was thinking the same thing!"
The Five Elders' gazes were ice cold.
Having fought before, they knew how troublesome Daichi's current form was, especially his terrifying defense.
"Fight with everything we have!"
No need for further words. To kill their opponent, they had to go all out.
Warcury, transformed into a massive wild boar, attacked first. His four huge tusks became incomparably sharp razors as he charged toward Daichi!
The others began their assault as well.
"Jiehahahaha, come on!"
Flames flickered in Daichi's eyes, and the temperature around him soared at a terrifying speed, distorting the very atmosphere.
"Puff!"
Trees ignited.
Immediately after, the ground glowed with an orange-red, high-temperature light. Steel melted into liquid, and everything within dozens of meters around them melted and burned.
Most terrifyingly, the patterns on his body gradually lit up.
The clouds dispersed, and the scorching sun hung high in the sky!
The searing rays shone down, causing smoke to rise from the Five Elders' bodies as if they were about to ignite.
"The weather has changed!"
"It's different from before—so dry!"
"What's going on?"
Saturn looked up at the sky.
He could feel that this sun-drenched weather was completely different from before. Even they felt parched, their bodies feeling like they were being roasted in a furnace.
"Could it be the Desolate Land!"
Thinking of Groudon's legends, the Desolate Land was mentioned—where it was said that after Groudon evolved to the realm of a god, it could unleash supernatural phenomena surpassing clear skies.
Legend had it that Groudon defeated the evil sea god Kyogre in this very form, but the specific details weren't depicted on the walls of the Hoenn ruins.
"Everyone, be careful!"
Warcury, who charged the fastest, felt the danger immediately.
Before, at Reverse Mountain, Daichi had melted the earth, but the temperature and speed were absolutely nothing compared to now.
Moreover, Daichi's form had undergone significant changes. The original dark patterns on his body had turned into glowing orange-red markings, flowing like magma. The brown skin and white spikes on his abdomen had all turned black.
Dangerous!
Warcury's instincts screamed danger, but he'd already launched his charge. In his current wild boar form, it was impossible to stop, nor could he afford to.
He could only accelerate!
"Oink!!!"
The wild boar roared as it charged toward Daichi.
Flames erupted from Daichi's right fist.
After obtaining the Flame-Flame Fruit, he'd fed it to Groudon, and relying on the natural power granted by the fruit, he'd finally achieved Primal Reversion.
However, the Flame-Flame Fruit was a Devil Fruit after all, and converting natural energy required stamina. It could only be maintained for about three minutes—if fighting intensely, the time would be even shorter.
But it was enough.
In a true life-and-death struggle, unless their strengths were extremely close, it wouldn't take too long to determine the victor.
The decisive blow would come in just one move!
Then, use Fire Fist on the enemy!
Daichi closed the distance in three quick steps, leaping up to meet the wild boar. His right claw's flames contracted, dazzling like a small sun.
"Fire Fist!"
"Boom!"
The fist of flame shattered the huge tusk, and with unabated momentum, it slammed into the wild boar's cheek. The immense force crushed Warcury's head while the scorching high temperature melted half of it!
A punch even more terrifying than Ace's Flame Emperor!
"Oink oink oink!"
The wild boar wailed as it crashed to the ground, its massive body crushing numerous scientific facilities. The ground shook violently.
"Warcury!"
The other Five Elders looked at their fallen comrade.
Warcury's head was twisted beyond recognition, but such an injury wasn't fatal—it would recover with a little time.
What was bad was the half of his head that Daichi had punched through. The opening glowed with an orange-red, high-temperature light, melting everything inside and continuously burning.
"So painful! So painful!"
The wild boar frantically rolled on the ground, clearly in extreme agony.
"What a terrifying attack! Even Warcury's defense couldn't withstand it!"
The Five Elders' hearts sank.
By now, they clearly understood they couldn't fully rely on their immortality. Their opponent must have found a way to counter it.
But the power Daichi displayed at this moment truly exceeded their expectations. Warcury was the strongest in defense among them, yet he was defeated in one blow.
It had already surpassed the limits of humanity!
This made them feel fear—the first time they'd felt fear in their lives, except when facing Imu!
"What, aren't you going to attack?"
Daichi gazed at the Five Elders.
Every second now consumed a large amount of energy. It wouldn't be long before his body would give out, and he didn't have time to take it slow.
Then he would take the initiative!