Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari
----------
"Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!"
On the Research Layer, red light flickered.
"The dome is reaching its critical point!"
"What in the world is happening down below?!"
"According to our readings, the temperature in the lower level has already exceeded 1000 degrees!"
"Hiss!"
The out-of-control situation made Vegapunk's satellites stop their chaotic fighting, especially York, who was now more concerned about her own life.
Kizaru and Dragon's battle also stopped. Both were drenched in sweat, but not from fighting—from the scorching heat.
"Plop!"
Drops of sweat evaporated into steam before they even hit the ground.
The Research Layer above was like a steaming basket. Despite being thousands of meters high, it was still affected by the lower level.
It was hard to imagine what exactly was happening in the lower level.
"Egghead is destroyed!"
Around the island, all the Marine warships stopped their bombardment.
It wasn't because they received an order, but because the cannonballs couldn't enter the island. They would explode due to the hot air as soon as they entered the island's vicinity.
And there was an even worse situation.
"Gurgle... Gurgle..."
The nearby seawater had started to boil. Countless fish floated belly-up, and a strong aroma even emanated from them.
"Thud!"
Marines collapsed like mummies, one after another.
"Water... water!"
"He... help!"
"Quick, move away from the island!"
The Vice Admirals urgently commanded!
The hot air emanating from the island almost baked the Marines into mummies. If they didn't retreat, the Marines would be wiped out without even fighting.
No one could defeat nature.
And Egghead at this moment was like an erupting volcano, engulfed in a sea of fire, with volcanic bombs occasionally spewing out.
At the center of the island, the battlefield had turned into a lava lake.
Saturn lay in the lava, his body continuously sinking. His massive Gyuki body was only left with its torso and head—his arms and spider legs had all burned to ashes.
Soaked in lava, he endured unbearable pain every single moment, unable to regenerate his lost limbs, let alone resist or escape.
The power of regeneration could only keep him from dying in the lava.
Daichi stepped on Saturn's head, slowly pressing him into the lava.
"Don't worry, I won't kill you."
"While I could kill you, doing so wouldn't bring me joy."
"I will sink you tens of thousands of meters down into the Earth's core. You can enjoy your long time in the lava. It's quite fitting for a god, isn't it?"
"No, please spare me!"
Saturn's eyes were filled with terror.
He didn't want this. He didn't want to live in pain forever.
Daichi's gaze was contemptuous.
"Spare you? How amusing. Would you care about an ant's plea?"
"Ant..."
Saturn's eyes glazed over.
Ant... was he referring to him?
He had always regarded humans as ants, yet he never expected to become an ant himself. He was a noble god!
"Ugh ah ah ah ah!"
Lava poured into his mouth, then gradually submerged his head!
Saturn wailed miserably, his eyeballs burned into hollows, enduring the painful scorching every moment.
The contract that granted him immortality had now become the greatest source of pain. If there was no contract to sustain his life, he would have already died in the lava.
But he couldn't die.
"Imu-sama... save me!"
Saturn cried for help in his consciousness.
However, Imu's response brought him complete despair.
"Hmm, why should I save you?"
"Imu-sama, I—"
"Greed, Punk Records, Fusion Reactor!"
"You haven't completed a single command I gave you, Saturn. Tell me, why should I save you!"
"Imu-sama, please forgive me, I truly didn't expect that man to possess such immense power!"
"Trash doesn't need saving!"
Imu gritted her teeth, her words subtly tinged with fear.
She saw it.
She saw Daichi's powerful form!
Although there was a time limit, that unparalleled power made her feel fear. The last existence that could make her feel fear was Joy Boy!
In addition, the Five Elders' incompetence made her even angrier!
There were so many opportunities!
If they could have nipped Daichi in the bud before he grew, things wouldn't have escalated to this point. It was the Five Elders' incompetence that led to the current situation.
The communication channel was public, and the other Five Elders could also hear their conversation, but no one dared to interject.
Saturn was in charge this time, so he should bear the responsibility.
"Imu-sama..."
Saturn was utterly despairing. Now, besides still being able to think, he only had the burning pain, which was driving him insane.
"Please... kill me."
"I won't kill you."
Imu's cold reply.
"This is your punishment, and also a warning to the rest of you!"
"No, Imu—"
The communication was cut off. Saturn was kicked out of the chat channel. Without Imu's permission, he could no longer contact Mary Geoise.
He was abandoned.
Inside the Chamber of Authority, the four remaining Five Elders' faces were pale.
They had served as the Five Elders for hundreds of years, and this was the first time someone had been abandoned by Imu-sama.
Not just abandoned—Saturn would live in endless pain from now on. It could be said he had truly fallen into hell!
The door of the Chamber of Authority was pushed open.
An old man holding a long sword, with hair like intertwined moons and stars, appeared.
Knights of God Supreme Commander Figarland Garling, who was Shanks and Shamrock's biological father.
"Garling?!"
"I just received orders."
Garling sat on the sofa, no longer adopting the superior-subordinate attitude he used to have toward the Five Elders, but rather treating them as colleagues.
"From now on, I will serve as the Warrior God of Science and Defense. Let us face the threat of the Hoenn Government together, fellow Stars!"
The Five Elders' faces were ashen.
Saturn was beyond saving.
Furthermore, this war was not over yet.
"Have Kizaru bring Greed back!"
At this point, Punk Records and the Fusion Reactor were hopeless, but Kizaru was still on the Egghead Research Layer, and with his abilities, taking away "Greed" wouldn't be difficult.
Escaping was ten times easier.
Egghead's lower level.
Daichi stood in the lava lake. Saturn had already been submerged tens of thousands of meters below him. Even if the other Five Elders came personally to dig him out, it would be impossible.
It was all lava down there!
This island itself was a dormant volcanic island, which Vegapunk had transformed using scientific power, continuously extracting heat.
The surrounding temperature slowly decreased.
Daichi looked up at the sky.
"Speed, you can start!"
"Understood!"
On the Research Layer, Speed walked to Vegapunk's side. When Daichi erupted, she had instantly teleported back to the Research Layer.
She couldn't withstand the environment below.
The Den Den Mushi was ready.
"Doctor, please."
Vegapunk seemed a bit dazed.
As the Den Den Mushi worked, his figure appeared on the screen.
And also "Groudon" Daichi!
After all this effort, if he didn't cause some trouble, wouldn't it all be for nothing? The world's change needed an audience!
"Connect, to the whole world!"