"Consequences? Hahaha! Arrogant brat! this lord would like to see what kind of consequences you can produce!"
Shukaku was thoroughly enraged by Sayo's uncompromising ultimatum. As Shukaku, this lord has run rampant across the world for a thousand years; when has it ever been threatened like this? Even the Six Paths Sage only offered words of persuasion before sealing it away separately!
Rampant Chakra erupted from the eye of the storm like a tsunami! The Sandstorm, which had been slightly calmed by the "iron sand World Method," instantly surged back with ten, even a hundred times the ferocity! Countless grains of sand condensed into a gigantic sand palm that blocked out the sky, carrying the terrifying power to crush everything, and slammed down fiercely toward the "small" "Mirage" in the sky!
This strike, launched in anger, was enough to raze a small fortress to the ground instantly!
Facing this world-destroying strike, Sayo's eyes were as sharp as knives, yet he showed no fear. He knew that verbal warnings had reached their end; at this moment, only power could make this unruly Tailed Beast truly sit down and "listen to reason."
"The standard mode is indeed still too much of a stretch..." Sayo muttered to himself, while his hands instantly formed a set of Seals completely different from any Ninjutsu used before—it was a technique he had developed himself, exclusive to the "Gundam · Mirage," combining his understanding of Natural Energy and the properties of the Puppet core!
"natural energy puppet core... Maximum output! Resonance starting!"
"Sage Art: Super-Brain Synchronization!"
"Sage Mode... Activate!"
Hum——!!!
An indescribably massive surge of energy poured out from the natural energy puppet core in the chest of "Mirage"! It was not pure Chakra, but the far more ancient, primitive, and powerful Natural Energy! Transformed by the core forged from the god tree fragment, the rampant Natural Energy became docile and controllable, yet its vast essence remained undiminished!
Brilliant green fluorescent patterns instantly crawled across the silver-white giant body of "Mirage," like living vines, outlining mysterious and powerful designs. The vast Natural Energy was frantically absorbed, surging into every inch of the Puppet's structure, perfectly fusing with its own Chakra metal and Sayo's Magnet Release Chakra!
The pair of electronic eyes on "Mirage," which were originally just decorative, suddenly lit up, bursting with a brilliant radiance like sapphires, filled with a divine and inhuman sense of majesty!
At this moment, "Mirage" was no longer a mere Puppet creation; it seemed to have come alive, becoming an Incarnation of Natural Energy, a weapon of the gods descended upon the desert—the sage art gundam!
"Magnet Release · Sage Art: Absolute Defense Wall!"
Sayo's voice, amplified by the Sage Art, resonated across the heavens and earth with an ethereal echo.
The sage art gundam's massive metal arms suddenly spread open, and the space in front of it instantly twisted! Countless jet-black iron sand infused with Natural Energy emerged from thin air, no longer just a simple wall of iron sand, but forming a massive absolute barrier shimmering with green Sage Art runes! Energy flowed across the barrier, as if it were breathing with life!
BOOM!!!!!!
Shukaku's massive sand palm, capable of destroying cities and toppling nations, slammed fiercely against this seemingly thin black-green barrier!
An earth-shattering roar erupted! The shockwave spread out in a ring, recklessly razing the surrounding sand dunes for dozens of miles to the ground!
Yet, the barrier didn't budge an inch! It didn't even ripple much! The iron sand, infused with Natural Energy, reached an unprecedented Peak in terms of strength, density, and its suppression of Shukaku's pure sand power!
"What?!" Shukaku's massive pupils suddenly contracted, looking in disbelief at its full-power strike that had been easily blocked. From that barrier, it felt a completely different kind of energy that made even it feel a sense of trepidation!
"Is that all you've got? Shukaku!" Sayo's voice came from the sage art gundam, carrying a hint of faint disappointment, "If this is all the confidence you have in breaking our agreement, then I am very disappointed."
"Damn brat! Don't get too cocky!" Shukaku was completely enraged, its massive body fully standing up from the sea of sand, and it opened its giant maw, "Watch this lord blast you and that iron scrap into slag! Tailed Beast Ball!!"
Destructive Yin and Yang Chakra gathered and compressed frantically in its mouth at a 2:8 ratio, forming an energy ball as black as ink, flickering with ominous red and black lightning! The surrounding space began to twist due to this extreme power!
This was the ultimate weapon of a Tailed Beast, a single strike capable of changing the terrain and destroying mountains and rivers!
However, Sayo's movements were faster!
"Sage Art · Magnet Release: Superconducting Acceleration Rail!"
The sage art gundam's massive shoulder armor opened, revealing the incredibly complex electromagnetic acceleration rails underneath; green Sage Art runes lit up on the rails, emitting a high-frequency hum.
"Sage Art: iron sand Annihilation Bullet!"
Endless iron sand gathered between the Gundam's hands, highly compressed, and infused with massive Sage Art Chakra, forming a black-purple energy bullet only the size of a human head, yet incredibly heavy and wreathed in destructive green lightning on its surface!
Swish——!!!
Before the Tailed Beast Ball could be fully fired, the superconducting rails on the sage art gundam's shoulders suddenly erupted with blinding light! The iron sand Annihilation Bullet was accelerated to an inconceivable speed, turning into a black-green flash that tore through the heavens and earth, launching after but arriving first, and with pinpoint accuracy... directly blasted into the giant maw where Shukaku had just opened its mouth to condense the Tailed Beast Ball!
Attack what must be defended, interrupt the casting!
Rumble!!!!
A violent explosion occurred directly inside Shukaku's mouth! Although it wasn't as exaggerated as a direct hit from a Tailed Beast Ball, the damage from the internal explosion and the interruption effect were fatal!
"Wuu-ao!!!" Shukaku let out a howl mixed with pain and rage, its massive body blasted backward, and the Tailed Beast Ball in its mouth instantly dissipated due to loss of control; the escaping energy blasted sand fragments from its own mouth and cheeks (although it could recover quickly, the pain and humiliation were real).
"It's not over yet!" Sayo did not let up, controlling the sage art gundam to press the attack.
"Sage Art · Magnet Release: Gravity Field Bind!"
An invisible, powerful gravity instantly descended with the sage art gundam as the center, and Shukaku, which had just tried to stand up, felt as if countless mountains had pressed down upon it; its movements instantly became incredibly sluggish, and every struggle consumed immense strength!
"Sage Art · Magnet Release: Chidori iron sand Sharp Spear!"
The wings on the back of the sage art gundam spread out, and countless black spears made of iron sand, wreathed in high-frequency lightning and Natural Energy, instantly condensed, spreading out like a peacock opening its tail, and the next moment, transformed into a destructive rain, blasting toward the Shukaku bound by the gravity field!
Pfft pfft pfft pfft pfft!
Countless iron sand sharp spears easily pierced through Shukaku's sand torso, pinning it firmly to the desert ground! The Natural Energy interfered with its Chakra reorganization, making it unable to easily break free in the short term!
"Roar! Damn it! Damn it all!" Shukaku struggled frantically, but like a giant beast caught in a spider's web, the more it struggled, the more wounds were eroded by the Natural Energy, and that gravity field made it unable to move an inch!
The sage art gundam slowly descended in front of Shukaku's giant head, which was pinned to the ground, and its deep blue electronic eyes looked down at it coldly.
Sayo's voice rang out again, calm yet carrying an irresistible majesty: "Now, can we talk about the 'agreement' again? Shukaku."
"Or, do you need more profound 'persuasion'?"
The sage art gundam raised its massive arm, the front of which began to deform and combine, condensing highly compressed Sage Art Chakra and Magnet Release power, emitting destructive fluctuations even more heart-palpitating than the Tailed Beast Ball!
Shukaku looked at the terrifying cannon aimed at it, and felt the ubiquitous repressive power on its body and the Natural Energy rampaging within it; for the first time, its rampant rage was replaced by a cold emotion called "fear" and "powerlessness."
This human... this Puppet... is a monster!
For a thousand years, apart from the Six Paths Sage, it had never felt such a thorough, overwhelming suppression of power from any other being!
The struggle gradually ceased, and in Shukaku's giant eyes, a trace of submission finally appeared.
This duel that shook the desert came to a temporary end with the absolute victory of the sage art gundam.