20 Minutes Until Buster Call!
"Ice Ball!"
Aokiji's eyes sharpened as he flung his right arm forward, firing multiple ice balls in rapid succession—faster than bullets!
Gurd raised his left arm to block them.
"Crack!"
His arm froze over, but the next moment, the ice melted into droplets that evaporated before hitting the ground.
Gurd grinned.
In the past, he needed special environments or sunlight to harness fire. But now, Groudon had not only evolved into its complete form but also awakened its Energy Source.
Fire, gales, even lightning!
The Azure Dragon Fruit contained multiple powers Groudon could utilize, allowing him to unleash more techniques.
"Ice Pillar!"
The ice balls were just a feint.
Massive ice cones shot toward him.
Clearly, Aokiji was stalling for time.
Gurd stomped forward, clenching his right fist and punching the ice cone—not to shatter it, but to halt its momentum!
A second burst of strength!
The ice cone shot back!
Gurd immediately sprinted forward, his body turning into a streak of light as he caught up to the ice cone, using it as a shield against the others while closing in on Aokiji.
His near-perfect physique now allowed him to alter muscle forms effortlessly, akin to Life Return.
Though it reduced his raw power, speed was no longer a weakness.
However, after transforming into Groudon, he couldn't speed up—those stubby legs weren't built for running.
"He's coming!"
Aokiji locked onto the returning ice cone and Gurd behind it, quickly raising an ice pillar beneath his feet to elevate himself and create distance.
"Don't even think of escaping!"
Gurd leaped onto the ice cone, using it as a springboard to launch himself at Aokiji. Mid-air, he swung his fist.
Zap!
Golden lightning crackled forth!
"Thunderbolt Fist!"
"What?!"
Aokiji's eyes widened in shock as the lightning struck him. Though his Haki mitigated most of the damage, the electricity left his body paralyzed.
Damn it!
Aokiji realized his mistake.
He hadn't expected Gurd to wield lightning—just like when he'd been caught off guard by Kaido's daughter's Conqueror's Haki Coating.
In battles between ability users, intel was paramount.
The paralysis delayed his movements.
"Smack!"
Gurd's hand clamped onto his face!
Aokiji grabbed Gurd's arm, immediately activating his power. Ice crystals spread from their contact, crawling up Gurd's body.
"Useless, useless, useless!"
Gurd's eyes blazed as his arm muscles bulged violently, shattering the ice. His fingers tightened around Aokiji's face.
Then—with all his might—he hurled him skyward!
"Whoosh!!!"
A gale howled.
Aokiji soared backward, unable to move under the brutal force and atmospheric pressure—let alone use Moonwalk to stabilize himself.
Even with Elementalization, escape was impossible.
When a mountain-sized Groudon appeared, Aokiji's pupils constricted. But suspended in midair, he could do almost nothing.
"You're not getting away!"
Gurd's body expanded, transforming into his ultimate Groudon Form. He opened his maw, crimson light gathering within.
"Incinerate!"
A torrent of flames erupted, forming a searing beam that scorched the sky, sweeping toward the immobilized Aokiji!
"BOOM!!!"
A colossal fireball blossomed overhead.
"Admiral Aokiji!!!"
The marines were horrified.
However, Gurd's assault wasn't over yet!
"ROOOAR!!!"
As Aokiji's charred, smoking body plummeted from the sky, Groudon spread its arms and roared skyward.
The earth shattered, magma erupted!
The ultimate attack!
"Cliff Sword!!!"
A massive pillar of magma surged from the ground, impaling the falling Aokiji. Accompanied by a dazzling cross-shaped explosion, the sky detonated violently once more!
"BOOM!!!"
A colossal Flame Cloud billowed upward!
"It's over!"
Gurd coldly observed the explosion.
Having been struck by two of his ultimate moves consecutively, compounded by type disadvantage, even if Aokiji survived, he'd be severely maimed.
"So tired..."
Gurd felt exhaustion creeping in.
Groudon had just finished evolving, consuming substantial energy. After being pushed like this, its body was nearly drained dry.
From the direction of the Red Line, numerous warships appeared on the horizon.
The Buster Call had arrived!
"BOOM!"
Artillery fire exploded beside them!
Gurd cast a frigid glance before shifting his massive frame inland.
He didn't know which Vice Admiral was coming. If powerhouses like Garp were among them, continuing the fight would be disadvantageous.
He had no desire to be a guest at Impel Down.
Best to quit while ahead.
He needed to sleep and replenish his energy.
On the sea, the Buster Call fleet emerged rapidly from the thick fog, merging with Aokiji's naval forces.
"Fire!!!"
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"
The warships began carpet bombing!
The dog-headed flagship occupied the fleet's center.
Garp stood on the deck.
His adjutant Bogart reported: "Vice Admiral Garp, we've just received word that Admiral Aokiji was defeated by the Earth Calamity Gurd!"
"I know."
Garp clenched his fists tightly. He could sense Aokiji's dangerously faint life force—this was far beyond ordinary injury.
"Bogart, take command."
After issuing the order, Garp shot toward the island like a loosed arrow.
He'd originally joined this Buster Call thinking Kaido was the enemy, never imagining Kuzan would fall to an Earth Calamity.
For an Admiral, this was unacceptable incompetence!
Soon, Garp reached Aokiji's warship.
Seeing Garp's arrival, Dore and the other officers hung their heads in shame—they'd been utterly useless in this battle.
Garp paid them no mind.
"Where's Kuzan?"
"Vice Admiral Garp, this way."
At the mention of Aokiji, the officers' expressions darkened further as they silently parted, revealing the Admiral receiving treatment at the deck's center.
"Kuzan."
Garp approached, his iron fists clenching anew at the sight of his apprentice—half his body charred, his right leg missing below the knee.
Rage burned in his chest.
He wanted vengeance for Kuzan, but Punk Hazard was currently engulfed in the Buster Call's endless bombardment—impossible to approach.
Damnable Earth Calamity brat!!!
"BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!"
The entire island trembled under continuous shelling, soon reduced to a wasteland. But the Buster Call's barrage wouldn't cease until every inch had been scoured.
For an island of Punk Hazard's size, the bombardment would last a full day and night!
Meanwhile, at the island's heart...
Groudon Gurd curled up in a deep crater, sinking into slumber. The surrounding explosions didn't disturb his infant-like sleep. Even when occasional shells struck his body, they failed to rouse him.
No pain.
The raging fires ignited by the bombardment seemed to be drawn inward, forming streams of transparent flame that continuously converged toward the island's center, merging into Gurd's body.
Undisturbed, perfectly at peace.
The Buster Call that struck fear into the world had become Gurd's after-dinner dessert.
zzZ~~