Whoosh.
The purple crystal orb in Quintessa's hand erupted with a blinding glow.
Everyone felt it—a violent vortex of energy spiraling into existence, with Quintessa herself as the very point of origin.
"What's going on?!"
The elites from every nation stationed in the Temple of All Things had keener danger sense than most. They could tell at once that the energy vortex coiling in Quintessa's hand eclipsed any high-tech weapon they'd ever faced on a mission.
"What kind of control does it take to compress power that immense into a single core?"
Their detectors began screaming.
All across Earth, people trembled as the sky flashed with purple lightning—and the nightmare of "that day" clawed back into their minds.
On Earth.
When the Decepticons saw the purple bolts splitting the clouds, terror seized their optics.
"Heavens—that's our Mother, Quintessa's energy signature!"
Within those bolts they felt it—the same primal spark that made up their very being. But before they could react, the thunderbolts chained them and yanked them into the sky.
Even Megatron was caught.
Quintessa's voice boomed from the temple. "You useless scrap. I told you to find the staff of Unicron—such a simple task—and you still failed! I've no patience left."
Whoom—
Another gale.
The Decepticons, strung in the air by the purple arcs, had their primal energy siphoned away. One by one they dropped like junked steel, smashing into human cities below.
In the last second before he was drained dry, Megatron's mind was a snarl of contradictions. When he first accepted a mission from the so-called Mother of All, it sounded like a splendid posting. Now he realized he'd guessed the beginning right—but not the ending…
Temple of All Things.
Quintessa's field swelled. To the naked eye, violet lightning danced around her like living serpents.
Saitama finally squared up to this enemy in earnest.
"Nice timing for a power-up," he said, stepping forward as his own aura detonated with a sharp shout. "Perfect for testing how much my system has boosted me."
He met Quintessa's gaze. "Looks like no one else can butt in now. Let's end this—just you and me—between humanity and the machine race."
Faces blanched all around. They heard exactly what he meant.
This battle would decide the fate of humankind.
Quintessa's lips curved. "Good. Very good. Saitama, you impress me. For an Earth-born lifeform to temper himself to this level—call it a miracle of your species. But with this choice—do you truly think you can represent all life on Earth?"
Her laughter pealed. "Perhaps many among you would rather cling to life—no matter how."
Across the world, every eye fixed on the same point.
The five great powers—indeed, every government—took Saitama's words seriously. In moments, they reached a common conclusion: if Saitama was set on settling this here and now with Quintessa, there was no stopping him. Besides, judging from Quintessa's methods, if Saitama fell, no living thing on Earth would be spared.
With humanity's survival on the line, there was no real choice to make.
"Our will as Earth's lifeforms is united—with Saitama."
A storm of radio signals surged from the planet's surface.
Quintessa chuckled. "How quaint. It seems the creatures of Earth now see you as their guardian hero, Saitama. Then let them witness whether a so-called hero can truly protect them."
She flicked a hand—crack!
A purple bolt speared down at Saitama.
In the original TF5, Quintessa barely lifted a finger. But ever since Saitama arrived in this world, the timeline had twisted. The one who once stayed aloof now unveiled staggering might.
Don't be mistaken: the violet bolts she called weren't fantasy "elemental" lightning—they were true lightning, obeying physical law, born from the manipulation of positive and negative charge.
As for why it glowed purple… who knew?
Saitama hopped out of the strike zone—only for a second bolt to chase him down.
Quintessa floated high, aloof as a god.
Seeing the terrifying display, Andrew and the others fell back, huddling at a corner of the temple to watch—only to realize they'd assumed too much. At the same time, creatures all around, galvanized by the purple bolts, began to lunge at them.
Andrew gasped. "No way—these purple lightning strikes… can animate life?!"
Quintessa's laugh rang from above. "Soldier, were you never taught the origin of life? All life arises from the universe's positive and negative charges. I command them—therefore I am the Mother of All Things."
Another bolt arrowed for Andrew.
He had no time for awe now. "I'm finished. That mechanical witch really is a lunatic!"
But he was a real soldier. Since he dared come, he'd set life and death aside. His only lingering wish was to see that man in the beige coat and red cape defeat Quintessa and return the world to peace.
"I'm gonna die… Saitama, go get 'em!"
Scree—ka!
Just as the bolt fell, a figure planted itself in front of him and took the strike.
A downsized Optimus Prime—sword in hand.
"Human," said Optimus, "standing still like that puts me in a bind. Do you expect Saitama to abandon the fight to save you?"
Andrew flushed. "I thought I was done for…"
"Be at ease," said Optimus. "Your task is to protect those at your side. Leave the rest to us."
"Boss is right!" Bumblebee chimed in. "Listen to the boss!"
Optimus meant to say more, but his gaze snagged on the lone figure clashing with Quintessa in the temple's heart—and the words died.
Saitama… you must prevail.
(End of Chapter)
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