"Vegapunk..."
Kizaru silently repeated the name in his mind.
That genius scientist, rumored to possess wisdom surpassing humanity by five hundred years. He had confidently stated on the Den Den Mushi that Dr. Banner was the key to unlocking the "Blacklight Virus"—that he was an invaluable scientific talent who must be brought back in one piece.
But now... looking down at the Hulk, who was uprooting a massive boulder with his bare hands and throwing it like a baseball, Kizaru fell into deep self-doubt.
Bringing back this kind of monster to the Marine Science Unit... was that really okay?
If this thing suddenly went berserk in the laboratory one day... wouldn't it tear down the entire Egghead Island?!
By then, forget studying the virus. It would be questionable whether even a few intact bricks would remain at Marineford!
"Roar!!!"
Just as Kizaru was brainstorming, the Hulk below seemed to sense his presence. He suddenly looked up!
Those eyes, devoid of any rationality, locked onto Kizaru in the air once more.
"Found... YOU!!!"
Boom!
The ground beneath the Hulk's feet collapsed again! He casually snatched up a nearby broken stone pillar. That pillar weighed at least ten tons, but in his hands, it felt like a weightless toothpick.
Whoosh—!
The Hulk put his weight into his waist and violently swung! The massive stone pillar tore through the air with a piercing sound, shooting toward Kizaru like a missile!
"What a temperamental fellow~"
Kizaru sighed. His body didn't move; he just shifted slightly to the side.
Swish!
The stone pillar flew past the edge of his coat. The resulting gust of wind made his Cloak of Justice billow loudly behind him.
"However... since the mission is to bring you back, then this old man must get slightly serious."
Kizaru raised a single finger. Brilliant golden light erupted from his fingertip.
"Although Vegapunk said to capture him alive... as long as he isn't dead, that should count as alive, right?"
Pew—!
A dazzling laser beam shot out instantly from his fingertip! The speed was incredibly fast, giving the Hulk absolutely no chance to react!
Pfft!
The beam accurately struck the Hulk's left shoulder! The intense heat instantly burned through the incredibly tough green skin, leaving a charred, bloody hole that pierced straight through!
"Roar!!!"
The Hulk roared in anger from the pain. He lowered his head and looked at the wound on his shoulder.
Then... a scene occurred that almost made Kizaru's eyeballs pop out.
The wound, which was still smoking, began to have its green muscle fibers writhe frantically! As if possessing a life of its own! Entwining! Growing! Healing!
In the blink of an eye, the penetrating wound that would have severely maimed an ordinary person had completely vanished! Not even a scar was left! Only the damaged piece of fabric remained, proving that he had indeed been injured just moments ago.
"Nani?!"
Even the well-traveled Admiral couldn't help but curse.
"This rate of recovery... even an awakened Zoan user wouldn't be this exaggerated, right?!"
Kizaru felt his worldview being shaken. Can't hurt him? That was one thing. But after finally breaking his defense, he heals back to full health in the blink of an eye?
What was the point of fighting this! It was like playing a game where you painstakingly wear down the boss's health bar by a sliver, only for a green "+9999" to float above the boss's head the next second.
That sense of despair was enough to make someone want to smash their keyboard!
"Damn it... what species is this thing?"
Kizaru felt his headache worsening. Just then, a violent tremor suddenly came from the ruins in the distance.
Rumble—!
Countless rocks tumbled down. A massive dark shadow, carrying a strong scent of blood and killing intent, struggled out of the large crater in the rock face.
It was Jack!
"Drought" Jack looked utterly tragic at this moment. One of his imposing ivory tusks was broken. The metal jaw guard on his body was twisted and deformed. His chest was deeply caved in, clearly indicating several broken ribs.
But his aura had become even more berserk! This was the terrifying aspect of an Ancient Zoan. Even when severely injured, they could endure through sheer vitality. And... the more they fought, the stronger they became!
"Roar!!!"
Jack's eyes turned crimson as he let out a heaven-shaking roar. His form changed again! His current hybrid form rapidly expanded. Hair grew wildly! He dropped onto all fours!
In the blink of an eye, an ancient giant elephant, over twenty meters long and covered in thick brown fur, appeared above the ruins!
Zoan-type, Elephant-Elephant Fruit, Ancient Model: Mammoth! Full Transformation!
This was the ultimate state of "Drought" Jack!
"Go to... HELL!!!"
Jack, transformed into a mammoth, completely ignored Kizaru in the sky. At this moment, his eyes were fixed only on that green bastard who had blasted him away!
This was a humiliation—a humiliation that must be washed away with blood!
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The mammoth moved its four pillar-like legs and charged! The earth trembled with every footfall! Its long trunk was raised high, and its two sharp tusks, like battering rams, pointed directly at the Hulk!
The pressure emanating from this size was suffocating! In comparison, the Hulk, only about three meters tall, looked like an underdeveloped child in front of the mammoth.
"Oh? This clumsy elephant can still stand up?"
Kizaru, in mid-air, raised an eyebrow, temporarily halting his attack. Perfect timing. Let these two monsters fight each other first while he observed the green blockhead's weaknesses.
Facing the mammoth charging like a moving mountain, the Hulk showed no intention of retreating. On the contrary, a sinister arc split his lips.
That was the excitement of a hunter spotting prey!
"Elephant... Hulk... DISLIKES!!!"
Boom!
The Hulk didn't retreat but advanced instead! He strode forward, meeting the charging mammoth head-on!
Two figures, one large and one small, collided fiercely in the center of the ruins!
The scene everyone expected—the Hulk being sent flying—did not happen. At the moment of impact, the Hulk suddenly extended both hands! He gripped the mammoth's two thick tusks tightly!
Sizzle sizzle—!
The immense impact force pushed the Hulk back, his feet plowing two deep furrows into the ground! He slid backward for dozens of meters!
But... he stopped! He actually managed, with his seemingly small body, to forcibly halt the fully charged mammoth!
"Roar?!"
Jack, in mammoth form, showed a flicker of astonishment in his eyes. How was this possible?! This was a charge that could easily shatter city walls! Just how much strength did this guy possess?!
Before Jack could react, the Hulk suddenly let out a deafening roar!
"UP!!!"
His arm muscles instantly doubled in size! Veins coiled like dragons beneath his skin! He put his weight into his waist!
BOOM!!!
Under the horrified gazes of everyone present, that mammoth weighing tens of tons was actually lifted off the ground by the Hulk grabbing its tusks!
Feet off the ground! Suspended in the air!