"Haha… the Lovecraft Pendant, capable of evolving living beings… I wonder just how far it could push a C-Virus monster or a Super Beast? That would be spectacular to see…"
Orochimaru couldn't help speculating, his voice dripping with eerie fascination.
The more he thought about it, the more excited he became. His expression twisted into something sickly, and his whole body began to tremble.
"What a shame… such a marvelous object, and it didn't appear anywhere near me. If it had, I definitely would've obtained it for research."
His eyes gleamed intensely.
"I can't go to Mount Myōboku… and I probably wouldn't be able to take it from Jiraiya. I'll just have to wait for another opportunity."
Orochimaru licked his lips, filled with anticipation.
Mount Myōboku.
"Master Fukasaku, Lady Shima… Gamabunta… as painful as this is, we have no choice—we have to kill them all."
Jiraiya took a deep breath and spoke with grim resolve.
"What?!"
Shima stared at him, shocked.
"Is… is that really the only way?"
Fukasaku's voice quivered.
"Wait! Don't be hasty—maybe the old fool has a solution!"
Shima shouted, desperate to delay the inevitable.
These were toads she'd raised and nurtured. Every single one carried a deep emotional bond. She couldn't bear the thought of killing them.
"The Great Toad Sage…"
Even Jiraiya himself hesitated. Could the Sage really offer a miracle?
"…I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do."
The ancient voice of the Great Toad Sage rang out once more.
"This situation is too bizarre… it's beyond me. I cannot revert them. I'm truly sorry."
The old Sage spoke with honest sorrow and humility.
"No…"
Fukasaku and Shima were crushed.
Jiraiya clenched his fists tightly.
"…Do it."
The voice came from Gamabunta.
"Gamabunta!"
All three—Jiraiya, Fukasaku, and Shima—turned to him in astonishment.
They all knew how loyal Gamabunta was to his kin. Especially with Gamaken and Gamahiro being his brothers, he should be the last one willing to give the order.
"I'm hurting. I truly am. I don't know if I should do this. I really… I can't bring myself to strike down my own brothers…"
As he spoke, Gamahiro and the other mutated toads were still attacking him relentlessly.
Gamabunta only defended, receiving wound after wound.
"But… I also know that if we don't act, their bodies will do something irreparable. Their souls are already gone. The only thing we can do now is give their bodies peace. So do it, Jiraiya."
His voice trembled with grief, helplessness, and fury.
"You've done enough, Gamabunta."
Jiraiya nodded solemnly and activated Sage of Six Paths Mode.
"Universal Pull!"
A wave of divine chakra exploded out from him, dragging all the mutated flesh-beast toads toward him.
No matter how they struggled, they couldn't escape the gravitational force.
"This is the power of the Sage of Six Paths?!"
Fukasaku and Shima stared in shock, having never seen Jiraiya use this form before.
Even the Great Toad Sage lifted his head in astonishment.
"The Sage of Six Paths… how nostalgic…"
"Masters—help me."
Jiraiya bit down hard, then spoke with steeled resolve.
Fukasaku and Shima instantly understood and pushed aside their emotions.
"Sage Art: Goemon!"
Jiraiya spat out chakra-infused oil. Shima unleashed fire. Fukasaku followed with violent wind.
Oil, flame, and wind fused together, creating a tidal wave of blazing inferno.
It engulfed the flesh-mutated toads in an instant.
"RAAAAAHHHH!!!"
The monsters screeched in agony as thousands of degrees of heat consumed their bodies.
Their entire forms were set ablaze. Even their primal, bloodthirsty minds were overwhelmed by the pain. They thrashed and wailed, convulsing wildly.
Gamabunta, now at a distance, turned his head away, unable to bear the sight of his former comrades in such agony.
"…It's not enough."
Jiraiya flew into the sky and raised his right hand.
"Sage Art: Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan!!"
A massive swirling orb of chakra formed above his hand, pulsating with chaotic force.
Then the flame-dragon crest on his body began to glow.
"Now… let's add the power of the Crimson Flame Dragon Fist!"
A dragon-shaped aura flashed around the Rasengan. As it vanished, Jiraiya's chakra surged, and the Rasengan turned into a giant blazing fireball.
"Crimson Flame Dragon Rasengan!"
With all his might, Jiraiya hurled the fiery Rasengan down onto the group of beasts.
It crashed into the ground like a falling meteor.
BOOOOM!!
A blinding light erupted, waves of energy spreading like a tsunami.
An ear-shattering explosion followed as the earth was ripped apart.
Jiraiya and Gamabunta fled the blast radius at top speed.
"What terrifying power… this isn't normal Sage Chakra!"
Fukasaku gasped, staring at the rising mushroom cloud.
"I'll explain it later."
Jiraiya nodded. Now wasn't the time for explanations.
As the smoke cleared, the once vibrant forest had turned into a blackened basin, scorched and lifeless for dozens of meters in every direction.
Inside the basin lay charred corpses—shattered remnants of what had once been proud toads.
Gamabunta collapsed onto the still-hot ground, staring at the remains, tears streaming down his face.
"I'm sorry… everyone…"
He lowered his head, voice trembling.
"I failed you. I came too late."
Jiraiya, too, was overwhelmed with grief.
He couldn't stop blaming himself—if only he'd gotten there sooner, this tragedy could've been avoided.
The thought made him want to punch himself.
"Jiraiya… mourn later. That orb is still floating. Finish it."
Fukasaku exhaled heavily.
"…Right."
Jiraiya flew up again, scanning the area. His sharp eyes soon spotted the Lovecraft Pendant hidden in a patch of grass.
He quickly flew over and snapped it shut.
The glowing orb disappeared immediately.
The crisis… was over.
(End of Chapter)
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