"How is that possible..."
Reiju, Pudding, and Smoothie stared wide-eyed in shock, dumbfounded as they looked at the towering green vines that filled the sky. The massive growth nearly covered the entire field of view, exuding a chilling aura.
Just moments ago, Kaguya had been engulfed by those vines—and hadn't emerged since!
Could it be that she...
"Give it up. No one has ever survived after being captured by the Devil Fruit Tree."
A cold voice suddenly rang out behind them. Pudding and the others quickly turned around, eyes narrowing. Standing behind them were several figures—the Five Elders who had previously been at a distance!
Shirahoshi's large, beautiful eyes widened, her eyes brimming with tears. She instinctively covered her mouth and murmured, "No... she won't..."
The birthmark-marked Elder stepped forward and said coldly, "She only has herself to blame for being too arrogant—overestimating herself by provoking such a terrifying power. It was a path to certain death."
The bald Elder with the sword at his waist added solemnly, "Even we must treat the Devil Fruit Tree with great caution. Yet she showed not the slightest fear. That alone proves she was seeking death."
"A shame, really. We had hoped to bring someone like her into our ranks," said the Elder with long white hair.
The one with the flat hat said, "Originally, we didn't want to cause unnecessary bloodshed. But now that you know this secret, we can't let you live."
Pudding and Reiju's hearts sank at those words. They instinctively stepped back and assumed fighting stances, staring warily at the Five Elders. Cold sweat broke out on their foreheads, and their hearts slowly sank into despair.
The Five Elders were clearly planning to silence them.
Pudding felt a heavy weight in her chest, while Reiju bitterly regretted everything. If she had known Kaguya and the Five Elders would be here, she would never have gotten involved. This was a disaster!
But there was no time for regret. What mattered now was finding a way to escape from the Five Elders' hands.
"If you're thinking of running, give up on such a foolish fantasy!"
A cold voice came from behind. Reiju spun around, her face pale. At some point, the blond Elder had already cut off their retreat, forming a pincer attack. With their strength, maybe they had a slim chance if they fought to escape—but surrounded like this, it was almost certain death!
Heavily injured, Smoothie staggered to her feet and said bleakly, "We're done for. Sorry… I dragged you all into this. Run. I'll hold them off—maybe you can still..."
"Shut up!" Pudding snapped in a low voice. "Who needs your help? Don't act all noble—we still have unfinished business. Think you can die that easily? Not a chance!"
Smoothie froze, looking at Pudding's delicate face, then smiled. "You really haven't changed."
"Ugh, stop talking!" Pudding huffed and turned her head. She whispered, "Our only option now is to delay them. If we can stall long enough, there might still be hope."
"People in despair will grasp at any straw..." the bald Elder said coldly. "But this is just a delusion. Kaguya will never return. If you're hoping she'll save you, forget it."
"Are you talking about me?"
A familiar voice suddenly rang out, making the Five Elders' pupils shrink. They turned around sharply, alarmed. The slender figure standing in the distance—wasn't it Kaguya?!
Impossible!
Kaguya hadn't even moved yet, but the enormous, sky-shrouding vines of the God Tree began to slowly retract. In just a short while, the countless vines vanished from the sky. The towering God Tree, under the Five Elders' stunned gaze, gradually shrank until, within a hazy white glow, it transformed into a fluffy rabbit.
Kaguya extended a hand, and the rabbit turned into a streak of light, merging into her body and disappearing without a trace.
Raising her head, Kaguya sneered and said, "Now it seems even your so-called Devil Fruit Tree can't protect you anymore, old men."
Only then did the shocked Five Elders regain their senses. They took a step back, sweat forming on their foreheads, and for the first time, fear appeared in their eyes.
"You... how could you possibly..."
The blond Elder stared in disbelief.
"Cut the tricks!"
The hot-tempered Elder stomped the ground and shot forward like a cannonball. His arm swung high, fist clenched, a black glow enveloping it. With a roar, he hurled a powerful punch forward.
"Go to hell!"
The other Elders followed suit, launching attacks at Kaguya from all directions, surrounding her completely!
At that moment, she suddenly looked up and gave a brilliant smile—her lips curled into a chilling arc.
The Five Elders were instantly filled with dread, an ominous premonition gripping their hearts.
"Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack!"
Countless chakra-formed fists burst out of thin air, transforming into a storm of punches that surged toward the attacking Five Elders with blinding speed!
The Five Elders' faces changed drastically!
Bang—!
Bang—!
A series of heavy thuds echoed as several figures were flung through the air, crashing to the ground like dumplings falling from the sky.
Pudding and the others were dumbfounded. Just moments ago, the almighty Five Elders were now utterly defeated by Kaguya as if they were nothing!
Covered in dust, the Five Elders staggered to their feet, eyes full of disbelief. How could her strength have suddenly increased so drastically? It was on a completely different level than before!
Kaguya walked toward them slowly, sneering. "Surprised? Wondering why we were evenly matched before, but now you can't even touch me?"
The Five Elders recalled the earlier scene and suddenly thought of an unbelievable possibility. One of them cried out, "Could it be..."
"That's right," Kaguya said, cutting him off. "But it's too late for regrets. From this moment on—" Her lips curled, her eyes icy cold. "The hunt officially begins!"
"What a joke—stop acting so self-important!"
The birthmark-scarred Elder's forehead bulged with veins, eyes blazing with fury. He stomped the ground and shot forward like a cannonball, raising his fist and hurling it with explosive force!
Kaguya raised her head, the corners of her lips curling in contempt. "Overestimating yourself."
As soon as the words left her mouth, Kaguya vanished into thin air before the Elder's eyes. The next instant, she reappeared directly in front of him. Raising her arm, a swirling orb of black-purple energy appeared in her palm—and she struck his chest with it!
"Super Truth-Seeking Orb!"
Boom—!
A deafening shockwave erupted as the spinning sphere smashed into the Elder's chest!
Crack!
The crisp sound of bones breaking rang out. The birthmarked Elder's eyes widened as he spewed a mouthful of blood, his body flying backward.
But before he could hit the ground, Kaguya spun and delivered a fierce roundhouse kick to his waist!
Bang—!
His plump body was sent flying like a cannonball, slamming into the earth with a thunderous crash. Stones shattered and flew in all directions, leaving a massive crater in the ground!
The entire combo happened faster than lightning—before the other Elders could even react, their comrade had already been seriously injured!
He now lay on the ground, blood streaming from his nose and mouth, gasping like a broken bellows. His chest was caved in, one arm twisted at an unnatural angle, with jagged bones protruding in places—a horrifying sight.
Kaguya walked over step by step, stopping in front of the injured Elder. She raised her foot, bared her teeth in a cold grin, and said cruelly, "Looks like you're the first to die."
"How dare you!"
The other Elders roared in anger, launching themselves toward her like diving hawks!
Kaguya's icy gaze swept across them. "So eager to die? Get lost!"
Her voice was like thunder—low and resonant, carrying immense power as it surged out like a tsunami!
The charging Elders were struck head-on by the formless energy and blasted backward!
They crashed to the ground in disarray, staring at the silver-haired girl in the distance in disbelief. One shout had knocked them away! Was this... Conqueror's Haki?
There were legends of a type of Conqueror's Haki so powerful it could take physical form and strike with tangible force. But no one had ever seen such a level—not even Red-Haired Shanks on the Grand Line.
What they didn't know was—this wasn't simple Haki, nor Conqueror's Haki. It was a different kind of mysterious force: Word Manifestation.
Word Manifestation, as the name implies, fuses power into spoken words, granting them incredible abilities. It's akin to the Buddhist power of admonition or the Daoist art of persuasion—no longer ordinary techniques, but skirting the edge of universal laws.
It was a new realm she had reached after merging with the world's Devil Fruit Tree—also known as the Ōtsutsuki God Tree.
Indeed, quantity begets quality. Political science class was right.
Of course, this was still just the initial stage. She hadn't fully mastered Word Manifestation—but even now, its power was not to be underestimated.
Seeing the situation turn dire, the other four Elders charged over quickly. But before they could get close, Kaguya smirked, snapped her fingers with a crisp snap—
"Six Crimson Yang Formation!"
As soon as she spoke, several crimson barriers rose around the Five Elders, instantly trapping those who had come to help. It was the same formation that had held them for months before—Six Crimson Yang Formation!
The Five Elders' expressions shifted as they came to an abrupt stop, not expecting Kaguya to be so shameless, using such a despicable trick again!
"Bastard!" the bald Elder roared. "You think this move will work again?"
He reached for the sword at his waist, flicking it free with his thumb. The cold gleam of the blade flashed as he gripped the hilt tightly. With a low shout, he slashed downward, and a brilliant arc of sword light split the air, aiming straight for the Six Crimson Yang Formation!
Boom—!
A deafening blast erupted. The crimson barrier trembled slightly—but remained unscathed, without so much as a scratch!
The bald Elder's pupils contracted sharply.
What was going on? Just before, they had—
"Don't waste your strength," Kaguya said coldly, clearly sensing his thoughts. She shot a mocking glance their way and sneered, "Did you really think you could keep using the God Tree's power after I arrived?"
The remaining four Elders were stunned. Only now did they realize that the power of the Devil Fruit Tree within them had mysteriously vanished. It was that very power that had helped them previously break free of the Six Crimson Yang Formation—but now, without it…
Their expressions darkened considerably…
Kaguya snorted and turned away. "Weren't you acting all high and mighty just now? Keep it up. Why stop now?"
As she spoke, she lifted her foot and stomped hard on the chest of the birthmarked Elder!
Pfft—!
The Elder's eyes bulged wide, throat convulsing as he spewed a mouthful of blood!
"You... you bastard—!"
"Still got something to say? You've got guts!"
Bang—!
Bang—!
Kaguya stomped him repeatedly. Blood poured from his nose and mouth, yet he continued cursing nonstop.
Sometimes, Kaguya had to admire the guy's perseverance. Even while being stomped into a bloody mess, he refused to shut up—like a martyr clinging to defiance.
But he seemed to forget one thing—martyrs are dead.
With a final, forceful stomp, crack!—she crushed his head. Blood and gore splattered, and his angry curses came to an abrupt halt. His body twitched once, then fell still. Scarlet blood seeped into the sand beneath him.
Not only were the other Five Elders stunned, but even Reiju and Pudding stood nearby in utter shock.
One of the Five Elders—the world's most powerful authorities—was actually dead? Just like that?
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