Vegapunk was quickly carried away from the research layer by Azure Bird.
Therefore, although this was his first meeting with Drake, Vegapunk had heard of him long ago and was even curious about Drake's mysterious power, wondering if he could get to know him.
He never expected that Drake would suddenly appear and save him just as Saturn was about to kill him.
York's betrayal had caught Vegapunk completely off guard, and the World Government's ruthlessness and decisiveness exceeded his imagination as a scientist.
Vegapunk did not fear death, but his greatest regret was that his dream had not been realized.
Therefore, he felt truly fortunate when Drake suddenly appeared and saved his life.
However, his scientific curiosity then surged, naturally concerning the giant bird-like creature carrying him.
As a scientist who had discovered bloodline factors and excelled in biological modification, Vegapunk was absolutely certain this was not a natural creature.
Touching the claws of Azure Bird's energy form, Vegapunk truly wished he could immediately research the biological structure of such a creature.
When he came to his senses, he found that Azure Bird had already brought him to the edge of Egghead.
He was wondering why they had retreated so far when the answer appeared before his eyes.
Boom!
A corner of the eggshell-shaped research layer exploded, tearing a piece out of the island cloud as well. A dark shadow flew out from the resulting hole and crashed towards the ground below.
Following it, a fiery meteor shot out, heading straight for Saturn, who had crashed into the ground, creating a large crater.
Drake, of course, had no intention of fighting Saturn within the research layer. For one thing, Vegapunk's brain was still there, and Drake didn't want it caught in the crossfire.
There was also another crucial item—the Mother Flame was also stored in the research layer. The small cluster Drake had consumed already possessed the power to destroy most of Egghead. If the main body were detonated, its power would be unimaginable.
Six sharp spider legs pierced the shattered ground, supporting Saturn's massive body. Dark, murky energy surged around his body, showing no sign of the damage from Drake's frontal attack with the Flame Dragon King's Collapsing Fist.
Drake hovered in mid-air, looking at Saturn with burning eyes.
The black flame-like ribbons swirling around Saturn indicated that he had developed his ability to the awakening stage.
Awakening of Zoan-type abilities not only significantly enhanced the user's existing abilities but also granted extraordinary endurance and recovery capabilities.
In this regard, the Five Elders were particularly outstanding.
Many speculated that the Five Elders and Imu had undergone the ultimate advanced ability of the Op-Op Fruit—the Eternal Youth surgery—thereby achieving eternal life.
Perhaps for this reason, or possibly due to the uniqueness of their Devil Fruit abilities, they were able to virtually ignore the attacks of Luffy's Nika form.
Drake also sensed this, but he didn't believe in immortal monsters.
The flames swirling around his body intensified. Drake had no intention of wasting words with Saturn and charged forward directly.
Saturn's killing intent was also unconcealed as he thrust his staff forward.
Drake's superior sense of smell had already detected the foul stench of poison. Saturn's staff was not only imbued with Haki but also coated with poison.
The legendary Ox-Ghost was originally a yokai skilled in controlling poison, so it was normal for it to employ such a move.
Poison was indeed an extremely dangerous ability, but regardless of the type of poison, even gas only took effect upon contact with the body. And Drake, of course, had no intention of touching the poison with his body.
Flames collided with the purplish-black venom. Saturn's eyes widened in disbelief as he watched his staff crack inch by inch, shattering into a sky full of wooden fragments in the blink of an eye.
There was no absolute counter-relationship between fire and poison, but at Drake's level, counter-relationships were no longer important.
Therefore, not only was the poison on Saturn's staff incinerated by Drake's flames, but even the Haki was reduced to nothingness. The remaining staff, of course, couldn't withstand Drake's ferocious power, so its destruction was only natural.
"Fire Dragon's Claw!"
Drake unceremoniously kicked out, the flames searing a clear trail in the air.
As a strong individual who had managed to awaken his Devil Fruit, Saturn was not so slow as to fail to react to such an attack.
Saturn swung his fist, striking directly. His fist and Drake's leg stopped a distance apart, and flames and purplish-black toxic gas erupted, with black and red lightning flashing within.
The sky, not just with the smoke of cannon fire but also a thick canopy of dark clouds, split open, revealing a gray scar.
This was the characteristic of the pirate world… when powerhouses clash, the sky cracks!
The conflict didn't last long; soon, the two separated. Saturn's spider legs left chaotic yet deep marks on the ground, finally halting his retreat.
Special energy surged in his fist, and the burns miraculously vanished.
Drake, sent flying backward, curled his lips into a smile. As expected, the old geezer Saturn had also mastered Haoshoku Haki infusion. However, this attack had also allowed him to gauge Saturn's capabilities, and now he could unleash his full power.
Dragon Flame Battle Armor + Dragon King Body activated. Drake was giving this world's top powerhouse due respect.
His enhanced dynamic vision allowed Drake to clearly track Saturn's spear-like spider legs descending.
Then, Drake raised his hand and grabbed Saturn's spider leg. The flames in his palm directly incinerated the Haki on the spider leg, and then the flames spread to Saturn's body.
Drake casually threw down the spider leg he had torn off. The severed leg landed on the ground and immediately shattered into charred fragments.
Saturn was quite decisive, dismembering himself without hesitation. However, the severed spider leg regenerated before Drake's eyes in an instant.
As expected, opponents of this caliber were troublesome!
Saturn narrowed his eyes. He also sensed the direness of the situation. Drake's strength exceeded his expectations, and the fact that Kizaru and Green Bull hadn't arrived for support indicated that the situation on their end was also not optimistic.
In this case, the objective of eliminating Vegapunk could not be achieved. At this moment, a voice echoed in his mind.
"I didn't expect this situation to arise! But it's not your fault. It can't be helped; we'll lend a hand too!"
Saturn did not object. As one of the Five Elders, he not only disregarded the Fleet Admiral's authority but also his own pride.
With the situation deteriorating to this extent, Saturn knew it was his responsibility. But he wouldn't stubbornly try to compensate alone and refuse help, because in his heart, achieving the objective was paramount.
"Then I shall begin the summoning!" Saturn declared.
As soon as he finished speaking, a black magic circle depicting a pentagram opened, and black lightning erupted from within.
Next, a shadowy figure enveloped in rolling black mist emerged, vaguely revealing the forms of distorted shadowy monsters, their aura identical to Saturn's.
The Five Elders and Egghead—all have appeared!
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