Just then, the call cut off abruptly.
"Beep… beep… beep…"
When Ron tried calling back, no one answered.
"What's going on?" Ron frowned. A moment later, he received an email from a member of Gogus's team—the same person who had just phoned him. She'd been the first on the scene when Ron got in touch.
Ron opened it immediately, scanning the contents. His expression grew grave.
"This wasn't an accident… It was a conspiracy! Gogus turned into a monster! Before he lost consciousness, he revealed there was someone behind all of this—someone who orchestrated everything. That person is likely coming for me next, because I was in that village… and for Ponzu too."
Ron's eyes narrowed.
"Whoever can destroy an entire village, manipulate those insects, turn Gogus into a monster, and wipe out his entire team must be incredibly strong. Gogus was an A‑level Nen user, and his teammates were mostly B‑level. Even if they weren't all combat-focused, they had numbers on their side. That they were taken down so easily shows how terrifying our enemy must be."
He turned to Ponzu. "Pack up. We're leaving."
"Where to, Captain?"
"It doesn't matter—anywhere away from here. We can't stay."
But at that moment, an icy aura swept across their surroundings. Ron's face hardened.
"It's too late."
Without hesitation, he whisked Ponzu into the Sumas space, but kept a small access door in his pocket so they could maintain contact. Inside, Chii appeared in front of Ponzu, handing her a Bluetooth earpiece.
Outside, Ron also put on a headset.
"Ponzu, can you hear me?"
"I hear you, Captain."
"Send your bees through that small door and out here. I need your Bee Radar."
"On it."
Moments later, dozens of bees flew out in all directions.
"If they spot an enemy, alert me right away."
"Yes, Captain."
Ron vanished in a burst of speed.
"Captain," Ponzu's voice echoed in the headset, "about a hundred meters to your left!"
Ron instantly expanded his En. The next moment, a figure came barreling toward him—a brawny man brandishing two huge axes, brimming with potent aura, as though he could chop through anything in his path.
"Natsu!" Ron called.
Natsu appeared, inhaling deeply.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!"
A fierce blaze surged forward, forcing the ax-wielder to halt, crossing his axes to block the flames.
Ponzu's voice came again. "Captain, there's another figure about two or three hundred meters behind you."
Ron nodded. "I see them."
Up above, a massive wave of water appeared, forming the shape of a water dragon that plunged down at Ron, making the very air grow heavy.
"Sasuke!" Ron shouted.
Sasuke emerged.
"Rashomon, Susano'o!"
A dark-red energy enveloped Sasuke, forming a colossal, crimson giant. With a mighty punch, the giant smashed the descending water dragon.
Boom!
The impact shattered the water dragon, though Sasuke's legs sank a little from the force, the ground trembling beneath him.
Ron eyed the middle-aged man beyond.
"Two A‑level Nen users. So this is the power behind everything… No wonder Gogus's team fell."
The man arched a brow. "A mere youngster with such strength? Two A‑level Nen Beasts of yours? If it were just me here, I might not be able to handle you.
Impressive. But our orders are clear: We're to take you out, no matter what. You won't escape. Two against one—you have no chance."
He glanced at the burly ax-wielder. "Dass, switch opponents."
With that, the middle-aged man lifted his hand, summoning another torrent of water toward Natsu. Dass nodded.
"Got it."
Seizing the moment while Natsu was pinned by the water, Dass charged toward Sasuke. Natsu's power revolved around fire, and Dass wasn't well-equipped to handle that; however, the middle-aged man specialized in water, which naturally countered flames. Meanwhile, Sasuke excelled in defense, and Dass's ability was built to break through defenses.
As they each tried to match up for an advantage, Ron was busy analyzing:
"The big guy likely uses Conjuration, but he's also heavily trained his body. Those axes might have special effects—I can't let them land a direct hit. The middle-aged man probably manipulates water with a Transmutation ability, similar to someone I once saw in the KUTE gang of thives.
But do they really think they can just choose who fights who?"
Right after the two swapped opponents, Natsu clapped his hands together.
"Position swap!"
Instantly, Natsu and Sasuke switched places. At the same time—
"Libra's Gravity Game!"
Natsu lunged at the ax-wielder, activating a gravity‑manipulation ability. Since Ron's power had grown, Natsu's own skill had gotten a massive boost. The maximum gravity intensification was now up to thirty times normal, while the minimum was as low as 1/3000 of normal.
Natsu smashed a fist down, and the burly man blocked it with his axes—but something felt off.
"What the hell?" He suddenly felt his entire body grow drastically heavier.
"Gravity powers? Along with fire? That's just…way too alien from one ability to the next!"
Frowning, the man struggled under the increased weight. Natsu took the opportunity to keep pressing the attack.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
With each passing moment, the ax-wielder's gravity climbed steadily…
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