Loki snorted coldly. "Try it."
As his words fell, he let out a thunderous roar. His entire body rapidly heated, turning into a blazing golden hue. The temperature surged violently, forcing Joy Boy to yelp as he quickly withdrew his fist.
Even with the protection of white air currents and Armament Haki, Joy Boy's hand had been scorched bright red. Thin strands of black smoke curled faintly from his skin.
Loki glared at him, his voice erupting with pride and fury. "I am the Sun!"
Boom!
A monstrous inferno burst outward from Loki's body. Deep red flames surged violently, completely engulfing him until he resembled a massive burning sun suspended in the sky.
Fortunately, Dorry and Brogy were well aware of Loki's destructive power. The moment the battle escalated, they had already led the Giant Tribe and the Mink Tribe far away to avoid the devastating heat.
Even so, the temperature was overwhelming. The air itself seemed to burn. The Mink Tribe, covered in fur, suffered the most, some of their hair even showing signs of spontaneous combustion under the intense heat.
The power of the Apollo Devil Fruit was terrifying, combining characteristics similar to the Mera Mera no Mi and the Netsu Netsu no Mi. As a Mythical Zoan, it granted immense physical enhancement far beyond ordinary Zoan types. When amplified through Loki's already monstrous Giant physique, the result was overwhelming.
There was no such thing as a useless Devil Fruit. Like people, they were inherently unequal. Some stood at the very peak from the moment they came into existence.
Facing Loki's overwhelming power, Joy Boy chose not to confront him head on. He pushed off the elastic ground beneath his feet and retreated rapidly.
As he landed, the blazing fireball surrounding Loki began to separate from his body. Loki raised his arms high, holding the enormous sphere of fire above his head.
Joy Boy tilted his head, a grin spreading across his face. "Loki, are you surrendering?"
The mockery ignited Loki's fury even further. His flaming golden hair surged wildly, and the veins across his arms bulged.
The fireball in his grasp grew brighter, radiating blinding light. Wherever its glow reached, everything was instantly vaporized.
Joy Boy's expression tightened. He raised his hand and clenched it, causing the entire island to glow with white light.
At that exact moment, Loki burst into manic laughter. "Let's wipe everything out! Solar Flare!"
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
The massive fireball exploded violently, splitting into countless beams of destructive light that rained down indiscriminately across everything in sight.
When the blinding radiance finally faded, the scene below had changed completely.
From the sky, only a vast expanse of white mist remained, accompanied by the distant roar of seawater rushing in.
Time passed slowly before the mist began to dissipate. When it cleared, the straw hat shaped island was gone entirely, erased as if it had never existed, completely consumed by Loki's devastating attack.
The sea below churned and bubbled violently. Occasionally, charred and lifeless fish floated to the surface.
Loki hovered above the boiling waters. The sun patterns across his body had dimmed noticeably. He looked down coldly, then suddenly turned his gaze to the side.
Joy Boy floated there.
In his hand was a straw hat glowing faintly with white light.
He placed it casually on his head, grinning. "That was close."
As his voice fell, the sea below erupted with splashes. The Giant Tribe emerged from the water.
Their massive bodies were flushed red from the heat, but most of the damage had been absorbed by Joy Boy's ability. The scalding seawater posed little real threat to their thick skin. At most, it caused discomfort.
For warriors like Dorry and Brogy, it was no more than a hot bath.
Each Giant held Mink Tribe members carefully in their arms, shielding them from the worst of the heat. Unlike the Giants, the Mink Tribe had little resistance to such extreme temperatures.
Loki's expression darkened.
His ultimate attack had achieved nothing. Aside from evaporating vast amounts of seawater, it had failed completely.
The words he had shouted earlier now echoed mockingly in his mind.
Destroy everything.
It felt like a slap to his own face.
Taking a deep breath, Loki ascended higher into the sky. He had no intention of falling into the sea again and losing his power. He had experienced that helplessness before, and he refused to repeat it.
Joy Boy did not stop him. He simply watched as Loki rose, then followed him upward.
But Loki showed no restraint.
Before Joy Boy could fully ascend, Loki vanished and reappeared instantly. Bringing his hands together, he slammed them down onto Joy Boy's head.
The impact sent Joy Boy crashing straight into the sea below.
Splash!
His enormous body sank beneath the surface.
Loki paused, surprised. In his mind, both of them were Devil Fruit users. Whoever fell into the sea first would lose.
Looking down at the gradually calming waters, he sneered. "With strength like that, you think you can overthrow the World Government? What a joke."
He then glanced toward the Giants and mocked loudly, "This is the Joy Boy you admire? The title of Sun God is not something just anyone can bear!"
Yet the reaction he expected never came.
Neither the Giant Tribe nor the Mink Tribe showed anger. Instead, they stared at him with expressions of ridicule, as though watching a fool perform.
Loki's temper flared instantly. "What is that look supposed to mean?"
Dorry and Brogy exchanged glances before raising their heads toward the sky.
"Idiot," they said in unison, "you're celebrating too early."
Loki frowned. "What?"
Before he could react further, the calm sea suddenly surged. A massive wave rose violently, and from within it, a gigantic arm burst upward.
Loki's eyes widened in shock. "This is…"
Slap!
Before he could finish, the enormous hand seized his body completely, leaving only his head exposed.
He struggled violently, shaking his head as he roared, "Damn you! Joy Boy! Get out here! Stop hiding!"
Splash!
The sea parted as Joy Boy slowly rose from beneath the water, his massive form emerging inch by inch.
Seawater streamed down his body continuously.
Seeing this, Loki froze, utterly stunned.
=≠=
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