The three of them exchanged glances. They all understood what that meant. This wasn't just a combination, it was a fusion. A perfect balance of both types.
That meant it was likely skilled in both close-quarters and long-range combat.
"This must be the real deal… the complete version of a Gildrosia," Larry thought aloud.
And just as they realized that, the Plants's aura flared. The pressure it emitted surged like a storm, crashing down on them with terrifying force.
***
Name: Gildrosia (Matured)
Strength Level: S
Origin: Formed after a long period of merging and evolution, this rare fusion has reached its peak state.
Role: As the strongest of its kind, it exists to guard the precious mature body, Vanilla, a high-grade parasitic plant. Anyone who dares to take it will be met with its full force.
***
There was no doubt now. This one was S-rank. And the entry in the illustrated abilities confirmed it. Just as Larry suspected, each group of Plants had a leader, an elite tasked with guarding the mature Vanilla.
Ging's eyes gleamed with excitement. This was his chance to fight a powerful opponent head-on. He couldn't hold back a grin. "I'll take this one," he said quickly, worried Larry might jump in first.
Larry looked at him, then nodded. "Alright. If things go south, I'll step in."
He figured there was no harm letting Ging take the lead. If Ging could wear the thing down, Larry could just send out Dragonite for the finishing blow and still gain experience. Like getting an S-rank kill handed to him on a silver platter.
Satisfied that Larry wasn't going to interfere, Ging calmly removed his robe and set it aside with care. He was taking this seriously, down to ensuring his clothes wouldn't get in the way.
After all, this wasn't just any fight.
This was a proper showdown. Just like Chairman Netero shaved his cherished beard before challenging the Ant King, all to make sure nothing hindered his performance, Ging made his own small preparations.
In high-level battles, especially ones involving S-rank opponents, any minor factor could shift the outcome. But unlike Netero, Ging didn't go that far. He wasn't facing the King of Ants, after all.
Still, he had his reasons. The wide brown robe he wore could restrict movement, and getting it shredded during the fight would be annoying. So, he calmly removed it, revealing the white training suit underneath.
The suit was snug and clearly built for combat. People like Ging, and Netero, preferred this kind of gear. Simple, practical. Despite being white, the fabric showed signs of long-term use. Small frays, light discoloration in the seams, proof this wasn't just for show.
The tighter fit made his muscular frame all the more visible. He wasn't bulky to the point of exaggeration, but the strength packed into his build was undeniable.
While not as physically imposing as the massive Gildrosia, anyone with a trained eye could tell, Ging had power to spare. He exhaled slowly.
Suddenly, his aura vanished. It didn't fade, it was pulled inward, drawn deep into his core like a whirlpool swallowing the sea. The calm lasted only a moment.
Boom.
Ging's aura exploded outward like a dam bursting under pressure. His Nen surged in waves, sweeping across the field like a rising tide.
The sheer force of it was overwhelming. And just from that, it was already clear, he was stronger than the Plants.
The flow of energy paused for a split second. Then two identical figures appeared beside him.
Nen Ability – Double Clone.
Without holding back, Ging had instantly created two clones. The pressure on the battlefield spiked.
Now the fusion Plants wasn't facing one Ging. It was facing three. The very ground began to crack under the strain.
Crack… crack…
Fissures spread across the hardened earth before the first punch was even thrown. The weight of the energy in the air made it hard to breathe. A heavy silence wrapped around them, one born from sheer pressure.
Ging's usual playful look vanished, replaced by razor-sharp focus. His eyes, once easygoing, now locked on the target with a hunter's precision. And then, All three Gings vanished in a flash.
Only three spiderweb-shaped cracks remained on the ground, marking the spots where they had stood. The next instant, Ging's ghost-like figure reappeared, right beside the Gildrosia.
The three clones moved as one, surrounding it from all angles. No gaps. No escape.
All of them had their fists glowing with blazing Aura. This wasn't just for show, these flames were alive, infused with deadly power.
Even from a distance, Larry and the others could feel the intense heat pouring off of them. Without hesitation, the trio launched a coordinated assault, aiming for the Plants's head, chest, and legs all at once.
No matter how it moved, something was going to land.
Ging, controlling the main body, went for the chest. He figured a strike to the head was too risky, it might dodge or counter. But hitting center mass was safer and just as effective.
At the same time, Ging was being cautious. If one of the clones was destroyed, the Aura tied to it would be lost immediately, one-third of his total energy, gone in an instant.
Despite the overwhelming advantage in numbers, this fight was anything but simple. One wrong move, and the tide could turn. But for now, the battlefield belonged to Ging.
To Ging's surprise, the fusion Gildrosia didn't even try to dodge the incoming hit. Instead, it just stood there, head-on, letting Ging's clone strike it square in the face.
"…Huh?" Ging's eyes narrowed. He hesitated for the briefest moment. That was unexpected.
'Was it giving up? Offering itself up to be finished off?' But before he could process it further, something sharp and fast burst from the Plants's body.
A metallic branch, radiating dense Aura, shot out of its chest and lunged straight at Ging, who was still within close range.
In that instant, Ging's mind cleared like glass wiped clean of fog. This wasn't carelessness on the Plants's part, it was a trap. But Ging didn't panic. Not even a little.
Bang!
The Plants struck with the precision of a predator, but Ging was faster. With perfect timing and coordination, he used his clone to redirect the incoming branch just enough to miss him.
The poisoned spike slammed into the ground instead, gouging out a deep pit that pulsed with a sinister, purplish glow.
Clearly, it was laced with a deadly toxin. Even Ging, who had faced countless strange dangers, felt a chill.
This wasn't some random venom, it was poison from the Dark Continent. And that wasn't something he could shrug off. Even if there were rumored herbs that could cure any disease, Ging wasn't about to gamble on whether "any disease" included whatever this was.
Still, even though his main body had to pull back, the other two clones had landed their blows cleanly. The clone targeting the Plants's head struck with a fiery impact, completely blowing it apart.
The one going for the legs smashed through, breaking and charring the lower limbs. The gold and silver fusion Plants looked like it had been through a meat grinder, its head was obliterated, and its lower body was a mess of crushed, burned metal.