As Ben and his crew, Kaya, Vivi, Marianne, Conis, Raki, Maya, Honey, Nojiko, Saphir, Mikita, Zala, Alvida, Robin, Kalifa, Hina, Tashigi, Emeraude, and Rubis walked deeper into the cave.
"Why are we in the cave?" Saphir asked.
"You were not listening, sis," Rubis said.
"I am not sure either," Marianne added.
"You were in Ben`s lap and he was feeding you," Robin said.
"I wanted that," Honey quietly muttered.
"PR reported pink mist appearing from the caves which started to appear once we defeated the last person," Emeraude said.
"The Evil Guardian must be here," Ben added.
"I think so as well my love," Alvida agreed.
They saw a swirling purple mist. The ethereal fog danced in front of them casting eerie shadows on the damp walls.
"This mist... it feels unnatural. Almost as if it's alive," Kaya remarked.
Robin nodded. "Some ancient texts mention mists that guard sacred places or treasures," Robin said. "Or danger," she added.
Marianne tried to peer into the haze. "I can't see much," Marianne said.
Conis tightened her grip on her Heat Javelin. "He might be there," Conis said.
"I think so," Raki responded. "Let's beat him and get it over," she added.
"We have been here for too long," Mikita said.
Maya's eyes narrowed as she observed the mist's movement. "Ben, do you think he will be as strong as Yonko?" Ben asked.
"Probably not but if he is we will beat him like we did with all the Phantasms," Ben responded.
Nojiko glanced at Ben. "Captain, what's our move?" she asked.
"We will go ahead together," Ben responded. "Everyone, stay close and watch each other's backs," he directed. Ben knew the girls were not happy about getting left behind before. However he was willing to do so to protect them.
"Ben just wants us close to him," Zala remarked.
"Pervert," Kaya said. There was affection in her voice.
Alvida flipped her hair. "Whatever it is, it won't stand a chance against all of us," Alvida said. Ben thought she was confident. He knew she had used haki once. She also needs to be punished, he thought.
Hina's tone was serious. "We should be prepared for anything," she cautioned. She thought she was getting along with them well. She had to, because they needed each other to survive. Her heart did not agree.
Tashigi's hand rested on her sword's hilt. "Let's move forward, but remain vigilant," Tashigi said.
"Someone cares," Zala remarked.
"She does not want Ben to be hurt," Mikita added.
"No, I mean yes, I want him to be arrested, Yes I want to arrest you," Tashigi muttered.
The girls giggled. They saw Tashigi flushed.
Emeraude cleared her throat. "We can do it together," Emeraude said, looking at Ben and smiling. Her tone was filled with affection.
Rubis nodded in agreement. "Sis, you are in a good mood," Rubis teased.
"After with my love, everyone will be," Alvida confirmed.
"Let's go, girl, remember to focus," Ben quickly said.
The girls entered the purple mist. At that moment, Vivi`s orb started to glow.
They saw a flashback of a humanoid and muscular figure with large arms and hands, slightly short legs, and a small head in comparison to the rest of his body. He wore a golden, cylinder-shaped helmet with four red eye shots. He was rampaging around destroying villages and houses. They saw the old man with glasses and a smile. Popora was next to the man. The old man held the staff out. Then there was a bright light from the staff. The Evil Guardian was trapped in chains and several orbs flew out. Popora's eyes welled with tears.
At that moment, there was a bright light. All of a sudden they saw a humanoid and muscular figure with large arms and hands, slightly short legs, and a small head in comparison to the rest of his body. He wore a golden, cylinder-shaped helmet with four red eye shots. "Evil Guardian," he remarked.
"So he is here," Raki remarked.
"Popora is there," Vivi pointed out.
"I can see him," Kaya agreed. They saw a cage in the corner of the cave. It was hanging by a chain.
"You both have good eyesight," Nojiko remarked.
"Strong Arm," Evil Guardian remarked as he swung his massive limb horizontally and generating a wide, blazing orange energy wave that surged toward the crew.
"Watch out," Ben shouted, stepping forward to counter the attack. He challenged his energy into his fist, he declared, "Demon Fist," and launched a powerful punch aimed directly at the Evil Guardian`s fist.
Simultaneously, Alvida gripped Seraphina tightly. "Kanabo Reaper," she said as she swung the hefty weapon in a wide arc. Her strike cleaved through the air, converging with Ben's attack.
Both assaults collided with the Evil Guardian's fist. Their combined force halting its advance. The sheer power of their synchronized strikes caused the attack to stop.
Kaya transformed into her hybrid form. She flew towards the Evil Guardian. "Angel Rapid Smash," Kaya remarked as she channelled her energy into both of her fists. They both glowed white. She then launched a barrage of fists at Evil Guardian`s face. Her fist slammed into his face. She punched again and again. The mask started to dent.
Maya's eyes locked onto the towering Evil Guardian. "Shave," she said. In an instant, she vanished and appeared in front of the monstrous entity. Maya tightened her grip on her sword. "Cess Cleave," she said as she brought her blade down in a powerful arc aimed at the Evil Guardian's chest. The sword struck true, biting into the creature's form.
"Collapse," Evil Guardian said as she swung both massive arms back over his head. Then his fists came crashing down. Evil Guardian was fast. It created a shockwave that sent Ben, Kaya, Alvida, and Maya backwards. However they all landed on their feet.
Vivi held Succubane in her hands. She looked at it as it glowed purple. "Neo Beam,"Vivi said as the sword glowed dark purple. A dark purple projection was fired towards Evil Guardian. The beam hit the Evil Guardian in the chest. There was a large dent on his chest as he skidded back on the ground.
"Storm Leg," she said as she delivered a high-speed, forceful kick that generated a razor-sharp, compressed air blade. The slicing wind surged toward the Evil Guardian, striking his arm and leaving a noticeable dent.
"Large Wave," Evil Guardian said as his massive hands and the symbols on his shoulders began to emit a menacing purple glow. With a thunderous motion, he hammered his fists into the ground before him, unleashing surging yellow and orange energy waves that raced in a straight line toward the group.
Ben and the girls scattered instantly and narrowly evading the destructive force. The ground where they had stood moments before was now scorched and fractured.
"Thermal Impale," Conis said as she thrusted the Heat Javelin into the ground, causing it to erupt in a pillar of intense heat directly beneath the Evil Guardian, engulfing him in flames. Evil Guardian quickly moved out. His legs were burnt and blackened.
"Double Air Blast," Honey said as she brought both hands together and unleashed a torrent of high-pressure purple liquid. The liquid surged forward like a powerful wave, crashing into the Evil Guardian's chest with force. The sheer impact sent the towering figure stumbling back, its massive frame shuddering under the pressure.
Zala saw the Evil Guardian going back. "Stinger Kick," she called out, her leg morphing into a long, razor-sharp spike. She lashed out, her kick slicing through the Guardian's chest like a finely honed blade. A deep gash tore across its armor, sparks flying as the force of the strike left a jagged wound in its metallic shell.
Mikita dashed towards the Evil Guardian "Meteor Fist," she said as her hand dramatically increased in weight. She swung it forward like a wrecking ball. The sheer force of her punch sent a powerful shockwave rippling through the cave. Her fist connected with the Evil Guardian's chest, creating an explosive impact that left a noticeable dent in its armor. The Evil Guardian let out a guttural, mechanical groan as it staggered back.
"Severe Earthquake," the Evil Guardian jumped into the air and starts emitting purple smoke. He then forcefully stomps into the ground, creating a large impact of yellow energy and tremors. The girls jumped out of the way and narrowly avoided the attack.
"Mystic Beam," Tashigi said as her sword radiated an intense green glow. She tightened her grip and swung forward, unleashing a concentrated beam of energy straight from her blade. The luminous attack streaked through the air, hitting the Evil Guardian's left arm. Sparks flew as the impact left a searing mark on its metallic frame.
"Contract Strike," Kalifa followed up. With a sharp flick of her wrist, she lashed Lovethorn, her thorned whip cracking through the air like a bolt of lightning. The whip wrapped around the Guardian's body, leaving deep lacerations across its hardened exterior before retracting with a sharp snap.
"Iron Punch," Hina said as from the palm of her hand, an iron rod extended. She drove it forward with immense force, slamming it into the Evil Guardian's chest. A dull, metallic crunch echoed through the cavern as the rod struck true.
Marianne took quick aim. She pulled the trigger. A yellow, dice-shaped bullet soared forward and made contact with the Guardian's torso. An explosion erupted from the point of impact.
Ben formed a spear-shaped projection of dark energy in his hand. "Demon Abyssal Lance," he said as he hurled it at blinding speed. The dark spear cut through the air like a comet, colliding with the Evil Guardian in a thunderous detonation.
The cavern shook violently as all the attacks combined into a massive explosion. A deafening roar filled the air, a shockwave rippling outward, kicking up a storm of dust and debris.
As the dust settled, a tense silence followed. The group stood still, catching their breath.
"Did we get him?" Vivi asked cautiously.
They saw two glowing eyes pierced through the smoke. The Evil Guardian still stood. Its body was damaged, its armor cracked. The air grew heavy with its ominous presence.