In the Room of Flowers.
"Why have you come to obstruct me?!"
As the roof shattered, Imu transformed into a demon hundreds of meters tall. In her hand, she held a weapon that shone like a miniature sun, radiating endless destructive power—the Ancient Weapon Uranus. She roared in fury at Gildarts, Laxus, and Eden.
Imu's current form was identical to the one depicted in the ancient murals of the giant kingdom, Elbaf. Her entire being emanated an aura far surpassing the top-tier powers of the One Piece world, befitting her status as the strongest being of the last eight hundred years.
"You should understand!"
"This world is destined for destruction."
"Just like the First World and Second World that have already fallen."
"Neither I nor you can save all of humanity. That is an absolute impossibility."
"Only by abandoning the vast majority of worthless humans and preserving a sufficient, high-quality flame of life can I create a new home in the world after the tide recedes."
Imu glared at Gildarts, Eden, and Laxus, her voice filled with rage. "So, do not get in my way!"
As soon as she finished speaking, she activated Uranus. Although Imu lacked the energy to unleash its full power, even a fraction of its strength was enough to obliterate any island in the world and cause an earthquake that would shake the entire planet.
"Sacrificing the vast majority of people in this world for the sake of a few you deem 'elites'?! Don't be ridiculous!"
"A world that continues to exist only through sacrifice—even if such a world were born, what meaning would it have?"
Eden and Gildarts simultaneously moved in front of Laxus, shielding him from Uranus's nation-destroying blow...
At the same moment that Eden and Gildarts blocked Imu's attack, Laxus appeared before Imu as she tried to activate Uranus again. He punched her squarely in the face, roaring, "Let Fairy Tail shatter your fallacies!"
"Fools!"
"You are as naive and foolish as Joy Boy..."
"Human history is a history of war!"
"Human history is a history of sacrifice!"
"Humanity is a species that established a class system the moment it gained intelligence, a product that can only survive by treading upon those it deems inferior..."
"Do you think the ones who have been protecting humanity since ancient times are you dreamers who speak empty words?!"
Laxus's punch sent Imu staggering back several steps. Spitting out a mouthful of blood, she fixed her blood-red eyes, like those of a hellish demon, on Laxus and screamed, "No!"
"From ancient times to the present, the one who has silently protected history, who has protected the existence of all humankind, is not you, but me!"
As she spoke, Imu sent Laxus flying with a single punch. Watching the airborne Laxus, she locked onto him with the fully charged Uranus and roared, "Scatter like dust!"
"BOOM!"
Uranus fired once more, hurtling straight toward Laxus.
"Underworld!"
Just as the attack was about to strike Laxus...
Eden opened a massive black abyss directly in front of him, completely absorbing Imu's attack.
"An attack that can absorb energy?!"
"Then let me show you my physical attacks..."
As Imu spoke, her tail transformed into a bolt of lightning and shot towards Laxus. This was an attack powerful enough to grievously wound Sabo, who had mastered the Flare-Flare Fruit and could briefly hold his own against Fujitora. Its power was self-evident.
"Crash!"
Just as Imu's tail was about to reach Laxus, Gildarts appeared before her, seemingly out of nowhere, and shattered her tail into countless pieces.
"Gildarts!" Imu roared, looking at the meddlesome man.
"Imu!"
Gildarts rushed towards Imu, charging his right fist as he bellowed, "Crushing Evil, Revealing the Truth: Empyrean!"
"BOOM!"
With a deafening roar, Gildarts launched Imu into the sky. Her body tore through the clouds ten thousand meters high, blood pouring from her mouth.
"Do you think I will be defeated just like this?!" Imu shrieked, her eyes bloodshot as she looked down upon the earth.
"Lady Imu?"
"Oh no, Lady Imu was sent flying! Is she going to use that technique?"
In the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, all the members of the God's Knights, along with the Five Elders, watched Imu ascend into the sky. Their expressions changed, a rare trace of terror appearing on their faces.
"Return to me! My power."
As Imu made this declaration, the bodies of the God's Knights and the Five Elders, whom she had granted immortality, began to crumble. An infinite amount of power converged towards the sky.
"BOOM!"
After absorbing all the power of the Five Elders and the God's Knights, Imu's strength soared to its peak. The terrifying power was so oppressive that even the mages of the Fairy Tail guild present found it difficult to breathe.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa."
"So this is Imu?"
"This terrifying power... it's almost on par with Gildarts."
Gray stared at Imu in the sky, cold sweat beading on his forehead as he spoke in shock.
As everyone knows in the Fairy Tail guild...
The phrase 'almost on par with Gildarts' is the world's greatest curse.
Jura (during the Grand Magic Games arc) was said by Makarov to be almost on par with a heavily injured Gildarts, and he was immediately used as a stepping stone for Laxus.
'God' Serena claimed to be equal to, or even stronger than, Gildarts, only to be repeatedly defeated, even being revived just to be beaten again and again.
In the 100 Years Quest, Laxus noted that Kirin, the strongest mage in the Diabolos guild after their master Georg Reizen, had magical power almost on par with Gildarts. Afterward, Kirin was also repeatedly defeated.
The phrase had practically become a curse.
"A lesser Yhwach."
As for Eden, he watched Imu standing in the sky, having absorbed the power of all the God's Knights and the Five Elders, and his eyelids twitched slightly as he remarked.
"Bow before your god!"
After fusing with the full power of the God's Knights and the Five Elders, Imu's Conqueror's Haki rose to an astonishing level. Below the top-tier fighters, not a single person could stand before her.
The range it covered was even more astounding, extending from the Holy Land of Mary Geoise to the Sabaody Archipelago below...
It even faintly affected Fish-Man Island, more than twenty thousand meters away.
"I've never seen a Devil Fruit user like this."
"To be able to use so many abilities, it truly amazes me," Borsalino commented, looking up at Imu in the sky from the Holy Land.
"Devil Fruit user?!"
"Do not compare me to you lot, who gain your meager abilities through the 'negative' products of human desire, the Fruits!"
"I am a god (demon) itself."
Imu's eyes were cold, filled with a 'divinity'. She saw herself as the true god protecting humanity, yet she cared for no single individual. She only cared for the continuation of the human race; as long as some humans lived, that was enough.
As for the Celestial Dragons?
They were all the seeds chosen by Imu.
The Celestial Dragons were the descendants of the twenty kings who founded the World Government—the elite of the elite.
Within the lineage factor of every Celestial Dragon was inscribed the infinite power and authority of their ancestors.
Therefore, in Imu's eyes, the value of a Celestial Dragon was greater than that of any ordinary human.
But Imu was also flexible. Top-tier fighters like Loki, the prince of Elbaf, or Marine Admirals and the Four Emperors of the New World, if they chose to pledge allegiance to her, she would grant them the opportunity to become a member of the God's Knights.
Of course, top scientists like Vegapunk could also choose to join the World Government and receive treatment equal to that of the Celestial Dragons.
Because these powerful individuals, through their own strength and wisdom, had proven the value of their lineage to Imu, representing their right to continue their posterity in this world.
As for the incompetent, the weak.
They could just remain below, to live and die with the old world.
There was no place for them in the new world.
"I'll say it again!"
"Whether you're a demon or a god!"
Once their respective opponents had been absorbed by Imu, the members of Fairy Tail were finally free to act. They began to gather, speaking almost in unison, "If you dare stand in the way of the Fairy Tail guild, we'll kill you, even if you're a true god!"
"Who the hell do you think we are?!"
"We are the mages of the Fairy Tail guild!"
Led by Natsu, Gildarts, Eden, Laxus, Erza, Mirajane, Gray, Lucy, Nami... all the mages of Fairy Tail roared in near-unison.
"Hmm?!"
Imu had been watching the ants below gather with a calm expression. She believed that by concentrating their life force into Uranus and fully awakening the weapon, she could easily annihilate them all.
However, the moment Eden and the others shouted their slogan, Imu suddenly sensed something was wrong. Their presence had exploded, multiplying countless times over.
"How is this possible?!"
Imu's face turned pale, and she seemed to want to say more.
"Natsu, go!" Eden said, infusing his Underworld Dragon power into Natsu's body.
"Natsu, go!" Laxus followed, pouring the mighty power of his 'Thunder Dragon King,' Elexion, into Natsu as well.
"You can have the spotlight this time," Gajeel added, uncharacteristically not competing for the chance to show off.
"Natsu-nii, defeat her!" Wendy said, using her Sky Dragon Slayer Magic to harmonize the powers within Natsu's body.
"I've eaten it!"
"The power is overflowing..."
"Am I ten times stronger now? Twenty times?!"
Natsu felt the explosive increase in power within him as diamond-shaped dragon scales covered his body.
Without a doubt, faced with this immense power, Natsu had successfully activated Dragon Force.
"Dragon Slayer Secret Art: Five Dragons - Underworld Crimson Lotus Phoenix..."
Then, without any hesitation, Natsu yelled out the attack's name and shot into the sky.
No exaggeration, even August would have shaken his head in disbelief at this attack.
"What is that thing?!"
Imu's pupils trembled. She pushed Uranus to its absolute limit and screamed, "Die! Just die!"
"Don't forget about me!"
"Crash!"
Just as Imu was manipulating the power of Uranus to condense a scorching ball of light in the sky—one that seemed capable of shattering the entire Red Line that encircled the world—Gildarts suddenly leaped into the air and shattered the descending orb into countless fragments.
"Hmm?!"
A flicker of shock crossed Imu's eyes as she saw the ball of light get destroyed.
"...Sword!"
In that brief moment of Imu's hesitation, Natsu had already reached her. A single Crimson Lotus Phoenix Sword pierced straight through her body.
"How can this be?!"
"How could I lose here?"
Imu looked at her body, bisected at the waist, unable to heal in the face of Natsu's flames. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead as she muttered to herself.
"Joy Boy..."
In her final moments, the person Imu thought of was still Joy Boy.
"Imu!"
"I've made my decision!"
"I'm going to save every single person in the world!"
"I'm going to make the whole world smile!"
Joy Boy's voice echoed in Imu's ears. She had once seen that man as her spiritual pillar and symbol.
Unfortunately, their paths had diverged.
"Save humanity."
Lying on the ruins of the Holy Land, Imu's last thoughts were still for humanity as a whole. She had to preserve enough of its flame; she couldn't die here.
"For eight hundred years..."
"...you've worked hard."
Just as Imu was muttering to herself, Mirajane, who had learned almost the entire history from Robin, approached the dying Imu and said with a gentle smile.
"Absorb my soul!"
"You... from another world."
Imu looked at Mirajane, the only one who still seemed to care for her after her defeat, the only one who seemed to understand her actions. Her crimson pupils flickered before she suddenly grabbed Mirajane's wrist and said in a solemn voice, "This is a request from me. Resolve the impending crisis of this world's destruction, and protect all of humanity."
"I accept your request," Mirajane said, nodding at Imu.
"In that case... I am at peace."
"It's been eight hundred years. I'm tired."
With those words, Imu transferred all of her power and soul to Mirajane.
As for Imu herself?
With her long-held wish fulfilled, Imu's final obsession seemed to transform into a beautiful, winged Papilio butterfly, finally landing in the garden she had longed for day and night.
"BOOM!"
After Imu's body dissipated into a butterfly...
Mirajane immediately completed the Take Over.
"Take Over: Soul of Imu!"
"Imu Mirajane Strauss!"
After obtaining the power of Imu's soul, Mirajane's strength exploded, leaping from her original, barely weak Shield level to a strong Shield level, and she was still soaring towards even higher echelons, with one foot vaguely stepping into the super Shield level.
Most importantly, after absorbing Imu's power, Mirajane could now continuously create immortal soldiers just like Imu, and she also gained the authority to use the Ancient Weapon Uranus.
"Not enough energy?"
Mirajane looked at Uranus, which was shrinking in her hand into a ball of light, and said with a smile, "If I combine the Devil's Heart (a pseudo-infinite energy source) with Uranus, would I be able to use Uranus's power without limit?"
"She hacked the game?!" Eden muttered to himself, looking at Mirajane, who had inherited everything from Imu.
Since entering the world of One Piece, he, Eden, had gone through life-and-death struggles to reach his current level...
Mirajane, on the other hand, had just stolen the final boss's account and instantly reached his level.
Even worse, once Mirajane, with the help of Master Precht, created a complete Devil's Heart and combined it with Uranus, she would become the strongest fighter in the Fairy Tail guild.
"Why does it feel like ever since I reached my current level, Mirajane, Erza, and Laxus have also started to break through for no reason?! Is our strength bundled together?" Eden couldn't help but complain.
"Erza~"
"I'm the strongest female mage in Fairy Tail now~"
"You'd better work hard~"
After taking over the Soul of Imu, Mirajane's personality seemed to have become more prideful. She looked at a nearby Erza, who was still stunned by everything that had happened, and said with a smile.
"Don't worry. I will," Erza said with a smile, sheathing her sword and glancing at Mirajane.
"Hahaha..."
"Hahahaha..."
For a moment, the air between Mirajane and Erza was filled with cheerful laughter.
"So scary!"
"Big sis is so scary!"
Elfman watched the scene, silently moving to Lisanna's side and saying timidly.
"No, this big sis is the Mira-nee I remember," Lisanna said with a chuckle, looking at the black-bellied and prideful Mirajane.
Lisanna's impression of the Mirajane from Earth Land was still that of her younger, delinquent self.
When she returned to Earth Land, Lisanna had found that Mirajane was almost identical to the Edolas Mirajane, and it took her quite some time to get used to it.
It's back, it's back.
The familiar feeling was back.
"Voom!"
Just as Lisanna was thinking this...
Mirajane exited her Take Over mode, reverting to her usual gentle self.
"BOOM!"
Just as everyone was beginning to celebrate their victory over Imu...
A deafening roar ripped through the air as Makarov's fist, shattering the very air, hurtled towards the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.
"I have a really bad feeling about this," Lucy said, her eye twitching as she watched Makarov's island-sized fist approach.
"BOOM!"
As Lucy's voice fell, Makarov's fist slammed into Mary Geoise.
In an instant, the entire Red Line fractured and fell apart...
The Fairy Tail members who had been on the Red Line were sent flying.
"I knew something like this would happen!" Lucy yelled, wiping away tears as she flew through the sky.
"Eden, hurry up and teleport us away!" Nami said calmly, enjoying the feeling of freefall as she looked at Eden beside her.
"No!"
"I've never experienced what it feels like to fall from ten thousand meters high!" Eden replied with a smile.
"EHHH?!"
After Eden spoke, all the Fairy Tail mages floating in mid-air expressed their shock, unable to believe their ears.
"Eden, stop joking!"
"We're not Big Bro Kaido..."
"We'll actually die if we fall from ten thousand meters!"
Even Elfman showed a rare look of panic.
"Freefall!"
"Freefall!"
Next to Elfman, Natsu and Happy were cheering happily.
Although, if one looked closely, Happy had already spread his wings.
"If you're going to play freefall, put your wings away, you damn cat!" Nami and Lucy yelled in unison.
"An occasional freefall doesn't seem so bad," Gray said with a smile, stripping off his clothes as he spoke.
"No, no, no..."
"This is freefall, not free-nudity!" Lucy retorted, turning to look at Gray.
"We're doomed!"
"We're going to die this time."
Lucy and Nami hugged each other, crying.
"Don't worry, I'll protect the Thunder Legion!" Laxus reassured Freed, Bickslow, and Evergreen.
"What about us?!" Lucy and Nami asked, looking at Laxus.
"Sorry, the wind's too loud! I can't hear what you're saying," Laxus said, turning his head away from them.
My, the wind is quite restless today~
"..."
Lucy and Nami were silent in response.
"Voom!"
Of course, just as everyone was about to complete their ten-thousand-meter fall...
Eden used his spatial magic to teleport everyone to Tenrou Island.
"Welcome back, everyone!"
Also back on Tenrou Island was the guild master, Makarov.
With his hands behind his back, Makarov looked at Nami, Lucy, and the entire Fairy Tail guild and said with a chuckle, "To celebrate everyone's victory, Eden and I played a little joke. Wasn't it exciting?!"
"Exciting, my foot!"
"You rotten old man, you're a real piece of work!" Nami yelled, winding up her Conqueror's Fist and swinging it at both Eden and Makarov.
"In any case, we won!"
"Let the feast begin, my brats!"
A short while later, Eden and Makarov, sporting large bumps on their heads, announced Fairy Tail's successful defeat of the World Government and Imu.
"Don't feel sorry for those two."
"They brought it on themselves."
Regarding the bumps on Eden's and Makarov's heads, not a single Fairy Tail mage felt any sympathy.
(End of Chapter)
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