"Over here, over here! Where do you think you're flying off to?"
Seeing the dragon burst through the sky, Roy kept waving.
Atmos abruptly halted in midair and quickly turned back toward Roy. Just as Roy was about to fall into the water, Atmos managed to catch him.
The dragon's claws stepped briefly on the ocean surface before lifting off again.
"If you were any slower, I'd be swimming back," Roy said, sitting on Atmos's head.
"Big bro, where's Miro?"
"He's still up there. His ability keeps him hidden," Roy replied.
"Should we wait for him at Sabaody?"
"Yes. We'll return together."
"Got it!"
Atmos carried Roy back to Sabaody. This time, Roy went to Shakky's bar.
"Hm?"
Rayleigh and Shakky had already heard about Roy's arrival; news of Atmos appearing in Sabaody had spread like wildfire.
Rayleigh had just returned to the bar when Roy stepped inside, casually leaning against the doorframe.
"A drink, please. I'm dying of thirst," Roy said.
"If you're thirsty, how about a cold beer?" Shakky took a chilled bottle out of the ice cellar.
"No need for a glass." Roy grabbed the bottle, bit the cap off, and gulped it down.
"Ahh, that hit the spot. Another one, please. Got any food? I'm starving," Roy said.
"Sounds like you just went through a tough fight," Rayleigh chuckled.
"That's right. I just had a fight with the king of the Celestial Dragons. You wouldn't believe it, totally insane," Roy laughed.
"Sounds like you fought Imu," Rayleigh smiled knowingly.
"You actually know… oh, right! I forgot you know the truth of the world."
"How was it?" Rayleigh asked.
"Crazy strong. Not someone you can deal with easily. Practically immortal," Roy said.
"The Poneglyphs don't mention that part. About that hundred-year void, it's just a clash of two ideologies," Rayleigh said.
"So, why did Joy Boy fail?" Roy asked.
"Because of a traitor," Rayleigh replied.
"Of course it was a traitor... Imu just told me that Queen Lily of Alabasta was their traitor," Roy chuckled.
"If it weren't for Queen Lily, the Poneglyphs wouldn't exist," Rayleigh said.
"What's the story? Tell me more." Roy leaned in curiously.
"I can only tell you a bit. It's mostly conjecture. The Poneglyphs don't directly mention Queen Lily. Joy Boy had Wano carve the Poneglyphs."
"They ended up in the hands of the twenty kingdoms. But Queen Lily must have discovered the truth, so she sent the Poneglyphs away and scattered them across the world. That made her an enemy of the world. After that, she disappeared. No one knows where she went."
"She's definitely dead. I saw Imu. At first, I wondered if she was Queen Lily, but she's not. One of the original twenty kings was named Imu, so that's probably her," Roy said.
"That's likely," Rayleigh nodded.
"I made a quick bowl of noodles. Hope it'll do." Shakky brought out a bowl and placed it in front of Roy.
...
Meanwhile, in Mary Geoise.
The Five Elders had returned to the throne room. Wapol had escaped. Imu still sat atop the Empty Throne, looking down at them.
"Imu-sama, the one who offended you has now appeared in Sabaody. Do you wish for us to continue pursuing him?" Saint Warcury knelt and asked.
"We shall descend and slay him at once!" Saint Peter added.
"And wipe out the Whitebeard Pirates too," said Saint Saturn.
"Please issue the order for extermination," said Saint Nujuro.
"We will spare no effort. We'll extinguish that ember of rebellion," Saint Mars said.
Imu stared at the Five Elders. Her gaze was ice-cold and emotionless, chilling to the bone.
The Five Elders, kneeling below, were drenched in sweat. Roy had escaped. Sabo and others had also gotten away. They'd invaded Mary Geoise and still escaped.
All of this… because of a Celestial Dragon, from the Donquixote family.
Their lives were in Imu's hands. They feared her instinctively. Even without looking up, they could feel her gaze.
Their hearts pounded violently, filling the silent throne room like drumbeats.
"Mu is furious."
Just a few words from Imu caused sweat to pour down their faces.
"Please forgive us!" They all bowed again, then raised their heads in unison.
If anyone else had seen this, they'd be terrified.
The so-called highest authority in the world, the Five Elders, looked like terrified dogs, completely submissive.
"That man must die. He will pay the ultimate price. He will disappear from this world, his existence erased," Imu declared.
"Yes!"
"It will be done!"
"We'll erase him from history."
"Please, calm your anger."
"If there are any more 'flames' that displease you, please issue the order. We will erase them too," they groveled.
Now they were like wagging dogs, just hoping Imu wouldn't take her wrath out on them.
"Test the Mother Flame, the one Vegapunk made. Use the Lulusia Kingdom to test it, it's close," Imu said coldly.
"If that power can be freely used..." Saint Nusjuro said, trembling with excitement.
"This endless war can finally end," Saint Peter said eagerly.
"It's a just cause. Lulusia's people even showed signs of rebellion," added Saint Saturn.
"A perfect warning to the world," said Saint Warcury.
"Understood. All shall be as the Creator wills," Saint Mars intoned.
"One more thing," Imu said.
"Please, command us!"
"Bring me Vivi."
"As you wish!"
The Five Elders immediately went to act, while Imu returned to the mysterious Room of Fantasies.
....
Meanwhile, at Marineford…
The Navy had begun receiving the kings of various nations.
Originally, the World Government didn't want to let them go.
But a Celestial Dragon, Donquixote Mjosgard, stepped in and allowed the kings to leave, to avoid danger in Mary Geoise.
Thanks to him, the nations' leaders were allowed to escape.
Especially the Fish-Men, who, with Garp's help, made it safely to the Red Port.
The internal chaos among the Celestial Dragons gave them that chance.
Once they realized what had happened, the Celestial Dragons were enraged.
Donquixote Mjosgard was immediately captured.
The supreme commander of the God's Knights, Figarland Garling, personally made the arrest.
...
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu