Almost at the same instant, Im moved.
The shadows around him swallowed the light within the chamber.
The energy cannons that had been charging suddenly seemed to be gripped by an invisible force.
One after another, they went silent.
Several blades of darkness flashed through the room without a sound, severing the energy connections feeding the weapons.
"Fog God Style: Blood Blade Tempest!"
Holding Black Tide in both hands, Ritter swung his massive sword.
Countless condensed crimson sword slashes erupted like a raging storm and swept toward the Divine Guard.
Calling them the Divine Guard was giving them too much credit.
Ritter did not even bother striking a pose before cutting them down.
Ritter's frontal assault drew the majority of the enemy's firepower.
Meanwhile, Im controlled the battlefield from the flanks.
Ritter charged forward without hesitation.
He completely ignored attacks coming from the side.
Likewise, Im focused solely on protecting the flanks.
Any attacks from the front did not even earn a glance from him.
The two had already acknowledged each other's strength.
As opponents worthy of respect, neither man's pride would allow an attack to reach the other.
If an attack slipped past the area one was responsible for defending, it would be the same as admitting inferiority.
Neither of them could tolerate that.
The result was a bizarre scene.
Yet somehow...
Their coordination was flawless.
The Divine Guard's proud technological weaponry appeared laughably weak before two monsters standing at the summit of the sea.
The feeling was like finally graduating from the beginner zone and becoming an elite warrior...
Only to immediately encounter not one final boss.
But two.
Less than a minute later.
Sixty seconds.
Every Divine Guard member that had rushed into the chamber lay unconscious on the ground.
The room was a complete wreck.
Energy sparks crackled everywhere.
"Move."
Ritter barked.
His Observation Haki had already detected more enemies approaching.
Stronger energy signatures.
Heavier footsteps.
Even the floor beneath them was beginning to shake.
Im nodded.
The next moment, blood mist and shadows surged together.
When they reappeared, they were already outside the chamber and racing along their planned escape route.
Any scattered resistance they encountered along the way...
Died.
Soon, the three figures emerged beyond the fortress perimeter.
After reaching a safe distance, Ritter set Harley down and checked her over to make sure she was unharmed.
Only then did he look toward Im.
The future ruler of the world stood calmly beside him.
His breathing remained perfectly steady.
As if he had merely taken a leisurely stroll.
"Damn."
Ritter grinned.
"Your style is only one level below mine."
"Not bad."
His wallet had just gotten a lot fatter.
Very nice.
Hehehe...
Im turned his white mask toward him.
"Style?"
"What does that mean?"
"You weren't bad either."
Ritter waved a hand.
"It means you're cool as hell."
Back at the Allied Fleet's temporary anchorage, night had fully fallen.
Ritter dropped himself onto the relatively comfortable lounge chair inside his cabin.
Harley curled quietly in his arms, nibbling on a strange Pilurka fruit they had acquired during the raid.
A faint shadow fluctuation appeared at the doorway.
Moments later, Im emerged from the darkness.
Surprisingly, he was carrying an elegant food box.
Ignoring the nearly empty state of Ritter's cabin, he walked straight to the table and set it down.
Ritter raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"Did the sun rise in the west today?"
"Our future World King is delivering food now?"
"Poisoned, maybe?"
"More importantly..."
"Is there grilled meat?"
"Is there grilled meat?"
"I want grilled meat."
Im's voice remained emotionless.
"Exclusive food supplied to Pilurka's royal family."
"The nobles are still indulging themselves in luxury behind the lines."
"Waste is shameful."
After a pause, he added:
"Wouldn't it be nice to eat something refined once in a while?"
"Grilled meat isn't going anywhere."
Ritter narrowed his eyes.
"So you're saying there is grilled meat?"
"Yes."
"Perfect."
"Come on in."
Without hesitation, Ritter grabbed a beautifully grilled steak from an unknown sea beast and took a massive bite.
Chew.
He tore off another piece and handed it to Harley.
Chew.
Chew.
Chew.
While eating, he asked through a mouthful of food:
"Hey, Im."
"What are you planning to do after Pilurka falls?"
The question sounded casual.
But Ritter genuinely wanted to know.
This timeline was still much earlier than he expected.
The destined conflict between Im and Joy Boy had not fully arrived yet.
Still, Joy Boy's question seemed to linger over everything.
"What do you think life is worth?"
Standing by the window and staring into the dark sea beyond, Im answered almost immediately.
"Simple."
"Unification."
"And civil war."
Ritter paused mid-chew.
Then swallowed.
"Unification?"
"Civil war?"
"Heh."
"Aren't the Twenty Kings all wearing the same pair of pants?"
"What happened?"
"Planning to start fighting among yourselves?"
Im turned around.
The mask seemed to stare directly at him.
"The Twenty Kings are merely an alliance."
"A temporary coalition formed through shared interests and external pressure."
"Pilurka's existence serves as one of the bonds holding them together."
"Once that threat disappears, the fractures will surface."
"That is why I seek influence on the battlefield."
"Connections."
"Achievements."
"Status."
"I need enough prestige to create a clear hierarchy among the kings."
After a brief pause, he continued.
"Some royal families have enjoyed comfort for far too long."
"They should retain their lofty positions."
"But there must be ranks among them."
"Those who are useless should be placed where their limited talents can still be of use."
"Others possess dangerous ambitions."
"Pirates."
"Independent kingdoms."
"They will be my next targets."
His gaze settled on Ritter.
"I will ask one more time."
"I possess a method that can grant immortality."
"I can place you above millions."
"I can make you a god."
"A World Government where endless kings no longer need to argue."
Ritter listened quietly.
Then clicked his tongue.
"Damn."
"Cold-blooded."
"And straightforward."
"So this whole Pilurka campaign isn't just about eliminating a threat."
"You're using them."
"Building prestige."
"Gathering leverage."
"Preparing for the day you clean house."
He chuckled.
"Back where I'm from, the saying is usually 'one man beneath heaven, ten thousand beneath him.'"
Im neither confirmed nor denied it.
"The process is irrelevant."
"Only the result matters."
Then he looked directly at Ritter.
"You would never accept."
"I am good at reading people."
"You have no desire for authority."
"You carry the presence of a ruler."
"Which means you've tasted power before."
"But your personality makes one thing clear."
"You would never share the world with me."
Ritter grabbed another delicate pastry from the food box and tossed it into his mouth.
"Makes sense."
"You people who play politics all have dirty hearts."
"I'll find a good seat and enjoy the show."
For the first time, something seemed to flicker behind Im's calm demeanor.
"Perhaps."
"Provided that you do not become one of the unstable factors that must be removed."
Ritter burst into laughter.
Completely unconcerned.
"Then we'll see whether you've got what it takes when that day comes!"
Im said nothing more.
His figure slowly dissolved into the shadows.
Just as silently as he had arrived.
He disappeared.
Leaving only the sound of waves beyond the cabin window.
And a future conflict neither of them had any intention of avoiding.
----------------------------------
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