Imu's aura fluctuated violently. The face hidden beneath the dark mist twitched slightly, and even the overwhelming pressure surrounding him became unstable.
Even though Imu had already regarded Shirogai as a monster on the same level as himself, such ruthless mockery still struck directly at the pride of the uncrowned king who had ruled the world for a thousand years.
"The world Imu wishes to create is not..."
"Shut up. Stop trying to justify your stupidity."
Evil Thought interrupted him with a cold sneer.
"Hmph."
Evil Thought glanced sideways at Imu before slowly stepping forward. Every step caused countless demonic wails to echo through the void. Each movement birthed another demon from the darkness, until he finally stopped directly in front of Imu.
"Imu."
He tilted his head slightly. His voice sounded like a whisper crawling out of hell itself, carrying a chilling malice.
"After my true self traveled across every historical ruin in this world and gathered every Poneglyph, only one conclusion came to mind. Want to know what it was?"
"..."
Imu stared silently at Evil Thought Shirogai.
"Stupid."
Evil Thought turned around casually, completely unconcerned about exposing his back to Imu.
"The foundation of this world is stupidity."
"The justice of this world is stupid."
"The evil of this world is also stupid."
"And somehow, that perfectly fits the theory of relativity."
"If either side had even one truly rational person, this world wouldn't have become such a miserable place for ordinary people."
"Stupid?"
Imu's crimson turbine-like eyes narrowed sharply.
"Shirogai, you keep mocking this world as stupid, but aren't you also trapped within it? You're no different from the people you ridicule. You are still bound by this world, with nowhere to escape."
Imu could accept losing.
But he could not tolerate being looked down upon with such blatant contempt.
No matter what, he was still the king who had ruled this world for over a millennium.
He refused to be belittled by someone who had only lived for a few decades.
"Heh, still unconvinced?"
Evil Thought looked at Imu with naked disdain.
"Imu, what exactly do you think I've been doing this past year? Did you really think I was only causing trouble for the World Government?"
Imu's eyes narrowed further as the pressure around him intensified, clashing against the demonic aura pouring from Evil Thought.
"I know that you disguised yourself as Cero and infiltrated the Marines, becoming an Admiral at Marineford."
"Oh, so you're not completely brain dead after all. Yes, my true self did that."
Evil Thought showed no surprise.
His figure suddenly blurred into smoke before reappearing atop the throne of darkness.
"Strictly speaking, the Shirogai who became Admiral Cero was merely a version of me dominated by the personality of justice."
"A version completely opposite to my true self, and one my true self despises."
He leaned back lazily while staring at Imu with mockery.
"Do you really think you understand God King Shirogai, Imu? Do you think he's some naive fool you can manipulate at will? That by using enough dirty methods, you could eventually turn him into your perfect vessel?"
Evil Thought tilted his head slightly.
"You are pitifully stupid."
"In truth, with my true self's power, you were never qualified to stand against him."
"..."
Imu looked at Shirogai strangely.
The personality before him was completely different from every piece of intelligence the World Government had gathered.
Evil Thought sighed lightly, his gaze filled with ridicule.
"Do you really think my true self doesn't know about the little backup plans you've hidden in the shadows? Give it up, Imu. Nothing you hide can escape my true self's eyes."
He coughed lightly before grinning wickedly.
"Whether it's the ancient aircraft hidden beneath Mary Geoise after running out of energy, the Uranus weapon hidden on the moon, the authority you gained through controlling Devil Fruits, or every little scheme you've planned against my true self..."
Evil Thought smiled brilliantly.
"My true self knows all of it."
Nearby, the Five Elders were drenched in sweat.
"..."
They had definitely heard things they should never have known.
Would they be silenced after this?
...
Imu's expression finally shifted.
Could Shirogai truly know everything?
Or was he bluffing?
(Tf bro mean by 'bluff '😭')
"Still think my true self is deceiving you? You're not even worth deceiving."
Evil Thought sneered.
"If my true self had followed my methods, this world would have already returned to order a year ago."
"World Government? Eliminate them."
"Marines? Eliminate them."
"Pirates? Eliminate them."
"Anything harmful to ordinary people, erase it."
"Anything harmful to the world's order, destroy it."
He crossed his arms with a mocking grin.
"Doesn't my true self love justice? Fine, let justice rule the world."
"But justice always rots eventually."
"It twists."
"It decays."
"And then it becomes another form of injustice."
Evil Thought's voice dripped with mockery toward justice and amusement toward evil.
"My true self is simply too bored."
"Why waste time researching some perfect new order?"
"Order itself is just another product of self-righteous humans."
"If justice becomes corruption, then kill the corrupted."
"Human nature has always leaned toward evil."
"If people grow too comfortable, then throw them back into suffering."
Imu's expression darkened slightly.
Shirogai really was insane.
Suddenly, Evil Thought's expression turned cold.
"Hehehe..."
He leaned forward slightly from the throne, staring down at Imu with malicious amusement.
"So tell me, Imu. Do you know why my true self looks down on you?"
"Because you are neither kind enough nor evil enough."
"If you've chosen evil, then commit to it completely."
"Anyone capable of threatening you should have been erased long ago."
"You chose evil, but you lacked the courage to become true evil."
"You sit above the world, but you cannot actually control it."
"You wanted to manipulate the world, but instead, the world manipulated you."
"You've spent centuries reacting to outcomes you never wanted."
"Joy Boy was one example."
"Davy Jones was another."
"The more you try to suppress rebellion, the more this world creates people who oppose you."
"Everything you've suffered has been the result of this world's curse upon you."
"You never controlled this world."
"This world has always been rejecting you."
Evil Thought looked at Imu with genuine pity.
"Imu, in the end, the truth is simple."
"You're just too weak."
"..."
The Five Elders lowered their heads even further.
Lord Imu... weak?
That was Imu.
The ruler of the world.
The King of Demons.
The being who had sat atop the Empty Throne for over a thousand years.
Even Joy Boy had failed to defeat him.
Yet Shirogai called him weak without hesitation.
...
Imu remained silent.
He simply listened.
The emotions within those crimson eyes churned violently, yet none of them exploded outward.
"It's not only my true self that looks down on you."
Evil Thought smiled darkly.
"Even that justice-loving version of me despises you."
He narrowed his eyes like a fox preparing to trap its prey.
"Still, my true self is willing to give you a chance."
Imu's eyes flickered.
"What chance?"
"Hehe... hehehe..."
A sinister smile spread across Evil Thought's face.
He slowly raised a pale finger and tapped lightly against the air.
A blood-red magic formation instantly spread beneath Imu's feet.
Then, a contract covered in strange demonic text materialized before him.
"A familiar sight, isn't it? A Devil Contract, your specialty."
Evil Thought smiled wickedly.
"Imu, sign a Devil Contract with my true self."
"...Devil Contract."
The aura surrounding Imu froze instantly.
The situation had completely reversed.
For countless years, he had controlled others through Devil Contracts and Devil Fruit authority.
He had always been the one deciding the fate of others.
Yet now, he was the one being forced to sign a contract.
And the person demanding it was a fake Devil Fruit user.
It was humiliating beyond words.