Swish!
The arrow-like tail hidden behind Imu slashed through the air like a divine blade, instantly shattering the crimson contract magic circle behind him.
At the same moment, an indescribable wave of Conqueror's Haki erupted from Imu's body, so overwhelming that the entire Holy Land of Mary Geoise seemed to freeze in terror.
In an instant, countless people across Mary Geoise collapsed to their knees, trembling uncontrollably.
"Yo!"
Evil Thought Shirogai looked down at the fully unleashed Imu with wicked amusement, completely unaffected by the terrifying pressure.
"Hehe, Imu, destroying the contract already? Let me warn you, you'll regret refusing the first version of that deal."
"Enough, Shirogai."
Imu's expression turned ice-cold. Slowly, he reached toward his shoulder while speaking to the Five Elders, who had barely regained control of themselves beneath the crushing force of his Haki.
"Back away. Do not get caught in the battle between me and Shirogai."
"Yes, Lord Imu!"
The Five Elders immediately retreated in panic, escaping to what they believed was a safe distance.
Whoosh!
The strange robe covering Imu was tossed into the air before fluttering onto the ground.
Crack!!!!
A massive demonic magic circle instantly appeared above Mary Geoise.
At the same time, a terrifying aura of despair spread through the heavens like the end of the world itself.
Boom!!!!!!
Inside Mary Geoise...
On the Thousand Sunny...
Sanji and Zoro successfully defeated the old man wielding the Close-Close Fruit weapon and the old woman using the Refraction-Refraction Fruit weapon.
Luffy had also defeated a Zoan user capable of manipulating black flames.
The rest of the Straw Hats pushed back the remaining Celestial Dragon guards and servants without difficulty.
Elsewhere, several Supernova crews had already breached the city and were preparing to continue deeper into Mary Geoise on foot.
Then suddenly...
Everyone sensed it.
A horrifying aura erupted from the tallest building in the Holy Land.
Swish!
Kid leaped onto a rooftop, surrounded by the corpses of Celestial Dragon guards.
"This aura is insane!"
Metal gathered around his arms through magnetism, forming massive iron fists as he stared toward Pangaea Castle with wide eyes.
"Hey... you've gotta be kidding me."
"This pressure... is that a Devil Fruit awakening?!"
"It's way too overwhelming!"
Luffy pressed down his straw hat while stretching his neck toward the castle.
"What a crazy aura... Is that our enemy?"
Law frowned deeply.
"Something feels wrong."
"A strange presence swept across the island earlier, but this one..."
"It's even worse."
...
Woooooo!!!
In an instant, the entire chamber transformed into something resembling a demonic realm.
Everything inside the room gained a strange pitch-black sheen.
Tables twisted.
Chairs writhed.
Even the plants mutated into grotesque demonic creatures.
"Wuaaa..."
"Woooooo..."
The monsters cried out in distorted agony.
Imu had completely abandoned all disguise, revealing his true form before Evil Thought Shirogai.
Crack!!!!
Beneath the black clouds filled with swirling crimson eyes...
A figure slowly opened his blood-red pupils.
Long silver-white hair drifted behind him.
His bare upper body was covered in white circular markings.
Massive black horns curved upward from his head, radiating overwhelming dominance.
His expression held no trace of human emotion.
"Shirogai!!!"
Imu stared directly at Evil Thought Shirogai seated upon the throne.
His voice sounded ancient, almost divine.
"Come."
"Fight me."
"I want to see whether the strength you boast about is truly enough to crush me."
Swish!!!
The enormous black wings behind Imu suddenly spread open.
Black demonic flames mixed with floating crimson eyes erupted around his body.
His sharp tail swayed like a venomous serpent, aimed directly at Shirogai's vital points.
"Demon Blade."
The ancient words left Imu's mouth softly.
A massive amount of demonic energy condensed before him, forming a gigantic serrated black polearm engulfed in black flames.
Hum!
The weapon radiated terrifying sharpness.
Its murderous aura alone made the air feel heavy.
The blade resembled Whitebeard's Murakumogiri, though the edge possessed several jagged curves that made it appear even more monstrous.
Imu gripped the Demon Blade tightly.
Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle!!!
Pitch-black Armament Haki instantly wrapped around the weapon, causing the Five Elders to retreat even farther in fear.
Whoosh!
Imu raised the blade toward Evil Thought Shirogai.
"Shirogai."
"Show me your strength."
Swish!
Before his words even finished, Imu disappeared.
Only an afterimage remained where he once stood.
The next instant, he appeared directly in front of the throne like a phantom.
The Demon Blade flashed downward.
Slash!!!!
The strike instantly sliced through Evil Thought's head.
"Demon Slash!"
But Imu did not stop there.
He spun violently and swung the Demon Blade toward another Evil Thought Shirogai that had appeared behind him while laughing eerily.
"Demonic Energy, Evil Bullet."
Black flames condensed in Imu's free hand, transforming into a twisted demonic creature before exploding toward Shirogai.
Boom!!!!
The attack detonated instantly upon contact.
Massive black flames swallowed Evil Thought entirely.
Sizzle! Sizzle!
The explosion released violent heat mixed with black lightning from Conqueror's Haki, tearing apart everything nearby.
Tap.
Imu slowly descended from the air.
The black wings on his back flapped gently amidst the roaring flames.
"Is that all?"
He frowned slightly while staring at the explosion.
"Shirogai."
"Do you not dare to fight me?"
Woooooo...
Suddenly, the explosion stopped expanding.
The white smoke filling the room became unnaturally cold.
An eerie chill swept across the battlefield, freezing even the soul itself.
The Five Elders shuddered instinctively.
They could not even gather the courage to resist.
Then...
Evil Thought Shirogai slowly walked out of the smoke completely unharmed.
"Unlike that battle maniac obsessed with justice, I've never enjoyed pointless fighting."
He stretched lazily before letting out a yawn.
"If it's just a simple exchange of blows, it's boring."
"I prefer slaughter."
"The smell of death is far more entertaining."
"Whew..."
He rolled his neck slightly before grinning.
"Imu, I'm about to attack now."
"You'd better be caref..."
Bang!!!!
Before he could even finish speaking, a bizarre white mist blade suddenly appeared in front of Imu with impossible speed.
"Hehehehe..."
Evil Thought's demonic laughter echoed throughout the chamber.
"Looks like I accidentally killed you."