Imu ignored the Four Elders' shouting and continued to delve deeper into the memory.
He skipped past the scene where Caelan overpowered everyone with his Conqueror's Haki and moved forward.
Robot Emet attacked Caelan, blaming him for destroying the gift Joy Boy had left him.
And then… and then…
Joy Boy was resurrected?
As Imu looked at the Straw Hat Giant gradually taking shape in the memory, his eyes widened.
Huh?
He was certain that Joy Boy had been killed eight hundred years ago, and even the Nika Fruit only carried part of Joy Boy's abilities.
Joy Boy's iconic giant straw hat was still lying underground in Pangaea Castle.
But now, the long-dead Joy Boy was slowly forming a body, complete with clothing.
Even the straw hat reappeared, identical to the one hidden below Pangaea Castle, only newer.
Imu focused on the changes in the memory, wanting to confirm if the condensed figure was truly Joy Boy.
Finally, the figure in the memory fully took form, shouting "Imu" with rage and releasing an overwhelming Conqueror's Haki.
Through the memory, Imu could sense the familiar aura. That was definitely Joy Boy. He couldn't be mistaken.
But compared to Caelan's Conqueror's Haki, the aura from Joy Boy was no longer enough to make him feel fear through the memory.
Resurrecting Joy Boy, who died eight hundred years ago?
How could that be possible?
Imu was shaken.
He could only extend one's life, not bring back the dead. That was absolute.
But he had witnessed it with his own eyes—Caelan resurrected someone, and that someone was his greatest enemy, Joy Boy. This could not be faked.
Was it some kind of Devil Fruit ability?
A power that could bring people back from the dead and wield the God Slayer Spear?
That shouldn't exist. No Devil Fruit should be capable of such things.
Devil Fruits were born from humanity's desire for evolution. They could not break the fundamental rules of the world. Just like no matter how powerful a Devil Fruit ability was, it was still nullified by seawater.
The Nika Fruit, which could turn imagination into reality, and his own Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit were already the limits of what the sea could produce.
Imu forced down the shock in his heart and continued scanning the memory, trying to find the source and weakness of Caelan's ability.
He slowed the memory to one-fifth speed, observing Caelan's every movement, unwilling to miss a single frame.
In the memory, Caelan was preparing to use his Conqueror's Haki to counter Joy Boy's Haki.
Imu frowned and clipped a short segment.
But afraid of missing vital information, he cut too small of a piece.
In the memory, Caelan's Haki overwhelmed Joy Boy's like a gust of wind scattering fallen leaves.
Boom!
That remaining image made Imu instinctively clutch his chest.
His expression darkened as he forced himself to continue watching the rest.
He saw Joy Boy fall to his knees at Caelan's command.
The once proud and unrestrained Joy Boy knelt down without resistance. No, it wasn't that he didn't want to resist. He simply couldn't.
Both Joy Boy and the ancient robot ultimately submitted to Caelan.
Then Caelan killed Garling and dispelled the yellow sand world, while the remaining black energy returned to him.
The scene ended there, but Imu's heart was still trembling.
After Caelan enhanced his Conqueror's Haki, Imu realized he had no chance left.
Now that Joy Boy had returned too, how could he possibly fight?
His greatest enemy from eight hundred years ago had been resurrected, and now served the greatest enemy of the current era. The situation could not be worse.
Joy Boy was powerful and knew nearly all of Imu's secrets.
Imu's eyes darkened as his mind slipped into chaos.
Never before had the Void Palace under his feet felt so cold.
This was no longer the seat of global power. It was a steel cage that had begun to close in.
"Lord Imu, what happened?"
Seeing that Imu was lost in thought, Saint Saturn cautiously asked.
"…"
Imu waved his hand, projecting the memory in front of the Four Elders.
Caelan using Joy Boy's stored Conqueror's Haki to break through. The resurrection of Joy Boy. Reclaiming Joy Boy's loyalty. Killing Garling with a single Haki-infused slash…
After watching, Saturn, Nusjuro, and the others turned pale, their bodies trembling with fear.
It was terrifying. Beyond terrifying.
That monster could still grow stronger, even though he was already invincible.
And Joy Boy, the great enemy from eight hundred years ago, had returned as Caelan's subordinate?
Saturn and Nusjuro, being the longest-living of the Five Elders, understood Joy Boy's terror better than the two newly promoted ones from the Knights of God.
That man had once been the most unmatched force in the world.
The scene of Caelan slaying Garling with his Haki still echoed in their minds.
As expected, in the face of a Conqueror's Haki that surpassed Joy Boy's, the immortality bestowed by Imu was rendered completely useless.
At that moment, Imu turned to the two newly appointed Elders from the Knights of God and said coldly, "I'm taking back your power."
As he spoke, deep black energy was drawn from their bodies.
Seeing this, Saturn and Nusjuro were struck with terror and immediately knelt to the floor.
They had lived far beyond their natural lifespan, entirely due to Imu's immortality.
If that power was taken from them, they would turn to ash and bone on the spot.
"Lord Imu, what are you doing?"
The two who lost their immortality were stunned and questioned Imu in disbelief.
They had received the power of immortality only days ago and hadn't even enjoyed its benefits yet.
They were truly unwilling to lose it so soon.
"Are you questioning me?"
Imu's gaze was icy.
"We wouldn't dare. We were out of line."
The two immediately dropped to their knees and admitted fault.
"Good." Imu nodded slightly and explained, "Caelan and Joy Boy can both bypass my power. It's meaningless for the two of you to have immortality."
He had initially granted them that power in hopes they could block Caelan's God Slayer Spear.
But now that Caelan could nullify immortality with just his Haki, there was no point in leaving that power in their bodies.
It was better to reclaim it and conserve his own strength.
As for Saturn and Nusjuro, if he withdrew their power now, they would die on the spot. They were still useful at admiral level, so he would deal with them during the final battle.
"…"
The two Elders who had risen from the Knights of God silently held their resentment.
No matter how Imu justified it, the fact was that immortality had at least given them a better chance at survival.
Only Caelan and Joy Boy could nullify it. Without immortality, even Caelan's subordinates could take them down.
But out of fear of Imu, they dared not say anything.
Saturn and Nusjuro shared the same sentiment.
They knew the immortality that sustained their lives would eventually be reclaimed. That would be the moment they died.
But they didn't want to die.
Imu, who was now teetering on the edge of madness, didn't care what anyone thought.
He said coldly, "Prepare the sacrifice and activate the National Treasure."
"While Caelan and Joy Boy remain on Egghead, destroy Dressrosa."
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)