"Hmm? I didn't expect you to uncover even this much."
Imu glanced at Shirogai with visible surprise.
The truth behind Tot Musica was supposed to be known only to Imu alone.
"Just coincidence."
Shirogai smiled faintly as he spoke.
"I happened to come across information about a user of the Sing Sing Fruit while reading through some ancient records."
As his voice fell, an old weathered dark yellow book slowly materialized in the air.
It was one of the surviving historical texts preserved from Ohara.
Across the cover, several faded words were written.
"Island Notes, Random Jottings."
The book belonged to an adventurer who once sailed across the seas, recording everything he witnessed during his travels.
Rustle... rustle...
The ancient pages flipped automatically before finally stopping at a carefully sketched illustration.
It portrayed a magnificent performance taking place inside an ancient castle.
The artist's drawing skills were exceptional.
Every detail of the luxurious stage could be seen clearly.
At the center stood a man with curly blond hair, dressed in an extravagant performance outfit patterned like pudding, while a hat decorated with musical notes rested on his head.
With his eyes closed, he sang passionately toward the audience.
Below the stage sat countless nobles dressed in luxurious clothing.
Their faces were filled with intoxicated smiles as they listened to the performance in complete fascination.
Floating from the singer's mouth were colorful musical symbols drifting across the castle like living melodies.
The notes danced through the air, spreading throughout the crowd and beyond the castle walls.
Beneath the sketch, several lines of text had been scribbled by the adventurer.
"This performance was absolutely incredible!"
"Master Tot Musica's singing has surpassed the limits of humanity itself. Perhaps this is a realm only gods can touch!"
"To witness this concert personally, I can die without regrets!"
...
"ᛗ ᛁ ᛖ ᚾ ᛖ ᚷ ᛟ ᚾ ᚷ ᛁ ᛖ ᚲ ᚷ ᛁ ᛖ ᚲ ♪ Ψ ♪~~"
The desperate and distorted singing continued echoing throughout the dream world, filling the surroundings with despair and unease.
"What this book recorded..."
Shirogai floated calmly in the air while glancing at the image of the blond singer.
Then his eyes shifted downward toward the gigantic demon rampaging across the dreamscape below.
Black wings spread from the monster's back while enormous piano key claws tore apart entire fragments of the dream world.
The creature continued singing in twisted whispers as destruction spread everywhere.
Shirogai's expression carried a trace of pity.
"The monster before us now, Tot Musica..."
"Was once an actual human being."
"A Devil Fruit user."
"A hymn powerful enough to overturn death itself ♪ Ψ ♪"
"Eek!!"
"Eek!!"
On a shattered fragment of the dreamscape, two familiar cowards hid nervously behind a pile of debris.
"Chopper, did you hear that?!"
Usopp covered his mouth in disbelief.
The oversized Emperor crew outfit on his body was completely soaked and terribly ill fitting, especially the ridiculous words "Liar God King" stitched across the back.
His entire body trembled as he stared at the gigantic monster in the distance.
"Shirogai just said that thing used to be a Devil Fruit user?!"
"S..so terrifying!!"
Behind him, Chopper shivered so hard his teeth clattered together.
"C...could all Devil Fruit users eventually become monsters?!"
Usopp instinctively fired back.
"Then why are you scared? People already used to call you a monster!"
"Wahhh!! Damn you, Usopp!"
Chopper clenched his tiny fists angrily.
...
Accompanied by Uta's desperate singing, Tot Musica silently roared.
Dark melodies spread throughout the nightmare world as countless note demons continued appearing around it.
Rustle... rustle...
The ancient book flipped once more before stopping near the final pages.
Messy handwriting covered the paper, clearly showing the writer's unstable mental state.
"Everything beautiful was destroyed during that night's concert."
"I saw it happen with my own eyes."
"Why did this happen?"
"Can humans really transform into monsters like this?"
"Poor Master Tot Musica... was he cursed by the gods?"
"Were the gods jealous of his singing?"
The accompanying sketch showed a ruined island beneath a full moon.
A terrifying creature floated in the sky with black demonic wings spread wide.
Its curly blond hair remained recognizable, but its body had become grotesque and monstrous.
Sharp jagged teeth filled its twisted grin as it continued singing madly.
"ᚷ ᚨ ᚺ, ᛉ ᚨ ᚾ, ᛏ ᚨ ᚲ, ᚷ ᚨ ᚺ, ᛉ ᚨ ᚾ, ᛏ ᚨ ᛏ, ᛏ ᚨ ᛏ, ᛒ ᚱ ᚨ ᚲ ♪ Ψ ♪..."
The once colorful musical symbols had transformed into black notes overflowing with destruction, pain, despair, and death.
Surrounding the creature were countless bizarre note monsters dancing along with the horrifying melody.
...
"This book came from Ohara, that sinful land which should have vanished from history entirely."
Imu stared coldly at the floating book.
The black shadowy figure twisted unnaturally while speaking.
"What an irritating group."
"Even after death, they continue causing trouble for Imu."
"Why can't humans simply remain obedient?"
"Why must these inferior creatures insist on uncovering forbidden history?"
"Because that's human nature."
Shirogai smiled casually.
"If humanity lacked curiosity and the desire to seek truth, humans would never have evolved into what they are today."
His silver eyes narrowed slightly.
"So this user of the Sing Sing Fruit, Tot Musica..."
"He became a demon because of you."
"That was merely one of Imu's experiments from long ago."
A cold smile spread across Imu's crimson lips.
"Imu once sought to create a New World inhabited entirely by gods."
"As the Creator, Imu naturally possesses the authority to create divine servants."
"That singer was fortunate enough to receive Imu's gift."
Imu looked toward the gigantic demon roaring throughout the dreamscape while dark songs echoed endlessly around it.
Then the shadowy figure slowly shook its head.
"Unfortunately..."
"Humans are nothing more than inferior lifeforms."
"He failed to withstand Imu's gift."