"Imu's ability was forcibly interrupted..."
Deep within the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, inside Pangea Castle, in the Flower Room, a dark figure trembled.
"That swordsman, Roronoa Zoro... to think he could resist part of Imu's power."
Imu slowly rose, a trace of surprise flashing across its blood-red eyes.
"I did not expect a swordsman of this level to emerge in this era. And Joy Boy has appeared again... Is this all coincidence, or is it connected to Shirogai?"
Now, in Imu's eyes, those troublesome figures from centuries past no longer mattered.
Only Shirogai remained.
"It does not matter, as long as the plan succeeds."
Imu narrowed its gaze at the wanted poster hanging before it.
"If I obtain the body of Shirogai, if I take control of his body that contains countless abilities, replace him, and become him..."
Its eyes sharpened like a predator observing prey.
"His ability to replicate what he sees, combined with my power to control hearts and dominate all living beings."
"At that point, the entire world will fall under my control. And my gaze will no longer be limited to this planet."
Imu slowly lifted its head, as if seeing beyond the sky itself.
"I will become the ruler of the universe. The true deity. The creator of everything."
The thought pushed its ambition into a feverish state.
"As long as everything proceeds according to plan."
Imu shifted its attention away from the wanted poster.
"CP-0 is already in motion, and Akainu's side has achieved its objective. Now, all that remains is to wait."
It believed failure was impossible.
Ever since Shirogai entered its sight, Imu had been watching him closely.
As a being that had existed since before the First Era, it had seen countless powers.
Every ability in this world had either served it or been destroyed by it.
Yet Shirogai was different.
From curiosity, to shock, to disbelief, and now obsession.
"A power that integrates the abilities of the strong into one?"
Imu's eyes flickered.
"No... perhaps it is not even a Devil Fruit ability."
"According to the information gathered, Shirogai shows no weakness to Sea Stone, nor fear of the sea."
"And the Seraphim created from his blood did not display any Paramecia-type ability either."
"His Conqueror's Haki is impressive, and his combat instincts are sharp, but that alone does not explain everything."
"It is far inferior to the original, the God King Shirogai."
"Hmm?"
Imu suddenly frowned and turned toward the direction of Elbaf.
"The plan has changed. Verglas's main body has been attacked, and the contract has been obscured by an unknown force. I will need time to regain control."
"Shirogai... is this your doing again?"
Despite the suspicion, Imu remained unconcerned.
"Even so, the plan continues. You cannot escape."
Its gaze returned to the wanted poster.
"Your body, your power, everything you possess will belong to me. This future is inevitable."
"I have seen it."
"And I have seen the day you fall under my control."
...
Elbaf.
"Monster... he is a true monster!"
The CP-0 squad that attempted to exploit the moment, hoping to capture the Straw Hat crew while Shirogai was supposedly trapped in Verglas's dreamscape, had completely failed.
They had barely approached before being greeted by the smiling figure of the God King himself.
"Damn it, his real body was never trapped in the dream!"
"Retreat! Move now!"
"Hmph. So this is the so-called strongest man in the world? I will test him myself!"
CP-0 No Name intended to retreat, but one reckless agent ignored the order and charged forward.
The result was immediate devastation.
Now only three remained uninjured.
Among them was No Name.
Crunch.
A single hand gripped the neck of a massive CP-0 agent, lifting him like a helpless animal.
"I consumed the Masira Fruit, Ancient Zoan, Giant Strength Ape Model! Even the Force-Force Fruit cannot match my power!"
The man roared as his body shifted between human form and a towering blue-black ape dozens of meters tall.
Yet no matter how he transformed, he could not escape that hand.
"So strong... even stronger than the legends..."
Despair filled his face.
"I thought I could at least stall you... buy time for my comrades..."
But reality crushed him.
In a single exchange, Shirogai had seized him by the neck and used him as a weapon, smashing aside anyone who dared approach.
He could not resist.
He could not escape.
The difference in power was absolute.
"This is impossible... the gap is too large... this is impos..."
"Noisy."
Shirogai smiled faintly and tightened his grip.
Crack.
"This... is... impos..."
The man's voice faded as his neck snapped completely.
Even in death, his eyes remained wide open, unable to accept the truth.
Bang.
Shirogai casually tossed the corpse aside.
"Is this all Imu sent? Just a few CP-0 agents... No Name?"
He looked toward the CP-0 officer with the forgettable face.
"We never intended to fight you directly."
No Name did not even glance at the corpse.
To him, that fool had only doomed the entire mission.
"I spared you once before," Shirogai said with a slight smile. "So how do you want to die this time, No Name?"
To the remaining agents, that smile felt colder than death itself.