Imu's sudden departure left the Emperors Alliance momentarily unsettled, as they tried to understand why she would abandon the battlefield so abruptly.
"How is this possible..." Saint Warcury said with a grim expression, because Imu had already informed them through telepathy that Marco was still alive and had returned to Pangea Castle.
The Gorosei were equally shocked.
Imu had clearly stated moments earlier that Marco had been cast into a spacetime storm through her ability, a place no one could survive, let alone escape from. Yet now he had returned.
"Worororo, it seems Marco has come back," Kaido said with a savage grin, his Observation Haki clearly sensing Marco's presence inside Pangea Castle.
When Imu first appeared, Marco's aura had completely vanished, and even Kaido could not trace him. Now, however, that same presence had returned, proving he had somehow escaped Imu's spacetime ability.
Dragon spoke with a serious expression.
"In that case, all that remains is to deal with the enemies in front of us."
Inside Pangea Castle, within the Void Throne chamber, Marco sat on the Void Throne.
He glanced at his remaining 48,800 attribute points and decided to invest them into further strengthening his power.
His current six dimensional attributes stood as follows: Strength 42,054, Speed 24,900, Defense 43,800, Recovery 100,000, Stamina 87,100, Mental Power 61,300.
Marco allocated 20,000 points into Strength, raising it to 62,054, and 28,800 points into Speed, raising it to 53,700.
At the same time, he sensed a powerful presence rapidly approaching the castle.
He remained seated on the Void Throne, waiting.
Soon, a dark shadow emerged.
Imu had arrived.
She stood before Marco, who was sitting on the Void Throne, and the sight immediately filled her with both anger and confusion.
She had personally used spacetime magic to send him into an unknown dimension, a place even she could not guarantee survival in. Yet he was here, seated as if nothing had happened.
Even Imu herself did not know where that spacetime storm would lead. That was precisely why she had been certain Marco would never return.
Imu's voice turned cold.
"Who exactly are you?"
Marco leaned back slightly on the Void Throne with a faint, mocking expression.
"This seat is not bad. Sitting here really does feel like overlooking all beings. It is just a little too high up. I still prefer being with my companions at a banquet."
He then stood up slowly.
With a single leap, Marco descended from the elevated platform of the Void Throne and landed directly in front of Imu.
He looked at her and said coldly.
"I will not fall for your tricks again. I do not know what that ability of yours is, but that so called magic from earlier required preparation time, correct?"
Imu's eyes remained emotionless as her body began to transform.
Her red gradient hair turned completely white as strands lifted upward unnaturally.
Cracks formed across her face, splitting from forehead to jaw, giving her an increasingly demonic appearance.
Her black robe disintegrated under the pressure of her transformation, revealing a tight red leather outfit that emphasized her intimidating presence.
Red high heeled boots formed on her feet, and her overall appearance carried an overwhelming, almost oppressive aura.
Dark green scales spread across her arms, not fully covering them, but transforming them from the elbows down into monstrous devil like limbs.
A pair of dark wings erupted from her back, and a thick tail extended behind her, resembling something born from a myth rather than a human body.
Even Marco's expression turned more serious.
"So this is your ability. The power of the Devil Fruit of Satan."
Imu, now fully transformed, spoke with an even colder tone, though there was an unsettling elegance in her voice.
"You know Imu's ability?"
Marco smiled but did not answer.
Black flames ignited around his body as he observed her carefully, noting that she was no longer preparing that strange magic.
He understood now that her previous attack had required preparation time.
He would not give her that chance again.
Marco began moving slowly, circling her with measured steps.
"I am curious. That power you used earlier does not resemble Devil Fruit abilities. What exactly are you?"
Imu watched his movements closely. She understood his caution, but she also knew something had changed.
The magic she used before could no longer be activated.
That spacetime teleportation had drained her completely. In this world, there was no external magical energy for her to draw upon, only her own remaining reserves.
She could no longer use that ability freely.
"That is magic. Power from another world," Imu said without hesitation.
Her words were direct.
"Since you are also from another world, no, a soul, then why did you invade this world?"
Marco let out a cold laugh.
"You are trying the same trick again. It will not work twice."
He looked at her steadily.
"My soul may be from another world. So what? Who would believe such a thing anyway? After I defeat you, I will become the king of this world. Everything will be decided by me."
Imu did not react strongly. She had already used similar psychological tactics before, and Marco had clearly adapted.
"Indeed," she said flatly.
"Enough talking."
Marco raised his hands as Ki blades formed around them.
Now that his Armament Haki had reached Mythical level, the Ki blades were far sharper and denser than before.
"Next, you die here."
Marco surged forward instantly.
Imu responded immediately, forming a dark sphere in her palm.
"Dark Spark."
Dark energy bullets shot forward in rapid succession.
"Phoenix Sword."
Marco swung both arms, and the Ki blades expanded, shifting forms mid air.
They extended, reshaped, and transformed into a sword, then a scythe, then a hammer, each form adapting instantly to deflect the incoming attacks.
The Mythical level Armament Haki allowed his Ki blades not only to manifest externally, but to expand in range, shape, and destructive capability far beyond their original limits.
Attack, defense, and versatility all reached a new level as the battle between Marco and Imu escalated.
===
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