Drip…
Drip—drip—
It wasn't the light sound of splashing water droplets.
Globs of golden-red magma dripped from his knuckles, finger gaps, and wrists, scorching the rock beneath his feet into dark red glass-like substance.
Akainu stood still and looked up. Unlike his blazing fists, his eyes were utterly calm, cold and profound.
"To recklessly trample upon the dignity of the World Government…"
"A dangerous individual like you cannot be left unchecked."
…
Kari waved his hand to disperse the lingering ashes of Miya, landing silently on the ravaged earth.
Looking at Akainu and Griffin beside him, his eyes slightly lowered and the corner of his mouth curled up, his expression becoming more vivid.
"I did pierce your heart, didn't I…"
…
Griffin wrapped his tattered coat around his chest to block the wind: "You, obsessed with ancient secret arts, would struggle to comprehend the technology of the new era."
…
"Perhaps…"
Kari summoned a spear from nowhere and spoke lightly.
"I've asked many people, and they all say…"
"In terms of lethality against living beings, Sakazuki should be the strongest on the seas today."
"Then let's test that out!"
Whoosh—
Kari launched a fierce assault, transforming into a roaring fire dragon as he charged forward!
…
Flap—
Shaking off his Justice Coat, Akainu stepped forward.
"Dark Hound!!"
—
—
—
Holy Land, Flower Room.
Darkness.
Not the kind of darkness devoid of light, but the 'void darkness' left behind after light is devoured.
An ethereal figure drifted through this space, like an ancient deity forgotten beyond time.
Imu.
The master of the Empty Throne, who has existed since the founding of the World Government!
He extended a finger, tracing it over a map woven from light and shadow, where the outlines of oceans and islands pulsed faintly like a heartbeat.
Scattered among the veins were faintly glowing indigo marks.
Suddenly.
One of the indigo marks on the map extinguished.
The moment it vanished, an extremely distant, faint shattering sound echoed, striking directly into the depths of Imu's consciousness.
…
Imu's finger paused over the extinguished mark. His face was like a mirror covered in eternal frost, showing no ripple of emotion.
Only those crimson eyes, marked with concentric circles, trembled slightly.
After silently gazing at the extinguished spot for three seconds, Imu lightly tapped downward with his fingertip.
Dong—
A dull bell toll pierced through layers of solid stone, traveling along an invisible channel to resonate in the minds of the Five Elders in the Room of Power.
—
In the hall of the Empty Throne, Imu's figure sat high above, naturally occupying the throne adorned with sharp blades, proclaimed as 'none can sit above'.
No greetings, no ceremonial opening.
The pinnacle of power in the World Government, the Five Elders who command the world's strongest military force…
Prostrated on the ground!!
…
Imu spoke.
Not through 'sound' transmitted through the air as understood, but directly implanted into the consciousness of the Five Elders.
"One of Imu's Deep Sea Contractors has completely vanished, along with the mark."
The bodies of the Five Elders below the throne trembled simultaneously. They understood the meaning behind Imu's words.
There are only thirteen Deep Sea Contracts in total, along with the higher-level Abyss Contracts.
Aside from the Five Elders, the remaining eight are all members of the God's Knights, who themselves are part of the "World's Weight."
For eight hundred years, there have been almost no instances of a contractor dying, except when Lord Imu actively revoked a contract.
Moreover...
This is an even more terrifying event than the death of a God's Knight.
The Deep Sea Mark has also disappeared!
This means the number of contractors has permanently decreased by one!!
...
"Lord Imu... You..."
Saint Saturn found it hard to believe and instinctively wanted to question it, but he suddenly realized how disrespectful such a thought was.
He quickly lowered his head further: "Please instruct us on how to proceed!!"
...
Imu did not respond immediately, pausing for a moment.
"Was it the Davy family, or the D... What has happened during these years of my slumber?"
Buru buru buru...
In such a solemn setting, one of the Five Elders' Den Den Mushi rang at an inappropriate time.
He initially intended to hang up but then remembered something.
He wouldn't bring his usual communication Den Den Mushi to an audience with Lord Imu—only the internal Den Den Mushi used with the God's Knights...
"Lord Imu, this may concern the Deep Sea Contractor. Please allow my rudeness!"
...
After receiving Imu's permission, he answered the Den Den Mushi.
"Saint Warcury, greetings."
A muffled man's voice came through the Den Den Mushi. Saint Warcury frowned slightly.
"Saint Sheperd, has something happened to the God's Knights?"
...
"You already know?"
Saint Sheperd, who had just been promoted to leader of the God's Knights, spoke faster: "I sent Saint Miya to track Shanks and investigate his departure from the God's Retainer Blade. I just lost contact with her."
"The last communication was from Hachinosu Island in the New World. She didn't activate the teleportation to summon me—it's too far for me to reach. Please dispatch the Marines for support immediately!"
...
...
"Is that so... How negligent, Sheperd!"
Saint Warcury said coldly: "Return to the Holy Land at once to receive punishment. Lord Imu has confirmed... a Deep Sea Contractor has died!"
"What!?"
...
"Hachinosu Island... If it's there..." Saint Nusjuro said gravely: "Before coming, Sengoku reported that Rear Admiral Griffin was pursuing the Red Hair Pirates there, and Sakazuki went to support him."
"Contact Sakazuki immediately!"
...
"We can't reach him. Try his adjutant's line!"
"No contact method? Why didn't you ask Sengoku first!"
...
...
Imu silently watched the farcical scene unfold. As the pieces of information came together, everyone understood the truth.
...
"A Lunarian tribesman hunting Celestial Dragons... Why was I not informed of such a person's existence!"
An even colder wave of consciousness exploded in the minds of the Five Elders.
Thud—
The Five Elders prostrated themselves in unison.
It was Saint Warcury who spoke: "We are incompetent, failing to foresee the situation escalating to this point... Please punish us!"
...
Fools, I brought you here to solve problems, not to receive punishments!
"Tell me every detail about this person. Connect me to the personnel on site."
The stream of consciousness grew colder with each command, abandoning communication and issuing direct orders.
...
...
The Lunarian avenger, who calls himself "Kari," has already killed several Celestial Dragons.
And opposing him, the Uchiha clan, which has existed for a thousand years in the frozen continent of Kano Country...
Imu was unfamiliar with the so-called 'Snow Uchiha'.
Had there ever been such a clan?
If so, why didn't they participate in the great war?
...
It didn't matter anymore.
"Erase Hachinosu Island. Kill all related personnel, especially that Lunarian."
...
"This..."
The Five Elders all wore troubled expressions.
Imu's pupils radiated terrifying pressure: "Can you not even accomplish this?!"
...
"Lord Imu... we will certainly strive to follow your will, it's just that..."
"That Lunarian possesses a bizarre immortal body. We've already killed him several times, but..."
The Five Elders explained Kari's abilities to Imu.
...
Having sat on the throne for eight hundred years, Imu had thought that aside from that person, no one could stir their emotions anymore.
But today...
They were truly angered by these five fools.
Didn't they say they would report everything in detail? Why did they separate the most important point?!
Stupid! So stupid!!
...
Buru buru buru...
The Den Den Mushi connected to the scene rang urgently - this was the Den Den Mushi synchronized with Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office.
A young Marine's excited voice came through.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku! Admiral Sakazuki and Rear Admiral Griffin have successfully subdued Kari!!!"