"Is a smile born from a fruit's power really a smile?"
Roy couldn't help but laugh at the scene before him, it reminded him of Doflamingo.
Wasn't Doflamingo the same? Seeing through everything, desperately trying to overturn it all, but his power always had limits, even being defeated by Luffy in Gear Fourth.
Luffy's will was unshakably strong. Ace had never fallen before him, but now Red-Hair appeared again after twelve years, once more shielding him just like back then.
That act ignited grief and fury inside Luffy like never before.
"I'm going to kill you!!!"
Luffy had never killed anyone before. He only ever said he would "knock his enemies flying." But with Shanks dying right in front of him, for the first time, he felt true killing intent toward Imu.
"Rage..."
Before Imu could even finish speaking, Luffy was already upon her, raising his hand and throwing a punch straight at her face.
POW!
The flames on his fist pierced through Imu's head, piercing to the other side, causing a violent explosion.
The Figarland guard, who had calmly watched Shanks die before Imu, charged forward upon seeing Luffy strike Imu, attempting to ambush Luffy from behind.
"Die, Nika!!!"
He roared, raising his saber to decapitate Luffy.
"I'm still here."
The raised blade froze midair. Behind him, darkness unfolded, and from within it a hand reached out, clamping around his throat.
"You-"
Before he could move, Roy's clawed fingertip slid across his neck.
Slash!
His head fell cleanly, cut off with nothing more than a fingernail.
"Someone like you doesn't even deserve a seat at the table," Roy's words were undoubtedly a heavy blow to the still-conscious man.
Imu had easily killed Red-Haired Shanks. Shanks had fulfilled his mission, paving a way for Luffy.
And he, wanting to help Imu, was effortlessly beheaded. Roy hadn't even used a sword.
Just a light flick of a fingernail across his neck, and his life ended just like that.
"Perhaps if I check in one more time, I could obtain Divine Might. Heh, too bad time waits for no one. If we don't kill her now, there's no future."
Roy looked up at Luffy and Imu, the two trading blows in the sky.
Imu, while fighting, glanced down at Roy. Sunlight Tree Eve in her hand had been struck by Shanks' blade, but of course, it wouldn't be destroyed that easily.
That was the Forest God that absorbed solar energy.
The first life form on this planet was probably plants. Plants appeared first, then other organisms.
The Sun Tree Eve had existed for who knows how long. Its energy was endlessly used by the Moon People. Later, Imu's appearance connected it to another world, granting it demonic power.
Through it, Devil Fruits were brought to this world.
900 years ago, Joy Boy attacked Eve, causing it to lose its energy capability, effectively disabling Uranus from being activated again.
Now, the chance bought with Shanks' life prevented her from using her divine might again.
Such a good opportunity must be used well.
Luffy, filled with rage, pummeled her. In Imu's eyes, Luffy wasn't much. She could see it now; Luffy was all passion, his actual strength just so-so.
No real power, all emotion.
The one who truly felt dangerous to her was still Roy. Like a venomous snake, striking to kill, giving her no chance.
Even while fighting Luffy, her attention remained on Roy.
Luffy noticed this and grew even angrier.
"Don't look down on me!" Luffy clenched his fist and threw a punch. It enlarged mid-air, Conqueror's Hak wrapping around his fist. A black-red Conqueror's Haki energy pulse slammed forward.
"Useless! Nullifying Darkness!"
Imu raised her hand. Dark water surged, attempting to forcibly nullify Luffy's Conqueror's Haki.
BOOM!
Conqueror's Haki met darkness. Luffy taught Imu a lesson. Without Eve in hand, she lacked the Divine Might needed to suppress their Conqueror's Haki.
The might of Conqueror's Haki was higher than Devil Fruit abilities. That's what Teacher Kaido once said.
Conqueror's Haki surpassed fruit abilities. Powerful figures like Roger and Shanks had no fruit abilities, yet their strength was immense.
The power of darkness absorbed everything. The reason Imu could defeat the Moon People was because Eve chose her and granted her power.
Now, with Eve's power weakened twice, this was Imu at her weakest.
She proudly believed darkness countered abilities, but never expected Luffy's Conqueror's Haki to directly shatter her ability.
POW!
Imu's palm was breached. A fist struck her chest.
"Good chance!"
Roy saw the opportunity. Clearly, Imu never expected this from Luffy, and this time, no one was helping her.
The reason she could kill Joy Boy 900 years ago was that besides Imu, nineteen others joined in ganging up on him.
But Joy Boy still desperately managed to damage Eve, cutting off most of its energy, leaving that straw hat behind on Mary Geoise in the end.
Now, Imu was one against two. Though Luffy's Conqueror's Haki hadn't reached Joy Boy's level yet.
But Roy's had.
A dark shadow, like a swimming snake, rapidly approached Imu. Imu endured the pain and opened her eyes. She sensed danger; darkness was nearing her.
"That guy is here."
Imu's eyes snapped open. Roy appeared boldly behind her, gripping a large axe with both hands.
As for where the axe came from, need it be said? Naturally, drawn out by Roy's ability.
The large axe, carrying a dark aura, was wrapped in terrifying Conqueror's Haki.
At this moment, Roy's Haki was fully unleashed. Instantly, the entire sea area was impacted.
"Hey, what's wrong with all of you?"
On a ship approaching the area, everyone except the captain had fainted.
He seemed unaffected by the Conqueror's Haki. He was the only one on the entire ship still conscious.
"Conqueror's Haki... It's Roy's, right? Good chance. As long as I get the Poneglyph, I can become the Pirate King."
As he spoke, his body began to split, silently approaching Lodestar.
Meanwhile, Imu discovered in panic that Luffy's body had already entangled her.
She couldn't move easily. She could only watch as Roy's axe came down upon her.
"Sky Cleaver!"
Roy raised the axe high. At this moment, the fully released Conqueror's Haki caused everyone without Conqueror's Haki themselves to faint.
"Die!"
The axe fell heavily!!!