Chapter 86 – The Tale of Imu-sama
The figure standing before Tachibana Kyūjō—Imu-sama—was cloaked in a veil of dark, mysterious fog.
Meanwhile, Infinity, Kyūjō's limitless sensory support system, had yet to fully finish loading its newly installed module.
In this uncertain state, Kyūjō wasn't about to act recklessly.
He held back, choosing patience over aggression. Instead of swinging his blade, he sharpened his words.
"I am Tachibana Kyūjō, the Fourth Admiral of the Navy—Azure Dragon.
Whether you've heard my name or not doesn't matter."
That simple introduction caught Imu off guard. A faint nod followed, and the single, crimson eye flickered with subtle curiosity.
"So, you're the one they spoke of... a soldier of the Navy.
Strange though... they told me you weren't a Devil Fruit user."
Imu leaned forward, peering deeper into Kyūjō's very being.
"And yet… I sense something inside you… Donar.
What's more, it hasn't devoured your soul.
Human, you carry quite the secret, don't you?"
Imu paused briefly, brows furrowed. Then he shook his head.
"No… Donar shouldn't be like this…"
Kyūjō raised an eyebrow, puzzled.
What is this supposed to mean?
Is he assuming I've eaten a Devil Fruit just because he senses something called Donar inside me? Then what does that imply? Do all Devil Fruits truly house a being known as a 'demon'? If that's the case, then Donar… what Fruit does he represent?
But I've never eaten any Devil Fruit at all…
Or… is this just a mind game?
Kyūjō's mind spun with dizzying speed, a storm of theories flashing through him.
If Imu's words were true, then something named Donar resided in his body. But if that were the case, why hadn't Infinity detected it? Was it something beyond the system's normal scope—only visible with a specific "plugin"?
And if so, wasn't that already a clue?
Old memories stirred.
He recalled a wild fan theory from his past life—about Imu, from One Piece.
A theory that sounded absurd at the time… but now?
His entire body shuddered for a moment.
But he calmed himself, steadying his breathing, fingers tightening around the hilt of Rairyūken.
His gaze cut through the fog, locking onto the one-eyed shadow.
"So… who is Donar really?
And you—Imu—what are you?
Are you still human?
Or… are you all demons residing in Devil Fruits?"
As the last word left his lips, Kyūjō's hand clenched tighter around his blade.
His entire frame tensed, as though his body had become a drawn bow ready to release lightning itself.
Imu slowly raised his pale, jade-like hands and clapped softly—tap… tap… tap.
Then came the voice—gentle and eerie, like cold wind brushing against the ear.
"Human, you're not far off.
As for Donar…
He's a demon—one who represents the power of lightning.
You can probably guess what Fruit he's tied to, right?
Yes… the Rumble-Rumble Fruit—Goro Goro no Mi."
A faint smile curled on Imu's lips.
"As for me… I'm no longer sure. Can I still be called human?
If you dislike the name 'Imu'—a name tied to my human past—you may call me something else.
The name of the demon within—Azazel."
The fog around him trembled slightly as his voice continued to echo.
"And regarding your theory earlier… you were mistaken.
We weren't demons that inhabited the Fruits…
Rather, the Fruits came from me."
— — —
The figure—who spoke far more than Kyūjō had expected—began to recount a tale from eight hundred years ago.
Whether out of boredom or a genuine desire to speak, Imu's voice unraveled the world's deepest secrets.
As his story unfolded, Kyūjō began to understand a terrifying truth hidden beneath the surface of the world.
Time ticked onward.
Sengoku and the Navy were surely preparing their assault on Mary Geoise.
Only after Imu finished his long monologue did Kyūjō finally exhale.
He looked up at the one-eyed being.
Despite learning the name "Azazel," he still chose to call him Imu—the name that, in Kyūjō's eyes, reflected the last shred of humanity within.
"So… you abandoned your humanity just to chase immortality?
I still don't get it. Why did you create those twisted creatures known as the Celestial Dragons?
Was it just to make it easier to control the world?"
Kyūjō shook his head, voice rising.
"But that's not what happened!
Despite eight hundred years of rule, how many times has this world plunged into chaos because of the Celestial Dragons?
How many conflicts could've been avoided?"
He stepped forward, eyes blazing.
"I'm sure you've intervened countless times over the centuries.
But every time you suppress resistance, it grows stronger.
Eventually, it will surpass even your might."
"And when that day comes, the power you tried to crush will be the very thing that destroys you—along with this rotten world you built.
You know this, Imu. So why? Why keep walking the path opposite of mankind?"
Kyūjō's voice gradually softened.
He placed one hand on the sheath of Rairyūken, the other stroking his chin thoughtfully as he paced slowly.
Then he stopped.
"Imu."
His voice was sharp—like a sword being drawn.
"Or is there something more?
Something forcing your hand?
Something… tied to your immortality?"
His eyes gleamed like sharpened steel, locking directly onto Imu's giant single eye.
In that moment, it was as if Sherlock Holmes, Edogawa Conan, and every fictional genius detective had merged within him.
All the pieces connected.
— — —
And it turned out—he was right.
Imu had allowed the Celestial Dragons to rise and rule.
He'd made them gods who oppressed humanity…
All for the sake of immortality.
Demons could live forever.
But Devil Fruit users could not.
Yet Imu—a hybrid of man and demon—had found a way.
Why could demons live forever?
Because their food was the human soul.
For over eight hundred years, Imu had devoured the souls of men.
But not just any souls.
Only those rich in emotion granted him strength.
And the easiest emotions to harvest?
Fear. Hatred. Grief. Rage.
All of which could be systematically farmed through the Celestial Dragon system.
In Mary Geoise, negative emotions were harvested nonstop.
And the souls of the tortured—of slaves who died in agony—became Imu's feast.
That was the true reason behind the World Government's legal slave trade.
The Celestial Dragons bought and hoarded slaves from every corner of the world.
Here in Mary Geoise, countless innocent souls perished in torment.
Their suffering—raw, pure, intense—became fuel for Imu's eternal life.
— — —
Hearing Kyūjō's deductions, Imu's expression finally shifted for the first time.
Shock.
The one-eyed gaze flickered, reflecting ancient wisdom—light from the earliest of mankind.
But that surprise soon turned to shame.
Shame… for being outwitted by a mere human.
And from shame… came fury.
Rage flooded through him.
Kyūjō noticed.
He briefly glanced at the indicator in his mind—Infinity's loading bar.
Only 0.6% left.
He diverted the conversation quickly.
"Imu, tell me—what's the truth behind the D. Clan?
What of the Nika Fruit and Joy Boy's fate?"
Imu's eye narrowed.
"Even Joy Boy…?
You truly are fascinating, human.
Curious? Very well. I'll tell you."
Kyūjō's brow twitched.
He's actually answering? He must think I'm helpless now. That my life's already in his hands...
He gave a faint smile.
Alright then. Go ahead and talk.
Let's see if your power is as big as your ego.
He glanced once more at the Infinity progress bar—just a sliver away from full.
— — —
"According to your historians, the D. Clan are humans with the 'D' initial—destined enemies of the gods."
Imu scoffed.
"But the original text was different.
The true line read:
'In the end, the ones who shall destroy the demons… are D.'"
"I changed it.
And truth be told, the D. Clan aren't pure humans.
They've existed since 800 years ago."
Imu looked down for a moment… then up again.
"I am also one of them.
My real name is Gocilia D. Imu."
"Do you know how the D. Clan came to be?
Once, this world had no such thing.
They were born thousands of years ago—when demons first arrived here."
"They're hybrids—born from unions between humans and demons who took human form.
They looked human… but were hunted by both sides.
To humans, they were impure.
To demons, they were prey."
"So both sides branded them as 'D.'
Thankfully, the world was vast. The bloodline endured."
"Centuries passed, and the D. Clan rose.
To fight demons, they studied their powers.
And then, by fate or divine gift… they discovered Haki."
"Yes.
The D. Clan were the original masters of the Three Colors of Haki.
Once they learned to wield it, their strength surged.
Even demons and humans sought their alliance."
"And the rest… you know.
The D. Clan sided with mankind.
Together, they waged war on the demons.
Thus, Haki spread to all of humanity."
"Demons tried to mimic it, of course.
But for reasons unknown, their versions were far weaker.
Except… for one."
Imu's eye glinted.
"A prophet among demons—Hakutaku."
"He couldn't grasp Armament or Conqueror's Haki, but Observation Haki?
His talent was unmatched."
"You can see glimpses of the future, right?
Now imagine someone who could see a thousand years ahead."
"At first, no one believed him.
Even I, knowing his nature, doubted him.
But one by one…
His prophecies came true."
Kyūjō looked at Imu with a strange expression.
This person—no, this being—had two natures inside.
Sometimes human.
Sometimes demon.
And maybe… that was only natural.
He shook the thought from his head and asked:
"So?
What did he prophesy, this… Hakutaku?"
— — —
Silence.
Then, Imu raised his head again.
His single eye blazed red—boiling with rage and bloodlust.
Kyūjō straightened his posture.
At that exact moment—
Infinity finished installing.
The specialized anti-Imu module snapped into place.
As the system swept over Imu's body, Kyūjō's eyes widened.
That entire battle of words…
I actually won.
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