The silence in Pangaea Castle's throne room was absolute, a physical weight pressing down on Imu. The cold stone beneath him felt less like a seat of power and more like a slab in a tomb. He forced his gaze away from the shadowed forms of the Five Elders - Saint Marcus Mars, Saint Topman Warcury, Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, Saint Shepherd Ju Peter, and Saint Jaygarcia Saturn – their bowed heads radiating unnerving devotion. He needed information. He needed to understand the scale of the disaster he'd inherited.
"Status," Imu commanded. The word felt alien in his mouth, thin and reedy, lacking the resonant authority it should have possessed. He cleared his throat, trying to inject steel into his voice. "Report. The current state of the world. All significant threats."
Saint Marcus Mars, lifted his head slightly. His voice, when it came, was a dry rasp, like stone grating against stone. "Imu-sam, the world is more chaotic than ever. The Great Pirate Era accelerates beyond all projections. The Emperors remain entrenched, their territories expanding, their conflicts growing more destructive."
Saint Topman Warcury, whose bearing suggested immense physical power even beneath the robes, took up the report. "Kaido of the Beasts fortifies Wano, turning it into an impregnable fortress. Big Mom seeks alliances through political marriage, expanding her influence. Red-Haired Shanks maintains an unsettling neutrality, yet we cannot take him lightly. And Whitebeard… the Whitebeard," Warcury spat the name, "is still standing top of the sea."
Imu nodded, a knot of dread tightening in his stomach. He knew this. He knew it. But hearing it spoken aloud, in this place, by these figures, made it terrifyingly real. "The Revolutionary Army?" he pressed, his voice barely steady.
Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, stepped forward slightly. "Dragon, continues to consolidate power in the South Blue and Grand Line. His influence spreads like poison. Sabo, the number two of revolutionary army, grows bolder. Their cells are more active, striking supply lines, liberating slaves, undermining our authority in allied kingdoms. They are gathering strength, IMU Sama They are preparing for a war against world government."
'They're coming for me' Imu thought, the panic rising like bile. 'They're all coming for me' He took a shuddering breath, forcing it down. "And the pirates? The… disruptive elements?"
Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, whose voice held a chilling, analytical calm, spoke. "There are numerous… irritants. However, one incident demands your immediate attention. It occurred few days ago. An unprecedented act of audacity and defiance."
Imu leaned forward, the cold metal of the circlet digging into his forehead. "Speak."
"The Straw Hat Luffy," Saturn hissed the name with palpable venom. "The pirate who bears the name of D. He attacked the World goverment's judicial island The Enies Lobby."
Imu's blood ran cold. Enies Lobby. The Gates of Justice. The symbol of the World Government's absolute, untouchable authority. "What happened?" The words were a whisper.
"He invaded," Saturn stated, disbelief coloring his tone despite himself. "With a small, ragtag crew and an army of… criminals and misfits from Water 7. They fought their way through the entirety of Enies Lobby. They defeated CP9, our elite assassination unit. They… they burned the World Government flag."
The words struck Imu like physical blows. Burned the flag. The ultimate symbol of the World Government's dominion, publicly desecrated. It wasn't just an attack; it was a declaration. A rejection of everything Imu stood for, everything he was.
"Then," Saturn continued, his voice dropping to a horrified whisper, "he stood upon the roof of the courthouse… and he declared war."
Declared war.
The two words echoed in the cavernous silence of the throne room, drowning out everything else. Imu felt the world tilt. The cold dread that had been his constant companion since awakening surged into a full-blown, mind-numbing panic. Monkey D. Luffy. The protagonist. The agent of destiny. The boy who would bring the dawn. He hadn't just attacked a government facility; he had looked the World Government in the eye and spat. He had declared war against him.
A strangled gasp escaped him. He gripped the cold stone armrests of the Empty Throne, his whole body trembling. The Five Elders, still bowing, sensed the shift. Saint Shepherd Ju Peter, whose presence often seemed the most observant, exchanged a subtle, unseen glance with Saint Marcus Mars. They felt the tremor of absolute terror radiating from their Lord. Their ancient eyes, hidden in shadow, filled with concern - not for the world, but for the stability of the power they served. Was Imu-sama… breaking?
No! The thought screamed through the fog of panic. No, no, NO! This wasn't the time. He couldn't afford to collapse. He couldn't afford to freeze. The world wasn't just watching; it was coming For him. Luffy had started his journey. Dragon was building his revolution. The Emperors were stirring. And he was sitting here, the target, paralyzed by fear.
He had to do something. Even if it was just the illusion of control. Even if it was just gathering the pieces.
With a monumental effort, Imu forced his trembling to still. He straightened his spine, the movement feeling like lifting a mountain. He drew a deep, shuddering breath, the cold air burning his lungs. He focused on the mask, the persona of Imu, the absolute ruler. He poured every ounce of will he possessed into projecting an authority he did not feel.
"Enough," he said. The word was stronger this time, cutting through the silence. It still lacked the resonance of ages, but it held a core of desperate steel. He fixed his gaze on Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro. "This… Straw Hat Luffy… his declaration changes everything. It is a spark thrown into a powder keg. The world watches. Our enemies watch."
He paused, gathering his thoughts, the panic still a roaring beast beneath the surface, barely contained. "The status quo is shattered. We cannot react piecemeal. We need cohesion. We need absolute readiness."
He looked down at the bowed heads of all five Elders - Mars, Warcury, Nusjuro, Ju Peter, and Saturn. His gaze sharp despite the fear churning within him. "Summon them. All of them. The Five Elders will remain. But send the word. Immediately. I require the presence of the God Knights."
A collective, almost imperceptible tension rippled through the Elders. The God Knights. Imu's personal enforcers. The ultimate weapons of the World Government, beings of terrifying power who answered only to the Empty Throne. Their loyalty was absolute, their methods ruthless. Summoning them all was unprecedented, a sign of crisis beyond measure.