Imu

The torrential rain gradually subsided. A large number of slaves had formed into an almost endless line and were heading toward the square.

A group of Celestial Dragons with faint Rinnegan patterns in their eyes shouted as they drove the slaves toward the square, while their bodyguards stood guard nearby.

At the center of the square stood a pitch-black circular vortex gate, and the slaves entered it one by one.

The Celestial Dragons’ slaves trembled with fear. They had no idea what new method the Celestial Dragons had devised to torment them, nor did they know what lay beyond the gate. Yet under the commands of the bodyguards and Celestial Dragons, they stepped through the vortex gate one after another.

After a little over half an hour, Yota had practically swept up every slave in Mary Geoise. Yet Mary Geoise itself still seemed to have no reaction.

Yota’s mouth twitched. "What’s going on? The guards are way too lax. No wonder that fish-man was able to stir up a slave revolt so easily."

Mary Geoise sat atop the sheer Red Line, nearly seven or eight thousand meters high. In Earth’s real world, before the advent of flight technology, Mary Geoise would not merely have been easy to defend and hard to attack—it would have been an utterly unclimbable dead zone.

Although all sorts of black technology ran rampant in the Pirate World and individual strength was extraordinary, unless someone possessed the ability to fly, an ordinary person would need at least the strength of a Shichibukai to climb the Red Line.

There were not even a hundred people with Shichibukai-level strength in the entire Pirate World. They all understood just how important Mary Geoise was. Unless they had gone mad, they would never consider attacking this place.

Over time, though the Holy Land Mary Geoise appeared heavily guarded, its bodyguards and defenders had long since grown lax. Even Tiger’s slave liberation movement more than a decade ago had not truly harmed the Celestial Dragons; it had merely freed a group of slaves.

No wonder. Yota had nearly emptied Mary Geoise of slaves, yet these people still had not caught on.

Of course, that was also related to the power of Yota’s genjutsu. As long as he dealt with those Celestial Dragons, nearly eighty or ninety percent of Mary Geoise’s defense system was rendered useless.

"But this should be the limit. The people of Mary Geoise aren’t idiots." Closing his eyes, Yota sensed several powerful life forces rushing this way.

Not wanting to clash with them, Yota sneered and transformed into a giant dragon, soaring into the sky and leaving behind only the Celestial Dragons and their bodyguards, who had just been released from the genjutsu and wore bewildered expressions.

Before Yota could return to the ship, however, an icy sense of danger suddenly gripped his heart. He Blinked away at high speed, but his massive dragon body was still struck directly by a slash wave. He crashed into the ship held aloft by the Flame Cloud, smashing it to pieces.

"Pfft!" Yota spat out a mouthful of blood. He had nearly been disemboweled. His enormous dragon body rapidly shrank into a half-dragon form, after which the Munch-Munch Fruit’s modification ability activated. Amid a surge of black mist, his injuries were completely healed.

Then, moving like lightning, he caught all of his subordinates who had been injured and were falling after the ship shattered, tossing them into Dark Space.

Only after doing all this did Yota lower his head, his eyes shining as he looked at the figure emerging from Pangea Castle.

"Imu… Why did you have to show up when it was my turn?" Yota cursed his bad luck inwardly, but his eyes also lit up slightly.

Ever since Yota had returned to the Pirate World after mastering his divine arts in the Naruto World, he had felt like a max-level account transferred to an old server after a major version update. No matter whom he fought, he could handle them with ease. Even when battles became difficult, it was merely because he had restrained himself; he had never again felt that old sensation of standing on the brink of life and death.

But this time, he seemed to have truly encountered a powerful opponent whom he might not defeat even if he risked his life. For the first time in a long while, his blood began to boil.

"Let me see just how strong the one most likely to become the Pirate World’s final boss really is!"

Without another word, Yota used the Rinne Tenseigan to manipulate repulsive force, casually forming a golden sword in his hand and bringing it down in a slash.

"Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion!"

Imu, clad in an elaborate gown, looked coldly ahead and casually raised a hand. The vast, surging Conqueror’s Haki obeyed her like an extension of her arm, producing an effect close to projected Armament Haki. Like a wall of steel, it effortlessly blocked the Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion.

Then, as though she completely ignored gravity, she flew up and stopped in front of Yota.

Yota froze slightly, still wondering what Devil Fruit it was when Imu spoke. "A newly emerged powerhouse on the seas? You actually triggered the warning of my Observation Haki… It seems another new era of the sea has arrived."

"Too bad you aren’t Joy Boy."

Yota rolled his eyes. "Why are the people of your world so much like the ones from my second hometown, all this superstitious nonsense? It’s either the Child of Prophecy or Joy Boy."

"As long as my fists are hard enough and I can fight well enough, who cares who I am? I can still beat you into a pig’s head!"

The moment he finished speaking, Yota went all out.

"Eight Gates, Seventh Gate, Open!"

"Majestic Attire, Susanoo Armor!"

"Six Paths, Lightning Release Chakra Mode!"

At the same time, the Munch-Munch Fruit’s modification ability was pushed to its limit. Combined with the various Bloodline Limits within his body, vast amounts of compressed rare alloys fused into his flesh, greatly increasing its toughness. Many hard materials also fused into his bones, forming a faint bony membrane beneath the effects of the Shikotsumyaku and wrapping around his entire body.

Imu did not strike first as she watched Yota. Instead, she leisurely waited for him to raise his power to its peak.

However, every time Yota activated another enhancement mode, Imu’s expression grew slightly more serious. By the time Yota had stacked all of his buffs, the look on Imu’s face was no longer merely serious—it carried a hint of fanaticism.

"Very good. What you said makes sense. Whether or not you are Joy Boy, with power like this, you already possess the qualifications to change this world."

"But first, you have to survive under my hands. Come, let’s fight to the death!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Imu tore apart her elaborate gown, revealing a simple suit of armor beneath.

At the same time, her true appearance was fully revealed: a somewhat tall, slender young woman.