Chapter 157: Chapter 157: Attacking Imu, the Undying Monster
Mary Geoise, within the Hall of Power.
Four plumes of black smoke rose, and the Four Elders of the Five Elders appeared in the hall. All four had dark expressions, each bearing injuries that were slowly healing.
Deeper within Mary Geoise, in the Room of Flower , Imu knelt on the ground, clutching their head.
"Such Haki… Impossible. How can Haki like this exist?"
The expressions of the Elders darkened further as they glanced at one another.
"That Haki just now… it nullified our abilities," Saint Nusjuro said.
"Lord Imu has been attacked!" Saint Warcury said, visibly shaken
"Will Saturn be alright alone there?" Mars questioned.
"Forget about him for now, we must check on Lord Imu first," Saint Peter said as he stood up.
"Move!"
The four rushed toward the Flower Room.
...
Meanwhile, in Dressrosa, Luffy and Doflamingo were still fighting.
Back in Green Bit, the battle suddenly quieted. Saturn's wounds were regenerating rapidly as Fujitora blocked one of Roy's bullets, panting heavily after the flames of the explosion dissipated. Roy looked irritated.
"Hey, don't interfere. I still want to see if I can kill him," Roy said to Fujitora.
"As a Marine Admiral, it is my duty to protect," Fujitora countered.
"Atmos, how long are you gonna sleep? Drag this guy away for me," Roy called out.
"It's your fault, Big Bro. Your Haki suppressed my powers, that's how he got me," Atmos muttered.
"That's on you. I told you to train more."
"It's useless, Big Bro. No one can stay composed under your Haki."
"Excuses. Now get him out of here."
"Aye!"
Atmos transformed into his hybrid form, charging at Fujitora with his greatsword wrapped in Armament Haki, slashing down fiercely.
Clang!
Their Haki clashed as Atmos forcibly pushed Fujitora back, dragging him away from the battlefield.
He definitely couldn't beat Fujitora, but buying some time was doable.
Roy turned his gaze to Saturn. Their eyes met.
"Hmph!"
Only those of Vice Admiral rank or above could gaze upon him; this guy clearly didn't want anyone to see his true form.
With a cold snort, Saturn's eyes glowed red. Roy's eyes mirrored the same crimson light.
"Mind Seize!"
Saturn activated his ability, attempting to control Roy's mind.
Shing!
A leg shot toward Roy's chest.
"A mental control ability," Roy thought as he snapped out of it, dodging the attack.
Saturn's remaining four legs launched a fierce assault, tearing apart the trees behind Roy.
"It's useless. Your attacks won't work on me," Roy said, spinning and leaping, completely avoiding contact.
"Impossible… At your age, how could your Haki have reached such a level?!" Saturn growled.
"I know, right? You've lived for centuries, honing your Haki to its peak, yet you still can't match me. Guess it's just a difference in talent. My Haki wasn't learned, it's innate. Call it a gift. Jealous?"
Roy's smug tone only made Saturn angrier.
Boom!
A massive explosion engulfed Roy.
"Is that it? Honestly, still not enough," Roy said as he stepped out of the smoke, patting dust off his clothes.
"I know your every move. Your attacks are meaningless against me. If all five of you teamed up, maybe. But alone? You're nothing."
"Imu holds your lives in her hands. My Haki just now must have struck her, too. Bet she's in pain right now."
"After 900 years without a scratch, getting hit must hurt," Roy smirked.
"You bastard! You dare blaspheme against a god?!" Saturn bellowed. Knowing Imu had been attacked sent him into a frenzy.
"Hahaha, why so mad? Don't you guys regenerate? She'll be fine. Relax, that bit of Haki won't do anything serious." Roy said mockingly.
Ignoring him, Saturn attacked wildly, unleashing every technique he had.
Roy didn't strike back; instead, he studied Saturn. When Saturn died before, he left only bones behind. What was he? Not even awakened Zoan types regenerated this quickly.
One thing was clear: Saturn couldn't be killed, not easily. The only way would be to target Imu.
Imu's powers likely allowed the Five Elders to be immortal. As long as Imu lived, so would they. Their lives were tied to her.
Which was why the Five Elders would do everything to protect Imu's rule. Imu's powers were likely limited, though their exact nature remained unclear.
Even Kong, the former Fleet Admiral who was now Commander-in-Chief, had lived past 100 and still seemed fine. That meant he, too, might be one of the undying.
Bang!
Roy shot Saturn, blasting apart his body, leaving only eight spider legs.
The recovery was lightning-fast, not like flesh and blood healing, but more like a shadow reconstructing.
"Futile. Even with Conqueror's Haki, you cannot kill us," Saturn declared.
"Is that so? Then I'll just have to test it further."
Roy leapt into the sky, Haki gathering at the barrel of his gun.
"Primordial Bullet!"
A bullet infused with pure Conqueror's Haki shot out. Saturn felt true fear.
BOOM!
A massive explosion erupted across Green Bit. Even Dressrosa shook from the blast, a pillar of fire lighting up the sky.
The shockwave halted Fujitora and Atmos's fight.
Back at the battlefield, there was no sign of Saturn.
Roy squinted. Just before the blast hit, he had seen something, a black mist, and a magic circle forming under one of Saturn's severed legs.
"Getting more and more mysterious… What is this power? The Nika Fruit is already absurd, but this one… How does it control others?"
Roy descended from the sky, rubbing his chin in confusion.
Saturn had escaped. Just before death, he had been teleported away.
'That bullet must have truly endangered his life; otherwise, he wouldn't have been evacuated. Unless his body was entirely intangible, which it wasn't, since bones were left behind, he could be killed.'
'The key was finding the right way.'
....
In the Room of Flowers of the Holy Land Mary Geoise, the Four Elders stood with Imu. Behind Imu, a dark magic circle appeared, and a cloud of black smoke rose, along with a single spider leg.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu