"Is it finally showing itself?"

Vane narrowed his eyes at the group ahead. Leading them was none other than Im.

A woman—cold, imposing, strikingly beautiful, and dressed in ceremonial garb that exuded an air of divine contempt. Her presence alone was enough to bend the atmosphere.

Nasjuro's body lay battered. Blood poured from a massive wound that stretched from his stomach to his chest. He wouldn't survive. He simply wasn't built to withstand the full force of Double Bones. He wasn't Kaido.

He would be the first of the Five Elders to fall. From this moment on, they would be remembered as the Four Elders.

Vane stepped forward, retrieving the First Generation Kitetsu from the fallen elder's hand.

"The feel of a Supreme Grade blade... it's something else."

He weighed the sword in his palm, admiring its balance. Still, he had no real use for it. Maybe he'd hand it to Gion or Esdeath—whichever one it suited more. After all, Gion had wielded her own weapon for years. This blade, while legendary, wasn't needed by him.

Kitetsu's reputation as one of the twelve Supreme Grade swords wasn't just for show.

On Im's side, a guard lunged forward to catch Nasjuro's falling body before it reached her. The elder's limp form slammed into him, and despite catching him, the guard was pushed back nearly five meters.

"What strength… monstrous!"

The guard trembled slightly from the aftershock, and his face turned grim.

"Im-sama… he's dead."

His voice was low, respectful, yet tinged with regret. One look at the hole in Elder Nasjuro's torso confirmed it—he wouldn't be getting back up.

Im said nothing, but her eyes narrowed, betraying a flicker of annoyance. In the distance, explosions echoed, mingled with the chaos of slaves fleeing, the thunder of combat, and flashes of lightning that split the sky. Dawn had broken—but Mariejois was still shrouded in darkness.

"I didn't expect you to be a woman."

Vane stepped forward, stopping ten meters from Im. From this distance, he could see her clearly. Her body was wrapped in an imperial robe, her head adorned with a bandage-like headdress shaped like a crown. Her cold gaze resembled a hawk's, fierce and aloof.

He had imagined the ruler behind the Celestial Dragons would be an old man. But clearly, Im was far from that.

Still, it made sense. Not all Celestial Dragons were like the grotesque pigs who paraded around Sabaody, buying slaves. Many of them never stepped outside Mariejois their entire lives, believing the air outside was unclean, and the people were filth. As descendants of the so-called Creator, they considered only this sacred land worthy of their presence.

This place—untouched by battle—was the inner sanctum of Pangaea Castle, deep within Mariejois.

Im's domain.

She stared at Vane, her cold eyes unblinking. Behind her, the guards glared, barely containing their rage.

"Not only are you a woman," Vane said with a smirk, "you're also stunning. That's... unexpected."

His tone was teasing, but there was no true interest behind it. Im's allure didn't affect him in the slightest.

The guards couldn't take it anymore. A mortal daring to speak to Im-sama like that? It was unthinkable. Their fury boiled over—but before they could act, Im raised her right hand slightly.

The motion was gentle, but absolute.

Instantly, the guards froze. Her will was final.

Then she spoke, her voice icy, sharp, and laced with unshakable dominance.

"Become my slave, and I'll let you live. Today's transgressions will be forgiven."

Slave?

Vane chuckled. Not in mockery—but amusement.

"How about you become my slave instead?"

He casually repeated her words. "I'll overlook your arrogance this once."

Her guards flared with fury. How dare a mere man say such blasphemy to their goddess?

But before they could move again, Im casually waved her hand behind her.

Suddenly, the six guards were blasted back more than a hundred meters—disappearing in an instant.

"What…?"

Vane blinked, intrigued. She hadn't even touched them.

What kind of power was that?

Was this… gravity? Telekinesis? Or something more ancient?

A thought struck him. Could Im be the true form of the Ancient Weapon Uranus?

Not all Ancient Weapons were ships or constructs, like Pluton. Some were living beings—like Poseidon, the mermaid princess Shirahoshi.

Three weapons: Poseidon, Pluton, and Uranus.

Vane suspected Im was Uranus incarnate.

And if that were true… then she might not even be human.

There were only two known ways to extend life this long: Pure Gold and the Immortality Surgery granted by the Op-Op Fruit. The fact that the World Government valued that fruit at 5 billion Berries spoke volumes. Rulers like Im already had everything—except time. And time was the one thing they couldn't control… unless they stole it.

Im took a step forward, her presence now terrifying in its stillness.

"This silence... it displeases me," she said. "You've dared step into this sacred ground and shattered the taboo."

She glanced at the distance—toward where the Void Throne had once stood.

Now, that throne was gone.

Burned.

Buried.

Destroyed.

Her rule—undermined.

Her symbol—obliterated.

Her right hand rose again, this time with palm directed at Vane.

Something was coming.

Vane narrowed his eyes.

What ability is this?

He had no doubt—Im was about to strike. And if she truly was the Heavenly King… then he would need to be ready.

___

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