The moment Pluton's underside gradually approached the dock base and finally connected perfectly with it, countless glowing energy patterns seemed to come alive, automatically linking together one after another.
At the same time, the sturdy, transparent protective barrier above the dock slowly closed.
Ron stood quietly on the bridge, a trace of attachment and reluctance showing in his eyes.
He gently reached out with both hands and brushed them over the bridge railing, as if saying a final farewell to an old friend.
Pluton seemed to sense his emotions as well and released one last low, drawn-out hum.
As that hum gradually faded, the brilliant light across its hull slowly went out.
Like a giant beast that had finally returned to its nest after countless hardships, it sank into a deep, peaceful sleep.
...
Mary Geoise.
Like a massive fortress forgotten by time, ancient Pangaea Castle lay hidden in its deepest reaches.
The castle seemed to carry countless unknown secrets and histories. Every brick and stone revealed the weight and weathering of the ages.
At the heart of Pangaea Castle stood the grand hall where the Empty Throne was located.
Inside the hall, the space was vast and boundless. Towering pillars supported the ceiling like the arms of giants, while the walls were engraved with complex, mysterious runes that glowed with a cold light.
At this moment, a suffocating pressure filled the place, as if even the air had solidified, making it hard to breathe and causing every heartbeat to quicken.
Imu stood tall before the throne.
That eternally calm face was now twisted by extreme rage.
Her once-delicate features looked as though they had been crushed and reshaped by an invisible hand, losing their usual serenity.
In her eyes burned a blazing fury, a light as terrifying as the force released when stars collapsed. It made people afraid to look directly at her. Even meeting her gaze for the briefest moment felt as though one would be swallowed by endless wrath.
"Useless trash!"
Imu's voice was not loud, yet it echoed through the hall like a great bell. Every syllable carried a powerful impact, making the air in the entire hall tremble.
That voice seemed to cross the boundary of time and space, drilling directly into the hearts of everyone present and making their souls shake.
The five members of the Five Elders lay neatly prostrated on the cold floor.
Their foreheads pressed tightly against the ground, and their bodies trembled faintly.
Their breathing had become rapid and chaotic. Every inhale sounded like a struggle to survive, while every exhale carried fear and unease.
They knew very well that Imu, standing before them now, was in a state of towering rage. One wrong move could bring total disaster.
Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, the Warrior God of Science and Defense, shook uncontrollably. Even his unique spider legs twitched violently, revealing the terror inside him.
He said fearfully,
"Lord Imu, please forgive us! We truly did not expect Pluton to… to develop in this way."
His voice carried a trace of pleading and helplessness. Beads of sweat rolled from his forehead and soaked the floor beneath him.
"You did not expect it?"
Imu gently raised one hand.
The movement seemed casual, yet it contained force enough to overturn mountains and seas.
In an instant, an invisible power surged toward Saint Saturn like a roaring tide, seizing his throat and lifting his entire body from the ground.
Saturn's face instantly turned deathly pale. His eyes widened, filled with pain and fear.
Imu said coldly,
"For an entire century, you have allowed Joy Boy's prophecy to repeat itself. How do you intend to answer for such a grave failure?"
Seeing this, Saint Marcus Mars, the Warrior God of the Environment, hurriedly slammed his forehead against the floor. The impact produced a dull sound.
He said anxiously,
"Please give us a chance to make up for our failure! We are willing to mobilize all our forces immediately and resolve this crisis!"
His tone was filled with sincerity and determination, hoping to earn Imu's forgiveness.
"All your forces?"
Imu sneered, and that laugh was filled with mockery and disdain.
As her laughter sounded, the void around the throne began to twist strangely, as though an invisible hand were stirring space and time itself.
"With that little so-called army of yours, you dare call it an army? It is nothing more than a rabble."
Imu's words were like icy blades, cutting into the hearts of the Five Elders.
She slowly walked up to the Empty Throne.
Her steps were steady and powerful, each one seeming to fall directly on everyone's heartstrings.
When she fully seated herself upon the throne, the entire Pangaea Castle suddenly began shaking violently.
The ground rolled like waves. Stones fell one after another, producing enormous rumbles.
At the same time, the dome of the hall slowly opened on its own, revealing the blood-red sky outside.
That sky looked like a burning sea of fire, releasing an eerie and terrifying aura.
Countless ancient characters appeared around the throne.
They flashed with mysterious light, weaving and twisting together before finally condensing into a massive pillar of light that pierced heaven and earth.
The pillar contained overwhelming energy, making everyone feel a power beyond comparison.
"Since Pluton has awakened," Imu's voice became ethereal and magnificent, as if it had come from the distant heavens, yet also like a summons from deep within the soul.
"Then let us remind this era of the fear of being ruled by Uranus."
A firm, decisive light appeared in her eyes, as though she had already seen the path the future would take.
The Five Elders raised their heads at the same time when they heard this, their eyes filled with shock.
One of them asked with a trembling voice,
"My lord! Are you truly going to activate that… that forbidden plan?"
"Shut up and kneel properly!"
Imu's harsh command rang out.
Her eyes had completely transformed into a brilliant river of stars, holding endless wisdom and power.
"Watch carefully—this is the power a god should possess!"
She raised her right hand high.
The pillar of light piercing heaven and earth gathered in her grasp, forming a long sword shining with endless radiance, as if it could cut through every obstacle in the world.
At the same time, in the once-noisy Eternal Divine Kingdom, a grand celebration was still in full swing.
People sang and danced, and laughter echoed through every corner. Brilliant lights of every color intertwined into a dreamlike painting.
Yet amid that lively atmosphere, an eerie silence suddenly descended without warning, like a hidden beast stalking through the shadows, cutting this beautiful feast short.
Before anyone could react, they realized in shock that the sky was darkening at a speed visible to the naked eye.