"This place… is Whole Cake Island."
Saint Saturn, his entire body engulfed in black flames, swung his eight massive spider-like legs as he abruptly emerged from an enormous magic circle.
Upon descending onto Whole Cake Island, Saint Saturn reached into his robes and took out a device resembling a pocket watch. After confirming his position above it, he finally verified the accuracy of his teleportation point.
As the Warrior God of Science and Defense of the World Government, Saint Saturn could be said to possess scientific expertise second only to Vegapunk in the entire pirate world.
Something as trivial as long-range positioning was effortless for him.
And it was precisely because of this deep curiosity toward science that he had secretly conducted countless private research projects behind Imu's back.
"Joy Boy… should be on this island."
Gazing at the gigantic cake-like castle in the distance, Saint Saturn muttered softly.
However, just as he was about to advance deeper into Whole Cake Island to carry out the task assigned by Lord Imu—
A beam of light as bright as day suddenly descended from the heavens, illuminating Saint Saturn's pitch-black body and stretching his shadow far behind him.
"I was wondering who'd be wandering around someone else's territory in the middle of the night without sleeping~"
"Well, if it isn't our great and noble Celestial Dragon, Lord Saint Saturn?"
"What kind of wind blew you down from outer space? Judging by your condition… looks like your severe poisoning has been cured?!"
"Damn brat…"
Still shocked that his movements had been discovered, Saint Saturn's face instantly darkened like charred coal upon hearing Red's mocking tone.
But when he saw the Venomous Chains suddenly appear in Red's hand, his throat tightened, and he swallowed the rest of his words.
That kind of unbearable agony was something he never wanted to experience again.
In fact, if that bizarre state hadn't been so excruciating, he would have loved to study it carefully—
To uncover exactly what method Red had used to create such a terrifying poison.
In the end, relying on Lord Imu's power, he had shattered his entire body and completely regenerated himself just to eradicate the toxin within.
For the first time in his life, Saint Saturn felt genuine fear toward an existence other than Imu, instinctively wanting to distance himself from the Venomous Chains in Red's grasp.
But when he recalled that he was here on Imu's orders—and that everything happening now might be observed by Imu—
Saint Saturn forcibly suppressed his fear, stood firm, raised his head, and spoke without a hint of weakness:
"You lowly insects! Don't think that succeeding with a cheap trick means you can defeat the World Government!"
"The power of the World Government is not something vermin like you can ever shake!"
As he spoke, to avoid suffering from poison again, Saint Saturn shifted his gaze skyward toward Luffy among the Straw Hat crew.
Because he had used the Nika form for too long during the day, even though the Pokémon Center of the game world had restored his stamina, the mental exhaustion still left Luffy utterly drained.
After returning to the Going Merry, he had collapsed directly inside the captain's cabin.
Now forcibly awakened by Usopp, his mind was still somewhat groggy.
Yet the instant Saint Saturn's words fell—
Luffy, who had been half-asleep, suddenly snapped his eyes open as if thrown into an icy cellar, instantly regaining clarity.
"What's going on!?"
Seeing himself outdoors instead of on his warm bed, Luffy froze for a moment.
But very quickly, his gaze locked onto Saint Saturn.
And at that moment, his expression turned exceptionally grave.
"What… is that!?"
Luffy suddenly voiced an instinctive question.
Sensing something wrong a beat later, Red and the others also grew alert, their eyes focusing on Saint Saturn.
At that moment, pitch-black smoke continuously rose from Saint Saturn's body, drifting upward before vanishing not far above his head—as though dissolving into the void itself.
"Joy Boy…"
Suddenly, a layered, ancient, and mysterious voice echoed from Saint Saturn's mouth.
When he lifted his head again, his eyes had transformed into strange pupils marked by multiple concentric rings.
Seeing this state, realization struck Red, and he exclaimed in shock:
"Imu?!"
"Hm?"
The "Imu" who had been staring at Luffy abruptly shifted his gaze toward the man who had spoken his name.
"An existence outside of fate…?"
Imu murmured softly. "Is it because of you that Joy Boy revived ahead of time?"
"Outside of fate?" Hearing this for the first time, Red's eyes flickered—but what truly caught his attention was something else.
"You knew Joy Boy would revive?!"
Ignoring how Imu had possessed Saint Saturn, Red instead grew curious about the "fate" Imu spoke of.
After all, judging from the anime's narrative, the world of pirates did indeed possess certain prophetic abilities that foresaw the future.
Though no one knew how those powers worked, they undeniably existed—and unfolded precisely as foretold.
That was why more and more people equated One Piece with the concept of bloodline determinism.
But…
Now that he was part of the game itself, Red couldn't care less about bloodlines.
In fact—if fate truly existed, and Luffy was destined to become the strongest in the world and defeat every enemy, that would only benefit him.
Unfortunately, Imu's descent through Saint Saturn today was not for philosophical discussion.
Ignoring Red's questions,
Those Rinnegan-like eyes once more focused on Luffy.
"Joy Boy… I never expected that after eight hundred years, you would still obtain the power of the Sun God!"
"But it's all meaningless!"
"This world is now completely under my control…"
"Even as the Sun God, you will never reclaim the world from me."
"Uh—sorry, quick interruption!"
Red, seemingly retaliating for being ignored, cut straight through Imu's villain monologue.
"First of all… my captain's name is Monkey D. Luffy—not Joy Boy."
Though he welcomed the power that destiny and bloodlines might grant the Straw Hats—
If the price was turning Luffy into someone else, neither Luffy nor Red would ever accept it.
"Yeah, yeah!"
Luffy nodded vigorously in agreement.
"Who's Joy Boy!? I'm Monkey D. Luffy—the man who's gonna become Pirate King!!!"
Facing the ruler of the world, Imu himself, Luffy shouted his lifelong declaration without hesitation.
Red followed up immediately:
"I don't know why you insist on calling Luffy Joy Boy…"
"But if you—Lord Imu, hiding in Mary Geoise—can only send disposable lackeys to interfere with our dreams…"
"I'll show you just how small the vast sea is—and how scorching that distant sun truly is!"
"If you don't want the Sun God's flames to shine upon your dark little corner anytime soon…"
"Then for the near future, I suggest the World Government behave itself."
"Otherwise, I won't mind dragging the entire world into the abyss and burying the World Government along with it!"
"Believe me!"
"I may not know all the truth—but what I do know is enough to turn this world upside down!"
"Don't believe me? Try it!"
"You dare threaten me?!"
BOOM!!!!!
A terrifying wave of Conqueror's Haki erupted violently from Saint Saturn's body.
This overwhelming presence—clearly not his own—descended upon the skies of Whole Cake Island like a mountain falling from the heavens.
In an instant, the coastline where Luffy and the others stood was ravaged as if struck by countless bolts of lightning. Black arcs of energy raged, and the earth cried out in agony.
Under this monstrous Conqueror's Haki, even Zoro and Sanji grimaced in pain—let alone Robin and Usopp, whose strength was far inferior.
And then—
"DON'T INTERRUPT PEOPLE'S SLEEP!!!"
"BASTARD!!!"
Luffy had somehow already entered Pokémon-ized Gear Fifth, and a burst of Haki—radiant and utterly opposed to Saturn's ancient pressure—erupted from his body.
Though still weaker than that primeval aura, it significantly reduced the pressure bearing down on his companions.
At that moment, Red spoke coldly:
"So you're willing to pay such a price just to vent your anger?!"
"It's useless! A new era has already arrived!"
"And in this era—there's no place for you anymore, Imu!"
BOOM!!!
The moment his words fell, Red's body transformed.
The templates of Dialga and Palkia manifested simultaneously upon him.
Blue and pink light shimmered in his eyes.
The next instant, the powers of time and space gathered into his hands.
The force that tore space apart—Spacial Rend.
And the power that twisted time itself—Roar of Time!!!
Just as Luffy had hidden Mega Evolution…
In order to pave the way for Aokiji to become Fleet Admiral, Red had likewise concealed his strongest form!
Left hand—time. Right hand—space.
Two forces capable of destroying the world merged slowly under his control.
In an instant, a beam capable of creating and annihilating spacetime shot toward Saint Saturn.
Everything the beam passed through twisted violently.
And the moment it struck Saint Saturn, the raging Conqueror's Haki vanished completely.
In its place—
A bizarre trail of light appeared across his body.
It stretched from the top of his head downward, dispersing outward at his waist.
That light-marked region was precisely where Red's attack had landed.
Under the horrified gaze of Saint Saturn—or rather, Imu—
A dark green spatial fissure suddenly tore open in the calm night sky.
The severed portion of Saturn's body vanished into that rift as though bitten off by some unseen monster.
"What… what is this?!"
For the first time, shock appeared on Imu's face.
But Red, already preparing a second strike, had no intention of explaining.
Grinning at Imu's disbelief, Red said:
"Imu, eight hundred years have passed. This world has evolved far beyond your control."
"Take a good look at the subordinates you trust."
"In places you don't know about, they've committed countless acts against your will!"
"Do you remember Emeth from two hundred years ago?!"
"That giant robot you ordered destroyed!"
"In truth, your subordinates didn't obey at all—they secretly transferred it away for clandestine research!"
"And within that giant robot…"
"Lies Haki you know all too well—belonging to the true Joy Boy!!!"
"Hehehe~"
"Tell me… do you think one day, those who kneel before you daily might grow tired of your lofty arrogance and turn rebellious?"
"Just imagining it is exciting, isn't it?"
BOOM!!!
Red increased the output of the spacetime-distorting beam.
Under Imu's trembling gaze, the beam completely engulfed Saint Saturn.
A dark green spacetime rift followed, swallowing his entire body whole.
At that moment, sensing imminent danger, Imu immediately withdrew the consciousness possessing Saint Saturn.
Freed from Imu's control, Saint Saturn's own consciousness returned—
But his face was instantly seized by terror.
Because he realized—
Imu was using his final fragment of consciousness to scour through his memories.
Everything Saturn had hidden was uncovered in moments.
Imu's furious voice echoed in his mind.
"So… you dared betray me!!!"
"It seems I've been far too lenient with you!"
As the words ended, Imu's last trace of consciousness withdrew completely.
The dark green rift slowly closed.
Through the narrowing gap, Red and the others clearly saw an aged face filled with fear and resentment, reaching desperately toward the outside of spacetime.
But in the end—
As the rift sealed shut, the arm fell to the ground with a dull thud, scattered moments later by a passing breeze.
All that remained was a withered, yellowed fragment of bone lying in the soft earth.
"I didn't expect Imu to be so decisive."
"I was hoping to test whether the Antimatter World could trap one of the Five Elders…"
"Looks like I'll have to wait for another chance."
Gazing at the bone that seemed weathered by time itself, Red murmured softly to himself.
(End of Chapter)