Chapter 44 – The Perfect Knight
Black flames covered the sky of God Valley.
The drums continued ringing endlessly as the pentagram above the island rotated slowly.
"DORORON! DORORON!!"
Imu stood in the center of the battlefield, black flames called "Omen" burning around his body. The flames moved unnaturally, sometimes turning into mouths, claws, or distorted shadows before returning to fire again.
Ron, Rocks, and Kaido stood in front of him.
Behind them, the island was already collapsing from the battle between monsters.
Roger clashed against Nesturo in the distance. Every swing of Ace split mountains apart while Nesturo's freezing aura covered the battlefield in ghostly frost.
Newgate continued fighting Warcury head-on. Murakumogiri coated in Conqueror's Haki collided against the giant boar's tusks repeatedly, creating massive shockwaves.
Linlin fought Peater while observing the battlefield carefully.
"Tsk…"
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
'This situation is getting worse.'
Even she could tell something was wrong with Imu.
The black flames alone felt dangerous.
If things continued like this, she needed to leave safely and quickly.
Above the battlefield, Mars attacked Roger's crew repeatedly.
Rayleigh blocked a flaming claw with his sword.
"Captain!"
Roger clashed against Nesturo again before shouting loudly.
"Rayleigh! Gabban! Take everyone and get out of God Valley!"
"Roger—"
"That's an order!"
Roger grinned while black lightning exploded around him.
"This battlefield is becoming way too dangerous!"
Gabban gritted his teeth before nodding.
The Roger Pirates immediately started retreating toward the coast while fighting Marines and CP agents.
Meanwhile—
Imu stared at Ron quietly.
His red eyes reflected disappointment rather than anger.
"What a perfect creation you were…"
Black flames spiraled around his body.
"A vessel carrying Mu's lineage."
Ron clicked his tongue.
"Tsk, stop saying nonsense."
Imu ignored him.
"Your body adapted beyond expectations. Your growth surpassed every calculation Mu predicted."
Kaido frowned.
"Lineage?"
Even Rocks looked toward Ron.
Imu slowly raised his hand.
"Project 991 was created to become Mu's strongest knight."
The black flames expanded.
"A perfect being capable of surpassing even monsters like Joy Boy."
Ron's face darkened slightly.
"Who cares?"
Golden-red flames exploded around his body.
"I'm Ragnar D. Ron."
Conqueror's Haki burst outward violently.
"I'm not your damn puppet."
BOOOOOM!!!
Ron shot forward first.
Surtr burned with compressed flames and black lightning as he swung downward.
"Flame Commandments: Burning Sun!"
Imu raised one hand.
Black flames condensed around his palm.
CLANG!!!
The island shook violently.
The surrounding land exploded apart from the collision alone.
Ron's eyes narrowed.
The black flames were consuming his own flames.
Kaido descended from the sky immediately afterward.
"WORORORORO!"
His massive dragon body twisted through the clouds before he swung his tail coated in Haki.
BOOOOM!!!
Imu blocked with his arm.
The impact pushed him backward few meters across away.
Rocks appeared instantly behind him.
"Purgatory: Sword of Demon!"
His sword descended with overwhelming force.
Imu turned calmly.
Black flames condensed into a sword.
NEMESIS.
CLAAANG!!!
Black lightning exploded everywhere.
The collision split the clouds apart.
Rocks grinned wildly.
He pushed harder.
The ground beneath Imu cracked apart continuously as Rocks forced him backward through pure strength.
Even Kaido looked impressed.
"Captain's actually pushing him back…"
Imu's expression remained calm.
But the Gorosei froze.
{Lord Imu—}
{Please return to the Holy Land.}
{This battlefield is unstable.}
{Your body should not remain manifested for too long—}
Imu ignored them completely.
Instead—
He smiled faintly while blocking Rocks' blade.
Rocks frowned.
"What?"
Imu's eyes shifted toward Ron.
"What a waste."
Suddenly—
BOOOOM!!!
Black flames exploded outward violently.
Rocks and Kaido were blown backward.
Ron crossed Surtr defensively while sliding across the island.
Imu disappeared.
Ron's Observation Haki screamed.
Too fast.
A black blade came toward his neck . Ron tilted sideways barely in time.
The black sword sliced off part of his shoulder. As blood sprayed.
"Tsk—"
Ron kicked forward immediately.
BOOOOM!!!
His haki-coated leg slammed into Imu's stomach.
The impact cracked the air itself.
Imu slid backward slightly.
Ron chased instantly.
Golden-red flames spiraled around Surtr.
"Flame Emperor: Hell Rend!"
Multiple flaming slashes tore through the battlefield.
Imu raised Nemesis.
Black flames exploded from the blade.
The attacks collided repeatedly.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
God Valley continued collapsing from the force.
Kaido suddenly descended from above.
"BORO BREATH!"
A massive dragon breath slammed into Imu directly.
BOOOOOOMMMM!!!
The explosion covered the battlefield in flames.
Rocks attacked through the fire without hesitation.
Conqueror's Haki coated his sword completely.
"DIE!"
CLAAANG!!!
Rocks' sword slashed directly across Imu's chest.
Blood flew.
For the first time—
Imu was injured clearly.
The Gorosei froze.
But then—
Imu smiled.
Ron's eyes narrowed instantly.
Something was wrong.
The black flames around Imu started burning even hotter.
His wound regenerated while distorted black shadows spread around the injury.
"What a troublesome crew."
His voice remained calm.
Kaido landed beside Ron in human form while spinning his kanabo.
"Worororo… this bastard's impossible."
Rocks spat blood while grinning.
"That makes it fun."
The three monsters attacked again simultaneously.
Kaido swung Hassaikai downward.
Ron slashed with Surtr.
Rocks attacked from the front.
BOOOOOOMMMM!!!
The combined attack shattered the center of God Valley completely.
The island split apart.
Even Imu was forced underground by the impact.
Massive debris flew everywhere.
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
Black flames erupted from beneath the ground like volcanic explosions.
Imu emerged calmly from the destruction.
His body was covered in blood.
His arm was partially destroyed.
Yet he only looked at Ron.
Nostalgia appeared in his eyes.
"What a perfect knight you would have been."
Black flames gathered around Nemesis.
"You inherited Mu's Linage."
"You inherited Mu's potential."
"You even inherited Mu's fire."
Ron's face darkened.
"Tsk…"
Imu tilted his head slightly.
"Yet you chose freedom over purpose."
Ron grinned coldly.
"Obviously."
Golden-red flames exploded around him again.
"I'm not some lonely old bastard sitting on a empty throne."
Kaido laughed loudly.
"WORORORORO!"
Rocks smirked.
"Good answer."
The three attacked again.
This time—
Imu moved first.
BOOOOOM!!!
He vanished instantly.
Kaido's eyes widened.
Too fast.
NEMESIS pierced directly through Kaido's stomach.
Blood exploded outward.
"Guh—!"
Kaido coughed blood.
Imu kicked Ron directly in the chest.
BOOOOOOM!!!
Ron's body shot through multiple mountains instantly.
Rocks roared and swung his sword.
Imu turned.
CLAAANG!!!
Nemesis blocked the attack before black flames exploded outward.
The blast tore through Rocks' chest and sent him flying across God Valley.
The island shook violently again.
Kaido roared angrily despite blood pouring from his wound.
His kanabo swung toward Imu's head.
Imu caught it with one hand.
Black flames spread across the kanabo.
Even Kaido's haki started burning away slowly.
"What the hell is this flame…?"
Kaido gritted his teeth.
Imu looked at him coldly.
"Omen consumes all things."
Then he punched Kaido directly in the stomach.
BOOOOOOOMMMM!!!
Kaido's dragon scales cracked apart as he was blasted through the island.
Ron emerged from the rubble breathing heavily.
Blood dripped from his mouth.
The curse marks on his body pulsed painfully.
Yet his eyes remained sharp.
Imu looked at him quietly.
Black flames burned endlessly around Nemesis.
"Ron."
The battlefield trembled again.
"Mu shall ask one final time."
His red eyes glowed in the darkness.
"Will you kneel?"