Chapter 46 – Omen of Death
The sky above God Valley had completely disappeared beneath black and golden flames.
Ron and Imu clashed endlessly in the heavens.
BOOOOMMMM!!!
Surtr and Nemesis collided again as Conqueror's Haki exploded outward like a storm.
The island below cracked further apart.
Golden fire spread through the skies while black flames swallowed everything around them.
Ron swung Surtr with both hands.
"Flame Commandments: Emperor's Fang!"
A massive golden slash tore through the clouds.
Imu raised Nemesis calmly.
Black flames erupted around the blade.
The attacks collided.
BOOOOOOMMMM!!!
Shockwaves spread across the ocean itself.
Ron's giant armored body was blasted backward through the air.
"Fuc—!"
Before he could stabilize himself—
Imu vanished.
Ron's Observation Haki screamed.
BOOOOMMMM!!!
Nemesis slammed directly into Ron's chest armor.
Golden flames shattered apart.
Ron was sent crashing downward like a meteor.
The ground exploded as his giant body smashed through mountains and forests before finally stopping.
Far away, Rocks grinned savagely.
"Volhahaha! You looking down on us?"
Rocks and Garp attacked together instantly.
Rocks' sword burned with black lightning while Garp's fists shook the air itself.
"FIST BONE: GALAXY BREAKER!"
"Purgatory: Destruction!"
Imu blocked both attacks simultaneously with Nemesis.
BOOOOMMMM!!!
Black lightning exploded everywhere.
The surrounding land completely collapsed.
Yet—
Imu was pushed backward. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.
Garp noticed immediately.
"He's injured."
Rocks grinned wider.
"Volhahaha! Looks like even monsters bleed!"
High above the battlefield, the Gorosei watched anxiously while fighting Roger, Kaido, and Newgate.
Saturn's death and Imu remaining away from the Holy Land for this long were clearly affecting him.
For the first time in centuries—
The Gorosei felt fear.
"Lord Imu must return soon."
"He cannot remain outside the Holy Land much longer."
"Finish these pirates quickly!"
Mars exploded through the sky in his monstrous bird form.
Kaido met him head-on.
"Wororororo! Where do you think you are going?"
Kanabo and flaming talons collided.
BOOOOMMMM!!!
Kaido's dragon scales cracked slightly as Mars' flames burned against him.
At the same moment—
Roger blocked a slash from Nesturo.
CLANG!!!
Conqueror's Haki burst around them.
"You old monsters really don't stay down!"
Roger laughed wildly despite the blood running down his face.
Nesturo's skeletal horse shrieked.
"You pirates know nothing of true power."
"Maybe."
Roger grinned.
"But we're having way more fun!"
"DIVINE DEPARTURE!"
BOOOOMMMM!!!
Nesturo was blasted backward through several mountains.
Meanwhile—
Newgate faced both Warcury and Peater simultaneously.
Warcury charged forward like a living fortress while Peater erupted from underground.
"Gurararara!"
Newgate slammed Murakumogiri downward.
The air cracked apart instantly.
BOOOOOMMMM!!!
Warcury's massive body was thrown away while Peater's giant worm body split apart from the shockwaves.
Yet both regenerated rapidly.
"Tch… annoying bastards."
Back at the center battlefield—
Ron slowly stood from the rubble.
Blood dripped from his mouth.
The black curse markings across his body flared violently.
Pain shot through every part of him.
"Ugh…"
His breathing became heavier.
The curse was reacting violently as he kept using his Haki.
Ron could feel his vitality constantly being drained. Yet golden flames still exploded around him.
"Not dead yet?"
Imu looked down calmly from the sky.
Ron grinned despite the blood.
"Bwhahaha… gonna need more than that to put me down."
Golden flames erupted from his wings as he launched upward again.
BOOOOMMMM!!!
Ron rejoined Rocks and Garp instantly.
The three attacked Imu together.
Golden flames.
Black lightning.
Galaxy Impact.
Three monstrous forces surrounded Imu from all directions.
Imu's expression became colder as he swung Nemesis again.
CLANG! CLANG! BOOOOMMMM!!!
The sky cracked apart repeatedly. For several seconds, even Imu was pushed backward under the endless assault.
Blood splattered through the air again.
The Gorosei's expressions worsened.
"Lord Imu—"
"Impossible…"
Rocks laughed loudly.
"Volhahaha! What happened to your dominance?!"
Garp attacked again instantly.
"FIST BONE: GALAXY IMPACT!"
Ron descended from above at the same time.
Golden flames compressed around Surtr.
"Flame Commandments: SunSet!"
Three attacks struck Imu simultaneously.
BOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!
The explosion split God Valley itself.
The ocean rushed inward through gigantic cracks.
For a moment—
Everything went silent.
Then—
Black flames erupted upward as a pillar of black fire rose from the earth to the sky.
The pressure changed instantly.
Ron's eyes narrowed.
Imu walked out from the explosion.
But now—
His Conqueror's Haki felt completely different.
Darker.
Heavier.
Even the sky distorted around him.
"I gave you enough chances. Mu shall end this now."
Imu raised Nemesis slowly.
Black flames spread endlessly from the blade.
Rocks' instincts screamed danger.
"Move!"
Too late.
Imu vanished.
BOOOOMMMM!!!
Garp was kicked away first.
His body smashed through multiple mountains.
Before Rocks could react—
Nemesis slashed downward.
CLANG!!!
Rocks blocked.
But the force still blasted him across the island while blood burst out as his arm was severed.
Ron immediately attacked from above.
Golden flames exploded around Surtr.
Imu looked directly at him. His eyes were filled with disappointment and rage.
"You still have a choice."
Ron snorted as flames on his back vanished.
"Stop talking so much."
The two disappeared.
Only golden and black lights remained visible across the sky.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
No one below could properly follow the fight anymore.
Only flashes of black and gold collided endlessly.
Even Roger paused briefly while fighting Nesturo.
"What the hell…"
Kaido stared upward.
"Worororo… monsters."
Ron and Imu flew at high speed through the sky, clashing as the heavens became their battlefield.
The sky was filled with flame dragons and demonic constructs. Everyone stared at the unbelievable battle in front of them.
Yet what none saw was that Imu was smiling.
"Yes… this is it. You are the only one who can stand with us."
A long-lost battle lust formed in Imu's eyes.
"But this is the end of it all."
Then—
The black flames around Imu suddenly condensed.
The entire sky darkened.
Even the Gorosei froze.
Ron's Observation Haki screamed.
Danger.
Extreme danger.
Imu raised Nemesis above his head.
"Omen Of Death: Sword of Dispair."
The black flames exploded upward, forming a massive sword in the sky.
A gigantic sword made entirely from black fire descended from the heavens.
Due to his massive use of Haki, the curse marks across Ron's body flared violently. Pain shot through him.
"Ugh—!"
His movements slowed for a split second.
That was enough.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!!
The massive black sword struck Ron directly.
Golden flames shattered apart instantly.
Ron's eyes widened as blood burst from his mouth. His Flame Emperor Armor scattered as the flames around him vanished.
Then—
The black flaming blade pierced straight through God Valley itself, dividing the island and sea into two parts.
The island and sea split apart completely.
Magma erupted upward from beneath the earth.
Ron's body disappeared into the depths below.
His body crashed directly into a massive pool of magma.
BOOOOOOMMMM!!!
Above—
Silence.
Kaido's eyes widened.
Rocks struggled to stand up.
Roger stared toward the gigantic hole cutting through God Valley.
Newgate gripped Murakumogiri tighter.
Imu calmly lowered Nemesis. His eyes remained on Ron's location.
"This is the end, Ron."
Then—
He attacked again immediately. No hesitation. No mercy.
BOOOOMMMM!!!
Rocks barely blocked as Imu's kick sent him flying again.
Garp rushed forward angrily.
"BASTARD!"
"Galaxy Impact—"
Imu slashed downward.
The black flames devoured Garp's attack entirely before blasting him away again.
At the same time—
The Gorosei launched ruthless assaults against Roger, Kaido, and Newgate.
Mars' flames exploded across the battlefield.
Nesturo's sword erased entire cliffs.
Warcury rampaged through the island.
God Valley had become complete hell.
Far away on what remained of God Valley—
Kuma stood breathing heavily.
He looked toward the burning island one last time.
Kuma had rescued everyone he could.
Finally—
He looked toward the gigantic hole where Ron had fallen. A deep sense of sadness appeared in his eyes.
Then he silently slapped himself.
BOOOOMMMM!!!
Kuma disappeared from God Valley entirely.