It took a second for many to realize what just happened.
"*Cough*... Hurgh..." Garp, with difficulty, gripped onto the seastone spike that penetrated his heart.
"Don't pull it out!! Let it stay until I reach over there!!"
Marco, with an evident panic on his face, quickly began his dive from the sky to Garp, in an attempt to heal the latter.
"Hang on!"
Simultaneously, the storm around Dragon intensified to a frightening degree. His body started to levitate off of the ground, and his hair wildly flew due to the wind.
"Someone of your calibre, resorting to a petty trick like this... it sure was unexpected from our side." Dragon, though in a trembling voice, struggled to maintain his calm, "But don't think for a second that we've come here without considering your presence."
*Pazz* *Pazz*
The cloud above the Mariejois crackled. It was fully charged, due to Dragon's continuous blasts of wind bumping into the particles and generating electricity.
Imu didn't state a single word. Instead, with bored eyes, he turned his eyes up at the sky, just as,
*PAZZZZZZZZ*
intense lightning blasted downward, to where Imu was standing.
"A futile attempt."
With a cold statement, Imu swiped his hand. Immediately after, the clear mass of water suddenly appeared out of thin water, before deflecting the lightning with ease.
*BOOOOOOOM*
Sakazuki, with a cold sweat, was shaking uncontrollably. He couldn't dare to turn around and face Imu, especially when the fear for Imu has already reached deep into his soul a long time ago.
*TSSSSS*
Then, although the lightning wasn't able to get through the water due to the water being completely pure, the heat evaporated it into steam that travelled upward.
Imu didn't react to such a sight. Instead, an even greater mass of water was generated from the air moistured by the steam, before storming to Marco, who was nearing the fallen Garp with his utmost speed.
Marco's expression darkened as he saw the huge tsunami that shadowed his form from quite a distance away. And it was approaching so quick as well—he was going to be engulfed by it at this rate, along with Garp.
"W-what is this..." One member of the Revolutionary Army whispered in horror. With the swipe of hand, Imu generated a natural disaster like nothing. He couldn't help but wonder,
'Is it really possible to win against that... that man?'
The whole Revolutionary Army stood frozen.
"Heh... you gotta be kidding me." Sanji, who was sitting on the ground with dark bags under his eyes, laughed hollowly, "What is he, a god?"
Zoro snorted, "What's there to be scary of, ero-cook?" He turned and faced Luffy, who was kept at the back of the battlefield with his seastone cuff still intact,
"What matters is that Luffy is still alive, and that he can be saved." Zoro then said in a low tone, "But, letting that gramps die... doesn't sound good either."
"G-Grandfather of captain Luffy!!!!" Bartolomeo screeched in shock, before running to Marco and Garp like a madman in an attempt to protect them from the tsunami, "Hold on!!!!! I'm coming there right now!!!"
However, he was too slow.
Dragon gritted his teeth upon sighting the situation that they were within. Using his fruit ability, he quickly propelled himself to the huge tsunami that was falling down on Marco. On his open palm, the wind was rotating faster and faster, to an extent where they began to heat up into a dense mass of plasma.
'Heat. If I'm not wrong,' Dragon's eyes narrowed, 'heat is the key!'
"Dragon's—"
Dragon, just before the tsunami was about to crash onto Marco, launched his attack,
"—Roar!!!"
*BOOOOOOOOM*
The horrifyingly huge tsunami instantly evaporated into hot steam that floated up rapidly, saving Marco and Garp at the last moment—
"As I said, it's futile."
—or so did Dragon think. Imu, all of a sudden, was standing next to Garp once again, with his hand gripping onto Marco by the neck.
"I'm... feeling... powerless..." Marco said weakly.
"OUT OF MY WAY!!!!"
*BOOOOOOM*
Then, everyone saw Tensei, who was fending off against Ace and Sabo until now, crashing onto the ruined Pangaea Castle. Looking back at where he flew from, Ace was seen to have his fist outstretched.
"Gramps!!!" Ace shouted with anger, "Don't you dare die on me, got that?!!"
*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*
At some distance away, Mihawk stood stoically as Sengoku's powerful force blast impacted his sword, causing him to skid back.
"Tsuru!" Sengoku cried urgently, "Go help Garp!! Leave Hawk Eye to me!!"
"Sengoku..." Tsuru's expression darkened. Sengoku was no longer as strong as he used to be in his prime. Against Mihawk, who is known to have gone on par against the now-deceased 'Red Hair' Shanks, she knew that the chance of him winning was bleak.
However, they were out of an option here. Tsuru, without any word, nodded before quickly dashing to Garp.
Zoro, Sanji, and Bartolomeo too ran, trying to prevent Garp and Marco from dying.
Ace and Sabo, with Tensei out of commission, jumped upward to Imu, with their eyes locked onto Marco in Imu's hands.
"Marco the Phoenix." Imu muttered in a monotone as he gazed into the powerless Marco, disregarding what was going on around him, "An ability to heal everyone with the special flame. In this war, you are the key."
Marco felt dread. He knew what was about to come, and he didn't have the power to prevent it.
'Heh... pops. Hope you left a spot for me.'
Therefore, he simply shifted his eyes to where Ace was seen at, and... smiled.
*CRACK*
Without any hesitation, Imu crushed Marco's neck in one go.
"...Ah." Imu said in a monotone, "It seems that I killed him. How weak."
Then, Ace saw Imu smiling wickedly at him, as if Marco's death was nothing but amusement for him.
"B******!!!!!!!!" Ace screamed as he went berserk. His eyes were bloodshot, and his whole body unconsciously hardened into its maximum capability. The Conqueror's Haki boomed out of him, reflecting his rage.
"Ace!!" Sabo shouted in worry as he followed Ace from behind. Ace has completely lost his sense, and began to charge in without any thought; this will result in his death. Sabo had to prevent that from happening.
Imu, after killing Marco, turned his head around to face Dragon, whose Haki-coated hand was now right in front of Imu's face.
"Why, did you lose your capability to think, Monkey D. Dragon?" Imu said with a mockery as before Dragon's attack slammed onto his face, before,
*BOOOOOOOOM*
a concentrated blast of water suddenly crashed down from the top, preventing Dragon's approach.
Then came,
"Nine Sword Style,"
"Diable,"
"Barrier,"
Zoro, Sanji, and Bartolomeo running in from Imu's back,
"""Asura!!! / Jambe! / Bulls!!!!!!!!"""
*BOOOOOM*
but their attacks had no strength to harm Imu. The water that previously struck onto Dragon morphed into a wall, before hardening into a wall of pure seastone.
Right after, Imu tilted his head slightly, to see that a silent bullet has bypassed where his head previously lied. The attack was from Job, who was aiming his sniper at the former.
Imu raised up his finger in response. Though Job immediately dashed away from his position upon seeing Imu's reaction, it was too late.
*SWOOSH*
A sharp needle of seastone was found on Job's left arm, causing him to fall to the ground without any strength.
"FULL METAL,"
Then, Ace came in flying from the top, with his fist crackling in Conqueror's Haki: Infusion,
"OGRE BLITZ!!!!!!!"
Imu raised his hand up with an even stronger Conqueror's Haki: Infusion.
*PAZZZZZZZZZZZ*
Ace and Imu's will clashed in the middle. Their attacks didn't touch one another, but dominated the whole area with the Conqueror's Haki—opening the sky above and revealing the full moon atop the starry night.
But that wasn't the end. From the rubbles, Dragon stood back up and his whole body exploded into the potent Conqueror's Haki.
"Dragon...!" Sakazuki's body boiled in a hot magma, but before he could attack Dragon,
"I'm afraid that you can't do that."
Sakazuki was pressed downward by Issho's gravity.
"Ryusoken..." Dragon's body crackled in the immense Conqueror's Haki: Infusion. He slowly walked forth to Imu, who was still in a deadlock with Ace, just as the wind began to pick up around him.
Sabo, who was pushed back due to Ace and Imu's clash, couldn't do much except raise his arms up to shield his face, "Commander Dragon...!"
"Dragon's Pulse!!!"
*BOOOOOOOOOOOM*
Imu effortlessly raised his free hand and met Dragon's incredible attack with the matching potency of Conqueror's Haki: Infusion.
The whole area shook chaotically. One Conqueror's will clashed against the two, and the weaker ones of the war began to drop unconscious one by one, for they were unable to handle this magnitude of Haki.
"A difficult task... *Huff* *Huff*... but it is completed." And at this time, Tsuru utilized the chance to sneak in close to the site of the clash and lift up the powerless Garp and deceased Marco, before dashing out of the area.
"...Is this all that you are capable of?"
Imu, even though he was against the powerful attacks of two renowned conquerors, Imu didn't even shed a single drop of sweat.
On the other hand, as if having sensed a danger, the Pluton and Uranus levitated high up in the sky, rapidly moving out of the Mariejois as fast as they could. Kong, with pale face, was standing on top of Pluton. Having an idea of what Imu was about to do, he quickly made his way out of the ground—not even caring of the fact that he, the Commander-In-Chief of the World Government, ran out of the battlefield..
Subsequently, Imu's eyes gleamed wickedly. Just when Ace and Dragon's eyes widened in a disbelief,
"Judgement."
*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*
the whole Mariejois was consumed by the bright explosion of Conqueror's Haki that abruptly expanded from Imu.
The cloud of dust arose and covered the whole battlefield. Allies and enemies all alike, were harmed by Imu's aimless strike. The painful cries and groans could be heard everywhere—if one had an intact sense of hearing.
*Swooooo*
And even within this unviewable scenery, the sounds of water swarming could be heard. Imu indeed was a calamity, someone that none of the Revolutionary Army and their allies had the capability of defeating.
Sakazuki, who was lying on the ground with injury on his back, chuckled hollowly as he saw the dead marine soldiers nearby him. All of them were swept by Imu, who let out a horrifying burst of Haki simply because he was annoyed.
"Joy Boy. Tribe of D. Whatever it may be that you brought with you," Imu's emotionless voice, although not loud, resounded throughout the area, "all is futile before me. Mankind cannot dare to oppose a god, and this truth is to remain the same forever."
When the dust cleared, the scene was disasterous. Except for Sengoku and Mihawk, who withstood the damage to some extent, everyone has fallen onto the ground. The casualties were countless, and if one was to describe the sight, there would only be one answer for it: hell.
Additionally, the previously ascended Pluton and Uranus descended back as well, floating behind Imu domineering. The Revolutionary Army and their allies felt dread.
"And you, the miserable weaklings, only had two choices. Serve me or suffer a hopeless fate... and you choice the second option, unfortunately." Imu began his leisurely walk to where Luffy and Garp were lying,
"I am the sole conqueror of the world. I stand atop of all, governing and dictating the world as I see fit. I am the god whom no one is able to contend for, and for you who dared to oppose my will, there only exists doom."
However, even when the situation was full of despair, not all hope was lost.
From left and right, unyielding to Imu, Dragon, Ace, Sabo, Zoro, Sanji, Bartolomeo, Tsuru—the capable ones stood back up one by one. They were wounded quite severely, but the will in their eyes didn't die down.
"...How idiotic." Imu commented, "Isn't it easier to lay down and accept your fate? You miserable humans..."
The war was still far from over.
___________
"Here we are,"
Within the peculiar island,
"Lodestar."
Rowan stared at the horizon full of fogs, as he sat on top of the Prominence's wolf figurehead.
After travelling all the way from Elbaf to Hachinosu, the Grimheart pirates utilized the Eternal Pose to reach the semi-final island of the Grand Line, Lodestar.
"…Rowan, look." On Carina's wrist, all three needles of the Log Pose went haywire—spinning non-stop.
"A straightforward direction, the context said." Dan, who was sitting on top of Prominence's rail, chuckled as he gazed off to the front, "But how do we determine which way is parallel to the Calm Belt? When the sea itself is covered by this… inexplicable fog?!"
Lodestar. It was a silent island. Apart from the fact that it was star-shaped, nothing existed. A barren island with a single Poneglyph in the middle… that's all it was.
"So that's the one that granny Sob read." Cavendish said with narrowed eyes, "The beginning of the end. To the clueless adventurers who only became aware upon reaching this island, it would've meant the continuation of their journey."
"…Whoever hid One Piece is pesky, really."
Rowan spoke up, to which everyone listened.
"Once you reach what you considered the end of the sea, you find a necessity to start travelling backward for these Road Poneglyphs. Then, you come back here after, with the instruction to travel in a direction parallel to Calm Belt, up until the intersection between such path and Hachinosu's guide is found… at noon."
Reaching for his side, Rowan slowly lifted up his black captain's hat.
"At this point, you must be wondering—just what exactly is being hidden here? An unfathomable wealth? The weapon capable of ending the whole world? The strongest devil fruit to ever exist? With someone like Robin to interpret the ancient language, they sail with a dream… only to stop upon sighting this fog that reaches all the way to the sky high above."
The fog. It was now clear to the Grimheart pirates.
"The Voice of All Things, I see." Alfred shook his head, "I still don't have a clear idea of what it is, but... it seems that it is a necessary tool to cross this fog."
Rowan nodded as he stood up. His eyes were shadowed by the hat that he placed back on his head.
"But no need to worry. The so-called Voice of All Things hold no importance to us,"
Then, Rowan lifted his head up, revealing the ivory-white-coloured eyes,
"for I can see just fine."
The product of the fact that he was reincarnated and his heritage of Vasilia. By the two of them mixing together, Rowan acquired these eyes that enhanced his Observation Haki to a frightening degree.
The Voice of All Things? There was no need for Rowan to listen. After all, he had the 'Eyes of All Things.'
"I have one question though, captain." Then, Urouge asked from his spot, "What makes you so confident that we'll make it in time to Mariejois? Surely, there is no way that even Prominence will be able to carry us there in time."
Rowan grinned knowingly as he rubbed the figurehead of the ship affectionately. Turning around to Urouge, he said resolutely,
"You are about to find it out."
*Creak*
Rowan made his steps to the middle of the deck. With creaking noises, Rowan stopped upon reaching the steering wheel of the ship.
"Dan. What time is it?"
Dan answered with a mix of curiosity and eagerness in his expression, "11:30am. What are you about to do, captain?"
Rowan tapped his foot onto the deck, to which Prominence responded with a ferocious roar.
The ship transformed into a gigantic dragon once again. Floating in the sky above the Lodestar, Prominence awaited Rowan's order.
Carina smiled in a quick understanding. She closed her eyes and felt the breeze of the wind from the sea—it was a pleasant one, indeed.
"Hold on tight." Rowan said as his eyes blazed up brighter than ever, "We are about to reach the final island of the sea, the mystical place where the One Piece lies."
Then began.
*SWOOSH*
Prominence propelled itself forward faster than it ever has. At an incredible speed, it began to soar through the heavy mass of fog that blocked sight everywhere.
Though Carina felt fear that nothing was viewable, that there was no way for them to identify just where they are, she and the rest of the crew decided to trust Rowan.
What a sight that it was. A ferocious azure dragon travelling on the enigmatic fog that swirled upon the touch. It was a scene that Rowan only saw in the amazing artworks of the past world.
"I see it clearly."
The fogs, which resulted in the deaths of many, wasn't able to provide any obstruction in front of Rowan's eyes. The fogs were viewable, but at the same time, invisible. It was the vast sea with the bright sun that greeted Rowan simultaneously.
"This is the road to the Laugh Tale. The final trial prior to the acquisition of the greatest treasure! This is something to be joyful of, isn't it?!" Rowan, being filled with excitement to brim, exclaimed to his crew.
"The Rio Poneglyph… it's near, captain." Robin said in a shaky tone, "I… I never expected that I would've been able to reach the truth of the world. After over 20 years of running…"
"The greatest venture of all time." Dan commented jovially, "Of course I'm full of excitement right now, captain!"
"Let me guess!" Cavendish shouted as he held his sword up, "One Piece… is the legendary sword, meant for the hero who will save the princess from the demon king!!!"
The whole crew exploded in joy as Prominence continued to pave its path through the dense fog. All of them, without a doubt, believed that Rowan will guide them to the final island.
"Can I request a song to the best diva in the world?" Rowan asked Carina with a grin.
"Ahahaha! What's with you all of a sudden?" Carina laughed in amusement, "Sure! What song would you like to hear?"
Rowan, Dan, and Cavendish looked at each other knowingly, before shouting in sync,
"""Bink's Sake!"""
Carmen shook her head with a chuckle,
"Well, can't deny the fact that it's the best song of all."
And what a jolly journey that it was. Though the speed was incredibly fast and the fly was short-lived, the happiness among the Grimheart pirates didn't die down.
"""Yohohoho! Yohohoho!"""
Within the dense fogs where nothing could be seen, there existed no trace of nervousness in them.
.
.
.
Now, after the 30-minutes-long travel,
"...The sun."
In the middle of where Prominence was floating by, the sunlight shone through the fog.
"Oh, god of sun..." Urouge met his palms together in a praying fashion, "I thank you for your guidance."
*VROOOOOOOOM*
At the same time, the whole sea below churned all of a sudden. It was a bizarre scene that no one was able to explain how it worked. Then, the Grimheart pirates eventually saw that below them, on the surface of the sea,
a huge pit opened up. The sea parted apart by themselves. The huge mass of water dropped into the darkness like a waterfall, and the miraculous movement of water seemed to be inviting the Grimheart pirates to come.
"From here on," Rowan, with a smile, said to Dan, "don't forget to record every single detail, Dan."
"Of course, captain." Dan replied as his sweaty grip on his pen tightened, "This is a must."
"Laugh Tale..." Carina whispered in a realization, "is an island located underwater?"
With Rowan's tap, the Prominence instantly began its dive toward the pit bravely.
"Woohoooo!!!!" Cavendish screamed in excitement as he held onto the rail of the Prominence.
"Arghh, get your hair off of me, you idiot!!!" Carmen, whose face was being slapped by Cavendish's hair that wildly flew, barked.
"Hm...!!" Alfred's eyes widened as the mesmerizing tunnel of water unfolded.
No, to be more precise, it was...
"A sea current?!!" Dan's jaw dropped in a shock, "I don't understand!! The sea... it's running in a circle non-stop, providing this strange underwater tunnel... just what the f***?!!!"
It was a miraculous scene. Through the leaves of the Sunlight Tree Eve that spread throughout the entirety of the Red Line, the rapidly flowing bodies of water twinkled and sprinkled mischiveously.
The countless number of sea creatures, ranging from small fish to huge sharks, all swam and circled around this circulating current, as Prominence continued to fly through the gap. Due to having its speed boosted by the wind current that was generated by the movement of water, Prominence was flying even faster than it ever has.
"This direction..." Carina's eyes widened in a realization, "We're travelling vertically... perpendicular to the Calm Belts. W-we...
are we travelling below the Red Line?! Across the whole world?!"
Rowan nodded as he placed his right hand above his hat, preventing it from falling off from his head. The purple cape draped around him flapped wildly as Prominence continued its fly.
"Now, let's see what exactly One Piece is... shall we?"
In front of them lied one small island, surrounded by the rapid flow of water all around. Even without the bubble-like dome that Fish-Man Island needed, this island, Laugh Tale, somehow remained intact without touching the water.
Here, on the island where only the Roger pirates managed to reach, the new visitors have arrived,
and this was just before Imu revealed himself in the Mariejois.
_____________________
Yeah, this is the longest chapter I've ever made. 3663 words... hope y'all are fine with it. Thought cutting this chap will ruin the flow.
But just in case some find this chapter confusing, the Grimheart pirates' journey to Laugh Tale is happening prior to Imu stabbing Garp. Bravo to [Ballad] for figuring this one out; definitely left me surprised here.
And finally, I believe that at this pace, this fic will come to an end within 3 chapters. I'm aiming to make [Chapter 190] the epilogue; let's see how it goes!