Shanks stared at the towering demonic figure, its oppressive presence a stark reminder of the burden he bore. Regret tugged at him as he recalled the choices he made back then—the lies he spun to protect Uta. It had been necessary to shield her from a truth that could have destroyed her. Yet now, as Tot Musica loomed before him, he couldn't help but wonder if he had done the right thing.
A sudden jolt in his mind broke his train of thought. He could see the demon from another perspective—sharp, focused, calculating. There was only one person he knew with such an advanced level of haki.
"Hey, it's Imai," a voice echoed in his thoughts. "You can see it, right? We're going to need to work together to defeat this thing. I can't do it on my own."
"Yeah, I see why," Shanks replied, his grip tightening on his sword. "We'll need to attack specific points on its body at the same time to deal real damage."
"I figured that out when I cut its eye and it healed instantly. Not even a scar on its shoulder where I struck," Imai said, frustration lacing her voice.
"Then let's not waste time. We'll immobilize it first," Shanks decided.
"Right leg first. Then the rest. Let's go."
The connection severed, and Shanks turned to his crew. "You hear that, everyone? Right leg first!"
His crew roared their acknowledgment as they charged.
Imai braced herself, counting the seconds she had before Shanks relayed the plan to his crew. She dashed toward Tot Musica, ignoring the crushing pressure of its aura.
"Sovereign's Cleaving, Entanglement!"
Imai synchronized her haki with Shanks', timing her strike perfectly. Her blades slashed through the demon's right leg, severing a chunk imbued with dark, crackling energy.
"Left leg!" Shanks shouted.
Imai didn't hesitate. She flared her Conqueror's Haki, stunning Tot Musica momentarily. Dodging a barrage of blockades, she waited for the right moment.
"Now!"
"Two Sword Style: Susanoo!"
A ghostly figure materialized behind Imai, mirroring her movements. Its dark blue hair flowed like a tempest, and its black, pupil-less eyes glared at the demon. With synchronized precision, Imai and her ethereal counterpart struck the demon's left leg, slicing cleanly through with a devastating blow.
Shanks' haki-infused strike followed, weakening the demon further. Tot Musica faltered, its massive form shaking as it struggled to remain upright.
"Go for the arms!" Shanks commanded.
Imai launched herself onto one of the piano keys embedded in the demon's body, using it as a foothold to climb higher. She leapt at the precise moment her instincts dictated.
"Two Sword Style: Ame-no-Uzume!"
This time, a ghostly figure with long black hair and a crimson streak under its eye appeared behind her. Spinning with breathtaking speed, Imai created a tornado of haki that distorted and tore through the demon's arm, ripping it off entirely.
Shanks struck in tandem, his crimson haki slicing deep into the demon's form.
"The last limb!" Imai called.
"Let's finish this!" Shanks replied.
Both warriors unleashed their strongest attacks.
Shanks' haki surged, carving a path of destruction through the demon. "Red Sovereign's Cleave!"
Imai closed her eyes, envisioning darkness enveloping her. In her mind, she constructed Tot Musica piece by piece, aligning it with the real world. Her focus sharpened as she visualized her next move.
"Sovereign's One True Slash: Heavenly Scenery," she whispered.
Cherry blossoms bloomed in her mind, guiding her path. As her body moved with precision, the battlefield was momentarily filled with an ethereal beauty. The blossoms wrapped around the demon's final arm, tearing it away in an explosion of light and energy.
Tot Musica roared one last time as its form began to disintegrate.
Imai blinked, the yellowish sky above and the hard ground beneath grounding her in reality. She stood shakily, her gaze landing on Shanks cradling Uta's weak form.
"Uta…" Shanks murmured, his voice heavy with emotion.
"I'm fine now," Uta whispered, attempting to push the cure away. "I can finally rest."
"No, you don't," Imai interrupted, snatching the vial from Shanks and forcing it down Uta's throat. "You're not dying on my watch. You still have to take responsibility for what you did to me."
Shanks stared at Imai, torn between shock and gratitude. Deep down, his heart swelled with relief.
"You bastard," Uta muttered, coughing. "What the hell was that?!"
"Don't 'what the hell' me!" Imai snapped. "There's an age of pirates you've yet to see, and you're thinking about dying now? Too early for that nonsense!"
Uta hissed in irritation, turning her head. Her eyes widened as she saw the silhouettes of marines gathering on the nearby mountain. Leading them was Fleet Admiral Akainu Sakazuki.
"They're all…here," Uta muttered.
Imai grinned, her expression fierce and full of challenge. "Isn't this perfect, Uta?"
"Huh?"
"We're going to begin the new age of pirates—right here, right now."