At Night in Wanokuni
"So this is your true appearance, Imu… or should I say, Nefertari D. Lily! One of the twenty kings who established the World Government eight hundred years ago—the Queen of Alabasta, Nefertari D. Lily."
A surge of intense red energy flickered in Ace's eyes, an ominous reflection of his newfound realization. Through the combined might of his Observation Haki, amplified by the Time Fruit, the Years Fruit, and the Cause and Effect Fruit, Ace had finally unraveled the last shroud obscuring Imu's true identity.
Imu's appearance had always eluded him, her true face hidden behind layers of mystery. But now, as the veil was lifted, Ace found himself staring at a visage he knew all too well—a face identical to Vivi's. There was only one person in history with that appearance, and that was none other than Nefertari D. Lily, the Queen of Alabasta from eight hundred years ago.
The pieces began to fall into place. It was no wonder that when Ace first tried to glimpse Imu's appearance through his abilities, he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity, even though he couldn't see her clearly. That nagging feeling had haunted him, a sense that he already knew Imu on some level.
With the power of the Sui Sui Fruit and the Karma Fruit, both strengthened by the Perception Field, Ace had been led to the conclusion that Vivi was a key factor in unveiling Imu's true identity. In the original story, the mysterious ruler of the World Government had shown an unusual interest in Vivi. Now, Ace understood why. Imu wasn't just any ruler—she was Nefertari D. Lily, the ancient Queen of Alabasta, somehow still alive after centuries.
Ace's mind raced as the revelation settled in. The implications were vast and far-reaching. Nefertari D. Lily had been thought to be a benevolent figure, a queen who chose not to become a Celestial Dragon and instead stayed with her people in Alabasta. But now, that image was shattered. The truth was far darker, more complex than anyone had ever imagined.
"But you're not actually Nefertari D. Lily, are you, Imu?" Ace's lips curled into a knowing smirk, the confidence of his deduction evident in his expression.
In that moment, the truth about Imu's identity had finally been revealed to Ace. The enigmatic figure who had ruled from the shadows for centuries was not the ancient Queen of Alabasta as he initially suspected. Imu, known formally as Saint Nerona Imu, was likely a man. Though the possibility remained that Imu could still be Lily, Ace's instincts told him otherwise. The clues didn't quite add up, and the more he considered them, the less likely it seemed.
Within the rigid hierarchy of the Celestial Dragons, men held the title of "Saints," while women were referred to as "Palaces." If Imu were truly Nefertari D. Lily, the Five Elders—the highest authorities beneath Imu—would likely have addressed her as such, especially given the significance of the D. initial in her name. Instead, they called her Saint Nerona Imu. This was a subtle but telling detail that Ace couldn't ignore.
Moreover, there was the matter of Lily's legacy. Imu had mentioned that it was due to Lily's mistake that the historical texts had been scattered across the world, planting the seeds of a great hidden danger. It seemed improbable that the very person responsible for this error would then become the iron-fisted ruler of the World Government.
No, Imu was not Nefertari D. Lily, even if she bore her likeness. This was a ruse, a façade meant to obscure the true nature of the person behind the throne. Imu had adopted Lily's appearance, perhaps to manipulate those who remembered her, or perhaps as part of a more elaborate scheme. But the truth was now clear to Ace—Imu was a different being altogether, someone who had taken on the visage of Nefertari D. Lily for reasons yet unknown.
As Ace focused his Observation Haki, enhanced by the combined power of the Time Fruit, the Years Fruit, and the Cause and Effect Fruit, the truth about Imu's identity began to unravel before his eyes. The mystery that had shrouded Imu for centuries was finally being laid bare.
Imu, the elusive ruler of the World Government, was not merely a shadowy figure from the past—he was, in fact, one of the original twenty kings who had established the World Government eight hundred years ago. However, the most startling revelation was that Imu's immortality was achieved through the use of the Op-Op Fruit's immortality surgery, but not in the way anyone would have imagined.
Ace's powers revealed that Imu's soul had been transferred into the body of Nefertari D. Lily, the queen of Alabasta from eight hundred years ago. The key to this dark transformation was that it had been Lily herself—then the user of the Op-Op Fruit—who performed the immortality surgery on Imu. This surgery, however, was not about granting eternal life to another. The truth was far more sinister and complex.
The immortality surgery, as Ace now understood, did not create an immortal body for another person; instead, it was a self-sacrificial act by the Op-Op Fruit user. The user's soul would be replaced by the soul of the one seeking immortality, effectively allowing the latter to take over the user's body. The body, altered by the Op-Op Fruit, would achieve what could be considered immortality, but it was not the body's original owner who would live on—it was the usurper.
This revelation explained why the user of the Op-Op Fruit died after performing the immortality surgery. Their soul was replaced, their body hijacked by another. The phrase "the cuckoo has taken over the magpie's nest" echoed in Ace's mind, perfectly capturing the nature of this twisted form of immortality.
Ace's eyes flashed with a crimson light as he processed this information, his Devil Fruit powers churning with newfound intensity. The truth about the immortality surgery was more disturbing than he had anticipated. It was not a path to eternal life that one could walk themselves, but rather a dark and deceptive ritual that involved stealing another's life and body.
Ace had once been curious about the immortality surgery, considering the human desire for eternal life that had persisted throughout history. But now, knowing the true nature of this so-called immortality, his interest waned. This was not the kind of immortality he sought—one that required the sacrifice of another's life and body. It was a grotesque perversion of nature, a mockery of true eternal life.
"So, this is the truth behind the immortality surgery," Ace murmured, his voice laced with a mix of disgust and disappointment. "It's not immortality at all—just a twisted way to continue living in someone else's body. How boring… and vile."
He had no desire to pursue this path. The idea of living forever by stealing another's body was repugnant to him. For Ace, true immortality wasn't about endlessly prolonging life through unnatural means; it was about leaving a lasting legacy, making a difference in the world, and being remembered for who you truly were.
Anyways if you die again then you might just Reincarnate in another world?
Ace had long understood the truth behind the Op-Op Fruit's immortality surgery, but as he delved deeper into Imu's secrets, he uncovered even more intriguing details that painted a clearer picture of the past.
Reflecting on what King Cobra had mentioned—that Nefertari D. Lily never returned to Alabasta and that her brother eventually became the ruler—Ace began to piece together the puzzle. The layout of Imu's palace in Pangaea Castle had always struck Ace as peculiar, filled with flowers and a sense of ceremony that felt strangely out of place. Now, it all made sense.
Ace's lips curled into a sly smile as the realization dawned on him. The relationship between Nefertari D. Lily and Imu wasn't just one of political alliance—it was personal, possibly even romantic. The palace, adorned with flowers, wasn't just any residence; it was a wedding scene, prepared by Imu for Nefertari D. Lily. But tragedy had struck before the wedding could ever take place. Lily had sacrificed herself, using the Op-Op Fruit to grant Imu immortality, leaving behind not only her life but the possibility of their union.
Imu, driven by his obsession with Lily, had preserved the wedding scene for centuries, living in a mausoleum of lost love. Ace couldn't help but draw parallels to other lunatic villains he had encountered in Anime and Manga—figures like Obito from Naruto, whose grand plans were rooted in personal loss and delusion. The thought of Imu holding onto a centuries-old obsession, planning to use Vivi to somehow revive Lily, sent a chill down Ace's spine. It was absurd, yet all too plausible.
Ace's eyes narrowed, his expression turning from amused to resolute. "So, that's it, Imu," he murmured to himself. "You're planning to use Vivi as some sort of vessel or key to bring back Nefertari D. Lily. But that's not going to happen—not on my watch."
The more Ace thought about it, the more everything clicked into place. Imu, who had clung to the memory of Lily for eight hundred years, was likely desperate enough to use any means necessary to reunite with her, even if it meant manipulating Vivi, who bore the same D. initial and looked so much like Lily. Imu's intentions were clear, and they were dangerous.
But Ace wouldn't allow such a twisted scheme to come to fruition. Imu was not just a tyrant to be overthrown; he was a delusional figure trying to resurrect a past that was long gone. The true identity of Imu had been completely exposed to Ace: one of the twenty kings who created the World Government, a man who had once been in love with Nefertari D. Lily, and who now inhabited her body as a result of the immortality surgery.
Imu, the user of the Baphomet ability, held a terrifying power that had allowed him to manipulate and control the world for centuries. But Ace's understanding of Imu's abilities had deepened, revealing the cracks in the facade of his immortality and that of the Five Elders.
Ace speculated that the Five Elders' longevity wasn't due to the immortality surgery. That procedure couldn't grant true immortality to another person's body. Instead, it was likely Imu's Baphomet ability that had kept the Five Elders alive for so long. The pentagram magic circle that teleported them suggested a connection to Satanic power, possibly giving them bodies that could withstand the ravages of time.
This form of immortality had a crucial weakness: it depended entirely on Imu. If Imu were to be defeated, the Five Elders would lose their eternal life. Abilities stemming from the Devil Fruits always required the user's physical and mental strength. Even with the immortality surgery, Imu's reserves of power weren't infinite. Maintaining the Five Elders' immortality would drain an enormous amount of his strength.
Ace's mind whirred with strategies. He knew that every Devil Fruit ability had its limits. Once you understood the mechanics behind the power, you could find a way to counter it. The unknown was always daunting, but with knowledge came the means to overcome any challenge.
Reflecting on his recent discoveries, Ace felt a renewed sense of purpose. The immortality of the Five Elders, derived from Imu's Baphomet ability, was no longer an insurmountable obstacle. The key was to take down Imu, and with that, the Five Elders' power would crumble.
Ace's determination solidified. The unknown might be tricky, but he had the knowledge and power to find solutions.
As Ace pondered the implications of his discovery, he felt a renewed sense of purpose. The battle ahead would be fierce, but the tide had turned in his favor. With the truth on his side, Ace was ready to face Imu and the Five Elders, knowing that their reign of terror was on the brink of collapse. It was time to bring an end to the ancient evil that had gripped the world for far too long.