The Gorosei knew well that Im rarely took action herself. The last time she had done so was decades ago.
Now, as the Gorosei and the other Celestial Dragons gazed upon her from a distance, awe and fear filled their eyes.
Even those Celestial Dragons who had never met Imu before knew exactly who she was. In Mary Geoise, everyone — even those who had never seen her face — understood that there existed one supreme being above all: the sovereign of the Celestial Dragons, the true ruler of the world.
Imu was the most mysterious existence on the entire planet — neither her origins nor her true nature were known. Some didn't even know if she was human.
Her name was whispered only in fear and reverence.
When she raised her hand, and the inferno consuming Mary Geoise vanished beneath a field of blooming flowers, even the proudest nobles could only tremble.
Of course, the Gorosei understood that what they had witnessed was but a fraction of Im's mysterious ability.
Imu — the creator that still walked among mortals.The one some called the "living god". The most enigmatic and powerful being in existence.
When the fire was gone, so was she. No trace. No sound. She came and left as if she were never there.
Elior stood in the distance, eyes narrowed.
"So… she finally made a move."
Even within the vast reach of his Observation Haki, he couldn't sense a single trace of her presence. It was as if she existed outside the bounds of life itself — a void that defied all perception.
And yet, she was right before him. A woman — expressionless, serene, and utterly untouchable.
The power she wielded was beyond imagination. The flames that had devoured over a thousand meters of ruins were extinguished in seconds, not by cold, but by an ability that defied logic.
That was no ice, no freezing technique — it was something entirely different.
Elior frowned beneath his CP0 mask. After what Vegapunk had told him, he was certain: Imu possessed a Devil Fruit that wasn't listed in the official Devil Fruit Encyclopedia.
What kind of power was this? What kind of ability could grant others eternal life?
If he could uncover the truth behind Im's ability, the key to defeating her might lie there.
He knew that one day, a battle between them would be inevitable — and when that day came, he must win.
Not just against Im, but also against that immortal monster locked deep beneath Mary Geoise…
A being said to surpass even the Marine Admirals — a creature given eternal life by Im herself.
The thought of it made even Elior's blood run cold.
For now, he kept his distance. Masked and silent, he blended perfectly among the CP0 agents. Even here, within Im's domain, he dared not expose himself.
No one could sense his true identity. The mask and uniform crafted by Stussy were flawless — indistinguishable from the real thing.
Not far ahead stood the Gorosei — five aged men radiating authority and restrained power. Stussy had told him long ago that each one of them possessed strength rivaling that of the Marine Admirals. Though age had weakened them somewhat, none could be underestimated.
They stood quietly as the flames died, their faces dark and grim.
Even among the Celestial Dragons, some held strength comparable to high-ranking Marines. Elior could feel their presence — powerful, yet trembling in fear.
After Imu's departure, the air grew heavier. Even those elite Celestial Dragons who once looked down on the world were now pale and shaking.
The Gorosei's expressions were hard and cold.
"Afraid of punishment, are you?" Elior thought to himself. "You've failed your god. It's only natural that fear consumes you now."
It was like a kingdom whose walls had been breached — the wrath of the sovereign would soon fall upon her subordinates.
"Damn it! Who did this?" one of the Celestial Dragons shouted.
"All casualties must be handled immediately! Mobilize every unit!" another barked.
"Lock down the entire Holy Land! Not even a fly gets out alive!"
"If we find the intruder, I'll tear them apart piece by piece!"
"Imu's fury… this is disastrous!"
Panic and dread filled their ranks. Each of them knew what Im's anger meant — disgrace, punishment, perhaps even execution.
To the Celestial Dragons, Imu was no mere ruler — she was a god. If she willed it, she could erase them from existence with a single gesture.
It was no wonder they were trembling.
And yet, none of them realized that the man responsible for all of this — the one who had ignited the chaos — stood right among them, wearing the mask of a loyal CP0 operative.
The perfect disguise. Even the CP0 commander hadn't realized that an extra member had joined their ranks.
All thanks to Stussy's craftsmanship — the uniform, the insignia, the aura — perfect in every detail.
As the panic spread, Elior quietly prepared to retreat.
From afar, the sound of Marine warships echoed through the clouds. Reinforcements from Marine Headquarters were already on their way.
Since the Marine's relocation to New Marineford, the route to the Holy Land atop the Red Line had shortened considerably. The Admirals were already in motion — Kizaru leading the vanguard with light-speed precision.
Akainu had already received word from Kong. This was far worse than the Fishman Tiger incident — far beyond anything they'd faced before.