After Luo Chen finished handling the matters in the Alabasta Kingdom, he personally returned to his kingdom.
Once again, he left behind a Wood Clone to serve as a messenger.
He informed Robin of the tragedy that had occurred in the Alabasta Kingdom.
At the same time, he consulted with Roger, speculating on the reasons behind the actions of Imu and the Dark God.
According to the secret history Roger had learned from Laugh Tale, the Dark God had been defeated time and again by the Sun God Nika throughout the long river of history, sustaining severe injuries.
Perhaps, the entity intended to devour the souls of the dead to restore itself.
Luo Chen understood the situation, but he found no easy solution.
Imu and the Dark God moved without restraint and could descend upon any part of the world at any moment.
He and the Jinghai Army were spread too thin; it was impossible to set up defenses everywhere.
As for launching an assault on the Holy Land, Mary Geoise, it was still too early.
There was still significant room for Luo Chen's strength to improve.
Although Imu's abilities were mostly exposed and could no longer pose a threat to him, the capabilities of the Phantom House and the Dark God remained shrouded in mist.
The Phantom House, in particular, had easily snatched Imu's soul from his grasp just moments ago.
Luo Chen did not dare to risk an incursion into Mary Geoise.
If he fell into a trap, everything would be lost.
Imu and the Dark God would never show mercy to a single member of the Jinghai Army.
Before departing, Luo Chen could only instruct Robin to spread the Jinghai Army's contact information far and wide.
Should Imu and the Dark God appear to carry out another massacre, they were to contact his Wood Clone immediately.
Once Luo Chen received the news, he would rush to the scene at the first opportunity.
Having arranged these matters, he departed once more, returning to the Rainbow Mist space for secluded cultivation.
...
On a primordial island in the first half of the Grand Line, giant beasts were numerous.
Even a Marine Rear Admiral would have to move with extreme caution on this island of beasts.
At this moment, the island was blanketed by darkness and light.
Black and white split the island in two.
A moment later, the darkness receded like a tide, revealing a figure of black mist.
The white light also retracted, finally condensing into a pure white warrior.
With white hair, white clothes, and flame-like clouds, it was Gear 5 Luffy after the awakening of the Nika Fruit.
However, the look in his eyes was entirely different from usual.
Joy Boy had taken control of Luffy's body, triggering the Gear 5 form to duel the Dark God.
"You swallowed over a hundred thousand souls in Alabasta. You truly deserve to die."
"Luffy's" eyes were cold, his voice filled with fury.
The moment he sensed the Dark God's presence, the will Joy Boy had left within the Nika Fruit began to awaken.
But by the time he had truly located the Dark God and possessed Vivi, the Dark God had already devoured the souls of over a hundred thousand of the deceased.
Combined with years of convalescence, the entity's strength had clearly improved far beyond what it was eight hundred years ago.
Joy Boy's lingering will alone was no longer enough to crush the opponent.
A sneer drifted out from the black mist. "You cannot stop me."
"Joy Boy, this god shall leave the last shred of your will intact, just so you can watch how this world is destroyed."
As the words fell, the black mist vanished into thin air, as if it had never existed.
"Luffy" stared at the spot where the mist had dissipated and sighed silently.
The will he had harbored within the Nika Fruit could only strike one more time.
This final time contained the strongest power he had possessed during his lifetime.
If the Dark God had not retreated just now, Joy Boy would likely have unleashed that final power in an attempt to heavily wound the enemy.
The opponent had likely sensed this, which was why they fled so quickly.
"I hope you can grow up a little faster," Joy Boy sighed again.
Luffy's eyes closed, and he collapsed to the ground.
When he finally regained consciousness, he looked around with a slightly dazed expression.
However, the moment his stomach growled, Luffy immediately looked at a fainted beast nearby, his eyes gleaming.
A short while later, white smoke rose from the island's forest, and the air was filled with the aroma of roasted meat.
...
Mary Geoise, the Phantom House.
Imu's figure solidified, shrouded entirely in pitch-black darkness, their crimson eyes brimming with murderous intent.
Beside them, a cluster of black mist emerged.
Imu looked over and asked, "Did you succeed?"
the black mist condensed into a pair of ethereal features—neither male nor female—and a cold, hard voice rang out.
"No. Joy Boy should still have the strength for one final strike."
"I have left a trace on the host of the Nika Fruit."
"Take the Phantom House and go once more."
The Dark God decided to use the Phantom House to tank Joy Boy's final strike.
If the entity were to endure it personally, the injuries that had only been fifty to sixty percent healed would be set back to square one.
Imu's eyes flickered but did not argue.
The Phantom House was a supreme treasure of the world that had birthed the Dark God; its power was boundless, and it was exceptionally sturdy.
Withstanding Joy Boy's attack would not be a major issue.
The Dark God looked at Imu and asked curiously, "You were defeated by Luo Chen?"
Imu's body stiffened and they were forced to admit it.
The Dark God was puzzled. "That brat's strength can still improve?"
"You have your current strength because you coexist with me."
"Joy Boy is the successor of the Sun God Nika."
"What about Luo Chen?"
Imu looked toward the ceiling and asked, "Are you and the Sun God truly the only gods in this world?"
The Dark God fell into deep thought.
The entity had originally believed so.
But Luo Chen's existence made them uncertain.
Logically, the only one who could contend with them was the Sun God, their mutual restraint.
Whose power did Luo Chen possess?
Seeing that the Dark God could not answer, Imu did not press further, but instead mentioned another matter.
"There is something strange about Wano Country."
"The leader of the Revolutionary Army, Monkey D. Dragon, has appeared in Wano Country twice."
"Though he acted to save his son, Monkey D. Luffy, the second time, no one knows the reason for his first appearance in Wano Country."
Wano Country was a closed-off nation, yet the World Government still had spies planted there.
After all, that place had been the territory of the Four Emperors Kaido for many years.
Monkey D. Dragon had appeared in Wano Country twice, both times clashing with Kaido, which had been noticed and reported back by World Government agents.
Imu felt this matter was quite peculiar.
Given Monkey D. Dragon's status, Wano Country shouldn't have been so attractive to him.
In the past, when the Five Elders were still around, Imu would have ordered them to investigate thoroughly.
Now, with no one left to use, they harbored suspicions about Wano Country but lacked the time to investigate.
The Dark God mused, "Wait on the matter of Wano Country. Resolve Joy Boy first."
"Once his will has completely dissipated, this god can devour the souls of living beings at will."
"When my strength returns to its peak, unless the three Ancient Weapons are gathered and Nika manifests, no one can hope to stop us."
The enemy could never gather the three Ancient Weapons.
Because the Ancient Weapon Uranus was in the hands of the Dark God and Imu.
In other words, once fully recovered from all injuries, the Dark God was confident in crushing all enemies.
Even if the Nika of this era appeared, the entity would remain fearless.
Because they were the oldest existence to have survived from ancient times to the present, with a profound foundation.
Meanwhile, the Sun God Nika had undergone multiple reincarnations, and his strength had diminished.
The chosen successor might not necessarily be able to inherit the Sun God's full power.
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