Imu: The Eternal Ruler

Far away from the crumbling ruins of Raftel, where the Straw Hats had just uncovered the truth of the Void Century, the Holy Land of Mariejois sat undisturbed at the top of the Red Line. Its towering, pristine architecture glistened in the sunlight, casting long shadows over the ancient city where the world's most powerful rulers had hidden for centuries. Inside the deepest chambers of this grand citadel, where secrets had been kept for more than 800 years, a shadowy figure sat on an ancient throne, watching the events unfold from afar.

Imu, the unseen and unknown ruler of the world, gazed into a vast mirror-like pool of water at the center of a darkened room. Through its shimmering surface, the events on Raftel played out in real-time, revealing Luffy, his crew, and the treasure they had just uncovered.

Imu's face was hidden in the shadows, but his eyes gleamed with something close to amusement—and rage. The time he had spent in the background, pulling the strings of the world, had been long and without interruption. He had ruled silently, letting the Five Elders manage the world in his name, while he waited in the shadows, ensuring the truth never resurfaced. But now, it was all falling apart.

Imu's voice, cold and ageless, echoed through the chamber. "So... the D's have finally found it."

Elsewhere in Mariejois, the Five Elders (Gorosei) gathered in a grand meeting hall. They sat around a long table, the weight of recent events pressing down on them. Their faces, normally impassive, now showed clear signs of stress and urgency. The news of Luffy and his crew discovering the truth of the Void Century had reached them quickly, and they understood the gravity of the situation.

One of the elders, a man with a long white beard, slammed his hand onto the table. "The Straw Hats... They've uncovered everything. If that truth gets out, the entire world will rise against us. Our rule will end."

The elder with the scar over his eye nodded grimly. "They're carrying the Will of D. It's been prophesied for centuries that those with that name would rise against us. And now, it's happening."

Another elder, the one with the sword resting at his side, scowled. "This cannot be allowed to continue. The moment they leave Raftel with that knowledge, it will spread like wildfire. Revolution will ignite across the seas."

A heavy silence filled the room. They knew they could not allow this truth to escape. They had spent centuries protecting the world from the knowledge of the Void Century, erasing it from history, destroying anyone who dared to uncover it. But now, for the first time, they faced the very real possibility of their downfall.

Finally, the elder with the mustache spoke, his voice low and filled with dread. "Imu-sama must be consulted. Only he can make the final decision on how we proceed."

The Five Elders, in unison, stood from their seats and made their way toward the deepest chamber of Mariejois, where their true ruler waited.

In the dark throne room, the Five Elders entered in silence, bowing low before the shadowed figure sitting upon the Empty Throne. Imu's presence was overpowering, even as he remained mostly hidden in the shadows. His mere existence defied the world's understanding, as few even knew of his rule, and none spoke of him openly.

The elder with the sword spoke first, his voice cautious. "Imu-sama, the Straw Hat Pirates... they have uncovered the One Piece. They know the truth of the Void Century. If that knowledge escapes Raftel, the world will fall into chaos. What shall we do?"

For a moment, the room was filled only with the sound of Imu's slow, deliberate breathing. Then, with a voice that echoed with the authority of centuries, Imu spoke.

"Prepare the world for war."

The Five Elders exchanged tense glances. Imu's words were final, unquestionable.

"Mobilize the Marine Admirals," Imu continued. "Send the CP0. We must strike before they leave the island. If we allow this to spread, we lose everything we've built. The world order will collapse."

"Yes, Imu-sama," the elders said in unison, bowing even lower before retreating from the chamber.

As they left, Imu's gaze returned to the shimmering pool before him, where Luffy's face was reflected, standing in front of the Poneglyphs with his usual carefree grin. Imu's eyes narrowed, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop.

"This child, Luffy... You carry the Will of D, just like your ancestor. But I have crushed countless generations of your kind. You will be no different."

Imu stood slowly, revealing a tall, ethereal figure wrapped in layers of regal yet ancient robes, his true features still obscured. His presence filled the room, radiating a power far beyond that of any normal being. His eyes, however, were clear—ageless, filled with knowledge of eons past and a malevolent intelligence that had been pulling the strings of history since the end of the Void Century.

"It is time," Imu whispered, "to end the D's for good."

Meanwhile, aboard the Revolutionary Army's flagship, Dragon, the enigmatic leader of the revolutionaries, stared at a detailed map of the world. Reports from Raftel had reached him, confirming that his son, Monkey D. Luffy, had found the One Piece and, more importantly, had uncovered the truth of the Void Century.

Dragon's expression was stoic, but his mind was racing. He had spent years preparing for this moment—gathering forces, building alliances, and waiting for the right time to strike. Now, with the truth finally revealed, he knew that the revolution had to move faster than ever before. The world was on the brink of a massive shift, and if they were going to take down the World Government, they had to act now.

"Sabo," Dragon called, his voice calm but authoritative.

Sabo, standing beside him, stepped forward. "What's our next move, Dragon?"

"We move on Mariejois," Dragon replied without hesitation. "The World Government will strike at Luffy, but we can't let them control the narrative. They've hidden the truth for too long. It's time to expose everything—to destroy the foundation of their lies."

Sabo nodded, his eyes burning with determination. "Understood. We'll mobilize the entire Revolutionary Army. We'll make sure they don't silence the truth."

As Dragon turned to address the rest of his commanders, a messenger rushed into the room, breathless and wide-eyed. "Dragon-sama, urgent news! We've received reports that the Marine Admirals are preparing to move. They're gathering at Marineford—it looks like they're planning a massive assault."

Dragon's eyes narrowed. "They're going after Luffy."

Sabo clenched his fist. "We won't let them."

Dragon placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "No, we won't. But this battle will be bigger than just the Marines versus Luffy. Imu will make his move soon. We need to be ready to confront him. Everything hinges on the revolution now."

Dragon's words carried a weight that was not lost on the room. The revolutionaries had always known they were fighting an uphill battle, but now they were about to go head-to-head with the most powerful force in the world—the one no one even knew existed.

Back on Raftel, Luffy and his crew were preparing for their next move. The revelation of the Void Century had shaken them, but they knew there was no turning back now. They had the truth, and it was their responsibility to protect it.

"Luffy," Robin said, her voice calm but urgent, "we need to leave soon. The World Government will come for us. They won't allow this truth to escape."

Luffy, still grinning, cracked his knuckles. "Let them come. We'll take them on, like we always do."

"Yeah!" Zoro added, unsheathing one of his swords. "We've beaten everyone who's tried to stop us so far. They won't be any different."

Nami, however, looked more concerned. "This is different, Luffy. The Marines, the World Government... they'll send everything they have. We have to be ready."

"We are ready," Luffy replied, his grin never faltering. "We've got the best crew in the world, right?"

As the crew began to prepare their ship, the Thousand Sunny, to sail away from Raftel, a sudden shift in the wind caught their attention. A dark shadow passed over the island, and in the distance, the ominous silhouette of several massive warships appeared on the horizon.

The Marines had arrived.