Chapter 119: The Destruction of Mariejois!

"Mu has been watching you for a long time, human," Imu declared, her sharp, concentric eyes piercing through Edie with an almost tangible weight. Her voice was cold and unwavering, carrying an ancient authority. "Attacking the Holy Land… you are an uncontrollable anomaly, just like Joy Boy once was."

Despite the tension in her words, Imu did not move to attack immediately. Her presence alone seemed to exert a suffocating force, as if her very existence was enough to keep Edie rooted in place.

"Human?" Edie tilted his head slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Is that a declaration of superiority, or merely a literal classification? Tell me, what are you? Are you even human?"

Imu did not answer his question. Instead, she remarked with icy composure, "Your intellect surpasses even Vegapunk's. In the last eight hundred years, no scientist has rivaled your brilliance."

Her words hung in the air, heavy with both accusation and admiration. It was a rare acknowledgment from a being like her. No scientist in the world could surpass Edie's expertise in cloning technology. A few years earlier, after the catastrophic failure of the Buster Call, the World Government had desperately accelerated the Seraphim project. Yet, even now, they struggled to produce functional clones of certain individuals, such as Crocodile.

Cloning a Logia user remained beyond their reach—something that, until recently, even Edie had been unable to accomplish. The war years ago had inadvertently brought about a tenuous peace, a respite lasting nearly a decade, as the government sought to refine its biological weapons.

If not for Edie's assault on Mariejois tonight, the World Government would have avoided conflict with The Hive for as long as possible, at least until the Seraphim project reached completion.

"I merely stand on the shoulders of giants," Edie said modestly, shaking his head. His cloning breakthroughs were rooted in the Bloodline Factor theory, a revolutionary discovery from over a decade ago by Vegapunk and Vinsmoke Judge.

"I've simply explored how far this path can go… a trailblazer, nothing more."

Imu's gaze remained unyielding, but there was a flicker of something inscrutable in her eyes. Then, her voice cut through the silence like a blade: "Scientist Edie, I will give you a chance."

Her tone was deliberate, almost enticing.

"No matter how you came to learn of Mu's existence, pledge your allegiance to the World Government now, and I will forgive everything you have done tonight."

Imu extended an olive branch, though it was more like a gilded iron shackle. For a mind of Edie's caliber, she was willing to offer clemency—even a position of unparalleled authority.

"Serve Mu, and your past transgressions will no longer matter. I will elevate you to a station befitting your brilliance. Become the sixth person of power."

Edie's brow arched slightly in surprise. "The sixth person of power?" he repeated, the words rolling off his tongue with mild amusement.

The implication was clear: Imu was offering him a position among the highest echelons of authority—the newly-minted Six Elders. A bold gesture, revealing both her ambition and desperation.

Edie's ever-present smile deepened. "A tempting offer," he said lightly. "But let me pose a question first."

Without waiting for her reaction, he continued, his voice tinged with mockery: "Since you sit upon the Void Throne, why do you skulk in the shadows like a rat in the gutter?"

Imu's eyes narrowed, her oppressive aura surging as though the room itself bristled at the insult.

"Don't tell me it's because you enjoy it," Edie pressed, unrelenting. "And don't give me the nonsense about the World Government's cherished concept of equality. There's no such thing as equality in this world."

Edie's voice grew sharper, each word slicing into the facade of the government's ideals. "The franchise nations and the non-franchise nations. The Celestial Dragons and the commoners. Slaves and those free from chains. The strong and the weak. It's all domination masquerading as balance."

He gestured around the chamber, his tone heavy with disdain. "The World Government parades its lie to the participating kings, claiming that this Void Throne is empty—that no one claims ultimate power. But even if you sit upon it, would those kings rebel? Of course not. They're shackled by the very existence of their crowns, symbols of inequality itself."

Imu remained silent, her expression inscrutable. The weight of her presence grew heavier, but Edie stood firm, his demeanor unshaken.

"Ah, silence," Edie said with a knowing nod. "Even that is an answer." He sighed dramatically. "It seems we'll never have a candid conversation. What a pity."

Imu's cold voice finally cut through the tension: "You talk too much, human."

Edie chuckled, his smirk returning. "Don't monkeys like to chatter? Perhaps you'd like to share your troubles with me instead."

The room seemed to pulse with restrained energy as the two locked gazes once more, each one daring the other to make the next move.

As soon as the words left Edie's mouth, the sea behind him surged violently. Two water arrows, crystal-clear at first but rapidly darkening to midnight blue, shot toward the back of his head from a blind spot.

Boom!

A white figure burst through several walls, crashing into the corridor with an explosive entrance. [White] appeared, grinning widely, his expression wild and unhinged. He caught the water arrows mid-air, one in each hand, then hurled them back toward Imu without hesitation.

The arrows spiraled toward Imu, but a wall of water erupted beneath her feet, effortlessly absorbing the attack without leaving a ripple. Yet, in the same instant, [White]'s fist pierced through the water wall, aiming directly for Imu's face.

Before the punch could connect, the wall constricted unnaturally, streams of water coiling around [White]'s arm like living serpents, restraining his attack. His fist stopped mere inches from Imu's face, water tightening around him like iron shackles.

Edie observed the exchange with clinical detachment, his voice tinged with curiosity. "Fascinating. I didn't command him to attack. Is this... his own initiative? Why, I wonder?"

Imu's calm gaze shifted to [White] as she remarked coldly, "It's nothing more than the lingering will of that Loser."

With a subtle wave of her fingers, the water surged again. A massive column rose and pierced through [White]'s torso, reopening a wound from their earlier encounter. A cry of pain tore from his mouth, but it did nothing to deter him. Instead, [White]'s jaw unhinged, his head swelling grotesquely as he attempted to bite down on Imu.

The seawater beneath Imu moved like a sentient being, pulling her body back just in time to evade his monstrous bite.

Edie smiled faintly, his tone casual despite the chaotic scene. "You didn't answer my earlier question, but let me share something with you. You are the sole embodiment of the World Government's history, and I have never underestimated you."

His smile widened as he continued, "When I decided to attack Mariejois, I made some... preparations. Care to guess what I've been up to these past few days? Go ahead, use that 'monkey brain' of yours."

Imu ignored his taunts, her focus entirely on [White], who exploded with a burst of Haki, breaking free from the water's grip. His legs blurred into a whirlwind of motion, creating an afterimage as he dashed toward her with cartoonish speed.

"Hey hahaha~!" [White] cackled, his right arm stretching like a rubber band as he launched a punch toward Imu. The elastic force propelled him forward at incredible speed, his head slamming into her abdomen with a thunderous boom.

The impact sent both of them hurtling through the walls of Pangaea Castle, smashing through room after room before they were launched into the open air outside.

The battlefield outside was already in chaos. Kaido, wielding his massive mace, was fending off waves of seawater, his strikes causing shockwaves that shook the ground. His eyes locked onto the figures of [White] and Imu flying from the castle, narrowing sharply.

"So, that's the king of the Celestial Dragons?" he muttered, gripping his weapon tighter.

Below, the Marines stationed in the Holy Land looked up, startled by the commotion. Before they could react, four black shadows emerged from a nearby pit, rising ominously.

The Five Elders, now fully transformed into their beast forms, towered over the battlefield, their monstrous figures blotting out the sun. It was clear they intended to obscure Imu's identity from any prying eyes.

High in the air, Edie appeared again, standing as if on an invisible platform, watching the clash unfold below.

Imu, still calm despite [White]'s headbutt, grabbed his extended arm mid-flight and swung him downward with inhuman strength.

Boom!

[White] hit the ground with devastating force, cracks spider-webbing outward from the impact. From the fissures, seawater erupted in massive torrents, surging toward him with a menacing intent to engulf him completely.

Edie observed the scene, his expression thoughtful. "She's only manipulating seawater… no sign of Haki. Interesting. It's impressive, but not entirely unprecedented—Shiki's Float-Float Fruit has similar capabilities."

He narrowed his eyes, calculating. "If she doesn't use Haki, I can't gauge her full strength. Is she holding back, or is this her true power?"

Meanwhile, [White], recognizing the danger instinctively, let out a guttural roar. His body began to swell, expanding into a moon-white giant over hundreds of meters tall. The seawater coiled around his legs like snakes, spiraling upward toward his head.

"Ya ha ha ha~!" [White] laughed maniacally, raising a colossal foot and slamming it down on Imu.

Boom!

The earth quaked violently as Imu disappeared beneath the giant's foot, the ground collapsing into a massive crater. But [White]'s triumphant expression faltered as his foot began to rise against his will, lifted by an immense aquatic force.

Imu's figure was nowhere to be seen, but the seawater beneath [White] had morphed into an enormous hand, flipping him off-balance. The giant staggered, losing his footing, and crashed backward with an earth-shaking thud.

The moment he hit the ground, a spear of water shot upward from the earth, piercing through [White]'s chest with deadly precision.

Puff!

Blood sprayed from the wound as [White] let out a choked cry. His enormous body began to shrink rapidly, collapsing into his original form. The seawater surrounding him condensed into a floating sphere, sealing him inside like a prison.

Within the water ball, [White]'s movements slowed, his eyes dimming as the suppressed will of Nika retreated. He floated motionless, a failed warrior subdued by the power of the sea.

Edie observed the outcome with an air of detached analysis. "A failure, after all," he murmured. "His combat instincts were formidable, and Nika's will gave him a fleeting edge… but without a mind to strategize, he's little more than a brute."

As the water sphere hung suspended in the air, Edie turned his attention back to Imu, his expression unreadable.

At that moment, one of the Five Elders, Saint Marcus Mars, opened his beak wide, unleashing a torrent of black flames that hurtled toward Edie, who floated high above the chaos.

Before the attack could strike, a surge of Haki exploded in the distance. Snake, breaking free from his watery prison with sheer willpower, streaked across the battlefield like a dark comet. His black wings unfurled, slicing through the night, as he intercepted the flames midair with a thunderous clash.

"Did you forget I'm here?" Snake's blade shimmered in the moonlight as he hovered, looking down on the Five Elders with disdain.

"That cursed clone…" one of the Elders muttered, venom lacing his words. Their eyes burned with contempt as they glared at the spitting image of Rocks D. Xebec.

Kaido, standing nearby, roared with laughter. With a thunderous crack, he transformed into his colossal azure dragon form. His serpentine body coiled upward, and flames began to gather in his gaping maw. A glowing orb of fire formed, aimed directly at the Five Elders.

Amid the chaos, the sound of water gently lapping against stone echoed faintly. From the shadows, Imu emerged near the floating water prison that held [White]. Her cold, red-rimmed eyes scrutinized the inert figure inside.

"At last... the Nika Fruit is secured," she thought, her tone triumphant. With this failed awakening contained, no new Sun God Nika would arise.

"Such a waste," she muttered softly.

A mocking chuckle broke the silence.

"Thinking you've won already?" Edie's voice cut through the air like a blade, drawing Imu's attention. His glasses glinted as he adjusted them with a slow, deliberate motion.

"Let me remind you of my earlier question," he said, his tone calm but brimming with confidence. "What do you think I've been preparing for these past few days?"

Imu's piercing gaze locked onto Edie, a flicker of unease betraying her composed demeanor.

Edie pushed his glasses higher, his smirk widening. "This little device of mine—" he gestured to the glasses "—is an Energy Level Detection Device. It's capable of precisely measuring the energy output of a person's Haki. For instance," he said, glancing briefly at Kaido, "when our dragon friend unleashed his 'Destroyer of Three Worlds: Ragnarök,' his energy level peaked at fifty billion. That attack left a crater hundreds of meters wide. Impressive, isn't it?"

Imu's eyes flicked toward [White], still encased in the water prison. A faint crimson glow had begun to seep from his body, slowly spreading like a wildfire.

"What is this?" Imu's voice, though measured, carried a note of alarm.

"Ah, I see you've noticed," Edie said, his smirk deepening. "What you're seeing is the aggregation of P-particles—the fundamental building blocks of Haki. Let me explain."

He took a step forward, his tone now almost professorial.

"Before you stands a ticking bomb. [White]'s soul carries roughly 120 billion Haki energy units—and when Nika's will is suppressed, all that energy condenses, triggering self-destruction. Quite brilliant, isn't it?"

The air grew heavy as Edie's words sank in. Imu's expression darkened, but Edie wasn't finished yet.

"P-particles are what give Haki its strength. Every time a person uses Armament or Conqueror's Haki, these particles are released in violent bursts. Normally, they disperse harmlessly into the environment. But what happens," he asked, his eyes narrowing, "when you compress and detonate billions of these particles in one vessel?"

Imu remained silent, her gaze now fixed on the glowing figure of [White].

"The answer," Edie continued, "is self-destruction. Think of it like nuclear fission. When atoms split, they release immense energy. P-particles, when forced into extreme proximity, behave in much the same way—but on an exponentially larger scale."

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in.

"What's happening now is the culmination of that principle. By suppressing the will of Nika with your seastone prison, you've forced the P-particles attached to [White]'s soul to aggregate. The result? An imminent annihilation reaction. The energy released will be more than ten times that of Kaido's strongest attack—or any nuclear event in recorded history."

Imu's pupils contracted. She glanced again at [White], whose crimson glow had intensified to a near-blinding radiance.

"To put it in numbers," Edie said, his voice sharp and biting, "before I came here, [White] carried 120 billion Haki energy units. But when these particles detonate in unison, the release will exceed 1.2 trillion."

A cold silence filled the air. The growing hum of energy from [White] drowned out even the distant echoes of battle.

"You've underestimated me, 'King of the Monkeys,'" Edie added, his voice laced with scorn.

At that moment, [White]'s body erupted in a blinding crimson glow. The sheer intensity forced everyone to shield their eyes. Imu instinctively stepped back, her composure finally cracking.

Kaido, sensing the impending catastrophe, roared as he launched himself skyward. [Snake], moving like a streak of shadow, darted toward Edie to shield him. The remaining Five Elders, now in their monstrous forms, scrambled to protect Imu.

Time seemed to freeze.

Then—

BOOM!

A red sun was born.

The crimson explosion engulfed Mariejois in an instant. A massive sphere of fiery destruction, over a kilometer wide, illuminated the night sky. The Holy Land vanished in a single blinding flash. The Pangaea Castle, once a symbol of absolute power, crumbled to dust.

The shockwave swept outward, flattening everything within dozens of kilometers. Even from the distant Red Harbor, civilians and Marines could only gape in horror as the fiery glow lit up the horizon. In Sabaody Archipelago and Marineford, onlookers watched in stunned silence as the skies burned crimson.

When the light dimmed, a massive crater remained where Mariejois had once stood. The very top of the Red Line had been obliterated, leaving behind a gaping hole that bled seawater into the ruins below.

At Sabaody Archipelago, chaos erupted among pirates, civilians, and nobles alike. 

Shakky's Rip-Off Bar:

Shakky gazed out from the bar's window, her cigarette trembling slightly between her fingers. "That light… it's unlike anything I've ever seen. Even at this distance, I can feel it." Rayleigh, seated calmly at the bar, took a slow sip of his drink. His eyes narrowed, a rare glimmer of concern flashing in them. "The world's axis has shifted tonight," he said quietly.

Civilians and Slaves:

In Grove 1, slaves who had been chained and beaten their entire lives stared in awe at the crimson sky. For many, the destruction of Mariejois symbolized something they had only dreamed of—freedom. Cries of hope and disbelief began to spread: "The Celestial Dragons… are they finally gone?!"

Auction House:

Chaos erupted as nobles and slavers stared at the glowing sky, fear gripping their hearts. "This... this can't be happening! Mariejois is supposed to be untouchable!" shouted one noble, trembling in disbelief. The thought that even the Holy Land could fall sent shockwaves through their fragile egos.

Fish-Man Island:

Even beneath the sea, the red glow reached into the depths, casting an eerie light over the entire island. King Neptune and his sons stood on the palace balcony, staring in silence. "The surface world… what kind of disaster has occurred now?" murmured Neptune, dread filling his heart.

Across Cipher Pol bases and Marine branches, panic erupted. Den Den Mushi calls rang out in a frenzy, agents shouting over one another. "No response from Mariejois! What about the Elders? Are the Celestial Dragon's safe?!" The symbol of absolute power had crumbled, leaving chaos and uncertainty in its wake. The world, it seemed, was no longer the same, and everyone—from the highest peaks of power to the lowest depths of oppression—felt the weight of the unknown future.