The Only Way Is Forward II

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Chapter 172: The Only Way Is Forward II

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That stab would suddenly come to a stark halt, forcefully stopped by a pale hand, the hand of Yovan who had just appeared, coldly saying, "Im, just what do you think you're doing?"

"Helping you move forward," Im gently responded, barely able to finish what she wanted to say before Yovan's hand lunged at her neck, choking her... Yet she remained calm, just staring into his strange eyes.

Yovan side-glanced at Laffitte's still warm body, warm but dead. His expression was calm with a bit of coldness to it, only he knows what was going through his mind.

He tapped the ground and vanished along with Im, taking her as far away from his crew as possible.

The moment they vanished, the Strangers finally regained control of their body, and they could finally feel... There was a long silence on the ship before someone spoke.

"I-Is he dead?" Bege shakily asked, still frozen in his place.

"I... Yes?" Even Viola who can use her Devil Fruit ability to basically look through people's bodies was unsure.

She was certain that his heart stopped beating. How could it not when it was mostly destroyed? Shredded by the blade of that who sits on the Empty Throne.

"Is... Is there any trick?" Bege was still doubtful as he finally stopped, walking toward Laffitte's body in denial.

The others joined him, surrounding the body, shock written on their face, still unable to let their emotions out because of their doubt.

Something similar happened before, the ruse of Capone Bege's death by the hands of Hades, so they were naturally doubtful no matter how real what took place before them seemed.

The most important reason, however, was Yovan. Only they know the monstrosity that's Yovan. The world may think it knows of Yovan, but they don't, not at all.

The Strangers know that it was Yovan who created the Pantheon. They know that Yovan still rules over the Pantheon and that it can not function without him for his crows are everywhere.

The World thinks that Yovan joined the Pantheon at some point and that he got so strong that he grew out of it, becoming what some called the Demon King or the Devil King.

If something happens, he would know it, so the moment Im appeared, he should've sensed it, even seen it, thus he would appear there instantly, but he showed up late, too late.

"He's dead..." Kalifa coldly said, her tone reeking with certainty but also hesitation, but at last, she felt like she should say it, "Remember Laffitte's advice to Yovan. It must have something to do with it."

They remembered his advice, one fitting for someone like Laffitte... Force yourself to never look back. Did Yovan allow Laffitte to die? Why? They still don't understand, and their emotions were a mess.

Only Kalifa understood to a certain extent, and she found herself speechless at the possibility. Either way, Kalifa turned around, walking back to her quarters, still hearing Pudding's barely hidden sobbings.

The Strangers were never the emotional type, but they are to each other. Each has a different way of processing such a tragic incident... Except for Yovan.

If Yovan showed hostility against Im before the Strangers, he showed none now as he appeared far away with Im.

He appeared on the top of the Treasure Tree Adam, and he couldn't help but let out a sigh as he let go of Im.

The scenery before him changed quite a bit since the last time he has been here which is less than an hour ago.

The scenery became even more majestic with Ice spikes stretching through the clouds to reach the top of the Tree. Such a monstrosity was the creation of none other than Ymir.

"Ymir is finally dead," Im calmly noted.

"He was the one stopping you from destroying the Tree?" Yovan was almost certain of that. Destroying the Tree means cutting off the Sea God's lifeline, yet Im didn't do it... She couldn't.

Ymir was that much of a monster, and even Loki didn't realize how many responsibilities he was bearing on his shoulders.

"Not anymore." Im gently said.

It was quite the strange scene considering She had literally just killed one of the Strangers, and she was planning to kill more. Yovan's reaction surprised even Im herself.

"Does that mean that even if it dies, the Devil Fruits would still exist?" Yovan shared a doubt of his.

"Devil fruits have long become independent of their bearer. No more Devil Fruits will be born, but those that exist will stay." Im explained.

"Ah, I understand now. That's why Ymir didn't mind dying," Yovan mused, "The death of the Sea God might mean Devil Fruit users no longer suffer the curse of the sea, which might've been a worthy venture hundreds of years ago if it means no more Devil Fruits would appear.

However, now you will not destroy the Tree. You will not cause the creature to die, not when so many threats to your rule exist, and the curse would be useful against them."

Yovan glanced at Im, "The reason you're here isn't merely because you were invited by Loki but also to protect the Tree from me."

He couldn't help but chuckle at the amusing turn of events. Im once wanted to destroy the Tree but Ymir stood as a formidable barrier for hundreds of years.

Now Ymir died, and in turn passed that responsibility to Im, the person that previously wanted to destroy it. Ymir was a monster in more ways than one.

"Your reaction surprises me," Im suddenly changed the subject, focusing on what she was most curious about.

"I've forced myself to never look back," Yovan chuckled, "My reaction is that of success. I will not look back for the only way is forward."

He kept a few ludicrous words to himself, 'The only way is forward... The only way to revive him is by becoming either Limitless or what I truly pursue, something beyond Limitless.'

Both were possibilities, one more likely than the other for surpassing Limitless before even becoming Limitless sounds like a far-fetched dream.

Yovan feels like he can do it. Something that stuck to him quite a bit was the fact that the previous Limitless chose to end their own life... He knows, to a certain extent, why, so he wants to surpass Limitless.

The Solution was Irrationality. So he chose what he's best at, surviving, with irrationality which had the effect of messing with his mind.

The effect of Irrational Survivor was making him quite a bit irrational despite his monstrous willpower... Not anymore.

Now he truly feels like the only way is forward, like he can never look back for he has to succeed.

That thought of having to succeed made his mind much calmer, and his willpower much stronger to a ridiculous degree.

[Willpower: 15000/∞] Im doesn't realize nor does she understand the monstrosity standing beside her, but knows what's planning... To make him even more of a Devil King.

The Devil King would by sheer coincidence exterminate some enemies of the World Government before being exterminated by it for the sake of peace.

Yovan was certain that the World Government was already planning on doing some heinous things in his name, eliminating all threats to their rule, and further strengthening it by eliminating him.

"Do not interfere again or I will ruin everything," Yovan advised before lightly tapping the ground to disappear, leaving behind a few words, "See you when the end is near."

He vanished, leaving Im all alone. Im didn't imagine things would go this way, that a monstrosity like Yovan would suddenly appear out of nowhere, "What do you seek, truly?" Im wondered to herself.

To this day, Im still doesn't know Yovan's true goal. Im knows that he seeks to go against the World, but why, she doesn't know.

Yovan needed to relax. He felt his mind free but also burdened, so he appeared directly in his chamber, finding Kalifa lying on his bed, seemingly waiting for him.

Without a word of explanation, Yovan's gently placed his dark coat to the side, the one made by Laffitte himself; before joining Kalifa on the bed, gently pulling her closer into a hug, and going to sleep.