Chapter 402: Blood of Freedom
Obviously, the changes happening to Gloriosa could not be hidden from the people on the battlefield right now—in fact, she clearly had no intention of hiding them in the first place.
So at this time, looking at Gloriosa who had instantly become like a demon, even Sengoku's expression changed abruptly.
As someone who was also present in God's Valley in the past, Sengoku was naturally very clear.
Gloriosa's current posture was the same as the situation in the legend of God's Valley—that darkness behind the world had already descended upon her body.
But the problem was...
"Why at this time, what is He trying to do!?"
This was the doubt in Sengoku's heart.
But clearly, compared to Sengoku, The Zodiac's side knew much more.
"Just as Horse guessed."
For example, right now, Loki, holding the Iron Thunder, was perceiving the surrounding Lineage Factor Source Energy through his own ability.
That was the Lineage Factor Source Energy from the Abyssal Magic Circle above the sky, making him unable to use the power of Uranus to connect with the surrounding heaven and earth.
"The Abyss's power permeates this sea area, and even the Sea Kings cannot enter—He wants to completely lock down the nearby sea area, making us sitting ducks."
Shirahoshi also closed her eyes and gently perceived the situation of the surrounding sea area.
"Sitting ducks? So He wants to completely annihilate us all here?"
Hearing this, Gaban beside them chimed in: "According to the 'intelligence' confirmed by The Zodiac, the current Abyss can't do that kind of thing, right?"
As his words fell, Kuma beside them also adjusted his hat, looking at the "Ancient Coffin" facing the Aster above the sky, as well as those "black shadows" inside the Ancient Coffin that were struggling to come out but clearly unable to leave: "He indeed cannot do it. Vegapunk has already researched a portion of the Lineage Factor technology, and he said all Lineage Factor creations require Source Energy to be used."
"Especially something like the 'Ancient Coffin' that resurrects the dead. To use it on a large scale to create an army, the amount of Source Energy required would be extremely astonishing... According to the information provided by Lord Sheep, the current 'Abyss', under the condition of being restricted, cannot possibly possess that scale of Source Energy."
With the words reaching this point, everyone present also understood the meaning within.
They were all people who had joined The Zodiac, or at least ranked under its command.
And The Zodiac actually didn't hide the knowledge regarding Lineage Factor Source Energy—according to them, knowing yourself and your enemy is the first step to victory.
So they were very clear about the restrictions the Abyss suffered, and even what the Abyss could do now—that once mysterious God actually had no secrets to speak of in their eyes today.
But the problem also lies here.
With Imu's power after being restricted, He clearly shouldn't have the certainty or possibility of completely annihilating them here. Yet Imu still decisively had Shamrock activate this Abyssal Magic Circle to trap them here, still drove the Ancient Coffin to manifest here, and even descended personally.
So...
"Unless He is a fool, pointlessly consuming His already meager power out of thin air."
"Otherwise... He has something to rely on."
And the source of this reliance is actually not hard to guess.
After all, when it comes down to it... the meaning of this "Public Execution" itself still hasn't been revealed up until now.
And just as expected, just the next moment...
Squelch!
Accompanied by the sound of a blade piercing flesh and blood.
Everyone saw that unbelievable scene.
They saw that right now, Imu, who had descended upon Gloriosa's body, holding that long sword burning with black flames, had already arrived in front of Luffy.
He raised the blade, and then... plunged it down in a single thrust!
"Luffy!" *N
The next moment, the Straw Hat crew and Ace not far away felt their eye sockets split open in anger and shock.
Because right now, Imu's sword had actually instantly submerged into Luffy's body, seemingly almost cutting his body in two!
"Ah! It hurts so much, I'm going to die... Eh? It doesn't hurt!?"
Luffy also instantly let out a miserable scream, but just a moment later he was surprised to discover that there was actually no sense of pain on his body.
But what replaced it was...
"S-Suddenly so sleepy, so tired... Eh, I have no strength..."
He felt that the strength inside his body seemed to be vanishing out of thin air.
That was no illusion.
In fact, everyone could see that as Imu's blade pierced into his body, Luffy's body suddenly transformed into that pure white Nika form in an instant, as if resisting Imu's power.
But that had no meaning.
Because just a moment later, one could see the pure white ribbon and flame-like hair on Luffy's body slowly becoming dim, and even gradually disappearing as if being swallowed.
And replacing it, that pitch-black long sword acted like the mouthparts of an insect, instead dyeing the wisps of pure white on Luffy's body pitch-black, transmitting them into Imu's... or rather, Gloriosa's body.
"Ah..."
Thus, a low sigh escaped from Imu's mouth, like a prisoner bound for many years finally obtaining relief.
"Joy Boy..."
His gaze looked at Luffy's pure white posture in front of Him, his eyes carrying coldness and mockery: "The sinner who took away 'Freedom' and stole Mu's power for eight hundred years."
"Even at a time like this, you still want to resist Mu?"
"But it's meaningless—this time, even 'Freedom' has no possibility of escaping."
"After all, this body is a descendant of the Freedom Kingdom, a subject containing the 'Blood of Freedom'."
"This body is... your own bloodline, Joy Boy."
Telling the massive secret belonging to eight hundred years ago from His mouth.
In Imu's eyes, that malice and smugness were already clear: "Give it back to Mu, Mu's... 'Freedom'."
The words fell.
From Imu's body, that power that had originally been bound by countless iron chains seemed to have unlocked one of its locks at this moment.
VMMM!
A massive Abyssal Power, far exceeding any previous time, also strikingly burst forth at this moment.
VMMM!
The Abyssal Magic Circle above the sky sprinkled down an increasingly dense pitch-black power, almost completely locking down the entire sea surface.
And that pitch-blackness resembling an abyss that seemingly swallowed everything, continuously surged into the bodies of the Marines below the next moment.
"Eh?"
"What is this... It hurts so much!"
"My body, my body is out of control... Ah!"
And quickly, the Marines who originally still had confused faces let out painful, low roars.
Their bodies began to bulge, and the flesh and blood on their bodies began to change continuously, as if about to transform them into another form.
And at the same time...
VMMM!
In the "Ancient Coffin" above the sky, those countless black shadows stored within that wanted to escape and come out.
Also in the next moment... abruptly broke free from the Ancient Coffin.
Those countless black shadows plunged into the bodies of the Marines below, and then the flesh and blood changes on the Marines' bodies became increasingly violent.
In just a moment.
They transformed into cold figures completely different from before one after another.
They were either wearing old-fashioned Marine uniforms, or were Celestial Dragons, or were wearing the attire of ancient kingdoms.
Their bodies all bore traces of injuries suffered in the past during their lifetimes, and their faces all carried absolute loyalty towards Imu alongside complete coldness.
That is...
"Awaken."
"Spirits controlled by Mu within the Ancient Coffin, using the human bodies of this world as carriers."
Imu's voice, at this moment, spread lowly throughout the entire battlefield.
"Just as in the past."
"Conquer this world once again... for Mu."