Chapter 404: Sea of Taboos
Just as Roy thought.
In this war at Marineford, the thing Imu thirsted for was already very obvious.
Descending using Gloriosa's bloodline as a descendant of Joy Boy, and thereby seizing the Nika Fruit within Luffy's body to obtain "freedom".
Judging from the current situation, His plan could even be said to have been half successful.
However, Roy wasn't panicked by this.
He also had a trump card.
And on a card table, the one who flips their trump card first is the loser.
Moreover, just as Roy said—Imu, as a god, truly did not understand the human heart.
He could almost already foresee the changes that might subsequently occur on the battlefield.
So Roy wasn't nervous about the situation on the battlefield.
To him, what was more important right now was actually another place.
Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
Interestingly enough, the World Nobles who claimed to stand above all living beings were actually not much different from those ordinary commoners on the sea at this moment—they were wearing the attire unique to Celestial Dragons, similarly watching the live broadcast of Marineford.
"The Marines are truly useless trash!"
"Hey hey, the truth those bugs mentioned just now—that must be a joke, right?"
"God of the Abyss? The true controller of the World Government? We are obviously the only gods!"
"That guy Shamrock even appeared there, how could it be fake... Truly ridiculous, to think there's actually someone who can stand above us."
"Where are the newly appointed Five Elders? I want to see them!"
"Don't rush, they've only just taken office not long ago... and even if you want to ask, you should at least wait until after this war ends, and all the 'bugs' rebelling against us are killed."
Clearly.
The vast majority of ordinary Celestial Dragons also did not know of Imu's existence.
To them, who considered themselves arrogant and above all living creatures, the very existence of a "god" was the most unacceptable thing.
So at this time, many Celestial Dragons had already begun clamoring to meet the newly appointed Five Elders.
But right now, no Celestial Dragon noticed.
An unobservable figure was walking among the crowd.
The starlight around him sparkled, yet it seemed unable to attract anyone's attention, and the mask of stars on his face could explain his identity.
"The newly appointed Five Elders..."
Beneath the Star Lord mask, Roy murmured in a low voice, not finding this strange.
Imu's existence was a secret to the vast majority of Celestial Dragons, and He couldn't possibly have the time to handle the many affairs of the World Government Himself, so the organization of the Five Elders was necessary.
But regarding this, Roy didn't feel any danger.
Because he was very certain.
"At a time like this, Imu, who has already gradually stepped onto the front stage, cannot possibly grant His power additionally to the Five Elders anymore—these newly appointed Five Elders right now, if nothing unexpected happens, should merely be tools to handle government affairs on His behalf, not possessing the 'Abyssal Sea Contract'."
Since that's the case, they pose no threat to Roy.
And right now, the vast majority of Imu's power and spirit should have already been invested into Gloriosa in Marineford.
In other words, the current Mary Geoise... is the least dangerous it has ever been for Roy.
So, he only had one problem to consider right now.
That is...
"Where is that final 'Tarai Current switch' in Mary Geoise located?"
The choices for the answer to this question were not many.
First, the Room of Flowers—but this possibility could already be eliminated.
Because Roy knew what was beneath the Room of Flowers.
The "Pillar of Creation" transplanted by Imu existed beneath the Room of Flowers—and given the size of the Pillar of Creation and Imu's emphasis on it, it was absolutely impossible to put all His eggs in one basket.
And besides the Room of Flowers, were there any other hidden places in the entire Mary Geoise where others were not allowed to set foot?
The answer is yes.
VMMM!
Silently, the Star Lord's figure stepped into Pangaea Castle without hesitation.
At the same time, he was also ready and alert to use his ability to transfer his position and dodge Imu's attack at any time.
But exactly as he guessed, even though he had already stepped into Imu's "Divine Kingdom" at this time, Imu, who had already descended in Marineford, clearly hadn't noticed.
So, the Star Lord arrived smoothly at the location of his target.
He came to the center of Pangaea Castle.
He came before... the Empty Throne.
Nineteen swords were stabbed on both sides of that massive throne, and on the throne was a cross star emblem symbolizing the world, as well as complex patterns.
That was the position symbolizing the true highest authority of the world, the Lord of the World.
And right now, the Star Lord was walking up the stairs step by step onto the Empty Throne.
He arrived before that throne, and his ability and Observation Haki had already allowed him to sense the secret on that throne.
[Discovered Lineage Factor Source Energy · Abyss · Hidden]
"As expected..."
He chuckled softly.
Then, he slowly reached out his hand, his fingers gently swiping... against that throne.
VMMM!
The next moment, that throne symbolizing the highest authority of the world, which had only ever had one master since its birth, instantly vanished like a colored mark being wiped off a canvas.
And at the position where the throne was originally located, only one thing remained.
That was a passageway.
Leading from the base where the Empty Throne was originally located, towards the deep, bottomless depths below.
"Hiding the secret at the base of the throne... what an old-fashioned style, Imu."
The Star Lord murmured in a low voice to himself.
Then, without hesitation, he took a step forward and fell into that base.
And just as expected...
VMMM!
He began to fall.
While falling all the way, he could see the internal structure of the entire Red Line, the soil and ancient sandstone.
And at the end of the fall, which is the very bottom of the Red Line.
He saw the thing he was looking for—exactly the same as what he had seen before in Impel Down and the underground of Marineford, it was a massive mechanism.
And the Star Lord didn't hesitate in the slightest either, raising his hand and turning that mechanism.
Clack!
And the instant that mechanism was pressed.
The Star Lord felt it, some kind of change was taking place.
Crack!
He could hear that cracks seemed to be appearing at the bottom of the Red Line.
Crack!
He could hear that a certain "defensive measure" that had existed since the establishment of the World Government, and was even reinforced thirty years ago, completely shattered at this moment.
Thus...
VMMM!
The Star Lord's figure moved, and the soil and sandstone of the Red Line parted before him.
He took a step forward, already penetrating that massive continent, and arriving at the deep sea beneath the continent.
But this time...
He didn't hear the sound of ocean currents.
That surging Tarai Current, which seemed like it would never cease in people's memories... had stopped.
And right now, in front of him, there was only an ocean that was silent to the extreme.
And in the center of that Sea of Taboos, where absolutely no one normally set foot, a... massive object slowly manifesting.