Chapter 400: Lord Imu

"Tch—"

"That monster…"

"He's this strong even wearing seastone?!"

"Is that for real? Couldn't that thing be fake?"

"He's gotten even stronger!"

…

Witnessing this scene, Rocks, Golden Lion, Whitebeard, Steel-Bone Kong, and the others all drew a sharp breath, eyes involuntarily jumping. Mouths hung agape, a chill prickling their scalps.

Surrounded by five such formidable foes, yet still fighting with seeming ease…

At that moment, the dominance of the "World's Strongest Creature" was on full display, truly mind-boggling.

"This guy…"

As astonished as the rest, the Bakotsu Saint Nasujuro, recently forced back, could scarcely believe it. Glaring at the towering, impossibly imposing El up ahead, he muttered:

"Is that bracelet on his hand really made of seastone?"

"Questioning whether this thing's genuine?"

El glanced over, shaking the seastone handcuff on his left arm with a smile. In one swift movement, he stamped his foot and gave a mighty flap of his wings, blasting forward like a cannonball.

In the blink of an eye, he was in Saint Nasujuro's face:

"Well then, experience it for yourself... Don't say I won unfairly!"

Indeed, the seastone cuff was real.

Thanks to countless days of fanatical training, El's current power was such that aside from nullifying his Devil Fruit ability, the cuff's weakening effect on him was very limited. As for what ordinary people found to be an unbreakable seastone band, El could destroy it with a mere flex of his Haki if he wanted to—instantly breaking free of its constraints.

"Clang!!!"

Sparks flew.

The First Generation Kitetsu gleamed coldly, but El's massive serpentlike blade blocked it with ease. In that split second, before Saint Nasujuro could respond, El's thick left arm whipped forward savagely.

"Crack!!!"

To him, it was a trivial move, but for others that seastone cuff—tougher than any saw or drill—smashed full force into the horse's body.

"Gaah…!"

Saint Nasujuro's eyes nearly popped; he coughed blood, instantly reverting to human form with every muscle enfeebled, suffering unimaginable trauma.

"Impossible!"

He reeled away like a cannonball.

In utter disbelief, he stared at El. Indeed, that was real seastone of a terrifying purity, draining all his strength the moment he touched it. If it latched onto him, never mind using his Devil Fruit; he might lose even to a few random pirates on the island.

Yet Fallen Angel El, wearing that same cuff, could still unleash such a dreadful might.

"Boom!!"

With a massive crash, his battered form plowed straight into a towering mountain, dust billowing. Saint Nasujuro ended up embedded there.

"Hmph…"

At once, El's expression was ice-cold. With startling speed, he took flight, chasing relentlessly. His Observation Haki locked on to the mountain. Lunging forth, the barbaric blade in his grasp flashed.

"Tch—"

A terrifying slash ripped the air, severing the entire mountainside in a blink.

"Boom… BOOM…"

An utterly smooth cross-section slid off and splashed into the sea below, creating titanic waves that left onlookers drenched in cold sweat.

"Tch—"

Meanwhile, the monstrous bird—Itsumade Saint Mars—came swooping in again. Although he'd been hurt by the Gyuki's exploding poison orbs, her wounds healed at visible speed. A sharp beak, wreathed in black fire and sparking with black-and-red lightning, jutted out like a deadly lance, lunging to impale El.

"Clang!!!"

El's calm demeanor did not falter.

His blade, wrapped in Conqueror's and Armament Haki, thrust out like a fierce serpent, colliding with that lance-like beak. Steel against steel—needle against spike—neither side conceding. He and the flying monstrous bird Saint Mars clashed violently.

"Boom… BOOM…"

"Whsss… crash…"

The shockwaves pounded the air, ripping open the earth in swirling gusts that sprayed debris and vegetation about. Threads of thick black-red lightning hissed like serpents, forming arcs that spread wide.

The cataclysmic burst of Conqueror's Haki even churned up monstrous waves on the sea, forcing many onlookers to sweat and recoil.

"Roaar—!" The Fengxi bellowed, galloping over with savage force, turning its tusks into blade-like edges and hurtling them forward.

"Tempest Kick—Tempest Sever!!"

El's face remained unchanged, striking a Rankyaku with his right leg, compressing the air.

"Tch—"

A giant crescent slash whirled out to meet those razor-sharp tusks.

"Boom… BOOM…"

At the same moment, high atop the Red Line in the Holy Land Mary Geoise—

in a place known as "Pangea Castle," forbidden for any Celestial Dragons to enter at whim—a figure wearing a crown proceeded into a spacious underground chamber, gazing at an ancient, weathered straw hat. Then, glancing down at a wanted poster, they showed a hesitant expression.

"What's the status?"

Imu exchanged telepathic thoughts with the Five Elders currently in God Valley, requesting updates.

"Saint Saturn: Our apologies, Lord Imu. The situation is dire, going poorly."

"Saint Mars: This monster is unimaginably strong. Even wearing seastone, we can't fully suppress him."

"Saint Nasujuro: And I've personally confirmed that his cuff really is high-purity seastone—just touching it made me lose all strength instantly."

"I see… You five must do everything in your power to stall Kukulkan El, that wildcard… I'm going to activate Uranus!"

Upon hearing this, Imu's countenance shifted, finally reaching a decision. For the power and potential that Fallen Angel El displayed was too terrifying, making even the self-proclaimed "sovereign over this world," who'd ruled from the shadows for centuries, uneasy.

"This…"

"But Lord Imu—wouldn't that mean…?"

At this order, the Five Elders back in God Valley changed expression, hesitating. Stall Fallen Angel El? That might mean sacrificing themselves. Could unleashing Uranus truly kill a living nightmare like