Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Amid the terrifying surge of energy, the surrounding sea churned violently, as though a meteor had crashed down from the heavens.
Towering waves, some reaching dozens or even hundreds of meters high, erupted one after another.
Nami and Nico Robin's expressions changed dramatically. The scene before them was no different from a natural catastrophe.
In the blink of an eye, their ship was swallowed by the monstrous waves, vanishing completely from sight.
Fortunately, the vessel had already been coated, so being engulfed by the sea posed no real issue.
As Devil Fruit users, Crocodile and Nico Robin focused on protecting Nami from being thrown overboard during the violent turbulence.
"Let's head to Fish-Man Island first!"
"After Lord Ryūjin deals with Imu, he'll meet up with us!"
The group shouted over the chaos and quickly came to an agreement.
Ryūjin had already observed everything through Observation Haki, so he paid it little attention. Instead, he looked at Imu with genuine admiration.
"Very impressive strength."
Ryūjin was truly astonished.
A sphere of light capable of flattening a small mountain in a single strike had been shattered by Imu's bare fists.
As expected of the master behind the Five Elders, the true ruler of the world. His strength was no joke.
"Your strength surprises me as well."
Imu let out a cold laugh.
His figure flickered.
Moving so fast that ordinary eyes couldn't follow, he stepped through the air and shot toward Ryūjin like a bolt of lightning.
A powerful punch exploded forward.
Despite its simplicity, this was the strongest physical attack Ryūjin had encountered since arriving in the One Piece world.
The powers of the Three Admirals, Sengoku's Buddha form, Kong's full combat form, even the Elders' demonic blades...
None of them could compare to this single punch.
Ryūjin was certain that even Kong in his strongest form would be blasted away by it.
As for Garp's fist?
Compared to Imu's, it was a joke.
"Already surprised?"
A smile appeared at the corner of Ryūjin's mouth as he threw a punch of his own.
"Then what about what's coming next?"
Bang!
Their fists collided.
Another devastating shockwave erupted.
Massive waves exploded outward once again.
Within that world-shaking burst of power, Imu's body trembled violently before he was launched backward like a cannonball.
Crack!
The sound of breaking bones echoed through the air.
"My hand? That's impossible!"
Imu's eyes widened in disbelief.
How could Ryūjin Uchiha possess such overwhelming strength?
He had been blown away with a single punch.
Whoosh!
Before Imu could fully process what had happened, a blur appeared before him.
Ryūjin was already standing right in front of him.
His speed was so terrifying that even Imu nearly failed to react.
"It seems I'll have to get a little more serious."
Imu's expression turned grave.
The moment he finished speaking, he vanished.
Almost simultaneously, he appeared behind Ryūjin.
His black fist descended like a falling meteor, aimed directly at Ryūjin's back.
Seeing Ryūjin still facing away, apparently unaware of the attack, a cruel smile appeared on Imu's face.
Boom!
His punch pierced straight through Ryūjin's chest.
A transparent hole opened from back to front.
The strike had been vicious, aimed directly at the heart.
Ryūjin couldn't help but think that if Imu ever met Black Zetsu, the two would probably have plenty to discuss.
"Did I succeed?"
Imu froze momentarily.
Had he really killed Ryūjin with a single punch?
It felt far too easy.
Then the pierced Ryūjin suddenly transformed into a puddle of water and splashed into the sea.
"Nani? A fake!"
Imu's pupils contracted sharply.
"Teleportation? A useful technique."
Ryūjin's voice sounded from elsewhere.
Imu jerked around and saw Ryūjin calmly floating in another location.
A playful expression rested on his face as he looked down at Imu.
Imu's jaw twitched.
Shock and anger surged through him.
A clone?
Was this the clone ability mentioned in the intelligence reports on Ryūjin?
He hadn't expected such an overlooked ability to become this troublesome.
Whoosh!
While Imu stared at him, Ryūjin suddenly vanished from sight.
"That speed again?"
Imu's pupils shrank.
Using nothing but physical movement, Ryūjin's speed was already approaching his teleportation.
The next instant, Ryūjin's fist came crashing toward him.
Imu immediately used teleportation to evade.
But Observation Haki had already revealed his destination.
Ryūjin adjusted his attack in advance.
Exactly where his fist was headed, Imu appeared.
"Nani!"
Startled, Imu tried desperately to dodge.
Unfortunately, it was too late.
Bang!
The punch landed cleanly.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The two figures transformed into blurs as they exchanged blows at incredible speed.
No flashy abilities.
No elaborate techniques.
Only the purest form of combat.
Fist against fist.
Body against body.
Boom!
Soon, another figure shot backward like a cannonball and crashed into the sea.
A massive wall of water rose into the sky.
It was Imu.
However, he quickly emerged from the waves and landed atop his flying device.
His face was filled with horror.
In that brief exchange alone, four of his bones had been broken.
Even his internal organs had suffered significant damage.
"Is Ryūjin Uchiha really this powerful?"
"Is this his true strength?"
Imu gasped for breath, his eyes filled with shock.
"I was too arrogant."
"How could I face someone like you without using everything I have?"
"Ryūjin Uchiha, from this point onward, I won't hold back."
"I'll use my full strength."
"Are you ready?"
Imu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and stared directly at Ryūjin.
"I'll be waiting."
Ryūjin shrugged.
"Just don't disappoint me."
"I'm afraid you'll be the one driven to despair."
Imu snorted.
Then he raised a finger toward Ryūjin.
Chirp!
A golden beam shot from his fingertip.
"This is... Kizaru's Glint-Glint Fruit?"
Ryūjin used the Body Flicker Technique to evade, surprise appearing on his face.
Then realization struck him.
"No, that teleportation earlier... wasn't that Bartholomew Kuma's ability?"
When he had sensed Imu's movements through Observation Haki, the compressed-air mechanism had felt strangely familiar.
It was the Paw-Paw Fruit.
Imu possessed multiple abilities.
Of course, that wasn't the most shocking part.
The truly unbelievable fact was that there should only be one Devil Fruit of each type in the world.
"Surprised?"
Imu sneered.
"It's only beginning."
Both of his hands rose.
A torrential storm of golden light erupted toward Ryūjin.
It was Kizaru's Yasakani Sacred Jewel.
Only vastly more powerful.
The difference between the two was immeasurable.
"This level isn't enough."
Ryūjin remained completely unfazed.
He extended a hand.
The power of the Preta Path activated.
Every beam of golden light was instantly absorbed.
"What about now?"
Imu already knew about the Preta Path from his intelligence reports, so he wasn't surprised.
Instead, he casually beckoned.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The sea behind Ryūjin instantly froze.
Countless ice blades formed and launched toward him in a relentless barrage.
Unlike the golden beams, these weren't energy attacks.
"This is Aokiji's ability."
Even Ryūjin was genuinely surprised.
That made three Devil Fruit powers already.
Imu was practically cheating.
At the moment, Ryūjin's hands were occupied maintaining the Preta Path's defense.
But that posed no issue.
"Wood Clone."
Crack! Crack!
Another Ryūjin emerged from his body and floated behind him.
Clapping his hands together, the clone summoned a dense wall of wooden branches.
Every ice blade was blocked.
Imu's expression darkened.
What should have pressured Ryūjin had been neutralized effortlessly.
"It's not over yet!"
Imu roared.
Lightning burst from his body.
The power of Enel's Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
Crackle! Crackle!
The lightning intensified until Imu had completely transformed into a living thunderstorm.
Then he opened his mouth.
Bolts of lightning rained down from the sky toward Ryūjin and his Wood Clone.
The heavens themselves seemed to disappear beneath the attack.
"So terrifying!"
"Too terrifying!"
"That monster isn't human!"
"Run!"
The surrounding Sea Kings were terrified and fled into the distance.
Yet the attack had no effect.
Ryūjin expanded the Preta Path's protective barrier, covering both himself and the clone.
The lightning vanished harmlessly.
It couldn't affect him at all.
"Not good!"
Suddenly, Imu's expression changed.
Observation Haki had detected another Ryūjin appearing beside him.
Damn it.
How many clones could this monster create?
Boom!
A moment later, Imu's body shook violently as he was blasted away once again.
Although he had sensed the clone's presence, he was fully committed to attacking and had no opportunity to evade.
Crack!
Another bone snapped.
One of his ribs shattered under Ryūjin's punch.
His body slammed into the sea, generating an enormous wave.
Soon afterward, he burst back out of the water.
Through Observation Haki, Ryūjin clearly saw Imu expelling water from his body the instant he fell in, completely isolating himself from the seawater.
That made five Devil Fruit abilities.
Even Ryūjin couldn't help but admire him.
Imu was a cheat-level existence even by One Piece standards.
The kind running every possible cheat at once.
"Pwah!"
The moment Imu emerged, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
His eyes were filled with horror as he stared at Ryūjin.
At this point, he finally understood.
Ryūjin Uchiha's strength far exceeded his own.
This was an opponent he simply could not defeat.
"Damn it! How can someone this monstrous exist in the world?"
His heart churned violently.
"I can't continue fighting him directly."
"I have to return to Mary Geoise immediately."
Imu quickly reached a decision.
Because he knew that with his current strength, killing Ryūjin was impossible.
He might even die here himself.
There was only one method left.
The Ancient Weapon, Uranus.
Only Uranus could eliminate Ryūjin.
Nothing else stood a chance.
Clap!
At that moment, Ryūjin brought his hands together.
Two more Wood Clones appeared.
Four Ryūjins instantly surrounded Imu.
They formed hand seals simultaneously.
"Ninja Art: Four Red Yang Formation!"
A massive barrier began rapidly taking shape.
"Not good, that sealing technique!"
Whoosh!
Imu's face changed drastically.
Without hesitation, he transformed into a beam of golden light and shot through the unfinished gap before the barrier could close completely.
In an instant, he vanished into the sky.
"Fast enough to escape."
Ryūjin looked toward the direction of Imu's retreat and snorted lightly.
The clones dispersed.
He had planned to trap Imu inside the Four Red Yang Formation to prevent his escape.
Unfortunately, Imu wasn't foolish.
The moment he realized the danger, he chose retreat without hesitation.
===
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