Meanwhile, on the other side of the battle, Zoro couldn't stop himself from smiling.
Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro stood before him, his sword resting loosely in one hand. Even without moving, the old man Haki pressed against Zoro skin.
Jack had warned him about this opponent. According to Jack, Nusjuro had once been a rebel from Wano. He had joined Imu as a knight eight hundred years ago and had remained alive ever since.
"Eight hundred years, perfect punching bag," muttered Zoro
Zoro couldn't imagine spending that much time with a sword in his hand and never finding an opponent capable of killing him.
Jack had even suggested that Nusjuro might be stronger than Mihawk. That alone had been enough to make Zoro look forward to meeting him.
"You seem pleased," Nusjuro observed.
Zoro tied his bandana around his head.
"I've wanted to fight you for a while."
"Then you have mistaken your own ability," said Nusjuro
"Villain die talking too much," replied Zoro
Zoro drew his swords. When he had faced Mihawk at the Baratie, he hadn't even understood how large the difference between them was. He had charged forward with confidence and discovered, almost immediately, that confidence meant very little against a truly powerful swordsman.
Back then, he hadn't understood Haki. Now he could feel it gathering around Nusjuro blade. He could sense the danger before the old man attacked.
Knowing how powerful his opponent was didn't make the fight easier. It meant Zoro could finally understand what he needed to overcome.
Nusjuro moved, their sword are attacking one another, Zoro crossed two swords before his chest.
The impact drove his boots through the stone, splitting a fallen pillar in half. His arms trembled, then he pushed the blade aside.
Nusjuro eyes narrowed, Zoro grinned around the sword between his teeth.
'So that's how hard you can hit.' He stepped forward and swung.
Their blades collided again, sending black sparks across the ground
Nusjuro Devil Fruit ability was troublesome. Zoro could already feel the cold creeping along his swords, trying to stiffen his fingers.
Still, he hadn't come here to argue about what powers a swordsman was allowed to use.
If Nusjuro wanted to bring his Devil Fruit power into their duel, Zoro would find a way to cut through that too.
,,,,,,,
Not far away, Figarland Garling watched the fight from a far, he are no longer Supreme Commander of Holy Knight because he had lost his arm.
Although his combat power had been reduced to at least half, still in this situation they need to defend themselves against an enemy. His missing hand throbbed with a pain that had become more irritating than the wound itself.
"Live none alive" he ordered.
Several Holy Knights turned towards them. Garling pointed his sword towards Nami and Usopp.
"Those two, kill them."
Usopp noticed immediately.
"Why does everyone assume we're the easiest targets?"
Nami aimed her pulsor to them, preparing for the incoming Holy knight. Even with all the laser and repulsor had been aimed to them, they still lunged towards them.
A Holy Knight lunged towards them. Usopp fired at the ground beneath the knight feet. Thick vines burst from the broken paving stones and wrapped around his legs.
The knight cut through them with one swing.
Nami had already raised her weapon, her hand changed into powerful cannon.
Lightning struck before he could take another step. The knight disappeared inside a flash of white light.
Usopp lowered his slingshot slightly.
"See? Perfect teamwork."
The smoke cleared but their opponent was still standing.
Part of his shoulder had been burned away, but the damaged flesh was already repairing itself.
Usopp sighed. "I'm beginning to dislike these people."
"Then stop talking and fight," Nami replied.
Fear hadn't vanished completely from the Straw Hats. They could feel the strength of the enemies surrounding them but none of them considered running.
The only truly strongest fighter in Strawhat Pirates are Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Dorry, Broggy, Bartolomeo, Kuma and Jack.
While the other who are not strong enough, they had been thrown around the gravity room, forced to sharpen their Haki, and made to repeat exercises until they could barely lift their arms.
Their vibranium battle suit had saved them more than once, although their haki was unstable but with the help of battle suit they can go toe to toe with Holy Knight.
Nami glanced towards the distant palace before returning her attention to the knight.
.....
High above the sky, Sanji twisted through the air.
He watched every single member and the addition of revolutionary army fighting the enemy.
Suddenly, Mars enormous beak snapped shut where his head had been a moment earlier.
Sanji planted one foot against the creature's face and kicked himself clear.
"Trying to eat the cook?" he muttered. "That's new."
Fire gathered inside Mars mouth.
Sanji looked down. Nami, Nojiko, and Vivi were directly beneath them.
His expression changed. He accelerated with a series of sharp kicks against the air and struck Mars beneath the jaw.
The blast of fire went upwards, scorching the clouds instead of the battlefield.
"You should pay attention to your opponent," Sanji said.
Mars turned one furious eye towards him.
....
The Empty Throne - Luffy Meet Imu
Luffy crashed through the doors and rolled across the floor.
Pieces of stone fell around him due to the impact but he got no scratch thanks to the vibranium suit.
At the other end of the room, a single figure sat upon the Empty Throne. Luffy slowly stood upon seeing him.
"Are you Imu?" The figure didn't answer immediately.
Imu stared at the straw hat resting on Luffy head, even with the vibranium suit Luffy still wore the strawhat.
That hat had once belonged to Roger but the resemblance with JoyBoy makes him annoyed.
"The one who bears the name of D," Imu whispered.
Luffy picked his nose.
"My name is Monkey D. Luffy."
"I know who you are."
Imu red eyes narrowed.
"You possess a power that should have disappeared eight hundred years ago."
"You mean my Nika, the warrior of liberation power?"
Luffy tilted his head, Imu stood from the throne. The room became dark as shadows spread across the walls.
"You came here without understanding your own existence."
"I came here to punch you," snarled Luffy.
The simplicity of the answer caused Imu to pause.
"My friends are fighting outside because of you," Luffy continued. "You hurt a lot of people and tried to kill the ones who refused to obey you."
"You entered my domain to lecture me about suffering?"
"No." Luffy pulled his arm backwards. "I told you. I came here to punch you."
His fist flew across the room, Imu moved his head slightly, allowing it to pass.
A black arrow emerged from the shadows and stabbed through Luffy's arm but even with the haki imbued to the arrow tail, it failed to puncture through Luffy.
"That hurt a bit," mocked Luffy.
"Today is the day that you will die," Imu become really angry.
A circular symbol appeared beneath Luffy's feet.
Black energy wrapped around his legs before spreading across his body.
Luffy tried to move, but his knees struck the floor.
"What is this?"
Imu raised one hand.
"Domi Reversi."
The symbol entered Luffy chest.
Black markings appeared across his skin as two horns began forming from his head. His eyes darkened, and his fingers dug into the floor.
"Your body, mind, and will now belong to me," Imu declared.
Luffy could feel an order forcing itself into his thoughts.
"Obey, Kneel, Destroy the people who had entered Mary Geoise with him."
Imu pointed towards the battle outside.
"Kill your companions."
But nothing happen to him, instead he shouted at them.
"No."
Imu eyes narrowed. "What did you say?"
"I said no," repeated Luffy. "As I thought you," Luffy suddenly appear beside Imu and punched him hard.
Imu was thrown hard against the wall, he continued attacking him without stopping.
Imu's body twisted between them, avoiding most of the attacks before a black tail emerged from beneath their cloak.
The sharp tip once again try to pierce Luffy but failed to stab Luffy.
Seeing no way to cut down the suit, Imu used one of the 19 legendary weapon from the past king.
"Xiangtian Axe, this is where your suit will lose it's effectiveness," said Imu while showing the new axe.
Imu slashed the axe towards Luffy while Luffy coated his hand with haki.
"Sraakkkkk."
His hand were cut down, his haki and battle suit failed to stop Xiangtian Axe completely.
"What is that weapon," said Luffy.
Imu didn't answer, instead he lunged forward and attacked Luffy with the same axe again. Although Luffy had conqueror haki but it was still weak compared to timeskip Luffy.
"I am Not finished yet!" said Luffy and he coated his hand with Conqueror haki.
He launched his largest fist towards Imu.
"King Kong Gun!"
Imu raised one hand.
The enormous fist stopped.
Luffy stared in disbelief.
Imu fingers closed around his knuckles.
A burst of black Haki travelled through his arm.
Blood erupted from Luffy's mouth as the force threw him across the chamber.
His Gear Fourth transformation ended.
Luffy struggled to breathe.
Imu appeared above him.
"You may carry Nika power, but you have not awakened it."
A black spear formed in Imu's hand.
"Your existence will end here."
The spear pierced Luffy's chest.
His body struck the floor.
For several seconds, he didn't move.
His heartbeat stopped.
Imu pulled the spear free and turned away.
Then a strange sound echoed through the room.
Ba-dum.
Imu stopped.
Ba-dum.
Luffy's heart started beating again, but its rhythm had changed.
Ba-dum. Ba-dum.
The sound grew louder and for a moment Imu stopped what he was doing.
Zunesha, standing far away in the ocean, raised its head towards Mary Geoise.
A forgotten rhythm had returned to the world.
The Drums of Liberation.
Luffy's fingers moved.
His hair slowly turned white as clouds wrapped around his body. His clothes changed with him, and a wide smile appeared on his face.
Luffy sat up and began laughing.
"Ahahaha!"
Imu turned towards him.
"No…"
Luffy placed one hand over his chest.
"What is this feeling?"
His heartbeat continued producing the strange rhythm.
He jumped to his feet and bounced from the ground. The stone beneath him had turned into rubber.
"I feel like I can do anything!"
Imu's body trembled with anger.
"Nika."
Luffy grabbed the floor and lifted it like a sheet.
The black arrows Imu fired bounced from the rubber surface and returned towards their owner.
Imu avoided the first two, but the third struck their shoulder.
Luffy stretched his arm across the throne room, wrapped it around Imu body, and pulled himself forward.
His forehead smashed into Imu's face.
The ruler of the world crashed through the wall and landed outside the palace.
Luffy followed while laughing.
He grabbed a bolt of lightning from the storm above Mary Geoise and threw it like a spear.
The attack exploded beside Imu and destroyed several buildings.
Soldiers across the battlefield looked up.
"What is that?"
"Straw Hat's hair turned white!"
"Why is he laughing?"
Luffy transformed into a giant and brought his foot down upon Imu.
The ground folded like rubber beneath the impact.
For the first time since the war began, the World Government soldiers hesitated.
Their hidden ruler was being thrown around by a pirate.
Luffy returned to his normal size and continued punching Imu. Each strike carried both Armament and Conqueror's Haki.
Imu's body broke, twisted, and stretched beneath the attacks.
However, every injury healed.
Bones returned to their proper positions.
Burned skin regenerated.
Even the wound in Imu's shoulder disappeared.
Luffy stopped laughing.
"You heal too like them," said Luffy.
"I have ruled this world since before you had a name," Imu replied. "You believe an awakened Devil Fruit is enough to defeat me?"
"I don't care how long you've ruled!"
Luffy fist turned black with Haki.
"If you hurt my friends, I'll send you flying!"
Luffy brought his fist down.
Imu raised both hands.
Their powers collided.
The impact split the clouds above the Red Line and shattered every remaining window in Mary Geoise.
For a moment, Luffy pushed Imu towards the ground.
Then his heartbeat began slowing.
The white colour faded from his hair.
"What?"
His giant fist shrank.
Gear Fifth disappeared before he could complete the attack.
Luffy fell from the sky and crashed into the ruined throne room.
His body became thin and wrinkled as exhaustion consumed him. He tried to stand, but his arms refused to support his weight.
Imu descended through the broken ceiling.
A wound covered their chest, yet it closed within seconds.
"You awakened Nika power for the first time," Imu said. "But you do not understand it."
Luffy placed one hand against the floor.
"I can still fight."
"You can barely move." Imu kicked him across the ground. .
Luffy struck the remains of the Empty Throne and collapsed.
He tried to force his heart to produce the Drums of Liberation again.
Nothing happened, Imu walked towards him.
"You inherited the will that has opposed me for eight hundred years."
A black spear formed in their hand.
"Now I will erase it forever."
Luffy raised his head, but his vision had already become blurry.
Imu placed one foot against his chest and raised the spear above his heart.
Outside the palace, Jack suddenly stopped in mid-air.
He could no longer sense Luffy's Haki.
Golden cosmic energy exploded from his body.
"Luffy!"
He disappeared and flew towards the palace at full speed.
Inside the throne room, Imu brought the spear down.
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