Facts proved there was still a gap between Silas's self-healing ability and Imu's immortality. After all, Imu's immortality could only be damaged by Conqueror's Haki, while Silas's self-healing ability—as long as you broke through his defense—would work.
"You may try." Imu discovered she indeed couldn't break free from Silas's grip. After all, this wasn't her own body. Even if it were, she likely couldn't beat a physical monster like Silas in close combat. But her fruit ability was powerful enough. Did he think grabbing a clone would make her hesitant?
"You need not worry—attack freely." Whether it was Silas's illusion or not, he actually saw Imu's eyes curve slightly, looking at him as if mocking.
Damn! Silas was already planning to let go. If grabbing Imu couldn't make the others hesitate, directly competing recovery abilities with Imu was definitely a losing battle. Even if he truly traded blows with Imu, what he'd destroy would just be a clone.
But when Silas wanted to let go, Imu conversely used her tail to bind Silas's neck, preventing his immediate escape. Damn it!
Not far away, Stephens and Glyndwr exchanged glances. Even if Imu said to attack, as physical fighters like them, they didn't dare actually touch Imu with their hands! That lord was so noble. Silas daring to grab Imu's neck was already a death sentence.
"Use slashes!" Forget Stephens and Glyndwr—two CP lackeys. Even Saint Lucas and Saint Claude didn't dare attack casually.
"Haha, seems your subordinates don't completely obey you!" If several top-tier fighters engaged in close combat, Silas would still fear somewhat. After all, in melee, even while holding Imu captive, he couldn't possibly use her to block damage. But ranged attacks were different. Silas could use Imu as a shield to block the others' attacks.
So watching their unleashed slashes all about to land on Imu, Saint Lucas and the others hastily stopped.
"Despicable pirate—if you dare, release Lord Imu!"
"Haha, you five fighting me alone, calling me despicable!?" Silas laughed outright. This was the only victory chance he could find facing these five ganging up. Even this slim chance came with difficulty.
Imu's tail wrapped tightly around Silas's neck. Silas knew even without breathing, this clone wouldn't die—but he needed to breathe! In a pure physical confrontation, Silas undoubtedly held the advantage. But as one of this world's strongest Devil Fruit users, even while captured by Silas, Imu could still use her fruit ability to drain him.
[Demon Contract!]
With her subordinates useless, Imu had to personally oppose Silas.
"This move again?" A quagmire-like magic circle appeared beneath Silas's feet. But unlike the circle trapping Harald, a huge black shadow crawled from the circle, climbing onto Silas's body like a lizard. The possessed body's strength truly didn't work, but immortality's blessing meant her fruit ability could compensate.
HISS!
The black shadow crawling from the magic circle extended claws like a living creature, wanting to tear open Silas's chest and disembowel him. For this, Silas had to release his grip on Imu, instead grabbing the shadow clinging to him, grappling with it.
"This is the end." From beginning to end, she maintained her calm attitude—even when captured by Silas, besides initial displeasure, she showed no wavering. As if nothing in this world could frighten her.
But Silas knew Imu wasn't fearless—those who could frighten her had already died.
In Kozuki Toki's prophecy, the one who would bring the dawn would be born fourty years later. The one ultimately defeating Imu would also be that person.
As for who that person was, Silas naturally knew. This world's protagonist, the one destined to become Joy Boy!
If this world truly had fate, then everything Silas did was meaningless—just paving the way for another's triumph. Right, just like that future Pirate King.
Resentment? Despair? Or powerlessness in the face of destiny?
"You must be joking!" The black shadow on Silas had become like a mountain-bearing beast. He seemed to carry a mountain—the Five-Finger Mountain Imu personally pressed on him. But he'd already given up once—how could he give up a second time?
Rapidly rising cell activity wasn't just an increase in vitality, but an expansion of his very potential! If current power couldn't defeat the enemies before him, then he would become even stronger!
Silas channeled all his Haki into his body. He used Observation Haki's ability to look inward at himself, combined with Life Return to master complete bodily control. The cold breath cooled his boiling blood, keeping everything within controllable range.
To protect itself, the human body imposes numerous limiters. Heart rate limits, blood flow limits, cellular material exchange limits, muscle exertion limits... Even top-tier physical fighters usually only break through one or two limits within a bearable range.
Simply taking beatings wasn't Silas's style. Since he'd take beatings anyway, let him beat himself!
"Limit Break!" This moment, through Haki's drive, Silas forcibly broke through all body limits. Ordinary people would die the instant of breakthrough, but after Silas broke through everything, he felt his vision constantly rising—like first awakening Observation Haki.
His entire being seemed to ascend to another dimension. He couldn't feel his body yet could drive it. He could see Saint Lucas's mouth moving, saying something. He couldn't hear sound—only seeing air vibrate after Saint Lucas spoke.
Silas's vision kept extending upward. He saw five powerful enemies, including Imu, the continuously spreading rift, seawater pouring in from outside, Marines struggling above the rift, wildly laughing pirates.
Silas's vision continued upward. Observation Haki only saw blurred things—just capturing all movement dynamics, then gathering in the mind forming impressions. But at this moment, Silas "saw."
A ragged large ship struggling to land. A somewhat familiar yet strange man jumped from the ship, his face showing an arrogant smile.
This guy wouldn't be Rocks, would he? Looking at Rocks—after two years unseen, transformed from young man to middle-aged—Silas couldn't help wondering what he'd experienced. Originally not that good-looking, now after one trip, his attractiveness dropped at least two levels.
Ortega was defeated. That strongest Admiral who'd fought him at Sabaody Archipelago now lay on the ground, life or death unknown. Shimotsuki Ryuma had already disappeared—probably exhausted, returning where he belonged.
Not just Ortega fell. That new Marine Admiral was captured. This time, without Imu's ability, the World Government shouldn't easily reclaim him.
Fleet Admiral Elephant Yama and Chief of Staff Portman Nissen were severely wounded. Now on the Marine side, only Kong remained. But the pirates weren't much better off. Dorry and Brogy were exhausted. Jorul and Jarul had reverted to their elderly appearance, sitting aside, unable to even stand.
Currently fighting Kong were Harald and Tentsuki Takiichi. The Wano great swordsman showed fatigue. Harald's one hand hung useless. Facing those most elite opponents, even gaining ultimate victory, they'd paid heavy prices.
However, defeating Kong was just a matter of time, because Kong's condition wasn't much better either. To kill him, Imu directly abandoned the Marines, causing total Marine collapse—almost completely trading away the White Wolf Pirates top-tier fighters.
But just defeating the Marines—after recovering slightly, the pirates could still squeeze out several top-tier fighters to support him. Stussy was feeding medicine to Dorry and Brogy. Exhaustion meant what? As long as you're not dead, eat medicine and quickly get up to continue fighting!
Rocks had landed. After two years, he'd finally become strong enough—worthy of being called strong. Reinforcements had arrived. Just hold on, and victory will be within grasp.
Suddenly, Silas felt wind. The constantly rising vision seemed suddenly pulled by something. Instantly, Silas returned to his body.
Looking up, the massive shadow Imu summoned still tightly gripped him. Stephens, Glyndwr, Saint Lucas, Saint Claude. Four powerhouses attacked from four directions.
In everyone's perspective, Silas seemed dazed earlier, as if accepting fate.
"Silas, die!"
"This time, we won't let you escape alive."
"Return my son's life!"
Everyone thought Silas had reached his end. Even Imu didn't believe Silas had other means. If he did, he should've used them already. Under her Conqueror's Haki lock, Imu was certain Silas had no other escape methods.
But why flee?
BANG!
Mary Geoise. The Room of Flowers, where Imu's true body resided. Imu, resting in the garden, shuddered. One eye suddenly burst like a lightbulb, exploding in a spray of blood.
"What!?" Covering her injured eye, Imu looked incredulous. This sudden change nearly disconnected her from the possessed girl. The eye wound was minor. As a being bound by contract with immortality, Imu herself naturally couldn't lack immortality.
The key was what had happened. Silas was clearly on his last legs—how could he still have the strength to counterattack? The shadow Imu summoned through magic circles was intimately connected to her body. Though the shadows had powerful strength, when injured, it equally affected Imu herself.
After repossessing the girl, Imu finally knew what had happened. Facing four enemies' simultaneous assault. Facing shadow restraints. The first thing Silas did was reach out and grab the shadow binding him, then forcibly crushed it!
As terrifying power erupted, blood mist also drifted from Silas's body. Then Silas moved. Randomly choosing one enemy among the four, leaping up while the ground beneath his feet crumbled inch by inch under the massive reaction force.
Fast, too fast! The speed Silas previously displayed was already at this sea's peak. Even Imu had to admit—if not for her using abilities to summon Saint Lucas and the others, blocking Silas's retreat, at his speed he might truly escape.
But at this moment, the speed Silas displayed shattered all limits. Imu seemed to see life's passage. Silas's every move burned his life!
The first to encounter Silas was Stephens. Silas's suddenly explosive speed left this CP organization veteran unable to react. Glyndwr was nearby. To prevent Silas's desperate gambit, fighters had been pairing up since earlier. Even if Silas erupted with a death blow like Shimotsuki Ryuma, one person couldn't block it, but two definitely could!
But he was too fast. Though it was still human movement, it was faster than blade slashes. No Haki release. Just pure speed combined with pure strength. One punch.
The instant Glyndwr turned his head, he saw his old superior's head disappear. Glyndwr's blood ran cold. He never imagined that even when pushed to this desperate situation, Silas still had tricks up his sleeve, could still erupt with such power.
He only saw Silas turn. Then his head also disappeared.
Silas's actions thoroughly frightened Saint Lucas and Saint Claude. How was this possible? How could Silas still have such power!?
"No need to fear!" Imu's voice rang out. "He's going all out! Channeling Haki into his body to erupt with pure strength and speed. Without the Conqueror's coating, he can't kill you!"
Indeed, as Imu said, though Silas erupted with unprecedented power and speed, lacking Conqueror's wrapping meant Stephens's and Glyndwr's heads slowly recovered. But even so, having their heads blown off by one punch still terrified them.
Just stall! Everyone had only this one thought. Just stall Silas—once exhausted, he'd be a sitting duck. They didn't believe such power could last long.
But they forgot—this was war. Everyone, including Imu, forgot. Their disregard for life made them overlook many things, like the Marines they'd left outside!
Though his mind had been blank from witnessing the underground battle, Silas knew staying down here couldn't kill anyone. Then he'd go kill those he could! After instantly blowing off Stephens and Glyndwr's heads, Silas didn't hesitate, charging straight toward the rift's opening.
At this moment, Imu's expression finally changed. "Stop him!"
But Stephens and Glyndwr were still recovering. Saint Lucas and Saint Claude were on the other side. Who could stop Silas?
When the blood-covered Silas burst from the rift, appearing before all pirates and Marines, the pirates erupted in thunderous cheers, while the Marines fell into utter despair.
Just as Silas had initially said—as long as he still stood, his side's morale would never collapse.