Chapter 220: Black Sun Domination! The Wolf That Swallows the Sun!
No matter what tricks Imu had left, to Silas, it made no difference.
Kill her, and it would be over.
Yes, Silas was soft on women—but only normal women.
If Imu, this madwoman, surrendered, Silas would still worry about her stabbing him in the back.
Kill her, and it would be done.
Imu only stared coldly at Silas.
Tricks?
What tricks did she have left?
If she had any, she wouldn't be standing here fighting Silas.
God's Knights, the Five Elders, and the ancient weapon Uranus—
Even the world's greatest obstacles could not stop Silas. He had killed the God's Knights' Vice Commander, beaten the Five Elders, and thwarted her plan to power up Uranus.
Every measure failed to stop Silas. When she stood before him, her last trick was herself.
But still.
No matter how strong Silas was, no matter how vast his power—
"You are not Joy Boy!"
Endless shadows spread from Imu's feet. Black flames ignited. Massive flesh wings unfurled from her cloak. The horns atop her head pierced through her hood. Just as Zoan Devil Fruit users could transform into beasts or hybrids, Imu had her own demonic form.
Silas did not know what Devil Fruit Imu had eaten, but her demonized form, though her beauty and figure remained, radiated a terrifying malice.
A grimoire appeared in her hands, wreathed in flame.
But before she could act—
BOOM!
A slash spanning kilometers appeared before Imu.
Just as Silas had said.
No matter what Imu did, his goal was to kill her!
He stepped through the air with Moon Walk.
No beast form, no half-wolf hybrid. Silas, in his human form, moved like lightning.
Imu's gaze remained cold.
"Silas, I acknowledge your strength. But just as I cannot kill you, with only the two of us, what right do you have to kill me?"
Her flesh wings spread wide. Silas was fast, but in the air, he could not move as freely as she could.
But Silas's slash—
A strand of hair fell, but instantly regrew.
Silas's Observation Kill was useless.
Both had the highest level of Conqueror's Haki. As they chased each other, their Haki clashed again and again.
Silas could not erase her ability to see the future.
But even so—
She could not fully predict the trajectory of Silas's attacks.
Silas's Observation Haki was above hers!
Not just Observation Haki, but Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki as well. Imu never expected that in just a few years, Silas would break through again.
Five years ago, at the Battle of Acropolis Port, Silas's strength was only equal to her avatar. Even when he broke through their encirclement, he likely used some desperate, costly technique.
He had only enhanced his physical strength, not his Haki.
Even if he grew stronger—
That strength was useless to her.
But now, five years later, Silas had broken through again. Without using his life-risking techniques, he could match her with Haki alone.
Fortunately—
As she said.
Silas was not Joy Boy. In this world, the only one she loved, the only one she feared, was that one.
Only Joy Boy's Devil Fruit could completely counter hers.
"Black Sun!"
Imu's grimoire finally transformed. Usually, Imu could change her grimoire in an instant.
But this time—
She struggled with Silas for several minutes before finally transforming it.
And the result was—
A black sun!
The moment the black sun appeared in Imu's hands, it began to stain the sky, as if turning dawn into night.
Imu's Black Sun Domination could force enemies to pay with their lifespan, turning them into her demon soldiers.
But its efficiency was not high.
When the black sun rose, Silas felt his consciousness waver for an instant. But his powerful body instinctively unleashed a surge of Conqueror's Haki, breaking through the invisible shackles Imu created.
Imu was not surprised.
Silas's current combat power, in pure physical terms, was already hard for Imu to gain an advantage over.
So she did not expect her ability to affect Silas.
But Silas alone—
"Without the Drum of Liberation, how can you save yourself, let alone your comrades, your wives?"
Below them, millions fought in chaos. Top fighters clashed, ordinary soldiers clashed. All were entangled, no distinction between friend and foe.
In such a situation, even Silas could not use a wide-area skill to eliminate enemies without harming his own.
Conqueror's Haki could, but Imu would not sit idly by.
All of Silas's attacks were predictable.
Block or dodge. Imu kept evading, but in the end, she was never hurt.
But when the black sun rose, the battlefield's situation changed instantly.
Countless ordinary soldiers spontaneously burst into flames.
Not just Silas's side—Imu's side as well.
But Imu did not care.
To her, except herself, everyone was expendable. If she could trade one of her soldiers for one of Silas's, Imu saw no loss.
Besides, Imu was not trading.
"Black Sun Domination!"
Under the black sun's light, in just a few breaths, at least half the battlefield's soldiers burst into flames.
The black flames did not kill them.
But when the black flames consumed them, they became her slaves.
No distinction between friend and foe!
"Oh, so it's finally here?"
"Our power has grown greatly under the black sun's light."
"Foolish mortals, you don't know what you face."
As the black sun rose, the Five Elders, who had signed contracts with Imu and were immortal, saw their power surge.
For a moment, Rocks and Newgate were thrown into chaos.
"What's happening?"
"Why do I have these black flames?"
They had grown used to the rhythm of battle. Rocks and Newgate were not just fighting—they were enjoying it!
But as the black sun rose, the Five Elders' power exploded. Even Lucas Saint and Claude Saint saw their strength increase.
The black sun enhanced Imu's contractees.
But like an invisible web, it tried to convert non-contractees like Rocks and Newgate, turning them into her slaves.
That was why black flames rose on Rocks and Newgate.
Though they quickly shook them off with Haki,
They saw many around them transformed into Imu's demon servants.
Rocks and Newgate could only keep using Haki to drive away the flames.
This meant the Five Elders were strengthened, while Rocks and Newgate were weakened. The balance, once nearly even, now tilted.
At last, Imu's lips curled into a captivating smile.
"When your wives and comrades become my servants, how will you fight me?"
"Not at all."
Silas admitted Imu's move was truly vile. He never expected that even after forcing Imu off the battlefield, she could still affect it.
The closer to the black sun, the stronger its effect. Even Silas was affected for an instant when close, but at a distance, anyone with a basic grasp of Haki could resist.
But even in the New World, not everyone could use Haki.
Among the three million fighting, fewer than one percent knew how to use Armament Haki for defense.
In other words—
When Imu's black sun rose, 99% of the battlefield was affected.
Stronger fighters would not be instantly converted, but unless they used full-body Armament Haki or unleashed Conqueror's Haki to forcibly dispel the effect,
They would fall victim.
And even if they resisted, they could not prevent those around them from being affected.
If 99% of the battlefield was dominated by Imu's black sun,
The war would be over.
Fortunately—
Silas was close enough to Imu.
Fortunately—
Silas's Conqueror's Haki was strong enough to cover the entire battlefield!
BOOOOOOM!
Silas's Conqueror's Haki erupted, but this time not to clash with Imu's Haki, but to directly affect the battlefield.
If all the ordinary soldiers were converted, even Silas's Haki could not save them one by one.
But now, they still had a chance!
Imu only watched coldly, unbothered by Silas's actions.
Not only did she not care—
She almost laughed.
"Truly, White King Silas, I acknowledge you. You have the right to stand before me. But this is not enough."
Ordinary Black Sun Domination only dominated those weaker than her. If their Haki was not strong enough, their lifespan would be forcibly taken, and they would be forced into a contract.
Effective on individuals, but inefficient.
But Black Sun Domination covered not just a battlefield of a dozen kilometers, but dozens. Not just people, but even Sea Kings in the deep sea were affected.
So this move consumed her own lifespan!
The longer it lasted, the more lifespan she lost.
But with her near-infinite lifespan, losing decades was nothing.
Silas, on the other hand—
Silas's Conqueror's Haki burst out, indeed suppressing the black sun's effect, letting many soldiers who were about to be turned into demons regain their senses.
But—
"How long can your Haki last?"
Imu had eternal life. Her black sun could hang in the sky forever, never ending.
Silas?
Releasing Conqueror's Haki consumed stamina.
In the past, someone had done the same as Silas. Their Drum of Liberation completely suppressed her Black Sun Domination.
But in the end, it was she who stood here.
Even the Sun God Nika had been worn down to death by her.
Silas, simply releasing Haki, consumed more than Joy Boy.
Joy Boy had failed.
How could Silas succeed?
"Starting a full-scale war with me was your greatest mistake!"
As if victory was within reach, Imu's expression relaxed.
What did she fear most?
She feared Silas having great power and finding a Nika warrior who could release the Drum of Liberation.
Two against one.
She might truly risk defeat.
"You think you've won?"
Silas's cold voice suddenly rang out.
"If this distance affects the war, then what if I go farther?"
Imu's plan was good.
Even Silas, constantly releasing Conqueror's Haki to counter Imu's fruit, would be worn down. His stamina was not infinite.
Silas's Haki suddenly retracted, no longer resisting Imu's fruit.
Instead—
Rocks, Newgate, Harald, and Linlin, fighting the Five Elders, simultaneously unleashed Conqueror's Haki even stronger than Silas's.
One person's Conqueror's Haki might not match Silas.
But four together—
Even Silas could not match them.
Silas's earlier Conqueror's Haki was not released casually. It temporarily countered Imu's ability and also connected with Rocks and the others.
Imu did have the power to reverse the tide.
But Silas's side already had the upper hand. Even with the Five Elders' power boosted by Imu,
To completely suppress Silas's side at once was not easy.
So—
When Rocks and the others took over, releasing Haki to counter Imu's fruit,
Silas moved.
He poured all his Haki into his body, entering a state of ultimate burst.
This state could not kill Imu, who had immortality.
But it could suppress her!
In an instant, Silas's speed nearly doubled. Imu was fast, but as Silas approached, she tried to dodge.
But Silas's hand suddenly grew.
A giant wolf's paw grabbed Imu, holding her in his palm, while Silas's body swelled.
Silas knew—
Simply grabbing Imu was useless. As long as the black sun remained, it would keep affecting the battlefield.
So Silas—
Transformed into a wolf dozens of meters tall, leaping into the air.
He tilted his head—
And swallowed the black sun whole!