The morning light of Mary Geoise, the Holy Land, streamed through the grand windows of Imu's personal Room. It was a light that was meant to feel peaceful and divine.
But for Imu, the world felt anything but peaceful.
The ghost of the nightmare, the memory of those two colossal Haki-wrapped fists still clung to him like a cold grave. He stood in front of a magnificent mirror, staring at the reflection of the body he now called his own.
Piercing red eyes. The face of the secret king of the world.
He splashed cool water on his face, trying to wash away the lingering fear. 'Get a grip,' the modern reincarnated part of his mind told himself. 'You knew this was coming. The fear is just a leftover from the original Imu. It is not your fear.'
But it felt like his fear. It was a primal terror that was now a part of him.
He sighed and began his morning routine a series of calm movements. He changed out of his nightclothes and into a simple but elegant dark robe. The fabric was so fine it felt like solidified shadow against his skin.
After dressing, he walked over to a strange looking machine in the corner of his room.
It was a big round machine with many buttons and a small screen, a piece of technology so advanced it looked like it belonged in a spaceship. This was his personal cooking machine a masterpiece created by the world's greatest scientist: Dr. Vegapunk.
He pressed a button with a picture of a perfect breakfast on it. The machine came to life. A series of quiet hums and clicks followed and a few moments later a small door slid open. A plate emerged, holding a perfectly cooked breakfast for him.
Imu took the plate and sat at a table by the window. He began to eat. The food was delicious perfect in every way.
But he barely tasted it. His mind was racing and connecting the dots between his nightmare and the world outside.
'Joyboy's power… Nika… the Drums of Liberation,' he thought, taking a bite of the food. 'It's a power that literally breaks the rules of the world. It is not just about being rubbery. It is about freedom. Imagination. That's why the original Imu was so terrified. His power is all about control, order, and rules. Joyboy was his perfect opposite.'
He finished his breakfast, the gears in his mind turning faster and faster.
'And now, Luffy has that power. He just doesn't know it yet. He's the second coming of Joyboy. The ticking time bomb that will destroy this world of order that I am supposed to rule.'
The fear was still there, but now it was mixed with something else: a cold, sharp feeling of urgency. He couldn't just sit here, hiding in his castle and paralyzed by an 800 year old nightmare. He had to act. He had to use the one advantage he had over everyone else in this world.
He knew the future.
He stood up, his breakfast finished.
It was time to see his most powerful people. It was time to talk to the Five Elders.
He walked out of his private room and through a series of grand silent hallways. The castle was a beautiful filled with priceless art and luxurious carpets.
Finally, he reached two massive doors. They swung open silently as he approached.
He stepped into the Room of Authority. Not the Empty Throne at the very heart of the castle but a smaller private audience chamber where the Five Elders met.
The five old men, the public faces of the World Government's ultimate authority were already there waiting for him. They were standing, not sitting as a sign of their deep respect towards Imu.
"Great Imu," they said in unison.
"Report," Imu said, his voice cold and clear with no trace of the nightmare he had just woken from. "What has happened in the world during the few days I was resting?"
Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, the Elder with the long, braided beard was the first to speak "Lord Imu, your plan in the North Blue was a complete success," he reported. "The newspapers have done their work. The world now sees the Revolutionary Army as a great evil and your creation, 'Vice Admiral Umi,' is being hailed as a hero. The four kingdoms have sworn a new unbreakable loyalty to the World Government."
Imu nodded slowly. That part of the plan had gone perfectly. But that was old news.
"What else?" he asked.
It was Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, the tall, bald Elder who carried a massive sword who answered next.
"There has been... a significant development in Paradise," he said, his voice serious. "The Warlord of the Sea Gecko Moria has been defeated."
Imu's expression did not change 'Thriller Bark. It is happened.'
"By whom?" Imu asked, even though he already knew the answer.
"By the Straw Hat Pirates," Nusjuro replied. "Straw Hat Luffy has defeated another Warlord."
A murmur of displeasure went through the other Elders. This was the second Warlord Luffy had taken down after Crocodile.
The boy was becoming a serious problem.
'Good,' Imu thought. 'Everything is proceeding exactly as it should. Moria was always the weakest of the Warlolds. His defeat was inevitable.'
But then, Saint Marcus Mars the hawk-faced Elder spoke up. "That is not the only news concerning the Warlords, Ima-sama. We have filled the empty seat left by Crocodile."
Imu raised an eyebrow slightly. This was the important part.
"A few days ago," Mars continued, "we were approached by the pirate Marshall D. Teach also known as Blackbeard. He offered us a prisoner in exchange for the Warlord title."
"And this prisoner?" Imu asked, his voice a low whisper.
Saturn looked up, a grim satisfaction on his face. "He gave us Portgas D. Ace, the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates."
'And there it is,' Imu thought, his mind crystal clear now. 'The first domino has fallen. The countdown has begun.'
"This is a great opportunity," said Saint Topman Warcury the Elder with the great mustache. "But there is more. Our intelligence has confirmed a long hidden secret about this man." His voice dropped, filled with a historic hatred. "Portgas D. Ace is not just one of Whitebeard's commanders. He is the son of the Pirate King himself, Gol D. Roger."
The five elders felt a sense of victory. To have the son of their greatest enemy in their grasp was a victory they had dreamed of for years.
"We have decided to act upon this information swiftly," Saturn said, his voice firm. "In one week, we will hold a public execution for Portgas D. Ace at Marineford."
He looked up at Imu, his eyes gleaming with strategic brilliance. "Whitebeard will not stand by and let his 'son' be killed. He will come. He will bring his entire fleet. He will bring all his power to Marineford to save him. And when he does...We will finish his entire fleet."
Saturn said with a bow. "We will end the reign of the last great pirate of Roger's era. We will show the world the absolute power of the World Government and crush the morale of every pirate on the seas. It will be our greatest victory."
The Five Elders were proud of their plan. It was a bold and brilliant move.
Imu looked at them, He knew all of this. He knew about the war that was coming. The War of the Best. The war that would shake the entire world.
But the Elders saw only the victory. They saw a chance to kill an old enemy.
Imu saw something much, much bigger.
He saw an opportunity. An opportunity to not just kill Whitebeard, but to reshape the entire world. To accelerate his own plans. The original story was about to play out, but now, he was here to direct it. He would not just be a spectator. He would be the puppet master, pulling the strings of the war itself.
"Your plan is acceptable," Imu said, his voice echoing in the grand room. "Proceed. Gather the Warlords. Prepare the Marines. Make sure the entire world is watching."
He turned and began to walk away, his dark robe sweeping behind him.