#534 - Chapter 534 Countdown to War
Mary Geoise, Pangaea Castle, within a deep and immeasurable palace, dim lights enveloped the entire space in a mysterious atmosphere.
Imu's figure was hidden upon the high throne, her hands tightly clutching the armrests, fingernails digging into the metal, emitting a teeth-grinding 'creak'.
Her breathing was heavy and rapid, the veil covering her face trembled slightly, revealing an unprecedented unease.
"Too slow, it's too slow!"
Her voice was low and sharp, as ear-piercing as a blade scraping across ice.
The air seemed to turn cold because of her words, the entire palace as if shrouded in an invisible oppression.
Imu suddenly stood up, her wide black robe rising in the movement, like a churning dark cloud, obscuring the faint light above the high throne.
She strode to the center of the hall, and with a wave of her slender hand, a huge water mirror appeared in the air, reflecting the battlefield of Elbaf.
The scene in the mirror made her frown deeply.
The Seraphim's powerful performance did tilt the battle slightly, but Jin'an, Whitebeard, and the giants' tenacious resistance were like nails, firmly holding the battle's flow.
Although the Seraphim were strong, they were unable to complete her plan, and Jin'an and others were still that variable that could not be ignored.
She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anxiety in her heart, but the torment of waiting was like a bone-attached maggot, gradually bringing her emotions to the brink of losing control.
Imu's gaze locked onto Jin'an's figure in the mirror, her eyes filled with suppressed anger and an almost morbid obsession.
"Jin'an... you jumping clowns,"
She muttered to herself, her voice mixed with a hint of madness,
"Thinking you can use your flesh and blood to fight against the will of the entire world? It's all in vain!"
A figure from the Holy Knights entered from the side door, bowing slightly and saying, "Lord Imu, the ritual's energy is still accumulating, we need more time."
"Time?"
Imu suddenly turned around, her gaze like lightning piercing the newcomer,
"I've heard enough of those words! All the pieces have been placed on the board, and you're telling me we need time?"
Her voice suddenly rose, the tail end slicing through the air like a sharp blade.
The Holy Knight did not dare to look up, responding with lowered eyes:
"The battlefield of Elbaf has attracted enough attention, with just a slight delay, we can gather the required energy."
"A slight delay?"
Imu sneered, the smile revealing coldness and sarcasm.
She raised her hand, her fingers gently clenching, and the scene in the water mirror suddenly shattered, turning into scattered points of light,
"The existence of these ants is a waste.
Another step later, and even the ritual's opportunity might be destroyed!"
The atmosphere in the hall became even more oppressive, each of her words like a heavy hammer striking the Holy Knight's heart.
Imu slowly approached, the pressure on her body as substantial as to make the Five Elders unable to breathe.
"Listen, tell everyone—"
Her voice was low but extremely clear,
"End this immediately, no matter the cost, I want to see the ritual completed.
Otherwise, use their lives to compensate!"
The Holy Knight bowed his head in agreement and quickly retreated.
The hall fell silent again, leaving only Imu standing in front of the empty high throne.
She slowly stretched out her hand, and a ball of black energy gradually condensed in her palm, a power gathered from countless lives, filled with violent and destructive aura.
"Too slow..."
She murmured to herself, her eyes cold,
"Everything must end."
......
On the battlefield of Elbaf, the sounds of battle shook the sky, while in Pangaea Castle in Mary Geoise, the dark clouds grew heavier.
High-ranking officials of the World Government gathered in a huge war room, each with a cold and murderous expression.
On the central war sandbox, beams of light simulated the current battle situation in Elbaf, and Jin'an's conspicuous figure was like a sharp thorn, piercing their usual arrogance and self-confidence.
"We have been preparing since the day we discovered Jin'an as a threat."
Figarland Garling Holy's gaze swept coldly over everyone, his finger tapping lightly on the sandbox, and Jin'an's figure in the virtual image was locked in a halo.
He raised his head, his tone revealing a hint of hidden anger,
"But now, he is already standing at our door.
Have we spent countless resources and time just to watch him continue to disrupt the World Government's order?"
Floris Rosewald Holy snorted coldly, his heavy robe sleeves rising slightly with the movement.
He slammed a piece of information heavily on the table, coldly saying:
"Don't forget, we have the resources of the entire world.
His strength is only temporary, but our methods are endless."
In a corner of the room, a circular teleportation array operated quietly, emitting a faint blue light.
The teleportation array was covered with complex runes, a technological achievement jointly developed by several top scientists and Devil Fruit users.
Through this teleportation array, the World Government's high-end combat power can now achieve instantaneous round trips across the world, which greatly improves their mobility.
"If it weren't for the Devil Fruit, this teleportation array would not have been completed."
Saint Anrodi Pulming's voice was as cold as a poisonous snake, his finger sliding across the table, and the virtual images of Devil Fruits floated on the light screen.
In the image, these fruits have strange patterns, each representing an incredible ability.
"The fruit users in our hands are the biggest trump card in this war.
They will bring Jin'an a catastrophe."
Just as they were discussing, heavy footsteps suddenly came from the hall.
Imu's figure was shrouded in a black robe, walking out of the shadows, her cold eyes causing the temperature of the entire room to drop sharply.
The high-ranking officials of the World Government instantly restrained all their expressions and bowed their heads in salute.
Imu's voice had no fluctuations, as cold as the winter wind:
"I have waited long enough.
The destruction caused by Jin'an is deeper than I expected, today, I want to see results."
The high-ranking officials of the World Government exchanged glances, and Malik Lucia Chalmark Holy took the lead in speaking:
"Lord Imu, please rest assured, Jin'an has been locked.
We will end his life as quickly as possible."
"Speed?"
Imu's gaze swept over him, her voice as low as thunder,
"I don't have much time left for you, Jin'an and his accomplices must die in Elbaf, must die in this battle, otherwise..."
She raised her hand slightly, and an oppressive feeling that made people suffocate immediately filled the air,
"You know the consequences."
The high-ranking officials of the World Government felt the suffocating sensation, sweat oozing from their foreheads, but they still pretended to be calm.
Imu's pressure made their movements sluggish, and they could only nod in agreement.
"Now,"
Imu slowly turned around, adding coldly,
"Use your fruits, use your resources, at all costs - kill him."
When the last word fell, her voice revealed an irresistible command.
The faces of the high-ranking officials of the World Government returned to calm, and even a chilling sneer appeared.
"If that's the case, then let's prepare a grand funeral for him."
Saint Anrodi Pulming said in a low voice, his tone full of killing intent.
Their fingers simultaneously tapped on a spot on the sandbox, and tactical deployments quickly appeared, with lines extending deep into the battlefield of Elbaf.
In the image, one fruit user after another was waiting for orders in the teleportation array, and even unreleased Seraphim machines were being deployed to the front lines.
The war was about to enter its most brutal stage, and the World Government, represented by the Five Elders, would crush all resistance at all costs.
...
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