Chapter 332: The Unkillable Entity

Drake wore a peculiar expression. Indeed, Im originated from eight hundred years ago, but how on earth had she degenerated into her current monstrous state?

"Eight centuries past, this Im fought a decisive war against the legendary Joy Boy, a clash that ultimately concluded in Joy Boy's defeat."

"Having failed to fulfill his ancient promise to Fish-Man Island, he left behind an inscription of apology—and from that day forth, Joy Boy was no more."

"Simultaneously, a prophecy spread across the seas: that a new incarnation of Joy Boy would eventually be born into this world."

The immense threat Joy Boy had posed to Im drove her to obsess over purging this destined successor, yet across eight long centuries, Joy Boy never reappeared.

"The defining hallmark verifying Joy Boy's identity is his specific Devil Fruit ability—revered as 'Sun God' Nika!"

"Only moments ago did I finally learn that Straw Hat's Gum-Gum Fruit is actually the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika!"

"Without a shadow of a doubt, he is the savior the entire world has awaited for eight hundred years—Sun God Nika, Joy Boy!"

Drake's pupils contracted sharply. "You mean... Sun God Nika and Joy Boy... are one and the same?"

"There is no mistake!" Whitebeard nodded firmly. "Not long ago, I discovered a hidden chamber beneath the foundations of the Holy Land. A rough chronological record of these ancient events was preserved there."

"Though it has been reduced to rubble by now..."

"Rubble?" Drake recalled the cataclysmic scale of the recent battle. Given the devastation, whether anything remained of the ancient Mary Geoise was an open question.

And that was indeed the reality. Following that war, the Holy Land of Mary Geoise had been leveled into an expansive wasteland of debris, with only a few scattered structures left standing.

Those surviving buildings now served as field barracks, housing thousands of wounded soldiers undergoing intensive medical treatment.

"Indeed. Yet none of those historical footnotes are the core issue. What I am about to tell you concerns the ultimate fate of every living soul in this world!" Whitebeard locked his gaze onto Drake with chilling intensity.

"The truth is... she cannot be killed!"

"WHAT?!" Drake shot to his feet, pure shock painted across his face. He contacted the System inside his mind immediately.

[System, is this true? Is she truly unkillable? And what really happened with my mother?!] Questions swarmed his thoughts in overwhelming numbers.

[It is true: she cannot be killed. Or rather, she must not die—otherwise, this entire world will collapse into absolute oblivion alongside her...] the System replied.

[However, your mother is out of harm's way, so you can put your mind at ease. On another note, I strongly advise against going over to disturb them right now.]

[Them?] Drake asked in confusion.

[Indeed. You are merely an incidental third wheel; whether they even want you around is highly debatable.]

A sudden realization struck Drake, and his cheek twitched violently.

It has to be that old man!

Meaning if he walked in right now, he would literally just be an unwanted third wheel spoiling their reunion.

"Unkillable..." Drake pulled his consciousness back to reality, doubt and vigilance flickering in his eyes.

Things had become extraordinarily complicated. That monster possessed monstrous combat strength, and her anomalous physiology allowed her to possess other hosts at will...

Anomalous physiology?

Not good!

Drake whipped his head around to face Kenshin. "Where did you say Im was imprisoned? Is she still there right now?!"

"Hm?!" Kenshin paused. "Down in the subterranean dungeon. There's no need to worry—Weitian mentioned they wrapped her entirely in heavy Sea-Prism Stone chains."

"On top of that, former Admiral Aokiji is personally standing guard outside. Nothing should go wrong."

"No, I have a terrible feeling about this. We need to go confirm it with our own eyes!" Drake's brows knit together tightly, and the atmosphere in the room grew tense.

Of everyone present, Drake understood Im's capabilities best. He was the one who had fought her in single combat and physically blasted her soul out of her host vessel.

"She likely possesses the ability to bypass physical restraints entirely. Sea-Prism Stone? How could that possibly hold an incorporeal entity?!" The more Drake thought about it, the deeper his dread became.

A full day and night had elapsed since she was locked away; across such a vast window of time, anything could have happened!

"Take me there immediately!"

Before long, the group hurried to the entrance of a subterranean vault. Sitting casually upon a massive boulder outside, Kuzan was lounging in complete relaxation.

Seeing Kuzan so at ease, the tension coiling in the group's chests eased considerably; it seemed everything remained secure.

After all, a former top-tier combat asset of the Navy was not easily deceived. Had she attempted an escape, a fierce clash would have erupted beforehand.

With Kuzan lounging so peacefully, all seemed well.

"What brings you all here?" Kuzan cracked one eye open, noticing the large assembly before him, with his own captain standing at the vanguard. "And... the Whitebeard Pirates?!"

"Did something happen?"

"It's nothing major, Drake just felt—" Before Kenshin could finish, Drake stepped forward and planted himself directly before the dungeon's descent.

"Kuzan, Kenshin, you and Uncle Whitebeard hold the perimeter here. Ace and I are heading down to investigate," Drake ordered, his expression grave.

"Did something go wrong?!"

The surrounding fighters snapped to high alert, several instinctively gulping down their nerves as the air grew heavy.

"What's going on?" Kuzan asked, thoroughly bewildered. From start to finish, not a single anomaly had occurred on his watch.

"She may have already slipped her bindings! I have an ominous premonition and need to verify her status down below."

"Uncle Whitebeard happens to be here. If we fail to contain her in time, the concussive power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit should be able to stall her for a brief period."

"Uncle Whitebeard, I'm leaving the perimeter in your hands!" Drake said, addressing the towering pirate solemnly.

"Leave it to me!"

"Ace! Let's go!"

"Right!"

Under the tense gazes of the assembly, Drake and Ace descended into the underground depths.

Watching their silhouettes disappear, Whitebeard swept his bisento broadly. "All personnel, fall back one thousand meters! Kuzan and I will secure this entrance!"

Whitebeard cast a glance at Kuzan. "You up for this?"

Kuzan paused briefly, then offered a faint smirk. "Of course. Those are the Captain's orders, after all."

Kenshin and Marco exchanged a nod, stepping up to flank the two veterans.

The four masters stood in heavy silence, their eyes fixed unwaveringly upon the threshold of the subterranean corridor.

Down in the depths, Drake and Ace navigated the prison complex. The cells here held the unyielding, fanatical loyalists of the old World Government—veteran Marine hardliners and deep-cover Cipher Pol operatives.

The prisoners sat motionless behind their bars in total silence. Not a single person spoke, complained, or voiced defiance...

The atmosphere was a stark contrast to any ordinary prison Drake had ever envisioned.

Wasting no time on questions, Drake followed Ace's lead deeper into the facility, arriving before the innermost holding cell. Thick chains the width of a grown man's leg bound a solitary figure tightly to the stone pillar.

It was Im!

Seeing the figure still bound, Ace let out a long sigh of relief. Drake's earlier urgency had genuinely spooked him into believing Im had already broken loose.

Thank goodness...

"Something's wrong! Ace, get back!" Drake bellowed without warning.

Yanking Ace behind him, he drove a devastating spatial punch forward.

BOOM!

The entire stone chamber collapsed in an instant as a dense wisp of dark fog whipped past Drake and Ace's faces, rocketing toward the upper corridor.

"Damn it! Don't you dare run!" Drake executed an instantaneous spatial warp, giving chase on the spot.

"How did she get out?!" Ace was left utterly dumbfounded. Bound under that much Sea-Prism Stone, how could she have slipped free on her own?

Setting all confusion aside, Ace ignited his body in roaring flames and shot upward in pursuit.