One Piece: Curse of Immortality

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(T/N: There was a mistake in the previous chapter. The Five Elders were supposed to address Imu as 'My Lord/The Lord'. But I thought, why not just say its name? Then realized the reason in this chapter)

Imu, the enigmatic ruler dwelling in the deepest depths of Pangaea Castle amidst the Flower Room, abruptly appeared—not in person but through an echoing voice. 

Even so, this unseen presence launched a lethal strike at Arashi. 

Imu's intervention astonished the Five Elders, but what followed—the bold defiance of the young man before them—shocked them even more.

Crackle!

The black-and-red lightning-imbued thunder lance disappeared instantly, vanishing toward an unknown destination.

Topman quickly analyzed the situation and was alarmed to discover that the thunder lance was heading directly toward the Creator's location.

The shattered palace grew heavy with tension as the seconds ticked by. 

The Five Elders sealed off all possible escape routes for Arashi, their cold gazes fixed on him.

Arashi remained in the posture of his throw, sparks of lightning still flickering between his fingers. 

When he realized his connection to the thunder lance had been severed, his eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of seriousness crossing his face. 

His electromagnetic field spread outward, but it failed to sense any disturbance from that mysterious location. 

It was as though the space where the voice originated was a black hole, swallowing everything without a trace.

"Let's get to the main topic."

The cold voice rang out again, its origin indistinguishable.

The Five Elders hesitated for a moment before they dropped their hostile stances. The spectral shadows behind them faded, and their tight formation dispersed.

"Arashi!"

"Stand down and suppress your hostility!"

"The Creator wishes to speak with you!"

Nasujuro Saint spoke solemnly.

Arashi smiled faintly, stepping forward a few paces before sitting on a nearly collapsed sofa. Crossing one leg over the other, he smirked.

"Let's talk, then, oh Creator of Pangaea Castle and the Flower Room."

The Five Elders frowned but remained silent. Despite their distaste for Arashi's insolent attitude, they refrained from speaking further. 

For one, his strength was undeniable, and his immortality rendered him particularly troublesome. 

Secondly, if the Creator had chosen to appear, they had no right to intervene.

"Eight hundred years ago, twenty kings established this world," the cold voice began after a brief silence.

"Your Nefertari family was among them."

"Are you referring to my ancestor, Nefertari Lily?" Arashi asked with a casual smile.

His sharp gaze remained locked on the depths of Pangaea Castle. Though the voice was ethereal, Arashi could pinpoint its origin.

"Lily…"

"She made certain mistakes that caused significant trouble later. But it doesn't matter anymore—time has erased everything."

"Now, we stand at the pinnacle."

The chilling voice carried a weight that seemed to distort the very fabric of space and time around the six people in the ruined palace.

"I know everything you've done."

"I can understand the naïve kindness that has caused some ripples." 

"In the history of the Celestial Dragons, there have been others like you, and our family has always dealt with such individuals."

"But for those who possess strength, we acknowledge and respect it."

The voice paused momentarily before deepening, its tone suffused with threat and temptation.

"Tell me, Arashi, your choice."

"Will you stand against us and be condemned to the depths of hell, your family, friends, subordinates, and lover wiped from existence?"

"Or will you joyfully play your foolish game among the commoners?"

"Or better yet, become the ruler of this world, ascending to the apex of power as a Celestial Dragon?"

"If you choose the latter, your strength will earn you the highest status and unimaginable power. You'll have everything this world can offer!"

The voice carried a potent mix of menace and allure, causing Arashi's eyes to narrow slightly. The speaker, of course, was the enigmatic Creator—Imu.

Few knew of Imu's existence, even among the highest echelons. It was clear that Imu, too, had been one of the twenty kings from eight centuries ago. 

His strength was unfathomable, shrouded in mystery. 

From their brief exchange, Arashi could tell that neither of their probing attacks had yielded results against the other. 

This conversation was a direct consequence of that stalemate.

After silence, Arashi's lips curled into a faint smile as he spoke calmly.

"I don't believe you possess the power to erase everything."

"For eight centuries, the Poneglyphs have remained as irrefutable evidence. The Void Century stands before the world, and you can do nothing about it."

"All you've managed is to target unarmed scholars and defenceless civilians, flexing your so-called power."

"Your empty threats are laughable to me."

He tapped a finger on the sofa's armrest, his expression steady.

"However, I have no desire to be your enemy."

"My greatest ambition is to pursue what you mock as the game of being a Marine."

Arashi looked up and chuckled softly.

"How about this? You and I stay out of each other's way."

"You stop looking for trouble with me, and I'll carry out my duties as the Grand Commander of the West Blue without interference."

"And…"

His grin widened as he dropped a bombshell, making every pair of eyes widen in disbelief.

"I can even keep your existence a secret."

"What do you think of that, Imu?"

Hearing that name spoken aloud, the Five Elders froze, their faces a mixture of shock and dread. 

In their hearts, waves of disbelief surged as the sheer audacity of Arashi's words sent ripples of unease through the room.

"Impossible!"

"How could he know the master's name?"

Even Imu, who resided in the Flower Room, fell silent at this moment.

"To become a Marine of justice and play this boring game of righteousness—this is your choice?" a deep voice resonated.

"Indeed," Arashi replied with a nod. "It's something I find rather interesting."

"Then so be it," Imu replied indifferently. "Also, erase all memories of what transpired here as quickly as possible."

Arashi nodded, "There's nothing here worth remembering anyway."

The atmosphere returned to a stillness. The Five Elders all stared at him in eerie silence.

"You should consider yourself fortunate to have reached an agreement with the master," remarked Marcus, his white beard trembling as he spoke. 

"Otherwise, leaving this place would mark the beginning of your disaster."

"As I said, your threats mean nothing to me!" Arashi stood slowly, his smile vanishing and replaced by a cold and grim expression.

"If I hear such threats again," his voice dropped, "I'll make sure you understand the true meaning of the word 'disaster.'"

The Five Elders' expressions froze, their faces twisting in discomfort. Despite their authority, they were powerless to act. 

The brief exchange had revealed much about both sides. In terms of power, the gap was likely negligible. 

What gave Arashi a relative advantage was his strange immortality, a trait they couldn't counter for now.

"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave." Arashi's smile returned as he turned.

"After all, I came here to participate in the Reverie and propose some constructive ideas for the world."

The Five Elders exchanged glances before Shepherd spoke calmly.

"Oh? Someone like you is interested in the world's well-being?"

Waving his hand dismissively, Arashi walked toward the dilapidated door. "A peaceful world aligns with my goals."

In the blink of an eye, he vanished.

The Five Elders stood silently, remaining still for what felt like an eternity before one finally sighed.

"We should meet with the master."

Today's events had shaken them. They never expected to disturb the one they served.

Deep within Pangaea Castle, in the Flower Room, a pair of crimson eyes slowly opened, black concentric rings swirling within them, exuding an eerie chill.

"Nefertari…"

The low voice escaped Imu's lips. Rising, he moved into a dimly lit chamber, his gaze falling upon a massive straw hat as though lost in thought.

"Is it him?"

"No… it's not!"

Shaking his head decisively, Imu turned and left. Moments later, he ascended the Empty Throne, looking down at the five kneeling figures below.

"You were reckless!" the cold voice echoed.

"At such a time, in such a place, you dared provoke someone like him."

The Five Elders trembled. "We miscalculated. Please forgive us, master."

"His strange bloodline is indeed extraordinary."

"In history, there's no record of such a race. Is it some kind of mutation?" 

Imu murmured, even though he was puzzled and shocked by Arashi's immortality.

"Do not move against him until we are certain."

"The Nefertari family…" Imu's gaze turned sharp, his voice becoming icy. 

"Truly a family worth monitoring closely."

The Five Elders listened in silence. After a long pause, Topman Valkyrie Saint cautiously asked, "Master, what do you make of Arashi's claims?"

A faint smirk seemed to appear on Imu's face.

"Nonsense, of course!"

"Just as we can't discern his weaknesses, he likewise has no certainty of defeating us!"

"When power is balanced, negotiations and peace follow."

He paused briefly.

"But our focus need not remain solely on him."

"For eight centuries, individuals have been stronger and more influential than him."

"And yet, in the end, we emerged victorious."

His gaze bore down on the Five Elders like a crushing mountain.

"The stability of the world is paramount!"

"Some restless individuals appear to be stirring again."

"The Great Pirate Era?" Imu chuckled darkly. "What a ridiculous notion!"

The voice grew softer as the Five Elders retreated.

"That troublesome Straw Hat has certainly caused enough chaos."

"Joy Boy…"

"Gol D. Roger…"

"Who will be next?"

The faint words drifted down from the Empty Throne as the Five Elders, their faces full of uncertainty, slowly departed.

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