Chapter 45 – Flame Emperor vs King of the World
"Bwhahaha… don't you already know my answer?" Ron grinned.
Golden flames burned around his body as he looked directly at Imu without fear.
Imu smiled calmly.
"Of course. You were created from my blood after all."
The battlefield froze for a brief second.
Even Kaido and Rocks narrowed their eyes.
Far away, Roger blocked a slash from Warcury while glancing toward Ron.
"Nerona Ron…" Imu's voice echoed across God Valley. "Say your final goodbye."
"Tsk." Ron's face twisted in displeasure. "Don't give me your name. And stop acting like you're my father."
Golden flames exploded outward.
BOOOOMMMM!!!
The ground beneath Ron melted instantly.
"Flame Commandments: Flame Emperor's Armour."
Golden flames wrapped around Ron's thirty-meter giant body.
A massive armor formed around him from head to toe.
Burning golden plates covered his chest, arms, and legs. A blazing cloak floated behind him while his black wings burned with golden fire.
The air distorted from sheer heat.
Kaido looked upward.
"Worororo… now that looks insane."
Rocks grinned wildly.
"Volhahaha! That's more like it!"
Imu silently watched Ron.
Then—
His own body began growing effortlessly.
Black flames exploded around him.
His size increased until he matched Ron completely.
Dark armor formed naturally over his body while massive black wings spread behind him.
"As expected of you," Imu said calmly. "What a disappointment… choosing freedom over dominance."
Ron rested Surtr on his shoulder.
"Freedom sounds way better."
BOOOOMMMM!!!
The sky exploded.
A massive fist coated in Conqueror's Haki slammed directly into Imu's side.
"FIST BONE: GALAXY IMPACT!"
Imu was blasted backward through the air.
Shockwaves tore apart clouds across the sky.
Garp landed beside Ron.
His fists smoked from Haki.
Imu calmly wiped blood from his mouth while floating in the air.
Ron looked at Garp with surprise.
"Tsk… so you still had the guts to attack him?"
"Shut up!" Garp barked. "I'm only punching a bastard causing problems!"
"Bwhahaha!"
Ron laughed loudly.
"Then let's beat him up together!"
Both vanished simultaneously.
"FIST BONE: GALAXY IMPACT!!"
Two gigantic Haki-coated punches slammed toward Imu from opposite directions.
At the same moment—
"Volhahaha! Don't forget me!"
Rocks appeared above Imu.
His sword burned with monstrous Conqueror's Haki.
The air itself screamed.
Imu looked upward calmly.
"Come then."
Black lightning exploded from Nemesis.
Imu swung once.
BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!
Nemesis collided against Ron's flaming fist, Garp's Galaxy Impact, and Rocks' sword simultaneously.
The island split apart.
Mountains collapsed instantly.
The ocean surrounding God Valley rose violently.
Even Kaido's dragon form was blown backward by the shockwaves.
Roger, Newgate, and Linlin all paused briefly during their own battles.
Then—
Everyone was blasted away.
Ron flipped his wings instantly and stopped himself midair.
Imu appeared directly in front of him.
CLANG!!!
Surtr and Nemesis collided.
Golden flames and black flames exploded everywhere.
Ron's giant flaming wings smashed against Imu's dark wings as both monsters fought across the sky.
Each clash split clouds apart.
Each swing distorted the air itself.
Ron slashed downward.
Golden fire dragons erupted from Surtr.
Imu raised one hand.
Black flames transformed into countless dark spears.
BOOOOMMMM!!!
The attacks collided and detonated across the heavens.
Ron rushed through the explosion.
"Flame Commandments: Burning Slash!"
A compressed golden slash cut towards Imu.
Imu blocked with Nemesis.
Yet—
The slash still pushed him backward.
For the first time, cracks appeared on Imu's dark armor.
Imu looked at the crack silently.
Then he smiled.
"As expected of my perfect vessel."
"Tsk."
Ron swung Surtr again.
Imu vanished.
Ron's Observation Haki screamed.
BOOOOMMMM!!!
Imu's kick slammed into Ron's stomach armor.
Golden flames exploded apart.
Ron crashed through multiple mountains before stopping himself.
Blood dripped from his mouth.
"Damn…"
Imu appeared instantly above him.
Nemesis descended.
CLANG!!!
Rocks blocked the blade with his sword.
Black lightning exploded everywhere.
"Trying to ignore me again?" Rocks grinned.
Imu's eyes narrowed slightly.
Kaido descended from the sky in dragon form.
"Bolo Breath!"
A gigantic dragon blast slammed into Imu from behind.
BOOOOMMMM!!!
Black flames exploded.
Rocks charged again instantly.
Imu blocked.
But Kaido's tail smashed into Imu's side at the same moment.
BOOOOMMMM!!!
Imu was launched downward into God Valley.
The ground exploded apart.
Ron immediately descended from the sky.
Golden flames compressed around Surtr.
"Flame Commandments: Emperor Breaker!"
A gigantic flaming slash descended.
Rocks attacked simultaneously.
Kaido fired another Bolo Breath.
Three attacks engulfed Imu completely.
God Valley shook violently.
Even the Gorosei looked toward the explosion anxiously.
"Lord Imu—"
Before they could finish—
Black flames erupted upward.
BOOOOMMMM!!!
The attacks were erased.
Imu walked out calmly through the destruction.
His body had deep burns and cuts.
Yet black flames covered the wounds.
They regenerated rapidly.
Kaido's eyes narrowed.
"Tch…"
Ron stared silently.
Imu smiled faintly.
"You three truly are monsters."
Then his eyes focused on Ron again.
"But you… you were supposed to stand beside me."
Far away—
Roger blocked another slash from Nesturo.
"Divine Departure!"
BOOOOMMMM!!!
Nesturo was blasted backward.
Yet Warcury and Mars attacked Roger together instantly.
Newgate intercepted Warcury.
Murakumogiri clashed against black tusks.
"Gurararara! Fight me instead!"
Meanwhile Linlin fought Peater while watching the battlefield carefully.
"Mamamama…"
Her eyes moved toward the coastline.
"This island is becoming too dangerous."
Prometheus exploded forward with flames while Linlin slowly moved away from the center battlefield.
She had no intention of dying here.
Not for Rocks.
Not for anyone.
Above the battlefield—
Ron and Imu clashed again.
Golden flames and black flames devoured the sky endlessly.
Kaido returned in human-beast form.
Kanabo coated in Haki slammed toward Imu.
Rocks attacked from the opposite side.
Imu blocked both effortlessly.
Yet Ron descended from above.
Surtr burned brighter than ever.
Golden flames compressed around the blade until even space distorted.
Imu looked upward.
Ron grinned wildly.
"Still think freedom is a bad choice?"
"Always."
Ron laughed.
"Then I'll beat that opinion out of you!"
Surtr and Nemesis collided again.
BOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!