It wasn't that Xia Chen was a country bumpkin who had never seen the world, but rather that the figure that appeared beneath Imu's black robe was truly astonishing.
Before Xia Chen appeared a beautiful woman in red with blue hair, possessing a stunning figure and a cold demeanor.
The fact that Imu was a woman did surprise him a little, but it wasn't enough to shock him to this extent.
The real reason is that he recognized Imu —no, he should say he recognized Imu's face!
It was Vivi, who had spent some time on their ship!
Apart from the eyes, they are exactly the same, at least in terms of appearance.
However, the crimson pupils beneath the black robe, now unobstructed, didn't appear as sinister as they once were. Instead, they gave off a unique feeling, like Vivi wearing colored contact lenses!
Even if they looked exactly alike, Xia Chen wouldn't believe that Vivi was Imu; that was impossible!
The two have such different temperaments!
It's true that Imu and Vivi might have some connection.
Thinking of this, Xia Chen couldn't help but recall some things Cobra had told him when they chatted in Alabasta. He turned his gaze to Imu and asked:
What is your relationship with Queen Lily of Alabasta?
Cobra had once told him that Vivi and Lily, the first queen of Alabasta, looked very similar, even to the point of being the same person.
So saying that Vivi and Imu are related is probably not quite accurate; it should be Queen Lily and Imu who are related.
They were truly people of their time!
"Hmm? I didn't expect you to even know about her!" Imu's face showed a hint of surprise.
Then, opening his arms and smiling, he said:
"This... isn't this Queen Lily?"
Upon hearing this, Xia Chen's eyes narrowed, and after a long silence, he finally spoke:
"You took over her body?"
"That's right! I've had my eye on Lily's body for a long time, so after I used the Op-Op Fruit to perform the Perennial Youth Operation on her, I took over her body and became its new owner!"
"How is it? Isn't it beautiful?"
Imu asked Xia Chen with a smile, but that smile looked dangerous no matter how you looked at it.
"Understood!"
Xia Chen nodded and smiled.
Imu's words gave him a hint: since Imu gained immortality through the Op-Op Fruit, could he perhaps follow suit?
Although he felt he could probably live a long time even without the Perennial Youth Operation, Hancock and the others couldn't!
He certainly didn't want Hancock and Robin to die while he was still alive and well, due to their lifespans.
Xia Chen pointed his Jingu Bang at Imu and said:
"Since you told me all this, I'll let you die with some dignity!"
"Come on! Show me your true strength! I know you're definitely more powerful than you were before!"
"By the way, let me see the power of Zeus and Athena soon!"
To everyone's surprise, Imu was a little confused upon hearing this and asked in bewilderment:
"What Zeus and Athena?"
"Um?"
Seeing Imu's reaction, Xia Chen's face showed a hint of understanding.
It seems his previous prediction was correct; the legends of Zeus and Athena did not exist in this era, but only in his original time.
Therefore, Imu of this era naturally did not receive their power.
Thinking of this, Xia Chen couldn't help but sigh.
"Looks like this battle will be a little less fun!"
Upon hearing Xia Chen's words, a hint of anger flashed across Imu's face. He said in a cold voice:
You'll regret looking down on me!
"I hope you can still maintain this expression when I kill you!"
Having said that, Imu closed his eyes, and fierce flames erupted from his body once again.
As the flames burned, her red dress gradually turned a dark gold, and then her entire outfit became dark gold with a flowing effect.
Just like when Luffy transforms into Nika, his clothes turn white and have a flowing effect.
However, Imu's looks more noble and Haki!
At that moment, Imu's blue hair also disappeared, turning black and blonde.
Then, one after another, black and gold spherical suns appeared behind her, forming a whole string.
This is quite similar to the arrangement of the Truth-Seeking Ball behind the Six Paths Mode characters in a certain movie next door.
After completing this transformation, Imu suddenly opened his eyes, his black-gold pupils exuding nobility.
At the same time, a wave of black and gold fire erupted and rushed towards Xia Chen.
Without hesitation, Xia Chen waved his right hand, unleashing a crimson wave of fire.
In the blink of an eye, the two waves of fire collided, but the result was somewhat unexpected for Xia Chen.
His crimson flames were quickly disintegrated when they met the black-gold flames, and the black-gold flames, though only slightly weakened, continued to hurtle towards him.
"That's interesting!"
Xia Chen grinned; this was the first time he had encountered a situation where his crimson flames were no match for his opponent.
It seems that Imu, after living for eight hundred years, still has some skills!
Even without the power of Zeus and Athena, Imu's own strength is overwhelmingly superior to that of the rest of the world.
However... he wasn't among these "others"!
With a thought, a rock wall, several meters thick and gleaming with golden light, suddenly appeared in front of Xia Chen.
"Boom!"
The black and gold flames struck the rock wall and then spread outwards along the wall.
After all the noise subsided, the surface of the rock wall was riddled with holes from the black and gold flames, and in some places it was almost burned through.
However, almost is almost; they still couldn't break through the rock wall's defenses.
With a gentle wave of his hand, Xia Chen sent the rock wall crashing into the sea, creating a huge splash.
Looking at the figure ahead, now entirely black and gold, like a black and gold Sun Goddess, Xia Chen immediately became interested and asked curiously:
"What kind of ability is that? Is it that flashy?"
Imu parted his lips slightly and said softly:
" Zoan, Human- Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Amaterasu Omikami Form!"
As he spoke, Imu waved his hand, causing the black and gold flames on his body to surge restlessly, and then said:
You can also call me...
" Sun Goddess!!"
Xia Chen:...
No, how come you can be even better at pretending than me?
Xia Chen wouldn't believe Imu's series of actions weren't just showing off. It's only because he doesn't currently possess a handsome and Haki form that he would have to reveal his true strength to Imu.
Imu then spoke:
" Devil Fruit can all Awakening! I'm sure most people know that!"
"However, Devil Fruit are not without their differences in quality; a powerful Devil Fruit Devil Fruit is stronger than a weaker one!"
"Among the many Devil Fruit in the world, there are two that stand at the very top, truly the strongest Devil Fruit!"
"One of these two fruits is my Amaterasu Ōmikami Fruit, and the other is..."
" Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika?"
Before Imu could finish speaking, Xia Chen interrupted her.
Imu:...