Inside the cell, the guard was drenched in sweat.
His arms trembled from exhaustion, and the whip in his hand had already snapped.
Yet Cassian stood there completely unharmed, even letting out a lazy yawn.
With a face full of mock concern, Cassian spoke,
“Did you skip a meal or something?
If you’re tired, take a break.
No need to push yourself.”
He glanced around casually, then pointed at a rusty iron rod in the corner.
“Or maybe try that instead?”
The guard followed his finger, then looked back at Cassian’s infuriating expression.
A chill ran down his spine.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
If he kept going, he had a feeling he would be the one in danger.
He threw the broken whip aside and shouted loudly to cover his fear,
“You just wait!
I will bring someone who can deal with you!”
Without another word, he turned and ran.
Watching his retreating figure, Cassian burst into laughter.
“Why are you running?
I’m just getting started.”
He turned back toward the three sisters, who were still staring at him in shock.
Grinning, he said,
“My three beauties, what, still processing it?
Not impressed?”
Boa Hancock snapped out of her daze, her eyes filled with suspicion and disbelief.
She had seen it clearly.
The whip had struck him, again and again.
Yet he remained untouched.
“Who…
are you?” she asked cautiously, her voice slightly hoarse.
“Cassian.
Just a guy having a bad day that turned interesting.”
He shrugged and walked to the cell door, pushing it lightly.
It did not move.
“Locked tight.
Figures.”
His eyes scanned the room before landing on a stone in the corner.
A smile spread across his face.
“That works.”
He picked it up, weighed it in his hand, then suddenly slammed it against his own head.
A dull thud echoed.
The three sisters screamed and covered their eyes instinctively.
But nothing happened.
Cassian stood there, rubbing his head casually.
Not even a red mark appeared.
“Good.
As expected.”
Deep within Mary Geoise, inside the palace where only the highest authority resided, Imu sat upon the Empty Throne.
Suddenly, a violent force struck her head.
Her vision blurred, and her body swayed slightly.
Warm blood trickled down her forehead.
The Five Elders froze in terror before immediately dropping to their knees.
“Lord Imu, what happened?!”
Imu touched her forehead.
The wound healed instantly, though the blood remained.
Her eyes darkened, filled with cold fury.
Again.
That same inexplicable damage.
And this time, it was far worse.
“Have you found the source?”
Her voice was calm, yet carried a suffocating chill.
One of the elders replied, his voice trembling,
“We are searching with everything we have, but there are no leads yet…”
“Useless.”
The pressure in the room spiked instantly, making it hard to breathe.
“Search every corner of Mary Geoise if you must.
Find whoever dares to lay a hand on me.”
“Yes, Lord Imu.”
Back in the cell, Cassian had already moved on to his next test.
He picked up the stone again and dragged it across his arm, carving several deep cuts.
Then he slammed his head against the wall.
He even held his breath, trying to suffocate himself.
Nothing worked.
He felt perfectly fine, even more energetic than before.
Meanwhile, inside the palace, Imu’s condition worsened.
Deep wounds appeared across her arms out of nowhere.
Her head throbbed from repeated impacts, and a suffocating pressure tightened around her chest.
Even with her overwhelming power, the relentless damage began to take its toll.
Her expression turned colder, anger building with every passing moment.
“This is getting interesting,” Cassian muttered.
Then he glanced at the Hancock sisters, who were still frozen in shock.
A thought crossed his mind.
“Testing alone is boring.”
He stepped toward the cell door and shouted loudly into the corridor,
“Hey!
Someone get over here!
There is a slave planning a revolt!”
His voice echoed through the hall.
Moments later, footsteps approached.
Several guards rushed over, armed with swords and spears.
“Is this idiot trying to die?”
“He is shouting about rebellion in Mary Geoise?”
“I heard one guard couldn’t hurt him.
I don’t believe that nonsense.”
Their eyes locked onto Cassian, who stood there casually.
“You’re asking for death.”
One guard raised his sword and slashed toward Cassian’s leg.
“Watch out!” Hancock shouted instinctively.
The blade cut through his pants.
But his skin remained untouched.
Not even a mark.
Cassian looked down, unimpressed.
“That all you’ve got?”
He stretched his leg forward slightly.
“Try again.
Use more strength.”
The guard’s face twisted in anger as he swung repeatedly, aiming for vital points.
Every strike landed.
None did any damage.
Another guard stepped forward and thrust a spear straight at Cassian’s chest.
The spear passed through his body.
Cassian yawned.
Inside, he was already praising Imu.
“As expected of the ruler of the world.
That durability is insane.”
The guards stepped back in fear.
“What kind of ability is this?”
Cassian laughed loudly, his voice filled with arrogance.
“Come on, keep going.
Kill me if you can.
If not, then you’re all useless.”
Inside the palace, the situation had turned into chaos.
Imu’s body was covered in wounds.
Sword cuts, spear wounds, injuries deep enough to expose bone.
Blood stained the steps of the throne.
Her life force was slowly draining.
She had already coated her body with Haki.
It made no difference.
The injuries still appeared, ignoring all defenses.
This unseen, untouchable assault pushed her to the edge of fury.
If not for her terrifying regeneration, she would have already collapsed.
For the first time in a very long time, Imu felt something close to rage.