“Have you found the person yet?!”
Imu’s voice trembled, not from fear, but from overwhelming rage.
One of the Gorosei quickly stepped forward and reported, “Lord Imu, we have found a lead.
After a full search, we discovered a male slave who was recently captured.
He has been provoking the guards nonstop.”
The Gorosei hesitated briefly before continuing, “A guard whipped him earlier and noticed he could not be injured.
The matter was immediately reported.”
A flicker of surprise crossed Imu’s eyes, quickly replaced by a chilling killing intent.
“A slave managed to hurt me?”
Her tone turned ice cold.
“Bring him here.
No, I will go personally.”
She needed to see what kind of slave dared to do something like this.
Soon, Imu appeared at the end of the prison corridor.
She wore her usual flowing robes, her face hidden behind a mask.
Even without revealing her identity, her presence alone was suffocating.
The guards trembled, none of them daring to raise their heads.
Cassian felt it too, that overwhelming pressure.
His heartbeat quickened slightly.
“It’s you?”
Imu’s gaze locked onto him, her voice carrying a quiet, dangerous chill.
She could feel it.
The strange pain in her body was connected to this seemingly ordinary slave.
Cassian looked at her carefully.
He did not know her identity for certain, but the aura alone made it obvious.
A Celestial Dragon?
No…
something far above them.
Imu.
A thought formed instantly in his mind.
Without hesitation, he lifted his foot and slammed it down hard onto a nearby stone.
A dull impact echoed.
Imu let out a muffled groan.
A sharp pain shot through her foot, as if it had just been crushed.
Cassian’s eyes lit up.
So it really was her.
His grin widened.
Everything had gone exactly as planned.
He had caused chaos for one reason only, to draw her out.
Cassian tilted his head slightly and smirked.
“Hey, old woman.
Who are you?”
His tone was casual, even mocking.
“You’re hiding behind a mask like that.
What, too ugly to show your face?”
The atmosphere froze instantly.
The Gorosei nearly collapsed from fear.
Was this man insane?
How dare he speak to Imu like that?
Imu’s body stiffened.
The air around her grew heavier, colder.
“Very well.”
Her voice was calm, but the fury beneath it was unmistakable.
“From today onward, you are no longer a slave.”
Cassian blinked in surprise.
Free, just like that?
But Imu continued, her tone turning sinister.
“You will become my most important prisoner.”
Her killing intent sharpened.
“I will personally show you what it means to wish for death.”
Cassian chuckled.
From his perspective, it looked like she was the one heading toward that fate.
He met her gaze without fear, even amusement flickering in his eyes.
This world was already turning out to be far more interesting than he expected.
At the very least, he no longer had to worry about starving or being casually beaten to death.
As for wishing for death?
That was still up for debate.
Inside his mind, Cassian spoke calmly.
“System, answer me this.”
“Can that old woman break this connection?
Or find someone who can?”
The system responded immediately.
Substitute binding is governed by system rules.
Once established, it cannot be reversed.
Conditions:
1.
The substitute’s soul is completely destroyed.
2.
A power that surpasses the system’s rules appears.
Current world analysis: No such power exists.
Only the first condition is possible.
Cassian relaxed instantly.
Destroy her soul completely?
In this world?
That was practically impossible.
Even if gods existed here, they likely could not interfere with something beyond this level.
“Good,” Cassian muttered inwardly.
“That’s all I needed to know.”
He looked back at Imu, his gaze now completely unrestrained.
“So, old woman,” he said with a grin, “you said you’d make me wish for death, right?”
He spread his arms slightly.
“Come on.
I’m waiting.”
“Hit me.
I’m actually looking forward to it.”
A vein throbbed at Imu’s temple.
Black, arrow-like tendrils appeared behind her and shot forward, piercing through Cassian’s body.
Not a single drop of blood came out.
Instead, several bloody wounds suddenly appeared on Imu’s own body.
She suppressed the pain, her voice sharp.
“Black Transfer.”
The backlash hit instantly.
Her mind staggered, her vision blurring for a moment.
Cassian scratched his head casually.
“Is that it?”
He sounded disappointed.
“You don’t even hit that hard.
How are you supposed to survive in this world?”
At this point, Imu understood.
Every form of damage, physical or mental, was being reflected back onto her.
Still, she forced herself to calm down.
“You clearly do not understand your situation,” she said coldly.
She glanced at the Gorosei.
One of them immediately stepped forward.
“Take him away,” he ordered the guards.
“Lock him in the most secure cell.
Bind him with Seastone chains.”
“No one is to approach him without permission.”
Seastone.
Cassian’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Even though he had not eaten a Devil Fruit, he knew what it meant.
Still, he glanced at Imu and smirked.
“Go ahead.
Make them thicker.
Wouldn’t want them breaking too easily.”
The guards hesitated, but under pressure, they moved forward.
Heavy Seastone chains were wrapped tightly around Cassian, restraining him completely.
The cold metal pressed against his skin.
Cassian tested the restraints with a slight struggle.
They held firm.
The ability did not help him break free directly.
Interesting.
So it was not completely absolute.
But then again…
Cassian glanced at Imu, his smile turning sharper.
If he was restrained, wouldn’t she be as well?
Imu suddenly swayed.
Her body stiffened.
Invisible shackles seemed to bind her limbs.
She tried to move, but her body refused to respond.
Her pupils shrank.
So even this transferred.
Not just damage, but status conditions as well.
Cassian burst out laughing.
“What’s wrong, old woman?
Feeling uncomfortable?”
He tilted his head, clearly enjoying himself.
“Want to try something more interesting?”
“How about throwing me into the sea?
I’ve heard that works wonders on Devil Fruit users.”
Imu’s fury reached its peak.
She was the ruler of the world.
Yet now, she could not even move.
If she ordered him into the sea, she would be the one to drown.
“Remove the Seastone.”
Her voice was low, forced through clenched teeth.
The guards froze for a moment.
They had just put it on.
Now they had to remove it?
But none of them dared to question her.
They quickly unlocked the chains.
As the restraints fell away, Imu regained control of her body.
She exhaled quietly.
Cold sweat had already formed beneath her mask.
The Gorosei stood silently, their hearts racing.
They had lived for so long, yet they had never seen Imu in such a state.
They looked at Cassian with dread.
This man was not just dangerous.
He was a disaster given human form.
===
Look up