XX-level Hokage

Pangu City remained intact. The withered old man still stood behind Im, while Mashiro stood in the center of the hall with a theatrical smile on his face. "What is this?" Im's gaze sharpened, and he instantly understood.

"Illusion." "Illusion?"

“That’s right, everything that just happened was an illusion.” Mashiro smiled slightly. “From the moment you saw me, you were already trapped in my illusion.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Im's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

“What, you don’t believe me? Well, that’s true. To people in your world, this might be considered a kind of sorcery. Besides, for people without chakra, genjutsu is basically impossible to use.” Mashiro said softly, “So, I made some preparations in advance.”

“Chakra? What are you talking about?” Im said in an extremely low voice.

"It wouldn't hurt to explain some things to you. In a sense, I am no different from you Celestial Dragons. We are not natives of this world. In the world I live in, everyone uses a power called chakra."

Through these chakra, people can unleash various special abilities and powers. Genjutsu, on the other hand, uses chakra to interfere with the opponent's five senses, causing them to fall into illusions.

Generally speaking, genjutsu cannot work on people who do not have chakra reserves. "Looking at this former 'King of the World'," Mashiro said softly.

"So, what you mean by preparing in advance?" Im seemed to understand something.

As soon as she finished speaking, the Blazing Envoys suddenly appeared behind Im, surrounding him completely. "These Blazing Envoys..." Im sensed something amiss the moment his gaze sharpened.

“That’s right. When they came into contact with you, they emitted Wood Release spores,” Mashiro explained. “These spores contain chakra. When you inhale them, they will temporarily give you some chakra, thus making you susceptible to genjutsu control.”

Im was silent for a moment, then said coldly, "So that's how it is. You planned all of this from the very beginning."

That's right. "Mashiro frankly admitted, "I started planning this the moment I gave Vegapunk that drop of blood." Let's go back to the moment Mashiro met Vegapunk.

After learning about Vegapunk's plans regarding Seraphs, Mashiro realized that this power was inextricably linked to the World Government, and so she came up with an interesting idea.

He made up a random excuse and traded a drop of his blood to Vegapunk.

"Dr. Vegapunk, this drop of blood is for you. I hope you can research something interesting." Just as Mashiro had predicted.

After Mashiro left, Vegapunk stood in the laboratory and began to conduct in-depth research on the drop of blood.

After several days of research, Vegapunk excitedly held a test tube containing a liquid that emitted a faint green glow.

"Indeed, this drop of blood contains a mysterious power." Vegapunk's eyes gleamed with excitement. "If we can decipher it, perhaps we can create even more powerful weapons."

However, he did not know that Mashiro had left a special memory symbol in that drop of blood—a wedge.

Through Vegapunk's continuous analysis and research, he discovered that the drop of blood not only contained several powerful and unique forces, but also possessed unparalleled strength.

Unable to resist, Vegapunk began his new research on Seraph using that drop of blood, which was to create a clone of Mashiro. Through Karma, Mashiro could sense everything that happened to the Seraph born from that drop of blood.

Just as Mashiro had predicted, after Vegapunk sensed the special power of this drop of blood, he couldn't help but transplant that power into other Seraphim.

And this is also part of the True Self Project.

“Through Karma, I can sense everything that happens to the Seraphim,” Mashiro continued to explain. “After seeing them, I can directly control them. After all, as homogeneous chakra and influenced by Karma, they have no way to resist me.”

Im's gaze grew even colder. "You really are a dangerous person."

“Thank you for the compliment.” Mashiro smiled slightly. “However, I don’t want to be your enemy. I just want to change this world.” “Change the world?” Im sneered. “Who do you think you are? Keeping Iboi around?”

Mashiro shook her head. "I'm not Joy Boy, but I believe I can do better than him." Im was silent for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "So, what do you plan to do?"

"I will find that so-called One Piece, then reveal the truth of the Void Century, and I will also solve the flood problem, thus creating a completely new world," Mashiro said earnestly.

"You? You're too naive." Im sneered.

“How will you know it won’t work if you don’t try?” Mashiro smiled slightly. “Besides, I’ve already found the key to changing the world, haven’t I?” “Oh? What key?” Im asked.

“The three Ancient Weapons,” Mashiro replied, “Pluto, Poseidon, and Uranus.” Im’s self-illumination sharpened. “You?”

“The blueprints for Hades are in my hands, Poseidon is mine, and Uranus is about to fall into my hands as well,” Mashiro said softly. Im was silent for a moment, then said in a deep voice, “Even if you find the three ancient weapons, you may not be able to change this world.”

“I know.” Mashiro nodded. “However, I have no intention of relying on it. I have other ways to solve this.” Im gave Mashiro a deep look and said nothing more.

“So, you can make your choice now, Im: die here or become a prisoner.” Mashiro walked towards Im and said. Im remained silent; she had lost the ability to resist.

Her own combat strength is not particularly strong; she merely possesses the power of the Heavenly King and the "Demon."

In this situation, let alone the fact that the Heavenly King has no way to inflict fatal damage on Mashiro, even if he could, she wouldn't be able to use it unless she wanted to die together with him.

As for the power of the "demon," it goes without saying that there was no suitable vessel for it beside her at the moment. The seraphim stood behind Mashiro, quietly awaiting orders.

"You all stay here," Mashiro ordered. All the Blazing Gatekeepers froze instantly.

Mashiro reached out to Im, and Im's black robe instantly shattered, along with the black smoke that vanished.

Beneath all the secrets lay a tall, voluptuous, and aloof woman. "Indeed, quite beautiful," Mashiro chuckled, lightly lifting Im's chin.

Chapter 203: The Illusion House and the Devil Fruit Tree

Mashiro stood before Im, looking down at the former "King of the World." Her eyes gleamed with curiosity and inquiry.

"Im, as the leader of the Celestial Dragons, you must know many secrets, right?" Mashiro asked softly, her tone slightly teasing. Im gave Mashiro a cold look and remained silent.

For example, the origins of you Celestial Dragons. "Mashiro continued, "You're not native to this world, are you?" Im paused for a moment, then finally spoke: "How did you know that?"

Mashiro smiled slightly: "It's not hard to guess. You Celestial Dragons possess superhuman strength and technology, which is unique in this world. Moreover, your fear of One Piece and the three Ancient Weapons is obviously because you know their true purpose."

Im scoffed, "You are indeed a clever person. That's right, we are not native to this world; our ancestors came from the moon."

"The moon?" Mashiro paused for a moment, then showed interest. "Tell me more about it." She suddenly thought of Kaguya.

Im took a deep breath and slowly said, "Our ancestors originally lived on the moon, a world with highly advanced technology. However, as time went by, the moon's environment gradually deteriorated and became uninhabitable. In order to survive, our ancestors had to find a new home."

"So, they came to this ocean planet," Mashiro interjected.

"That's right." Im nodded. "To adapt to the environment of this planet, our ancestors created a vast island called the Kingdom of the Gods. We lived here for hundreds of years, gradually adapting to the planet's environment."

“Then, you turned your attention to the ocean,” Mashiro said.

Im did not deny it: "Yes, the ocean is the richest resource on this planet, and we will naturally not let it go."

"And so, with the power of the Heavenly King, you destroyed a kingdom on the ocean established by the Lunaria race and took its place," Mashiro continued.

A flicker of surprise crossed Im's eyes: "You even know this?"

Mashiro smiled slightly: "Not only do I know, I also know that you discovered a national treasure among the kings of the Lunaria tribe—the Illusion House."

Im was silent for a moment before finally speaking: "That's right, the Illusion House is an extremely powerful artifact. It can bring infinite power and reverse time."

Reversing time? Mashiro was slightly taken aback. Although she had already guessed, she was still incredibly alarmed.

"This is the true power of the Illusionary Room," Im explained. "It can reverse time and change what has already happened; of course, this power comes at a price."

"What price?" Mashiro asked.

“Every time the power of the Phantom House is used, one of the sealed demons escapes,” Im said. “These demons generate Devil Fruits, granting the user immense power, but also affecting the user’s temperament. The more powerful the demon, the greater its influence on the user’s temperament. Furthermore, as the Devil Fruit user dies, those demons return to the Phantom House. As the number of demons in the Phantom House increases, the sea becomes more turbulent, eventually leading to a flood that submerges everything.”

"Because the flood was inevitable, and you already had the Sky Island as your escape route, you no longer cared about the lives of other humans at sea," Mashiro said. She was skeptical of the truth Im told her, but she couldn't question it, after all, the Lunaria race had been wiped out.

Im nodded: "You're very smart, that's right."

Upon hearing this, Mashiro chuckled and said, "You Celestial Dragons are indeed a bunch of selfish and self-serving people. For your own benefit, you are willing to put the whole world in danger."

Im did not refute, but just stared coldly at Mashiro.

"So, tell me, where is the Illusion Room?" Mashiro continued. A flicker of wariness crossed Im's eyes: "What do you want?"

“I want to change this world,” Mashiro said firmly, “and the Phantom House is the key.”

Im was silent for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "The Phantom House is hidden deep within Mary Geoise, guarded by the most elite troops of our Celestial Dragons. You cannot obtain it."

Mashiro smiled slightly: "How will you know it won't work if you don't try?"

Im gave Mashiro a deep look, then suddenly said, "I can tell you the location of the Phantom House, but on one condition." "What condition?" Mashiro asked.

“Spare my people,” Im said. “They are innocent.”

Mashiro paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "You seem to care quite a bit about your people." "I just don't want to see them dragged into this war," Im said.

Mashiro nodded: "Okay, I promise you, as long as they don't resist, I won't hurt them."

Of course, Mashiro certainly wouldn't know, but it was hard to say about the others under her command. Im nodded, then took out a map from his pocket and handed it to Mashiro.

“This is a map of the Phantom House,” Im said. “I hope you will keep your promise.” Mashiro took the map, glanced at it, and then put it in her pocket.

“I will,” Mashiro said. “However, I have one more question.” “What?” Im asked.

"Why did you Celestial Dragons stop Joy Boy in the first place?" Mashiro asked. "What he did should have been very beneficial to you."

Im paused for a moment, then said, "Nika is a demon who craves freedom. Influenced by him, Joy Boy also cares a great deal about freedom. Therefore, if we really let him unite with the four seas, it will be a huge blow to our rule."

“I see.” Mashiro nodded. “It seems that you Celestial Dragons were already prepared for the complete destruction of Skypiea.”

Im did not deny it: "We Celestial Dragons have ruled this world for far too long. Just in case, we must prepare." Mashiro smiled slightly: "Then, your end is near."

Im stared coldly at Mashiro without saying another word. Mashiro turned and left, followed closely by the Seraphim.

Im watched Mashiro's retreating figure, a complex expression flashing in his eyes. Meanwhile, deep within Mary Geoise.

Mashiro led the Seraphim to the location of the Illusion House.

The Phantom House is located at the deepest part of the underground treasure vault of Pangu City. Inside is a vast underground space, with a huge black stone door standing in the center. Pushing open the door, Mashiro stepped inside.

The moment you step inside, all the light around you disappears, leaving only pitch blackness where you can't see your hand in front of your face.

But this posed no obstacle for Mashiro; her Byakugan could ignore the darkness. She walked deeper into the Phantom Room.

Deep within, tiny points of fluorescence flickered.

Where the fluorescence gathered, a huge, eerie tree stood.

This tree grew in an incredibly twisted way, so it was more like an aggregate of withered vines than a tree.

Each vine bore a peculiar fruit. Hundreds of vines were neatly arranged, bearing hundreds of fruits.

Chapter 204: Successfully Completed

"So this is the origin of Devil Fruits. Not bad, not bad at all. It can be used to mass-produce Jonin or even Kage-level soldiers." Muttering to himself, Mashiro continued walking deeper into the Phantom House.

In the deepest part of the room, a stone compass exuding an ominous aura stood quietly in the air.

This compass is the core of the Illusion House; it can unleash demonic power, manipulate time, and grant immortality. "Everything should end now."

Speaking softly, Mashiro reached for the compass.

The next day, the morning sun shone through the towers of Mary Geoise onto this land that had once symbolized power and terror. Mashiro stood on a balcony, looking down at the ancient city.

She once thought this place was the center of the world, a symbol of invincibility. Now, it's just the stage for her final game.

She has achieved her goal: defeating the world government and overthrowing the former power structure.

Now, only one thing remains—a true end and a beginning. Then Mashiro disappeared from the spot.