~ Support & Read 15 Advanced Chapters on Patreon!
❁❁❁❁
It was as if the entire world had been struck by an irresistible torrent, shattering like glass in the wind!
The sun, the blue sky, the white clouds, the ocean, the islands, the ships, his childhood self, and his family... all of it dissolved into nothingness like a phantom.
In every direction—up, down, left, right—there was only an eternal night, a dark and dead cosmos where golden cubes floated silently in the void.
The cubes were smooth and flat, glowing with a mysterious golden light, inscrutable and profound.
Arthur scanned his surroundings. He realized he had lost gravity, drifting aimlessly as if in outer space. Stussy was nowhere to be seen. Everything had vanished.
The scene of returning to the past just moments ago... it was as if it had never happened!
"Is the Rainbow Mist a place to return to the past and fix regrets?" Arthur calmed himself, recalling the man on Ruluka Island who wanted to enter the mist to save his former comrades. It suddenly made sense.
He sighed, knowing that world was not one he should cling to. As long as it wasn't reflected in reality, it was false.
Arthur adjusted his mindset and drifted toward the golden cubes floating around him. "Is this the true manifestation of the Rainbow Mist world...?"
Because on the cubes before his eyes, images were flashing... shocking images!
His gaze pierced through the fog of history. In the Void Century, he saw a terrifyingly prosperous empire crumble amidst various conspiracies and wars waged by powerful figures. Twenty individuals who overthrew the empire established a new order and regime, revered as the World Nobles, the "Celestial Dragons." That regime was—the World Government!
The World Government was born on the ruins of that mighty nation. The World Nobles ascended to the pinnacle of the world, the holy land of Mary Geoise atop the Red Line.
At the same time, the rulers feared that their unsavory history would be discovered, so they promulgated "World Laws" prohibiting the deciphering of historical texts. This era became known to archaeologists as the "Void Century"!
However, even though they destroyed the records of that history, the people of the fallen empire forged indestructible stones, carving all evidence and witness accounts onto them and scattering them across the world.
There were approximately 30 Poneglyphs in total, including 4 Road Poneglyphs and 9 Rio Poneglyphs (Intelligence Poneglyphs).
He saw the City of Gold, Shandora. The Shandians fought to protect a Poneglyph and suffered ruthless destruction. The survivors isolated themselves to preserve their city and the stone.
The mist of history cleared further, and Arthur saw the colossal "Continent Puller" Oars wreaking havoc on the world, his terrifying strength moving entire islands...
He saw Mont Blanc Noland, the admiral of the exploration ships from the Kingdom of Lvneel in the North Blue. Noland set sail, entered the Grand Line, and successfully reached Jaya. He saved the Shandia tribe from being wiped out by Tree Fever, becoming their friend, and the Golden Bell rang out from the City of Gold!
Years later, the City of Gold was blasted into the sky by the Knock Up Stream, disappearing from the sea. Noland was executed for the crime of lying!
He saw the announcement from the World Government, controlled by the Celestial Dragons, declaring formal diplomatic relations with Fish-Man Island and acknowledging their status!
He saw Dorry and Brogy, the two captains of the Giant Warrior Pirates, begin their duel on Little Garden for a ridiculous reason. The once-mighty Giant Warrior Pirates disbanded, and the crew returned to their homeland, Elbaf.
He saw the Rumbar Pirates enter the Grand Line, meet the whale Laboon, and then all succumb to an incurable disease. Brook ate the Revive-Revive Fruit (Yomi Yomi no Mi), his soul possessing his skeleton body.
He saw Whitebeard establish the Whitebeard Pirates to have a family, dominating the New World. He saw Roger set off from Loguetown wearing a straw hat, recruiting a drunken Rayleigh from a small boat, beginning a legendary life where he was cornered multiple times by Garp.
Golden Lion Shiki, Redfield the Red Count... legendary pirates rose one after another, sending the seas into an unprecedented boil!
He even saw... the look of extreme excitement on his own face when he woke up on the Seabury family's merchant ship, waiting five years to ascend to Skypiea and find the Rumble-Rumble Fruit!
Time marched on relentlessly. Roger reached the summit. Arthur rose in the New World, forming the Thunder God Pirates. He saw himself being forced into the Rainbow Mist by the combined might of the Navy's highest powers!
Time should have ended there. However... images continued to flash across the golden cubes.
In an instant, Arthur found himself entering a state too wondrous to describe!
He saw... the Future!!!
BANG—
The golden cubes shattered into fragments. The dark space was suddenly flooded with infinite light...
Arthur shielded his eyes from the blinding brilliance. After a few seconds of adjustment, he opened his eyes to find himself on the ruins of Ruluka Island.
But now, lush grass covered the island. The broken devastation of the great battle was gone. Life was struggling up from the ruins, as if a long time had passed!
Stussy, who had disappeared, appeared beside him.
Arthur smiled, countless images flashing through his eyes. "What is this place? We really made it out!"
The moment his voice fell, Stussy, who was observing the scenery, immediately spoke: "What is this place? Did we really make it out?"
"Hmm? How did you know what I was going to say..." Arthur smiled faintly.
"Hmm? How did you know what I was going to say?" A trace of confusion flashed through Stussy's eyes, quickly turning into shock. "Observation Haki—Future Sight?!"
"Guhahahahahaha...!" Arthur laughed wildly and unrestrainedly.
—————————
Aboard the Red Force.
Shanks stood at the forefront. Flanking him in a line were Benn Beckman, Yasopp, Lucky Roux, and the other members of the Red Hair Pirates. Though they were only a few dozen elites, their presence felt as imposing as an army of thousands, their momentum surging like a tide!
Hawkeye Mihawk, carrying the cross on his back, wore a cold expression. He ignored the numerous experts present, his gaze fixed solely on Shiryu!
"Didn't arrive too late, did we! We meet again, Mr. Shiryu!!" Shanks greeted with a beaming smile. He glanced at the tragic state of the battle before shifting his gaze to the sinister figure of Redfield.
"Looking at the current situation, our plan to challenge the Thunder God Pirates and establish ourselves in the New World will have to be put on hold... It seems there is a more perfect opponent right here!"
"Establish yourselves in the New World?" Redfield stood on the mast, his expression indifferent. "A brat who spent time on Roger's ship talks about establishing himself? Even if you were taught Haki... it's a bit too early for you!"
"The supreme hegemony can only accommodate a few. You are not enough!"
"Hahahaha! If establishing oneself in the New World requires crushing a legend of the past or a current overlord... then, Mr. 'Red Count' Patrick Redfield, I can only ask you to give me some face and end this right here!!"
❁❁❁❁
~ 15 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
https://p-atreon.com/dragonnx
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)