"This is…"
Sakura and the others raised their torches, the flickering light of human civilization illuminating fragments of ancient memory.
In that moment, a massive mural spanning the entire wall of the giant temple came into view before the scholars.
Like a silent confession, the message left by the ancient giants, dormant for eight hundred years, reached out to an unreachable future, carrying a conviction that refused to fade even in the face of destruction.
"The Harald Saga!"
Seeing the mural, Sakura couldn't help but read aloud the four large characters at its center.
"What's that?"
The scholars crowded around her anxiously, and Nico Olvia voiced their shared curiosity.
But Sakura didn't answer. Her gaze was distant, almost trance-like.
In a daze, she saw visions of survival, death, struggle, chaos, order, stars, continents, oceans…
And from the depths of time, a great spear striving to carve out freedom for all living beings!
The Spear of Elbaf!
The resounding will from eight hundred years ago unfolded vividly before Sakura's eyes.
"Ugh!"
Blinded by the spear's radiant light, Sakura let out a soft whimper and snapped back to reality.
"Sakura! Sakura?"
Coming to, she found herself cradled in Nico Olvia's arms, the older woman calling her name repeatedly.
"Sorry, I worried you guys," Sakura said, steadying herself with Olvia's help.
"What did you just see?!"
A curious scholar leaned in, while others pulled out paper and pens, ready to jot down her words.
"A will—a will that's endured for eight hundred years!"
"It seems the ancient giants had a technique for embedding their will into objects. That mural just 'hit' me hard across time and space," Sakura said, rubbing her eyes and letting out a hearty laugh.
The scholars hurriedly scribbled down her words, and Nico Olvia pressed further.
"Anything else? How much do you know about this mural?"
"This is the Harald Saga, a story passed down through generations of the giant race. This ancient legend reveals that the world we live in has been destroyed twice before!"
Drawing from the story depicted in the mural about the second civilization, Sakura translated the fragmented text for them.
Long ago, a vast kingdom emerged with incredibly advanced technology and ideas far beyond other regions.
A figure from this kingdom spread its ideology, sparking rebellions among enslaved people worldwide, igniting wars across the globe.
In the end, kings who feared this figure banded together under another ideology, forming a temporary coalition. They defeated the great kingdom, shaping the world as it exists today.
"That's it! It aligns with the scattered texts we found—only more complete!"
A scholar who cross-checked the information shouted in excitement. Others trembled with joy, hugging each other in celebration.
"Finally…"
Tears welled in Nico Olvia's eyes, and her legs gave out, nearly collapsing.
"You okay, Olvia?"
Sakura rushed to support her, keeping her from falling.
"I'm fine. Thank you, really, thank you!"
Nico Olvia hugged Sakura tightly, her tears of joy dripping onto the stone floor.
The rest was up to the scholars. They meticulously replicated the mural and enlisted Sakura's help to translate and organize the data.
A week passed quickly, and their exploration of the temple neared its end.
During the research, Sakura not only learned the common script of the pirate world but also studied ancient texts with the O'Hara scholars.
"Heh, guess I'm your accomplice now!"
As the rickety merchant ship set sail again, Sakura sat at the bow, playfully teasing the scholars behind her.
"Awesome!"
"You're more than welcome!"
"Come back to O'Hara with us!"
The scholars laughed, raising their wooden cups in a toast, clinking them together and downing their drinks amid cheerful chatter.
As Sakura raised her cup to join them, a cannon blast shattered the festive mood.
"Hm!"
Sakura whipped around, manipulating the seawater with her water-natured chakra, conjuring a swirling vortex.
Boom!
The cannonball struck the water, triggering a massive explosion.
Blazing heat and shockwaves slammed into the merchant ship, flames spreading across the deck.
"Tch, still not quite there," Sakura muttered, clicking her tongue.
"B-bad news! It's the government's Marines!"
Uncle Seaton, wearing glasses, shouted in panic. Some scholars scrambled to put out the fire, while others rushed into the cabin to save precious documents.
On the distant warship, Vice Admiral Hagwar D. Sauro, seeing that their target was just an ordinary ship, berated his soldiers.
"Cease fire! Just capture them! They're not bloodthirsty pirates!"
"Are you all so useless that you can't even catch a bunch of scholars?!"
The scolded Marines stopped their bombardment, though some soldiers' eyes glinted with disdain.
Suddenly, the sound of air being stomped drew everyone's attention.
The Marines looked up to see a petite figure rapidly approaching.
"Hey there, giant Marine!"
"You've got some guts attacking our ship!"
A commanding presence appeared before them, black lightning crackling with earth-shaking force.
An overwhelming aura radiated from the girl in the sky, stunning the entire scene.
Weaker Marines stood no chance against this terrifying presence, their eyes rolling back as they collapsed.
"Conqueror's Haki!!!"
Sweat dripped down Sauro's forehead, his face frozen in shock.
But the situation left no room for distraction—the girl was charging straight at him.
Her small fist brimmed with rebellious will. Even before it connected, the sheer force sent shockwaves that stung his face.
"…Lord Harald?"
In Sauro's eyes, the petite girl's aura felt eerily familiar. Her punching stance resembled… the Spear of Elbaf?!
But that was impossible! Even if she were royalty, her size didn't add up!
Caught off guard, Sauro didn't have time to use Armament Haki. Sakura's fist smashed through his defenses, slamming into his head.
Boom!
The power of the giant royalty sang fiercely, the shockwave's tremors coursing through his body, delivering searing pain.
Facing Sakura's fist without Armament Haki was something even the elites of the Roger Pirates wouldn't dare attempt lightly. Yet Sauro had done just that.
Thanks to the giants' tough skin and resilient vitality, he survived the ferocious blow.
But the cost was far heavier than he'd imagined.
"This… power…"
Dizziness overwhelmed Sauro's mind, his vision spinning and blurring.
The giant's massive body lost consciousness, crashing heavily onto the ship.
"Hahaha, I win!"
Sakura landed nimbly on the Marine ship, laughing triumphantly. Not a single Marine remained standing to challenge her.
"Not one with any backbone, huh?"
Sakura scanned the deck, her expression disappointed.
But when her gaze landed on the unconscious Sauro, her eyes lit up.
She strode over, hoisted the giant with a burst of strength, and hurled him toward the merchant ship in the distance.
Then, using Moon Step, she zipped back to her own ship.
"Oh, come on!"
The scholars, used to Sakura's reckless antics, sighed.
Meanwhile, on the Marine ship, a barely conscious soldier struggled to dial for help.
"R-report… the Vice Admiral… he's been captured by pirates!!!"