"Heh heh, explaining the meaning of the Freedom Fruit right now won't tie the entire history together. Let's start from the beginning."
Shirogai spoke with a faint smile.
"Robin, you've already read the Harley Scripture in the Owl Library. It records the three World Wars. And you also saw the giant tree bark murals carved into the Treasure Tree Adam, drawings that look like children's scribbles from centuries ago, yet still preserved today, right?"
"Yes."
Robin nodded.
This was her greatest gain after arriving in Elbaf, the island of Giants, and reuniting with her benefactor, Saul.
It allowed her to better understand that forgotten era, the Void Century, a period the World Government strictly forbids anyone from uncovering.
"Huh? Robin actually read some ancient book in Elbaf that records myths from hundreds of years ago?!"
Usopp's eyes widened, his face filled with excitement and envy.
"Robin, Robin! Does that mean you already figured out the secret of the Void Century?!"
Robin's expression dimmed slightly.
"Sorry, Usopp. I still haven't completely deciphered what happened nine hundred years ago…"
Smack!
"Ow! That hurt!"
A fist came down hard on Usopp's head from behind.
"I told you to think before speaking, you idiot," Yasopp said with a look of disdain.
"If Elbaf truly had complete records of the Void Century, the World Government would have destroyed them long ago, just like every other place that tried to preserve the truth. Only vague, incomplete records survive to this day."
Silence followed.
Shanks said nothing, but his thoughts churned beneath the surface.
The World Government might appear unstable lately, constantly embarrassed on the global stage due to Shirogai's interference as an emerging God King, but that was only on the surface.
Many nations had withdrawn from the World Government and refused to join the Sky Island Alliance.
And then… they vanished.
Entire countries disappeared without a trace.
When merchants and travelers later visited those lands, they found nothing but ruins. Once-thriving nations reduced to lifeless wastelands.
That was the true nature of the World Government.
Before Shirogai rose to power, no nation or force had the strength to oppose them.
Even under the tyranny of the Celestial Dragons, no one dared resist.
It was as if the entire world played a silent game.
Lower your head enough, and you won't see the chains being placed around your neck.
Even a powerful nation like Elbaf was no exception.
Despite producing mighty warriors, it still fell short before the vast resources and military might of the World Government.
If not for the Celestial Dragons' interest in turning the Giants into living weapons, and Elbaf's connection to Red-Haired Shanks, the island would have long been reduced to ashes.
Worse still, the World Government knew the Treasure Tree Adam's weakness.
Fire.
Once a weakness is exposed to those kinds of enemies, the outcome becomes obvious.
The Marines were never symbols of justice.
They were tools of domination.
With endless artillery, they could bombard an island until nothing remained. Even Giants could not endure that level of destruction.
This was how the World Government maintained control for centuries.
When they attacked, they erased everything.
A Buster Call left no survivors.
If the Celestial Dragons grew displeased with a nation, disaster would follow. Sanctions, war, annihilation.
In the end, only destruction remained.
Usopp rubbed his head and glared at Yasopp.
"Hmph! I was just imagining things!"
"That may be true," Shirogai said with a faint smile, his tone carrying deeper meaning, "but some people here haven't heard this yet."
He looked at Robin.
"Why don't you go over what you saw again?"
"The prophecies recorded in the temple's myths…"
Robin closed her eyes briefly, recalling the text, then spoke softly.
"The First World:
The land burned in flames.
Human desire formed a bottomless abyss.
Slaves who touched the forbidden sun prayed.
And so, the Sun God descended.
The God of Earth was enraged.
Together with the Serpent of Karma Fire,
They devoured the world in darkness and death.
And from then on, they vanished."
On the murals carved into the Treasure Tree Adam, this passage was vividly depicted.
A full moon hung in the sky.
A massive dragon soared through the air, spewing fire at a colossal serpent covered in dark scales.
Below, small figures carried glowing objects, offering them to a flying ship rising into the sky.
Strange, advanced structures towered across the land.
At the center, a crowned king sat upon a throne aboard the vessel, silently observing.
"…Huh?"
Usopp scratched his head in confusion.
"I don't get it at all… Am I just stupid?"
He looked around, only to find everyone deep in thought.
Even Yasopp remained silent.
As for Shirogai, he simply smiled, his gaze distant, as if he already saw the truth hidden within it all.
Usopp felt a sting of frustration.
If Luffy and the others were here, he wouldn't feel like the dumbest person in the room.
Damn it… Luffy would definitely be the clueless one!
Robin continued.
"The Second World:
Breath was born from nothingness.
The God of the Forest released demons.
The sun spread only war.
The people of the Half Moon dreamed.
The people of the Moon dreamed.
Humans worshipped the sun as a god of slaughter.
The God of the Sea rose in power.
And then, they too vanished."
This passage was even more obscure.
But Robin had her suspicions.
This "Second World" likely referred to events during the Void Century.
Especially since one of the figures in the mural strongly resembled Luffy's Nika form.
The second mural told a violent story.
A massive winged creature with horns raised a glowing sphere like a miniature sun, its claw reaching forward as if to consume everything.
Opposing it stood countless races.
Giants wielding spears and shields.
Minks gripping blades.
Lunarians with flames burning atop their heads.
Fish-Men armed with tridents.
Tontattas, small but fearless.
Humans sailed forward in crude ships.
Samurai raised their swords.
Ninjas hurled shurikens.
And at the very front stood a figure with white hair, holding a sword and shield, his body stretching and bending freely.
A warrior who looked just like Nika.
Robin had only learned from Saul that this figure was the Sun God Nika, a legendary being still worshipped by the Giants to this day.
Silence settled over the group once again.
Then, Shirogai let out a quiet chuckle.
"Interesting… isn't it?"
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