Chapter 474: The Turning Point
Joy Boy was a remarkable man.
He hadn't received much education, nor was he of distinguished birth. He was simply an adventurer.
The only thing slightly different was that he loved meddling in affairs.
During his travels, he'd always encounter things that made him unhappy. At such times, he'd unhesitatingly strike with heavy fists.
Joy Boy loved freedom. He hated constraints. During his journey, he encountered many slave friends. He also unhesitatingly turned those countries upside down for his friends.
"Initially, he didn't hold lofty motivations. That man simply followed his instincts, constantly liberating slaves."
Brett smiled. "He shattered the chains binding people, then beat away the kings and nobles he detested."
"So his travels were always very lively."
"Kings who could communicate conveniently due to Birka's arrival called him the world's most dangerous man. There were even incidents of several countries uniting to try killing him."
"This sounds truly romantic."
Aokiji sighed. "However, that Joy Boy was truly amazing."
"Of course. He was a man with a heart like the sea, so naturally possessed matching power."
Brett said with a smile. "His travels were unstoppable. Gradually, a force gathered behind him. People he saved followed him. People with the same beliefs joined him."
No one spoke. Even Akainu listened with rapt attention.
"Thus, when his name could no longer be covered by anyone, Birka noticed him."
Brett said. "Birka's people were delighted such a figure appeared on this sea. But Birka still didn't give Joy Boy any help. This nation's people maintained the idea of not interfering in other nations' internal affairs. At most, they gave Joy Boy support in public opinion and refused the sea's kings' requests to subjugate Joy Boy."
"Though only this, Joy Boy's radiance could no longer be concealed. His friends increased daily. More and more people gained freedom because of him, and thus followed behind him."
"Even when he passed through Fish-Man Island, passed through the giant nation, passed through the closed-off Wano Country, he became friends with countries that were either isolated or constantly oppressed."
"No one could underestimate his influence. No one could ignore his existence."
When Brett narrated to here, he also sighed. "In that era, everyone at sea talked about Joy Boy. Everyone was captivated by his charisma."
"Finally, when his world tour finally ended, Joy Boy and his followers established a nation somewhere in the world."
"That was something unprecedented in this world. A nation where all races, all classes, in short, all people could harmoniously coexist. That was an unprecedentedly great kingdom. Science and martial arts harmoniously coexisted here."
"Joy Boy became this nation's king. Though perhaps the most undeserving king. He still hadn't forgotten his former dream. He still traveled everywhere."
Brett said with a smile. "Wherever he went, he brought liberation. All oppressors trembled hearing his name. All the oppressed were filled with courage because of his existence."
"The world was changed by one person unprecedentedly. Simply because of his existence, people who'd always been bound by chains dared to gather courage to resist their masters."
"The entire world ignited with flames. The entire sea burned fiercely."
When narrating to here, Brett paused.
"And then?"
Aokiji couldn't help asking. "What happened after?"
"If only everything could have continued developing like that."
Brett sighed. "The world's turbulent changes terrified the former 'masters.' Thus, at this time, one among them stood up."
"That Imu?" Akainu frowned.
Brett nodded lightly. "Im was some nation's heir. Joy Boy similarly brought threats to that nation. So Imu planned to do something."
"Im noticed another group within Birka. Those who once controlled this nation but were later dragged down from the throne."
Brett shook his head. "Anyone with such an experience would feel unwilling. The former royals were naturally the same."
"They wanted to reclaim this nation. Thus naturally, both sides began cooperating."
"As former royals, they similarly mastered remarkable technology. Under Im's assistance, they began breaking free from the Birkan people's constraints, began receiving continuous resource supplies. They made themselves test subjects, ultimately creating the God Clan."
"Their wings turned black, became wider than their compatriots', gained power to manipulate flames, sometimes extremely swift, sometimes indestructible."
Akainu's eyes widened. "The Lunarian Clan?"
Brett nodded lightly. "Thus, when no one realized it, rebellion occurred."
"Imu's cooperation, plus overwhelming strength. The black-winged people easily succeeded in rebellion. They controlled Birka's national treasure, that ship that traversed the stars."
"The black-winged people hated the traitors. They decided to destroy this nation. Anyway, this surface was so vast, they didn't lack subjects. Those people with wings like them were too much of an eyesore."
"Just like this, in only one night, Birka was destroyed."
"..."
Aokiji pressed his lips together.
Just like this, destroyed?
"The original Birkan people scattered and fled."
Brett said. "Most couldn't bring anything in time. They just hurriedly dispersed toward the sea. Ultimately, probably only those who hid in the sky above managed to survive by chance. But they'd already forgotten everything from the past in this long history."
"Only the people we call the Lunarian Clan remained on the Red Line. They began arrogantly calling themselves gods."
"However, there were also remarkable people among the escaped Birkans."
Brett said. "They brought away Birka's core research project at the time. That was research on granting human bodies strange abilities through Lineage Factors."
"Could it be..."
Aokiji swallowed. "Devil Fruits?"
"Later people indeed called those research results that."
Brett said with a smile. "These Birkan scientists fled to the nation where Joy Boy was and received Joy Boy's welcome. They ultimately completed their research here. The world's first batch of Devil Fruits were created."
"Joy Boy became the first ability user. The scientists custom-made a fruit for him. That was the world's most absurd ability. When the heart's drumbeat begins sounding, that's when liberation arrives."
"Joy Boy called his ability this. He used his laughter to name it. He called it Nika."
"Nika?"
Aokiji and Akainu looked at each other.
A name they'd never heard.
"And then came the war."
Brett took a long breath.