To my most cherished Mermaid Princess, to the gentlest light in these deep seas:
As I carve these words with blade and ink, the twilight of the Great Kingdom has already sunk into the shadows of history. The promise I once made to you has ultimately become an empty vow I cannot fulfill.
Filled with guilt and regret, I write this long-overdue apology, bowing my head in remorse to you, to all living beings of Fish-Man Island, and to the future we once envisioned together.
I once swore an oath with you—to harness your power to control the Sea Kings, using Noah as our vessel to lead the long-trapped fish-men race from the sunless depths of the ocean, breaking through the seabed's shackles to journey toward sun-drenched lands. To let you breathe alongside terrestrial beings and share in the world's winds and freedom.
I promised to cleave through the darkness for you, to let Noah carry all your hopes toward true light. But now, I have broken my word.
The world has overturned; war has burned all hope to ashes. I lack the strength to protect our pact, let alone fulfill my promise.
I watched helplessly as our ideals crumbled, as our shared aspirations turned to bubbles, leaving you clinging to an empty vow, leaving the fish-men race waiting through generations, leaving Noah anchored in the deep sea, awaiting my return that never came.
This is the greatest mistake of my life, an indelible sin carved upon my soul.
I know full well that a thousand apologies cannot redeem the betrayed years, nor soothe your long wait and disappointment.
I have no right to ask for forgiveness, only to seal this regret within the Poneglyph, preserving it for a distant future.
I swear to you: though I failed to fulfill our pact today, someone will eventually carry it out in my stead.
He will come bearing my will, awaken Noah, join hands with the new you, and complete the mission I left unfinished—bringing the fish-men race truly into the sunlight, letting our long-ago dream blossom in the future.
May the deep sea's waves remember our covenant, may history's starlight guide those who follow.
In this life, I have failed you—no death could atone.
— Joy Boy, final words
At that moment, everyone present fell silent.
Eight hundred years ago, a man named Joy Boy made a promise to the Mermaid Princess that he could never keep.
Eight hundred years later, his remorse remained carved upon this stone tablet, allowing everyone who read it to feel its weight.
Shanks scratched his head and asked curiously:
"Joy Boy... who's that? Is he stronger than our captain?"
Buggy laughed beside him: "Shanks, you've got some nerve saying that! Isn't he already dead? Our captain is definitely stronger! Joy Boy or whatever."
Thump! Thump!
Two knocks landed almost simultaneously.
Rayleigh withdrew his fist and said nonchalantly:
"Quiet down."
Shanks and Buggy covered the bumps on their heads, pouting as they fell silent.
Roger paid no attention to the two youngsters' antics, his gaze fixed thoughtfully on the stone tablet.
"I never knew Fish-Man Island had such history," he said slowly. "Joy Boy said someone would inherit his will and fulfill the promise to Fish-Man Island..."
Gaban suddenly spoke up:
"Could that person be Raiver? After all, he successfully relocated the fish-men to live on land."
Everyone was taken aback for a moment, then remembered the massive Space Gate at the center of the plaza and the fish-men coming and going with smiles on their faces.
Indeed, what Joy Boy couldn't accomplish eight hundred years ago, Raiver had achieved.
"Perhaps," Roger chuckled, but then shook his head. "But my intuition tells me—he most likely isn't."
"Why?" Gaban asked.
Roger didn't explain.
He simply gazed at the stone tablet, his eyes deep and thoughtful.
"Let's go," he turned around. "Now that we have the information from this Red Poneglyph, it's time to find the next one."
Dr. Clover carefully stored the records and nodded.
"The second Red Poneglyph is in Big Mom's Treasure Chamber."
Rayleigh gave a bitter smile. "That won't be easy to obtain."
But Roger grinned, a hint of cunning in his smile.
"Whether it's easy or not, we have to take it."
"Let's set off!"
...
One week later, in the New World, the waters of Totto Land.
Cake Island, the headquarters of the Big Mom Pirate Crew.
At this moment, near the coast of Cake Island.
The Oro Jackson slowly sailed into the waters, facing off against the approaching Queen Mama Chanter in the distance.
Roger stood at the bow, his eyes sweeping over the opposing Giant Battleship as he grinned.
If one looked closely, they would notice that one person was missing from the ship.
Rayleigh was nowhere to be seen.
"Mamamamama—!!!"
A piercing laugh echoed from the Queen Mama Chanter.
Charlotte Linlin stood at the bow, wearing the Napoleon Hat, with Thundercloud Zeus and Sun Prometheus floating beside her.
"Roger! What are you doing in my territory?!"
Roger grinned and replied:
"Hahaha! Linlin, I heard the cakes on Cake Island are especially delicious, so I came to try them!"
Linlin's expression instantly darkened.
"You bastard, Roger!" she roared. "Do you think I'm an idiot? You expect me to believe such a lame excuse?!"
She took a deep breath, her anger already ignited:
"Since you won't say—then get out of my territory!!!"
"I'm going to eat your cake, and no one can stop me. That's what I said."
Roger slowly drew Ace from his waist. The moment the blade left its sheath, black-red arcs of electricity began to crackle and flash in the air.
Linlin laughed in fury. "Mamamamama—good! Very good! Then you can die for me!"
With that, the Napoleon Hat on her head instantly transformed into a massive longsword, landing in her hand.
Thundercloud Zeus and Sun Prometheus simultaneously emitted light.
Blue lightning and golden flames intertwined and merged, forming a cataclysmic Thunder-Fire Storm that coiled around the Emperor Sword Napoleon!
The sky abruptly changed color!
Countless air currents converged from all directions, forming a terrifying vortex around Napoleon.
Conqueror's Haki and Advanced Armament Haki were simultaneously infused into it, as black-red lightning rampaged wildly, tearing the entire sky to shreds.
"Heavenly Fire Thunder · Might Country—!!!"
With a single swing of her sword!
A massive Sword Qi, carrying the Thunder-Fire Storm like a roaring beast, surged toward the Oro Jackson!
This strike was enough to tear the entire ship and everything on it to pieces!
Roger grinned, gripping Ace tightly as black-red arcs of Conqueror's Haki erupted from the blade.
"Divine Departure—!"
With a single swing of his sword!
Two attacks collided mid-air with a deafening crash!
BOOM——!!!
The very heavens and earth seemed to shatter!
Shockwaves swept outward like a hurricane, forcibly pressing a depression hundreds of meters in diameter into the sea surface.
Black and red arcs of Conqueror's Haki exploded in all directions, each one stirring up colossal waves where they struck the water.
Linlin took half a step back, then charged forward again!
Roger didn't retreat either, meeting her head-on!
CLANG——!!!
Napoleon and Ace clashed once more!
The two engaged in a world-shaking battle in the coastal waters near Whole Cake Island!
One slash, two slashes, three slashes!
Each strike was powerful enough to split mountains and tear apart the sea!
Sword Qi crisscrossed the sky as Haki radiated everywhere, dyeing the heavens in an eerie red and black hue.
The sea surface churned, shattered, and reformed continuously under the ferocity of their combat!
Shanks and Buggy leaned against the ship's railing, staring dumbfounded at the spectacle.
"Is... is this the power of the Captain and a Four Emperor?!" Buggy's snot dripped down uncontrollably.
Shanks remained silent, but his eyes were locked intently on the two figures clashing in the sky, burning with an intense light.
This was their first time witnessing a battle of this magnitude.
It was no longer a fight—it was a natural disaster.
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