The final stretch of the New World, Lodestar Island.
This was the penultimate island of the Grand Line, yet also the most dangerous sea in the world, without exeptions.
In this strectch of sea islands were almost nonexistent. The raw, untamed forces of nature converged, creating a hellish landscape.
One could see endless flames erupting from beneath the sea and lightning bolts colliding in the sky, sparking fiery explosions.
Light was scarce here, only endless darkness prevailed.
Every pirate who entered the New World and reached this point believed they could make it to the final destination, Laugh Tale, and claim the great treasure.
Yet, upon arriving, most chose to abandon their quest.
The famous explorer Louis Arnot, who named Little Garden and reached Elbaf, once left behind a chilling statement:
"This is not paradise, but hell. Humanity cannot cross this sea. My journey ends here."
For an explorer who had reached Elbaf to make such a statement spoke volumes about the danger of these waters, far surpassing any other sea in the world.
Yet, the final Road Poneglyph was hidden within this sea, aboard a mysterious ship.
The man bore burn scars from fire. He sailed a pitch-black ship. His appearance was accompanied by turbulent currents, and any vessel that approached the black ship would sink into the depths.
This was how the ship was described in the New World, a description that had persisted for over a decade.
Countless people had seen the black ship; countless had sunk to the ocean floor. It was like a cursed vessel.
Today, however, this ship, which roamed the most dangerous seas, landed on the final island, Lodestar Island. On the island stood the ruins of a human settlement, and even a Poneglyph embedded in the continent.
Not far away, a pirate ship appeared, closing in relentlessly.
"Everyone, I'm not here to fight you. I only wish to make a rubbing of the text on the Poneglyph."
"I know you, Flame Emperor Ace, former commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division."
A man in a black cloak stood on the black ship.
"That's me."
"Do you know Roy?"
"I do."
"Who is that beside you?" The man raised his hand, revealing burn scars on the back of it. He pointed at Loxus, who stood next to Ace.
"His name is Loxus. He's my comrade," Ace said.
"Loxus… So you're Roy's son," the man said solemnly.
"Though I don't like riding on my father's reputation, he is indeed my father," Loxus replied.
"Seems like you two don't get along," the man laughed.
"None of your business," Loxus said coldly.
"Hahahaha, true enough. But hearing that bastard and his son don't get along makes me quite happy. Hahahaha," the man laughed heartily.
"So you know my father," Loxus narrowed his eyes.
"You could say that. We met once. He almost beat me up. Your father is a real piece of work," the man said.
"Why do you say that?" Loxus asked, surprised.
"He nearly killed me. What do you think?" the man angrily threw off his cloak, revealing his face.
The Spade Pirates were shocked by what they saw, the man's face was severely burned, grotesquely disfigured.
"So you have a grudge against my father?" Loxus asked.
"Not exactly a grudge. He's a good man, too," the burned man said, his anger subsiding slightly.
Ace and the others were confused by the man's shifting emotions, angry one moment, calm the next. What was that about?
"Logically speaking, the Whitebeard Pirates should have obtained this Road Poneglyph thirty years ago. Roy once said he knew the locations of all Road Poneglyphs and could reach Laugh Tale earlier than Roger."
"But he knew the Whitebeard Pirates' goal wasn't the great treasure or some grand world-changing ambition. Their dream was simple, to protect themselves."
"I used to scoff at that, thinking he was putting on an act. But now, seeing that he didn't give you the Poneglyph, it must be true. Like me, he's waiting for Nika, for Joy Boy, for the Sun God," the burned man said.
"I can create fire too. I wonder if that makes me the Sun God you're talking about. Hahahaha," Ace laughed.
"Perhaps. Anyone can become the Sun God. Interesting. Though you might not like hearing this, you haven't disgraced your fathers. Both your fathers were remarkable men, and you're not bad either. You want the last Road Poneglyph? Take it," the burned man said.
"Just like that?" Deuce asked.
"What else can I do? I can't beat you," the burned man shrugged, looking innocent.
"How is that possible? If you have no power, how have you evaded capture for over a decade?" Ace asked, surprised.
"I have no power myself. Don't overthink it. That's just how it is. The reason I've escaped pursuit time and again is because of them," the burned man said, gesturing toward the sea.
Beneath the Spade Pirates' ship, countless heads emerged from the water, all fish-men, and clearly elderly ones.
"Fish-Man Tribe?!"
"So many fish-men."
"They are my friends, my comrades," the burned man said.
"Are you a fish-man?" Loxus asked.
"No, I'm human," the burned man smiled, looking at his hands.
"My lord is indeed human," a fierce-looking fish-man, around sixty years old, spoke up.
"So all those whirlpools interfering with our navigation were because of you," Ace said.
"Exactly. In the sea, the fish-men are invincible, unless they encounter someone who can manipulate the ocean," the fish-man said.
"He's human, and you're fish-men. Are you part of the same pirate crew?" Ace laughed.
"No. He is our savior. He rescued us when we were enslaved by the Celestial Dragons," the fish-man said.
"Enough, Achio. That's all in the past. Perhaps the era has arrived, and our mission is complete," the burned man said.
"My Lord."
"Perhaps Nika has emerged. We will finally be liberated."
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a bullet flew over, striking the black ship and causing a massive explosion.
The bullet was too fast for anyone to react. Ace turned to look, a dragon-headed ship was sailing toward them.
"Red Hair!!" Ace's anger flared as he saw the flag on the ship.
"Lord!"
The fish-men dove into the water, swiftly swimming to rescue the burned man. A group of fish-men pulled him from the depths. The man gazed at the Red Hair Pirates' ship.
"That red hair… the bloodline of the Figarland family."
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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