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(David---> Davy)
To be honest, although he had been investigating everything related to Rocks ever since Skypiea, Shinryu truly never expected that he would suddenly encounter this descendant of the Davy family, the overlord of the seas, in such a way here.
But…
"It's an illusion."
After only a brief moment, Shinryu arrived at the obvious conclusion in his heart.
Yes, the Rocks before him could not possibly be the real one. Because his appearance was exactly the same as Brook had previously described.
That meant the Rocks Shinryu was seeing now should be the one from over thirty years ago.
The man had indeed come to the Florian Triangle Sea, and he had indeed found this ship.
"Seriously… my time was already tight enough, and I wasted quite a bit of it just searching for you."
Even though Shinryu was floating right in front of him, Rocks seemed completely unaware of his existence.
The great pirate merely closed his eyes, as though listening to something.
"Ah, that's right, I'm a 'Davy' too." He muttered to himself, seemingly having heard some kind of information.
Then he looked toward the center of the island, in the direction of the three towering mountains.
"Hey, clear away these forests already. An era that's already passed, what's even worth looking at?"
The moment his words fell, Shinryu saw the trees before Rocks instantly wither and crack apart.
A gigantic "road" abruptly appeared before Rocks.
"..."
So even though Shinryu knew everything before him was merely a phantom from more than thirty years ago, his eyes beneath the mask still could not help revealing shock.
Because after seeing this scene, he naturally understood.
At this moment, Rocks was clearly communicating with this "Giant Ship."
"The Voice of All Things?"
That term naturally surfaced in Shinryu's mind.
The Voice of All Things, the special ability to communicate with living beings and even inanimate objects without using words.
From the looks of it, Rocks possessed that ability as well, but while Shinryu was still thinking, Rocks suddenly burst into laughter.
"That's more like it! Things that have already rotted away should disappear! Humans are creatures that keep moving forward like this!"
As he spoke, he stepped forward.
In the next instant, Shinryu discovered that Rocks' figure had vanished instantly.
"That far?"
The Wind-Thunder Heart Network informed him that in that single moment, Rocks had already appeared several kilometers away.
"What the hell? Soru? Or did this Giant Ship's 'playback' skip frames?"
Shinryu was confused, but it did not stop him from reacting immediately.
Compared to aimlessly wandering around this unimaginably enormous Giant Ship, following Rocks was obviously the easier way to approach the truth.
So,
Crackle!
Lightning flashed, and Shinryu immediately chased after Rocks.
Only then did he confirm that Rocks' sudden disappearance earlier did not seem to be a malfunction of the Giant Ship's "playback" ability.
Because after that, every single movement Rocks made covered absurd distances.
Even Shinryu, a user of the Goro Goro no Mi, could barely keep up.
"Soru can't possibly cross such a distance instantly… Is it a Devil Fruit ability!?"
Shinryu made his judgment internally.
He knew that Rocks was an unbelievably powerful swordsman, but he truly did not know whether the man was also a Devil Fruit user.
However, while thinking, Shinryu quickly realized the direction Rocks was heading.
His target was clearly the three mountain peaks at the center of the island and because of that outrageous speed of movement, Shinryu soon arrived before the mountains as well.
Then,
"Hm?"
Shinryu discovered something unexpected.
At close range, the three mountains looked ordinary from afar, but once he approached, he could see countless fine carvings etched across their surfaces.
Those carvings were obviously not naturally formed, yet they also lacked any obvious meaning.
If he had to describe it, their purpose seemed to be to make the mountains resemble,
"Trees?"
Yes.
Perhaps roots, perhaps branches, but at least in Shinryu's eyes, the three mountains seemed intentionally sculpted to resemble parts of three "trees."
Or more accurately, they resembled a single "tree."
The enormous mountain in the center was the main trunk, while the two smaller mountains beside it looked more like root sprouts growing from its roots.
But before Shinryu could think further, Rocks continued onward.
Thus, Shinryu quickly saw his destination.
It was a place located at the very center of the island, surrounded by the three gigantic mountains.
Hidden by the mountains and forests, even Shinryu had failed to notice it earlier.
It seemed to be the "cabin" of this ship.
Naturally, in Shinryu's eyes at this moment, that "cabin" looked more like a,
"Temple?"
Yes.
Surrounded by the three ancient mountain peaks that resembled fossilized giant trees stood an ancient temple. It was enormous, its surface covered in moss, vines, and chisel marks, forming a simple square-shaped structure.
Shinryu could see that the great doors also seemed to bear the carving of a gigantic tree.
But before Shinryu could think further, he saw Rocks leap upward.
Boom!
Even though it was only a false illusion, Shinryu could still judge the force of that jump from the massive crater that had remained in the ground for more than thirty years. But at this moment, Shinryu did not hesitate and immediately followed after him.
And just as expected, he saw Rocks arrive before the temple gates.
"Don't try to stop me, idiot."
He seemed to be growling at the island itself before pushing open the doors before him.
Naturally, from Shinryu's perspective, those doors had long since been opened already.
Thus, Shinryu could see the enormous staircase beyond them, descending downward into a bottomless abyss.
Tap.
Rocks stepped inside.
Tap.
And Shinryu naturally did not hesitate either.
They continued descending deeper and deeper until darkness completely swallowed them.
"..."
Then Shinryu stopped in his tracks.
Because he saw that he and Rocks had apparently reached the deepest part of this "cabin."
There were no more stairs before him.
Instead, there was another door.
But unlike the grand gates of the temple, this door was much smaller.
And, above the door, Shinryu could see an ancient mural, as well as a line of ancient inscriptions left upon it.
[I leave the ancient sins, promises, and hopes here.]
[My descendants, when the era of redemption arrives, please atone in my place.]
[Let the world fulfill its promise, and let the world regain its freedom.]
At that moment, Shinryu only gave the inscriptions a brief glance.
He had not even had the chance to carefully inspect the mural when,
"Get out of the way!" Rocks' roar suddenly echoed from nearby.
Shinryu subconsciously turned around and saw Rocks close his eyes once again.
He seemed to have begun communicating with the "abyss" once more, and Shinryu could also see that the surrounding mirage mist, along with the mountain walls and rocks around them, had begun trembling continuously.
Even though it was only a phantom from over thirty years ago, Shinryu naturally understood.
The conversation between this ship and Rocks back then had clearly not been a pleasant one.
Then,
"I know."
He heard Rocks' voice.
"I know this is not the era of redemption promised in the prophecy."
"I know this is not the era foretold by prophecy."
"I know our ancestor said that the descendants of Davy must hand that thing over to 'Joy Boy' in the prophesied age."
"But…"
As he spoke, Shinryu saw Rocks grin.
"So what!?" That bold voice was like an unrestrained storm.
"Hey, don't get the wrong idea! I did inherit Davy's bloodline, inherit that curse, inherit the ambition to change the 'world.' But that doesn't mean I'm going to bow my head before 'destiny'!"
What flashed within his widened eyes was absolute arrogance.
"Whether it's Davy Jones or Joy Boy, in the end, weren't they both just 'failures' from 800 years ago?"
"Why should I gamble everything on the future desired by a bunch of losers!?"
What came from his mouth were words of undeniable rebellion.
"At God Valley, I already witnessed the power of that 'god,' and I truly did fail. But after that… I also met an incredible man, I'm certain he can bring 'freedom' to this world!"
"I'm going to bet the future of the world on him, "
As he spoke, Rocks slowly drew the sword at his waist.
"I am Rocks D. Xebec!"
"Fate? The commands of my ancestors? Whatever. None of that matters… I only believe in my own choices! I only believe in the 'companions' I acknowledge!"
He opened his eyes and raised his sword high toward the ancient gate,
or perhaps toward his ancient ancestor, and toward this world's so-called destiny itself.
"Since you refuse to step aside… Then I'll just take it by force myself!"
Grinning wildly, he declared the tyranny he had always lived by.
And in the next instant, the blade in his hand came crashing down!
"After all… I'm a pirate!"
(End of Chapter)