Chapter 348: New World · Recollection Complete
[Only three red Poneglyphs remain. One is in Big Mom's hands in Totto Land, one lies in Wano Country, and the last is entrusted to your ally, the Revolutionary Army, to retrieve.]
[When the White Red reached Totto Land, Big Mom—just as her gluttony sickness flared up—attempted to resist. But after taking a heavy beating, she had no choice but to surrender her red Poneglyph.]
[In January 1511, you arrived in Wano for the first time. The scenery reminded you of your previous world—nostalgic, even. But that warmth evaporated the moment you met Kaido. Not only did he refuse to hand over the red Poneglyph, he even demanded that you kill him, claiming to be an immortal monster. How infuriating.]
[In the end, under the crushing weight of absolute power, Kaido suffered a miserable defeat. It was his subordinates who offered up the red Poneglyph in exchange for his life.]
[A few days later, the Revolutionary Army—Dragon and Bartholomew Kuma—delivered the fourth red Poneglyph. Efficient as ever, this ally of yours truly proved reliable. You finally possessed all the Road Poneglyphs pointing toward Laugh Tale.]
[In July 1511, after a long voyage, you reached the final island recorded by the Log Pose—Water Star Island. Rumor had it that the All Blue lay somewhere nearby, most likely at the point where the four red stones intersected.]
[Guided by Rayleigh, it didn't take long for your crew to find the place. It was unlike anything your marine science could explain—where the seas of the East, West, North, and South Blue converged into a massive downward current. Perhaps because of that, the ocean below was the true All Blue.]
[Following the downward current, the White Red reached the deepest layer. There, a vast cerulean sea stretched before you—teeming with countless species of fish you had never seen. It was a paradise for ingredients, for chefs, and a dreamland for oceanographers.]
[At the center of the azure waters was a small island—the legendary site of the One Piece. Whoever found this treasure would become the Pirate King. Marshall D. Teach charged forward first, eager to uncover its secret. You, however, had little interest in such things. You stood quietly, content to savor the journey of seeking the treasure. To you, that adventure was the true treasure—the title of Pirate King meant nothing.]
[What mattered more to you was your research. This world lacked logical, systematic marine science. Once everything was over, you planned to write a comprehensive oceanography textbook. In a world where over ninety percent of the surface is covered by sea, such knowledge was sorely needed.]
[After the exploration, Shanks and Benn Beckman were left speechless, while Teach wore a look of deep disappointment. Rayleigh, on the other hand, grinned mischievously—clearly, he'd known the truth all along. From their mouths, you heard a tale both comedic and tragic. The so-called Void Century had been filled with absurd farce and betrayal. Twenty human kings abandoned their alliance with the D-Clan in pursuit of eternal life through the Op-Op Fruit—and even turned their blades against their former allies. "World Nobles"? What a joke.]
[After Shanks and the others copied the inscriptions, you busied yourself cataloging the new marine species of the All Blue. Previously, humanity had recorded 21,353 types of fish—but here, that number was at least five times greater. Even with existing ichthyological guides as reference, the workload was massive. On top of that, you needed to survey local water conditions—so you conscripted the rest of the crew as laborers.]
[After two months of nonstop research, you received good news through a Den Den Mushi—your wife, Elena, had given birth to a beautiful daughter. She wanted you to name her. "Jolene," you said at once. The name came to you naturally. You immediately dropped all fieldwork and set sail for home. The study could wait.]
[Jolene was indeed adorable—her mother's green hair, your own features. After spending some blissful time with your family, you set out once more—this time to strike at the Celestial Dragons and the World Government.]
[Because you had spent the past few years liberating slaves and crushing the Navy's elite forces, every race once enslaved by the Celestial Dragons now rallied behind you—the Fishmen, Longlegs, Longarms, Minks, even the rare Lunarians. The Navy, unusually, remained holed up, too demoralized to fight back.]
[You didn't seek slaughter. You merely ordered the liberated races to blockade Marineford, preventing interference.]
[In August 1512, you led your fleet to the Holy Land of Mariejois. Facing the World Government's banner atop the Red Line, you had Yasopp aim his rifle and pull the trigger. Amid thunderous cheers, the flag burned to ashes.]
[Then you stormed the palace of the Celestial Dragon King, clashing with the hidden royal guard—the Holy Knights, the last line of defense for the Dragons. Behind them stood the Five Elders, armed and vigilant. Higher still, a towering figure loomed—the legendary Celestial King, Imu. It was clear: this would be the most grueling battle of your life.]
[To your surprise, the commander of the Knights, Saint Figarland Garling, looked strikingly similar to Shanks—even wielding an almost identical weapon. Anyone could tell they were connected, yet you chose to trust your comrade and the bond of friendship.]
[Garling's strength rivaled that of Whitebeard at his peak. The long scar on Whitebeard's chest? Garling's handiwork. With a swing of his naginata, Whitebeard sent a quake shockwave crashing toward him, and the two titans clashed fiercely. While Whitebeard's crew and most of the Revolutionary Army held off the Holy Knights, you led the charge forward.]
[Next stood the Five Elders. Shanks, Beckman, Rayleigh and Roux—all members of the Pineapple Pirates—and the formidable Dragon stayed behind to engage them. You used Soru to flash ahead, straight toward Imu. The white-and-gold Stand shimmered behind you—unstoppable, resolute.]
[What followed was the hardest battle of your life.]
[Imu wielded the ultimate power of Devil Fruits, possessing the abilities of the Barrier, Time, and Ice Fruits simultaneously—and controlled Uranus, the ancient weapon capable of manipulating weather and firing devastating energy beams. In the grand palace, you clashed violently. Imu could rewind, fast-forward, extend, and compress time itself; you could freeze it for fifteen seconds. Flowers and trees around you wilted, sprouted, bloomed, and bore fruit within moments. Your duel unfolded like a surreal labyrinth of time—absurd, chaotic, and magnificent.]
[In the end, your invincible Platinum Star and your indomitable will prevailed. After several pages' worth of ORA ORA ORA barrages, Imu was utterly beaten, motionless on the ground—such is the fate of those who trample the weak. Justice had finally triumphed. You obtained the legendary artifact: Uranus.]
[When you dragged Imu's massive body before the Five Elders and the Holy Knights, their will to fight collapsed. They surrendered one after another. The Revolutionary Army took charge of dealing with the Celestial Dragons, while you—disinterested in politics—simply lowered your hat brim, shoved your hands into your coat pockets, and walked away.]
[In January 1513, a new World Government was founded. Everyone wanted you to be its first leader, but you refused. To you, teasing Jolene and researching marine science were far more meaningful than leadership.]
[In time, a towering statue of you was erected on the Red Line in the new Mariejois. You stood with one hand holding your hat brim, gazing toward the sea. Before you, a Sea King—Leopard-Headed Godzilla—leapt from the waves. Witnesses claimed they'd twice seen you ride that creature. It later became a protected species, living peacefully ever after.]
[After your refusal to lead, a new constitution was enacted: the head of the World Government would henceforth be elected by the member nations every four years. You didn't care who took the role, but Shanks, Beckman, and even Blackbeard Teach each served terms. Your Pineapple Pirates became known as the cradle of leaders.]
[In the following years, you devoted yourself to writing the New Oceanography Textbook, recording everything you knew. Occasionally, you'd gather with Shanks and the others to reminisce. When the work was complete, you were immortalized as the founding pioneer of oceanography in this world.]
[In April 1535, Jolene married—her husband, of all people, was Ace. After thinking it over, you couldn't help but smile.]
[In 1542, Elena passed away. You said nothing, but sorrow lingered deep within.]
[Then one morning in July 1547, you woke up to find yourself once again in a familiar prison—Narita City's jail. Just like years ago, your still-young mother stood outside the cell door, flanked by two police officers.]
Recollection complete! Congratulations—you've successfully finished this traversal!
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