Final Island · Joy Boy's Legacy

The Void passed through the archway.

The light changed from dark blue to warm white, like the first rays of sunlight piercing through the clouds at dawn. The space behind the archway was much larger than imagined; it wasn't the seabed, but a separate space enveloped by giant bubbles. The bubble walls overhead shimmered with pale blue light, reflecting on the water's surface like an entire sky slowly rotating.

Seven ships floated side by side on the water. The Void was at the very front, Roger's red sailboat was on the right, Whitebeard's Moby Dick followed closely behind, Golden Lion's golden ship and Rocks' black ship were on either side, Big Mom's dessert ship was at the rear, and Garp's warship was at the very back. The seven ships lined up on the water, each occupying a space, like seven giant beasts that had converged from different directions, finally coming to rest in the same body of water.

Roger stood at the bow of the ship, gazing for a long time. A slight upturn of his lips betrayed his complex emotions—"... This is it."

Whitebeard looked at the city ahead. "Gurara... Is this where Joy Boy is?"

At the horizon, stone steps lead to a massive stone platform, behind which lies the entrance to the entire city. The buildings, constructed of white stone, rise and fall in varying heights, their walls covered with Ancient Script and murals. A pale blue light envelops the entire city, making it seem like an ancient city that has slumbered for eight hundred years. The stone steps are devoid of moss or seaweed, as if protected by some force, where time seems to stand still.

The ship docked. Roger led Rayleigh, Gaban, Shanks, and Buggy up the stone steps. Shanks looked around curiously, his fingers touching the patterns on the city wall. Rayleigh gently reminded him, "Don't touch it." He withdrew his hand and continued walking. Buggy squatted by the roadside, quickly jotting something down with a pen, muttering, "The patterns on these stones... look like the Road Poneglyphs." Shanks turned and called to him, "Let's go!" "Right away!"

Whitebeard, accompanied by Marco, Jozu, and Vista, walked towards the central plaza. The plaza was spacious enough to hold thousands of people, its surface paved with neatly arranged stone slabs, each engraved with a different pattern. Whitebeard stood in the center of the plaza, silent for a moment, then said, "The people here back then must have lived quite well."

Marco stood beside him. "Judging from these buildings, it certainly doesn't look like a war zone. It looks more like an ordinary city."

"Ordinary," Whitebeard said. "The fact that it has survived until now is extraordinary."

Golden Lion rose from the bow of the ship—the power of the Press-Press Fruit freed his body from the water's surface. He hovered in mid-air, drifting towards the tower to the east. The difference between the Press-Press Fruit -Gravity Fruit and the Float-Float Fruit is that the Gravity- Press-Press Fruit alters the Gravity of oneself or an object, making things lighter or heavier; it doesn't make objects "float permanently," but rather it continuously applies Gravity manipulation. He flew smoothly, but needed to maintain his power constantly.

The Big Mom led Katakuri and Perospero towards the western complex. Katakuri walked in front, his gaze sweeping over every corner of the buildings. Perospero followed behind, licking his Candy Cane: "There's a very ancient feel to this place... older than Whole Cake Island."

"This place is older than Whole Cake Island," the Big Mom said. "Well... enough nonsense. Let's find something useful."

After Rocks' ship docked, Slow Heartbeat stepped aside— Rocks himself emerged. He was tall, draped in a black cloak, and expressionless. He didn't look at anyone, didn't speak to anyone, and walked slowly along the city's main street towards the center. He walked slowly, each step firm and steady. Slow Heartbeat followed behind him like a gray shadow. The surrounding pirates unconsciously made way for him—no one blocked his path.

Garp walked alone along the main road without anyone by his side. His way of walking was different from the others—the pirates looked around, curiously examining every corner of the city. But Garp's gaze remained fixed straight ahead, as if sensing something. He stopped in front of a medium-sized stone platform, pressed his palm against the surface, and felt the temperature of the stone.

Lin Yuan led Kaido, Bullet, King, Huijin, and Kuma towards the main temple.

Kaido walked at the head of the group, his Iron Club slung over his shoulder. "This castle... is bigger than the Castle in Wano Country. Who built it?"

"Ancient Kingdom," Lin Yuan said, "Built by people eight hundred years ago."

"Could people from 800 years ago have built something this big?"

"Able."

Bullet, walking behind Kaido, said, "This stone... is harder than Seastone. Shall I try smashing it?"

"Don't smash it." Lin Yuan said without turning his head. "Whatever you break, you can stay here and fix it."

Bullet didn't bring it up again.

The main temple is located at the deepest part of the city. Two rows of stone pillars support a towering dome, each pillar covered with intricate patterns that extend from bottom to top, branching and intertwining like a tree trunk. Above the dome is a huge mural—a figure standing high above, with a group of people kneeling below. Behind the figure is a stone tablet, its shape matching the Road Poneglyphs. In the very center is a massive stone tablet, larger than any I've seen before, its surface smooth as a mirror, covered with densely packed Ancient Script, its edges unworn and perfectly preserved.

Huijin stood before the stone tablet, his fingers gently touching its surface. "The inscription on this... is the same as the one on Fish-Man Island."

"Of the same origin, but more complete." Jin stood beside her. "This monument is the source."

Lin Yuan stood in front of the stone tablet. "Ginny, can I see this?"

Ginny's voice came through the Den Den Mushi: "It's viewable. It's currently being viewed. The contents of this monument are much more complete than the Road Poneglyphs... This is Joy Boy's final message."

Lin Yuan did not answer, waiting for Ginny to translate.

Ginny's voice came through intermittently. "... Eight hundred years ago, there was a place called the 'Ancient Kingdom.' They didn't rule by force, but by knowledge and freedom. Everyone was equal, there were no slaves, no Celestial Dragons, and no World Government."

"Later, twenty nations united and destroyed the Ancient Kingdoms by force. They erased all history, established World Government, and proclaimed themselves 'gods'."

"But the Ancient Kingdom left behind three things. First, the Ancient Weapons — Uranus is underground in Mary Geoise, Poseidon is on Fish-Man Island, Pluton is in Wano Country. Second, the D. Clan —they are the guardians of the Ancient Kingdom, responsible for protecting these secrets and waiting for the 'right person' to arrive. Third—this place. Joy Boy left everything here."

Ginny's translation stopped.

Kaido scratched his head after hearing this. "Ancient Weapons... three? The Uranus you mentioned, underground in Mary Geoise? Isn't that the World Government's hideout?"

"Right."

"Then we..."

"Not now."

Huijin stood before the stone tablet without speaking, simply staring at the Ancient Script. Ember stood beside her, also silent.

Roger had entered the temple at some point. He stood not far behind Lin Yuan, listening to Ginny's entire translation. He stared at the stone tablet, silent for a long, long time. Then he laughed, "Haha... So that's how it is. After searching for so many years, I finally understand."

Whitebeard stood at the temple entrance. "Gurara... you won't regret it?"

Roger turned around, glanced at the Whitebeard, and said, "No regrets. Knowing the answer is more valuable than anything else. I've searched most of my life to see what this world is all about. Now I've seen it."

The Golden Lion leaned against the side door frame. "Hehehe... Is that all? A bunch of stones and stories? Where are the useful things? Weapons, treasures, power?"

"What else do you want?" Roger asked.

"I want something usable, not a bunch of historical stones."

"That's your problem," Roger said, not arguing with him. "If you want to find weapons, go find them yourself."

The Big Mom stood at the entrance of the passage. "Oh my... the location of the Ancient Weapons is written on the monument?"

"I wrote it," Lin Yuan said, "But we won't discuss that today."

Why not discuss it?

"Because not everyone will stay and leave after listening. Some people might want to use these weapons for other things."

The Big Mom stared at Lin Yuan for two seconds, then picked up her wine glass and took a sip. "Well... okay. You're right."

Rocks emerged from the depths of the temple—he had arrived earlier than everyone else and had already examined the entire monument. He didn't look at anyone, but simply walked through the crowd. "Let's go."

My Slow Heartbeat as I followed behind him.

The Big Mom watched Rocks's retreating figure until he disappeared through the temple gates before turning her gaze away. "He didn't say anything."

"He didn't need to say anything," the Whitebeard said, picking up his wine bowl. "He already knew after reading it."

Roger stood in the square. "Joy Boy has waited eight hundred years, and now you've arrived."

"It's not just me," Lin Yuan said, "It's everyone."

"Haha... I'm leaving. The rest is up to you." Roger

"If anyone ever asks about this place—tell everyone, this is not the end. It's the beginning."

The red sailboat sailed away from its Final Island, leaving ripples on the water's surface above the archway. Shanks stood at the stern, waving his arms vigorously until the ship disappeared from sight.

Whitebeard walked up to Lin Yuan: "Gurara... kid, I'm leaving too. There's a lot of things waiting for me in the New World. If you ever need my help, just have someone pass on the message."

Golden Lion didn't speak, using the power of his Devil Fruit to float back to his ship.

"Well... kid, have you memorized the locations of the Ancient Weapons?"

"I've got it."

"We'll talk again when we have a chance." She turned and walked towards the boat. "Let's go."

Rocks' ship has already left.

A large section of the sea was now empty. Garp stood at the edge of the plaza, not moving until everyone else had left. He stared at the stone tablet, silent for a long time. "The D. Clan... So that's how it is. What should I do now?"

"Do what you've been doing."

"Kid, do you know who you're talking to?"

"I know. A naval hero."

"I'm a Marine, you're a pirate."

"Haha, Mr. Garp, I'm a righteous pirate!" Lin Yuan said. "Want to join my righteous pirate crew?"

Garp glanced at him, then turned and walked towards the ship. "Haha, you? Next time we meet, I might really arrest you."

"We'll talk about it next time."

The warship turned around and sailed away from its Final Island.

The Final Island fell silent, with only the Void remaining. The sea was empty and utterly still.

Jin walked to the bow of the boat. "Shall we leave or not?"

"Let's go. It's time to go back."

The Void passed through the archway, emerged from underwater, and returned to the surface. Sunlight shone on the deck, and a sea breeze carried the salty scent of the ocean. Ginny's voice came through the Den Den Mushi: "Finished watching?"

"I've finished watching."

What's written on it?

"Joy Boy's message: The Void Century, Ancient Weapons, The D. Clan."

"So, what's next..."

"Let's go back first, then decide on the next step."

The Void cut through the sea and headed towards Hachinosu. The archway behind it slowly closed, like a door shutting down.

(End of Chapter 100)