"Everything in this world has its limits, and so do my abilities. If I were to fight you, I estimate my limits would be exceeded. I've never seen a human as strong as you before, and I can't see your limits!"
Urouge also has some understanding of the natural world, whether it's because of his Devil Fruit ability or because he's a monk, but his understanding is indeed very profound, such as the principle that water overflows when it's full.
"Hmm! That's true. Come on, try your strongest attack!" Vic remained standing there, as upright as if he were rooted in the ground.
Urouge didn't say anything more. He leaped into the sky, causing the ground to shake several times as if an earthquake had struck, demonstrating the immense power Urouge used in his giant form.
As Urouge ascended to a great height, he raised the iron rod above his head and used the powerful momentum of his rapid descent to strike Vic. The oppressive force of this attack was terrifying; even a mountain could not withstand such a blow.
This time, Vic didn't choose to take the hit head-on, not because he couldn't withstand it. It was the final blow, and Vic wanted to try a different approach. He didn't want to keep getting slapped in the face, even if it didn't hurt him much.
Vic stretched out his right hand, and blackness appeared out of thin air, quickly covering his entire palm. He then reached out directly towards the direction from which the iron rod was coming and grabbed it in his hand.
The iron rod instantly came to a standstill, and the enormous force was transmitted by Vic to the ground beneath his feet. Apart from the spot where he stood remaining intact, a large pit appeared around him, with a pillar in the middle supporting Vic without him moving an inch.
Urouge also returned to normal when Vic grabbed the iron rod, and he unleashed all the power he had gained in one strike.
But it still came to nothing; it was easily blocked by a single hand—that was the difference between the two.
"I lost! Come on, I'll take you to the temple!"
Urouge was completely convinced. He sighed inwardly, turned around and led the way, completely ignoring the chatter of the Birka residents behind him.
None of them recognized Vic, and they all speculated about where this powerful figure came from, why he didn't have wings, and so on, creating quite a stir.
Vic followed Urouge away. Vic wasn't going to satisfy the curiosity of the common people; it was just that.
Urouge led Vic past the small wooden houses and directly to the tallest, largest, and most distinctive house in the very center.
The small houses on the side were just places for the monks to live and store their belongings; the one that truly needed their protection was the most special one in the middle.
Vic followed Urouge into the temple, but apart from a winged statue, there was nothing special in the hall. On both sides were smaller statues. Vic used his Observation Haki to sense that there was nothing hidden here, but he did find something below.
Before Vic could examine the statues closely, Urouge led Vic downhill. Only then did Vic realize that the real place was indeed below. He had thought Urouge was trying to hide it from him!
This place is just a symbolic spot, a temple! Can it be called a temple without statues of gods? It serves to conceal things from ordinary people, but people like Gan Fall know some of the secrets.
Urouge lit the oil lamp at the entrance of the underground passage, and then the entire passage lit up one after another. Numerous murals appeared on both sides of the passage, similar in style to the ruins on the moon, but they were all very abstract, and Vic couldn't quite understand them.
"Perhaps this record is the history of the Birka People? The Birka are indeed inextricably linked to the moon!"
Vic activated his Observation Haki to search for the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. By taking the Rumble-Rumble Fruit now, he was helping Birka avoid its destruction and saving Birka Sky Island. Thinking about it this way, Vic felt that if he found the Rumble-Rumble Fruit later, it wouldn't be too much to just steal it.
Vic saw several Ark Maxim ships on the wall behind him, but these ships only had an exterior view. Many humanoid creatures were standing on the ships, and there were even murals of ships taking off from the moon. Each ship had a very conspicuous character for "God" on it.
"It seems it wasn't just Enel's arrogance! The word 'God' really does appear on the Ark Maxim ship. Is this what they saw back then?"
Or was the word "god" added by the person who wrote it? Did they believe that everyone sitting on the Ark Maxim was a god? Are the Birka People really descendants of the Moon People, or are they merely witnesses to the Moon People's descent?
Vic looked at the murals with some confusion, and many thoughts raced through his mind.
At the end of the passage, there is an ordinary-looking altar with a small stone box placed upright on it.
Vic scanned the box with his Observation Haki and found no Devil Fruit inside, only some blueprints.
Vic guessed that those were the blueprints for the Ark Maxim, and there was nothing else besides them. The people in the temple were probably guarding the blueprints for the Ark Maxim.
Vic couldn't understand why they did this. There were no clear historical records, so it could only have been passed down from generation to generation, and many things were long gone.
" The Rumble-Rumble Fruit isn't even in the temple! We couldn't even find it in the most likely place. Looks like we've come all this way for nothing!"
Vic kept searching with his Observation Haki active, but to no avail!
It was initially thought that the Rumble-Rumble Fruit was kept in the temple, but Enel, who had Awakening his Observation Haki, sneaked in and obtained it.
Upon seeing the mural of the Ark Maxim, Vic became even more convinced of his idea that these were things Enel would later possess, and that they should all appear together. However, he found nothing except the blueprint for the Ark Maxim.
Vic had no interest in the blueprints for the Ark Maxim. In his previous life, he was a physics graduate and knew that as long as there was enough energy, even a lump of iron could fly.
If he obtained the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, he wouldn't have to worry about energy anymore. He could design even simpler spaceships himself. He had countless drones in his previous life; he would just need to enlarge them.
However, without the energy boost from the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, even if they built a flying ship, it would be useless; the blueprints for the Ark Maxim would be worthless.
"That's all there is to the temple. Now that you've seen it, let's leave. I hope you won't reveal anything about this place!" (Wu)
Seeing that Vic was only staring at the murals and had no interest in the stone box on the altar, Ergi put his hands together and said with a smile.
Although an exception was made this time to allow someone into this protected area, it is already the best outcome, at least the person in front of them is indifferent to what they are protecting.
"Let's go! I'll keep it a secret." Suppressing his disappointment, Vic said this and turned to leave, showing no reluctance whatsoever; it really was just a casual look, as he had said.
"How exactly did Enel get the Rumble-Rumble Fruit? Did he really just find it on the beach, destroy Birka, and then get the blueprints for the Ark Maxim from the shrine? That's possible too!"
Vic realized he had been somewhat presumptuous. The Rumble-Rumble Fruit and the blueprint for the Ark Maxim didn't necessarily have to appear together. Having the power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit and then trying to steal the blueprint was perfectly reasonable.
The blueprints for the Ark Maxim are in the temple. Once Enel destroys Birka, he will inevitably become interested in the mysterious temple, and obtaining the blueprints will be a natural outcome.