"Sea Calendar 707, January 1st.
It's only today that I realized…
The King has always been protecting this planet!
Without his Gate Fruit, this world might have already become a battlefield…
That blood-soaked world… could it really unfold before us…?
I don't know if we'll succeed…
No! We must succeed!
Because we… we are the last force on this planet!"
Rustle…
"Sea Calendar 710.
If I hadn't accidentally come across this parchment book today, I would have completely forgotten it.
The last record was when we first entered the outer space…
So much time has passed. I wonder if we'll ever return.
I can't even remember what day it is today.
But some newly arrived god soldiers said they entered the battlefield in Sea Calendar 710.
We've been guarding this gate for three years, and the battles we've faced are countless.
Yet all twenty members of our group remain unharmed!
Truly the finest seeds of the twenty god tribes!
Another uneventful day today. Maybe I'll find Dutaru and the others to share a drink later!
Hahaha… those mortals, although useless, really have a knack for brewing!
Just for that, I've decided I won't call them useless anymore!"
Rustle!
"So many died today.
All of them were the elite of the twenty god tribes.
They had parents, families, dreams… yet they still perished.
I don't even feel anything… maybe I've seen too much and become used to it.
But even so… my hatred won't fade because of this numbness!"
Rustle!
"Ukala… is dead…
He was the first casualty of the group.
Should we cry?
But we didn't… not even Dutaru, who always cried at the slightest thing.
We were prepared.
After all… we face true demons!
I hope his Line-Line Fruit will find the right hands."
Rustle!
"Today I struggled fiercely in battle, but it doesn't matter—every fight is a struggle.
But that strange demon… we killed it!
Its power is ours now!
I've applied to the King's court to assign this fruit myself.
Now, I have more preparation."
Rustle…
"Mondo was bisected by a demon with slash abilities, dying instantly."
Rustle!
"Makinah was pierced through the heart by a thorn-covered demon, dying instantly."
Rustle!
"Mors was killed by a demon that released a terrifying poison, dying instantly."
Rustle…
"......…"
Robin suddenly flipped through the parchment rapidly.
Each page contained just a name, followed by a single sentence—always ending with "died instantly."
This pattern continued for over a dozen pages before finally stopping.
Rustle…
"Why!!!
Dutaru!!!
Why did you do this!!?
If you let me die like this… I could have been free…
Everyone else… didn't they die the same way?
Why!!?
Why did you save me, already stepping into the Yellow Springs!?
Why perform the immortality surgery on me!!?
You really are detestable!
Rather than resting yourself, you wouldn't let me find peace!
Why… why…?"
Her face heavy, Robin turned another page, glancing at the ancient writing. Her movements slowed, and her voice softened:
"We… won!!!
Although we lost most of our comrades, countless of our kin…
We still defeated the demons!
Finally!
We did it!!!
We can finally… go home!!!
Today… I cried…
For the first time in many years, tears flowed from my eyes.
Because my tears only appear where they should!
Comrades, tomorrow… we go home!"
Rustle!
Robin turned another page.
"Sea Calendar 716, June 12th.
Finally back!
I never imagined…
The Red Line, filled with memories of blood and sweat, could feel so warm.
It's been so long since I returned home!
Sixteen years have passed. Now I am the strongest in this world, leading the god tribe to victory against the demons.
I wonder if my parents know what I've become.
After tomorrow's awarding ceremony, I can finally go home!
This is the peace the [Celestials] fought for!!!"
Rustle…
"It's over…
All over!
Ridiculous… the enemies we once feared were merely their advance forces.
I know it's all over!
But! To gain our power isn't so easy!!!
Even if this blazing divine blood spills across the stars, we won't surrender a shred of life!
This time, we take the initiative!!!
I've sown the seeds of hope!
We will not lose this battle!!!"
Rustle!
"Damn it!!!
Damn it!!!
Damn Nefertari!!!
I'll make you pay!!!
Ahhhh!!!!
Nefertari!!!
My people… I am sorry!
I am so sorry, ahhhhh!!!"
Rustle!
"Outside… how are things…
Without me and the Pluton, do we even stand a chance…
If we abandon everything, and live smiling, would it be easier?
I don't know…
But if something persists in this world, it must have its meaning!"
Rustle!
"Consciousness… becoming blurry…
What's happening…
Who can tell me!"
…
…
BOOM!
Robin snapped the parchment shut, her eyes glowing with an unknown light.
Countless Ohara scholars had sought the truth of history their entire lives—yet it now appeared before her in an instant.
Robin nodded slightly, scanning the crew, and finally resting her gaze on their captain, Luffy.
"Wait… wait a moment!!!"
Seeing the sudden silence, Usopp immediately spoke, breaking it:
"Wh-what's happening!!?
Demons, outer space, terrifying enemies…
Eight hundred years ago, what really happened!?
The world we're in now seems fine… why have I never heard of anything in this diary!!?"
......
Under Usopp's questioning, the crew fell silent again.
Only Chopper and Merry remained curious, watching the Starry Sky crew's varied expressions with wide-eyed innocence.
After a long pause, Luffy, who had been unusually quiet for days, suddenly slapped both hands hard against his face!
SMACK!
"Luffy!?"
"Luffy?"
"Luffy…"
......
The crew, each with a different reaction, immediately turned to the strange behavior of their captain.
Only a few couldn't help but smile knowingly.
They knew…
Their captain had returned!
"I'm sorry, everyone!"
Luffy bowed to the crew.
"W-what's wrong, Luffy?"
Usopp asked, confused, while Zoro stepped forward and quietly said:
"We forgive you…"
"Zoro…"
Luffy smiled, relieved, slowly rising.
Zoro then turned to bow to the crew:
"I'm sorry, everyone!
It's because I, as vice-captain, was too weak!"
Usopp, Koby, and Chopper exchanged bewildered glances, not understanding.
Before anyone could ask, Zoro straightened and stepped aside, fully revealing Luffy to the crew.
His sword clinked sharply, as if echoing a certain resolve.
Luffy scanned the crew, his eyes suddenly ablaze with a burning determination they had never seen.
This is their captain, truly alive and excited!
"Everyone!
I'm sorry!c
We're still weak!
But I want to see…
The dangerous yet enchanting starry sky, the terrifying enemies, and the mysterious, exciting world!"
"Forgive my selfishness!
I can't live like a goldfish facing the ocean while trapped in a tiny fishbowl!"
"We're not strong!
At any moment, we've never been truly strong!
We live and fight like the strong, but can't eliminate the enemies before us!
Admit it!
We are weak!
But!
Because we are weak, we can crave greater power!
Because we are weak, we can hope for a better future!
So…
Let us live as the weak!!!
We are… the strongest of the weak!!!"
At that moment, Luffy radiated an unexplainable aura.
It wasn't Haki, nor Conqueror's Haki.
It was something everyone can possess…
Courage facing the future!
Whoosh!
Inside the sealed Pluton, a powerful storm erupted, like a frenzied dragon or a noble phoenix.
The Starry Sky crew rallied around Luffy.
Mysterious energies gathered toward him.
The parchment book, in the midst of wind and waves, silently opened.
Pages chronicling ancient tales flipped rapidly, stopping at the last unseen page.
Written there:
"I have always believed that somewhere in this world, another self exists, doing what I dared not, living the life I wished for.
I have always believed…"
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Completed version available on Patreon P@treon(.)com/Veltoria