New Shining Star |『 Male Reader 』• One Piece

Page 34: Pledges Set in Stone

"The time is the Great Pirate Era!"

"Countless pirates fight desperately for the One Piece, the great treasure left behind by Gold Roger, the Pirate King."

"Y/n L/n, a young man whose body can transform into a buffalo after eating the Ox Ox Fruit Model Water Buffalo, also takes the sea to become the Pirate King."

"As Y/n and his friends overcome numerous adventures, the World Government is less and less able to ignore their existence."

"The crew, on its way to the New World, will speed along the Grand Line again today!"

"What do those symbols mean?" Souta wondered as he traced his fingers over the symbols. Stepping forward, Xiuzhi linked her hands behind her back. "This stone is a beacon of a bond forger in the crucible of history," she said before placing her hand on the stone.

"These carvings are more than symbols," the mink continued before looking at Souta. "They are the silent witnesses to a covenant made in an age when the world teetered on the brink of a monumental change," said Xiuzhi.

"Is it perhaps related to the Stellar Herrscher?" Mamoru asked, shocking the scholars around her before they hushed among themselves. "You are aware of it?" Fu Xuan asked, making the two pirates nod. "During our journey, we met minks that told us more about this," explained Mamoru, making Fu Xuan nod.

"I see," she said before looking at Xiuzhi, who remained silent before nodding. "This makes things easier to explain," she said before looking back at the stone. "It indeed refers to the Stellar Herrscher but not only..." she trailed off, earning confused looks from the two.

"You see, centuries ago, the world was a vastly different place," said Xiuzhi, her gaze locked on the stone. "How different are we talking?" wondered Souta, making Xiuzhi look at him. "Ancient texts mentioned that over those years, the level of water increased unnaturally," she revealed, which shocked them.

"Could it not be because of the rain?" mumbled Maomao, but she was heard by Xiuzhi, who glanced at her. Feeling her gaze, the mink shivered and apologetically smiled. "...sorry," she said, making the older woman shake her head.

"To answer this question, no, the rain did not affect such a specimen," informed Xiuzhi. "Still, the Gaia Kingdom wasn't affected by such an event," she said before opening her arms. "But, one thing never altered. Powers rose and fell like the moon's phases," she said before placing her palm on the stone.

"But despite this, two figures stood as pillars against the tempest of time and restrains," she said. "The Stellar Herrscher..." paused Xiuzhi before turning toward the pirates. "...and Joyboy," revealed Xiuzhi.

When Joyboy was mentioned, Souta's eyes widened. "...Joyboy," he mumbled, but Mamoru heard him. "Have you heard this name before?" she asked, directing the attention to Souta. Then, he shook his head. "No...this is the first time I heard it," he said, making Mamoru nod.