One Piece: Wielder of the Void

69. Scaring Crocodile

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Daiki didn't take Crocodile's words to heart. Anos had briefed him on the importance of keeping certain truths buried, especially in a place like this the underground palace.

One of the Alabasta Kingdom's most secure and secluded locations. Very few knew of its existence, let alone its secrets.

Crocodile, perhaps feeling it was only his imagination, dismissed his earlier suspicion and said.

"It's fine. Let's move on!" He continued forward, though the nagging feeling of being watched lingered at the back of his mind.

Daiki had already reached the heart of the underground palace by then. This structure was massive, built as a hidden sanctuary from ages past.

The ceiling stretched high above him, supported by pillars adorned with ancient carvings depictions of past rulers, battles, and symbols of forgotten power.

The air was thick with age, carrying a heavy silence that seemed to amplify even the smallest sound.

In the grand hall, Daiki found exactly what Anos, had sent him to secure.

Before him stood an enormous square Poneglyph, towering five meters high, its dark stone surface etched with a mysterious, ancient text.

Though dust coated its surface, the carvings themselves were pristine, unaffected by centuries.

Each character was carved with precision, standing boldly in defiance of erosion and decay.

The Poneglyph held a powerful aura, its presence heavy and compelling, as if calling to those who approached with secrets from a forgotten era.

Daiki felt a shiver run through him, knowing the history embedded in this stone and the devastation it could bring if that knowledge fell into the wrong hands.

His thoughts were interrupted as footsteps echoed through the hall.

He quickly moved to a shadowed corner, concealing himself behind a pillar, and waited to see who had followed him down here.

Soon enough, Crocodile entered, leading Nico Robin directly toward the Poneglyph.

The intense look in Crocodile's eyes spoke of his desperation and his obsession with power and knowledge.

Daiki observed them, a calculating gleam in his eyes.

He knew that both Crocodile and Robin had their motives for seeking this ancient knowledge, but he wanted to understand exactly what they planned to do with it.

Crocodile walked up to the Poneglyph, his heart racing as he finally laid eyes on it. His fingers twitched slightly, betraying his excitement.

In this moment, Crocodile was not a calm, calculating warlord, he was a man obsessed, standing on the brink of the power he had long desired.

"Robin," he demanded, almost breathless, "can you read it? What does it say?"

Robin studied the inscriptions carefully, her fingers lightly tracing the ancient text as though she could feel its history beneath her fingertips.

She wore a calm smile, but Daiki noted the hint of awe in her eyes.

"I can't translate every word," she replied, her voice steady but soft, "but most of it is clear. It mainly describes the location of an ancient weapon known as the Pluton. However, there are phrases I haven't fully deciphered. To be thorough, I'll need more time."

Robin's fascination was evident. She seemed drawn to the Poneglyph, mesmerized by the weight of its history.

As she ran her hands over the stone, Daiki saw that she was savouring the experience of touching a piece of a bygone era.