271 One Piece: My Name is Jack

"Bring Sukiyaki out!"

(T/N: Kouzuki Sukiyaki is the former shogun of Wano Country. )

Jack shouted toward the ship's cabin. Not long after, Rim and a few others led Sukiyaki outside.

Closing his eyes, Jack focused on the voices resonating in his mind before speaking in a deep tone,

"I've found the location of the Poneglyph! Follow me!"

The final island, named Laugh Tale by Roger, didn't seem all that different from other islands. In fact, compared to most, it was even more barren.

Jack's ability to hear the Voice of All Things allowed him to perceive the sounds of the world itself, and among them, the Poneglyphs carried a distinct, ancient resonance.

Following the direction of the voices, Jack led the group forward. They ran for most of the day before Rim finally set Sukiyaki down.

Before them stood a colossal tree, its towering form surrounded by massive stone monoliths. A few stone-built houses stood nearby, as though giants had once lived there.

"These inscriptions..."

"They're all Poneglyphs!"

"Sukiyaki! Start translating!"

"What does it say?!"

Sukiyaki trembled as he took a few steps forward, his expression betraying his excitement.

Since translating the inscriptions would take time, many of the pirates began setting up campfires and pitching tents.

Jack, meanwhile, stepped inside one of the aged stone houses. After briefly surveying the weathered interior, he walked back outside and took a closer look at the immense tree, which seemed to stretch into the heavens.

Strangely, from a distance, the tree was almost imperceptible—as if it didn't exist. Only by approaching it did its form become clear.

Noticing the group's confusion, Shanks spoke softly.

"This is the tree that bears the Divine Fruit."

"When Captain Roger last came here, this tree didn't exist."

"He could sense it, but he couldn't see it."

"Strange, isn't it?"

"But now we can all see it, which means the Divine Fruit has finally ripened."

"Oh? It's ready?" someone asked. "Then where's the fruit?"

Shanks grinned, laughing loudly. "It's inside the tree. Whether you can obtain it or not is up to you!"

"Hmph!"

Kaido narrowed his eyes before transforming into his Azure Dragon form. Soaring into the sky, he unleashed a stream of fire at the tree.

"Heat Breath!"

But the attack dissipated as though hitting empty air.

"What the—?"

"Damn wind!"

"How is this possible? It's right here!"

Kaido landed, touching the tree with disbelief.

"Ma-ma-ma-ma... Let me give it a try!"

"Napoleon!"

"Mama, I'm ready!"

Big Mom swung her sword, sending a massive humanoid slash toward the tree. But just like Kaido's attack, it faded into nothingness.

"Bright Light Cannon!"

Even Dragon, curious now, attempted an attack.

Regardless of how strong their assaults were, none could even scratch the tree. Not a single bit of energy leaked from it. Meanwhile, Sukiyaki, still engrossed in the inscriptions, remained undisturbed—a clear testament to the tree's mysterious nature.

Jack didn't bother attacking. He was certain that the Poneglyphs would provide a method to obtain the fruit—Shanks wouldn't know about it otherwise.

It wasn't long before Kaido and the others came to the same realization. They stayed silent, waiting for Sukiyaki to complete the translation while sending men to search the island.

The island wasn't large. After more than half a month of searching, they had uncovered everything there was to find. Aside from the giant tree and the Poneglyphs, nothing else stood out.

Oh, except for a stone slab marked, "Roger was here."

Naturally, everyone followed suit:

"Kaido passed through."

"Dragon stayed here."

"Rim tasted the river water."

Jack thought for a moment before carving his own message: If you ever eat a watermelon here, don't forget to thank me. – Jack.

...

Sukiyaki, as a member of the family that created the Poneglyphs, was an expert in deciphering them.

Every so often, Jack would casually urinate near him as a silent reminder: If you dare to falsify anything, your granddaughter will pay the price. Naturally, Sukiyaki didn't dare to deceive him.

Interestingly, he had no prior knowledge of the things Shanks mentioned. Yet, his translations confirmed Shanks' words, proving that neither was lying.

However, there were still many details even Shanks was unaware of.

...

"The Red Line's Kingdom of the Gods? The Clan of D?"

"A race that longs for joy and freedom?"

"Joy Boy, leader of the Clan of D, sailing atop Zunesha to liberate slaves?"

"An outsider? Imu descended from the moon?"

"The liberation of countless nations... The twenty kings pledging allegiance to Joy Boy?"

"The Heavenly King brought by Imu?"

"Betrayal... The child born with Joy Boy's blood neared death?"

"Joy Boy gave the Divine Fruit to the unborn child... The child was then consumed to grant Imu a divine body?"

"Erasure... Exile..."

"Secrets... Destruction..."

"The formation of the World Government..."

"Unwilling to perish, Joy Boy transformed into the Divine Tree, awaiting reincarnation..."

"Eight hundred years later, Joy Boy will return... to inherit the Divine Fruit!"

...

Although the inscriptions were fragmented, the deep carvings made it clear the scribe had suffered while recording them. Still, the general picture of the Void Century was beginning to emerge.

Joy Boy had been the king of the Kingdom of the Gods, ruling the Red Line as the leader of the Clan of D—a race that valued freedom above all else. He traveled the seas atop Zunesha, freeing slaves wherever he went.

The so-called Twenty Kings had once been slaves themselves. After gaining sovereignty, they swore loyalty to Joy Boy.

Imu, during this time, became Joy Boy's companion, possibly even participating in his cause.

But after conceiving Joy Boy's child, she tricked him into transferring the Divine Fruit to their unborn offspring... only to consume the child, acquiring the divine body herself.

She then concealed this truth, trapped Joy Boy, and destroyed the Kingdom of the Gods.

With Joy Boy gone, the Twenty Kings formed the World Government.

Realizing all this, Jack felt a chill run down his spine.

"This woman... is ruthless."

If the inscriptions were to be believed, Joy Boy had transformed into the Divine Tree itself, waiting for his rebirth...

...

Once everyone had read the carvings, Shanks stepped forward and declared, "As agreed, if none of you can claim the fruit, we let Luffy try."

"Luffy! Awaken the fruit!"

Silent until now, Luffy placed his hand on his hat. His body became wreathed in white flames, and the rhythmic drumming sound returned.

"Doom!"

"Doom!"

"Doom!"

The colossal tree responded to the sound, radiating a golden glow before transforming into a floating golden fruit, drifting toward Luffy.

Kaido and Big Mom lunged to intercept it, but their hands passed through as if it weren't real. No matter what they did, the fruit continued its path toward Luffy.

Seeing this, Kaido and Big Mom could only sigh in resignation.

Shanks, watching with excitement, called out, "Luffy! Do you see it?! That's your Divine Fruit! You are the future of this world!"

"I was right to bet on you!"

"Only you can save this world! Because you... are this era's Joy Boy!"

"I'm so happy!"

"You're happy too soon."

BANG!

Everyone froze as Jack clenched the Divine Fruit in his hand, Shanks' expression turning to stone.