Chapter 407: The Falling Scrolls of Black Light
Four days had passed.
The sky was clear, a rare moment of calm over the Grand Line.
On a small island nestled in this unpredictable sea, the residents toiled under the sun's relentless heat. Sweat dripped from their brows as they worked to salvage their fields, many of which had been flooded by tides triggered by recent natural disasters. Every household was busy, their hands calloused from labor, their spirits unyielding despite the hardships.
Along the island's rugged coastline, a handful of ships bobbed gently on the waves. These belonged to the islanders who had ventured out to fish, seeking to supplement the meager harvest expected this year. The Grand Line's weather was notoriously fickle—storms could erupt without warning, posing a constant threat to those who braved the seas. Yet, to survive the coming year, the people had begun preserving fish in large quantities, pickling and storing it to ensure their survival. After all, this was a world defined by the sea. Even in the face of disaster, those with boats could still eke out a living by casting their nets with desperate determination. For those without vessels, however, even that slim hope remained out of reach, leaving them to envy their seafaring neighbors.
On this particular day, life on the island seemed much like any other.
A young man sat alone on the shore, his gaze fixed on the distant fishing boats. Boredom weighed heavily on him. Idly, he picked up a stone and tossed it toward the sea, watching it skip across the water's surface before sinking into the depths.
"This is so dull," he muttered, his voice tinged with frustration. "Twenty years of the same unchanging life."
His eyes followed the ripples left by the stone, his expression one of weary resignation. But then, something changed.
His face froze in shock.
Reflected in the shimmering sea, he caught a glimpse of something extraordinary. Black light flickered in the sky above. He tilted his head upward, his breath catching in his throat.
The sky remained clear, yet within his field of vision, countless black scrolls, each radiating a faint halo of dark light, were descending from the heavens.
"What are those?" he gasped, his voice trembling with disbelief.
One of the scrolls drifted down directly in front of him. Without thinking, he reached out and caught it. As his fingers closed around the paper, the black halo surrounding it dissolved.
At that moment, a voice—playful, teasing, yet laced with an unsettling weight—echoed in his ears, as if speaking to the entire world.
"People of this world, today I present you with a gift: the key to unlocking true power. Whether you feel fear or joy, hesitation or excitement upon receiving this gift, it matters not. The bell of a new era has rung. Now, do whatever your heart desires! Drag the lofty nobles down to the earth, or crush those beneath you. Pursue your dreams, or trample the dreams of others. Seek wealth, or guard it fiercely. Fame, power, riches—everything is within reach if you wield power. In this world, the weak are devoured, and the strong reign supreme. The key to strength now rests in your hands. Will this world flourish under this new order, or will it descend into endless conflict? That is a question I am eager to see answered. So, show me, you weak ones! Let the game begin—a game I call the Law of the Jungle."
As the final words faded, the young man's face twisted in horror. The scroll in his hand crumbled into dust, vanishing as a flood of knowledge poured into his mind. Secrets unfurled before him: the techniques of the Six Styles, the mysteries of Armament Haki, Observation Haki, and even the rare Conqueror's Haki. Each revelation was detailed, almost overwhelmingly so.
"Six Styles… Armament Haki… Observation Haki…" he whispered, his head throbbing as if it might split apart. Yet, his eyes gleamed with an almost feverish excitement.
Time passed slowly as the knowledge settled into his memory. His breathing grew heavy, but a wild, exhilarated expression spread across his face. Throwing his arms wide, he shouted toward the sky, "Hahaha! This is the world of the strong! Finally, life won't be boring anymore!"
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Sabaody Archipelago, Area 13: Shakky Rip-Off Bar.
In the bustling chaos of the Sabaody Archipelago, a man emerged from the shadows of a tavern. Dark King Rayleigh, living in quiet seclusion, stepped outside and gazed upward. The sky above was filled with countless black scrolls, each glowing with an eerie light, drifting down like leaves in a storm.
He reached out and caught one of the scrolls. As he did, his expression shifted to one of shock. After a moment, he muttered in a low but steady voice. "This is unbelievable. That man has done something truly extraordinary. The world is on the brink of a transformation—a tidal wave that will sweep everyone away."
He tilted his head back, raising a bottle of wine to his lips. The liquid spilled slightly, soaking the edge of his shirt as he drank deeply. "Roger," he said softly, his voice tinged with regret, "It's a shame you're not here to see this."
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East Blue, Somewhere at Sea.
A small, weathered pirate ship rocked gently on the waves. Aboard it, a young man with a distinctive red nose stared at the sky, his face pale with dismay. The black scrolls of light were falling here, too.
"Damn it!" he shouted, his voice cracking with frustration. "Who's responsible for this? If this keeps up, I won't even be able to beat ordinary people! What kind of pirate will I be then?"
The young pirate, Buggy, clutched his head in his hands, his voice rising in a frantic wail. After a moment, he forced himself to calm down, his expression hardening with resolve.
"It looks like I'll have to work harder," he muttered. "That guy Shanks has already left his mark on the world. I can't fall behind him. At the very least, I can't let myself be defeated by ordinary people!"
His voice wavered, a hint of tears in his eyes. "Whose idea was this, anyway? What kind of monster would do something so reckless?" he grumbled, already dreading the challenges his pirate career would now face.
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North Blue, an Underground Base.
In the shadowy depths of a hidden base, a young man with blond hair threw his arms wide, a manic grin spreading across his face. Doflamingo, the infamous intermediary of the North Blue's underworld and leader of the Donquixote Family—known by his code name "Joker"—watched the falling scrolls with a gleam of fanaticism in his eyes.
"Fufufufufu!" His laughter echoed through the base, sharp and gleeful. "The times are changing! Are those arrogant fools panicking yet? I can't wait to see their faces when this wave engulfs them!"
Beside him, members of his crew—Trebol, Pika, Diamanti, and others—stared at the sky in stunned silence. The black scrolls, each a key to unimaginable power, filled them with awe and dread. Lao G, a master of physical arts who had recently joined the family, was particularly shaken. The scrolls revealed secrets of techniques that surpassed even his own expertise, dazzling and humbling him.
If this knowledge spread across the world, what would happen? The thought was both thrilling and terrifying in an era already teetering on the edge of chaos. Reports from their contacts confirmed that the scrolls were falling not just here, but everywhere. Whoever was behind this—could they truly be human? Or was this the work of a god?
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West Blue, a Certain Nation
In a hidden stronghold, members of an underground organization known as the Revolutionary Army gazed solemnly at the black scrolls descending from the sky. Their expressions were mixed—some grave, others cautiously hopeful. If everyone gained access to such power, the world government's military might would no longer hold absolute sway over the common people. But would this truly change the world for the better?
They didn't know. Nor could they stop the tide of events now unfolding. Even they, the revolutionaries, were mere driftwood in this torrent of change. All they could do was prepare to guide those who would wield this newfound power in the days to come.
( End of this chapter )