FOUR YEARS BEFORE THE GOD VALLEY INCIDENT – HOLY LAND OF MARY GEOISE
It had been six years since the birth of Saint Robert Van Figarland, son of Saint Garling Figarland—Commander of the God Knights—and Saint Maria de Van Astrea—the fabled Sword Saint. Born to two of the most powerful and revered figures in the Holy Land, expectations for the young Figarland heir were nothing short of divine. And yet, to the astonishment of all, Robert didn't merely meet those expectations—he shattered them, ascending to heights none could have foreseen.
Robert was a once-in-a-lifetime prodigy. Two months after his birth, he spoke his first words. By the third month, he was walking. By the fifth, he had mastered the alphabet and moved on to grammar. Awestruck by their son's unnatural development, the Figarland couple drowned him in knowledge—books, scrolls, philosophies, sciences, and histories. Robert consumed them all.
By the time he turned one, he was solving complex equations with the precision of a seasoned scholar. Whispers of a child genius swept through the Holy Land—from the velvet-draped halls of the Celestial Dragons to the shadowed quarters of the enslaved. Many began calling him a 'GOD' reborn.
When the Five Elders heard of his miraculous feats, even they were stunned—and intrigued. In hushed tones, they reported to their shadowy sovereign: the mysterious Ruler of the World. Reverent and cautious, they relayed everything.
"A 'GOD,' you say?" the Ruler murmured, their uneven voice echoing across the throne room like the hiss of fate. After a long pause, the shadowed figure spoke again.
"Teach the boy. Give him everything. I want to see how far Robert Van Figarland can go. Keep me informed. Let's see what kind of 'GOD' this child becomes."
The Elders bowed and withdrew, their orders clear. Alone in the darkness, the Ruler's gloved fingers drummed softly on an iron armrest. And then, in a rare whisper stripped of rasp and shadow, they said:
"Robert… are you the one I've been waiting for… all these centuries?"
Meanwhile, Robert—once known as John Carter—was drowning in knowledge. His new parents spared no effort in feeding his monstrous intellect. Though much of the history he read was clearly distorted or fabricated, he accepted it all for now. One day, he would uncover the truth. Until then, his photographic memory from his past life was his greatest weapon.
The full force of his Sentry-born powers had yet to awaken, but already, his body was being shaped by their divine touch. His growth—mental and physical—bordered on myth. When he was granted access to the Great Library of the Gods, Robert knew he'd found paradise. By age three, he had memorized half of its sacred texts.
Shortly after his third birthday, Garling declared it was time to begin physical training. Unsurprisingly, Robert stepped into the sparring hall and dismantled opponents twice his size—students who had trained for years. Impressed beyond measure, Garling took his training into his own hands. Each day, new challenges. Each day, Robert overcame them as if the answers were etched into his soul.
Garling was proud—immensely so. He and Maria had brought into the world a child who might one day outshine every legend, and carve his name into history as the greatest of them all.
By the time Robert turned six, he had already mastered the fundamentals of swordsmanship and hand-to-hand combat. Maria began to teach him the finer intricacies of the blade, while Garling introduced him to the raw power of Haki. It was clear to all—Robert wasn't simply gifted. He was something else entirely.
Whispers danced through the noble houses. Potential betrothals. Political alliances. Ambitions disguised as proposals. But Maria turned them all down.
"No matter how brilliant he may be, Robert is still a child," she declared. "He will choose his partner when he's ready."
The proposals ceased, but the scheming only intensified. Noble families sent their daughters in person, hoping to catch his eye. Some even volunteered themselves, trying to bask in the prodigy's light. Maria sighed in theatrical frustration. Garling smirked in silence. But both parents were confident—Robert would not be swayed.
He wasn't.
His gaze was always distant, unreadable. He showed no interest in romance, no desire for companionship. Only books and battle stirred something in him.
Sometimes, Maria's heart ached at the emotional distance in her son's eyes. She longed to see him laugh freely, cry openly, feel something. Garling, by contrast, saw it as strength. In his view, emotion clouded judgment—and Robert's detachment was a mark of future greatness.
And Robert? He had no complaints.
In his past life, he had lived alone, surrounded by corruption and hypocrisy. In this one, corruption remained—though cloaked in silks and jeweled rings. But now, he was part of the elite. Pampered by a mother who adored him. Respected by a father who saw destiny in his eyes. Desired by noblewomen of all ages. It was a comfortable life.
One day, during a quiet moment after training, he turned to the boy beside him.
"Say, Kuma," he asked, "have you ever thought about leaving all this behind? Building a quiet house at the edge of the world. Starting a farm. Finding a wife. Raising children. A simple life… far from the chaos."
Bartholomew Kuma—just six years old—stood beside him, silent for a moment. A year ago, his entire family had been captured by the World Government. The Buccaneers were a cursed bloodline, marked for destruction. Most were enslaved or killed on sight.
Robert had learned of their capture from his maid, Rose. The name "Kuma" had triggered something deep—an echo from a previous life. Though he'd never touched a manga, Kuma's tragic fate was legend. For the first time since his reincarnation, Robert chose to intervene.
"I want that Buccaneer," he told his father.
Garling raised an eyebrow, then shrugged. "Fine by me."
To the so-called 'Gods,' such requests were routine. Together, they approached the Celestial Dragon who had enslaved Kuma's family. Garling demanded their release.
The Celestial Dragon trembled—and obeyed.
But they were too late. Kuma's parents were dead. Only the boy remained. Robert had come for Kuma, and though the damage was done, there was still time to rewrite his fate.
To the world, Kuma became Robert's 'slave.' In truth, he was treated as an equal. At first, Kuma didn't believe it. But slowly, he began to understand—someone powerful had chosen to see him as human. No one else in the Holy Land knew. No one but Rose.
Rose, Robert's personal maid, had once been a slave herself—freed and brought in by Maria to care for their son. She adored Robert—not romantically, but like an elder sister. From the very beginning, she had sensed something different about him. He held no love for wealth or power. Only strength and knowledge mattered to him.
And so, she kept his secrets. All of them.
When she saw how Robert treated Kuma, her faith in him solidified. Robert was truly unique—and she would follow him to the ends of the earth.
As for Kuma, life slowly transformed. He was fed, clothed, trained, and—most importantly—acknowledged. For the first time since losing his family, he smiled again. With Robert and Rose, he found something real. A family.
They warned him to keep quiet in public. To act as expected. Kuma understood. They were protecting him. It warmed his heart. In a land built on cruelty, he had found kindness.
One day, he asked Robert to train him. He wanted to grow strong. Strong enough to protect others, just as Robert had protected him.
Over time, the three of them became something sacred—something hidden. A bond forged deeper than blood.
And so, we return to the present—Robert's question.
He and Kuma had just finished training. To the world, it looked like a prodigy drilling his servant. But the words spoken carried weight.
Kuma smiled sadly.
"It would be nice… that kind of life. But we can't run from who we are, Bob. My ma used to say… life's a test. To decide where we belong once it's over."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"As for a wife and kids… I don't think someone like me should even dream of it. They'd be hunted too, just for being tied to me."
Robert stared at him quietly. Then turned, his gaze steady.
"And what if I'm there? To protect you—and everyone you love. Would you still not consider building a life of your own?"
Kuma's eyes widened. "Bob…" he whispered. "You don't have to do all this. You and Big Sister Rose already risk so much. I can't just keep taking…"
A soft hand rested on his back. Rose smiled gently.
"You're a kind child, Kuma. No one should carry such a heavy burden forever. If Robert says he'll protect your future… then believe him. I do."
Kuma looked into her eyes and saw only sincerity. Then he turned to Robert—his brother—who stood tall and silent. A wordless promise shone in his eyes.
I'll be there.
Tears welled in Kuma's eyes. A wide, toothy grin stretched across his face.
"Thank you… for everything."
And in that moment, he remembered his father's last words:
"Always believe in Nika. He'll bring joy into your life."