Chapter 8: An Irreconcilable Conflict
Is the past more important than the future?
This question felt like a heavy blow to Robin's head.
Even though she was a historian, she wasn't so obsessed that she would pursue a missing history while the world was on the brink of destruction. Thanks to Yumesaki's reminder, Robin reacted quickly. He was right—how could she have forgotten such a crucial point?
It was all because she had just learned Saul was alive. She had been too happy and let such a vital matter slip her mind.
"You're right. I have to save the world."
Robin calmed herself and began to think about how to save her world. However, before long, she felt like she had hit a dead end. She had no idea how one would go about saving the world of One Piece.
Vegapunk had said it himself: in less than a few years, the global sea levels would rise, and the entire world would sink. In the face of a natural disaster of this magnitude, individual strength felt meaningless. Even the Four Emperors had no way to stop such a thing. She was just an archaeologist; what could she possibly do to stop it?
With no other options, Robin looked toward Yumesaki, intending to ask him for advice, only to realize she didn't even know his name yet.
Noticing her awkwardness, Yumesaki smiled slightly and said, "My name is Yumesaki. And this is Tsunade."
Tsunade nodded toward Robin.
Robin gave a respectful bow. "Lord Yumesaki, Lady Tsunade. I am very grateful to both of you for letting me know the secrets of the World Government and the truth about the world sinking."
"However, with my personal strength, saving the world is nearly impossible."
"I was wondering if either of you has a way to save our world."
Yumesaki said with a smile, "Have you forgotten where Kuma sent you during the events at the Sabaody Archipelago?"
Robin immediately replied, "To Tequila Wolf, the Land of Bridges."
Yumesaki nodded. "Seven hundred years ago, for a specific purpose, the World Government began building a massive bridge in the East Blue to connect various islands. But this bridge was built very high."
"If you combine that with the fact that the world is about to sink, that bridge wasn't meant to connect islands at all. It was built in preparation for this crisis."
"From this, it's clear the World Government has known about the world sinking for a very long time."
"But the rising sea levels won't drown the entire world. Some places with high elevations will remain."
"For example..."
"The Red Line," Robin interjected before Yumesaki could finish. "The World Government built the Holy Land of Mary Geoise on the Red Line, not just to look down on the world, but to escape this very disaster."
"The bridges aren't to connect islands; they are to connect to the Red Line."
"If they wanted everyone to survive this disaster, everyone would have to be moved to the Red Line. Only by living there can one escape the sinking."
Yumesaki smiled, snapped his fingers, and said, "Smart. The Red Line is the only beacon of life in this disaster."
But Robin's joy didn't last long. She soon furrowed her brow. "But the World Government... would the Celestial Dragons really be willing to let everyone live on the Red Line?"
"Not a chance," Yumesaki sneered. "Those people have hidden the crisis from everyone. They clearly plan to use this opportunity to wipe out all opposition. Let the commoners live on the Red Line? Share the same space as the Celestial Dragons? Do you really think they'd agree?"
Robin shook her head. She understood the nature of the Celestial Dragons all too well. It was impossible. They would never allow people from all over the world to live on the Red Line, even though it was massive enough to hold everyone.
Without a doubt, this was an irreconcilable conflict. To resolve it, one side would have to be completely eradicated.
After a long silence, Robin spoke slowly: "So, if we want to save the world, the rule of the Celestial Dragons must be overthrown. Only by toppling them, dismantling the current World Government, and defeating the mysterious Imu do we have any hope of survival."
But therein lay the problem. The World Government had ruled the world for eight hundred years; their foundations were deep beyond measure. The Five Elders and the Holy Knights supposedly possessed immortal bodies. And Imu, the one pulling the strings behind the scenes, was even more unfathomable.
Joy Boy had failed against the World Government eight hundred years ago.
In the battle of God Valley over thirty years ago, Rocks, Garp, Roger, Whitebeard, Linlin, and Kaidou—six powerhouses—had reportedly launched a combined attack against Imu, yet they still couldn't win. Even the ruler of the seas, Rocks, was ultimately controlled by Imu.
The strength of that monster was truly beyond imagination, and he possessed an immortal body.
Nico Robin honestly couldn't imagine how someone could defeat Imu.
Could they rely on Luffy? His growth was indeed beyond imagination—becoming an Emperor in just a few short years. But could he really beat Imu? Joy Boy had failed, and no matter how great Luffy was, he was essentially just a new version of Joy Boy. Could he truly surpass the original?
And even if Luffy grew strong enough to surpass Joy Boy and defeat Imu, would there even be enough time left to move the people of the world to the Red Line?
Nearby, Tsunade saw the growing dilemma on Robin's face. She knew this girl was just like her past self—trapped in confusion. She remembered how she felt after finishing the Boruto series; her expression had been exactly like Nico Robin's.
Relying on myself, can I really defeat the Otsutsuki clan?
Slap!
She raised her hand and brought it down hard on Robin's shoulder, startling the girl out of her spiral of confusion. Robin felt half of her body go numb instantly.
The strength... such incredible strength.
"Calm down a bit," Tsunade said. "This Imu might be powerful, and there might be no solution for him in your world, but that doesn't mean the same is true in other worlds."
"Other worlds?"
"That's right." Tsunade said calmly, "Let me introduce myself properly. My name is Tsunade. Like you, I am not from this world. I am a Ninja from the Hidden Leaf Village in the world of Naruto."
"My world is similar to yours; both have powerful enemies. Your world only has Imu, but mine has a group called the Otsutsuki, each of whom is more formidable than Imu."
"But Yumesaki told me that beyond one world, there are others. A powerhouse in your world might just be an ordinary person on the street in another."
To prove her words, Tsunade handed the Naruto and Dragon Ball manga to Nico Robin.
"Once you read these, you'll understand."
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