One Piece: Nobody knows Devil Fruits better than me.

Chapter 187 The Promise Has Been Fulfilled, I Am Going to My Death

[Memory Fruit LV5]

[Devil Fruit Ability - The ability to manipulate memories]

[Effects at Each Level]

[LV3: Gain access to all fruit effects, allowing you to read, retrieve, replace, and alter people's memories. Requires 10 billion to permanently unlock.]

[LV4: Fruit Deep Development, can unleash 'Threads of Memory'. Anyone touched by the threads and pierced through the body will fall into a state of 'Memory Confusion' for a short period of time. Requires 30 billion to permanently unlock]

[LV5: Fruit Awakening - Memory Absorption. This ability can affect all nearby creatures, extracting their memories. You can search for specific types of memories by setting keywords. It requires 90 billion Berries to permanently unlock.]

This Memory Fruit from Charlotte Pudding is undoubtedly a very special fruit.

In terms of fruit strength alone, it is a purely support-type fruit—its improvement in combat is very small, almost negligible.

However, it is very important to the Star Lord at this moment.

because
"Buzz!"

At this moment, the Star Lord's hand slowly touched Lingling's soul.

Then, a memory, like a film reel, was extracted from his hands.

Within the memories, the Star Lord can see Lingling's memories: being abandoned by her parents as a child, meeting Sister Carmel, and then going to the giant kingdom of Elbaf, everything is there.

The Star Lord did not alter these memories—whether good or bad, they were all the paths Lingling had taken.

He simply used the effects of the fruit's awakening to search for keywords in his memory.

【Memory Search - Locus】

As soon as he had a thought, Lingling's memories began to change.

The vast majority of memory film began to disappear, replaced by only a small portion of short film.

At that moment, the Star Lord looked at the film.

"Hey! Your name is Lingling, right?"

The sounds he had already heard reached his ears.

"You're pretty strong, huh? How about joining my pirate crew and becoming my subordinate!?"

That was Rocks' voice.

Young Charlotte Linlin, munching on a delicious cake while carrying 'Napoleon' on her back, frowned as she looked at the other person: "Why should I join you?"

Rocks replied matter-of-factly, "Why? Since we're pirates, of course we'll invite any powerful partners we like."

But Lingling was even more puzzled: "I don't have the habit of sharing treasures with others, and besides, why am I a subordinate?"

She was clearly very unhappy.

"Don't worry, I have no interest in seizing my subordinates' treasures."

"As for why you're my subordinate, it's because I'm stronger!"

"Huh? You really dare to say that!"

Enraged, Lingling swung the knife.

In the time that followed, she became a member of the Rocks Pirates.

Subsequent memories were consistent with the Star Lord's understanding.

Wang Zhi, Whitebeard, Kaido, Shiki, Silver Axe, Grouriosa
The Rocks Pirates continued to grow stronger, with countless powerful individuals joining them.

until that day.

In a place called God Valley, the Rocks Pirates encountered a turning point.

In Lingling's memory, the final melee of God Valley was vividly displayed before the Star Lord's eyes.

Kaido, Linlin, Whitebeard, Rocks, Roger, and Garp—six powerful figures who symbolized the 'pinnacle of their era' both then and now—began their battle against the descending being.

That is a god of this world called 'Im'.

It resides in the body of one of the Five Elders, 'Satan Saint,' and its lower body is a 'bull demon' that resembles a spider—that is Satan Saint's power.

Its upper body, however, was its own form; it was a huge, pitch-black object whose shape was completely indistinguishable.

From the perspective of the Star Lord.

Its posture is just like the shadow of a tree.

"It really was it."

Beneath the mask, Roy's mind was once again certain.

The mural he saw on the Abyss, the black shadow born from within that enormous, unknown tree—that was 'Im' Benm.

The subsequent plot development was exactly as Roy had known.

Lox was 'blackened and dominated' by Im, and then Linlin withdrew from the battlefield.

Memories gradually fade.

"There aren't any valuable clues."

Roy was somewhat disappointed.

Yes.

Since the Abyss, he has naturally not given up investigating the truth about God Valley—in fact, he is even more concerned about it now.

After all, given the current situation, he can basically consider the World Government, the Celestial Dragons, and that 'Lord Im' as his absolute enemies.

Both their values ​​and the attitudes they exhibit reflect this.

Under such circumstances, the 'David family' represented by Lockes and the truth of 800 years ago are naturally aspects that he must pay attention to.

Understanding Im's background, and knowing about Davy Jones and Joy Boy, will make it easier for him to deal with Im in the future, and even... kill him!

Unfortunately, Lingling was not one of the people who fought to the very end in God Valley.

She hadn't lied to Wang Zhi before—she had indeed never seen the 'Star Lord' in the Valley of the Gods.

However, just as the Star Lord was about to end the reading of Lingling's memories.

".Um?"

The next moment, however, his expression froze.

Because at that moment, he actually saw it.

Following the 'memory' of God Valley, a memory film related to 'Rocks' slowly emerges.

Based on the length and position of the film, the Star Lord instantly realized.

"These are memories from after God Valley!?"

He frowned and raised his hand without hesitation.

Out-of-body experience

His soul suddenly plunged into that piece of film.

【Memory Reading & Soul Experience】

In an instant, the surrounding scenery changed.

"trickle!"

The sound of surging waves and the unique scent of the sea breeze, accompanied by dappled sunlight overhead—everything in my memory felt so real.

The Star Lord spotted the colossal object above him at a glance.

It was a huge tree that blocked out half the sky, like a pillar of the world.

Its gnarled roots resemble giant pythons, and rainbow bridges span the giant tree, offering views of countless villages in the distance.

"Elbaf".

This scene instantly allowed the Star Lord to pinpoint his current location.

Elbaf, the world's strongest nation, built upon the world tree 'Adam the Treasure Tree'.

But upon seeing this scene, a different thought subconsciously arose in the Star Lord's mind.

"If the Tree of Adam is this huge, how huge must the tree in the mural be?" Yes.

He recalled the tree depicted on the mural of the Abyss—based on his speculation about the mural's content, the 'Adam Tree' that constituted Elbaf was likely just a root sprout that had grown from that tree and was bestowed upon the giants by Davy Jones.

However, he didn't have time to think too much about it.

"Oh my god! I was quite shocked when I received the letter—it's amazing you survived that situation, Rocks!"

"How did you break free of control? You didn't seem to have any strength left!"

The sound from the side interrupted his thoughts.

He turned his head and saw young Lingling sitting cross-legged behind him.

She held an enormous red wine glass in her hands, clearly a product of the giant race, and her cheeks were already slightly flushed.

Of course, what surprised the Star Lord even more were the three figures sitting next to Lingling at that moment.

Tall and imposing, with a crescent-shaped beard and golden hair—that was the young 'Whitebeard' Edward Newgate.

A shirtless, horned, and muscular young man—that was the young 'Kaido'.

Besides, sitting in the main seat was Rocks D. Giebeck.

The white bandages wrapped around his left side, along with Lingling's words, were enough to show that he had already experienced the 'Valley of God'.

"."

Therefore, even the Star Lord, who was prepared in advance, could not help but be surprised at this moment.

After the God Valley incident, Rocks, who had been resurrected, even met with Kaido, Linlin, and Whitebeard in Elbaf.

"Glug glug. Ha."

At that moment, Lox finished his drink and put the glass down: "Didn't I tell you?"

"It was an 'accident'."

He grinned: "An unexpected turn of events beyond fate."

He said this, but didn't explain further. He just looked at Kaido beside him and said, "Hey, Kaido, what's wrong with you again—why are you drinking alone over there? Didn't you already get your powers? You were having a lot of fun at God Valley, weren't you?"

And just as he said, Kaido, who was standing to the side, had a sour face.

Upon hearing this, Kaido downed the entire cup of sake in one gulp: "Gaining power should have been a happy thing, but now, what's the point of it all!?"

"To become the strongest creature in the world and win the most intense war, it really does take 'dominance', right?"

Upon hearing this, Linlin, who was standing nearby, became displeased: "Hey, Kaido—what do you mean by that? Don't forget that your ability is a 'Legendary Fruit' that you stole from me."

"So what!?"

Kaido was clearly drunk, and glared at Linlin: "You saw that 'monster' in God Valley too, right? Devil Fruit abilities are completely useless against him."

"Even Haki didn't seem to be of much use. Even Rocks' Conqueror's Haki couldn't hurt it!"

"But at least it can feel pain!"

"Huh? So you're not admitting it—perfect, I haven't forgiven you yet. Want to fight? You little intern!"

"Fine, let's fight! Lingling, we're not 'comrades' anymore. If it's time to fight, I won't hold back!"

Seeing the two about to engage in a full-blown fight, Whitebeard silently raised his glass and took a sip: "Ha, giant's sake, it's been a long time since I've had any."

He said this, then put down his wine bowl and looked at Lox.

"So, Lox—what are you planning to do next?"

“They only called the three of us over, specifically instructing us not to tell anyone, and it happened in Elbaf. You should know that, right? Harald is now working for the government.”

He was clearly the most serious of the three, and in just a few words, he had already explained the current situation.

This meeting in Elbaf was completely unexpected for Whitebeard, Kaido, and Big Mom—they were all summoned by the resurrected Rocks, and they themselves did not know the specifics beforehand.

Rocks even specifically instructed them to keep it a secret and not to tell anyone.

It is conceivable that, given the arrogance of these three individuals, they would not normally act in accordance with the other party's wishes.

But obviously
To them, Lox was different.

He was the 'strongest in the world' that Kaido once respected, the patriarch of the 'family' that Linlin once belonged to, and a man acknowledged by Whitebeard.

That's why they came here to keep their appointment.

Whitebeard's words also pointed out another crucial issue.

That is Elbaf, where they are now, and its king, Harald, is currently working for the government.

Although he was once a close friend of Lox, it was clearly not a wise move for them to meet in Elbaf after they had lost contact.

"Hahaha! As expected of you, Newgate!"

But upon hearing this, Lox laughed heartily, completely unconcerned.

"I know Harald has already made a pact with 'The World' and become a God's Guardian Blade. Don't worry, our ability to enter Elbaf and meet him this time has nothing to do with him."

"I've already asked someone to tell him the truth about 'God Valley' and 'The World,' but given his personality, I doubt he'll completely believe it."

At this point, he also sighed.

Friends know friends best.

As Harald's former close friend, he naturally knew how stubborn this giant king, who was no match for him in strength, was.

But
"There's nothing we can do about it—he and I are no longer friends. Men have to take responsibility for their choices."

Rocks shook his head, regaining his composure.

"As for why I invited you here, you can probably guess, right?"

His gaze fell upon the three people in front of him.

“You are all my partners, and you all faced that monster with me in God Valley—you understand now, right? That thing is ‘The World’!”

"That guy is my 'ambition'!"

After hearing this...

"."*3
The three people in front of Lockes also fell silent.

At this moment, the Star Lord, standing within the memories, also fell silent.

He had already guessed the answer.

The three people in front of me were all people who had fought Im directly in God Valley—they were people who had truly seen 'God'.

So, only they were summoned by Lox.

As for Lox, the Star Lord found it not strange at all.

Because Rocks D. Gibbek's ambitions were never hidden.

He doesn't want to become the Pirate King, but to 'conquer the world'.

Or rather, this is why he established the Rocks Pirates and gathered those powerful individuals with different ambitions—even though these powerful individuals were completely dissatisfied with each other, had completely different ambitions, and acted without any restraint.

But Lox didn't care; he even let it go.

Power, freedom, kingdom, wealth.
He admires all kinds of ambition.

All he wants is for people to challenge the world's 'order'!
And it is obvious
Even after the Valley of the Gods, he still hadn't given up his ambition.

"I am a pirate—a pirate's ambition never ends until death!"

Lox stood up.

He opened his arms, raised the wine glass in his hand, looked at the three people in front of him, and said with a burning fighting spirit in his eyes: "I might as well tell you."

"The preparations for the agreement are complete; I am about to face my death!"

"This is the last time I'm inviting you to come—"

The waves roared, and the sea breeze whispered.

His wild, unrestrained laughter mingled with his ambitious declaration: "Want to join me in taking on the 'world' once again!?"

"Those who are willing, let us drink this cup together!"

(End of this chapter)