Chapter 414: Laughing One, Please Rest in Peace
The world that has already been buried in the past is deathly silent.
Roy had once set foot in the past Wano Country beneath Mount Fuji, so he was very clear about this point.
But without a doubt, the place he was currently at was different.
The earth was entirely scorched black, but amidst the scorched blackness, one could still see what seemed to be lush green grass growing wildly.
Ancient, primitive houses and buildings, completely different from those above the sea today, were situated everywhere Roy's eyesight could reach. Vines wrapped around them.
That seemed to give people an illusion, as if this world, this civilization, had been entangled and bound, ultimately suffocating to death.
And the fact was indeed so.
At the top of this world, one could see countless magma flowing within another "core" above.
They firmly bound this world.
This was the "Previous World".
It was the source where the existence named Abyss was born.
And at this moment, Roy stepped here.
"As expected..."
He could feel certain things existing within this world, which made him let out a soft sigh.
But his footsteps did not stop, and stepping on the air, he headed towards his goal.
That was the center of all the buildings, and also the center of this civilization that once existed here.
That was an indescribably massive crater located in the center of this city.
That massive circular deep crater was bottomless. Even from a very far distance, one could clearly see that it existed here, as if directly connecting the foundation of the entire world.
And the fact was indeed so.
At least Roy was very clear about the source of this crater.
Here... was the place where the "Pillar of Creation" was initially planted, the "Divine Realm" of this world.
But at this time, what remained here was only this massive crater. That ancient giant tree planted by the People of the Moon, which birthed all life in this world, had long been transferred to Mary Geoise by Imu.
However, there were still things remaining here.
One of them was a corpse located at the edge of the crater.
That was also the "signpost" guiding Roy forward.
Soon, Roy arrived in front of that corpse.
Just as Rayleigh had said before, he still looked the same as he did in life, as if he were still alive.
He sat upright at the edge of the crater, looking up, with that iconic straw hat hanging on his back, and his face even carrying that iconic smile.
That was...
"Joy Boy."
Roy looked at this legendary figure whom he had once met briefly in his memories.
Even today, he had already seen many legends, and even he himself had become part of the greatest legend.
But this "Laughing Boy" was still enough to make him feel a sense of gratitude and respect.
He didn't know how much effort the other party had expended, or how many pursuits he had escaped, before finally finding Laugh Tale and coming to this past world.
He also didn't know exactly how long the other party had stayed alone in this world before finally dying.
But he at least knew the choice the other party made.
He used his ability to seal off Laugh Tale, and left behind the truth and guidance of history, so that when the final day arrived, the destined person could come here.
He used his own corpse as a signpost and the final barrier, leaving the Abyss's covetousness nowhere to hide.
He was destined to be alone and helpless, dying unknowingly in a corner of the previous era, no longer able to listen to laughter.
That was a heavy choice.
But...
Even so, the Joy Boy in front of Roy was still smiling.
Even though it was a corpse that no longer possessed consciousness, Roy could tell—the other party's smile was sincere.
"We will win."
Until the last moment of his life, he obviously still believed so firmly.
The successor he waited for, the successor the world waited for, would make freedom reappear in the world.
So...
"Is this smile celebrating for this world in advance?"
Roy helplessly shook his head, but couldn't help but smile as well.
An amazing guy.
He thought so, but did not say it out loud.
Actions have always been more powerful than words.
"I have received your will—please rest in peace."
Roy gently raised his hand and lightly tapped Joy Boy's forehead.
The next moment...
Vmmm!
The figure of this former legend slowly fell over.
His corpse silently turned to dust. Or rather, under the overdraft of his abilities over so many years, he had long since completely perished. It was only the particularity of this area that made his corpse still present a "living" appearance.
And it was unknown if it was an illusion.
When that straw hat turned into dust and fell to the ground, the sound of the wind it brought up actually sounded as if someone was laughing out loud.
But Roy never turned his head. He just silently stepped over the position where Joy Boy had just been, and arrived at the very edge of the crater.
"As expected... it's right here."
He felt the Lineage Factor Source Energy around him, understanding in his heart that the position Joy Boy had guided him to was not wrong; this was his goal.
"Back then, Imu used this place as a starting point... and uprooted the Pillar of Creation."
He could see the twisted position below where the tree roots had once existed.
He could even see the soil that was overflowing with Lineage Factor Source Energy due to the taking root of the Pillar of Creation.
This place was the true "source" of this world's past.
Thus, Roy moved.
He slowly raised his hand and took out two items from his chest pocket.
They were a crown, and a seed.
Those were the "World Crown" that Imu had given to Davy Jones in the past, which could dominate the Lineage Factor Source Energy of the Pillar of Creation, and the "Seed of the Earth"—the last of the three seeds birthed by the Pillar of Creation in the past.
Then, without any hesitation, Roy shoved the Seed of the Earth into his mouth.
[Currently analyzing Lineage Factor Source Energy Creation: "Seed of the Earth"]
Thus, from within Roy's body.
Intense Lineage Factor Source Energy began to rise unprecedentedly.
In this instant, Roy even had a feeling that he was omnipotent.
"Seed of the Heaven - Treasure Tree Adam, can bear all wishes in the world related to 'heaven' and celestial phenomena."
"Seed of the Sea - Sunlight Tree Eve, can bear all wishes in the world related to the 'sea' and water currents."
"And this final Seed of the Earth, can bear all wishes in the world related to the 'continent' and life."
In Joy Boy's plan, the power of these three might have needed to rely on the special properties of the "Dark-Dark Fruit" and the "Nidhogg Fruit" to be devoured.
But to Roy, right now... the power and Lineage Factor Source Energy of these three had all gathered within his body.
This is...
"The capacity to bear all phenomena."
"It is the initial cornerstone to ascending the divine throne, and also the most important step."
Roy whispered, slowly closing his eyes.
Then, he felt it...
Vmmm!
That was the cry of everything in this world, calling out to him.