One week after the Gran Tesoro auction, the Dawn arrived in the New World at the Island of Music.
As usual, Ash brought Bonney along to mark a space-time coordinate, then planned to reunite with the crew for a bonfire gathering later.
Standing high above the island, Ash looked down at its familiar outline and the ruined city at its center. The sight stirred a memory.
The Island of Music had once been the most renowned musical kingdom in the world, the Kingdom of Elysia. Its legacy was the reason this island carried such a beautiful name.
Now, it was nothing but ruins.
A few years ago, the entire kingdom had been destroyed.
According to the version spread across the seas, the destruction was caused by the Red-Haired Pirates shortly after their return to the New World, and Shanks had never denied it.
But Ash knew the truth.
Because of Shanks's adopted daughter, Uta, a sealed entity hidden within a musical score had been triggered. Her Devil Fruit ability spiraled out of control, releasing a conceptual entity known as the Music Devil. That disaster led directly to the fall of Elysia.
Shanks chose to take responsibility to protect her, carrying the blame himself so she would not bear the weight of destroying an entire country.
After that, he sailed on to pursue his ambitions, leaving Uta behind on the ruined island. She was raised by the former king of Elysia, Gordon.
If events followed their original course, two years later Uta would discover a batch of Den Den Mushi washed ashore. Using them, she would begin broadcasting her singing across the world and quickly rise to fame.
As her influence spread, her connection with her audience deepened. A dangerous idea began to take root in her mind.
The Great Pirate Era was filled with violence and suffering, and it needed to end.
The thought itself was not unreasonable. However, countless people who had lost everything to pirates began to treat her songs as their only source of hope. They elevated her, calling her their savior.
That worship twisted her perception.
After years of continuous singing, she would eventually use the power of the Sing-Sing Fruit to control the majority of humanity, pulling them into a world created by her music.
In the end, she would pay for it with her life.
Even so, the power of the Sing-Sing Fruit was undeniable.
Ash recalled the overwhelming scale of that ability. Sound alone carried its influence across the world.
This was not just another Paramecia ability. It was something far more dangerous.
Since his goal was to collect Devil Fruits, there was no reason to ignore such a powerful and unstable one.
His target was decided.
At this point in time, the island remained mostly in ruins. Reconstruction had not yet begun, which made finding Uta simple.
Ash spread his Observation Haki and quickly located the only two living presences on the island.
One was in the castle, the other near the shore.
Inside the ruins of the royal palace, he found Gordon, whose appearance resembled a deranged scholar more than a king.
Ash could not understand him.
Regardless of whether Uta had acted intentionally, she had been brought here by the Red-Haired Pirates. Her power was what destroyed the kingdom. Yet Gordon had allowed the pirates to leave and chose to raise her for years afterward.
The people of Elysia had died unjustly.
And this man chose to protect the cause of their destruction.
Ash looked at him with undisguised contempt and turned to leave. With only two people on the island, there was no reason to waste time on the wrong one.
Just as he moved, Gordon recognized him.
"Wait! Heavenly Emperor Ash of the Dawn, what are you doing in Elysia? You are not welcome here. Leave immediately."
Ash paused and let out a quiet sigh.
He had already decided to leave, yet this man insisted on provoking him.
Turning back, Ash's gaze sharpened.
"In what capacity are you saying that to me?"
"I am Gordon, King of Elysia. I am ordering you to leave as its ruler."
Ash let out a low laugh, then touched his chin as if amused.
"King of Elysia? You?" His eyes turned cold. "Where are your citizens, then?"
Gordon's expression tightened. "The disaster that struck this kingdom is known to everyone…"
"Shut up."
Ash's voice dropped, heavy with killing intent.
"You welcomed the Red-Haired Pirates to this island. You let them leave after everything was destroyed. And the one who raised the person responsible is still you."
His words struck like blows.
"Standing in the ruins of a country that was wiped out, you still dare to speak as if you represent it? Do you not understand that the dead are watching you?"
Gordon froze, his mind shaken. He did not even question how Ash knew the truth.
"No… that's not… Uta is just a child, she…"
Ash had no interest in excuses.
He raised his hand, ready to end it.
At that moment, Gordon seemed to snap back to reality. His face twisted with panic.
"I know why you're here! You came for Uta, didn't you? You want to go after Shanks!"
Ash said nothing.
"It's my fault, all of it! But Uta is still just a child. She doesn't even understand what happened. She's innocent!"
Ash frowned.
The desperation in Gordon's voice only made him more disgusted. The fear of death.
"I'll give it to you!" Gordon shouted suddenly. "I have what you want!"
Ash's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Devil Fruit. I have a Devil Fruit."
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