God Valley?
Hadn't that place been destroyed during the war?
"Where?" Luffy asked directly.
"West Blue."
"West Blue? Isn't it outside the Grand Line?"
Luffy was surprised.
At that moment, Yasopp approached carrying a thick stack of old nautical charts of West Blue.
He opened one of the pages.
The map contained continents, peninsulas, and isolated islands, each marked with its respective name.
At the center of the map, one island had been circled in red, with the name God Valley written over it.
"This is a very old map, from thirty or forty years ago. On modern maps, this island has been erased," Yasopp explained. "You can keep it, Luffy."
"You knew I was going there?"
Luffy smiled as he took the map.
The corners of Shanks's mouth rose slightly.
"It took a lot of effort to find it. Maybe it was even harder than finding Laugh Tale."
After all, that was the place where he had been born.
It's just that he no longer possessed any memories of his childhood.
"Anyway, I'll go take a look first. Uta, Usopp, stay here."
With those words, Luffy jumped and instantly transformed into a beam of light, disappearing into the sky.
Flying at one hundred times the speed of sound, it would take only a few minutes to travel from Elegia to God Valley.
Watching him disappear in an instant, Usopp opened his mouth and commented:
"Dad, is this really okay? Isn't that supposed to be the Celestial Dragons' most secret hideout? Couldn't there be some kind of trap?"
"Hahaha! What are you talking about? We were there a long time ago. There's nothing on that island."
Yasopp patted his son's shoulder and smiled.
"I haven't seen you in ten years. You've become a man, Usopp."
"Of course!"
Usopp pointed his thumb at himself.
"I'm already a brave warrior of the seas! No matter what kind of enemy I encounter, I'll never hesitate!"
Leaving aside the reunion between father and son.
Uta looked at Shanks and stretched out her hand, materializing a straw hat.
"Shanks... this is the hat you gave Luffy. Now he asked me to return it to you."
Five minutes later.
Luffy crossed ten to twenty thousand kilometers and arrived at God Valley.
When he reached the skies above the island, he noticed that it was enveloped in a dense fog, and the atmosphere remained exactly as it had before.
He descended through the mist and landed on the island.
Two towering peaks rose at the center of the island.
The valley between the mountains was the so-called Valley of the Gods.
As soon as he spread his Observation Haki across the entire island, Luffy quickly found Imu's presence.
At the summit stood a majestic castle hidden within the fog.
He flew directly toward it.
When he arrived before the castle, he saw the symbol of the World Government emblazoned upon its gates.
It seemed his arrival had already been anticipated, because the gates stood open.
Luffy crossed the dark, silent corridors.
He passed through numerous gates before finally reaching the throne room.
Imu sat upon the throne.
"So there's another Empty Throne in a place like this?"
Luffy commented in surprise.
"It's been a long time, Imu."
Imu's condition was clearly poor.
The third eye on his forehead appeared severely damaged and permanently blind.
His crimson eyes stared silently at Luffy.
"I think I already understand how you escaped Pluton's bombardment."
Luffy smiled faintly.
It was the power of the third eye.
Suddenly, Imu spoke.
"What you see now is the God Valley of the past. The real God Valley has long since fallen into ruin."
After a brief pause, he continued:
"This is my homeland. I was gravely injured by Pluton's bombardment and no longer have the strength to fight you. I returned here only to choose a suitable grave."
"So you intend to turn this place into your tomb?"
"I know one of your women possesses the Uta Uta no Mi. As long as I remain on this planet, you will inevitably find me."
Imu spoke calmly:
"I lost. You won, Sun King. You are far stronger than Joy Boy ever was."
"You possess many secrets. I am curious about them."
Luffy had no interest in continuing the conversation.
He raised his hand.
Countless sharp vines shot forward instantly.
They pierced Imu where he sat upon the throne and stabbed through his heart.
Imu's body trembled.
Blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.
Even so, he remained seated as he spoke softly:
"It's a shame I never had the opportunity to uncover those secrets."
"You asked me what my goal was."
"My goal was simple."
"To transform this world into a place suitable for the survival of my people."
"...But now that no longer matters."
"Please bury my true body in God Valley."
"Sorry for troubling you, Sun King."
After speaking those final words, Imu closed his eyes.
At the same time, a system notification echoed.
[Congratulations on conquering the Grand Line! The Adventure Shop has been permanently unlocked for free!]
Luffy still didn't fully understand what Imu meant by "my people."
Was he talking about the Celestial Dragons?
The Three-Eye Tribe?
Or some other group entirely?
In the end, it no longer mattered.
Luffy opened the Adventure Shop.
Every item now cost zero Adventure Coins.
Free.
Forever.
There was no longer any need to spend coins.
He could buy anything.
After finally achieving his goal, Luffy discovered that he was surprisingly calm.
"I've lost my objective... and I feel a little empty."
Luffy shook his head.
It was like finishing a great game and realizing there was still a lingering sense of incompleteness.
[White Tree Seed]
A tree capable of producing Devil Fruits.
After being planted, whenever a Devil Fruit user dies, the reborn ability will be intercepted and transformed into a new Devil Fruit.
Original Price: 10,000,000 Adventure Coins.
Current Price: 0 Adventure Coins.
Note: Unique item. If the White Tree dies, the item can be renewed in the shop.
Purchase.
A white light shone in his hand.
When it faded, a small seed rested in his palm.
Shortly afterward.
Elegia.
The new headquarters of the World Government.
A luxuriously decorated conference room.
Both sides of the enormous table were occupied by the rulers of various nations across the world.
Not only were all 100+ member nations present.
Many independent allies had also arrived.
Year 1520.
Shogun of Wano, Kurozumi Tama.
Empress of Amazon Lily, Boa Hancock.
Queen of Totto Land, Charlotte Linlin.
Queen of the Kamabakka Kingdom, Emporio Ivankov.
Besides them, many familiar faces were also present.
The king of the Drum Kingdom, Dalton.
The king of Alabasta, Nefertari Cobra.
The mayor of Water 7, Iceburg.
The regent of Dressrosa, Kyros.
And many others.
Luffy entered the conference room and walked directly to the head seat.
Taking his seat, he smiled at everyone.
"Sorry for the delay. I had to take care of a small problem."
"You've all come a long way."
"The development of the world always moves forward in a spiral."
"The world has already been connected."
"Now it's time to put it back on track."
"So..."
"Let's begin."
"The future of the world will be decided at this World Summit!"
(End of Chapter)