A concealed passage lay upon the path leading to the Mortuary Temple.
At the foot of the long, descending staircase spread a vast subterranean expanse. It was a sanctuary built to protect a singular object; a place whose existence was revealed only to those of the royal bloodline. For generations, they had inherited the duty to guard this secret, tracing the long arc of history.
And in this modern era, that burden had fallen to Cobra.
Beyond the hidden passage lay the Underground Mausoleum.
Having reached its depths, Miss All Sunday stood before a massive, cubic stone.
It was hewn from a unique ore, shaped into a square so perfect it felt unnatural. Its face was carved with strange characters—a script no ordinary human could decipher.
It was a stone that chronicled history. A Poneglyph.
Indestructible, unbreakable, a stele inscribed with a history forbidden to be spoken of by men. It was a mysterious artifact, one of only a few in the entire world.
Miss All Sunday appeared to be reading the ancient text.
To learn the ancient tongue, or to decipher and search for the Poneglyphs, was strictly forbidden by law. Consequently, Cobra could not conceal his shock.
His gag and restraints had been removed, leaving him slumped against the wall. Though the situation likely allowed for escape, he made no immediate move to flee. He was too captivated by her actions.
A woman reading the ancient script, deciphering the Poneglyph. She was far from ordinary.
"You... you can read that script?"
"Yes."
"Why? Where did you learn it? That is not knowledge easily passed down."
Miss All Sunday tore her gaze from the stele and turned to him. Wearing a faint smile that betrayed no emotion, she addressed Cobra with an air of composure.
"Everyone has a past they wish to keep hidden. Just like this stone. I wouldn't recommend prying out of mere curiosity."
She offered no clear answer, turning back to the stone immediately. Cobra fell silent, lost in thought.
Miss All Sunday finished reading the inscription, but a heavy silence hung in the air before she spoke again.
"Is this it? Is this all that is written here?"
"I cannot read the script. My duty was never to guard the contents, but the stone itself and its secrecy. I have nothing more to tell you."
"I see..."
"Did it not contain what you desired?"
Miss All Sunday fell silent. After a moment, she spoke, her voice changed.
"I intended for this to be my last stop. Once I aligned myself with that man, I knew failure meant death. Besides... I am tired of running."
"What do you mean?"
She turned to him, a small, enigmatic smile playing on her lips.
It was a smile both beautiful and eerie, wrapped in a unique atmosphere. Sensing something ineffable, Cobra furrowed his brow, staring intently at her face.
Calmly, without a hint of fear, she delivered her verdict.
"I am going to die here today. This stone was my final hope."
Though she was an enemy, Cobra was stunned. He gasped, rendered speechless and motionless by her words.
Had he ever seen a human accept their own death with a smile? Judging by her demeanor, he could not dismiss it as a joke; the very air around her told him she was entirely serious.
She stood there, having already made peace with her end.
He could not comprehend such mental fortitude. His mind was filled with disbelief.
Wounded, bleeding, and exhausted, Cobra staggered to his feet. He looked Miss All Sunday squarely in the eye once more. Enemy or not, doubt remained. He could not understand what had driven her to this state.
As they faced one another, a falcon soared into the chamber from the passage.
Pell, in his beast form, arrived. Reverting instantly to his human form, he rushed to Cobra's side. Though he was just as exhausted, his speed betrayed no fatigue. He checked Cobra's condition in a heartbeat, then leveled his sword at Miss All Sunday.
"Your Majesty! Are you unharmed?"
"Ah... do not worry. I am safe."
"Forgive my delay. I shall protect you from here on!"
Pell remained wary of Miss All Sunday, his blade poised to strike.
Seeing this, Miss All Sunday's smile did not waver, nor did she move. She seemed to have no intention of fighting; with her powers, she could have dispatched the wounded Pell at any moment, yet she refrained.
Though suspicious of her lack of stance, escape was the priority. Pell urged Cobra to hurry. Ready to carry the King on his back if necessary, he transformed into his hybrid form, sword still in hand.
"We must escape at once! The battle rages on outside! Please, show yourself to the soldiers—let them know their King is safe! That alone will raise their morale!"
"Wait. I wish to speak with her. Just for a moment."
"Speak...? What are you saying? At a time like this..."
"Just a moment. I will come immediately."
Cobra stepped past Pell, looking at Miss All Sunday. He felt no sense of danger, no intent to attack from her. Even as he approached, she made no move to strike. Pell, realizing this—though not entirely relieved—quietly lowered his sword.
The conversation began then.
"I want to hear the true meaning of your words. If you truly claim this is the end."
"You would trust me? The woman who framed you and your country?"
"It does not matter."
Perhaps this was the magnanimity of a King. Cobra answered without hesitation.
Miss All Sunday closed her eyes for a few seconds before she began to speak.
"What I was searching for... was the Rio Poneglyph. The True History Text. The only stone among all the Poneglyphs scattered across the world that tells the true history."
"The... true history?"
She saw Cobra gasp, but she did not stop.
"I don't know where it is. No one knows what is written on it. I have lived my entire life solely to read it. But... I have reached my limit."
"Why? If you have the will to live, surely you can survive."
"I prepared myself for this the moment I joined hands with that man. I thought I could hide within the 'darkness' of this world... but he is a darkness unto himself. I never truly believed I could escape him while standing so close."
Her tone suggested she believed she was no match for Crocodile. Yet, she did not sound afraid—only resigned. There was no wavering in her voice. The fact that her expression remained perfectly composed in the face of death seemed utterly abnormal.
Is a human who has given up on living truly such a sorrowful existence?
"From the moment I began cooperating with him, I thought this would be the end. But it seems my wish will not be granted."
"Tell me one thing... The 'Untold History'... can it be spun together? You say the Poneglyphs are that record?"
To Cobra's question, Miss All Sunday merely smiled.
That alone was answer enough. Cobra was struck with astonishment once more, a shock so profound he nearly collapsed. As royalty, there were things he knew—fragments of lore he now frantically pieced together in his mind.
But no matter how deeply he pondered, it was a question with no easy answer.
Miss All Sunday looked away, returning her gaze to the Poneglyph. There was a deep sense of sentimentality in her eyes. Because she believed this was the end, the feeling was all the stronger.
"I only want to know the history... But in this world, even that is not forgiven."
Cobra could offer no rebuttal to her monologue.
"My dream... simply has too many enemies."
It was, perhaps, the first time she had ever shown weakness.
With her back turned, she said little else. Yet, in that moment, her silhouette appeared overwhelmingly lonely—so much so that even Pell, who had been radiating hostility moments ago, looked on in bewilderment.
What is the True History? What are the Poneglyphs? What is the 'Void Century'?
Cobra stood rooted to the spot, his thoughts spiraling.
They stood frozen in time until Miss All Sunday spoke again. From her perspective, he was no longer of use.
She abruptly advised them to leave, though she herself made no move to follow.
The proposal surprised both Cobra and Pell.
"Go. I won't stop you."
"What...?"
"If you stay here, you will be killed."
"I suppose so."
"Why do you not run? Why do you give up so easily!"
"I told you, didn't I? I am tired of running."
Miss All Sunday's demeanor did not shift.
"There is no place for me to live. Not even within that organization."
Hearing her voice, Cobra understood that words were now futile. His expression grew stern, and he looked down involuntarily.
"I've said too much. Perhaps I just wanted someone to listen. At the very end, at least."
"...There is a mechanism in this mausoleum designed to prevent intruders from escaping."
Cobra began to speak, hesitating as he did so. It was not salvation he offered. If anything, it was a cruel act. Yet, knowing this, he could not bring himself to leave in silence.
"To protect the Poneglyph... if a specific small pillar is removed, the center of gravity shifts, and the entire mausoleum is designed to collapse. I do not know if that information helps you."
"Is that so? Thank you."
"I am sorry..."
"Why are you apologizing? Fufu... what a strange man you are."
She chuckled softly. Her smile remained until the very end.
What Cobra had just suggested was essentially a way to take her enemy down with her, not a way to survive. Yet, even knowing this, she showed no distress.
He felt it was an absurd thing to suggest. But he had no other offering for her. With a pained expression, Cobra cast his eyes downward and turned his back on her.
The King was a kind man. Pell understood this well.
He did not know her circumstances, but he knew the King regretted her impending death. While he felt pride in his King's compassion, his duty was to ensure Cobra's safety. As a soldier, he discarded any extraneous thoughts and committed himself to his mission.
With Cobra on his back—the King's eyes now burning with resolve—Pell took flight. They headed for the plaza to watch over the soldiers' battle.
"We must hurry! Hold on tight!"
"I have caused everyone such trouble... I must see this through to the end."
The two figures receded rapidly into the distance. Miss All Sunday did not look back, nor did she stop their escape.
Left alone, she stood still for a long time.
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