The humiliating retreat of Golden Lion Shiki's fleet gave the Roger Pirates the excuse for a victory party of legendary proportions.
On the deck, stolen barrels of rum were piled like mountains. The scent of grilled meat mixed with salty sea air and drifted far across the waves.
"To Kyle's Heaven-Tilting Wave!"
"To the Captain's Divine Departure!"
Arms slung over shoulders, the crew sang at the top of their lungs, celebrating a triumph snatched from overwhelming odds.
Kyle leaned against the mast, orange juice in hand, smiling as he watched the chaos.
Just days ago it had been a young, still-unpolished Whitebeard.
Now it was a tsundere-phase Golden Lion.
He'd crossed blades with two legends back-to-back.
It felt like triggering two endgame boss fights while still in the tutorial zone—absurd and exhilarating all at once.
"What're you thinking about?" Rayleigh asked, sitting beside him and handing over a skewer of grilled fish.
Kyle took a bite. "That our logbook must be broken. Other pirates go treasure hunting. We just keep running into legendary monsters who show up to fight us."
Rayleigh chuckled. "They're the ones who come looking for us—especially Shiki. A man with that much ambition was always going to crash into Roger sooner or later."
He glanced at Roger, who was arm-wrestling Gaban and laughing like a fool.
"…But this is what makes it fun."
Kyle nodded.
Yeah. This was exactly why it was fun.
Toward the End of the Line
After the party, the Oro Jackson set sail again.
This time, the Log Pose was eerily steady, pointing straight ahead, unwavering—as if declaring that the journey's end lay just beyond the horizon.
The mood on board rose by the day.
"When we reach the last island," Nozdon shouted from the bow, "I'm going to announce to the whole world that we're the first crew to sail around it!"
"I'm finding the prettiest girl alive and telling her I'm on the Pirate King's ship!" Elio said dreamily.
"Pirate King?" Gaban grinned. "That's a nice ring to it. Captain, that'll be your title."
"Kyahahaha! Sounds awesome!" Roger accepted it without the slightest shame.
Kyle just leaned on the rail, letting the wind brush his face.
He knew the needle's destination wasn't truly the end—but he kept quiet, letting himself be carried along by his crewmates' pure joy.
Being here to witness this moment was reason enough.
The Final Island…?
Weeks later, Dolinger's voice cracked as he shouted from the lookout.
"I see it! An island! The Log Pose's final destination!"
The entire crew rushed forward.
Ahead lay a breathtaking island, crisscrossed by shining blue waterways like ribbons. Massive natural geysers erupted from its center, mist forming brilliant rainbows in the sunlight.
"Lodestar Island…" Rayleigh read from the chart. "A fitting name."
"Land ho! Party time!" Roger was already waving his arms.
The Oro Jackson docked. Crewmen leapt onto solid ground, cheering, kissing the earth, hauling out food and drink.
They'd done it.
They had conquered the Grand Line.
Roger drove Ace into the highest point of the shore, declaring their arrival—
—but suddenly, a voice cut through the celebration.
"Captain… Rayleigh… look at this."
Elio pointed at the Log Pose.
It was spinning wildly.
The cheers died instantly.
Rayleigh checked his spare. Same result.
Only one thing could make a Log Pose go haywire.
"There's… more?" Nozdon whispered.
Silence fell.
Until Roger laughed.
"Kyahahaha… What's with those faces?" He hoisted Ace over his shoulder. "So the adventure isn't over? That just makes it better!"
And just like that, despair vanished.
"That's right!" Gaban laughed. "We'll just keep going!"
"OOOHHH!!"
Kyle smiled.
That was Gol D. Roger.
For him, every dead end was just the start of a new story.
The Red Stone
Then Roger noticed something beyond the trees.
"Oho? What's that?"
He ran ahead, pulling the others along.
Beneath thick vines lay a cavern. And inside it stood a massive crimson stone cube.
"A Poneglyph?" Rayleigh muttered—then frowned. "No… it's red."
Kyle's heart skipped.
A Road Poneglyph.
Roger touched it.
He froze.
"It's… talking," he whispered.
His eyes snapped open, blazing with excitement.
"This island is the Log Pose's end—but not the world's. To reach the true final island, we need four of these red stones. Each one marks a location. Draw lines between the four points, and the center… is the final island!"
The cave went silent.
Then Roger laughed, louder than ever.
"So that's the secret! This world still has something this big waiting for us!"
He turned to his crew.
"Find the four Road Poneglyphs. Reach the final island.
Will you come with me to see the edge of the world?!"
"OOOOOOOOH!!!"
Kyle looked up at the endless sky beyond the cave.
The road to Laugh Tale had begun.
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