In his time, Rocks was undoubtedly the sole superstar of the pirate world.
Though the number of pirates back then paled in comparison to later generations, his strength was beyond question.
Because beneath him were figures who, in this era, would have been hailed as "Emperors."
Even excluding the most monstrous ones—Charlotte Linlin, Whitebeard, Shiki, and Kaido—there were still Wang Zhi, Captain John, Silver Axe, Gloriosa, and others...
The most pathetic one, of course, was Buckinham Stussy.
To gather such monsters under his command and reign over them for so many years, Rocks was indisputably the strongest before the Great Pirate Era.
Yet, during the assault on God Valley, he inexplicably vanished from the battlefield.
In the end, with Roger and Garp joining forces, the Rocks Pirates were utterly crushed.
That already loosely-knit pirate crew swiftly disbanded after Rocks' disappearance and their defeat at God Valley...
Together, they burned like wildfire—apart, they scattered like stars.
Rocks, who had gathered these sparks of hope, now sat calmly before Michael.
"Rocks? Rocks D. Xebec?" Michael tilted his head, studying the man before him.
"If my understanding of history is correct... your hair shouldn't be this color."
"Need you ask? This is your handiwork... Angel-sama."
There was no trace of the arrogance that once marked the world's strongest man on Rocks' face - only an almost excessive humility...
"My handiwork?"
Michael pulled over a chair and sat facing Rocks.
Then a white Holy Flame drifted from his Wings toward a nearby candle.
As it ignited, warm light filled the room.
Now he could see Rocks clearly - missing one arm and one leg.
"Seems I hit you pretty hard?"
"This? No no, you misunderstand. These injuries came from the power within that device." A reminiscent expression crossed Rocks' face.
"Deep in God Valley, in chambers meant to be buried underground, I found the legendary 'Lunar Technology.'"
Michael froze.
Lunar Technology?
That thing Oda had hinted at through indirect descriptions but never fully revealed?
Rocks actually... found it?
And judging from Rocks' experience...
That device was undoubtedly what brought him eight hundred years into the past.
Likewise...
If Michael wanted to uncover the full truth, he'd need to find that device and travel back eight centuries too.
This wasn't just about Kozuki Toki and Joy Boy's messages...
Michael also wanted to witness firsthand how Joy Boy fell to the Twenty Kings...
And perhaps catch glimpses of the trump cards held by Imu, who might have lived since that era...
Michael already had the Revolutionary Army expanding across the Grand Line, with the Marine on the verge of independence.
But without understanding Imu's true capabilities, the World Government would remain unshaken despite being critically vulnerable.
Such was the deterrent effect of "weapons of mass destruction."
So whether for personal or public matters, this journey eight centuries back had become essential.
"So you're from eight hundred years ago, correct?"
"Oh? You've met Kozuki Toki then?"
"Kozuki Toki never... mentioned your existence."
"Of course not. Back then, she had no idea who 'Rocks' even was... Though come to think of it, she was the one who found me in the forest."
"This lunar device you mentioned... where is it now?"
"Still in God Valley, of course." Rocks' expression turned wistful mentioning the place again. "That land was seized and ruined by the Celestial Dragons just because of its name... turned into their hunting ground for humans... utterly despicable."
"So were you there to free slaves or save humanity?"
"You overestimate me too much. I just wanted to kill a few Celestial Dragons for fun and incidentally steal the Devil Fruits they kept as rewards."
Rocks didn't bother portraying himself as some righteous hero.
He spoke nothing but blunt truths from the start.
"When I entered the underground of God Valley, I expected greater treasures, but found no gold or jewels—only that ancient-looking lunar device... Though I didn't know what it was, my Voice of All Things perception couldn't be wrong... Inside that device was a power so immense I couldn't comprehend it." Rocks licked his lips, finally showing some intensity.
"That power... it was unlike anything I'd ever seen. My curiosity overwhelmed everything else."
"So, I tried to release it... but instead, I accidentally activated it."
"That terrifying force instantly pierced through my body. Even with Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki, it was useless."
"When I regained consciousness, I had already lost my left arm and right leg, lying in front of a bed..."
"Then, you appeared. You saved my life, but my strength... seemed completely shattered by the power that had torn through me. The once-undefeated Rocks, who dominated the seas, became this cripple with no power left."
Rocks leaned against the wall, his burning gaze fixed on Michael.
"I used to wonder why, despite your incredible healing abilities, you never restored my severed limbs... Now I realize—you must have known I was Rocks back then. And that I was destined to return to this time."
"Everything... was fate's arrangement."
Michael studied Rocks.
When he spoke of his lost power, there was a flicker of unwillingness in his eyes.
But only a flicker.
It vanished almost instantly.
"Is that thing... still beneath God Valley?"
"Of course it is... though God Valley itself has been erased from the seas by Imu."
"Erased from the seas... meaning underwater?"
"That... I wouldn't know."
Michael raised an eyebrow, stood, and bathed Rocks in radiant Holy Light before slapping his palm onto the man's head.
"Sacred Healing Art: Limb Reconstruction."
Then, without hesitation, he turned and left.
Meanwhile Rocks was muttering to himself.
"Since I've traveled eight hundred years back to this era..."
"I'll live properly."
"Eight hundred years ago, I witnessed the Sun God's failure..."
"Eight hundred years later, I hope to witness the Seraphim's success."
---------
Read 40 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator