Chapter 187 – The Secret at the Bottom, Joy Boy!
Chapter 187 – The Secret at the Bottom, Joy Boy!
Because of the decreased water pressure at this depth, it felt less like being at the ocean floor and more like gliding through the shallows. The surrounding environment no longer pressed heavily against them. Shirahoshi, still carrying Ryuunosuke, descended swiftly toward the root system of Sunlight Tree Eve.
As soon as they landed, Ryuunosuke noticed something unusual.
The seabed wasn’t the soft sludge he expected—it was stone. Carefully arranged slabs, laid with deliberate design. Human craftsmanship, without a doubt.
Ryuunosuke crouched down to examine them, running his fingers across the surface. Strange symbols were etched into the stone. Ancient writing—characters he couldn’t read. He hadn’t yet awakened the power to hear the Voice of All Things, after all.
He raised his hand and summoned his Nen ability. Instantly, a cluster of tiny puppets appeared beside him, chattering as they scurried across the stone. Each one began copying the symbols meticulously.
"Let’s copy everything first," Ryuunosuke murmured. "Luffy and the others will probably come here soon. When Robin arrives, she’ll be able to read these."
He stood up, eyes scanning the glowing roots surrounding them. The energy here wasn’t normal. It pulsed, gentle but commanding. Like a sleeping giant.
"Lord Ryuunosuke..." Shirahoshi’s voice broke the silence. "I feel... something calling me. My chest feels tight. It’s like... something is pulling me toward it."
Her voice was soft, but strained. Her cheeks flushed, her breath uneven. She clutched her chest as if the roots themselves were tugging on her spirit.
Ryuunosuke glanced her way, then back at the looming root system that stretched out like a palace built by nature. The light at its base shimmered faintly, illuminating the path forward.