Chapter 194: The Secret of The Wonders

"Robin," Luo Ning called out, "your expertise is needed here. Take a look at these inscriptions – they're written in an ancient script."

Robin approached the wall, her eyes scanning the unfamiliar texts. "Indeed, this is an ancient text, etched hastily onto the stone. It seems the Great Kingdom underwent a cataclysmic event. To safeguard their knowledge from destruction, they painstakingly carved it onto these very walls.

"These walls are essentially a historical archive built from stone – incredibly durable and impervious to time. Even the lettering appears to have been created with specialized tools. The sheer volume of material dedicated to recording their history is astounding!" Robin marveled, her voice tinged with awe.

"The inscriptions so far detail the glorious past of the Great Kingdom," she continued, "but there's a lack of truly crucial information..." Her expression suddenly darkened.

"Robin, what is it?" Nami pressed, sensing a shift in the archaeologist's demeanor. The others, unable to decipher the ancient script, mirrored Nami's curiosity. "What did you find?"

"These inscriptions hold a revelation. Recall the world's so-called miracles: Reverse Mountain, Sky Island, the Sabaody Archipelago's tree islands, Fishman Island – they were all creations of the Great Kingdom!"

Robin's voice echoed through the vast chamber as she translated the ancient text.

"The inscriptions reveal that the very foundation of Reverse Mountain rests on the manipulation of a powerful Direction Fruit user. By altering the water flow and solidifying it in an inverted state, they constructed this geographical anomaly."

"Similarly, Sky Island owes its existence to the a Devil Fruit. A user wielded its power to lift a portion of the sea into the sky, solidifying the clouds into a unique material. This is the true origin of Sky Island."

"Fishman Island's fate was no less extraordinary. Individuals wielding exceptional Devil Fruits plunged the island into the seabed, and those protective bubbles were their handiwork."

"Even the Sabaody Archipelago's tree islands, born from a Tree Devil Fruit, were meticulously cultivated over time, eventually forming the sprawling archipelago we know today. To think, these marvels we consider wonders of nature were all crafted by human ingenuity!"

A stunned silence descended upon the group. The awe-inspiring phenomena they had encountered throughout their journeys were not the product of natural forces, but the testaments to a bygone era's brilliance.

"Even the terrifying currents," Robin added, her voice trembling slightly, "are said to be the lingering aftereffects of a clash between two giants of unimaginable power. The intensity of the battle periodically triggers these currents, though their magnitude varies."

Robin felt a growing sense of disbelief. Without their firsthand exploration of these ruins, who could have fathomed that these wonders were not the result of natural processes, but the fruits of extraordinary human effort?

"The sheer might of the Great Kingdom is beyond comprehension," Hancock breathed, her eyes wide with astonishment. "To achieve such feats, and yet, to be utterly annihilated..."

A shadow of dread crept over them. The question loomed large: what kind of power could have brought down such a magnificent civilization? What secrets did the ancient weapon Uranus, coveted by the Twenty Kingdoms, hold? And what catastrophic event had reduced the Great Kingdom to this desolate state? The answers, they realized, lay hidden within these very walls.

"We need to find more walls like this," Luo Ning declared. "If they had the time to document these events, there must be other sections with similar records."

He wasn't taking any chances. Though the ruins seemed devoid of life, the Great Kingdom's technological prowess demanded caution. After all, they were the creators of weapons like Pluton and Uranus. Advanced security mechanisms couldn't be ruled out.

Separate searches were out of the question. Luo Ning wouldn't fall into the trap of splitting the group, a tactic often used in disastrous movie plots. He valued his crew's safety too much.

Thus, they proceeded as a unit, combing the ruins. Their efforts were quickly rewarded – another inscribed wall emerged from the dust.

"This inscription details the rebellion," Robin announced, activating her Devil Fruit power to translate the archaic text. "It speaks of the Twenty Kings, the original founders of the World Government. They were powerful within the Great Kingdom, wielding significant influence."

As Robin continued, the inscription painted a picture of growing ambition. The vast power wielded by the Twenty Kings fueled dissatisfaction. Coincidentally, this period coincided with the discovery of Uranus. Upon learning of this formidable weapon, the Twenty Kings united and seized control of it.

This inscription served as a historical indictment, chronicling the Twenty Kings' heinous act of using Uranus to bring about the Great Kingdom's downfall. Their past crimes were laid bare for all to see.

The inscription further revealed the deep-seated animosity harbored towards the Twenty Kings. Their emphasis on blood purity and the subjugation of other races as mere slaves rendered them incredibly unpopular within the Great Kingdom. Their arrogance and prejudice gradually fostered a sense of alienation, a rift entirely of their own making.

However, instead of introspection, they externalized blame, their pride blinding them to their own failings. Thus, the emergence of Uranus presented a golden opportunity. Though the Twenty Kings wielded considerable power due to their familial ties, it wouldn't have sufficed to dismantle the entire Great Kingdom.

The inscription identified Uranus as the catalyst for the kingdom's demise. Frustratingly, it offered no description of Uranus itself. The writer vehement disapproval was evident, repeatedly expressing their outrage at both the weapon's existence and the Twenty Kings' actions. The inscription concluded with a potent curse, a testament to the writer's profound hatred.

The mystery of Uranus gnawed at the group. A weapon capable of razing an entire kingdom – its true nature remained frustratingly elusive. The inscription offered no answers, only deepening their insatiable curiosity. Their quest for knowledge continued, their determination to uncover the secrets of Uranus burning brighter than ever.