The sea was silent. Too silent. No waves, no wind, not even the cries of distant sea kings. It was as if the ocean itself was holding its breath.
Ankit stood at the bow of the Red Force, his eyes scanning the misty horizon. Beneath them was the Trench of Lost Echoes, a cursed place mentioned only in whispers among the oldest sailors. The Proficiency System in his mind rang clear, displaying an ominous notification.
[Quest Activated: The Abyssal Archive]
Objective 1: Locate the Abyssal Archive hidden beneath the Trench of Lost Echoes.
Objective 2: Defeat the Abyssal Guardians.
Objective 3: Retrieve the Forgotten Chronicle.
Warning: Unknown lifeforms and ancient machines detected. Probability of death: 72%.
Shanks walked beside him, cape billowing gently despite the still air. His usual carefree grin was gone, replaced by quiet anticipation.
"Trench of Lost Echoes... this place's name alone tells me it's gonna be fun," Shanks muttered. "You feel it too, right, Ankit? Something down there... watching us."
Ankit nodded. "Something ancient... and angry."
Benn Beckman flicked away his cigarette and spoke up. "If the legends are true, the Archive down there holds the truth the World Government buried. Something even the Marines fear."
Yasopp smirked while loading his rifle. "Then it's worth risking our necks for."
Lucky Roux grinned, patting his stomach. "Hope they got some snacks down there too."
Even in the face of danger, the Red-Haired Pirates were unshaken. But Ankit's mind remained focused. His swords hummed faintly on his back, resonating with the energy below.
The Descent into Darkness
Using a reinforced submersible designed by their shipwright, the crew descended into the abyss. The deeper they went, the colder and darker the world became. Strange shadows flickered outside the pod, moving like whispers in the dark.
Suddenly, the lights flickered. The sensors beeped erratically. And then—they saw it.
Colossal humanoid figures drifted in the depths. Rusted, corroded, but unmistakably mechanical. Dozens of Abyssal Guardians, remnants of an ancient civilization, surrounded the trench's mouth.
[System Alert: Abyssal Guardians Detected]
Threat Level: A+
Combat Proficiency Check Required. Recommended: Full Crew Engagement.
"Looks like the welcoming committee's here," Beckman muttered.
Shanks smirked, resting Gryphon on his shoulder. "Let's greet them, boys."
The crew ejected from the pod, surrounded by protective film bubbles powered by special coatings. In the crushing pressure of the deep sea, their movements were slow but calculated.
Ankit drew his swords. Ocean Fang and Void Fang gleamed under the faint lights.
[Skill Activated: Dual Style - Flowing Tide Slash]
He sliced through the water with arcs of compressed cutting force, cleaving one Guardian in half. But more approached, launching harpoons and energy beams from their rusted frames.
Shanks coated his sword in Conqueror's Haki, bisecting two automatons in a single stroke. Yasopp's sniper fire precisely disabled their cores, while Lucky Roux tore through one with sheer brute force.
The battle raged in eerie silence, only the dull thuds of impacts and the whirring of ancient machines echoing in the abyss.
The Archive's Gates
As the last Guardian fell, the trench floor rumbled. Before them, an ancient stone gate opened, revealing a passage bathed in azure light. Runes from a forgotten language lined the walls.
The System buzzed in Ankit's mind again.
[Quest Update: Abyssal Archive Entrance Unlocked]
Inside, crystalline data pillars stretched endlessly. Holograms projected scenes from the distant past—wars, kings, devils, and weapons lost to time.
But one name echoed through every scene:
Rion D. Gol.
Ankit froze. "Rion D. Gol..."
Shanks' face darkened. "Roger's younger brother. He vanished long before our time. The World Government erased every trace of him."
Beckman frowned. "And yet, he's everywhere here. Looks like this Archive belonged to him."
Ankit stepped forward, watching a projection of Rion wielding twin swords striking down enemies unlike any seen today. His fighting style—eerily similar to Ankit's own Dual Sword Style. The realization hit him like a wave.
"Did my Proficiency System... originate from him?"
Before he could ponder further, the Archive shook violently.
The Abyssal Keeper Awakens
From the shadows, a massive being emerged. Half-machine, half-sea beast, powered by ancient technology. Its single glowing eye locked onto them.
[Final Guardian Detected: Abyssal Keeper - 'Erebus Sentinel']
Threat Level: S-rank
Weaknesses: Unknown
Warning: Extreme danger. Recommend full-power engagement.
Shanks whistled, clearly excited. "Now that's a boss fight."
Ankit tightened his grip on his swords. His Proficiency levels surged, the system pushing his stats beyond his previous limits.
"Crew, formation!" Shanks ordered, his Conqueror's Haki crackling like thunder.
Ankit took point, swords glowing with a deep blue aura. "Let's end this. Together."
The Abyssal Keeper roared, its mechanical limbs generating shockwaves through the ocean. But the Red-Haired Pirates didn't flinch.
This was why they were feared across the seas.
This was why they sailed under the red flag.
Together, they charged into the darkness of history itself.
End of Chapter 47