Several days prior, the archaeological expedition led by Nico Olvia had been officially targeted for elimination by the World Government. Apart from Olvia herself, every other member had been hunted down and killed. Their crime? Daring to touch upon the World Government's most guarded secret – the Poneglyphs – and insisting on researching the forbidden history of the Void Century. Honestly, courting death like that... who else but them could expect such an end? They were practically poking a sleeping Celestial Dragon.
Ohara's destruction was inevitable. A congregation of idealistic scholars digging into forbidden history? They might as well have painted targets on their backs! They had violated the World Government's ultimate taboo. Robin's tragic fate, too, seemed woven into the tapestry of destiny – burdened with the hopes of all Ohara's researchers, expected to one day decipher the Void Century, thereby fulfilling the final wish of Ohara's people.
At eight years old, Nico Robin was about to embark on a life defined by flight, betrayal, deception, and lies. The darkest aspects of society would unfold before her young eyes, a harrowing journey that would only find respite when she finally encountered Straw Hat Luffy. But perhaps, this time, Robin's path might be slightly less torturous. At the very least, someone powerful had already taken notice of her.
The moment Doflamingo read that news report, ideas concerning Robin began to form. He couldn't care less about some Straw Hat Luffy or who his crew members were. While Doflamingo himself had little interest in the Void Century's history, he knew others were intensely interested – particularly groups like the Revolutionary Army, branded as heinous criminals by the World Government. Doflamingo needed Robin as a crucial piece in his own grand designs. After all, she would soon be the last living person capable of reading the ancient script. The World Government's pursuit of her would be relentless.
Protecting her wasn't just for her sake, but for his own as well. Doflamingo would have to shoulder the pressure from the World Government. In truth, their circumstances weren't so different: one, the 'Demon Child' of Ohara, committed to studying the Void Century; the other, a traitor to the Celestial Dragons, aiming to overthrow the World Government itself. Both were unforgivable sinners in the eyes of the world's ruling power.
With incredible speed, Doflamingo raced towards Ohara in the West Blue. A major confrontation might await him; getting past the formidable Aokiji would be no easy feat. Still, Doflamingo wasn't intimidated – it remained to be seen who would be teaching whom a lesson, though admittedly, the odds favored Doflamingo being the one getting schooled.
Ohara, the famed sanctuary of archaeology in the West Blue. It boasted the highest concentration of scholars in the world and the largest library – the Tree of Knowledge. A pity, then, that it was all about to be obliterated.
On this day, eight-year-old Robin, having just earned her doctorate, approached Professor Clover with her desire to research the Void Century. The Professor sternly refused. Hurt and confused, Robin fled the library in tears.
The next day, near Ohara's shore.
A little girl in a simple dress wandered alone by the sea. There, fate guided her to meet that man – the former Navy Vice Admiral, the giant Jaguar D. Saul. They talked happily, quickly becoming friends.
The story unfolded without deviation. Their fateful meeting was also the prelude to tragedy.
"I've become an archaeologist now. I want to study the Blank History," Robin confided in her new friend, Saul.
Hearing her words, Saul tensed instantly. He cautiously asked for confirmation, "What's your mother's name?"
"Nico Olvia," Robin replied.
"What?! This is bad! So this is Ohara?" Saul paled, instantly grasping the severity of the situation. "This is terrible! The Navy is preparing to eliminate Ohara's scholars! The island is in grave danger! Robin, hurry back! Your mother might have already returned!"
Hearing that her mother, gone for so many years, might be back, Robin's heart leaped with joy. Bidding Saul farewell, she rushed towards the Tree of Knowledge.
Meanwhile, within the Tree of Knowledge, Olvia, having disguised herself, finally met with Professor Clover. She revealed the full truth of their situation. As expected, nothing changed the scholars' resolve. The Professor refused to abandon the trove of human history stored within the Tree, choosing to stay and perish with it.
World Government agents descended upon the island. No one could escape. Their orders were to annihilate Ohara entirely. During the chaos, Robin and Olvia shared a brief, tearful reunion, but as the Buster Call commenced, mother and daughter were truly, irrevocably separated by death.
Even as CP agents had begun operating covertly on the island, Navy Headquarters had ordered nearby bases to blockade the waters surrounding Ohara. Soon after, the Buster Call warships arrived one by one. Not even gods could save Ohara now.
This entire operation was personally directed by the master strategist, Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Utterly loyal to the World Government, he executed its orders without question. Not only did he dispatch over twenty warships and five Vice Admirals for the Buster Call, but he also included two of the Navy's most prominent Vice Admirals, Akainu and Aokiji, in the mission. This highlighted the immense importance Sengoku placed on the operation.
Such a lineup was far beyond standard procedure. A Buster Call required a minimum of ten warships and five Vice Admirals; its maximum theoretical limit involved the entire Navy fleet. Regardless, for Ohara – an ordinary island known primarily for archaeology, history, and its library – even a fraction of this force would have been sufficient for total destruction. Deploying so many powerful figures signaled one intent: to utterly erase Ohara, wiping its existence and memory from the world map.
The World Government could no longer tolerate Ohara's existence. Anything perceived as a threat to its rule had to be destroyed.
Dozens of warships unleashed their cannons simultaneously, a unified barrage intent on sinking Ohara itself.
The island's ordinary citizens were caught in the crossfire, innocent victims of circumstance. There were no 'what ifs'; the World Government wouldn't spare a single potential suspect, not even a child. The scholars of Ohara, however, faced death unflinchingly. Powerless to protect humanity's treasured knowledge, they could only perish alongside it.
Cannon fire rained down upon the island. Olvia and Robin shared their final farewell.
"Please, take care of Robin! You must get my daughter out of here safely, Saul!" Olvia entrusted Robin to Saul, desperately hoping he could carry her away from this hellscape.
"No! What about you, Mama? Aren't you coming with us?" Robin pleaded from within Olvia's embrace.
"There are still things I must do here."
"I don't want to leave you, Mama! We only just found each other! I want to stay here too!" Robin sobbed in her mother's arms.
"Robin," Olvia said, her voice thick with emotion but firm, "As a scholar of Ohara, you should understand. History is humanity's treasure. It will surely illuminate your path forward. But history passed down from the ages will vanish if it isn't inherited. Ohara didn't seek to expose history, but merely to protect the voices left by our ancestors. Though our research ends here, even if Ohara is destroyed, we must pave the way for your future!"
"No! I'll stay too! Mama, don't leave me!" Little Robin wailed uncontrollably in Saul's giant hand, her heart shattering as she faced her final parting from her mother.
"Live, Robin!"
Watching Saul carry Robin away, Olvia finally broke down, covering her face and sobbing, whispering, "Robin... forgive me. I wasn't a good mother... You must live..."
Saul reached the shore with Robin, only to find Aokiji waiting for them.
"Kuzan!" Seeing Aokiji before him, Saul's heart seized with tension. He knew the situation was dire, but he had to, at the very least, ensure Robin's safe escape.
"Saul. You've betrayed the Navy," Aokiji stated coolly.
"Kuzan, what wrong has Ohara done?! They're just scholars! Must they be annihilated simply for studying history?" Saul demanded, his voice filled with anguish.
"For the sake of the world's future, this is unavoidable. Besides, the scholars did break the law, did they not?" Aokiji replied dispassionately.
As they spoke, the evacuation ship, which had initially refused Robin passage, was suddenly engulfed in flames – bombarded by Sakazuki's warship. Aokiji, who had just spoken with cold righteousness, broke into a cold sweat, muttering, "That bastard..."
Just like Akainu Sakazuki – decisive, ruthless, eradicating any potential 'evil' down to the root. Unrelenting.
"Is this what your 'justice' entails?! Seeing this, can you still stand by it?!" Saul roared, his resolve hardening.
Aokiji was caught in unspoken turmoil. This brutality was absolutely not his intention. Facing his friend, disgusted by the Navy's mission, and profoundly shocked by Sakazuki's attack on the civilian ship, Kuzan ultimately chose to show leniency. After encasing Saul in ice, he deliberately pretended not to see the small figure escaping. He watched as little Robin climbed onto a small wooden boat and drifted away.
Thus began Nico Robin's life as a fugitive.
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