Apayaado, the Godly Island.
Sakaski and Kurik emerged from the temple, surveying the island that had changed over four hundred years.
“Mr. Sakaski, when are we going to the Shandian outpost? Can we really make peace?”
Kurik’s hesitant voice arose. Sakaski had just agreed in the hall to convey his wish to the Shandians, but… could peace truly be achieved?
Though the young man lacked experience, he knew that four hundred years of war wouldn't easily be resolved.
“No rush, let’s find the ruins of Shandora and the Bell of Shandora first.”
“Four hundred years of hatred won’t dissipate easily.”
“However…”
“If the Bell of Shandora is re-rung.”
“There might be a chance for negotiation.”
Sakaski unleashed his Observation Haki, pinpointing a general area, and spoke as he led Kurik along.
It was quite amusing that the Godly Kingdom, after occupying Jaya for four hundred years, hadn't known about such ruins. It was only found after Enel arrived, who then plundered Shandora’s gold to create the Ark Maxim.
“Is that so…”
“Found it.”
“Huh?!!!”
*Swish!*
Sakaski grabbed Kurik by the collar, and the two figures vanished.
----------------------
The Golden City, Shandora. Scattered golden structures, somewhat imposing yet also strange, not as… grand as legend described.
“While the golden structures are impressive, is this truly the legendary Golden City?”
“Of course not, Shandora is below.”
“Below?”
*Boom!*
Sakaski, carrying Kurik, stomped his foot. An invisible pillar of force shot downwards, blasting open the ground. The two plunged down, and moments later, new clouds filled the void.
Descending from the sky, they saw a city built entirely of gold. As far as the eye could see, it shimmered with golden light. A colossal vine pierced through the center.
Four golden towers stood around the giant vine, forming a circle. Without the massive vine, the center would have held the legendary Bell of Shandora.
Behind the giant vine was a towering altar. The scattered golden structures previously seen were merely the upper corner of this altar.
Below were countless golden houses, some intact, others in ruins. Everything here was made of gold.
An aura of ancient desolation washed over them. Standing there, one could imagine how prosperous and magnificent Shandora must have been eight hundred years ago.
Sakaski placed Kurik, who was rendered speechless by the spectacle, down and walked towards the giant vine. There were some broken golden slabs etched with square-shaped script. Indeed…
“I can’t understand it.”
Sakaski felt a twinge of helplessness but no real disappointment. Poneglyphs recorded the past, remnants of a bygone era. After exploring for a while, he found Kurik, who was diligently taking notes.
Seeing Sakaski approach, Kurik spoke.
“Mr. Sakaski, it seems the legendary Bell of Shandora isn’t here.”
Sakaski lifted Kurik by his collar.
“The Bell of Shandora is indeed not here. It’s in the sky.”
With a mighty leap, his feet erupted with volcanic force, and he ascended towards the top of the giant vine.
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White Sea, a small island in the southeast, Birka.
Unlike the castle-like styles of other sky islands, the architecture here retained an ancient solemnity. The carvings on the buildings exuded an ancient aura.
It felt somewhat oppressive, as if speaking loudly here was a sin, like a sacred ground from ancient times.
But this was merely a superficial impression. Because people were present, the island also possessed a human warmth, like…
“Damn it, where is that brat Enel?”
“Find him! How dare he steal my apples, I’ll beat him within an inch of his life!”
“You, you, you, you.”
“You four go over there.”
“You two come with me.”
“Find him!!!”
A five-year-old Angel child led a group of three and four-year-olds, directing them to search for Enel. Once the children dispersed and walked away.
A white cloud was pushed aside from behind a flower bed, revealing Enel’s small head. Unlike the other Angel children, the three-year-old Enel had no wings.
*Crunch!*
Taking a big bite of an apple, Enel looked in the direction of the child leader, a triumphant expression appearing on his face.
“Hmph, idiot, you still want to catch me? Wait until I’m stronger.”
“I’ll make you pay.”
*Crunch!*
*Crunch!*
“Huh?”
Enel crouched down again. About a hundred meters away, around a corner, a pedestrian had just passed. Before they turned the corner again and walked away, they hadn’t noticed a small child hiding in the flower bed.
*Crunch, crunch…*
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Godly Island, treetop.
The legendary Bell of Shandora, a giant golden clock, stood silently here.
Four hundred years of wind and rain had not diminished its brilliance. Two golden pillars, eight meters long and of considerable diameter, stood here, with the massive golden bell hanging between them.
It was a Poneglyph, the song of the legendary island, the signal that had ignited four hundred years of war…
“Should I ring it?”
“Hm?”
Beneath the colossal golden bell, Sakaski’s nearly three-meter-tall figure seemed minuscule. Looking at the perplexed Kurik, he spoke in a low voice.
“To the sky dwellers, it is a signal of war, and also a signal of its end.”
“To the Shandians, it is a promise to Mont Blanc Cricket, and the eternal regret of the great warrior Calgara.”
“The war has lasted four hundred years, generation after generation shedding blood and sacrificing their lives.”
“If this is rung, there will be a sliver of hope for peace between the two sides.”
“It depends on whether the leaders of both sides dare to become the sinners.”
“Those sinners who bear four hundred years of hatred.”
“If it is not rung, we can go to the Shandian tribe now.”
“Fulfill your ancestor’s last wish, and convey Gan Fall’s desire for peace.”
“After all, no one has the courage to bear four hundred years of hatred.”
Kurik didn’t know what to do. As a descendant of Cricket, he could be a bridge for peace between the two sides, but he had no right to decide for the Shandians. He gazed at the giant golden bell.
“I…”
----------------------
The Moon, underground ruins, Birka.
The architecture and layout here bore an eight-tenths similarity to the sky islands of the White Sea, as if replicated wholesale, but devoid of any signs of life.
*Clack! Clack! Clack! Clack!…*
A lonely mechanical figure patrolled here, but it was nearing its end. Without any energy supply, after a thousand years of waiting, finally…
*Plop…*
The last bit of energy within this vast underground city was exhausted, and it collapsed onto the ground, gazing upwards towards the ruins.
It seemed to pierce through layers of obstruction, seeing the blue planet. The light in its eyes gradually faded…