God's Island, Upper Yard.
Sakazuki and Cricket stepped out of the temple, walking through the island and observing how it had changed over the past four hundred years.
"Sakazuki-san, when are we going to the Shandia settlement? Can they really make peace?"
Cricket's conflicted voice rang out.
Just now, inside the temple, Sakazuki had agreed to go to the Shandia's settlement and convey his wish.
But... could peace really be achieved?
Though still young and inexperienced, he knew well that a four-hundred-year war wouldn't be resolved so easily.
"No rush. First, we'll find the Shandora Ruins and the Light of Shandora."
"A 400-year grudge won't be settled just like that."
"If we can rekindle the Light of Shandora..."
(T/N: The Golden Bell is an enormous bell housed in the Great Belfry of Shandora along with the Shandorian Poneglyph. The name given to the bell by the locals is "The Light of Shandora")
"Perhaps there's a chance for negotiations."
Sakazuki activated his full Observation Haki to lock onto a general area as he spoke and led Cricket along.
Come to think of it, it was almost funny—God's country had occupied Jaya Island for 400 years and never discovered this ruin.
It wasn't until Enel arrived that it was found, and after plundering all the gold from Shandora, he built the Ark Maxim.
Sakazuki grabbed Cricket by the collar and the two figures vanished.
Golden City, Shandora's scattered golden structures.
It was somewhat awe-inspiring, yet strange—nowhere near as grand as the legends had claimed.
"These golden buildings are pretty overwhelming, but... is this really the legendary Golden City?"
"Of course not. Shandora is below."
Sakazuki, holding Cricket, stomped heavily on the ground.
A pillar of invisible force blasted downward, blowing open the earth as the two of them plummeted below.
Moments later, clouds flowed in to fill the gaping hole.
From above, one could see a city made entirely of gold.
A dazzling golden glow stretched across the horizon, with a massive vine piercing its center.
Four golden towers surrounded the enormous vine.
If not for that vine, the guarded central location would surely be where the legendary Light of Shandora once stood.
Behind the colossal vine stood a towering altar.
The previously visible scattered golden buildings had only been the exposed tip of the altar.
Below, countless golden structures—some intact, others in ruins—filled the space.
Everything here was made of gold.
An ancient, desolate feeling swept over them. Standing amidst it all, one could easily imagine how magnificent and prosperous Shandora must have been 800 years ago.
Setting down the stunned and speechless Cricket, Sakazuki strode toward the enormous vine.
There, among the debris, lay broken golden slabs etched with square-shaped characters. Just as expected...
Sakazuki sighed, a bit helpless, though not overly disappointed.
The Poneglyphs only recorded the past—just the weapons of bygone dynasties. After wandering a bit, he found Cricket who was still documenting his findings.
Seeing Sakazuki approach, Cricket spoke up:
"Sakazuki-san, the Light of Shandora doesn't seem to be here."
Sakazuki grabbed him by the collar.
"The Light of Shandora isn't here. It's in the sky."
Then, with a powerful leap, a volcano-like force burst from beneath his feet as he soared toward the top of the massive vine, disappearing into the cloud cover. That was where the great golden bell was located.
Elsewhere, White Sea.
A small island in the southeast—Birka.
Unlike other Sky Islands that evolved into castle-like structures, the architecture here remained ancient and solemn, adorned with carvings that felt steeped in antiquity.
The atmosphere was heavy—speaking loudly here felt like a sin. It resembled some sacred ancient land.
But that was only the surface impression. Thanks to its residents, this island held a great deal of warmth and humanity, such as...
"That damn brat Enel!"
"Find him! He dared to steal my apple—I'm gonna beat him senseless!"
"You, you, you, and you!"
"You four go that way!"
"You two, follow me over here!"
A five-year-old Skypiean child was leading a group of three- and four-year-olds.
He was commanding them to search for Enel. Once the little ones scattered and ran off...
A puff of white cloud was lifted from behind a flowerbed.
Out popped Enel's tiny head. Unlike the other Skypiean children, three-year-old Enel had no wings.
He took a huge bite of the apple and looked toward the self-proclaimed child king with a triumphant expression.
"Hmph! Idiot! Think you can catch me? Just wait until I get stronger!"
"Then you'll be sorry."
Enel crouched down again.
At a corner over a hundred meters away, a passerby happened to turn the corner.
They continued walking without ever noticing the child hiding in the flowerbed.
God's Island, vine top.
The legendary Light of Shandora—the massive golden bell—stood silently.
Four hundred years of wind and rain had not dulled its luster.
Two enormous golden columns, eight meters in diameter, towered on either side, with the great golden bell hanging between them.
It was a Poneglyph. It was the song of a legendary island. It was the signal that started a four-hundred-year war...
Beneath the massive golden bell, Sakazuki's nearly three-meter frame looked small.
Seeing Cricket confused, he spoke in a deep voice:
"To the Skypieans, it's a signal of war—and also one of peace."
"To the Shandians, it's a promise to Noland, and the lifelong regret of the great warrior Kalgara."
"The war has lasted four centuries. Generations have bled and sacrificed."
"If it's rung, there will be a sliver of hope for negotiations."
"But that depends on whether the leaders of both sides have the courage to become the sinner..."
"The one who carries the burden of 400 years of hatred."
"If we don't ring it, we can go straight to the Shandian tribe now."
"Fulfill your ancestor's wish—and deliver Gan Fall's desire for peace."
"After all, not many would dare shoulder the weight of 400 years of enmity."
Cricket didn't know what to do. As Noland's descendant, he could serve as a bridge between both sides.
But he had no right to make decisions for the Shandians. Staring at the massive golden bell—
Underground Ruins, Birka.
The structures and layout here were nearly identical to those on the White Sea's Sky Islands. It was like a perfect replica—but without a trace of life.
Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank!
A solitary, mechanical puppet patrolled the area. But it was at its limit too—no more power supply.
After thousands of years of waiting, at last...
It collapsed, its final trace of energy spent in this massive subterranean city.
It lay still, gazing upward toward the ruins above.
As though it could see past all the layers of obstruction, and glimpse that blue planet...
The light in its eyes slowly faded...
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