Chapter 31 - 32
Skypiea, Upper Yard.
Sakazuki and Cricket followed a Divine Squad member along a narrow path winding through the forest. Towering trees loomed on either side, their canopies vanishing into the clouds above like spears piercing the sky.
"This is unbelievable," Cricket murmured, awe heavy in his voice. "So Skypiea really does have land. And these trees... they're enormous."
The man in front turned his head slightly and spoke with reverence. "Skypiea didn't always have land. This was a gift from God."
"Four hundred years ago," Sakazuki's voice cut in.
Cricket blinked in surprise and turned to glance at him.
The man cast a curious look over his shoulder. "So... the Blue Sea knows about it too?"
"No," Sakazuki replied. "I only learned about it on the way here."
Cricket listened, eyes wide with shock and excitement. He looked around as if trying to carve every detail of the scenery into his memory.
Before long, a completely white palace came into view. Unlike the castle-style buildings on Angel Island, this grand hall had an ancient design. It felt solemn and majestic.
A man in a white robe stood waiting at the entrance. His beard was long, and though his frame looked fragile, there was something dignified about his presence. The Squad member opened his mouth to speak, but the man raised a hand.
At the silent command, the warrior bowed and stepped aside.
The man in white walked up to them and extended his right hand. "Welcome, powerful adventurers from the Blue Sea," he said warmly. "I am Gan Fall."
Sakazuki studied the man's face, then took his hand with a firm grip. "Sakazuki."
……
Inside the Shrine.
They were soon seated in a quiet chamber lit by filtered sunlight. Pillars rose high above them, and the air carried a stillness unique to sacred places.
Gan Fall leaned forward slightly. "Adventurers from the Blue Sea," he began gently, "I know you have many questions. But if you would allow it... may I tell you a story first?"
Sakazuki gave a slight nod, signaling him to go on. He already had a rough idea of what this was about.
Gan Fall turned to the map on the table beside him. His voice, raspy yet firm, slowly filled the space.
"It was about 400 years ago. Back then, Skypiea was a peaceful land. The people lived simple lives, kind and content. And every now and then, they would recover small supplies swept up by the Knock Up Stream. To them, anything from below was seen as a precious treasure.
"All the landmasses, or what we call 'Vearth', that exist here came this way—by chance. But a place as large as Upper Yard, there was no way something that big could ever reach the sky naturally. And yet, a miracle happened.
"The Skypieans naturally believed it was a gift from the heavens, a sacred land meant only for God. They were overjoyed. But... there were people already living on that land.
"They were called the Shandians."
Gan Fall paused, letting the weight of the words settle.
"At the time, the ruling God and the Skypieans believed that this was a divine blessing. A sacred place meant to be inhabited only by God himself. Their greed fixed upon that vast land. And so, war broke out over the Vearth.
"Since then, the Skypieans and Shandians have fought without end. Generations have come and gone, yet the conflict persists."
He glanced toward the window, where light streamed through carved slats.
"A legend was born around the same time. It said that on the day this sacred land—Upper Yard—was born, a beautiful song echoed across the skies. The war between the Shandians and the Skypieans started then. As if that song had been the signal for battle. And when the island sings once more, that will be the day the war ends…"
……
Elsewhere, Shandian Tribe, Hidden Cloud Village.
On the wide leaf of a giant vine, Clen, a descendant of the great warrior Kalgara, stood watching in the direction of Upper Yard.
Behind him were his two children, silent and attentive.
Clen's eyes remained fixed in the direction of Upper Yard as he spoke. "Barlow. Goss. Do you know our history?"
He didn't wait for an answer.
"Our Shandian ancestors originally lived down in the Blue Sea. In the sacred city of Shandora. Kalgara, the great warrior, always protected our homeland.
"But four hundred years ago, the city was blasted into the sky by a Knock Up Stream, and we could never return to the Blue Sea again.
"As if that weren't cruel enough, the Skypieans dared to call it a blessing. A sacred land, and claimed it for themselves."
His voice, heavy with hatred, echoed through the sky.
"They took our homeland. Banished us from our own soil. Called us invaders on the land that was rightfully ours."
He clenched his fists.
"Four hundred years, for four centuries, we Shandians have lived in shame. Cast out. Stripped of our pride and our place."
Clen turned to his children, eyes burning with resolve.
"That land—Upper Yard—belongs to us. And we will take it back. Our home. Our honor. Everything.
"We must reignite the light of Shandora… and wipe out those who stole it from us."
……
Upper Yard, God's Shrine.
Gan Fall lowered his gaze, his voice barely above a whisper.
"For what our ancestors did—taking the homeland of the Shandians, I've never found a way to properly apologize. I've just stood by helplessly as the years passed.
"I truly am... useless. If I could, I would bow to each and every one of them. I'd ask for forgiveness from every Shandian who gave their life in search of their home over the past 400 years."
He looked up at Sakazuki, his eyes heavy with guilt.
"But the hatred between our people runs too deep. I've tried for years to ease the tension, but nothing has changed. We can't even speak to each other anymore without it turning to blood."
He stood slowly, then gave a deep, respectful bow.
"That's why I'm asking you—a powerful outsider, unburdened by this history—to go to the Shandians. Deliver my message. Tell them I wish for peace. For coexistence."
He remained bowed, his voice trembling.
"Please. I'm begging you."
...
Skypiea, Upper Yard.
Sakazuki and Cricket stepped out of the shrine, the heavy doors groaning shut behind them.
The air outside was fresh, tinged with the earthy scent of the ancient land around them. They began walking across the island, now transformed over four centuries into something both sacred and scarred.
"Mister, when are we going to the Shandian camp? Do you really think peace is possible?"
Cricket's uncertain voice broke the silence.
Back in the shrine, Sakazuki had accepted Gan Fall's request to deliver his message of peace to the Shandians. But whether peace was truly possible—that was another matter entirely.
Even as a child, Cricket had understood one thing: hatred nurtured over four hundred years wouldn't disappear just because someone asked it to.
"No rush," Sakazuki said. "First, we find the Shandora ruins. And the Light of Shandora. Four centuries of bloodshed won't vanish overnight. But if we can reignite that light, we might give them a reason to talk."
He activated his Observation Haki, scanning the area. His eyes narrowed slightly as he began to move forward, Cricket following close behind.
It was ironic. The Skypieans had lived on this island for centuries, believing it to be divine land, and yet they'd never even realized there were ruins buried beneath their feet.
It wasn't until Enel came that the truth surfaced. He had discovered the hidden city and stripped it of all its gold to build the Ark Maxim.
"Is that so," Cricket murmured.
"Found it," Sakazuki said abruptly.
"What?!"
Whoosh!
Before Cricket could react, Sakazuki grabbed him by the collar. In a flash, the two vanished.
……
The City of Gold, Shandora.
They reappeared in a flash of movement, landing amidst the golden remnants of an ancient city.
Scattered structures shimmered faintly under the light, the soft gleam of weathered gold catching in the gaps of broken stone. Though impressive, something felt incomplete.
Cricket looked around, frowning. "The gold buildings are amazing, but… is this really the Shandora people talked about?"
"Of course not," Sakazuki replied. "The real Shandora is below."
"Below?"
Boom!
Still holding Cricket, Sakazuki slammed a foot into the ground. A powerful, invisible shockwave blasted downward, shattering the surface. The two dropped through the opening. Moments later, the clouds above filled in the gap.
As they fell, the hidden city revealed itself—an entire city made of gold. Everywhere the eye could see glowed with golden brilliance. At its center, a giant vine pierced through the heart of the city.
Around the vine stood four towering golden spires, enclosing what used to be the city's core. Without the massive vine, the center must have once held the legendary Light of Shandora.
Behind the vine stood a sky-piercing altar. The scattered golden buildings they'd seen before were just the topmost edges of this buried monument.
Below, countless golden structures—some intact, others crumbling—covered the land.
Everything here was made of gold.
A heavy, ancient atmosphere settled over them. Standing there, it was easy to imagine how majestic and thriving Shandora must have been 800 years ago.
Sakazuki set down the speechless Cricket, who was still stunned by what he saw, then walked toward the massive vine. Near its base lay broken golden tablets etched with square-shaped writing. Just as he expected...
"Can't read it," he muttered.
Still, he didn't look disappointed. The Poneglyphs only recorded what had already passed. They were relics of a lost age. After wandering a bit more, he found Cricket scribbling notes.
Seeing Sakazuki approach, Cricket looked up and said, "Mister, I don't see the Light of Shandora anywhere. Wasn't it supposed to be here?"
Sakazuki grabbed him by the collar again.
"The Light of Shandora isn't down here. It's in the sky."
Then he launched himself upward, a volcanic burst of force erupting from his feet as he soared toward the top of the massive vine. Beyond the cloud cover above, that's where the golden bell was waiting.
……
Meanwhile, in the White-White Sea.
On a small island to the southeast, known as Birka.
Unlike other sky islands that had developed a more castle-like architecture over time, Birka retained a simple and solemn design. Its buildings were quiet and ancient, carrying the weight of history in every line and carving.
The patterns on the walls felt old and sacred, almost untouched by time. The air was heavy. It seemed like even raising your voice here would be a kind of sin, as if this place had once been a holy land.
But that was only the first impression. The island wasn't as cold or distant as it looked—thanks to its people, there was warmth and liveliness. For example...
"That brat Enel! Where did he go? Find him! He stole my apple! I'm gonna beat him up good!"
"You! You four, go that way! And you two, come with me! Bring him to me!"
A five-year-old Birkan child, wings fluttering, charged through the streets like a tiny general. Behind him, a pack of three- and four-year-olds scrambled into formation, marching off in search of their rogue target.
Once the group wandered far enough, a fluffy white cloud behind a flower bed suddenly shifted. It lifted slightly, revealing a small head poking out—Enel.
Unlike the others, the three-year-old Enel had no wings on his back.
Crunch!
He took a huge bite from the apple in his hands. Looking in the direction his pursuers had gone, a smug grin spread across his face.
"Hmph, idiot. Think you can catch me? Just wait till I get stronger, then you'll be sorry."
Crunch! Crunch!
"Hmm?"
Enel ducked down again.
Far off, about a hundred meters away, someone turned a corner and walked by. But they passed without noticing the little boy hidden in the flower bed.
Crunch, crunch…
……
Skypiea, Upper Yard, summit of Giant Jack.
At the very peak of the great vine stood the legendary Light of Shandora—the enormous golden bell.
Four centuries of wind and rain had passed, but its luster had never faded.
Two massive golden columns, each eight meters thick, stood tall on either side. Suspended between them hung the giant golden bell itself.
It was a Poneglyph. It was the island's fabled song. It was the signal that marked the beginning of a war that had lasted for four hundred years.
"Should we ring it?" Sakazuki asked.
Cricket stared at him, confused. "Huh?"
Standing beneath the bell, even Sakazuki's nearly three-meter-tall frame looked small.
"To the Skypieans, it marked the beginning of war," he said quietly. "But it can also mark its end.
"To the Shandians, it was a promise to Noland. A regret Kalgara took to his grave."
He looked up at the bell, then back at Cricket.
"The war has lasted four centuries. Generation after generation has fought and died. If the bell rings again, it might finally give both sides a reason to speak.
"But it all depends on whether their leaders are willing to become the sinners. The sinners who bear the weight of four hundred years of hatred. If we don't ring it, we go to the Shandian village now. Fulfill your ancestor's wish. Deliver Gan Fall's hope for peace.
"Because not many have the courage to shoulder the burden of that hatred."
Cricket stood frozen, unsure of what to do. As Noland's descendant, he could become the bridge between the two parties.
But he had no right to decide on behalf of the Shandians. His gaze stayed locked on the bell, heart pounding.
"I..."
……
The Moon.
Underground Ruins, Birka.
The layout here was nearly identical to that of the Sky island in the White-White Sea. It was as if the entire place had been copied—but it was utterly lifeless.
Clank! Clank! Clank!
A lone mechanical scout wandered the ruins, still patrolling. But it was running out of time. There was no energy left. After more than a thousand years of waiting...
Thud...
It finally collapsed.
The last of the underground city's energy had been spent. It fell to the ground, its gaze turning upward—toward the ruins above.
As if its eyes could pierce through layers of stone and cloud... and glimpse that distant blue planet.
The light in its eyes slowly faded to nothing.
*
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