"Old man, what are you thinking? I won't kill you. On the contrary, I have many things I need your help with." Yake extended his right hand.
"What... exactly is your purpose?" Gan Fall hesitated for a moment before placing his hand in Yake's. Yake pulled him to his feet.
"I'm Yake. Ten years ago, I was still a Skypiean. Now, I've returned."
"I came for peace, but I do not fear war."
"Skypiea's war of over four hundred years... it's time for it to end."
Yake looked toward distant Upper Yard, the part of Gaya Island that had been blasted into the sky by the Knock Up Stream.
"Ending the war won't be so simple. It is something this old man failed to accomplish even after striving for his entire life!" Gan Fall said wearily. As a god who cared for his people, how could he not have wanted to put an end to the war?
"That's because you simply cannot imagine our power." Yake walked to the shore and turned to look at Gan Fall.
"Watch closely, and witness the true power of a god!"
Yake transformed into the Azure Dragon again and flew into the sky.
"It... it really is him. What a terrifying body!" Gan Fall's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. Only after seeing it firsthand did he understand what kind of horrifying beast the people had witnessed!
Yake flew into the sky to search for the Golden Bell. As long as he rang it, the people of Skypiea would quietly listen to him speak.
Above Upper Yard, Yake searched carefully. Since he could fly, finding the Golden Bell would not be difficult. It was hidden atop some Island Cloud.
Before long, Yake found the Golden Bell. It lay quietly on its side, its stand covered in moss.
After returning to human form, Yake walked before the Golden Bell. It was an enormous bell of gold. To Yake in dragon form, it had looked like a toy, but only in human form could he appreciate just how awe-inspiring Shandora's Flame, cast entirely from gold, truly was.
Come to think of it, Big Talker Noland was inseparably connected to Skypiea's war of over four hundred years. Noland found the Golden City and met Great Warrior Calgara. They became good friends and made a promise to meet again someday upon the same land.
After Noland left, Shandora was blasted into the sky by the Knock Up Stream. Naturally, that included Great Warrior Calgara and Shandora's native inhabitants, who were then driven away by Skypiea's god at the time.
"When you return to Gaya once more, what will you think of us, who vanished? Wait a little longer. I will tell you: we have lit Shandora's lamp here—Great Warrior Calgara."
Thus, in order to tell his dear friend Noland that Gaya Island was in the sky, Calgara led his people in an assault on "God's Island." From then on, a war that would last four hundred years began.
And the miracle cure for ending that war was right before Yake's eyes.
"Resound through heaven and earth!"
Yake clenched his fist and smashed it fiercely into the Golden Bell, sending it swinging wildly backward.
"Dong~~~ Dong~~~"
A beautiful sound that pierced the soul rang throughout Skypiea. Shandora's Flame had been lit once more!
At that moment, everyone on Skypiea fell silent. They stopped to savor the moving sound, tears unconsciously sliding from the corners of their eyes. This was a sound engraved into their souls.
"That's... the sound of the Golden Bell!!"
"The war is over! Ohhh!"
"Shandora's Flame has been lit! Our ancestors' final wish has finally been fulfilled!!"
War Demon Wyper's cigarette fell to the ground. It burned his foot, but he did not notice. Every Shandia also stopped what they were doing, tears streaming down their faces as they listened to the soul-stirring toll of the Golden Bell. To them, it was the call of their ancestors!
Blue Sea, Gaya Island.
"That is... the sound of the Golden Bell. It can't be wrong. My ancestor did not lie!" Mont Blanc Cricket cupped his hands around his ears, as though trying to hear it more clearly. This man, who had never bowed to fate, who remained unyielding and persevered without fail, found tears unknowingly sliding down his face upon hearing the bell that proved his ancestor's innocence...
"What a beautiful sound~" Robin closed her eyes and quietly savored it.
"He truly did it. He found the Golden Bell. The war really is over..." Gan Fall could not help but burst into tears. Skypiea had finally welcomed true peace.
The bell rang for only a few short minutes, yet it erased four hundred years of hatred. The promise made four hundred years ago was finally fulfilled at this moment. This was the romance of pirates.
When the bell finally faded, Skypiea had erupted in jubilation. People laughed, shouted, and cried. At last, everything was over.
Yake had already transformed into his dragon form, and the Golden Bell had been placed in his storage inventory. From now on, it would be Skypiea's landmark. Anything else could be melted down and sold, but not this.
"God Yake, you are unquestionably a true god. This old man is willing to serve at your command!" When Gan Fall saw Yake land, he respectfully dropped to his knees and lowered his head.
"Very good, Gan Fall. Go notify Skypiea's residents, including the Shandia. Have them gather on Angel Island tomorrow. Tell them that a new god has descended." Yake nodded in satisfaction. Starting tomorrow, this place would become his territory.
"I will convey your divine decree to every resident of Skypiea."
With that, Gan Fall mounted Pierre and vanished from Yake's sight.
"Captain, just like that... you became a god?"
"Once you understand Skypiea's history, you'll know they have waited far too long for this day."
"Is that Judge?"
"It's me, Lord Yake. What are your orders?"
"Have all Germa personnel gather at Gaya Island in the first half of the Grand Line."
"Have we found our base already? That's wonderful!"
"Contact me when you arrive."
Yake notified Judge to come. Once the Germa Kingdom arrived, they could begin Skypiea's development plan.
"Captain, are you planning to tell the whole world about Skypiea's existence?" Robin seemed to have guessed Yake's intentions.
"That's right. Skypiea contains inexhaustible wealth, and the entire world ought to know of it. This will be our kingdom. From now on, you are the priests of the Sky God Kingdom. How does that sound?" Yake grinned, wanting to see their reactions.
"Sounds pretty good~"
"That's amazing, meow! Can I be one too?"
Yake stroked Anna's head. "Of course you can. But while Skypiea is being developed, you need to grow stronger as quickly as possible too. I will train you strictly, and when the time comes, I won't go easy on you."
"Oh, right, Robin. There are Poneglyphs on Skypiea as well. In a few days, let's go take a look together!"
"That's wonderful, Captain. I couldn't ask for more." Robin smiled happily.
Conis, who had been spectating from the sidelines the entire time, was already numb. The world had changed too quickly. In the blink of an eye, the war that had plagued Skypiea for four hundred years was over, and a new god had replaced the old one. Was she unable to keep up with the times?
"Conis, you're still here? Then sorry for the trouble today—take us on a tour of Skypiea!" Yake caught sight of the trembling Conis in the corner and could not help but laugh.
"Y-Yes, Lord God Yake!"