Lighting Shandora's Flame

"Old man, what are you thinking? I'm not going to kill you. On the contrary, there are many things I need your help with." Yake extended his right hand.

"You... what exactly is your goal?" Gan Fall hesitated for a moment before placing his hand in Yake's, who pulled him to his feet.

"I am Yake. Ten years ago, I was still a Skypiean, but now I have returned."

"I came for peace, but I do not fear war."

"It is time for Skypiea's war of over four hundred years to end."

Yake looked toward Upper Yard in the distance, the part of Gaya Island that had been blasted into the sky by the Knock Up Stream.

"Ending the war will not be so simple. It is something this old man failed to accomplish even after a lifetime of effort!" Gan Fall said wearily. As a god who cared for his people, how could he not have wished to put an end to the war?

"That is because you simply cannot imagine our power." Yake walked to the beach and turned to look at Gan Fall.

"Watch closely. Witness the true power of a god!"

Yake transformed into the Azure Dragon once more and flew into the sky.

"It really... really is him. What a terrifying body!" Gan Fall's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. Only after seeing it with his own eyes did he understand what kind of horrifying beast the people had witnessed!

Yake flew into the sky to search for the Golden Bell. At the very least, once he rang it, the people of Skypiea would quietly listen to what he had to say.

High above Upper Yard, Yake searched carefully. Since he could fly, finding the Golden Bell was not difficult. It was hidden atop some island cloud.

Before long, Yake found the Golden Bell, lying quietly on its side, its frame 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 truly grasp how breathtaking Shandora's Flame, cast entirely from gold, was.

Come to think of it, Skypiea's war of over four hundred years was inseparable from the Great Liar Noland. Noland had found the Golden City and met Great Warrior Calgara. They became close friends and made a promise that they would meet again on the same land someday.

After Noland left, Shandora was blasted into the sky by the Knock Up Stream, naturally including Great Warrior Calgara and Shandora's native inhabitants. They were then driven out by Skypiea's god at the time.

"When you return to Gaya once more, how will you imagine us, who vanished? Just wait a little longer, and I will tell you: we have lit Shandora's flame here." —Great Warrior Calgara

Thus, in order to tell his dear friend Noland that Gaya Island was in the sky, Calgara led his people into God's Island. From then on, a war that lasted four hundred years began.

And the cure that could end the war was right before Yake's eyes.

"Resound through heaven and earth!"

Yake clenched his fist and slammed it fiercely into the Golden Bell, sending it swinging dramatically backward.

"Dong~~~ Dong~~~"

A beautiful sound that pierced the soul echoed throughout Skypiea. Shandora's Flame had been lit once more!

At that moment, everyone in Skypiea fell silent, stopping to savor the moving sound as tears unconsciously slid from the corners of their eyes. This was a sound engraved within their souls.

"That is... 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 butt fell to the ground. It burned his foot, yet he did not notice. All the Shandia also stopped what they were doing, weeping as they listened to the Golden Bell's soul-stirring chime. To them, this was the call of their ancestors!

Blue Sea, Gaya Island.

"That is... the sound of the Golden Bell. It cannot be wrong. My ancestor did not lie!" Mont Blanc Cricket, with his chestnut-shaped head, cupped his hands around his ears as if trying to hear it more clearly. This man, who had never bowed to fate, who had 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 wonderful sound~" Robin closed her eyes and quietly enjoyed it.

"He really did it. He found the Golden Bell. The war truly is over..." Gan Fall could not help but shed tears of joy. Skypiea had finally welcomed true peace.

Just a few minutes of bell chimes had erased four hundred years of hatred, and the promise made four hundred years ago was finally fulfilled at this moment. This was the romance of pirates.

The bell chimes finally faded, and Skypiea erupted in celebration. People laughed, shouted, and cried. At last, everything was over.

Yake had already transformed into his Dragon form, and the Golden Bell had been stored away in his inventory. It would become a landmark of Skypiea in the future. 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!" Seeing Yake land on the ground, Gan Fall respectfully knelt and lowered his head.

"Very good, Gan Fall. Go notify the residents of Skypiea, including the Shandia, and have them gather at Angel Island tomorrow. Tell them that a new god has descended." Yake nodded in satisfaction. Beginning 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 disappeared from Yake's sight.

"Captain, just like that... becoming a god was this easy?"

"Once you understand Skypiea's history, you will know they have waited far too long for this day."

"Is that Judge?"

"It is 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 is wonderful!"

"Contact me once you arrive."

Yake notified Judge to come over. Once the Germa Kingdom arrived, Skypiea's development plan could begin.

"Captain, do you intend to tell the entire world about Skypiea's existence?" Robin seemed to have guessed Yake's plan.

"That's right. Skypiea contains inexhaustible wealth, and the whole world should know about it. This place will be our kingdom. From now on, you will be the priests of the Sky God Kingdom. How does that sound?" Yake grinned, wanting to see their reactions.

"Sounds good~"

"That's amazing, meow! Can I be one too?"

Yake stroked Anna's head and said, "Of course you can. But while Skypiea is being developed, you should grow stronger as quickly as possible. I will train you strictly, and when the time comes, I will not go easy on you."

"Oh, right, Robin. There are Poneglyphs on Skypiea too. In a few days, let's go take a look together!"

"That would be wonderful, Captain. I would love to." Robin smiled happily.

Conis, who had been spectating from the side 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 the one who could no longer keep up with the times?

"Conis, you're still here? Then I'll have to trouble you today. Take us sightseeing around Skypiea!" Yake could not help but laugh when he caught sight of Conis trembling in the corner.

"Y-Yes, Lord God Yake!"