Wiper, Aisa, and Gan Fall lay on the ground not far away, having witnessed the entire battle from start to finish.
"So strong!!"
At that moment, shock was the only thing they could feel. Whether it was Ryuuto or Vivi, both were now强者存在 in their minds—powerhouses they could never hope to defeat.
"Wiper!!"
Suddenly, two more figures rushed over. It was Kamakiri and Braham, their bodies covered in blood. It was clear they had just lost their battles against Ohm and Gedatsu. As they arrived, they saw the three priests lying on the ground, their conditions unknown.
"What… What happened here?" Kamakiri cried out, unable to believe what he was seeing. The mighty priests had been defeated. He and Braham scanned the area, their gazes finally settling on Ryuuto and his crew.
Seeing Ryuuto flash them a smile, they immediately ran over to Wiper and Aisa.
"Wiper, are you all right?" Kamakiri asked with concern.
"I'm fine, thanks to the help of these Blue Sea dwellers," Wiper said, slowly getting to his feet. Aisa, beside him, nodded in agreement.
"Shandians and Skypieans, you really should be thanking me," Ryuuto chimed in, hearing them mention him. "If it weren't for my help, you'd all still be living under Enel's rule!"
"Relax! Relax!" Ryuuto said as he slowly walked toward them. Perhaps his presence was too overwhelming, as Kamakiri and Braham instinctively drew their weapons and aimed them at him.
"I mean you no harm," Ryuuto said, his calm tone a thinly veiled threat. "Besides, your strength is nothing to write home about. Now, put your weapons away!" At his words, Wiper quickly reached out and pushed their weapons down, knowing full well what Ryuuto was capable of.
Ryuuto then explained his intentions. He hadn't come to conquer their land; all he wanted was the gold. They didn't need to thank him too much for taking care of Enel and the four priests. His payment was all the gold on this island.
Hearing Ryuuto's blunt words, Wiper and the others instantly relaxed, and their tone shifted as they began to call him their benefactor. For the Shandian warriors, their only true desire was to reclaim their ancestral home, Shandora, and light its beacon.
As for the former god, Gan Fall, his greatest wish had been fulfilled with Enel's death. Without Enel's tyrannical rule, the Skypieans could finally live in peace. He had let go of the old grudges. It was time for the Upper Yard to be returned to the Shandian warriors.
...
In a clearing amidst the ruins of Shandora, where green vines snaked around crumbling architecture, a group of people had gathered.
"In that case, you can go ring the golden bell yourselves," Ryuuto announced to the Shandian warriors standing before him. "The rest of you, help me gather all the gold!"
"Yes, Benefactor!" a unified shout echoed through the ruins. Wiper, Kamakiri, and Braham mounted their Wavers and prepared to ascend the Giant Jack. The remaining Shandians scattered, beginning the work of collecting gold for Ryuuto.
Meanwhile, Gan Fall had made his way to Angel Beach, where he met Conis. From her, he learned the entire story of how Enel had met his end.
"This world truly belongs to the young," Gan Fall sighed, feeling his age. The young people emerging now were more powerful than he could have ever imagined.
Ryuuto watched with satisfaction as the Shandians piled countless golden artifacts before him. His eyes were particularly drawn to a massive golden pillar that took more than a dozen men to carry.
"Unbelievable. This place really is the City of Gold!"
"Now this is what I call striking it rich!"
"If this were all converted to Berries, it'd probably be in the trillions!"
Ryuuto's heart pounded with excitement. He would never have to worry about funds for the Justice Guild again. With this fortune, he was ready to turn the world on its head.
"Captain, we're rich!" Vivi exclaimed, walking up to his side.
Nearby, Crocus stroked his beard and chuckled softly. Jean Bart, unable to contain himself, had already run over to help. With his immense strength and Devil Fruit ability, he single-handedly hoisted another golden pillar and brought it over.
THUD!!
Jean Bart tossed the pillar onto the ground, kicking up a massive cloud of dust.
High above, Wiper and his two comrades had finally reached the top of the Giant Jack. There, they saw it—the magnificent golden bell.
"Wiper, go on," Kamakiri said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Ring the golden bell. Let its sound echo across these seas," Braham added, his voice low and heavy with the weight of generations. It felt like a moment of destiny.
"Light the flames of Shandora and fulfill our ancestors' promise!" Wiper roared. He activated the Impact Dial in his hand and aimed it squarely at the enormous bell.
Far below, Ryuuto seemed to sense it and tilted his head toward the sky.
VWOOM!!
The Impact Dial unleashed a powerful blast that slammed into the golden bell. The massive clapper struck the inner wall, and a deafening toll erupted, a sound that shook the very heavens. The tone was ancient and timeless, yet it carried a glimmer of hope.
From the apex of the sky island, the sound began to spread, propagating outwards.
The sound was immense!
Every single person on Skypeia heard the ancient toll. The soundwaves then pierced the thick sea of clouds, traveling all the way down to the Blue Sea below.
Near Jaya Island, Mont Blanc Cricket and the Masira Pirates were busy salvaging shipwrecks when they suddenly heard it—a massive bell tolling from the sky above.
Cricket froze.
He looked up, and a single tear traced a path down his cheek. The members of the Masira Pirates stared at the sky alongside him. They had seen all sorts of strange things fall from above, but this was the first time they had ever heard a bell. They knew instantly that this was the sound Cricket had spent his life dreaming of.
"It's true... My ancestor wasn't a liar! He wasn't a fraud! The City of Gold is real... it's just in the sky!" Cricket whispered, his voice trembling. His tone shifted from a hushed whisper to unbridled excitement, and finally, to pure, unadulterated relief.
"The City of Gold is REAL!!" he suddenly roared, a massive shout that echoed across the entirety of Jaya Island, releasing all the pain and doubt he had carried for so many years.
Then, he was at peace.
"Let's get back to it," Cricket said, turning to Captain Masira.