At the peak of the Giant Jack.
A high-altitude breeze brushed over the sea of clouds, dispersing the golden haze that had shrouded the ruins of Shandora for four centuries.
"You guys head down first."
Ace stood beneath the massive Golden Bell, which loomed over him like a small hill. He looked up at the incredibly heavy historical relic and gave instructions to his crew. "The mess below still needs cleaning up. I'll bring the bell down myself."
Sabo and the others nodded. They knew the sheer tonnage of this solid gold behemoth; without their Captain's monstrous strength and his Mythical Zoan form, transporting it intact would be a logistical nightmare. The group followed the winding branches of the vine and quickly vanished into the cloud layer.
Once he was alone, Ace took a deep breath. He closed his eyes, and the blood within his veins began to churn like a boiling furnace.
With a high-pitched cry that pierced the heavens—a sound that seemed to echo from the dawn of time—blinding crimson-gold fire engulfed his figure. The air distorted under the extreme heat, reflecting off the white clouds until the sky looked like a permanent sunset.
Bird-Bird Fruit, Mythical Zoan Type: Vermilion Bird Form.
Full Beast Transformation.
The flames bloomed like a lotus. A massive mythological bird that blotted out the sun suddenly manifested above the ruins. Its feathers flowed like liquid magma, and its gorgeous tail feathers swayed wildly in the gale. Surrounded by a ring of Nirvana Divine Fire, Ace precisely suppressed his temperature to ensure the gold wouldn't melt under his touch.
The Vermilion Bird extended its powerful talons, firmly gripping the thick base of the Golden Bell. With one titanic flap of its wings, the gale shredded the surrounding clouds. The divine bird lifted the mountain-heavy bell and leapt into the abyss, diving toward the forest of Upper Yard.
In a clearing within the Southern Forest.
The smoke of battle had not yet dissipated, and the earth was riddled with scars. Wyper, the leader of the Shandia, and Gan Fall, the former God of Angel Island, were gathered with their wounded subordinates. Their expressions were unreadable.
The tolling of the bell had already announced the end of the four-hundred-year war. Enel, the self-proclaimed god, and the terrifying lightning that had plagued them for years had been shattered by the Blue Sea youth.
But what came next? Everyone was uncertain. Would the man who drove away the jackal prove to be an even more terrifying tiger?
"Look! The sky!" a Shandia warrior cried out, pointing upward with a trembling hand.
Everyone looked up abruptly. On the azure horizon, a dazzling crimson-gold fireball broke through the clouds, descending with a wind pressure that felt like it could overturn mountains.
"What... what kind of monster is that?!" Gan Fall's eyes widened in shock. His mount, Pierre, was so struck by primal fear that it collapsed, trembling, onto the Vearth.
As the fireball drew closer, the silhouette within the flames became clear. A divine bird, radiating endless majesty, was carrying the massive Golden Bell they had dreamed of for four centuries.
"The Light of Shandora..." Wyper stared blankly at the ancient gold shining in the sun. His eyes turned red, and his weapon slipped from his hand, unheeded.
BOOM!
A massive air current, like a passing typhoon, swept the forest clear of mist and debris. The divine bird landed steadily, placing the Golden Bell on the soil without a single scratch. With a flash of fire, the mountain-sized bird contracted, transforming back into Ace's tall, imposing human form.
Looking at the sacred object that carried the blood and promises of their ancestors, the Shandia warriors could no longer suppress their emotions. They fell to their knees in the dirt, weeping uncontrollably. The obsession of four hundred years had finally returned to them in the most mythological way possible.
Ace did not disturb them. He waited, his gaze as calm as a deep lake, sweeping over the two groups who had once fought to the death.
"Enel has been defeated," Ace's voice was steady and powerful, instantly cutting through the sobbing. "This bell is a relic of your ancestors. I have brought it back to you."
Wyper dragged his mangled arm forward. The iron-blooded "War Demon" knelt heavily on one knee before Ace. "The Light of Shandora has been lit once more; you have fulfilled a four-hundred-year wish for us." His voice was hoarse but carried a finality. "For this, the Shandia will repay you even if we are ground to dust!"
Gan Fall also removed his helmet and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Excellency, for liberating the Sky from the tyrant's rule. You have saved countless lives."
Ace watched them bow in submission. His face showed no discomfort; this was as it should be. He sought absolute rule and order.
"I rang the bell to fulfill a promise. Now that the war is over, the rules of this island will be set by me." Ace raised his hand, pointing at the vast land beneath them. "This land is vast. From this day forward, the Shandia and the Sky Islanders will share Upper Yard equally."
"You will live, farm, and mine here together. The four centuries of hatred are wiped clean today."
A small commotion broke out. "But—" a young Shandia warrior looked up, anger still simmering in his eyes, "the Sky Islanders stole our home! They drove us to the edge! How can we—"
"There are no 'buts'."
Ace's gaze locked onto the warrior. Without moving a muscle, a sliver of cold dominance leaked from his eyes. The warrior felt as if his throat were being crushed by an invisible hand; the rest of his words died in his stomach. Wyper turned his head, glaring at the youth to silence any further dissent.
"In my territory, past hatreds stay buried," Ace boomed, his voice echoing like a bell. "If anyone stirs up war over this soil again, I will personally erase you—and this island—from the sky!"
Absolute power brought absolute authority. Facing a man who could deliver miracles and destruction in the same breath, both the Shandia and the Sky Islanders fell silent.
"I am not a philanthropist," Ace continued, his tone shifting to reveal a wild, conquering edge. "As the price for my protection, this island is now the exclusive headquarters of the Eclipse Pirates!"
"My flag will fly at the highest point of this island! As long as it stands, any pirate or ambitious fool who touches a blade of grass here is declaring war on me—Portgas D. Ace!"
Ace strode to Wyper and slapped a hand onto the Berserker's shoulder. "Your task is to build this island and provide logistics and soldiers for the Eclipse. Guard this sky for me, Shandia Warrior. Do you dare take the mission?"
Feeling the heavy power on his shoulder and looking into Ace's eyes, Wyper's blood surged. He stood abruptly, thumping his chest with his right arm, his eyes burning with fanaticism.
"AS YOU WISH, CAPTAIN!" Wyper roared. "The spears of the Shandia will guard this sky for you forever!"
Gan Fall gave a relieved smile and offered a solemn knight's salute.
Without shedding a drop of blood since his arrival, Ace had suppressed a four-hundred-year feud. On this afternoon, the Eclipse Pirates hadn't just gained wealth—they had established an empire ten thousand meters in the air.
Ace turned, walking toward the other side of the forest. He still had a "God" to finalize a deal with.
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