In the sanctuary of the God's Shrine on Upper Yard.
Gan Fall, dressed in his flowing white robes, was contemplating how to weaken the hatred between the Skypieans and the Shandia People, hoping to plant the seeds of peace.
His conversation with Raleigh was just one method—he wouldn't place all his hopes on an adventurer who had come from the Blue Sea.
Suddenly, a member of the God's Guard hurried in from outside the temple, shockingly forgetting even to salute.
Seeing this, Gan Fall's pupils involuntarily dilated.
The God's Guards were selected from childhood and strictly adhered to protocols.
For him to act so abnormally, something extraordinary must have occurred.
The Guard spoke with a tense expression, gasping for breath:
"God! Our sentries have detected a large force of Shandia People approaching at high speed."
"The leader is the Shandia Chief, followed by many individuals on our watchlist as elite warriors."
"What?! Quickly, gather the soldiers!"
"I'll go see what they want first!"
Hearing this, and fearing the conflict between both sides would escalate into a bloodbath, Gan Fall hurriedly donned his battle armor and grasped his lance.
A sharp whistle summoned Pierre, his pink spotted bird that had eaten the Horse-Horse Fruit.
Gan Fall quickly mounted the white winged pegasus, charging toward the front lines.
"I hope this doesn't lead to disaster."
Gan Fall prayed incessantly in his heart.
Perhaps heaven heard Gan Fall's prayers, because when he arrived, the two sides hadn't clashed at all.
Instead, there was an oddly awkward, heavy atmosphere.
The Shandia People had formed a disciplined square formation centered around their Chief.
Meanwhile, the Skypieans had formed multiple defensive lines using the surrounding ruins and fortifications, with the God's Guards at their core.
"Chief Gim, what are you planning to do here?"
Seeing that no conflict had broken out yet, Gan Fall's tone unconsciously softened, and he asked with a relaxed but cautious expression.
The Shandia Chief, Gim, looked at Gan Fall, then pointed a trembling finger at the most prominent feature of Upper Yard—the Giant Jack.
"Gan Fall, we've been fighting for most of our lives. It's time to settle this."
"I want to climb that vine!"
Before Gan Fall could respond, the God's Guards burst out shouting.
"Don't even think about it! You savages want to invade our Sacred Land?"
"Keep dreaming! I'll never let you pass as long as I live!"
"Go back to the clouds, you Shandia People!"
Before Chief Gim could retort, Gan Fall had enough.
He turned to his own men and roared.
"Everyone, shut up!"
"Let them through!"
When the God's Guards heard Gan Fall's words, for a moment they doubted their own hearing.
But Gan Fall firmly repeated his command a second time.
Under the God's Guards' disbelieving stares, Gan Fall was the first to step aside, clearing the path to the Giant Jack.
The God's Guards all exchanged bewildered looks.
Though they were extremely reluctant to yield the path to the Sacred Land, the one giving the command was their God.
Since their God himself had stepped aside for the Shandia People, they, as his sworn protectors, could only follow his decision.
Amidst many resentful glances, the God's Guards lowered their weapons and cleared a path to the giant vine.
Chief Gim straightened his back proudly, not lingering too long to avoid provoking the guards further.
He only paused briefly when passing Gan Fall, meeting his eyes, but left without saying a word.
The Shandia warriors following him also remained silent, wordlessly following their Chief deeper into the island.
Only after all the Shandia People had passed through the defensive line did Gan Fall raise his head again.
"God, I don't understand... why should we let these savages enter the Sacred Land?"
"God, do you have some new plan?"
The Captain of the God's Guards finally couldn't contain his confusion and questioned his deity.
Gan Fall withdrew his gaze from the departing Shandia People and looked at his trusted Captain.
Speaking with deep emotion, he said, "They're going to accomplish something great."
"A four-hundred-year legacy... the Great Warrior Kalgara's will... and the answer of the Shandora Bell."
"I'm not as brave as Gim. That man is much stronger than me."
Gan Fall shook his head, wondering if he would have had the courage to ring the Shandora Bell if he weren't the God of Skypiea, but instead the Chief of the Shandia People, burdened by centuries of hate.
...
On Upper Yard, shadowy figures could be seen climbing up the massive green stalk of the Giant Jack.
Among them, the fastest figure had already neared the vine's summit.
Finally, a large, calloused hand firmly grasped the edge of the clouds at the top, followed by a robust figure pulling himself up from below.
At the top of the colossal vine lay the legendary Shandora's light—the Golden Bell.
After four hundred years of wind and rain, this massive golden bell showed no signs of wear.
Since arriving in the White Sea with the island of Jaya, it had remained here in silence.
Flanking the Shandora Bell, which served as a sacred ritual object, stood enormous golden pillars over eight meters in diameter.
According to the records of both the Skypieans and the Shandia People, the base of the Shandora Bell housed a Poneglyph.
Its first ringing on Angel Island marked the beginning of the four-hundred-year war between the two races.
But another legend passed down through generations stated that when the Shandora Bell rang again, peace would be restored to all.
"Shall we ring it, Chief?"
One after another, Shandia warriors climbed to the top of the giant vine.
They were the first Shandia People in four hundred years to stand before the Shandora Bell since their ancestors were defeated and forced to leave Upperyard.
"Yes."
Chief Gim's figure appeared particularly small beneath the colossal Golden Bell as he turned to gaze at the warriors behind him, their eyes filled with complex emotions—pain, hope, and exhaustion.
He spoke in a deep voice, "Everyone knows the legend of the Shandora Bell. For the Angel Island residents, its ringing was a signal to go to war with us."
"But for us, it represents a promise to Mont Blanc Noland and the inheritance of Kalgara's will."
"The war began four hundred years ago, continuing year after year, generation after generation. Both we and the Skypieans have been shedding blood endlessly."
"I have grown weary of this life. By ringing the Shandora Bell, I will bear the hatred of four centuries, but I can end the war in our generation."
"As for the next generation, perhaps they will gradually integrate with the Skypieans through mutual understanding."
He stepped forward, grasping the striker.
DONG!
DONG!
DONG!
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