Chapter 153: Golden Bell

"What?"

"The plants… they're moving on their own!"

"Is this a Devil Fruit ability?"

"Are those pirates doing this?"

"Everyone, be cautious!"

Seeing this shocking scene, the warriors of the Shandia tribe were visibly alarmed. Their eyes filled with wariness as they stared at El, their bodies tensed with a mix of apprehension and disbelief.

"Pirates—"

A young Shandian warrior, covered in tattoos and with a powerful, muscular frame, held a uniquely crafted spear in his hand. With sweat beading on his forehead, he looked up at El, Linlin, and Gerd, each of them towering and radiating an intimidating presence. Gritting his teeth, he asked, "Are you here to take our homeland, too?"

However—

Thanks to his well-trained "Mantra," developed over years of battling the Skypieans, this warrior, Leo—the descendant of the great warrior Kalgara—could sense an overwhelming aura of danger from these pirates. The presence of the one with black wings and blazing flames behind him felt like an unstoppable force, akin to facing a primordial beast. He couldn't help but feel a profound sense of dread and unease, making it nearly impossible to summon any thought of resistance.

"Hmm, so you've already mastered Observation Haki? Interesting…"

El observed the young Shandian warrior, sensing his capable aura and ability to read the intentions of others. He was slightly surprised to find someone on Skypiea, so young yet already possessing a formidable mastery of Observation Haki.

"No need to worry," El said, arms folded. "I'm not interested in this island itself. You Shandians can have it back… but the gold on it, we're taking that with us."

The Shandian warriors glanced at their leader, Leo, seeking his direction. The gap in strength between them and these pirates was just too great. Though they were fierce warriors, they weren't foolish. In their previous clash, the Sky Island "God" and his priests and guards had already begun to overwhelm them, forcing the Shandians into retreat. It was only due to the sudden arrival of these mysterious newcomers that the Skypieans had been so abruptly subdued, suspended mid-air by vines piercing their bodies.

Moreover, on that strange floating island, there stood an entire army of armored soldiers. No matter how courageous they were, the Shandians knew they stood no chance against such a force.

"Agreed," Leo finally said, exhaling deeply as he met El's gaze. "You can have the gold. We only ask that you allow us to return to our homeland with our people."

As a descendant of the great warrior Kalgara, Leo was brave but not reckless. He knew that fighting these pirates would be a fool's errand and wasn't worth risking needless bloodshed. To the Shandians, reclaiming their homeland, the island of Shandora, meant far more than any gold.

"A wise choice," Gerd said with a gentle smile, her hand resting on her hip. "Don't worry. Aside from the gold, we have no interest in anything else."

"We hope you'll keep your word," Leo replied, nodding solemnly. Taking another breath, he added, "And if you find the long-lost Golden Bell, please let us ring it once. It's the final wish of our ancestor, the great warrior Kalgara. We wish to light the Lamp of Shandora to fulfill his promise to his friend. I beg of you."

With that, Leo bowed deeply to El and his companions, his expression earnest and filled with hope.

"Ring the Golden Bell?" El nodded lightly. "Sure."

Even if the Shandians hadn't asked, he intended to ring it himself—to hear if the bell's chimes were as clear and beautiful as legend claimed.

"Heh, I've already found where the Golden Bell is," said Linlin, her hidden third eye, invisible to others, glinting with a peculiar glow under her headband marked with the Fallen Angel Pirates' symbol. Looking energized and ready, she pointed toward the massive vine rising from the island. "It's right at the top of that vine—quite impressive, really!"

With her third eye and innate Observation Haki, perfectly combined with her Glare-Glare Fruit ability, Linlin could peer through layers of obstacles. She saw clearly through the clouds and into the ruins of history hidden across the island, including all the gold in various corners, and even the Golden Bell sitting at the top of the vine. Gazing at the majestic, timeworn Golden Bell tower, Linlin, the Three-Eyed Tribe girl, couldn't help but feel a sense of awe.

"What?!"

Hearing Linlin's words, the Shandians and the restrained "God" and his followers from Skypiea were equally stunned, their eyes widening. The Golden Bell, which they'd searched for countless times but could never locate, was actually at the very top of that enormous vine.

"Before that, though, I'll take your souls without hesitation…"

Gazing at the bound, helpless "God" of Skypiea and his priests and soldiers, Gerd smiled beneath her fearsome mask.

With a slight leap, her towering figure landed on the shore. Ignoring the wary, perplexed stares of the Shandians, Gerd approached the god and his priests and uttered a chilling question: "Life or death?"

An irresistible force shook their souls, causing the "God" and his priests, along with dozens of his soldiers, to feel their spirits slipping from their bodies, rising above their heads.

"What… What is this?"

"My soul… It feels like it's leaving my body…"

"Damn you, what have you done to us?"

"I choose life!!"

"I choose death!!"

"Aaaah!"

In an instant, Gerd swung her scythe, reaping the souls floating from their bodies. One by one, these elite warriors, handpicked from Skypiea, had their souls ripped from them, collapsing lifelessly to the ground.

"Such power…"

"Just like that… they're all dead…"

The Shandians were visibly shaken, feeling a chill down their spines as they watched the entire force from Skypiea fall dead, their lives extinguished in mere moments.

"Heh, your strength isn't bad," Gerd said, her terrifying visage softened slightly as she removed her mask. She turned to the wary Shandians and addressed Leo, the leader of the Shandian guerillas. "Why don't you join us? See the vast, thrilling world out on the sea?"

Gerd could see that Leo was strong. She'd noted his earlier battle with the Skypiea god and admired his courage—despite his youth and lack of experience, he'd fought fiercely without backing down. Such tenacity and bravery impressed her, and she believed that with proper training and experience in the New World, Leo could achieve great things.

"Ma-ma-ma-ma~ Don't be so quick to turn us down!" Linlin joined Gerd on the shore, smiling at Leo, who was on the verge of refusing. "In exchange, we can help you put a bit of fear into the Skypieans, so they won't dare to harass you anymore…"

"Otherwise," she continued bluntly, "even if you reclaim this land, will you be able to defend it with your current strength? Or will it be more of the same endless war you've been fighting for hundreds of years?"

The Shandians glanced at the fallen bodies of their comrades, hearing the harsh truth in Linlin's words.

~~~

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