Chapter 253: Bell Toll After Four Hundred Years
Kurik and his father stood in the middle of Shandian Village, both looking up at the statue standing there.
"This is Roland's ancestor's Best Friend, the great warrior Calgara."
And just as the two were admiring Calgara's statue, the Great Chief of the Shandians arrived with a large group of Tribe members, quickly approaching them.
When they reached them, Kurik opened his mouth, wanting to ask something, but the Great Chief acted first.
The tall, sturdy middle-aged man with feathers tied in his hair suddenly knelt on both knees. Behind him, a line of Shandian Warriors all knelt as well.
A hoarse voice, filled with emotion, pierced the air.
"We are sorry! We Shandia People have failed to keep our Ancestor's Agreement!!"
"Four hundred Years have passed, and we have let down our Old Friend!"
Tears streamed down his face as he stared intently at the two figures standing beneath the statue of the great warrior Calgara.
What had driven them to persist for four hundred Years? Generation after generation searching, generation after generation passing away, all to prove a Truth, to confirm the real Existence of the Shandia People!
Faced with this sudden situation, Kurik and his Pops were completely stunned. Reacting quickly, they rushed forward to help the Shandian Chief to his feet.
"Upper Yard is from the Blue Sea?"
"Are we also Blue Sea People?"
Baturu, Rona, and the others were utterly shocked. This truth was beyond their comprehension.
Since birth, they had lived in the White Sea, and everything they had seen and known was from the White Sea.
They had no way of knowing what the Blue Sea was like, what kind of environment it was.
For them, due to years of War with the Sky Island People, much of their past History had been lost.
Even the current Tribe leader wasn't very clear about the History from hundreds of Years ago, relying more on the oral traditions passed down by their Ancestor.
The Chief's sudden Words surprised Baturu and the younger generation of Shandians, sparking a deep Interest in the unheard-of Blue Sea.
The Giant Sea enveloped the planet, the towering Red Line and Grand Line divided the World, and countless Islands dotted the Sea. Their Hometown, Upper Yard, was just a part of one of these Islands.
"Now, as the Shandian Chief, I Order you all! Every Shandian Warrior, every woman, child, and elder, take up your Weapons! We are going to Shandora to fulfill our Ancestor's Agreement!"
With the Chief's resounding cry, the entire Shandia Tribe sprang into Action. In the War against the Angel Island Natives, the Shandians were already a nation of soldiers. Anyone who could stand and wield a Weapon, be they woman, child, or elder, was ready to fight.
"Lord Nicholas, what's wrong with them?"
Mustering his courage, Kurik approached Nicholas and asked in a low voice. He still couldn't understand what was happening.
"They are going to the Top of the Vine in Shandora to fulfill the Agreement with your Ancestor Roland."
Hearing Nicholas's Words, Kurik couldn't help but look up at the distant Giant Vine. The green Vine pierced through the White Clouds, stretching all the way to the Dome, its End completely out of sight.
As the Shandians set foot once more on the Land of their Hometown, many of the elderly were already weeping Tears of Emotion, some even kneeling to kiss the Soil beneath their feet. The Shandian Chief and Warriors, initially tense and vigilant, remained so for a long time, but even as they ventured deep into Upper Yard, they saw no sign of the Sky Island God or his divine guards.
Looking at the ancient Vine, etched with the Traces of Years, and the Golden City Shandora, spoken of in the elders' tales, determination shone in many eyes.
In the center of the Golden Buildings, the Giant Vine, its branches and leaves intertwined like a massive, twisted rope, snaked straight into the Sky, disappearing into the distance.
"We've arrived!"
The Shandian Chief murmured, a smile on his face.
"Let's climb up the Vine."
Half an hour later, they reached the Top of the Vine.
The Golden Bell stood there silently, bathed in the sunlight, radiating a brilliant golden glow, warm and gentle.
Tears welled up in the eyes of both the Shandians and Kurik and his father.
"Ring the Golden Bell! Ring out Shandia's Hope! Tell our Old Friend!"
Taking a deep breath, the Chief roared.
"We Shandia People have not forgotten the Agreement!!"
"Dong!"
With the strike, a deep and resonant Bell Toll echoed.
In an instant, the Sound Wave swept outwards, piercing through the entirety of Upper Yard and continuing to spread into the distance.
"Dong!"
In Mock Town on Jaya Island, inside a noisy Bar and Restaurant, the Pirates, who had been shouting and arguing, paused their Actions, their ears ringing as they listened to the sudden Sound.
On the streets, many pedestrians stopped in their tracks, then curiously looked towards the Sky from which the Bell Toll seemed to originate.
"Hey, hey, did you hear that?"
"A Bell Toll! It's a Bell Toll!"
"Duh, I know it's a Bell Toll, but where did it come from?"
Just as everyone was bewildered by the sudden Bell Toll, someone muttered in disbelief, "Could that be Shandora's Bell Toll that those two crazy guys by the Seaside were talking about?"
Hearing this, many turned their Gaze towards the speaker.
Almost everyone in Mock Town knew about the father and son by the Seaside. They had all assumed the pair were Liars, just like Roland from four hundred Years ago.
But as the Bell Tolls echoed through the Sky, it seemed that even the four-hundred-year-old image of Roland the Liar King was beginning to fade.
Sabaody Archipelago.
Inside a Base stationed beneath the Red Line, two young Officers were conversing.
"Bemonstein, I'm almost certain you'll be promoted to Colonel this time."
One of them said with a smile, smacking his lips twice before continuing.
"Has it really only been a year since you arrived at this Base? Your future is limitless! And with Lord Zoffy watching over you, at this rate, you might become a General-level Officer at Marine Headquarters before you even turn thirty."
Bemonstein waved his hand dismissively at his colleague's Words, his expression humble, but the joy in his Inner Thoughts was impossible to conceal.
"What are you talking about? The official appointment hasn't even been issued yet. Until it is, it's all just talk. We might be stuck here forever. Besides, being assigned to Logistics or a Non-Combatant Role at Headquarters is still alright, but being assigned to the Combat Department is practically a death sentence."
"Ah, it's true. Headquarters has already lost over thirty Rear Admiral and Vice Admiral-level Officers this year alone."
Just as they were chatting, bubbles suddenly began to surface on the Sea Surface of the Port, and then a battered Warship burst out of the Seabed.
Looking at the Wreckage of the Battleship, both Officers were stunned for a moment, before a piercing Alarm blared throughout the Base.
(End of Chapter)