Chapter 14 the End of Sky Island
The sunlight shines through the layers of clouds and spreads onto the golden brick floor of the magnificent and solemn temple.
A meeting that could change the fate of Sky Island is proceeding tensely and solemnly.
On the main seat, Rogge was wearing a cloak, standing straight, and his military uniform was cold and neat.
He stood with his hands behind his back, and there seemed to be an invisible aura around him, making the entire golden hall seem like his court of judgment.
Gan Forle stood on one side, his silver-white knight armor reflecting the dazzling light, his expression solemn, like a spear unstained by rust.
Below the temple, the Angel Island Elders, representatives of the Shandia Warriors, and representatives of all classes of civilians from Sky Island gathered together.
Depressed, silent, tense.
It seemed as if as long as the black-haired officer in the main seat spoke, a huge wave strong enough to overthrow the old order would be set off.
—And Rogge spoke.
The voice was calm, but it was like a hammer hitting a bell, shaking the whole place:
"I propose three reforms."
He slowly raised his right hand, his fingertips seeming to touch the sky:
"First, abolish the [Bath Tax]."
"—From this day forward, any land on Sky Island no longer belongs to the so-called 'gods,' but to all who live here."
boom--!
The temple was in an uproar!
The conservative nobles jumped up and roared:
"Blasphemy!"
"This is a complete betrayal of Sky Island's tradition!"
An elder cried out in horror:
"Without the Bass Tax, how will Bay Energy be maintained?! Angel Island is collapsing!"
Gan Forer's face darkened and he shouted in a deep voice:
"Sky Island, there's no need to perpetuate this hypocritical theocracy through exploitation and lies!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the silver-white knight's spear pierced into the center of the temple with a "clang" sound!
The final word!
The conservatives looked dejected and trembling.
Rogge glanced at the audience indifferently and continued with the second sentence:
"Second, abolish the rule of 'God'."
"Angel Island and the Shandians establish a [Joint Autonomous Council]."
"Angel Islanders and Shandians rule together equally, without distinction of high or low."
Wow——!
The Shandia representatives were trembling with excitement, and some even had tears in their eyes!
"Finally...finally someone heard the oath of our ancestors..."
More Angel Island civilians bowed their heads deeply, relief in their eyes.
Exploitation and misunderstanding have long become bitter fruits, and now we can finally tear off this hypocritical cloak of divine punishment.
Rogge took one last look around and coldly spat out the third sentence:
"Three, search for the [Lamp of Shandora]."
His eyes were sharp:
"Rehabilitate the Shandian people."
"They are not invaders."
"They are the guardians."
"To protect history, to protect civilization, and to protect the last faith left by their ancestors."
In dead silence.
Gan Fowle knelt on one knee, raised his knight's lance above his head, and said in a steady and loud voice:
"I, Gan Fowle—"
"In the name of the former god of Angel Island, I acknowledge the justice of the Shandians."
"And support all the reforms proposed by Mr. Rogge!"
boom--!
The whole audience was boiling!
The Sandia representative shouted in tears, and many neutral parties on Angel Island also responded with their arms raised!
——The old era ends!
——A new era begins!
As enthusiastic applause erupted in the temple—
[Warship Observation Area]
Lei Te leaned against the railing, rolled his eyes, clapped his hands and muttered:
"Tsk tsk tsk... the big mess in heaven and on earth is finally waking up."
"But it doesn't sound bad at all—at least we don't have to waste time on these calls."
And next to him——
Enel, arms folded, smirking, earrings tinkling in the wind:
"Tsk, just some mortal affairs..."
"How can you understand the great pattern of this God——"
Before he finished speaking.
whoosh.
An extremely cold gaze passed by like a sharp blade.
Enel's neck stiffened and he turned back stiffly.
Rogge raised an eyebrow from a distance, his eyes calm and meaningful.
Enel felt a chill down his spine and cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
The next second, Enel turned into a company animal and bowed deeply, grinning stiffly and shouting:
"As you command! Old God-tier Saint is incredibly wise! The Supreme Council of the God Realm should follow your example! Huhuhuhu..."
Lei Te almost fell down laughing while holding his stomach:
"Hahaha! How could you change your words so quickly?! As expected, the God of Thunder and Lightning has the quickest reactions!"
Enel gnashed his teeth, smoke coming out of his ears:
"You b*****d mortal! If you dare to laugh at me again, I'll strike you with lightning—"
Bang!
Lei Te slapped him on the back of the head: "Shut up and listen to the boss's instructions."
Enel was so angry that she jumped up and down, but she didn't dare to do anything rash. She could only pinch her earrings and mutter under her breath:
"...Sooner or later...I will become the deputy god!!!"
Lei Te suppressed his laughter and stretched out his hand to make a boastful gesture:
"Alright, 'Vice-God'."
Laughter and cheers floated on the warship, slowly rising in the breeze of the White Sea.
Sky Island Arpaiado Ruins Core Area
The setting sun shines obliquely, and the sea of clouds turns golden red.
Deep in the ruined ancient city, Rogge led Angel Island scholars, Shandia warriors, Rhett and Enel, and carefully searched among the ruins.
Under Rogge's encouragement, as the ruins were explored more deeply, a truth that had been buried for 400 years finally surfaced:
——The Shandians and the Sky Island Angels are descendants of the same origin from the [Great Migration] period hundreds of years ago!
The branches simply split due to geographical changes and resource constraints.
What really caused the war to continue for hundreds of years was not racial hatred, but resources, land and misunderstanding!
Theocracy, the Bath tax, the high-pressure system - these are nothing but disguises to cover up contradictions.
This discovery shocked the entire Sky Island!
[Temple Hall·Temporary Parliament]
Gan Fowle knelt on one knee in front of the Shandia elders and the Angel Island representatives, lowered his knight's spear, and said in a deep voice:
"...Sky Island's loss was due to our own hubris."
"For centuries, we have misunderstood you."
"Today, in the name of the 'God' I once was, I apologize to all the warriors and descendants of Shandia!"
The whole audience was silent!
The eyes of the old Shandia warriors were red.
Lei Te stood behind the crowd, scratched the back of his head, and whispered:
"Tsk... I've been beaten so badly this whole time, I even misremembered the source... How foolish!"
Enel crossed his arms and snorted coldly: "Mortals have always been stupid."
After being glanced at by Rogge, he immediately fell silent and pretended to listen carefully.
[Deep in the Xiangdora Ruins, Golden Bell Square]
Rogge led the team further into the ruins of Arpaiado.
Finally, under the deepest fault of the ruins, a thick golden boulder slowly emerged.
[Lamp of Shandora——Golden Bell]
The bell tower that witnessed the oath between Nolando and Kalgara finally saw the light of day again after being silent for four hundred years!
Under the setting sun, the golden bell reflects a magnificent and sacred light!
Rogge stood with his hands behind his back under the golden bell, his cape fluttering wildly. His voice was calm and powerful, echoing throughout the ruins:
"Four hundred years of war, just because we all forgot—"
"This land has never belonged to any one person."
"—but belongs to everyone who looks up at the same sky."
After a dead silence.
Rhett grinned and walked aside.
He raised his fist covered in jet-black armament color and smashed the [ancient boulder with a dividing line engraved on it] next to the clock tower!
Boom——!
The stones shattered!
The boundary marker that separated the Sky Islanders from the Shandians completely collapsed!
Immediately following.
The golden bell trembled slightly in the wind, emitting a magnificent and solemn bell sound—
Boom——!!!
Boom——!!!
The sound of the bell pierces through the sea of clouds and resounds throughout the entire white sea world!
Whether it was the residents of Angel Island or the Shandia warriors, they all spontaneously raised their weapons, no longer pointing them at each other, but holding them high towards the sky!
Oath:
"From today on—"
"Let's protect our new home together!"
"Jointly inherit the oath of Nolandu and Kalgara!!"
The White Sea wind blows the flags!
The two tribes were in tears and held each other's hands again as the bells rang.
——The blood and hatred end here.
——Peace and hope finally bloom over the White Sea!
A few days later.
Under the chairmanship of Rogge, Sky Island held the first Sky Island Joint Festival in history.
Angel Island's traditional musicians work alongside Shandia warriors, weaving a unique new melody with wind shells, sound shells, and war drums!
The Shandia girls danced gracefully in feathered war skirts;
The Angel Island teenagers played trombones and shells, creating melodious tunes.
Fire, dancing, singing, laughter.
Sky Island has truly become a shared home.
Lei Te held the wine jar and smiled broadly:
"This is the normal world! This is so boring!"
Enel turned his head away with a look of disdain, pouting narcissistically:
"Of course, this God knows that mortal celebrations are extremely boring, so I only participate reluctantly."
However, when a Shandia child ran over and took his hand, Enel couldn't help but curl up the corners of his mouth again, and carefully made a small firework with lightning and gave it to the other party.
Lei Te looked at it and laughed so hard that he couldn't straighten his back:
"Master Deputy God, great! We've expanded our business to kindergartens?"
Enel's earlobes were twitching wildly and he almost went berserk.
After the celebration, night fell over the temple.
Rogge leaned on the railing at the top of the tower, looking at the huge black shadow looming in the sea of clouds in the distance, with a slight smile on his lips.
"Hello, Enel."
He said lazily, "You didn't make that thing secretly, did you?"
Enel crossed his arms, his golden earrings swaying gently in the moonlight. A hint of pride crossed his face. "Hmph, you have quite a good eye. That's 'Ark Proverbs'—a masterpiece crafted by this god himself."
Rogge raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So are you planning on driving it away, or are you planning on flattening Sky Island with it?"
Enel's forehead jumped: "...Stop speculating on God's will in such a frivolous tone!"
Rogge laughed and patted his shoulder.
"Don't be nervous, I'm not going to steal your toys."
He narrowed his eyes, his tone relaxed but unquestionable, "However, from today on, it has to be renamed."
Enel frowned: "What do you mean?"
"'Ark·Proverbs'—now the [Sky Island Federation]'s mobile fortress and [Marine Liaison Base]."
Rogge shrugged. "Don't worry, you're still the pilot, but I'll be the one to decide the route."
The corners of Enel's mouth twitched, and his golden pupils were filled with dissatisfaction.
But after a few seconds of silence, he turned his face away and snorted:
"...as you like."
Rogge grinned. "That's right."
The night wind blows, and the sea of clouds surges.
——Ark Proverbs is officially incorporated into Rogge's team!
And the Sky Island chapter has come to a successful conclusion!
——Next stop, Grand Line, blood and fire really begin to burn!