Robin stood before the Golden Bell, her gaze profound.
She looked up at the giant bell, which had stood for a thousand years, and exclaimed, "Is this the legendary city, Shandora's proud Great Bell Tower? It's truly amazing!"
Sunlight pierced through the clouds, casting a sacred glow upon the Golden Bell, as if the entire bell was plated in holy light.
Just then, Luffy and the others also arrived.
They passed through the clouds, their feet on the thick branches at the top of the giant vine.
Their gazes converged on this legendary golden giant bell.
Everyone was stunned by the sight before them.
"Hey, hey... is this thing really made of pure gold?"
Zoro's eyes widened, as if he couldn't believe such a massive golden structure truly existed in this world.
"This is an invaluable Treasure Trove!" Nami's eyes immediately sparkled with gold, her face filled with feverish excitement.
"If we can take it back, we'll become the richest pirate crew in the world!"
Usopp looked at the Golden Bell with awe, mumbling,
"This is like a treasure from a mythical story... it actually exists..."
But just as everyone was immersed in shock and wonder, Luffy suddenly grinned, swung his fist, and struck the bell's body.
— "Dong!!!"
The Golden Bell let out a majestic and distant chime.
The deep, heavy sound seemed to pierce through the clouds, echoing throughout the entire Sky Island.
At that moment, the entire world fell silent, even the wind held its breath to listen.
Deep within the ruins, the previously unconscious Shandian warriors were awakened by the profound bell sound.
They opened their eyes, listening to the chime in their ears, and hot tears immediately welled up in their eyes.
"This bell sound... it's the 'Light of Shandora'...
"Lord Kalgara... do you hear it?"
They choked, tears silently streaming down their faces.
It was as if at this moment, not only they themselves, but also their ancestors, were listening to this call that transcended four hundred years.
Meanwhile, the residents of Sky Island also looked up in unison towards the direction from which the bell sound came.
"This bell sound... is it the legendary 'Golden Bell'?"
"Does that lost city... Shandora, truly exist?"
The atmosphere of the entire Sky Island became exceptionally solemn at this moment, as if the whole world was waiting for the Golden Bell to tell its story.
— Meanwhile, Robin stood beneath the bell's body.
Her fingertips gently brushed the base of the Golden Bell, which was covered in ancient writing.
A determined light shone in her eyes as she murmured,
"Convey the true meaning to the heart... We are the weavers of history... at one with the chime of the Great Bell Tower..."
"Robin, does it really say those words?" Luffy tilted his head, asking curiously.
Robin smiled slightly and shook her head:
"No, this is a record of the Golden Bell from ancient ruins.
As for the inscription on this bell's base, the true content is — 'Ancient Weapon Pluton, its whereabouts.'"
"Ancient Weapon?" Nami's expression changed slightly, and she asked in surprise, "Is it the same type of thing as Alabasta's 'Pluton'?"
Robin nodded, her expression becoming somewhat complex.
She remembered what Crocodile had once said—"Pluton, once it fires, can blast an entire island into ruins."
"Such a dangerous thing... still slumbers upon this great sea."
Robin said softly, a trace of deep thought flashing in her eyes.
Lin Ning stood with his arms crossed, his gaze sharp as he looked at her:
"Robin, aren't you interested in Ancient Weapons? Do you only seek lost history?"
Robin was silent for a moment, then the corners of her mouth turned up slightly, and she nodded gently.
"Just as I thought." Lin Ning chuckled, then he turned to look at Luffy and suddenly asked:
"Luffy, do you want an Ancient Weapon? Something that can destroy an island with a single blow?"
Upon hearing this, everyone looked at Luffy, awaiting his answer.
However, Luffy just grinned and said without hesitation, "No need!"
His gaze was firm, his tone filled with unwavering confidence:
"I'm the man who will become the Pirate King, I won't rely on such things!"
The wind blew from high above, lifting the straw hat on his forehead.
His eyes were incredibly firm; no power could shake his belief.
Hearing Luffy's bold words, everyone revealed knowing smiles.
Lin Ning nodded, a satisfied smile curving his lips:
"That's right, Luffy, true strength comes from within."
He looked up slightly, gazing at the sky, and slowly said:
"Destroy an island with a single blow? Heh... in the future, we might just be able to."
Upon hearing this, Zoro also showed a domineering and confident smile.
The corners of his mouth turned up slightly, and his hand slowly rested on the hilt of the sword at his waist.
"Hey, Robin! Look quickly, what's written here!"
A sudden cry of surprise broke everyone's contemplation.
Usopp's face was excited and shocked, his trembling finger pointing at a golden pillar embedded in the bell tower next to the base of the Golden Bell.
A line of ancient text was clearly carved on it, faintly exuding a mysterious aura that had endured the baptism of time.
Everyone immediately gathered around, their gazes focused on the mysterious inscription, holding their breath as they awaited Robin's interpretation.
Robin slowly walked forward, her slender fingers gently tracing the carvings.
Her gaze suddenly paused, and she froze!
— Gol D. Roger.
In an instant, Robin's pupils slightly contracted, as if she had witnessed a secret that transcended time and space.
"How is this possible..." she murmured softly, her eyes filled with disbelief.
"What's wrong, Robin?" Nami asked, seeing her unusual expression.
Robin took a deep breath, her expression complex as she said:
...It says — 'Gol D. Roger, was here!
Lead this text to the final destination.
Signed: Pirate King Gol D. Roger!'"
— Boom!
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was struck as if by lightning, completely astonished!
"Pi-Pirate King Roger?!" Luffy's eyes widened, staring incredulously at the line of text.
"He also came to this Sky Island?!"
Zoro frowned, "...He could also read poneglyph?"
Nami, with her hands on her hips, was surprised yet somewhat exasperated as she said:
"Hey, hey, he's the Pirate King! And he came all the way here just to carve 'was here'?"
"And he didn't even take the gold from Golden City, he left it for us... This guy... he's actually pretty nice!"
Nami grumbled while secretly snickering.
"Too, too exaggerated..." Usopp covered his forehead, looking dizzy.
"So this Golden City was even visited by the Pirate King..."
Sanji lit a cigarette, exhaled a smoke ring, his eyes flickering slightly:
...The Pirate King once reached the end of the Grand Line, what exactly did he see?