OP: My Aircraft Carrier Evolves#140+141: The Logia Rumble-Rumble Fruit! A New God Must Rise! The Golden Bell Rings Out Across the Sky! A Bountiful Harvest and Riches Overnight!

Wyper watched from afar, completely stunned. That man... with his bare hands, he had faced down a terrifying thunderstorm and defeated a god.

In the distance, The chieftain, and the others, who had been drawn by the commotion, had witnessed the final punch.

They were all speechless with shock and terror.

The god who controlled lightning had been taken down by a single punch.

The image would be burned into their minds for the rest of their lives.

"A pity..." Jin said, taking a deep breath. Arcs of electricity still crackled across his skin, which was now slightly charred. A trickle of blood ran from the corner of his mouth. "The lightning that dances at your fingertips is not the faith that burns in my soul."

He hadn't used his Haki to defend.

He had wanted to test the limits of his own body.

Could he bathe in lightning? In magma?

He had to admit, 200 million volts was more than a mortal body could handle. He had been injured by the thunderstorm.

But not seriously.

He grabbed Enel. A magic circle flashed at his feet, and they vanished.

Teleportation.

—————————————

Back to the demonic carrier.

"Ai, repairs."

"Right away, Master!"

The boiler burned, and golden flames enveloped his body, healing his wounds, the rich life energy flowing through him. In a few short breaths, he was completely healed.

And—

He clenched his fist. After being struck by lightning, his cells were more active, his resistance to electricity higher.

"My body, after the third evolution... I haven't even reached my limit yet."

With each evolution, his body grew stronger, and it became harder and harder to push himself to his "limit."

After a moment of contemplation, he let out a long breath.

What to do with Enel?

Kill him.

Take the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.

But Jin didn't throw Enel's body into the boiler. Instead, he gave it to Judge for research.

Seraphim...

He thought of Vegapunk's research project. Could he get a piece of that action?

Normally, no. The World Government was watching. They would allow him to be a whimsical "gardener" king, but they would never let him get his hands on that kind of technology. The Celestial Dragons weren't all fools.

But... he remembered that Vegapunk's research facility, Punk Hazard, was due for a major accident.

Perhaps, in the chaos, he could get his hands on some of the data. And if that didn't work... he could always try to intercept Caesar Clown.

—————————————

"Enel has been defeated!"

"What??"

"Enel was defeated?"

The news of Enel's fall spread like wildfire, carried across the island by Gan Fall himself.

The people of Angel Island and the Shandia village were all stunned.

Enel's reign of lightning had been a dark shroud over Skypiea for so long that no one had ever imagined he could be beaten.

But after the shock came the cheers. A wave of celebration swept across the clouds.

Then, as the excitement faded, a new worry began to set in.

The old god was gone.

A new one had to take his place.

But who?

An ordinary person was out of the question. And Gan Fall—though the people yearned for his return, for a restoration of the peace and tranquility they had known before Enel's tyranny—was just an old man.

Yes, Jin had defeated Enel. But he was from the Blue Sea, wasn't he?

In the end, it was Gan Fall who convinced them.

It didn't take much persuasion.

Just one question.

"Enel was defeated, but his whereabouts are unknown. What if he comes back?"

That was all it took.

What if Enel did come back? Who could stop him? You? Me? Gan Fall?

If Gan Fall could have stopped him, he never would have been driven out in the first place.

Faced with such a threat, the people of Skypiea needed a "God" with the power to protect them.

Even if he was from the Blue Sea, they had to find a way to make him stay.

—————————————

Jin intended to become the ruler of Skypiea, but he wouldn't be the one to propose it. He would use the same strategy he had on Drum Island.

It wasn't that he wanted to be "God." It was that the people of Skypiea needed him to be. That was the only way to ensure a stable rule.

Something given freely is never treasured.

But something begged for—that is held sacred.

And for that, Jin needed Gan Fall.

He needed him to pull the strings. Like Dalton, he was a man of great prestige and reputation among his people. His words carried weight.

After Gan Fall had rallied the Skypieans to formally ask Jin to become their new "God," all that was left were the Shandians.

Jin invited the old chieftain, Wyper, and the other warriors to the Upper Yard.

Gan Fall represented the Angel Islanders.

The two 400-year-old enemies met face to face.

Jin watched from the side as Gan Fall proposed a truce.

"A truce?" Wyper scoffed.

"Yes. A truce between the Shandians and the Skypieans. From this day forward, there will be no more war over this holy land."

"The Shandians will never give up the fight for their homeland—not until the last drop of our blood has been spilled!" Wyper and the other warriors grew agitated. "On what grounds do you ask this of us?"

"Do you want this hatred to be passed down forever, until every last one of you is dead?" Gan Fall countered. "How many people are left in your village? Less than a hundred? And with that, even if you did retake your 'holy land,' how long could you hold it? If you don't make peace, will there even be a Shandora in another hundred years?"

"Even if only one of us remains, the Shandians will never yield," Wyper insisted, his voice thick with stubborn pride. "To light the Light of Shandora! To protect the city of gold! That is our tribe's mission! It is in our very blood!"

"I don't deny your mission," Gan Fall said wearily. "But when you are all dead, who will be left to carry it on? You speak of the past. We are discussing the present, and the future. The truth is, this 'holy land,' Angel Island, and Shandia... over the past 400 years, they have become one."

Jin—the "arbitrator" who had been silent until now—cleared his throat. "If I may say something."

All eyes turned to him.

Even the obstinate Wyper fell silent. He was a stubborn man, set in his ways. But in the presence of someone he respected, he would listen.

And Jin, by defeating Enel, had earned Wyper's respect.

In Wyper's heart—Jin was a great warrior, just like the legendary "Noland," who had once saved the Shandian people.

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"In fact," Jin began, glancing at Robin, "the lady beside me is an archaeologist. She has examined a portion of the ruins. And she has discovered a startling fact."

"The people of Angel Island, the people of Jaya—or as you call it, the holy land of Upper Yard—if you trace your history back a thousand years... you are one people. You share a common ancestor."

"For some reason, a portion of your people remained in the sky, becoming the original inhabitants of Skypiea. Another portion traveled to what you call the 'Blue Sea,' to the island of Jaya, and built the city of gold, Shandora. Over time, through war and upheaval, Shandora was destroyed, leaving only ruins. The remaining people of Jaya were cut off from the world and became the primitive Shandian tribe. And then, 400 years ago, a piece of your ancestral home was blasted into the sky by the Knock Up Stream."

When Jin had finished, Gan Fall, the old chieftain, Wyper—everyone—wore an expression of utter shock.

"What??"

"Is that possible??"

"We're... one people?"

"Ha! The Shandians and the Skypieans... from the same roots??"

"Hey! Don't lump us in with them!"

The revelation was a bombshell. Four hundred years of hatred, of war... and now he was telling them it was brother fighting brother?

It wasn't just Wyper. Even Gan Fall was having trouble accepting it.

"Alright," Jin said, breaking the silence. "I've said my piece. Please, continue."

Continue?

The two sides just stared at each other, the situation now incredibly awkward.

"No one's talking? Then I'll decide," Jin declared. "Today, you will swear a blood oath. From this day forward, you will live in peace. And as for you, Wyper... lighting the Light of Shandora won't be so difficult. Are you and your men interested in becoming the new Army?"

Wyper and the other warriors were stunned.

Did that mean... they could remain in the holy land, to protect Shandora?

Jin glanced at Gan Fall. "The God's Army will be under your command."

Gan Fall nodded.

"I have no intention of abolishing the eleven laws Enel established during his rule," Jin continued, "but the punishments will be reduced."

Enel's laws—against killing in the Upper Yard, obstructing official duties, theft, hunting rare animals, destroying the environment, illegal entry... were they really so bad?

Punishing such crimes was perfectly reasonable.

The problem was that Enel had been too strict, and his rule had become a tyranny. But to abolish the laws just for the sake of opposing him would be a mistake. The Skypieans would quickly prove that they deserved to be struck by lightning.

Anyone who thought the Skypieans were pure and innocent was either naive or a fool. If they were so pure, they wouldn't have driven out the Shandians and claimed Upper Yard for themselves. They were only meek as lambs in the face of Enel's power. Unleashed, the wolf would come out from under the sheep's skin.

That was people's nature.

But a good ruler couldn't just punish; he had to reward as well.

To show that he was different from Enel, Jin added, "Furthermore, I am announcing three new decrees. First, as long as they have not violated the eleven laws, all Skypieans and Shandians will be permitted to visit a designated area of the holy land for one day of leisure each month. Second, to commemorate my ascension as your new 'God,' this day will be known as 'God's Celebration Day,' and all are welcome in the holy land to celebrate. And third... from this day forward, upon reaching the age of adulthood, every citizen may come to the holy land and take one gram of Vearth as a coming-of-age gift from your God. But upon your death, that soil must be returned. And in return, your ashes may be scattered in the holy land. This applies to all who are currently of age, on the condition that they register as citizens of the holy land!"

The news sent a wave of excitement through Angel Island and Shandia.

A trip to the holy land every month?

A gram of Vearth upon coming of age?

The blessings of the new God were truly great!

As for Enel's laws... who cared? Compared to him, the new God was incredibly benevolent. They couldn't ask for more.

The story of the Shandians and Skypieans being one people a thousand years ago was also intentionally spread far and wide. After three years of tyranny, everyone was tired. No one wanted to fight anymore. They were willing to accept it.

All these factors led to a swift and successful peace negotiation.

In the Upper Yard, under the watchful eye of their new "God," the representatives of the two peoples drank the wine of reconciliation, mingled with each other's blood.

Jin then selected Wyper, Braham, Kamakiri, and Raki from among the Shandians to be the new four Priests, to protect the holy land.

He appointed Gan Fall as the commander of the God's Army, which would be composed of both Skypieans and Shandians.

As the new system was established, a census was conducted, and identification cards were issued to all who came to the holy land.

During this time, Robin explored the ruins and found the Poneglyph. The Germa 66 soldiers searched for gold. And Jin found the half-finished Ark Maxim, and the already completed core device, the Deathpiea.

Integrating the Rumble-Rumble Fruit would be a massive upgrade for the demonic carrier. It solved the "energy" problem.

The Ark Maxim and the Deathpiea, which could create thunderclouds, were also swallowed by the demonic carrier, becoming a part of it. It was like gaining a "thundercloud weather core."

And among the treasures were 200 now-extinct Impact Dials. With them, the demonic carrier would no longer need a hot air balloon to take flight.

The Skypiea expedition had been a treasure trove.

"Where is the Light of Shandora?"

Wyper and the other Shandians, now permitted to enter the ruins, had been searching for a long time, but they couldn't find the "Light."

Jin, having mostly finished his work, overheard their discussion and looked up at the giant beanstalk in the center of the ruins.

He pointed. "Hasn't anyone thought to look up there?"

"Eh??"

Everyone looked up at the massive vine, so thick it was like a mountain, its top lost in the clouds.

Wyper's eyes widened in realization.

He immediately began to climb.

After half a day, he finally broke through the clouds and, on one of the massive leaves at the very top, he saw it.

The "Light" of Shandora.

A golden bell that had once hung in their temple.

Its sound could pierce the sky and the sea. In ancient times, it had served as a beacon for ships. The Shandian people would ring their golden bell to guide their dear friend Noland and his crew back to their island.

That was why it was called the "Light of Shandora."

Wyper's heart pounded in his chest.

He walked forward and, with all his might, he pushed.

DONG...

The sound of the bell echoed across the island.

The Shandians looked up, their faces filled with excitement.

They had found it!

DONG...

The bell continued to ring, its sound spreading farther and farther. The people of Angel Island and Shandia all stopped what they were doing and listened.

"IT'S A DIVINE MESSAGE!"

"THE GOLDEN BELL IS RINGING AGAIN! THE WAR WILL END!"

They cheered.

Jin listened patiently. The deep, rich tone of the bell was beautiful, filled with an unparalleled grandeur and majesty.

A rumbling sound echoed through the forest, and a massive serpent, its scales purple, its eyes gold, slithered out from the trees. It heard the sound of the bell and became agitated.

"Oh no—it's Nola!" Raki cried out. "Be careful! It's poisonous!"

The giant serpent slithered forward, crushing the ruins beneath it. Drawn by the sound of the bell, it began to climb the beanstalk.

"Hey! Quiet down," Jin said, turning his head. A golden light flashed in his eyes, and a powerful wave of Conqueror's Haki washed over the serpent.

It shuddered and immediately stopped, lowering its head and prostrating itself on the ground, as if in the presence of its king.