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--xLOVEx--
Coby sighed, exhausted and covered in blood, his body aching from the fierce battle with Enel. He checked the system screen one more time, shaking his head. "Still not even close to Lightning Generation, let alone Mantra or Goro Goro's full abilities." The numbers weren't adding up as fast as he'd hoped, and that was frustrating. He had all these skills within reach but not enough points to grab them.
He forced himself to stand, ignoring the sharp pain in his side. The fight had taken a toll on him. Despite the victory, he couldn't shake the feeling that he needed more—more power, more skills, more everything if he was going to survive what was coming next.
Coby scanned the area, making sure the battlefield was clear. He had sent Nami and the others away before the fight, instructing them to search the island for gold, specifically the mines that led to Maxim. They should have found something by now. He had originally planned to use Enel's Lightning Generation to power Maxim and fly it down to the Blue Sea, but without that ability, his plan was shot. He cursed under his breath, frustrated by the setback.
Grimacing, he bent down and grabbed Enel's lifeless body. The weight wasn't the issue—it was the pain shooting through his side that made it difficult. He gritted his teeth and pushed through, knowing he needed to get this over with.
Just as he was about to make his way back to the others, the sound of footsteps filled the square. Coby looked up to see Wiper and the other Shandians arriving, their expressions full of shock and disbelief as they took in the scene. Gan Fall also descended from the sky, his bird circling above before landing beside him.
Wiper's eyes narrowed as he approached Coby, his gaze flicking to Enel's body. "Is that real? Did you really kill Enel?" he asked, his voice tense.
Coby nodded. "Yeah, it's over. Enel's dead." He held up the lifeless form of the self-proclaimed god as proof. The sight of their fallen enemy sent a ripple of emotions through the Shandians, some of them visibly relaxing for the first time in years.
Gan Fall stepped forward, his expression one of relief. "You've done more than just defeat Enel," he said, his voice heavy with gratitude. "You've freed this island from his tyranny."
Coby was in no mood for pleasantries. "What's the fucking point?" he snapped, tossing Enel's lifeless body onto the ground with a thud. "You'll just start killing each other soon anyway." His voice was flat, filled with frustration as he watched the Shandians and Gan Fall's group exchange hostile glares.
Wiper's eyes blazed with anger. "What the fuck does an outsider like you know?" he howled, stepping forward as if to challenge Coby. His muscles were tense, the years of battle and hatred for the Skypieans still fresh in his mind.
Coby grinned, wiping the blood from his hands. He met Wiper's gaze without flinching. "I know that your ancestor, Calgara, wanted to ring that golden bell for his best friend, Mont Blanc Noland," Coby began, his words cutting through the tension in the air. "So that Noland would know Shandia flew into the sky. So that Noland wouldn't worry. He wanted Noland to know that you were alive."
The weight of Coby's words hit Wiper like a punch. His eyes widened, surprise momentarily overtaking his anger. But before he could respond, Coby continued.
"I know this land is your ancestral home, stolen from you by the Skypieans." His gaze shifted to Gan Fall, who flinched slightly under the intensity of Coby's words. "And I know that the same bell that started this war will end it when it rings once again."
Coby's voice was unwavering as he went on, "I also know Noland died crying, branded a liar by thousands of people when he proclaimed the City of Gold existed." His eyes flicked back to Wiper, watching the realization dawn on his face. "I fucking know that if my crew and I hadn't come here, you all be dead in a couple of days. Enel was ready to destroy everything."
Wiper's fists clenched, his jaw tightening as he processed what Coby was saying. The truth was a bitter pill to swallow, and it showed in the way his shoulders sagged, the fight draining out of him. But Coby wasn't done yet.
"And here's the last thing I know," Coby said, his tone sharp. "Noland's descendant is much like you. He's been searching for the City of Gold to prove that his ancestor wasn't a liar. To prove that all those people were wrong."
Wiper, now visibly shaken, opened his mouth to speak but found no words. The Shandians behind him shifted uncomfortably, glancing between their leader and Coby, unsure of how to react. Gan Fall, too, seemed lost in thought, his eyes fixed on the ground as if replaying the events of centuries past.
Coby stood amidst the tense silence, his sharp gaze cutting through the uneasy stares of the Shandians and Gan Fall's group. "So, do I fucking know enough as an outsider?" he snapped, his tone daring anyone to challenge him.
Before anyone could answer, the chief of the Shandians, a wise and weathered old man, stepped forward. "You've said enough," he declared, his voice carrying a weight of authority that silenced any murmurings.
The Shandians turned to him in surprise. "Chief, what are you doing here?" one of the warriors asked, concern evident in his voice.
The chief raised a hand, signaling for them not to worry. "Asia informed me that Enel's breath has disappeared," he said calmly, his eyes shifting to the lifeless body of their fallen oppressor. "It seems the battle is truly over."
He then turned his gaze back to Coby, his expression softening. "Just knowing that our ancestor's wish can still be met, that a descendant of Noland waits below, is enough," the chief continued. "We just want to ring the bell once more. Ancestral lands be cursed."
Wiper looked back at the chief in disbelief. "Chief, what are you saying?" he asked, his voice laced with confusion and frustration.
The chief stepped forward, his presence commanding. "War for survival is just, Wiper," he said, his words firm yet gentle. "But sacrificing the lives of your tribe for a piece of dirt is the biggest sin you can commit. Remember this." His eyes bore into Wiper's, the wisdom of his years evident in every word.
Wiper clenched his fists, the rage and hatred that had fueled him for so long now clashing with the chief's words. His chest heaved as he struggled to find a response, but the weight of the chief's message was undeniable. The Shandians around him murmured among themselves, some nodding in agreement, others still unsure.
Coby didn't bother to interrupt the moment, knowing this wasn't his battle to resolve. He simply watched, his blood-stained hands resting at his sides, waiting to see how things would unfold.
Gan Fall, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, stepped forward as well. "The bell is a symbol of peace," he said, addressing both the Shandians and his own people that arrived at some time. "Let us work together to ring it once more, in honor of both our ancestors."
The chief nodded in agreement. "For too long, we've fought over what once belonged to us. But perhaps it's time to let go of the past and focus on the future." His words hung in the air, heavy with the implications of change.
Wiper's expression softened slightly, the tension in his posture easing as he considered the chief's words. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he nodded. "If ringing the bell can bring peace, then let's do it," he said, his voice low but resolute.
The Shandians exchanged glances, some still hesitant, but the chief's authority and Wiper's acceptance seemed to quell any further objections. Gan Fall's people, who arrived a while ago, too, looked relieved, the prospect of an end to the conflict bringing a sense of hope to the weary fighters.
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