[Marine Headquarter]
The dim glow of morning light filtered through the windows of the private hospital room, casting pale streaks across the stone walls. On the bed, a figure stirred for the first time in weeks. His dark hair, matted from days of neglect, shifted as his head turned toward the light. Slowly, his eyes cracked open, revealing the sharp, hardened gaze of a man known throughout the seas: Sakazuki, the future Marine Admiral.
His brow furrowed as he tried to sit up, but a jolt of pain shot through his body. Gritting his teeth, he looked down and froze.
His left arm... gone.
What remained was a carefully bandaged stump, the flesh wrapped tight in gauze. He clenched his jaw, his right hand trembling as he pressed it to his forehead, trying to grasp the magnitude of what had happened. They tried everything. He could tell from the precision of the patchwork, they had saved his life but left him incomplete. His breath hitched, and he gripped the bed sheet in frustration.
Heat radiated from his palm, causing the fabric to smolder and blacken before he willed himself to calm down. 'Not here... Not now...'
Just then, the door creaked open, and a nurse stepped into the room, her eyes going wide when she realized the once-comatose Admiral had awakened.
"Ah! Y-You're awake—!" she gasped, her voice cracking with shock.
"Quiet," Sakazuki snapped, his voice low and commanding. "You're hurting my ears."
The nurse stumbled backward, speechless, before dashing out of the room. Moments later, the door burst open as a team of doctors flooded inside. Relief was written across their faces as they swarmed him.
"You're back, sir!" one of the doctors exclaimed, bowing slightly. "We thought we lost you."
A woman followed them in, Luna, a senior doctor with sharp, lazy eyes. A cigar dangled from the corner of her mouth as if permanently attached. Her black hair tied over her shoulders, and her unbuttoned coat revealed a tattoo of a sword running across her chest. Unlike the others, she was calm, seemingly uninterested in the commotion.
She leaned casually against the doorframe, her gaze lingering on her Sakazuki. Without saying a word, she signaled for the other doctors to check Sakazuki's vitals, then pulled out a Den Den Mushi. She lit her cigar with a flick of her wrist as the snail device blinked to life.
"Kong," Luna said, exhaling a plume of smoke, "he's awake."
Outside the room, she waited for the Fleet Admiral's response, her demeanor relaxed, though her mind was elsewhere. Inside, the doctors were fussing over Sakazuki's vitals, annoying him further.
Sakazuki grabbed one of the younger doctors by the sleeve, his stern gaze boring into him. "Why did she just walk out?"
The doctor hesitated. "Dr. Luna... she's contacting Fleet Admiral Kong."
Sakazuki nodded slowly, the pieces falling into place in his mind. He released the doctor and asked flatly, "How long was I out?"
"about 2 months, sir," the doctor replied nervously. "After... Yukiryu Island."
Sakazuki's eyes darkened at the mention of that place, the memories of his last encounter rushing back like an unrelenting tide. His gaze drifted to the folded newspaper on the bedside table. He reached for an older one, with his only hand, the paper crinkling as he unfolded it.
The front page hit him like a punch to the gut.
A familiar face stared back at him, a boy he recognized all too well. Draco, with the bold title beneath his photo:
"Human God."
His bounty was listed in bold numbers: 1,477,000,000 berries.
Sakazuki's blood pressure surged as the memories flooded back, the pain, the humiliation, and the last haunting words Draco had whispered to him.
"Be better."
His teeth clenched, his grip tightening on the paper until it began to scorch. Just as he was about to erupt in rage, a sharp whack landed on the top of his head, snapping him out of his fury.
"Cut it out, idiot."
Sakazuki looked up to see Luna standing above him, her cigar hanging loosely from her lips. She waved the now-crumpled paper dismissively. "You're gonna burst a vein before you even leave the bed."
Sakazuki scowled, rubbing his head. "You should put on a proper shirt."
Luna smirked and gave him a light smack on the head. "Still the same as ever." She exhaled another puff of smoke, motioning for the other doctors to leave. "Alright, that's enough. Give him some air."
As the room cleared, Luna opened the door but paused just before stepping out. Without turning back, she said, "We've started work on your new arm. Vega Punk's team is handling it, it's almost ready. Just hang in there."
Sakazuki gave a slow nod, his gaze lowering to the empty space where his left arm had once been. The weight of everything... his defeat, his lost limb, and Draco's words, pressed heavily on him.
"Ah... get better brother," Luna said softly before closing the door behind her.
[Sky Island]
The morning sunbathed the island in golden light as the Roger Pirates stirred from their slumber. A crisp breeze drifted through the trees, rustling leaves and carrying the scent of fresh air.
Deep in the forest, Roger stirred from the crater where he had been thrown the night before. With a groan, he sat up, cracking his neck and brushing leaves from his coat. The tree he had crashed into groaned under its weight before finally toppling to the ground behind him with a loud thud.
Roger blinked, momentarily disoriented, then grinned wide. "Well, that was a good nap!"
With a quick leap, he launched himself toward his ship, landing on the deck with his usual energy. "Alright, crew! Time to head to the Poneglyph!"
"We've been ready!" one of the crew shouted from below, drawing cheers and laughter from the others.
Scratching his chin with mock embarrassment, Roger chuckled. "Guess I overslept."
The crew gathered their gear and followed Enel through the forest with surprising ease. Enel led them confidently despite his earlier defeat, and his knowledge of the terrain proved invaluable.
As Enel confidently guided the crew through the lush forests of Upper Yard, the group stumbled upon something extraordinary: the ancient ruins of Shandora.
The crew stood in awe, their eyes wide as they took in the majesty of the City of Gold, hidden deep within the sky island. The ruins glittered under the morning sun, remnants of a grand civilization that once thrived here. Gold inlays, ancient statues, and weathered carvings gave the city an ethereal glow, leaving the pirates speechless.
"This... this is incredible!" Buggy exclaimed, his nose twitching as he tried to hide his excitement. "A whole city made of gold!"
Shanks smirked beside him, nudging Buggy with an elbow. "Bet you'd melt it all into coins if you could carry it!"
"Maybe...," Buggy muttered, his greedy grin betraying his words.
Oden stood silent, mesmerized by the beauty of the ruins. He had visited these grounds just yesterday with Roger, yet somehow, they had missed something crucial.
Enel, walking ahead with nonchalance, approached a part of the ruins that had gone unnoticed before, a faintly marked wall, hidden within the shadows of the ancient architecture. It was not gold, unlike the rest of the city, but its carvings shimmered under the soft glow of the sun.
Oden's eyes widened as he recognized the symbols. "Wait... This is..."
It was written in the same script as the Poneglyphs. Oden's heart skipped a beat. Yesterday, they had been so focused on the ancient treasures that they had completely overlooked this wall.
The crew gathered around in curiosity.
"Looks just like that weird stone I saw at Yukiryu Island," Shanks whispered to Buggy, both of them squinting at the unfamiliar characters.
Oden exhaled deeply, brushing his hand over the ancient carvings as he began reading aloud:
"Through the Grand Belfry, we wove the threads of history, so that those in the farthest reaches of time would never forget."
"Grand Belfry?" Buggy echoed, scratching his head. "What the heck is that?"
"Sounds like gibberish," Shanks added, somewhat confused.
Roger crossed his arms, his gaze serious. "If it's connected to history, it might be important... and we missed it until now."
With that, they decided to investigate further. The Grand Belfry, whatever it was, called to them like a whisper from the past.
They followed Oden's lead deeper into the ruins, finally ascending a tall, golden structure nestled within the heart of Shandora, the Great Belfry. Its towering spire shimmered as they approached, and looked up in awe.
As they prepared to climb the final flight of steps to the summit, they were stopped by a familiar figure.
Gan Fall, the former God of Skypiea, stood before them, surrounded by a group of Skypieans dressed in ceremonial robes. Unlike the day before, when Gan Fall had greeted them in his knightly armor, today he wore elegant robes that signified wisdom and power, embodying his role as a revered leader.
"Welcome again," Gan Fall greeted them warmly, his voice filled with pride. "I see you've almost done with your adventure."
The Roger pirates exchanged nods and pleasantries with him. However, Enel, who had quietly trailed behind the group, quickly ducked behind a ruined column.
Roger gave Enel a curious glance but decided not to call him out. For now, it seemed Enel wanted to avoid being noticed by Gan Fall. The old leader, fortunately, remained unaware of his presence.
"My duties call me elsewhere today," Gan Fall explained with a polite smile, "but when you're finished, join us for a celebration. It would be an honor to toast to your adventures. It's also a thanks for the treasure you guys gave us," Gan fall holds some dirt wrapped in a bag.
Roger gave him a wide grin, clapping the older man on the shoulder. "We'll be there, old friend!"
With a respectful nod, Gan Fall and the Skypieans departed, leaving the crew to explore the Great Belfry on their own.
But as soon as they reached the top and approached the Poneglyph, they froze in their tracks.
A massive, mysterious figure stood before the Poneglyph, his back turned to them. He was over 32 feet tall, his dark skin covered in intricate tattoos that glowed faintly in the sunlight. Black wings stretched from his back, and his short white braided hair and beard gave him an air of superiority.
Roger's smile widened as he sensed the overwhelming presence radiating from the figure. "Well, well… Looks like we've got company."
From the side, Draco raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?" he muttered under his breath. "Are we gonna meet someone new every single time we find a Poneglyph?"
The towering figure remained silent, still facing the ancient stone. The Roger Pirates stood at the ready, the air thick with anticipation.