บท 53: An Empty Golden City
If you wish to read up to 5 Chapters Ahead! or simply support me just because? then check out my patréon at
"https://www.patréon.com/Riadooo"
Don't forget to change "é" to "e"
/*****************************************\
Kai, Mikita, and Luca made their way through the dense, mist-covered forest of Upper Yard, the air grew still and heavy. Towering trees loomed around them, their branches woven into a natural canopy that dimmed the Skypiean sunlight into soft, green-hued shadows. Kai's gaze was distant, his mind wandering into the depths of his memory as he tried to piece together the layout of the legendary Shandora.
He muttered to himself, almost as if the words might somehow summon the path forward. "I know it's somewhere here in Upper Yard… the ruins of Shandora. But the Golden Bell… that's got to be higher up."
Mikita, striding beside him, noticed the distant look in his eyes. "Are you alright, Kai?" she asked, her voice laced with concern. "You seem a little… lost. We aren't lost, are we?"
Kai quickly snapped back, giving her a reassuring smirk. "Of course not," he replied, though the confidence in his tone was half-hearted. He turned his gaze forward again, but his mind was still miles away, searching through fragments of his memory.
Luca chuckled, his voice breaking the forest's quiet. "I've probably said this already," he began, glancing at Kai with a raised brow, "but I'm honestly surprised you managed to make it through that war. I really thought I was done for, myself. In a strange way, Kuma did me a favor…"
Kai's mind snagged on those words, and his expression darkened. Alive? You say that like I made it out in one piece… he thought, his memories flashing back to the harrowing moments, the pain, the closeness of death itself. Out loud, he forced himself to say, "Me neither… but I did anyways," his voice quiet and tinged with a sadness that seemed foreign even to himself.
Mikita and Luca glanced at each other, both feeling the weight of his words but instinctively knowing it wasn't the time to push. Instead, silence fell over them, the quiet settling as they continued through the forest.
Finally, Luca cleared his throat, breaking the stillness. "So… where exactly are we going?" he asked, looking around with growing unease. "I don't think I've ever ventured this far into the forest. It's strange—it feels… out of place. Like it doesn't belong up here at all."
"That's because it doesn't," Kai replied, casting a glance at the landscape around them.
Mikita and Luca both stopped in their tracks, their eyes widening in surprise. Luca stared at him, confused. "What do you mean it doesn't belong here?"
Kai turned to them, his gaze steady. "This forest, this whole place… It was part of Jaya, an island down below. Hundreds of years ago, it was blasted into the sky by the Knock-Up Stream."
Mikita blinked, taking in the enormity of what he was saying. "Wait… it has that much power? To throw an entire island into the sky?"
Kai nodded, his expression somber. "Yes. And that's why I told you that Norland's 'lies' were never lies. There is a City of Gold—Shandora. It's real. I just hope there's something left of it… because I need that gold for a greater purpose."
Luca looked around, his gaze now tinged with awe as he absorbed the revelation. The trees, the ancient stone carvings they'd seen on the way, the entire forest—this wasn't just a place in the sky. It was a relic of the past, a piece of a lost city.
****
Hidden among the dense foliage and towering treetops of Upper Yard, a group of Shandians—winged warriors of Skypiea, known for their unwavering dedication to their ancestors and homeland—watched the three figures moving cautiously through their sacred land. One of the warriors narrowed his eyes as he recognized the clothing and equipment that marked them as outsiders.
"Wyper," whispered one of the warriors, adjusting his grip on his spear, "these blue-sea dwellers… What do we do with them? Should we inform Gan Fall? It's been so long since we've seen outsiders, not since… him."
The warrior called Wyper, a fierce and battle-worn leader, stood with his arms crossed, observing the intruders in silence. His dark gaze was intense, burning with a determination forged over years of struggle to reclaim his people's land. He watched as Kai, Mikita, and Luca made their way, seemingly oblivious to the eyes upon them.
After a moment, Wyper's lips twisted into a slight smirk. "No need," he replied coldly. "We have seen their ship—it's damaged, they made it here,but they don't seem to have a way back. These blue-sea dwellers are stranded." His tone carried a note of finality, and his fellow warriors looked at each other, nodding in agreement.
Another warrior, younger and eager, shifted impatiently. "Then… shall we attack now?"
Wyper raised a hand, silencing him. "Not yet. First, we need to learn why they're here. If they're after the land of our ancestors, they won't leave Upper Yard alive." He looked down at his men, the fire in his eyes matching the fierce spirit of their people. "For now, we follow. They'll lead us to their intentions."
*****
After trekking through the thick forest, Kai, Luca, and Mikita finally stumbled upon a vast clearing. Before them lay the ruins of Shandora, ancient stone structures, half-swallowed by thick clouds and vines, jutted up like skeletal remnants of an era long forgotten. The carvings and remnants of once-mighty pillars hinted at the city's former grandeur, but now they seemed to barely cling to life in this desolate place.
Luca looked around, his hands on his hips, raising an eyebrow. "So… this is it? The 'City of Gold'? Looks more like a city of dirt and stones."
Mikita let out a huff, kicking a pebble that skittered across the worn path. "I thought I'd at least see a single coin. We came all this way for rubble?"
Kai ignored their complaints, his eyes intensely scanning the ruins as if searching for a hidden answer. His gaze drifted over the fallen stones and remnants of Shandora's once-mighty walls. Something in his memory tugged at him—a feeling that there was more here than met the eye. The legends had spoken of a city rich with history and treasure, but he knew better than to expect the obvious.
"Hey, Kai," Luca prodded. "You hearing us? There's no gold here, no treasure—just rocks. We could've saved ourselves a lot of trouble if you'd just told us it was a sightseeing trip."
"Enough," Kai muttered, his tone sharp as he waved a hand, signaling them to quiet down. "Let me think." 'this shouldn't be the actual city… but it should be here…' Kai thought to himself.
Luca and Mikita exchanged a glance, rolling their eyes as they settled into an impatient silence. They watched as Kai's gaze grew more focused, his brows knitting together as he sifted through memories, recalling fragments of tales he'd once read or heard. Finally, something clicked.
Without a word, Kai drew his Cleanrot Knight's sword, its elegant blade gleaming in the sky's soft light. Luca's and Mikita's eyes widened as he raised the sword above his head, then stabbed it down into the soft cloud underfoot.
"Uh, Kai…?" Mikita's voice had a tinge of disbelief. "What are you doing?"
Kai's lips curved into a grin as he looked at them. "It's this way. We dig here."
Luca stared at him, scratching his head. "Dig? Dig where, exactly? There's nothing but clouds."
Kai tapped the spot with his sword again, the edge of a knowing smile playing on his face. "Trust me on this one. Shandora's true treasure isn't what's on the surface—it's what's beneath it."
Though confusion still lined their faces, Luca and Mikita reluctantly shrugged and nodded, grabbing whatever tools they could find. Together, they began to dig, trusting Kai's unexplainable certainty. Bit by bit, they pierced through the clouds beneath their feet, a thrill of anticipation building in the air.
....
The digging came to an abrupt end when the cloud beneath Kai, Luca, and Mikita suddenly gave way, and the three of them tumbled down into a hidden space between the layers of clouds. They landed with a soft thud, momentarily dazed, surrounded by a sight that stole the breath from their lungs.
They were no longer standing amidst the crumbled ruins above—they had uncovered something far more intact and concealed. Stretched out before them was an enormous expanse of ancient stone buildings, carved with intricate patterns and preserved far better than anything they'd seen on the surface. Pillars rose up like solemn guardians, and grand stairways led to platforms and archways that hinted at the once-thriving civilization that had called this place home.
Kai slowly rose, his golden eyes wide with awe. He took in the scene, a whisper escaping his lips. "Yeah… this is the actual Golden City. But…"
The other two were equally speechless. Luca let out a low whistle, his eyes darting from one magnificent structure to another. "I didn't think I'd ever see something like this… hidden away all this time." His voice was softer than usual, filled with a rare reverence.
Mikita, who was normally quick with a sarcastic comment, was silent, her gaze sweeping over the towering ruins, her usual smirk replaced with a look of genuine wonder. She let her fingers brush against the nearest wall, feeling the ancient carvings etched into the stone, her expression showing a mix of disbelief and amazement.
The three wandered deeper into the ruins, each taking in the sheer scale and splendor around them. Stone murals depicted battles and celebrations, stories carved out in painstaking detail by hands that had long since faded from history. Kai's mind raced as he studied the carvings, piecing together fragments of stories he'd read. He knew what this place was—he'd found the heart of Shandora, the true City of Gold.
After a few minutes, Luca finally broke the silence. "This is all incredible and everything, but…" His eyes darted around with a familiar gleam. "I still don't see any actual treasure here. Where's the gold, Kai?"
Kai kept his gaze forward, his expression thoughtful, as he muttered under his breath, "I already know Enel took most of it for his ship… but there should still be plenty left. And if there's nothing here, there's still the Golden Bell, higher up. I'm not leaving empty-handed."
Mikita raised an eyebrow, catching Kai's last few words. "Golden Bell? Higher up? You mean there's more treasure?"
Kai nodded, a small, confident smile playing on his face. "The Golden Bell of Shandora. If we don't find what we're looking for here, that's where we'll go next, now look harder!"
/*****************************************\
If you wish to read up to 5 Chapters Ahead! or simply support me just because? then check out my patréon at
"https://www.patréon.com/Riadooo"
Don't forget to change "é" to "e"
สถานะพลังงานรายสัปดาห์
-- การจัดอันดับด้วยพลัง 
-- หินพลัง