After spending a good while testing her new powers, Nami gently descended to the cloud floor. Her wings shimmered briefly before retracting smoothly into her back, disappearing like they had never been there.
She let out a breath, her hands lightly touching her back in disbelief. "That was… something else," she muttered. There was a glow in her eyes now—an excitement, a new sense of strength, and perhaps a shift in how she saw herself.
Zino, watching from the side, smiled at the sight of her. That spark of transformation—both in power and spirit—was something he always enjoyed witnessing.
He clapped his hands once, drawing everyone's attention. "Alright! Since we're all gathered here… and things are finally calm again, I'd like to make an official announcement."
Everyone turned toward him, curious.
"I'm really glad all of you—Skypieans and Shandians alike—have chosen to put the past behind you and work toward peace. That deserves respect." Zino glanced around, then spoke louder. "So, as of today, let me declare something important: Skypiea is now officially under the protection of the Orca Pirates."
The air stilled for a second.
"…Huh?" murmurs broke out almost immediately.
"You mean like, you own the place?" one Shandian muttered.
"Is he trying to become the new God?" someone else asked under their breath.
Even the Shandian Chief frowned slightly. "Zino… Are you trying to take Enel's place?"
Zino raised both hands, shaking his head. "No, no. Not interested in being called 'God' or anything like that. What I'm saying is simple—Skypiea is now one of our territories, and that means no one harms this place without answering to us."
Now the silence shifted—this time from suspicion to surprise.
"…A pirate crew declaring territory up in the sky?" Pagaya blinked.
"Another one, huh." Sanji casually lit a cigarette. "First Alabasta, now this."
"Looks like we're collecting lands as fast as bounties." Alvida grinned.
"We're becoming a real Yonko-level crew." Gin crossed his arms, smirking.
Binko nodded. "Yeah. All we're missing is the title."
Gan Fall stepped forward, stroking his beard. "Honestly, I wouldn't mind if Zino did become the new God. He defeated Enel, restored peace, and has proven his strength."
The Shandian Chief paused, considering the old man's words. He glanced at Zino and then nodded. "You've done more for us than anyone in centuries. If you wanted the title, I would not oppose."
The murmuring faded. Some Shandians exchanged glances but offered no objections.
But Zino simply chuckled and shook his head again. "I appreciate the sentiment, really. But we're pirates, not governors. I don't want to sit on a throne in the sky. You all can decide who governs this place. The ocean is our home. The Grand Line still waits for us."
Gan Fall sighed lightly. "That's a shame. Skypiea could use a protector like you."
Zino smiled, placing his hands behind his head. "That's exactly why I'm declaring this place as part of our territory. The Orca Pirates will protect Skypiea from now on. You can fly our flag if you want—think of it as a deterrent."
He then reached into his system storage and pulled out two neatly bound manuals. One he handed to Gan Fall, the other to the Shandian Chief.
The two elders looked at the books in confusion.
Gan Fall raised an eyebrow. "What's this?"
"A training manual," Zino said plainly. "Specifically—for awakening Mantra."
"Mantra?" the Shandian Chief echoed, his eyes narrowing in interest.
Around them, the Shandians visibly reacted. Wiper leaned forward. Aisa perked up instantly. Most of them had long believed Mantra was a rare gift, something only the chosen few could possess.
"You're saying… it can be learned?" Gan Fall asked, his voice unsure.
"Absolutely," Zino replied. "The belief that it's some sort of divine gift? Rubbish. This manual contains the mental techniques and exercises to begin the awakening process."
The Shandian Chief flipped through the manual. His weathered hands trembled slightly as he scanned the contents—pages of focused breathing techniques, emotional awareness drills, and a strange exercise to master the awareness.
"If more of you awaken it," Zino continued, "then the next time someone like Enel shows up with delusions of godhood, you'll be ready. You won't need me."
Wiper's expression turned solemn. "Awakening mantra... that could change everything."
Aisa on the side whispered, "I thought I was the only one who could use it…"
Zino glanced at her, giving her a smile. "Your talent is different. It's special because it's inborn. Although people can learn mantra, that doesn't mean that they are as good as you."
"Really?" Aisa asked, suddenly feeling special again.
"Of course." Zino said. "You should also look at the manual. You can use it to further improve your mantra. I bet you will be a formidable sky warrior in the future."
Aisa felt like a floating cloud after she heard the compliment. At the same time, she suddenly found a motivation to become someone strong.
Meanwhile, the Shandian Chief looked up from the manual. "This knowledge… it's invaluable. Thank you."
Zino waved a hand dismissively. "Don't thank me yet. Reading it is one thing. Training your body and mind to sense the world around you? That's the real challenge. If you're lazy, you'll get nothing out of it."
Gan Fall nodded thoughtfully. "Still, this gift may shape the future of Skypiea. Even if only a few succeed… it's more than we ever had."
The Chief looked at Zino with a new kind of respect.
"Do you know this ability yourself?" the Chief asked, but then he face palmed. Someone who handed the manual should be able to use it.
Zino gave him a nod, replying with a simple answer:
"Yes, I know it."
After some final talks and lighthearted exchanges, the Shandians began making their way back down the Giant Jack. Their hearts were lighter, the tension that once ruled between them and the Skypieans now eased. Peace had finally taken root in the land of the sky.
Zino, watching them go, turned to his crew. "Alright, we'll be leaving tomorrow. So for today, do whatever you like. Rest, explore, train—up to you."
With that, the crew dispersed with their own plans.
Robin was the first to move. She headed to the Golden Belfry, specifically toward the poneglyph next to it.
Zino, knowing her intention, spoke up, "There's another poneglyph at the base of the Giant Jack. Less accessible, but worth checking out if you have time."
Robin smiled lightly. "Then I'll visit both before sunset."
Meanwhile, Nami was buzzing with excitement over her new Valkyrie ability. She approached Zino. "I want to test it more. This quake power is insane!"
Zino handed her a copy of the Valkyrie series manual. "This covers the Valkyrie Series abilities. Kaya's ability is also part of that same series. Why not bring her along?"
Eyes lighting up, Nami grabbed Kaya's hand. "Come on! Let's unlock our potential together."
"O okay." Kaya said, a bit surprised by her enthusiasm.
The two girls walked off toward a secluded cloud field, ready to train and experiment with their newfound powers.
Sanji, Stev, Usopp, and Kruz decided to explore Shandian life. "I want to learn their traditional cooking," Sanji grinned.
"Same here," Stev said. "But for tech. I saw a few unique tools used by those Shandian."
Usopp nodded. "Maybe I'll find some materials for new inventions. And who knows? Inspiration might strike."
Kruz simply shrugged. "Eh, I'm just tagging along. Beats being bored."
Galdino, ever passionate about aesthetics, returned to work with Baral, continuing their cloud-statue project. Nojiko and Marianne joined in to help color the statues, their brushes sweeping across the fluffy marble-like surfaces.
Atop the Giant Jack, the twin dryads, Chloris and Moris, resumed their careful extraction of seeds from the giant stalk. They whispered softly to the plant, treating it with reverence as they harvested its mystical potential.
Meanwhile, Lakuari had chosen to follow Conis and Pagaya back to Angel Beach. Gan Fall joined them, intent on meeting with the Skypiean citizens and solidifying the new peace.
Zoro, Gin, and Alvida remained behind on the plateau. With open space and fresh air, it was the perfect training ground.
Nearby, Hibari and Binko examined the Silent Orca. "It's getting cramped," Binko muttered.
"Agreed," Hibari said. "We need to reinforce it, expand it—even prepare it to descend through the cloud layers safely."
The two set to work, measuring, drafting, and modifying the ship, intent on making it worthy of their growing crew.
Now, Zino and Mikita were the last ones who were idle.
Zino turned to her. "Let's go."
She blinked. "Go where?"
"To search for gold and treasure, of course." A sly grin curved on his lips.
Mikita chuckled, floating slightly with her ability. "Alright, let's go."
With that, the two soared off into the sky, diving between cloud canyons and drifting ruins in search of what legends still lay hidden in Skypiea's golden mists.
...
Next Day.
The sun rose gently above the sea of clouds, casting a golden glow across Angel Beach. The Orcas stood near the edge, preparing for their departure. Their belongings were packed, weapons cleaned, and the ship ready. The time had come to descend from the sky and continue their journey.
A crowd had gathered—Skypieans and Shandians alike. What once had been two divided peoples were now mingling in harmony, bound by recent events and shared freedom.
Gan Fall stepped forward, his face calm yet respectful. "Thank you for freeing our clouds from Enel's reign. Without you, we might still be living under fear."
"Thank you!" the people echoed in unison, bowing as one.
Zino, standing in front of the group, simply smiled. "You're welcome. But remember—it wasn't just us. You chose to fight back. You chose peace."
He then looked around as if searching for something.
Then, as if spotting what he needed, Zino raised both arms. The wind answered his call, swirling and condensing into two massive, translucent hands. They glided into the sky and gently pulled a thick, floating cloud toward them like guiding a raft toward a shore.
With a wave of his hand, Zino summoned the Silent Orca from his storage. It landed smoothly atop the drawn cloud. Then, using his cloud element, Zino crafted a staircase of hardened vapor reaching from the beach to the ship's deck.
"Let's go," he said, his tone steady.
One by one, the Orcas climbed the stairs. Binko waved at the crowd while juggling some snacks. Hibari gave a small bow. Sanji winked at a few of the girls. Zoro muttered something about getting back to training.
As the crew assembled on the ship, Zino stood at the edge of the deck, looking down.
"Goodbye, everyone," he called. "One day, we'll meet again."
The Orcas waved in unison, their spirits high.
"Safe journey!" the Shandian Chief said, raising a hand.
Gan Fall gave a silent nod of approval.
Wiper simply looked up with stoic eyes, saying nothing—but his gaze held respect.
Raki and Aisa waved cheerfully. Conis and Pagaya smiled and waved, tears lightly glimmering in Conis's eyes.
Lakuari stood a bit apart from the others, also waving. He had chosen to remain in Skypiea. His journey was different now. He wanted to find and bury the remains of his fallen companions—and explore the mysteries of the sky.
Zino raised his hand again. A controlled gust of wind surged beneath the cloud, pushing it forward with the ship balanced atop it. The cloud began to glide away from Angel Beach, moving steadily toward the edge of the sky.
As they reached the boundary, the cloud tilted downward. The Silent Orca began its descent toward the Blue Sea, leaving behind a trail of wind.
From the beach, the people of the sky watched in silence as the crew disappeared into the vastness below. The dot that was the ship eventually vanished completely into the blue horizon.
Only then did the crowd begin to disperse, their hearts lighter, their futures brighter.
With peace finally at hand, the Shandians and Skypieans began the next chapter of their lives. They made a collective decision to relocate their homes to Upper Yard, the once-forbidden land now shared by both tribes.
And thus, under the open sky, a new era for Skypiea began.