Konis gazed blankly at Enel, who now lay collapsed on the ground, breathless and unconscious.
She never imagined—not even for a second—that Enel would lose, let alone die before her very eyes.
It all felt so unreal.
A wave of dizziness overcame her.
Snapping back to her senses, Konis nodded sincerely and gave a gentle smile.
"I'm alright, Sister Makino."
"Ren!" Nami suddenly lifted her head, eyes sharp. "We've got uninvited guests."
Ren Takashi gave a casual glance, waving his hand dismissively.
"Relax. They're not enemies."
The clash with Enel had been loud enough to attract attention. Now, the "War Ghost" Wiper and the Shandian warriors, led by the former god Gan Fall, had arrived.
Each side took defensive positions, staring each other down from a distance.
Their shocked expressions mirrored those of the Sky Island residents.
The woman who fought like a war goddess—Nami—had brutally beaten the one they once thought invincible.
They saw in Enel the image of their past tormentor... now reduced to nothing more than a moaning wreck by Nami's fists.
Among the warriors stood a tall woman with a high black ponytail and lavender clothes. Her name was Laki, and her gaze remained intense.
"This can't be," Wiper muttered, shaking his head and glancing toward Laki reassuringly.
He had witnessed everything Ren just did.
After a moment of silent exchange with Gan Fall, both men began walking toward Ren.
They understood something now.
If you wanted to live under someone else's roof, sometimes you had to lower your head.
Wiper had resisted fiercely when Enel occupied the island—but the power gap was simply too vast.
Every attempt had ended in bitter failure.
Ren gave a small nod, accepting Gan Fall's gratitude. Then his gaze shifted toward the silent Wiper.
"Enel is dead. So... what's next?"
Wiper hesitated, then answered firmly.
"Alpayard is our homeland. We must reclaim it."
That, at least, was something Ren could respect.
Long ago, when the people of Sky Island had first seen land, they believed a portion of Jaya that had been blasted into the sky by a Knock-Up Stream was sacred—and they seized it.
The Shandians, driven from their homeland, had launched a war spanning centuries to reclaim their promise to Norland.
Then one day, Enel and his four priests arrived and took over everything.
The old conflict had shifted once again.
Wiper gave Ren a respectful look.
If not for the dream of reclaiming their home, the Shandians would never have embraced war so readily.
Gan Fall thought for a moment, then solemnly nodded.
"You saved this Sky Island. You're a benefactor to all of us. Your request will be granted."
"Wiper, from now on, you will be the god of Sky Island. Alpayard belongs to the Shandians alone."
A sigh of relief escaped Wiper's lips.
"Our past grudges are over, Gan Fall."
Indeed—what point was there in fighting and killing endlessly?
Nami stepped in with a grin.
"Wiper, my help wasn't for nothing. Once that golden bell rings, I'll be collecting every last coin from the Golden City!"
Wiper's expression turned helpless. He had no intention of opposing them—not now.
And if he did say no? Given Ren's strength, who could stop him?
Ren was at least showing them some courtesy by asking.
"Nami, Tashigi—go with Gan Fall and clean up the remaining priests. Also, bring back the ark Enel built."
Though Ren now had a more luxurious ship, the Ark Maxim still had its uses.
Leaving it here would be a waste.
"The Ark Maxim?! What even is that?!" Nami asked, confused.
"Captain, if there's nothing else, then we should—"
"Hold up," Ren interrupted.
Wiper and his warriors had been ready to leave, but Ren had one more matter.
"There are two women. One is angelic Konis. The other… is you, Laki."
Ren didn't mince words.
"Laki, I am Ren Takashi, captain of the Ren Pirates. Join my crew. Come adventure with us."
A man who could take down Enel in seconds… asking her to join?
Even Wiper looked stunned.
He glanced again at Laki—and suddenly understood.
The two women were as close as sisters.
In the original story, after Enel was defeated, they opened a coffee shop together called Pumpkin Café.
Konis gave Laki a wink and said sweetly,
"Laki, I already joined the Ren Pirates. Why don't you come with me?"
Now it was Laki's turn to be surprised.
Konis really accepted?!
Laki knelt before her and asked gently,
"Konis, tell me honestly. Why did you join the Ren Pirates?"
An angel speaking in such a seductive tone—it was disarming.
Laki fell silent, clearly torn inside.
After several minutes, she turned toward Wiper.
As her childhood friend and long-time companion, Wiper knew Laki was exhausted from the years of war.
Now that peace had returned, he wouldn't stop her from finding a new path.
Though he was powerless to say anything, he nodded with understanding.
"Welcome aboard," Ren said. He didn't offer a handshake—but opened his arms wide.
Laki hesitated for a moment, then smiled.
"Congratulations, Captain Ren. Another beautiful crew member joins the fleet."
"You'll be busier than ever, Captain," Nami teased.
The crew was elated.
From the deck of the ship, the girls looked out at the dazzling city of gold below—its brilliance overwhelming.
Even the usually composed Robin was visibly shaken.
The gold was blinding.
Ren sighed, gazing at the ruins.
"Just as the legends say…"
He led the crew into the remains of Shandora, the once-glorious city of gold.
"Captain, all of this… it's really ours?"
"We'll never worry about money again!!!"
Their trypophobia was cured in an instant.
The girls rushed to fetch containers from the ship, eager to gather the treasure.
Small ones? Forget it—only the biggest containers would do!
Even Konis and Laki eagerly joined in.
Is this the kind of benefit you get just for joining the Ren Pirates?
They loved it. Absolutely.
Ren turned to Robin.
"Not tempted?"
Robin looped her arm through his and smiled.
"No. I'm happy right here."
Together, they flew up to the cloud vine platform above the island, where the golden bell and its twenty golden pillars stood.
As expected, it was magnificent.
"The legends were true," Ren said, nodding.
Robin stood before the massive bell in silence.
To the Shandians, it held irreplaceable meaning.
And here she was, having reached it with almost no effort.
She shook her head, stepped forward—and removed the vines.
Beneath them lay an ancient black stone tablet, engraved with knowledge of an ancient weapon.
Robin's beautiful eyes dimmed—this wasn't what she had hoped for.
"Look over there," Ren said softly, guiding her gaze.
"Robin, Roger found all the true history—and reached the final island, Raftel."
"The final island...?" she whispered, stunned.
Since joining Ren's crew, this was the first time he'd spoken of Raftel.
"That's right," Ren said, stretching.
"But I don't want to be the Pirate King. I just want more beautiful crew members."
"I'll conquer Im… and become King of the World. Let the Pirate King fade into irrelevance."
Robin burst out laughing.
"King of the world… that's quite the ambition."