“There is nothing of yours here, outsider.”
Although the chief was initially shocked upon seeing Arceus, an individual of unknown race, speak, he calmed down and proceeded to engage in communication with the other party.
Among the previous chiefs, he was the one who most advocated for peace. He did not want to see his people shedding blood and sacrificing themselves in meaningless battles.
They had already sacrificed too much in order to retake Upper Yard.
“Whether you tell me about it or not doesn’t matter, I have already sensed its existence.”
A gust of wind blew through the area, causing the tent’s exterior to rustle.
Shandians lived in makeshift leather tents and primarily relied on guerrilla tactics during their battles against the Skypieans, as they didn’t have a significant advantage.
The place where they live is periodically relocated, so putting up tents was more suitable for the tribe’s way of life.
A massive vine was growing where they resided, and a large piece of gold now floated down from above.
“It was fused into the gold? That’s a clever hiding method.”
He could sense that his plate was within that piece of gold. It seemed that Lunarians had done this back then to prevent it from being discovered.
However, it seems that this plate was lost centuries ago as Shayna and King only managed to preserve some records orally.
As the chief of the Shandians witnessed Arceus taking the piece of gold, his expression changed.
“Outsider, put it down. That does not belong to you.”
The Shandian chief raised his weapon. The piece of gold was related to a promise, and they had already broken their promise once. They could not afford to break their promise a second time.
But these words were like a reverse scale of Arceus. Any creature that covets his Plates is committing an unforgivable sin. Thus, an immensely ferocious aura burst out from Arceus.
It was the manifestation of his oppressive might, with the Dread Plate taking the lead. A wave of fear swept through the entire Shandians village, causing people of all ages and genders to be pressed to the ground under this immense pressure.
“Lord Arceus is angry.”
“Lord Arceus, let us deal with these guys. You don’t have to get angry because of this.”
Although the oppressive aura was not directed at them, they still felt their heart palpitate. Jack and Maria even found it difficult to breathe, and even Yamato felt that Arceus had become somewhat unfamiliar.
“No need. I will give you one last chance to explain, or else destruction will be your only fate.”
Arceus approached the chief, issuing his ultimatum.
If it were the original Arceus, the phrase “does not belong to you” would be the greatest taboo. However, the current Arceus was willing to provide him an opportunity to explain.
“It is… an ancestral promise. We are supposed to protect it for someone. Unless you kill all of us, you won’t be able to take it away!”
In the end, he surprisingly stood up against that fear, even though Arceus had withdrawn the oppressive force on a physical level. Nonetheless, his ability to stand up was still an impressive feat.
“Your reason is valid, but what you have been safeguarding belongs to me from the start. The ones who hid it here were my subjects. Now that I have awakened, I have come to reclaim what is rightfully mine. Do you understand?”
“How can you prove it?”
“I will give you an advice, adhering to promises is an excellent quality, but overestimating your abilities is quite foolish.”
Instead of saying anything else, Arceus demonstrated everything through his action. Under the influence of his power, the gold piece began to melt, quickly revealing the true form of the plate within.
Under the influence of his power, the plate radiated a brilliant light and eventually merged into Arceus’ body.
“Now, do you believe it? Only I can wield its power. Your promise has been fulfilled, and it was done well.”
Dealing with matters related to the plate often makes him act impulsively, so he could be more irritable than usual. However, once he calms down, he isn’t unreasonable.
The ancestors of King and Shayna must have reached an agreement with these Shandians, and for hundreds of years, they had been carrying out their promise.
“Lower your guns. These people are not enemies. Doctor, go and check up on them.”
By the way, he had sensed the attributes of the plate and then looked at Yamato with a hint of strange emotion in his eyes.
Soon, the misunderstanding was cleared up. Arceus and others were not robbers; they were merely reclaiming what belonged to them. His actions just now were enough to prove that it was his item.
Although his appearance was peculiar, the Shandians now held even more respect for him. In their beliefs, different animals represent different deities.
They had acted impulsively earlier as well, but the primitive tribe’s customs were still simple. After understanding the reasons, they didn’t dwell on the past and instead began to celebrate because their ancestors’ promise had finally been fulfilled.
It was more than four hundred years ago, back when the legendary Shandian warrior, Kalgara, was just a young man.
Their ancestors had come into contact with the Lunarians back then. Lunarians helped them with their illness, and in return, they took on the task of safeguarding the plate.
They were not greedy invaders; they were faithful guardians. Arceus’ previous actions had been somewhat excessive.
So, he ordered his subordinates to bring back the supplies from the ship and started a new banquet here. Coincidentally, Kodol and his group, who had taken the wrong path, arrived just in time for this banquet.
They were pulled into the bonfire gathering by the tribesmen and hadn’t quite grasped what was happening.
“Dad, you were really frightening just now.”
“Did I scare you?”
“Not really, but Dad….
“Don’t think too much about it. I get angry occasionally. Go and have fun. If you don’t want me to get angry again, behave.”
She readily agreed for now, but whether she would remember it in the future was uncertain.
The young Shandians danced around the bonfire, performing their own dances. The members of the Beasts Pirates were also pulled into the dance. Meanwhile, the chief spoke to the youngsters in front of him.
“We have fulfilled our ancestors’ promise! After hundreds of years, we have returned what we have been safeguarding to its rightful owner! This is a good sign, and we will now surely be able to fulfill the agreement between the great warrior Kalgara and Noland! We will reclaim our Upper Yard! The sound of the Golden Bell will once again resound through the sky!”
“Oh!”
However, amidst the chorus of agreement, a strange voice mingled in.
“Grandpa, what is the Golden Bell?”
Seeing the questioning looks from Yamato and a few other children, the chief wasn’t displeased. Instead, he began to recount the story of the Shandians, a tale that had been passed down orally for hundreds of years.
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