Chapter 299 “Fantasia”. A man lies in bed holding up a handwritten letter that reads, “Would you like some delicious milkI -Moda-”. His other hand holds a torn photograph showing a smiling girl with a headband and a small sheep-like creature beside a strange machine. The page footer reads “ACE'S GREAT SEARCH FOR BLACKBEARD VOL. 24 'MODA'S LETTER'”.
unidentified man reading lettergirl in photographsheep-like creature in photograph
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A violent explosion erupts as a massive armored construct crashes through the air. A helmeted figure with a striped cap yells “ALL THE WAY DOWN BELOOOOW!” while debris and broken machinery fly everywhere. Large Japanese SFX “カラァァァァン!!” dominate the panel. At the bottom left, a girl with a headband looks up in alarm, sweat on her face.
helmeted figuregirl with headband
02
The destruction continues with more massive SFX “カラァァァン!!”. A man with an open mouth shouts “MONKEYS! CAN YOU HEAR IT!I MISTER DIAMOND HEEAAAAD!I” Smaller SFX like “ビシャァッ…!” and “ヒュン…” accompany falling debris and a spinning fan-like object. Below, a chaotic crowd of people reaches upward with open hands amid more impact sounds.
shouting mancrowd of people
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Multiple figures tumble through the air shouting “Joee! Joee!” as the armored construct breaks apart with large SFX “カラァァァン!!!”. In a wide view above the clouds, a voice cries “WAS UP HEEEERE!” while another declares “THE CITY OF GOLD!” amid more impact SFX and falling wreckage.
falling figuresunidentified shouting voices
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A massive bell tolls with a thunderous "カラァーン...!!" that echoes across the ruined city. In the distance, figures stand frozen as the sound reverberates. A young girl with a headband gasps, "...Ah-". Closer panels show stunned reactions: "Wow, it sounds so nice! What is itI", "What a lovely sound...", and "HE DID IT! THAT SON OF A GUN DID IT!". An older man with a scar on his face whispers, "So this is the bell that Noland heard...". Another panel reads "ONE DAY...". The final close-up reveals a weathered man with tears in his eyes declaring, "I ALWAYS BELIEVED, THAT THIS DAY WOULD COME..." as the bell's vibrations continue to shake the air.
young girl with headbandscarred older manweathered man with tearscrowd of onlookers
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The bell rings again with "カラァーン...!!". Onlookers react in awe: "The sound of Vearth... Singing...I", "Su...", "Is this...", "Really exist...!I", "Does God...I". A wide view shows the massive ruins and ships as the sound fills the sky. A man states, "It's a miracle... After four centuries of silence... That the bell would never ring again... I had already resigned myself into believing." The ringing intensifies. A close-up of a bearded warrior asks, "Can you hear the flame of ShandoraI Can you hear itI" while addressing "Great warrior Kalgara," as the bell tolls once more.
blonde girl with pigtailsbearded warriorcrowd of onlookersKalgara
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The bell continues its deep "カラァーン...!!" toll. A man with glasses exclaims, "THE SAME SOUND AS IN THE LEGENDS...!I Could it be...I What is this sound...I" as chaos erupts with "HAPPENING ALL OF A SUDDEN!I WHAT'S...". A figure calls out, "Montblanc NolandI Are you listening," while another voice says, "I only hope it reaches your descendant's ears. Sorry to have kept you waiting." Smaller panels show a spiky-haired man asking, "THE SOUND OF THE BELLI DO YOU LIKE IT TOOI" as joyful cries of "CHULALA LALA!" ring out amid the continuing bell echoes.
man with glassesspiky-haired manMontblanc Nolandcrowd of onlookers
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A gigantic serpent-like creature rears up with a massive "カラァーン...!!" as the bell sound merges with its roar. It cries "CHULA LALA LALA!". Smaller panels show birds flying and calling "JOOEE! JOOEE!". On the ground, figures stare in recognition: "Isn't this... Yeah... There's no doubt about it...". A bird calls "Joe! Joe! Joe!" while another voice says "Boss..." as the bell's final echoes fade over the landscape.
giant serpent creaturebirdsonlookers on ground
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A rugged man with a headband and cigarette grins fiercely as massive sound-effect lettering erupts around him. "Ain't that romanticI" he asks. Below, two wide-eyed monkey-like pirates react in shock, one helmeted figure clutching his face while declaring "MY HEART'S IN A JITTER..." and the other shouting "It's coming from the sky..." The scene widens to reveal a ruined cityscape where a heavily armored pirate with goggles stands dramatically, cape billowing. "There's only one bell that can be heard so far away..." he states. Another voice adds, "About the 'monsters' that appear with the emperornimbus cloud... There was one theory," as the armored man continues, "There was one theory," while background figures and a horse-drawn cart fill the devastated square.
armored pirate with gogglesheadbanded pirate with cigarettehelmeted monkey-like pirategoggled monkey-like pirate
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Silhouetted figures cast long shadows across misty peaks as narration explains the theory: "Making them appear like giant monsters... Their shadows would be cast onto the thick fogs of the far away skies down below." A close-up shows the armored pirate's intense face. "If humans lived up in the sky, then when the sun's strong rays shone upon them, Then the identity of those monsters are..." Reactions erupt among the crew. "...And right now, there's a bell ringing up in the sky. Seems so." "That there really are humans living up in the sky...!I Then does that mean... We've just confirmed... Just humans living in the sky...!I" The armored man cries out triumphantly, "That's what. My ancestor, Noland... You wanted to tell me from up there, right...I" A vision of a smiling boy in a hat appears aboard a ship as the group realizes, "We can all hear it... The sound of the golden bell... Then the City of Gold... Is also up in the sky... It really does exist... WAS NO LIAR!"
armored pirate with gogglesheadbanded pirate with cigarettehelmeted monkey-like pirategoggled monkey-like pirateboy in hat
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A massive black silhouette of a leaping figure dominates the sky as the crew stares upward in awe. "WAS UP THERE ALL ALONG, WAS IT...I" one asks. The armored pirate shouts, "THE CITY OF GOLD... SO, KID..." while smaller panels show the monkey-like pirates reacting with wide eyes and open mouths. "THANK YOU...!" cries a voice from below. Enormous sound effects "カラーーン...ン!!" and "カラーーン...ン!!" echo across the page as the distant ruined city and golden structures stand visible on the horizon beneath swirling clouds.
armored pirate with gogglesheadbanded pirate with cigarettehelmeted monkey-like pirategoggled monkey-like pirate
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The armored pirate breaks down in tears, sweat and droplets streaming down his face as he smiles with relief. "THAT THEY'RE ALL SAFE... I'M SO GLAD..." he sobs. Nearby crew members react with concern: "What's wrong!I Are you alright!I Boss...!I Boss!I Boss!" and "UU...!" A smaller panel shows the two monkey-like pirates standing together, one saying "I was so worried..." while the other replies with a small "!!" The massive sound effects "カラーーン...ン!!" continue to ring as the distant golden city remains visible on the horizon.
armored pirate with goggleshelmeted monkey-like pirategoggled monkey-like pirate
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High above the clouds, a massive structure erupts violently from the sea of white. A huge bell-like object wrapped in rock and debris hurtles through the air amid roaring explosions. Sound effects blast across the panels: "ヤラァァァーン!!!" and "ドゴォォーン!!". Below, the Straw Hats and allies stare upward in shock. Usopp points frantically and shouts, "LOOK!" A voice cries, "IT'S..." Another finishes the sentence in awe: "GOD'S ARK!"
UsoppNamiChopperunidentified crew members
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The colossal God's Ark tumbles through the sky, trailing smoke and debris. A voice exclaims, "AND GOD!" Panic spreads among the onlookers on the ships: "ARE SINKING!" "GOD ENEL AND HIS ARK..." "THEY FELL!" The scene shifts to a quiet island landscape where the faint sound of a distant bell echoes. Narration states, "The sound of the bell," as people on the ground look up in wonder and remembrance.
UsoppNamiChopperunidentified crew members and Shandians
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Narration boxes recount the legend: "The 'Flame of Shandora'... Was a song that sang the praises of a past city..." "The Island's 'love song'... A song that sounded an end to the war..." "A bell of promise." The giant snake soars past the ruined city as the bell's deep tone rings out. The final box reads, "And a song that rang a 400 year-old promise..." The bell's resonant cry "わああああ" echoes across the sky and sea.
Wyperunidentified Shandians and warriors
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Luffy grins and declares, "NOW LET'S EAT." He adds warmly, "BUT ABOVE ALL, I'M JUST HAPPY MEETING FOOLS LIKE YOU." Nami smiles and says, "SKY ISLAND MUST REALLY EXIST!" Usopp wonders aloud, "Diamond-head mister and the monkeys heard it..." Conis confirms, "Mmhmm. I rang it." Luffy echoes, "I rang it." Narration explains the bell's enduring power: "Its long memories are not likely to fade... Although the journey of an island drifting in the sky is long... Long ago. The people entrusted their words to that bell... So as to carry them to the distant seas. Words of pride entrusted to the bell's song." Luffy shouts, "Here!" as the crew cheers, "We are..." The bell's song "わああああ" rings once more over the reunited people.
Monkey D. LuffyNamiUsoppConisunidentified crew members and Shandians
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The page opens with a large SBS header featuring a caricature of Eiichiro Oda and a monstrous fish-like creature. Reader D writes: "Hello, Oda-echi! Nice to meet you. I have to say I'm quite ticked off right now! 'HEY YOU! ONE PIECE READERS! Stop starting the SBS without permission! We should aknowledge Oda-echi's status as the creator!' Whew, it's nice to get that pent-up stress out. Now then... START THE SBS!" Signed -Ayako-. Oda replies enthusiastically: "O: YOU'RE STARTING IT!I Ohhh, so that's how you're gonna play it, is that it!I Just when I thought I'd regain rightful control of the SBS as the creator too! WELL FINE! I'll wake up super duper early and get in line for the next volume to finally start it myself!" Next letter from -TAKE- asks about Gedatsu's changing hair: "D: Hello, Oda-sensei! Why does Gedatsu's hair change from scene to sceneI Just how many locks of hair does he haveI Please answer in Oda-speak." Oda answers with a long nonsensical string: "BOTEMANOHONUSSODEREMOKEFYOBOTEMAMUCHAPOPOSHIBIWHOREALLYSORES-MAHAHANYUNYONYON. That's why." A small panel shows Gedatsu's spiky-haired face. Another letter discusses Enel: "D: A quick observation about Enel. When I realized that his line, 'I am God (kaminari)' is the same as the word for lightning (also kaminari in Japanese), I thought I should recommend you as the next presidential candidate for the WOF (World Oyajigag Federation), to which my father serves as the current president." A footnote explains Oyajigag as old-man humor. Oda responds: "O: Well this is unexpected. I'm still a peppy young man in my 20s. Please don't."
Eiichiro Oda
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No description for this page.
End of chapter18 pages
Discussion
Shadows on fog create monster illusion from below.
p9Bell sound confirms presence of sky city.
p9Crew accepts existence of sky humans.
p10Golden city visible on distant horizon.
p10Silhouette figure appears in sky above crew.
p10Bell sound persists throughout scene.
p11Armored pirate with goggles breaks down in tears of relief.
p11Bell sound continues while city remains visible.
p11Crew expresses concern for armored pirate's condition.
p12God's Ark falls from the sky above the clouds.
p12Straw Hat crew observes the event from ship deck.
p13God's Ark and Enel fall from the sky together.
p13Bell sound reaches people on the island below.
p14Bell sound echoes across sky and sea after 400 years.
p14Giant snake passes near the ruined city of Shandora.
p15Straw Hats celebrate survival and bell ringing on ship.
p15Bell's song carries 400-year promise across the sky.
What is said, page by page
p0Letter content offers delicious milk signed by Moda with friendly intent.
p0Page footer labels the scene as part of Ace's ongoing search volume.
p1Helmeted figure shouts command to go all the way down with aggressive intent.
p1Small SFX 'RING!' appears near upper left debris.
p2Shouting man calls out to monkeys asking if they can hear Mister Diamond Head.
p2Crowd emits multiple overlapping shouts and cheers.
p3Falling voices repeatedly shout 'Joee!'.
p3Distant voice declares 'WAS UP HEEEERE!' with surprise.
p3Another voice announces 'THE CITY OF GOLD!' amid the fall.
p4Young girl with headband reacts with sudden surprise to the bell sound.
p4Creature-like figure expresses amazement at how pleasant the bell sounds.
p4Long-haired woman comments on the beauty of the ringing sound.
p4Crowd member shouts that someone succeeded in ringing the bell.
p4Scarred older man recognizes the bell as the one Noland once heard.
p4Weathered man with tears affirms he always believed this day would arrive.
p5Onlookers describe the bell as the sound of Vearth singing.
p5Crowd questions whether the sound is real or divine.
p5Man states it is a miracle after four centuries of silence.
p5Bearded warrior asks if Kalgara can hear the flame of Shandora.
p6Man with glasses recognizes the sound matching legends.
p6Voice calls out to Montblanc Noland asking if he is listening.
p6Voice hopes the sound reaches Noland's descendant.
p6Spiky-haired man asks if the listener likes the bell sound too.
p6Joyful cries of 'CHULALA LALA!' accompany the ringing.
p7Giant serpent cries 'CHULA LALA LALA!' while roaring.
p7Birds call 'JOOEE! JOOEE!' repeatedly in flight.
p7Onlookers confirm recognition of the sound and scene.
p7Voice addresses 'Boss...' while looking upward.
p8Headbanded pirate with cigarette asks if it is romantic with fierce excited grin.
p8Helmeted monkey-like pirate states heart is jittering in shocked fearful tone.
p8Goggled monkey-like pirate shouts that sound is coming from the sky in alarmed voice.
p8Armored pirate with goggles states only one bell can be heard so far away in serious tone.
p8Armored pirate with goggles mentions one theory about sky monsters in explanatory mood.
p9Narration explains shadows cast on fog making figures appear as giant monsters.
p9Armored pirate with goggles confirms bell ringing in sky with serious expression.
p9Goggled monkey-like pirate questions if humans really live in sky.
p9Headbanded pirate with cigarette states city of gold also exists in sky.
p9Headbanded pirate with cigarette declares ancestor Noland was no liar in triumphant tone.
p10Armored pirate with goggles asks if city of gold was up there all along.
p10Armored pirate with goggles addresses kid directly in relieved tone.
p10Voice from below shouts thank you in grateful mood.
p10Large SFX lettering continues to echo bell sound across page.
p11Armored pirate with goggles sobs that they are all safe in relieved emotional tone.
p11Crew members shout asking if boss is alright in worried voices.
p11Helmeted monkey-like pirate states he was so worried.
p11Goggled monkey-like pirate reacts with small exclamation mark.
p12Usopp shouts "LOOK!" while pointing at the falling object.
p12Voice exclaims "IT'S..." in surprise at the descending structure.
p12Voice identifies the object as "GOD'S ARK!" with shock.
p13Voice cries "AND GOD!" upon seeing Enel with the ark.
p13Onlookers shout "ARE SINKING!" and "GOD ENEL AND HIS ARK... THEY FELL!" in panic.
p14Narration explains the bell as a song ending war and carrying promise.
p15Luffy says "NOW LET'S EAT" and expresses happiness meeting friends.
p15Nami states "SKY ISLAND MUST REALLY EXIST!" while holding map.
p15Usopp wonders if diamond-head mister and monkeys heard the bell.
p15Conis confirms "I rang it" and Luffy echoes the same.
p15Voice affirms "Yes... I'm sure of it." amid bell resonance.