Juno stepped through the shimmering portal, his boots making soft contact with the ethereal surface of Skypiea. The air was thin, charged with a strange, electric energy, and the landscape before him was nothing short of breathtaking. The sea of clouds stretched endlessly into the horizon, their cotton-like formations clinging to the edges of floating islands. Skypiea was a place out of legend, its very existence a whisper in the winds. But here, now, Juno stood on its sacred ground.
The island's skyline was dotted with massive stone structures, remnants of a time long past. But what caught his eye most were the ruins of Birka in the distance, gold gleaming from the cracks of its decayed buildings. His pulse quickened. Gold. That was why he was here.
With Tera's assistance, Juno surveyed the area, taking in the floating city's twisted yet stunning beauty. There was history buried in every inch of the island, whispers of a forgotten civilization that had once thrived in the heavens. But Juno had no time for nostalgia. His goal was clear.
The Golden City, as legends spoke, was a treasure trove—golden walls, golden streets, an untouched wealth that could anchor the World Bank. But more than that, it was a key to power.
As he ventured deeper into Birka, the sounds of his footsteps echoed through abandoned streets, the wind singing through the hollowed remains of buildings. Juno's eyes narrowed as he passed through structures that were not just ruins but relics of something much older, far more significant than mere wealth.
The city spoke to him, and as he walked further, it became apparent that the gold here wasn't just a commodity. It was a part of something larger. A civilization powered by lightning, one that had mastered the skies.
A faint murmur of ancient power lingered in the air. It was almost as if the city itself had been waiting for someone to come, to bring it back to life.
Then, Juno's thoughts shifted. He remembered the stories of Enel, the self-proclaimed god of Skypiea. Enel had ruled over these islands and, according to myth, had built an Ark Maxim—a flying ship that could travel the skies and, most famously, reach the moon. The idea fascinated him, the thought that this fallen kingdom had reached beyond the stars.
Juno paused at the foot of what looked like a colossal, broken structure. This must have been the Ark Maxim's launch point. His fingers brushed against the metal remnants of what might have been one of its engines. He knelt, studying the pieces. Gold. The entire ship had been powered by it.
"If Enel could reach the moon," Juno muttered to himself, "then there has to be something more here. Something worth investigating."
Days passed, each one slipping by unnoticed as Juno roamed the ancient city. The thrill of discovery was all-encompassing, but the true treasure lay somewhere deeper.
And then, on the third day of his exploration, Juno's eyes caught a glimmer in the distance—a half-buried structure, almost completely swallowed by the earth. His curiosity peaked, and he hurried toward it, feeling the air thicken as he approached. This was different.
The entrance was hidden under layers of stone and vines, but with a forceful shove, the ground gave way, revealing an ancient temple—its design, sharp and precise, was unlike anything Juno had seen before. The walls were carved with intricate depictions of storms, lightning, and swirling patterns, giving the temple an ethereal, almost ominous aura.
Inside, the silence was oppressive. It was as though the temple had been waiting for centuries to reveal its secrets. The air smelled faintly of dust, and the dim light of the outside world barely filtered through cracks in the walls. Juno's heart raced. Something important lay within these walls.
He moved deeper into the temple, following the winding hallways, each one leading him further into its heart. Finally, in the innermost chamber, he found it: a vault. The stone door was heavy, but his strength—and Tera's guidance—helped him pry it open.
The room within was bathed in a soft, golden light. There, before him, lay an ancient chest. Its lock was rusted, yet it still held firm. After a brief moment, Juno twisted the ancient mechanism, and the box fell open with a soft click.
Inside was the true treasure of Skypiea. Juno's fingers traced over the delicate blueprints, eyes scanning the impossibly intricate schematics. The Ark Maxim wasn't just a ship—it was a marvel of engineering centuries ahead of its time. Golden circuits, propulsion arrays that bent the very sky to their will, a system unlike anything even Vegapunk had created. This was more than a vessel. It was a monument to ambition, proof that even in the forgotten past, someone had dared to reach beyond the stars. A weapon. A legacy. A gateway to the heavens.
And then, something even greater.
A small, locked box sat within the chest—its surface untouched by gold, yet radiating an aura stronger than any treasure. Juno's heartbeat quickened. With careful precision, he twisted the lock open.
Inside lay power itself.
The Thunder-Thunder Fruit.
A Devil Fruit of legend, its swirling patterns glowed with an eerie, electric pulse, as if the storm inside it had never fully settled. Logia Fruits were rare—true elemental dominion—but this one? This was the essence of lightning itself.
Juno stared at the fruit, possibilities flashing through his mind. Could he wield this? Did he need it? Fire, gravity, gas—his arsenal was already vast. Yet lightning was different. Fast. Absolute. The power of gods.
Or perhaps… it was meant for someone else? A warrior in his ranks? A pawn, or a king?
For the first time in a long while, Juno hesitated.
Along with the fruit were scattered books and letters—ancient texts, their language foreign and cryptic. The books' contents were as much of a mystery as the Thunder-Thunder Fruit itself. What knowledge did they hold? What did the letters say? Who had written them?
Juno could feel the gravity of the situation. These ruins were more than just a source of gold; they were the remnants of a civilization that had touched the stars. And now, that legacy was in his hands.
For a long moment, Juno stood in the temple's heart, contemplating his next move. The Ark Maxim blueprints, the Thunder-Thunder Fruit, and the vast gold supply. His plans had just shifted, expanded beyond his original vision. This was more than just about money. It was about power, about changing the world in a way he hadn't anticipated.
But first, he needed to contact Vegapunk.
As he turned to leave the temple, his voice filled the silent room. "Tera, contact Vegapunk. Tell him we're ready to begin the next phase. And... gather the information on these texts. I have a feeling they'll be as crucial as anything we've found here."
With that, he stepped out of the temple, the weight of the discoveries heavy in his hands, but his heart burning with the excitement of what lay ahead. The next phase of his grand design had just begun.