Summary:
This episode is a continuation of a flashback from 400 years ago.
The villagers are still enraged by the earthquake, which they believe was punishment for Noland killing Kashigami. They gather around the cage holding Noland’s crew and prepare to execute them to appease the gods. However, Seto sits down in front of the cage to block the way – to the horror of the villagers – and tells them they should be ashamed of themselves.
In the forest, Noland is still stuck in the crevice as Kalgara rejoices, telling him that this is a punishment from the gods and his crew will be dead by the end of the evening. Noland struggles to get out and Calgary is impressed with his effort.
The sun sets and both the crew and Mousse are led to the sacrificial altar. Kalgara continues to scowl at Noland, but Noland is defiant and confronts Kalgara about the moral shame that is human sacrifice. Kalgara beats up Noland while defending the traditions of his people. The villagers are about to burn the crew and Mousse.
Noland continues to blame Kalgara for their rituals and Kalgara reveals that he believes in them so strongly that Mousse is actually his daughter and he was prepared to let her die because of his faith in the priest’s words. The two men hear a noise in the forest and it’s another large python – albeit smaller than the Kashigami. Kalgara speculates that it must be Kashigami’s son who has come to avenge his father. Noland explains to Kalgara that his own village was hit by Tree Fever 60 years ago and that they discovered a medicine called konina that he can extract from the bark of the Kona tree that he went to get in the forest and still holds in his hand. . Kalgara is clearly distressed, and Noland shames him for standing in the way of progress and letting his village die of disease. The python suddenly attacks Noland, but Kalgara strikes and kills him. Kalgara is saddened by what he has done (because he believes the python is a fool), but tearfully asks Nolanda if he can really save his village.
Noland’s crew administers the cure, to the delight of the villagers, Kalgara is also tearfully reunited with her daughter. Noland is also recovering from his injuries and everyone is happy and getting along. Later, Kalgara and Noland’s crew are walking through the forest and come across a mini version of the former python – Kashigami’s grandson. To the surprise of the crew, Kalgara and Noland get along great. They comment on how happy Noland looks.
Kalgara leads Noland and his crew into position and the bell begins to ring. They go down the stairs and are in Shandora. Noland and everyone are stunned. The whole town is covered in gold and the rest of the villagers are also ringing there. Kalgara tells the crew about Shandor.
Noland’s crew rushes to retrieve some treasure and Noland tries to stop them. But Kalgara says it’s fine and they can take whatever they want except the bell tower as thanks for saving the village. They never cared for gold. What they protected was a special stone with a Poneglyph written on it. Kalgara says that no one knows how to read it, but their ancestors fought to protect it, and they want to honor their ancestors by protecting this stone, which symbolizes their victory. Kalgara also explains that the Shandorian Golden Belfry Bell allows the souls of their ancestors to return safely to their Earth, telling them that the villagers are still here protecting Shandor. That’s why they call it the Fire of Shandora. Noland comments that he heard the bell ringing in the storm. Both men comment that the snake has grown to the size of its ancestors. Kalgara invites Noland to stay as long as they want, and Noland thanks him, saying he wants to finish ridding the village of Tree Fever and also collect some plant samples. Some of the crew tell Noland that the Eternal Pose and the map were in the treasure. The map shows the island and Kalgara states that Shandora means “right eye of the skull” because the island is shaped like a skull. Later, Noland shows the curious villagers a pumpkin the crew grew in their ship’s greenhouse and gives them seeds to grow it themselves.
The villagers, upset and angry about something the crew has done, refuse to talk to the crew. They are “Killers of Gods” regardless of whether they saved the villagers or not. The chief tells them not to fight them because they’re leaving soon anyway. Noland and his crew happily arrive at the village, but everyone avoids them and goes home. Seto tells Noland that Kalgara doesn’t want to see him and reminds them they should leave soon. Noland’s crew is confused. Kalgara is seen sulking at Shandora and tells the villager that he will kill Noland if he sees him.
Later on the beach, the crew notices that the bell hasn’t rung today for the first time since they’ve been on the island. Noland tells the crew that they have two more days of work on the island before they leave. He remembers Kalgara offering him the hand of Muse (which he refused for his own family back home) and then Seto’s hostile word and runs to Shandora to confront Kalgara. He demands to know what they did, but Kalgara shoots a spear at Noland and caresses his face, asking him if he came here to die and leave. Noland is impressed.