Underworld, roots of the World Tree.
"Whimper~~"
The immensely powerful Mountain Masters now lay prostrate on the ground, whimpering in fear like weak pets.
"Hey, what's happening in the Upper World?!"
Loki looked up at the sky, tugging anxiously at the chains binding him, but no matter how he struggled, he couldn't break free.
The Upper World, obscured by clouds, now glowed with an orange-red light like the fiery clouds of dusk.
As if the sky itself was ablaze!
This scene resembled the prophecy from Elbaf's mythology.
The Twilight of the Gods!
"Could it be that guy?!"
Cold sweat dripped from Loki's forehead, followed by boundless rage.
"That tea-loving bastard! I'm supposed to be the one who brings the Twilight of the Gods!"
Loki roared in fury. He had always firmly believed that he alone would bring the Twilight of the Gods to Elbaf, yet now someone else had stolen his destiny!
Unforgivable!
Elbaf, harbor.
Hajrudin knelt on the ground, flames reflected in his pupils as the sounds of Giant Warriors fighting and screaming filled his ears.
He wanted to fight, but couldn't stand.
The previous attack had shattered nearly every bone in his body, leaving him to watch helplessly as Elbaf was destroyed.
"Twilight of the Gods!"
Elbaf's prophecy had come true!
Once, he had believed Loki would bring the Twilight of the Gods, just as the myth foretold—Loki killing his father.
Now, the Twilight had arrived.
And its architect was none other than the Earth Calamity Gurd, whom he had led here. Even if he hadn't guided him, Gurd would have reached Elbaf regardless. But the pain and regret in his heart were unbearable.
"Gurd!!!"
Hajrudin bellowed in utter rage, tears streaming down his face!
It was all his fault!
"Hajrudin!"
Gerd, Road, Bagu.
His comrades from the New Giant Warrior Pirates rushed to him upon hearing his cry. The situation had spiraled beyond their control, their minds blank with shock.
As warriors of the younger generation, they had been tasked by the elders with evacuating the villagers. By now, the non-combatant Giants and children had been moved to the Sea Cloud.
All able-bodied Giants had rushed to the front lines, but the disaster kept spreading. The battle was likely far worse than they'd imagined.
The enemy was too powerful!
"Hajrudin, what should we do?"
"I don't know."
Hajrudin pounded the ground in frustration.
He didn't know what to do. He was powerless.
"Becoming the king of all Giants was my greatest dream, yet now I can only watch as Elbaf is destroyed!"
"What right does someone as weak as me have to become the king of the Giants?!"
"Loki!"
In this moment of despair, Hajrudin thought of the very man he had always despised—Loki. If Loki had become the Giant King, his strength might have been enough to stop that man.
This only made Hajrudin hate himself more!
Time ticked by.
Along the straight Tree Road leading from the royal castle to the harbor, severely wounded Giants lay dying. Even the strongest members of the Original Giant Warrior Pirates had been defeated.
The battlefield burned everywhere. Without rescue, the Giants would surely perish—yet saving them was no easy task. Elbaf no longer had enough hands.
When Gurd reached the harbor, the Giants taking refuge on the ships were plunged into despair, the children wailing uncontrollably.
Just looking at the monster made them tremble uncontrollably.
"Stop right there! I'll be your opponent!"
An unexpected warrior blocked Groudon's path!
"That's... Colon!"
The adults were horrified, and the children were scared half to death.
Colon was their classmate, the mixed-blood child of Uncle Ashan and Teacher Ripley, whom they considered a natural-born "violent maniac."
They all disliked Colon.
But now Colon stood up, bravely protecting them, which deeply moved the children's hearts.
So cool!
"Hmm?"
Gurd's gaze lowered slightly.
It was a child, holding a wooden sword.
Not bad!
A smile appeared in Gurd's eyes.
"Kid, state your name!"
"My name is Colon!"
Colon shouted back, his legs trembling with fear, yet he showed no intention of running away. Instead, he firmly gripped his sword, ready to fight.
"I'll remember your name, brave giant warrior!"
Gurd laughed heartily, then raised his claw.
"Smack!"
The little one was sent flying with a single slap.
Don't think he'd go easy just because it was a child.
He loved beating up brats the most.
"Colon?!!!"
The giants on the ship bulged their eyes in disbelief, completely shocked that the enemy would actually attack a child.
How utterly vile!
Rage followed immediately.
"Bastard!"
Ripley jumped off the ship, brandishing her weapon as she charged at Gurd. Seeing her son being swatted away ignited her fury.
"Don't underestimate a mother's wrath!"
"Smack!"
Gurd swung his claw again, sending the female giant flying with another slap.
The whole family should stay together.
"Even Teacher Ripley was defeated!"
"We're doomed!"
"Ahhh, let's fight that monster!"
The remaining giants, filled with grief and indignation, leaped off the ship and charged at Gurd. Seeing no chance of escape, they could only make a last desperate stand.
Even the children howled as they charged.
"Waaah, this is so scary! Why did we come down here?!"
"I don't know, I want to go home!"
"The adults are fighting, so we... we have to fight too!"
"But I hate violence!"
The children ran while crying, completely unaware of what they were doing. Seeing the adults jump off the ship, they just followed suit.
So terrifying!
"Smack!"
"Smack! Smack! Smack!"
Gurd swung left and right, slapping giants away one after another, not even sparing the children. The giants dutifully lined up to be sent flying.
Soon, the world fell silent.
Gerd and the others, supporting the heavily injured Hajrudin, finally arrived at the harbor, only to be met with a scene that filled them with rage.
Women, elders, children.
All lying on the ground, coughing up blood, unconscious.
Total annihilation!
Even Gerd couldn't hold back, her eyes turning triangular.
"Gurd, you've gone too far!"
"Too far?"
Gurd turned around, his body gradually shrinking to human form.
"They challenged me as warriors. I respected their choice according to Elbaf's traditions, treating them as opponents and responding accordingly. That's the most basic courtesy!"
"How is that going too far?"
"..."
Gerd was left speechless.
In the old days of Elbaf, even young children were warriors. The most important tradition of that era was to take every battle seriously, even if the opponent was a child.
That was Elbaf's way!
"Whew~~"
Gurd let out a long sigh, his face showing exhaustion.
The Giant Tribe possesses formidable strength. Along his path, he had no idea how many giants he had defeated, enduring countless attacks.
It was like hitting a coconut with a branch—even if the shell didn't break, the sheer accumulation of force could still cause significant internal damage.
From morning till dusk, the battle had exhausted him considerably. After all, he was fighting in the trees, with no solid ground to sustain him.
Had it been over a hundred years ago, when Elbaf was still home to numerous ancient giants and remained the world's strongest nation, he might have lost.
Gurd looked up at Hajrudin and the others.
"If you want to fight, now's your chance!"
"..."
Hajrudin pushed his comrades aside, gritting his teeth against the pain as he lifted his giant axe.
With just the few of them, there was no way they could save so many of their giant brethren from the sea of flames. This meant Elbaf was doomed.
Trembling, Hajrudin raised his axe and roared in fury, "Why would you do this?! What benefit does this bring you?!"
"Benefit, huh?"
Gurd tilted his head toward the sky.
"Hajrudin, your dream is to become the king of the Giant Tribe, right?"
"..."
Hajrudin remained silent.
Now, he no longer had the right to be king.
"Did you know, Hajrudin? Ever since I arrived in Elbaf, all I've felt is disappointment and rage!"
Gurd pointed at the inferno behind him.
"Open your eyes and see! Elbaf, the so-called strongest nation in the world, has fallen to such a weak and pathetic state that it can't even stop one man!"
"Peace? What a joke!"
"You are giants! Giants with the blood of warriors, the warring nation that once struck fear into the world!"
"Yet now, you've abandoned violence, begging for this false peace. Today it's me, tomorrow it's Loki, and the day after, it'll be the Four Emperors, the World Government, and the Marines!"
"Forces coveting the power of the Giant Tribe are everywhere. Without strength, how will your people defend this so-called peace?!"
"With an Elbaf this weak, even if you became king, what then? Would it add even a shred of warrior's honor to your name?!"
The soul-crushing questions left Hajrudin pale, his axe slipping from his grasp.
He couldn't deny it—the Giant Tribe had grown feeble. Even the children in the villages despised battle and violence, a stark contrast to his own childhood.
He had thought about changing things, but peace was the dying wish of his father, King Harald—the will entrusted to him.
Hajrudin fell to his knees, his hands barely supporting his weight. "It's too late now. Elbaf is already destroyed."
"Hey, Hajrudin."
Gurd looked up again, toward the Third Layer of Heaven above Elbaf, where the massive tree canopy loomed.
As he reverted from his transformed state, the effects of sunlight began to fade. The intense heat from the flames had caused vast amounts of water vapor to gather into storm clouds above.
"Did you ever study physics?"
"Physics?"
Hajrudin stared blankly, unable to comprehend.
"It's going to rain."
Gurd shook his head and walked to the shore.
"Hajrudin, here's some advice. If Elbaf doesn't change, the true Ragnarök will come."
"Loki, the Four Emperors, the World Government!"
"The disasters Elbaf must face have only just begun!"
"Farewell."
With those final words, Gurd leaped from the shore into the sea.
"GURD!!!"
Hajrudin and the other three rushed to the shore, looking down in horror—they were thousands of meters above the ground!
They would surely fall to their deaths!
"Whoosh!"
Torrential rain poured down!
Hajrudin froze for a moment before turning his gaze toward the village with sudden joy.
Elbaf was saved!