Three days later, in a small tavern.
Gurd sat at the bar, contemplating whether to return to Elbaf. After all, without the key, he couldn't release Loki.
Moreover, three days had passed—enough time for the giants to recover from the disaster. Showing his face now might convince some to follow him.
If he delayed any longer, the Red Hair Pirates would surely return, making it much harder to recruit the giants.
"Creak—"
Several giants pushed open the door—the New Giant Warrior Pirates!
Gurd's eyes flickered, and the corners of his lips curled upward.
The people he was waiting for had arrived.
Hajrudin approached Gurd with three giant companions, slamming the key to Loki's prison onto the bar before pouring two large bowls of wine.
"Mr. Gurd, here's your key!"
Hajrudin sat cross-legged, wasting no words. In front of everyone in the tavern, he raised a bowl of wine with both hands and offered it to Gurd.
"Mr. Gurd, on behalf of the four members of the New Giant Warrior Pirates, I ask you to share a cup of Acceptance wine with me!"
"Acceptance wine, huh."
Gurd took the bowl.
Acceptance wine was the most important ritual among pirates—a pledge of allegiance. Drinking it signified a master-subordinate relationship, and betrayal afterward would bring universal scorn.
"Hajrudin, are you sure about this?"
"Yes!"
Hajrudin nodded firmly, raising his own bowl as the giants behind him also lifted their cups.
"We pledge to join your ranks, staking our lives on this Subordinate wine! From this day forth, we will fight for you across the world!"
"Hahaha, excellent!"
Gurd laughed heartily.
"Before we drink, I'll ask you one last time!"
"Do you fear Loki?"
"No!"
This time, Hajrudin answered without hesitation, his voice resolute and his gaze unwavering.
He had already made his decision!
Gurd's smile widened as he raised his cup high.
"Cheers!"
"Clink!"
With the drinking of the Acceptance wine, the New Giant Warrior Pirates officially became Gurd's subordinates—his underlings.
"Men, let the feast begin!"
"Woooooh!!!"
The tavern erupted into celebration as the Beasts Pirates drank merrily with the giants. With the giants' strength added to their ranks, the Beasts would grow even mightier.
Truly worthy of Lord Gurd!
Half a day later.
Under the World Tree in the Underworld.
Loki lifted his head, watching as Gurd and his group approached. His eyes settled on Hajrudin, who stood behind Gurd, and his lips twisted into a smirk.
"Long time no see, Hajrudin. I never expected a coward like you to show your face before me willingly."
"Loki!"
Hajrudin's gaze turned icy as he produced the key.
"I'm here to release you."
"Release me? How unexpected!"
Loki didn't bother hiding his mockery, sneering, "Hajrudin, aren't you afraid I'll destroy Elbaf?"
"I'll stop you."
Hajrudin replied calmly.
Loki paused, then burst into laughter.
"Gahahaha! How ridiculous! You? Stop me? A worthless weakling who can't even lift [Iron Thunder]?!"
"..."
Hajrudin remained silent, stepping toward the massive hammer beside Loki and gripping its handle with both hands.
Iron Thunder—the legendary thunder hammer of Elbaf, passed down through generations. A symbol of kingship and power, capable of summoning lightning with every swing, its might unparalleled.
Only the king of the giants could wield it!
Loki watched Hajrudin's movements with a sneer. "Hey hey hey, don't tell me you're trying to lift Iron Thunder? Stop wasting your effort!"
"Shut up! Keep your eyes wide open!"
Hajrudin gripped the hammer's handle tightly, thick veins bulging along his arms and spreading across his body as his feet embedded into the ground with a thunderous crash.
The great flames of Elbaf flickered once more in his pupils.
He was the Prince of Elbaf, a man determined to become the King of Giants and lead Elbaf into the future!
How could he lose here?!
"Oooohhh!!!"
Hajrudin's face twisted with exertion as he mustered all his strength, roaring as he strained—yet Iron Thunder remained unmoved.
"How pitiful, you wretched warrior!"
Loki continued to mock, but his expression soon changed.
"Zzzzt! Zzzzzzzzt—!"
Like the cries of a thousand birds, bolts of lightning erupted from Iron Thunder!
"Gaaaahhh!!!"
Hajrudin bore the brunt of the attack, engulfed in a storm of lightning. His skeletal structure was clearly visible under the electric glow as he screamed in agony—yet his hands remained firmly clenched around Iron Thunder.
Gerd and the other two cried out in horror.
"Hajrudin, let go!"
"If this keeps up, you'll die!"
"Don't compete with Loki!"
Hajrudin felt as though countless blades had pierced his body, leaving only pain. Faintly, he seemed to hear his comrades' voices.
Compete?
No, that wasn't it!
He was fighting to defeat Loki!
To become the King of the Giants!
"Grrrr—!"
Iron Thunder trembled slightly.
Loki's eyes widened in shock.
"Hey hey hey, no way!"
Not only had Hajrudin triggered the lightning, but he had just moved Iron Thunder?
Impossible!
Even if Hajrudin had inherited the Ancient Giant bloodline from his father, his lineage was too diluted—he didn't even have the horns symbolizing strength, and his size was only slightly larger than an ordinary giant.
There was no way Iron Thunder would acknowledge him!
"Zzzzt— zzzzt—"
The lightning gradually dissipated.
Hajrudin's eyes rolled back, his entire body charred black. Thick, dark smoke billowed from his gaping mouth as he stood motionless, still gripping Iron Thunder.
He seemed to have lost consciousness.
Gerd turned to Gurd in desperation.
"Mr. Gurd!"
"Don't panic. Wait a little longer."
Gurd slowly shook his head, his grave gaze fixed on Hajrudin.
His presence was still there!
After what felt like an eternity, the whites of Hajrudin's eyes gradually refocused. His hands, which had lost their strength, tightened around Iron Thunder once more.
An invisible aura enveloped him.
Battered and barely conscious, only one conviction remained in Hajrudin's mind. Veins like pythons bulged along his arms.
"I... will become... the King... of all Giants!!!"
With a furious battle cry, the massive Iron Thunder slowly rose from the ground, hovering in midair.
He had lifted Iron Thunder!
Loki stood dumbfounded.
"Hajrudin lifted Iron Thunder!"
"And he has Conqueror's Haki... just like me!"
In that instant, Hajrudin had unleashed Conqueror's Haki—that was how he had lifted Iron Thunder!
Only the King of Giants could earn Iron Thunder's acknowledgment!
"Hajrudin, you did it!"
Gerd and the other two rushed to Hajrudin's side, overjoyed. The fact that he had lifted Iron Thunder meant he was worthy of becoming the Giant King!
The Giant Warrior Pirates had truly been reborn!
"Hajrudin?"
"Thud!"
Hajrudin collapsed face-first into the snow, still clutching Iron Thunder.
"Ahhh! Hajrudin!!!"
The three of them screamed in terror. If Hajrudin died here, the Giant War
rior Pirates would be completely disbanded.
Loki withdrew his gaze, his gloomy eyes fixed on Gurd. "Human Pirate, what have you done to my foolish brother? What exactly happened in Elbaf?!"
"Nothing much,"
Gurd replied indifferently.
"I just showed him hell. As for Elbaf, if you want to know, go take a look for yourself."