Underworld, beneath the World Tree.
Hajrudin lay on a makeshift bed of logs, his body wrapped in bandages like a mummy, with numerous transfusion needles stuck into his arms.
"How severe!"
Gerd knelt beside him, tending to his wounds.
She was a doctor.
Old injuries compounded by new ones had nearly cost Hajrudin his life, but with the giants' formidable physique, as long as he hadn't died on the spot, recovery was certain.
"Clang!"
The Sea Prism Stone Shackles fell to the ground.
Loki, now freed, approached Hajrudin and looked down at him, his cold face betraying little emotion.
After a long silence, he turned toward Iron Thunder.
"It belongs to Hajrudin now."
Gurd's calm words halted Loki's movement.
Loki turned to face Gurd, his murderous intent barely restrained. "I remember you—Gurd. How I wish I could kill you right now!"
"You're welcome to try."
Gurd sipped his tea leisurely. "I'd bury you beneath the World Tree and let you become its nourishment."
"Let's not, then."
Loki grinned.
Now wasn't the time for battle—he had a more troublesome enemy to deal with.
Red Hair Shanks!
Gurd glanced at Loki. "Red Hair will return to Elbaf soon. If I were you, I'd leave as quickly as possible."
"No need for your reminders."
Loki cast a deep look at Hajrudin before turning to leave.
"Let Iron Thunder stay with this waste!"
"Tell Hajrudin for me—one day, I'll return to Elbaf and claim the lives of those weaklings in the Upper World!"
"And don't forget the promised reward for our agreement. That matter has kept me furious for years!"
"Until next time, Gurd!"
Gurd watched Loki depart, his expression oddly contemplative. The man didn't seem as sinister and ruthless as the giants had described.
Then there was Hajrudin.
Gurd looked at him, a faint smile in his eyes.
As a descendant of the giants' royal bloodline, it was only natural for Hajrudin to possess the potential for Conqueror's Haki. Coupled with the formidable Thunder Hammer, his strength had skyrocketed.
He was more than qualified to join the Flying Six.
Two hours later, Hajrudin finally awoke. Seeing the Sea Prism Stone Shackles covered in a layer of snow and Iron Thunder beside him, he seemed to understand something.
"Did Loki leave?"
"Yeah."
His companions answered softly.
If possible, they would have preferred not to release Loki, but they couldn't stop him. Besides, they saw hope in Hajrudin now.
Hajrudin nodded silently.
Gurd was inside a tent, sipping hot black tea beside a small heater, utterly at ease.
"Mr. Gurd."
Hajrudin's head appeared outside the tent, his voice earnest. "I'd like to invite you to Elbaf to attend the warriors' funeral."
"Very well."
Gurd agreed.
He wanted to go as well, to see if the giants' spirit had changed.
Now that Hajrudin had pledged loyalty to him, once Hajrudin became the king of the giants, the entire race would become his allies.
Red Hair? Who's that?
Elbaf, West Village.
The village had been reduced to ashes in the fire, with only a few remote buildings spared. After days of labor, the ruins had been cleared.
Chopping wood, hunting, building log houses—the giants were hard at work.
"Woooo—"
A deep, mournful horn echoed.
The giants immediately halted their work and gathered at the harbor. Even the children, unusually quiet, trailed behind their parents.
Today was the day of the ship burial.
Torches burned at the harbor. Dozens of small Mist Boats were neatly arranged, each carrying the remains of a fallen giant warrior.
Sending the Mist Boats into the Sea Cloud and igniting them with flaming arrows, letting them burn to ashes as they drifted—this was Elbaf's highest honor of burial at sea. Only warriors who had died valiantly in battle were worthy of such a rite. Legend held that their souls, bearing glory, would journey to the Hall of Valor.
"Has Hajrudin not returned yet?"
"He'll be here soon."
Before long, the ship of the Giant Warrior Pirates appeared on the Rainbow Bridge. To the giants' surprise, a group of humans accompanied them.
"That human is—!"
Many giants paled at the sight of Gurd. Over the past few days, they had learned that this human Pirate was the red monster who had devastated Elbaf.
"Waaah!"
The children burst into terrified sobs. The battle that day had left deep psychological scars, giving them their first bitter taste of war.
An elder stepped forward to question Hajrudin.
"Hajrudin, what is the meaning of this?"
"Mr. Gurd has come to attend the warriors' funeral," Hajrudin calmly explained.
The elders exhaled in relief. As long as this wasn't another declaration of war, all was well—Elbaf could not endure another conflict.
That battle had carried the giants' honor. Now, for their foe to attend the funeral was, in their eyes, a mark of respect for the fallen.
Giants did not fear death in a fair fight, nor did they bear hatred for their opponents. To die for glory had once been the aspiration of every warrior in Elbaf. Even in this era of peace, they had not forgotten the brilliance of the past.
Their blades may have dulled, but their memories and pride remained intact.
The elders bowed deeply to Gurd.
"Mr. Gurd, thank you."
Gurd gave a slight nod and stepped forward.
Without a word, the giant warriors raised their weapons in salute, their gazes fixed on him.
"Uuuuuuu—!"
The horns sounded once more.
The Mist Boats drifted into the Sea Cloud. As flaming arrows streaked across the sky, the boats caught fire one after another, carrying the warriors' souls to the Hall of Valor.
With this, the war in Elbaf came to a close.
Only then did the giants notice the Iron Thunder in Hajrudin's grasp. Their eyes widened in disbelief.
"Hajrudin, what you're holding—?!"
"..."
Hajrudin raised the Iron Thunder high.
This Thunder Hammer, symbolizing kingship and power, had finally returned to Elbaf—heralding the dawn of a new era.
His father's policies would be undone by his own hand!
"It's the Iron Thunder!"
At the sight of the legendary weapon, the giants erupted into murmurs.
Hajrudin's ability to wield the Iron Thunder meant he was qualified to become the Giant King—a matter of utmost importance for Elbaf's future.
The eldest among them, Elder Oorl, approached Hajrudin.
"Hajrudin—"
"I refuse!"
Before the elder could speak, Hajrudin cut him off.
"Loki has been freed. One day, he will return to Elbaf. If we do not change now, Elbaf will surely perish!"
"When Ragnarok comes, I will lead the giants to defeat Loki and become their king!"
Flames burned in Hajrudin's eyes. Only after defeating Loki would he be worthy of becoming the king of the giants.
Until then!
He would fight for Lord Gurd
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