As Thor finally departed, the atmosphere along the shore was filled with noise and energy. His father, Loki, Ida, and his friends all stood together, waving their arms high while shouting their goodbyes.
Their voices carried across the sea, mixing with the crashing of waves. They called out promises that they would protect the Land of Elbaph while Thor was away and made playful threats that they would surpass him in strength if he returned weaker than before.
"YOU BETTER COME BACK STRONGER, OR I'LL BEAT YOU EVEN HARDER NEXT TIME!" Thor shouted back at them, his deep voice booming across the sea as the ship slowly moved farther and farther from the shore.
For a few moments, he kept waving back, a small grin forming on his face before he turned to face the large ship he was now aboard.
Thor immediately noticed that most of the space was already occupied—by himself. The deck looked cramped, and it was clear that his giant body took up almost every available spot.
After letting out a sigh, he changed his size, shrinking down to his smaller two-meter form, though still carrying Stormbreaker on his back.
"You should have a larger ship. It can't even fit me properly," Thor said in a half-complaining tone toward Xebec, who simply looked amused.
Shiki laughed loudly at Thor's words, followed by Ochoku and Ganzui, who couldn't hold back their chuckles either.
"Every ship would look small next to you," Shiki replied, grinning. "The only ones that could fit you comfortably are the ships of the giants, and those things are the size of small islands."
Thor gave him a blank look before smirking. "Hahaha, it's not my fault you're a little weakling. Maybe just kill yourself if you can't handle the comparison," Thor said bluntly, his tone casual but cutting.
The entire deck went silent for a second. Shiki and the others stared at him in surprise. It was the first time they had ever heard Thor speak that way.
Normally, even when Thor was blunt or rude, his speech had a structured and composed tone. But this time, his words were rough, unfiltered, and without restraint.
"What? What are you all staring at me for?" Thor asked, genuinely confused by their reactions.
"It's just… the first time we've heard you talk like that," Newgate said after a short pause. "Seems like Rocks is already a bad influence on you." He sighed, shaking his head.
"It's not because of me," Rocks quickly interjected. "Have you ever heard me talk like that in front of children?" he asked defensively, looking at Newgate. The question made Newgate pause and think.
After a few seconds, he shook his head. "Now that you mention it, no, I don't recall that."
"This is my own vocabulary," Thor explained. "I just couldn't talk like this back in Elbaph. I didn't want the younger kids there copying my words. You've seen how popular I am with them. But now that I'm away from home, I'm free of that burden, so I'll abuse the hell out of this."
Thor's laughter echoed across the deck, followed by the booming laughs of Rocks and the others. The entire crew joined in, filling the morning air with the sound of laughter.
Only Newgate remained quiet, simply watching the group with a faint sigh, though even he couldn't hide a small grin at the sight.
Time passed quickly. It had already been more than a week since Thor joined the Rocks Pirates. They had been sailing non-stop, covering vast stretches of sea without rest.
Along the way, they encountered multiple Marine ships, but each battle ended the same way—decisive and one-sided.
The Marines were either defeated or completely wiped out, as Rocks showed no mercy to any who stood in his way.
With each encounter, the reputation of the Rocks Pirates grew more notorious. The crew was composed of some of the most dangerous individuals in the world, and now, with a giant among them, their image became even more intimidating.
News of their raids spread rapidly across the seas. Pictures and sketches of Thor, wielding his massive weapon and towering over ships, began circulating in newspapers.
When those images reached the Marines, several giant soldiers who once served under the World Government immediately recognized him.
The information quickly reached Marine Headquarters, and the situation became a matter of concern for the highest-ranking officers.
"This is an unprecedented catastrophe," Sengoku said during an emergency meeting inside Fleet Admiral Kong's office. The room was tense, filled with the presence of some of the most powerful figures in the Marines.
"If Harald has truly abandoned his initiative to join the World Government and aligned himself—or even indirectly associated—with the Rocks Pirates, then our situation worsens. Their combined reputation and power could shake global stability. Elbaph alone could provide warriors capable of killing thousands of men from the Navy."
Garp crossed his arms, visibly annoyed. "Those self-righteous pigs caused this themselves," he said bitterly. "Instead of accepting Harald and his country into their circle, they had to antagonize them. Elbaph's strength was exactly what the Marines needed, and now, thanks to their arrogance, that power will turn against them."
"Garp, you should watch your mouth," Tsuru warned, her voice calm but sharp. "You don't know who might be listening. There are always ears loyal to the Celestial Dragons."
"Let them listen," Garp replied without hesitation. "If they don't like what I'm saying, they can come and face me directly."
Sengoku and Tsuru exchanged glances. They both knew Garp's temper well, especially when it came to his hatred for the Celestial Dragons.
Kong, sitting behind his desk, finally spoke. "Enough. The reason I called you all here is simple. We need a way to ensure the giants continue their initiative to join the World Government—or at least the Marines. If we lose their potential strength, we'll regret it for decades."
"That's going to be difficult," Sengoku said. "From what I've heard from John—the giant who gave us Thor's name—even at such a young age, Thor is already considered the second-strongest warrior in Elbaph. Such strength wasted on piracy is a tragedy. He could have been a great force for justice."
Garp scoffed quietly but said nothing. Sengoku's words showed his idealism—his belief that the Marines were truly a force for good—something Garp no longer believed in entirely.
While the future legends of the Marines debated among themselves, the subject of their concern was preparing for his first true raid.
Onboard the Rocks' ship, Thor stood quietly as Xebec gathered everyone to explain their next operation.
According to Xebec's sources, the target was a nation that appeared peaceful and welcoming to outsiders.
However, beneath that friendly surface, the country was deeply corrupt.
They lured travelers and merchants with hospitality before robbing them of their belongings, then selling them into slavery.
The royal family itself was directly involved in these deals, splitting profits with criminal organizations to pay their heavenly tribute to the World Government.
When Thor heard the details, he didn't feel anger—only a calculating determination. If this country profited from deceit and slavery, then he would have no issue destroying it.
He began thinking about how to make the siege as efficient as possible, from freezing the coastlines to cutting off every possible route of escape.
"Are all of you ready?" Xebec asked, his grin wide and confident as he looked around at his crew.
"Of course," Shiki replied, his body lifting off the ground as he floated in the air. "I'm already excited for the treasures."
Ganzui and Ochoku raised their thumbs in agreement. Stussy sat casually on Newgate's shoulder, both of them nodding silently.
Thor, towering beside them, gave a small nod of his own, gripping Stormbreaker firmly.
"Then let's begin," Xebec said, his voice filled with anticipation.
As their ship approached the island, Thor raised his weapon and slammed it into the sea.
The water along the shore instantly froze, spreading outward in jagged sheets of ice that trapped every vessel in the harbor.
The frozen surface formed a wide bridge from their ship to the island, creating a clear path for their advance.
The first siege since Thor had joined the Rocks Pirates had officially begun.