novelraw Chapter 313: The Eve
Chapter 313: The Eve
In the Underworld, among the mountains perpetually covered in ice and snow, massive, Sea-King-sized tree roots snaked across the sunless, frozen earth.
Hajrudin, in his dragon-man form, walked with heavy steps, crossing mountains and forests, heading straight for his destination.
"The beasts of the Underworld..."
Hajrudin glanced at the massive shadows lurking in the forest, whispering to himself, "Are these the beasts that Loki tamed?"
In the forest, countless massive shapes moved, and pairs of crimson, cruel eyes pierced the blizzard, all focusing on him. Hajrudin only looked for a moment before continuing on.
"Thud—Thud—"
His undisguised footsteps echoed through the deathly silent Underworld, finally reaching a massive, gnarled tree root.
Loki, bound in thick Seastone chains, his ears twitched. He extended his Observation Haki.
The next second, the corner of his mouth not covered by bandages curled into an intriguing smile. "What a familiar aura..."
Loki slowly lifted his head, his horns brushing away the snow, revealing the bandaged upper half of his face. His smile grew wider.
"It's been a long time... Hajrudin."
Hajrudin stood before him, calmly observing his half-brother, saying nothing.
Loki, receiving no reply, didn't get angry. Instead, he looked Hajrudin up and down with great interest. Though his eyes were covered, he seemed to "see" Hajrudin's new form perfectly.
"Ohoho! Look at you!" Loki cackled, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You're as tall as me now, my brother~ And... oh, you've grown horns! You're starting to look a little like Father and me!"
"It seems that fruit from the 'Forest God' has changed you quite a bit. You've almost caught up to me! Should I call you a late bloomer? Or was Elbaf just not enough to awaken your potential?"
Loki truly lived up to his reputation as the most despised man in Elbaf. Even after being locked in the lonely, cold Underworld for so long, the first thing he did upon seeing a living person was spew a stream of taunts that would test anyone's patience.
He grinned, waiting for Hajrudin to break down and rage, just as he always had.
This time, however, Hajrudin's expression didn't change at all. He calmly sat down cross-legged in the snow in front of Loki and pulled out a pocket watch.
"A clock? You brought something to Elbaf that doesn't belong," Loki seized on the new target. "In a hurry? Worried you'll lose track of time if you stay here too long?"
This time, Hajrudin nodded. "That's right. I have something important to do, but I had a little time to spare, so I came."
"..."
Loki was taken aback. This brother felt... unfamiliar.
"It seems... you've grown up a lot these years, serving under your 'Forest God'. The old you would have come here to kill me!"
In Loki's mind, the Hajrudin of the past was a hot-headed berserker who never thought, who only judged things by their surface. And, most importantly, he was weak. That was why Loki had never bothered to tell him anything.
But this new Hajrudin... this change surprised Loki. A new calculation began to form in his mind.
Hajrudin watched Loki's expression, easily seeing that he was already scheming.
After a short silence, Hajrudin spoke, his voice deep. "I have succeeded Father's position. I am the new King of Elbaf."
"??!"
The words snapped Loki out of his plotting. He instinctively tried to stand, the Seastone chains rattling violently.
"Wait, what did you say?!" he roared, his face a mask of disbelief. "That old fool Jarl... agreed?!"
Loki knew his brother had ambitions, but he had always seen them as a joke. Now, to hear that Hajrudin had actually earned Jarl's approval and become king... it was unbelievable.
Hajrudin ignored his outburst and continued, "Not long ago, the World Government dispatched a fleet to the Four Blues, preparing to seize the power of the giants. I cannot sit by and watch this happen. Therefore, I returned to Elbaf, claimed my father's title, and have mustered the army."
"Next, I will lead half of Elbaf's forces, along with the two Captains, to the Four Blues. The warriors of Elbaf will crush the World Government's fleet, and the giants there will become one of us."
Hajrudin's powerful, confident voice echoed in the cold wind, leaving Loki stunned.
After a moment, Loki snapped, his teeth grinding as he strained against his chains. "The World Government? Unchain me! Take me with you! I admit, you're strong now, but you, Dorry, and Brogy... you're not enough to take on the World Government!"
He's acting, Hajrudin thought, seeing right through him. He knew Loki was just trying to trick him into releasing him. If he did, Loki would turn on him in a second. He didn't have time for this.
Hajrudin cut him off. "Tell me, Loki. Was Father's death... related to the World Government?"
"..."
At this, Loki's struggles ceased. He slumped back against the root, his expression suddenly, strangely calm.
"Should I be happy that you've gotten smarter," Loki's voice dropped, his lips twisting, "or sad that you're forcing me to remember that day?"
He fell silent.
Hajrudin checked his watch again. He looked up at the silent Loki, his brow furrowing beneath his scaled skin.
"You're still not going to tell me?"
Seeing this, Hajrudin stood, disappointed, and turned to leave. He still needed to cleanse that magic circle from the castle.
In the next second, his body began to swell and elongate, transforming into the massive, pinkish-red dragon. The shadow of his coiling, Sea-King-sized body fell over the mountains, sending the hidden beasts fleeing in terror.
He gripped the Flame Clouds, preparing to ascend.
Just then, an old voice came from nearby. "Tell him, Loki."
Loki stiffened. Hajrudin paused, his giant dragon head turning toward the sound.
"Gaban..." they both whispered.
Gaban, still in his simple flowery shirt and shorts, crunched through the snow, his giant axe resting on his shoulder.
"He really does look like that monster Kaido," Gaban muttered, glancing at Loki before looking up at the dragon. "I sensed it that day, too, you know. A strange Haki... in the castle. By the time I and the other person got there... it was already over."
He looked at the silent Loki and frowned. "Who else are you going to tell? He's your brother."
From the sky, Hajrudin lowered his massive head. "You have five minutes," his voice boomed. "If you are still a proud warrior of Elbaf, then swear on the Sun God Nika, and tell me everything that happened twelve years ago!"
"..."
After a long time, Loki lowered his head, his voice heavy. "That's low, my brother... forcing me to recall that suffocating day... I really... didn't want to remember."
"..."
"That day... Father summoned me and Jarl... I remember it clearly. The soldiers outside were all normal. Jarl and I entered the castle together... but as we approached the throne room, we heard a strange sound."
"I kicked the door open... and I saw... a scene I have never been able to forget."
Gaban sat cross-legged on Loki's knee, listening, and quietly pushed up his sunglasses.
In the sky, Hajrudin's dragon fangs clenched, his eyes trembling.
Loki's voice, now shaking, continued in the cold wind.
"I saw them... the soldiers... their faces were twisted in terror... they were surrounding him... and they had all... impaled Father with their spears..."
"He was... trembling... in so much pain... but even then... he refused to hurt them."
West Blue, in a certain sea.
In a giant palace, a magnificently robed giant sat on a throne, looking down at the CP0 agents and Marine officers in his hall.
"What brings you to my kingdom? I don't recall being affiliated with your World Government. Don't tell me you're here to collect the Heavenly Tribute, CP0, Marines!"
The king's voice boomed, and the hall tensed. Giant soldiers in full armor gripped their weapons, glaring at the tiny humans.
A masked CP0 agent chuckled. "We are here on the orders of the Five Elders. You will join the World Government... as mercenaries."
The king's expression turned to ice, his giant hands gripping the throne's armrests.
"You have the wrong people," an old, white-haired giant stepped forward, cutting the king off. "We are... not adept at fighting. We are not suitable to be mercenaries."
"Not adept?" the agent gestured to the armed soldiers. "This is what you call 'not adept'?"
"You jest," the old giant said, his eyes narrowed, buying time.
But the hot-tempered king had already stood up, snatching a sword from a nearby soldier and pointing it at the agent.
"Mercenaries?" he sneered, his voice lethal. "You mean executioners and slaves."
"Humans may have forgotten, but we remember a certain island near here... called God Valley!"
"Get out!" the giant king roared, his eyes filled with disgust. "If your ships are still here in three days, we'll show you how 'barbaric' we can be!"
"Very well." The agent bowed his head, hiding the killing intent in his eyes. "We will leave Your Majesty to... 'consider' the offer."
The government officials turned and left.
The moment they were gone, the king's anger vanished, replaced by a suffocating dread.
"Go," he ordered his soldiers. "Get the ships hidden in the canal. Evacuate the women and children tonight. Send them to Elbaf. And distribute the 'firearms' from the armory to the men. We will buy them time."
A soldier hesitated. "Your Majesty... where will we send them?"
"To Elbaf," the king said, without a second's thought.
As the soldiers rushed to obey, the king slumped back onto his throne, letting out a long sigh.
"So... it's our turn..."
"..."
"I can't believe I'm going to see that no-good scumbag so soon..."
His mind flashed back to the depraved, scumbag giant who had visited the West Blue a hundred years ago.
"Harald—"
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