Beneath the azure sky, a falcon spread its wings and flew past. On a giant tree at the edge of the giants' village, perched on a cliff, stood a massive ruin.
An iron-chain suspension bridge stretched here from the Underworld. Green moss and vines covered the ground, and weeds sprouted from the cracks between the weathered stone bricks.
These were the ruins of Orlst Castle, once the residence of the giant kingdom's king. They had been abandoned after Loki, the cursed prince, fought the previous king.
Even by giant standards, the ruins were magnificent and imposing. The moment Luffy and the others stepped off the bridge and entered, the sight before them left them stunned.
"What did you mean just now about the cursed prince? Is the king no longer around?"
Usopp turned to Gaban with a question. He was fascinated by everything he'd heard from the man who called himself "Uncle Mountain" about Elbaf's customs and way of life.
Gaban gazed at the dilapidated castle ruins, his expression wistful, as if lost in memories of the past. After a moment, he smiled and said:
"That's a long story. I don't know if you've heard of Loki, the cursed prince. There was once a battle within the giant tribe. He killed King Harald, and it took the combined strength of all the giant warriors and Red-Haired to subdue him. He's imprisoned in the Underworld below now."
"Eh? Shanks?"
At the keyword, Luffy turned around. "Is that guy really so strong that all the giant uncles had to gang up on him to win?"
"Yeah. Loki's powerful in his own right, and he also ate the legendary Devil Fruit that the giant tribe had passed down for generations. Before Red-Haired showed up, almost no one could stop him."
Gaban explained.
"Prince Loki? Wait, I think I've heard that name before."
Usopp seemed to recall something. He hurriedly pressed for more information:
"Is he the Prince Loki who was supposed to marry Lola, Bigo's daughter, but got stood up when she ran away from the wedding?"
"You've heard about that too? Hahaha, that's the one."
Gaban laughed and nodded.
As for the battle that had broken out in the castle, he hadn't actually witnessed it himself. Shanks had just arrived in Elbaf at the time, and the two of them had been soaking in a hot spring and chatting when they suddenly heard the commotion from the castle.
It had all happened so suddenly that by the time they arrived, the situation was already beyond saving.
Guards lay fallen. King Harald was on the brink of death. Elder Yaruru had a sword driven through his head.
The truth was murky. The one thing they could be certain of was that Loki had stolen the royal family's treasure: the legendary Devil Fruit.
Afterward, Loki went on a rampage, using his tremendous power to fight against the giant warriors of all Elbaf. Red-Haired stepped in to help subdue him, then captured him and imprisoned him beneath the Adam Tree.
"On the way up just now, I did sense a powerful presence in the forest. That must've been Loki, right?"
Luffy held a piece of meat on the bone. He took a bite and chewed as he spoke.
Looking back at the ruins before them, the group couldn't help feeling even more moved. They hadn't expected such a shocking event to have taken place in this country, known as the world's strongest.
"Luffy—!"
A familiar voice came from the sky, drawing their attention upward.
A falcon was diving toward them at high speed. Nami was sitting on its back, waving at them, and Lina, Sanji, and the others were all there too.
"Hey—! Over here!"
Luffy laughed and waved as he ran toward them.
After the falcon landed, Lina and the others jumped down together. Nami immediately grabbed Luffy by the ear as he ran over, looking thoroughly exasperated.
"What's going on, hey?! Isn't Red-Haired someone you've always admired? I thought you were close, but why does he look like he wants to pick a fight with you?!"
"Eh!"
Chopper was stunned. He immediately looked at Luffy.
Luffy, however, didn't look surprised at all. He seemed to have known this would happen.
"Shishishi, because Shanks and I made a promise back then, when he entrusted this hat to me."
Luffy grinned nonchalantly. He took the straw hat from where it hung behind his back, and his thoughts drifted back to the harbor in Foosha Village.
Back then, the Red-Haired Pirates had been loading supplies in preparation for setting sail.
"I'm going out to sea! Someday!!"
"I'm going to gather a crew who can hold their own against you! I'll find the world's greatest treasure, and I'm absolutely going to become Pirate King!!"
Young Luffy clenched his fists and shouted his goal to everyone at the top of his lungs.
The Red-Haired Pirates all stopped what they were doing and stood there, staring blankly at the seven-year-old boy before them. His voice was so resolute.
"So, you're going to surpass us."
Red-Haired slowly walked forward, wearing a hopeful smile. He took off his straw hat and looked at the nervous Luffy before him.
"Then I'll leave this hat with you for now. It's the most precious thing I own."
Red-Haired gently placed the hat on Luffy's head and said with a warm smile:
"Take good care of it for me. When that day comes, you can return it to me with your own hands."
"The day's finally come, Shanks."
Looking at the straw hat in his hands, Luffy's lips curved slightly. A trace of emotion showed in his eyes.
A gentle breeze brushed over the moss-covered flagstones. Tree roots twisted together in the cracks, and green leaves swayed lightly in the wind.
At the end of the stone path, the figures of a group of pirates gradually came into view. Their immense presence was almost impossible to contain.
"They're coming."
Luffy put the straw hat back behind him and slowly raised his head to look into the distance.
Whoosh—!
Suddenly, a gale burst up from the ground! Leaves rustled and thrashed in the wind. In an instant, the sky changed; the clear blue overhead turned dark and gloomy.
"This is...!"
"That Conqueror's Haki is terrifying. Isn't this a bit too much?"
The oncoming blast sent everyone's hair whipping wildly. Nami and the others furrowed their brows, their eyes filled with deep wariness.
The overwhelming pressure was almost suffocating, like being stared down face-to-face by a ferocious beast. Only five people could remain composed beneath it.
"He's still as powerful as ever. No wonder he's Shanks."
Luffy's lips curled upward, and his gaze gradually grew more intense.
Zoro placed his right hand on his sword hilt and stepped forward. His eyes were cold as blades, cutting through the distance to land squarely on the crowd opposite.
Feeling his gaze, Hawk Eyes lifted his head. His sharp eyes gleamed with keen intensity, and the two met each other's gaze in an instant.
Sanji stepped forward too, taking his place beside Luffy opposite Zoro. He took out a lighter, lowered his head, and quietly lit a cigarette.
"By the way, who's this uncle? He's quite a fighter."
After lighting his cigarette, Sanji looked up and couldn't help taking another glance at Gaban.
To remain so calm in the face of Conqueror's Haki like that, the old man certainly wasn't an ordinary person.
"I'm just an old has-been. I'm only here to watch the fun. I have no intention of getting involved in you youngsters' business."
Gaban chuckled.
Lina stood behind them, her own powerful presence radiating outward, blocking almost all of the incoming Conqueror's Haki.
Even vice admirals would faint under Red-Haired's Conqueror's Haki. Gathered together, his Haki could even suppress a Marine Admiral. If Lina didn't protect them, the others behind her would probably struggle just to stay on their feet.
Luffy stepped forward into the oncoming pressure. His pupils suddenly narrowed, and his own Conqueror's Haki surged out in a powerful wave!
Rumble!!!
Thunder roared deafeningly. The moment the two supreme Conqueror's Haki, each standing at the very pinnacle of the sea, collided, countless bolts of Black Lightning flashed from between them!
Boom!! Boom!! Boom!!
Black Lightning exploded across the ground, savagely wrecking the surrounding buildings. Howling gales swept through and scattered everything in their path!
Dark clouds churned wildly, and the thick cloud cover split open into a vast chasm, dividing the gloomy sky in two. Even the entire sea around Elbaf grew turbulent.
"Captain! Look at the sky!"
"Is that because their Conqueror's Haki collided?!"
"It's like the end of the world...!"
The chaotic currents surged into towering waves, and the Victoria, which had just left the island, was tossed about on their crests.
Standing on the violently rocking deck and staring at the apocalyptic scene in the sky, Kid and his crew grew even more solemn, their expressions darkening.
So this is their true power? Compared to this, what we saw before was practically just a warm-up.
"Damn it!"
Kid clenched his fists, grinding his teeth in frustration.
In Elbaf's Upper World, at the Orlst Castle Ruins,
the two Conqueror's Haki clashed fiercely, neither giving way as they pressed against each other. They continued until the surrounding buildings had been almost completely reduced to rubble.
Boom!!
With one final blast of violent, surging wind, the two waves of Conqueror's Haki suddenly vanished. The surroundings returned to calm, as if nothing had happened.
The Red-Haired Pirates finally appeared before them.
"Long time no see, Luffy."
Shanks wore a faint smile, his eyes showing a trace of fondness.
"You've grown up a lot, just as I expected. And you've gotten much taller."
"Shishishi, I finally get to see you, Shanks."
Luffy grinned at Red-Haired.
Meeting again after eleven years, he was so happy and excited that he could barely resist the urge to rush over.
Usopp's eyes darted urgently across the crowd opposite. At last, they landed on a man with a headband around his forehead and his hair tied into dreadlocks.
"Dad!!"
The moment he saw Yasopp, Usopp couldn't hold back his excitement. A faint gleam filled his eyes, as if tears might spill over at any moment.
"Hey, hey, what are you trying to do, brat?"
Yasopp's thick lips curled upward. He spoke in a teasing tone:
"I know it hasn't been easy for you getting this far, but if you dare to cry, I'll be the first to beat you up, you little brat."
"Hahaha, aren't you being a bit too harsh, Yasopp? You don't usually talk like that when you bring up your son."
Lucky Roo laughed as he tore off a bite of meat and chewed it before swallowing. Then he raised his hand and waved vigorously at Luffy across from them.
"Hey—! Long time no see, Luffy!"
"Luffy, let's put the heartwarming reunion on hold for now. There's still something we need to do first."
Shanks spoke softly as he walked forward. From a dozen or so meters away, he said to Luffy:
"Luffy, you remember our promise, right?"
"Yeah, of course."
Luffy smiled and nodded, his eyes utterly serious.
"Good. If you haven't surpassed us, then you haven't fulfilled your promise."
As he spoke, Shanks placed his hand on Gryphon at his waist. Without turning around, he addressed the people behind him:
"Are you ready, everyone? Don't think they need you to go easy on them. Underestimating the young can come back to bite you."
"Don't worry, boss. I'll take care of whipping that brat of mine into shape."
Yasopp rested his rifle on his shoulder and grinned teasingly, his gaze already fixed on Usopp.
From Buggy's faction beside the Red-Haired Pirates, Hawk Eyes stepped forward. He drew Black Blade Night from his back and pointed it at Zoro, his voice cold:
"Come with me, Roronoa."
"Just what I wanted."
Zoro's lips curved into a cold smile. He glanced back at Luffy and nodded, then leaped into the ruins with Hawk Eyes.
"Wahahaha! Do you remember me, Straw Hat Kid?!"
With a shrill laugh, Buggy flew out from the crowd. Wearing his clown makeup, he made faces and gestured wildly as he shouted:
"That's right! It's me, the great Buggy! I nearly had you executed in Loguetown back then!"
"Who's this red nose?"
Before Buggy could finish, Luffy tilted his head in confusion and picked his nose, looking completely baffled.
"You don't remember me at all?!"
Buggy clutched his head and shrieked in disbelief.
"You even dare to make fun of my nose? That's unforgivable! Brothers, get them!"
Buggy angrily waved his hand, ordering his subordinates to charge all at once!
"Charge!"
"Teach this bastard who insulted Lord Buggy a lesson!"
The fierce-looking pirates surged forward like a swarm of bees, swords and guns in hand.
"Who gave you permission to stand in front of me and give orders?"
Crocodile's icy voice came from behind. Buggy jolted in fright, sweat pouring from his forehead as he stiffly turned his head around.
"No, listen, let me explain—"
"I don't have time for you now. We'll settle this together next time."
Thud!!
Crocodile kicked Buggy in the back of the head. His lower body turned to flying sand, and he sped past the charging pirates, reaching his destination first. With a cigar between his teeth, he fixed his gaze on Lina and said in a low voice:
"Black Serpent! Don't tell me you've already forgotten the score for this arm!"
"Didn't you tear it off yourself? Isn't it a bit ridiculous to pin that on me?"
Lina raised her hand and opened a rift in space, summoning the warden Magellan's spirit. She charged straight at Crocodile.
"Let's get going too, everyone!"
Luffy spread his legs and crouched, then punched the ground. He looked straight at Shanks. They exchanged smiles, moved at the same time, and vanished from where they stood!
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