"General Thalrik!"
The elite giant soldiers roared, charging toward the dust-choked battlefield.
Redfield swung his noble sword, unleashing a blazing strike wreathed in lightning. The strike tore through the giant ranks, dropping them in an instant. Charred and smoking, they collapsed, some twitching, others rolling their eyes back in defeat. The giants inside Giant City swallowed hard, chills running down their spines.
The Hell Pirates' officers were ferocious—each one fiercer and more ruthless than the last. Had the elite warriors from King City been fried to a crisp by that thunder?
"RAAAGH!"
General Thalrik burst from the rubble, glaring at Golden Lion Shiki. But as he saw his fallen troops, his face grew grim. Three opponents, each at his level or stronger, had him surrounded in a deadly triangle. Today might be his last stand.
"Gurarara! Shiki, if you're not up to the task, don't hog the spotlight! Look at you—covered in dirt and not a scratch on him!"
Whitebeard Newgate's booming laugh mocked Shiki. He was used to Shiki's showboating, but needling him was too much fun to resist!
"Hmph! It's called psychological warfare—get 'em dirty, rile 'em up, and watch 'em lose their cool!" Shiki shot back, already tweaking his strategy. Against a foe like Thalrik, trapping them in dirt was weak; raw offense was the way to go.
"Yohohoho! General Thalrik, why not come in and be our 'guest'? I'll send word to King Harald. I'm here with cooperation in mind, truly!"
Brook half-believed Elbaf might lean on the World Government for support. After all, the Five Elder Stars wouldn't let the Hell Pirates claim the giant nation. If Brook's crew controlled Elbaf's mighty warriors, it'd be a catastrophe for their enemies!
But it all hinged on King Harald's stance. Was he open to a deal, or dead set against it?
If Elbaf wouldn't budge an inch, Brook had a backup plan. He'd have Shiki float Giant City to the coast, setting up a new island just a few dozen meters from Elbaf's shores—a shiny new territory!
What could Elbaf say to that?
Maybe Elbaf's giants would even swim over to this "economic zone" for work or supplies!
There's always a way around a problem!
If King Harald had the strength and the will to negotiate, Brook was willing to meet him halfway. But if not, Brook's temper might just flare up enough to snatch the Spear of Elbaf itself!
"Cooperation? You call sneaking onto Elbaf's soil and building a city cooperation? You're a scheming pirate!"
Thalrik stood fearless despite the encirclement. His only hope was that some of his kin could escape to warn King Harald. If his entire force fell here, King City might not notice the change for far too long.
"What if we move this city off Elbaf's land? Could we strike a deal then?"
Brook floated forward on his Cloud Hera, grinning at Thalrik. If the giants were stubborn, Brook could be flexible!
But first, he'd show King Harald a taste of their strength. Deals required leverage, and if Harald was too weak, Brook might just take the Spear of Elbaf by force. Stealing Elbaf's national treasure would spark a war with tens of thousands of giants, though—a move that didn't fit Brook's vision for steady growth.
His real plan was to erode Elbaf's unity bit by bit, splitting it into factions. He'd back one side and claim the Spear of Elbaf openly!
Rocky, the giant, was one chess piece. And Thalrik, Elbaf's second-strongest warrior, could be an even bigger one.
"You'd leave Elbaf?"
Thalrik eyed Brook, sizing up his strength and weighing a sneak attack.
"As long as we reach a deal! I hear giants honor the rule of the strong. Every mighty warrior has a shot at the crown. As the second-strongest, don't you ever dream of being king?"
Brook gauged Thalrik's power. The stronger and more compliant Thalrik was, the easier it'd be for the Shichiseiken to sway him. But if he resisted too fiercely, even the Shichiseiken couldn't bend him—not yet, anyway, as neither Brook nor the sword could outright dominate Elbaf's number two.
"Hmph! You think you can control Elbaf through me? Never! Elbaf bows to no one!"
Thalrik saw through Brook's scheme. Even if he harbored ambitions, he'd never betray his people for personal gain.
"Show some respect, giant!"
Redfield's lightning-charged thrust zapped Thalrik, making him convulse. The jolt drove home his dire situation—surrounded by four titans of strength.
Clutching his Kratos War Axe, Thalrik glared at Redfield, unflinching. Elbaf's honor was etched into his bones; fear and surrender weren't in his blood.
"That's a fine axe! We'll keep it safe for you!"
Brook's grin widened, knowing this stubborn giant wouldn't be persuaded easily. Time to break him down slowly.
At Brook's signal, Redfield, Newgate, and Shiki unleashed their might, overpowering Elbaf's second-strongest warrior.
...
Whitebeard Newgate slung the Kratos War Axe over his shoulder, hauling it back to Giant City. If it weren't so massive and unwieldy, he'd have claimed it as his new weapon!
The giant warriors, stunned by Redfield's lightning, were bound by Rocky and locked in the city's prison.
...
In the grand hall of the Hell Pirates' branch in Giant City, Brook and his crew threw a raucous banquet, toasting their prize: a legendary weapon and a rare material for upgrading their arsenal!
"Gurarara! I hate to melt down the Kratos War Axe—it's a beauty! But it's too damn big. We'll forge it into weapons that suit us!"
Newgate's laugh echoed as he admired the axe. Snagging Elbaf's legendary weapon was bound to ruffle some giant feathers.
"Let's hold off for now," Brook said. "I bet King Harald will offer some Gungnir Steel to trade for it. If we melt it too soon, every giant in Elbaf will come swinging for our heads!"
Melting the Kratos War Axe would likely burn any chance of a deal and turn all of Elbaf against them. But using it as leverage could secure more Gungnir Steel—and a shot at a partnership with the giant king!
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+400 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg