The cursed giant prince—Loki.
Jarul truly did not want this disgrace of the giant race to represent Elbaf in battle against the Straw Hat Pirates…
But since the other side had specifically demanded that Loki take part, and given Elbaf's current situation, they truly had no proper powerhouse to put forward besides him.
And so…
"Release Loki's chains!"
Under the unwilling gazes of countless giants, Jarul issued the order once more.
The expressions of the giants responsible for guarding Loki abruptly tightened. Trembling, they reached out with both hands, picked up the enormous rusted keys beside them, and inserted them one by one into the keyholes at their sides.
Clack!!!
Along with the crisp sound of a lock mechanism shifting, the massive chains binding Loki suddenly slipped from his body and crashed noisily to the ground.
"Gulp~!"
Watching that gigantic figure slowly rise to his feet, the giants could not help swallowing nervously, their eyes filled with worry as they looked toward Loki.
Remembering how Loki had broken free of his chains not long ago and nearly succeeded in escaping prison, everyone's heart was full of unease.
They were terrified that, now free from his shackles, Loki might suddenly erupt and cause another disaster.
Boom!!!
Just as the giants became wary, Loki, who had risen to his feet, did not disappoint their caution. A surge of boiling pitch-black flames and overwhelming Conqueror's Haki suddenly erupted from his body, sweeping out in all directions.
When the giants standing closest to Loki saw this, they hurriedly gripped their weapons and prepared to step forward to subdue the now-unrestrained Loki.
But before they could even get half a step closer, those blazing flames had already swept across their bodies and set them alight.
"Ahhhhh!!!!"
Agonized screams immediately rang out from the rear of the giant formation.
The camera that had originally been recording the battle also turned with it, transmitting the scene behind the giants to every corner of the world.
…
…
"What's going on!? Why are the giants being attacked from within!?"
"Look at that giant! He still has chains on him, and his eyes are covered too. He looks like he just broke out of prison!"
"I know some insider information! My older brother's coworker's wife's older brother's second aunt is a member of the World Economy News Paper… That guy seems to be the prince of Elbaf who killed Elbaf's king!"
"What? A prince who killed the king? So he killed his own father!?"
"That's terrifying! He doesn't look like a good person at all!"
With the leak from someone supposedly in the know, news about Loki quickly spread everywhere.
People also learned of the special powerhouse hidden within Elbaf.
…
…
"Loki! Are you planning to break our previous agreement!?"
Looking at the giant warriors being burned by black flames, Jarul hurried over and questioned Loki, whose entire body was exuding a violent aura.
"Agreement!?"
Having regained his freedom, Loki let out a sinister snort.
"You imprisoned me for all these years, and only remembered me when you ran into enemies you couldn't deal with?"
"Jarul! Don't tell me you people actually think I'm that kindhearted!"
Loki stuck out his long, sinister tongue and opened his huge mouth in a mocking laugh.
Yet faced with Loki's current attitude, Jarul instead let out a long breath of relief.
At the very least, he knew that Loki, who could still mock them like this, had not truly gone mad.
Then his gaze sharpened. He looked toward the giants still being scorched by the flames and sighed deeply.
"No matter what, withdraw your flames first."
"If you truly want to vent, the Straw Hat Pirates will send out a suitable opponent for you!"
"Heh heh…"
A hoarse, low laugh came from deep within Loki's throat.
But under Jarul's persuasion, he still waved his hand and dispersed the black flames on the giants. His gaze then turned toward the distant Straw Hat formation.
"The Straw Hat Pirates, huh? Interesting!"
Loki wickedly licked his lips.
Having been imprisoned for several years, he knew nothing of the current state of the seas.
Even the tiny bit he knew about the Straw Hat Pirates came from what Jarul had said earlier when asking him to join the arena battle.
However, although his eyes were covered by thick bandages, Loki had still used Observation Haki to watch every second of the battles between the Straw Hats and the giants.
That had also made him realize just how terrifying the Straw Hat Pirates were.
So compared to destroying Elbaf or anything like that, what he wanted right now was to test himself against the legendary Straw Hat Pirates!
After withdrawing his flames, Loki said nothing more. He simply strode forward, walking toward the battlefield.
Everywhere he passed, all the giants instinctively opened a path for him.
Only when he reached Red-Haired Shanks's side did his steps slow slightly.
"Shanks!!!"
Loki suddenly lowered his head. Though both his eyes were still wrapped in bandages, everyone could still feel his gaze landing on the red-haired man.
Shanks, whose name had been called, also raised his head. His calm expression carried a faint smile.
"Yo, Loki. Long time no see."
"Yeah~"
Loki, his tongue still hanging out, gradually revealed a few traces of madness in his expression.
"It really has been a long time."
"I've been waiting for a chance to properly 'repay' you for what happened last time!"
"Haha, no need to be so polite~" As though he had not heard the hatred in Loki's gritted teeth at all, Shanks smiled and waved his hand. "Right now, we're grasshoppers tied to the same rope."
"If you want revenge, then at least win the upcoming battle first, yeah?"
"The weak don't have the right to say things like that!"
"Heh heh~" Loki once again gave a hoarse and dry low laugh. "Then wash your neck clean and obediently wait for me!"
As soon as the words fell, Loki strode straight forward, walking toward the center of the battlefield.
His gaze swept quickly across the Straw Hat formation, and then he grinned broadly.
"So… which one of you is going to be my opponent!?"
"I will!"
A figure quickly walked out from among the Straw Hat formation.
And when everyone saw this person, the giants and the viewers in front of their televisions were all stunned.
"Moria!?"
"It's actually him!?"
Benn Beckman looked at the figure already standing before Loki, and a strange expression appeared on his face.
He had witnessed Loki's body several years ago.
It could be said that even Shanks had needed to spend quite some effort to defeat him.
At the same time, as a giant who also possessed that fruit, Loki's strength could already be said to have touched the threshold of the Emperor of the Sea tier. An ordinary Marine Admiral would be easily defeated by him.
And Moria?
It was not that they looked down on Moria. It was simply that everyone had seen what Moria had been doing over the years.
Information that might be considered secret to others was no secret to an Emperor of the Sea, or to Beckman, who was known for his intellect.
He even knew that Moria had spent all these years in the Florian Triangle creating his zombie army, only reemerging after encountering the Straw Hat Pirates.
Not long ago, the Moria Pirates had also attracted widespread global attention because of the restart of the Ancient Weapon Pluton.
But even so…
How strong could someone who had been beaten by Kaido into hiding in the first half of the Grand Line really be!?
Yet today, at this very moment, he actually dared to step forward.
Beckman did not believe the Straw Hat Pirates would be unaware of Loki's related intelligence.
In other words…
In just over a year, they had already transformed Moria into a top-tier powerhouse capable of stepping into the Emperor tier!?
This…
Was this even right!?
Benn Beckman stared blankly at the two figures on the battlefield.
And Loki, who possessed extremely powerful Observation Haki, could naturally sense Moria's current life aura.
He immediately frowned and said angrily, as if insulted:
"You're the one the Straw Hats sent out to fight me?"
"Aren't you far too weak!?"
In truth, after his efforts during this period, Moria's level had long since reached Level 78. His basic strength could be said to have reached the level of a top-tier Emperor's deputy.
When combined with the Shadow-Shadow Fruit, Pokémon-ization, Pokémon moves, and his series of other abilities, his combat power was solidly at the level of a top-tier Marine Admiral.
However, even so, there was still no small gap between him and Loki.
But that did not matter!
In order to ensure that the Straw Hat Pirates would not lose face before the entire world, Moria had received the support of every pirate crew in the Straw Hat Grand Fleet and had made thorough preparations for this battle.
"Kishishishishi~"
Moria, whose face looked no less evil than Loki's, let out his sharp laugh.
"I hope you can still say that a little while from now!"
Moria replied calmly.
And it was precisely this attitude that made the smile on Loki's face grow even wider.
"Oh?"
"Looks like you're just like those guys before you. You're full of confidence!"
"Come on! Let me see what other tricks the Straw Hat Pirates have!"
"I hope you can entertain me!"
"Otherwise, before I destroy the world, I'll destroy you first!!!"
Loki made no attempt to hide his lifelong dream.
Even though that dream might be opposed by the entire world.
And the instant Loki's voice fell, his body suddenly began to swell.
Deep-gray fur grew densely from his body like a forest.
At the same time, his hands and feet transformed into the sharp claws of a savage beast.
Rumble!!!
Though the Underworld did not touch the real sky, at this moment, a deafening clap of thunder suddenly rang out.
Bang…
The bandages originally covering Loki's eyes suddenly shattered, drifting down like broken strands of hair, revealing a pair of savage beast eyes filled with crimson light!
Rustle…
An inexplicable mental fluctuation was released from those terrifying eyes, causing everyone who met that gaze to shiver uncontrollably and feel a sudden, nameless sense of dread.
Even the viewers in front of the screens were no exception!
"Zoan-Type, Dog-Dog Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Model: Fenrir!!!"
Loki, who had transformed into an enormous werewolf, panted with his tongue out like a canine beast. His pair of savage eyes locked firmly onto Moria, constantly exerting mental pressure on him.
In the blink of an eye, Loki had transformed from a strange giant into a colossal upright werewolf!
The scattered force of his vitality and mental power formed pitch-black lightning that flashed around his body.
"A Mythical Zoan. So this is what you're relying on?!"
Facing the vast pressure radiating from Loki like that of a god or demon, Moria merely smiled lightly.
What a joke.
Wasn't it just the Pressure Ability?
Moria admitted that it was indeed powerful, but if Loki thought this alone would be enough to make him afraid, then he was underestimating him far too much.
Seeing that Loki had already assumed his battle form, Moria's eyes flashed as well. A sacred light of evolution suddenly blossomed from his body.
In the blink of an eye, Moria, whose entire body was branded with mysterious patterns, appeared before Loki.
Only, compared to Loki, whose body exuded a terrifying aura, the only impression Moria gave at this moment was that he looked even more cunning.
Aside from that, there was nothing else.
"Hey? Can that guy Moria really beat that big idiot!?"
Within the Straw Hat formation, someone immediately asked curiously.
After all, judging by the difference in their auras right now, Moria was not merely losing by a little.
But the next second, Moria's shadow beneath his feet suddenly stood up. Then it approached Moria from behind and finally merged directly into his body.
As the shadow entered, Moria's body expanded for some inexplicable reason.
The corners of Moria's mouth lifted as he gave a wicked smile.
"It really has been a long time since I used this move!"
"Then let me see just where my current limit lies!!!"
As he spoke, Moria's body abruptly bent forward. He pressed both hands against the ground, bent his legs, and crouched on the ground in a frog-like posture.
Then he softly shouted:
"Shadow's Asgard!!!"
Rustle, rustle, rustle, rustle, rustle…
As Moria used his ultimate move again after many years, at the temporary harbor outside Elbaf…
Countless shadows suddenly surged madly out from the Pluton like a dark current filled with mysterious power. They poured down from the towering Pluton and rushed straight toward Moria's body.
Such a bizarre scene naturally drew everyone's attention.
And many people with extraordinary vision suddenly discovered that the dark mass continuously pouring into Moria's body was actually made up of shadow after shadow!
Shadow's Asgard—the strongest move of Moria's Shadow-Shadow Fruit. Its effect was to make all the shadows he had cut away surge into his own body, using the power of those shadows to make himself stronger!
And in order to deal with this battle, Moria had deliberately cut away the shadows of every prisoner currently held by the Straw Hat Grand Fleet not long ago, leaving them aboard the Pluton.
Among them, there were two whose strength alone was comparable to top-tier Emperor's deputies: Edward Weevil and Gild Tesoro.
There were also many other strong fighters at the level of ordinary Emperor's deputies or below.
For example, the World Pirates, who had recently been wiped out all at once by Barto, were among them.
In addition, during this period, Moria had also listened to Red's advice and captured quite a few ferocious beasts and Sea Kings, cutting away their shadows for his own use.
The shadowy dark current had formed precisely because the shadows of the Sea Kings were far too enormous.
In the blink of an eye, nearly one thousand shadows had all entered Moria's body.
Moria's figure also expanded dramatically as a result, even surpassing Hajrudin after his Pokémon-ization.
A colossal figure close to one hundred meters tall appeared on the battlefield, instantly drawing everyone's gaze.
The giants raised their heads and looked up at the being above them who nearly seemed to touch the ceiling of the Underworld.
For some reason, even though they were the race publicly recognized as the tallest in the world, today, they had actually needed to look up again and again. As a result, even the cervical spine problems they had developed from years of constantly looking down had improved quite a bit.
(End of Chapter)