Chapter 16 – Death of a King and the Things Happening
Harald, after becoming a Knight of God, was ordered to build a summoning circle in Aurust Castle. At this time, he met the man sitting on the Empty Throne—Imu.
Harald happily followed the orders.
"Ida, the days when giants live with humans are coming soon."
He laughed to himself.
Ida's dream and his dream would soon be complete.
But reality shattered that naive thought as he found out Imu's true intentions.
"You want to make Elbaf a warrior slave nation?!"
Harald roared angrily through telepathy while sitting on his throne in Aurust Castle.
This was the very thing Harald wanted to escape.
He wanted giants to leave the wars behind and live normally—not as warriors, but as people.
"No! I won't allow it!"
"You have no right to decide. As my knight, your only duty is to follow my orders."
Imu's voice rang inside his mind.
Harald's knees buckled as he fell to the floor, panting heavily.
"Mu will not accept disobedience."
"AGHHHHHH!"
Harald roared in pain.
The doors slammed open as soldiers rushed inside.
"King!"
"King Harald, are you okay?!"
Their voices were filled with panic.
Harald gritted his teeth.
"Go and call Loki and Elder Jarul now! And pin me down!"
A magic circle appeared beneath him, followed by Imu's voice.
"Domi Reverse."
Harald didn't even have a chance to react.
His body began turning demonic.
"AGHHHHHH!"
The soldiers shouted in panic.
Some rushed to call Elder Jarul and Loki.
The remaining soldiers attacked Harald, trying to pin him down.
---
Inside Gaban's house, Shanks and Gaban sat drinking.
After leaving the Holy Land, Shanks had come to visit Gaban.
As they chatted, they sensed Conqueror's Haki roaring over Aurust Castle.
"That—"
"Who is attacking Elbaf?"
Both shot to their feet.
After exchanging a glance, they dashed toward the castle.
---
Inside his cell, Loki sat staring at the wall.
"Tsk."
He snorted, thinking about something.
Just then, he sensed soldiers rushing toward him.
"Hmm?"
"Prince Loki! King Harald has called for you urgently at the castle!"
The soldier spoke as the cell doors were opened.
Loki snorted.
"What does he want now?"
Grumbling, he stood up and started walking toward the castle.
Along the way, he picked up his hammer.
As he entered the castle grounds, he saw Elder Jarul walking toward the throne room.
"Hmm? Loki, why are you out of prison?"
Jarul noticed him.
"Tsk. Like I know. That old man called me."
Jarul nodded.
"Me too."
The two walked together and opened the doors to the throne room.
The instant they did, they froze in disbelief.
Elbaf's soldiers were scattered everywhere.
Many were dead.
Many more were injured.
Several had impaled Harald with their weapons, trying desperately to pin him down.
"What the fuck is happening here?!"
Loki shouted in anger and disbelief.
Jarul was also completely caught off guard.
"LOKIII!"
Harald roared while trying to control himself.
Half of his body had already turned demonic.
"I was wrong! Elbaf is facing a calamity because of me!"
"The Government wants to turn Elbaf into a nation of warrior slaves!"
"I was a disgrace of a king!"
"Please kill me and stop me before I do something!"
"Go and eat the Devil Fruit guarded by the Elbaf Royal Family!"
As he roared, he lost control and unleashed his strength, sending giant soldiers flying.
Jarul immediately understood the situation.
He drew his sword and attacked Harald.
"Loki! Do as Harald says and go!"
"You are the only one who can stop Harald!"
"What the fuck are you talking about?!"
Loki was completely caught off guard.
He was still processing the information.
Looking at the situation, he raised his hammer.
"I don't know what happened to you, but snap out of it, old man!"
He swung his hammer.
"Loki, you are the only one! Go, or it will be too late!"
Harald shouted as he slashed with his sword.
Loki swung his hammer in response.
Their Conqueror's Haki clashed before their weapons even met.
The ground cracked apart.
Violent winds rushed through the castle.
Blood-red lightning exploded everywhere.
Loki gritted his teeth and ran toward the treasury.
Jarul fought Harald, keeping him busy.
Just then, Gaban and Shanks arrived.
"What's happening?!"
Jarul noticed them.
"Pin Harald down now!"
He shouted.
His body was covered in wounds.
In just a few hours, he had accumulated countless injuries.
Gaban and Shanks didn't have time to think.
Both attacked Harald immediately.
---
Loki ran toward the treasury.
As he arrived, he panted heavily and opened the door.
"Tsk! Where is that damn thing now?"
He looked around.
Just then, something slammed into him.
The attack sent him flying backward.
"Who dares sneak up on me?!"
Loki shouted.
Then he saw a squirrel standing guard before the box containing the Devil Fruit.
The squirrel squeaked in protest as if scolding him.
"Who the fuck are you?"
Then he shook his head.
"I don't have time to play with you. Fuck off."
Ragnar became even angrier.
He transformed into a hammer and shot toward Loki.
Loki was in a hurry.
He swung his hammer infused with Conqueror's Haki.
"Fuck off!"
---
Inside the throne room, Harald had completely transformed into a demonic monster.
"Move away!"
He roared in anger as he swung his sword.
Jarul, Shanks, and Gaban were blasted backward.
The three stood up.
"This strength?!"
"He's even stronger than before!"
They had no time to think.
Harald started walking toward the treasury.
"No! Stop him!"
Jarul shouted as he launched himself toward Harald.
Shanks and Gaban followed.
---
In front of the treasury, Loki panted heavily.
Ragnar was also panting.
"Damn it! Stop wasting my time and give me the damn Devil Fruit!"
Ragnar finally stood aside.
Loki blinked in confusion.
"Ha? You agreed?"
Shaking his head, he rushed inside, grabbed the Devil Fruit, and swallowed it.
Ragnar bounced in joy.
Loki grabbed the bouncing hammer and ran toward the throne room.
"You are coming with me, stupid hammer."
Soon he arrived.
His eyes landed on the completely transformed Harald.
"Hey—"
"Bow before your king."
Harald's voice echoed.
Loki gritted his teeth in anger.
Tears started flowing beneath his blindfold.
He raised Ragnar and charged forward in his hybrid form.
Conqueror's Haki coated Ragnar.
Loki slammed him into Harald with everything he had.
---
Later—
Loki sat on a broken staircase.
Nearby sat Elder Jarul.
A sword had pierced his helmet and head, but thanks to the helmet, he was still alive.
Shanks and Gaban looked exhausted.
The remaining soldiers stood silently.
Finally, Loki spoke.
"It was me who did it."
"I killed the King of Elbaf."
The soldiers froze.
After a long conversation, Loki gathered the remaining soldiers and left Elbaf.
---
On another island, Ginny stood grinning with meat in her mouth and a gun resting in her other hand.
Around her stood Revolutionary Army soldiers.
"Ginny-san! We freed another country!"
"With Ginny-san here, what's there to fear?"
"Ginny-san is too beautiful!"
"Kuma is really lucky!"
"Oi! Stop talking nonsense!"
Ginny shouted, though she wasn't angry.
Soon everyone was laughing and arguing.
Just then, a man landed at the port.
As he walked toward them, a soldier noticed him.
"Hey, who—"
Before he could finish speaking, his head separated from his neck.
Everyone froze.
---
Elsewhere, Dragon was discussing something with Ivankov and Kuma.
"Peru Peru Peru Peru."
His Den Den Mushi rang.
"Katcha."
Dragon picked it up.
"It—"
Before he could finish speaking, the Den Den Mushi's expression became that of a dying man.
"Dragoooon-san!"
"Ginny! Ginny has been captured—!"
The desperate shout came through the receiver.
Then the call abruptly cut off.
The Den Den Mushi fell asleep.
Dragon, Ivankov, and Kuma froze.
Their eyes widened.
"Hey! What happened?!"
"You there! What happened to Ginny?!"
Ivankov shouted.
But the line was already dead.
Kuma's face went pale.
So did Dragon's.
"Where was Ginny assigned for the mission?"
"Tell me now."
The Revolutionary soldier scrambled to answer.
As soon as Dragon and Kuma heard the island's name, they rushed there.
But when they arrived, all that remained were dead soldiers.
There was no sign of Ginny.
Dragon took out his Den Den Mushi.
"Inform every Revolutionary."
"I want information on where Ginny is now."
His face was grim.
Conqueror's Haki flared around him.
Kuma was the most shaken of all.
But he forced himself to remain calm.