"If I let this kid keep messing around and make my Adam Tree full of pits, the ship built from it will be ugly."
Kenji knew he couldn't delay any longer.
At this moment, in front of Loki, the black smoke dispersed, and the fierce fire caused by the lightning quickly extinguished, as if this Adam Treebeven had its own fire extinguishing ability.
Soon, the spot where Loki had previously struck with his hammer was revealed.
Just as Kenji had seen, one could see a small charred mark, particularly striking, above the slash marks made by Hajrudin and the finger-hole made by Kenji.
If one observed closely, they would find a small indentation the size of a fingernail in the very center of the charred mark.
"It actually left a permanent mark…" Raideen's face showed a hint of surprise.
Although the small indentation in the center of the charred mark was inconspicuous, marks that would be able to remain on the Adam Tree trunk for a long time were often called a 'permanent mark'.
Of course, this so-called 'permanence' was not absolute. As time passed, these relatively minor marks would eventually disappear.
The so-called 'permanent mark' was merely a saying within the Giant Race.
In reality, an indentation mark like the one Loki made would likely be healed by the Adam Tree trunk itself within a few years to a decade.
"Wow! To be able to leave a 'permanent mark', that's truly amazing!"
"As expected of the Prince! Although he's a bit rebellious…"
"Hmph! Isn't it already known that the Prince is powerful?"
"After all, he's cursed…"
The Giants behind them either praised or sneered, their opinions varied, but the negative comments about Loki mainly stemmed from his rebellious personality and the legend of the 'Cursed Prince'.
Loki himself, however, kept frowning, appearing quite dissatisfied.
As for the Giants' sneering voices, he didn't bother listening.
"Is it only this much?"
Loki tilted his head, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the charred indentation he made and Kenji's finger-hole.
"Too bad, I'm not in great shape today…"
Loki shook his arm, feeling a bit annoyed.
The severe injuries he had sustained ten days ago had still not fully healed.
However, Loki still wanted to try again. Just then, Kenji came beside him and raised a hand to block the restless Loki.
"Do you have a handy weapon?" Kenji asked Loki, who looked puzzled.
"Weapon?" Loki raised the giant hammer with both hands, indicating it.
"I only have this."
Kenji casually glanced at the giant hammer, smiling and shaking his head.
"Let's not, I'm not used to this thing."
He wasn't being humble. Using a hammer as a weapon was indeed not his style.
And striking up a conversation with Loki this time was just an excuse to stop him from continuing to smash the Adam Tree.
After all, with rebellious kids like Loki, the more you tell them not to do something, the more enthusiastic they become.
"What's wrong?"
Just as Kenji achieved his goal and was about to turn away, Loki suddenly asked.
"Why are you suddenly looking for a weapon? Does your Marine not even have a decent weapon?"
"Heh heh, I just want to try out some sword techniques." Kenji smiled and shook his head.
"Speaking of which… it's been many years since I last used a sword!"
Hearing this, Loki nodded in understanding, then said with a sincere expression, "Is that so? Too bad, you can't lift my hammer… I'll help you find a sword then."
Although Loki spoke very sincerely and his expression was very serious, Kenji just felt: why does this kid look so punchable?
Fortunately, Loki had already turned to help find a weapon, otherwise, Kenji would have definitely given him some 'guidance'.
"Forget it, for his help…" Kenji decided to give Loki a 'net zero' score.
Then, he slowly began to regret it because Loki was completely counterproductive.
Perhaps due to the infamous reputation of the 'Cursed Prince', the Giants, upon seeing Loki approach, hastily scattered and moved away.
As Loki stepped forward, the Giants stepped back, looking as if they were repelled by a magnetic force.
Now, not only did he not get a weapon, but everyone also ran away. Even if Kenji wanted to borrow a weapon himself, he'd have to run twenty miles.
"So, this kid's reputation as a 'cursed one'… is that powerful in Elbaph?"
Kenji stood with his arms crossed, somewhat speechless, looking at Loki, who was full of indignation in the distance.
"Forget it, I'll just find any weapon…"
Kenji shook his head, withdrew his gaze, and casually looked around, quickly spotting the greatsword in Raideen's hand.
He stood up and walked towards Raideen, smiling as he raised his hand and pointed at the sword in the other man's hand, saying, "Brother, lend me your sword."
"Brother? You, a mere youth…"
Raideen frowned, looking at the young-faced Kenji in front of him, and shook his head coldly.
Kenji hadn't expected that he, a man in his sixties nearing retirement, would be seen as a 'youngster' in Elbaph.
Moreover, he didn't even manage to borrow a weapon.
At this point, Kenji no longer intended to waste any more time.
Fortunately, at this moment, a Giant maiden strolled over.
The maiden was entirely clad in a swordsman's battle suit, but the loose clothing could not conceal her curvaceous and graceful figure. Her two braided pigtails swayed gently with her body's movement. It was Gerd.
"Use my weapon!"
Gerd approached and offered her greatsword to Kenji, seemingly a bit shy, her pretty face slightly flushed.
"I probably won't be able to become a swordsman… I'll probably only be a doctor in the future…"
The maiden's voice gradually became softer, her eyes showing disappointment as she slightly lowered her head.
Kenji took the greatsword and tried it, finding it a bit large. However, for him, it wasn't a big problem.
"This sword, isn't it also quite large for her to use?" Kenji compared it to the maiden's figure, thinking to himself.
"An ill-fitting weapon is definitely uncomfortable to use…"
Thinking these casual thoughts, the next moment, he suddenly turned around, and at the same time, the Conqueror's Haki within him surged violently and was released.
At this moment, Kenji bypassed Armament Haki, directly releasing the Conqueror's Haki of the Divine Domain.
Soon, powerful Conqueror's Haki swirled around the blade, and streaks of Haki traces spread outwards.
"Waaah!"
Hajrudin and others nearby were affected by the Haki traces and quickly retreated. These Haki marks, caused by the Conqueror's Haki Infusion, possessed great power and could easily cleave the ground.
However, at this moment, Kenji deliberately controlled his Conqueror's Haki, concentrating most of its power onto the greatsword.
Furthermore, he did not release his Conqueror's Haki to its limit.
It was just felling a tree, there was no need to go all out!
"Elbaph Spear…"
Kenji assumed a stance, preparing to perform the Giant Sword Technique he had recently learned.
"Ikkoku!"
Rumble!
A powerful aura, empowered by Conqueror's Haki Infusion, instantly erupted.
The same sword technique as Charlotte, but with an even greater power.
With a loud 'boom', the Adam Tree suddenly shook violently.
Crack, crackle!
The crisp sound of wood cracking clearly emanated.
Subsequently, dense, visible cracks, like a spiderweb, appeared around the area where the Adam Tree trunk had been struck, and quickly spread over a large area.