The locals were indeed not very friendly. The giants were holding swords, axes, and shields, nervously eyeing the approaching ship.
"Rocks Pirates! What are you doing in this country?"
Even a warrior race as proud as Elbaf had to be cautious when facing the Rocks Pirates.
Rocks strode to the bow.
"Harald, lower the Rainbow Bridge to me!"
Buzz!!
Pitch-black lightning instantly shot up from Rocks' body into the sky, and the atmosphere began to shake violently.
The massive Adam Tree seemed to sway under the pressure of a great gust of wind.
Needless to say, the giants on the shore were foaming at the mouth and fainting one after another.
The Conqueror's Haki-infused lightning tore across the sky and struck a castle in the Yang Realm on the second level of Elbaf.
Boom!!
The entire castle shook violently, and the giant guards inside screamed in panic.
After a long moment, a sigh came from deep within the castle.
"Put down the Rainbow Bridge."
Outside the port—
"Wow! That's so exaggerated!"
Roya looked up in amazement.
"There can't be another one with this level of Conqueror's Haki in the Blue Sea, right?"
The will of one man shaking an entire country. That was a man who stood at the pinnacle of the seas!
Roger might be slightly weaker.
And could Imu, traumatized by Joy Boy, really match this kind of presence?
So... when will my Conqueror's Haki awaken?
After the version update, since Haki could resist—or even nullify—Devil Fruit abilities, Conqueror's Haki had become even more sought after.
It's not just about having Haki. You have to know how to use it!
Whitebeard, standing behind Rocks, also had some awe in his eyes. Rocks was stronger than anyone else. It was precisely because of that unmatched strength that so many unruly monsters had chosen to follow him.
But...
That power was no longer out of reach. In fact, it was right before their eyes.
And so, without a massive war on the horizon, the collapse of the Rocks Pirates would have already come.
War, Rocks... how far can you go?
Whitebeard was quietly looking forward to the answer.
"Here we go," Rocks said calmly, retracting his Conqueror's Haki. "Wait a moment."
And so they waited.
Then, something descended from the sky.
"Oh! It's a rainbow!"
Roya's eyes lit up.
A rainbow was falling from the sky.
A dazzling bridge of colored light extended down from the Yang Realm on the second level of Elbaf, ending precisely at the harbor.
"Is this the Rainbow Bridge?"
Roya was in awe.
"This world never stops surprising me!"
"Let's go."
At Rocks' command, the pirate ship sailed straight toward the Rainbow Bridge.
It was incredible.
The slope of the rainbow could only be described as sheer, but the pirate ship still sailed smoothly from sea level up onto the bridge and continued ascending without the slightest resistance. It made the Grand Line's Reverse Mountain look reasonable by comparison.
Roya used his ability to transform into a flying tiger and flew onto the bridge, running alongside the ship as it climbed.
"How interesting!"
The bridge was actually made from a magical material known as sunstone—it was a real, tangible rainbow.
Elbaf truly was a magical place.
Following the rainbow all the way up, they soon reached the upper part of Elbaf's Yang Realm. Below them was the middle canopy of the great Adam Tree. On the thick branches, a small village stood.
Of course, to the giants, it was a small village—but to Roya, every house looked as big as a hill.
This was Elbaf.
The world's mightiest warrior nation.
The Rainbow Bridge ended outside a massive castle.
The pirate ship slowly landed in the clearing in front of the castle, where a giant was already waiting.
"Rocks!"
Wielding both a massive battle axe and greatsword, the giant castle guard shouted,
"King Harald has asked us to await your arrival!"
"Let's go and let these fools see reality."
Rocks jumped down from the ship's bow.
Roya and Whitebeard followed close behind.
"Lead the way," Rocks said coolly.
The giants looked at Roya and Whitebeard with some reluctance but still turned to lead them forward.
But then—
"That's you, Rocks!"
A figure ran excitedly from behind the castle gates.
"You're the one who made all that noise just now, right?"
"Oh?"
Roya raised an eyebrow.
He was, of course, a giant.
But a little giant.
Only about fourteen or fifteen meters tall—taller than Big Mom had been as a child, but still short for a giant.
And on his forehead, he had a pair of horns.
"Ancient Giant bloodline," Whitebeard muttered.
Giants of ancient blood were often taller and more powerful than their kin.
"Harald's youngest son," Rocks said coldly.
Loki?
Roya glanced at the impish giant blocking their way.
Even at this young age, his eyes were already covered with bandages, and he dragged a massive black kanabo behind him.
The cursed prince. The kingslayer of the giants. Elbaf's shame.
Wasn't he supposed to be 25 years old this year?
Giants lived over three times longer than humans, and their growth rate was also tripled.
So in human years, he was about the same age as me?
"Prince Loki! Why are you here?"
The giant guards were visibly shaken.
The cursed prince usually remained in the Underworld, battling ferocious beasts called Mountain Lords. Hated by his people, he rarely returned to the castle.
Why today...
Loki ignored the guards and dragged his kanabo toward Rocks, looking down at the man before him.
"I know you! Everyone says you're the most terrifying pirate in the world! That you lead the most terrifying pirate crew! Even here in Elbaf, your name is known to all!"
"Hey, Rocks! Let me join your crew! I'm Loki! I'm the Sun God of Elbaf! I'll lead our people to conquer the world!"
"Sun God?"
Rocks sneered.
"I'm not interested in your childish games. Get lost."
"You're rejecting me?"
Loki looked stunned.
"You're rejecting me, Loki?"
"I don't need brats on my ship. Don't make me say it a third time."
Rocks' eyes turned dangerous.
Roya smirked.
The captain was truly fair—he didn't discriminate. Whether you were a child, woman, or old man—if you annoyed him, you died.
"Brat?"
Loki suddenly turned to Roya—even though his eyes were bandaged, he made the motion.
"Isn't this guy also a kid?"
Rocks paused, then smirked slightly.
"Interesting. Alright, how about this? If you can defeat him, I'll let you on the ship."
"Then it's settled!"
With a loud laugh, the massive kanabo swung down toward Roya.
"What about my opinion?"
Roya dodged instantly, turning into a shadow and shooting back.
"Captain, what's this got to do with me?"
Boom!
The heavy club smashed a crater into the wooden ground.
"Boy, if you lose, I'll kill you," Rocks said calmly.
"This is really unfair!"
Roya hadn't expected to be dragged into this.
"Don't run!"
Loki charged after him excitedly.
"Seriously," Roya muttered.
"We just fought the Navy yesterday—do I really have to fight again today?"
"Fine then. Come protect me."
Several dark shadows shot out from the pirate ship's deck behind him.
(Make sure to give Powerstones if cool)