"You guys, get behind me—now!" Charlotte Linlin shouted, and the others scrambled to hide behind her.
"Good thing Linlin was here," Os breathed heavily, looking like a man who'd just dodged death. His exposed skin bore clear signs of being torn by the raging wind.
But Loki—just four years old—stood like a tower amid the storm. The howling gale slashed like blades, yet he remained still and unshaken.
His face was bathed in white light, tense with anxiety as he stared at the distant explosion.
His normally cold expression was now full of turmoil.
He wanted his father to win—because then he wouldn't have to become the son of that human named... was it Kle...ine or En?
But at the same time, part of him secretly hoped Klein would win. Without Harald standing in his way, he could finally set out to sea.
No more mockery from the other Elbafians. No more slander. No more being called a cursed child...
Loki clenched his fists, giant beads of sweat sliding down his young face.
Suddenly—
A voice rang out from within the light—confident and arrogant.
"What you're facing... is the King of Infinite Firepower!"
"With what exactly are you gonna beat me!?"
If he'd really gone all out, the firepower Klein unleashed would have been far more than what they'd just seen.
Most likely...
Not just Elbaf's underworld, but even the world of the living would've been caught in the destruction.
Loki's heart leapt to his throat the moment he heard that voice. "He… he won?"
As the light faded—
Loki's pupils, hidden under his bandages, shrank sharply. His face changed dramatically. "Father..."
In his view, Harald's Viking garments were in tatters. Wounds covered his body, bleeding from multiple places. He looked utterly battered.
With one hand, he drove his sword deep into the ground to stabilize his massive frame.
"An impact wave stronger than Elbaf Spear: Ikoku… terrifying—" Harald muttered, still shaken. Though the move hadn't been fatal...
He recalled how many magma scrolls he needed to withstand. This move—S-Rank Ninjutsu: Fist of the King—probably Klein had just as many or more.
Even with all his pride, fear crept into his heart. "Even mighty Elbaf can't rule the seas like the humans do. The powerful ones among them..."
"Even just the Marines are this scary. Mary Geoise… the World Government really is an unshakable giant."
Just then—
Elder Jarul's arrived, leading the domestic Giant soldiers in a rush. The elevator ride had slowed them down.
"Harald..." Jarul's eyes widened at the sight of the wounded king. "He—he's injured!? By who!?"
The soldiers behind him were equally stunned.
Jarul scanned for the assailant—finally spotting the one who looked as small as an ant in the distance, clad in a Marine uniform and wielding Amenonuhoko.
His face contorted in shock. "That Marine... that uniform—he's a Rear Admiral!?"
Since Klein hadn't returned to the G-14 base, he was still wearing a Rear Admiral's uniform, despite having already been promoted to Vice Admiral.
That alone shocked Jarul—but when combined with Klein's youthful appearance?
A mere young Marine Rear Admiral wounded the mighty King Harald!?
Unbelievable.
A tidal wave of shock crashed through his heart.
As a former captain of the Giant Warrior Pirates, someone who'd roamed the seas, Jarul had crossed paths with the Marines before.
He couldn't help blurting out: "This young Marine... his combat power might already be at Admiral level!"
Even though he hadn't witnessed the fight, the apocalyptic destruction along the way said enough.
What had once been a land of snow and ice had now turned into a field of magma.
Deep gorges had been carved into the earth by sweeping slashes.
The victory was already decided. A smile appeared on Klein's chiseled face as he prepared to speak.
But a sudden shout came from behind him.
"Harald! From now on, Klein is my father. I'm going out to sea with him. Since you all say I brought misfortune and disaster to Elbaf—then fine, I'll just leave!!" Loki shouted with gritted teeth.
His expression was dark, head lowered. No one could see the eyes beneath his bandages… but the bandages looked slightly damp.
"Loki..."
Harald stood as if struck by lightning, his tattooed and ambitious face full of disbelief.
His heart went cold, shrouded in darkness. He gritted his teeth. "Loki… you are my—"
"Enough!!" Loki roared, cutting him off. His fists clenched tight. "You've all wanted me gone for ages!"
"I've had enough of this place too!!"
After shouting, he turned to Klein, suddenly hesitant. He bit down hard, lips trembling.
"Fa… Father, let's go!"
"Take me to sea!"
There was no joy on Klein's face at being called "Father." He simply fell silent for a moment, then looked at the wind-battered Harald.
"Hey—"
"Harald. Don't worry. I'll take good care of Loki."
"You bastard—!" Harald clenched his jaw so tightly it creaked. Flames of rage seemed ready to burst from his eyes. "If you so much as treat Loki poorly—even if it costs me my life—I'll make you pay!"
More than rage, it was the crushing blow to his heart that he couldn't withstand.
His son...
Right before his eyes...
Had acknowledged a human as his father.
That pain was ten… no, a hundred times worse than any physical wound.
His chest felt like it was imploding—dark and suffocating—his heart like shattered glass.
"A loser's threat, huh... barely even tickles," Klein muttered with a shake of his head, clearly not taking it seriously.
He was someone with cheats, after all. Lose once? He had unlimited retries!
His specialty… was being overpowered!
Klein sheathed his blade, his aura calming down. With a smile, he said, "Relax. One day, Loki's name will resound across the seas—he might even surpass you, Harald."
With that monster of a talent, a little training would turn him into a top-tier force.
Not to mention—
Klein was practically a walking combat skills encyclopedia. No way would Loki do worse under his guidance than rotting in Elbaf for decades.
"Harald, Loki's your son. How about… a little investment?"
Klein's smile sent chills down Harald's spine. His gut screamed trouble. Eyes bulging, he shouted, "You damn human! Elbaf has no gold or Beli! We've been hit by disasters these past years—our food supply's been cut down drastically!"
"We only made it through thanks to food aid from other human nations!"
Klein chuckled, unfazed. "No gold or Beli? Doesn't matter. You've got something worth way more."
"Loki's going to eat my food, wear my clothes, use my supplies—and I'll have to train him, educate him in combat and knowledge. And you won't even pay child support…?"
"That doesn't sound fair, does it?"
"Don't you agree?"
He reached into his coat and pulled out two scrolls.
Written on them: S-Rank Ninjutsu: Fist of the King.
He tossed them lightly in his hand, up and down, like he was weighing the price.