Loki's chains clattered like falling mountains as he shifted, the bark of the colossal World Tree groaning beneath his bound form.
The roots wrapped around him like living prisons, each thicker than a ship's mast. Moss and age stained the iron links, and the runes carved into the metal pulsed faintly with suppressing force.
For the first time in years, Loki raised his head toward Ada's voice.
"…If that is your dream," he said quietly—
a voice like distant thunder, aching from disuse, "then I will follow it."
Ada's expression softened, not with victory, but with recognition—of a promise made long ago.
She nodded once. "That's all I needed to hear."
Loki tilted his head slightly, a massive shadow shifting beneath the branches.
"How do you intend to get me out of here?"
His voice held no doubt—only curiosity.
Ada rarely failed to do the impossible.
Ada turned away from him, facing the gathered giants.
Hundreds watched from the forest shadows, towering figures with spears as long as lighthouses. Their eyes were conflicted mixtures of anger, fear, and shame.
As Ada stepped forward, the giants lowered their weapons slightly—not in surrender, but in respect.
One whispered, "Ada… the one who drank with King Harald…"
Another murmured, "She visited us when Prince Loki was small…"
But fear still tightened their grips.
Ada's voice cut through the forest like a blade.
"Giants of Elbaf," she called out, her tone echoing against ancient boughs.
"You chained Prince Loki because you believe he murdered Harald."
Shock flickered across their massive faces.
She continued walking toward them—unafraid, unstoppable.
"But I have heard the truth. All of it."
A ripple of unease spread through them.
Some stepped back.
Others gripped weapons tighter.
Ada's eyes sharpened. "You cast him aside because you were afraid. Because it was easy. Because the World Government told you what to believe."
Her words hit harder than cannon fire.
Even Mihawk looked briefly impressed.
Perona whispered, "Oh she's REALLY doing this—"
Ada stepped into the clearing, arms folded.
"If you no longer want him as your prince—
if you would rather chain him than seek justice—
then let me take him."
The forest erupted.
A wave of protest shook the leaves, giants shouting over one another in shock.
Mihawk sighed, tapping his sword. "It seems diplomacy is over."
Bullet cracked his knuckles. "Just say the word."
Ada raised a hand—
and the entire crew stilled.
Then one of the oldest giants stepped forward. His beard was braided with gold, and his eyes were deep with centuries.
"Why," he rumbled, "should we let you have him, Ada of the Nyx Pirates? He is still of Elbaf."
Ada met his gaze without a shred of hesitation.
"Because you believe him a traitor.
Because you believe him a murderer.
Because you no longer trust him."
She pointed back at Loki.
"But I do."
Murmurs swept across the giants.
She raised her chin.
"And the seas need a warrior like him far more than these chains do."
Her voice carried like a storm wind.
"And I will need more than just Loki."
A pause.
"Give me one of your great ships— a warship."
Gasps erupted.
Ada finished, firm and absolute. "I will make Loki the fourth captain of my Grand Fleet—The Giant Pirates."
Silence crashed down like an avalanche.
The younger giants looked excited—whispering of glory, of restoring honor, of a prince taking to the sea instead of rotting at the roots of a tree.
The elders frowned deeply.
Ada crossed her arms. "If you no longer want him—then let him sail with someone who does."
It was a challenge.
A truth.
A promise.
Finally—after a long, tense silence—the elder giant lowered his spear.
"…Very well."
He bowed his head in respect—an honor rarely given to anyone outside Elbaf.
"You may take him, Nyx D. Ada. And one of our grand warships. He is yours now."
Ada inclined her head. "Thank you."
The sound of ancient chains breaking echoed through the forest like thunderclaps.
CLANG.
CLANG.
CLANG.
Each shackle shattered under the giants' axes and Ada's haki-infused strikes until the final binding fell away, raising a cloud of dust.
Loki rose.
And the world seemed suddenly small.
Even among giants—he towered over most, a mountain of muscle and pride, every step shaking the earth.
Bullet took a full step back. "Okay—THAT is a damn giant."
Mihawk's eyes gleamed with rare interest. "His presence alone rivals an emperor's high ranking subordinate."
Perona flailed. "If he slips he'll crush us like BUGS—!"
Loki stretched, the sound like trees creaking in a storm.
He looked down at Ada. "…It's been a long time."
Ada smirked. "Let's not waste more."
She pointed toward the coastline. "Come, Loki. There's a ship waiting."
The prince nodded, each movement making the ground tremble.
As they walked, the giants watched in silence—some with regret, some with admiration.
But none spoke against Ada.
Not anymore.
———————-
At the Harbor
A massive warship rested on the waves—its figurehead a roaring lion, its sails thick enough to withstand sea kings. The deck alone could hold hundreds of warriors.
Loki placed his enormous hand upon its railing.
He inhaled deeply—
the air of freedom, of purpose,
after years of darkness.
Ada watched him with quiet satisfaction.
The seas and history had just gained a new force.
The Giant Pirates had been born.
Ada then stepped onto the harbor's highest rock, the wind lifting her cloak. Her crew stood behind her, watching the moment unfold with a mixture of awe and disbelief.
Loki bowed his head slightly to her. "Ada… what do you want of me now?"
Ada looked up at him—unfazed by the towering height, meeting his gaze as if they were equals.
"What I want," she said, voice ringing across the harbor, "is for you to rebuild what Elbaf lost."
The giants behind them shifted, listening.
Ada continued.
"Loki. You will not sail as a fugitive. You will sail as a captain under my Grand Fleet."
The wind surged, flaring her cloak. "Find other giants. Warriors. Exiles. Adventurers. Those who still dream of the sea."
Loki's brows rose. "You want me to gather a crew?"
Ada nodded once. "Yes. A crew worthy of your name. A fleet capable of shaking the New World. The Giant Pirates—your Giant Pirates."
Loki placed a massive hand over his chest.
"I will find them," he vowed, voice thunderous.
"Those who still want glory. Those who carry pride. Those who refuse to bow."
He lifted his chin, eyes blazing with purpose.
"I will build a fleet that will honor you…and honor Father."
The giants watching stirred—some in sorrow, others in solemn respect.
His voice carried the weight of a prince reclaiming his legacy.
Ada gave a faint smile. "I expect nothing less."
She turned to her crew. "Prepare to set sail."
They moved quickly—ropes pulled, sails unfurled, anchors raised. The Oro Jackson's shadow stretched across the water as if bowing toward the giant ship beside it.
Ada looked back one last time at Loki, her coat whipping in the rising wind.
"If you ever need me," she said, tapping her chest, "call me through the den-den mushi I gave you."
Her voice sharpened with a hint of a smile.
"I don't care where you are in the world—I'll answer."
Loki stared at the small, giant-sized transponder snail secured to the ship's railing—still dormant, but already carrying Ada's frequency.
A lifeline.
A promise.
He bowed his head, the gesture surprisingly solemn for someone his size.
"I will use it," Loki said. "If the day comes when I face the truth behind Father's death… or when my fleet stands ready."
Ada nodded. "Good. Then we'll meet again—when you're worth meeting as a fleet captain."
Loki gave a rumbling laugh. "Then expect that call soon."
He struck his chest with a mighty fist. "When next we meet, Ada… I will not be alone."
Ada pointed toward the open sea. "Then go. Your era starts now."
Loki roared—not in rage, but in liberation.
A prince's roar.
A warrior's oath.
With a single push of his foot, the giant warship surged away from the harbor, slicing through the waves as if the sea itself made way for him.
The wind filled its massive sails.
The newly born Giant Pirates took their first steps into the world.
—————————
The Oro Jackson carved steadily through the New World's volatile sea when Ada finally spoke.
"Set course for Zou."
The crew looked up.
Mihawk raised a brow. "The Mink's homeland?"
Hiyori nodded thoughtfully. "I've heard it's nearly impossible to reach if you're not invited."
Lilith tightened her goggles. "And supposedly hidden."
Perona tilted her head. "Why are we going there?"
Ada held up a vivre card between two fingers. Its edges flickered faintly, tugging northward.
"I have an old friend on Zou," she said. "And this card will lead us there."
No one questioned the vivre card—they all knew how it worked.
What they did question was everything else.
Bullet crossed his arms. "Zou's location isn't charted on any map. It moves around somehow."
Ada smirked. "Exactly."
Lilith frowned. "Moves as in… migrates?"
Ada only replied, "You'll see when we get there."
Her tone shut down all further questions.
She raised a hand. "Raise the sails."
With that command, the Oro Jackson surged forward, chasing the pull of the card into one of the New World's most guarded mysteries.
————————
Days blurred into each other.
Storms raged, skies cleared, and still the vivre card pointed ever forward—never wavering.
Then, one morning, the sea beneath them darkened.
Deepened.
Turned into a vast shadow.
Lilith frowned. "Is there… something under us?"
Bullet leaned over the railing. "Looks like a damn continent."
Lilith narrowed her eyes. "The map says open sea… but this shadow is enormous."
Hiyori frowned. "But the vivre card says this is Zou's location."
A low rumble rolled across the ocean—so deep it shook the Oro Jackson's masts.
The mist ahead swirled violently as something colossal shifted in its depths.
Perona shrieked. "Earthquake!? On the ocean!?"
"No…" Mihawk murmured. "That's something moving."
Mihawk's eyes widened a fraction—an expression rare enough to be an omen.
"Brace," he murmured.
Perona hovered behind Ada, trembling. "Ada… that's not land… is it?"
The fog ripped open.
And the world tilted.
A titanic leg—big enough to dwarf entire mountains—rose from the sea, water cascading off it like waterfalls.
Then another.
The fog parted fully, revealing an entire island carried upon a creature's back.
Forests grew across its spine.
Rivers spilled down its sides.
Storm clouds swirled around its towering peak.
A world-sized elephant walked through the ocean with the weight of ages.
Zunesha.
Lilith fell onto the deck. "THAT'S— THAT'S AN ELEPHANT! WITH… WITH A WHOLE ISLAND ON IT!"
Mihawk whispered, "Unbelievable…"
Bullet just stared. "What kind of monster is that…?"
Perona clutched Mihawk's sleeve. "A whole island—on a living ELEPHANT!?"
Lilith was shaking. "No wonder no map works… it's literally walking around the world!"
Ada stepped forward, wind brushing her coat back.
Her eyes softened—not in fear, but recognition.
"Welcome," she said quietly.
"To Zou."