He said nothing more, simply turning around and walking away, step by step, along the path he had come. The sound of his footsteps gradually faded, eventually vanishing completely.
The detention center returned to a deathly silence.
Dragon leaned against the wall, slowly closing his eyes, his chest still heaving.
However, a few minutes later, when he opened his eyes again and his gaze inadvertently swept across the bottom of the cell door, his pupils contracted slightly.
There, in a position barely reachable by his cuffed hands, a key shimmering with a cold metallic luster had appeared, though he did not know when. The key lay silently in the shadows, as if it had never appeared at all.
Dragon's body stiffened. He stared at the key, then suddenly looked up toward the direction Garp had left, but the empty corridor was devoid of anyone.
In an instant, countless emotions surged into his heart—shock, confusion, followed by a sudden realization, and finally, it transformed into a firmer determination mixed with complex familial affection.
He understood.
He moved his cuffed hands with difficulty, his fingertips touching the cold metal.
...
New World, Elbaf, the coast near Date's tavern.
Huge waves crashed against the rugged reefs on the shore. Giant King Harald was in the midst of a heavy farewell.
Standing before him were Date and Jorul, as well as his two sons—the young yet already composed Haidling, and Loki, whose eyes were red and swollen from crying for a long time, with tear tracks still visible on his face.
"Date, Elder Jorul, everyone..." Harald's voice was low, the sea breeze blowing through his thick beard.
"I have made up my mind. For the future of Elbaf... I can no longer afford to worry about so much."
His massive body slowly crouched down, his gaze falling upon his two sons. He reached out a giant palm, gently stroking Haidling's head, then patted Loki's shoulder, his eyes filled with a father's affection and reluctance, as well as a deeper sense of entrustment.
"Haidling, Loki... you are both my beloved sons, Harald's. After I leave... you two must get along well and support each other.
The future of Elbaf, whether the Giant Race can truly embrace a life under the sun... I hope that you two can work together to support this land."
Loki's tears welled up again; he bit his lip tightly and nodded vigorously.
Haidling puffed out his chest, looked at Loki, who was a head taller than him, and said with a firm gaze, "Rest assured, Father! I will definitely take good care of my younger brother and protect Elbaf!"
Loki bared his teeth and roared, "Who needs a weakling like you to take care of them!"
Date crouched down and patted Loki's head, "Alright Loki, taking care of one's younger brother is a big brother's duty."
"Tch~" Loki crossed his arms and snorted unhappily. But under Date's soothing, he did not continue to retort.
Harald smiled with gratification, stood up, took one last look at the familiar scenery of his homeland and his loved ones, then turned resolutely and boarded the exclusive warship anchored on the sea.
...
Several days later, Marineford harbor, Marine headquarters.
A warship so massive it was shocking slowly approached, causing a stir in the harbor.
"It's the Elbaf King's ship!"
"King Harald? What is he here for?"
The guarding Marines quickly reported up the chain of command, the atmosphere tense.
The warship did not force its way to the dock, instead stopping outside the harbor. A squad of Marines stepped forward, their tone respectful yet carrying an unnegotiable firmness: "We are very sorry, King Harald! According to orders from above, we cannot allow you to land on Marineford! Please understand!"
However, the response they received was the figure on the warship's deck, appearing like a mountain, who simply leaped down!
"BOOM!!!" Harald's massive body landed heavily on the Marineford pier, causing the ground to tremble. He carried no weapons and was dressed in simple Giant Race attire.
A large number of Marines, acting as if facing a major enemy, quickly assembled, drawing swords and aiming guns and cannons, surrounding him completely. The atmosphere in the harbor instantly dropped to freezing point.
But Harald ignored the dense array of weapons and hostile gazes surrounding him.
He took a deep breath, his chest swelling, and let out a deafening shout toward the Marine headquarters building area: "High officials of the Marine—!!! And key members of the World Government—!!!"
The sound waves rolled out, spreading across half of Marineford. "I hope you—can hear me out—!!!"
Immediately after, under the horrified gaze of all the Marines, Harald made a move that made everyone's scalp tingle—he raised his giant hands and grabbed tightly onto the pair of curved, thick horns on his head that symbolized the power of the Ancient Giant Race!
Muscles bulged, veins popped! "URGH AAAAAH—!!!!!" Accompanied by a painful roar, Harald's arms exploded with terrifying power, violently tearing to both sides!
"CRACK—!!! SPLTCH—!!!" The teeth-gritting sound of bone breaking and flesh tearing rang out! Scalding blood, like a small waterfall, instantly sprayed out from both sides of his forehead, dyeing his face red!
That pair of giant horns, symbolizing his Ancient Giant Race, was forcibly ripped from his head by him! "HISS—!!"
Even the elite Marines, accustomed to bloody scenes, could not help but gasp in shock at this moment; many subconsciously covered their own heads, as if they could feel that heart-piercing, unimaginable agony.
Harald's massive body swayed violently from the intense pain, but relying on his tenacious willpower, he stood firm.
He held the pair of giant horns in both hands, still attached with some flesh and dripping with blood, as if holding the most precious offering, and then—under countless shocked and speechless gazes, this giant king, who had once struck fear into the hearts of countless enemies, slowly knelt facing the direction of the Marine headquarters building.
He held the bloody horns high, presenting them before him, bowing that head that had never yielded to anyone. Blood flowed down his forehead, dripping onto the Marineford pier, blooming into a glaring red.
He cried out loudly and humbly toward the center of power that controlled the world: "Please allow me—to make a thousand years' worth of reparations—!!!"
"I wish to apologize—for all the wrongs committed by the Giant Race—up until now—!!!"
"In order to—let the children of Elbaf—live a life that does not DMG anyone—from now on—!!!"
"And also—to be able to—walk hand in hand with humans—toward the future—!!!"
"I want to prove to you—that I, Harald, and Elbaf—vow to yearn for peace—!!!"
"I want a—chance to atone—!!!"
"For this—
The giant king raised his head, his blood-stained face wearing an unyielding calm: "Even if it means becoming Slaves—I am willing—!!!!"
The sound waves echoed in the harbor, blood droplets scattering in the air. Time seemed to freeze at this moment.
Every Marine who witnessed this scene, whether soldier or officer, fell into a long silence. The sea breeze howled, and blood dripped from the wounds of the kneeling giant king, the rhythmic dripping striking at everyone's heart.
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