...
Inside the treasury, the atmosphere was eerily close to comical.
On one side came the earth-shaking sounds of slaughter from the corridor outside—blood and flesh flying in brutal reality.
On the other side, within the treasury, stood a stunned giant "boy" and a squirrel—with a mini hammer on its head—rubbing a large bump on its skull with a face full of "grievance."
Loki's brain completely crashed.
He looked at his now-empty palms, then at the fluffy creature that seemed to say, "You hurt me."
"So… this thing… is a Devil Fruit user? A weapon that ate an Animal-type Devil Fruit?"
Golden Lion Shiki stroked his chin, the first to recover from the shock and offer the most reasonable guess: "Rare, truly rare! Elbaph actually hid such a treasure?
"This hammer itself probably isn't ordinary iron either. That impact just now—tsk tsk."
His analysis woke everyone up.
While Animal-type Devil Fruits being "eaten" by non-living objects were rare, they weren't unheard of.
This ancient hammer named "Iron Thunder" was clearly one such special case. And judging from its displayed terrifying weight and hardness, its material was likely extraordinarily unique as well.
Little Loki looked at the squirrel on the light screen—with its hammer-topped head and teary eyes—then at his older self's dumbfounded expression. He couldn't help but snort with laughter but quickly pressed his lips together, his gaze turning serious again.
Though he found the squirrel a bit ridiculous, he clearly recognized the terrifying power "Iron Thunder" had shown in hammer form.
If he could gain its approval in the future and wield it…
It would definitely be incredibly strong!
At least far stronger than the ordinary warhammer he used now!
On the light screen, seemingly sensing Loki's complicated, indescribable gaze, the squirrel-form "Iron Thunder" stopped rubbing its head.
Its black-pearl-like eyes blinked. It tentatively took a small step toward Loki.
Seeing no intent to attack, it took another small step.
Then, it raised one front paw, pointed at the massive wooden chest behind Loki that held the secret treasure, pointed at Loki himself, and finally patted the little silver hammer on its head—making a "please" gesture.
The meaning couldn't be clearer: You've passed. You can take the secret treasure now. I acknowledge you!
Only then did Loki snap out of it as if waking from a dream.
He looked at "Iron Thunder's" eyes—no longer hostile, now carrying a hint of urging—then turned to glance at the ancient chest.
The absurd feeling in his heart remained intense, but there was no time to waste right now!
His father's roars, his clansmen's screams, the clashing of weapons—they came relentlessly from outside like death knells!
He gritted his teeth, no longer dwelling on philosophical questions like "Why is the guardian a squirrel?" and strode toward the chest.
At the same moment Loki approached the secret treasure, the light screen briefly switched, once again showing the brutal battle outside to everyone.
The corridor had become an asura field.
Broken weapons, shattered armor, and giant corpses nearly covered the ground. Blood flowed into streams, pooling and spreading freely across the pitted floor.
The air was thick with an iron-rust stench so strong it made people nauseous.
Harald moved like an tireless, painless killing machine. Though regeneration of his severed leg was slowed by continuous combat and Conqueror's Haki, his remaining power was still terrifying.
Every sword swing, every punch carried devastating force.
Ordinary giant guards were as fragile as paper before him.
Scopper Gaban and Shanks' coordination remained seamless. Their attacks were precise and effective, constantly opening new wounds on Harald and delaying his movements.
But both men's breathing had grown noticeably heavier, sweat pouring down their foreheads.
Scopper Gaban was no longer young; prolonged full-power exertion placed enormous strain on him.
Though Shanks was young and strong, facing an "immortal" opponent with berserk power drained both his spirit and stamina at an astonishing rate.
"The opponent… also has attacks wrapped in Conqueror's Haki…"
Scopper Gaban panted, expression grave. Not far away, Elder Jorul—still with the long sword embedded in his forehead, blood soaking half his beard—struggled to half-sit up.
His aged face was pale from blood loss and pain, but his eyes burned with unyielding fire.
He watched young warriors charge roaring toward Harald, only to shatter like waves crashing against reefs. His heart twisted like a knife.
But he knew they couldn't stop! If they did, the out-of-control Harald would "destroy" everything in Elbaph!
"Warriors… hold the line!"
Elder Jorul shouted with all his remaining strength, voice hoarse yet carrying through the bloody corridor: "Think of the families behind you! Think of Elbaph's future! We cannot retreat! Not one step!"
His words acted like a final stimulant.
The guards—who had wavered from fear and the gruesome deaths of comrades—rekindled resolute light in their eyes.
They remembered waiting parents, wives, and children at home; the peaceful villages of Elbaph and the cooking smoke under sunset.
"For Elbaph!"
"Stop the king!!!!"
"Fight him to the end!"
The last warriors let out blood-curdling war cries. No longer caring for personal survival, no longer fearing that unmatched power, they surged toward Harald like moths to flame—wave after wave!
They rammed with their bodies, slashed with broken weapons, even bit with their teeth! All to delay him even for an instant, to buy Loki one more second!
The scene was tragic and heroic to the point of suffocation.
Outside the light screen, countless people closed their eyes, unable to bear watching.
The giants of Elbaph wept openly—grieving their clansmen's sacrifices while feeling pride in their bravery.
Back inside the treasury at that moment, Loki finally stood before the chest.
He took a deep breath, as if he could smell the aged scent of old wood and dust from the box, and even… a faint, indescribable pulse of energy.
Without hesitation, he gripped the heavy lid's edges with both hands and yanked upward!
"Creak"
The thick lid opened. No dazzling golden light, no burst of exotic fragrance.
Inside lay soft padding of some unknown beast hide. At its center rested… a Devil Fruit of extremely peculiar shape.
Its form was far more irregular than common Devil Fruits—covered in sharp "edges" and "protrusions." Overall, it exuded a deep, somber hue.
The spiral patterns on its skin were unusually twisted and complex, carrying an aura that was primitive, barbaric, and even somewhat malevolent.
It looked less like a "fruit" and more like a "core" or the "heart of an ancient ferocious beast" containing raging energy.
Merely looking at it filled Loki with an inexplicable pressure, as if invisible whispers echoed in his ears, calling to power.
Squirrel "Iron Thunder" had somehow hopped onto the chest's edge. It gently touched the fruit with a small paw, then looked at Loki and nodded—its eyes full of encouragement.
Loki swallowed hard, throat dry.
He recalled his father's final entrustment, the time his clansmen bought with their lives, the catastrophe that could befall Elbaph.
No turning back.
He extended his massive hand and carefully lifted the heavy "fruit."
It felt ice-cold, even slightly stinging—as if those edges could truly pierce skin.
"For Elbaph… for Dad…"
Loki murmured to himself. The last trace of hesitation in his eyes was replaced by resolve.
He opened his mouth and, without further delay, stuffed the entire grotesque fruit inside!
"Gulp!"
The imagined disgusting taste didn't come immediately. Instead, an extremely bizarre sensation hit—like swallowing molten lava mixed with biting eternal ice!
The flesh melted on contact, turning into a violently raging torrent—scorching yet piercingly cold—that surged madly down his throat and into every limb and bone!
"Urrghhh!!!"
Loki couldn't hold back a suppressed roar!
He clenched his teeth hard, veins bulging on his forehead!
His eyes instantly bloodshot, pupils contracting sharply. Those unusual vertical pupils seemed about to ignite!
He could clearly feel the raging energy rampaging through his body—savagely scouring, tearing, then impossibly reshaping him!
Bones crackled and popped explosively. Muscle fibers tore and reknit frantically. Blood vessels under his skin writhed and swelled like living things!
The most obvious change occurred in his arms.
Already thick limbs ballooned rapidly like inflating balloons! Nails lengthened and thickened at visible speed, becoming sharp and curved—ultimately transforming into a pair of ferocious claws rivaling those of ancient beasts!
Even a slight unconscious flex caused them to slice the air with faint "shhh" sounds.
His overall body outline shifted dramatically—muscles became even more exaggerated and bulging, spine seeming to elongate slightly, with sharp protrusions faintly threatening to tear through clothing on his back.
A terrifying aura—blending primal ferocity with heavy oppressive pressure—began to uncontrollably emanate from him!
Though Loki's transformation was clearly visible, strangely the light screen did not show his full post-change appearance clearly.
His entire figure seemed shrouded in a flowing, viscous, almost tangible "black shadow"!
Outside the light screen, viewers could only vaguely make out—through the churning black shadow—the vertical pupils burning with dark purple flames and the terrifying outline of those claws.
He stood there like a demon god freshly stepped from ancient myth—yet not fully manifested!
Squirrel "Iron Thunder" had long jumped away, crouching nervously yet expectantly in a corner, watching the black-shadow-wrapped Loki.
Its little silver hammer on top glowed faintly, as if resonating with something.
Outside the treasury, the fierce battle sounds seemed to pause for an instant.
Whether the out-of-control Harald, the struggling Scopper Gaban and Shanks, or the guards fighting to the death—all seemed to sense it from deep within the castle!
That suddenly descending, heart-palpitating terrifying aura!
In Harald's vacant eyes, the last faint glimmer of his true self flickered weakly once more!
As if calling out—or confirming something.
Loki… had he succeeded?
Was this new form shrouded in black shadow the hope to save Elbaph—or the beginning of another catastrophe?
The light screen slowly faded on the frozen image of Loki—black shadow swirling, claws slightly spread—leaving endless suspense and shock.
Inside and outside God Valley, dead silence fell.
Everyone was stunned by this unimaginable "secret treasure" form and the terrifying transformation after Loki consumed it.
This was absolutely not an ordinary Animal-type or Paramecia ability!
The aura leaking from that black shadow… was simply too horrifying…
Harald watched his son's black-shadow-shrouded form on the light screen. His massive hand trembled slightly.
His eyes filled with complex emotions!
Worry for the pain his son endured, awe at the true power of that "secret treasure," and deep fear of the unknown future.
...