Bang!
A thunderous roar echoed through the cavern-like expanse of the Underworld.
In the lowest realm of Elbaf, a snow-white wolf-man stood casually to one side, his breath barely labored despite the intensity of their clash. Before him towered a giant whose massive frame resembled a living mountain range, steam rising from his enormous shoulders.
"I'm done, I'm done," the white wolf declared, waving his hand dismissively. His snow-white fur gradually retracted like morning mist, and his imposing size shrank from nearly three meters back to a more human two meters.
"I always feel like I'm the one getting the short end of the stick in these sparring matches," Silas muttered, smacking his lips in mild frustration. An old man like him fighting against a "young" giant like Harald provided precious little training benefit. After all, their battles always ended in frustrating stalemates, neither able to claim decisive victory over the other. In such cases, naturally the younger party had far more room for growth and improvement.
"This mission probably cannot be completed in the short term," he sighed, calling up his system panel with a thought.
The familiar translucent display materialized before his eyes, glowing softly in the dim light of the Underworld.
Sea Calendar 1480, December 30th. After six months in Elbaf, you have made remarkable progress in your training and relationships.
Mission One: Defeat a Giant Warrior.
The giant warriors of Elbaf are world-renowned. A certain Emperor once said that if she could ally with the giants, she could become the ruler of the seas.
Mission Reward: Giant War Technique - Spear of Elbaf! (Completed)
Mission Two: Recruit crew members.
As a pirate captain, how can you lack loyal crew members?
Mission Reward: For each crew member recruited, slightly increase cellular activity. (Current crew count: 2)
Mission Three: Defeat Giant King Harald!
Unbelievable! The Giant King of Elbaf is actually willing to engage in fair one-on-one duels with you. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Mission Reward: Increase Conqueror's Haki strength, increase cellular activity. (Incomplete)
This was precisely why Silas had been challenging Harald to these grueling duels for the past half year. Conqueror's Haki was a rare qualification possessed by only the most exceptional individuals, and for it to grow stronger, one had to clash with others who wielded the same power. Simple sparring matches would not suffice. It had to be a battle where everything was on the line, where defeat meant genuine consequences. The unshakeable confidence forged through countless life-or-death struggles would become the vital nourishment for Conqueror's Haki's evolution.
He and Harald had crossed weapons countless times, their clashing Conqueror's Haki painting the air with crackling streaks of black lightning. But until the day they truly fought with the intent to determine a final victor, their friendly sparring sessions would contribute little to their spiritual growth.
Deceiving enemies was child's play. The truly difficult challenge was deceiving yourself.
"Kururururu, Silas, I need to head back now. The Winter Solstice Festival is approaching, and if I do not return soon, Mary will have my head," Harald chuckled, his booming voice carrying an undertone of genuine affection.
Speaking of his beloved wife, this fierce-looking giant king's weathered features softened noticeably, revealing a tenderness that seemed almost comical on such an intimidating face.
"Go on, get out of here!" Silas waved his hand with exaggerated disgust, though there was no real malice in his tone. Having lived for so many decades, what he despised most was watching others parade their romantic happiness in front of him.
Over the years, Silas had not been without his own romantic entanglements. But as a pirate constantly on the move, he understood all too well the harsh reality that he could never stay in one place for long. Unless he brought someone aboard his ship to share his wandering life, each tender meeting would inevitably become a painful farewell.
Deep in his heart, Silas remained a traditional man who could not bring himself to be truly heartless when it came to matters of love. Of course, relationships built on mutual understanding and temporary companionship were an entirely different matter.
"The Winter Solstice Festival, huh..." Silas mused, his expression growing more serious.
In Elbaf, the Winter Solstice Festival was a sacred ceremony dedicated to honoring the sun, death, and resurrection. It was one of their most important cultural traditions. Before the Winter Solstice Festival could begin, every person living in Elbaf was required to undertake a twelve-day fast, consuming nothing but water while their bodies purified themselves for the celebration.
Silas vividly remembered that during their previous visit to Elbaf, they had departed before the Winter Solstice Festival commenced, missing the opportunity to witness the giants' most significant cultural event. This time, since he would be remaining in Elbaf for an extended period, he would definitely experience multiple Winter Solstice Festivals during his stay.
Half a year had passed like the turning of pages in an epic tale. Silas's mental and physical state had undergone truly earth-shattering transformations. While he could not honestly claim to have regained his youth, compared to the decrepit condition he had been in six months ago, he had essentially recovered to the vigorous state he had enjoyed around age sixty.
At sixty, Silas could battle Giant King Harald for an entire day and night, their epic clash ending in a grudging draw. Now, with his hard-won mastery of Conqueror's Haki added to his arsenal, he was undoubtedly stronger than he had been a decade ago.
However, there was a crucial difference in their respective progress. Silas had merely recovered his former condition, while Harald had genuinely continued to grow stronger with each passing year. After all, at one hundred and fifty years old, the Giant King was enjoying the absolute prime of his life. Ten years ago he could match Silas blow for blow, and the intervening decade had certainly not passed without significant improvement on his part.
Silas even harbored suspicions that Harald had already begun to touch the edges of that legendary threshold. That mystical realm that, in future years, would be considered achievable only by Marine Admirals, the Four Emperors, and the most exceptional vice-captains of pirate crews.
The irony was not lost on him. This fierce-looking Giant King did not particularly relish combat or seek out battles for their own sake. If Harald had truly dedicated his entire existence to the pursuit of martial excellence, he would likely have already shattered through that threshold years ago.
Following at a respectful distance behind Harald's massive strides, Silas made his way back toward the bustling village.
"Go Hajrudin!"
"Go Rocks!"
"Take him down!"
The familiar sounds of cheering spectators filled the air around the House of Lambs, where Hajrudin and Rocks were engaged in their daily sparring session. However, compared to their initial encounters half a year ago, Rocks's improvement had been nothing short of remarkable. Where he had once desperately relied on superior speed and agility to barely eke out victories against Hajrudin, now he could hold his own even in direct contests of raw strength and power.
"If this explosive growth continues, will Rocks actually end up surpassing me?" Ripley wondered aloud, her attention momentarily diverted from her own challenging battle as she simultaneously fought two seasoned adult giants. The thought filled her with a mixture of pride and competitive anxiety.
"Hey, Ripley, do not get distracted during battle!" one of her opponents called out, taking advantage of her momentary lapse in focus.
"Yeah, do not dare to underestimate us!" added his companion, pressing their coordinated attack.
The mismatched duo reminded Silas of comedic warrior monks from old stories, one rotund and jovial while the other was lean and serious. As former members of the legendary Giant Warrior Pirates, their combat experience and skill were not to be taken lightly. Even with Silas's intensive special training regimen, it would still require considerable effort for Ripley to defeat these two grizzled veterans in fair combat.
Throughout the village, many female giants were industriously kneading massive quantities of dough with practiced efficiency. In preparation for the harsh twelve-day fasting period that preceded the Winter Solstice Festival, the giants traditionally prepared enormous batches of high-calorie sweets and treats that would sustain them before and after their ritualistic hunger.
On the surface, everything appeared exactly as it had for countless generations. The familiar rhythms of daily life continued their eternal dance.
But Silas possessed knowledge that cast a dark shadow over the approaching celebration. While for the vast majority of Elbaf's inhabitants, the Winter Solstice Festival meant nothing more challenging than enduring hunger pangs and gritting their teeth to persevere through temporary discomfort, for Charlotte Linlin, this traditional observance represented an insurmountable and potentially catastrophic obstacle.
Eating disorder.
This was the terrible affliction that Charlotte Linlin had suffered from since the moment of her birth. If she went without food for any extended period, she would inevitably lose all conscious control and descend into a violent, destructive rampage that endangered everyone around her. It was precisely this uncontrollable condition that had ultimately forced Charlotte Linlin's desperate parents to make the heartbreaking decision to abandon their own daughter.
However, Silas refused to accept that such a condition was truly incurable. Since it was fundamentally a medical disorder, there had to be viable treatment options available.
Over the past half year, Silas had not remained idle on this critical front. He had written extensively to various doctors and medical experts he had encountered during his decades of seafaring adventures, seeking their professional opinions on effective methods for treating severe eating disorders. After carefully analyzing all their responses and recommendations, he had reached a deceptively simple but profoundly challenging conclusion.
Willpower.
Only through the disciplined application of an iron will could one hope to overcome the devastating effects of such a disorder. The mind had to assert complete dominance over the rebellious demands of the flesh.
[Chapter Complete]
***
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