By the time he realized it, it was already too late.
Bazel now understood why Loki could just give up fighting so easily.
Turns out he still had a youthful disposition.
But regarding Loki's talent, Bazel genuinely acknowledged it from the bottom of his heart.
Giants truly lived up to their name.
If it were a human, aside from Big Mom having such talent, few human children displayed abilities like Loki's.
Let alone being able to fight Bazel on equal footing.
Retracting the poison mist, the Angels, and Gear 3, Bazel, now back in human form, sighed and sat down beside Loki, gazing emptily at the sky.
"Why did you call those spirits 'Angels'?"
Facing Loki's curious questioning, Bazel didn't turn his head, mumbling in response, "Do you think a place on this sea that can be called 'heaven' is a good place?"
"Heaven? Is there a heaven in the Grand Line?"
"It can't be called heaven, at least not for us mortals."
Bazel pointed at the sky, a mocking expression on his face:
"But for those Celestial Dragons, isn't Holy Land Mary Geoise their heaven?"
"Have you been there, Loki?"
Lying down like Bazel, one hand behind his head, Loki shook his head.
"Haven't been. But Harald told me he once sneaked in as a soldier when he was young."
"He even fought a human pirate named Rocks once. That human later came to our Elbaf with his crew."
"I heard they came to invite Harald to join their pirate crew. I'm not sure what happened after that."
"I only know he refused, and then those humans made a huge name for themselves on the sea."
"Oh, and I wanted to join them back then, but I was rejected."
Loki touched his chest, where there was a faint scar.
"That man's sword was incredible. He defeated me with just one strike."
'Rocks, huh...'
Bazel shook his head, not dwelling on it. That man was already dead, too far removed from him.
Recalling someone who could no longer appear on the sea held no meaning.
"Aren't you afraid? I'm a Giant cursed by the gods. They say my eyes are a disaster, and just being gazed upon by me brings an unfortunate future."
"The great famine in the Warland Kingdom was my doing."
"Your doing? Wahahaha~"
Bazel's laughter grew louder and louder, sparkling tears squeezing from the corners of his eyes.
"Hey hey, don't make me laugh, Loki! If you really had that ability, we Beasts Pirates wouldn't need to do anything."
"Just have you glare at Holy Land Mary Geoise a few times, and the Celestial Dragons there would all die out!"
"Even if you're a giant, you can't possibly have that kind of power. Stop joking~"
"Your eyes might just be a genetic mutation, like how humans sometimes get many inexplicable strange diseases."
"Is that so…"
Loki glanced sideways at Bazel's face, seemingly trying to judge the truth in the man's words.
"You can't tell truth from falsehood by looking at a person's face, Loki."
"Eek!"
Loki: (OwO)!
"How did you know what I was thinking?!"
"Humans are the most complex creatures. Never easily trust the emotions humans display. The more skilled the liar, the more sincere and genuine their expression."
Bazel's skin cracked and faded. As a pair of hands tore through the old skin, a brand new Bazel made a dazzling appearance.
"Phew~ I'm hungry, I'm hungry. Let's go have a big feast at your father's palace later~"
"S-Shedding skin?!"
Loki changed from lying down to lying on his stomach, his demon eyes now turned into starry eyes.
"Sugoi!!"
"Hey hey, Bazel!"
"Teach me this move! The shedding skin! I want to try shedding skin too!"
"Maybe I can get rid of these eyes!"
"Stop dreaming."
Bazel jumped up and rapped Loki's forehead hard.
"A man should face his life head-on, with pride!"
"A perfect life achieved through shedding skin is definitely not the right path, Loki!"
Instead of getting angry after being hit on the forehead, Loki felt a strange sensation rise in his heart.
Looking at the man before him who wasn't even as tall as his calf yet was chattering endlessly about principles, Loki had an illusion.
From Bazel, he could feel a very sincere, very intense emotional feedback.
This kind of feedback even Harald had never given him.
It was like, like…
A true older brother who didn't discriminate against him.
Shaking his head to suppress the chaotic thoughts in his heart, Loki looked at Bazel.
"You still haven't answered me. Why are they called Angels?"
"Because I intend to change this sea."
Bazel turned his head, looking up at Loki meaningfully.
"Those Angels are postmen delivering letters for me. One day, I will bring true justice to this sea."
"Loki…"
Loki subconsciously responded, "What?"
Bazel extended his right hand, "Become my partner!"
"Change this terrible world with me! If the Giants won't accept you, then stay by my side!"
"Anyone who dares look down on you again, I'll open the Heaven's Gate and have the angels deliver the blessing of death to them."
Loki fell silent for a long time before suddenly throwing his head back and laughing loudly.
His laughter grew louder and louder.
But within it was not joy or pleasure… instead, it was filled with desolation.
Not far away, Hanafuda, King, and the others who had rushed over stopped in their tracks.
"This is truly the highest form of irony!"
"My mother believed I was a cursed son, abandoning me in the underworld right after birth, completely disregarding whether I lived or died!"
"My people believe I am a cursed prince, a sinner who brings disaster to the giants."
"I'm clearly in my homeland, yet I have no home…"
"Wah wah wah!!"
It was impossible to tell if it was crying or laughter.
Dorry and Brogy, not far away, gritted their teeth, their fists clenched.
Their lowered heads cast shadows, but this darkness could not conceal the increasingly intense emotion in their eyes.
"But a human sees me as a partner!!!"
"Ridiculous!!"
"This is truly the funniest joke on the sea!!!"
The roar lasted a long time. Bazel didn't interrupt, just quietly maintained his outstretched hand.
"To those of you who see me as a disaster, I will prove you wrong!"
"I, Loki!!!"
Boom!!
Conqueror's Haki suddenly erupted!
It dispersed the heavy snow and blasted apart the clouds.
"Will become the greatest warrior of the Giants… no! The greatest warrior in the world! I will become the Sun God! I, Loki, will make you regret this!!"
After this cathartic vow, Loki suddenly sat cross-legged, hands on his knees, and bowed his head to Bazel.
"Aniki, I..."
"Enough. No need to say more."
Bazel gently patted Loki's knee, grinning:
"Just follow behind me. I'll take you to see Harald."
Loki froze, looking up in disbelief.
Even at this moment, he still couldn't believe that someone in this world was willing to accept him, who was cursed for killing his kin.
Bazel turned and walked toward his crew.
"Follow me, Loki."
"From this moment on, you are no longer the prince of the Giants. You are Loki, one of the All-Stars of the Beasts Pirates."
"Anyone who disrespects you disrespects the Beasts Pirates. Even the Giants must face the consequences."
Bazel's gaze lifted, staring toward the Sun World. His Conqueror's Haki surged toward the Sun World.
"Whoever disagrees, we beat them until they submit."
"Hanafuda, King, I've changed my mind. Notify all members of the Beasts Pirates to prepare for war."
"We're going to the Sun World. If those guys dare to call our partner a cursed sinner, then let them taste the fists of the Beasts."
Bazel walked out of the wind and snow. Toki was the first to run over, first offering a sunny smile to Loki, then silently following behind her man.
Next came King, Hanafuda, and the rest of the Beasts Pirates' crew.
"Wahahahaha, that's how it should be, Bazel-sama!"
"We are the Beasts Pirates! The invincible Beasts!!"
"Whether human or giant, before us…"
Bazel walked at the forefront, his figure enveloped by the dusky setting sun. All the Beasts Pirates' members behind him raised their weapons, cheering with uplifted arms.
"There is no match!!"
Behind, Dorry and Brogy exchanged a glance, then stood behind Loki and pushed him forward.
"You two..." Loki looked at them in surprise.
"Bazel is the acting captain now. The captain's orders are everything."
Dorry patted Loki's arm.
"Let's go, Loki. You can't pull rank on us as a prince now, Kabababa."
Brogy laughed and said, "Gyagagaga, that's right, Loki. Now you are just a member of the Beasts Pirates, just like us."
Loki pressed down his hat brim, the corners of his mouth quirking upward slightly.
He really liked the atmosphere now.
It was a joy and ease he had never experienced before.
"Ah, that's right. I'm not the prince of Elbaf anymore."
Gazing at the man at the front who seemed small yet was bathed in sunlight.
"Let my compatriots witness the power of the Beasts."