Hakoku Sovereignty
Kai and Loki were in the middle of a heated verbal war outside the iron cell, insults flying faster than cannon fire. Loki's massive form leaned against the bars while Kai stood casually with arms crossed, looking far too pleased with himself.
"You oversized idiot," Kai said with a grin, "I leave for a few days and you turn the island upside down."
"You tiny brat," Loki shot back, eyes blazing, "I don't need you to supervise me."
"Oh? Really? Because from what I see, you're still in a cage."
Loki snarled. "Say that again."
"I said," Kai replied slowly, leaning closer to the bars, "you're in a cage."
Before Loki could retort, a giant soldier came running toward them, breath heavy and armor clanking.
"Prince Loki!" the soldier shouted urgently. "The King has summoned you. As soon as possible. Now—to the castle!"
Kai and Loki both froze.
Then they felt it.
A wave of Conqueror's Haki erupted from the direction of the royal castle, so violent that the air itself trembled. The trees of Elbaf shook, birds scattering in flocks as giants across the island staggered.
Kai's expression hardened instantly. He drew Akatsuki in one smooth motion.
Without hesitation, he slashed.
The iron cell—thicker than fortress walls—split cleanly apart.
Loki didn't waste a second. He punched the outer gate, shattering it like brittle wood.
"You're coming with me," Loki growled.
Kai leapt onto Loki's shoulder as the giant grabbed his hammer and launched toward the castle in long, earth-shaking strides.
---
When they burst into the throne room, chaos met them.
King Harald stood at the center, impaled by multiple giant spears. Blood ran down the stone floor, staining it dark red. His body was partially transformed—half of his face twisted into something demonic, veins blackened and pulsing.
The soldiers who had tried to restrain him were already being thrown aside like toys.
Harald's crimson eyes locked onto Loki.
"Loki…" he barked through clenched teeth. "Kill me. You are the only one who can—before I do something I don't want to."
Loki froze for half a second.
Kai didn't.
"Move!" Kai shouted.
They launched forward together, striking in perfect coordination. Loki's hammer smashed downward while Kai slashed with controlled Conqueror's infusion.
The impact pinned Harald momentarily to the ground, cracking the throne platform.
"What are you doing, old man?!" Loki roared. "Snap out of it!"
Harald roared back, his demonic half expanding further as he blasted the remaining soldiers away with raw Haki.
Elder Jarul rushed into the hall, blade drawn. "Hold him!"
He joined Loki and Kai, striking from the flank to suppress Harald's movement.
Harald growled through gritted teeth, struggling violently. "Loki… go and eat the Devil Fruit guarded by the royal family… and kill me."
Kai's eyes narrowed.
"Loki," he said sharply, "go and eat the Devil Fruit. I'll keep him here."
As he spoke, Kai's body began to expand.
Golden flames erupted from his back as massive wings of divine fire unfolded. His size increased rapidly, matching the giants around him.
Chains of purification flame shot outward from his hands, binding Harald's limbs and torso.
The demonic aura flickered.
Imu's control weakened—slightly.
"You better keep him here, Kai!" Loki barked, already turning.
"Just move!" Kai snapped.
Loki ran toward the treasury vaults at full speed, the ground shaking beneath every step.
---
Suddenly, Harald's head snapped upward.
A voice—not his own—echoed from his mouth.
"Who dares step in my way?"
Kai's golden eyes burned behind his mask. "Shut up, you damn rat hiding in the Holy Land."
Conqueror's Haki surged through his flaming chains, tightening their hold.
Harald dropped to one knee, muscles trembling under the dual pressure of purification flames and clashing wills.
Gaban burst into the hall next, followed closely by a red-haired young man.
Shanks.
At twenty-five years old, both his arms were intact. He still bore the uniform of a Holy Knight, though his eyes showed conflict.
"No time for greetings," Kai muttered.
Shanks didn't argue.
He and Gaban attacked simultaneously, striking Harald's sides to keep him pinned. Elder Jarul swung his massive sword downward, forcing Harald further to the ground.
Harald roared, black lightning crackling violently around him.
Then Loki returned.
Ragnir in hand.
Without hesitation, he leapt forward and slammed a devastating blow into Harald's torso.
The impact launched Harald backward, crashing him into the far wall.
He lay there, struggling, but still moving.
Then the eerie voice returned.
"Mu is furious."
Shanks suddenly dropped to one knee, his left hand gripping his right arm as something invisible resonated painfully within him.
His shallow Sea Contract pulsed violently.
Kai's gaze sharpened.
"Loki!" he shouted.
Loki immediately jumped back, raising Ragnir into the air. Kai rose to his full expanded height beside him, Akatsuki blazing with golden and black lightning.
For a brief moment, even Kai felt it.
The pressure behind Harald's eyes.
"Damn," Kai muttered internally. "Even Loki's attack that killed Harald in the manga… and he's still controlling him. No wonder Luffy would lose."
He exhaled slowly.
"Focus."
Conqueror's Haki gathered around both their weapons.
Gaban and Shanks understood instantly.
"Pin him!" Kai commanded.
They lunged forward again, striking Harald's limbs to immobilize him. Elder Jarul's blade came down, locking Harald in place for a single opening.
"Now!" Gaban shouted as he and Shanks leapt back.
Kai and Loki roared together.
"Elbaf's Spear—!"
Their voices merged.
"Hakoku Sovereignty!"
They swung simultaneously.
A massive shockwave erupted outward, infused with two Conqueror's Haki of equal dominance. Golden and black lightning intertwined as the attack tore through Harald's body.
The castle behind him split cleanly in half.
The blast continued beyond the throne room, carving a line through Elbaf's upper realm and shaking all three layers of the island.
When the dust settled—
Harald lay motionless.
Half of his body was destroyed.
Silence filled the shattered throne room.
Kai and Loki lowered their weapons slowly.
There was no joy in their faces.
Only quiet heaviness.
Kai raised his hand subtly and whispered so only he could hear.
"Take-Over: Giant King Harald."
A surge of soul essence flowed into him.
Harald's talent merged with Kai's existing fusions—Roger, Oden, Shiki. The power integrated seamlessly, strengthening his foundation further.
Kai closed his eyes briefly.
It was done.
---
Far away, in the Holy Land's Garden Room—
Imu knelt in the shadows.
"Who is hiding in Elbaf?" the distorted voice roared.
The shadowed figure was drenched in sweat.
The first Haki attack had shaken him—but he could endure it.
The second—
The second was different.
Two Conquerors at the same level, perfectly synchronized.
Enough to threaten him.
Enough to kill Harald—his strongest Holy Knight.
Imu's presence trembled with fury.
The Gorosei knelt immediately, swating from fear.
Back in Elbaf, amidst the ruins of the throne room, Kai looked toward Loki.
"This isn't over," he said quietly.
Loki stared at his father's body.
"I know."
Above them, storm clouds gathered.
And far beyond the horizon—
War had just been declared.