Chapter 47:Ten Tree Guardians
Infinite Dawn
Luffy, Nami, and Zoro in the kitchen thought about the vision of Usopp's mother being killed by Alister of the 20 Kings who founded the World Government shown by the Adam tree prior to its current transformation. The chaos of earlier, made them forget how they even got back to their ship and the fate of Elbaf as a whole, even how they got out of bed, let alone the odd turtle that swallowed the tree from earlier. The room was tense.
Luffy usually didn't care about the past of a person unless it directly affected the current situation and more often than not, would ignore it and the past actions of others unless they did something egregious to his friends. Yet with Usopp's revelation, something within Luffy shifted. The gravity of Alister's crimes was not lost on him. The thought of someone harming a Straw Hat's family, especially in such a brutal way, filled him with a newfound sense of anger and resolve. It wasn't just about nebulous world affairs any more; it had become personal. He clenched his fist, emitting Conquerors' Haki as he did so. His eyes narrowed into a fierce glare that could have pierced through steel.
"Luffy...We don't know anything about what the World Government's gonna do now that we really got under their top members' skins by destroying one of their biggest projects...And more importantly...discovering the survivors of Elbaf if we can.," Zoro explained, keeping a cool head in spite of all the insanity they just endured.
"Luffy... I'm not sure if it's right or not that we saw that...," Nami acknowledged. "But we can't ignore it either." Her voice was steady, though her hand trembled slightly as she pushed a stray lock of hair out of her face. She had seen enough injustice to know that some truths demanded action.
Luffy then took a deep breath and said, "Let's forget about it and focus on what to do now... Hey, Nami? What's the next island?"
Nami looked up from the map spread out on the table, her expression a mix of relief and determination. "The next island is Vira... it can't be right? That's in Paradise...unless it's near where Elbaf used to be..."
"Don't wanna go.," Luffy and Zoro said instinctively in unison, which was very troubling due to how gungho they usually were about heading into trouble.
Nami found this very peculiar with everything going on, but she decided to push aside her confusion and focus on the task at hand. "Well, whether we like it or not, it's where the log pose points." She traced the route with her finger, her mind racing with thoughts of the implications of this new information. "But, we need to be prepared for anything."
"We'll stay as long as the Log Pose says we have to stay..., but I'm not getting involved in anything there.," Zoro said.
"Huh...Wait, you've been there before?," Nami asked as Zoro's expression darkened.
"Yeah, but I don't want to talk about it...it didn't go well last time I was there...," Zoro explained.
"I don't remember much about before Gramps took me back to Makino and the others...but I feel like it's gonna open something I don't like to remember...," Luffy added.
Zoro and Nami were surprised that Luffy even hinted he had been to Vira before.
The atmosphere seemed more foreboding than anything they experienced before. They knew that Vira was going to be different, not just because of Zoro's cryptic words but also due to the eerie silence that fell upon the group.
"WHAAA?! We're in a giant turtle!," cried Chopper as it broke the tension and returned things back to normal.
Luffy and Zoro snapped back to the usual mood as they followed Chopper's voice as Nami looked on with a concerned look at their uncharacteristic behavior just earlier. She let it go so they could focus on the current situation.
Usopp awoke in the men's bedrooms as he saw a hologram of a gigantic sea turtle with a globe-shaped shell swimming. One with the Straw Hat symbol on its chest.
"Oh that's nice...," he said before jolting back up. "Whoa! What the hell is that?"
"Just woke up too. Apparently, it ate some sort of Turtle-Turtle: World Turtle Fruit, which is why it has a macrocosm interior space within it to house worlds or some SUPER crap like that. I'm more surprised about how the Adam tree became a freaky nightmare before turning into something really SUPER out of this world...," Franky explained to the awakened Usopp.
"That's impossible for my eyes to see such a sight...even though I don't have them...since I'm all bones! Yohohoho! But seriously, how can a Devil Fruit swim since it's in the rules that you can't be cursed by the sea and all.," questioned Brook about the strange phenomena that was clearly Devil Fruit based.
"That's just a "Taboo" given by a spiteful Sea Devil Witch to make people more inclined for Haki, not telling them of the consequences...As for Infinite Dawn, it was fed the Devil Tomato...so unless we go to the Sky Islands or face any cloud-based powers...it'll travel on land and sea without much trouble.," explained Galahad, the mako-shark Fishman son of Arlong.
Franky gave an annoyed face (the same type he made in Wano when they found out that Luffy fought Kaido) upon hearing this- this guy making an absurd modification without him knowing it was a thing. "So, we're just gonna ride this turtle to the ends of the earth and hope we don't get scurvy?!"
"Oh, it's able to generate anti-scurvy pathogens. It's been modified.," Galahad said casually as Franky gritted his teeth in annoyance.
Luffy, Zoro, and Nami stepped into the room, with Franky being held back with Galahad with his arm stretched as he fruitlessly tried to beat him up. Brook, Usopp, and Chopper just accept it as vitriolic bonding.
"We should talk about the big elephant tree in the ship...," Sanji said. "But, Nami-Swan! It's good to see you're alright!" His serious tone turning immediately to lechery.
"No lady is gonna stand that kind of attitude unless they have a kink for perverts with no sense of boundaries. Better to man up and be cooler in order to have them not ditch you.," Galahad said casually, as Sanji's eye twitched hilariously, this being a trigger for his eyebrow switch for his power-up.
He then was held back by Galahad's other arm as he tried to fruitlessly kick the new crewmate.
Zoro and Luffy tilted their heads in confusion at Sanji's statement.
Shortly Afterwards
Luffy, Chopper, Usopp, Brook, Shoujo, and Bonney all went bug-eyed seeing the golden, ethereal tree that used to be the Adam Tree of Elbaf floating in the odd space of their new ship- Infinite Dawn interior.
"We're island-nappers!," Nami cried. "Map-makers are gonna go after us! Pirates are gonna go after us for wrecking part of their journey! We're gonna die!"
"Don't worry, Nami," Robin said, patting her on the shoulder. "We've survived worse."
"How can this ship even house Adam...let alone all of this?" Rebecca asked as she saw a collection of floating spheres in a wooden interior, a meadow green one that had a helm on it, another topaz sphere with lounge chairs, a quartz-colored sphere with countless Log Poses for every island in the world plus some for unknown territories, brown spheres with anchor symbols, a pink sphere that had a range of sizes of the ship that implied something ridiculous, a transparent sphere with a camouflage symbol, magenta spheres with the women's symbol, cyan spheres with the men's symbol, a dull orange sphere with a kitchen symbol, a sunset orange sphere with a dining room symbol, a periwinkle sphere with a doctor symbol, a deep blue sphere with a visible aquarium, and countless other spheres for Libraries, Workrooms, Baths, Crow's Nest, Survey Rooms, Energy Rooms, Gardens, Weaponry, Coating, Balloons, etc.
"I just take it as it is.," Vivi said as she placed a hand on Rebecca's shoulder.
"A mystery ship then.," concluded Carrot.
"If you want to put it like that, then yeah.," explained Galahad.
"It's based on Void Century approximate technology so it would be mysterious for at least...800 years...maybe a millennium from now.," acknowledged Vega 40.
"What?!," asked Vivi.
"Oh, you're new? You're gonna have to pay your share as well.," explained Clisson as she noticed Clisson.
A beautiful, tall, well-endowed woman with purple dreadlock hair, wearing a witch's hat, a high-cloak black top with a long cloak extension that revealed her midriff, and black pants with curved witch shoes. She wore square glasses.
Minerva glances to notice Nami's outfit of a torso is barely covered by a cropped red jacket with a sun symbol worn open to expose her chest while tight enough to not reveal her nipples, dark red pants with queen and Wano-esque dragon symbols on the pant legs, red sandals, lower bright red leg bands with ten circles on each band- leading to 20 in total. And a dark red belt with "D" buckle. The other girls taken by the other Loki wore the exact same outfit.
"So the (BEEP) Kingdom's outfits are in fashion I see.," Minerva noted. Her tone was dry, hinting at the sarcasm that was so inherently part of her. Nami blushed under her gaze, feeling a bit self-conscious of the outfit that she had been forced into by the Giant false prince.
"I'm Yamato and I'm also Kozuki Oden!," Yamato cheered as Minerva sighed, Tama was accompanying him.
"If it's how you want to refer to yourself, I'll use your dual alias as long as you need.," Minerva relented.
Robin took notice of Minerva's statement's implication and asked, "By that kinggom, you must mean..."
Before things could go further, they focused on the tree itself-
A golden tree of divine nature floating midair with ten orbs- A blue, an aquamarine, and an orange set near the top of the green foliage, a purple one within a mountain range on a floating water disc with a jade Sea King of enormous size swimming within it, and the final ones- a red sphere near the base of the roots with a black one directly beneath it with an indigo sphere on its right root and a yellow sphere on the left root as well as a brown sphere down the center root ending with a pink sphere. It had giant squirrels, deer of massive size, a huge eagle on top, and a colossal black dragon moving around the roots.
From the brown sphere, emerged Harjudin's head as he yelled, "Oi, things are weird. So we need ya to talk about everything with everybody!"
A rainbow suddenly appeared as if answering Harjudin's quest.
Further questions could be asked later as the crew and their new allies floated up, with Vivi and Rebecca looking in shock with Nami and Robin aiding the two of them up.
Jotunnheim
The crew entered the brown sphere whose surface was like a mix of water and puffy material, it contained all four villages of Elbaf's villages combined- with Jarul, Orton, the other Loki, Utgard-Loki, the New Giant Warrior Pirates, and the remnants of the Giant Warrior Pirates' previous generations amongst several others.
Being the optimists they were, they simply rolled with the new alterations to their realm since they could still live as they desired.
However, the peace immediately broke as Ange the Umi loyalist shouted-
"You heathens have altered her plan! Divine Punishment will-"
She was then knocked out by Conquerors Haki that was released by a shadowy figure whose presence immediately became known.
"Ahem.," spoke this said figure whose existence was suddenly made away by his announcement.
He was a male, green-eyed Giant of a well-proportioned, huge, muscular build, wearing a sky-blue luchador mask with the sun symbol around the eye area. He wore blue arm and leg bands with golden trimming, blue pants with blue shoes, and was shirtless. He wore a brown belt with a golden lock with keyhole buckle.
Horik Iron-Head- One of the Ten Tree Guardians/Jotunnhiem Protector.
"Gabbaba. It's one of those North Village weirdos who said...that...our home...was...an...illusion...," Brogy realized as it dawned on him that this was one of ten Giants who repeatedly tried to inform of the W.G's deception for years till the truth was literally in their face.
"And everything about our past...is unfortunately real.," Dorry added with a look of shame. Having seen the vision of the Giants casually killing Nidavell on clear W.G. predecessor and W.G. commands.
Harjudin, Ripley, and the others couldn't even argue as well as they saw the true form of their so-called True Sun God- a demonic lion-headed serpent about to lunge with murderous intent, all ambiguity of its darkness removed to reveal the blood-soaked serpent it truly was. They just sat down with Road being made to be quiet as Goldberg elbowed him in the gut when he glared at Gerd.
"We have committed countless crimes intentionally or without much thought, but we must not deny our past to paint ourselves righteously. To be truly worthy of this land we now live in regardless of our origins in how we obtained it from our ancestors, we must live to atone for that for generations to come till the karma for that is fulfilled. When you overcome your setbacks instead of letting them define you and not being haughty via your accomplishments, you can really start to see the future and experience growth. Ruminate on this, you of the other villages as well!" Iron-Head spoke with a distinct accent (Hispanic) as he puffed his chest.
He then noticed Yamato, the Oni Princess, and lowered himself to his face.
"Yamato...You are not Oden...nor our your birth father, Kai...You are your own person with your own dreams in spite of your origins yet you contain the will of those who wished to fulfill that dream. Unless you can reconcile this, you'll remain to stagnate and not free.," explained Iron-Head.
"Don't you mean Kaido?," asked Yamato, unconvinced by Iron-Head's words. "I'm not trying to be anyone but myself. I just want to live free."
"You don't have to realize it immediately, ninõ," the Giant retorted.
"What we know be something False Gods no like. They want smash us and get kids. Make them dummies and dolls to False Gods' will.," Orton spoke simply but with clarity.
"With this mind, as your rightful ruler-," the more pudgy Loki said as snot dripped down his nose.
"Say, what happened to that acting troupe of yours?," asked Stansen.
"Esos bastardos fueron encarcelados en los otros reinos...I mean those questionable compañeros are under surveillance outside of the harmless ones. They were actual villanos after all. They're under watch by my other camaradas., explained Iron-Head as the vision of nine shadowed figures appeared in the minds of the other Giants.
"You talk funny, from what you imply it looks like Cross Guild- this odd band of misfits and cutthroats have been detained in those weird other spheres.," Jarul noted.
"Wait, that's Buggy's group?! He got Crocodile and Mihawk on his thumb...more like he's under their thumb.," Usopp noticed.
Iron-Head noticed Usopp and gestured for the Giants to all bow to him as he said,
"Usopp, you fought despite your limitations both spiritually and mentally against a threat that had been poisoning our country for millennia. Eres realmente un valiente guerrero del mar.," Iron-Head explained.
"It seems like they all acknowledged your efforts. Though the last part is confusing," explained Jinbe as Usopp cried and tried to hide his tears.
"T-This is residue from my eyes and nose, from being inside the tree!," Usopp lied.
Sanji couldn't help but chuckle at Usopp's attempt to save face. "Looks like you're pretty popular around here, especially now, Usopp."
You should split up and explore the other realms. There's the Valkyrieheim- home of the Valkyries who escort brave warriors to the great beyond. A band of feminine warriors that-" Iron-Head suggested.
"I'll go!," Sanji blurted out before Iron-Head shook his head if reading his "voice" as his ever-present cheerful look gave into a disgusted sneer (the same one Oden and Whitebeard would do) as he retorted quietly- "Noooooo."
Sanji went into comedic depression as he sulked with the knowledge he was denied. "Besides, they'd kill you if you even attempted to do something like that. They're as passionate as your navigator on this issue."
"Hold on. We're going in blind. Mind if we get a map first? This tree literally changed its structure of centuries twice in minutes.," Nami argued.
Iron-Head then pulled from his body, a map made of a greenish-metallic material detailing the new Elbaf realms, which Robin recognized as did Minerva, Galahad, Franky, and Vega 40 as a very valuable and rare kind of metal very sought after.
"What's that shiny stuff?," asked Shoujo.
"Oh, I ate the Orical-Orical Fruit, which makes me an Oricalcum Giant. It's got more than just the fact it's harder than a diamond to go off. I'll show in time.," explained the Giant.
"Interesting.," Zoro said as he drew and stopped him before Sanji and Clisson stopped him.
"Hey. That's a stupid reason to go and fight him, Mosshead!," the cook argued.
"Plus, you don't want to wreck Oricalcum...an untarnished specimen is worth 10 Billion Berries.," explained Clisson.
Nami's eyes glistened as she glanced in Clisson's direction and she asked, "How much?"
"It's ok, there's Orichalcum in the Nivadellir Realm where Myrkheim is back residing. This Kidd fellow was detained to resume his sentence. I'd extract it the right way to avoid diseases. Such as the Evergreen Scales. Humans always go without thinking of the consequences due to their greed and it leads to others...," Iron-Head said before pausing as he noticed Bonney.
"Your father is currently being modified in the Nivadellir sphere before he must go to the Helfheim sphere for a last respite to give some closure, ninã.," he said directly to her as Bonney cried.
"So exciting. Lots of places to explore!," shouted Luffy to lighten the mood.
"So it's settled. I do want to know where the library currently is now. It doesn't seem to be here.," Robin noticed as she used her Flower-Flower Fruit to span the environment.
That power...it's not flower-based...it must be..., thought the Giant.
"It would be in the Alfanheim realm. Saul would be there as well as his daughter.," explained Iron-Head as Robin smiled
The crew then decided on the places they'd go to-
Asgard- Heavenly Lightning Realm- Luffy, Minerva, and Zoro with Utgard-Loki and Loki guiding them
Vanaheim- the Ocean Realm- - Sanji, Jinbe, and Galahad with Stansen guiding them
Alfanheim- the Forest Realm- Robin, Chopper, and Tama with Goldberg guiding them
Midgard- Water Realm- with Franky, Vega 40, and the Vegapunk Satellites with Oimo and Kashii guiding them
Nivadellir- Earth Realm - Nami and Clisson with Brogy and Dory guiding them
Helfheim- Darkness Realm- Brook and Bonney with Jarul guiding them
Jotunheim- Lightning- Usopp and Yamato with Harjudin guiding him
Muspellheim- Fire Realm- Shoujo with Gaban and Colon guiding her.
Nifliheim- Ice Realm- Chopper and Carrot with Road with Orton with Road being supervised by Orton on Gerd's instruction to beat the crap out of him if he gets out of line.
And Valkyrieheim- Light Realm- Rebecca and Vivi with Gerd guiding her.
They then went on the rainbow bridges to the select areas of their choosing.
Usopp waved them goodbye as he looked up at Harjudin. Yamato remained to protect Usopp due to Zoro informing him about the incident that led to him being targeted.
Prior to Harald's time and before the end of the Void Century-
The Adam Tree had ten guardians to protect its ten realms-
The strongest Giants below the Ruler of the Giants while being the protectors of the country.
The Ten Tree Guardians.
Nivadellir- Earth Realm
Nami and Clisson arrived with Brogy and Dory guiding them, the gem-covered tunnel leading into the ornate dwarf city with technology akin to the fabled Void Century-
A sprawling, intricately carved complex of tunnels with ornate bearded houses made of massive blocks of stone, often with thick walls and heavy, arched doorways lining the more solid walls. Larger castles were built closer to the bottom.
Visible mine shafts floated above a track and tunnels to travel between gemstone and shiny earth materials mines as workers would get these items to then power their houses' lights, embed in their weaponry, and power their technology.
Watchtowers were also built into the structures to detect anything that could harm the cities. It was full of libraries, eateries, drinking bars, etc.
The inhabitants would drink, tell stories, play fight with no intention of lethal harm, perform the Nika dance along with other odd dances, people would bathe in open baths, etc.
It also had databases detailing current events across the known world plus 19 other odd locations currently obscured, large machine people that resembled Emeth aided in gathering material from the mines, artificial limbs were grafted on those who lost their natural limbs/weren't born with them, and so much more that was unfathomable to the current time.
The Straw Hat duo was greeted by the Seven Rainbow Knights and several warriors, and it was led by Dvalinn.
"So...you're...back...(snooze)...," said the drowsy Dwarf before being kicked by a giant squirrel much to Nami's shock. It then took the form of a brown-haired Dwarf girl with dual braids, wearing a green scarf, green armor, and green pants with brown boots. She wore elongated waist armor that hung around the sides of her legs with the Sun symbol.
Austri- Dwarf Intel Agent of the Revolutionary Army.
The Dwarf girl then scolded Dvallin, "Wake up, you daftie! We have guests!"
"Ye do look like ye from the Oykot Kingdom...there's an uncanny resemblance to the royal family. Shame what the World Government allowed secretly to happen there and summoned the Marines to save face. Ah, but let's no' dwell on that," Austri spoke with an unusual lilt, her eyes gleaming with curiosity and a hint of suspicion as she took in Nami's attire. "Now, what can we do for ye?"
Nami had come for the gems to be honest, but the mention of the place where Nojiko and herself were found by Bellemre brought forth another interest.
Clisson sighed as she realized Nami's interests were changed by this statement.
"That's interesting, but it doesn't have anything to do with me now.," explained Nami with a hint of sadness in her voice. "I'm just looking for some gems to pay for any expenses to pay off for supplies...and maybe send some back to my hometown."
Austri sighed as she answered, "The way things are goin', now that Teach has PLUTON Tempest. That damn abomination...everything's going to change in a quicker pace than ever before. I'm sorry dearie, but the Blackbeard felons managed to get from WANO, but thankfully not the true PLUTON. Thank the Ten Gods. The populace is saved and is coming here. Don't ask how or when. Sorry to bring bad news. But there's a caveat for everything."
Nami was stunned over the revelation that Wano, the place Luffy liberated just weeks ago had been destroyed again, this time irreparably, but was relieved that their friends and the people were saved.
"W-What?!," asked Nami.
"It fits with how my former superior described it.," Clisson mentioned, looking with concern while being composed.
The tension broker when a figure landed behind Austr.
It was a well-proportioned male Giant with an unruly mane of grizzled silver hair, sideburns, long, thick eyebrows, and coarse hair on his shoulders, arms, and chest. He had naturally tanned skin and dressed in a wild manner, donning a wolfskin cropped jacket, whilst also being naturally hairy and rarely wearing a shirt. He wore golden chains on his chest and arms. He also wore blue leg bands with golden trimming and a belt with a keyhole lock-shaped buckle of gold. His golden irise eyes looked at Nami and Clisson.
Garm- One of the Ten Tree Guardians/Guardian of Nivadellir Realm.
"Garurururu. Being restrained to just the Northern Village gave me time to reflect on my thoughts...," said the wolfish man as Dvaillin woke up to glance at him with implied contempt before taking a deep breath.
"It's ok...you have every reason to...," Garm noted with an introspective frown before grinning again.
"Now, you have the great Garm to tour you around!," shouted the wolf man, before noticing Alius saying, "Things are finally back to normal" as the group walked away while ignoring him.
Garm gave a dumbfounded look of being brushed aside and rushed to follow after them.
Vanaheim- the Ocean Realm
Jinbe was stunned at the sight of the fertile land with forests and vast oceans. Galahad was less surprised.
"You can actually find this place if you actually see past the lies.," he said.
Sanji groaned, having missed out on the Valkyries...
"Damnit! I got stuck with these two.," he muttered.
This stopped when he suddenly saw some sea-green Giant Women with aquatic features.
He then was blocked when a massive blue whale accidentally collided with his charge as the cook was sent backward before correcting his stance.
"Oi, giant fish! How dare you get in the way of my dream!," shouted Sanji with a lecherous face.
"Being lecherous yet being a gentleman who doesn't hit women and has some misandristic traits...what the hell is wrong with you?," asked the blue whale before changing into a massive Giant with a round nose, closed eyes, and a stout but muscular body with a thick neck. He wore a cerulean sleeveless tank top with segmented whale-belly themed patterns, blue-green pants with sea-green armbands with matching leg-bands, and blue-green boots. He wore a brown belt with a golden lock with a keyhole buckle.
Gymr- One of the Ten Tree Guardians/Guardian of Vanaheim.
The Giant looked at Sanji with a mix of amusement and confusion, "You're quite the character, aren't you? Isn't your dream the All Blue?"
Sanji was stunned at this revelation, "H-How? You damn big fish?"
"It's more like I ate the Whale-Whale: Blue Vegetable, which makes me a Blue Whale Giant.," Gymr explained. "Whales have a greater ability to sense these things than most people who ignore details."
"How can a Devil Fruit do that?," asked Jinbe. "It breaks the foundations of the rules.,"
"It's like an inversion. You get to be in the sea, but not on land- unless you wear special shoes." explained Galahad the mako-shark Fishman.
"You sure know a lot of things. Franky was kinda mad you essentially did a better job than him.," Sanji noted.
"I've got issues that make me less approachable than him.," Galahad noted.
Gymr broke the tension by clapping his hands and said to change the mood, "Let's meet with King Njord? He'll really help out with your cooking techniques."
Sanji was surprised at this revelation as he went, "Huh?"
Stansen looked in awe at Gymr's size before refocusing on the task at hand.
Midgard- Water Realm
Franky, Vega 40, and the Satellites walked through the empty town surrounded by the mountain formation.
"Seems like this place goes on forever...almost like it's made to house an ever-increasing population...," the cyborg noticed as he checked the housing, shops, markets, etc. with replenishable foods.
"Why would someone invent this just for Giants? It seems too varied in size. Some houses are built for smaller beings than Humans while others are built for beings even larger than Giants yet they coexist.," Stella noticed.
"Grr. This is making my head spin! Making a ghost town like this!," shouted Atlas.
"Wait...maybe it's not a ghost town...and it's built to sustain a population...All populations...," Edison thought aloud.
"While there are some cloning instructions...it's more...like it a refuge for...," Pythagoras observed.
Suddenly, the serpent from outside went into the city and transformed into a well-proportioned but oddly slender male Giant wearing green robes with billowing sleeves. Underneath the green robes were dark green pants underneath with green curved shoes. He had a brown belt with a golden lock with a keyhole buckle. He had eyes closed into slits and his short hair was meadow green.
Jormung- One of the Ten Tree Guardians/Guardian of Midgard.
"So ya figured it out, you're not all super geniuses for nothin'.," Jormung observed with a smirk that didn't quite reach his eyes as he leaned on one of the larger houses.
"That belt. The masked wrestler must be your compatriot isn't he?," asked Shaka, noting the peculiar keyhole-shaped buckle that Jormung was wearing.
"Yer that creepy kid that was with that Farbutt guy who usurped the throne before the generous King Harald took over.," explained Oimo.
"Things are more complex if you look beyond the facts. Otherwise, we'd just accept lies as facts for decades.," Jormung replied, which Kashii didn't take kindly to.
"Watch it-," he said before Jormung generated snake heads with the nose housing a cannon barrel within as they restrained the duo.
"You two need to rein in your emotions and not wreck things. It was hard enough to work on this while it was trapped in an illusory dimension outside of conventional reality.," the green-haired man explained.
"I...I...even If I did have layman common sense, it'd be too complex for me to understand!," Oimo realized as the two giants gave up and accepted Jormung's advice to not roughhouse in the town.
"I ate the Snake-Snake: Jormungandr Tomato, so I'm a Jormungandr Giant. I can swim on land or in the sea, but clouds are a no-go.," explained the Giant.
"So there's alternate variations to Devil Fruits? More refined. If only we knew of this beforehand.," explained Stella.
"But, to be serious, you seem to have a more level head than most Giants.," Stella observed.
"I was trained by my father, Farbuit, the son of (BEEP) before he became like another person wearing his appearance to act with guile to make up for a lack of might.," explained Jormung.
"So back on the topic, basically, this area's fucked because Blackbeard has this wannabe Pluton and he's gonna start using it like a toy he's just got. Or more likely a deterrent to enforce a mandate to obey him over the World Government or else get obliterated...like Wano. Since it was resting there.," York said bluntly.
"Indeed, and since Augur has the Warp-Warp. It's going to go much better. But, this vessel has similar properties.," Jormung noted. "So the populace can wait it out inside while the pirate shepherds protect their flock."
"W-wait. Hold on, Genocide?! Island destruction?!," Lilith realized with empathetic concern despite the "Evil" one's usual ecstatic behavior towards violence.
The Satellites turned to Franky and Vega 40, seeing how they'd react.
"Iceberg and I once saw the blueprints...likely Galashark did too when he worked with Tom...it was either through blackmail by the employer...or the inventor had a sick sense of humor...or was oblivious to the results...Didn't think, it'd come up this soon... how to take it down. And it looks like we'll be going on a long detour soon.," Franky grunted while keeping his anger within a controlled monotone.
"Still, this all means that our peaceful journey is going to take rain check till we quiet the storms outside.," Vega 40 observed. "I have to make sure as the Bosun of this ship that all passengers are safe and sound."
"Bosun? Boatswain? Aren't you a bit young?" asked Franky towards his younger sibling he learned about a few days ago.
"Hey, I'm pretty smart. As a SUPER-EXTRA genius, I'll be able to learn the ins and outs of the position easily.," said Vega 40 confidently, adjusting her glasses.
Stella smiled being confident in leaving things in the next generations' hands.
Jormung also gave a subtle smile.
Muspellheim- Fire Realm
Shoujo the orange-haired former civilian was relying on Gaban to carry her while he and his half-giant child, Colon walked comfortably amongst the surprisingly environmentally safe volcanic fields.
"You should be with your mom.," argued Gaban.
"I want to spend some time with ya. Also, this place looks cool.," Colon observed.
Shoujo looked depressed as Gaban noticed.
"Why are you here little girl?," asked the former 2nd Mate of the Roger Pirates.
The bespectacled girl took some time to contemplate before answering.
"I'm 15. I can still blossom up when I'm older...it's just that in a world of muscular and superpowered pirates, there were the weaklings like Nami and Usopp which gave me hope that I might be able to make it in the world. And I found an opportunity to be able to help them.," Shoujo explained.
"But now...I feel like I'm just a burden," she added with a sad sigh.
Gaban's glasses glowed.
"One of those people had a meltdown and they even got in a fight with the captain because they felt like you did...yet they still managed to pull through...and because of that, not only is this nation free to be itself for millennia, but also that countless lives were saved today. I'm sounding too mushy.," Gaban explained as Shoujo's eyes lit up
"Yeah, God Usopp looks wimpy, but he's cool. Also, that Nami gal.," Colon added.
They then saw a crimson wyvern fly towards them before turning into a wizened old, greyish red-bearded Giant with a regal dull red leather coat with dark red fur lining, short sleeves, and three dark red fur stripes running along the bottom worn over a sleeveless red shirt with a long red kelt with square red boots.
Fafnir- One of the Ten Tree Guardians/Guardian of Muspellheim- Consumer of the Dragon-Dragon: Firedrake Fruit (Mythical Zoan)
His singular eye looked down at Shoujo who gave her best brave face, which made him smile in turn.
Gaban also gave a weakened smile while thinking about what Rayleigh was about to do...
Alfanheim- the Forest Realm
Robin, Chopper, and Usopp were walking through a dense forest while Robin occasionally picked up the hint of hidden people with elongated pointy ears.
"Where is everyone? It's so quiet.," Chopper asked.
Tama waved at the animals that seemed very shy.
Goldberg was very chill about the whole issue, eventually spotting familiar faces in the distance.
Robin then spotted Saul and Mime in front of the library that had been teleported there along with the school as Biblo flew inside the former.
Chopper saw a dark-skinned, purple-iris-eyed Giantess with light purple hair with a straight fringe and bangs as well as two long locks on each side in the back. She wore a blue tube top with blue pants. She wore blue armbands with leg bands with golden trimmings, blue fingerless gloves, and blue sandals. She wore a brown belt with a golden lock with a keyhole buckle.
"Gotcha.," said the giant woman as she transformed into a white with a pale purple mane, eight-legged hours- two sets of two legs in the front and two in the back with long hair covering the face except for the eyes.
Sleipnir- One of the Ten Tree Guardians/Guardian of Alfanheim.
Saul gave a pained smile as he muttered-
"This is definitely gonna get me killed."
Robin gave a concerned look.
Tama then noticed that the horse ran so fast it seemed to warp outside of the realm.
Leo and the Tontatta peeked out of the library to see this amazing sight.
Nifliheim- the Ice Realm
Carrot was immediately given a fur coat made by Road who used the shredded fur of a wooly creature of this frigid environment when Orton threatened to beat him up with a massive tree club made from a broken-off branch of the trees.
The Mink looked ahead as a giant brown Roc with a golden beak flew towards her before transfiguring into an incredibly tall Giant with a lanky yet athletic build, and is most popularly characterized by both his long, bright brown windswept hair, and his pointy nose that gave him a naturally avian look. He wore a brown headband with the golden sun symbol with tan feathers adorning the bottom of the sides of the band, a teal long scarf, shirtless as it exposed his magenta sun symbol tattooed on his shoulders, brown pants with a brown belt with a golden buckle with a lock with a keyhole, brown arm/leg bands with golden trimming, and brown shoes. His golden iris eyes looked down at the rabbit Mink.
Hraesvel- One of the Ten Tree Guardians/Guardian of Nifliheim.
Hraesvel looked down at Carrot with a mix of curiosity and amusement, "So you're one of the Mink Tribe members. I've heard stories of your kind but never expected to meet one here. Not all are pleasant, but you'' haven't been told of them."
Carrot tilted her head in confusion.
Valkyrieheim- Light Realm
Rebecca and Vivi went in with Gerd as they saw winged feminine warriors flying in and out of floating, angelic palaces.
The pink-haired royal child then took a deep break before seeing a massive entity of a paradoxical nature rise in the distance-
The left side of the face was metallic with extended tubes for "hair" and the right side of the face with stone with jagged protrusions for "hair". The left side of the upper torso was made of flowing water completely with an arm/hand despite being in the frigid environment and the right side of the upper torso was made of green visible wind condensed into a humanoid form complete with an arm/hand. The right foot implied the right side of the lower torso was made of flickering fire that didn't go out in the icy realm while the left torso was made of condensed vantablack darkness implied by its exposed foot. The most consistent aspect was that it wore a brown necklace around its neck with a golden buckle with a keyhole in the center with a matching belt/buckle, baggy brown pants, green arm/leg bands with yellow trimmings, and jaded sapphire glowing eyes with a matching blue jagged maw.
Surtr- One of the Ten Tree Guardians/Guardian of Valkyrieheim.
Helfheim- Darkness Realm
Bonney and Brook following Jarul walked through the blackish, murky, and gloomy place filled with tombs, mausoleums, necropolises, etc. as they caught the occasional sound of a wailing individual.
The pink-haired girl then looked up to see a purple-haired Giantess with a straight fringe and waist-length long dark indigo hair. Her purple iris eyes looked on the arrivals including Jarul whom she outranked in height, being a well-proportioned, well-endowed female dressed in a purple crop top with light purple fur shoulders, dark magenta long fingerless gloves, and long magenta skirt with brown belt with a golden lock buckle with a keyhole. She had a staff with a skull head on the top behind her.
Hel- One of the Tree Guardians/Guardian of Helfheim.
"Your existence is interesting...more so than Jarul who can survive lethal damage...perhaps...," said Hel cryptically. "An afro skeleton between life and death...and may become its master."
Brook immediately became confused and a bit concerned, "What do you mean by that?" he asked, his skeletal face twitching in curiosity.
"Due to a certain pact we made...we can have all the time in the world to take about things as shall I do with you, little one of the child of those who intermingled with angels...," explained the woman, much to Bonney's perplexity.
Asgard- Heavenly Lightning Realm
Luffy, Zoro, and Minerva arrived at a realm with lust valleys, hills, plains, and a large bay where flying ships floated down from rainbows to park. It has a wide river to the east and an ocean to the west. It had great white walls and had a main iron gate called Valgrind around the realm.
It was divided into three sections- a space named Breidablik, which was used by animals from all across the world's history/mythology/across the land, Thrudheim where winged individuals fought and invented uniquely advanced technology in coexistence with giants in large wooden homes carved with traditional Viking aesthetics, and Vahalla- a magnificent hall that seemed to blend life and death- subjectivity and reality, an open-door hall of heavenly material where the souls of fallen warriors go after death to live amongst the elite Giants. It is a place of feasting, drinking, and fighting, where warriors prepare for the final battle.
Zoro grinned as he went to the Vahalla section, eager to see the legendary warriors, some of which he recognized from obscure and worn bounty posters. Luffy went to Breidablik with Minerva trailing behind to control his actions, and Loki and Utgard-Loki went to Thrudheim where they saw one particular winged individual-
A winged, muscular man whose face somewhat resembles a smiling totem mask that rarely changed and seemed to have a larger upper torso than his lower body. He has what appears to be a stitched-up scar vertically descending over, and falling short just above his left eye. On his chin, he has a prominent, jet-black, and scruffy beard that extends upwards to the sides of his jaw and then converges with his equally dark sideburns. He seems to sport the short and clean-cut sort of hairstyle generally sported by monks. He also has black tattoos going down his shoulders that somewhat resemble fire.
He dresses in robes underneath the khaki robes he wears which include the white full-bodied garment with severed sleeves, that exposes tattoos patterned like flames on both biceps. He wears a pair of gold earrings, black gloves, and a rather large red bead necklace. He also has a pair of large wings growing out from the middle of his back.
Mad Monk-Urouge- Captain of the Fallen Monk Pirates/Member of the Worst Generation.
"They finally believed you about what happened in Elbaf, didn't they? And you had to admit to the stories about the true Elbaf right?," the man said in a calm tone as both Utgard-Loki and Loki looked to the side.
"Hmm? It seems like an interloper has breached into her.," said the monk as he saw a glimpse of a white suit-wearing, black shaggy-haired youth with glasses, white wings, pale white skin, and thick, opaque glasses.
"Nametaker"- Mojigo Namae- No. 04 of CP Zero- Aegis Zero.
Next Chapter: God Chosen by the People
Author Notes: Sorry that this chapter was especially long, but it was to divide the group into manageable casts to make sure each has their own narratives as well as introduce the Ten Tree Guardians as individuals.
While the nine are accurate to the original story, Valkyrieheim is original to my narrative as it serves as the female elite guard to the true ruler of the Giants of this country. As for Surtr- the oddity of his existence will be explained later on.
Next time, we move away from the Straw Hats as we focus on unexpected events.