Chapter 37:Elbaf is Fable

OLD WORLD

Chaos and his crew continued to sail through their currently obscured sea when one of his top commanders- a multiple-armed fellow asked-

"We're just going to finally have the opportunity to save her right?"

The purple-skinned, horned, blue-beard giant with a third eye turned and said-

"10,000 years ago. A group of Jotunn...which are better known as Giants went to live near the Adam Tree in the Red Line that existed for billions of years. Along with the Tree of Knowledge and the Sunlight Tree Eve. They die but they always resurrect like the phoenix...but around 800 years ago...Adam was prevented its daily rebirth."

"Does that mean?," asked an obscured giant with an implied avian head.

"This Elbaf Adam tree hasn't recently been infected...the Giants and Dwarfs living there...know not of the real truth...and the ones more aware...are under a spell...in both cases...their world will be turned upside down.," replied Chaos.

Mary Geoise

A few moments prior...

Koby utilized his new powers as Sora proceeded to barely dodge Umi's strikes as well as the beams of light emitting from her mouth that caused whatever it touched to turn into a white outline as if erased from reality.

While she did so, she communicated with Alister, one of her Elders telepathically.

"Umi is bored. Umi is sick of Elbaf...you can reveal it now. We're ready for the next step."

Alister was stunned by this request. "But Umi, this is going too quickly. They're going to react negatively-"

"If Umi says something. Umi will have it done. They're wrapped around Umi's fingers!"

"To do something so vile...," he spoke before giving a nightmarishly distorted face. "...Is why we World Nobles enjoy what we do."

He then warped away.

Elbaf

Alister continued to clash with Rayleigh when he stopped mid-action.

"What is it?," asked the swordsman.

"Lord Imu...No, Lady Umi has declared that we can stop this charade...," he said as he touched the ground.

"800 years ago. The Adam Tree..."died"...and the Giants were so desperate for a home they turned to us for a solution. We gave the luxury of ignorant bliss...him and I...He was so guilt-ridden by it...while I just accepted things.," the Elder explained.

"What are you talking about?," asked Rayleigh.

"There was a king named (BEEP) that was really nosey but we got rid of him- thankfully he was a controversial figure anyway. Harald was different- he both popular and nosey...so we orchestrated what's about to happen...800 years of cultivation...," the Elder replied.

The ground, air, and background cracked as if it were a staged set...and what Rayleigh saw turned from serious curious to revolted horror.

Myrkheim

Just as Luffy was about to see the man he was seeking- suddenly, the roots turned blackened and sprouted wailing faces as the tendrils in nanoseconds reached out and grabbed all before they could realize.

Louis Arnote Log

From the grasses or trees, and vines to flowers and insects, fishes, or birds. Including all the animals. One can only gasp at the sheer size of everything. Fellow explorers, the time you spend here will not be fruitless. If I am to record only one thing about the mysterious land of "Elbaph", the place where everything is huge...I wish for you to remember my words somewhere in the back of your mind. "Do not prolong your stay in this land for too long."

For I have discovered its ancient secret-

The old Adam tree has been denied of its reincarnation cycle...and in its place is a carnivorous parasite named Epimetheus that feeds on strong Haki and turns people without Daemon Plants- known as Devil Fruits into Haki monsters called Nobodies who feed on Haki users. The only saving grace is that the light of the sun and moon thwarts them off in addition to crystal light and they are weak to fire, lightning, and dry ice. They used to roam the world during the Void Century and currently reside in the Red Line under the aid of their ally, Nerona Umi. If you stay long enough, she will find and force you to become fertilizer for this plant.

It's not as I thought with the weed being a parasite ruining the tree...the "tree" was just a weed and the shell was finally coming off.

I don't know what one of the planters thought in doing this- they were most likely coerced into the task but I'm confident that other partner judging from how they nurtured the plant...is pure evil. I hope my Sorcery Haki can preserve the books and that I have enough time before they find me.

I believe in a legend that one day, the incarnation of the Sung God Nika and the Forest God, Joka will save the Giants...

Because Elbaf is really a Fable and it needs to reawaken the true Adam Tree.

"Elbaf"

Alister sat on one of the branches as the other Giants were captured and pulled into the plant. Its true form revealed-

A blackened, gnarled tree with several leafless branches and covered in countless wailing faces- the souls of what it consumed over the eons. Only the Southern Village and the North Village as well as the Heaven realm remained intact.

The sun "Pandora" lowered as it took on its true form-

An elderly woman with a large, wrinkled face and a square-shaped jawline. She had long, wavy gray hair and wore lipstick. She wore dark blue nun's robes that have light blue frills on them, as well as a similarly designed headdress. She was always seen either smoking a cigarette or holding one in her hand.

"Mother Caramel"- Clone of Mother Caramel via Conquerors Haki: Ambitious Phantom

She had infused her Conqueror Haki into Pandora, usurping its will by first sacrificing the other orphans while pinning the blame on Linlin with cannibalism- aided with Alister's illusory powers.

ith Alister's illusory powers.

"Linlin for not trying hard enough...She made for a weak vessel while my true body recovered. What a bad investment. In any case, Red Hair who's been as annoying as Roger and Xebec, and Luffy who defeated Linlin are now food for my baby, Epi," she spoke.

"Hold on bitch! You miscalculated!," shouted an aggressive voice as it rushed up to punch her. She then turned to see it was Eustass Kidd, freed during the chaos of the "tree" revealing its true nature.

"I defeated that hag!... Wait, how's the Mountain Witch still kickin'?," asked Kidd.

"Damnit all, one escaped!" Mother Caramel cursed. "But no matter, Epi will get you eventually."

He then rushed towards her as she summoned a horde of blackened creatures as the skies clouded in inky blackness to blot out the sun.

Then to her horror, chains broke as she turned to see that the giant who had figured out her scheme-

Utgard Loki was now free.

Next Chapter: Role Play

Author Notes: This was meant to be more of a WTF chapter that completely changes the scenario with a ticking clock to save the residents of Elbaf before they become consumed completely. However, the heroes will get aid in the most unexpected of places.