Chapter 44:Yggdrasil
Boin Archipelago Prior to Leaving the Island
"Eh? What is this?," asked Usopp as the helmeted warrior, Heracles gave him a Pop Green slightly larger and more ornate than the others.
"Usoppun. I am Heraclesun. I give you this- it's Eden Rebirth- it returns a corrupted, sickened plant to its previous state. I am Heraclesun.," the figure explained.
"Why are you giving me this? Shouldn't you be doin' this?," asked Usopp.
"Sorry, Ussoppun...but folksun...around a place you're gonna use it on...don't exactly like me...," the beetle-armored warrior explained in a rather rare tone of introspection.
After a long pause, Hercules spoke again, "But, you know what, Usoppun? You got that spark, the same as when I was young. You got the heart to save what's important, and the guts to face whatever's out there. Take it. Maybe it'll come in handy." He handed over the Eden Rebirth, his eyes gleaming with a mix of respect and hope.
Usopp nodded but was unsure of exactly when he would use it.
Present
All Across the World
Epimetheus proceeded to spit out both Usopp and Alister as it expanded its girth before exploding in a golden light from underneath the hideous mutation. It expanded upwards beyond the clouds, beyond the Skylands, and expanded its width to the point it forced entire islands away yet safe enough not to harm the civilians there.
It then solidified into a truly fantastical form as it rose from the ocean-
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.
"Unununun! So you did it, Usoppun! ," Heracles remarked as he saw the massive tree in the far-off distance.
"What is it? What the hell is going on?," asked Sakazuki.
"W-we're not sure sir. Adam changed into a nightmare before finally becoming this.," said the CP6 Agent, Jabari as he saw the amazing sight from one of the ships near enough to Elbaf.
He then noticed a colossal summoning circle as an enraged Umi with Koby clinging on as she stormed towards Usopp.
"God King Usopp! We should've known such a title had merit! You're from Syrup Village? Your loved ones- especially the blond will suffer for your insolence towards God!," she roared before noticing one of the squirrels leaping from the bark and slamming its tail- covered in a golden-coated Haki alien to the usual grayish metallic color of Armament covered in indigo spirals.
Umi's red eyes blanked out as Alister and Ruth retreated to get her and take her back with Koby still clinging on before they vanished. Notably, Alister gave an utterly bestial look at the sniper for truly getting under his skin and Ruth was irked that her project of centuries was a bust.
Usopp then plummeted before Luffy managed to stretch out and grab him before he landed in the waters.
"Thanks, Luffy!" Usopp exclaimed with relief, clutching onto the rubbery limb tightly.
Usopp and Luffy then gazed at the splendor of the true form of the tree and smiled- it was the same one from prior to what the long-nosed man did. It was beautiful, a beacon of hope.
Their smiles turned into hilarious horror as they saw a massive sea turtle eat the tree AND them whole. Even the serious Jabari went as bug-eyed at the utterly unusual sight.
It then sank into the waters- the turtle had a blue shell with a set of water-green landmasses pattern and its underbelly had the Straw Hat symbol.
Mary Geoise
Koby appeared in a medical room suddenly the backlash of using the form caused him to faint.
As some "nurses" pulled out scalpels in an ominous way, a voice rang in their heads-
"He will be a great asset in the upcoming conflict. Kill him at your own peril."
The nurses then relented with sweat beads down their brows.
Empty Throne
Umi was unconscious as German placed her on a bed prepared by blindfolded servants.
"She's going to be nasty when she awakens. But that's her usual attitude.," commented Midas sarcastically.
He noticed that Alister convulsed violently as he fumed with his brow covered in angry veins.
"We only realize we can't convert the Giants through subtle methods now. It's a shame but next time, we'll use force to make them submit.," explained Germain before Alister grabbed his head and repeatedly slammed it back and forth in a pendulum motion.
"Where are they?," asked Alister before Platinum used Conqueror Haki on him.
"No, we lost one of us already. We can't afford to take risks...Is the boy still with them?, asked Platinum.
"Yes. He's still on the tree, awaiting orders.," explained Darwin.
"We can finally focus on-," Byakuo said before noticing the skies seen through the special windows that had a filter to block out the ultraviolet rays of Umi's previous condition. start to violently crack.
"The OLD WORLD barrier is finally breaking.," spoke Acala.
Next Chapter: KATANA
Author Notes: This chapter was much shorter due to it being the conclusion of Part 1 of the Elbaf conflict. Next, we'll focus on other loose threads before we continue with the Elbaf storyline.
As for Yggdrasil- unlike the canon version, this one is more in line with the original mythology.