Chapter 22:Off-Putting

Zou

The tornado of black shrunk down to a much smaller but still imposing man over the beaten Minks.

This figure was a large, physically imposing man, tall, and muscular. He had broad shoulders with muscular arms. On his angular, rectangular face, he has massive bushy eyebrows that quickly taper downwards in a permanent furrow brow, and a wide, flat nose. His neck is noticeably but not unnaturally thick and he has spiky blonde hair. He wore an Admiral jacket draped over a sleeveless white buttoned shirt with blue armbands with bear paw symbols, dull blue pants, and grayish blue shoes. He had a permanent scowl that occasionally smirked if he were amused.

Samson Arcas- Warrior God of Hunting.

"The Native Hunting Competition was canceled after that blunder on that island. It took nearly 40 years to recover...DAMN EZEKIEL! You allowed yourself to be captured by the enemy! We're going have to get another one of you made to save face!," he yelled as he kicked a hamster Mink child.

"You wear an Admiral's coat, but you're not on the current roster. Who in god's name?," asked Concelot before he shot with a powerful surge of Haki from the towering man.

"Eons ago, a serpent who defied the righteous angel Mother Sea- called Lady Ocean "enlightened" certain animals to become more like man. It may be a fairy tale or legend, but the existence of you lesser mammals daring to be close to Human insects is appalling.," the large man spoke.

Wanda the dog mink stood up. Her fur bristled and her eyes narrowed as she faced the towering figure. Despite her smaller stature, she bared her teeth and growled, a fiery determination burning within her. "I don't know about the stuff you're talking about, but you speak of our ancestry as if we should be ashamed!" she barked, her voice echoing with the pain of her kin.

She then swallowed a pill as her tan fur turned white and her orange hair flowed into a long flowing mane. Her eyes red looked at the man as she dashed towards him but was instantly punched out of the form.

"You Minks have forgotten millions of years of using it without needing gimmicks. You're nothing compared to them. No, you are not experiments born of a long-forgotten century- at least not by HUMAN humans.," he said.

"What did you mean by Artemis...And why did you look at Carrot when you said it?" asked Giovanni.

Arcas narrowed his gaze as he generated earth-based markings on his Armament Haki. Rocks began to build up as they formed a boulder over the Zebra Mink.

"You have to ask your Elders about it...though they're more likely to not know either. 800 years for mere mortals is enough time to forget the details. Dye by the greater Huntr, Samson Arcas who created the world that doesn't need aberrations like you," said the large man.

"Arcas? You're an Elder? But you look so young?," asked Roddy.

Suddenly, Arcas heard his Transponder Snail and reached to open it.

"This is Monkey D. Kong. We have to initiate the new Elder- Figarland Garling and explain to the Marines and all of our forces what to do next about this OLD WORLD situation.," the snail spoke.

"When did a tyke like you get the right to boss me around? I'm busy dealing with some potential threats before they can blossom.," the Elder replied.

"Even if it's from Platinum?," asked Kong as Arcas relented.

He then turned into the black tornado Tatarigami and flew off in the direction of May Geoise.

"Carrot...it seems like your destiny...is finally catching up with you...," said Zunesha.

Elbaf

Usopp and Luffy tried to play with the kids on swings and tossing rocks, but the Giants merely cried and offered to play patty cake, peek-a-boo, and worryingly sing the World Government's national anthem.

"You brats suck. What're you gonna do when somebody invades ya country?," Luffy demanded.

"We can rely on our reputation rather fight. Then we can just live in peace.," said one of the children.

Colin the Giant on the other hand, drew his wooden sword.

"They're all wussies now. I'm bored. Let's war!," said the giant lad as he smiled down on Luffy.

"Go easy on him.," argued Usopp.

"Finally, someone who gets it.," Luffy said as he went into his Gear 5 Giant Form and he pulled out a toy sword from his hair.

"That's the form that Shanks talked about.," said Colin.

Luffy was excited to hear the news of Shanks mentioning his giant form. "You know Shanks?!" He swung the toy sword with surprising force, sending a shockwave that ruffled the leaves of the nearby trees. They were emitting Conquerors Haki.

"Eek! It's the False Sun God Nika! The Devil! Run!," cried several of the Children.

"False...Sun God?," asked Brogy.

Dorry narrowed his eyes at this statement. Nika had been worshipped for centuries on Elbaf, praying to him for every winter solstice to bring back the sun. It was one thing to become more peaceful but to readily call Nika false.

"He's got powerful Haki.," Zoro noted.

"Oi, don't go too rough on the kid.," argued Sanji.

Nami then kicked Luffy's leg as he hollered in pain.

"Don't go picking fights with kids!," she yelled at him.

"Nami...you like this kind of peaceful crap? It's Elbaf! It's not supposed to be so wimpy!," Luffy replied in annoyance.

The atmosphere grew tense as the Giant children looked up at Luffy with fearful eyes. They had never seen a display of power like this from a human before. Even the adult Giants, who had been watching from the sidelines, took a step back, their expressions a mix of awe and wariness.

"It's true he does resemble our god...," said one Giant.

"He's just a swell guy that saved our butts.," said Harjudin and Stansen as they arrived from the lower realm with an Ettousaurus corpse in tow.

"Huh? Is that creature from that floaty place when we faced Wheel guy?," asked Luffy while he noticed the creature before realizing the Giants.

"This guy's our captain.," said Harjudin.

"I'm not. I don't need ya.," Luffy argued.

"I'm following you anyway. It's my decision!," shouted back the Giant.

"So violent hunting down animals...it'd be more humane to farm them.," said one of the kids.

Stansen looked in annoyance.

"Ange and that faction is really putting weird ideas into their heads. She was a fan of Caramel after all," he complained.

"Let's feast!," Luffy shouted as the rest cheered.

Robin then noticed an Owl-headed library nearby as she turned to her Captain.

"I'm sorry. I'm just going to check out the library. I feel I might be able to find some familiar books.," said the archaeologist.

"I'm gonna find some medical books to check out as well.," said Chopper.

"Maybe there's some books on sing jingles.," added Brook.

Luffy looked confused but he replied, "Sure, go ahead."

Luffy then turned to Saul and said in an uncharacteristically formal tone, "Thank you, kind sir. For being there for one of my crew."

Nami sighed as Franky noticed the tree. While it looked massive...it also looked slightly dried up.

"I'm gonna check out if we can salvage any fallen branches into the ship for more modifications.," said Franky.

He went to the tree with Jinbe joining him as well as Galahad.

Only, Nami, Carrot, Usopp, Vivi, Shoujo, Bonney, Sanji, Zoro, and Vega 40 remained with the intended party.

In a few minutes, the remainder of the Straw Hats were drinking, laughing, singing, and overall having a lovely time.

Bonney hung out with Kuma, Vega 40 through the insistence of Bonney, and the Satellites while Saul was surprised he split into 7 copies.

Vivi and Carrot felt some concern for leaving their kingdoms with Nami hugging to console them.

As Zoro drank, he noticed some frowning giants that looked unenthusiastic about Luffy as did Sanji. These Giants moved away from the crowd, which rose their suspicions even more.

"Feels like Whiskey Peak all over again.," said the swordsman.

He then noticed Sanji had been distracted by the crowd of giant women.

"Hey, lady. Wanna hang out?," asked the blonde.

The giant woman he was speaking to was a mature adult with a slender figure. Her most noticeable trait is a streamlined tattoo that runs down the whole left side of her body, from her left temple to her left foot. She has long, pink hair arranged in braids at the front, with bangs partially covering the right side of her face. She wears a dark crop top with a horned Jolly Roger design imprinted on it, a fur cape, a short skirt held up by leather belts, and fuzzy boots wrapped in bands.

"Hey, Ma. Do you think Dad be ok with this?," asked Colin.

Sanji looked at the kid and said, "Oh she's your Mom? She can be my mom too."

"Colin is my son with a former pirate of incredible renown back in the day who still lives here. Pirates don't marry like civilians do. So if we have a red string we can do it. I'm Ripley. I'm the biology teacher here at the Walrus School," the woman replied as Sanji's expression turned dour with the two-fold revelation of the woman being married with a kid and having a husband.

"Wha? You're half Giant?," asked Luffy. The other Giant Children scowled at Colin as this was brought up but he was used to it. Saul gave a concerned look as if he were empathetic.

"He and Shanks were once on the same crew. He's likely in the Underworld now hunting for...," Ripley explained.

Luffy had vanished once he heard the news as Nami sighed in annoyance.

Underworld

In the wintery space, a tall, well-built man with long greying hair tied in a bushy ponytail in the back, while two thin strands of hair fell over his face- carried a Blue Jack from the shore. He is always seen wearing a pair of round, black sunglasses and he has a smile plastered on his face. He now had a short beard and wore a black long coat over a purple t-shirt with dark pants and brown shoes.

He had once been a member of the Roger Pirates, having fought alongside Roger and Rayleigh but now was living on Elbaf for years.

He then walked to the core of the tree as he saw a massive Giant tied with Seastone chains.

This was a very large Giant in comparison to the others with long, blond hair arranged in twin braids at the front, but disheveled at the back. His body is relatively lanky by giant standards, with long legs and muscular tattooed arms. He also sports a pointy goatee, a metallic shell over his nose, and tends to leave his tongue hanging out while speaking. Like most giants from Elbaph, he dresses in Viking-like fashion, including a dark, wide-rimmed helmet with a pair of long horns extending upwards (the leftmost one tied in place by a wrapping), as well as a dark ensemble of gloves, pants, boots, and a belt sporting a crowned Jolly Roger design worn over his abdomen. Loki also has his eyes covered in bandages.

Utgard-Loki- Cursed Prince of Elbaf/Adopted Brother of Harjudin and Adopted Son of Late King Harald.

"Metattatatata. Yo, you want to meet the cursed child after so long? Careful, I'm a killer after all.," spoke the Giant in a haughty, manipulative, and jovial tone.

"Let's cut the bullcrap...," the man said as he tossed the Blue Jack to the side and sat down.

"There's more to what happened to King Harald than what the stories say. And it has everything to do with why Elbaf is suddenly making secret arrangements...with the World Government.," said the man.

"Light King" Scooper Gaban- Former 2nd Mate of the Roger Pirates.

Suddenly, a figure landed and plopped out of a man-shaped hole to their surprise.

"Hey. I'm Luffy. I'm gonna be King of the Pirates. You know Shanks?," asked the Straw Hat unaware of the tone till that moment.

"The Vira Brat?," asked Gaban.

"Metata. Wait, you know Shanks too?," asked Utgard-Loki.

Next Chapter: Owl Libray

Author Notes: While there is happiness in Elbaf, throughout it, there are increasing hints of something darker happening in Elbaf as it goes on.

I'm not sure if Colin's father will be Gaban in the official manga, it might be more likely it's a gag character knowing Oda, but he might surprise us with someone we didn't suspect as a candidate. As for Gaban in this iteration of the fanfic, he'll be the opposite of Rayleigh.

As for Loki- I've split him into different characters- the silhouette will be his own character while the bandaged, badass Loki will be Utgard-Loki. This actually has precedence in Norse Myth with there actually being two Lokis of no relation as well- the trickster who started Ragnarok and the illusory Giant.

And lastly, Arcas might be set up for a future Mink conflict in the future.