The crimson sun hanging high in the sky was slowly dimming, but the lingering afterglow still illuminated the Netherworld brightly.
Loki's massive kneeling form remained motionless, his head deeply bowed, his entire skeleton groaning under the pressure of Orion's Conqueror's Haki.
With great difficulty, he lifted his head, "staring" through the thick bandages at the dissipating marvel in the sky, and gritted his teeth.
"What have you done to Elbaf?!"
His voice was hoarse, trembling, filled with unbelievable terror.
Orion didn't answer, instead raising his hand to rest on the hilt of the long sword at his waist.
A soft ring, clear as a dragon's cry.
Everyone present, including Mihawk, failed to see Orion's movement.
They only saw a blade radiance of extreme brilliance, like a flash of lightning tearing through eternal night, vanish in an instant.
Where the blade light passed, the void rippled with waves.
Then came the continuous sound of metal breaking.
Crack! Clang! Clatter—
The dozens of specially made chains as thick as wrists wrapped around Loki snapped one after another!
The Sea Stone shackles larger than ship anchors restraining his limbs were shattered and scattered across the ground like rotten branches.
The Sea Stone aura that had imprisoned Loki, making him endure powerlessness and torment day and night, vanished in that very moment.
As the final echo of metal hitting the ground faded, the blade in Orion's hand slid silently back into its sheath.
Having completed this, Orion turned decisively and strode outward.
While walking, he spoke: "Have you seen that 'red sun' hanging over Elbaf?"
"You shouldn't be asking what am i intends to do to Elbaf, but rather what am i intends to do to this world."
At this point, Orion paused mid-step but did not turn back, merely tilting his head slightly as he continued.
"A single lamp can illuminate a thousand-year dark room."
"From this day forward, I shall be that lamp."
"The very sun hanging over Elbaf at this moment!"
With these words, Orion didn't hesitate any longer, striding purposefully toward the exit of the Netherworld.
Hancock was the first to follow.
Though Mihawk, Yamato, and Denjiro didn't understand why Orion had severed Loki's shackles, none dared question him, all turning silently to follow behind.
As Orion's group moved away, the invisible pressure that had been crushing Loki vanished without a trace in an instant.
The long-lost freedom made every muscle in Loki's body relax with unprecedented ease.
Yet, there was no joy on his face.
Watching Orion's group disappear into the distance, Loki slowly rose to his feet, his massive sixty-meter frame casting a shadow that blotted out the sky once more.
He lifted his head, gazing intently at the crimson sun nearly vanished from the sky, his expression graver than ever before.
"A thousand years of darkness, extinguished by a single lamp?"
Loki chewed over these words, his bandaged face gradually twisting with fervor.
"What a phrase—a thousand years of darkness, extinguished by a single lamp!"
Before the words faded, Loki suddenly grabbed the massive warhammer beside him that had been trapped with him here!
A torrent of savage Conqueror's Haki erupted from within him like a volcanic explosion!
Black-red lightning madly coiled around the gigantic hammer, its terrifying aura shooting skyward, directly tearing open the heavens above the Netherworld.
Rolling black clouds gathered from nowhere, countless electric serpents rampaging through the cloud layer, illuminating his towering sixty-meter form like a demon god emerging from ancient mythology!
Formless pressure swept outward in all directions, making the entire Netherworld tremble violently beneath his feet!
The next moment, Loki hesitated no longer.
Gripping the massive hammer single-handedly, he took great strides forward, catching up to Orion's group in mere steps.
Orion didn't look back.
Walking casually across the slippery Netherworld ground, he seemed completely unaware of the terrifying pressure behind him that could make oceans tremble.
Since the Marshal didn't look back, those following him naturally didn't either.
Whether it was Hancock, Mihawk, or Morgan leading the Marshal's personal guard, all maintained absolute composure and calm.
Even the marine soldiers following Morgan didn't look back.
Though the mountain-shaking, tsunami-like pressure had already washed over them, making their hearts tighten and breathing difficult, not a single soldier halted their steps or even frowned.
They were the Marshal's personal guard!
What grand spectacle hadn't they witnessed? Besides, what storm could a mere prince of the Giant Kingdom possibly stir before their Marshal?
Soon, the group exited the Netherworld and stepped onto the soil of the Giant Kingdom.
Blinding sunlight poured down.
Yet Loki, bringing up the rear of the procession, froze the moment he stepped out of the Netherworld, his enormous pupils contracting sharply.
The once bustling, vibrant Giant Kingdom now lay in deathly silence where a pin drop could be heard.
The broad street before the castle was densely packed with giants collapsed on the ground in various postures.
In the distant fields, farmers who had been working lay slumped over their plows, motionless.
Even the sentries stationed on the towering, cloud-piercing giant trees leaned against the trunks, fallen into deep slumber.
All of Elbaf resembled a massive graveyard.
Taking in this scene through his Observation Haki, Loki abruptly lowered his head, his massive shadow completely enveloping Orion and the others.
His voice carried a hint of accusatory anger.
"Marshal Orion! Not even sparing innocent civilians—is this what you call 'a thousand-year dark room illuminated by a single lamp'?"
Orion finally halted his steps, wearing a genial smile. "Just now, I let you witness my Conqueror's Haki."
"Next, I'll let you see the proper way to use Observation Haki."
As he spoke, Orion slowly spread his arms, and his max-level Observation Haki quietly activated, instantly covering the entire territory of Elbaf.
Then, Orion slightly raised his gaze, enunciating each word clearly.
"Stand up!"
As his voice fell, an eerie scene quietly descended!
Several fallen giants nearest to them began to stir.
One after another, they flipped over and stood up, looking around in confusion while rubbing their dizzy heads, completely unaware of what had happened.
"You can actually..." Loki was utterly stunned. Watching his awakened clansmen, his gigantic body stiffened in shock as he stammered.
"You also know 'Domination'?!"
Before Orion could respond, Hancock, who had been quietly standing by his side, suddenly stepped forward and sharply rebuked Loki.
"Loki, open your dog eyes and see clearly! How are they being dominated?"
"My husband's Observation Haki can not only hear the voice of all things but also awaken all things!"
Upon hearing this, Loki's massive body shuddered violently in his state of shock!
As if grasping at something, his bandaged face revealed unprecedented excitement and yearning as he cried out involuntarily.
"Can you awaken those dominated by 'Domi Transformation'?"