As Thor continued his training to gain initial control over his newly acquired Devil Fruit, he practiced relentlessly until he felt confident enough that his powers would no longer pose a danger to anyone around him.
He had spent the entire day freezing and unfreezing the same section of the shore repeatedly, making sure he could handle the transition between the two states with precision.
The once chaotic bursts of cold had become calm and responsive, and Thor could now summon ice or melt it away almost instantly.
He even learned how to walk across water or uneven surfaces while only freezing specific sections beneath his feet, ensuring that the ice would not crack or shatter under his own weight.
When Thor finally decided that his control was stable enough, he returned home. The cabin was warm and filled with laughter when he arrived.
Loki was sitting outside, talking with Hajrudin and a few of their friends.
From the tone of their voices, it was clear that the topic had something to do with training, and Thor could tell from a distance that Loki was the one leading the conversation.
As he got closer, he heard Goldberg speak up. "Do you think we could survive an even more brutal training? My mommy said that training too much can stop us from growing tall. I don't want to be a short giant." Goldberg's face was serious, and his words carried genuine worry, as he believed everything his mother told him.
Loki, who sat cross-legged beside him, gave a small laugh before answering. "Don't be worried. Thor said that those are just lies. You'll still grow even if you train harder. He said what really matters is eating enough meat afterward to help your body recover." Hajrudin nodded in agreement, confirming Loki's statement.
He had heard Thor say the same thing during their past training sessions. Even Gerd, who was usually quiet, nodded as well since she too remembered Thor mentioning it when he handed out food after hunts.
Their discussion was suddenly interrupted by a thunderous sound that shook the forest and made the cabin tremble.
The ground quivered, and a heavy thump echoed through the clearing. All of the young giants turned in the direction of the noise.
Their eyes widened when they saw a massive shape emerge from between the trees — half the enormous body of an island eater, its head and upper torso slamming down onto the open ground.
"WAAHH!" both Goldberg and Gerd screamed in surprise, stumbling back. Hajrudin and Loki, however, stayed calm. They already had a good guess about who could carry such a thing with ease.
Sure enough, a tall figure stepped out from behind the creature's corpse. It was Thor, followed closely by his two goats, who bleated proudly as if announcing their master's return.
"Thor!" Loki called out with excitement, waving his hand.
Thor smiled and gave a small nod in greeting as he placed the rest of the beast's remains on the ground.
Goldberg and Gerd exhaled in relief, realizing that it wasn't another monster attack but simply Thor bringing home food.
As expected, the group immediately began preparing to butcher and cook the meat — it had become their usual routine.
When Thor brought home a hunt, the others would help prepare it, while if someone else brought food, Thor would handle the cooking.
Loki, however, was banned from touching any part of the meal after several disasters in the past where his cooking had produced something nearly inedible.
"I heard your talk earlier," Thor said while folding his arms. "Are you all really sure you want harsher training? It's not going to be easy. What you've been doing until now is nothing compared to what I have in mind. What you've been through so far — that's still the easy mode."
His words made Goldberg gulp nervously, but both Loki and Hajrudin straightened their backs, their expressions shifting into something more determined. Even Gerd looked ready, though she said nothing. There was something in Thor's voice that stirred them — not fear, but challenge.
The evening went on peacefully. The group sat around the fire, eating and drinking, the massive roasted meat filling the air with its smell. As they ate, Thor asked them about their reasons for wanting to grow stronger. It wasn't just curiosity — he wanted to make sure they truly understood what they were asking for.
"If you just want to be strong for the sake of it, that's not enough," Thor said, his tone steady and calm. "You need a reason — something that keeps you moving even when your body wants to stop. If you can picture someone or something you want to protect, use that image as your strength. That's how you push past your limits. That's how real warriors are made."
He didn't realize how ironic his own words sounded. Much of his strength had been gifted by the gods who placed him in this world, though he had worked hard to refine it. Even so, what he said carried weight, and the young giants took his advice seriously.
The table grew quiet as each of them began to think deeply. Their expressions turned thoughtful as they imagined what or who they wanted to protect.
They carried the pride of Elbaph in their blood — the duty to keep their homeland strong, to protect its spirit, and to uphold its warrior legacy.
But beneath those shared duties were more personal motivations, ones they didn't speak aloud but kept within their hearts. Thor could sense it. The silent determination radiating from them was proof enough.
When morning came, Thor led the group deep into the underworld — further than they had ever gone before.
The area was notorious for its wild beasts, creatures that attacked anything that moved.
Even Thor, whose presence alone could scare away most predators, was attacked here on occasion. That alone said everything about how dangerous this place was.
"If you really want to become stronger," Thor said, turning to face the group, "then you'll have to surpass your limits. The best way to do that is to fight for your life on the line. Nothing pushes you harder than survival."
As if answering his words, the forest around them grew silent. Then, from the shadows, hundreds of glowing eyes began to appear — ferocious beasts watching them from all sides.
The young giants froze. Goldberg's hands trembled so badly that his axe nearly slipped from his grip, while Gerd tightened her stance, eyes darting between the shapes moving in the dark. Hajrudin and Loki, on the other hand, grinned.
They both knew this part of the forest — it was the same place Thor had warned them never to enter, and even Harald himself had declared it forbidden. That alone made the challenge more exciting.
Moments later, the creatures lunged. The battle began in an instant. Thor swung his arm once, and the beasts that dared attack him were killed immediately, their bodies frozen mid-charge.
Loki moved quickly beside him, using his own strength to crush the smaller predators that came his way.
Hajrudin, Gerd, and Goldberg fought bravely but struggled to keep up with the pace, constantly forced to defend against the onslaught.
The longer the fight went on, the more exhausted they became. The beasts kept coming, wave after wave, their wild hunger driving them to attack no matter how many were slain.
Meanwhile, Thor stood calmly a short distance away, using the chaos as an opportunity to test his precision control.
He focused on his hands, forming small ice constructs and manipulating them in the air.
One, then two, then three — he increased the number gradually until five different shapes floated around him, each moving under his conscious control. He smiled slightly.
Yesterday, he could only manage two at once, but now he could control five with ease. Progress was progress, even amid the chaos of battle.