"Konami, what are you spacing out about?" Guina nudged Konami. "Robin is calling us."
As she spoke, Guina followed Konami's gaze to the door at the innermost part of the temple. A flicker of lightning appeared in her eyes.
She couldn't see through it, as if an energy shield was protecting something. Whether it was electric waves or Observation Haki, it was blocked the moment it extended outwards.
"Oh~" Snapping back to reality, Konami shook his head, then tilted his head to smile at Guina. "It's nothing."
He then looked up at Robin, who was standing by a stone wall, turning to look at them.
"Let's go over!"
"Mm!" Guina withdrew her gaze, clasped Konami's left arm with both hands, and walked with him towards Robin.
"Did you find something?"
Fabuti did not follow them into the temple but remained by the large door at the entrance.
As he watched Konami's retreating back, a mysterious glint flashed in his eyes.
Loki had been in the temple for some time. Based on when he had awakened, Loki should have come out by now.
This was why the other royalties were so impatient.
There were two outcomes to entering the temple: emerging after awakening and inheriting his throne, or never emerging at all.
Of course, he cared about Loki, as he was his only descendant. If Loki perished in the temple and those who advocated for war ascended to the throne, the future of the Giant race, no, whether there would even be a future, was uncertain.
"Can we use Mr. Konami's spatial abilities to get in?"
Even as the king of the Giant race, he could not open the door to the inheritance ground once it was closed. It was left by the ancient giants. But for the sake of what he saw as the future, for his only son, at this moment, he wished to borrow the strength of an outsider.
Just as Fabuti was lost in hesitation and struggle.
Elsewhere in the royal city.
"Are you sure?"
In a vast hall, a colossal dark silhouette sat on the throne.
The silhouette was bare-chested, with explosive muscles like an ancient statue. His face was stern, with a permanent scar near his right eye from an old wound, and another vertical scar on his abdomen.
He sat silently on the throne, leaning forward, exuding an oppressive aura, like an ancient king.
"Confirmed."
Below the throne, a giant clad in armor knelt on one knee, replying in a deep voice, "It's Silver Hair Pirate Crew's Silver Hair Kōta, Blue Hair Guina, and the Child of the Devil, Nico Robin."
"Your Majesty Fabuti took them to the temple."
"The temple..."
The bald giant rested his left hand on his head, propping it against the armrest of the throne. He stroked his chin with his right hand, lost in thought. "What is that old fellow Fabuti planning?"
"Is he thinking of having this so-called world's strongest save his son, who is already beyond saving?"
As he spoke, a fierce light flickered in the bald giant's eyes.
He didn't care about the world's strongest. The great Giant race should have ruled the entire world. And he, one of the only two awakened individuals of the Giant race, the great "Kratos," could have roamed the seas freely. But he was kept in this godforsaken Sky City by that old man Fabuti.
He had had enough. This small cloud city could not contain his ever-growing ambition, nor his aspiration to conquer the world.
In the past, he couldn't defeat Fabuti. But now...
That guy was old. When old, one should enjoy life, like many elders in the tribe, basking in the sun, chatting. Why was he still sitting in that position?
For his good-for-nothing son?
Did he really think everyone could awaken?
He was an awakened one, so he knew what was inside the temple. Back then, if not for a bit of luck, if not for his immense willpower, he would have died in the temple long ago.
As for that brat Loki, while his talent was indeed good, his willpower...
It was no different from that of a weakling.
Therefore, from the beginning, he had no high hopes for Loki.
When Loki entered the temple and, as he had predicted, did not return for a full month, he knew this was his chance.
Fabuti had only one son, Loki. If Loki could not emerge from the temple, then only he could inherit the throne, and only him.
He didn't know why Fabuti was pinning his hopes on an outsider. But if Konami, this so-called world's strongest, somehow managed to get Loki out, his path to the throne would inevitably face more turbulence.
So...
Standing up, Kratos grabbed the colossal spear beside him, which was stuck in a giant rock and was almost as tall as himself.
"Since the old man wants to die sooner, I'll grant him his wish."
He had initially planned to inherit the throne peacefully. But now, it seemed the old man clearly didn't intend to grant him his wish.
Since the old man was unwilling to accept fate, he would make him recognize reality, recognize that it was no longer his era, but the era of the strongest warrior among the Giants, the Berserk War God "Kratos."
Hum—!
The friction between the colossal spear and the air produced a chilling vibration in the vast hall. Due to the immense force and speed, it even stirred up a gust of wind.
The wind blew downwards, ruffling the hair of the giant kneeling on one knee, revealing fervent eyes behind his hair.
He had waited a long time for this day.
This damned cloud city was as small as a well's opening, visible at a glance and traversable in a few steps. And they, the Giants, were like frogs in a well.
If they were truly frogs, it would be fine. But they were humans, the pinnacle of intelligence, humans!
One year, two years, three years, ten years, a hundred years...
From birth, they had lived in this well. The yearning for the outside world, like an inflated balloon, had not diminished with time but had only expanded.
They craved a freer, more beautiful, and more exciting life.
Of course, if there were no comparisons, they wouldn't be so impatient.
But why could the Giants below go out to sea, pursue a life of freedom and ease, while they were confined to this cloud city, as small as a well's opening?
Unfair.
The unequal treatment gradually bred resentment among the Giants in the royal city. And at this moment, another awakening appeared.
Moreover, this awakened one was not like Fabuti. Kratos was a true war-faring royal, a Giant who truly yearned for freedom.
So, some Giants who yearned for the world outside the well found their leader and gradually gathered around Kratos, forming another faction in the royal city.
Seeing that Kratos had truly made up his mind, the giant kneeling below the hall exclaimed excitedly, "Prince Kratos, do you need me to gather men?"
"No need."
Kratos waved his hand dismissively and stepped off the raised platform where the throne was located, walking resolutely outwards.
"This is a matter between me and Fabuti. If the old man is sensible and voluntarily cedes his position, I'll spare his life. If he's not sensible..."
He did not finish his sentence, but anyone could hear the confidence and cruelty in his tone.