One Piece: Surrounded at Marineford? Just kidding!

Chapter 560: Haildin's Obstruction!

Luffy is holding a large black key.

Run wildly!

Usopp struggled with his legs, panting heavily. His forehead was covered in sweat. He kept looking back as he ran, his face filled with terror.

"Luffy! Slow down!"

Usopp complained loudly.

"What kind of hellhole have you brought us to?"

Luffy didn't even turn around.

"Just keep up!"

Luffy shouted loudly. His voice was unwavering.

He must release Loki.

The Straw Hat Pirates followed closely behind. The passage widened as they descended.

The sounds of battle cries echoed in the distance. The roar of a giant pierced the earth. The cries of children came in fits and starts. Everyone's heart was in their throats.

Robin ran while looking at the stone walls on either side. The ancient walls were covered with huge runes. The text recorded the history of Elbaf. It exuded an aura of majesty.

Robin's gaze swept quickly across the area. She was filled with curiosity about history. Staying to study it would be valuable. But now was not the time. She looked away and continued running. She had to catch up with Luffy.

At the end of the passage appeared a vast open space. At the very end stood an extremely thick bronze stone gate, intricately carved with chains. That was the entrance to the underworld.

The group rushed into the open space. Their steps suddenly came to a halt.

A huge figure stood blocking the entrance.

The giant who was all too familiar. Halding.

Haildin gripped his massive weapon in both hands, like an iron tower, standing firmly in the center of the stone gate, his feet planted firmly in the hard rock.

Blood stained the armor crimson. Dark red blood dripped down the arm, making a faint sound as it hit the ground.

Several giant warriors stood behind him, also covered in blood, gripping their tattered weapons, their breathing heavy and labored like broken bellows.

Hajrudin lowered his head. His gaze fell on Luffy's hand, fixed on the black key. The key represented Elbaf's deepest fear.

Then he looked up, his gaze meeting Luffy's.

His eyes were incredibly complex. They held pain, resolve, and exhaustion.

Luffy

Haildin spoke. His voice was hoarse and low.

"No one can unlock Loki's chains at this time."

These words landed heavily on the empty ground. The air froze instantly.

Luffy stopped in his tracks. The urgency on his face turned to astonishment. He hadn't expected this situation. He had thought it was the Knights of God blocking his way. He never imagined it would be his own ally.

Luffy does not accept this answer.

He suddenly took a big step forward and raised the keys in his hand.

"What nonsense are you talking about!"

Luffy demanded loudly, his voice filled with anger.

"People are already bleeding outside! The village is burning! The enemy is hunting your children!"

Luffy pointed outside the passage.

"Everyone's fighting for their lives! What are you doing blocking my way? Let me through! I need to release that guy inside!"

Luffy's logic is simple. There are powerful enemies outside. There are strong fighting forces inside. Release them to fight the enemies. That's all he has to do.

Haildin didn't retreat an inch. His massive body remained completely still.

He gritted his teeth, his facial muscles contorting in pain, and directly confronted Luffy with his question.

"Precisely because Elbaf is in chaos, I absolutely cannot let you release Loki!"

Haildin's eyes were bloodshot.

"But at least they're the open enemy! We know who to take up arms against!"

He turned his head abruptly, glancing at the heavy stone door behind him. His eyes were filled with apprehension.

"But Loki is different! He's a complete madman!"

Hajrudin looked at Luffy again.

"Once Loki loses control, he won't care who's an enemy or a member of his own kind! He'll tear everything in his sight to shreds! He might even kill his own people!"

The open space fell into a deathly silence.

The conflict has escalated completely. It's no longer just about obstruction; it's a direct clash between two value judgments.

Luffy advocated letting people fight the fire, even if it was raging. He was willing to take the risk.

Heldin insisted on never adding more out-of-control variables. Elbaf could not afford any more chaos.

Halding gasped for breath. The wound on his chest tore open again. Blood gushed out even more rapidly.

He then added, his voice turning low again.

"Luffy! Do you think I don't want to save my people?"

Heldin's temples bulged with prominent veins. He gripped his weapon with increased force, his knuckles turning white from the strain.

"Those fighting to the death outside are my brothers! Those children being hunted down are the future of Elbaf!"

Haildin's eyes reddened. But he didn't shed a tear. He swallowed all his pain.

"I know better than anyone what Loki means. Keeping him locked up here was something the entire giant race paid a terrible price for."

Haildin stood there, blocking the entrance with his battered body.

"This decision isn't because I'm cold-blooded. I'm simply carrying the lives of the entire Elbaf population on my shoulders. I absolutely cannot let that jinx appear and cause trouble at this time."

Haldin's stance was so heavy it was suffocating. He was a warrior who made painful choices for the survival of his people.

The Straw Hat crew all fell silent.

The problem is extremely serious. What stands in the way isn't an enemy force that can be easily defeated; it's the hardest wall within the alliance itself—a wall built of responsibility and fear.

Zoro stood behind Luffy, his eyes extremely sharp. He raised his hand and placed it on the hilt of his sword.

But Zoro didn't draw his sword. His thumb pressed firmly against the hilt. Hajrudin stood there, resolute. This wasn't a battle to be fought lightly.

Sanji stood on the other side. He habitually reached into his pocket, intending to light a second cigarette. His hand froze in mid-air. He ultimately didn't take it out.

Sanji stared coldly at Hajrudin, while simultaneously observing his escape route behind him. His mind raced, calculating the probability of a successful forced breakthrough. He remained silent.

Nami gripped her Clima-Tact tightly, glancing at Hajrudin and then at the key in Luffy's hand.

Her eyes were filled with worry. A faint rumbling sound could be heard outside. Time was of the essence.

Luffy

Nami called out softly. If the argument dragged on any longer, the children and soldiers outside would be the first to give way. There was no time to waste here.

The atmosphere in the open space reached a breaking point.

No one argued loudly. Only heavy breathing echoed. Everyone stuck to their own position. No one could persuade anyone else.

In a stalemate.

"boom"

A deep, resounding roar echoed from the depths of the underworld.

The sound was extremely heavy, like a giant monster crashing into chains and stone walls. The passage shook violently. Dust fell from above.

Everyone's expression changed.

"Boom!"

A second loud bang followed immediately, accompanied by the ear-piercing sound of thick chains grinding together.

Hajrudin's face instantly turned extremely ugly. The entire Straw Hat crew tensed up.

The meaning of the voice was clear. Loki sensed it. Someone arrived with a key. The key that could unlock the restraints was very close to him.

The sense of oppression skyrocketed.

Loki was going berserk. He was desperately pulling on the chains. He wanted to get out.

There was a huge commotion inside. Luffy's eyes hardened even more.

He gripped the black key tighter. The metal edge dug into his palm. He didn't care.

Luffy took another step forward, his foot slamming heavily onto the stone slab.

"Get out of the way, Halding."

Luffy's voice was low. His strength was undeniable.

Hajrudin watched Luffy approach. Suddenly, he swung his massive weapon across the entrance, blocking it even more completely.

"I said. No."

Hailding was equally adamant.

Neither of them made the first move.

Luffy didn't throw a punch. Hajrudin didn't smash his weapon.

Neither side yielded. Two powerful wills clashed fiercely in mid-air. The air itself seemed about to ignite.

Several giant warriors behind them gripped their weapons tightly. Zoro, Sanji, and the others all stopped moving.

At that moment, no one dared to make a move.

Once a real war breaks out, the nature of the conflict will change completely.

Whether or not to release Loki is no longer a matter for discussion. The Straw Hat crew will have to step over their allies to get there.

Time stopped flowing at this moment.

"Boom! Crash! Crash!"

The terrifying clanging of chains echoed again from where Loki was imprisoned. This time, the sound was even louder than before.

Immediately afterwards, a deep, violent voice, filled with endless malice, was forcefully suppressed through the thick bronze stone wall.

Loki's voice echoed throughout the entire underworld.

The sound contained a madness and murderous intent that penetrated all physical barriers.

The voice was like an ancient, ferocious beast that had lain dormant for countless years. The smell of blood filled the air. The cracks in the cage were visible.

A fact is right before our eyes.

The trapped man, Loki, known as the scourge of Elbaf, was fully awake. He was staring intently at them.

The most suffocating thing is...

Luffy has obtained the key. He is now standing in front of the chains.

That's what truly stops him. The first obstacle preventing the key from entering the lock.

It wasn't the Knights of God who destroyed Elbaf. It was Elbaf's own people.