Chapter 1143

Sommers describes it as a representation of the phrase “even love has its thorns”, but Gunko reacts with indifference. Sommers explains to Gunko that love is what will draw in the people who care about someone despite the thorns surrounding them, and the best part about this game for him is imagining the parents attempting to hug their children only to be stabbed by his thorns and the children breaking down in tears over watching their parents scream in agony. Gunko, however, still shows no interest, to Sommers’ chagrin. Killingham asks Gunko which route she picked and she explains she picked the one that would lead straight to the village’s sea clouds, with Sommers adding that it stands out well enough that the giants can see their futility in trying to stop them. Killingham then tells Sommers he needs more salt, causing him to imagine it.

Killingham then lulls Sommers to sleep and extracts the salt from his dream, as he had eaten the Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Kirin, which allows him not only to transform into the mythical being, but manifest people’s dreams as well, explaining the monsters that suddenly appeared. Sommers then wakes up and asks about the “Sleeptids” he extracted from the kids’ minds, and Killingham explains he can do both at the same time. Gunko then says all they need to do is take one of the giant’s boats back to Mary Geoise and their mission will be complete, causing Sommers to complain about how easy this game is. Gunko tells Sommers that trouble will definitely brew since the Straw Hats are in Elbaph too, but the three then notice the kids heading towards the fire, though they decide if they burn to death they can just find more children. In the Underworld, Loki tells Hajrudin he cannot possibly stop him since he cannot lift Ragnir himself, and he once again orders the last cuff be undone before he kills all of the weaklings in the Sun World.

Hajrudin agrees to stand down but Zoro warns him not to as Luffy prepares to attack Loki, knocking him down with a rather weak attack due to his injuries. After Loki collapses, Luffy and Zoro climb his body as the latter figures Loki was bluffing the entire time just to find somewhere he could collapse safely in secret. As Road suspects who it was that attacked Loki, Luffy begs Hajrudin to not let Loki die regardless of what he has done. Gerd starts treating Loki’s wounds and says it will take a few months until he is fully healed. She knows that if he is to make a full recovery he cannot stay in the Underworld, but she also knows the people of the Sun World will kill him if he is taken there. Luffy is surprised to see that the horns on Loki’s head are real, which they say is a remnant of his ancient giant blood that he inherited from Harald. Saying that makes Hajrudin think back to his childhood and how Harald called both him and Loki his sons and how he hopes they work together to support Elbaph after he dies. Unfortunately, Loki looked down on Hajrudin for being weak despite being older than him and insulted him and his mixed heritage. This causes Hajrudin to draw his axe and attempt to kill Loki himself for his parents, but Loki tells him to either get over it or stop wallowing in his personal drama and see the situation for what it is. At that point, Loki asks Hajrudin if he truly believes he killed their father purposefully like everyone says he did.