The way of the Giants (3)
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"Hit it with the will to destroy it!"
Rock shouted to the Red-haired boy as Shanks punched the large rocky mountain with his bare fist. He only wore black pants that were oversized.
"Haaah!" Shanks screamed and punched the mountain. His fist was covered with reddish black energy. His magic...Destruction took over.
BAAM!
Shanks placed a gaping hole from one side of the mountain to another. He destroyed everything in his path.
"God damn it!" Shanks screamed as it was...he had lost count already of the times instead of Haki he had used Destruction.
Again.
Destruction Magic. Not Haki.
He looked at his trembling fist. The reddish-black energy still fizzled faintly before fading into nothing. His breathing was rough, and his knuckles were scraped despite the power that coated them.
Rock approached, arms crossed. "You're too emotional."
"I'm trying," Shanks muttered. "I really am."
"I know," Rock said, voice even. "But you're mixing up rage with resolve. You want to destroy the wall... but Haki isn't about destruction. It's about will. A still heart. Not a burning one."
Shanks stared at the hole he had made in the mountain.
"Sigh. Please, fix the wall." Shanks said and Rocks grinned before touching the mountain. His magic power filled the mountain and instantly there was no hole.
Shanks steadied his breath and took a gulp from the drink he had come to like even though it had questionable ingredients.
'The Giants have even started mixing a bit of alcohol in the drink.' Shanks thought.
He then picked up the small glass vial that had purple liquid inside it.
POP
Shanks popped opened the bottle and poured the liquid on his fist. Steam came out of his knuckles, but Shanks grinned and put the lid on it again and placed it to his side.
The vial was a type of medicine or a healing potion though Shanks did not know if it even worked.
PUNCH
Shanks started punching the mountain again. Concentrating for a bit before punching the mountain.
'I got to destroy it! Destroy the mountain not with my Magic but with my will itself. I have to destroy it. Destroy it.Destroy it.' Shanks thought as he repeatedly punched the mountain. Closing his eyes and concentrating before opening it and punching it. Mixing it with his breathing.
He punched and punched again.
'Destroy it. Destroy it. Destroy it. Destroy it...I am missing something. Des- No -' Shanks stopped momentarily 'Get Destroyed!'
WHOOSH
Jet black energy erupted around Shanks' fist. Not red. Not chaotic. Not Destruction.
BOOOM!
A deep thud echoed as his punch landed and this time, it wasn't destruction magic that did the work. It was solid. Heavy. Pure will.
The surface of the mountain cracked deeply, splintering like glass struck by a hammer. Dust flew everywhere.
Shanks stumbled back, eyes wide.
"That… that wasn't magic," he whispered, staring at his trembling hand. The coating did not cling, but Shanks stared at his arm before.
"That's...armament."
They both said at the same time and looked at each other. The both had the same expression - Mouth wide open and eyes wider.
Rock then grinned. "You...did it!"
"Yeah...I did it!"
A grin tugged at his lips.
"Hell yeah…" Shanks muttered.
Rock clapped him on the back with a force that nearly knocked him over. "Don't get cocky. That was step one. Now you gotta learn how to use it without screamin' your lungs out."
"I know. I know." Shanks chuckled.
Crotch and a couple other kids rushed up, arms full of fruit and some oversized bugs they'd caught for fun.
"You broke the mountain again!" one of the 'little' giants gasped in awe. "Did you use your magic?"
"Nope." Shanks said with a grin.
Crotch's eyes lit up. "Big bro Rock. Teach me what you are teaching Shanks as well."
"Sure." Rock said but laid down and started napping.
"Big bro!" Crotch screamed but to no avail so Crotch neared Rock and started disturbing him, but Rock gave him no mind.
Shanks laughed but seeing this a part of him yearned for his family.
"Let's Race!" Shanks said and started running towards the village.
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Shanks sat on a thick log bench near the fire pit, gnawing on a juicy cut of roasted beast meat. Smoke curled lazily into the sky as the night settled over the village.
"Boy," came a deep voice.
Shanks looked up to see Elder Brott approaching, his long white beard swaying slightly with each step. The elder's wrinkled hands were folded behind his back, and his expression was calm but firm.
"Elder Brott," Shanks greeted, swallowing his bite. "Want a piece?"
The old Giant chuckled. "Not today. I've come to ask a favor."
Shanks sat up a little straighter.
"There is a letter," Brott said. "It must be delivered to the Elder Circle in Stonerest."
Shanks blinked. "Stonerest? Where is that?"
"It's in Occident. I know it may seem far, but we have a way to get there quickly. Don't worry at most you will be there for a week."
Shanks nodded. "Sure."
'Occident eh! Isn't it the continent that is east of Ishgar?'
Shanks thought. He was excited of the prospect of going to another continent though in future he would look back at this as the biggest mistake of his life.
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Seven Months Later
Shanks said goodbyes to everyone as he left the Sun Village. To return...home.
...
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Author's Note: Volume 1 is over! (This fic will be going on a break. For Volume 1 I did not organize anything and just wrote anything that came to my mind. From now, the fic will be more planned and detailed so stay tuned! Updates will be regularly posted.)
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