Chapter 230: The Final Test of the Bloody Trial

Karl narrowed his eyes, watching Loki intently. He didn’t step in to interrupt—he wanted to see just how much power Loki could unleash.

In the original story, a single giant in Dressrosa could hurl tens of thousands of tons into the air. Sure, he was injured in the process, but it just proved how terrifying the giants’ explosive strength could be.

Karl wanted to judge for himself whether that kind of strength was normal for the Giants, or if only a rare few could tap into it. If all giants were like this, no wonder their kingdom was hailed as the world’s strongest.

Loki tossed aside his blade and shot forward like lightning, swinging a fist at Karl’s head. His punch gleamed with a metallic sheen, sending a gust of wind right at Karl.

It caught Karl off guard—he hadn’t expected Loki’s speed to skyrocket after his outburst. He tilted his head to dodge, feeling a wild wind whip past his cheek.

“Is this what you wanted?” The halberd in Karl’s right hand faded away. Since Loki wanted a brawl, Karl had no reason to refuse.

He bent his body, left fist rocketing out. In the next instant, Loki’s stunned face flew away as Karl sent him soaring.

Loki’s expression was priceless—like he couldn’t believe it. Even after powering up, he’d been knocked back so easily.

But before he crashed, Loki was already twisting in midair, landing with an odd footwork. As he came down, his presence only grew heavier—the very air pressing down, as if a mountain was dropping from above.

“What is this, a falling-from-the-heavens move?” Karl actually had the mind to crack a joke.

“Golden Light Spell!”

A golden whip shot from Karl’s right, coiling around Loki’s waist. With a sharp flick, Karl smashed him to the ground.

Boom!

“What’s this power of yours? Is it a Devil Fruit or something?” Even though Loki was slammed down, he actually wasn’t hurt much.

What stunned him was Karl’s mysterious ability.

Karl had no intention of revealing his trump card—that’d just be stupid.

Closing the gap in a few long strides, Karl swung a foot at Loki’s gut the moment he got close, landing a clean kick.

Bang!

Loki didn’t expect Karl to fight so dirty. He was still talking when Karl attacked, and his body was too slow to react. Sent flying into the air, Loki felt a wrenching pain deep inside.

Just as Loki was airborne, Karl didn’t let up—chasing after and landing a second aerial kick like he was teeing up a soccer ball.

Loki’s body rocketed like a cannonball, slamming into a distant wall several kilometers away, leaving a human-shaped dent behind.

“Whoa, that human is incredible! Even Prince Loki lost to him!”

“You think he’ll really clear the Bloody Trial?”

“Yeah, hard to believe, but this human’s made it to the very last step. He might actually pass the trial!”

The giants burst into cheers nearby. No one had cleared the Bloody Trial in years, all thanks to Prince Loki guarding the final stage.

In their culture, might made right. Anyone who could best them in combat was worthy of their respect.

But the king of the Giants, seated at the head, looked grim. He hadn’t expected Karl could really make it through. Forgiving Charlotte Linlin was one thing, but a human passing their Bloody Trial…

It wasn’t just about Linlin’s pardon either. If a human could conquer the Bloody Trial, what did that say about the Giants…

“Karl!” A thunderous roar brought everyone’s attention snapping back.

Boom!

A bolt of black lightning shot straight for Karl, the shockwave blowing chunks of earth skyward.

Karl’s eyes stayed calm. He knew Loki wouldn’t go down so easily, but also knew Loki still couldn’t beat him. So he wasn’t afraid in the slightest as Loki charged.

A massive fist came flying right at his face.

Karl didn’t flinch. He flexed his muscled right arm, his fist wrapped in swirling Armament Haki, and threw a punch right back.

Smash!

The floor blew apart. Stones blasted skyward as the center of the arena exploded—slabs weighing tons sent flying by the collision.

Boom! Bang!

The two clashed again and again.

Hours passed before Loki finally began to tire.

Staring at the tireless Karl, Loki couldn’t help but blurt, “Are you even human?”

For a moment, Loki seriously doubted it. Karl hadn’t slowed at all after thirty days of nonstop combat—no human should be able to do that.

It was simply inhuman.

Karl met Loki’s disbelieving gaze and said quietly, “Believe what you want. I really am human.”

“And if you don’t, well, there’s nothing I can do about it.” That’s classic scoundrel logic—if you don’t believe me, what can I say?

Loki still doubted Karl’s claim. In his eyes, Karl had to be some rare species.

“Enough talk—this is your last chance. Survive my final attack, the win’s yours.”

Karl’s eyes burned as he fixed on Loki. He’d long since wanted to end this tedious fight, but couldn’t hurt Loki and couldn’t lose either—it was frustrating. “All right then. Let’s finish this—sooner the better.”

Loki bristled, angered by Karl’s casual tone. He felt downright disrespected.

He clenched his fists and dashed forward, moving with a sudden burst of speed.

Karl’s gaze sharpened. Since this was the final phase, maybe it was fine to let loose a bit more.

He stood his ground, settling into his Eight Extremities Fist stance. “Eight Extremities Fist – Dazzling Strike!”

The moment Loki entered his range, Karl struck with blistering speed.

Their fists met with an explosion of sparks, sizzling through the air.

Loki twisted, his left hand turning knife-sharp as he chopped down hard at Karl’s shoulder.

Bang!

Of course, Karl wouldn’t just stand there—he raised his right leg, blocking Loki’s strike.

But this was exactly what Loki was waiting for. He grinned triumphantly and suddenly kicked out, aiming a vicious strike at Karl.

Clang!

To Loki’s shock, a golden sheen spread over Karl, forming a giant bell that enveloped him.

Now determined to end it in one move, Karl held nothing back.

He flashed a mouthful of perfectly white teeth. “Close Mountain Crash!”

From Loki’s viewpoint, Karl’s pose looked bizarre—but it radiated deadly menace.

Karl didn’t hesitate. His right elbow shot into Loki’s chest and Loki felt an unstoppable force slam into him, sending him flying, coughing up blood midair.

“So this is your real strength?” Loki was sent flying but wore an excited grin instead of defeat.

He couldn’t help thinking—my strength still isn’t enough, I couldn’t even force this guy to give it his all.

Loki hit the ground and rolled a few times. Pain seared through him and, with a final sigh, he blacked out.

His consciousness fading, he just barely caught the sound of someone shouting, “Someone, help quick!”