Bab 19: Chapter 18: Powerlessness
Back inside their modest home, the atmosphere was thick with tension and sorrow. Jaxon sat at the table, his heart pounding as he faced his mother and the gathered neighbors. He needed to know the truth.
"Mom, please, tell me what happened," Jaxon pleaded, his voice cracking with a mix of fear and determination.
His mother wiped her tears, struggling to keep herself together. "Your dad and his crew went to an island where a Celestial Dragon was visiting. Some pirates caused a disturbance, and the Celestial Dragon was... enraged."
Jaxon felt a cold shiver run down his spine at the mention of the Celestial Dragon. "And then?"
Bjorn, his father's old friend, stepped forward, his voice filled with grief. "They called in an Admiral. Most of the pirates on the island were massacred. We don't know about your dad and his crewmates, but Rorik's name wasn't listed among the dead."
"That's... something," Jaxon said, his voice barely a whisper. "But where are they now?"
Uncle Jack sighed deeply, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. "There's a chance your dad is either dead or taken to Impel Down."
Jaxon felt his heart drop into a bottomless pit. Impel Down, the infamous underwater prison, was a place of nightmares. "Impel Down... NO! We can't let that happen. We have to do something."
"There's nothing we can do," Uncle Jack said, his voice heavy and final.
Jaxon stood up, his voice rising in desperation. "What do you mean, nothing? We can't just abandon him! If they're on the way to Impel Down, we can still save him!"
The room was silent, the air thick with despair. Jaxon looked at each face, searching for any sign of hope, but finding none. He turned to his mother, who was sobbing uncontrollably. "Why? Why are you all just standing here? Giants don't abandon their own! Why won't you help him?"
Jack's face contorted with anger and frustration. "Listen, kid! There's no guarantee Loid is still alive. And even if he is, going after him is suicide. We're talking about an Admiral escorting those prisoners! Do you understand what that means? We can't just throw our lives away on a fool's errand!"
Bjorn's voice was weary and filled with sorrow. "Jaxon, this is the harsh reality. We're not strong enough to take on the Marines. Your father made his choice when he became a pirate. Even our mightiest warriors can't stand against an Admiral. We can't risk everyone's lives on a hopeless mission."
Jaxon felt a storm of emotions tearing him apart—anger, despair, helplessness. He slammed his fists on the table, tears streaming down his face. "So we just give up? We just let them take him?"
His mother reached out, placing a trembling hand on his. "Jaxon, your father is a brave man. He knew the risks, but that doesn't make this any easier. I can't bear the thought of losing him. I just don't know what we can do."
Jaxon looked around the room, seeing the pain and resignation etched on every face. His anger gave way to a deep, aching sorrow. "Dad wouldn't want us to just give up," he said, his voice breaking. "He'd want us to fight for him."
Uncle Jack's voice was hard, almost cold. "Fight? With what, Jaxon? We can't take on an Admiral. We'd be marching to our deaths."
Bjorn's voice was weary and filled with sorrow. "Your father knew the price of being a pirate. Sometimes, there's nothing we can do but mourn and move on."
Jaxon wiped his tears, his resolve hardening into steel. "I don't accept that. I won't. I'll train, I'll get stronger, and I'll find a way to bring him back. Even if I have to do it alone."
His mother hugged him tightly, her tears mingling with his. "Oh, Jaxon. Just promise me you'll be careful. I can't lose you too."
But Jaxon couldn't stay. The walls of their home felt like they were closing in, suffocating him with their hopelessness. Without a word, he turned and bolted out the door, running as fast as his legs could carry him. He ran through the village, past the concerned faces of neighbors, and into the forest.
He ran and ran, his mind a whirlwind of emotions—anger, fear, determination. The trees blurred around him, the ground uneven under his feet. He didn't know where he was going; he just knew he had to keep moving.
Eventually, his legs gave out, and he stumbled, falling down a steep incline. He tumbled through the underbrush, his body battered by rocks and branches, until he finally came to a stop at the edge of a cliff. With one last gasp, he lost his footing and fell, plummeting into the darkness below.
Jaxon landed hard, but miraculously uninjured. As he lay there, gasping for breath, he heard the sounds of the forest around him. The rustling of leaves, the distant calls of birds, and then, something more ominous. The ground shook as a pack of giant predators closed in on his location—massive wild animals and giant dinosaurs drawn to the noise and the scent of a potential prey.
He was about to be surrounded, the circle of predators tightening. Panic surged through him, but then something inside him snapped. A massive wave of power emanated from within him, a force so intense it rippled through the air. The predators halted, their eyes wide with fear. Some fell unconscious on the spot, while the stronger ones turned and fled in terror.
Jaxon didn't know what had happened, nor did he care. He was consumed by a torrent of emotions—anger, sadness, despair. He clutched his head, screaming his pain into the uncaring sky. The power within him surged again, before finally ebbing away, leaving him utterly exhausted.
With one last, heart-wrenching sob, Jaxon fell unconscious, lying alone in the forest. His body was motionless, but within him, a newfound determination burned brighter than ever. He would train, he would grow stronger, and he would bring his father back, no matter the cost.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone