Chương 6: Chapter 06: The Colossus Nindo
**Chapter 06: The Colossus Nindo**
The jungle exhaled a humid breath, thick with the scent of moss and damp earth. A canopy of dense, interlocking branches filtered the golden sunlight into scattered beams that danced on the forest floor, where ferns stretched their fronds skyward. The air shimmered with heat, a suffocating warmth broken only by the soft gurgle of a river winding lazily through the wilderness. By the riverbank, animals gathered: a pair of deer sipping cautiously, their ears twitching at every sound, while monkeys chattered from the safety of the trees. Brightly colored birds swooped low to the water's surface, their wings flashing like jewels before disappearing into the green expanse.
Deeper within this primeval world, a massive figure reclined against the side of a jagged mountain. The colossus's crimson hair caught the light like a smoldering flame, his piercing red eyes half-lidded in apparent boredom. Rings of iron adorned his muscled forearms, each one etched with battle-worn scars, while his clothing was a peculiar blend of warrior's leather and weathered cloth—a testament to countless battles fought. Beside him lay a colossal axe, its blade embedded in the ground, exuding a silent menace.
The giant stirred, tilting his head slightly as his gaze drifted northward. His voice, low and resonant, broke the tranquility of the jungle.
"I sense two presences nearby," he muttered, his tone laced with amusement. "Being chased by a mere cat, are they?"
That "mere cat" was a towering white tiger, its sleek fur gleaming like fresh snow, currently pursuing two figures through the dense forest. The pair—Teach, his bulky frame panting heavily, and Meliodas, the slight blond boy whose green eyes burned with determination—were a curious sight against the chaotic backdrop. The tiger's growls echoed through the trees as it lunged, swiping at its prey with claws that could shred steel.
But the chase came to an abrupt end. Teach, his arm now coated in the shimmering black sheen of Armament Haki, pivoted on his heel and struck the tiger with a thunderous blow. The beast collapsed, skidding across the forest floor, its growl fading into silence.
From his vantage point, the colossus chuckled deeply, rising to his feet with a slow, deliberate motion. He grasped his axe and slung it across his broad back, the weapon groaning under its weight. Each of his steps sent tremors through the ground, causing birds to take flight and smaller creatures to flee.
"Finally," he bellowed, his voice carrying through the trees, "a challenge worth my time! It's been too long since anyone dared visit me."
Teach wiped the sweat from his brow, his chest heaving as he turned to Meliodas, who stood rooted in place, staring wide-eyed at the approaching giant. The boy's astonishment was palpable.
"That's... a giant?" Meliodas whispered, his voice barely audible.
Teach, already drenched in sweat from the ordeal with the tiger, shot him a grim look.
"This is bad," he muttered. "Really bad." His eyes darted toward the colossus, who now loomed closer, his shadow swallowing the clearing.
The giant stopped a few paces away, crouching slightly to examine the pair. His crimson eyes bore into Meliodas, who seemed impossibly small by comparison. A deep rumble escaped the giant's throat as he straightened, shaking his head.
"A child? You brought a child here? Do you expect me to waste my strength on someone who can't even hold a sword?" He turned his gaze to Teach, his expression hardening. "I've buried countless pirates who've come seeking the treasure I guard. If that's why you're here, you'll find only death."
Teach's brow glistened with fresh sweat as he forced a grin. "Now, wait just a moment! Did you see that mountain just now? It's cracking!" He pointed dramatically at the peak behind the giant, his voice rising in mock alarm.
The colossus narrowed his eyes, glancing over his shoulder at the unblemished rock. "What are you—"
The instant his attention wavered, Teach moved. With surprising agility for his size, he hoisted Meliodas onto his shoulder and bolted into the jungle. The boy squirmed, his protests muffled by the sounds of snapping branches and heavy footsteps.
"Teach! What are you doing?" Meliodas demanded.
"Shut up, kid!" Teach hissed, his voice laced with desperation. "If anything happens to you, the old man will have my head! I'm not about to let Whitebeard's favorite son die here!"
As they fled, Meliodas turned his head, his emerald eyes locking onto the giant who now stood motionless, watching them with a mixture of irritation and disdain. Slowly, the colossus reached for his axe, the weapon gleaming in the fragmented sunlight.
"A shame," he muttered. "I am Nindo, king of war. The thing I despise most is cowardice." He raised the axe high above his head, his voice booming across the jungle. "Die like the cowards you are!"
The axe came crashing down, splitting the ground with a deafening roar. A shockwave of air and debris surged forward, uprooting trees and scattering animals. The force of the attack sent a storm of leaves and dirt billowing toward the fleeing pair.
Teach risked a glance over his shoulder, his face pale. "Damn it, no time to dodge—!"
Before he could finish, Meliodas wriggled free, somersaulting through the air. His small frame seemed almost insignificant against the oncoming wave of destruction. Yet, in that moment, his expression shifted—calm, resolute, his green eyes glowing with an eerie intensity. Drawing a dagger from Teach's pack, he flipped it deftly in his hand and slashed downward.
"Full Counter!"
The blade met the shockwave with a metallic clang, and in a dazzling burst of energy, the attack reversed direction. The amplified force surged back toward Nindo, its roar even louder than before. The colossus raised an arm instinctively, the iron bands around his wrist absorbing the brunt of the impact. The bands shattered, sending shards of metal flying, and a thin line of blood trickled down his forearm.
Teach stared in open-mouthed disbelief. "What the…?"
Meliodas landed lightly on the ground, his dagger still glowing faintly. He turned to face the colossus, his voice steady.
"Sorry, big guy, but there's something I need on this island. Care to step aside?"
For a moment, silence reigned. Nindo looked down at the thin line of blood on his wrist, then back at the boy who stood defiantly before him. His lips curled into a slow, predatory grin.
"That... was you?" he murmured. "A runt like you caused this?"
.
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