"The Summit of the High West…"
As someone well-acquainted with Skypiea, Kuina paused, frowning in thought as a flicker of recognition surfaced in her eyes.
"…Wait a second. Could it be… the skies above the West Blue?"
"You mean there's a path to Skypiea from the West Blue?"
Ever since she acquired the Float-Float Fruit, Kuina had simply flown to Skypiea on her first visit. Later on, she'd relied directly on the Lightforged Beacon to teleport there. She had hardly ever considered how people originally reached the Sky Islands.
"That's likely the case."
Wright tapped his fingers on the table. "But did you ever notice… the West Blue is also home to several Giant settlements."
"Decades ago, during the Ohara Incident, the former Marine Vice Admiral who was killed by Kuzan-senpai—Jaguar D. Saul—was from there. So was Sanjuan Wolf, the 'Colossal Battleship' who died during the Impel Down incident, and Morley, the commander of the Revolutionary Army's Western forces. All of them are Giants from the West Blue."
"…!"
Kuina's eyes widened in realization.
"Are you saying… the Giants of the West Blue also guard a World Tree? And that tree is the so-called 'Summit of the High West'?!"
Wright nodded. "That's highly probable. Which means that the Treasure Tree Adam, located in Elbaf, might actually serve as a pathway to the Sky Islands. And perhaps even more than that…"
His eyes narrowed, a subtle smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Given how special the Treasure Tree Adam is… it might not just be a passage to Skypiea."
"I see…"
Cold sweat formed on Kuina's brow.
"So the Red-Hair Pirates used the Treasure Tree Adam in Elbaf to reach the White-White Sea, crossing 10,000 meters of sky and the Red Line directly… That's how they managed to appear at Marineford so quickly and end the Summit War!"
"That's just a theory… but if it's true, here's the question: Why was it Shanks who could pull this off?"
Wright reminded her, "Shanks' power structure has always been one of the greatest mysteries. Even the Marines and other Emperors don't understand how he expanded his territory so quickly and rose to become one of the Four Emperors."
"Shanks' personal strength—and the average strength of the Red-Hair Pirates—is terrifying. But without a vast support network, even a pirate crew as strong as his couldn't have 'ascended to the throne.' One ship alone doesn't make you an Emperor."
"You don't mean—" Kuina looked at him, incredulous. "Wright-senpai… are you saying Shanks' trump card is Elbaf, the strongest nation in the world?!"
"I can't help but suspect it." Wright shrugged. "There's no conclusive evidence yet, but the fact that Shanks is warmly welcomed in Elbaf… that much is more or less confirmed."
He sighed. "And there's something that's bothered me for a long time. Shanks' ship, the Red Force, has the exact same figurehead design as the ship used by the Giant Warrior Pirates, who ruled the seas a century ago."
"A dragon head, twin horns, crossed swords… The Giant Warrior Pirates were entirely made up of Elbaf's giants."
For younger Marines like Kuina, the Giant Warrior Pirates were already the stuff of legend. Who would remember what their ship even looked like?
And in the current day, Elbaf's presence at sea was limited to a few pirate mercenaries. The former glory of the Giant Warrior Pirates was long gone.
Their modern ships, with mere ox skull figureheads, didn't even come close to deserving the iconic dragon-horned prow of old.
"Senior brother… if that's the case, then even if Elbaf isn't directly under Red-Hair's command, they're at least equal allies!"
Kuina said seriously, "Which explains everything. If Shanks has the strength of Elbaf backing him, it makes perfect sense how he became a Yonko."
"Exactly… But why, though?"
Wright rested his chin on his hands—an unconscious habit he'd picked up from Sengoku.
"What could Shanks have done to earn Elbaf's friendship—or even their loyalty?"
"Elbaf is known as 'the Strongest Nation in the World.' Countless powers covet their strength… even the World Government hasn't managed to set foot on Elbaf after all these years."
"So what makes Shanks different?"
Wright's grin widened, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"I'm getting more and more intrigued. How exciting…"
"Looks like I'll have to pay Elbaf a visit myself."
...
The Giant Kingdom of Elbaf was a vast island.
On this island, where the Treasure Tree Adam stood tall, many Giants lived clustered in towns and villages surrounding the World Tree.
Together, they formed what the world knew as the Giant Kingdom of Elbaf. But the legendary Giant Warrior Pirates that shook the seas a hundred years ago? They were merely warriors from the most combative part of Elbaf—Western Village.
In truth, most of Elbaf's giants were gentle and peaceful. But because of the Giant Warrior Pirates' brutish image, the world had come to stereotype Elbaf—and the entire Giant race—as violent savages.
Giants possessed immense power. The ones who joined the Marines were, without exception, promoted directly to Vice Admiral rank. And those were considered the younger giants.
With lifespans exceeding 350 years, the current Giant Vice Admirals were still in their prime. So trying to ask them for details about Elbaf from a century ago? Not likely.
Back then, they were still nobodies. But there were two exceptions who just might remember.
Little Garden—known as the Prehistoric Island—was a place where primordial life had survived untouched. A chain of active volcanoes fueled the island's energy. Dense jungles and primeval beasts roamed freely.
Even dinosaurs, long extinct elsewhere, still lived here.
Two Giant warriors had been locked in battle on that island—for a full century.
The Giant Warrior Pirates had existed for hundreds of years, always led by two captains per generation.
The previous generation's captains were known as the "Giant Heroes"—Mountain Beard Jarul and Waterfall Beard Jorul.
And the two current captains, who terrorized the seas a century ago, were the ones dueling now on Little Garden:
"Blue Ogre" Dorry and "Red Ogre" Brogy.
Their sudden disappearance due to an unresolved duel had left the Giant Warrior Pirates leaderless. With no one to rally behind, the group returned to Elbaf—where the Marines swiftly exploited the chaos and crushed them.
When the Straw Hat Pirates visited Little Garden, Dorry and Brogy helped them defeat the Sea King known as the Island-Eater. In doing so, they broke the weapons they'd been using for over a hundred years.
The two giants were now resting in a temporary truce, waiting to reforge their arms.
In all this time, Marine HQ had never discovered their presence on Little Garden.
But Wright… he knew.
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