While the giants of Giant Village bickered among themselves, the Hell Pirates' flying Golden Island loomed closer, cutting through the clouds like a divine judgment.
When Brook's Revive-Revive Fruit awakened, he sensed something unusual in Charlotte Linlin's soul. Hovering above her own spirit was a second soul—one far older, darker. It was the soul of Sister Carmel.
That wretched old hag had underestimated Linlin's monstrous talent. Even at six years old, she had resisted a complete takeover for over a decade. Carmel had managed to seize less than half of her body. Still, that sliver of influence was enough to corrupt her—turning Linlin into a tempestuous, cruel woman.
Had Brook's Fruit not awakened when it did, Carmel might have fully possessed Linlin before she turned twenty. That thought alone made Brook's bones rattle—his woman becoming that twisted old nun? Horrifying.
After devouring the dominant soul of Diger , Brook's powers evolved, and that was when he detected Carmel embedded deep within Linlin. She had claimed nearly 45% of Linlin's body. If it had reached 50%, she would've usurped the main consciousness.
But Brook had acted. Ruthlessly. He annihilated Carmel's soul, and since then, Linlin had changed. Simpler. Gentler. Almost... innocent. Not even Linlin knew her cherished "Mama Carmel" had been a parasite within her all along.
Because the two souls had nearly fused, the power of the Soul-Soul Fruit didn't vanish when Carmel was destroyed. Instead, the fruit's authority fully integrated with Linlin. A blessing in disguise.
"Brother Brook, you held Hades and Osiris for barely a moment compared to how long you cradled Kanna. You're playing favorites, aren't you?"
Stussy giggled behind her fingers. There was a 90% chance the child in her belly was a girl too. She hoped that meant she'd get the same tender treatment in the future.
Brook just laughed. "What's wrong with spoiling your daughter? Besides, Hades and Osiris are in good hands with the crew."
His gaze turned toward Elbaf. Some giants there had witnessed Linlin's past—her terrifying appetite—and that couldn't be allowed to spread.
Before Streusen's memory was wiped, not even Redfield had scoured it. Brook had personally commanded the memory seahorse to keep those horrors buried. But he didn't know how many giants the witness had spoken to. If the entire village knew, it would be... problematic.
He could only blame Carmel. When Linlin found out, she'd be heartbroken.
And if it came down to it—if peace was impossible—Brook would not hesitate to wipe out the entire Giant Soldier Village. He could always rebuild relations with the rest of the Giant Kingdom. Start fresh.
But he needed to know: what kind of strength was hidden within the royal city of the giants? The king of the Giant Kingdom surely wasn't weaker than Kozuki Oden at his prime.
Even a closed-off place like Wano had produced Oden. A nation as open and powerful as the Giant Kingdom, hailed as the strongest in the world, had to have someone at the top—a true titan keeping it all in check.
After all, even Linlin's own parents had chosen to abandon her at Elbaf, knowing full well what kind of place it was. That alone proved how infamous and accessible Elbaf was on the world map.
If the Giant King wielded power close to the Four Emperors—or worse, matched them—Brook would need to reassess the threat level of this so-called "superpower."
According to Rocky intel, the Winter Solstice Ceremony was a nationwide celebration. Villages and the royal city alike were too busy feasting to intervene. It was the perfect time for the Hell Pirates to strike and wipe out resistance in Giant Soldier Village.
Still, Brook didn't know if Rocky's new recruits would be willing to stay loyal after watching their own kin slaughtered. It was a fine line—fear and loyalty.
With a sigh, Brook looked down at his daughter. Just one glance at little Kanna erased all his doubts. The Ryuo Armament Haki coating his body shielded her from the flying island's wild winds.
He returned to his home and gently handed Kanna to Linlin to feed.
Three kids. When they were older, he'd carry Kanna on his shoulders, one son in each arm. Just imagining it made his heart feel warm.
Down in Giant Soldier Village, food towers rose like mountains. Despite their grudges, the giants had shelved their disputes for the festival. Music played, laughter echoed—it was peace, at least for now.
But not everyone was celebrating.
Four giants, still affected by Brook's Seven-Star Sword, harbored deep hatred toward Elder Jarul. They watched him with narrowed eyes, waiting for the chance to silence her forever.
He had been the biggest obstacle to reconciling with Linlin, constantly accusing her of being a demon, spreading fear and distrust.
"Brother Rocky, Captain Brook's arriving today. We need to finish off Jarul before she causes more trouble for him and Lady Linlin," one young giant growled. His alloy armor gleamed, his massive axe glinting under the sun. Brook had saved them from that nightmarish island. Now they owed him their lives—and their loyalty.
"Let them drink their fill," Rocky muttered, voice cold. "Then we kill him. Toss the body into the sea. Let the Sea Kings deal with it."
His hatred burned. Even though Brogy and Dorry were trying to mediate peace, Jarul remained stubborn, clinging to the belief that Linlin was a monster.
Nearby, a middle-aged giant in a horned helmet looked uneasy. He was the one who'd seen Linlin eat people. He'd confided in Jarul, hoping to warn the others.
But Jarul knew the truth—if they challenged Linlin, they'd be massacred. Her strength was unmatched. The best they could do was isolate her, cast her out, and keep the village safe... at least for now.
-------------------
New World, Elbaf - Titan City.
As the capital of the Giant Kingdom, Elbaf's Titan City was especially lively during the Winter Solstice Festival. Villages from across the island, even those nestled near the royal city, gathered to celebrate this sacred tradition that had endured for over a thousand years.
Prince Loki, though in his twenties or thirties by giant standards, still resembled a hyperactive teenager. He darted around the palace like an excited child. Despite its title, the palace was more a fortress—a massive structure built from colossal stones and towering trees, colored in drab shades of gray and brown with little decor to brighten the place.
Yes, this was the same Prince Loki who once cried when Charlotte Lola ran from their arranged marriage. Even his father, King Odin, struggled to understand his son's strange tastes. Loki was obsessed with things others found ugly—the more grotesque, the better. With a short-horned helmet on his chubby, rotund frame, he looked more like a waddling meatball than a prince.
Among giants, sixty years old was like a seventeen-year-old human, just old enough to set out to sea. Loki, in his current age, was just a kid in giant terms.
"This child… he has no fighting spirit. His personality is too gentle... sigh~"
King Odin watched his son with concern. As heir to the throne, Loki should be bold and mighty. Instead, his softness made Odin anxious.
"Your Majesty," a giant warrior stepped forward, voice rough with disdain, "the current generation of the Giant Pirates is a disgrace. Ever since they disbanded over a petty duel, the Winter Solstice has been boring. I suggest we form a new Giant Pirate crew."
He deliberately avoided looking at Loki. In Elbaf, strength ruled all. A weakling—even a prince—didn't deserve respect.
He scorned the former captains of the Giant Pirates, Dorry and Brogy. They had been bested in a trivial dispute, causing their crew to collapse. Worse still, their predecessor, Jorul, had been defeated by a five-year-old girl. A massive stain on the legacy of giants.
That disgrace originated from the Giant Soldier Village. Jarul, their leader, had even declared war on the same child—Charlotte Linlin. When this absurd news reached Titan City, Odin was furious.
How could a proud race like theirs be brought low by a little girl? And yet, thanks to those fools from the Soldier Village, word spread across the seas that the Giant Nation had been humbled by a five-year-old. The shame was too much to bear.
Titan City and many other villages severed ties with the Giant Soldier Village. Some even proposed annihilating them for sullying the honor of Elbaf.
But because Jorul had already died, and Dorry and Brogy had vanished, they were spared. Time passed. A decade blinked by.
Then rumors surfaced: Dorry and Brogy had returned a year or two ago, rallying giants and preparing to go to sea once more. With communication to the Soldier Village nearly cut, Titan City had only just received the intel.
"Dorry and Brogy are back?" Odin's eyes burned with fury. "After the Winter Solstice Festival, bring them in for questioning! Jarul too! Anyone who disgraces the Giant Nation will face justice!"
With a roar, Odin's Conqueror's Haki surged like a storm. His fury shook the very walls.
"Understood, Your Majesty!" the warrior saluted, bowing low under the overwhelming pressure.
He also quietly tucked away his personal ambitions. If Prince Loki was too soft to rule, then any mighty warrior could compete for the crown. That was the Elbaf tradition—the strongest led. But in the past two centuries, fewer giants awakened Conqueror's Haki. The Giant race was weakening.
Still, the Winter Solstice Festival carried on with grandeur. Food, battles, and festive cheers echoed across the land.
Far off on the horizon, small shadows appeared against the sky. A fleet of flying ships escorted a golden island, racing toward the shores of Elbaf.
"Brother Rocky! A call from Captain Brook! They're almost at the Giant Soldier Village. Should we go meet them?"
A young giant in sleek alloy armor respectfully stowed away a massive Den Den Mushi, excitement gleaming in his eyes as he reported to Rocky.
Their elite team was poised to lead the Soldier Village and eventually move on Titan City. With the Hell Pirates backing them, it was only a matter of time before they seized the throne.
"Lord Brook's orders are clear," Rocky said firmly. "Our top priority is to capture Jarul and the one closest to him—Kavo. The two have been seen conversing often in recent years. Capture both."
Rocky didn't need to understand Brook's motives. He only needed to follow them. Dorry and Brogy wouldn't escape either. Soon, the four of them would dominate the Giant Village.
Each member of their squad had taken Vegapunk's SIQ-ES formula—a strength-enhancing serum. Their power had soared, but the cost to their lifespans remained a mystery.
With state-of-the-art alloy equipment, they were confident in defeating the two former captains, the Elder Jarul, and even Kavo.
The more radical giants in the village were torn. On one hand, seizing power during the sacred Winter Solstice was deeply taboo. On the other, they longed for strength and glory.
"You want to be like us? Strong, unstoppable, armored in steel? Then prove it. Show your resolve. That master is watching."
Rocky's voice dripped with temptation. Their gleaming armor made even seasoned warriors green with envy.
Elbaf remained primitive in many ways, relying on hunting and farming. Even Dorry and Brogy wielded basic iron weapons, carried wooden shields, and wore crude animal-skin outfits.
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