The eyes of the radical young giants turned bloodshot as they stared at the alloy armors worn by Rocky and his four companions. For most giants, owning an iron-tipped spear was already a mark of wealth.
Metal armor was a rarity in Elbaf. In the Giant Kingdom, a ten-meter-long steel sword was a prized possession, crafted by the most skilled blacksmiths among the giants. With even basic weapons in short supply, armor—time-consuming and resource-intensive—was almost mythical.
Outside the sea, giant-sized weapons were nearly impossible to buy. Few businesses catered to giant customers, and those who did often failed due to the minuscule market. Most giants had to bring their weapons from Elbaf themselves.
"Let's do it! Brother Rocky, when do we move?" one of the younger giants asked, practically drooling at the thought of donning alloy gear.
"Right now. Go toast Dorry and Brogy, grab their weapons—and then we go to war!" Rocky said after downing a mouthful of wine.
Lord Brook's airborne fleet was on its way, and Rocky knew they had to show results before it arrived.
The radical giants quickly scattered, each seeking out key crew members of the Giant Pirates. Their goal was clear: capture them before anyone could react.
No one in the Giant Pirates expected these radicals to attack during the Winter Solstice Ceremony. Didn't they fear the wrath of their ancestors?
The festival was thrown into chaos. The peaceful celebration erupted into panic as elders, women, and children ran for cover. Dorry and Brogy turned to face the assailants, their fury simmering.
Even if a war was inevitable—couldn't it wait until after the festival?
Worse still, their weapons had been stolen. Now, they could only fight back with bare hands against Rocky's armored warriors.
Despite the disadvantage, Dorry and Brogy held their ground. Though their combat strength had dropped without their weapons, their experience and martial prowess gave them an edge over the younger warriors in alloy gear.
Meanwhile, Rocky personally went after Elder Jarul—the one who had issued the order declaring hostility toward Charlotte Linlin.
"Rocky! Don't let Charlotte Linlin deceive you—she's a Carmel…" Jarul warned.
But Jarul was old—359 years and frail. He was no match for Rocky's strength. Back when Linlin caused havoc in the Giant Soldier Village at the age of five, Jarul had already been 345. His brother, Jorul, was 344. They both had been crushed back then—Jorul fatally so.
"I will become the new chief of the Giant Soldier Village! You're in my way, old man!" Rocky roared.
He didn't care about Linlin's crimes. He only wanted one thing—power. To become Brook's foothold into the Elbaf Kingdom.
"You ungrateful fool… you'll lead us all to ruin!" Jarul spat, just before Rocky kicked him square in the chest. Blood gushed from the elder's mouth as he collapsed, unconscious.
Nearby, the veteran giant warrior Kavo was struck down by another radical in alloy armor. His dual-horned helmet shattered. The younger giant, unable to control the strength of his alloy axe, cleaved through Kavo's body in a single fatal blow.
Kavo—the only living witness to Charlotte Linlin's act of cannibalism—died before he could reveal the truth.
Now, only Jarul remained, unconscious and vulnerable.
Even Brook couldn't have predicted things would go so smoothly. He had only instructed Rocky to neutralize Jarul and those close to him.
When Dorry and Brogy witnessed their fallen kin and the elder's collapse, their rage ignited. They grabbed nearby weapons, retaliated with fierce precision, and pushed back the alloy-clad radicals step by step.
They weren't just giants. They were veterans—masters of Elbaf's ancient combat arts, hardened by decades of dueling on Little Garden.
"Rocky, traitors like you don't deserve to call yourselves giants! We'll end your rebellion here and now!" Dorry thundered.
"You're relics! It's time we forged a new path for the Giant Village!" Rocky snapped back. "You let the crew scatter, join the Navy, or worse—serve as guards on Enies Lobby like lackeys. Some even joined the Ice Demon Pirates and got slaughtered by the Rocks Pirates!"
That stung. Dorry and Brogy couldn't deny it. Their endless duel had fractured the Giant Pirates. This homecoming was supposed to mark a new beginning, not bloodshed.
Before the battle could continue, shadows fell over the battlefield.
Brook's flying fleet descended like a celestial armada, and with it—Golden Island hovered in the sky. Everyone paused, stunned.
Dorry and Brogy looked up. They recognized the ship and the man.
Brook had been the one to convince them to leave Little Garden. He'd given them alloy weapons and a purpose—to rebuild the Giant Pirates and mend relations with the Giant Soldier Village. Their plan had been to challenge each other one last time upon Brook's arrival to resolve their feud.
But Rocky's coup had shattered that hope.
Brook stood at the edge of Golden Island, his eyes sharp as his Observation Haki scanned the battlefield. His mission here was twofold—take control of the Giant Soldier Village, and erase any threat to Charlotte Linlin's secret.
The cannibalistic truth could never be exposed.
With precision, Brook narrowed his focus. Rocky was waving up at him. Near Rocky feet lay Elder Jarul, and not far from him—a corpse matching the description of the witness.
"Dead already?" Brook smirked. "Good job, Rocky."
Still, one task remained.
Brook descended with his crew, and with a flick of his finger, a transparent Soul Slash—razor-sharp and nearly invisible—cut through the air.
Jarul, still unconscious, had his life snuffed out in an instant. Brook's expression didn't change. Rocky had failed to finish the job. He had no choice but to intervene.
The elder's life aura vanished completely.
Several awakened giants—those with trained Observation Haki—felt it immediately.
They turned and glared at Rocky, their fury boiling.
------------------
The Hell Pirates' fleet landed squarely between the two camps—the Giant Soldier Pirates led by Dorry and Brogy, and the rebel Titan Pirates led by Rocky.
Tension filled the air like crackling thunder. Both factions glared at each other, weapons drawn and emotions high.
"Looks like we've walked into a family feud," one of Brook's crew muttered. "Rocky's with us… but Dorry and Brogy are also friends of the captain. What now?"
Brook stepped forward, letting his presence wash over the crowd. His cold yet playful voice rang out.
"Yohohoho~ Seems I've arrived at a bad time. But perhaps you can do me a favor? Let's not fight. Let my dear Linlin enjoy her caramel puffs in peace. What do you say?"
As he spoke, Brook's overwhelming Haki began to radiate across the battlefield. With the main witnesses to Linlin's cannibalism now dead, all that remained was to confirm whether anyone else knew the truth.
His plan was simple: let Linlin eat openly. If any giants reacted suspiciously—panic, fear, revulsion—they would be dealt with immediately. If no one stirred, the scandal could finally be buried.
And if it ever surfaced again... well, Brook would handle it then.
"Lord Brook, your words are too kind," Rocky said with a low bow. "Please allow the Giant Pirates to officially join the Hell Pirates. From this day forward, we fight under your banner."
He wasn't exaggerating—Rocky had founded the Giant Pirates in open defiance of the Giant Soldier Pirates, but now he was eager to align with the Hell Pirates. He'd spent weeks spreading their name across Elbaf, selling them as mightier than even the dreaded Ice Demon Pirates.
And with good reason—the Hell Pirates were one of the New World's two ruling powers. Their officers were monsters capable of shaking the world itself.
But Dorry and Brogy were furious.
"Brook, step aside," Dorry said, gripping his weapon tight. "Rocky murdered Elder Jarul and ruined the Winter Solstice Ceremony. That traitor must pay. After we deal with him, we'll apologize to you properly."
Their instincts screamed at them—once Rocky was under Brook's protection, no one would be able to touch him. It had to be now… or never.
Brook's smile faded.
"So… my face as a Overlord isn't even worth that of Shanks, huh?" he said softly. "That's disappointing."
"Mmmm~ caramel puffs! I haven't had these in over ten years!" Charlotte Linlin suddenly squealed with delight.
She rushed over to the towering pile of sweets and began devouring them, her face glowing with childish joy. The familiar taste made her tremble—old memories rising from the depths.
"Where are you now… Mother Carmel… my friends...?" she whispered behind trembling hands.
Some of the giants looked at her in stunned silence. The girl they once feared had grown into a stunning woman. But the warnings of Elder Jarul echoed in their minds—"Don't approach her. She's a demon."
Brook scanned their faces, reading every expression.
Most wore contempt. Some sneered in disgust. But a few… a few trembled with fear.
That was enough.
Brook's eyes narrowed.
Whether they knew the truth or not, fear meant risk. And risk could not be tolerated.
For Linlin—his family—he would commit any sin necessary.
"Brook, are you really going to protect Rocky?" Dorry demanded, stepping forward with Brogy beside him, weapons raised.
Brook said nothing. He merely watched Linlin eat. Then, one by one, he marked the giants who had shown fear.
He turned toward Rocky and nodded.
Rocky grinned wide and bellowed, "CHARGE!"
His armored warriors stormed forward, clashing head-on with the Giant Soldier Pirates. The battlefield exploded into chaos once more.
And Brook moved as well.
From his fingertips, soul energy shimmered and shot forth—deadly, invisible slashes. Several giants collapsed without a sound, their souls severed cleanly.
Their lifeless bodies dropped where they stood.
Brook exhaled. "Good. The last loose ends… tied."
Still, he hesitated. If this battle continued, too many would die—potential allies, all.
Before he could intervene—
"STOP FIGHTING!!!"
Charlotte Linlin's shriek rang out like a cannon blast.
The sheer force of her voice sent shockwaves through the field. Several giants fell over, clutching their ears in agony. Her roar might as well have been Conqueror's Haki.
The battlefield fell into stunned silence.
Despite everything, Linlin didn't hate the giants. She still admired their strength, their pride. What she didn't realize… was that this whole war had erupted because of her.
Dorry and Brogy lowered their weapons—but their eyes were full of pain and anger. They stared at Linlin, unable to hide their resentment.
Brook caught the look—and his fury ignited.
In a blur, he appeared before them. His Seven-Star Sword flashed once, twice—cutting matching scars across their bodies.
"Aghhh!" both men cried out as dark energy pulsed through their wounds. The sword's strange aura overwhelmed them, robbing their strength.
Brook's Haki erupted outward in full force, dropping dozens of weaker giants in an instant.
"You won't give me face?" Brook said coldly. "Then don't expect any in return."
Did Dorry and Brogy really think they stood equal to him?
Golden Lion Shiki and Whitebeard Newgate had once praised these two, but times had changed. Brook had invested in them—shared Elbaf martial arts, donated alloy weapons, supplies—but if they couldn't recognize who held the reins now, then so be it.
The battle could've ended in countless deaths. Brook had no choice but to subdue them quickly. A bloody rebellion now would be a waste of potential.
With the conflict settled, Brook turned to Rocky.
"This village is ours now," Brook declared. "It's time to use it as our foundation… and conquer all of Elbaf, just like we took Kuri and overthrew Wano."
Elbaf's economy was primitive. Barter still reigned. Weapons, animal pelts, and fine wine were currency.
But therein lay opportunity.
If they established a weapons market here, they could draw in even more giants. Brook was already picturing it—a fortress of alloy and Haki, a production base for war.
He still didn't fully understand the combat power of Giant King City. But for now, they had a foothold.
If Jarul hadn't held onto a deeper secret, Brook might've allowed Redfield to probe his memories instead of killing him. But the risk was too high.
"Rocky," Brook said, his voice calm and commanding, "you're in charge now. Secure the village. Count the survivors. Begin construction immediately."
This village may have once been toppled by a five-year-old Linlin—but under Brook's flag, it would become something more.
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