"Me too..."
Hearing Brogy's simple-minded response, the corner of Daren's mouth twitched slightly.
"Ahem. Since you two have agreed, let's get started then!"
"Huh? We're not drinking first?"
Brogy stared longingly at the massive jug of liquor in Daren's hand, clearly reluctant to let it go.
Dorry, too, couldn't take his eyes off it.
With a grin, Daren recorked the jug, set it down behind him, and stepped forward, shielding it with his body.
"Good wine is best enjoyed after a great battle, don't you think?"
At that, both Dorry and Brogy's eyes lit up.
"Yeah, that makes sense."
"Hahaha! You're pretty funny for a little guy—I like you!"
They looked at the human before them with newfound admiration. It seemed they'd begun to accept Daren.
This little guy was different from the others. Sure, he was small, but his heart and spirit were giant-sized.
"Then let's go!"
Dorry confidently grabbed the massive sword stuck in the ground and looked down at Daren's "tiny" figure.
"Don't go down too easy now!"
Brogy readied his battle axe and round shield. The rising battle intent in his eyes was clear, and as his axe clashed against his shield, a low, resonant hum rang out.
"Which one of us do you want to fight?"
They glared at Daren, faces red with excitement, looking like they were ready to kill if he didn't pick them.
But despite the fierce aura, their expressions came off more dopey than intimidating.
"Both of you. Come at me together," Daren said with a smile.
The two giant warriors froze.
A surge of anger bubbled up inside them.
"Are you serious?"
"Little guy, don't think just because you've got giant-level strength, you're actually our match!"
Two massive pairs of eyes locked onto Daren, radiating pressure.
"I'm serious," Daren replied, a devil-may-care grin curling at his lips.
"Come on—try and kill me."
"Otherwise..."
He raised an eyebrow and reached out with his right hand.
Zzzzz...
Crackling blue arcs of energy danced between his fingers.
A strange force rippled through the air, and behind the Marine Vice Admiral, the giant iron crates suddenly groaned and buckled as if being crushed by an invisible hand. Metal twisted and groaned, collapsing inward.
Jar after jar of precious liquor from every sea shattered one after another, their rich, fragrant contents spilling out onto the ground.
"No!"
"What are you doing!?"
Dorry and Brogy's eyes instantly turned red.
To giants who loved alcohol as much as life itself, Daren's actions were downright blasphemous.
"My wine!!"
Brogy lost control first. His face flushed deep red, his beard and hair bristled like a raging demon, living up to his fearsome title of "Red Ogre."
"You dare make a fool of us!!"
His pillar-like arms tightened around the massive battle axe. With a single, furious swing, he cleaved through trees and earth, bringing the axe down on Daren.
With such terrifying force behind it, nothing stood a chance. Trees and boulders were ripped from the ground and hurled into the air.
"Now we're talking."
Instead of flinching, Daren looked pleased.
The giants were a unique race. Aside from their unimaginable strength and long lifespans, most of them had a... simple way of thinking.
In other words, all that muscle had squeezed out whatever brainpower was supposed to be there.
But for a race born for battle, that trait wasn't a flaw—it made it easier for them to fall into a battle frenzy and unleash even greater power.
Bring it on!
Show me what a giant's strength really looks like!
A roaring wind and dust storm surged forward, whipping Daren's white cloak into a frenzied dance.
He bent his knees and lowered his body.
As he drew in a deep breath, he raised his hand—straight into the attack!
No techniques. No Armament Haki.
Just raw, unfiltered strength!
Boom!!
The instant his hand met the giant axe, it felt like being slammed by a Buster Call warship at full speed. Daren's body was flung backward across the ground, dragged along by the sweeping blow!
Dust erupted, soaring skyward.
As Brogy unleashed his full power, the jungle at the island's center exploded in a storm of debris. Towering trees were leveled in an instant, the land cleared like grass before a mower.
Boom!!
The titanic axe slammed into a mountain, making the twenty-meter peak tremble violently. Boulders rained down as the axe carved a massive, horrifying gash into the heart of the cliff.
"Damn it! Brogy, you idiot! Are you trying to kill him!?"
Dorry's face twisted in alarm as he cursed.
Brogy, eyes bloodshot and full of anger, growled back,
"My wine is gone!"
But before he could finish, he suddenly stiffened and looked down.
He saw his battle axe, which had been driven deep into the mountain, starting to loosen and tremble.
Brogy's pupils shrank. He could feel it—a force just as powerful as his own was pushing back against him through the axe!
"What... how is this possible?"
Staring in disbelief, he quickly realized that the force was still growing stronger. Bit by bit, under that pressure, his embedded battle axe was being pushed out of the mountain wall!
Brogy's face flushed bright red.
Dorry also sensed that something was wrong, his eyes widening as he stared at the unfolding scene.
Rocks crumbled, and dust filled the air.
From the shattered, scarred cliff face, the massive battle axe was slowly retreating.
A dust-covered hand gripped the blade tightly!
Dorry and Brogy's pupils shrank simultaneously.
"Hey, big guy..."
The human grinned up at them and said,
"Have you eaten yet?"
"Damn it!!"
Dorry roared in fury, his beard flying wildly.
Both hands gripping his ten-meter-long greatsword, he slashed down with overwhelming force!
The explosive might of the strike was so intense it tore through the air with sharp, cracking booms.
Since this brat's body was as tough as diamond, there was no need to hold back...
Let him see firsthand what true Elbaph strength meant!
Rip!!
The greatsword came crashing down, shredding the mountainside like it was nothing but wet paper.
But Daren just grinned fiercely and suddenly raised his hand.
Boom!!
A massive shockwave erupted, blasting away countless trees and boulders.
The mountain, already weakened by Brogy's strike, couldn't withstand the force. It crumbled completely, collapsing into rubble!
The earth cracked open, leaving a giant crater fifty meters across, fractures spiderwebbing out in all directions.
In the middle of the chaos, the Marine Vice Admiral stood firm—one hand gripping the axe, the other the sword—like an unmovable wall against the raging storm.
He threw back his head and laughed, his black hair and white cloak whipping wildly around him.
"Hahahaha! You truly are among the mightiest warriors of Elbaph!"
"I, Rogers Daren, acknowledge you!"
Strength +0.11!
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
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