"I'll slash!"
"I'll chop!"
A cold gleam flashed through the air, followed by a thunderous gust.
Two sizable mountain peaks were cleanly cleaved down the middle, sending boulders tumbling in all directions.
Dorry and Brogy held their new weapons with exhilarated expressions, treating them like priceless treasures.
They swung the Green Dragon Crescent Blade and the Eight-Span Serpent Spear with wild abandon—like children who'd found the perfect stick near the village gate—tearing through the hills and forests around them. Nothing remained untouched in their wake, and the two had an absolute blast.
"Gyagagaga! These are amazing weapons! And the name—Green Dragon Crescent—sounds cool too!"
Dorry slammed the blade into the ground with a deafening thud, causing the earth to hum like an earthquake. He laughed heartily.
"Brother Daren, this weapon you forged is even better than the one made by Elbaph's old blacksmith!"
Brogy, meanwhile, spun the Eight-Span Serpent Spear in his hands with gleeful obsession, so thrilled that white smoke puffed from his nostrils.
"Yeah, yeah! Way better than my old battle axe!"
"Kabababa!"
They couldn't be happier.
For a warrior of Elbaph, nothing was more precious—or more sincere—than receiving a weapon that fit their strength and style.
And just from a few test swings, they could already feel the overwhelming power of these uniquely shaped weapons.
Heavy, sharp, and perfect for the brutal combat style of the giants.
To be blunt, with these weapons in hand, their fighting power had increased by at least thirty percent—maybe more!
"As long as you're satisfied, Dorry-san, Brogy-san."
Daren smiled.
He wasn't some master blacksmith, but thanks to the powers of the Jiki Jiki no Mi, crafting these weapons hadn't been difficult.
When it came to forging technique, he couldn't compare to the famous smiths who made Meito across the seas. But these two giants didn't need Meito.
What they needed, simply put, were massive, heavy, blade-edged clubs.
As for the specific forms—Green Dragon Crescent Blade and Eight-Span Serpent Spear—that was just Daren indulging in his own sense of fun.
Of course, even if they did want a Meito, no smith could make them at that scale anyway. It was just too much.
"There's a saying in my homeland: 'A treasured sword for a true hero.' As the mightiest warriors of Elbaph, the two of you absolutely deserve weapons like these."
"Honestly, I only regret that my skills aren't better. Dorry-san, Brogy-san—you warriors of the sea deserve far more than what I could manage."
Daren spoke humbly.
Hearing that, Dorry and Brogy immediately flushed red with excitement, their bodies trembling.
Brogy's eyes even welled with tears.
What praise!
Brother Daren was even apologizing for not making better weapons!
"No, Brother Daren, this is already an incredibly precious gift!"
Dorry bowed deeply and said solemnly,
"We really don't know how to thank you for giving us these weapons... Please, don't be so formal and call us '-san' anymore. From now on, let's call each other 'brothers.'"
He paused mid-sentence, then as if a thought struck him, his eyes lit up.
"Wait!! Why don't the three of us become sworn brothers!?"
Brogy's eyes went wide with joy and he nodded vigorously.
"I'm in!"
Daren furrowed his brow, hesitating.
"But... brothers, I'm not of giant blood. I'm still human at the end of the day..."
"That doesn't matter!"
Brogy waved his hand, unconcerned, and laughed.
"You can get big, can't you? That's good enough!"
"No difference at all!"
Daren: "..."
This big oaf...
He turned to look at Dorry, who was watching him with serious eyes and said with deep conviction,
"We may have met in combat, but we understood each other instantly. This is how it should be!"
"Nothing else matters."
"Brother Daren may not be a giant by blood, but in spirit and strength, you're every bit an Elbaph warrior!"
"Please accept our oath!"
He clasped his hands and bowed deeply.
"Sigh... Well, in that case, I won't stand on ceremony."
Daren let out a long breath and "reluctantly" agreed, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Wonderful! Gyagagaga!" Dorry cheered, punching the air.
"Kabababa! So how do we decide who's the big brother?" Brogy asked eagerly.
"If we go by age, Brother Daren would be the youngest!"
Daren's mouth twitched.
Thankfully, Dorry smiled and said,
"We giants are a warrior race—age doesn't matter."
"Brother Daren is stronger than both of us... and even bigger..."
He suddenly paused, his expression stiffening as if he recalled something awkward.
Brogy's face was just as sheepish.
Dorry bowed solemnly.
"Brother Daren, please become our sworn brother, and be our big brother!"
"From this day on, I, Dorry the Blue Ogre, swear on the honor of Elbaph... I will go through fire and water for our big brother's cause!"
Brogy eagerly followed suit, clasping his hands and bowing deeply.
"Me too!"
Seeing them like this, Daren couldn't help but feel stirred. He clasped his fists and laughed heartily.
"Good!!"
Dorry grabbed the Green Dragon Crescent Blade planted in the ground, while Brogy picked up the Eight-Span Serpent Spear and looked toward Daren.
"What about your weapon?"
Daren thought for a moment, then suddenly waved his hand.
From the distant sky, a streak of eerie black light shot toward him, caught lightly between his two fingers.
The cursed blade Enma, stained with the blood of countless powerful foes, looked no bigger than a toothpick in the giant Daren's hand.
"Enlarge."
Daren smiled and gave a low command.
Enma trembled for a moment, then—under Dorry and Brogy's stunned gaze—began to grow rapidly!
In moments, it transformed into a massive black greatsword, over ten meters long!
"Amazing! Your weapon can grow bigger too!"
Brogy exclaimed in awe.
Daren chuckled, raising Enma high, and the other two lifted their weapons as well.
The three weapons clashed high in the air, releasing a piercing screech.
Then Daren poured wine into their massive cups and raised his own high.
"I, Rogers Daren..."
Dorry raised his cup.
"I, Dorry the Blue Ogre..."
Brogy lifted his cup with a grin.
"I, Brogy the Red Ogre..."
Daren's voice was full of passion as he laughed loudly.
"Today, witnessed by the ancient island of Little Garden, and in the name of Elbaph's glory, we three are hereby sworn as brothers!"
Clang!
Three enormous cups smashed together, and the amber wine rippled with the brilliance of newfound brotherhood.
Across the ancient island's land, three mighty giants threw back their heads, downed their drinks, and roared with thunderous laughter.
"Big brother!"
"Second brother!"
"Big brother!"
"Third brother!"
...
The next day.
The bonfire burned low and finally went out.
On the shores of Little Garden, merchant ships lined up one after another. Crews unloaded piles of fine wine, food, and other supplies onto the land.
When everything was ready, the caravan leader approached Daren respectfully, his face full of eager smiles.
"Daren-san, everything you requested has been delivered. Is there anything else you need?"
Daren, having returned to his human form and now dressed in a finely tailored black tailcoat, gave a slight smile.
"No. I'll have the payment sent to you later."
"No, no need!"
The caravan leader bent low in fear and respect.
"This is the will of Doflamingo-sama. It's an honor to serve Doflamingo-sama."
Daren glanced at him, then chuckled and waved him off.
"Alright."
The caravan leader immediately took the hint and led his fleet away.
"Gyagagaga, Brother Daren, are you leaving?"
From the forest behind, Dorry's massive figure slowly emerged.
Brogy poked his head out too.
"Yes, I have a banquet to attend."
Daren answered with a smile.
Brogy grinned mischievously.
"Kabababa, is it a lady's invitation?"
Daren smiled slyly.
"Of course."
The two roared with laughter.
"So jealous!!"
"Marines can be this carefree?"
"They're even freer than pirates!"
Daren couldn't help but laugh and curse at them.
"I've spent my life fighting—can't I enjoy myself a little?"
He narrowed his eyes, gazing out over the endless sea, his smile deepening with a playful edge.
You must be dying to see me, right, Your Majesty?