The rib I had unleashed with all my strength could no longer be stopped. It shot out of my hands like a spring wound to its very limit, snapping free. The air around crackled, as if the world itself tried to hold back the strike—but failed.
— HURAAA! — I roared, releasing the bone.
The next second—the rib slammed into Dorry's shield. A dull thunderous impact rang out, as if a mountain had collapsed into a valley. The metal boomed, like a hundred bolts of lightning had struck it at once. I heard the giant brace his legs against the ground with effort—the earth cracked beneath his feet, stones flying to the sides.
But… the sound went further. The shield groaned.
A crack, thin as a hair, ran across its surface. Then another. And another. They converged in the center like a spiderweb.
I couldn't believe my eyes.
— It broke… — I whispered, adrenaline surging into my blood.
Dorry looked at the shield, and for the first time, his face twisted not with rage but with surprise.
— You… — his voice echoed across the valley. — You broke it… My shield!
For the first time in a hundred years…
He hurled the shield aside. The massive slab crashed into the ground, raising a pillar of dust. Now only the sword remained in his hands, and that somehow made him even more terrifying—every ounce of the giant's fury was focused into the blade.
— Well, damn… — I exhaled heavily, feeling my chest burn. — But if I could break through your defense… then I can reach you too!
I clenched my fists, my arms instantly turning into coiled springs, ready to fire.
Dorry stepped forward. Stones rose, the ground trembled beneath me, and the air vibrated. He lifted his sword and brought it down from above.
— Bane Bane no Mi: Spring Soru! — I shouted.
My legs stretched into elastic springs, and I leapt to the side so fast I could barely follow my own movement. The sword struck the ground, and where I had just stood, a deep rift opened, as if a chunk of reality itself had been torn away.
I rushed sideways, and at the moment the giant tried to pull back his sword, I spun.
— SPRING TORNADO!
My body became a whirling storm. Limbs stretched into springs hammered his leg. A heavy thud echoed across his skin, his muscles trembled. But Dorry made no sound.
I charged again, as if the earth itself were a trampoline, and slammed my spring-loaded fist straight into his stomach. The blow drove deep, forcing the air out of the giant's chest in a violent burst.He staggered, took a step back, and for the first time, his eyes gleamed not only with the fury of battle—but with respect.
— Boy… — he rumbled, clutching his stomach. — You don't just jump and bounce like a grasshopper. You can strike—and strike hard.
I was gasping, blood still running from my nose, but I didn't release my tension. My heart pounded so loudly I could barely hear anything around me.
The wind carried the sharp smell of sulfur—the volcano rumbled louder and louder, as if the world itself was declaring our fight near its end.
— Let's end it here, — Dorry said in his deep, booming voice, looking down at me. He was still ready to continue, but in his eyes flickered something else—respect.
I collapsed onto my back, gulping for air.
— I survived… — the only thought that crossed my mind.
My bones hummed inside me like heated iron rods. Every movement sent waves of pain so sharp I could barely move.
— Feels like half my body's broken, — I muttered to myself, sensing every vein burning.
Bruises began spreading across my arms, my skin darkening, as if blow after blow had carved itself into me.
"Damn…" flashed through my head. "Seems I did more damage to myself than to him."
Dorry lowered his sword, driving it into the ground. His gaze was still heavy, but his voice carried no anger:
— You survived a battle with a warrior of Elbaf, — Dorry's voice rumbled, shaking the air. — That alone is victory.
I let out a hoarse laugh, wiping the blood from my lips.
— Give me three years, — I said, struggling to breathe. — Then I'll give you a real fight. One where you won't have to hold back.
Dorry's thick brows rose, then his mouth stretched into a grin wide as the whole valley.
— You even realized that… Good. Then in three years, or however long you need—come to Elbaf! — his voice thundered like storm clouds, and something inside my chest burned in response.
He lifted me in his palm, like a child, and carried me back. From the height of his massive stride, I saw the entire valley. Dust billowed in the distance—another fight was raging there. Or… maybe it was already over. A giant's silhouette was walking toward us…
When we returned to the feast, Dorry gently set me down.
— Hey! Let's continue the banquet! — he boomed, as if nothing had happened. His voice was filled with joy…
— For Elbaf! — Dorry and Brogy roared almost in unison, clashing their massive mugs of frothing drink.
Their laughter rolled through the valley, drowning even the volcano's rumble.
I lay on the grass beside Sabo. He didn't look much better—his face bruised, his suit covered in dirt and blood, his eyes half-closed, yet still grinning.
— We really got ourselves into it, — he exhaled, glancing at me.
— Ha… that's putting it mildly, — I croaked back.
Karina sat nearby.
Her eyes shone with tears, her hands trembling as she covered her face.
— If not for my words, you wouldn't have had to suffer so much… — she said, her voice shaking. — If I were stronger, you wouldn't have had to go through this!
I turned my head, struggling to push myself up on one elbow.
— Karina… — I began, but my breath caught, and I had to pause. — We didn't suffer because of you. We suffered because we chose this path. That was our decision.
Sabo nodded, raising a hand and waving it as if brushing off the pain.
— Yeah, and you know what? — he looked at her with a genuine smile. — It was damn fun.
Karina froze, tears still streaming down her cheeks…