~ Thank You for 300 Powerstones, Here's Your Bonus Chapter!
~ 18 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
<><><><><><><><>
FWOOSH!
Flames roared to life, roasting chunks of dinosaur meat, filling the air with a primal, savory aroma.
"GABABABABA! Don't be shy! Eat up! Dinosaur meat is delicious! Consider it repayment for the booze you brought," Brogy boomed with his signature laugh.
Rowen didn't hesitate, grabbing the largest piece and taking a hefty bite.
"Not bad," he commented, smiling.
It was his first time eating dinosaur meat. Though simply seasoned, the flavor was good—a primal, meaty taste, somewhat akin to chicken (which made sense, given the evolutionary link), but richer, juicier, and firmer in texture.
Rowen used his Superhuman Demonic Physique to digest the meat, noting that while not as nutrient-dense as Sea King meat, it was still significantly better than ordinary animal meat.
"You guys try some too! You won't find dinosaur meat anywhere else," Rowen encouraged Nami and the others.
"He's right! GABABABABA!" Brogy laughed heartily.
With Rowen present, Nami felt confident enough to overcome her fear of the giant, unlike her potential reaction in the original story where she might have feared being eaten. She cautiously carved off a small piece with her knife and tasted it.
"The flavor is very unique," Nami remarked, her eyes widening slightly. The novelty combined with the primal taste made it quite an experience. Vivi and Robin also tentatively sampled the prehistoric flavor.
"Mr. Brogy, how long will it take for the Log Pose to set on this island?" Nami asked, looking up.
Despite Rowen's presence, this was still a prehistoric island teeming with dangerous creatures; Nami was eager to leave as soon as possible. Plus, Vivi's country was in turmoil; returning sooner was crucial.
Vivi immediately looked up as well, anxious to get back home.
"One year," Brogy replied cheerfully between bites of meat and gulps of booze.
"ONE YEAR?" Vivi and Nami exclaimed simultaneously.
"Is-Isn't there any way to make it record faster? A year is too long!" Vivi cried, standing up in panic, her fear of the giant momentarily forgotten. If they were stuck here for a year, who knew what would happen to Alabasta?
"Calm down, Vivi," Rowen said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Rowen..." Vivi turned, and seeing his calm expression, feeling the warmth from his hand, her anxiety inexplicably subsided. 'Rowen must have a plan.'
"Have you forgotten why Crocodile targeted Alabasta in the first place? It's because of the Poneglyph there detailing the location of Pluton, one of the three Ancient Weapons. The only person currently capable of reading that Poneglyph is right here with us. The initiative is ours; Crocodile is the one who should be panicking. If I'm not mistaken... pursuers should already be on their way to this island, shouldn't they? Right, Miss Historian?" Rowen asked, looking towards Robin with a smile.
"A brilliant analysis," Robin replied, her lips curving elegantly.
Power and intellect—both crucial for survival on these seas. This man possessed not only immense strength but also remarkable intelligence.
'He really fits the description of a future King of the Seas.' Robin's interest deepened.
"So, we just need to wait here for them to deliver themselves to us. And to get here, to retrieve Miss Historian... what do they need?" Rowen prompted Vivi with a smile.
"An Eternal Pose for Alabasta!" Vivi blurted out excitedly.
"Exactly. So sit down and enjoy the food," Rowen chuckled.
"Thank you, Rowen," Vivi murmured gratefully, amazed at how Rowen had resolved her worries with just a few words. It seemed no problem was too difficult for him. Vivi looked at Rowen, her eyes shining brightly.
"You humans talk too complicated! Warriors of Elbaf only need to think about one thing: Fighting! GABABABABA!" Brogy declared, finding their conversation confusing and returning his focus to eating and drinking.
RUMBLE!
Just then, the volcano on Little Garden erupted briefly.
"Hm? Time's up," Brogy's expression instantly shifted, becoming that of a focused warrior.
"Are they here?" Rowen's eyes lit up.
"Wh-What's going on?" Usopp asked nervously.
"That's the signal! The signal for my duel with the other guy—a duel that's lasted a hundred years!" Brogy laughed.
"Duel? A hundred years? With who? Why?" Usopp fired off questions.
"The reason? I forgot long ago! Now, it's just for the honor of an Elbaf warrior! GABABABA!" Brogy stood up, throwing his head back with a booming laugh.
"DORRY!!!" Brogy roared, looking towards the distance.
There, another equally massive figure stood, gazing back at Brogy with fierce fighting spirit.
"GEGYAGYAGYA! BROGY!!!" Dorry replied with his own signature laugh.
WHOOSH!
The next moment, the two giants charged, colliding with tremendous force.
BOOM!
The impact sent shockwaves radiating outwards.
"S-SUGEEEEEE! They're aiming for each other's vital points. And they've been fighting like this for a hundred years?!" Usopp stared blankly, utterly dumbfounded.
"Fighting to the death for a hundred years without remembering the reason?" Nami watched the giants clash, finding it hard to believe.
"This—is what it means to be a warrior of the sea. Fighting for honor!" Rowen laughed heartily.
For the warriors of Elbaf, honor was everything. Though perhaps single-minded, did a true man's battle really need complex reasons?
"That's right! I want to become a man with that kind of noble sense of honor!" Usopp declared, his eyes shining with newfound determination.
"..." Vivi watched Rowen laugh, pressing her lips together.
As an eighteen-year-old princess, she couldn't fully comprehend the philosophy Rowen spoke of. But watching him, listening to him, her heart pounded inexplicably fast...
<><><><><><><><>
CLANG!
After over a century of continuous battle, Dorry and Brogy's physical energy was long since depleted. Their current fights couldn't last long; the stamina recovered during brief rests was quickly exhausted.
Soon, both Dorry and Brogy were panting heavily.
"It's been over a hundred years... I'm starting to miss home, Brogy," Dorry gasped, laughing.
"Then I'll just have to defeat you and return to Elbaf!" Brogy retorted, laughing breathlessly.
The next moment, their smiles vanished, replaced by deadly seriousness as they prepared for one final, all-out blow.
"ROOOOAR!" Both giants bellowed, swinging their weapons towards each other's vital points.
SQUELCH!
Just then, thick white wax suddenly erupted from the ground beneath Dorry's feet.
"What?!" Already committed to his attack, his body's momentum thrown forward, Dorry stepped onto the unexpected wax and instantly lost his balance.
"ROAR!" Brogy's axe descended towards the vulnerable Dorry.
CLANG!
"Rowen?!" Nami and the others cried out in alarm.
Rowen had suddenly appeared directly in front of Brogy's descending axe, his fist, coated in Armament Haki, blocking the massive blow!
'The strength of a Giant... truly immense!' Rowen thought, feeling the force transmitted through his fist, his eyes narrowing. Even completely exhausted, their strength was incredible. As expected of innate warriors.
"ROWEN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING???" Brogy roared, his eyes turning red.
"Calm down, Brogy—Look at Dorry's feet!" Rowen replied coldly. 'The Bomb-Bomb Fruit was taken... did Mr. 3 attack earlier than expected?'
"His feet?" Brogy looked down and saw the thick layer of hardened wax trapping Dorry. "What is this? Did this thing make you lose your balance, Dorry?" Brogy bellowed, his eyes bloodshot with fury. Winning an unfair duel was a warrior's shame!
"Interfering with a sacred duel between warriors?! Cowardly scum—Show yourself!"
BOOOOM!
A tyrannical crimson-black light flared violently in Rowen's eyes.
The next moment, it erupted outwards like a physical storm, accompanied by Rowen's enraged roar!
Crimson-black lightning crackled wildly through the air! The massive jungle vegetation warped and bent under the force of the tangible Conqueror's Haki storm.
Countless prehistoric creatures within the jungle instantly went white-eyed and collapsed unconscious.
"C-Conqueror's Haki?!" Dorry and Brogy stared, their giant eyes wide with disbelief.
This man possessed the disposition of a King!
Seeing the Haki already causing tangible physical effects, Dorry and Brogy were stunned. They could tell this man was incredibly young, yet he possessed Haki of this level!
<><><><><><><><>
Deep within the jungle.
Several Baroque Works agents were gathered. Mr. 3 and Miss Goldenweek; Mr. 1 and Miss Doublefinger.
Just as Rowen suspected, after losing contact with Robin, Crocodile grew impatient and dispatched his trump card early—the Mr. 1 pair—to Little Garden to intercept Vivi and retrieve Robin.
BOOM!
"Mr. 3! Miss Goldenweek!" Miss Doublefinger stared incredulously as Mr. 3 and Miss Goldenweek suddenly went white-eyed and collapsed unconscious.
Mr. 3's combat strength was only average (even weaker than Mr. 4), his rank owing more to his cunning. But he was still the user of the Wax-Wax Fruit! Yet he fainted just from that man's roar?
Thud!
Mr. 1 dropped to one knee, his face contorted in pain.
"Mr. 1?!" Seeing even Mr. 1—the most terrifyingly strong among them—affected, Miss Doublefinger's eyes filled with horror. 'What IS this power?'
Thump! Thump!
Two more heavy thuds sounded as an otter and a vulture fell unconscious from the sky nearby.
"The Unluckies? What in the world happened?" Miss Doublefinger looked around frantically; among the high-ranking agents present, only she remained unaffected and able to move freely.
"Found you." Just then, a cold voice sounded nearby, making Miss Doublefinger's pupils constrict, cold sweat drenching her body.
"White Blow——!"
WHOOSH!
Several streams of spiraling smoke descended from above, instantly capturing the remaining agents.
"Sky Sovereign Rowen?" Seeing the man floating effortlessly in the air, his arms transformed into smoke, Miss Doublefinger stared in horror. Her own Devil Fruit ability was completely useless against this power!
Thump! Thump!
With several heavy thuds, the captured agents were dropped unceremoniously before Vivi, Nami, and the others.
"Mr. 1! Mr. 3! Miss Goldenweek! The Unluckies? And this person is... the owner of Spider's Cafe?" Vivi gasped, covering her mouth as she recognized the captives.
Miss Doublefinger's identity was top secret, second only to Crocodile himself; she usually operated under the guise of the Spider's Cafe owner, a Baroque Works contact point.
"Her true identity is Mr. 1's partner, Miss Doublefinger," Robin commented calmly, unsurprised by their presence. Mr. 1 was Crocodile's strongest subordinate; sending him to check on her status was expected.
"Miss All Sunday! Have you betrayed the Company?" Miss Doublefinger hissed, glaring at Robin, cold sweat beading on her forehead.
Crocodile's identity was absolutely top secret, known only to Robin. Thus, Robin effectively served as Baroque Works' second-in-command, relaying Crocodile's orders. For such a figure to defect...
"I was captured~ Miss Doublefinger," Robin replied with a faint smile.
But Miss Doublefinger didn't buy it; Robin didn't look like a captive at all. However, Miss Doublefinger had no time to dwell on Robin's situation.
Because that terrifying man—Rowen—was approaching, accompanied by the two giants.
"The Wax-Wax Fruit user. He was the one who used cheap tricks just now," Rowen stated coldly, looking down at the unconscious Mr. 3.
"Bastard!" Brogy roared, his eyes bloodshot. With one swing of his massive axe, he ended Mr. 3's life.
"Plunder!"
Before Mr. 3's body was completely pulverized, Rowen extracted the Wax-Wax Fruit Trait and associated physical energy. After absorption, it yielded two Deep Purple Upgrade Materials.
'Mr. 3's strength really wasn't much. Only relied on the Wax-Wax Fruit's properties for combat effectiveness.'
"Vivi. That bundle has what you need," Rowen indicated the dropped package carried by the Unluckies.
Vivi blinked, then realization dawned. She rushed towards the Unluckies' bundle and found it—the Eternal Pose for Alabasta.
Vivi's eyes shone with relief and joy.
<><><><><><><><>
Whoosh!
Rowen landed gently back on the ground.
"Rowen. I found it, The Eternal Pose for Alabasta—" Vivi rushed over to Rowen excitedly, throwing her arms around him and jumping up and down.
"Th-That is... I got too excited," Vivi quickly realized her actions, blushed furiously, and let go of Rowen, glancing cautiously towards Nami.
Nami simply smiled back at Vivi. She understood the feeling.
THUD! THUD!
Just then, to the astonishment of Nami and the others, Dorry and Brogy knelt before Rowen, performing the solemn salute of Elbaf warriors.
"Apologies. We doubted your intentions earlier, suspected you would interfere with our duel," Brogy stated gravely.
"You—protected the honor of our duel. Rowen, We are eternally indebted!" Dorry added, having learned Rowen's name from Brogy's earlier shout, his expression equally solemn.
"Rowen! From this day forward—you are our eternal friend! Upon these seas, should you ever have need of us—no matter where you are, we shall come! We swear this in the name of Elbaf's God!"
Dorry and Brogy declared in unison, looking at each other, then back at Rowen.
For the warriors of Elbaf, honor was more important than life itself.
A duel concerning honor was the pursuit of their lifetime. Rowen saving the honor of their duel meant more to them than saving their lives. Giants, towards friends they truly acknowledged, would brave fire and water anywhere on the seas if needed.
This was the Giants' Oath...
Their Promise!
<><><><><><><><>
~ 18 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
https://p-atreon.com/dragonnx
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)
<><><><><><><><>
~# Keep the chapters coming — Support with Power Stones!
~# Every 300 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter