I stared up at the giant warrior standing before us, my neck craning at an angle that would probably give me a headache later.
The massive figure towered above the tree line, his building-sized sword still dripping with dinosaur blood as he surveyed our small group with the kind of casual interest you'd show a particularly interesting insect.
'This is fine. Everything is fine. Just another perfectly normal day in the Grand Line, where we're standing in front of a twenty-meter-tall Viking warrior who just decapitated a Sauropod like he was cutting vegetables for dinner.'
The giant's laugh—"GEGYAGYAGYA!"—echoed through the forest like rolling thunder, and I had to resist the urge to cover my ears.
The sound was so deep I felt it vibrating in my chest cavity, which was deeply uncomfortable and suggested that exposure to this level of noise pollution might cause permanent hearing damage.
'Note to self: add "industrial-strength earplugs" to the list of survival equipment needed for Grand Line adventures.'
Vivi had gone completely pale beside me, her eyes fixed on the giant with the kind of terror usually reserved for witnessing natural disasters.
Karoo wasn't doing much better—the duck had actually hidden behind her, which would have been adorable if we weren't all potentially about to become giant-sized snacks.
"QUACK..." The sound was barely audible, more of a whimper than an actual vocalization.
'Can't blame them. This is objectively terrifying from any reasonable perspective. A being large enough to use our ship as a toy, who just demonstrated his ability to kill creatures that shouldn't exist with casual ease. Most sane people would be running right now.'
Zoro, to his credit, looked wary rather than terrified. His hand had moved to rest on his sword hilts—not drawing them, but ready to.
His body language screamed alertness, that combat-ready state he slipped into whenever genuinely dangerous opponents appeared.
'At least the swordsman has functioning survival instincts. Though knowing him, he's probably calculating whether he could actually fight a giant rather than contemplating the wisdom of avoiding conflict with something that could step on us.'
I, meanwhile, was trying to reconcile what I was seeing with what I remembered from the manga.
Dorry. One of the two captains of the Giant Warrior Pirates. A legendary figure who'd been dueling his friend Broggy on this island for a hundred years over something so trivial that neither of them could probably remember what started it.
"AWESOME!"
'Oh no.'
Luffy's shout cut through my analytical thoughts like a rubber fist through common sense. Our captain was practically vibrating with excitement now, pointing at the giant with both hands while bouncing on his feet like a child who'd just discovered the existence of Christmas.
"A GIANT! A REAL GIANT! That's so cool! And he's HUGE! Look how big his sword is! And his beard! And—"
'Please stop. Please, for once in your life, read the room and recognize that shouting at the massive warrior who just killed a dinosaur might not be the optimal social strategy here.'
But it was too late. Luffy had already captured the giant's full attention, which I suppose was better than having him view us as potential threats. Marginally.
The giant's eyes focused on our captain, and for a moment I couldn't read his expression. Then—
"GEGYAGYAGYA!"
The laugh was even louder this time, if that was possible. Birds fled from nearby trees. Smaller dinosaurs in the distance probably reconsidered their life choices. I felt my teeth rattle slightly from the sheer volume.
"Small warrior with the interesting hat!" The giant's voice boomed across the clearing like someone had given a foghorn sentience and taught it to speak. "You have spirit! I like that!"
Spirit. That's one word for "complete lack of self-preservation instincts." I could think of several others, none of them particularly flattering.
The giant warrior planted his massive sword in the ground with a THUNK that shook the earth, then straightened to his full imposing height.
His armor gleamed in the filtered sunlight—furs, leather, and metal all scaled up to fit his enormous frame.
"I Am Dorry!" he declared, his voice carrying the kind of pride that came from being legendary. "The Mightiest Warrior Of Elbaph!!! GEGYAGYAGYAGYA!"
'Well, at least he's confident. Though when you're fifty feet tall and built like a mountain with anger issues, I suppose humility becomes optional.'
The giant's eyes swept across our group again, taking in our varied reactions with what might have been amusement.
"Are you traveling sailors?" he asked, his tone curious rather than threatening. "Warriors who have reached this island on your journey?"
That's... actually a reasonable question. And his demeanor suggests curiosity rather than hostility. Maybe this won't end in violence after all. Though given this crew's track record, I'm not holding my breath.
Luffy stepped forward without hesitation, his grin impossibly wide and his chest puffed out with pride.
"I'm Luffy!" he announced, like he was introducing himself to a new friend rather than a legendary giant warrior who could squash him like a bug. "The guy who's gonna be the Pirate King!"
And there it is. The declaration. Because apparently, Luffy has decided that every single person we meet needs to know about his completely impossible dream of becoming the Pirate King. No subtlety, no tact, just pure unfiltered ambition broadcast to anyone within earshot.
But I had to admit—begrudgingly, reluctantly—that his approach was working. The giant's face split into an even wider grin, his eyes lighting up with what looked like genuine delight.
"That's Zoro, he's our swordsman! That's Vivi and Karoo—they're traveling with us! And that's Hachiman, our treasure hunter! He's super smart and mysterious!" Luffy pointed at the rest of us in rapid succession.
'Great. Thanks for that introduction, Captain. Really appreciate you adding 'mysterious' to my reputation. As if I didn't already have enough ridiculous titles following me around.'
"GEGYAGYAGYAGYA!" Dorry's laughter erupted again, that same impossible laugh that made my teeth vibrate.
"PIRATES! How splendid! It's been far too long since pirates have visited this island!"
He paused, then his expression took on a slightly hopeful quality that seemed almost childlike despite his massive size and obvious age. He leaned down slightly, though 'slightly' for him still meant he was looming over us like a skyscraper.
"Tell me, young pirates—do you, by chance, have any rum with you?"
The question hung in the air for a moment, and I could see genuine longing in the giant's eyes.
"I have not tasted rum in many decades," Dorry continued, his voice taking on a wistful quality. "If you have even a small amount, I would be grateful!"
'Rum. He's asking for rum. A legendary giant warrior who's been fighting for a century wants alcohol. This is... actually kind of sad. And also, potentially useful.'
Dorry gestured broadly at the massive Sauropod corpse behind him.
"I would invite you to a lavish lunch as compensation! We now have more than enough meat from this large dinosaur! It would be a delightful thing to share a meal with fellow warriors!"
The offer was tempting from multiple angles. A chance to rest before the upcoming battle with Baroque Works. An opportunity to gather intelligence about the island and potentially learn about Mr. 3's activities. And—if Luffy's natural charisma worked its usual magic—maybe even gain the giants as allies.
'Because nothing says "tactical advantage" quite like having twenty-meter-tall legendary warriors on your side. Though convincing them to help would require Luffy's particular brand of sincere idiocy that somehow always works out.'
More importantly, I needed to know if Dorry and Broggy were already being targeted, if they'd noticed any suspicious activity, and if they had any information that could help us navigate this mess we were walking into.
'The Baroque Works agents have to be aiming for the giants, too. They should have bounties, a heavy one given their reputation...'
Before I could formulate a complete strategy, Luffy's eyes had gone impossibly wide at the mention of meat.
"MEAT!" he shouted, turning to me with an expression of desperate hope. "Hachiman! Do you have rum?! Please tell me you have rum! The giant wants to share meat with us!"
Of course, that's what you latched onto. Not the strategic implications, not the opportunity for intelligence gathering, not even the fact that we're being invited to dine with a legendary warrior. No, it's just "meat" that captures your attention.
I sighed, reaching into my coat and pulling out a barrel of rum I'd had in my Dimensional Bag.
'I only have one barrel, so to keep things going, I will have to secretly conjure more using my Stand.'
"I have some," I said, holding up the bottle.
"YES!" Luffy pumped his fist in the air. "Alright! We're having lunch with the giant! This is so cool!"
"GEGYAGYAGYA!" Dorry's laugh was like thunder celebrating a storm.
"EXCELLENT! Follow me, little pirates! I will prepare a feast worthy of Elbaph!"
The giant bent down—a movement that was still massive despite his attempt to be gentle—and hoisted the Sauropod corpse onto his shoulder like it weighed nothing. The creature that had been as large as a building was now just cargo, meat to be prepared and shared.
'Physics is crying somewhere. Several laws of biomechanics have just filed for divorce. But sure, why not? Let's just add "impossibly strong giants" to the list of things I've witnessed that shouldn't exist.'
Luffy was already following Dorry without a moment's hesitation, practically skipping as he walked beside the giant's massive feet.
"This is gonna be awesome!" our captain declared to no one in particular.
But I could see the hesitation in both Zoro and Vivi. The swordsman's hand was still near his blades, his body language screaming wariness despite the giant's friendly demeanor. And Vivi looked like she wanted to protest, but couldn't quite find the words.
"Sorcerer-san..." Vivi's voice was soft, uncertain. "Is it...really okay to follow this giant?"
'There it was. The reasonable question from the reasonable person. What a refreshing change of pace.'
Zoro didn't voice it, but I could see the same question in his eyes. For all his battle-hungry tendencies, the swordsman wasn't stupid. He understood the risks.
I adjusted my wizard hat—because apparently that had become part of my aesthetic in this world—and started walking after Luffy.
"Should be fine. This Dorry is very famous, and he is one of the Elbaph giants. The warrior giants operate under a strict code of honor."
'At least, that's what the Manga said. It's one of the few things I remember clearly from the manga—the giants' unwavering commitment to their warrior's way. And so far, this world has been following the manga's plot pretty closely. Emphasis on 'pretty closely,' not 'exactly.' Because if this world decided to throw me a curveball right now, I'd be very annoyed.'
Zoro had moved closer, his eyes still tracking Dorry's movements even as he addressed me.
"How famous are we talking?" His tone was carefully neutral, but I could hear the underlying question: 'Should I be ready to fight this thing?'
"Very famous, famous enough to write about him in books," I replied, watching the giant's back as he carried the dinosaur with casual ease. "He's one of the two dueling giants."
Vivi's confusion was immediate and obvious. "The two dueling giants? What does that mean?"
'Right. Because apparently this particular piece of Grand Line lore isn't common knowledge. Though given how insane it is, I can understand why it might sound like a tall tale, pun intended.' 1
"It's a duo of giants," I explained, trying to keep my voice matter-of-fact despite the absurdity of what I was saying, "who have been locked in a grand duel for one hundred years."
The silence that followed was profound.
Then—
"Wait." Zoro's voice carried genuine disbelief. "You're saying this giant and another giant have been fighting each other for a whole century?"
'Yes, I know how it sounds. Trust me, I'm aware of how completely unreasonable this is. It's the kind of dedication that crosses from admirable to concerning toward a complete waste of time. Then loops back around to almost impressive.'
"That's..." Vivi struggled to find words. "That's impossible. Nobody fights for a hundred years. That would be... that would be insane."
"Yeah, I know…"
Ahead of us, Dorry was still walking with his characteristic booming footsteps, each impact making the ground tremble slightly. Luffy continued to follow with boundless enthusiasm, apparently unconcerned by the fact that we were trusting our lives to a giant we'd just met.
'But that's the thing about Luffy—his instincts for people are usually right. If he's comfortable following Dorry, that actually means something. Our captain might be an idiot about tactics and planning, but he's rarely wrong about character judgment.'
"Come on," I said, already moving to follow. "We should stay together. And try not to do anything that might offend him. These warrior giants take honor very seriously."
Zoro grunted his acknowledgment, his hand finally moving away from his sword hilts. Vivi still looked uncertain, but she nodded and began walking, Karoo waddling nervously beside her.
As we made our way through the prehistoric forest, following in the giant's massive footsteps, I couldn't help but think about what was happening on the other side of the island right now.
———
Third Person POV: Sanji, Nami, and Usopp
———
On the opposite end of Little Garden, Broggy the giant warrior took a massive bite from a slab of roasted dinosaur meat, his teeth tearing through flesh and bone with casual ease.
The meat was perfectly cooked—seasoned with herbs that shouldn't grow in a prehistoric ecosystem but somehow did, prepared with a level of care that elevated simple dinosaur flesh into something approaching fine dining.
"GABABABABA!" Broggy's iconic laugh echoed across his clearing as he swallowed. "As Expected Of A Cook! This Dinosaur Meat Has Never Been So Delicious Before!"
The giant reached for a large container beside him, tilting it back to take several massive gulps of the beverage inside. His beard dripped with liquid as he lowered it, smacking his lips with satisfaction.
"And This Drink!" He gestured with the container, nearly spilling its contents. "Also very good! Though I would prefer it were rum! GABABABABA!"
The laugh was like thunder rolling across mountains, deep and resonant and completely unaware of how it might affect the smaller beings nearby.
Sanji stood beside a makeshift cooking setup, his cigarette trailing smoke as he watched the giant devour his meal. The cook's expression mixed professional satisfaction with mild annoyance.
"At least eat the food a bit slowly," Sanji said, his tone carrying that particular edge he got when people disrespected his cooking. "You're ruining the taste by just shoving it down your throat like that."
He paused, then added with characteristic unnecessary commentary, "And I'd much prefer if I were cooking for a beautiful giantess instead of a stocky old giant. But a hungry person is a hungry person, I suppose."
But Broggy didn't take offense. Instead, his laugh grew even louder, the sound rolling across the clearing like a celebration.
"GABABABABA! You Understand, Small Cook! Yes, a beautiful giantess would be preferable! But where can you find an attractive giantess on this remote island?"
Sanji's annoyance melted into something approaching camaraderie, his cigarette smoke curling upward as he chuckled.
"Finally! Someone who gets it! The tragedy of being surrounded by prehistoric creatures and no beautiful giantess to appreciate fine cuisine!"
To the side, Nami and Usopp sat at a safe distance, eating their own portions of dinosaur meat with considerably more restraint than the giant was showing.
Nami's eyes kept darting between Sanji and Broggy, her expression mixing confusion with something that might have been reluctant acceptance.
"How are those two getting along?" she whispered to Usopp, keeping her voice low. "Of all people... the cook and a giant warrior?"
Usopp was equally baffled, his long nose twitching as he processed the unlikely friendship forming before them.
"I don't understand it either," he replied, taking a careful bite of meat. "But somehow, they're connecting over... food and women? Is that really what's happening?"
Nami gathered her courage, setting down her food to address the giant directly. Her voice was steady despite the obvious nervousness in her eyes.
"Excuse me, Broggy-san," she called up, making sure her voice carried. "Are you actually living on this island? Or are there other giants here? Like a village or settlement?"
The giant's attention shifted to her, his massive eyes focusing on the small navigator with surprising gentleness.
"There is only one other giant on this island," Broggy replied, his voice carrying that booming quality even when he wasn't trying to be loud. "Just me and Dorry. We have been here for one hundred years."
The statement hung in the air like a revelation, and both Nami and Usopp's eyes went impossibly wide.
"One hundred years?!" Usopp's voice cracked with disbelief. "You've been on this island for a hundred years?!"
Nami leaned forward, her curiosity overcoming her nervousness.
"But why? Why would you stay here for so long? Why keep fighting for a hundred years?"
Broggy's expression shifted—nostalgia mixing with something deeper, more complex. Pride, perhaps. Or stubbornness elevated to an art form.
"That," he said, his smile widening, "Is a long story. One that...I no longer remember! GABABABABA!"
———
Hachiman's First Person POV.
———
I watched as Dorry gulped down rum from the barrel I'd provided like it was a particularly small cup.
The giant's throat worked as he drained the entire container in seconds, his beard glistening with droplets as he finally lowered it with a satisfied sigh.
"GEGYAGYAGYA!" The laugh was pure contentment. "It Has Been So Long Since I Tasted Good Rum! You have my gratitude, young pirates!"
Zoro, who'd been given his own cup of rum, drained it with practiced ease and set it down with satisfaction.
"Not bad," the swordsman declared, his professional assessment of alcohol quality apparently extending to giant-sized portions.
Dorry's laugh rolled across the clearing. "You handle your drink well for a small warrior! That is good! Warriors should be able to drink as well as they fight!"
"The meat's going well with it too," Zoro added, gesturing at the roasted dinosaur that was rapidly disappearing into his stomach.
'Of course, the swordsman is focused on the drinking and eating. Because tactical awareness and mission focus are apparently optional when alcohol and food are involved.'
Luffy, meanwhile, had demolished an entire block of roasted Sauropod meat—a piece that had probably weighed more than he did—and was already reaching for more.
"I don't know about drinks," he announced between mouthfuls, "but this meat is REALLY delicious!"
Yeah, right. Our captain's contribution to this diplomatic lunch is evaluating the quality of prehistoric meat. This is fine. Everything is fine. We're totally maintaining our operational focus and not getting distracted by food and alcohol at all.
I felt my tactical instincts screaming at me to redirect the conversation toward useful intelligence gathering, but before I could speak, I noticed Zoro reaching for another cup of rum.
"Zoro," I said, keeping my voice level but firm. "Slow down your drinking pace. We have an important task later, remember?"
The swordsman's hand paused mid-reach, his expression shifting to defensive annoyance.
"I can still drink way more than this," he protested, his tone suggesting I'd just insulted his professional capabilities. "This is nothing."
'I don't doubt that. I've seen you consume enough alcohol to kill a normal person and then immediately engage in combat without any apparent impairment. But that's not the point.'
"Even if you can," I countered, meeting his glare with deliberate calm, "we don't need to gamble on your drinking capacity right now. So no more drinks for you. At least not until after we deal with Baroque Works."
The effect was immediate and visceral. Zoro's face went through several interesting expressions—shock, indignation, resignation—before settling on something that looked like genuine pain.
It was like I'd just told him his swords had been confiscated, or that sake had been declared illegal. The kind of emotional devastation that only came from being denied something you truly valued.
'Sorry, swordsman. But I need you functional for the upcoming fight, and that means keeping you at least partially sober. Your liver will thank me later. Probably. Maybe. Actually, given your drinking habits, your liver might have filed for divorce years ago.'
"GEGYAGYAGYA!"
Dorry's laugh shook the trees, the giant clearly finding the entire exchange hilarious. His massive hand slapped his knee with enough force to make the ground tremble.
"There is no arguing with the provider of the drinks, small warrior!" The giant declared, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
"A warrior who controls the rum controls the feast! This is wisdom! Whatever the young wizard says becomes the law!"
'That's... actually not terrible wisdom. Though I'm pretty sure it wasn't intended as tactical advice for managing alcoholic swordsmen during covert operations. And…Young wizard?'
Zoro grumbled something under his breath that I charitably chose not to hear, then deliberately crossed his arms and looked away. Like a child who'd been told no more candy before dinner.
'The dignity. The composure. Truly, this is the man who will become the world's greatest swordsman.'
Dorry's massive eyes focused on me with sudden curiosity.
"Speaking of which, your magic is certainly convenient, young wizard! To conjure rum from thin air like that!" He leaned forward slightly, his beard swaying with the movement.
"Tell me, what school do you follow? I have never seen such magic in Elbaph!"
I blinked.
'School? What school?'
"I... what?"
'Okay, brain, let's work through this. The giant thinks I'm using magic. Which, fair, pulling things from Dimensional Bags probably looks like magic. But what's this about schools?'
Dorry tilted his head, still waiting for an answer. "Your magical school? The tradition you learned from?"
'Oh. Oh no. Are there actual magic schools in this world? Like, legitimate, organized magical education systems? How did I miss this in the Manga? Was I too focused on the fighting and Devil Fruits to notice there was an entire magical infrastructure?'
"I don't... follow any school," I said slowly, trying to figure out what I was even supposed to say. "I'm mostly not using traditional magic or anything. It's more like..."
'Like what, exactly? 'Oh, I have a Stand ability that lets me trade things for other things from different fictional universes'? Yeah, that'll go over well.'
I stopped mid-sentence, genuinely at a loss. 'What am I even talking about? What am I supposed to say here?'
Dorry laughed again, apparently unbothered by my verbal stumbling.
"GEGYAGYAGYAGYA! I understand! Your magic is unique, young wizard! I've never seen anything like it in Elbaph!" He scratched his massive beard thoughtfully.
"Most of what they called 'magic' there was unreliable at best. Some dirty tricks and superstition. And then there are the Devil Fruits like one, but those are..." He looked at his sword with a bit of puzzlement in his gaze.
"Different. Strange. They are somewhat useful, but I never understood them."
'So there's supposed to be magic in Elbaph, but it's mostly fake? Or maybe it's real but different from what I'm doing? This world keeps adding layers of complexity that I didn't sign up for.'
"Hey! Where do you come from, old man? Is there a giant village nearby?" Luffy, who'd been momentarily distracted by picking meat from his teeth, suddenly perked up.
'Leave it to Luffy to ask the straightforward questions while I'm having an existential crisis about magical education systems.'
Dorry's expression shifted to something almost nostalgic.
"I come from Elbaph, the land of warrior giants! It exists at the very end of the Grand Line!"
'Right. Elbaph. The legendary island of giants that gets mentioned throughout the series, but is never actually visited in the parts I read. A whole nation of people this size, with their own culture and warrior traditions.'
"A whole island of giants?" Vivi's eyes widened.
"An entire country," Dorry confirmed with obvious pride. "The mightiest warriors in the world call Elbaph home!"
Zoro's hand had drifted back to his sword hilts, his eyes gleaming with interest.
'Of course. The prospect of an island full of powerful warriors would get his attention. The man probably wants to challenge every single one of them to a duel.'
Vivi looked considerably less excited and considerably more terrified.
'Can't blame her. One giant is intimidating enough. An entire nation of them? That's the stuff of nightmares for most people.'
"But it's far from here," Dorry continued, his voice carrying a note of longing. "Very far. On this island, there are only two giants—myself and my rival."
'This is it. Time to fish for information about the Baroque Works agents.'
"Just you and one other giant?" I asked, keeping my tone casual. "Have you seen any other humans living or staying on this island? Besides us, I mean."
Dorry's expression turned thoughtful. "Hmm. I have seen shadows of humans in recent days. Moving through the jungle, watching from the trees. But none of them seemed inclined to speak with me."
'Shadows. Watching. That'll be the Baroque Works, observing the giants and planning their move. Probably trying to figure out how to take down two massive warriors without getting crushed.'
Vivi leaned forward, concern evident in her voice.
"Didn't you find that strange? People watching you but not approaching?"
Dorry shrugged, an action that involved his entire upper body.
"It's normal for this island. Most humans who arrive here fear me. They see a giant and run away, or hide and watch from afar." He looked down at our group, and his smile was genuinely warm.
"You four—five, counting the duck—are rare. It's uncommon to meet brave humans like yourselves. Most would have fled the moment they saw me."
'Brave. Right. More like we have a captain who doesn't understand fear, a swordsman who thinks running from a fight is dishonorable, and me, who knows enough things to gamble that this particular giant isn't going to eat us.'
"They're too cowardly to be sailors if they're scared of talking to a giant." Zoro snorted.
'Says the man who likes to challenge people who could kill him with a sneeze. Your perspective on acceptable risk-taking might be slightly skewed, Zoro.'
"GEGYAGYAGYAGYA!"
Dorry's laughter boomed across the clearing.
"There are many cowards in the sea, small warrior! But that's perfectly fine! The existence of both the brave and the cowardly is what makes the sea interesting! Without both, the world would be dull!"
Both Zoro and Luffy burst into laughter at that, clearly appreciating the giant's philosophy.
I couldn't help but smile slightly. 'He's not wrong, in a weird way. The world needs both the cautious and the reckless, the careful and the bold. It's the tension between them that creates stories worth telling.'
'Not that I'd ever admit to agreeing with such a simplistic worldview out loud. I have a reputation as a cynic to maintain.'
I noticed Karoo had been holding what looked like a smile—as much as a duck could smile—but he immediately straightened when he caught Vivi's serious expression.
'Even the duck knows when it's time to be serious. Which puts him ahead of at least two members of our crew.'
Vivi was staring at me, her expression conflicted. She opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again. The internal debate was written clearly across her face.
'She…wants to…ask Dorry for help. She's desperate enough to try recruiting a legendary giant warrior to her cause. Can't blame her, as I was thinking the same thing myself, and having someone this powerful on our side, even for the next fight only, would make the upcoming confrontation considerably easier.'
"You can ask. I don't know if he'll agree, but there's no harm in trying." I caught her eye and gave a slight nod toward Dorry.
Might as well. Worst case, he says no, and we're exactly where we started. Best case, we get a twenty-meter ally with a sword that could probably split a warship.
Vivi looked surprised that I'd understood her unspoken question, but she nodded gratefully. She took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, and stepped forward with the bearing of someone who'd been trained in diplomacy since childhood.
'There it is. The princess underneath the fugitive. The royal training showing through.'
"Dorry-san," she began, her voice formal and respectful.
"My name is Nefertari Vivi, Princess of the Kingdom of Arabasta."
Dorry's eyebrows rose in surprise.
"A princess? Truly?"
'The shock is understandable. Most princesses don't travel with pirate crews through prehistoric jungles while being hunted by assassins.'
"Yes, and I am on a mission," Vivi continued, her voice steady despite the obvious tension in her frame.
"A criminal organization called Baroque Works is destroying my kingdom from within. They've manipulated my people, turned them against each other, and are orchestrating a civil war that will tear Arabasta apart." She paused, meeting the giant's eyes directly.
"I ask you, as a brave and honorable warrior, would you help us against this dishonorable organization?"
'Points for the appeal to honor. Giants seem big on that sort of thing. Pun absolutely intended.'
Dorry stroked his beard, studying Vivi with new interest.
"A princess of Arabasta, traveling with pirates? This is unexpected."
"They're good people," Vivi said quickly, gesturing to us. "They've agreed to help me save my kingdom. I'm asking if you would consider doing the same."
"Hey, that's pretty interesting! Having a giant join us would be awesome!" Luffy laughed suddenly.
"Having him on our side wouldn't hurt, although I have no idea how he will broad with us," Zoro added with a slight grin.
I didn't say anything, but internally, I was calculating.
'If Dorry agreed, even temporarily, it would solve several problems. The Baroque Works agents would be severely outmatched. We could potentially save both giants from whatever trap the Baroque Works are planning. And we'd gain valuable intel about Elbaph's warrior culture.'
But there's a catch. There's always a catch.
Dorry's expression shifted to something almost apologetic. His next laugh was softer, tinged with regret.
"GEGYAGYAGYAGYA! Princess Vivi, is it? Your offer is interesting. Truly, it is. But I'm afraid I must decline."
'And there it is.'
Vivi's face fell. "But why—"
"I have a fight of my own," Dorry said simply. "A duel I cannot abandon."
"Hmm? What fight?" Luffy tilted his head.
BOOOOOOOOM!
And that's when the volcano erupted.
The sound was like reality itself splitting open. A massive plume of smoke and ash shot into the sky from one of the island's volcanoes, painting the clouds dark gray. The ground trembled beneath our feet.
Dorry's entire demeanor changed in an instant.
Gone was the friendly host, the jovial giant who'd shared his meal and laughed with us. In his place stood something else entirely—a warrior, a fighter, a living weapon honed by a century of combat.
His fighting spirit was almost visible, a pressure in the air that made my skin prickle. The temperature seemed to drop several degrees. Even Luffy stopped smiling.
'This. This is what a legendary warrior looks like when they get serious.'
"It's time," Dorry said, his voice carrying none of its earlier warmth. It was cold, focused, and deadly serious.
He looked down at Luffy, answering the question that hung in the air.
"I and the other giant on this island are locked in a duel. A duel that has been continuing for one hundred years."
'Even though I'd told them about it, hearing it directly from Dorry himself hit differently.'
"I cannot leave this island," Dorry continued, reaching for his massive sword, "until this duel is finished."
The four of us—and Karoo—stood in shocked silence. Even knowing about the dueling giants from the Manga, hearing the actual number, the actual timeframe, made it feel more real and more absurd simultaneously.
Zoro found his voice first. "One hundred years? So it was true you've actually been fighting for a century?"
I could hear the disbelief in his voice. For someone who understood dedication to a goal, who trained religiously and pushed himself constantly, even Zoro found this level of commitment hard to comprehend.
"A giant's lifespan is far longer than a human's," Dorry explained, though his attention was clearly drifting toward the center of the island. "One hundred years is significant, but not impossible."
Technically true, but still insane. A century. Multiple human lifetimes. Most people don't maintain interest in a hobby for a decade, and these two have been trying to kill each other for a hundred years.
"But still," I couldn't help but argue, "a hundred years is a long time, even accounting for extended lifespans. That's..."
'Dedication? Insanity? Stubbornness elevated to an art form?'
"What reason could possibly make two people fight for an entire century?" Vivi's voice was small, almost pleading.
The sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the jungle. Each step was a BOOM! that shook the earth, rustling leaves and sending small animals scattering. The other giant was coming.
Dorry's grip tightened on his sword, and for the first time since we'd met him, his smile turned melancholic.
"The reason?" His voice was quiet, almost reflective. "We forgot it long ago."
"So why keep fighting?" Vivi asked, her voice breaking slightly. "If you don't even remember the reason, why continue?"
But before anyone could answer, Luffy spoke up. His voice was uncharacteristically serious, his usual playfulness replaced by something deeper.
"A fight this long isn't about a reason anymore."
'Wait. Did Luffy just... understand something profound?'
I looked at him, genuinely surprised. Zoro had turned too, his expression showing the same shock I felt.
Dorry's melancholic smile widened into something fierce, something proud.
"Exactly right, young captain."
The other giant emerged from the jungle on the opposite side of the clearing—Broggy, equally massive, equally imposing, carrying an axe that could probably cleave mountains.
"GABABABABABA!" His laughter rolled across the distance like thunder.
"This fight," Dorry said, and I could feel the weight of the words before he spoke them. The understanding clicked into place in my mind at the same moment it must have clicked for Luffy and Zoro.
'Pride. It's about pride.'
Dorry charged forward, his voice a battle cry that shook the very air: "ISN'T ABOUT REASON!"
"IT'S ABOUT PRIDE!!!!!"
His sword came free with a sound like lightning striking—SHIIIIIIIIING!—the metal gleaming in the filtered jungle light.
Broggy answered with his own roar, raising his axe.
"GABABABABABA! DORRY! TODAY I SHALL BE VICTORIOUS!"
"GEGYAGYAGYAGYA! NOT TODAY, BROGGY!"
They crashed together in the center of the clearing, sword meeting axe.
CLAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!
The sound was so loud that I physically felt it in my chest.
VOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
WHOOOOOSHHHH!!!!!!
The shockwave rippled outward, bending trees and kicking up massive clouds of dust.
…
1: Dorry and Broggy were mentioned in a very famous book in One Piece called Brag Men, which was known by the people of the One Piece world as the book of tall tales, for how outlandish the tales in the book are.
...
A/N: Alright, that's it for now.
Thank you all for reading!! Hope you enjoyed this one!
Feel free to leave a Comment guys! And Powerstones are much much welcomed!
Have a good day!
You also can check my Patre0n for extra Chapters.
patre0n /ColdColt
There are +14 Chapters there.