"Brogy"
The call echoed through the forest as the fallen warrior's brother-in-arms cried out. They were rivals, yes—but also brothers, comrades bound by the deepest of bonds.
Fury blazing in his eyes, Dorry lifted his massive greatsword and slashed it sideways in a ferocious arc. A whirling wind was swept up with it, howling like a storm.
BOOM!
CLANG!
Jin met the strike head-on, fists burning with a metallic black-and-red luster. Every blow he landed resounded like thunder. At times, he slapped the giant blade aside with pure strength. Other times, he forced it back with a punch so powerful the shockwave alone made the ground tremble.
Again and again—blow for blow—they clashed.
Dorry felt it. A creeping numbness in his hands. How? How could a human stand against a giant's strength? No—more than that. How could this man's power seem to grow stronger with every exchange? Was it… was he evolving during battle?
Dorry's eyes flickered with memory. A legend. A cursed bloodline. Berserkers. Born to fight. The more they bled, the stronger they became. The deeper the wound, the wilder their wrath. Terrifying.
Jin unleashed another punch, and this time, Dorry's massive frame was sent hurtling backward, crashing into the trees. Ancient trunks snapped like twigs as he rolled across the ground, crushing stones beneath his weight.
"Dorry!!"
Brogy roared, battle-axe gripped tight despite the blood trickling down his face. He had already stood back up, body battered, but spirit unbroken.
The two giants exchanged a long, silent look.
Then—
"You are strong, human!" Brogy said at last, voice rumbling like thunderclouds.
Jin had defeated both of them. That alone was enough. The warriors of Elbaf respected strength above all else. And if one sought to claim their loyalty, there was only one path: Defeat them in battle.
"You fought us honorably," Dorry added. "With strength alone. A true Elbaf Duel of Glory."
The two giants stood tall once more, side by side, and said in unison:
"If you can withstand our combined attack, and remain standing… then we shall acknowledge your supremacy!"
Jin inhaled deeply. Then he nodded. His body, drenched in sweat and blood, tensed like a bowstring. Muscles coiled. Focus absolute.
Before him, the two giants stepped forward. Their muscles swelled with might. Veins like ropes popped beneath their thick skin. Their weapons—sword and axe—seemed to glow with a surreal crimson haze.
Then…
WHOOM!
Brogy summoned a phantom red axe in one hand—a construct of sheer Haki. Dorry's greatsword pulsed, its surface vibrating with overwhelming force, red light spilling off it like a storm tide.
"Form: Judgment!"
The two titanic warriors merged their powers. One massive surge of Haki channeled into Dorry's blade. A single, devastating shockwave burst forth. Trees were torn from their roots. The sky darkened. An all-consuming wall of destruction surged toward Jin.
He didn't retreat. He stepped forward—and struck.
There was no fear in him now. Only the pulse of battle. His body burned with the thrill of combat, and in that moment—he gave himself fully to it. He didn't try to restrain the Haki within. He let it flow—like a river overflowing its banks.
BOOM!!
Palm met shockwave. A detonation of light and sound erupted from the collision. The forest vanished in a blinding haze of red and black.
Even from miles away, Robin and Maya could feel the storm. The river beneath them churned. Winds howled across the island. The power unleashed in that moment consumed everything in its path.
…
When the light finally faded…
Jin's clothes were in tatters. His skin bore dozens of bleeding wounds. But he stood tall, his muscular frame glowing red with residual heat.
His palm—was pressed against Dorry's sword.
A crack echoed in the silence. A jagged line split across the massive blade. Then—SHATTER.
The greatsword exploded into shards. Like shrapnel, the fragments flew in every direction, embedding into the ground, slicing cleanly through stone. Even the boulders as wide as houses were carved apart like tofu.
Both giants took the brunt of the blast. Wounds opened across their bodies. Blood dripped from their arms and legs.
And then—THUD. Brogy and Dorry collapsed onto one knee. Exhausted. Defeated.
Above them, Jin floated silently using Moonwalk, his body encased in a cloak of dark red Haki. The air around him shimmered with heat and pressure.
To Robin, Kuma, Maya, even the two giants—Jin in that moment… looked like a deity. The duel had ended. And the victor was clear. He had won the Glorious Duel.
"Your lives are mine now," Jin said quietly, voice low. The giants looked up at him, breathing heavily.
Jin didn't demand their lives. He only asked for one thing:
"Swear loyalty to me for thirty years. After that, you're free."
For warriors like Brogy and Dorry, who valued honor more than life, that was a generous offer.
"…Hya ha ha ha!!" Brogy suddenly burst into laughter. "A glorious battle! And a glorious feast to follow!"
He threw his arm around Jin's shoulder and called for a celebration. He used his axe to slice thick cuts of dinosaur meat, which he roasted over an open flame. Dorry brought out rare island fruits. Kuma returned from the jungle with barrels of fine wine.
The feast began. The two giants told tales of their past—their adventures, the seas they'd sailed, and the fateful moment, a hundred years ago, when they set foot on this island.
Jin's wounds were already starting to close. Fighting warriors like Dorry and Brogy had pushed his limits—and in doing so, awakened new power within. His Armament, Observation, and even Conqueror's Haki had grown.
Among the three, Conqueror's Haki was the most mysterious. It wasn't just about willpower. It was spirit. Emotion. Heart. It was what made a king.
And Jin could feel it now. The threshold of something new. Infusion.
…
Jin stayed on Little Garden for three more days. In that time, he discovered rich deposits of iron, copper, and silver. Perfect for future mining.
And a surprise awaited him—the white-furred saber-toothed tiger that Maya had rescued? It led her to a Devil Fruit.
She presented it to Jin, eyes sparkling. Though it might've suited Maya… it was far more useful for him. She was still young. Her potential was vast—but undeveloped.
So Jin accepted it. And fed it directly to the Carrier.
The result? A rumble. A long, deep hum from the ship. Jin closed his eyes—feeling it.
A Logia-type Devil Fruit. Earth-Earth Fruit.
He could become earth. Shape it. Control it. Blend into it.
A perfect match for someone like Maya—one with nature—but now fully under Jin's command.
With this power infused into the carrier… The ship could now sail across land. As long as there was soil beneath it, the ship could move. It could even dive underground.
Earth Phase. Another terrifying upgrade.
Jin was thrilled. He turned, laughing, and hugged Maya tightly—planting a kiss on her cheek.
"Eep!"
She squealed, blushing scarlet, and ran off in a flurry of embarrassment. Jin laughed heartily.
…
And so, the Carrier set sail once more. With it came Dorry and Brogy, now loyal giants under his banner. And the white-furred saber-tooth, now officially Maya's companion.
Given how it protected her in danger, Jin allowed it to board—her new guardian and playmate.
"This voyage…" Jin murmured, gazing out over the sea, "has been more rewarding than I ever imagined."
"But first…"
"We'll cure Bonney's illness."
"Then our world tour—starts in the North Blue."
--------------------
Get 25+ advanced chapters in my Patreon :))
p@treon. com/ pretendsituation