"Pyu~!"
The little snowball creature squirmed dizzily in Shanu's hands, its fluffy fur puffing up in all directions from all the petting.
When it came to its senses, the tiny beast nuzzled against his cheek affectionately, clearly enjoying the attention—wanting him to keep going.
But then, all of a sudden, it froze.
Its little ears perked straight up, and in a flash, it dove into Shanu's arms, clinging tightly to his shirt.
"Bro! What's that fuzzy thing in your hands?!"
Nami's shrill excitement rang out from below deck. A moment later, the orange-haired girl came charging onto the deck, eyes sparkling like hearts.
"Let me hold it! C'mon, c'mon, c'mon—let me hold it!"
Before Shanu could even react, her hands were already reaching out.
"Pyu!"
The little snowball trembled in fear.
It twisted its tiny body and puffed out a breath of cold white mist—fwoosh!
In an instant, Nami's reaching hands were frozen solid in a layer of ice.
"It just dropped out of the sky," Shanu explained, chuckling as he lifted the trembling creature. "And somehow decided I'm its master."
He rubbed its soft fur reassuringly. "It's fine, don't be scared—she's family."
"Fell from the sky?"
Nami's jaw dropped, and then she gasped in awe.
"The Grand Line really is full of miracles! Bro, your luck's insane! Ugh—if I'd stayed on deck, maybe I would've been chosen instead!"
As for her frozen arm? She didn't seem bothered.
With a flick of her wrist—whoosh!—flames erupted around her hand, melting the frost instantly.
The snowball creature's eyes went wide.
It tilted its head, staring at her arm from left to right, completely baffled by where the fire had come from.
Shanu couldn't help but laugh. He rubbed the tiny creature again. "You really do feel like mochi… Maybe I'll call you Mochi for now. Fits all your forms until you evolve."
He smiled to himself, already picturing it. "Once you evolve into your final form, we'll change it then."
That frosty breath earlier must've been some kind of ice ability—probably something like 'Diamond Dust', he guessed.
But he didn't care much about the minor moves.
Unlike Gin, this creature was a Digimon. Its attributes and abilities would keep changing with each evolution.
What mattered was what it could become.
He grinned faintly. "When you reach your final form… you'll soar in the sky like a goddess, drawing a divine bow and firing a holy arrow…"
He could almost see it—an angelic warrior hovering above the battlefield.
"Yeah," he said, patting the little snowball gently. "You'll be our ship's sniper, Mochi."
Smack!
The tiny Digimon squeaked in surprise at the sudden promotion.
It didn't even understand what a sniper was, but after a moment's hesitation, it allowed Nami to scoop it into her arms.
"Whoa—it's so soft!"
Nami giggled happily, squeezing the little fluff ball.
"Hey, Nami," Shanu called. "Weren't you supposed to bring Nojiko her breakfast? How come you're back already?"
"She's done training!" Nami said cheerfully, still busy petting the creature. She nodded toward the cabin. "See? There she is!"
Shanu turned—and sure enough, Nojiko was walking toward them, humming lightly and balancing a tray of breakfast dishes in her hands.
Sweat still clung to the ends of her blue hair, but her face shone with pure joy. When she spotted Shanu, her smile grew even brighter.
"Bro!"
"Looks like you've mastered it," Shanu said with a knowing grin. "Armament Haki?"
"Yup! Both hardening and coating! Look!"
Nojiko raised her fists, and a deep black sheen spread across her arms, gleaming like forged steel.
"Not bad," Shanu said, giving her arm a light squeeze. It felt like solid iron. He arched an eyebrow in pleasant surprise. "At this rate, the title of Black Arm might be yours next."
"Hehe, I'm nowhere near that yet."
She smiled modestly, but her pride was impossible to hide.
She took a deep breath, the tension in her shoulders easing. "Still… at least I won't be the weak link anymore."
A month ago, during their clash with four Vice Admirals at Loguetown, she'd clearly been the one struggling the most. That frustration had driven her harder than ever since.
If she faced them again now, she thought with satisfaction, the outcome would be very different.
"Eh?"
Just as she sat down to eat, her eyes landed on Mochi—and immediately, she was drawn in like everyone else.
The rest of the crew soon arrived on deck, curious about the new companion.
Mochi, realizing they were all her master's crewmates, quickly relaxed and played along cheerfully.
But one thing stood out:
She only let the girls touch her.
When Zeff or Smoker tried to poke her, she twisted away with a disgruntled chirp, leaving the two men awkwardly frozen midair.
"Looks like it's a girl," Nami laughed, pinching Mochi's cheeks. "But I wonder—when she grows up, will she become like Gin? Just… you know, super-sized mochi fluff?"
"Grrr!"
From where he was basking in the sun, Gin the Silver Wolf let out a low growl, his mane bristling indignantly.
Super-sized fluff?
Excuse you! He was a majestic Silver Wolf King, not some puffed-up furball!
He shot Shanu a sulky look, but the captain only chuckled, sipping his coffee as he left the lively deck behind and moved to the quiet stern.
There, he brought up his System Interface again, browsing the last few items in the marketplace.
[Black Magician Girl Summon Card]
Type: Consumable
Price: 3000 Points
Description: A genuine card from the Yu-Gi-Oh! world, once belonging to Yugi Mutou's deck. Summons an illusionary projection of the Dark Magician Girl for 24 hours. This projection can act freely under the player's control, but cannot cause physical damage in worlds without the Duel Monster system.
Seller's Note: "Despair, little game boy—your rare card is mine now!"
Shanu sighed. "What is this, Pegasus' account?"
He shook his head and skipped it.
Once a card gamer, sure—but a practical one.
If it were two hundred points, maybe he'd buy it as a collectible. But three thousand?
Pass.
[Senzu Beans from Korin Tower]
Type: Consumable
Price: 3000 Points
Description: Grown by Korin of the Dragon Ball world. Two per pack. Each bean fully restores stamina and health and keeps the user nourished for ten days. Even near-death injuries can be instantly healed.*
"Senzu beans?!"
Shanu's eyes lit up. "Now that's worth it."
Without hesitation, he added them to his cart.
Same price, but this one can save lives.
Two beans. Two chances to turn death into victory.
An absolute steal.
He ignored the last listing, closed the system panel, and downed the rest of his coffee.
"Seven thousand points gone," he murmured. "But worth every Beli. Won't be long before we earn it all back."
His gaze drifted to the horizon.
The island of Little Garden was near—home of the legendary giants Dorry the Blue Ogre and Brogy the Red Ogre.
"Time to meet some living legends."
Three Days Later
"Land ho!"
Nojiko's voice echoed from the crow's nest, startling a flock of seabirds into flight.
On Gin's head, Mochi jolted awake, puffing up like a startled snowball and scanning the sea in alertness.
"We finally made it?!"
Cabin doors slammed open as everyone rushed to the deck, excitement breaking the long monotony of ten straight days at sea.
Even Kuina, usually calm and composed, had been caught staring off into the endless ocean lately. Now she leaned eagerly over the rail with the others.
Sure enough—there it was.
A lush green island, dense with ancient forest and mystery.
"This is Little Garden?" Nami asked, marking it on her chart. "Hey, Zeff—are there really giants living here?"
Zeff grinned. "That's the rumor. Folks say a giant goldfish guards these waters, so few ever pass this way. I gave it a wide berth back in my day—never got to see the place myself."
He laughed heartily. "Guess this time, I'll finally get the chance."
The crew smiled. Giants? No problem.
With Captain Shanu around, they'd charge through even the Gates of Hell without blinking.
They soon anchored at shore. The tropical air hit them immediately, hot and heavy.
"Ugh, what kind of weather is this?!" Nami groaned, tying up her hair. "It's boiling!"
Gin and Mochi both lay sprawled in the shade, tongues out in defeat.
Poor Mochi even seemed to be melting, little droplets sliding down her snowy fur.
"You two stay here," Shanu said, ruffling their heads. "If anything happens—"
"Pyu!"
Mochi tried to look fierce, then promptly flopped back over from the heat.
"Don't worry, dummy!" Nami scolded gently, setting up an electric fan. "If anything happens, Gin can find us by scent!"
Smoker had rigged the fan with ice, blowing a chill breeze that made the two furballs sigh in relief.
The rest of the crew switched into summer gear and headed into the jungle.
The deeper they went, the thicker and older the forest became.
Towering trees wrapped in vines, ferns taller than people, sunlight scattering through dense canopies.
The ground was soft, ancient, littered with the bones of creatures far larger than any normal beast.
This was a land untouched by time.
"ROOOOAR!"
A thunderous bellow shook the jungle. The ground trembled as something massive stomped closer.
Two enormous saber-toothed dinosaurs burst from the trees, eyes gleaming amber as they fixed on the crew.
Their jaws dripped with saliva, growling hungrily.
"Whoa!!" the three girls shrieked together. "DINOSAURS?!"
"They actually exist?!"
Shanu sighed, brushing a lock of hair aside.
"Hey. You just scared my sisters. If you don't want to end up as dinner… you'd better run."
He barely raised his eyes.
BOOM—!
A ripple of overwhelming pressure exploded from him—his Conqueror's Haki surging through the air.
The jungle fell silent.
Even the wind froze.
The two dinosaurs met his gaze—and froze.
A moment later, they whimpered pitifully, tails tucked, and bolted back into the trees, vanishing in a panic.
"…"
Smoker blinked, slowly re-sheathing his jitte.
"All that with just a glance… Conqueror's Haki really is unfair."
He sighed, lighting another cigar.
"Maybe one day… I'll awaken mine too."
Then he laughed softly. "Ah, who am I kidding? A man like me… a former Navy officer following orders all his life—probably not king material."
Still, maybe someday, under this new captain, he'd find his own version of justice.
"Hey, Smoker!" Shanu called. "Quit daydreaming and get that thing off your shoulder!"
"My shoulder?" Smoker frowned—and turned.
A giant cockroach, almost a meter long, was perched calmly on his arm.
Its oily shell gleamed in the light. Its antennae twitched.
It tilted its head at him. Then its wings clicked twice.
Thump!
Smoker's cigar fell from his mouth.
A moment later, so did he.
The mighty "White Hunter" collapsed flat on his back, eyes rolled white.
"Hey, wake up!"
Zeff smacked his cheek. "Wake up, soldier!"
No response.
He sighed and hoisted Smoker onto his shoulder.
"How does a man that tough faint from a bug?"
He shook his head. "Back in my sailing days, I killed enough roaches to fill a mountain."
Smoker twitched in shame even in his sleep.
The girls had only screamed. He'd fainted.
What a disgrace.
BOOM!
Another deafening rumble tore through the forest.
This time, the quake was even stronger.
"Whoa!!" Nami's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Another one?! What now—a T-Rex? A brontosaurus? Or maybe—"
"It's not a beast, young lady," a deep voice boomed overhead, warm but thunderous.
A massive shadow fell over them.
The crew looked up—and froze.
A giant face peered down at them, smiling kindly beneath a horned helmet, his beard flowing like a waterfall.
"A g-giant!" Nami gasped.
"An actual giant!!" Kuina cried.
"Gahahahaha! Thanks for the help, little ones!"
The giant lifted his left hand—holding two massive, struggling dinosaurs like they were kittens.
"These two were cunning—never came out of the forest! But thanks to your noise, they ran straight into me!"
He laughed heartily, shaking the jungle. With one swing of his sword, he decapitated both beasts cleanly.
"Now this is a feast! You folks like barbecue? I'll cook! Just tell me—did you bring any good liquor?"
Shanu grinned. "Plenty."
He turned to his crew. "Kuina, Zeff—go grab the rum from the ship!"
"Aye, Captain!"
Kuina nodded eagerly, then turned back to the giant.
"Hey, old man—are you really from Elbaf? The land of giants?"
The giant blinked, then roared with laughter.
"Gahahaha! So you've heard of my homeland! Aye, lass—I'm Dorry of Elbaf, once called the Blue Ogre! Haven't heard that name in ages!"
The Center of Little Garden
In the heart of the island, two massive white skeletons towered over the jungle—ancient remains of beasts long dead, moss growing thick over their bones.
Under one of them, a bonfire crackled.
Dorry sat cross-legged, turning whole dinosaur carcasses over the flames on a spit the size of a tree trunk.
The crew gathered around, laughing and drinking. The giant's cheerful nature made him easy to like.
"Gahahaha! Fine liquor!" Dorry bellowed, draining a barrel in one gulp. "Strong, rich—almost like the brew from my old ship! Maybe even better!"
"Oh?" Zeff blinked. "I brought that from the East Blue—found it on a massive wreck. Don't tell me it used to be your ship?"
No one questioned Zeff calling the giant "brother."
They'd already learned who Dorry really was—Captain of the Giant Warrior Pirates, wanted by the World Government a century ago.
A bounty of 100 million Beli.
Laughable now—but a fortune back then.
Shanu knew well what that meant.
In six years' time, when Dorry and Brogy reemerged, the World Government would raise their bounties to 1.8 billion each.
Legends—stronger than most Emperor's officers.
"My ship?" Dorry scratched his head. "Probably a coincidence. My crew took our ship back to Elbaf long ago."
He laughed it off and went back to seasoning the meat.
These kind humans had brought fine drink—he'd make sure to give them the best roast of their lives.
Rumble!
The ground shook again, harder than ever.
Everyone but Dorry staggered to their feet.
"What now?!" Nami shouted, glaring around. "Does this island ever stop shaking?!"