Nami couldn't see a thing.
No matter how high she stood on her toes, her barely-over-one-sixty-centimeter height simply wasn't enough.
"Hmm… huh?"
Smoker finally groaned awake, blinking in confusion. "Was that… an earthquake?"
"Nope! That was the volcano erupting!!"
Dorry burst into loud laughter as he stood up. Grabbing one of the saber-toothed dinosaurs, he chomped down—crunch, crunch—and swallowed it. He shoved the other one toward the group.
"You guys eat first! I'll be right back!"
His expression grew solemn. After lowering his helmet onto his head, he pulled his massive greatsword—over ten meters long—from the ground.
Everyone finally understood.
—So every time the island's volcano erupts, it's the signal.
The signal for the duel Dorry mentioned earlier—the one between him and the other Giant of this island.
They watched Dorry hoist the greatsword onto his shoulder and sprint north with huge strides, shaking the whole forest, and exchanged looks.
"Let's go watch too, guys!"
Nami suggested immediately. More than dinosaur meat, a battle between Giants was far more fascinating.
The rest of the crew looked equally eager.
A fight of this level wasn't something you could see every day.
"Alright, let's go," Shanu said with a smile.
Following Dorry's huge footprints, they pushed through thick primordial jungle. Dinosaurs fled in panic, trees whipped violently in the wind generated by each of the Giant's steps.
Soon, they reached a wide clearing on the northern side.
Standing in front of a massive pile of ancient bones was another Giant—just as enormous as Dorry. He was noticeably bulkier, with a round face and wide nostrils, wearing a horned helmet and gripping a huge axe and shield. His body was crisscrossed with scars from countless battles.
"Brogy!"
Dorry raised his greatsword and shouted, "I take it your stamina's fully recovered!! Today—we settle the score!!"
"GWAHAHAHAHA! Works for me!"
Brogy's laugh crackled like thunder.
BOOM!
The two Giants clashed instantly.
The impact of sword meeting axe blasted the surrounding trees straight out of the ground. The earth quaked.
Everyone had to retreat dozens of meters just to stay standing.
"W-Wait, wait… this isn't normal!"
Nami stared as the two Giants fought like wild beasts, cold sweat streaming down her face.
When Dorry had casually mentioned "dueling" another Giant on the island, she assumed it was just friendly sparring.
She never imagined such brutal, ferocious combat.
Every strike aimed straight for vital points. Blood sprayed constantly. It was as if they were sworn enemies—trying to kill each other.
"Why?!"
She couldn't take it anymore and shouted:
"Why are you doing this!? Aren't you two FRIENDS?! Why fight like this—why hurt each other so seriously!?"
"Friends?"
Dorry smirked, blocking a blow from above.
"In the face of Elbaf's honor…"
"Giving everything you've got—is the truest form of respect between friends!!" Brogy roared.
"As for the reason for our duel—"
"We forgot a loooong time ago!!"
BOOOM!
The Giants slammed into each other again.
Everyone except Nami was slowly drawn in—eyes wide, breath caught.
Two legendary warriors of Elbaf.
Every collision was wild, powerful, filled with master-level technique and overwhelming visual force—enough to send adrenaline surging.
Shanu watched just as intently.
But unlike the others, he focused on the details.
The destructive force of their clashes was absurd—far beyond anything humans could endure.
This was what true "power" meant, embodied perfectly in their giant physiques.
Even his own physical durability couldn't withstand direct hits like that forever…
Shanu rubbed his chin, a new idea forming.
…
Who knew how long the battle lasted.
CLAAAAANG!!!
In a deafening blast, both massive weapons flew from their hands and embedded themselves deep in the earth far away.
Amid drifting volcanic ash, the two mountain-sized bodies finally collapsed from exhaustion.
"GYAHAHAHAHA!! That was AMAZING!!"
Dorry knelt, laughing loud enough to shake the leaves off the trees, completely ignoring the waterfall of blood pouring from his chest.
Brogy lay sprawled on his back, one side of his horned helmet tilted off, laughing just as happily.
"Seventy thousand and sixty-three rounds! And STILL a draw!!"
"You two…"
Nami held her head in disbelief.
"At this rate, when are you EVER going back to Elbaf Village!?"
Dorry grinned. "Hey, Brogy! These kind humans brought me some fine booze! Wanna try it!?"
"BOOZE!?"
Brogy's eyes sparkled. "Where? Where!? Hurry up! Just hearing the word's making me drool!"
"Here! Catch!"
The two Giants threw their arms around each other and sat down like best friends again, laughing and drinking as if they hadn't been trying to kill each other moments ago.
Nami opened her mouth… then gave up and covered her face.
—She was never going to understand the logic of Giants.
"Sir Dorry."
Shanu suddenly spoke, his voice clear across the quiet battlefield.
The Giants paused their drinking. Dorry tilted his head, bronze helmet creaking. "Oh?"
"Here's the thing," Shanu said, smiling honestly—the best way to talk to Giants.
"You remember Observation Haki, right? It's the only form of Haki I haven't mastered yet. I wanted to ask if you and Brogy could help me learn it."
"Observation Haki, huh?"
Dorry's eyes lit up.
"Sure! We mastered that ages ago—along with Armament Haki. But…"
He scratched his head awkwardly.
"Uh… Brogy, how did it work again?"
"I think… I think we learned it while fighting that big Marine who could turn into light…? Something like that…" Brogy muttered.
"We used to be pretty good at it, but it's been, what, a hundred years? How did we train it again…?"
Elbaf Giants prided themselves on their immense strength and innate battle instincts.
These two legends even more so.
Haki was something they only used when fighting weird Devil Fruit users. Otherwise, they almost never bothered.
But after a century…
They could still use Haki by instinct, but remembering the method?
Impossible.
The air grew awkward.
Both Giants glanced at each other, then hung their heads in embarrassment.
—Their human friend brought them fine booze, yet they couldn't repay such a simple favor. What shame for warriors of Elbaf!
"You misunderstand," Shanu said, shaking his head.
"I'm not asking for a lesson. I already understand the basics. What I lack… is a trigger."
"A moment where your life is truly on the line—
An overwhelming pressure where you can feel death breathing down your neck—
A situation that forces your body to awaken a sharper sense for danger."
"No one I've fought so far has been able to push me that far.
That's why I haven't awakened Observation Haki yet."
He looked straight at the Giants.
"And you two… gave me hope that such a trigger might exist."
"…Ahh."
Dorry grinned wide.
"Geh-heh-heh! So you want us to go all-out on you—like during our duel?"
"That's some CRAZY talk!" Brogy laughed. "But you've got the guts for it!!"
Their warrior instincts told them Shanu wasn't bragging.
This young human carried the presence of a born fighter—every movement, even his breathing, radiated strength and confidence.
—A formidable man, through and through.
"GWAHAHAHAHA!!"
Brogy burst out laughing.
"That much we can do! And gladly!
But, Dorry, looks like we'll need to pause our duel for a few days!"
"No problem! To repay a friend, that's a small price to pay!"
Dorry glanced at the sky.
"But it's almost night. And we're exhausted from the duel. We can't unleash proper attacks like this. Sorry—we'll need one night of rest before we can start your special training."
"Of course," Shanu laughed. "Makes sense."
He turned to the crew.
"Zeff! Bring all the booze from the ship! Tonight—WE CELEBRATE!!"
"YEAH!! PARTY!!!"
The clearing erupted into cheers.
They celebrated not only meeting the two Elbaf Giants,
but also that their captain had finally found a path toward awakening his remaining Haki.
…
Night fell.
Amid towering giant bones, a massive bonfire roared into the sky.
And far, far away—
At Marine Headquarters, Marineford…
The lights in the Fleet Admiral's office still burned late into the night.
The crescent moon, half-hidden by clouds, cast fractured shadows across the fortress's white walls.
Inside, Sengoku removed his glasses and rubbed his temples tiredly.
A mountain of documents sat on the desk, heavy under the lamplight.
On top lay a white report labeled:
"South Blue — Sorbet Kingdom Conflict Report."
Its edges were worn from repeated readings.
"…Enough. I'll handle that matter later."
Sengoku exhaled.
"What about the Curtainfall pirates? Still no news?"