The Going Merry sailed calmly across the open sea.
The Log Pose still pointed steadily forward.
Nami leaned closer, carefully watching the needle.
"The next island is straight ahead! I hope it´s not far."
Nojiko smiled slightly. "Yeah I could really go for a nice relaxing walk after all this gruelling training."
Luffy sprang up beside them. "So we're almost there?!"
"I said I hope," Nami gritted her teeth and smacked his head. "The next island on our route is called Little Garden."
Sanji stretched lazily, hands behind his head.
"Let's hope it's one where nobody tries to kill us for once."
Bartolomeo raised his fists dramatically.
"The destiny of the Straw Hats continues onward!"
Vivi laughed softly. She was still nervous around the crew, but she was excited for the next island.
Cassandra stood near the mast, arms crossed, watching the horizon carefully.
Soon a dark shape began to rise from the fog.
At first it looked like nothing more than a shadow.
Then the mist slowly parted and a massive jungle island revealed itself.
Towering trees stretched higher than anything they had ever seen. Their thick trunks wider than houses. Enormous vines draped between branches and strange birds circled far above, crying loudly.
Luffy's mouth dropped open.
"WOAAAAH!"
"That's huge…" Nami whispered.
Sanji squinted. "Why are the trees so big?"
Bartolomeo gulped. "That island looks so cool."
Nojiko carefully guided the Merry toward a sandy shore.
The waves gently pushed them in.
"We're here," she said.
Luffy leapt off instantly.
"Adventure time!"
"WAIT!" Nami yelled.
Too late.
Luffy was already running toward the jungle.
Sanji chased him. "You idiot!"
Cassandra sighed softly and motioned for the others.
"Stay close."
The jungle was warm and humid.
Massive leaves blocked the sun in places. Strange noises echoed everywhere.
Vivi crouched beside something half-buried in the ground.
"Is that… a skull?"
Cassandra examined it.
"Not human," she said calmly. "Much bigger."
Nearby, deep claw marks were carved into tree trunks.
Bartolomeo swallowed loudly.
"I suddenly miss the ocean…"
Luffy poked a giant fruit hanging from a vine.
"It's huge!"
"Don't touch random jungle food!" Nami snapped.
Sanji leaned closer. "It might taste good…"
"No!"
They continued walking.
Soon they noticed enormous footprints in the mud.
Each one was bigger than Luffy's entire body.
Vivi hugged her arms nervously.
"What kind of animal makes tracks like that?"
Before anyone could answer—
BOOM.
The ground shook.
Everyone froze.
BOOM.
BOOM.
Heavy footsteps approached.
Sanji slowly looked up.
"…That doesn't sound friendly."
Trees exploded apart.
A massive dinosaur burst into the clearing, his two strong looking legs propelled it forward in an astounding speed for a creature this size.
Its armored scales gleamed in the sunlight. Its jaws opened wide, revealing rows of sword-like teeth.
Vivi screamed.
"Scatter!" Cassandra shouted.
The massive dinosaur slammed into the ground, where they had been standing moments earlier, sending dirt and broken trees flying.
Vivi stumbled backward.
"That thing is enormous!"
Its yellow eyes locked onto the crew.
With a deafening roar, it charged.
Luffy grinned.
"Awesome!"
He pulled his arm back.
"Gomu Gomu no Pistole!"
His fist shot forward, smashing into the dinosaur's jaw.
The beast's head snapped sideways, but instead of falling, it growled and shook itself violently.
Sanji leapt high into the air.
"Concassé!"
His spinning kick slammed into its neck, forcing it to stumble a few steps.
Cassandra rushed forward, her blade flashing.
"Yuki no Setsudan!"
A sharp slash of ice sliced into the dinosaur's leg and froze it partially.
Blood sprayed as the creature shrieked in pain.
It whipped its massive tail around wildly.
Bartolomeo barely had time to react.
"Barrier!"
A very weak wall formed, just as the tail slammed into it.
CRASH!
The barrier shattered, sending Bartolomeo flying into a bush.
Bartolomeo wasn´t used to fight big monsters, so he wasn´t able to make a solid barrier.
"I'm okay!" he yelled. "I think!"
Nojiko aimed quickly.
Bang!
Her bullet struck the dinosaur's eye.
The beast roared in fury, thrashing blindly.
It snapped its jaws near Vivi.
Cassandra dashed in front of her, parrying its bite with a precise upward slash.
"Stay back!"
Luffy stretched both arms wide.
"Gomu Gomu no Net!"
His fingers stretched, formed a net and wrapped around the dinosaur's head and neck, yanking it sideways.
The beast crashed into a massive tree, snapping it in half.
Still it wasn't done.
It lunged again.
Sanji intercepted, landing a series of fast kicks to its ribs.
"Collier! Poitrine Shoot!"
The dinosaur staggered, but slammed Sanji into the ground with its head.
"Sanji!" Nami shouted.
Before it could bite him, came Casandra to his rescue.
She thrust her sword into its jaw and kicked off its snout, flipping backward.
The dinosaur shrieked.
Luffy jumped high into the air.
"Gomu Gomu no Axe!"
His foot came crashing down onto the dinosaur's skull.
The impact echoed across the jungle.
The beast collapsed with a thunderous crash.
Everyone panted heavily.
Bartolomeo crawled out of the bushes.
"That was… terrifying…"
Cassandra wiped blood from her blade.
"It wasn't alone."
As if summoned by her words, more creatures burst from the jungle.
A massive horned dinosaur charged.
A giant lizard leapt from the trees.
Sanji spun to intercept one.
Luffy smashed another with a Gomu Gomu no Bullet.
Nojiko fired shot after shot, hitting eyes and weak points.
Bartolomeo raised small barriers to block claws and bites, though each one shattered quickly.
"Man, I need more stamina!" he gasped.
Cassandra moved like a whirlwind.
Her blade danced through the air, cutting tendons and slicing scales.
"Hono no Hishō-zan!"
Flames surged across her blade, slashing a beast clean across its body.
It collapsed in a burning heap.
The last dinosaur let out a frightened roar, before turning and crashing back into the jungle.
Silence followed.
Broken trees lay scattered across the clearing, smoke rising from scorched ground where Cassandra's flames had struck.
Sanji rested his hands on his knees, breathing heavily.
"This island is insane…"
Luffy laughed loudly, wiping sweat from his forehead.
"That was awesome!"
Nami smacked him across the head.
"Awesome?! We almost died!"
Bartolomeo collapsed dramatically onto his back.
"I'm never leaving the ship again…"
Cassandra slowly sheathed her blade, eyes scanning the towering jungle around them.
"This place is trapped in another era," she said quietly. "Everything here survived, because only the strongest could."
Vivi hugged herself nervously.
"That's terrifying…"
Suddenly—
BOOM!
A thunderous clash echoed through the forest.
CLANG!
The sound of massive weapons colliding shook the ground.
Everyone froze.
Sanji slowly turned his head.
"…Now what?"
Another explosion of sound rolled through the trees.
Luffy's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Something big is fighting!"
Nami grabbed his arm.
"Wait—!"
But Luffy was already running again.
"Let's go see!"
The crew followed quickly, weaving through the jungle toward the noise.
After only a short distance, Nami stopped suddenly.
"Hold on!"
Everyone turned back.
She looked toward the distant shore, where the Going Merry rested alone.
"This island is too dangerous to leave the ship unguarded."
Nojiko nodded seriously. "Yes someone should really watch the ship."
Sanji took a long drag from his cigarette and exhaled slowly.
"I'll stay behind."
Everyone nodded and tried to catch up to their reckless captain.
The jungle grew denser, as the crew rushed toward the thunderous clashes.
Each step brought stronger vibrations through the ground.
BOOM!
CLANG!
The sound was like mountains colliding.
Luffy burst through a wall of vines first.
"WOAAAH!"
The clearing before them was massive.
The ground was scarred with deep craters and burn marks. Broken trees lay scattered like twigs.
Standing at opposite ends of the battlefield were two giants.
Each was taller than any building, they had ever seen.
One wielded an enormous axe and shield. His body was covered in scars and thick muscles like carved stone.
The other carried an equally massive sword and shield. He was equally scarred and powerful, but his body wasn´t as rotund, as the other giant´s.
They charged.
Their weapons clashed in the center of the clearing, with an earth-shaking explosion.
The shockwave blasted wind through the trees.
Vivi nearly fell over.
"What… are they?!"
"Giants," Cassandra said calmly, though even she was impressed.
The axe-wielding giant laughed thunderously.
"HAHAHAHA! DORRY! READY FOR TODAY'S DUEL?!"
The sword-wielding giant grinned wide.
"ALWAYS, BROGY!"
They struck again.
The ground cracked beneath their feet.
Luffy's eyes sparkled brighter than ever.
"They're so cool!"
The giants leapt apart after their clash.
"DRAW AGAIN!" Brogy boomed.
"One hundred years and still no winner!" Dorry laughed.
They finally noticed the tiny humans watching them.
"Hmm?" Brogy leaned closer. "Humans?"
"Have you come to watch our duel?"
Luffy waved enthusiastically.
"HI!"
The giants burst into laughter.
Cassandra stepped forward respectfully.
"We mean no harm."
"A warrior with blades!" Dorry said approvingly. "You carry yourself with honor."
"We are Dorry and Brogy," Brogy declared proudly. "Warriors of Elbaf!"
They spoke of their endless duel, that begun over a forgotten argument. It continued as a matter of pride and honor.
Cassandra listened quietly.
"A battle without end," she murmured nodding approvingly. "True warriors."
Luffy grinned. "You guys are awesome!"
Deep in the sea of trees wre two figures, watching this scene silently.
A man with slick hair and a smug grin leaned against a branch.
Mr. 3.
Beside him sat a small woman with a paint palette.
Miss Goldenweek.
"So these are the Straw Hats," Mr. 3 said with a chuckle. "And that swordswoman."
Miss Goldenweek smiled quietly.
"They walked straight into our trap."
Mr. 3 cracked his fingers.
"With these giants distracted, this island will become their grave."
Back in the clearing, the giants continued talking proudly about their battles and strength.
The crew listened in awe.
None of them noticed the wax slowly beginning to drip from the trees around them.
The trap had begun.
Far away Sanji stood alone on the beach beside the Going Merry.
He exhaled smoke slowly.
"…I've got a bad feeling."
Behind him, something moved in the jungle.