🏴☠️️Ch.64: Luffy & Siren Get Angry! A Duel of Honor is No Place for Dirty Tricks!🏴☠️️
The two giants clash, tearing up the thick jungle foliage underfoot like it's nothing but loose grass. As their weapons slam against one another, the strength in which they are wielded shows full force, as powerful shockwaves are given off, tearing up more of the jungle and making the earth beneath them crack and shatter.
Carue curls up with his wings protectively over his face, while Vivi still manages to remain standing against the strong winds caused by the giant weapons slamming into one another. I stand strong against the powerful shockwaves, Carmela on one shoulder holding up a wing to keep Firouz from flying off, with Astro and Hanabi grasping tightly at my other shoulder.
Richie sits with Luffy on the jungle floor, watching the battle in awe.
I notice the quetzalcoatlus who had rescued my group stalk into one of the large caverns of the fossil-like mountain structures, then lie on a nest of straw, curling up around something. But what that something is, I can't tell due to his back facing me.
More echoing slams and the ringing of weapons clashing with vigour against one another draws back my attention. The giants are in no way holding back against each other, I can see now why this fighting has lasted for a century. Their skills are proving to be evenly matched. Blocking every blow or dodging skillfully, they can't even give the other a wound.
In a stunning feat, Broggy leaps high into the air, dodging a lunge from Dory's sword, which has embedded itself into a large rock face. High above, Broggy raises his axe to bring down on the seemingly left defenseless Dory. Rather than leave behind his sword to dodge or raise his shield for protection, Dory holds his ground using his helmet to take the brunt of attack, causing the axe's wooden handle to splinter but not break completely. He then forces Broggy's weapon back before slamming his head right into his left open midsection and sending him flying through another giant rock structure.
☠🏴☠️☠
With Broggy's company of the share of the Straw Hat crew, the members watch on with different views on what they are currently witnessing.
Stuck between whether to be afraid or impressed, Usopp clutches at his head, tears streaming down his face as he watches the giants fight. "He... He blocked that hit with his helmet. That's incredible! A couple of inches left or right and it would've killed him!"
"They're certainly not pulling any punches." Ghin trails off, sweating lightly at the intensity radiating off the battle before them.
Both the giants rise back to their feet, Broggy making the first move, nearly cleaving off Dory's head if he hadn't taken a single step back. Only a few strands of his beard being the victims. Dory retaliates with his sword, only to be blocked by Broggy's shield. Broggy raises his axe to attack but is met by Dory's own shield.
"What an incredible fight, huh?" Usopp's fear gives way from fear to awe that has him rooted to his spot. "Every one of those attacks is aimed at some vital spot. Just one slip from either of them, and that's it--they're dead!"
"These guys have really been fighting to the death for 100 years?" Nami questions aloud. "That's gotta get old." The navigator's tenseness eases away as the giants' attention is solely on fighting one another. "This is a good thing. This is our chance to get away. Let's go."
She, along with the Gems and a majority of the Pack, turns on her heel to leave, but the sniper, quartermaster and surprisingly their Explosives Expert, remain rooted to their spots, eyes never leaving the fight. Nami stops after a few steps, realizing her fellow Straw Hats aren't following along.
"Usopp? Ghin?" She calls out, but the two don't budge. They remain still as statues watching the massive warriors continue to duke it out over reasons they have forgotten.
"Amazing..." Usopp mutters softly. "They fight so seriously... And they don't even know why.
Hand on her hip, she eyes the fighting with a bothered expression. "Is spiked getting really annoying." She huffs.
"Don't you see?" Usopp queries. "This is an example of a real battle between real men."
"Say what?"
"Maybe an analogy will help. It's as if they have each planted a flag in their hearts that says, 'I am a warrior'. This flag is more important than anything, more than their lives, even. They can never allow the flag to be destroyed by someone else. That's why they both continue this fight for 100 years." As the sniper explains, it's as if witnessing this fight has changed his entire demeanor, making him stand bravely and tall for once. "Do you see it now? This is a proud duel--a legendary fight--between two dedicated warriors."
Nami remains unimpressed, shrugging off the sniper's speech. "Yeah, whatever. That warrior stuff doesn't really interest me in the slightest. You coming?"
"No, I'm still watching this." Usopp answers, attention still on the fighting, to which Nami raises a brow at. "This is my ultimate goal. This right here. To be a brave warrior like each of these titans. Really, though, someday... I will be a proud warrior of the sea!"
At the sniper's words, Nami's desire to leave falls flat and she sits back on the trunk of a fallen tree, flanked by the Pack members and Gems.
"So what you're saying then, is that you wanna be a giant?" Nami remarks with disinterest, finding a way to curb her boredom in messing with the sniper.
The sniper is torn from the fighting to stomp up to and seeth at the navigator. "Moron! You haven't listened to a single word I've said, have you?"
💥Hey, Long-Nose... Isn't there something you're supposed to be watching?💥 Trigger smirks, pointing in the direction of the fighting.
And with that the sniper's gaze is set back on the fighting between two giants, a proud smile on his face. "If there's a village full of warriors like these two, then I really want to go there someday!"
Soon enough, the fighting begins to draw to its end as Dory has knocked Broggy's axe away, sending it hurling into the air above.
"It's safe to say... that we're both starting to get homesick here... huh, Dory?" Broggy's breath heaves.
"That's why I intend to end this duel of ours. I'm going to beat you and go home to Elbaf. Got that, Broggy?" Dory taunts.
The very moment Broggy's axe falls back to earth, embedding itself in the jungle ground, Dory charges at his fellow giant opponent, both of them wielding their shields like boxing gloves. The normally defensive weapons slam against the faces of their opposing wielders, rendering them stiff as statues as their faces remain squished against the surfaces of metal and wood.
"Seventy-three thousand four-hundred sixty-six fights..." Broggy splutters against the shield in his face.
"Seventy-three thousand four-hundred sixty-six draws." Dorry finishes.
They both then fall dramatically on their backsides, making the entire island floor tremble and rumble.
Both of the giants' smaller companies watch and wait in the seemingly infinite silence that follows. But everyone's worries are put at ease when boisterous laughter breaks the silence.
Despite a century-long fight going on between them, Dory and Broggy continue to share in a brotherhood when the fighting has reached yet another tie.
"Yagyagyagyagyagyagyag!!"
"Jabababababababababa!!"
"Hey, Dory. A couple guests of mine gave me some alcohol." The rotund giant beams with a massive grin.
"Drinks? It's been a long while, eh, Broggy?" Dory laughs.
🏴☠️☠🏴☠️
Dory returns to his small gathering of guests with three of the Straw Hats barrels of alcohol from Broggy.
The leaner of the two giants laughs loudly as he finds out that the guests of his fellow giant are none other than the crewmates of his own guests.
"Yagyagyagyagyag! That's interesting-- so Broggy's guests are friends of yours, then? I saw a goofy looking guy with a long nose, a rather serious looking fellow, and a women there."
"That's Usopp, Ghin and Nami. They said they weren't even gonna get off the ship." Luffy chuckles.
"There was also two strangely colored women, a white tiger, an otter, a dog and another blue bird like yours."
"Jimaenkia, Kylie, Tito, Trigger, ChouChou and Ahio." (First Name) clarifies.
"I guess they wanted to have an adventure after all."
"If they're your friends, then I guess I can thank you, too, for these yummy refreshments." Dory grins.
Following the loud squawk of a passing pterodactyl overhead, the conversation takes a more serious turn as Vivi makes inquiry about what they've just learned about their Log Pose situation.
(First Name) also notes that 'Quetz' hides himself deeper into the cavern, like he's trying to avoid being seen by others of his species. But for what reason?
"So, Dory, tell us... Does it really take a year for the log to reset on this island?"
"Yes. Didn't you notice all the mounds of human skeletons better lying around here? I guess it's hard not to. The people who come to this island tend to die before their logs are reset." The giant explains. "Some become dinosaur food, some die from heat or thirst or starvation. Others are killed because they stupidly attack us. Whatever the case, they all die here somehow. An entire year on this island just seems to be too long. So far, no humans have been able to survive here for the full year."
"What are we going to do?" Vivi trembles, hands clenched on her knees as a fearful sweat breaks out on her forehead. "Even if we could manage to last year for a year, who knows what could happen by then? My country could be lost."
"She's right." Luffy drawls, head lolling back.
"Luffy would get bored here after a year." (First Name) adds, with a quick upturn at the corner of her lips, scratching at Firouz's head.
🎇And we've still got to find our fellow magic apprentices.🎇 Hanabi sulks.
🌠Yeah, we didn't struggle to finally get into the Grand Line just to be grounded to yet another island.🌠 Astro grumbles, comforting his sister-apprentice.
🌺Is there anything else at all we can do, Dory?🌺 Carmela inquires.
Dory hums in thought. "We do have an Eternal Pose here, but it's magnetic link is to our home village, Elbaf. Basically, that Eternal Pose is what Broggy and I have been fighting for with our duels this whole time. Of course, you can try to take it by force."
Luffy frowns. "No, that's not going to work. Elbaf isn't the place that we're trying to get to. We just want to get to the island that's right after this one. Right?" He whips his head over to the Alabastian princess for confirmation.
She nods solemnly. "Yes. We must stay on the route that's going to lead us to my home, or else there's no point."
"Yeah." The Straw Hat captain sighs defectedly.
"Maybe you can try sailing forward randomly. You may get there eventually, if you're real lucky. Eh?"
Luffy and Dory just stare at each other with a terse silence after the giant's joking option.
Luffy is the first to break the silence, laughing loudly. "Maybe so. We may actually get there!"
"Yagyagyagyag! Now that I think about it, someone did leave the island once before his log was reset." Dory recalls, laughing with the rubber boy.
"And what happened to him?"
"How should I know that?"
"I'm sure he was able to get to the next island."
"That must be it!"
Carue raises a wing to stifle the need to laugh, but is scared stiff when he spies his princess shaking with anger as her face is lowered to the point shadows obscure her eyes. 'What is so funny?' She snarls mentally, glaring at the yucking it up pair. 'I don't understand what these two idiots are laughing about at a time like this!'
"Hey, what about your findwaying, (First Name)?" Luffy questions. "You've sailed plenty of times without a Log Pose or compass."
"You mean 'wayfinding', Luffy." (First Name) corrects, sighing softly. "I've thought about that option, but I've never done it in anything but my Puakai skiff. I'm not sure if it will have the same results. And often when I wayfind, I'm not caring where I'm going. I just use it to find another island in general without any set destination. We could try it but with time being of the essence and still so many blank areas in the Grand Line that I've yet to visit or learn about, I'm not sure if the reward will outweigh the risk ."
Luffy plops onto his backside, moaning dramatically.
"On another rather serious note... Dory." She calls up to the giant, to which he looks down upon her. "Do you happen to know why Quetz is hunted by his own species? All those pteranodons looked ready to tear him wing from wing."
Dory's gleeful smile turns upside-down, glancing over his massive shoulder to see the quetzalcoatlus resting on his nest of straw, still curled around whatever he seems to be protecting. "I was wondering if we would get around to talking about him. You see... Quetz has been deemed a traitor by the rest of species."
"A traitor?" Luffy echoes.
"As strange of a concept it may seem for animals, yes. On this island, it's survival of the fittest. But it seems over many years certain species have developed feuds against one another. Most prominent being the pteranodons and the now, dangerously near-extinct raptors. Both have been at each other's throats since even before Broggy and I arrived on this island. Unlike the rest of his species, Quetz wanted no part in the violence, even though he can hold his own remarkably well."
🌠They hate him because he doesn't want to fight?🌠 Astro queries, disbelievingly.
🎇That's barbaric, even by animal standards!🎇 Hanabi barks.
"It wasn't just that he didn't want to fight. He committed a great blasphemy against his kind." Dory continues.
At that moment, Quetz turns in his sleep, his wing moving to reveal two oval shapes beneath.
"Eggs?" (First Name) gasps.
"Yes. The last surviving pair, as far as we know." Dory states sadly. "Quetz was willing to betray his own kind to preserve the life of another species, one that was deemed an enemy to his own."
"How brave of him..." Vivi awes softly. "Willing to go into hiding and risk being hunted by his own to save the young of a species he has no obligations to help."
"That's more heart than plenty of humans I've met." (First Name) gazes softly at the heroic ancient animal, cautiously approaching and strokes his head. His eyes open and she couldn't help but be reminded of Laboon with how human the quetzalcoatlus' look. "You're a brave soul, aren't you?"
"A brave warrior of the seas, you said?" Broggy raises a bushy brow while tightening the leather strap around his axe handle. "What's that exactly?"
"I'm talking about you guys." Usopp replies, with a strong gleam of hero worship and pride in his eyes. "What I really want is to be like the two of you someday!"
"Huh? You want to be a giant?" Broggy questions, not entirely getting where the Straw Hat sniper is coming from.
Usopp's crewmates, human, animal and Gem, laugh at full volume at the giant's response.
"Even he said it." Ghin has his face in his hand to muffle his growing chuckles.
"That's not what I mean!" Usopp bristles. Regaining composure, the sniper continues. "I wanna be a great warrior. I wanna be brave and proud like you and the others from Elbaf." He slams his fist against his chest for emphasis.
Broggy laughs, impressed by the human's devotion. "I see. You know, in Elbath, even though our lifespans are longer than yours are, we still think about how we will die. We know everything we have and everything we are will one day cease to exist, like everything else. But it is worth it to die a true warrior of Elbaf, without sacrificing your pride. That is what we call dying with honor. To die such a great death would be an everlasting treasure. It's what we seek in Elbaf."
"So pride is your treasure. That's great!" Usopp clarifies. "I've decided to learn from you! From now on, I'll call you Master!" He declares with fervor.
☠🏴☠☠
It all happened so quickly. One minute, Dory was telling us Quetz's story, he stops to take a drink from the barrels of liquor Broggy had given him, and then out of nowhere, the barrel at his lips exploded in mid-drink, setting fire to liquor that was already down his throat, doing internal damage on top of the explosion to his face.
The blast is enough to startle Quetz from his rest and a worried look to etch itself upon his face. Dory had been his companion since he began hiding in the caves of the mountains, so it's no wonder he's fearful of this sudden attack on his friend.
The crew, the Guild and the Pack can only watch in wide-eyed horror as the force from the blast knocks Dory back, smoke coming from his mouth, until he's slumped over on the rock he was sitting on.
"Old giant guy!" Luffy calls out, only to receive no response.
He and (First Name) then rush to his side.
"Čo sa do pekla stalo?[1]" The first mate questions aloud, climbing onto the downed giant. "Those barrels were extra rations I bought from Loguetown and I saw nothing when I looked over them that would explain why they would suddenly explode." Her head whips around to her Elemental Macaw. "Carmela, is there anything you can do to help him?"
🌺It exploded all the way down to his stomach! There's no telling how much internal damage was done from there and in between. I don't have enough to treat a man of his stature.🌺 She answers dismally.
"The other giant must have booby-trapped it!" Vivi remarks.
Vivi's comment doesn't sit well with Luffy, his stare hardening as he leaps off Dory to stand right in front of her. "Hold it! Were you even watching them?! They fight their duels honorably! No way he'd do that!"
🌠They've been fighting for near over a century; Why would one resort to dirty tricks now?🌠 Astro argues, flying in close to the Alabastian princess' face.
Hanabi floats in close, to hover beside her brother-apprentice, backing up his argument. 🎇Our master knew giants of Elbaf. They uphold their pride more than anything else in the world, even their lives. Broggy couldn't have been the one to do this.🎇
"All right, then who did do it?"
As Vivi states the question on everyone's mind, Richie and Umi begin to roar and hiss like crazy, pointing behind them to see Dory lift himself up, his eyes burning red in rage and his sword taken up in hand.
"You strangers." Dory growls, stabbing the blade into the ground to support his form. "It wasn't Broggy. No way... No warrior of Elbaf would dare. So... Who else is there to suspect on this island then... besides you?"
Karoo takes off running with fear, Vivi ready to follow right behind.
"Let's get out of here! There's no use talking to him right now."
But Luffy, (First Name) and her three beasts and two animal sprites remain behind.
"I doubt running would do us any good." Luffy removes his hat, handing it off to his first mate, not taking his eyes off the angered giant. "(First Name), hang on to this and stay back."
"Yes, Captain." (First Name) answers, grabbing ahold of the precious straw hat.
"You're going to... fight Dory?" Vivi shudders.
The warrior giant and Straw Hat captain stare down each other seriously.
Luffy flexes his knuckles, cracking them loudly in anticipation for the fight that's to come. "Yeah. I don't want to, but we have to settle this."
"Don't do it, you guys! Stop it!" Vivi tries to dissolve the chance at fighting. "Dory, please just listen to me! We don't know anything about the explosives in the barrels, I promised! We wouldn't do that. You can't be in any shape to fight right now, so please stop!"
"Right. Why should I believe you liars?!" Dory roars, raising his sword to bring down onto Luffy.
The rubber boy leaps out of the way just in time to avoid being sliced in half, leaving the sword to pierce the grassy terrain.
The swing of his own sword causing more damage to his internal wounds, leading to blood being coughed up.
🌠There's no point in trying to talk to him, Vivi.🌠 Astro states solemnly, watching the two fight. 🌠Warriors of Elbaf don't back down from fights, especially if their honor is being called into question.🌠
With Dory stunned by the aftermath of his injury from his own attack, Luffy uses the opportunity to run up along the giant's weapon before leaping high into the air.
He rears his arm back, ready to deal his own attack. "All right, then, Gum-Gum..."
But before he can throw a punch, he's knocked away by Dory's shield, sending him crashing into the ground.
Quickly recovering, Luffy stretches his arms towards the surrounding jungle. In the time it takes him to stretch, Dory raises his sword once more to bring down onto Luffy. But Luffy's questionable technique saves his life, as he grabs ahold of the trunk of a tree, pulling himself out of the way, just in time.
Dory's full-on attack causes his internal would to aggravate and causes more blood to spew from his mouth.
With the giant hunched over and breathing heavily, Luffy's momentum builds up as he stretches far back to slingshot himself right at Dory. "Gum-Gum..."
(First Name) could see in the split second before Luffy comes back flying, that he didn't want to resort to this.
"... Rocket!!"
Luffy is catapulted back and breakneck speed, slamming right into Dory's mid-section. More blood is coughed up than any of the previous incidents as Dory begins to slowly fall back, his sword reaching the ground first as it slips from his grip.
However, the giant isn't ready to go down just yet. Raising a heavy booted foot, he stomps on Luffy as he is in mid-drop strongly enough to make a foot-shaped crater in the jungle floor.
"No! Luffy!" Vivi cries out.
(First Name) holds her back from getting too close, unaware of how the giant would react.
"I see now." Dory groans, clutching at his stomach. "He has some power from... one of the Devil Fruits!" The giant then collapses onto his knees, coughing up more and more of his lifeblood. "It seems... I underestimated... him." And with that, Dory finally falls to the ground with a mighty crash. Whether he succumbed to his wounds or is merely unconscious is yet to be seen.
(First Name) releases her hold on Vivi to rush to her captain who is now trapped in a Luffy-shaped crater, bruised and his clothes filthy, but very much still alive.
"Luffy! Anda bajingan getah gila.[2]" She berates as she peels her idiot captain from his crater. "Thank the sea devil for the Gum-Gum Fruit. Any other Devil Fruit and you would've been squished like a bug."
"Luffy! Are you all right?" Vivi soon follows to join the captain and first mate's sides, closely attended by the animals of their group.
"How is he?" Luffy asks.
🌺Well...he's still breathing. So that's good.🌺 Carmela evaluates. 🌺But he's lost a lot of blood. If you were to rest for a while, I'd say he'd be just fine. But knowing him, the second that volcano goes off again he's going back into fighting.🌺
'That's what I'm afraid of.' (First Name) sighs, thinking to herself.
"I guess you were both right about fighting. He's certainly a lot, now." Vivi notes.
"It's just their way, Vivi." (First Name) states, handing her captain back his hat before joining her animal companions' sides.
"Well, I'm not!" Luffy growls. "The old guy was right about one thing, anyway. The other giant would never do anything like this. But I know that our friends wouldn't do it either. They aren't like that."
🎇That begs the real question...🎇 Hanabi glances at Dory's fallen form seriously.
"Yeah. Then who?" Vivi finishes everyone's thought.
"There must be somebody else on this island." Luffy states.
(First Name) and her beastly/magical companions look to one another knowingly, having a solid idea of the third party in play here, along with them on this island. But the question shared among them is why? Why attack the giants?
🏴☠☠🏴☠
"The key to winning any game is to know your opponent's state of mind." Mr. 3 educates his fellow Baroque Works agents as he pours the group cups of tea. "For now, we have succeeded in confusing our enemy. They are no doubt wondering about the mysterious bomb that we delivered. And about the identity of their invisible enemy." He motions for Mr. 5 and Ms. Valentine to take their intended cups before continuing.
"Our first target was the long-bearded giant, Dory. I know of course, that it would be nearly impossible to finish him off, but the damage done to his stomach by the bomb must have been considerable. Now...We can sit here and enjoy our tea while relaxing... And wait for the next duel to start."
Ms. Goldenweek observes closeby, silently.
"So we stay in the background and let the giant kill off the injured one?" Mr. 5 interprets Mr. 3's plan.
Mr. 3 chuckles. "Yes, that's exactly right."
Mr. 5 sips at his tea. "That's certainly an indirect method."
"Again, you have to consider your enemy. Warriors like these to operate in much the same way as wild boars. They can be intimidating in a head-on fight, but they don't have the brains to think beyond their immediate circumstance. So why bother going after them directly when you have the intelligence to destroy them indirectly?" Mr. 3 smirks as he explains.
Feeling a strong gaze in his direction, Mr. 3 looks to see Ms. Goldenweek staring intently at the cup of freshly poured tea intended for her. Little does the number agent know that her mind's focus is not actually on the tea but of a certain pirate woman who risked her life twice for her and helped her retrieve a close personal item when she had no obligation to. Her gaze just happens to be on the tea at this time, making Mr. 3 mistaking her intense stare for the drink.
"Why can't you just get the tea yourself, Ms. Goldenweek?"
At the sound of Mr. 3 calling her, she snaps out of her reverie and takes hold of the saucer and cup.
"And just what are we supposed to do with the Straw Hat Gang?" Mr. 5 inquires.
"Straw Hat Gang...?" Mr. 3 echoes in confusion, the '3' in which his hair is formed into changes shape into a '?'. "Oh, you're talking about the little brats who found out the boss's secrets." The '?' then becomes a '!', symbolizing his recognition of the topic. He then spreads several headshots along the table. One being a photograph of Vivi in more regal princess attire while the other three were the accurate sketches of Luffy, Zoro and Nami from their time on Whiskey Peak, courtesy of the Unluckies, Mr. 13 and Ms. Friday.
"We can start by luring them out one by one. The order doesn't matter really. Let's start with the one closest to my tea set. I have a personal motto, you know: and that is, 'Big crimes via cheap tricks.'" He chortles haughtily. "There are plenty of good ways to defeat any enemy--all without fighting."
"That may be more difficult. The rumors floating around from the East Blue are true regarding a certain pirate woman among the Straw Hat Gang." Mr. 5 informs.
This earns Mr. 3's full attention, his chin resting against the backs of his hands linked together. "So it's true, then. The 'Seafaring Siren' has taken up position in a crew. You've encountered her, then?"
"Didn't get a chance to actually fight her first hand, but with the string of bodies left in her wake at Whiskey Peak, those rumors might hold more weight to them after all."
"One of the Whiskey Peak agents who was still conscious during her rampage told us she openly admitted to the slaughter of our more capable group of Billions from that incident some years ago." Ms. Valentine adds.
To the twos' surprise, Mr. 3 begins to laugh madly. "Finally! A worthy muse has fallen right into my lap. I, out of all the artists on this or any sea, will get to produce a work of art of a hidden beauty in which the likes of this world has never seen. I will have portrayed one of the most cryptic and mystical pirates of this generation into an art piece of my own creation."
"Hey, Mr. 3, refill." Miss Goldenweek chimes, extending her hand with her now empty tea cup, interrupting his obsessive rantings.
"Yeah. While you're up." Mr. 5 hitches on the refill order.
"Can't you savages take some time to actually savor your tea?!" Mr. 3 yells, shrilly, at his fellow agents disrespect for class.
☠🏴☠☠
The volcano signalling the start of another fight between the giants booms like clockwork, causing Luffy and his group to look up with worry.
"That's their signal... isn't it?" Vivi queries.
As more explosions from the volcano begin to go off, (First Name) and Quetz eye the not yet woken giant warrily, knowing his choice should he be roused from unconsciousness.
🏴☠☠🏴☠
On the other side of the jungle, Broggy and his company of Straw Hats observe the fiery explosions let loose by the volcano.
"Well, there's the signal. It's really been active today." Broggy uses his axe to aid lifting himself off his log.
"You're really going?" Usopp inquires. "Put your wounds from the last battle having killed!"
"Please!" Broggy swings his axe in practice. "Dory can't be doing any better than me!"
Usopp sweats nervously.
"Jababababababa! A few scratches won't take me out of the dual! That would sure make me a poor excuse for a brave Warrior. Jabababababababa!"
☠🏴☠☠
As they had feared, upon hearing the sounds of the volcano erupting, Dorry is risen back to consciousness.
"Wait, giant guy! Don't!" Luffy pleads with Dory.
"You can't fight, Dory! You need to rest!"
"With your current wounds, you won't survive in its battle." (First Name) reasons.
Carmela flies up to look the wounded giant dead in the eye. 🌺Will you still fight, even if you both are not on even ground?🌺
The giant answers with unwavering conviction. "I will fight... I am Dory... I will--" He sputters, coughing up more blood. "...fight... for Elbaf's pride and die as a warrior."
The Straw Hat members, human and animal, are driven to terse silence at the giant's reply.
🏴☠☠🏴☠
Those of the Straw Hat crew have no idea of their involvement in a plan cooked up by a deviously clever, albeit dirty, dishonorable, Baroque Works agent.
As one giant fights to stand and ready himself for a battle he knows he may not live to see the next rematch, the other is unwittingly in a part to do away with his fellow giant in a match that's been fixed in his favor.
And all the while, the Straw Hats' swordsman and cook are still on their hunting competition at opposite ends of the thick jungles of the island.
☠☠☠
☠TO BE CONTINUED . . . ☠
On the next One Piece. . .
"Ah, great! I'm lost again."
"Nami's disappeared! What am I going to do?! Luffy? (First Name)?"
"We're not alone on this island."
"Someone's interfered with the giants' duel, and that just isn't right! Who is it? Show yourself!"
"Hey, who are they?"
"Baroque Works!"
"It was you."
"How dare you violate the warriors' battle, you scoundrels!"
🏴☠️️Ch.65: A Victory Not So Sweet! Broggy's Bitter Tears!🏴☠️️
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☠Current Crew: Luffy | (First Name) | Zoro | Nami | Usopp | Ghin | Sanji☠
🐾The Pack: Carmela | Ahio | Tito | Umi | Trigger | Calder | Richie | ChouChou🐾
💙Pets: Nestor the Hermit Crab | Firouz the ???💙
💎Gems: Jimanekia the Yellow Pearl | Kylie the Emerald💎
🔮The Guild: Hanabi (Familiars: Akihiro | Xìngyùn) | Astro (Familiar: Hunter)🔮
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Translation(s)
[1] What the hell happened?! - (Slovak)
[2] - You crazy rubber bastard. (Malay)
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[A/N: Hello to all my readers! I'm not dead! And this story is definitely not going to be discontinued. I'm sorry for keeping you all waiting but online school is taking up far too much of my time ever since COVID started. But I haven't forgotten about all of you, so as an apology, I'm posting chapters for the remainder of the Little Garden Arc all at once. I'm not giving up on this or any of my stories, however updates will be exceedingly slow as well as any response on either of my pages. I hope you can continue to bear with me. Thank you for your helpful criticisms, comments and encouraging words, I look forward to writing more for you all.]
[A/N #2: I've also been getting complaints about not being able to read the speech of the character of the weapon spirit, Argenti, in Chapter 58, so I've tried a different text style. Let me know if this problem still persists.]