The first clash made the island tremble, as if cowering. The shockwave stunned onlookers, shaking not just their bodies but their hearts. Regardless of their giant stature, it was a duel of proud warriors, brimming with overwhelming intensity.
Luffy, watching, slowly fell backward, collapsing onto the ground without breaking his fall. Vivi, alarmed, peered at his face.
"Luffy-san!? What's wrong?" she asked.
"Man… I'm in trouble," he muttered, eyes fixed on the duel.
Unlike his carefree self while eating pirate bentos, he seemed transformed. The spectacle's intensity inspired not fear but awe. Eyes wide, he spoke with pure sincerity.
"Huge."
His single word reached only Vivi, drowned out by Igaram and Karoo's screams and the clash's roar.
Brogy's axe struck Dorry's shield. Dorry, crouching defensively, channeled strength into his sword arm. The impact would've crushed a normal person, toppling them for a fatal blow. But Dorry, seasoned by years of rivalry, held firm, preparing to counter.
He repelled the axe with his shield and lunged, thrusting at Brogy's neck—a decisive strike. Brogy deftly parried with his shield, throwing Dorry off balance. Equal in strength, victory hinged on skill.
Brogy leapt, seizing the moment, swinging his axe downward with lethal force. Dorry, facing death, boldly advanced, catching the axe with his helmet in a headbutt, twisting to deflect the blade—a split-second decision born of instinct.
Dodging, Dorry charged, slamming a headbutt into Brogy's stomach. The heavy blow folded Brogy, who fell, dragging Dorry down with him. Seconds later, both sprang up, clashing weapons with ferocious roars.
"Ooooh!" Dorry bellowed.
"Gababababa! Sharp as ever, Dorry! That's the spirit!" Brogy laughed.
"Pirate bentos gave me strength!" Dorry shouted.
"Years since I tasted wine—it's fueled me! Today, I claim victory!" Brogy roared.
"No way! I'll win!" Dorry countered.
Sword met axe, the clash shaking the air with deafening force, resonating in onlookers' hearts. Their precise, lethal strikes targeted vital points, a breathtaking display of intensity.
Each blow could kill. Every moment carried the weight of life and death, where hesitation meant the end.
Usopp, watching from afar, shivered. Each thunderous clash stirred his instincts, making him question his purpose as a man and pirate. He felt unprecedented envy. This was it—what he'd always sought. Fear gave way to a smile, mingling awe with aspiration.
Without thinking, Usopp blurted, "Amazing… This is what I wanted to be."
"Usopp? What's up?" Nami asked.
"Every strike's a kill shot, catching an axe with a helmet—it's insane! But more than that, I wanted to be a warrior like them. A brave warrior of the sea!"
Clenching his fists, Usopp's childlike excitement shone, his eyes gleaming with renewed purpose. Nami, unmoved, acknowledged the duel's intensity but couldn't fathom fighting a friend to the death.
Surely there was a peaceful solution? She glanced at Kiri, who sat silently, observing the duel.
Sighing, Nami realized Kiri wouldn't side with her. Turning to Usopp, she asked, "So, you want to be a giant?"
"No! What were you listening to? What did you see!?" Usopp snapped.
"I saw what's happening," she shrugged.
"This is true battle—what I've been chasing. They carry a warrior's flag in their hearts, one they'd die to protect. It's more precious than life."
"Hmm…" Nami said, uninterested, watching the duel.
Usopp, beaming, stood tall as if joining them. "That's why they've clashed for a century! It's a duel of proud warriors—exactly what I've aimed for!"
He spoke, oblivious to Nami's gaze, voice brimming with excitement. "I finally see it clearly. I want to be a proud man like them—a brave warrior of the sea."
"Brave warrior, huh," Nami muttered, sitting on a log, chin in hand, bored.
Women might not relate, she thought. Usopp, exasperated, turned to Kiri. "She doesn't get it. I explained it clearly!"
"Not interested," Nami said.
"Kiri, you get me, right?" Usopp pleaded.
"Hm?" Kiri, lost in thought, looked up.
His usual demeanor seemed off, but neither pointed it out. "Sorry, I don't really agree," Kiri said.
"He's with me," Nami smirked.
"What!? Why? Every guy admires this—a warrior's way!" Usopp protested.
"I get it. Some people love this. But it feels… wasteful," Kiri said.
"Wasteful?" Usopp asked.
"Friends killing each other? I can't envy that," Kiri said, smiling wryly.
Usopp froze, recalling Kiri's past loss of comrades and Brogy's words: My friend, my greatest rival. The thrill and sorrow of facing a respected foe—Kiri understood but felt the emptiness more.
"If you had to fight Luffy to the death, what'd you do?" Kiri asked.
"Don't even want to think about it," Usopp said.
"That's my bigger issue. Some things I'd protect over pride," Kiri said, relaxing.
His shifting demeanor worried them, their faces tightening. "It's still wasteful. So lively, yet fighting to kill," Kiri added.
"It's not about waste—it's pride. They'd suffer more losing that than dying," Usopp argued.
"Can't we stop them?" Kiri asked.
"No way. It's not our place, and they wouldn't agree. It's a man's duel," Usopp said.
"Elbaf's code," Nami noted.
"A century-long deathmatch. Words won't stop it. It's a shame to lose such warriors, but we can only watch," Usopp said.
"Just follow the code, right?" Kiri asked, voice lighter, smiling.
His tone hinted at mischief. Usopp, sweating, asked nervously, "Kiri, you're not thinking something weird, right?"
"Not sure if it's weird, but I'm thinking," Kiri replied.
"Like what?"
"How to anger a giant. Or win," Kiri said.
"What?" Usopp blinked.
"If duels decide everything, maybe a duel's the answer."
His casual tone alarmed Usopp, and even Nami paled. "Don't say crazy things! I get it, it's natural to not want them to die. But they've got their reasons," Usopp stammered.
"Exactly. Don't meddle. We deliver the letter—maybe to them—then leave," Nami urged.
"Don't want to watch? It's heating up," Kiri said, pointing.
Usopp glanced at the duel, distracted, while Nami sensed trouble brewing. Kiri alone seemed unfazed.
The duel grew fiercer. Far from tiring, their movements sharpened.
Dorry lunged, thrusting his sword at Brogy's stomach. Brogy blocked with his shield, feet sliding but holding firm. Smirking, he swung his axe at Dorry's brow.
Life or death hung on split-second choices. Dorry, grinning, raised his shield. "Sei!" he shouted, knocking the axe upward, grazing his helmet, narrowly escaping death.
Dorry countered, targeting Brogy's arm joint to sever it. Brogy shifted his grip, catching the sword with his axe's blade. The impact jarred his hand, sending the axe flying, leaving him vulnerable.
Dorry pressed forward, but Brogy advanced too, both closing in with lethal intent. Dorry's sword aimed for Brogy's face; Brogy tilted his head, catching it with his helmet, deflecting it with a screech. Seizing the moment, Brogy's shield struck Dorry's sword hand.
"Uoooh!" Dorry roared, wincing but holding his sword. Stumbling, he faltered.
Brogy's fist smashed Dorry's cheek, sending him flying. The punch's momentum toppled Brogy too, their fall felling trees and scattering dinosaurs.
The duel could level the island, its ferocity unmatched. Luffy and Usopp, in different spots, clenched fists, enthralled.
Rising, Dorry and Brogy charged, now weaponless, shifting to hand-to-hand combat. Brogy's punch landed first, staggering Dorry, who endured and countered with a gut punch, making Brogy gasp.
Neither slowed, trading blows with power, speed, and skill. Not mere brawling, the gritty fight captivated with raw allure.
Powerful punches landed, shaking both. "Uooh… Amazing!" Luffy shouted.
"Go, old man! Don't lose!" Usopp cheered.
From separate spots, they roared, gripped by excitement, unable to look away, each cheering their giant.
Unaware, Dorry smirked mid-fight. Exhaustion and pain mounted, but facing an equal made it exhilarating. Brogy, equally thrilled, grinned.
Pausing, fists raised, they locked eyes. "This fight's dragged on. Time to end it," Dorry said.
"Yeah, we're both homesick," Brogy replied.
"I'm going back to Elbaf," Dorry declared.
"No, I'll take the victory and return!" Brogy countered.
They charged, fists flying simultaneously. Dorry dodged; Brogy blocked with his shield, creating a slight edge. Dorry's punch jarred his hand, and Brogy's counter threw Dorry off balance.
Brogy leapt, headbutting Dorry, their helmets clashing with a thunderous crack. Dorry, overwhelmed by Brogy's mass, collapsed, with Brogy falling atop him.
Sliding, they felled more trees. Dorry grabbed Brogy's shoulders, hurling him off in a judo-like throw. Brogy soared, stunned, crashing into the jungle, altering the landscape.
The quake-like impact shocked onlookers. Luffy laughed, gripping his fists, while Usopp, Nami, and Vivi gasped. The giants' battle dwarfed human conflicts.
"Nuu!" Brogy groaned, rising.
"Ooooh!" Dorry charged, fist ready to end it.
As Brogy stood, both stepped forward, landing simultaneous punches to each other's faces, pain coursing through them.
Fists connected, a brief silence followed. Motionless, they stood, then slowly collapsed.
"73,466th fight—" Dorry said.
"73,466th draw," Brogy finished.
Exhausted but content, they lay sprawled, laughing. "Gegyagyagyagya! No winner again!" Dorry roared.
"Gababababa! Stubborn as ever, friend! Thought today was it!" Brogy laughed.
After a merciless duel, they laughed as friends, a century-long bond unchanged. Sitting up, they faced each other in a cleared space, praising their efforts, now as comrades.
"You mentioned wine. Guests?" Dorry asked.
"Yeah, got some from tiny humans. Small, but exquisite. I'll share," Brogy said.
"Thanks. I've got guests too—pirates. Traded pirate bentos for dinosaur meat. Tasty, but small," Dorry said.
"Same crew, probably. Found their ship," Brogy noted.
"Wine's a treat. Been years," Dorry said.
"Gababababa, come over and drink," Brogy invited.
"Grateful to our guests. I'll take it," Dorry agreed.
They walked to Brogy's home, chatting like old times, shoulder to shoulder. Not enemies, nor simply friends—their bond, natural to Elbaf, baffled outsiders. Yet, their willingness to fight to the death and embrace afterward profoundly impacted Usopp.
--+--
T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
It may not be worth it now, but who knows, it might be different in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/Greyhounds
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