Dawn Over the Giant's Sea
The first rays of sun struck Elbaf's towering cliffs, painting the pine forests gold. Below, the eastern sea churned with the approach of an enemy fleet — black sails marked with the snarling skull of the Beast Pirates.
From the cliff's edge, Vegito watched them through narrowed eyes. His tail flicked lazily, but the air around him buzzed with suppressed power.
Gerda, captain of the Sea Fang fleet, stood beside him, spear in hand. "They've come for our shipyards," she said, voice low. "And for the honor of Elbaf."
Vegito smirked. "Then let's give them the kind of welcome they'll never forget."
The War Horns Sound
A deep horn blast echoed across the cliffs, shaking snow from the pines. Giants poured from their longhouses, warriors in armor carved from sea king scales, hefting weapons that would crush a normal ship in one blow.
On the Heaven's Embrace, the crew readied themselves:
Kuina tested the weight of her sword, eyes cold.
Carrot adjusted her gloves, electricity sparking at her fingertips.
Bell-mère casually loaded a rifle longer than some of the mink girls were tall.
Nami tucked a rolled battle map under her arm, already calculating the wind.
Robin stood at Vegito's side. "Do you want this over quickly… or do you want to make a statement?"
Vegito's grin was pure trouble. "Oh, we're making a statement."
First Strike
The Beast Pirates opened with a barrage — flaming cannonballs arcing toward the cliff face.
Vegito didn't even move his feet. He raised one hand, palm outward. The cannonballs froze midair… then crumpled into molten scrap before dropping harmlessly into the sea.
From the enemy's flagship, a voice bellowed: "THAT'S THE ONE! THAT'S THE MONSTER WHO KILLED JACK!"
"Monster?" Vegito called back, cupping his hands. "No, boys. I'm worse than a monster."
The Giant Charge
At Gerda's signal, the giants roared and hurled their spears. Each one whistled through the air like a falling tower, smashing through enemy masts and punching holes clean through hulls.
The Heaven's Embrace joined the assault from above, her side cannons opening up in a thunderous volley. York manned the ship's new energy blasters, beams slicing enemy decks in two.
Carrot, Wanda, and Tristan leapt from the cliffside, using sky steps to land on an enemy deck. In seconds, the ship's crew was either unconscious or tied up, courtesy of mink speed and claws.
Vegito's Turn
When Vegito finally moved, it was like lightning striking. One moment he was on the cliff; the next, he appeared in front of the Beast Pirates' flagship, hovering in the air.
The enemy captain — a hulking man with rhino horns jutting from his head — raised a spiked club. "I'LL—"
Vegito flicked the club with one finger. The shockwave sent the rhino-man flying off the deck, skipping across the sea like a stone before disappearing with a splash.
"Next!" Vegito called, scanning the other ships.
Comedic Chaos
Bell-mère picked off gunners with sharp, almost lazy shots, grinning every time one fell into the sea. "One shot, one dunk," she muttered.
Nami used her Clima-Tact to whip up sudden squalls — each perfectly timed to shove enemy ships into one another. "Whoops! Sorry!" she called with fake innocence.
Meanwhile, Mikita and Zala had turned an enemy supply barge into their personal snack table, cheerfully eating its stores while the confused Beast Pirates were tied up by the mink girls.
The Turning Point
After twenty minutes, the enemy fleet was in shambles. Half their ships were sinking; the other half were drifting without masts.
But one massive shadow still loomed — a siege ship three times the size of a normal galleon, its bow reinforced with sea stone plating.
Gerda's eyes narrowed. "They mean to ram the cliff."
Vegito cracked his knuckles. "Not on my watch."
The One-Punch Moment
He flew to meet the ship head-on, stopping just before the bow. He placed his hand on the sea stone plating… and pushed.
The entire ship stopped. The sea foamed and boiled around it, the wood groaning under impossible strain. Then Vegito grinned, stepped back, and tapped the hull with two fingers.
The ship exploded in a plume of splinters and seawater, the blast wave flattening waves for hundreds of meters.
Victory and Cheers
The Beast Pirates survivors were rounded up and dumped unceremoniously on a single battered ship, sails shredded, sent limping back toward the New World.
On the cliffs above, Elbaf's war horns sounded again — this time in triumph.
Gerda clasped Vegito's arm. "You fight like a giant born. Elbaf stands with you."
Robin murmured, "That's more than an alliance. That's a blood oath."
The Feast Aftermath
The celebration that night dwarfed even the welcome feast. Barrels of ale flowed, whole sea kings roasted on spits, and the music of giant drums rolled through the forest.
Carrot and Tristan were dancing in a circle with young giants, their laughter carrying over the crowd. Wanda was seated at the fire's edge, carving a small wooden charm — a mink blessing for battle comrades.
Bell-mère leaned toward Vegito. "You realize this means if you ever call for help, an entire fleet of giants is coming, right?"
Vegito smirked. "Good. I've got big plans."
The Next Destination
As the night wore on, Robin slipped Vegito a folded parchment. "The giants gave me this. It's a map to another poneglyph — one not charted in any of our records."
Vegito glanced at it, his tail curling in interest. "And where's it lead?"
"Elbaf says it's in Shanks' territory."
That got him grinning wider. "Perfect. I've been meaning to pay the red-haired fool a visit."
[Crew Status Updated]
New allies: Elbaf's Sea Fang fleet, oath-bound to Vegito.
Victory over Beast Pirates eastern fleet.
Poneglyph lead acquired in Yonko territory.
Next Chapter: Chapter 59 – Into the Emperor's Waters.