"The consumption for awakening is truly immense."
The activation of Devil Fruit abilities requires stamina as "energy." While many overpowered abilities don't consume much, their activation still depletes stamina.
Awakening, without a doubt, consumes the most.
By extending his ability's range to the entire island, Oran's own stamina dropped significantly, but he was also a well-rounded type, so he could still handle it for now.
Clap, clap, clap.
A round of applause came from the side. Lyliana didn't know what Oran's words meant, but she responded literally.
"So, Father, what should we do next?"
"Just do what you wanted to do before. You can pretend nothing happened. The stories in the Book-Book Fruit can be true or false, not necessarily fake."
Now the entire Small Garden had become Oran's narrative. He could act as the author of the book, describing the story that followed, and even create some real things within this awakened domain.
But that would consume an astronomical amount of stamina. The stronger and larger the created objects, the higher the consumption, to the point where even draining Oran's stamina might not be enough to finish a single story.
If it was merely generating illusions, the consumption would be much smaller. Everyone on the island had already been integrated into the story, becoming its protagonists.
Illusions could be pure illusions, or they could reflect illusory damage onto the real body. What Oran wanted to do was merely speed up the duel's progress.
"Garararara, Dorry, it's a familiar draw again."
"Gahahahaha, yes, after all these years, we still haven't decided a winner."
"Today, I met some humans on that side of the island and got a lot of sake."
"Oh? Is that so? Share some with me. It's been a long time since I had sake."
"Of course, I brought it all for you."
Brogy handed the sake from his pocket to Dorry. He seemed to have never considered that he would die in battle, viewing all of this as an inevitable outcome.
"Alright, my guests are still waiting. I need to go back and prepare roasted meat for them. See you in the 51,427th battle."
"Gahahahaha, go on. Next time, I will definitely be the one to win!"
"Don't even start. I am the strongest warrior of Elbaf!"
Brogy walked back, carrying his axe, and enthusiastically greeted the few people watching the battle.
"You've waited long enough. The bonfire is burning well now, and dinosaur meat roasted over a fierce fire tastes even better."
The bonfire burned fiercely, and smoke curled up around the skeleton of a Sea Kings nearby. The dinosaur meat sizzled with grease under the flames, and Brogy applied the juice of some ancient plants as seasoning to the meat.
"Alright, these are pretty much cooked. You all eat first."
"Thank you, Giant Uncle."
Brogy carved off some of the outer, already cooked parts and handed them over on wooden skewers made from large trees. The volume of the meat skewers already exceeded the combined size of Oran and the others, yet it was still decreasing at a visible rate.
"It tastes like chicken, Father. Aren't you eating?"
"You eat first. I'll eat later."
"Don't be shy, there's plenty more here. If it's not enough, I'll just go hunting again. Elbaf would never let its guests go hungry."
The taste of the dinosaur meat wasn't particularly amazing; it was just rather exotic, as it was a creature rarely seen in the outside world.
However, the dinosaur species seemed more suitable for Oran and his group. Lyliana wasn't picky and ate everything; a large quantity was its greatest advantage, and the meat yielded from a large dinosaur was far more than that from poultry like chickens and ducks.
Kite was pickier about meat due to her race, but as an oviparous animal, dinosaurs also met her needs.
As for Absalom, he had no say; he was content as long as he could eat his fill.
"Giant Uncle, why do you keep fighting with the other Giant Uncle?"
"Oh, that? I forgot."
"Forgot?"
"Yes, we seemed to have argued about something back then, and to settle who was right, we started a duel according to Elbaf's tradition. It's been almost seventy years now.
As for why we're fighting, we've long forgotten. Now, we're just fighting for the warrior's honor."
Brogy's memory of what happened back then was already blurry, but he didn't resist anything and stated the reason for their battle very directly.
"Seventy years is so long."
"The Giant Race can live for three hundred years. Seventy years is very long for you humans, but for the Giant Race, it's actually not that long."
"But you two sounded so happy when you were talking earlier. You've been dueling for seventy years, so you must have known each other even longer, right? Is a warrior's honor more important than the lives of brothers and friends?
Is it really worth sacrificing a person's life for that so-called honor?"
Lyliana was not fond of fighting; she preferred resolving conflicts. In some ways, she was very similar to Charlotte Linlin. After all, they were lives born from the same genetic template. Resolving other people's disputes was something she often did.
"Little one, you don't understand. This is our warrior's honor. Our lives are long, so we wish even more to die gloriously in battle.
Life, treasure, these things will eventually turn to dust, but as a warrior of Elbaf, to die with dignity, that is a glorious death!
This dignity will then be inherited by the next generation of Elbaf, becoming an eternal treasure!"
"I truly don't understand, but I believe life is the most precious thing.
Shouldn't powerful warriors protect their country and watch the next generation continue to grow?
Dying on the battlefield protecting one's home is a glorious death, but for a reason you've both forgotten, you want to kill your good brother. Is such honor worth it?"
"Garararara! That's the philosophy of the Giants in the city! Perhaps they are also right, but this notion is not mainstream in our warrior village. Giving your all against a warrior who craves battle is the greatest respect in our eyes!"
Listening to Lyliana's words, Brogy didn't get angry; instead, he continued to communicate with her.
Differences in ideology are common, even among the Giant Race.
Elbaf, as the land of Giants, is also quite large, and its Giants are roughly divided into two factions, one of which is the Giant Race in the city.
This part of the Giants also includes the royal family of the Giant Race; they are more orderly. Most of the Giant Race members who join the Marine also come from this group.
Correspondingly, in the surrounding Elbaf villages, the Giants living there are more devoted to honor duels, and most of the Giant Warrior Pirates members also come from here.
Although there were ideological differences, the Giants did not have any conflicts because of them.
Lyliana's words did not sway Brogy. If they changed their inner thoughts just because of a few words from others, then they would no longer be warriors of Elbaf.
Rumble!
The volcano in the center of the island once again emitted black smoke. Brogy looked up, slightly surprised, at the direction of the volcano.
"Why is the interval so short this time? Never mind, perhaps this is the will of the God of Elbaf.
Little one, let's discuss what a warrior's honor should truly be like when I return."
Brogy didn't hesitate. He picked up his battle axe again and walked towards the center of the island. Although he could no longer remember how this agreement was made, the moment the volcano erupted was the moment for the duel—this was already etched into his bones.
"Chapter begins. The Giants' duel should also come to an end in the book."
Neither Brogy nor Dorry noticed that the sun was setting much faster today than usual.
The afterglow of the setting sun fell upon Dorry and Brogy, as if playing a dirge.
Dorry's greatsword turned blood-red under the setting sun, and the ancient totemic patterns and scars on his shield seemed to narrate his honor and glory.
"Brogy, you're a bit slow this time!"
"Wasn't I entertaining guests! These guests are much more interesting than before!"
In the past seventy years, Small Garden had seen many humans. The skeletons on the island were proof of their existence.
However, the time it takes for each island on the Grand Line to record all events is different; Small Garden requires a full year to do so.
While waiting, many died from heat and disease, from being hunted by dinosaurs, and some, coveting the two Giants' bounties, attacked them only to be killed in return.
Most people couldn't discuss honor with Brogy and remain fearless.
"Gahahahaha, those truly are interesting guests. If you lose, I'll continue to entertain them for you!"
"Garararara, no need to worry. I still want to return to Elbaf early!"
Their shields collided like gauntlets, and the surrounding air seemed to solidify at that moment.
Suddenly, Dorry let out a sky-shattering roar, raised his other arm, and swung his greatsword, thrusting it towards Brogy.
The greatsword cut through the air, bringing with it a gust of wind, but Brogy was fearless. He swung his battle axe, meeting Dorry's attack.
Neither held back, attacking each other's vital points with full force, giving each other the utmost respect.
Crack!
In their latest clash, Brogy found that Dorry's greatsword had actually broken under the strain of the duel, but his axe blade did not stop because of this; instead, he increased the force of his swing.
"Dorry!"
Accompanied by a roar, the giant axe cut through Dorry's chest. Blood splattered out, and Dorry's tall figure collapsed to the ground at that moment.
"51,427 battles, 1 win, 51,426 draws. Dorry!"
Brogy had defeated his opponent, enemy, brother. As a warrior, he had won, but there was no joy in his heart; only sadness, and tears flowed uncontrollably from the corners of his eyes.
[Is the honor gained by killing your good friend truly honor?]
Lyliana's words reminded Brogy. Perhaps for the deceased, this honor was a warrior's glorious death, but for the victor, it was instead a burden.
"51,427 battles, 1 win, 51,426 draws. Brogy!"
At the same time, from Dorry's perspective, the outcome was completely different. In his view, Brogy's axe handle suddenly broke, and he pierced the other's chest with a single thrust.
Dorry had not communicated with Lyliana, but his heart was also filled with sorrow, and he cried bitterly while embracing the other's "corpse."
Crack. Crack.
The surrounding environment suddenly shattered, and time, like a rewind, returned to midday. The greatsword and the large axe were already broken at the side; this was not false, as the two weapons had been continuously fighting for seventy years.
Enduring high-intensity battles every day and only now breaking down, this was already excellent craftsmanship. The biggest difference was that neither Dorry nor Brogy had died at this moment; they were merely crying while embracing each other.
"Dorry?!"
"Brogy!"
"Excuse me, are you two truly satisfied with this future outcome? Aside from the final result being influenced by my ability, everything just now was the most real dream; it was your consciousness, truly fighting within the illusory space."
Both Dorry and Brogy had scars from weapons on their bodies. The damage sustained in the illusion created by the Book-Book Fruit could be synchronized to the body, and even while fighting in the dream, their bodies could move in sync.
Of course, whether or not it synchronized in specific events was decided by Oran himself.
Like the Devil Fruit, the awakened Book-Book Fruit also had an extremely powerful first-strike kill ability. Those unaware of his ability might unknowingly fall into a trap.
As Oran said, the duel was real; he did not interfere with the two's duel process, but merely used the illusion created by the Book-Book Fruit to change their perception of the outcome.
The Giants' beliefs would not change; the only thing that could make them change was the outcome. It wasn't until they saw the other truly die before them that Dorry and Brogy realized that this kind of honor was not what they wanted.
"Garararara, Dorry, you won't get to enjoy a glorious death and make me bear the feeling of killing you!"
"Gahahahaha, that's what I should be saying, Brogy!"
The two exchanged smiles, then broadly sat cross-legged on the ground, seemingly having no intention of continuing the battle.
Soon after, Dorry and Brogy seemed to reach a consensus and looked at Oran, who was sitting on a book nearby.
"Little human, are you a Devil Fruit user? That's a good ability. Our duel might truly have to end here."
"It looks like you came prepared, right? But what you've done is probably not for our heads.
Your ability indeed made us realize some issues, and we are also preparing to return to Elbaf. You should state your purpose now, shouldn't you?
You have also resolved a big problem between Dorry and me. If it's not too difficult, we won't refuse."
If they continued to fight, they would inevitably regret it the day one of them truly died. Realizing this, Brogy and Dorry were prepared to repay him.
"I've heard legends about you two in the outside world, and I've also heard about the Giants of Elbaf. My main purpose in coming here is to ask you two to be my daughter's teachers."
Communicating with these Giants was simpler by being direct. Since they had said that, Oran directly stated his purpose.
"Teachers? We don't teach anything."
"No, this is something you both know. Elbaf Spear, I want you to teach her this technique."
".Garararara, I thought it was something difficult. Is it just this?"
"Gahahahaha, yes, this is very simple, but whether she can learn it, we don't know."
After a moment of silence, the two burst into laughter, as if this matter was as easy as pie for them.
-----------------------------
The next chapters are now available on Patreon. 🔥
If you're curious about what happens next for the characters, don't miss out!
📖 Read early: [patreon.com/DaoistRoeoNQ]