Their discussion about the gravity chamber came to a pause.
Even if they wanted to try it, they'd have to wait until they reached land.
Little Garden wasn't too far from Alabasta.
As they neared the island, faint red light flickered through the dim sky ahead. Plumes of smoke rose high into the air—the island's volcano was erupting.
Then came the sounds of clashing weapons, thunderous roars, and the shockwaves that followed.
Don unsheathed his blade, cutting down the incoming wave of force, his eyes fixed on the island known as Little Garden.
He released his Observation Haki, expanding his senses until they enveloped the entire island.
When Don went all out, his Observation Haki could cover nearly a hundred kilometers—but he rarely used it to that extent now.
The old method of constantly training by keeping his Haki active was yielding diminishing returns.
His current goal was to comprehend a higher level of Observation Haki.
Everything on the island came clearly into view in his mind.
Two giants—each over twenty meters tall—were clashing with massive weapons.
Every strike thundered across the land, releasing shockwaves that rippled outward.
"What an extraordinary race," Don murmured in awe.
"Hm?"
Issho (Fujitora) had also stood up, using his own Observation Haki to perceive the situation.
"These two giants set sail over a century ago," Don said, turning to him. "They've been dueling here for more than a hundred years."
Issho's expression shifted in surprise.
"A hundred years of fighting?"
Robin also looked amazed.
"For the giant race, that's only a small fraction of their lifespan," Don explained.
Giants lived three to four times longer than humans; even at two hundred years old, they were still in their prime.
"A hundred years ago, there was a legendary pirate crew—the Giant Warrior Pirates. Every one of them was a giant."
Don's tone carried a hint of nostalgia.
A fully grown giant's strength could already rival that of a Marine Vice Admiral.
A ship full of such warriors was a power that even the New World would tremble before.
Unfortunately, they lacked a true top-tier combatant—though rumor had it that a mightier Giant Prince resided in Elbaf, the Giant Kingdom.
Don stroked his chin thoughtfully, then shook his head.
That was still a long way off.
For now, he had come here for one thing—to witness Hakoku Sovereignty (Conqueror's Dominion) firsthand.
Big Mom's Ikoku Sovereignty was said to be derived from it, and when she joined forces with Kaidou, their combined strike—was a terrifying evolution of the same move.
Its destructive force could shake hundreds of kilometers of sea.
The two giants before him—Dorry the Blue Ogre and Brogy the Red Ogre—were about to unleash the original version of that attack.
Even if it wasn't as devastating as the one used by two Emperors, it had reached a similar level in principle.
By observing it, Don could also estimate the upper limits of Big Mom and Kaidou's power.
"Bring the ship closer," Don instructed Robin, pointing toward the island.
BOOM!
Another deafening blast erupted as a visible shockwave crashed over the sea, sending towering waves toward their ship.
Slash!
A single flying cut tore through the incoming waves, splitting them apart.
"Forget it. You watch the ship."
Don glanced briefly at Issho, then leapt skyward, his body bursting into flame as he shot forward like a blazing meteor toward the island.
Issho blinked, slightly taken aback, then turned to Robin.
"He just?"
"You'll get used to it," Robin said with a wry smile. "Don can be... impulsive sometimes."
She sighed. "According to him, he's still a child. Whatever he does can be forgiven."
Issho's face went blank for a moment.
"I see… what a peculiar man."
He unsheathed his blade, swinging it once. A sharp wave of energy split the approaching tide and shockwaves apart.
"Truly a strange one," he muttered.
—
On one corner of Little Garden.
Mr. 3 and his subordinates were huddled in a crude shelter, trembling as the sounds of explosions and roars echoed outside, the ground quaking beneath them.
"Boss told us to leave, but how the hell are we supposed to do that now!?"
Mr. 3—Galdino—frowned, the waxy "3" on his head almost drooping.
"If we disobey him, he'll have us killed when we get back!"
At that, the others turned pale.
"Didn't you already explain what happened?" someone asked nervously.
"Explain? You think that helps?" Galdino groaned.
"Wait… did it stop?"
The trembling of the ground had ceased. Someone immediately noticed.
"Could it be over?"
Galdino's eyes brightened. The others fell silent, straining their ears.
Indeed—the rumbling had vanished.
The earth had been shaking from the giants' movements, and their roars and weapon strikes had gone quiet too.
Relieved, they cautiously crept out of the shelter and peered toward the center of the island.
"Now's our chance. If it's really over, we run—fast. If we're late, Boss will definitely kill us."
"Wait—who's that?"
They climbed a small hill, peering into the distance.
Far away, between the two giants, stood a tiny human figure.
Their eyes widened.
"BOSS!?"
Startled, Galdino fumbled out a Den Den Mushi and called Crocodile.
"You left Little Garden already?"
The snail's face morphed into Crocodile's, his deep voice echoing.
Everyone froze, instantly alert.
"Boss, the two giants were fighting—we couldn't leave! But now they've stopped. There's someone between them."
"A person?" Crocodile's tone dropped, then went silent for several seconds.
"Boss, should we return to Alabasta?" Galdino asked cautiously when the silence stretched too long.
"No," Crocodile finally said, his voice calm and deliberate. "Stay where you are and keep watch. Record everything that happens. If that man fights the giants, document it and report to me."
"Eh!?" Galdino and the others stared in disbelief.
"Boss!?"
"If I'm right," Crocodile continued, "that man is our new boss. He's the one who took Little Garden's Log Pose."
END OF CHAPTER
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