BOOOOM——!!!
Just as the group pushed deeper into the jungle, a dull roar suddenly surged up from deep within the earth.
The next instant, the colossal volcano at the center of the island erupted violently.
Thick plumes of smoke shot skyward like black dragons, blotting out the heavens.
Molten-red lava flowed down the mountain ridges, as if the earth itself had been torn open and was bleeding.
Yet this terrifying natural spectacle was merely a signal.
As the volcano roared, two even more dreadful soundwaves exploded from opposite ends of the island, piercing straight into the sky.
"Gahahahahaha!!"
"Jibabababa!!"
The voices were as vast and resonant as giant bells, shaking the air itself. Even the Going Merry far offshore rocked violently atop the waves.
"What—what is that sound?! Monsters?!" Vivi turned pale, clutching Karoo's neck tightly.
Ronan's gaze sharpened. He could feel two vast surges of blood and vitality rapidly approaching.
With a light tap of his foot, he shot upward like an arrow loosed from a bow, landing atop an ancient tree tens of meters tall.
"Up there! Everyone, get up!"
Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji followed instantly, leaping between massive branches like nimble monkeys. In the blink of an eye, they reached the crown of the tree.
Their view opened up completely.
In the vast clearing near the island's center—where massive bones were piled high—two figures like moving mountains came into view.
On the left stood a giant wearing a red Viking helmet, a long golden beard flowing down his chest. He wielded an enormous shield and longsword, his body wrapped in crude animal hides, radiating untamed savagery.
On the right was another giant, wearing a blue horned helmet and gripping a massive battle axe, his towering frame just as suffocatingly immense.
"Those are… giants?!"
Sanji's cigarette nearly fell from his mouth, his pupils shrinking violently.
"The Giant Tribe from fairy tales… they actually exist?!"
"So awesome!!"
Luffy clung to a branch, eyes wide and sparkling.
"They're huge! Seriously huge!"
Before anyone could recover from the shock, the two giants moved.
"Brogy! Today marks the end of our hundred-year duel!"
"Bring it on, Dorry! Try that rusty sword of yours against my axe!"
No feints. No probing.
The two charged straight at each other.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
With every step, the ground cried out in agony. Rocks were hurled skyward by the tremors.
The kinetic energy carried by the two charging mountains was incalculable. The air was violently pushed aside, forming visible white shockwaves.
BOOOOM——!!
Sword and axe collided midair.
For an instant, time itself seemed to freeze.
Then an utterly terrifying shockwave erupted from the point of impact, sweeping outward in all directions.
Trees within a hundred-meter radius were uprooted like weeds or snapped clean in half.
Sand and stone filled the air as dust billowed sky-high.
A dense jungle was instantly cleared, leaving behind a massive empty zone.
Even perched high in the treetops, the Straw Hats felt a violent gale slam into them, nearly blowing them away.
"So this is… the power of giants?"
Zoro clung tightly to the trunk, his eyes blazing with shock and exhilaration.
"Pure strength colliding like that… that's on a monster's level."
At the center of the battlefield, the giants' fight continued.
No refined techniques—only the most primal, brutal exchange of power.
The dull thuds of shields smashing into flesh, sparks bursting as axes cleaved rock, and roars powerful enough to rupture eardrums blended into a savage prehistoric war anthem.
The earth trembled.
The sky seemed to wail.
Every collision sent a small earthquake rippling across Little Garden.
Ronan stood at the treetop, hands clasped behind his back, clothes snapping violently in the wind.
His gaze remained calm as water as he watched the world-shattering clash—yet he slowly shook his head.
"Their strength really is terrifying," he said flatly.
"That's an absolute advantage born from racial traits. Their size gives them incomparable muscle mass and bone density."
"In terms of raw destructive power, we're indeed inferior right now."
Then his tone shifted.
"But they're far too slow. And there's no technique at all—just brute force."
"Their weapon swings are wide and obvious, full of openings."
"Hey, Ronan."
Luffy turned to him, cheeks puffed in dissatisfaction.
"We finally get to see giants this cool—why are you killing the mood? This kind of head-on, manly showdown is awesome!"
"It looks impressive, sure," Ronan replied calmly.
"But in a life-or-death battle, looking cool won't feed you."
With one final earth-shaking clash, the two giants finally exhausted themselves. Laughing loudly, they disengaged and agreed to fight again another day.
The two walking mountains turned and strode toward opposite ends of the island, the tremors gradually subsiding.
"Alright! I've decided!"
Luffy tugged his straw hat down, eyes shining as he crouched into a runner's stance.
"I'm going to find that uncle with the helmet!"
"Luffy, wait."
A hand firmly grabbed the back of Luffy's collar and lifted him up.
"What are you doing, Ronan?!"
Luffy flailed midair, pouting.
"I want to go on an adventure! I want to meet the giants!"
Ronan set him back down on the branch, his expression turning unusually serious.
He glanced at Zoro and Sanji, who were also itching to rush off, and spoke in a low voice.
"We have our own things to do."
"Our own things?"
Luffy tilted his head, confused.
"Eating? Or sleeping?"
"Training."
Ronan gestured to the land below, thick with primordial energy, his tone carrying a hint of mystery.
"Luffy, Zoro, Sanji—haven't you noticed? Not only are the trees gigantic here, even the insects and beasts far surpass those outside."
"What does that mean? It means the 'earth energy'—natural energy—is unbelievably dense here."
"This island is a living fossil from ancient times."
Ronan inhaled deeply, eyes burning with intensity.
"There are definitely rare plants here that no longer exist elsewhere, and ferocious beasts with ancient bloodlines."
"If you're not interested in the title of 'Pirate King,' if you think your current strength is already enough to dominate the Grand Line—"
"Then go ahead. Go play house with the giants."
Luffy instantly stopped struggling.
That single phrase struck a nerve.
"What does this have to do with becoming Pirate King?"
Luffy dropped his playful grin, his eyes turning serious.
Even Zoro and Sanji halted, their gazes locking onto Ronan.
They knew this look.
When Ronan spoke like this, it meant something important—very important.
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