The feast on Little Garden had ended, and the eternal duel resumed as if nothing in the world could interrupt it. Smoke from extinguished campfires curled into the prehistoric sky while broken dinosaur bones lay scattered like monuments to celebration.
Kai stood near the shore beside his recently "borrowed" ship, golden flames flickering faintly around his shoulders. The sea breeze tugged at his clothes as he stared at the two giants who had given him more than just food and drink—they had given him perspective.
He placed his hands in his pockets and called out, "Hey, Dorry! Broggy!"
The two massive warriors turned their heads toward him. Even at a distance, their presence felt like mountains shifting.
"What is it, little human?" Dorry asked, resting his sword against his shoulder.
"You leaving already?" Broggy added with a grin.
Kai's expression grew serious. "You might wanna return to Elbaf. It will be becoming chaotic soon. The King of the Giants, King Harald, is hell bent on joining the WG."
The wind seemed to pause between them. Even the jungle felt quieter.
"And I can tell," Kai continued, voice steady, "in this decade Elbaf will go through massive changes."
The giants exchanged a look, their cheerful expressions fading slightly. The weight in Kai's tone was not something a normal child could produce.
"Harald is our friend," Dorry said slowly. "And we trust he will not endanger Elbaf. Even if it means dying. We will continue our duel."
Broggy nodded firmly. "A warrior does not abandon his oath midway. If Elbaf calls, we will hear it. But until then… our battle continues."
Kai studied them for a moment, then nodded. He respected conviction when he saw it.
"Well fine then," he said calmly. "When I have time, I will visit Elbaf. I'm very interested in the Cursed Prince, you see. Since Elbaf doesn't want him… I wanna take him in my crew."
For a second there was silence. Then both giants burst into thunderous laughter.
"You got guts, Kai!" Broggy roared. "If the stories you tell about Loki are true, he will be a true monster. You would have to be his equal if you want him on your ship!"
Kai threw his head back and laughed. "Hahahahahah! If he just joined my crew, where's the fun in that? And if it's about being a monster… just you wait. Next time we meet, you'll be calling me monster."
His voice carried unmatched confidence, the kind that bent reality around it. And as he declared those words, something inside him surged.
The air grew heavy.
An invisible pressure exploded outward from Kai, sweeping across the shore like a tidal wave. The trees shook violently. The sea rippled unnaturally. Even the giants stiffened slightly under the sudden weight.
Dorry's eyes widened. "That…!"
Broggy's grin sharpened. "Conqueror's Haki."
The pressure faded as quickly as it had appeared, leaving only stunned silence in its wake.
Kai blinked, then laughed loudly. "Hahahah! See? Even the world agrees with me!"
The giants stared at him for a moment before breaking into booming laughter once more.
"You really are something, Kai," Dorry said proudly. "We will be waiting to hear your name shake the seas."
Broggy crossed his arms. "Do not die before that day comes."
Kai saluted lazily. "Wouldn't dream of it."
---
His ship drifted away from Little Garden as the giants resumed their eternal clash in the distance. From the shore, Broggy watched the small vessel shrink against the horizon.
"Well," Broggy said thoughtfully, "we just saw the birth of a monster."
Dorry chuckled deeply. "True. Even though his Conqueror's Haki just awakened, it was strong enough that even we felt it."
Broggy's grin widened. "And if Loki is as strong as he says…"
Dorry laughed louder, finishing the thought. "Then they will be a duo that no one in this world can match."
The sound of their laughter echoed across the island long after Kai disappeared from view.
---
Kai's journey to Sabaody Archipelago was anything but smooth. The Grand Line refused to acknowledge his ambition without testing him first. Storms struck without warning, currents twisted unnaturally, and Sea Kings lurked beneath deceptively calm waters.
Naturally, Kai had to "borrow" several ships along the way. Each time, he relieved pirates of their treasure, thanked them by allowing them to experience the refreshing embrace of the sea, and departed before gratitude could overwhelm him.
"Honestly," Kai muttered one evening while steering his fifth replacement ship, "I'm too kind."
Three months later, battered but victorious, he finally saw the massive mangrove trees rising from the ocean like pillars of a submerged kingdom. Bubbles floated upward through the air, shimmering in the sunlight.
Sabaody.
Twenty-two years before Luffy's journey would begin.
Kai stepped onto the island carrying sacks of treasure over his shoulders. He made his way toward Grove 13, weaving through crowds of merchants, pirates, bounty hunters, and slavers. His golden eyes remained calm, observant.
"So this is where legends hide," he murmured.
His destination was clear: Shakky's Rip-Off Bar.
---
The bell above the door chimed softly as Kai entered. The bar was surprisingly quiet, almost peaceful. Sunlight filtered through the windows, reflecting off glass bottles behind the counter.
A tall woman with dark hair and sharp eyes stood behind the bar. She smiled faintly at the sight of a small child walking in alone.
Kai hopped onto a stool and grinned brightly. "Yooo, Big sis. A big glass of juice."
Shakky blinked once, then smiled more warmly. "Sure. Here."
Kai's mouth twitched slightly. Calling older women "big sis" really worked.
He took the glass and drank deeply. "Damn, it's good. Give me another and something to eat, please."
Shakky raised a brow. "You're polite for someone your age."
"Of course," Kai replied smoothly. "Manners open more doors than swords."
She chuckled softly and brought him food and another drink. Kai ate with visible satisfaction before lifting several heavy treasure sacks onto the counter with a dull thud.
Shakky's eyes narrowed slightly. "That's… quite a lot for a child."
Kai wiped his mouth and leaned forward. "Now let's go to business. Big sis, I want an Eternal Log Pose to Wano, Sleepy Hollow Town."
Shakky's smile thinned just a little. "You really know what to ask, little brother. I don't have Sleepy Hollow Town's Log Pose. I have Wano's, but it's in the New World. It's a dangerous sea."
Kai laughed lightly. "The world is more dangerous than any sea."
As he spoke, golden flaming wings burst from his back, spreading wide enough to brush the ceiling. His small hand darkened instantly with Armament Haki—Hardening coating it like polished obsidian.
Shakky's mouth twitched. She stared at him in silence for several seconds.
"What was I doing when I was six?" she muttered under her breath.
Kai grinned innocently. "Probably not this."
Shakky sighed. "Little brother is a monster."
She disappeared into a back room and returned with a small, carefully preserved Eternal Log Pose. She placed it gently on the counter.
"As for Sleepy Hollow Town," she added calmly, "you can come when you're free to get it."
Kai picked up the Log Pose, examining it with satisfaction. "Deal."
He then tilted his head slightly. "By the way… where is the old man?"
Shakky blinked. "Which old man are you talking about?"
Kai shrugged casually. "Rayleigh, of course. Who else would live with the famous Shakky? Whose beauty alone changed an era."
Shakky stared at him for a long moment. Then she laughed softly. "You know more than most kids ever will."
Kai leaned back confidently. "Of course. I'm the man who's gonna turn the world upside down."
From the shadows of the back room, unseen eyes watched the boy carefully.
And somewhere in the quiet depths of Sabaody, a retired legend smiled.