Chapter 421: The Fight of the Red-Hairs
They sailed up the colorful rainbow bridge. Soon, the scene of the Yang Realm slowly unfolded before them.
The first thing that came into view was a shore with a beach. Clear spring water gushed from a tree hole, and from top to bottom, one layer after another, it cascaded like a waterfall into the bay.
As for why there was a beach on a tree...
"This was formed by countless years of weathering,"
Dorry had explained to them.
On the way, the group had already learned some information about Elbaf from the giants.
Compared to the island itself, with its continuous snow-capped mountains, the Treasure Tree Adam could almost be considered the true core of this country. The reason why the middle layer was called the Yang Realm was because this was the most expansive area that could receive sunlight.
The Nether Realm below, due to the shade of the dense branches and leaves of the middle layer, was also called 'the place where the sun disappears', the first world.
Hearing this name, Reiner couldn't help but start to imagine. Perhaps in a very distant era, the giants had lived on the island below?
It was just that later, the Treasure Tree Adam had grown up and blocked the sunlight. The Nether Realm, which could not receive sunlight, was then abandoned, and the giants had to move up to the tree to live.
Or perhaps, someone had long since known the truth about the rising sea level, and the purpose of planting the Treasure Tree Adam in the first place was to be one of the means to shelter the giant race or all the races of the world in the future, on the day the sea淹没了 the world?
The thought of these things made Reiner's mind start to wander to countless other associations.
If the sea was rising naturally at that slow pace every year, to be honest, he couldn't be bothered to worry about it. By the time the world sank, his ashes would have already turned to dust.
But 800 years ago, there had been a very real and great disaster. It had raised the sea level by 200 meters at once, thus drowning most of the land.
What if such a thing were to happen again soon?
If the sea level rose another two hundred meters, besides the Red Line, there would be almost no other continent in this world.
And countless premonitions and potential information were constantly telling him that the great disaster of 800 years ago would really happen again, and it was not far away.
Ancient weapons? Imu?
I'm afraid it's not as simple as a man-made disaster. Whether it was Roger's one sentence back then, 'we came too early', or Rayleigh's 'we know the whole truth, but even if we let you understand it, you are powerless to do anything now', it all made Reiner think in the direction of a natural disaster.
He was not omnipotent either. Even if he possessed an unparalleled strength, he would still seem insignificant in the face of some natural disasters.
For example, the planet stopping its rotation, the world's magnetic poles reversing, a doomsday tsunami triggered by an astronomical phenomenon with a cycle of millions of years...
There were too many things that could make him powerless.
"The leaders are back!"
"Captain Dorry! Captain Brogy!"
A few passionate shouts brought Reiner back to his senses. He looked over and saw several giant children playing on the beach.
When the great Eric's bow was revealed from the rainbow bridge, they excitedly waved and cheered for the returning warriors.
Oh well. The future will take care of itself. At worst, I'll go and live on a sky island. When the time comes, there will naturally be a way.
Reiner dismissed the various thoughts in his mind, waved his hand, and summoned a few fish-man undead to prepare for the landing, such as furling the sails and dropping the anchor.
"I'm going to tell Chief Shanks that the two captains are back!"
"Me too!"
On the beach, two little boys with smiles on their faces raced back.
The others surrounded the coast to welcome back the warriors, including some other giants who were nearby.
From their eager expressions, it could be seen that in terms of their fierce and brave customs, this place was even more so than Kuja Island.
The anchor was dropped, and the gangway was lowered. The people of the Giant Warrior Pirates landed. Reiner's group and Kid's crew also got off the ship.
"Heh heh. From the looks of it, Red-Hair is indeed still here."
A corner of Kid's mouth lifted into a sneer, a dangerous look in his eyes.
"Are you ready, brothers? After today, there will definitely be a place for us on the throne of the Four Emperors!"
Ignoring the gazes of the others, Kid waved his hand and, with his subordinates, he walked straight forward, his red, pointy, furry coat fluttering in the wind.
Killer, wearing a mask, had two curved sickles on the back of his hands, which glinted with a cold light. He silently followed behind Kid. Heat, Wire, and the other cadres also followed.
"Hey! Wait a minute! Are you going to go and fight them the moment you arrive?"
Nami shouted anxiously. She hadn't expected that Kid's crew, who hadn't spoken much on the way, would, without even a greeting, immediately start a conflict the moment they arrived on Elbaf. This was someone else's territory.
Seeing that the other was completely ignoring her words, she turned back and cast a pleading look at Reiner.
Reiner shrugged, indicating that he was also powerless.
He didn't intend to stop them, nor could he.
Kid's purpose in coming here was Red-Hair. The two pirate crews already had a history of enmity. This was something they had to settle on their own. He had no reason to interfere.
After learning about the past between Red-Hair and Kid's crew, even the Giant Warrior Pirates had acquiesced to their actions.
In their words, any dispute could be settled with a grand duel. As long as the two sides did not act recklessly and destroy their hometown, they would not intervene.
"Justice belongs only to the victorious side. The god of Elbaf will witness all of this."
"Gababababa! Don't die so easily, Kid boy."
Dorry and Brogy laughed heroically.
Although they had only been together for a short time, Kid's fierce, combative, and unyielding, arrogant, stinky temper was actually quite likable in the eyes of the giants.
In Reiner's words, it was "birds of a feather flock together". It was only too reasonable for a brute and a brute to cherish each other.
As for Red-Hair, Dorry and the others were even less worried. It would be the best outcome if Kid could survive.
They walked all the way towards the tree trunk, and they gained a deeper understanding of the vastness of the Treasure Tree Adam.
These intertwined branches, even for the giant race, were a place where they could live. For Reiner and the others, they were even like a landmass. Each branch was as thick as the Yarukiman Mangrove they had seen on the Sabaody Archipelago.
In the flat, open places, one tall wooden house after another stood, forming a village. And in some places with dense, fine branches, those wooden houses were built up or hung from the branches by thick hemp ropes.
Green and sunlight were the themes here. Walking on the road, one after another, the fragrance of grass and trees washed over them, making one feel at peace.
The moment they arrived in the Yang Realm, a giant had immediately gone to the Owl Library to inform them of the Straw Hat crew's arrival. Reiner and the others were preparing to go with Robin to see Saul in a little while.
Right now, he was just on the way to watch the two redheads fight.
At the same time as they landed in the Yang Realm, in a tavern deep in the village, a large group of pirates were drinking cheerfully, the sound of laughter echoing to the sky.
On the left side of the bar were the cadres of the Red Hair Pirates. On the right were those of the Cross Guild. Red-Hair and Buggy sat next to each other in the middle.
At the various tables in the hall, also divided into two sides with the two as the boundary, sat a host of the junior cadres of the two pirate crews.
A group of Buggy's subordinates were趴 outside the door and windows, looking at the scene inside, tears of joy streaming down their faces.
"Captain Buggy~"
"To think he's drinking with Red-Hair like a brother."
"Damn it! I wish I could go in too~"
Looking at the scene of Mr. 3 and the other cadres drinking and chatting inside, Buggy's subordinates' faces were covered with tears of envy.
And at this moment.
"Chief Red-Hair! The captains are back! And they brought the Straw Hat crew and Kid's crew!"
Two giant children, with excited faces, ran up from behind, shouting.
The laughing and joking atmosphere in the tavern was also interrupted by this. They all turned their heads to look outside. The atmosphere was silent for no more than two seconds.
Bang!
Yasopp slammed his large hand on the table, his face filled with an irrepressible smile.
"In other words, they're here too! Luffy and Usopp!"
"Whoa—! Are we finally going to see Luffy?"
Lucky Roux stood up with a grin and took a bite of the piece of meat in his hand.
"Hahaha! And Uta. The thought of seeing them makes me a little excited."
"Yeah. But then again, what's with Kid's crew?"
Hongo smiled faintly, spread his hands, and leaned back against the bar. He turned his head to look at the figure beside him.
"I say... don't tell me he's here to seek revenge on you."
"Who knows?"
Smoke swirled and rose. Benn Beckman, a cigarette in his mouth, said without a care.
Compared to Kid's crew, he was now more concerned about Luffy and his crew.
The bald Bonk Punch handed his wine glass to the monkey 'Monster' on his back, and chuckled as he patted Beckman's shoulder.
"Don't talk as if it has nothing to do with you. He had an arm broken by you last time."
"The young people these days are too impatient. It's the duty of a senior to teach the arrogant little brats a lesson."
Beckman was still smoking his cigarette. A corner of his mouth lifted slightly. He put down his wine glass and instead picked up the rifle that was leaning against the counter, resting the stock on his shoulder.
"He'd better not spoil the fun at a time like this. Otherwise, he can only pray that I'm in a good enough mood to let him off."
"Hahaha! Beckman is so scary! What do you say, boss? Let's hurry up and go out."
Lucky Roux asked with a grin.
Only then did Red-Hair finally make a move. He smiled faintly, gripped the hilt of his sword, Gryphon, and stood up from the bar.
"Wait a minute, Shanks! Straw Hat has a grudge with me!"
Suddenly, Buggy spoke resentfully. He jumped up from his chair and blocked Red-Hair, his expression angry as he shouted:
"They made me stay in Impel Down for so long! I haven't settled the score with them yet! You're not going to protect him, are you? Even you can't make me let this go!"
"Lord Buggy...!"
"To actually declare that he won't give Red-Hair face...!"
"This is truly...!"
The pirates outside the door, upon hearing this, looked on with shock. They covered their heads with their hands, and tears of excitement streamed down. They shouted:
"So bold, Lord Buggy!!"
"As expected of the man who will seize the One Piece!!"
"What kind of poison did that guy Buggy give them?"
At the side of the bar, Crocodile glanced at this group of subordinates with a disdainful look, a cigar at the corner of his mouth, and smoke swirling, half-covering his face.
Although it was he who had proposed and acted, and had united with Hawk-Eye and Moria to propose the creation of the Cross Guild, for some reason, due to a promotional poster, Buggy had inexplicably ascended to the throne of the Four Emperors.
It was simply like a joke.
Before he could make a move, Hawk-Eye to his left had already started to pack his things. After putting on his hat, he picked up the black blade Yoru, which was leaning against his side, and put it on his back.
"What? Are you interested too?"
Crocodile glanced at him with great interest.
Hawk-Eye's calm face showed no expression. He just walked towards the door on his own and said faintly:
"The time has come."
"The time?"
Crocodile was strange. Moria to his right bared his two rows of sharp teeth and said with a sinister smile:
"The only one in this world who can still interest him is probably that guy."
"Two idiot men who only have eyes for the sword! Hmph! We should hurry up and go too, Lord Moria."
Perona stood with her hands on her hips, her cheeks puffed out, looking sullen.
After two years, her style of dress had also changed a little. A black strapless dress, paired with a head of pink, wavy long hair, which, while not losing its cuteness, also made her look a bit more mature than before.
Her figure was also much more mature. At least when she saw Nami and Robin again, she wouldn't be too self-conscious.
"You have a grudge with the Kid Pirates?"
Crocodile stood up and glanced at the people of Red-Hair's crew. A corner of his mouth lifted slightly, and he said to himself:
"We also have a grudge with the Straw Hat crew. We'll each take care of our own business. It's just right that we don't interfere with each other."
"Hey, hey, hey! How did it suddenly develop into this situation? Wouldn't it be nice for everyone to just sit down and have a drink?"
Yasopp held the muzzle of his gun, tapped his head with the stock, and had a troubled smile on his face.
The two pirate crews' people walked out of the tavern one after another. Just as they reached the door, a man came running from a distance, shouting as he ran:
"Boss! Someone has come looking for trouble, boss! It's that kid, Kid!"
"You've become a cadre, after all. I say you啊, stop shouting all day, okay? It's time to be a little more mature, Rockstar."
Lucky Roux laughed teasingly, as if he were scolding a child who had not grown up.
As if he had sensed something, Red-Hair suddenly looked up. Before he had even seen the person, he had already sensed a strong hostility.
"His aura is quite strong. It seems that guy has gotten a lot stronger than before."
Red-Hair smiled calmly.
Just as he had finished speaking, a group of figures appeared at the end of his line of sight, walking towards them with a fierce momentum.
"Heh heh, just leave it to us to solve, boss."
"It seems pretty good as a post-meal exercise."
Lucky Roux and Yasopp seemed to be in a good mood today. The two of them took the initiative to step forward.
"He said he was here for revenge. How come it feels like all his hostility is on me?"
Red-Hair passed the two of them and walked forward with a light laugh.
"Don't be so rash, you guys. This is in the village. If we're going to fight, we have to pick a good place."
"Red-Hair!"
As the distance gradually closed, Kid's face took on a haughty, sinister grin.
"I've been... looking for you for a long time."
(End of chapter)