In the days that followed, Eli meticulously prepared fine wines every day, offering them to Red Oni Broggy and Blue Oni Donly. His goal was twofold: to treat the two giants with proper hospitality and, more importantly, to request that they train Big Pan and the others in the practical application of Haki.
Both giants were seasoned veterans, each having lived through a century of battles. Their experience and raw strength were unparalleled. If Big Pan and the others could absorb even a fraction of their techniques, the improvement in their abilities would be tremendous.
On one particular day, an intense battle erupted on the island.
The Fishman brothers moved in perfect synchronization, attacking the towering and formidable Donly with relentless force. Meanwhile, Filina and Fiona faced off against Broggy, whose overwhelming strength was like a mountain pressing down upon them.
The battlefields were close enough that the clash of strikes and shouts reverberated across the entire island, making it tremble under the sheer intensity of their fight. What had once been a peaceful and quiet island now erupted into chaos, and even the native wildlife fled in terror.
The fight dragged on for hours, with neither side yielding an inch.
Then, as the battle neared its climax, Donly and Broggy roared in unison, unleashing a combined Haki technique of terrifying force known as "Overbearing Sea."
A colossal wave of energy surged outward like a tidal wave, barreling toward Dotai and the others. Despite their full exertion, the four were no match for the combined might of the two giants. They were sent flying, crashing to the distant ground with bone-jarring impact.
It was clear that while Dotai and his companions were strong, they were still no match for these ancient giants, whose experience and battle-hardened skills gave them an undeniable edge.
Eli clapped his hands as he descended from the air, praising the two giants. "Truly an incredible combination attack."
Alone, either Donly or Broggy would be roughly equivalent to a high-ranking admiral, but together, their attacks rivaled the might of even the most formidable forces. Eli knew "Overbearing Sea" was only one of many techniques in their arsenal.
"They've improved so fast, Eli. Look at this chest of mine Dotai really hurt me," Donly said, rubbing the bruises left by Dotai's fists.
"Yeah, and Fiona gave me several good cuts," Broggy grumbled beside him.
Eli laughed. "No problem at all." He turned to check on the others who were lying on the ground.
"How are you all feeling?" he asked.
Dotai struggled to his feet. "Captain, we now realize how much we still lack. We need to train harder." The others nodded in agreement.
"Good. You have the right attitude. Today's battle wasn't in vain. I hope you also feel the progress you've made."
Reflecting on the fight, their eyes brightened as they realized how much they had learned from both the giants' moves and the experience of combat itself.
Broggy scratched his head, his gravelly voice rumbling. "Honestly, these little humans aren't bad. With more training, they could become quite powerful."
Donly nodded in agreement. "Exactly. As long as they persist, their future potential is limitless."
Hearing this praise, Dotai and the others could not hide their excitement.
Eli's gaze swept over the group. "From now on, we keep pushing forward. But first, rest. Then we'll plan our next training session."
The group cheered, the mood lightening once again.
But suddenly, a commotion arose from the direction of the Silver Dragon ship. Someone was fighting. Eli's mind raced. Simon was off training, leaving only Big Pan aboard, and yet the sounds suggested a battle of considerable scale.
Before he could analyze further, Eli vanished from his spot. When he reappeared, he had arrived at the scene. Filina and the others had also used their speed to catch up.
There, Big Pan faced a massive man with golden hair tied into a ponytail and two braids, wearing a metal jaw guard and ivory-like ornaments on his head and shoulders. He wielded two strange, curved sickles with terrifying skill.
Eli could not help but laugh. This had to be the notorious Disaster Jack, mockingly dubbed the "Ship King" by netizens. What on earth was he doing here?
Meanwhile, Jack realized the gravity of the situation. This pudgy bear of a man was incredibly strong far stronger than he had expected. A sliver of doubt crept into his mind; confronting Eli now seemed somewhat reckless.
Back aboard his mammoth ship, the Mammoth Elephant, Jack's deputy, Churisu, saw his captain engaged with Big Pan while the Silver Dragon sat mostly undefended. He did not hesitate to give the order to fire cannons at the Silver Dragon, intending not just to engage Eli and his crew but also to cripple their ship.
"If we destroy Eli's ship, he'll be furious. And if Jack dies, all the better then we're done here," Churisu thought coldly.
Boom! The massive cannonballs screamed toward the Silver Dragon, but the scene he envisioned did not occur. A figure appeared in midair above the ship, doing nothing, yet the incoming cannonballs split apart mysteriously and sank harmlessly into the ocean.
"Damn, that was close," Churisu muttered in frustration.
Eli's eyes turned icy as he stared at Churisu on the Mammoth Elephant. Who dared attack his ship? He had no intention of acting yet, wanting first to see what this so-called Ship King was planning.
Big Pan wielded his Dragon Coil Staff, extending it to launch Jack into the air. He crouched, coiling the staff back, then shouted,
"Dragon Coil Mastery: Martial Peak Smash!"
The staff shot forward like a tiger pouncing, striking Jack squarely in the chest.
Crack! Bones shattered audibly. Jack screamed, crashing into the sea with a colossal splash.
Churisu's expression lit up. Jack was a Devil Fruit user if he drowned, there would be no saving him.
Yet in the next moment, his hope vanished.
Moments later, Jack burst from the ocean in a startling display, landing on the shore. His face was pale as paper, blood trickling from his mouth, yet his eyes burned with a feral intensity. Like a wounded beast, he readied himself for another assault.
He remembered just how close he had been to death. Fortunately, after consuming the mysterious Devil Fruit, he had rigorously trained to resist seawater. Without years of conditioning, he would have been paralyzed in the sea, but thanks to his Fishman physiology and relentless practice, he retained partial mobility even in seawater.
Panting and bloodied, Jack realized he could not match Big Pan at full strength, even in complete transformation.
"Not bad. He's still standing," Big Pan remarked, surprised despite using only half his strength.
"You dare underestimate me?" Jack roared. His body began to expand, transforming into a massive, red-brown mammoth-like beast. Ivory tusks gleamed ominously under the sun.
"You're a Devil Fruit user! How did you survive the sea?" Big Pan exclaimed.
"Curse you, fat bear! I will impale you!" Jack snarled, charging with heavy steps. Big Pan met him with his full Haki, clashing against the rampaging mammoth form.
Even in full transformation, Jack's power was insufficient. Against a serious Big Pan, he was barely at Admiral level. Soon, he suffered grievous injuries, his tusks snapped under the force of Big Pan's attack.
Jack lay on the ground, beaten and broken. "So you wanted to mess with my brother? Foolish."
Coughing up blood, his form trembling, Jack slowly reverted from his beast form. His once-mighty body was now a mangled, bloodied mess, bones fractured and visible, muscles pierced and torn. Every breath brought excruciating pain. His once fierce and arrogant gaze was replaced by despair and bitter regret.
Eli descended, addressing Big Pan. "What happened?"
"This idiot demanded my brother fight him, so I beat him. Turns out he's weak," Big Pan replied with a grin.
Jack, hearing this, coughed out old blood and fainted.
Eli could only shake his head. This so-called Ship King was reckless indeed. How could someone this foolish dare challenge them?
"Big Pan, what should we do with him?"
Eli hesitated not because he feared the man, but because he sensed there might be deeper reasons for Jack's interference.
"Also, his ship fired on the Silver Dragon. That's unacceptable," Eli noted.
"Those damn pirates! I'll kill them all!" Big Pan said, anger flashing in his eyes. The Silver Dragon was one of their most important allies, and anyone who harmed it deserved death.
"Go ahead. Bring their leader with you," Eli nodded.
Big Pan lifted into the sky, the Dragon Coil Staff in hand, disappearing in an instant.
Eli looked at the half-dead Jack. He could have killed him after all, Jack was no hero.
"Eli, what's going on?" Fiona asked, arriving first.
Filina and the others soon joined her.
Eli pointed to Jack. "This fool caused trouble and got beaten by Big Pan. Big Pan is now pursuing his allies."
"A pirate?" Fiona asked.
"Yes. Not just any pirate he's Kaido's subordinate, Disaster Jack," Eli explained.
"Wait… his teeth look like Dotai's. Could he be a Fishman?" Filina asked, noticing Jack's jagged teeth even in his semi-conscious state.
Dotai and Simon carefully checked. Indeed, Jack was a Fishman, though unfamiliar to them. Even among Fishman Island's elite, they had never seen him.
"Oh, really?" Eli said, surprised. He had never realized Jack was a Fishman. In his previous life, he knew of Jinbei, but Fishmen with Haki were rare.
"Since he's one of your kind, we won't kill him," Eli said. Fishman warriors were few, and killing Jack might cause resentment.
"Thanks, Captain. But it's unnecessary. Though he's a Fishman, he's no real kin. If he caused trouble, he should face consequences," Simon said.
Dotai nodded. "Agreed. Kill if necessary."
Eli smiled. "Perhaps I overthought it."
Just then, the sound of battle echoed across the sea once again.