Luffy listened with great interest. "Are all giants as strong as you two?"
"Of course not."
Dorry said proudly. "Brogy and I are among the strongest warriors of Elbaf! However, we hear Elbaf has changed somewhat these days."
"Elbaf?"
Vivi asked curiously. "Is that the land of the giants?"
"Correct! It is the world's most powerful giant kingdom, located in the New World! Straw Hat kid, if you ever reach the New World, you must visit Elbaf!" Brogy warmly invited.
Not just Luffy, even Usopp looked like he wanted to fly to the New World immediately.
"The New World? We'll definitely get there," Luffy said.
He knew they had just entered the Grand Line and had a long voyage ahead before reaching the so-called New World.
Dorry seemed to remember something and added, "By the way, after our Giant Warrior Pirates disbanded and everyone went home, we heard some of the Giant Warrior tribe chose to join the Marines. In Marine Headquarters, there are quite a few Giant Vice Admirals. Their strength is said to be formidable."
This was information from pirates who had visited Little Garden over the years.
"Giant Marine Vice Admirals? Sounds like worthy opponents." Zoro tightened his grip on Wado Ichimonji, his fighting spirit burning.
Sanji mocked him from the side. "Fight, fight, fight. Hear about someone and immediately want to fight. Is your brain made of muscle, Marimo?"
"Huh? You wanna go, shitty cook?"
Merry brought skewers to both of them, hoping they'd stop. Both Sanji and Zoro gave Merry face.
But the moment Merry turned away, the two were right back at it, arguing with kicks and swords.
Stop fighting, you two!
Merry was so anxious she waved her little hammer.
The festive atmosphere continued as always, lasting well into the night.
[WARNING: It is now time for sleep...]
As the saying goes, everything borrowed must be repaid.
When Luffy awoke, finding himself not in Little Garden, he knew it was time to pay his dues.
This time, his sparring partners were real giants.
Specifically, Dorry and Brogy.
To be honest, Luffy was already used to it.
Looking at the two giants standing tall not far away, holding new weapons, they seemed like two emotionless robots. Their slightest movements shook the earth.
"Why are they so much harder to fight than the real Dorry and Brogy?"
Luffy suspected the Plan had increased the difficulty for him.
He could barely handle Dorry's single-use Hakkoku. These two had combined ultimate attacks that sent him straight back to the starting point.
But as he fought, Luffy discovered a method for taking indirect breaks.
Entering his own consciousness space—that so-called prison of Nika.
Although the time spent going in and out wasn't much, it at least allowed him to catch his breath.
It seemed the Plan also counted this time towards Devil Fruit ability development.
That made sense. Luffy now understood Nika's origins, and the more of those white vapors he collected, the more he could clearly feel himself growing stronger.
Why not do it, then?
Drip.
Drip.
In the darkness, a pair of eyes opened. Luffy met their gaze and greeted them casually. "Yo, Nika. I'm back."
Nika stared at Luffy, seething with anger but not daring to speak up.
It didn't dare say, Get the hell out of my house.
The will of a Devil Fruit was still just a will. It could influence the user to varying degrees.
But Nika didn't understand why Luffy could travel between the two spaces even before reaching the awakening stage.
Oh, right. It was Nika who initially pulled Luffy in here. Never mind.
"Haven't reflected properly yet?" Luffy looked up and asked.
"Hmph. Do you know who I am?" Nika tried to regain some dignity.
The one revered as the Sun God Nika for fighting to liberate enslaved people.
The legendary warrior of liberation from Elbaf.
These were its achievements, its proof of rebellion against the World Government and the Nefertari family.
Never mind whether the main goal was to liberate enslaved warriors or to overthrow the Nefertari rule.
Just answer: Did it rebel or not?
"Do you know who I am?" Luffy shot the question back.
Nika was instantly choked up.
If I didn't know who you are, why would I choose you? it thought. Joy Boy failed eight hundred years ago. How many years had it spent evading the World Government's pursuit?
Decades ago, at God Valley, Nika actually had another candidate in mind, but that person was 'dealt with.' It continued its great escape, only to be found by Shanks, who had the bloodline of the Gods.
Just then, Luffy appeared, and Nika made its choice.
It had watched this kid since he was young, thought he was carefree and simple. Once the Devil Fruit awakened, Nika's will could slightly influence him. Who knew Luffy would now develop a mind of his own and see his power skyrocket?
Nika couldn't win a fight, and it couldn't leave either.
What was this called?
Stuck between a rock and a hard place.
"Give me your power," Luffy said. "You still have a lot of power left, right?"
The Nika Affinity progress had stalled slightly recently.
But as his own power increased, even without doing the kind of thing he did with Vivi before, the affinity would still rise.
This proved it was related to his own personal strength.
"You said it yourself—that's my power."
Nika looked like a pitiful, exploited wife, eyeing Luffy warily.
Luffy didn't mind, continuing, "You'll eventually become my power anyway. What's the difference between sooner and later?"
"I have conditions. You must—"
"You're mistaken," Luffy interrupted Nika. "I'm not making a deal with you. And what bargaining chips do you have?"
Luffy's fist swelled up. His gaze bore directly into Nika, the sheer intensity of it making Nika's non-existent skin crawl. Hakkoku. That move was a Giant Warrior's specialty.
Joy Boy hailed from Elbaf. Nika knew the power of this move all too well.
"You are not fit to be Joy Boy!" Nika's composure shattered completely.
But Luffy just grinned brightly.
"I am me. I won't become someone else."
"If you want me to become someone, then try my fist."
Nika fell silent.
It seemed Joy Boy had said something similar once.
History truly was a cycle.
"And, being locked up in a place like this... don't you want to get out?"
Luffy looked around. "How many years have you been here?"
"How many years?"
Nika was stunned. It couldn't remember anymore. It truly was a vast stretch of time, spanning ages.
And this was the first time anyone had ever asked it that question.
Could it get out of here?
What exactly was the 'will of a Devil Fruit'? Even Nika couldn't explain clearly. It had forgotten many things, retaining only the final, singular purpose it pursued.
To overthrow the rule of that family... What liberation of slaves, what symbol of freedom—those were merely means to an end.
"Nika," Luffy looked at him and asked, "are you free?"
Nika had no answer.
The so-called Warrior of Liberation, a symbol of freedom, was itself not free?
The thought was laughable.
***
Dive deeper into the story with 30+ advance chapters, available now on Patreon!patreon.com/CNBLUE
If you're enjoying the novel, please consider leaving a review. Your support is crucial and helps the story grow immensely. Thank you!