Chapter 35: Little Garden – Giants' Century-Long Duel & Sol's Challenge
Brogy opened his massive mouth wide, flashing a friendly yet slightly menacing grin. His voice boomed like thunder:
"Excuse me—do you folks have any booze on that ship?"
"Ahh! Don't eat me—!" Usopp let out an exaggerated scream. In a panic he fumbled in his bag, pulled out a bottle of ketchup, and with a splat poured it all over himself. He went rigid, rolled his eyes back, and played dead, muttering: "I'm dead… I'm already a dead man…"
"Eh—?!" Brogy's huge eyes widened in shock at the sudden "tragedy." His enormous body jerked backward. He waved both giant hands frantically: "I-I didn't mean to! I wasn't trying to scare you to death!"
Sol's eye twitched. He lightly kicked Usopp's leg: "Hey, cut the act, Usopp. You scared the guy."
Meanwhile Nami clung desperately to the back of Sol's shirt, hiding behind him with her eyes squeezed shut, whispering repeatedly: "You can't see me… you can't see me… I'm air… I'm air…"
After patient reassurance from Sol and Brogy, Usopp and Nami finally relaxed their tense nerves a little.
Brogy slapped his chest heartily, letting out a thunderous laugh: "Come on, little ones! Come sit at my place!" With that, he enthusiastically invited the three to his home.
Without a word, Sol hoisted a barrel half as tall as a person onto one shoulder as easily as if it were a basket of fruit. Nami and Usopp followed nervously behind, constantly glancing around in fear that some prehistoric monster might leap out.
As they passed through a dense fern jungle, the ground suddenly shook violently. With a deafening roar, a Tyrannosaurus rex the size of a small mountain burst from the trees. Drooling saliva from its gaping maw sizzled and corroded small pits into the ground. Its ferocious gaze locked onto Brogy—clearly marking the giant as today's dinner.
"Watch out!" Usopp screamed and tried to dive behind the nearest tree—only to be yanked back by the collar by Sol.
Brogy calmly drew the massive axe from his back. The moment the T-Rex lunged, the axe blade flashed with dazzling light—
Crack!
The enormous dinosaur head fell with a thud, smashing a deep crater in the ground. It rolled a few times and came to rest right at Usopp's feet. The eyes on the severed head were still blinking; blood dripped from its fangs and splattered onto Usopp's shoe tips.
"Th-This… this this this…" Usopp's jaw nearly hit the floor. He trembled as he reached out a finger—wanting to touch it but too scared. "That's… too awesome! One swing and…!"
Sol laughed and patted his shoulder: "Now you understand why it's called 'Little Garden,' right?"
Nami clung tightly to Sol's arm, voice shaking: "This place is terrifying… let's hurry up and go drink… the sooner the better…"
The three arrived at Brogy's home—a rugged camp built from massive beast bones and logs. A bonfire crackled merrily. Sol skillfully set up a roasting rack, sliced huge chunks of T-Rex meat, skewered them, and set them over the flames. Fat dripped and sizzled deliciously.
The long-missed aroma of spices made Brogy's nose twitch nonstop; his eyes lit up.
"Gahahahaha!" Brogy laughed heartily, raising a barrel that looked like a small cup compared to him. He clinked it gently against Sol's wooden mug: "It's been ages since I tasted food and booze this good!" He threw his head back and drained it in one go; liquor streamed down his beard, sparkling in the firelight.
Nami cautiously nibbled a piece of perfectly crispy, juicy dinosaur meat. After hesitating a moment, she gathered her courage and asked:
"Mr. Brogy… how long does it take to record this island?"
Brogy leaned down, his enormous shadow completely enveloping Nami. He gestured with thick fingers: "A whole year! Take your time recording! Wahahahaha!" His booming laugh shook nearby leaves loose.
Usopp was tearing into a steak bigger than his head. Hearing this, he nearly choked: "A-A whole year?! On an island full of dinosaurs?!"
Sol calmly tossed another log onto the fire, sparks flying: "What? Didn't you just say it's safe because I'm here?"
"Th-That's different!" Usopp flailed wildly. "Safety is one thing—but staying here a whole year is too much!"
Meanwhile, at Dorry's house, Luffy and Vivi were guests. From Dorry's mouth they learned the two giants had been fighting on this small island for over a hundred years. In a hundred years and tens of thousands of duels, neither had won. They had long forgotten the original reason for the fight—remembering only that it was for the honor of warriors, and believing Elbaf's gods would favor the victor.
At that moment, a deafening roar came from afar. Luffy and Vivi rushed outside—just in time to see crimson lava erupting from a volcano. Amid the raining fire, Brogy's figure emerged from the opposite jungle, his giant axe glinting dangerously.
"Here I come, Brogy!"
"Right back at you, Dorry!"
"Fight number 73,467!!" ×2
The giants' battle cries stirred up a gale. Luffy's straw hat was blown off and hurriedly caught by Vivi.
Under a curtain of meteor-like fire rain, the two giant warriors collided—giant axe against long sword. The resulting shockwave shattered a hundred meters of fern forest.
Luffy's eyes reflected the century-spanning battle, sparkling brightly: "So awesome! That's what real men look like!"
Usopp gazed up at the giants' heroic figures. Sparks from clashing blades reflected in his pupils. His voice trembled with excitement:
"Sol… Nami… this might be—" He clenched his fist hard against his chest. "—what I dream of! A true brave warrior of the sea should fight like this—for honor!"
Nami, watching the giant battle, replied absentmindedly: "Oh? So your dream is to grow eighty meters tall? Remember to order custom clothes in advance."
"That's not it—hey!" Usopp jumped in frustration. "You're deliberately only catching keywords! The point is the warrior's honor! Honor!"
He turned toward the dueling giants: "I really want to see Elbaf someday! Their village must be incredible!"
"Sol—what are you doing?" Nami asked, watching Sol warm up.
"Nothing—just itchy hands." Sol cracked his knuckles; blazing flames erupted. He leaped high into the air. His powerful aura instantly drew Dorry and Brogy's attention.
"Though it's a bit unfair—interrupting you while you're in the middle of your fight." Sol's voice echoed across the battlefield. "But still—I want to ask: Care to fight me?"
"Jajajajaja! Interesting little guy!" Dorry laughed heartily in reply.
"Gahahahaha! Elbaf warriors never refuse a brave challenger!" Brogy raised his axe, eyes blazing with battle spirit.
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