Chapter 36: Little Garden – Sol vs. Giants & the Name of the Flame Demon
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" Flames erupted from Sol's feet. His body shot forward like a cannonball, burning right fist aimed straight at Dorry's bronze round shield.
"Come at me!" Dorry laughed boldly. His massive arm shook; the shield met the flaming fist head-on.
BOOM—!
A deafening collision rang through the forest. Violent shockwaves swept outward; trees within a hundred meters shook violently, leaves raining down.
"Not bad strength, kid!" Dorry's battle spirit burned brighter. His right hand swung the giant sword down hard: "Now it's my turn!"
Sol crossed his arms, tanking the mountain-splitting strike. The instant the blade met his arms, sparks rained like a storm. The ground beneath him collapsed with a roar.
"Haaah!" Sol exploded with force. His arms pushed outward, actually forcing Dorry back a step.
"Jajajaja… blocking my slash with raw body strength—no Haki?" Dorry excitedly licked his lips. "You really are a monster!"
"Don't forget about me!" Brogy's giant axe came sweeping in with howling wind.
"Fire Dragon's Hook Claw!" Sol spun mid-air, legs wrapped in blazing flames, delivering a spinning kick straight toward the axe blade. But he was too hasty—ultimately the overwhelming force sent him flying. His body streaked like a meteor, crashing into a distant rock wall and kicking up clouds of dust.
"Gahahahaha! Two against one—isn't that a bit unfair?" Brogy laughed, swinging his axe casually.
From the rubble of the rock wall, Sol pushed aside debris and stood. He wiped blood from his mouth and flashed a wild grin: "It's fine—this is exactly what I wanted… now it's actually fun!"
Sol's fists suddenly erupted with fierce flames. The ground beneath him collapsed. Flames jetted from his feet, launching him skyward in an instant—high above the giants' heads—
"Fire Dragon's Brilliant Flame!!"
Arms crossed, violent flame energy gathered in his palms, condensing into a massive fireball like a miniature sun. It plummeted downward with terrifying force!
"Jajajaja… this move packs some serious heat!" Dorry looked up at the sky-covering fireball, eyes blazing with excitement.
"Gahahahaha! What—you scared?" Brogy laughed, slamming his axe into the ground and raising his bronze giant shield in defense stance.
"Scared? Don't make me laugh!" Dorry grinned, lowering his stance and raising his shield horizontally. "Ready, Brogy?!"
"Do you even need to ask? Let's go, Dorry!"
"Shield of the Sun!!"
Both giants roared in unison. Their shields lifted simultaneously to meet the falling fireball head-on!
BOOM—!!!
In the earth-shaking explosion, flames surged. Shockwaves swept the entire forest. When the blaze finally cleared—both giants stood firm. Their shields slammed forward in a single motion, forcibly scattering Sol's flames!
"Not over yet!" Sol grinned, diving back down. Flames reignited on his fists—
"The real fight… starts now!"
"Crimson Lotus: Fire Dragon Fist!!"
Sol's fists blazed with red-lotus-like intense flames. Fist shadows poured down like a rainstorm, clashing madly against Dorry's giant sword and Brogy's battle axe! The deafening clang of metal rang out. Each collision exploded with sparks. The two giants were actually forced steadily backward by the ferocious assault!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
"This guy… is he really human?!" Dorry gritted his teeth. His giant sword buzzed from the impacts; his arms faintly numbed.
"Gahahahaha! Fierce like a real fire dragon!" Brogy laughed heartily, yet still couldn't stop his feet from sliding back. His axe gouged deep trenches in the earth.
BOOM!!
The intense battle noise drew Zoro over. Luffy and Vivi also spotted Usopp and the others. The crew reunited.
Zoro slowly dragged a massive Triceratops behind him. He glanced at the battlefield and raised an eyebrow:
"Hm? Where'd that curly-browed cook run off to?"
Vivi watched the three fighting, eyes shining with awe: "This battle… is incredible!"
"Hehehe, Sol's super strong!" Luffy laughed wide, fists clenched in excitement. "Watching this makes my hands itch!"
"So powerful…" Usopp's eyes sparkled with admiration.
Meanwhile, back on the Going Merry.
Sanji carried a freshly hunted giant T-Rex onto the shore, then leaped aboard—only to find the ship empty.
"Weird—where'd those idiots run off to?" He frowned, then noticed distant booming sounds and the faint trembling of the ground.
"…They didn't get into trouble again, did they?" Sighing, he lit a cigarette and jumped off: "Whatever—I'll go check."
Back at the battlefield center.
Sol suddenly backflipped to create distance, shaking slightly numb arms. His lips curved in excitement:
"Warm-up's about over… now let's get serious!"
"Gahahahaha! Bring it!" Brogy raised his axe high.
"Don't think you can easily beat Elbaf warriors, kid!" Dorry held his giant sword horizontally, battle spirit boiling.
"Don't die on us, little guy!"
Dorry and Brogy's roars echoed across the battlefield. Their giant sword and axe crossed in a clash. Pitch-black Armament Haki surged like raging waves around their weapons. The two terrifying auras fused, even shaking the air!
Sol landed steadily. His arms hardened with Armament Haki; fierce flames roared up. Space warped in front of him. A massive flame magic circle boomed into existence—
"Dragon Slayer Secret Technique: Crimson Lotus Exploding Flame Blade!!"
His body spun like a top at extreme speed. Flames turned into countless slashing attacks, converging into a heaven-piercing fire tornado! Scorching heat melted the earth, roaring forth with destructive power!
"Overlord—!!"
The giants roared, swinging their weapons. Blue-red shockwaves intertwined, forming Elbaf's strongest combined technique! The legendary move capable of piercing islands collided head-on with the Dragon Slayer Secret Art!
BOOM-RUMBLE-RUMBLE—!!!
The instant the two forces met, blinding light erupted. The whole island shook violently! The spherical shockwave spread outward, flattening thousands of meters of forest. Even the Going Merry at the coast rocked violently from the giant waves!
"Uwaaaaah!" Usopp clung desperately to a boulder. "Th-This is really damage humans can cause?!"
Zoro caught Karoo—blown away by the wind—his eyes burning with battle spirit: "Interesting…"
"Wahahaha! So exciting!" Luffy held Nami in one arm, Vivi in the other, grinning wildly as he was tossed around in the shockwave. "Sol really is super strong!"
When the dust finally settled, Sol knelt on one knee, breathing hard. Across from him, both giants were covered in wounds—yet admiration shone even brighter in their eyes.
"Gahahahaha! That felt great!" Brogy laughed heartily, giving a thumbs-up.
"Kid—state your name!" Dorry planted his giant sword in the ground. "You're worthy of the title Elbaf Warrior!"
"Aetrias Sol Dragnir."
Sol's voice echoed through the smoke. Flames slowly extinguished around him.
"Aetrias?" Dorry murmured dazedly. "Demon…?"
Brogy's lips pulled into a bold grin: "Really… fitting… just like… the Demon of Flames…"
Before the words finished, both giant warriors finally exhausted their strength. With a boom, they collapsed simultaneously, kicking up clouds of dust.
--------------------------
Support us on patreon (+Gain access to 100 chapters in advance)
patreon.com/inkshield