He stepped forward, shielding his crewmates, his eyes alert as he shouted, "Are you here to capture us?"
Behind him, Roronoa Zoro and Sanji's expressions instantly darkened to the extreme.
Having fought White Dove before, they understood better than anyone just how terrifying the man before them truly was.
This man was a monster. Even a year ago, they stood no chance against him, and now White Dove was only stronger, while their own strength hadn't improved much.
If White Dove truly intended to capture them, given their current power, they likely wouldn't even have the chance to flee at full speed.
Compared to the others, Usopp's reaction was even worse.
His legs immediately gave way, and he clutched his head, wailing, "How unlucky! How can we run into White Dove even in a place like this? We're done for, we're absolutely going to be thrown into Impel Down this time!"
Facing Luffy's challenge, Ivan merely curled his lips into a mischievous smile.
He said leisurely, "That's right, I'm here to capture you."
At these words, the entire Straw Hat Crew braced for battle, instantly adopting combat stances.
Beside them, Smoker raised a hand to cover half his face, feeling weary and helpless.
He knew Ivan too well—this guy clearly had no intention of fighting but loved to deliberately scare people.
Sure enough, thoroughly provoked, Luffy exploded on the spot. Without another word, he lunged forward: "I won't let you hurt my crewmates! Take this, Gomu Gomu... Pistol!"
Luffy stretched his arm back, elongating it instantly, then used the rubber's elasticity to launch it at Ivan with even greater speed.
Facing Luffy's all-out attack, Ivan didn't even shift his feet, merely raising a leg casually.
Thud!
Ivan's foot, infused with Conqueror's Haki, collided with Luffy's chest, producing a dull impact sound.
Luffy spat out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying backward, crashing heavily onto the grass and tumbling several times before coming to a stop.
After a long moment, Luffy clutched his stomach, struggling to rise, his face filled with disbelief and shock.
"Why... are you so strong..." Luffy stared blankly at Ivan, his eyes filled with confusion. "Just like my grandpa..."
But Ivan had no intention of explaining anything to Luffy. Instead, he turned his head slightly and calmly instructed Smoker behind him, "They're all yours. Have some fun with them."
With that, he didn't linger any longer, turning and walking deeper into the heart of Little Garden.
From the very beginning, his goal for this trip had been clear: to find the two giants who had been dueling on this island for a century.
And to learn from them the move stronger than Ikoku Sovereignty—Elbaf's Spear・Hakoku Sovereignty!
As Ivan steadily advanced deeper into Little Garden, the ground suddenly trembled violently, and a low rumble echoed from the distance.
He looked up to see the volcano at the center of Little Garden erupting fiercely, crimson lava pouring down its slopes, staining half the sky red.
His eyes lit up, knowing the volcanic eruption was the signal for Dorry and Brogy's duel.
For a century, whenever this volcano erupted, the two giants would meet as promised, engaging in a duel of honor befitting Elbaf warriors.
Sure enough, before long, two colossal figures emerged from the forests on either side of the volcano, facing each other.
The giant on the left had bluish-black skin, wore tattered armor, and wielded a massive battle-axe—this was Blue Demon・Dorry.
The giant on the right had dark red skin, wore a beast-skull helmet, and gripped a heavy spiked club—this was Red Demon・Brogy.
The two stood facing each other from a distance, exchanging no unnecessary words before launching attacks without hesitation.
The moment the spiked club and battle-axe collided, shockwaves erupted from their point of impact, violently spreading outward and snapping the surrounding trees in half.
The giants' duel had no flashy techniques—it was purely a contest of lethal skill and raw power.
Their strength, in particular, was immense, not inferior to that of the Four Emperors.
A single casual strike was enough to devastate an entire stretch of forest.
Within mere seconds, the ground beneath their feet was riddled with craters, and everything on the surface was utterly destroyed.
Ivan stood on a distant hillside, quietly observing, with no intention of interrupting.
His gaze burned intently as he studied their movements, his eyes filled with awe.
This was the power of Elbaf's giants—pure, domineering, and though not quite on the level of the Four Emperors, it exuded a primal, martial ferocity.
Perhaps only such a culture of combat could give birth to a terrifying technique like Elbaf's Spear・Hakoku Sovereignty!
After an unknown length of time, the volcanic eruption gradually subsided, and the two giants sheathed their weapons.
Dorry and Brogy were drenched in sweat, breathing slightly heavily as they lay weakly on the ground.
This duel, like all the others, had ended in a draw—a century of clashes, yet never a decisive victory.
It was at this moment that Ivan slowly stepped forward, his footsteps unusually clear in the silent battlefield.
Dorry and Brogy instantly turned their heads, their wary eyes locking onto Ivan, their massive bodies tensing slightly.
Brogy spoke first, his voice booming:
"Who are you? Why are you here, spying on our duel?"
Ivan didn't answer immediately, instead gesturing to the Marines following behind him.
The Marines promptly carried forward dozens of barrels of fine liquor, arranging them neatly before the two giants. The aroma of the alcohol instantly filled the air.
Only after this did Ivan speak calmly, his tone measured:
"Gentlemen giants, there's no need to be tense. Please, drink as much of this liquor as you like. I am the current Marine Vice Admiral, Ivan."
At the mention of "Marines," Dorry and Brogy grew even more wary.
As pirates, they had never held any fondness for the Marines.
But as their eyes fell upon the barrels of liquor, their tense bodies gradually relaxed, and the wariness on their faces faded significantly.
During their century of fighting, the alcohol they'd brought had long since run out. They hadn't tasted a drop in decades, and the sight of liquor now left them parched with thirst.
Dorry scratched his head, breaking into a hearty laugh:
"Hahaha! Anyone who treats us to this much fine liquor is a good Marine, even if they are a Marine!"
Brogy nodded in agreement, stepping forward without hesitation to open a barrel of liquor, tilting his head back and taking a deep gulp.
In the time that followed, the three of them sat around the barrels of liquor, chatting amiably.
Dorry and Brogy spoke of their dispute a century ago, of Elbaf's glory, and of every duel they'd fought over the past hundred years.
Ivan listened patiently, occasionally responding. Through his deliberate efforts, the atmosphere among the three grew exceptionally harmonious, with none of the usual barriers between Marines and pirates.
After several rounds of drinks, Brogy set down his barrel, wiped the liquor from his lips, and looked curiously at Ivan:
"Young Ivan, you came all the way to this remote Little Garden and brought us so much fine liquor. Surely you didn't come just for a friendly visit, right?
Tell us, what's your real purpose here?"
Ivan set down his cup, his expression turning serious as he looked at the two giants, his tone sincere:
To be honest, I came here to witness the ultimate technique of the giant tribe—Elbaf's Spear・Hakoku Sovereignty."
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