Giant Brogy

Under a clear sky the next day, the Merry sailed across a calm sea.

"Nice weather today."

Nami gazed at the blue sea and sky, a rare smile on her face. "I didn't think the Grand Line could have such lovely weather."

"You must have had a rough time after entering the Grand Line." Vivi smiled as she narrowed her eyes.

"After you passed Twin Capes, you entered waters affected by seven different routes. That stretch is the most unpredictable..."

Vivi could only really get along with Nami on the ship so far. She clearly wasn't used to the rest of the crew's personalities.

Fast, on the other hand, had already hit it off with them and was having the time of his life.

"Pair of threes! I've only got one card left~"

"Pair of twos! Doubled!" Luffy cut off Lina.

"Quack quack!!!"

"Quack."

"Nice one, Fast!" Lina praised him when he played a bomb to let her go. "One nine. I'm out."

"Quack!"

After beating the landlord, Luffy, Lina and Fast slapped their hands together in celebration.

As for why a duck could play cards?

Who knew?

"Darn it!"

Luffy fumed, switching places with Usopp before running upstairs. "Sanji, I want some juice!"

"Got it. What does everyone else want?"

"I want booze."

"I want tangerine juice!"

"Me too!"

"No way! You've nearly stripped all the tangerines off my trees!"

Nami turned them down and gave them two punches for good measure.

Watching the noisy crew, Vivi smiled for the first time in a long while.

She'd spent so long at sea constantly on edge that this was the first time in years she'd felt such a warm, cheerful atmosphere.

In Lina's words, this was what it meant to relax.

She began trying to mingle with the others, tiptoeing behind Fast to watch how Lina and the others played.

"Hey, Vivi. Want to try? Landlord is really fun."

"N-no, I don't know how to play." Vivi awkwardly waved off Usopp.

"Come on over, punk princess." Lina beckoned. "This is a good deck. I'll teach you how to play."

"Thank you... Um, why do you call me a punk princess?" Vivi asked, puzzled and a little embarrassed.

"Heh." Lina chuckled, then pulled out a photo and held it up in front of Vivi. "Well? Doesn't it look great?"

"Wahahaha!" Usopp doubled over laughing, pounding the deck with one hand. "When did you take that, Lina?"

"Quack quack!!" Even Fast spread his wings and let out a loud quack toward the sky.

The photo showed Vivi standing on Fast, swaying her hips and waving her hands in a flower-like dance.

Vivi went bright red and lunged to grab it. "Give it back!"

"Nope." Lina held one hand against Vivi's forehead, leaving her clawing at empty air.

"Darn it!"

"Give up, punk princess."

Sanji came out carrying juice. The moment he saw what was happening, he flew into a rage, flames practically blazing above his head. "You bastard, Lina! How dare you bully my adorable Princess Vivi!"

Sanji had always been firm in his loyalties: he was forever on the side of beautiful women!

"Whoops! Usopp, catch!"

"W-wait, wait! I can't handle Sanji!"

"Throw it to Luffy!"

"Wahaha, this looks fun!"

"This ship really is something." Nami smiled faintly at the crew tussling on deck, then headed back inside.

Even the most gloomy person could come here and end up smiling.

Three days passed like this. The Merry continued sailing across the sea as usual.

"Everyone!"

"I can see an island!" Lina called down from the lookout, then turned her gaze back toward the lonely green island standing lush and verdant in the middle of the blue sea.

"An island preserved from ancient times..."

A fiery gleam flashed in Lina's eyes. Besides longing to see the bodies of the two giants, she had another hope. "I dreamed of riding a dinosaur when I was a kid. I never thought I'd get to see living prehistoric creatures in this lifetime."

Little Garden had an inland river that led straight out to sea, and the Merry slowly followed it into the island.

The tropical rainforest was full of dense trees, tangled vines, and moss-covered stones along the riverbank.

The fresh air was filled with the earthy fragrance of soil and plants, while birdsong rang out in clear, lilting notes.

"I can smell adventure in the air! Sanji, I want an adventure bento!" Luffy shouted excitedly over his shoulder from the figurehead of the Merry.

"Adventure bento?" Sanji asked, puzzled. There was a dish he hadn't heard of?

"It just means meat." Lina smiled as she explained. "A bento made entirely of meat, no vegetables. Luffy's favorite."

"No way!" Sanji's face turned green. "As a chef, I have to make sure you all get a balanced diet. Luffy, if you dare throw away your vegetables, I won't let you get away with it."

"Roar!!!"

"W-what was that sound?!" Usopp and Nami shrank back in fear.

On the riverbank, several enormous forest wolves were licking the corpse of a tiger.

When they spotted the approaching Merry, they glared at the crew with fierce eyes. They seemed somewhat wary, though, and lowered themselves as they slowly retreated into the shadows of the forest.

"That's terrifying! I'm not going ashore!"

"It's over! I've got a disease that'll kill me if I set foot on land~~"

While Nami and Usopp trembled in fear, the others had already jumped off the ship to stretch their legs. Even Vivi decided to go for a walk with Luffy.

Zoro and Sanji planned to compete to see who could bring back the bigger prey.

"A hunting contest? Sounds fun. I'm in!"

"Sure, Lina. We could even make a bet. How about five hundred thousand berries?" Sanji casually tossed Lina a cigarette.

Lina caught on and grinned. Heh, so that was what Sanji was after?

"That's too small. Think bigger. The loser has to wash his hair upside down tonight."

"Sounds fun. I'm in," Zoro said with a crooked grin, then headed off.

Lina dropped anchor to secure the Merry, lit the cigarette Sanji had tossed him, and turned to smile at the two still on board. "Are you sure you don't want to go for a walk? Staying on the ship for days must be pretty boring."

"No way! I'd rather die than go ashore."

"Could it be that you two are actually in more danger if you stay behind?" Lina asked with an odd smile.

Nami froze, then turned to Usopp. Their eyes met, and they suddenly understood.

They were the two weakest. Wouldn't staying here be like waiting to die?!

"Wait! Lina, wait for us!"

"Waaah~~ Don't leave us behind!"

Nami and Usopp rushed over, each grabbing one of Lina's arms.

"Heh, the Weak Trio's adventure begins."

Lina chuckled, left a few undead to guard the ship, and set off on their jungle adventure with the other two trailing behind him.

But they hadn't gone far when—

Rustle, rustle, rustle...

The crisp sound of leaves swaying reached them. Deep in the primeval forest, a huge shadow suddenly appeared, easily pushing aside several trees in front of Lina as if they were weeds.

Lina stared at the shadow, ready to summon the undead at any moment.

A huge face suddenly appeared, grinning broadly. It had a rugged face, a big yellow beard, and messy hair that stuck out from under its helmet.

"Monster!!"

Nami and Usopp screamed in panic behind Lina, then immediately ducked behind him and clung tightly to his clothes.

"A giant? That's insane," Lina murmured in surprise.

Still, seeing a giant with his own eyes was unbelievable.

The giant with the big yellow beard chuckled. "Gahahaha! My name's Brogy. It's been a long time since anyone came to this island."

"Hey, watch out behind you!"