Elbaf's Sacred Arena was one of the countless branches of Treasure Tree Adam, extending into a lush, towering canopy. It was also where the giants held their duels.
The ground bore countless slashes left by blades, spears, swords, and halberds, their crisscrossing marks covered in moss.
Though it was called an arena, it was not really a building at all, merely an open clearing with neither spectator stands nor a ring.
Only at the edge of the ground, at the very end of the branch, stood a giant sword nearly twenty meters tall. It had endured millions of years of wind and frost without falling, symbolizing how Elbaf's great god would forever witness every duel with fairness.
At the center of the grounds, the Red-Haired Pirates and Kid's group stood on opposite sides. Buggy and his men, along with quite a few giants, surrounded them, while farther out, Reiner's group and the Giant Warrior Pirates were arriving late.
The moment they saw them, one of Buggy's subordinates immediately shouted at him:
"Ah! They're here, Boss! It's Black Snake Reiner!"
"What?!"
"Did Straw Hat Boy come too?!"
Buggy and his men jolted in alarm and whipped around. With Reiner at the front, the members of the Straw Hat Crew walked forward slowly in a line, followed by the giant warriors led by Dorry and Broggy.
A crisp blue shirt outlined Reiner's upright figure. His face held no expression as he strode straight ahead with his hands in his pockets, carrying an aura that made people instinctively shrink back.
The pirates watched Reiner nervously. Wherever his group passed, those blocking the way unconsciously stepped back and split apart to either side.
"What a terrifying presence."
"That's the strongest man of this era."
"He's not even releasing Haki. What's with this hair-raising pressure?"