Benefiting from Others' Conflict?

Little Garden.

Zero used Moonwalk to hover in the air, while Dorry and Brogy exchanged a glance before launching the first attack!

Dorry raised his giant sword high and charged at Zero with incredible speed, slashing straight at him in midair. Zero stepped in place and shifted some distance to the left.

"Boom!"

The instant the giant sword struck, the ground shook, splitting open into a massive, narrow fissure. As expected of the Giant Tribe—their every move carried terrifying destructive power!

Zero had barely dodged that attack when a massive shield came crashing toward him. The moment it hit, a surging force like a tidal wave sent him flying into a smoking volcano nearby!

Brogy scratched his head and looked at Dorry, his puzzled eyes seemingly asking: Wasn't he supposed to challenge both of us? That was it?

Then Dorry shouted at him, "Watch out!"

Brogy turned around to find an azure blade of light rushing at him, nearly as long as his axe!

Boom!

Unable to raise his shield in time, Brogy was blasted away. His massive body soared through the air before crashing down and flattening a swath of trees. The power of that strike was unimaginable!

Dorry wanted to check on Brogy, but Zero had already appeared in his path. Raising Startled Dragon, he sent another enormous blade of light at Dorry!

"Sword Technique: Watermelon!"

Having seen Brogy's miserable state, Dorry instinctively raised his shield. Yet the impact of the blade of light still shoved him backward.

Only after the blade of light faded into drifting sparks did he get a brief chance to catch his breath.

"Kid, your strength doesn't look like that of some unknown pirate. Tell us your name!"

"Zero. My current bounty is fifty million Beli, and my codename is... well, never mind!"

"Fifty million Beli? The Marines' intelligence network is really slipping these days. With your abilities, you could have earned an even higher bounty! Hahahaha!"

"Close enough. Once I beat the two of you, it'll be enough!"

"Hmph, we're not done yet! Brogy, have you slept enough?"

"Dorry, I wasn't sleeping!"

In the blink of an eye, the two giants had recovered and launched another fierce assault on Zero.

Zero dodged while picking his chances to strike back. Blade after blade of light rained down on their bodies, shields, and weapons, soon leaving them covered in wounds and their equipment pitted and battered.

Finally, seizing the opening after Zero attacked Brogy, Dorry smashed his shield down at Zero, giving him an intimate encounter with the ground. The violent gust it kicked up even stirred a small sandstorm!

Was it over?

The thought had barely crossed Dorry's mind when an immense force surged from beneath his shield. Zero had concentrated his Armament Haki on his arms and forcibly stopped Dorry's shield strike!

That was not all. After lifting the shield, Zero shouted and shoved it away. Then, in that instant, Startled Dragon became coated in Armament Haki and unleashed a blade of light as brilliant as fire!

"Sword Technique: Dragon Fruit!"

Boom!

The shield failed to block it and split directly in half. The blade of light struck Dorry without obstruction, dealing him tremendous damage!

Dorry crashed to the ground and appeared to have fallen unconscious. Brogy shouted and swung at Zero again.

Yet he followed in Dorry's footsteps. After blocking one of Zero's slashes, his shield shattered completely, and his unguarded flesh-and-blood body crashed to the ground as well!

Thus, the result of the battle was clear—

Zero VS the two Giant Tribe warriors, Brogy and Dorry: Zero won!

Thud!

Only after a while did Zero slowly descend from the air. Looking at the two massive figures before him, he sighed in relief. "Whew, it's finally over!"

Though he appeared to have strength left, he had already used nearly eighty percent of his power. Likewise, Brogy and Dorry still had even more terrifying techniques they had not used. The attack capable of killing the fearsome Island Eater—Zero himself could not guarantee that he could block it completely. He could only say that his victory had been somewhat fortunate!

After Zero defeated the two giants, a prompt sounded in his mind—

"Congratulations on completing the side quest: Defeat Blue Ogre Dorry and Red Ogre Brogy. You have received 1,500 experience points and 150,000 Beli!"

After completing the side quest, Zero's experience progress had reached 2,750. He was only a little short of the 3,200 mark needed to level up.

While Zero was taking a brief rest, a strand of white slime suddenly wrapped around his ankle. Within moments, it formed into the shape of shackles!

"Candle Shackles!"

As the voice fell, a strange-looking man emerged from the bushes. Looking closely, there was also an expressionless little girl following behind him.

They were Mr. 3 and Miss Goldenweek of Baroque Works.

Clap, clap, clap!

Mr. 3 applauded and said to Zero in amazement, "As expected of the Executioner. You actually defeated two giants worth one hundred million Beli each. But in the end, didn't I still seize the chance to catch you all in one net? Hahahaha!"

At that moment, the two giants happened to awaken from their unconsciousness. Sharp-eyed Mr. 3 noticed them and once again secreted white candle slime from his body, firmly binding Dorry and Brogy—who had not yet fully risen—to the ground!

"You, what are you doing?"

"Release me at once!"

The giants struggled desperately, but they had already expended too much stamina in their battle with Zero. Now, they could only lie helplessly on the ground and submit to their captor.

Mr. 3 was immensely pleased with himself.

Though he had no idea why the plan he had set earlier had failed, taking advantage of their mutual defeat to use the Melt-Melt Fruit's power and bind them all now still did justice to his talent for strategy.

Still, he was puzzled. Why had the Executioner before him shown no reaction after being captured? Could it be—

Had Zero already accepted his fate?

"Hey, hey, hey! I finally caught you all. At least show me a frightened expression! But it doesn't matter. Once I use Candle Banquet, all you can do is wait to become candle people! Hahahaha!"

As he spoke, white candle slime extended from Mr. 3's arm again, ready to make the man before him experience the fear of death!

"Boring!"

After uttering those two words, Zero pointed Startled Dragon downward at the Candle Shackles around his feet!

"It's useless. Once my wax hardens, it becomes tougher than iron. There's no way you can use a sword to—what is going on?!?!"

Mr. 3's eyes widened as he watched Zero effortlessly shatter the shackles, then turn the tip of his blade toward him.

"What did you just say? Say that again."

"..."