Sea fog rises from below the sea surface.
The fog was so thick it resembled milk that it blurred the sky and the sea into one. The Thousand Sunny drifted in this fog for almost half a day.
Apart from the sound of the rushing current beneath the ship's side, nothing else could be heard.
Usopp, clinging to the mast, his face pale, said, "Are we already dead? What kind of place is this? We can't even see a single seabird—"
"Don't talk nonsense," Nami whispered, her Clima-Tact gripping the handle until it turned white.
Suddenly, the fog dissipated.
Just like in the Wano Country, there was no sign whatsoever.
The fog before them seemed to have been torn in half, and light suddenly slammed down, blinding everyone.
Then they saw it.
That island.
To be precise, it wasn't an island at all, but a towering tree that grew directly from the seabed.
The black cliffs are so high that their tops are invisible, and the waterfalls cascade down from the clouds, their roar echoing across nautical miles and making one's chest feel heavy.
The entire island formed from the Treasure Tree Adam resembles an ancient behemoth crouching on the sea; even its outline is enough to make one feel suffocated.
Nami tilted her head back, her mouth agape for a long time.
Chopper instantly transformed back into his reindeer form, his four legs trembling, tears welling in his eyes.
"Oh, this is so scary... Should we go up? Do we really have to go up?"
"Nonsense, we're already here!"
Luffy stood at the bow of the ship, the string of his Straw Hat hat snapping loudly in the wind, grinning like a child who had just unwrapped a present.
"Wow, it's huge! Elbaf!! I'm here!!!"
His shout had barely faded when two streaks of light suddenly exploded on the sea.
A horizontal and a vertical cross-shaped slash flew from the side, splitting the mist into four pieces the instant it swept across the sea surface. The wind pressure generated by the aftershocks pushed the Thousand Sunny several meters to the side.
Everyone staggered and fell, but Zoro had already drawn his sword and narrowed one eye.
Who goes there!
No one answered. Then came the second wave.
The sound of clashing swords rolled over from afar, unlike the ordinary clanging of metal; the sound was as loud as thunder, shaking the sea.
Another slash came from the side, but this time Luffy up, swung his rubber arm, and punched the slash, shattering it in mid-air.
"It's over there!" Nami pointed to the source of the voice.
The fog had been mostly cleared by the previous slashes, and two enormous figures were locked in a fierce battle on the sea.
They stood in waist-deep water, each step sending up waves tens of meters high. When their giant swords and Giant Axe clashed, sparks exploded like fireworks.
"Uncle--!!!"
Luffy yelled so hard his voice cracked.
The two giants stopped simultaneously. The one on the left, wearing a grayish-blue cloak, turned around, his face full of menacing features, his eyes wide and bulging.
"Hmm? That voice... Straw Hat Boy?"
The one on the right holding the Giant Axe also turned around:
" Dorry, did I hear that right? It really is that kid?"
" Brogy! Are you still fighting here?!"
Luffy up excitedly, his rubber leg springing up, and he leaped across the sea, landing directly on Dorry's shoulder.
Dorry laughed heartily, his laughter so loud it made the sails of the Thousand Sunny.
"Nonsense! We are warriors of Elbaf, and dueling is a warrior's honor!"
"You've gotten stronger, kid."
Brogy leaned closer, extended two fingers, and carefully tapped Luffy's chest.
"Still so tiny."
"I can grow bigger! Now I can become super big!" Luffy gestured defiantly.
The two giants laughed again, their laughter making the sea tremble.
Dorry sheathed his sword, squatted down, and brought his face, which was even bigger than the Thousand Sunny, close to the side of the ship, scanning the entire Straw Hat Pirates:
"Alright, let's stop fighting for now. We have guests coming; I'll take you to the village for a drink!"
After he finished speaking, without waiting for the Straw Hat Pirates's agreement, he stretched his two ridiculously thick arms into the sea, directly supporting the bottom of the Thousand Sunny and lifting the entire ship up.
"Waaaaah--!" Nami and Usopp screamed simultaneously.
Brogy pushed the stern from behind. "Hold on tight!"
So, for the next half hour, the Straw Hat Pirates enjoyed an unprecedented "voyage" experience.
Two giants carried their ship, striding across the sea, splashing water at their feet, the scenery on either side turning into afterimages.
Luffy perched on Dorry's head, shouting excitedly.
As they drew closer to the coastline of Elbaf, the entire giant tribe was finally revealed once they rounded the last headland.
Towering trees reaching into the clouds, wooden houses bigger than castles, totem poles carved from a single thousand-year-old log, and giants sitting around a campfire, all looking this way.
All of them were ridiculously large, the smallest being over ten meters tall, each with bulging muscles and weapons at their waists.
" Dorry Tori is back!"
"And they brought a whole boatload of little people with them?"
"Are those guests from outside?"
The giants swarmed around, dozens of faces larger than millstones closing in at the same time, completely blocking the Straw Hat Pirates's view.
Chopper hid behind Robin's legs in fright, and Robin smiled and patted his head.
The campfire was lit that night.
The bonfire was ridiculously large; a single piece of firewood was over three meters long, and the flames leaped dozens of meters high, turning half the sky red.
The giants formed a circle around the bonfire, and cartloads of meat were brought up. Barrels of liquor were bigger than houses, and the entire tribe was immersed in the aroma of roasted meat and ale.
"This amount..." Sanji stared blankly at the grilled rib in front of him, which was taller than him, holding a cleaver in his hand, for a long time.
"Hahaha! Eat up! Don't be shy!" Dorry slapped the ground, making the plate jump.
Luffy has already started eating.
He jumped into the middle of the pile of roasted meat, swung his rubber arms around and stuffed it into his mouth, his face covered in oil, and mumbled "Delicious!"
Robin didn't go to the campfire.
She walked alone along the edge of the village, the sea breeze blowing up from below the cliff, making her long hair flutter.
There were a few small campfires burning near the coastline, nothing compared to the giant campfire in the center of the tribe.
She saw a figure from behind.
A giant squatted on the beach, poking at a fire with a branch.
The flame was small, only enough to illuminate half of his face.
He wore a tattered cotton robe, his gray hair was a mess, and his back was hunched over. He looked like an old photograph that had stepped straight out of our memories.
Robin stopped in her tracks.
The giant seemed to sense something and slowly turned his head.
The light from the campfire brushed across his face.
That face looked much older than she remembered; the wrinkles were as deep as knife-carved ravines, but the eyes remained unchanged.
Still so gentle, still so clumsy, still able to brighten up the moment you see her.
" Robin?"
Saul's voice was hoarse, as if something was stuck in his throat.
Robin stood there, trembling all over.
She opened her mouth, but no sound came out; tears welled up in her eyes first. She ran two steps forward, then threw herself into his arms.
Saul reached out and gently caught her with two fingers, his eyes reddening.