Ancient Island.
A blue Susanoo, towering a thousand meters high, suddenly appeared here. Compared to it, all the gigantic creatures on the island seemed like ants, frantically fleeing in every direction!
At this very moment, the two giants, Dorry and Brogy, halted their duel, looking incredulously at the massive blue giant!
"I regret to inform you both,"
Uehara Naraku stood within the crystal on Susanoo's forehead, loudly proclaiming: "This island is being requisitioned by our Baroque Works. If you wish to continue your battle here, you're welcome to join us at Baroque Works."
After delivering the recruitment pitch, Uehara Naraku continued: "If you're unwilling to join our Baroque Works, then I must regretfully ask you to... leave this small island!"
At the next moment, Susanoo suddenly drew its Ninja Blade!
A blue Sword Qi swiftly slashed towards the volcano, slicing it open instantly, causing the lava beneath to gush out and spread towards the surroundings!
Dorry and Brogy's faces revealed a hint of shock. Their bodies weren't as resilient as the volcano. It was obvious what kind of outcome would occur if this Sword Qi landed on them...
Under the spread of the lava, the two giants could only flee together, discussing amongst themselves as they ran through the forest!
"The god of Elbaf will favor the victor among us... but before determining who the victor is, let's first deal with that guy together!"
"Alright, let's use that move together then!"
However, just as they finished their discussion, a blue Sword Qi suddenly struck, severing their escape route!
Uehara Naraku controlled Susanoo to wield the Ninja Blade, shouting loudly: "Hey hey hey, do you really not want to join us at Baroque Works? We are the strongest organization on the Grand Line in this era, recruiting you would be an honor for you!"
"We've never heard of such a reputed small organization!"
Green Orge Dorry wielded his somewhat decayed sword, shouting loudly: "No matter what time it is, the strongest on the Grand Line is the Giant Soldier Pirates of Elbaf!"
"That's right!"
Red Orge Brogy swung his axe wildly!
The two giants almost simultaneously launched an attack, and a massive shockwave suddenly rushed towards Susanoo!
This was the super powerful technique Hakoku from the Giant Country Elbaf!
After releasing Hakoku, the two giants were exhausted, and their already somewhat decayed weapons shattered completely; it was indeed their strongest strike!
However, unfortunately, the Hakoku they released didn't even slightly shake Susanoo's body, not even enough to make it take a step back...
"So weak..."
The towering Susanoo slowly lowered itself, extending its finger, and flicking it, sending the two giants flying!
Uehara Naraku's loud voice echoed: "Get out! Your power is too weak, you're not even qualified to join our Baroque Works! The giants of Elbaf really aren't much, not even evoking the desire in me to kill you!"
"..."
Despair appeared on the faces of the two giants.
They had fought here for so many years, never imagining that one day their battlefield would be occupied, and their homeland insulted!
In this world, the Giant Country was reputed to be the world's strongest nation, a fact long acknowledged!
Unfortunately, the two of them had no way...
Just the blue giant's size alone was enough to cause despair!
All they could do now seemed to be to temporarily abandon their dispute, remember the hatred they faced now, return to their homeland to forge weapons suitable for giants, and seek out their old companions...
And then...
Return to exact revenge on Baroque Works!
After finishing their vengeance in the future, they would reclaim this Ancient Island and continue their battle...
After driving away the two giants, Uehara Naraku's Susanoo dissipated into a phantom, and his body landed back on the ground.
"Mr. Naraku, I initially thought you were just going to drive them away..."
Nico Robin slowly walked to his side, a subtle expression on her face: "But Elbaf values their honor, humiliating them like this might lead to their future pursuit and even hostility from the entire Elbaf..."
"Doesn't matter."
Uehara Naraku interrupted Nico Robin, calmly shaking his head: "They only know about Baroque Works; our boss is the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Sand Crocodile Crocodile. At that time, our boss will certainly take care of the entire Giant Country."
"..."
Nico Robin's expression became even more subtle.
After speaking, Uehara Naraku slowly extended his palm, softly continuing: "Moreover, Mr. Crocodile is soon to step out from behind the scenes!"
"..."
Nico Robin looked speechlessly at Uehara Naraku.
Why must such sequential schemes be used?
This guy, besides wanting a battle with Aokiji, is he also wanting to use the mouth of the Navy Admiral to leak news about Crocodile?
Although currently, the World Government would certainly not remove Crocodile's Seven Warlords of the Sea position over a criminal company like the Baroque Works...
But...
But if Uehara Naraku continues to stir up trouble like this, Crocodile might not only lose the convenient position of the Seven Warlords of the Sea for conducting affairs, but even his own life might be at risk!
Uehara Naraku only joined Baroque Works a few days ago, and now he's already continually causing trouble, and soon he'll even provoke a Navy Admiral...
This man doesn't seem to cause minor incidents...
Uehara Naraku couldn't care less about what Nico Robin thought.
Because Uehara Naraku was quite aware that challenging the world's strongest man, Whitebeard, was a minor burden for Crocodile.
"Alright."
Uehara Naraku suddenly extended his palm, calmly continuing: "Then let me utilize this time to build a battlefield suitable for us!"
At the next moment!
The ground of the Ancient Island suddenly rose, numerous animals fled into the sea due to the rapidly rising ground, at least in the sea they still had a chance of survival.
"This is..."
Nico Robin couldn't help but look under her feet, hesitantly saying, "Is this another Logia-Type Fruit power? Earth-Earth Fruit?"
"You could say that."
Uehara Naraku tilted his head, his palm opened again, and a huge wind blade began to level the entire Ancient Island, turning the island into a perfect square cube!
"As for what's next..."
Uehara Naraku's palm suddenly fell to the ground, softly saying, "Let's add some decorations for our two camps! Life must have a sense of ceremony... This is a Navy Admiral, he must feel surprised!"
"..."
Robin was full of question marks.
She really couldn't fathom Uehara's way of thinking.
With the World Government's highest power, Navy Admiral Aokiji, about to arrive, he wasn't thinking about preparing for battle but instead setting up a giant dueling arena.
If you like dueling arenas so much, why not just go to Dressrosa?
Unfortunately, this guy can't be persuaded!
Even when Nico Robin described some of the Navy Admirals' achievements, Uehara Naraku and Hoshigaki Kisame were still unmoved, sipping iced juice as if they were listening to fairy tales.
A day passed.
A long white line appeared on the sea.
That was Navy Admiral Aokiji's mode of transportation, using his Ice-Ice Fruit ability to create an ice pathway, then riding a wooden anti-slip bicycle along it.
For an average pirate, this method would still be quite terrifying.
It also sufficiently proves the strength of a Navy Admiral.
After spotting a small island, Aokiji stopped his bicycle.
The Navy Admiral flipped through his log pose and took out a map, looking somewhat puzzled at the massive cube-like island in front of him.
Wasn't this place supposed to be called Little Garden?
Could he have cycled the wrong way?
The island's appearance now made Aokiji doubt his memory, though he never bothered to remember such things.
Just as Aokiji was hesitating, a man's loud voice came from the island: "Come over, Mr. Kuzan, we've been waiting for you for a long time."
"Huh?"
Aokiji scratched his head.
The next moment, Aokiji's body rose from the ice, sprinting up the exceptionally vertical rock walls of the island and, after a few leaps, landing on the island!
When Aokiji looked up to take in the island's full view, even with his years of experience on the Grand Line, he couldn't help but feel a little shocked.
The entire island's ground was remarkably flat.
The vast area stretched tens of kilometers without a blade of grass, trees, or animals, completely looking like a...
No, this was a dueling arena!
This was a manmade gigantic dueling arena!
This small island, once a paradise for ancient creatures, had been turned into a dueling arena!
On one side was a massive white stone wall adorned with a seagull emblem, clearly symbolizing the Navy!
On the other side was a massive black stone wall with floating red clouds painted on it, obviously representing their opponents!
Someone was provoking the Navy!
Someone wanted to challenge him, the Navy Admiral!
But we must admit, whoever made this enormous dueling arena, whether by strength or money, and had the courage to challenge a Navy Admiral in such a coliseum, was quite admirable!
The laziness on Aokiji's face faded as his gaze slowly fell on one corner of the dueling island, where three people sat.
A man.
A woman.
A Fishman.
Precisely the targets he came here looking for.
"Mr. Kuzan."
One young man stretched out his hand toward him, loudly saying, "Would you like to come over for a glass of juice and discuss the battle rules?"
It was that person called Uehara Naraku!
Aokiji's expression turned slightly serious as he walked step by step toward them, sat in front of them, scratched his head, and softly said, "No, forget it, I still prefer beer. Do you have any here?"
"Sorry, strict upbringing, only juice."
After Uehara Naraku said this, he suddenly changed his tune: "No, if you want, we also have plain water here."
Saying this, Uehara Naraku extended his hand.
The next moment, the moisture in the air rapidly gathered in his hand, forming a water ball, which automatically rolled into an empty cup.
That move was truly amazing!
Even Aokiji marveled at this magical performance, especially knowing it wasn't a mere trick but Uehara Naraku's ability!
Uehara Naraku's fingers emitted a chill, tapping the cup before placing it in front of Aokiji, squinting with a smile at him.
"I figured you might like ice water."
"..."
Aokiji lowered his head.
The cup now contained neatly cut ice cubes.