"Three-Sword Style · Thunder Wolf Dragon · Reversal Cut!!!"
Crack—!!!
On Little Garden Island, the battlefield where Luffy had been fighting the two giants was still roaring with life.
Zoro swung the three long blades in his hands, each one blazing with arcs of lightning. A feral glint flashed in his eyes as he spun violently in midair!
In an instant—
A phantom dragon wreathed in lightning burst forth around his body, coiling as he snapped backward with the motion of his swing!
Clang—!!!
A piercing metallic crash rang out as the thunder dragon lashed out with its steel-like tail, colliding head-on with Brogy's massive axe blade!
The dragon vanished the next second—
Leaving behind Zoro's figure suspended in midair, his swords crossed as he held back the enormous axe.
Lightning flared brilliantly, illuminating the entire battlefield.
And at that very moment…
Not far away, a jet-black blur shot up from the ground like lightning itself, instantly transforming into a streak of blazing crimson light.
"Diable Jambe · Grilling Meat · Lower Belly Cut!!!"
Boom—!!!
A violent shockwave erupted, forming a scorching gale that swept outward in all directions!
Sanji, his entire body engulfed in flames, let out a roar as he crashed head-on into Dorry, whose expression was just as fierce.
The raging flames seemed to come alive, racing up along Dorry's massive sword and wrapping around his body itself, igniting him in a towering blaze.
…
…
"Started again already?"
"They're really full of energy!"
The grass nearby rustled as Usopp suddenly emerged from the dense brush.
In his hands was a metal cage containing a gigantic rhinoceros beetle—nearly as large as a human head.
Several smaller insect cages and all sorts of strange plant roots hung from his waist.
"Looks like you had a pretty good haul today, Usopp!"
Seeing him like this, Red—resting beneath a sunshade—grinned and called out.
Compared to the fiercely contested battlefield, their side looked more like a tropical rainforest resort.
Relaxed and carefree.
Luffy and Smoker, having just finished training, lay stretched out on the Grassy Terrain, quietly recovering their stamina.
Meanwhile, Vivi and Nami held a map of the Kingdom of Alabasta, helping Red study suitable locations for setting up experimental zones.
If Vivi had still harbored doubts about Red's deal a week ago…
Then one week later, after successfully reaching Level 30, Vivi could be said to have completely become "Red-shaped."
What experimental zone?!
If Red hadn't complained about the area being too large to manage, Vivi would have already wanted to gift him the entire Kingdom of Alabasta outright!
At worst, the royal family could just work for him and help govern the country!
After all—
Vivi firmly believed that once Alabasta became Red's exclusive domain, he would do everything possible to make it prosperous and powerful.
Because he had the ability to do so!
Unfortunately, Red decisively rejected her half-joking proposal.
Taking care of the Straw Hat crew already exhausted him enough—let alone managing a kingdom with a population of ten million.
He'd rather be spared.
Noticing everyone looking over, Usopp scratched his head sheepishly.
"Well, we're about to set sail, aren't we?"
"So I thought before leaving, I'd sweep up all the island's unique bugs and plants!"
As he spoke, he proudly lifted the metal cage.
"Take a look at this rhinoceros beetle—don't be fooled by how obedient it looks right now!"
"When I first ran into it, it snapped a whole tree in half with its horn!"
"I've got a feeling that if I raise it properly, it might become a pretty good combat partner someday~!"
Under Red's guidance, Usopp's attention had gradually shifted away from explosives formulas and yields…
Toward a new combat style based on Pokémon energy, centered on insects and plants.
And surprisingly enough—
After some testing, Usopp discovered something astonishing.
When he released Bug-type Pokémon energy from his body, he had a natural attraction to most insects, easily earning their goodwill.
And once he infused insects with Bug-type energy, their growth rate increased dramatically.
Thanks to this trait, Usopp had already cultivated quite a few obedient insects inside the research lab within Laboon's body.
Although limitations in strength and intelligence meant these insects couldn't yet form real combat power—
Usopp wasn't discouraged in the slightest!
The Grand Line had no shortage of bizarre creatures.
He firmly believed that sooner or later, he would encounter the right target and raise it into a true battle partner!
At the very least, the rhinoceros beetle in his hands had enormous potential.
Likewise, when it came to plants, Usopp could also make use of Grass-type energy to fight using special vegetation.
In that field, he already had some achievements—it was just that he hadn't had the chance to show them off yet.
"A summoner-style marksman? Isn't that basically a hunter build?"
Watching Usopp excitedly show off his beetle to Luffy, Red's lips curved slightly upward, genuinely happy at his companions' growth.
Today marked the seventh day since they arrived on Little Garden Island.
After Luffy's all-out battle with the two giant warriors, Zoro and Sanji refused to be outdone, challenging the giants themselves the very next day.
Although defeat had been inevitable, their repeated clashes with powerful opponents had made them increasingly adept at using Pokémon energy.
Now, Zoro had fully mastered Lightning-, Fire-, and Dragon-type energies and seamlessly integrated them into his swordsmanship.
Even if his Thunderbolt move were removed, he could still unleash lightning-like might through the versatile power of Dragon-type energy alone.
On the other side, Sanji had successfully incorporated the partner move Sizzly Slide, which replaced Ember, into his kicks.
With Red's guidance, he not only awakened Diable Jambe far earlier than in the original timeline…
He also used the special flames of Sizzly Slide to activate Diable Jambe anytime, anywhere—
Without needing to spin at high speed to preheat his leg like he did at Enies Lobby.
Moreover, Sizzly Slide's guaranteed burn effect meant that every one of Sanji's normal attacks inflicted delayed damage without fail…
So long as the opponent wasn't a Flame-Flame Fruit user.
Because of that, Sizzly Slide had become one of Sanji's core techniques.
After seven straight days of challenges, Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji all experienced tremendous growth.
After reaching Level 52 using Rare Candy, Luffy gained over ten thousand additional experience points through constant sparring, plus more than 700 EXP daily from the Pokémon Day Care.
Now, Luffy stood proudly at Level 54, his strength having risen dramatically.
Zoro and Sanji weren't far behind.
Although they lacked Day Care support and earned less total experience due to differing battle loads—
Both still leveled up.
Zoro reached Level 45, just a sliver away from another breakthrough.
Sanji, starting at a lower level, gained three levels in a row and landed at Level 39.
And so—
With the two giants helping carve off a portion of Little Garden and delivering it into Laboon's body…
The Straw Hat crew, fully loaded, set sail once more toward their next destination.
"Goodbye, Dorry! Brogy!"
"Next time we meet, I'll definitely beat you!!!"
Standing at the prow of the Going Merry, Luffy beamed brightly and shouted back at the giants seeing them off.
"Ba-ba-ba… farewell, my friends!"
Watching the ship grow smaller in the distance, the two giants on the shore burst into laughter.
"Heh… I didn't think I'd feel this reluctant to part."
Dorry spoke first.
Brogy immediately nodded in agreement. "Yeah~"
"But… they're different from us."
"The vast sea—that's where their glory will be forged."
Dorry grinned widely.
"…Someday, they'll absolutely shake the entire world!"
Rumble—!!!
At that moment, the volcano at the center of Little Garden erupted once more, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky.
Dorry and Brogy exchanged a glance, then grabbed their weapons and clashed once again.
The Straw Hats' glory belonged to the sea.
And the battle that had continued for over a century—draw after draw—
That was the glory that belonged to the giants.
(End of Chapter)