The river cut deep into the island like a scar, its dark water slow and heavy, reflecting walls of green that seemed to rise endlessly on both sides. Trees thicker than ship masts crowded the banks, their canopies tangled so tightly that sunlight barely reached the water. Every few seconds, a new sound echoed through the air—low roars, shrill cries, wingbeats, things moving that were far too large to be comfortable.
Even the air felt different. Older. Heavier. As if the island itself had been breathing long before humans ever learned how to fear it.
Nami stood at the bow, staring down at her log pose. She turned it this way and that, frowning deeper with each second.
"…I don't know," she finally said.
Luffy glanced at her, one eyebrow lifting slightly.
"The needle isn't reacting at all," Nami continued. "Usopp might actually be right for once."
Usopp straightened instantly, chest puffing out. "See!? I told you! The great Captain Usopp is always right when danger is involved!"
"We could just stay on the ship," Nami said, her voice tight. "Let the log pose record the island's magnetism from here. Once it resets, we leave. No landing. No dinosaurs. No dying."
"Correct!" Usopp shouted, saluting dramatically.
"Quack!" Karoo added, mimicking him.
Luffy stepped down from the upper deck, boots thudding softly against the wood.
"There's a problem with that plan," he said calmly.
Everyone turned to him.
"We don't know how long the log pose will take to reset."
Silence.
"There are islands where it takes minutes," Luffy went on. "And islands where it takes years."
The word years hung in the air like a death sentence.
"…Years?" Usopp whispered before dropping to his knees. "We're doomed! We'll grow old here! I'll never see the sea again!"
"Calm down," Luffy said flatly. "You don't know that yet."
He walked to the railing and looked out at the forest. The jungle stared back.
That's when the bushes parted.
A tiger stepped out onto the riverbank.
Not a normal tiger. This thing was enormous—its shoulders nearly level with the ship's deck, muscles rippling beneath striped fur, golden eyes locked directly onto Luffy.
Johnny swallowed and tightened his grip on his bisento. "That's… not normal."
Vivi edged closer to Nojiko, Karoo trembling beside her.
The tiger took another step—then stopped.
Its eyes widened.
Blood spilled from its mouth.
Without another sound, the massive beast collapsed, shaking the ground as it hit.
No one spoke.
"…What could kill something like that?" Nojiko asked quietly.
"I don't know," Luffy said, his tone sharpening. "And I don't like that I don't know."
He turned back to the crew.
"Johnny. Yosaku. Drop anchor."
They didn't question him. The anchor splashed into the water moments later.
Sanji stepped forward. "Want me to cook?"
"Yes," Luffy replied. "I want to eat."
Nami stared at him. "…Why?"
"In case I have to wrestle a T-rex."
That earned him three simultaneous glares—from Nami, Vivi, and Nojiko.
Luffy pretended not to notice.
When lunch was done, Luffy hopped onto the riverbank. Vivi hesitated—then climbed onto Karoo's back.
"Can I come with you?" she asked.
Nami spun around. "Absolutely not!"
"I don't want to sit around worrying," Vivi said softly. "I want to do something."
Luffy smiled. "You're pretty brave for a princess."
"Luffy has corrupted her," Usopp muttered.
Lightning struck him instantly.
Luffy whistled and walked away.
The forest swallowed them whole.
Leaves the size of sails crunched underfoot. Strange insects scattered as they passed. Karoo waddled determinedly forward, Vivi holding on tightly, eyes darting everywhere at once.
Then the ground shook.
Slow. Heavy. Rhythmic.
They looked up.
A Brachiosaurus towered above them, its long neck stretched into the canopy as it lazily stripped leaves from a tree. Each movement felt like it could crack the world in half.
Vivi stopped breathing.
Before either of them could react, the dinosaur's head snapped violently upward.
Blood sprayed.
The massive body swayed—then collapsed with an earth-shaking crash.
Vivi screamed.
"What could kill something that big!?" she cried.
"No," Luffy said quietly. "Not what. Who."
He pointed at the wound—clean, precise.
Before Vivi could respond, the ground trembled again.
A shadow fell over them.
"Gegyagyagyagya!"
A figure stepped forward—so tall it made the dinosaur look small.
A giant.
"I am Dorry," the figure boomed cheerfully. "Greatest warrior of Elbaf!"
Vivi's knees buckled.
"…A giant," she whispered. "They're real…"
Luffy studied him for a moment, then relaxed.
"I'm Luffy. Pirate."
"Gegyagyagyagya! Good!" Dorry laughed.
"And that's Vivi. And Karoo."
The giant leaned closer, eyes bright. "Then you'll join me for lunch!"
Vivi's soul attempted to leave her body.
"We'd be honored," Luffy said instantly.
Dorry extended a hand the size of a house. "Jump."
Luffy hopped on without hesitation.
Vivi and Karoo crawled up slowly, shaking.
With one hand, Dorry lifted them. With the other, he grabbed the headless dinosaur.
The jungle parted before him as he walked, laughter echoing through Little Garden.