Chapter 103: The Little Garden Adventure
"Puchu…"
The little SnowBotamon was dizzy from being snuggled, its soft fur fluffed up in all directions.
When it came to, it nuzzled affectionately against Shane's cheek, seeming to enjoy it and wanting more.
But then, the little creature's ears suddenly perked up. With a "chu," it rolled into Shane's arms and clung tightly to his shirt.
"Big Bro! What's that thing in your hand?!"
Nami's excited shriek suddenly came from the cabin. In the next second, the orange-haired girl burst onto the deck, her eyes sparkling with pink hearts.
"Let me hold it! Quick, quick, quick, let me hold it!"
Before Shane could react, she eagerly reached out for it.
"Chu!"
The SnowBotamon in his arms trembled in fear, but there was nowhere to run. It turned its head and, with a "poof," let out a puff of white, cold air—
Crack, crack, crack. Nami's reaching hand was instantly frozen solid.
"It fell from the sky and, for some reason, decided I'm its master," Shane said, picking up the little rice-ball-like creature and comforting it with a smile. "It's okay, don't be nervous. This is my sister. She's one of us."
Fell from the sky?
Nami believed him without a second thought and exclaimed in awe, "The Grand Line is so amazing… You're so lucky, Big Bro! Dammit, I should have stayed on the deck. Then maybe I would have been the one it chose as its master!"
As for her frozen arm… she wasn't worried at all. She shook it, and whoosh! flames erupted from her arm, instantly melting the frost into water droplets.
This time, it was the SnowBotamon's turn to stare, its eyes wide.
It looked at Nami's arm, left and right, completely baffled as to where the flames had come from.
Shane watched, amused. He ruffled the little rice ball's fur. So soft… hmm, maybe I'll call it Mochi?
The name should work for its first few forms. He could always change it later when it evolved into Angewomon.
As for the puff of cold air, it must have been the ice-type ability "Diamond Dust," right?
Shane wasn't too concerned about it.
Unlike Gin, SnowBotamon was a Digimon. Its attributes and skills would constantly change as it evolved.
There was no need to focus on its early-stage abilities. He was just looking forward to it reaching its final form.
When that happens, Angewomon, like a goddess, will hover in the sky, one hand drawing a bow, the other firing a holy arrow…
Tsk, that divine presence is truly something to look forward to.
—Hmm, you've been chosen as the ship's sniper, SnowBotamon!
Slap!
Shane patted the sniper on the back.
The little creature, still in its baby stage, had no idea that a great destiny had just been thrust upon it. It was still curiously sizing up Nami. After a moment of hesitation, it allowed her to pick it up.
"Whoa, so soft!"
Nami beamed, endlessly teasing the SnowBotamon.
"Hey, Nami, didn't I tell you to take breakfast to Nojiko? How come you're back so soon?" Shane asked, confused.
Nami didn't even look up, still engrossed in petting the fluffy creature. "Did I need to? She came out on her own! Look—" She gestured toward the cabin with her chin. "Here she comes now."
Shane turned to look, and sure enough, Nojiko was walking toward them, humming a cheerful tune and steadily carrying a plate of breakfast.
The tips of her hair were still damp with sweat, but her face was beaming with an irrepressible joy. The moment she saw Shane, her eyes curved into crescents.
"Big Bro!"
"You've mastered Haki?" Shane didn't even need to guess, seeing her so happy.
"Mhm! I've mastered Coating and Hardening! Look!"
Nojiko happily raised her fists, and vwoom! a dark sheen instantly covered her entire arm, as if it had been cast in ink.
"That's some impressive strength," Shane said, giving her arm a squeeze. It was as hard as iron. He raised an eyebrow, surprised, and didn't hold back his praise. "I think it won't be long before the epithet 'Black Arm' will have a new owner."
"Hehe, I'm still a long way from that," Nojiko said modestly, but her grin stretched from ear to ear. She let out a long sigh, as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. "But… at least now, I won't be holding everyone back!"
A month ago in Loguetown, during the fight with the four Rear Admirals, she had been the only one at a clear disadvantage, and it had been bothering her ever since.
If it were her now, hmph, the Rear Admiral would be the one on the losing end!
"Huh?"
Just as she sat down to eat her breakfast, she noticed the SnowBotamon and was instantly captivated.
By now, the others had also brought their breakfast to the deck and had gathered around curiously.
The SnowBotamon understood that these were its master's companions, so it wasn't shy. They all played together happily.
But there was one thing that surprised everyone.
The little creature only let the girls pet it. When Zeff and Smoker reached out, it would snort and turn away, leaving the two of them feeling awkward.
Apart from its master, it seemed to dislike contact with any other males.
"Looks like it's a girl," Nami said, amused. She pinched the SnowBotamon's cheek and laughed. "I wonder what she'll look like when she grows up. Will she be like Gin, just a bigger version of herself? A super-sized Mochi?"
"Grrr!"
Gin, who had been sunbathing, immediately let out a low growl and shook his majestic mane.
What a joke!
I may have been a chubby little ball of fur when I was a pup, but now I'm the dashing and heroic Silver Wolf King! How dare she say I just got bigger?
He then shot a resentful glance at Shane.
Shane didn't notice his look. He watched the lively scene and shook his head with a smile. He picked up his coffee cup and, leaving the bow to the others, quietly retreated to the stern.
As he sipped his coffee in the quiet, he continued to browse the remaining three items in the marketplace.
[Dark Magician Girl Summon Card]
Type: Consumable
Price: 3,000 Points
Description: From the world of Yu-Gi-Oh!, an original card from Yugi Muto's deck. When used, it can summon a phantom of the Dark Magician Girl once, which will exist for 24 hours. The phantom can be controlled by the player, but in worlds without card battles, it cannot cause any physical damage or have any physical effect.
Seller's Note: Despair, and accept the reality of losing your rare card, my dear Yugi-boy~
Did this guy get reincarnated as Pegasus?
Shane shook his head and decided not to buy it.
He used to be a duelist, but he was also a pragmatist.
If it had been one or two hundred points, he might have bought it for his collection. But three thousand?
Too expensive. He'd pass.
…
[Korin's Senzu Beans]
Type: Consumable
Price: 3,000 Points
Description: From the world of Dragon Ball, the Senzu Beans grown by Korin on Korin Tower. Two beans included. After eating one, you will feel full for ten days. Senzu Beans have extremely powerful restorative properties, capable of instantly restoring the stamina of someone who is extremely fatigued and returning their body to its peak condition.
Seller's Note: None. Contact lost.
Senzu Beans!
Shane's spirits lifted. He added them to his cart without a moment's hesitation.
See? The sellers from the Dragon Ball world are so much more reasonable! For the same three thousand points, the practical value is on a completely different level!
In a fight, these things were a lifesaver. They could pull you back from the brink of death as long as you were still breathing.
And there were two of them.
An absolute bargain. He had to buy them!
...
The last item was rather unremarkable. Shane ignored it. In the end, he had only bought two things, but they were both items he was very pleased with.
The total cost was 7,000 points, leaving him with 37,000.
"That was a pretty big spend," he said, closing the system panel and downing the rest of his coffee. "But it doesn't matter. I'll be able to restock soon."
Dorry the Blue Ogre and Brogy the Red Ogre.
Little Garden, the home of those two legendary giants from a hundred years ago, is just ahead.
...
Three days later.
"Everyone, look! An island—!"
Nojiko's cheerful voice came from the crow's nest, startling a few seagulls that had been resting on the mast.
Mochi, who had been napping on Gin's head, shot up, its round body bouncing, and looked around cautiously.
"We're finally here?!"
With a series of creaks, the cabin doors opened, and everyone rushed out. The previously quiet deck was suddenly bustling with activity.
Ten days—ten whole days they had been drifting on the vast, open sea.
Even Kuina, the most patient of them all, had started to occasionally stare blankly at the endless ocean after her meditation. To say nothing of the more boisterous Nami and the others.
Now, everyone was crowded at the bow, staring excitedly like a group of children who had just spotted a candy store.
And sure enough, a lush, green island with a dense forest was now visible on the horizon.
"Is this Little Garden?"
Nami asked, marking the island's position on her sea chart. She couldn't help but turn to Zeff. "Hey, Uncle Zeff, are there really two giant giants on this island?!"
"I told you, I've only heard the rumors about the island-eater goldfish, so very few people take this route. I avoided it myself back in the day, so I've never seen it with my own eyes," Zeff said with a grin. "But this time, I can finally make up for that and explore the island with all of you."
The others all nodded with grins of their own.
Giants?
Who's afraid?
With a captain as reassuring as Shane at the helm, a mysterious island with giants was nothing.
They would even follow him into the gates of hell!
…
Soon, The Curtain Call docked.
The atmosphere of a tropical rainforest hit them, and the temperature soared.
"What's with this weather…" Nami said, tying her orange hair up high and fanning herself with her hand. "How can an island be this hot?!"
Gin and Mochi were already panting from the heat, two fluffy balls of fur lying miserably in the shade.
Especially the little SnowBotamon, which was dripping a white, ice-cream-like substance. It was a wonder it didn't just melt into a puddle in the sun.
"You two stay here," Shane said, ruffling the two furballs' fur with a smile. "If anything happens…"
"Puchu!"
Mochi suddenly perked up and tried to look fierce, but the heat was too much, and it flopped back down with a thump.
"We don't need you, you silly thing!" Nami said, her heart aching for the little creature. She quickly pulled out an electric fan. "Gin can contact us. His nose is sharp; he'll be able to find us in no time."
The fan had been modified by Smoker and had ice inside, so the breeze it produced was cool. Gin and Mochi finally settled down.
The others changed into cool summer clothes and stepped into the forest, their feet sinking into the soft humus.
The deeper they went into the forest, the more they could feel the raw, primeval atmosphere.
In the hot and humid environment, giant trees that would take ten people to encircle were covered in vines, and ferns grew taller than a person. The sunlight was filtered through the dense canopy, casting a dappled pattern on the ground.
Occasionally, they would see giant animal bones half-buried in the fallen leaves—these were clearly not from ordinary beasts.
This place really was isolated from the rest of the world, untouched for hundreds of years, preserving the feel of an ancient era.
ROAR—!!!
A deafening roar suddenly echoed through the forest, and everything went silent.
Then came the heavy "thump, thump, thump" of footsteps, shaking the ground and making the canopy above them sway violently.
Rustle!
Two massive saber-toothed tigers suddenly poked their heads out of the dense foliage, their amber eyes locked on the group.
They opened their bloody maws, a greedy gurgle rumbling in their throats, and thick saliva dripped onto the bushes below.
"Whoa!" The three girls instantly huddled together, letting out exaggerated gasps. "It's a dinosaur!!!"
So dinosaurs really do still exist in this world!
"Hey," Shane said, casually looking up at the two giant creatures. "You're scaring my sisters. If you don't want to end up as dinner, don't do anything stupid."
Vwoom!
A terrifying, ripple-like aura silently spread from him. The air around them seemed to freeze, and even the leaves stopped rustling.
After meeting his seemingly casual gaze, the two saber-toothed tigers froze, breaking out in a cold sweat.
They suddenly let out a terrified whimper, tucked their thick tails between their legs, and turned to run.
The heavy footsteps quickly turned into a panicked stampede, and in a flash, they had disappeared into the dense forest.
"..."
Smoker, who had been about to make a move, paused and put his half-drawn jitte back on his back.
The captain scared them off just by using a little bit of Conqueror's Haki?
What a convenient ability. I'm so jealous…
If only I could awaken Conqueror's Haki too.
Is it even possible?
He lit a cigar and shook his head with a self-deprecating smile.
He was already thirty. He probably shouldn't be holding on to such a childish fantasy.
But then again, he had been a Marine, a soldier whose duty was to obey orders. It was almost impossible for someone like him to awaken the "disposition of a king."
In the entire Marine Headquarters, which was filled with powerhouses, only Fleet Admiral Sengoku and old man Garp had awakened Conqueror's Haki.
Now that he had left the Marines and was following that man, chasing his own path of justice on the high seas, maybe… just maybe… once the fog of confusion in his heart had completely cleared, there might be a day.
At that thought, a smile spread across Smoker's lips.
"Hey, Smoker," Shane's confused voice came. "What are you spacing out for? Didn't you notice? Aren't you going to get that thing off your shoulder?"
My shoulder?
Smoker, a cigar between his lips, turned his head in confusion.
And there, perched quietly on his right arm, was a giant cockroach, nearly eighty centimeters long.
Its black, shiny shell glistened with an oily sheen, and its long antennae twitched slightly.
When it saw him looking, it tilted its head and even fluttered its wings with a click, as if it was about to launch itself at his face.
"..."
The cigar fell from his suddenly rigid lips.
Thump!
The once-feared "White Chase" rolled his eyes back in his head and fell backward, kicking up a shower of fallen leaves.
——————
"Hey, wake up, wake up!"
A rough hand patted his face.
Cold, shaky…
But Smoker's eyelids only fluttered, and he didn't open them.
"How did a guy with this little courage ever become a Marine Captain?" Zeff sighed, hoisting Smoker onto his shoulder and continuing on with the others.
Honestly, it was just a cockroach.
Back in his days at sea, when the kitchen conditions were terrible, he had squashed and sprayed enough of them to build a mountain.
Is a giant cockroach really that different…
The man with his eyes squeezed shut on his back winced. He would rather never wake up.
This was so embarrassing. Even the little girls had only screamed a little, and he had fainted on the spot. And just a second ago, he had been dreaming of awakening Conqueror's Haki…
BOOM—!!!
Another deafening roar, even louder than before.
The entire forest trembled, and the ground shook violently, as if in an earthquake.
"Ooh, ooh!"
Nami's eyes lit up, and she looked around excitedly. "More dinosaurs? What will it be this time? A T-Rex? A Brachiosaurus? Or…"
"Not a dinosaur, a person, little girl."
A warm but thunderous voice suddenly came from above them.
A shadow fell over them, blocking out the sun. Everyone instinctively looked up and saw a giant face looking down at them. A long beard hung from its chin, and the eyes under its helmet were friendly and smiling.
"W-What is that…" Nami's eyes widened in fear.
"A… a G-G…" Nojiko stammered.
"A GIANT! IT'S A REAL GIANT!!!" Even Kuina let out a scream.
"Gegyagyagyagya! Thanks a lot, you guys!" the giant said, raising his left hand. In his grasp were two struggling saber-toothed tigers. He held them by the scruff of their necks as easily as if they were two naughty kittens.
"These two are very cunning. They've been hiding deep in the forest and wouldn't come out. But you scared them so much, they ran right into me!"
He laughed heartily, the sound making the leaves rustle. With a swing of his sword, he lopped off the heads of the two saber-toothed tigers.
"Now we have plenty of meat! I'm a great cook! How about I treat you all to some barbecue? Oh… by the way, did you bring any booze? It would be wonderful to have some good booze to go with the meat!"
"Booze? We've got plenty of that," Shane said, his own laughter infectious. He turned to his crew. "Hey! Kuina, you and Uncle Zeff, go back to the ship and get some more liquor."
"Yes, Captain!"
Kuina immediately responded. Before she left, she looked the giant up and down and couldn't help but ask, "Hey, mister. Are you really one of the legendary Giants from Elbaf?"
"Oh! How amazing! You know a lot, little girl! It's been a long, long time since anyone has mentioned the name of my village to me!" the giant said, surprised, and then he laughed heartily.
"That's right! I'm Dorry from Elbaf! People used to call me the Blue Ogre! But you guys… you really surprised me! If I remember correctly, the last time someone came to this island was a year or two ago!"
...
In the center of Little Garden.
To the south and north were two massive white skeletons, covered in moss, as if they had been dead for many years.
Under the southern skeleton, a bonfire was crackling.
Dorry sat cross-legged, his thick fingers skillfully cleaning the saber-toothed tiger's entrails. He then skewered them on a thick, tree-trunk-like iron rod and roasted them slowly over the fire.
The fat dripped, and the aroma rose with the green smoke.
Shane and the others were also sitting around the bonfire. After chatting with Dorry on the way here, they had already gotten to know each other well.
The Giants from Elbaf were generally simple-minded, and Dorry was the boisterous, open-hearted type, so he was very easy to get along with.
"Wow, this is good booze! Strong and fragrant!"
Dorry held the barrel of liquor and drank it all in one gulp, smacking his lips with satisfaction. "And for some reason, the taste is so familiar… hmm, I remember now! It's a bit like the booze we had on our ship, but it's more mellow and has a better aftertaste."
"Is that so?" Zeff was taken aback. "This is booze I brought from the East Blue. I found it on a particularly massive ship. Could it be the ship you used, Mr. Dorry?"
Zeff, who had a long beard of his own, was calling Dorry, who looked to be in his middle age, "Mr. Dorry," but no one found it strange.
In fact, it was almost as if Zeff was getting the better end of the deal.
Because, after their conversation earlier, everyone now knew that this Blue Ogre, Dorry, was the captain of the Giant Warrior Pirates, who had been considered a major threat by the World Government a hundred years ago.
His bounty was a hundred million Berries.
It might not sound that high, but that was almost a hundred years ago!
The value of money was completely different back then.
Compared to his crewmates, Shane knew the true value of that hundred million Berries even better.
If he remembered correctly, in the timeline six years from now, when the Blue Ogre and the Red Ogre set sail again, the World Government would immediately raise their bounties to 1.8 billion Berries!
Even higher than most of the Emperors' top commanders.
"Ah, my ship?"
Dorry scratched his head in confusion. "It must be a coincidence. My comrades took our ship and went straight back to Elbaf. They shouldn't have gone to the East Blue."
He didn't seem to care, so the others didn't press the issue.
Dorry went back to sprinkling spices on the barbecue. The booze these kind humans had brought was excellent, so he had to show off his skills and not let them down!
BOOM!!
But at that moment, the entire island shook violently. Everyone except for Dorry stumbled, nearly falling to the ground.
"What now?!"
Nami stood up angrily and looked around. What is wrong with this island?! It shakes every few minutes! Can't a person eat in peace?!
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