Dorry's massive body was nearly embedded into the mountainside, his impact carving a giant, humanoid crater into the rugged rock.
"Cough—!"
Blood spilled from his mouth as he turned his head toward Brogy, whose expression had frozen in shock.
"Brogy… enemy!"
Brogy didn't need the warning.
He had already seen the earthen giant charging from the distance.
"Gahahaha! Dorry, I never thought I'd see you in such a sorry state. Looks like we've got ourselves a worthy opponent!"
His broom-like yellow beard trembled as he grinned widely.
"Perhaps we can use this enemy to settle our duel once and for all!"
With a thunderous boom, Brogy seized his enormous axe in one hand and raised his shield with the other. The ground cracked beneath his feet as he charged forward.
Dorry's face changed.
"He's a Devil Fruit user! That mud giant is just his ability!"
Brogy didn't slow.
He had mocked Dorry, yes—but anyone who could send Dorry flying was no weakling.
Now, with that warning, his caution sharpened further.
His eyes locked onto Yuuki—standing atop the earthen giant's head.
I see.
Within seconds, the two towering figures met.
Yuuki waved casually.
All four arms of the earthen giant shot forward at once, fists tearing through the air with explosive force.
But—
At the very instant the punches came, Brogy slammed the brakes on his charge.
Instead of clashing head-on, he swung his axe downward into the ground.
BOOM!
The earth exploded. A violent shockwave hurled up a massive cloud of dust, forming a thick barrier between them and obscuring sight.
Brogy grinned.
Using the dust as cover, he pivoted sharply to the left and, surprisingly nimble for his size, circled behind the earthen giant.
With a roar, he brought his axe down toward Yuuki.
CRASH!
The blade cleaved straight through the earthen giant, splitting it cleanly in two. Mud cascaded down in torrents, burying trees and shaking the ground.
"…Did I get him?"
Brogy blinked, momentarily stunned at how easily the construct had fallen. He searched instinctively for the boy who had stood atop it.
Then he saw him.
Yuuki was not falling with the crumbling earth.
He was floating.
"In the air?!"
Brogy's eyes widened.
Flight was exceedingly rare. Most who possessed it were Zoan-type Devil Fruit users.
But controlling earth didn't resemble a Zoan ability at all.
"Watch out, Brogy!"
Dorry's shout rang out.
From his vantage point, he saw what Brogy had not—
The scattered mud was moving.
Flowing.
Yuuki hovered in the sky, disappointment flickering across his features.
"Your reactions are too slow."
"Earth Creation Magic—Wrath of the Earth!"
The mud surged.
It divided, rushing toward both giants simultaneously.
"Damn it!"
Brogy swung his axe wildly, but metal meant nothing against flowing earth.
Dorry struggled just as fiercely—
To no avail.
Within moments, the mud coiled around their massive bodies, forming colossal hands that bound them in place.
"Ghh—!"
Dorry strained, muscles bulging, veins standing out—but the earthen grip did not yield.
Yuuki held his grimoire lightly in one hand and shook his head.
The giants' strength was impressive—undeniably so.
But it was merely brute force.
He clenched his fist.
The giant earthen hands tightened in unison.
"AAARGH!"
Both Dorry and Brogy roared in agony.
The sound echoed across Little Garden.
The volcano erupted.
Beasts fled in panic as the island seemed to descend into chaos.
At the shoreline—
Four figures suddenly appeared aboard the Magic Eye Pirates' ship.
They stood opposite Buggy and the others, the tension between them palpable.
"Ufufufu… It's been a while, Miss Wednesday. Or should I say… Princess Vivi?"
Ms. Valentine covered her mouth delicately, giggling. Her short blonde hair peeked from beneath a yellow beret as she leaned on her striped parasol.
"And Igaram. Mr. 9. Traitors, the lot of you."
Beside her, Mr. 5 adjusted his sunglasses, his rocker attire swaying lightly in the sea breeze.
"You talk too much, Valentine. That captain of theirs is troublesome. While he's gone, let's eliminate these small fries quickly."
"Heehee… Our luck's quite good today," Mr. 3 added smugly, glancing toward the booming sounds from the island's center.
"We were prepared to lure their captain away at some cost. But he left on his own. Saves us the trouble."
The three laughed in unison.
Only the young Miss Goldenweek remained silent, her blank expression betraying faint disdain at her teammates' theatrics.
Buggy scowled.
"Who the hell are you clowns?!"
A vein throbbed on his forehead as he flung his arms outward.
"Acting so high and mighty on my ship?! Die spectacularly!"
Chop-Chop—Clown Flying Knives!
His arms split apart midair, fingers launching a barrage of blades toward the four intruders.
Mr. 3 calmly raised a hand.
"Candle Wall."
White wax surged forward, solidifying into a rigid barrier.
Clang. Clang. Clang.
Every knife embedded harmlessly into the wax.
Buggy froze.
His detached arms snapped back into place as he took a nervous step backward.
Mohji and Cabaji stepped up beside him, tense and wary.
"Buggy the Clown. Chop-Chop Fruit user," Mr. 3 said lightly as he dismissed the wax wall.
"If this is your level, I must say… how disappointing."
Buggy's eye twitched.
"You skinny beanpole!"
"They're all officers of Baroque Works," Vivi said quietly but urgently.
"Mr. 3. Miss Goldenweek. Mr. 5. Miss Valentine. And they're all Devil Fruit users."
All Devil Fruit users?!
Buggy, Mohji, and Cabaji stiffened.
Miss Valentine sniffed.
"So, you've been leaking our information after all. No matter. You're all going to die today."
Yet—
Something felt off.
Mr. 3 narrowed his eyes.
There was no panic.
No fear.
Why were they so calm?
A bad premonition crept into his mind.
Has their captain returned?
No… the island's center was still roaring with battle. The captain should still be fighting those two giants.
Buggy, who had just been ready to show off, quietly edged backward the moment he heard "four Devil Fruit users."
"Cough! The ones who should be careful are you!"
He cleared his throat loudly—then immediately turned toward the rear with an ingratiating tone.
"Lord Conrad…"
At once—
The crew parted.
A path opened.
Clad in black robes, expression cold and unreadable—
Conrad stepped forward.
Vivi's eyes lit with hope.
Aside from Captain Yuuki—
This man was the ship's second strongest.
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