: The Icebreaker Pirates
"What's going on?! Where did this brat come from?!" The pirate captain was both shocked and furious. He pointed at the Golden Dawn as he scrambled back, shouting at his crew: "Fire! What are you all gawking at? It's just a big ship!"
Several cannons slowly swiveled, their muzzles aiming toward the Golden Dawn.
Oro was ready. Gold surged from the ship's hull, rapidly coalescing into a massive, triangular golden shield before the vessel. Its surface was engraved with intricate patterns designed to dissipate impact.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Cannonballs struck the golden shield.Most ricocheted off harmlessly, while a few were caught by golden tendrils that extended from behind the shield and hurled back at the pirate ship, drawing cries of pain.
"Linlin, don't rush in too deep!" Gerd called from behind, already gripping a roll of bandages, worried Linlin would get hurt if she charged too far ahead.
But Linlin couldn't wait. She saw the female giant on the island wounded by a stray shot. She saw the old giant using his own body as a shield for the children.
Gathering her strength, Linlin leaped high into the air and landed squarely on the deck of the Icebreaker Pirates' ship with a thunderous CRASH.
The impact splintered the deck. Several pirates who couldn't dodge in time tumbled into the newly created crevice.
Linlin scanned her surroundings, casually snatched up a nearby pirate, and lifted him effortlessly. "Who gave you permission to bully people?!"
The captured pirate trembled violently. "C-Captain's orders..."
"Where is your captain?"Linlin's eyes sharpened, and her grip tightened.
The pirate hastily pointed toward the captain's quarters."In... inside!"
Linlin tossed the pirate aside like a ragdoll, hefted her giant axe, and strode toward the cabin. None of the dozen pirates surrounding her dared to move.
After only two steps, a burly man burst from the cabin, also wielding a giant axe. A long scar ran from his forehead to his chin, and his eyes burned with ferocity. "Where did this little whelp come from, daring to wreck my ship?"
"You're the captain?"Linlin tightened her grip on her axe. "Take your men and leave. Now. Or I'll smash this ship into splinters!"
"Hah! You? Don't make me laugh!" The captain, Black, burst into mocking laughter, then swung his axe at Linlin. "You're the one asking for it!"
In truth, Black had wanted to flee from the moment he saw the Golden Dawn. He'd already been halfway out the captain's window. But to his surprise, this monstrous girl hadn't immediately started slaughtering everyone upon boarding. If his entire crew survived and spread word that he'd tried to run before the fight even started, his reputation—and his ability to lead any crew on the Grand Line—would be finished.
Sometimes, the world forces your hand. That enormous, expensive-looking ship was clearly out of his league. His plan was to take a hit and let himself be knocked overboard.
Linlin, of course, wasn't thinking that far ahead. She didn't dodge. Instead, she met the blow head-on.
SCREEEE—CLANG!
The two axes collided with a deafening metallic shriek.A numb, tingling shock ran up Black's arm, the force nearly tearing the axe from his grasp.
What in the world did this girl eat to get so strong?!
Seizing the opening,Linlin raised a leg and delivered a powerful kick to his midsection.
WHUMP!
Black was launched backward,crashing through the wall of the captain's quarters and coughing up a mouthful of blood. He wasn't faking it this time—he genuinely didn't have time to react. The kick had been brutally real.
This girl is a monster!
"Captain!"Several loyal pirates rushed over, trying to drag him away.
At that moment, Oro landed lightly on the pirate ship. With a casual wave of his hand, golden threads materialized from the air, instantly binding every pirate in sight.
"Linlin, don't kill them yet. First, find out if they have any accomplices."
Linlin nodded,planted a foot on Black's chest, and rested the edge of her axe against his neck. "Talk! Do you have other ships? Do you often come here to hunt giants?"
Terrified, Black nodded frantically. "Yes! Yes! We have two other ships nearby! But this is our first time here, I swear! I didn't know they were descendants of the Giant Warrior Pirates! It's all a big misunderstanding!"
Oro frowned, secured Black with more golden threads, and turned to check for any stowaways or escapees.
Meanwhile, Gerd , medical kit in hand, leaped onto the floating island and hurried toward the injured giants. "I'm a medic. Let me treat your wounds."
The old giant looked at her in surprise. "You... you're a giant too?"
"Don't I look like one?"Gerd smiled warmly and opened her kit. "We're from Elbaf. We know the tales of the Giant Warrior Pirates."
As she expertly bandaged the old giant's wounds, she asked, "How did you come to be here?"
The old giant sighed,his eyes clouded with memory. "After the Giant Warrior Pirates disbanded, my elder brother led a group of us to these seas, hoping to find a new home. Later... we were attacked by a Sea King. Only we survived, so we made our life on this floating island. The climate is harsh, and few ships pass by. We never expected to catch the eye of the Icebreaker Pirates..."
"Would you like to return to Elbaf?"
Linlin's voice came from behind.She held several steaming meat buns—the ones Galz had prepared earlier—and offered them to the three giant children.
The smallest child, only about three meters tall, looked up at Linlin timidly, hesitant to take the food.
Linlin smiled and gently pressed a bun into his hand."Go on, eat. They're warm. Gerd made them. They're delicious."
The little giant took a tentative bite, and his eyes instantly sparkled. He'd never tasted anything so good—far better than the raw fish from under the ice.
Seeing this, the other two children eagerly reached for buns of their own, stuffing their mouths as fast as they could.
"The elders and all the people of Elbaf would welcome you back," Linlin said warmly.
The old giant paused. He looked at the female giant beside him, then at the children, his eyes growing slightly moist. "Is it... truly possible? It's been so long since we've seen any of our kin..."
"Of course!" Linlin beamed. "Elbaf is home to all giants!"
"Linlin is right," Oro said, approaching with a nautical chart retrieved from the pirate ship. "Elder, can you handle a ship?"
"Yes!Yes, I can! I've even taught these three little ones the basics!" the old giant replied eagerly.
"Good. The Icebreaker Pirates have two more vessels nearby. After we deal with them, we'll leave one ship for you to sail to Elbaf. It's not too far from here. The ship has Log Poses, and I've marked the safest route on this chart, avoiding all known dangers."
Oro held up the map.
The old giant looked at the three young people before him, then at the magnificent Golden Dawn in the distance. His heart swelled with gratitude. Leaning on his broken spear, he slowly straightened his back. Though his arm still ached, a newfound strength seemed to flow through him. His voice trembled slightly with emotion.
"Thank you... Thank you for giving us hope... for giving us a way home. We... we can finally return to Elbaf."