Giant God Ridge (Main Island of Degalt), the central island of the Degalt Kingdom, is surrounded on three sides by massive cliffs that form a natural barrier.
At the center stands a variant of the Treasure Tree Adam, known among the West Blue Giants as the World Tree "Yggdrasil."
Besides the main island of Giant God Ridge, the Degalt Kingdom also occupies many surrounding islands.
Among them, the Anvil Archipelago is rich in Sea Stone ore and once served as the primary source of Sea Stone before Wano Country fell under Kaido's rule.
The giant blacksmiths living there are famous throughout the seas for their lightning forging techniques.
On the other side of Giant God Ridge lies a massive underwater rift called the Abyss of Hidden Mist, a place even the Giants of Degalt refuse to approach.
Legend says the ancient Giant war machine "Titan Remnants" sleeps there, and the area has since become a nesting ground for Sea Kings.
Black strongly suspected that these so-called Titan Remnants were mechanical constructs similar to the ancient machine Emmet.
They might have been war weapons created by the Great Hammer Legion to oppose Imu's Twenty-Nation Alliance.
This time, Black was heading toward the Summit of the Western Heaven.
Therefore, he had not changed into civilian clothes as he usually did.
The sanctuary still flew the flag of the World Government and the iris emblem of the Hilbert family.
As the sanctuary slowly sailed into Degalt's port, a giant axe suddenly fell from the sky and crashed into the sea ahead.
The sanctuary instantly performed an emergency stop on the water, as if Newton himself had overturned his coffin.
Koala quickly reached out and grabbed Perona, preventing the little girl from tumbling over.
Black looked ahead with a displeased expression.
Damn it.
When he traveled in disguise, no one dared disturb him.
But now that he revealed his identity, someone dared provoke him.
Had the terrifying reputation of the World Government not reached this place yet?
No prestige. Absolutely no prestige at all.
Not far away, a Giant guard in armor stood with both hands resting on his giant axe, staring warily at the sanctuary.
"Stop! Degalt does not welcome the running dogs of the World Government!"
His voice thundered like rolling thunder, echoing across the harbor.
"Welcome?"
Black sneered.
"I do not need the welcome of lower beings to go wherever I please."
"Every inch of land beneath the feet of a World Noble belongs to the World Government."
He gestured toward the two CP agents beside him.
"Kill him."
"Bring someone who actually understands the rules to talk to me."
CP agents obey the orders of Celestial Dragons without hesitation.
Whether they could complete the task was another matter.
But their attitude toward orders was always flawless.
However, not every Giant possesses the strength of a Giant Vice Admiral.
In fact, Saul and his comrade were already considered exceptional fighters among Giants.
As the CP agents attacked, wounds began appearing across the Giant guard's body.
Although his combat strength was not outstanding, his vitality far surpassed that of ordinary humans.
Because the CP agents lacked large-scale attack methods, they could only grind him down slowly.
Black frowned.
This was taking too long and failed to create the deterrence he wanted.
Through Observation Haki, he had already sensed more Giants approaching the coast.
"Mandy."
Black called out.
The moment he spoke, Mandy's figure vanished.
When she appeared again, she was already before the Giant guard.
Her rapier flashed in a horizontal slash.
The guard was struggling to fend off the CP agents and had no energy left to deal with Mandy.
Mandy's raw strength had now reached the level of Saul's comrade.
Although her practical combat experience might still be inferior, her peak attack power was by no means weaker.
That sword strike even carried the feeling that "there can only be one red-haired emperor in the New World."
"Stop!"
A furious roar sounded from afar.
But Mandy's rapier had already sliced open the Giant guard's throat.
The Giant collapsed to the ground, clutching his neck as blood poured out uncontrollably.
Judging by the wound, even the best bandages would struggle to save him.
Whether he survived or not was no longer Black's concern.
If he lived, it would be his good fortune.
The objective of establishing authority had already been achieved.
Soon afterward, several Giants rushed closer.
Leading them was an elder who looked quite aged.
He stood roughly twenty meters tall with a pointed goatee, and his narrow eyes were half-closed.
His body was not particularly bulky for a Giant, but his muscles were clearly defined.
He wore bronze armor engraved with crude patterns.
First, he ordered the other Giants to carry the injured guard away for treatment.
Then he stood before the sanctuary with an angry expression, looking down at the people aboard.
"I am Herman, one of the twelve elders of the Degalt Kingdom."
"Celestial Dragons, you are provoking the Giants of Degalt!"
"Heh."
Black chuckled softly.
"I prefer to call it a warning."
"Drawing weapons before a World Noble?"
"Do you wish to experience a Buster Call as well?"
Black knew very well that the Giants of the West Blue had close ties with Ohara.
Their hostility was clearly influenced by the Ohara Buster Call.
Sure enough, Herman's expression darkened further when he heard those words.
"Celestial Dragons, you are not welcome here!"
"That line again. How unoriginal."
Black pretended to fan himself and glanced toward the CP agents who had returned to the ship.
"Write it down. Degalt… something or other."
"Never mind. The name isn't important."
"In short, the Giants here attempted to assassinate a Celestial Dragon while suffering from body odor and terrible breath."
Herman's face flushed with rage.
And you're the one wearing a fishbowl helmet with your own air supply!
"Celestial Dragon! You "
Herman tried to speak again, but Black raised a finger.
"Shh."
"Don't talk."
"The airflow from your breathing might dirty my cape."
Herman inhaled deeply several times, barely restraining his anger through centuries of experience.
"At least state your purpose!"
Black suddenly looked enlightened, as if remembering something.
"Ah right. My purpose."
"I came to see how lower beings build their nests."
"Now lead the way."
"Or I'll let the CP agents teach you how to guide guests."
Black's voice remained calm, but every word struck like a hammer against Herman's heart.
His words about "lower beings" were not merely for maintaining appearances.
Unlike many transmigrators, Black had no desire to build a world where every race lived as equals.
In his view, humanity had struggled through countless generations of war and sacrifice before finally becoming the dominant race of the world.
And now people wanted to declare that Fishmen, merfolk, the Mink Tribe, the Giant Race, and humans were all equal?
Why?
Black might treat Aida like a decorative pet fish and view Giants as lower beings.
His bottom line was simply to avoid meaningless slaughter and preserve the diversity of races.
But he firmly believed that humans stood above the other races.