Little Garden had not changed during Zaraki's absence.
The jungle still shook beneath the footsteps of prehistoric beasts, the air remained heavy with heat and moisture, and the central volcano continued marking time for the two warriors who had spent a century answering each eruption with another duel.
Dorry and Brogy had not wasted the days since Zaraki left.
Their restored arms were as strong as before, but their ancient sword and axe lay in shattered pieces near the edge of the giants' camp.
In their place, Dorry carried a massive practice blade carved from ironwood and reinforced with bands of ore taken from the volcanic slopes, while Brogy had fashioned an equally crude axe from the same materials.
Neither weapon was worthy of Elbaf, yet both were strong enough to survive training until proper replacements could be forged.
The volcano rumbled.
Brogy rose from beside the fire and rested the temporary axe on one shoulder.
"Gababababa! There's the signal, Dorry! Try not to blame that ugly practice sword when I finally beat you!"
Dorry stood and raised his ironwood blade.
"Gegyagyagyagya! You've used the same excuse for a hundred years, Brogy. Losing a real axe only made it more honest!"
Before either giant could take the first step toward their battlefield, the Den Den Mushi resting on a flat stone between them began ringing.
Purupurupuru... Purupurupuru...
Both men stopped.
Brogy looked at the tiny receiver.
"That thing is making noise again."
"That means someone is calling, idiot."
"I knew that."
"You asked what it meant yesterday."
"I was testing you."
Dorry bent down and carefully lifted the snail between two enormous fingers.
The creature's face shifted as soon as he answered, taking on Zaraki's rough grin.
"You two still alive?"
Dorry barked a laugh.
"Gegyagyagyagya! You left us on an island full of dinosaurs with new arms and no proper weapons. Of course we're alive!"
Brogy leaned close enough that his beard filled half the Den Den Mushi's face.
"You took too long, little Marine. We were beginning to think your mysterious enemy had eaten you."
"He tried."
"And?"
"I got hungry first."
The giants exchanged delighted looks.
Dorry lowered himself onto one knee near the receiver.
"You said the evaluation would begin when you returned. Have you brought the Government's answer?"
"I brought the person who wants the same seat."
Brogy's smile sharpened.
"Another warrior?"
"A pirate doctor with a bad attitude."
From somewhere beside Zaraki, Law's voice entered the call.
"I can hear you."
"That was the point."
Dorry and Brogy laughed loudly enough that the Den Den Mushi recoiled.
The sea beyond the jungle began to churn.
A moment later, the yellow hull of the Polar Tang broke through the surface offshore.
Water rolled from its rounded sides as the submarine settled beyond the shallows, far enough from the beach to avoid the damaged reef left by the giants' battle with Zaraki.
Bepo emerged through the upper hatch and waved both paws.
"We're back!"
Brogy raised his temporary axe in greeting.
"The talking bear returned!"
"I'm a mink!"
Law climbed out behind Bepo and looked toward the towering figures on shore.
"They really are both coming?"
Zaraki stepped onto the submarine's deck with Nozarashi resting at his waist.
"That's why we came back."
"There is one Warlord seat."
"There are several candidates. Headquarters can argue over the arrangement after seeing them."
Law folded his arms.
"You keep using Headquarters as though it were a complaint department for decisions you already made."
"It complains often enough."
The volcano erupted behind the giants.
This time, the blast was entirely natural.
A column of smoke and glowing stone climbed into the sky, and the familiar boom rolled across Little Garden as lava spilled harmlessly down channels carved by centuries of eruptions.
Dorry looked toward Brogy.
"The signal still counts."
Brogy nodded.
"Obviously."
They turned back toward the Polar Tang.
"Wait there!" Dorry called. "We have one duel to finish before we leave!"
Zaraki's grin widened.
"You've spent a hundred years failing to finish it. Pack the broken weapons and get moving."
Both giants bristled.
"We do not abandon a duel!" Brogy shouted.
"And we do not leave the weapons that carried us through a century of battle!" Dorry added.
Law looked toward Zaraki.
"You told me this would be quick."
"I said we were collecting them. I never said they were sensible."
Bepo leaned over the railing.
"Captain, how are they going to travel with us? They definitely won't fit inside."
Law stared at the giants, the submarine, and the surrounding sea.
"That is an excellent question which Zaraki should have answered before bringing us here."
Zaraki looked toward Dorry and Brogy.
"You two can sail?"
The giants glanced at the shattered remains of their old camp and then toward the ancient shipwreck half buried beyond the trees.
Dorry rubbed his beard.
"We can build something."
"How long?"
Brogy considered the question.
"A month."
Law turned very slowly toward Zaraki.
"No."
Zaraki ignored him and looked toward the Polar Tang's navigation hatch.
"Then we find a ship already big enough."
"Also no," Law said.
The argument had barely begun when Nozarashi stirred faintly at Zaraki's waist.
The movement was small enough that no one else noticed, but the woman's voice reached him clearly.
'Something is coming.'
Zaraki's golden eyes shifted toward the western horizon.
Nothing was visible beyond the heavy clouds and the long sweep of Paradise's sea.
Kaido was still far away, crossing routes the World Government had quietly cleared for him, and no ship had yet entered Little Garden's waters.
Even so, the warning remained.
Not immediate danger.
But a distant presence moving with purpose.
Zaraki's grin slowly returned.
Law noticed the expression and immediately disliked it.
"What?"
"Nothing yet."
"That word has never reassured me when you say it."
Zaraki looked back toward the giants.
"Pack what matters. We leave as soon as we have a ship that won't sink under you."
Dorry rested the ironwood sword against his shoulder.
"And our duel?"
"You can continue it on the way."
Brogy's eyes brightened.
"On a ship?"
"Preferably someone else's," Law muttered.