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The next day arrived quickly.
The Straw Hats embarked on another hunt, capturing a few dinosaurs to replenish their food supplies. With their provisions secured, they prepared to leave Little Garden.
According to the log pose, the magnetic field on Little Garden required a hundred years to fully record before it would guide travelers to the next island. This extreme condition was why Little Garden remained an isolated and ancient island, rarely visited by outsiders.
However, Ikki and the others didn't need to rely on the Log pose. Ikarem carried a Eternal Pose leading directly to his homeland.
Back aboard the Going Merry, Ikki handed over the Baroque Works agents—Mr. 3, Mr. 5, Miss Valentine, and Miss Golden Week—to Smoker. Even so, Ikki took a moment to vouch for them.
"Smoker, these four have helped us a lot. They're not irredeemable," Ikki said earnestly.
Smoker nodded, his expression neutral but understanding. He assured Ikki that the agents wouldn't be sent to Impel Down. Instead, they would have the chance to turn their lives around and, if willing, join the Marines.
Hearing this, the four agents were visibly relieved—and even excited. To them, as long as they avoided the dreaded Impel Down, they could handle anything. They even expressed interest in joining the private Marines.
Why the private Marines and not the official organization? Freedom.
As agents of Baroque Works, they had lived a semi-free lifestyle: completing missions for bounties while enjoying personal independence. Joining the official Marines would mean trading that freedom for strict regulations. The private Marines offered the best of both worlds—a chance to contribute without excessive restrictions.
While they didn't officially sign the appointment letter due to space constraints, they still became informal members of the private Marines, operating under Smoker's leadership.
Ikki, however, had a different concern. The appointment letter itself was running out of room for signatures. "I still need space for Chopper, Robin, Franky, and the others!" he lamented.
With a sigh, he muttered, "Looks like I'll have to ask Sengoku or Garp for a larger appointment letter someday."
With arrangements settled, the Marine warship and the Going Merry departed Little Garden, following one another down the river tributary.
But as they neared the open sea, the calm waters ahead suddenly churned violently. A massive whirlpool formed, and moments later, a goldfish the size of an island emerged from the depths.
This was no Sea King, but its size was comparable to the largest Sea king. Its enormous maw could swallow entire islands in a single bite. Compared to this monster, the Golden Merry and even the Marine warship seemed smaller than a single one of its teeth.
The sight left the Marine soldiers frozen in terror, their faces pale with fear. Even Smoker, usually composed, felt a chill run down his spine.
How on earth were they supposed to deal with a monster this massive? For the Straw Hats, it was their first time encountering such a colossal creature.
As the crew pondered their next move, two dazzling lights suddenly appeared on the edge of Little Garden. Emerging with those lights were Dorry and Brogy, the two giants, now enhanced by their 3D special effects.
"Gyagagaga! The island-eating monster? It's been ages since I've seen one!" Dorry said, grinning at the enormous goldfish in the distance.
"Kabababa!" Brogy laughed heartily. "Yeah! I remember landing on an island once, only to find out it wasn't an island at all—it was the poop of one of these monsters!"
Both giants turned to the two ships and called out confidently. "It's time to give our friends a ride! Just keep moving forward—this monster is ours to handle!"
Zoro, Sanji, and Luffy, who were preparing to act, froze at the giants' declaration.
"How do they plan to take down something that big?" Zoro wondered aloud, gripping his swords.
Even though the giants' method was unclear, the Straw Hats felt reassured. They had already witnessed the incredible strength of Dorry and Brogy and trusted them to handle the monstrous goldfish. Smoker and his Marines shared the same relief, realizing they were far outmatched by the island-eating behemoth.
Following Dorry's instructions, the Going Merry surged forward, heading straight for the monster's mouth. Despite the danger, Luffy and Usopp shouted excitedly, "Keep going straight ahead!"
Amid the commotion, Usopp's expression shifted. Something about the situation seemed oddly familiar. But his thoughts were jumbled by fear, and he couldn't pinpoint why this giant goldfish sparked a sense of déjà vu.
Meanwhile, the Marines aboard their warship were paralyzed with terror. The mere sight of the gargantuan monster left them trembling, unable to steer their ship. Smoker and Tashigi could only watch from the deck, waiting to see how the two giants planned to deal with the behemoth.
From afar, Dorry and Brogy activated their special effects. Brilliant lights surrounded them, casting a dramatic glow over the battlefield.
Dorry stood under the moonlight, the silvery rays illuminating his massive frame, while Brogy was bathed in golden sunlight, radiating a fiery aura.
The two giants raised their weapons high.
"Kabababa! After this, it looks like I'll need a new spear!" Brogy exclaimed, eyeing his giant axe with a grin.
"I might need a new sword myself," Dorry added with a smirk.
With that, they struck. Cyan and red energy surged from their weapons, merging into a massive beam over 100 meters in diameter. The devastating energy spiraled forward like a laser cannon, tearing through the island-eating goldfish's belly with unstoppable force.
The technique was none other than Elbaf's strongest attack: Hakoku.
The impact didn't just pierce the goldfish—it split the sea behind it in two, leaving an awe-inspiring scar on the horizon. The sheer power of the attack was breathtaking.
Inside the goldfish's belly, the Going Merry remained unharmed. The shockwave from the blast swept the ship out of the monster's mouth and propelled it far into the distance.
The Straw Hats stood in stunned silence, their eyes wide with awe.
"This... this is the power of Elbaf's strongest warriors!" Usopp stammered, his admiration for the giants and their homeland reaching new heights.
Luffy's mind was already made up. "I have to go to Elbaf, the giants' home. I have to see it for myself!"
Standing on the deck of the Merry, Ikki watched the two giants from afar. He had initially hoped to stay longer on Little Garden and learn about Haki from Dorry and Brogy. However, Vivi's urgent need to return to Alabasta and Smoker's constant prodding had forced him to abandon the idea.
Still, Ikki remained optimistic. Even if he couldn't train here, there was always the possibility of visiting the Marine Headquarters. With Garp's connection to Luffy, it shouldn't be too difficult to arrange training for the entire Straw Hat crew.