章節 108: The Giants of Little Garden: Clash of Titans and Hidden Treasures

The morning sun rose over the ship, painting the deck in a warm, golden hue. After an intense day of training, Raja decided to give the Straw Hat crew a well-earned day off. They were nearing Little Garden, and he knew they'd need their energy to face whatever strange challenges awaited on the island.

Zoro and Sanji were at it early, exchanging competitive jabs as usual, this time about their King's Haki. They had recently awakened the powerful skill and couldn't resist comparing their strength. Zoro smirked as he flexed his arm, focusing his Haki with a proud gleam in his eye.

"Your King's Haki might be tough," Zoro said, "but it doesn't compare to my willpower."

Sanji scoffed. "As if! Your willpower is just as lazy as you are. I bet my Haki could knock you out cold."

The tension between them thickened, and both unleashed a flash of Haki, trying to outdo each other. The atmosphere grew dense, the pressure causing a nearby barrel to splinter.

"Oi, enough!" Nami appeared out of nowhere, fists clenched and veins practically popping on her forehead. Before Zoro or Sanji could react, she brought down the infamous "Nami Fist of Fury" on each of their heads. Both fell silent immediately, clutching their heads in pain.

"Knock it off, you two idiots!" she snapped, hands on her hips. "Save your energy for when we actually need it. If you break something on this ship, I'll make you pay for it!"

The two warriors grumbled but relented, nursing their sore heads. Meanwhile, Raja observed with amusement. His plan was already in motion; they were nearing Little Garden, and he needed to make a move without anyone noticing.

As the ship sailed on, Luffy glanced at the sky and squinted. "Hey, will it snow today?"

Zoro looked at him in disbelief. "Snow? Here? Not a chance."

"But it could snow," Luffy insisted. "Remember, it snowed on the last island. I was asleep, though, so I didn't get to see it."

Before the argument could escalate, Vivi stepped in. "Actually, Luffy, the Grand Line's weather is unpredictable, but each island has its own climate. Snow on one doesn't mean snow on another." She gestured toward the misty island in the distance. "This place might be something else entirely."

"Yeah, yeah, the Grand Line is special," Luffy replied, unfazed. "Still, it'd be cool if it snowed!"

Vivi tried to stay serious, feeling the need to remind everyone of the Grand Line's dangers. "Listen, never underestimate the Grand Line. It's not just unpredictable; it's dangerous. That should be our ironclad rule."

Before anyone could respond, Sanji emerged with a tray of drinks, expertly balanced. "Here, everyone. Fresh drinks to start the day off right!" He distributed them, flashing a grin at Vivi, who managed a small smile in return.

"Don't worry, Vivi," Nami said with a reassuring pat on her shoulder. "The crew may be carefree, but when things get rough, they know how to handle it."

Just then, a shadow loomed beneath the ship, and the entire vessel lurched as something colossal struck them from below. Everyone snapped to attention.

"What was that?" Usopp gasped, his eyes wide with terror.

A colossal dolphin surfaced beside them, towering over the ship and giving a massive, echoing call. The crew scrambled, trying to steady themselves as it glided alongside, its movements threatening to capsize them.

The ship managed to pull away, and the crew watched as the dolphin sank back into the depths, its fin disappearing into the waves.

"Looks like this place is already living up to its reputation," Zoro muttered as they approached Little Garden, now shrouded in a thick fog.

In the distance, they could make out dense trees towering over the island, their leaves rustling like whispers. Raja took this moment to slip away, retrieving a small, sophisticated device from his inventory. The compact, handheld tool was specially crafted for detecting the aura of Devil Fruits. With one last glance at the crew, he blended into the shadows and vanished into the island, undetected.

Onboard the Going Merry

With Raja gone, the crew started discussing the island.

"Will there be any snow monsters?" Luffy asked, practically bouncing with excitement.

"I highly doubt it," Vivi replied, already exasperated with Luffy's imagination.

They settled back into banter, but an eerie feeling still loomed. Nami glanced at the island, frowning as memories from her readings surfaced. "I remember reading something about Little Garden. It's not your average island. The creatures here… they're ancient."

Usopp shivered, clutching his slingshot. "Ancient? Like… dinosaurs?"

Just as he spoke, a massive silhouette lunged toward the ship—a tiger the size of a small building leapt from the jungle, landing with a heavy thud next to the ship's hull. The crew froze in shock as the creature fell dead just moments later.

"Well, that's ominous," Sanji muttered.

As they anchored and disembarked, Luffy was practically vibrating with excitement. "Let's explore! I'll find all the biggest animals!" He dashed off, with Vivi close behind, her curiosity winning over her caution.

"Oi, Zoro," Sanji called after him. "If you're going to wander off, at least bring back something edible."

"Oh, I'll bring something edible," Zoro shot back. "The biggest meal you've ever seen."

"Is that a challenge?" Sanji sneered, his competitive streak kicking in.

"Only if you're brave enough to accept," Zoro replied, already marching off in a different direction.

Both men headed into the jungle, determined to catch the largest beast they could find. The rest of the crew scattered to explore, with Nami and Usopp hanging back, studying the surroundings and keeping a wary eye out for danger.

Meanwhile, in Little Garden

Hidden within the lush greenery, Raja activated the Devil Fruit detection device. It emitted a soft hum, its screen lighting up with a faint glow as it calibrated to the island's unique aura. He moved stealthily, keeping to the shadows as he swept the device over the jungle floor.

The island's wild energy pulsed through him—unfamiliar and untamed. Every few minutes, he checked his surroundings, ensuring that no one had followed him. His mission was personal, something he intended to complete in silence.

As he ventured deeper into the jungle, the device emitted a subtle, rhythmic pulse. Raja's eyes narrowed in concentration. "So, there is one here…" he muttered to himself, quickening his pace.

Suddenly, the silence of the jungle shattered as a gigantic bird swooped down, aiming straight for Sanji. Caught off-guard, Sanji barely had time to react, rolling out of the way as the bird's talons raked the ground where he'd just been standing.

"What the—!" he gasped, brushing himself off. "Guess I'll be having bird meat tonight!"

Elsewhere, Zoro was squaring off with a triceratops. The creature roared, lowering its horns as it prepared to charge. Zoro grinned, drawing his swords with a glint of excitement in his eyes.

"Let's see how tough you are," he said, lunging forward to meet the beast head-on.

At the same time, Luffy and Vivi stumbled upon a massive brachiosaurus. Luffy's face lit up as he clambered onto its back, whooping with excitement as the giant dinosaur slowly raised its neck, unaware of the tiny passenger it had acquired.

"This is amazing!" Luffy shouted, looking down at Vivi, who could only shake her head in exasperation.

While Luffy reveled in his discovery, Nami and Usopp stayed by the ship, scanning the area with unease. From behind the trees, a colossal figure emerged, crushing foliage underfoot as it approached the Going Merry. Nami's heart skipped a beat as a giant, battle-scarred warrior stepped into view, towering over the ship.

"Who… who are you?" she stammered, her voice barely audible.

The giant looked down, his expression unreadable. "You got any booze?"

Nami, struggling to keep calm, forced a smile. "Uh… we only have cooking alcohol…"

The giant grunted in disappointment, muttering something about weak drinks. Suddenly, a roar of pain erupted from the jungle as a T. rex latched onto his leg. In one swift motion, the giant swung his axe, beheading the beast.

"Name's Brogy," he said, turning back to the stunned crew. "I'm the mightiest warrior of Elbaph!"

Deeper into Little Garden

Meanwhile, Raja continued his silent hunt. The device's signals grew stronger, leading him toward a small grove shrouded in dense mist. The atmosphere buzzed with the latent energy of a nearby Devil Fruit.

There, nestled in the roots of an ancient tree, lay a small, glowing fruit with swirling patterns on its skin. Raja approached cautiously, sensing the immense power emanating from it. He carefully placed the fruit in a secure pouch, feeling the weight of his success.

Before he could take a moment to celebrate, the earth shook with the sound of an eruption in the distance, echoing across the island. Raja recognized it as the giants' signal—a call to resume their age-old duel.