Settsetse! The Pirate Nemesis

7017 k

161·Giants

Having experienced the traditional folk art of the Grand Line, Sett's eyebrows twitched slightly after the face-changing ceremony.

Sett, a master of both types of Haki, could sense it just now. Although those people were overjoyed when they first met them, their hearts were actually filled with murderous intent. In contrast, although they now appeared indifferent, their hostility had vanished.

“Whiskey Hill.” Hawkeye, who seemed to have seen through Sett’s thoughts, said with a hint of understanding in his eyes, “Don’t be surprised why their attitude changed so quickly. This is where there are the most bounty hunters.”

"……Um?"

Hearing this, Sett's eyes lit up with curiosity. Seeing this, Hawkeye continued, "The bounty hunters here vary in skill, but they have plenty of them. When pirates first enter the Grand Line, they inevitably become arrogant, and these bounty hunters will take the opportunity to congratulate them, then slip sleeping pills into their food. Once everyone is asleep at night, they'll reveal their true forms… Of course, if it's a large fleet or a formidable pirate, they'll also genuinely congratulate them. At that point, the pirate will often give them a reward."

Hearing Hawkeye's words, Sett suddenly gained a completely new understanding of the dangers of the Grand Line. At the same time, he became even more curious about the customs and traditions of the Grand Line itself.

Without the excited onlookers, all the residents of Whiskey Hill became Sett's colleagues. He had expected them to have some profound insights, but after actually getting to know them, Sett discovered that they weren't really enthusiastic about the bounty hunter profession. The only reason they were willing to fight pirates was because Whiskey Hill's geographical advantages allowed them to earn extra money as bounty hunters.

To be honest, they're just a rabble. There isn't a single Devil Fruit user on either island, and their weapons are mostly swords and pistols. If they encounter even slightly skilled pirates, they'll probably have to resort to poison and sneak attacks.

There was no valuable intelligence, and the resources on the assault boat were still plentiful. After replenishing their freshwater supplies, Sett followed Hawkeye and set off again without stopping.

"We've arrived at the second island."

After glancing at the location marked on the nautical chart and the log pointer, Hawkeye said, "According to the route, this should be the second island we've encountered since entering the Grand Line... and its name... is the Little Garden Islands."

"You call this a small garden?"

Upon hearing Hawkeye's words, Sett couldn't help but purse his lips. Sett was currently three meters tall, which would be considered a strong man even in this world... Although he couldn't compare to those monsters who were five or six meters tall, Sett's body density was something those guys couldn't match.

For the same body size, Sett weighs at least three times more than an average person.

Even under these conditions, a glance around reveals that none of the surrounding shrubs are less than five meters tall. Even carnivorous plants like pitcher plants are over four meters high. An ordinary person could take them home and use them directly as a bathtub.

"These are two different things."

Hawkeye, who was standing to the side, shook his head and then said, "The full name of this place is 'The Giants' Little Garden'."

"...Giants?"

Upon hearing Hawkeye's words, Sett raised an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity in his expression.

Sett had long been curious about giants—if he remembered correctly, the records stated that giants were at least twelve meters tall. Anyone else, no matter how tall, who wasn't twelve meters tall, wasn't considered a giant, but merely a slightly taller and stronger human—a fact Sett found somewhat ridiculous.

In my previous life, two meters was already considered a small giant. Three meters tall would make even walking a problem due to gravity.

It is precisely because of their enormous size that giants possess natural strength several times that of ordinary humans. Even without training, they possess immense destructive power. Especially on the battlefield, their mere presence instills fear in the enemy. Consequently, giants command consistently high prices at auctions. Male giants, in particular, start at fifty million. And for some rare giants of exceptional strength or fame, fetching prices exceeding even those of Devil Fruits is not uncommon.

If you ask why... it's because giants hold their value so well.

Not only are they incredibly strong, but giants also have an average lifespan more than three times that of ordinary humans. According to detailed statistics by scholars, the natural lifespan of giants is mostly around 350 years. Of course, this average lifespan fluctuates, because in the treacherous seas, as weapons of war, most giants die on the battlefield. In reality, very few giants actually die of old age…

To be precise, aside from everything else, Ötzi was over 100 meters tall, and his lifespan reached a terrifying 500 years. His death wasn't from natural causes, but rather from accidentally wandering into some sea area and freezing to death…

"According to naval intelligence, there are two giants here who have been fighting for a long time... Judging from the information above, they have been fighting for nearly a hundred years. As for the bounty... it was already one hundred million fifty years ago. However, because they never leave the Little Garden Islands, it has never increased or decreased."

"Haha! We'll have to give them a good lesson!"

Upon hearing Hawkeye's words, Sett's eyes gleamed with intense fighting spirit—to be honest, he had long wanted to bring the giants to witness this awe-inspiring spectacle!

While smashing those hundreds of tons of domestic warships was satisfying, they weren't flesh and blood after all. The impact on the ground didn't have the same tangible, exhilarating feeling as smashing flesh. And now, two giants are so close… I wonder what their personalities are like.

Sett thought it would be best if it were someone with a bad temper who would take the initiative to attack him. Otherwise, he would have to rack his brains to find an excuse, which was quite annoying to think about.

Seeing what Sett was thinking, Hawkeye shook his head indifferently.

However, Hawkeye's gaze also held a hint of anticipation as he looked at the naval chart records—the intelligence indicated that the two giants were named Dorry and Brogy. Brogy was one thing, a warrior wielding a battle axe and a round shield. But Dorry's report described him as using a massive giant sword. Although he also had a shield, he didn't hold it in his hand; instead, it was fixed to his arm.

The swordsmanship of the giants... It would be a lie to say Hawkeye wasn't interested.

With this thought in mind, Hawkeye and Sett exchanged a glance and nodded in understanding. They moored their small boat in a calm harbor, and then, with a meager meal, Sett and Hawkeye set foot on this unknown land.

Just as it appears, this land called Little Garden teems with all sorts of primitive life. Giant fish in the water, enormous ferns, lush primeval jungle, and even the occasional glimpse of a dinosaur or beast peeking out from among the tall trees…

"I would have been so happy if I had known this when I was a child!"

Walking through it, feeling the fresh air of the primeval jungle, Sett's face also showed a sense of ease.

When children, especially boys, reach the age of six, they often choose one of three childhood hobbies: robots, tanks, or dinosaurs. Coincidentally, Sett chose dinosaurs as a child. Or perhaps, most little boys would choose dinosaurs. Unlike Ultraman, dinosaurs are real and are what excite boys the most.

Unfortunately, in my previous life, there simply wasn't enough environment for dinosaurs to live in... but things are different in this world. Not only dinosaurs, but even humans tens of meters tall exist. In my previous life, a skeleton strong enough to reach three meters was barely enough to support normal walking and running. But in this world, they can not only run and jump, but they can even fly.

After walking for almost half a day, relying on their strong legs, the two had traversed most of the island. Just as they were about to rest, they heard a dull sound coming from ahead.

That was the sound of swords clashing. But unlike ordinary swords, the sound of swords clashing here was like the sound of morning bells and evening drums, a heavy sound that was even a little muffled. The sound filled the ears and made one's head buzz. Someone with a weak heart would probably wet their pants in fright.

But Sett and Hawkeye were clearly incredibly brave. Hearing the sound, they weren't discouraged at all; in fact, their faces lit up with surprise. Sett, in particular, after determining the direction, started running at full speed. His itchy-handed expression clearly showed he wanted to get a good beating.

Meanwhile, in the midst of his battle with Brogy, Dorry let out a triumphant cry. Gripping his greatsword in both hands, a massive round shield large enough to double as a small boat wrapped around his right arm, Dorry glared at Brogy and roared, "Hahahaha! Today I will defeat you right here and now, and show you who the strongest warrior of the Giant Warrior Pirates truly is!!!"

"Dream on, Donry! The great warrior god of Elbaf will favor me!!!"

Laughing along, Broglie, with his thick beard and giant horned helmet, was also engaged in close combat with Dorry, wielding his short-handled battle axe. The heavy clang of the giant's sword clashing with his axe echoed in all directions. In that instant, before Dorry could withdraw his hand, Broglie thrust his shield forcefully into Dorry's face.

Seeing Dorry stumble, Brocky let out a loud laugh, but before he could finish, Dorry rushed forward again and slashed with his sword. Although the attack was blocked, it didn't matter, because immediately afterward, Dorry delivered a powerful kick to Brocky's chest.

Two monsters, each over twenty meters tall, fought fiercely in the primeval jungle. Although they didn't attack any other living beings, the mere aftershocks of their battle devastated the surrounding area, leaving it barren.

But just as the two were locked in fierce combat, their swords and axes locked in a stalemate, a voice suddenly rang out from afar: "Are there people fighting? Count me in!!!"

As they spoke, a golden figure soared into the sky. While Sanbiduo's height might seem immense compared to others, in the eyes of the two giants, he was actually no bigger than an ant.

But this tiny thing, gleaming with golden light, shot into the sky and, before Dorry and Brogy could react, slammed its fist into the sword and axe that the two were locked in a stalemate.

Although they were some distance apart, the moment Sett threw a punch, Armament Haki enveloped him—and then, he released Armament Haki outwards!

bump!!!

The jet-black Armament Haki materialized into an invisible fist shadow that blasted out. Although there was no physical contact, the force of the blast directly shattered the stalemate between the battle sword and the short axe.

The surging power was abruptly interrupted, and even the steady and powerful bodies of Dorry and Brogy couldn't help but take two steps back before focusing their attention on the tiny figure.

"Hmm? Who is it? Have we had a guest?"

Dorry's voice came from the side. His waterfall-like beard was neatly trimmed, hanging straight down to his chest. However, unlike the slender and smooth hair of a normal human, Dorry's beard and Brogy's were as thick as an infant's arm. The so-called slender and long hair only applied to giants.

"My name is Sett!"

Hearing Donley's voice, Sett showed no restraint whatsoever. Clenching his fists, he said with a fighting spirit in his eyes, "I heard you guys have been fighting here for almost a hundred years! How about it, if two aren't enough, count me in! I've been itching for a good fight lately!!!"

"Huh? You want to join too?"

Upon hearing Sett's voice, Brogy scratched his head and said, "That won't do! By the God of Warriors of Elbaf, our duel isn't over yet!"

"That's right! The Warrior God of Elbaf will always protect the righteous! It wouldn't be fair if you joined in before the battle is over! The Warrior God will be displeased!"

"The God of Warriors of Elbaf?" Upon hearing this, Sett's face broke into an arrogant smile: "Although I don't know what Elbaf is, the God of Warriors should be referring to me, right?"

Upon hearing this, he was initially taken aback, but then Dorry and Brogy couldn't help but burst into laughter: "Hahaha! Little one, how can you joke like that! The God of Warriors isn't a little one!!!"

"I want that guy with the sword."

As Sett was speaking, Hawkeye walked over unhurriedly. Looking at the giant sword in Dorry's hand, marked with countless sword and blade marks, a hint of curiosity appeared in his eyes.

After battling Daz... or rather, after sharpening his sword, Hawkeye had been looking for a warrior to truly hone his skills. And now, that rusty greatsword proved that the giant named Dorry before him was no ordinary opponent!

But... Sett has no intention of agreeing.

7017 k

162. Battle of Hawkeye

Dorry and Brogy stared at the two little guys who had suddenly appeared in front of them, their eyes filled with curiosity.

Although they said the God of Warriors couldn't possibly be a little guy, that didn't mean they underestimated Sett—in fact, quite the opposite. As the former captains of the Giant Warrior Pirates, Dorry and Brogy knew very well that this sea was full of powerful figures.

Even the legendary being known as the God of War in Elbaf, the homeland of the giants, dared not claim to be invincible, let alone them, as his juniors.

Especially just now—others might not have noticed, but Elbaf, Dorry, and Brogy, who hailed from the New World of the Grand Line, could see it. Sett's punch that shattered their attacks used Armament Haki... Even in the vast New World, those who can master Armament Haki externalization are extremely rare. And to release it so effortlessly, as just now, is something only a handful of people have achieved in their century-long history.

Without a doubt, this little guy in front of them was no ordinary person—such a powerful individual had never been heard of before. It was foreseeable that he was a newly emerged powerhouse in the years of their battles on the island.

It's only been a few decades, and I never imagined that such a powerful figure would have appeared on the high seas!

Thinking this, Donald and Brogy exchanged a curious glance.

After such a long battle, both Dorry and Brogy had forgotten why they had started this war of honor under the watchful eye of the God of Warriors. Forgetting the reason didn't stop them from fighting. Just like now, facing these two unexpected intruders, and seeing their attention shift away from them, the two began preparing to continue their struggle.

In contrast, on the other side, upon hearing Hawkeye's words, Sett stretched out his hand and said, "I can't pretend I didn't hear that!"

"……Um?"

Upon hearing Sett's words, Hawkeye raised an eyebrow in surprise, then said in a cool voice, "What's wrong?"

Although it was a question, the way Hawkeye said it made it sound more like an interrogation. An ordinary person would definitely be annoyed. But Sett wasn't angry—if he were angry because of the tone, he and Hawkeye would have already parted ways, packed their bags, and gone home.

In response to Hawkeye's question, Sett said, "Unfortunately, both of these guys look tough, so I'm planning to take them both out in one go!"

"What a pity." Upon hearing this, Hawkeye said while holding the Sharp Blade Rusty in his arms, "I've always wanted to try the swordsmanship of the giants... The Giant Warrior Pirates have been famous throughout the Grand Line for a hundred years. Now that I've finally met a giant warrior who uses a two-handed sword, I don't intend to give up easily."

"Hmph, not only have you not retreated, but you're also planning to steal my prey head-on?"

"How can one become the world's greatest swordsman if one doesn't fight for it?"

Despite the sharp retort, Hawkeye and Sett showed no sign of tension. Sett, in particular, had a savage grin that practically filled the air. His sharp canines and molars were exposed, and his wide grin was incredibly menacing, as if he wanted to devour Hawkeye alive.

Hawkeye raised an eyebrow and then silently placed his hand on the rusty hilt of the knife.

"Speaking of which..." He stretched his shoulders, and a series of cracking sounds came from his neck. It didn't feel like a bone misalignment, but rather like a cheer accompanied by rising fighting spirit and excited body.

"I've long been fed up with your arrogant attitude, you pheasant."

"Is that so? It seems we get along quite well." Upon hearing this, Hawkeye nodded, then drew his Sharp Blade, Rusty Flesh, whose blade was now completely blackened by Armament Haki: "I have quite a few things to say about your crudeness."

With those words, two soaring auras rose from the ground. Although they hadn't yet clashed, the powerful fighting spirit and aura clashed continuously in the void, accompanied by the unsheathed black blades and the cracking iron fists. Before any action was even taken, the surrounding grass and river water were already rippling and the blades of grass were fluttering in the influence of the energy.

Meanwhile, Dorry and Brogy, who had originally intended to continue their duel, instinctively turned their gazes toward the two powerful auras after sensing them.

His large eyes were filled with curiosity—such fierce fighting spirit couldn't be faked. Even in the New World, possessing such an aura would definitely earn him a place in the world.

It's just a bit curious, weren't these two little guys supposed to come together? How come they suddenly started fighting?

"Hehehe, little guys, didn't you come here looking for a fight? Why are you suddenly fighting yourselves?"

Filled with curiosity, Dongli placed the greatsword in his hand to the side. The nearly twenty-meter-long sword plunged into the ground with a whoosh; it was only because Dongli was paying attention that it landed in the water, otherwise it might have directly cut off the river.