Brook stood atop the ramparts of Giant Warrior City, his skeletal frame rattling with anticipation. Had word reached Elbaf's Royal City yet? The thought of clashing with a legendary powerhouse like the Giant Kingdom sent a thrill through his bones!
Even the dazzling exploits of Rocks and Roger, spanning a mere two or three decades, were but a fleeting spark in history's vast tapestry. But the Giant Kingdom, older than the World Government itself? Brook refused to believe they were anything less than formidable.
Elbaf boasted two national treasures. First, the Treasure Wood Adam—were coveted across the seas. Second, the rare Gungnir Steel, rivaling Wano's Seastone in fame but far scarcer beyond Elbaf's shores.
The Giant King's heirloom weapon, the Spear of Elbaf, was a true divine artifact, surpassing even Supreme Grade swords. Twenty-eight meters long and forged entirely from Gungnir Steel, it was said to terrify even the Ancient Weapons—Uranus, Pluto, and Poseidon—for its ability to pierce anything, living or not.
Not even 100% pure Seastone could withstand Gungnir Steel. Legends whispered that in ancient times, Elbaf and Wano shared a close bond. The Kozuki Clan of Wano once received a sliver of Gungnir Steel, used to carve Seastone with unmatched precision, making Wano one of the few nations with access to this rare metal.
Weapons infused with even a trace of Gungnir Steel were destined to become legendary, ranking as Supreme Grade or Great Grade blades.
Brook's ambitions for Elbaf were clear: secure a piece of Gungnir Steel to elevate his Shichiseiken's quality, enhance Linlin's Napoleon, or forge a Supreme Grade blade like Murakumogiri for Whitebeard Newgate, capable of channeling the full might of his Fruit. Redfield and Shiki's weapons could use an upgrade too!
Supreme Grade blades could be nurtured into Black Blades through sheer mastery of Armament Haki, but forging one from scratch required ultra-rare metals. Enma's Haki-absorbing metal, Kitetsu's eerie soul-drinking steel, or other durable alloys—all paled next to Gungnir Steel's raw potential.
A blade's base quality mattered. A master could temper an ordinary sword into a Supreme Grade Black Blade, but it would never match one forged from a Great Grade blade and rapidly nurtured to supremacy. Haki wasn't invincible, and nature's rarest metals couldn't be broken by human will alone.
The Spear of Elbaf, hailed as indestructible even if the Ancient Weapons fell, was a single, flawless rod of Gungnir Steel, painstakingly shaped by generations of Giant Kings. No craftsman could forge such a material—only grind it down.
Magma Fruit users, Azure Dragon Fruit users, and Burn-Burn Fruit users had aided past Giant Kings, laboring to refine the Spear of Elbaf. In exchange, they claimed the Gungnir Steel dust, fusing it into their own weapons to boost their quality.
"Pfft, that Oda guy's just a manga artist—what does he know about the real One Piece? The Giants, weak? No way!" Brook mused, chuckling to himself. The Spear of Elbaf was a prize worth stealing, even for him. Could Vegapunk one day process Gungnir Steel? If so, the Hell Pirates could arm every member with weapons surpassing Supreme Grade!
Despite their might, the Giants stayed secluded in Elbaf, avoiding chaos in the outside world. The war 800 years ago must've cost them dearly. A nation of only a few tens of thousands, the world's strongest, risked extinction like the ancient Oz Clan, now down to double digits.
The Ice Kingdom's Snow Giants, a mere few thousand strong, faced the same fate if another war broke out. So, Elbaf focused on rebuilding, boosting their population, even cooperating with the World Government. Each generation sent a handful of Giants to join the Marines.
Carmel even recruited from Giant Warrior Village, the traditional pirate haven, luring Giants into the Navy's ranks!
Elbaf's global influence was undeniable. The World Government bent over backward to enlist Giants, cementing Elbaf's title as the world's mightiest nation.
Compare that to Fishman Island, with its five million souls, groveling under the World Government's heel, fearing enslavement and denied the rights of an intelligent race, dismissed as mere fish!
...
Click-clack-click-clack!
The sharp tap of high heels echoed, racing closer.
"Brook, trouble's brewing!" Stussy called, her voice tense. "A Giant we sent to spread the word just called via Den Den Mushi. A crack team from Royal City's headed for Giant Warrior City, and they don't look friendly!"
Stussy's frustration was palpable. Her plan was to slowly infiltrate nearby Giant villages, then creep toward Royal City to siphon off their rare resources. But now, a Royal City squad was already nearing the villages—likely setting out shortly after the Winter Solstice Festival, weeks ago.
"They got word that fast?"
Brook was skeptical. Elbaf didn't breed giant Den Den Mushi or read human newspapers. Their intelligence network relied on word of mouth—primitive by New World standards. How could they know about Giant Warrior City so quickly?
"Antonio and I have a theory," Stussy said. "This elite Giant squad probably isn't after us. It's likely about Dorry and Brogy. But once they see what's going on in Giant Warrior City, we might clash. After all, we built this place without Elbaf's permission!"
Stussy laid out their reasoning. Since arriving, they'd cut off contact with other Giants, so no intel could've leaked. The only explanation was that this squad was targeting Giant Warrior Village itself, unrelated to the Hell Pirates' presence.
Brook mulled it over. Giant Warrior Village had been quiet for over a decade. Trouble now, after Dorry and Brogy's return? It had to be them. Royal City must've caught wind of their homecoming and sent a team to deal with the disgraced duo.
"Well then, let's give 'em a proper welcome!"
Brook rallied the Hell Pirates, gearing up for a direct confrontation with Elbaf's elite. Just how strong was this Giant squad? Time to find out!
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