At the bow of the massive warship stood Harald, towering dozens of meters tall.
"Rocks."
"My orders are to stop any pirate crew heading to the West Sea."
"So, if our Giant Race fights with full strength, sinking your fleet would be as easy as turning over a hand."
Harald's gaze shifted to the distant horizon:
"See that ship in the distance? The World Government is watching us."
With this reminder, Rocks noticed the surveillance ship on the far horizon.
Rocks grinned, his smile tinged with three parts mockery and seven parts understanding:
"So you think this will earn you credit with the World Government."
He took a step forward, his voice suddenly rising:
"You underestimate us, King of the Giants!"
"If you just stand by and let us destroy each other, I'm certain the government will pardon you.
No, not just pardon—they might even reward you for eliminating a major threat for them."
"Because no matter what you do, you're still a madman trying to change Elbaf, right?"
These words cut through Harald's surface calm like a sharp blade.
The Giant King's pupils contracted slightly, and his grip on his greatsword tightened.
Elbaf—the homeland of the Giant Race, known as the "World's Strongest Nation."
But few knew that the country was facing severe internal division.
The conservatives insisted on adhering to ancient traditions, believing the Giant Race should remain pure and stay out of human conflicts.
The reformists, led by Harald, argued that the Giant Race must keep pace with the times and forge closer alliances with the World Government to ensure the race's survival.
This divide had persisted for decades.
And the World Government had exploited it, using "support for the reformists" as leverage to secure the Giant Race's military aid.
"Can we talk? Just the two of us." Rocks' voice softened.
On the deck of the massive warship, Rocks sat on the giant gunwale while Harald sat on the deck.
"You should already know." Rocks set down the barrel of ale, his gaze sharpening:
"Our destination and what we plan to do."
Harald nodded:
"God Valley. The World Government is holding a slave hunting event there, and your Officer Shakky is being offered as a prize."
"More than that." Rocks' voice grew low:
"Listen carefully to these words. I'm only telling you—I don't even plan to tell my crew."
Harald straightened his posture.
Rocks took a deep breath and spoke slowly:
"I have another hidden name—David D. Xebec."
Harald's pupils contracted sharply.
David.
This surname had appeared in the historical records of the Giant Race.
It belonged to a legendary pirate family that fought alongside Joy Boy eight hundred years ago, and was among the first families placed on the "must erase" list after the World Government was established.
"So it's not Rocks after all..." Harald murmured.
"Rocks is my mother's surname." Rocks explained:
"Davy is my father's surname. The Davy family—a name the World Government has always wanted to erase.
The ancestors of this family can be traced back to the legendary pirate, David D. Jones.
They once dominated the underworld, but now..."
He paused, a complex look flashing in his eyes:
"But now, they're barely clinging to life. After eight hundred years of pursuit, few members of the Davy family remain.
They hide in every corner of the world, changing their appearances and concealing their identities, all just to survive."
Harald listened in silence.
"Whether the timing was good or bad, my child was born." A rare tenderness surfaced in Rocks' voice:
"To keep them far from any danger, I sent my wife and child back to my hometown—the last sanctuary of the Davy clan.
My people are there; they will protect my wife and child."
Harald suddenly understood:
"So that's it. Your hometown shelters both your clan and your family."
He looked at Rocks, his eyes filled with doubt:
"But why are you telling me these weaknesses? This is like handing me a blade."
Rocks smiled, his expression frank:
"Because my hometown—is God Valley."
Silence.
The wine barrel in Harald's hand shattered with a crack, spilling liquor across the deck.
His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Rocks:
"What did you say?!"
"So the World Government is trying to lure you out?" Harald immediately grasped the situation. "They chose God Valley as the hunting ground to force you to show yourself!"
"No." Rocks shook his head. "It's an island where Celestial Dragons gather, right? They would never want me there.
For them, this is also a miscalculation."
He lifted his head, gazing toward the distant horizon:
"I feel like I'm being pulled by some immense force of fate."
"Kidnapping Shakky was their biggest mistake. As long as my wife and child are safe, that's enough for me.
But this time..."
Rocks' voice grew low:
"It seems I'm not very lucky, Harald."
He looked at the Giant King, his eyes showing a plea for the first time—something extremely rare for Rocks:
"So help me this once."
Harald fell silent.
He took a deep breath and spoke slowly:
"Alright."
Rocks' eyes lit up.
"Let's pretend to fight." Harald sighed helplessly. "Otherwise, I won't have a good explanation for the World Government!"
"Thank you!" Rocks grinned, standing up and drawing the Black Blade at his waist.
Harald also rose, his greatsword gripped firmly.
The two exchanged a glance and nodded simultaneously.
The next moment—
"Harald, get out of my way!"
Rocks shouted, his voice echoing across the sea.
A dark red Conqueror's Haki erupted from his body, transforming into tangible flames that shot toward the sky!
Supreme-grade Conqueror's Haki and Advanced Armament Haki coiled around the Black Blade in his hand.
Rocks leaped into the air, his body tracing an arc as he swung the blade down toward Harald!
"Rocks, with me here, you're not getting past!"
Harald likewise wrapped supreme-grade Conqueror's Haki and Advanced Armament Haki around his greatsword.
He brought his sword down, its edge clashing with Rocks' Black Blade mid-air!
BOOM—!!!
Zzzap! Zzzap! Zzzap—!!!
A dark crimson Haki erupted like frenzied lightning serpents!
A powerful Shockwave swept out in all directions!
In an instant, the entire sea seemed to lose its color.
The formidable residual force of the Haki spread outward, threatening to engulf the Rocks Pirates fleet at the rear.
On the main ship's deck, Raiver expressionlessly raised his right hand.
His fingers spread, palm facing forward.
"Void Barrier—"
Swish!
An immense, nearly transparent spatial barrier unfolded before the fleet!
The barrier acted like an invisible wall, completely blocking the Shockwaves emanating from the battlefield between Rocks and Harald.
The Shockwaves crashed against the barrier with a dull roar, causing ripples like water waves to spread across its surface, yet it remained utterly unmoved.
Behind the barrier, the fleet remained safe and sound.