"Zaraki."
The features copied onto the encrypted command Den Den Mushi tightened as Sengoku's expression turned serious.
The Fleet Admiral had apparently moved away from the center of Marineford Plaza, because the banquet noise that had filled their earlier call was now little more than a distant roar of laughter, clattering cups, and giant voices.
"I don't care how much Garp fools around. Dorry and Brogy already agreed to help train our giant units, and the five Giant Vice Admirals stationed at Headquarters have practically had bloodshot eyes ever since they watched the Sabaody recordings. John Giant has been asking for a proper spar since this morning."
Zaraki leaned back in his chair aboard the Oni Slayer and tapped his fingertips against the tabletop while the warship continued steadily through the Calm Belt toward Kalles Island.
Gion stood across from him with the latest chart spread over the command table, one finger tracing the route toward the island where Director Dapus and the Aegis operatives were supposedly waiting.
So that was what Sengoku wanted.
The Fleet Admiral claimed to be worried about the five Giant Vice Admirals getting carried away, but in reality he had already decided to let them test Dorry and Brogy for themselves.
The two ancient captains had agreed to help train the Marine giant units in Haki, coordination, and large-target combat, and Headquarters clearly wanted something more useful than old legends and a few pieces of Sabaody footage before turning their methods into doctrine.
"Let them do whatever they want," Zaraki said. "Just move them to the giant training field before they start unless you're planning to rebuild the plaza again."
Sengoku's eyebrow twitched. "We already cleared the western training field. Kuzan reinforced the outer boundary, medical teams are standing by, and I personally explained that this is a spar."
Zaraki looked at the snail without saying anything.
Gion lifted her eyes from the chart and did exactly the same.
Sengoku's expression darkened. "I know what that look means."
"Then why are you still talking?"
"Because you fought both of them on Little Garden, watched them at Sabaody, and spent enough time around them to recognize what changed. The visual relay will stay open. I want your assessment afterward."
Zaraki gave a lazy grunt.
"Fine."
The direct call ended with a click, but the larger visual Den Den Mushi mounted beside the command table remained awake as the feed from Marineford sharpened across its shell.
Gion folded her arms. "You were about to remind him what happened the last time somebody said an assessment was under control."
"I didn't have to. You both thought of it."
"That isn't reassuring."
Zaraki ignored her and looked at the screen.
Marineford's welcome feast was every bit as ridiculous as it had sounded over the earlier call.
Rows of banquet tables covered the plaza, loaded with roasted sheep, barrels of ale, bread, fruit, and enough meat to feed several warships, while Dorry, Brogy, Oimo, and Kashii sat near the center arguing loudly enough to drown out half the surrounding officers.
Garp moved among them with a slab of meat in one hand and the shameless confidence of a man who had personally declared every Marine supply depot part of the celebration.
Yamakaji stood off to one side with a cigar clenched between his teeth.
He had watched Dorry and Brogy fight at Sabaody, so unlike the younger Marines crowding around the western edge of the plaza, he looked less excited than resigned.
The reason soon became obvious.
John Giant was approaching with four other Giant Vice Admirals behind him.
Ronse came a few paces to his left, Lacroix farther back, while the remaining two giant officers spread out enough that the Marines between them instinctively moved aside.
Not because anyone was afraid.
Everyone simply knew why the five had come.
Gion glanced at Zaraki. "You're looking forward to this."
"More than staring at the Calm Belt."
"We're less than a day from an island where CP0 prepared seastone weapons specifically for you."
"That's tomorrow's problem."
Gion sighed and returned her attention to the screen as John Giant stopped in front of Dorry and Brogy and the banquet gradually fell silent around them.
...
A piercing shriek burst from the loudspeaker Den Den Mushi when Rear Admiral Gungun grabbed the receiver and bellowed across Marineford Plaza.
"QUIET DOWN!"
The order came several seconds too late.
The entire western half of the plaza had already gone quiet, and the Marines farther away were rapidly turning toward the five Giant Vice Admirals now standing before Dorry and Brogy.
John Giant did not bother with ceremony. "Dorry the Blue Ogre. Brogy the Red Ogre. I am Vice Admiral John Giant of Marine Headquarters."
Brogy scratched his beard and glanced at Dorry. "Gababababa! We know who he is."
Dorry grinned. "Gegyagyagyagya! Hard not to. Half the Marines here have been shouting his name every time he walks past."
A few nearby Marines failed to hide their laughter, and John Giant's eyelid twitched, but he refused to be distracted.
"For a century, giants from Elbaf grew up hearing your names. The captains of the Giant Warrior Pirates. Two warriors whose battles were told like legends. Then you disappeared, your crew scattered, Oimo and Kashii searched for you, and younger warriors had no idea whether you were dead, imprisoned, or simply gone."
The amusement slowly faded from Dorry's face.
John glanced briefly toward Oimo and Kashii before continuing.
"And now we learn that you spent those hundred years fighting each other over an argument neither of you even remembers."
The plaza held its silence for exactly one heartbeat before Garp exploded into laughter.
"BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
His reaction spread through the banquet like an infection.
Marines at nearby tables broke first, then giant soldiers farther back, and even Yamakaji had to take the cigar out of his mouth before he choked on the smoke.
Dorry and Brogy both darkened.
"This is your fault," Dorry growled.
"My fault?" Brogy snapped. "You're the one who challenged me!"
"You accepted!"
"Because you challenged me!"
Sengoku slammed one fist onto the raised table beside him.
"ENOUGH!"
The two ancient captains stopped arguing, though neither looked remotely convinced.
Aboard the Oni Slayer, Gion covered her mouth for a moment before glancing at Zaraki. "I understand Oimo and Kashii's problem a little better now."
"They would've still been arguing when the search party arrived."
John Giant waited for the laughter to fade before he raised his sword and pointed toward the giant training field that had been cleared beyond the banquet area.
"I'm not calling either of you cowards, and I'm not calling you traitors to Elbaf. But if you're going to stand here as allies of the Government and teach younger giants how you fight, then I want to know whether the legends still match the men. Show us."
The easy warmth vanished from Dorry's expression.
His huge eye narrowed, and after a brief silence a low rumble began to rise from somewhere deep in his chest.
"Gegyagyagyagya..."
The laugh grew until it rolled across Marineford.
"Good!"
Dorry stood, making the stone beneath him tremble, and reached for his rebuilt sword.
The huge weapon was rough compared with a famous blade, having been reforged from salvaged metal, ironwood reinforcement, and pale Island Eater bone, but it had already survived Sabaody and the renewed clash with Kaido's fleet.
"If the younger giants want to know whether Brogy and I went soft, then talking won't settle anything."
Brogy rose beside him with his axe resting across one shoulder. "Gababababa! Exactly!"
John Giant tightened his grip, but before he could say anything else Brogy casually took several steps backward and lifted his barrel again.
Dorry stared at him. "What are you doing?"
"Watching."
"You just stood up."
"I changed my mind."
Dorry's eye twitched.
Brogy grinned. "You handle the first round. If they beat you, I'll avenge you."
"You bastard!"
The Marines erupted into laughter again, and even John Giant's mouth threatened to move.
Dorry jabbed an enormous finger at his co-captain. "If you touch my barrel while I'm fighting—"
"No promises."
The other four Giant Vice Admirals entered the cleared field, and the beginnings of a formation immediately took shape around Dorry.
John Giant glanced back at him. "All five."
Dorry's irritation vanished as he looked from one giant officer to the next. "Even better."
Before anyone could move, Sengoku lifted the loudspeaker Den Den Mushi and laid out the rules: this was a sanctioned spar, lethal attacks were forbidden, the battle would remain inside the marked field, medical teams were standing by, and either he or Kuzan could stop the match immediately.
At the edge of the training ground, Kuzan lazily touched one hand to the stone and reinforced the outer boundary with thick ridges of ice.
"Ara, ara... I'd appreciate it if nobody gave the repair crews another reason to hate us."
Garp cupped his hands around his mouth. "AND DON'T HIT THE FOOD!"
Sengoku rounded on him. "You are not the referee!"
"I didn't say I was!"
"You were about to!"
The Marines began moving toward the observation lines as Dorry entered the field with his sword over one shoulder and the five Giant Vice Admirals spread out opposite him.
On the Oni Slayer, Zaraki picked up his flask and pulled the cork free.
Gion looked at him. "Do you seriously think Dorry can handle five Headquarters Giant Vice Admirals alone?"
Zaraki took a drink before answering. "I fought him before he got his arm back."
"And?"
"He was annoying then too."
Gion stared at him for a second. "That is not a useful measurement."
"It is to me."
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