Facing Usopp's complaints, Nami remained completely unfazed.
She gathered the floating gold back into countless delicate golden scales, layering them over her clothes like harmless ornants. Then she turned to Usopp with a sweet, teasing smile.
"Oh, Usopp, don't praise so much."
"Huh?"
Chopper blinked in confusion and looked at Usopp.
"Usopp, are you praising Nami?"
"Who's praising her?!"
Usopp's face twitched as he waved his arms in protest.
"Hey! Have so sha, Nami!"
It seed that over the past year, everyone had changed in one way or another.
Usopp muttered under his breath.
As for Nami, her change was simple. She had beco even more bold, acting shalessly as if it were completely natural.
"But the vitality here is incredible… huh? It feels like sothing is talking to ."
Usopp suddenly froze. A powerful life force pulsed beneath his feet, filling him with an inexplicable sense of connection. Before anyone could react, he lay flat on the ground, pressing his ear against it, his face relaxing into a strangely satisfied expression.
"What is he doing…?"
The others stared at him in disbelief as he lay there, completely imrsed, even a small sprout of grass poking up from his head.
"Don't let your guard down. Sothing feels off."
Zoro shifted his attention away from Usopp's absurd behavior. His hand rested on his sword hilt as his gaze sharpened.
The fog around them thickened, swallowing the forest in a pale haze. Zoro slowly closed his eyes, sensing multiple massive presences moving within it.
Among them, five enormous humanoid figures were rapidly approaching.
"Get ready."
Zoro's eyes snapped open, his expression cold.
"Sothing big is coming, fast."
"That's right!"
Chopper's fur bristled as he transford into his Human Point. His sturdy body moved in front of Nami, fists clenched as he stared into the trembling forest.
"There are powerful presences heading straight for us!"
Zoro gave him a brief glance, a hint of approval in his eyes.
Chopper had clearly grown stronger.
"Hey! Does anyone rember Shirogai said we ca here to bring Robin back for the Fish-Man banquet? Why are we already fighting?!"
Usopp jumped to his feet, the sprout still on his head, gripping his slingshot tightly.
"Sure-Kill, Pop Green, Grass Split Cannon!"
Infusing the weapon with the life force of the forest, he ford three powerful seed projectiles in the pouch. His Observation Haki spread outward, locking onto the five massive figures charging toward them.
Then, suddenly, the forest shifted.
The towering trees wrapped in fog were violently pushed aside.
A colossal figure stepped forward.
Eighteen ters tall, with a massive axe resting on his shoulder.
"Huh…?"
Usopp's jaw dropped.
"A Gi… Giant!!!"
His eyes bulged as he scread in shock.
Zoro tilted his head slightly, looking up at the towering figure.
"Not sothing you see every day."
Boom! Boom!
More trees were forced aside.
Four additional Giants erged, each over ten ters tall, their bodies massive and imposing. Their weapons were equally monstrous, a giant stone hamr, a massive longsword, twin war hamrs, a blade embedded with blue ore, and a heavy wooden shield lined with spikes.
"Oh my god… where did Shirogai send us?!"
Nami stared up at them, eyes wide.
"Five Giants…"
"I only know a few places like this…"
Chopper spoke weakly.
"Places with Giants, and a giant tree like this…"
Usopp slowly ca to a realization, his expression shifting between fear and excitent.
"Don't tell … this is the land of Giants… the strongest nation in the world…"
His voice rose.
"Elbaf?!"
The very place he had always dread of visiting.
And now he was here, just like that.
Shirogai had sent them to Elbaf with a single teleport.
Unable to contain himself, Usopp rushed forward, waving excitedly.
"Hey! Warriors of the Giant Race! This is Elbaf, right?!"
The leading Giant lowered his gaze, staring at Usopp.
"Hm? Just as reported… invading humans."
His deep voice rumbled.
"But the number is four now… no matter. I will cut them down first."
This Giant was extrely proud.
Unlike what outsiders believed, Giants did think.
They simply used battle as their thod of reasoning.
Whoosh!
A massive shadow fell over Usopp.
The giant axe ca crashing down like a collapsing mountain.
"Mommy!!!"
Usopp scread, his face pale as death.
His impression of Giants had always been shaped by Dorry and Brogy, as well as the simple-minded Kashi and Oimo.
He had never imagined one would attack without hesitation.
"Idiot, I told you to stay alert!"
Zoro moved.
In a flash, he appeared in front of Usopp, drawing his blade.
Swish!
Yubashiri turned jet black under Armant Haki as he swung upward, eting the descending axe head-on.
Clang!
The impact shook the air.
"One Sword Style, Quake Annihilation!"
A violent surge of Haki erupted. The force traveled through the blade and exploded outward, forming a crushing shockwave that blasted forward like a focused strike.
"Fall!"
Boom!!!
The Giant was sent flying backward, his massive body crashing across the ground. His axe slipped from his grip and spun away.
The remaining Giants froze for a brief mont, then their eyes ignited with even greater battle intent.
"So it's true… you are the ones who attacked Saul!"
One of them roared.
"The War God of Elbaf watches us! Giants never yield!"
Boom!
Without hesitation, all four raised their massive weapons.
Then, like falling mountains, they brought them crashing down toward Zoro.
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