[Sponsored] Chapter 20: The Spear of Elbaf

[This chapter is proudly sponsored by "Arthur Moreira." Please join me in expressing your thanks in the comments! If you're interested in sponsoring a chapter, consider joining the Patreon.]

"Everyone, take this seriously! No one is allowed to slack off… and whoever does won't get breakfast today!"

Time flew by quickly, and a week had passed on the island called "Dreamland." At the entrance stood a large sign reading "Dream Home!" On the beach, children of various races—humans, the Snakeneck Tribe, the Longarm Tribe, the Longleg Tribe, Fish-men, and the Mink Tribe—were diligently practicing their stances, throwing punches in unison.

Linlin, Gerd, and Hajrudin each occupied their own space, practicing with weapons, their faces filled with determination. Gerd wielded a long-handled axe, Linlin a large blade, and Hajrudin a double-edged sword.

El led them from the front, standing by the shore and practicing with a longsword, while occasionally supervising the group. After a few days of strict training, everyone had been punished by El a few times, so none of them dared take the training lightly.

Even Linlin wasn't an exception, as she had learned the hard way. When punished, she had to stand on one leg and watch everyone else eat, unable to join them.

For Linlin, this was the worst punishment imaginable. El had even warned her that if she disobeyed again, he would buy a large quantity of delicious treats from a nearby island and let everyone eat except her. The mere thought of such a punishment was enough to scare the little glutton into obedience. From that moment on, she trained diligently, following El's intense regimen.

"Huff... huff..." El swung his sword, each slash creating shockwaves that rippled across the sea's surface. Suddenly, a massive shadow appeared in the water, moving at incredible speed, getting closer and closer. A giant Sea King, attracted by the commotion from El's training, emerged from the sea, its terrifying jaws opening wide as it lunged toward him.

"Ahhh—"

"It's a Sea King!"

The sudden appearance of the creature caused the children from Dream Home to scream in shock, startling even Hajrudin and Gerd.

"Elbaf's Spear—"

However, El, whose Observation Haki was always active, remained calm. He had sensed the Sea King's approach long before it surfaced. His eyes sharp, El raised his sword, the massive blade cutting through the air with immense power.

"Great Nation!"

"Whoosh—" The air twisted as a cylindrical shockwave of sword energy shot forward, splitting the atmosphere.

"Boom!!!"

In an instant, the Sea King's massive head was pierced straight through, leaving a gaping hole. The shockwave continued, carving a deep trench in the ocean far beyond.

"Crash..."

With its life extinguished, the Sea King's enormous body collapsed into the sea, creating a huge splash.

"Is that...?"

Hajrudin's eyes widened in shock. "Elbaf's Spear?"

"Wow! I've heard of it, but this is my first time seeing it!" Gerd was equally astonished. "Is that one of Elbaf's legendary three spears? The power is unbelievable!"

Although they were born in Elbaf, neither had ever seen the famed spear techniques in action—only heard tales of their incredible power. After all, very few warriors could master these techniques. The two elderly giant leaders, Mountain Beard Jarul and Waterfall Beard Jorul, certainly knew them, but they were too old to demonstrate now.

"Wow—"

Linlin's eyes sparkled with admiration. "Amazing, Big Brother El!"

"Will I be able to master Elbaf's Spear one day?" She mimicked El's movements with her large blade, her heart filled with longing for such power.

"Ah, ah... the sea was torn apart!"

"That Sea King was taken down in one strike!"

"Amazing, Big Brother El!"

The children from Dream Home stared in awe, their eyes wide with excitement as they gazed at El's towering figure in admiration.

"Did you all see that?" El turned to face the excited children, smiling as he spoke. "This is the result of my training in Elbaf over the past months. If you work hard enough, you may be able to reach this level too!"

"So, if you want to become as strong as me, you'll have to train even harder!"

Elbaf's Spear consists of three techniques. The first, Hero's Spear, requires no weapon and focuses all of one's energy, spirit, and strength into a single, devastating punch.

The second, Mighty Nation, involves using a sword or other weapon to unleash a massive shockwave of energy that can tear through anything.

The third, the most famous technique of Elbaf, is Conqueror's Spear—a combination attack requiring two or more giant warriors to unleash an even more powerful shockwave, capable of destroying everything in its path.

El had spent months in Elbaf rigorously training day after day. In the past few days, he had successfully mastered both the Great Nation technique and the Hero's Spear. Although it wasn't easy for others to learn Elbaf's techniques, El used them to inspire the children.

"Yes, Big Brother El—"

"I'll work hard!!"

The children of Dream Home, as well as Linlin, Gerd, and Hajrudin, were all bursting with excitement, filled with energy and enthusiasm as they continued their training. Seeing such power up close, how could they not yearn for it?