Chapter 23

Ra pov

It has been over a month since we arrived at Kyuka island and it was finally time to continue with our journey. The next destination was Little Garden and I for sure as hell would not be waiting for a whole year for the log pose to reset before I could leave.

So I did the most logical thing I could and sent Deri to discreetly find an eternal log pose to Cactus island from one of the many people having a vacation in Kyuka island. She did a wonderful job borrowing it and we were now sailing towards the home of two dueling giants. Since my fight with Bullet I had remained in my normal form, not ready to meet the entire marine fleet if someone had seen me destroying Long Ring Land.

Before we reached there I decided to have a talk with Deri which would serve as a warning to her.

"Hey Deri!" I called out to her

"Mhm." She looked at me curiously

"When we get to little garden be sure to beware not of the beasts residing there but of something else, you are already stronger than them. What I need you to be scared of are insects that could kill you with a single bite."

"Sure I'll listen to you. And I never did like bugs. Little shits carrying diseases in them that also love producing annoying sounds by getting close to your ears and not even doing anything important."

Her face scrunched up when she said that. Guess she really hates mosquitoes, maybe she's got some sort of trauma with them. And I can't blame her, those bugs really annoyed me in my past life, always waiting till you try to sleep before fucking up in your ears. Anyway that's a Deri problem, I wonder how she would react when she made contact with them, and were they still normal size or were they huge? Would she jump in my arms as she yelped 'tasuketeee' in a cute voice or would she just slap them to death with an impassive expression on her face.? 'That was something else to look foward to', I snickered excitedly.

"Stop making that face." Deri brought me out of my musings, but I couldn't take it lying down so I replied. "And why should I?" She looked at me with a face that said 'seriously' and I nodded confirming her thoughts. "Haaa! It's mildly disturbing and very creepy to look at considering how serious you usually are." She said tiredly. "Fair enough." I replied as I went to meditate on my observation haki while she got back to her shadow boxing. But damn that talk on bugs really dampened her spirits, I think I should find out something she really likes to uplift her mood later on.

**Timeskip a few days**

We finally reached Little Garden and what an impressive view of giant plants it had, but nothing I haven't seen back home. Though the plants there weren't that huge nor rich in variety at home.

I was busy admiring the scenery when I heard a 'Pa!' sound from behind me. Deri had just made her first kill and the expression she has on her face was, how do I say it? Unique or maybe something new. I had never seen her make that face but what I knew was that some bugs that had survived extinction were probably going to face it sooner rather than later. The thing squashed between her hand was proof enough. Heh! Our stay here will be a very exciting one. I had thought the teasing nature within me had been extinguished but Deri might just revive it before we leave here.

Looking for the safest place we could hide the ship, we docked it there and got ready to explore this island of prehistoric times. I set my body temperature high enough that if some bug tried biting me, it would die before even fulfilling its purpose. How Deri will protect herself is beyond me but I think that observation might play a big part on it. But first things first is securing myself some prehistoric meat.

The place was indeed very huge. How it came to be called Little Garden was beyond me but I'll probably find out at some point. Deri was walking beside me though she was very tense and alert in search of her fears. I had noticed some predators closely monitoring us but they took no action thus far.

I very well had no intention of feasting on carnivores and would not be doing so anytime soon. Their gazes were annoying so I disappeared from my position and getting in close to a black saber tooth twice my size, I slaaped it away sending it flying as it crashed through trees and created a path for us.

It was very tough as it picked itself up hastily and scampered away without even looking back.

"Hey, do you hear that?" Asked Deri but in a much calmer tone than before.

I didn't hear anything so I replied,"Not really."

"Not the sound you muscle head, feel the vibrations on the ground." She scolded

"Mmm! I see, it's like a tremor but I can't determine the origin. Though it should be one of the many volcanoes here ready to shoot it out."

"Ewww, stop being gross but it should be one of the volcanoes ready to erupt." Heeh what a disgusted face she's making but I can't resist going further.

"What part of what I said was gross and what did you understand, I just referenced a volcano erupting?" I pressed on

But reality was often disappointing," Stop being weird or I'll tell big sis you are trying to corrupt a twelve year old innocent girl. And continuing with those weird jokes of yours you might become a eunuch soon enough."

"Tsk!" I clicked. Buggy gave more interesting reactions than her. Maybe I'll wait till she is eighteen and see how it will go from there or look for Buggy but an adult man showing funny reactions is very creepy so I discarded the thought.

A volcano erupted abruptly ending our talk. I felt some more tremors and employing observation as far as I could, I saw two gigantic figures marching towards each other at the center of the island.

I remember something about them fighting for over a hundred years though I don't know why they do so or what their names were either.

But considering that one of them carried an axe shaped weapon, it was bound to be an interesting encounter. And who knows, maybe they've met father.

I rushed foward to where the fight would take place with Deri hot on my tail following me no questions asked.

General pov

Two giants stood opposite each other ready for battle. One was wider in stature having a pig like nose and a blonde beard. He was dressed in viking attire, brandishing an axe on one hand and a shield on the other.

The other giant had a slimmer stature also donned in viking attire and a long black beard on his face. He carried with him a long sword on one hand and a shield on the other.

"Gabababababa, are you ready to face defeat by me Dorry." The fat one said

"Gyegyagyagya, the one that will lose today is obviously you Broggy." Replied the other one

No more words were necessary as the two warriors from Elbaf engaged in their battle for supremacy.

In the meantime two very small figures appeared at the edge of where the battle was taking place. They were quite surprised as they watched the battle unfold.

This was the first time both Ra and Deri had seen two giants fight and surprisingly it was on equal ground. The pure strength they displayed was terryfing by its own right but what Bullet had displayed before made it seem less fascinating.

What was astonishing was how the two co-ordinated their attacks and parrying seamlessly. They were experienced fighters, that much was true as seen by the detoriating armor and chipped weapons.

Ra had fought strong people before but the way the two created shockwaves and energy beams as slashes with their weapons without the use of haki was a sight to behold.

Deri was a fan of hand to hand combat so their fight didn't interest her much but it was entertaining to observe. Especially with how they fought to a draw despite their varying advantages in the battle. She wondered if they agreed to have a draw or if there was something else at play.

After both giants were satisfied with the fight they called it a draw and fell to the ground. After indulging in their unique ways of laughter for a few minutes they turned to their guests.

"So! Who are you little guys?" Asked Broggy

"I am Ra and this little girl here is my little sister Deri." Replied Ra as he used this chance to ruffle Deri's hair though it was slapped away immediately after.

"Gyegyagyagya, she looks like she doesn't want to be treated as little. Then why are you two here?"

" We had come to explore the island though after seeing you fight we wouldn't mind sticking around for a few months to get some training done." Replied Ra as he once again ruffled Deri's hair though this time he received a kick to the shin.

"Gabababababa, that is indeed true you two look too small to fight but a lot of meat and training should make you grow bigger, but not as much as us. Right Dory." Asked Broggy

"Indeed Broggy, Gyegyagyagya..." "Gabababababa..."

A double 'Tsk!' resounded but the two giants failed to hear as they continued laughing.

Both Deri and Ra decided to show that even little people were very strong, but Deri held much more of a grudge. Luckily for Ra he wasn't in his sunshine form at the moment or they would be talking a totally different language.

The two groups became friends in the simplest of manners though the friendship would continue lasting for a very long time to come.