The training ground dedicated to Elbaf was vast, its floor paved with unusually hard stone and encircled by ancient giants trees, the atmosphere solemn.
In the center stood the Female Giant Ripley, over twenty meters tall, facing Charlotte Linlin—nearly nine meters herself, a colossus among humans yet "petite" beside Ripley.
"This is where we Giant Race train for battle every day; you can let loose without worry."
As she spoke, Ripley lifted a war-axe longer than her own height from a nearby weapon rack.
The instant her fingers closed around the haft, the mountain-heavy fighting spirit unique to Elbaf warriors erupted, swirling dust across the ground.
Linlin's eyes lit up; with that aura alone, Ripley would rank among the elite Navy Vice Admirals.
Yet it made sense—Giant Race warriors are born with strength and physique few races can match.
"Then… here I come!"
Ripley said no more; against a billion-bounty powerhouse, seize the initiative or fall.
Her massive frame exploded into speed belying its size, each thundering step trembling the solid earth.
The giant-axe ripped the air, mountain-splitting force bearing down on Linlin's head.
"Not bad."
Linlin's lips curved in delight; rather than retreat from a blow that could cleave a warship, she stepped forward, drew the nodachi at her hip, and held it horizontally overhead.
Clang!
Metal rang, a gale erupted.
The axe-blade crashed against white scabbard, sparks blazing.
Shockwaves rolled out in visible rings, whipping distant trees and scouring gravel from the ground.
Ripley felt immense recoil; her hill-shaking strike had been halted one-handed, effortlessly.
"What?!"
Her pupils shrank; though prepared, seeing her full power stopped so easily shook her to the core.
That was a Giant warrior's full-force chop!
"When you meet someone stronger, what do you do?"
With those words, Linlin flicked her nodachi, flinging the axe aside, spun, and planted a kick that sent the Female Giant flying dozens of meters.
"Well? Convinced?" Linlin asked cheerfully.
Rubbing her bruised chest, Ripley twitched. "That… was rather rude."
"In battle I don't care if you're man or woman," Linlin replied flatly.
It definitely wasn't for the feel—it was simply the only place her long legs could reach.
"Fair point. Again!"
Ripley charged, axe now cloaked in black Armament Haki.
"Armament, huh?"
Linlin arched a brow; her nodachi was wreathed in the same dark Haki.
Moments later, Ripley studied the matching boot-prints on her chest, suspecting the beauty had aimed there on purpose.
"Once more?" Linlin asked.
"Bring it!" Ripley hefted her axe.
Bang-bang-bang! Clang! Boom!
Two vastly different silhouettes clashed at shocking speed. Ripley's axe howled like wind and thunder, every sweep striving to overwhelm with raw power.
The far smaller Linlin met her head-on, determined to prove sheer superiority and make the Female Giant yield.
Between clashes she slipped in refined techniques, showing the limits of brute strength.
"Take this! Elbaf Spear—Hakoku!!"
Frustrated by the footprints covering her torso, Ripley leapt back, funneling every ounce of strength and Haki into her blade.
It was one of the Giant Race's ultimate moves, a focused cataclysmic blast.
A several-meter-thick beam, like the roar of a titan, tore the ground as it thundered toward Linlin.
Where it passed, the training ground's hard stone was furrowed deep.
"Excellent! Now we're talking!"
Delighted, Linlin inhaled, eyes sharpening; she re-sheathed her nodachi.
"Hokushin Ittō-ryū Iai—Tide Sever!"
A cold shout rang as an arcing slash swept upward.
Smaller than Hakoku, yet its edge and will to cut all made the very air quiver.
Boom-boom-boom!!
The two forces collided—thunder cracked, the earth shook.
Blinding light swallowed the center, a storm of energy carving a hundred-meter crater; a Mushroom cloud of dust rose.
When the haze thinned, Linlin stood calm, clothes flapping in the wind.
Across from her, Ripley's axe lay in shards; she knelt, gasping, blood dripping from torn palms.
Yet defeat did not dim her eyes—only stoked fiercer fighting spirit! She flung the haft away, punched the ground, and rose again!
"Not over yet!!"
She roared, fists clenched, charging again and again with Giant resilience and warrior pride.
Fists howled, earth groaned; like a tireless war-god she fell, rose, and charged anew, wounds mounting.
The fight raged from dead of night through afternoon, through another night till dawn.
A full day and night later, sunrise lit a training ground unrecognizable—craters, rifts, and rubble everywhere.
Covered in bruises, Ripley collapsed one last time, spent, lying spread-eagled before Linlin.
Linlin looked down at the Female Giant; even she felt fatigue after such relentless combat.
All she could do was marvel—people in this pirate world were monsters, stamina and will terrifyingly firm, allowing battles of extraordinary length.
Gazing up at the queenly silhouette haloed by dawn, Ripley grinned through blood and with her final breath shouted:
"Captain! From now on… pleased to work with you!!"
With that, exhaustion and relief swept over her; her head lolled and she fell asleep on the spot, snores rumbling.
After a day and night of rising only to be cast down again, body and will had reached their limit.
Linlin surveyed the devastated ground and the slumbering future comrade amid the ruins, and murmured:
"Astounding physique and willpower. The Giant Race truly lives up to its name."
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