Chapter 107: The Blue Ogre
The Going Merry sat docked along the winding river that carved through the ancient jungle of Little Garden. The afternoon sun filtered through the dense canopy, casting dappled shadows on the ship's deck. Nami, Usopp, Johnny, and Yosaku sat cross-legged on the wooden planks, their focus split between the task at hand and the unsettling sounds of the prehistoric jungle surrounding them.
"Alright," Nami said, her tone equal parts excitement and exasperation. "Let us try this again. Remember, it is about feeling the energy inside you. Do not force it."
Usopp held his hands out in front of him, his eyes squeezed shut in intense concentration. A faint shimmer of something, barely visible, flickered between his palms. "I think I have got it!" he exclaimed, grinning as the shimmer brightened for a moment.
"You are doing great, Usopp," Nami said, though her own hands radiated a steadier, more controlled presence. "You just need to keep it stable."
Johnny, sitting slightly apart from them, clenched his fists and scowled. A faint, unstable burst of energy sputtered around his hands before dissipating entirely. He slammed his fists into the deck, growling. "This is ridiculous. How are you two so good at this? I can barely feel it!"
Nami glanced at him, her expression softening. "It is not that you are bad at it, Johnny. Your presence is just bigger. That makes it harder to control."
Yosaku smirked, unable to resist a jab. "Yeah, for once, having less of something is actually an advantage. We are naturals!"
Johnny shot him a withering glare. "Keep talking, and I will show you how well I can control my fists."
"Hey, no need for violence!" Yosaku yelped, scooting closer to Nami for protection. "We are supposed to be meditating, not murdering!"
Nami rolled her eyes. "Focus, you two. This is not a competition. We are doing this to help the crew. Armament Haki is not something you master in a day. It takes time. It takes patience."
As the trio resumed their practice, the distant sounds of the jungle grew louder. Rustling leaves, the snap of branches, and the ominous rhythm of heavy footsteps. The noise pulled Johnny from his concentration. He stood abruptly, scanning the jungle with narrowed eyes.
"Did you hear that?" he asked, his hand drifting instinctively toward his sword.
Nami and Usopp froze, the faint shimmer of their energy flickering out as they too turned their attention toward the shore. The rustling grew louder, and the ground beneath the ship trembled slightly.
"What the hell is that?" Nami whispered, her voice trembling.
"Something bad," Johnny replied, stepping to the edge of the ship, his weapon at the ready.
The footsteps grew thunderous, and suddenly, the undergrowth on the riverbank exploded outward. A massive T-Rex stomped into view, its razor-sharp teeth glinting in the sunlight as it roared with primal fury.
Nami and Usopp screamed in unison, their voices blending into a cacophony of sheer terror.
"OH MY GOD, IT IS A FUCKING DINOSAUR!" Usopp shrieked, scrambling backward and tripping over his own feet.
"WE ARE GONNA DIE! IT IS GONNA EAT US!" Nami wailed, grabbing Johnny's arm as if her life depended on it.
Johnny stood firm, his expression grim as he prepared to face the monstrous creature. "Stay behind me," he said, his voice steady despite the chaos.
The T-Rex roared again, stepping closer to the ship. Its massive claws tore through the riverbank, and its jaws snapped dangerously close to the Merry's deck.
"This is it! We are dead! We are gonna be dino snacks!" Yosaku howled, clutching Usopp like a lifeline.
Just as the T-Rex lunged toward the ship, its attack was interrupted by a blur of motion. A deafening SHING echoed through the jungle, followed by a sickening THUD. The dinosaur's head was severed clean from its body, blood erupting in a crimson torrent that splattered across the deck.
Nami and Usopp froze, their mouths hanging open as they were drenched in the dinosaur's blood.
"WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?!" Usopp screamed, flailing his arms as he tried in vain to wipe the blood from his face.
"I CANNOT. I AM COVERED IN DINOSAUR BLOOD!" Nami shrieked, her voice hitting a pitch that could shatter glass.
Johnny stood silently, his eyes wide as he stared at the massive shadow emerging from the jungle.
From the depths of the forest came a figure so massive it dwarfed even the T-Rex's carcass. The giant wore blue armor, his broad chest adorned with scars that spoke of countless battles. His long beard swung as he moved, and in his hand, he carried a blood-stained axe that glinted menacingly in the sunlight.
The giant stepped into the clearing, his footsteps shaking the ground. He glanced down at the terrified trio, his expression one of mild curiosity.
"Oi," he rumbled, his deep voice like rolling thunder. "You lot got any sake?"
Nami and Usopp screamed again, clinging to each other as they gibbered incoherently.
"A-A GIANT! WE ARE GONNA BE EATEN BY A GIANT!" Usopp wailed.
"THIS IS THE WORST DAY OF MY LIFE!" Nami added, shaking Johnny's arm. "DO SOMETHING!"
Johnny remained calm, though his knuckles whitened around his sword. "You are covered in dinosaur blood, you are screaming like lunatics, and you want me to take care of this?"
"YES!" they yelled in unison.
The giant raised an eyebrow, scratching his beard with his free hand. "Hmph. You are a noisy bunch." He leaned down, his massive face inches from the ship. "I will ask again. Got any sake?"
Nami and Usopp froze, their screams cutting off mid-wail as they stared at the giant in stunned silence.
"S-Sake?" Nami stammered.
"You killed a dinosaur," Johnny said, his tone incredulous. "For sake?"
The giant grinned, his teeth gleaming. "Of course! What is a meal without good drink?"
Nami and Usopp collapsed onto the deck, their bodies still shaking as they tried to process the sheer absurdity of what had just happened.
"Who the hell are you?" Johnny finally asked, his tone wary.
The giant straightened up, his grin widening. "Name is Brogy. Brogy the Blue Ogre. Nice to meet ya!"
Brogy grinned down at the trio, his massive blue-armored form looming over the ship. "So, do ya have any sake or not?"
Johnny crossed his arms, studying the giant's jovial demeanor. "We have got three barrels in the storage hold. I will bring them up."
"JOHNNY!" Nami shouted, still clutching her head in disbelief. "You are seriously just going to hand over our sake to a giant who just decapitated a dinosaur?!"
Johnny shrugged, his calm unshaken. "It is either that or piss him off. Your call."
"Smart man," Brogy said with a booming laugh, slapping his armored knee. "Sake for friendship! That is the way of Elbaf!"
Nami groaned, muttering about how insane the situation was while Yosaku, still shaking, chimed in nervously, "H-he decapitated a T-Rex with one swing. I am good with making friends here!"
Once the barrels were brought on deck, Brogy carefully picked them up, one in each massive hand. "Ah, now that is hospitality! Why don't you all come back to my camp? It is just up the river. We will drink, eat, and talk like warriors!"
Before Nami could protest, Johnny nodded. "Fine. Lead the way."
---
At Brogy's Camp
The camp was nestled in a clearing surrounded by towering trees. A massive fire pit dominated the space, and the air was filled with the rich aroma of roasting dinosaur meat. Brogy placed the barrels beside the fire and motioned for the group to sit on enormous logs arranged as makeshift benches.
"This is amazing," Yosaku said, his earlier fear forgotten as he took in the scene.
Johnny, surprisingly, seemed the most at ease. He leaned back against a log, tearing into a chunk of meat Brogy handed him. "You are not bad company, giant."
Brogy laughed heartily. "Good to hear! It has been a long time since I had visitors who were not trying to kill me."
As they ate, Brogy explained his presence on the island. "I came here with my brother, Dorry, more than a hundred years ago. We have been dueling ever since to settle a matter of pride. Our signal to fight is the explosion of the main volcano in the center of the island."
Nami frowned, nibbling at her food. "A hundred years? And you are still fighting? That is insane!"
Brogy nodded solemnly. "A giant's pride is his life. It is our way."
"And the Log Pose?" Nami pressed. "How long does it take to reset here?"
Brogy chuckled. "A year. But do not worry. Most do not last long enough to see it reset!"
"WHAT?!" Nami shouted, nearly choking on her food. "A whole year?! We do not have that kind of time!"
Before the argument could continue, a deafening boom shook the ground, and the sky lit up with fiery orange. The central volcano erupted, sending a plume of smoke and ash into the heavens.
Brogy stood, his grin widening. "Ah, the signal! It is time!" He grabbed his colossal axe and turned to the group. "Care to watch the clash of Elbaf warriors?"
Johnny stood immediately, his curiosity piqued. "Yeah. Let us see what you have got."
Yosaku, torn between terror and fascination, followed hesitantly. "S-sure! I mean, why not? This is history, right?"
The group trailed behind Brogy as he marched toward the battleground, his massive steps creating craters in the earth.
---
Meanwhile, deep in the jungle, Zoro wandered aimlessly, his swords resting on his hip. He muttered to himself as he pushed through the dense foliage. "Damn cook. Acting all high and mighty. I will bring back the biggest game this island has ever seen!"
As he stepped into a clearing, Zoro froze. Standing before him was a massive triceratops, its three horns glinting in the sunlight. The creature snorted, pawing at the ground as it eyed the intruder.
Zoro smirked, his hand resting on his katana. "Three horns, huh? Looks like we have got something in common."
With a flash of steel, Zoro charged, his swords gleaming as he prepared to take down the dinosaur.
---
Elsewhere, Sanji wandered through the jungle, muttering under his breath. "Damn moss-head. Always turning everything into a competition. I will bring back something so impressive, even that idiot will have to admit defeat!"
His thoughts were interrupted by a thunderous roar. A T-Rex emerged from the trees, its jaws snapping as it advanced.
Sanji lit a cigarette, exhaling a plume of smoke as he took a fighting stance. "Alright, big guy. Let us dance."
---
In a quieter part of the jungle, a small white house stood incongruously amid the prehistoric landscape. It was simple, with a single window and a thin trail of smoke rising from its chimney.
Inside, a man with an odd, candle-like hairstyle sat at a table, meticulously brewing tea. This was Mr. 3, a Baroque Works agent known for his cunning and flair for theatrics.
Across the room, a young woman with short pink hair lounged on a chaise, flipping lazily through a magazine. She wore a yellow dress with hearts, her demeanor exuding disinterest.
"Mr. 3," she drawled, not looking up from her magazine. "Bring me my tea. I am too tired to get up."
Mr. 3 scowled, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, of course, Miss Goldenweek. I live to serve."
Despite his irritation, he poured a cup of tea and walked over, handing it to her.
She took it without a word, sipping contentedly.
A sudden knock on the door interrupted their peace.
Mr. 3 sighed, placing the teapot down with a theatrical flourish. "Who could possibly be interrupting me now?"
He opened the door to reveal two figures standing in the doorway.
"Ah, Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine. Finally, you have arrived."