Chapter 24: Scopper Gaban

Elbaf- Underworld

Luffy was between Loki and Scopper Gaban staring at both for several minutes with a perplexed expression.

"Which is you is Colin's pops?," asked the young man.

Gaban pulled into his body as he drew out two massive axes much to Luffy's confusion.

He then lunged at Luffy as he used Advanced Observation to dodge the strike barely. Utgard-Loki whistled in response.

"What's the big deal?! I wanna talk to ya about Shanks!," Luffy yelled as he decided to use Gum-Gum Pistol to incapacitate him.

However, the latter maneuvered around it and was about to use Haki Infusion when Luffy used Armament to block the strike.

"So you know about Advanced Haki since beating Kaido with help? That's not going to save you, Luffy.," noted the man.

"This guy knows the same moves as Grandpa Hyō. I better get more serious.," Luffy noted as he entered Gear 2 in select parts of the body.

"He's a real savant.," Utgard-Loki noted.

The latter dodged his Red Hawk easily as Luffy switched to Gear 3 with the massive limbs with fire-infused fists as the glasses glistened.

He's associated with Fire? That has to come from somewhere., the Giant thought.

"Gum-Gum Roc Gatling.," he said as he threw punches that partially warmed up the area.

He then switched up to Gear 4 with Boundman as the man continued to remain composed.

Utgard-Loki's smile began to lessen at the sight.

That's a trait of a Zoan, not like the Paramecia reports of the Gum-Gum thingy...could it be?, thought the Giant.

He then noticed as Zoro and Nami went down the chains.

"Gum-Gum Kong Organ Gun.," he stated as he threw multiple punches that were blocked by a Haki projection field.

He then switched to the sleeker Snakeman as he launched Gum-Gum Hydra, which hit the shield from unpredictable directions.

Then Luffy stopped as his heartbeat rang with the Drums of Liberation heart-beat. His entire color palette except his skin, sash, and eyes turned white with the eyes gaining ripples in the red iris, and a purple slash. His serious expression turned from serious to constantly laughing.

Loki was stunned at the sight.

"Sun God Nika- the demigod who inherited the power of Gomu- the free spirit to control the sun? He's that kid? Well, my Sun God is better-er.," he muttered.

Luffy then noticed the man reach under the ground as a cartoonish sound effect was heard as he literally flung it, causing Luffy to lose balance and be knocked out of the form.

"Gear 5 is powerful if you're not expecting it but it still obeys comedic rules so sillier attacks are more deadly. The fact you use the form so casually means there's more room to grow.," the man said in a gruff tone that implied he was from a more rural area.

Zoro and Nami went to Luffy as he got up.

"You went looking for Colin's dad because he knew Shanks and you picked a fight with a strange guy! And you're next to that no-good Loki guy! C'mon! Stop makin' things troublesome!," shouted Nami as she shook him up and down.

Zoro then noticed the man who was emitting powerful Haki that seemed full of vigor compared to how usually old men would taper over time.

He made the ground act like what Luffy would do in that form...who is this guy?, thought the green-haired swordsman.

"I'll talk with you tomorrow. I'll have to bring this up for the meal even if I don't agree with their new party ideas.," said the man to Utgard-Loki as he referred to the massive whale on the side.

"Wait, you did that?," asked Nami as she noticed the scale of the animal.

He put the axes on his back and lugged the whale over his shoulders as he began to climb up the chains with his bare hands.

Nami was dumbfounded as she saw the sight.

"Shishishi...reminds me of Rayleigh.," Luffy spoke, which made the man grit his teeth and toss the whale up before jumping back down just as he reached the top to Nami's shock.

"He was on the same crew as Roger, this Oden guy, this Buggy guy that somehow became an Emperor and a bunch of other guys.," explained Utgard-Loki.

"Wha? Thanks, big guy!," shouted Luffy as he rushed to his gap much to Nami and Zoro's confusion. The way he immediately connected to Utgard-Loki seemed to confuse them.

"Don't be so familiar. I-I the harbinger of the end of the world. All fear me! So free me, I'll destroy one of the Emperor crews you don't like, and I'll tell you all about Shanks! Who imprisoned me? That coward," the Giant said before he dodged just in time to avoid a Gear 5 punch.

"Don't talk that about Shanks again.," said the young man as Zoro and Nami continued to look shocked.

"I'm detained you fool! Wait till I'm free to beat me up!," shouted the Giant.

The shades man sighed as he crouched down to then leap up towards the second level much to Nami's surprise.

"He's more of a monster than the other one.," said the navigator.

Zoro looked at Utgard-Loki, sensing his impressive Haki, and almost considered unleashing him, but he came to his senses.

"Luffy. I think that guy WAS Colin's dad. He's up there so we don't have to stay down here.," said the swordsman.

"I'd advise not going to the party. It might end badly for you. I've been telling them that doing these new ways are gonna lead to an undignified end to the Giant race as independent. We'll be enslaved due to our lack of fangs.," the Giant spoke.

Nami gave a disapproving look of not believing him as Luffy grabbed the top of the chain and the two grabbed him as he snapped upwards.

Utgard-Loki then gave a disappointed sigh.

"Once again history repeats itself...," he muttered.

Sun-World- Western Village

Luffy, Nami, and Zoro arrived at the party.

"I wonder what's taking Jinbe, Franky, and that Fish Pretty Boy so long?," asked Sanji as he helped to cook.

"Chopper, Usopp, and Brook are taking too long in that library...didn't think Usopp liked libraries that much...but Robin Swan being alone is so painful!" he added.

Vivi, Carrot, Vega 40, the Vegapunks, Shoujo, and Bonney all stared as the grizzled old man who was much smaller than the other giants tossing the whale on the fire, but before filleting it in a moment's notice. Colin was impressed while Ripley smirked. However, the Giant cook gritted their teeth in annoyance as Harjudin went to eat it instead of eating the other foods for some reason...

"That's Scopper Gaban of the Roger Pirates.," said Edison.

The remaining Straw Hats looked in shock at the identity of the individual.

Scopper Gaban- Special Calling Bird Report

He was born on an Island of the East Blue that not only didn't have enough money for the Heavenly Tribute but was also chosen for a Native Hunting Competition. He would survive only to be forced to work on Tequila Wolf until the foundations of the Roger and Xebec Pirates fighting there managed to let him go, allowing him to join the Roger crew, respecting the captain.

Compared to Rayleigh who was light-hearted, casual, and fun-loving, much like his captain Roger was- Gaban in contrast in his old age, had begun exhibiting behaviors of being more stoic, disciplined, and serious when the smile dropped.

This was the opposite of how Rayleigh used to be impatient with the antics of the younger crew members and took the position of crew disciplinarian very seriously while becoming more relaxed. In contrast, Gaban used to be goofing off and playing around like most of the crew but seemed more severe as an older man.

Rayleigh was typically open and talkative, and like Whitebeard, seemed to enjoy talking about the past and its great times, as well as the good old days of their near-bygone era. In contrast, Gaban remained guarded and tight-lipped about his own history, as he kept his distance from others he didn't trust The shift in his demeanor was palpable, and it was clear to all that his experiences had shaped him into the man he was today.

One aspect they naturally differed on even back then with Roger agreeing with Rayleigh was their feelings on revealing what they knew about the Void Century based on the knowledge they acquired. Gaban and Rayleigh had a falling out over Roger's death, what to do about the apprentices along with Roger's child, the Void Century reveal, and with the gradual disappearance of the rest of the crew. It led to them taking very different paths- Rayleigh being more passive while Gaban was more active in a long-term plan.

At all ages, he was also always quick to the point, being the first to voice the crew's dissatisfaction on matters, and disliking small talk when on more serious matters.

He understands Roger better than most and knows it is pointless to convince him to run from an enemy. Gaban seems to hold his captain to a high standard and tries to stop him from bowing his head to others. He felt especially sad about what really happened to Roger...

Sun-World

"Gegyagyagyagya. It's been a while, Gaban. You're a bit more well-put together than Rayleigh is.," said Dorry as he approached the man.

"I might be old, but I'm not out of the woods yet.," Gaban replied as he took a sip.

Dorry chuckled, his boisterous laugh echoing through the room. "Still as stubborn as ever. How about telling us what you think of these 'new' pirates we're seeing now? That Luffy kid seems to be stirring up quite the storm," he prodded, eyeing the young Straw Hat captain who was currently busy devouring the food laid out before him.

Gaban remained quiet as Colon looked on, fidgeting his fingers and darting around nervously.

He loves you in his own way.," said Ripley, his mother as she looked on.

"Wonder why he's been at Elbaf all this time?," asked Luffy.

"Who knows.," Zoro replied as he took a sip.

Sanji and Nami continued to look at the library. The quartet that had entered had been there for too long, and it was too quiet in that direction. Meanwhile, Luffy was too busy scarfing down the food, seemingly oblivious to the tension in the air.

Vivi was somewhat conflicted about meeting Robin again. On one hand, she trusted the crew enough to be a loyal friend to the Straw Hats to allow her on the crew, but she also aided in harming Arabasta, her homeland, for years. But she was content enough to trust Nami and the others that she had turned a new leaf.

Carrot also looked with concern for Chopper, but also for Zou. She then slapped herself as she realized they could handle themselves.

Bonney then started to dance in the Nika pose as the Giant children gave her suspicious looks, causing the Vegapunks to not join her. Dorry, Brogy, Oimu, and Kashii were confused at their negative reactions as well.

Bonney blinked with confusion and stared at the children confused due to hearing from her father, Kuma about how Elbaf was devoted to Nika.

"C'mon, it's the Sun God Nika! You dance like this in Elbaf!," she said before stopping as they looked confused.

"The Sun God doesn't have feet...," said one of the horned girl Giants.

Vega 40's eyes narrowed her eyes as did Atlas.

Brogy then walked to the girl as he did the Nika pose as she looked confused.

"The Sun God doesn't have arms either.," she added.

The Giant Warrior Captain then turned to Dorry as they were puzzled at the description.

"W-wha? Of the White Warrior has arms and feet! How is he suppose to able to grab food-," Dorry argued.

"The Sun God isn't White either. They're soaked in Red.," said a glass-wearing Giant child.

Sanji did a nosebleed as he saw a collection of young Giant women.

"Like that.," the Giant kid said.

Brogy and Dorry went blank with horror at the explanation.

"That sounds like a snake...," Brogy realized as his smile vanished.

"The Great Serpent...," spoke Brogy.

...Soaked In Blood.," added Dorry.

"The Red Line...," both concluded.

"How dare you call the New Sun God that?," asked a young adult Giant male.

"That's not what we're doing. We're just saying what we heard," replied a Giant child, looking down at their feet.

"No, you two. You've been away for a century so it's about time you need to understand. What these changes entail.," said the youth.

"If you want to believe in anything else. That's fine. But any god than THAT!," shouted Brogy.

"This is something even we mostly illiterate Giants know! How the Serpent tried to enslave us 800 years!," yelled Dorry.

"This is spitting not only on our culture but our ancestor's sacrifice of 800 years of never submitting!," both cried before they fainted against their will.

The atmosphere of the banquet changed drastically.

Luffy stopped eating as soon as the Giants started to draw out gas masks.

"What's going on? Did someone fart?" he asked, looking around.

Harjudin cried as he said, "I'm sorry Captain. There was a reason that I had to get the Flame-Flame Fruit. There's something ON the tree that needs to die. I didn't notice it when I was younger but after...the King died...it really started to-"

He then turned to see Gerd, Goldberg, and Stansen fall to the ground unconscious.

"What the hell is going on here?," shouted Sanji as he looked around for the source of the trouble.

The others were fainting as well.

"Poisoning us? This is sure some way to thank us.," Zoro said as he struggled.

"No...I would've detected anything that would've made the taste crappy.," argued Sanji.

"I feel weak...," Luffy spoke.

"This isn't a normal disease-quasar.," said the Stella clone.

"You're right. It's more esoteric. You don't need to know more.," said Ripley as Colon looked up.

"Mom...why?," asked the boy, appalled by the teacher.

A giant body fell out of the library as Nami observed it.

"S-Saul.," said the navigator.

"He's managed to burn-proof the books. All we can do is lock it up.," said Ange as Robin, Usopp, Chopper, and Brook were coiled in black serpentine tendrils by a silhouette.

"All hail the Sun God Demiurge.," said the other Giants.

Luffy looked at the shadowy figure.

Next Chapter: Myrkheim

Author Notes: I'm not sure what kind of person Gaban will be according to Oda, but this interpretation was made to be a deliberate foil to Rayleigh as the implied left-hand man of Roger. His relationship with Ripley and Gaban will be fleshed out throughout this arc.

Umi being a false Sun God will make a lot more sense if you pay attention to Gnostic religion when the true form of the power is revealed in upcoming chapters.

Next chapter we will be meeting the Nidavell/Dwarfs that have been hinted at since the start of the arc.

This will be an arc of colliding faiths.

I rewrote the chapter because it painted Imu/Umi in a less intimidating light than I intended.