Chapter 26: Brogy and Dorry and Hildegard! The honor of the Giants and the one winged Valkyrie!

"Artemis-sama, if you ever get tired, don't hesitate to tell me." Sanji shouted. "I would gladly carry you on my back."

"Don't worry, Sanji. Worry about yourself." Artemis assured him, as she cast small glances around her. "In fact, I'm starting to get excited about coming! I have a feeling there will be some magnificent prey."

"How right you are, my lady! Although, if you allow me... why do you hate your brother so much?"

Artemis began to slow down, although she was still alert in case there were beasts near her.

"It's not hate as such! It's more that it's maddening and annoying. Sometimes I wonder how he could be my brother.

Sanji listened very attentively to the goddess, very different from the usual Sanji.

"But are you happy with him?"

Artemis stopped dead; she never asked herself that question. Of course she was happy with Apollo, although she was very irritating to him. In fact, she laughed a little when she taped "kick me" signs on Apollo's toga. However, he recovered and looked at Sanji intently.

"Why this sudden interest in the relationship between my brother and me?

Sanji paused for a moment while clenching his fists, but quickly put them in his pockets. Artemis didn't miss it thanks to her skills as a hunter, but she didn't say anything.

"I'm just curious, Artemis-sama." Sanji said calmly as he smiled.

Artemis assisted him, although she was very interested in this change in the cook. Suddenly a drop fell on her head.

"Hm?" Artemis said looking up.

A huge jaw. A massive jaw belonging to a T-rex sat right above her, as the dinosaur salivated at the thought of eating the goddess and the cook.

"...I see." Artemis prepared her bow and smiled. "Forward, beast!"

Opening its jaws wide, the enormous carnivore pretended to devour Artemis, but in an instant, a powerful kick hit her snout with such force that the dinosaur was thrown backwards, before violently crashing to the ground.

—Don't touch Artemis-sama! Sanji roared, wrapping an arm around Artemis's waist.

This time, irritated by her behavior, Artemis ends up hitting him in the head, before shooting several arrows at the dinosaur, killing him.

"Take the dinosaur and get back to the ship, now."

"Uh...yeah."

Seeing a huge brachiosaurus in front of him, Luffy screamed.

"Wow! A huge lizard with a long neck."

"It's a dinosaur," Vivi observed.

-A dinosaur? Percy repeated, his eyes shining. Like those in the museum? I mean, this is a real dinosaur...?

"Actually a brachiosaurus, in Latin it is known as Brachiosaurus altithorax ("high-thorax arm lizard"), Spanishized as brachiosaurus, is the only known species of the extinct Brachiosaurus genus of brachiosaurid sauropod dinosaur, which lived during the Upper Jurassic, ago approximately 154 to 153 million years ago, in what is today North America..." Annabeth began to explain causing Luffy to fall asleep, Vivi to be impressed with her knowledge and Percy...

"Wise Girl, a drachma in the pot for a smartass." Percy said smirking.

Annabeth blinked before getting angry and handing her boyfriend a coin. "Insolent breath of seaweed..."

"Now I understand," Vivi said. "This island is strange because we are actually on a prehistoric island."

"Hum? Annie's reading was very stupid. What's with Prehiro... Presio... Prehisto... what?" Luffy asked.

"Due to the difficulties of navigation between the islands of the Grand Line, each of them remains independent of the others. They have developed differently, which makes them unique. Thus, there are islands that have acquired an advanced civilization and, "In contrast, other islands have changed so little that they have retained an identical appearance dating back several million years. This island actually remained in the age of the dinosaurs."

"Wait a minute! That's... It's impossible...! I mean, even if that's true it's partly impossible for an island to remain almost intact for millions of years!"

"Equal impossible as watching a rubber guy and a red-nosed clown split up?"

Annabth gives Percy an angry look and turns around sulking.

"I thought so, although it is true that it is surprising that there is so much difference between islands. Vivi, is it really possible?"

"Believe me, the unpredictable currents of the Grand Line, together with the incredible climatic capacity it has, make it practically impossible to survive, much less travel safely on these islands."

"Very good," Luffy exclaimed, stretching his arms towards the dinosaur's head. "I'll capture him."

"LUFFY!" Vivi immediately shouted when she saw him do it.

"MORON!" the demigods shouted at the same time.

His face covered in lumps, Tyson finally fell to the ground, while Thalia cracked her neck.

"Not bad, Ty. But your footwork is still slow. You have to try to go more sideways when you dodge!"

Tyson nodded and stood up as best he could with Ares watching the training and motionless.

"I see!" Thalia said, before looking for another opponent. "The next!"

However, Usopp and Neni were nowhere to be found.

"Tsss! Bands of cowards!"

As he prepares to finish for the day, the God of War creates a warhammer while he hears a strange noise coming from the cellar.

"We are not alone."

"Hum? Is that you, Usopp?"

Upon receiving no response, Ares steps forward while the demigoddess and the cyclops are put on guard and descends to the cellar, where the barrels of water and alcohol were. Trying to look around the room, he asks:

"I know you are here, mortal. Come out of the shadows and face me, The God of War."

Suddenly, before he could react, a white substance fell from the ceiling and began to cover him completely, preventing him from fighting, in seconds. The god tries to fight against the substance, then it occurs to him to use fire against the white tide, melting it in seconds. Ares smiles triumphantly and takes some to examine it. The god opens his eyes in surprise.

"This is..."

However, more white substance fell, trying to catch Ares.

"Everyone," Nami shouted, leaving his cabin.

However, other than Thalia and Tyson, he didn't see anyone.

"Come here now!" Nami ordered.

Immediately, three heads were seen at the top of the mast, where Usopp, Rachel, and Neni had hidden to escape Thalia.

"Is the "Gothic Thunder Princess" torture session over? Can we go out?" -Rachel asked, she had a Thalia look.

"Come down," Nami ordered, while she held a book in her hands.

First they inspected the boat to make sure Thalia wasn't going to fight them, the trio finally got off and went to see Nami and Atena.

"Finally, I was beginning to think that my niece would be like Ares; terribly passionate about training."

"What did you find?" Usopp asked.

-One moment. Where is Ares? -The Goddess of Wisdom wanted to know first.

"I have no idea and it's better for us," Usopp taught him, as he helped Tyson up. "Next time, it will be better to let it go."

Not caring about that, Nami screamed.

"Listen everyone! Athena-sama and I have investigated and have information about Little Garden! In fact…"

Suddenly a roar was heard, before a tyrannosaurus came out of the forest to rush towards Merry.

- That…? - Nami wondered.

-What happens now?"

"MOOOOONNNNNSSSSSTTTTTEEEEERRRRR!"

"Oh, come on. Get out of the way, I'll deal." Athena summoned her spear and her aegis, ready to finish off the beast.

However, in an instant, as the T-Rex opened its jaws wide, its head was suddenly sliced off at its neck again. And as the body collapsed to the ground, the head flew through the air, before being grabbed by a huge hand. Drawing aside the trees from its path, a huge silhouette, three times the size of the dead dinosaur, could be seen in front of the Merry.

Upon seeing it, the young occupants of the boat were paralyzed with fear, while the goddess only blinked in surprise while laughing.

"HAHAHAHA! Here you go, I have my dinner tonight."

Falling to the ground, Usopp pretended to play dead, while he feared the giant in front of the ship.

"A...a giant?" Rachel wondered.

"Giants... Why did it have to be a giant?" Athena said, more on guard than before.

""They're huge..." Tyson said, feeling impressed by the giant warrior.

"A giant..." Neni shouted. An Elbaf giant!

"Elbaf?" Rachel asked. "I heard something when I was with Smoker in Loguetown."

Looking at Merry, the giant crouched down before asking.

"You both know my island, is that true?"

"Uh... I..." Neni stammered. I have heard stories of great warriors who come from this island.

"I haven't heard much, but yes, especially from the Navy," Rachel said, trying to stay calm.

Then, looking at the crew, he wanted to know.

"And most importantly, do you have any?"

" That ? "

"Do you have alcohol?"

-Alcohol? —Nami repeated—. Um, yes! A few barrels.

"Great," the giant rejoices. "I haven't had a drink in months! Can I have some?"

"You can take everything," the crew assured him. "Take them all."

"What? Is it true? Thank you very much! In this case, to thank you, I invite you to dinner."

" THAT ? "

"AAAAAARRRREEEEESSSS-SSSSSAAAAMMMMMAAAA!" Usopp immediately shouted.

However, he got no response. The god seemed to be nowhere.

-The bastard! He's gone. "

"Of course, he always leaves at the worst time."

"Any problem?" the giant asked as he picked up the huge body of the dinosaur he had just killed. "By the way, my name is Brogy! The most powerful warrior in Elbaf."

"VIVI! ANNIE! PERCY! HESTY! Come here!" Luffy shouted, still on top of the brachiosaurus' head. "The view is incredible."

"Get down from there," Vivi ordered, while Percy looked at Luffy with admiration, while Annabeth looks at him with a twitch in her left eye. Hestia instead smiles at him and laughs softly.

"He is a boy ..."

"Yes, a five-year-old boy. Luffy, you idiot, get down from there now!" Annabeth yells at him, more annoyed than worried about him.

"Because?" Luffy asked, petting the dinosaur's head. "He's super docile."

"It's a dinosaur! We don't know what it could do! Get down before it gets angry!"

However, wanting to play stubborn, Luffy leaned down to face the dinosaur's eye, before asking it.

"Can you take me somewhere?"

Too busy eating, the dinosaur seemed to ignore him.

"There," Luffy shouted, pointing in a direction.

No reaction from the dinosaur.

"Luffy, better let him eat..."

"Over there!" Luffy repeated, patting him on the head.

Immediately, before the terrified gazes of Vivi and Carue, the dinosaur screamed in pain.

"Let it be on record that they tried to warn you." said the daughter of Athena upset.

Then footsteps were heard.

- What's going on? -Percy wanted to know, taking out his sword.

In response, a herd of brachiosaurs appeared and each member surrounded the dinosaur that Luffy had just hit.

- Hmm? - the pirate asked himself - What do you want?

Then, noticing that most of the dinosaurs were bigger than his, Luffy rejoices.

"Great! I'd have a much better view from up there."

He immediately stretched out his arm towards the larger dinosaur and collapsed on top of its head.

-Perfect!- assured the pirate looking at the entire island.

However, he didn't understand that the dinosaur he was on was not happy that Luffy was on top of it. In an instant, he shook his head and threw Luffy into the air.

"That…?" He did nothing more than say the captain, before ending up in the dinosaur's mouth.

"Fool!" Hestia roared.

—He...He was swallowed. —Percy said monotonously.

"Okay, who votes to leave him here and look for a new captain?"

Preparing to savor his meal, the dinosaur opened his eyes and saw a silhouette running in his direction. And before he could react, a sword cut his neck.

- That? - The Olympians and the princess were surprised to see a giant appear.

Finding himself free, a hand grabbed Luffy and he was surprised to see the giant in front of him.

"You're a really funny human being," the huge man stated. "I have never seen a human being dare to climb on the head of one of these animals! You have guts and I like that."

"WOW! You're... You're gigantic," Luffy commented.

"Normally! I am the warrior of Elbaf, Dorry! The most powerful warrior in this world."

"Hu...huge," Percy said with wide eyes. "Are you... are you a giant?"

-A giant?! —Vivi responded—. It's the first time I've seen one! He believed it was a legend.

Seeing Carue fall to the ground, out of fear, Vivi crouched close to him, before shaking him.

-Carue, wake up. We must leave before he sees us.

- Because? - Percy asked him.

"From what I've heard, giants are man-eaters."

" That ? "

"Don't talk nonsense... At home we are friends with one and I can tell that he doesn't eat humans." Annabeth said confidently.

"Calm down, please. He seems very friendly." Hestia spoke, with a tone of distrust. Hestia then sees Vivi clench her fist as she looks at her; The Goddess of the Home looks confused by Vivi's display of anger towards her, but.

- Hello Vivi! Guys! - Luffy called. - Come see us!

"Fool!" Vivi roared.

"Great, you're my guests," Dorry announced. "Come, I'll show you where I live."

"I promise you'll have a lot of fun," Brogy announced. "I don't know anything tastier than dinosaur meat."

And as he lit a large fire to cook large chunks of meat, his "guests" cried in fear.

"He plans to eat us," Nami stated.

"Why doesn't he cook us then?" Athena asked sarcastically.

"The classical technique makes us fat and then eats us," Usopp suggested.

"This is all Ares' fault," Thalia stated. "Where did that bloodthirsty idiot go?"

The ground shook as Brogy placed a large chunk of meat in front of them.

"And that's it! Enjoy your meal!"

"I'm not hungry!" five voices replied.

"You're wrong," Brogy stated, starting to eat. "You'll enjoy it! By the way, or did I introduce my roommate?"

"Hey ? "

- Hey, Hildegard - Brogy shouted - It's time to eat.

"I know," a voice said.

At that moment, from a huge cave, a girl could be seen emerging. With an attractive face and a long white hairstyle and those of different colors (green and blue), the newcomer seemed to be human like the pirates. With slightly dirty clothes and messy hair, the one now known as Hildegard ends up sitting in front of the pirates before taking a piece of meat. Eating it, she finally said.

"I was just hoping to learn more about these pirates before showing up and I couldn't believe I was seeing Olympians here."

That caught the attention of the Straw Hats and the Olympians.

"Do you know who I am?" - Athena asked, her lance raise.

"How could you not know, Athena."

-What... who are you? - Usopp asked her.

-For you, I am Hildegard —the woman answered, not bothering to lie to her.

"She's my roommate," Brogy announced. "Ever since she's been here, she hasn't stopped telling me strange stories. She seems to be dead and from another dimension."

"What?" - The five people in front of him did so, while looking at Hildegard.

"It wasn't worth saying it, I've already lost interest in returning to that world. This... This one is much better," the woman replied while continuing to eat calmly.

"Do you care about us?" Rachel asked.

Hildegard immediately looked at her and with a hard look questioned her.

"Do you think I'm lying, girl?"

"Uh... I... I just think it's very strange that someone else is here." —Rachel assured, preferring not to look for trouble.

However, Hildegard continues to look at her and warns her.

"If you keep lying to me, you'll regret it. And believe me, I know how to do it from my mother's side."

Rachel, who could only swallow when she saw Hildegard's bloodthirsty gaze, chose to remain silent. Finishing her piece of meat, the woman wiped her lips with the tip of her thumb before declaring.

"Brogy may be scary, but he's an upright and honest warrior! He would never attack people weaker than him! Besides, why would he try to eat you when there are much larger prey on this island?"

"Eating humans?" Brogy was astonished. "What a strange idea! On our island, we consider it cannibalism. I hope they don't eat giants."

"Before eating a giant, you'd have to be crazy enough to attack it," Nami commented.

"Besides, the body of a giant would feed a family for years… No offense intended." Athena commented while keeping her gaze on the young woman.

"But...but if you don't want to eat us, why did you bring us here?" Rachel asked.

"To thank you for giving me your alcohol, of course," Brogy assured her, while he picked up a barrel.

He destroyed the top of the object by crushing it with his thumb and then drank all the alcohol inside in one gulp.

"AHHHHHHH! Rum and sake! How delicious it is to drink!"

"If you say so, giant..." said the white-haired woman, disgusted by the alcohol.

"I feel like Zoro and Zeus-sama aren't going to appreciate the fact that they don't have enough to drink when they get home," Usopp stated.

"They're going to kill us," Rachel realized.

"... You don't happen to have any apple wine, by any chance?" Hildegar asked them, a little more embarrassed.

"No!" Thalia replied simply. "In fact, can you tell us who you are exactly? It's obvious that you come from our world, but it's not yet clear who you are.

"If you're so interested, my name is Asa Hildegard, former leader of a gang of street thugs in the underworld of Norway.

" Norway? "Underworld?"

"Don't try to understand it," the woman replied, pulling out a sword from her back with strange engravings. "All you need to know is that during a fight I lost my life! And during my time of being judged, my mother and the rest of her sisters wanted to get rid of me!

But, something or someone wanted to give me a chance at a second life! It brought me here, to a prehistoric island where giants live! And from what Brogy and Dorry have taught me, this island is not in my world! Until now, I've never heard of the Grand Line! Let alone seen a dinosaur or a giant that didn't want to kill me!

"What... what story is this?" Nami asked. "Does it make any sense?"

"I'm telling you not to try to understand," Hildegard said, grabbing another piece of meat. "If you had told me these kinds of stories yourself, I confess that I would have had a hard time believing you! But Well…

Biting her flesh, she finally states.

"This place isn't that bad for someone like me. Here I feel safe, free from everything."

"Hey, what are you saying?" Nami repeated. "Wait, you said your mother and aunts tried to abandon you when you died? What are you talking about, that's not...!?"

At that moment, Hildegard did something incredible, her clothes changed into golden armor and a single white wing emerged from her back as the rune on her sword began to shine. The Straw Hats were stunned, while Athena frowned, finally knowing that it was the young Norwegian girl.

"Most of the men in my band died because of that cruel world and their own weakness! I couldn't protect them and in the end, they killed me like a dog. Also, during my life, I took the lives of several people just to survive! As much as I acted alone to survive, I was only a criminal in my "house." And the funniest thing is that my family just threw me away!"

Upon hearing this, Nami and Usopp gulped in fear, while the Demigods.

"So... So you don't want to fight." Neni understood.

In response, Hildegard quickly positioned herself in front of them, pointing her sword at them.

"That... ?"

"It's not my goal to attack anyone, I'm already sick of fighting to survive! However, I've heard that you're pirates! In that case, should I understand that you appreciate murder and looting? Is that the case?"

"N... No." Nami assured, trying hard to remain calm, while Hildegard's gaze was fixed on her eyes. "We... we only seek to make our dreams come true."

"Make your dreams come true?"

"Our captain's dream is to find a legendary treasure so that he can be named "King of the Pirates." But that doesn't make him a bad man! If I followed him, it was so that I could make my dream of being able to draw a map of the world come true."

Hildegard, listening without saying anything, ends up telling her, but the Goddess of Wisdom gets ahead of her:

"...you are a Valkyrie."

"A-A Valkyrie?!" Thalia asked, surprised.

"But Valkyries are from the Nordics!" Rachel answered.

"Oh, so it's true that you know her?" asked Brogy, eager to know more about the young one-winged girl.

"You see, my giant friend and young pirates, the Valkyries are servants of the Norse God Odin, king of the divine territory of the northern lands," Athena began, capturing everyone's attention. "They are the warriors in charge of carrying the fallen warriors in the mortal realm to Valhalla, the great and majestic hall where the einherjar (warriors who died in glorious combat and chosen by Odin himself) will fight and celebrate until the day of Ragnarök."

"Ragnarök...?" Nami asked.

"...the battle of the end of the world. This battle will be waged between the gods, the Æsir, led by Odin, and the fire giants led by Surt, who are also joined by the jötnar led by Loki. Not only will the gods, giants, and monsters perish in this apocalyptic conflagration, but almost everything in the universe will be destroyed." Hildegard concluded bitterly.

"The end of everything?!" Neni screamed.

"HHHIIAAAAHH, THE NORDICS ARE SCARY!" Nami and Usopp hugged each other with tears in their eyes.

"Gababababababa, sounds like a battle worthy of the most furious giants!" exclaimed the giant laughing.

'As if your race of giants were from Ragnarök, Brogy..." Athena sighed.

"It's happened before, damn it!" The Valkyrie stabbed her sword into the ground as ice spikes shot out. Angry and exhausted, she let herself fall as she finished.

"Believe it or not, it's happened before; there was already a Ragnarok." Hildegard revealed, to the shock of everyone, even Athena.

"This dinosaur meat is too good," Luffy assured, as he took a bite.

"And there's a lot of it," Percy rejoices as he eats his own piece. "Thanks, giant."

"It's nothing, boy," Dorry assured. "With what I have left, I have food for at least three days! Don't be afraid to help yourself."

He then ate a small sandwich with plenty of meat, he stated.

"Your bentos are small but surprisingly delicious."

"Of course they're good. My cook made them with Hesty's help!"

If you told me they were bad, I would have kicked your ass."

Immediately, Vivi and Carue freaked out, thinking of Dorry's reaction.

"HAHAHAHA! You want to kick my ass? You really are a funny guy! "HAHAHAHA!"

Percy and Annabeth just stood there, perplexed. The surreal nature of the situation alone was enough to leave the young heroes stunned. And yet...

"You laugh a lot, Mr. Dorry," Annabeth observed, amused.

"You always have to appreciate life," Dorry replied. "No one knows what the future holds, so you have to appreciate every day of your life."

"You're so right, big guy! We're constantly fighting, which is why I enjoy my mother's cookies so much more," the son of Poseidon commented, smiling.

"Hahahaha, great wisdom, boy; The life of a warrior is not easy, but it is simple."

Hestia said nothing as she tried to stay out of the giant's sight, as she feared he would try to attack and because seeing Dorry's enormous size brought back painful memories of her childhood and youth. Vivi looked at the goddess out of the corner of her eye, and couldn't help but feel a horrible, unfamiliar feeling: hatred. A primitive, instinctive hatred towards them, the Greek gods.

"By the way, do you live alone here, Giant?" Luffy asked. "Don't you live in a village?"

Dorry stopped laughing and looked at Luffy before looking away. Finally, she declared,

"Yes, I have a village. Elbaf, the village of warriors! It's somewhere in the Grand Line! However, my village has laws."

"Laws? "

"Yes, during an argument that leads to a fight, the adversaries must leave the village and fight on an island that serves as a ring for them. Then they fight to the death and accept the judgment of our god Elbaf! It is he who decides who should or should win! In this way, he gives his strength to the warrior who deserves it."

"You mean you're here to fight?" Vivi wondered.

"Yes! We've been fighting for some time now and we're still waiting to find out who will be the legitimate winner of our fight."

"So, wait for one of you to die." Luffy understood.

"In short, yes."

"I don't understand," Annabeth confessed, annoyed.

"Hmm? It's easy to understand, isn't it? We fight each other."

''But... do you hate him?''

"No, why? "

"So, why do you have to kill someone you like?"

Scratching her head, Dorry finally said.

"Listen… it might be hard for a kid like you to understand! But, this is how we've always lived! We can't change it! As proof, we've been fighting for 100 years."

"You've been fighting for a hundred years?" Luffy repeated. "It means you got here long before I was born! Even before Roger became a pirate."

"Roger, who is that person?"

Tore off a piece of flesh, he added.

"For you humans, a hundred years seems like a long time, but we giants can live up to 300 years."

"Even though you live longer than us, aren't you tired of fighting for so long?" Vivi asked. "And what is your reason for fighting?"

"My reason?" Dorry repeated.

Suddenly, to everyone's surprise, he laughed again.

"I wonder," Artemis confessed as she helped Sanji drag the massive tyrannosaurus onto the boat. "Is this lizard edible? I no doubt let my fiancé or some of the boys eat anything."

"My goddess, don't worry! My talent is so great that I could turn a toxic dish into a gastronomic wonder."

"Anyway, it's amazing to have found such an animal here," the Goddess of the Hunt commented. "A prehistoric island? Now I understand why the Grand Line never fails to impress me."

Suddenly, Sanji and Artemis stopped, as their path crossed with Zoro and Apollo's.

"Hmm?" the swordsman said.

"Oh, beautiful prey you have there, Arty," Apollo stated with a mocking smile, as he still lay on top of Zoro's triceratops.

"Apollo?" —Artemis was surprised, but recovered and counterattacked.— So you were able to catch something, huh? I'm surprised.

—Wow, dear sister, you hurt me —said the God of Music, leaving his post—. So… back to the contest, who wins?

"Us," the four said at the same time.

And to prove it, they lined up their prey, one next to the other, so they could see the result. And without a doubt, Sanji and Artemis' dinosaur was the longest.

"I won," the blonde said proudly.

"Pfff, as if it were a surprise," said the goddess, raising her hair in the wind.

"Fools, you two! We talked about bringing as many tons of meat as possible," commented Zoro. "And our dinosaur is heavier than yours! I won!"

"Don't talk nonsense! Your dinosaur only has bones! We were barely able to extract five grams of meat."

"Really? And your dinosaur? There's only muscle and sinew! There's no quality meat." Apollo asked, shoving his sister away.

"It's amazing how you can be so childish!" Artemis shouted.

"Let's look on the bright side, Artemis, at least we have meat," Apollo commented casually.

"You're unbearable...!"

Suddenly, the explosion of a volcano was heard. Seeing it spit smoke, Apollo nodded.

"Look at the size of the prey, this volcano would make a perfect barbecue."

"No, it's a perfect countdown," Zoro replied. "We're hunting again and we have to bring back the largest animal possible before an explosion happens again."

"It works," Sanji announced. "I'll ridicule you once and for all."

"By my delight. It's time to settle accounts with you, 'Polly' " said Artemis, preparing her bow.

"I accept the challenge, sister. This time we will see who is the best archer of Olympus" Apollo replied mockingly.

At that moment, a roar surprised the four competitors. What they saw next shocked them to the core: a huge dinosaur with brown hair, red armor and a hammer-shaped tail tried to overwhelm them.

"Sweet Zeus...!" exclaimed the Goddess of the Hunt.

"Can these creatures be so big?!" shouted the God of the Sun, excited by such prey.

"Heh... That's interesting. Hey, Sparkles!" Zoro shouted at Apollo, who got angry at the swordsman for the name, but only saw a confident smile from Zoro. "You're on my team, so defeat that prissy sister of yours, do you hear me?"

Apollo was surprised by the swordsman's confidence, however, he felt inspired by him. Since he met him, he saw the man's fight for his ambitions. Determined, he just gave him a thumbs up and nodded.

Sanji only gave words of encouragement to Artemis, who only sighs wondering what her "fiancé" saw in that man. Without wasting any time, the archer gods were ready to fight the strange beast.

Seeing the volcano explode, Luffy couldn't help but be impressed.

"Wow! That's a big explosion."

"It's beautiful and scary at the same time," Percy observed.

"Clarisse's temper is worse." Annabeth commented, finishing her meal.

"That's the sign," Dorry realized.

"The sign?"

"Forgive my rudeness, but I have an urgent matter to attend to," Dorry stated, as she picked up her sword.

At that moment, seeing him stand up, Luffy was surprised to see his gaze change.

Also hearing the sound of the volcano, Usopp was scared to be so close to it.

"On the ship, the explosion was much less impressive."

"How can we live with this volcano that erupts every hour?" Neni wanted to know.

Meanwhile, lying on the ground, Hildegard finally opened her eyes, before asking.

"Are you leaving, Brogy-san?"

"Of course." The giant immediately assured, grabbing his axe.

No longer behaving like a perfect host, the giant lets out a huge battle cry.

"Let's go."

"Hey, what's wrong?" Nami asked, frightened.

"I have to go," the giant says simply.

"Go?" Rachel repeated.

"Where do you want to go?" Thalia asked.

"On the battlefield," Brogy said. "The volcano has been our signal for the past hundred years! Every time it erupts, Dorry and I face off to prove to our god Elbaf who is the most powerful of us. And if we win, one of us will be able to return home."

"You... You've been fighting for a hundred years?" Usopp wondered. "But why?"

"Why?" Brogy repeated. "I've forgotten the reason for our fight for years."

"What?"

Without delaying any longer, the giant left his spot to run towards the center of the island.

"DORRRRYYYY."

"BRROOOGGGYYYYY." Dorry shouted in imitation.

And soon, Brogy's axe and Dorry's sword collided, creating a powerful shockwave that spread across the island.

"Such power," Usopp commented, feeling a gust of wind pass by his face.

Continuing the fight, the giants used their weapons in an attempt to kill their opponent. With each blow, the island shook due to their powers.

"They're both strong," Thalia noted. "And I've fought monsters like the Nemean Lion."

"What they say about giants is, well, true," Rachel understood. "It's the race that deserves the nickname 'warrior'."

Watching them fight, Nami shrugged and replied.

"Fighting when you've already forgotten the reason? It's complete nonsense."

"It's you who's stupid," a voice replied.

Lying on the ground, Hildegard was the one who had openly insulted Nami.

"Pardon me?" the redhead roared.

"As long as you're not a warrior, you won't be able to understand."

"Do you understand what?"

"Look at them, you insolent wench! These two impress neither with their power nor their size! No, what makes me want to admire them is their honor."

"Honor?" Usopp repeated.

"I was reincarnated on this island about two years ago," the one-winged Valkyrie taught them. "And there hasn't been a single day when these two haven't fought! Sometimes, they chain together three or four fights a day! And despite the wounds from the previous fight, they take up their weapons and return to the fight, without the slightest fear."

Hearing another surprise, Usopp turned to look at the giants, as Hildegard continued.

"Just look at them! They don't just intend to fight! Each of their shots is aimed at a vital point! Each of their attacks is meant to kill! And it's been that way for a hundred years! For a hundred years, they've wanted to prove who's the most powerful! And they don't care about the reason for the origin of this fight! The test, they've forgotten and they keep fighting! They do it for their honor!"

Smiling as she looked at the giants, she finished.

"No matter who wins, these two giants deserve the title of warriors."

"Cool!" Usopp whispered.

"Wow, they're really cool!" Thalia said.

At that moment, Brogy clenched his fist and managed to hit Dorry squarely in the jaw. Taking a step back, the second giant spat out a tooth from his mouth, before directing his fist at Brogy's stomach.

"Amazing!" Usopp shouted. "So the power of a giant looks like this? Is that what it means to be a warrior? Awesome! I want to have that courage too! I'd do anything to be like them."

"You want to become a giant?" His companions were shocked.

"No way! Hildegard is right. The courage of these giants deserves to be applauded! How many people can claim to risk their lives every day? How many people dare to fight an opponent as strong as them? How many people have such great courage?"

Raising her fists, she cried.

"I don't want to be their size; I want to have their courage."

Hildegard remained silent as she listened to him. Then, at last, she smiled slightly and placed a hand on the pirate's shoulder.

"You've set a great goal for yourself, boy. That's good, great warriors always have an ambition similar to them."

Usopp smiled while Nami sighed tiredly.

"Say what you want, I'm leaving," Nami announced.

However, like a bolt of lightning, Hildegard's body lunged at her back, as her arms wrapped around her body, completely immobilizing her.

"W-What?" Nami wondered.

Staring into Nami's eyes, Hildegard gave her a terrifying look as she stated.

"Do you want to die?"

"What?"

"If you leave, I'll make sure you die by my sword."

At that moment, unable to look away from Hildegard's eyes, Nami felt a surge of fear, while the redhead sensed that something was not right with the Valkyrie. In fact, she felt herself in the company of a woman strong enough to kill her in an instant, and if she was anything like Percy and the rest of his family, she knew she had some crazy power, so she nodded frantically.

"Sit back and enjoy the fight," Hildegard advised, forcing her to sit on the ground.

At that moment, the two giants attacked at the same time, with titanic force.

" 73466 matches. " Began Brogy, feeling his legs tremble.

" 73466 draws. " Dorry continued, feeling his body fall backwards.

" And zero wins. " Cried the two giants, crashing to the ground.

After waiting a few seconds, until the island stops shaking, Neni finally asks.

"Are they dead?"

In response, she heard two laughs, before the two giants stood up. Then, helping each other, they managed to get up.

"I don't understand," Rachel said. "Are they friends or enemies?"

"Winning against someone doesn't always mean hating them," Hildegard taught her. "But it's a sign of respect towards your opponent; in fact, holding back is considered a very serious insult and therefore, the insulter is considered a 'coward'."

Finally, Usopp turned to her and questioned him.

"You know a lot about this. If you're not from where Percy and the others are from, where are you from and, above all, who exactly are you?"

"Who knows?" Hidegard asked, shrugging and lighting a cigarette, as he made his armor disappear. - I'm just a half-valkyrie cast away by her falia and reincarnated in another world. But oddly enough, this island is more like a home than I've had in a long time.

Suddenly turning back to them, Brogy bent down a bit to grab two barrels of alcohol.

"I'll be right back! Give me time to give this to Dorry! He has guests too! Looks like your captain is with him."

"Luffy?" the quartet wondered.

- Princess Wednesday is also with this giant? - Neni wondered.

'Your captain?' Hildegard wondered.

"Great, then Percy and Annie are with him. That rubber clown better not get hurt or else...!" Thalia started to rant when Athena calmed her down.

Being curious and having time on her hands, the woman stood up, before jumping up to grab Brogy's hand. Then, climbing onto his arm, Hildegard sat on the giant's shoulder, before stating.

"I'm going to visit Dorry, so don't start fighting before I get there, okay?"

"As you wish, but I make no promises!", announced her friend, before leading her towards the second giant.

To be continued...

(Hello everyone. I'll just say that if you want me to explain why it took me so long this time, please do so by PM. Thanks. Oh! And if you want to know more about Asa Hildegard, my OC for this arc, feel free to ask.)