"Now that we've obtained the Mini Mini Fruit, which seems tailored for giants..." Gerd played with the Paramecia-type Mini Mini Fruit in her hand, squinting with a smile. She suggested to El, "How about we head to Elbaf after this and recruit a powerful giant to join us?"
"That's a good idea, but aside from the Giant Warrior Pirates, I don't think there are many suitable candidates in the village," El shrugged.
To be honest, within the Giant Warrior Pirates, only the long-absent captains, Blue Ogre and Red Ogre, interested him. The other members didn't catch his eye. Of course, in the future, once the Fallen Angel Pirates grew in size and strength—perhaps even establishing their own pirate nation—recruiting giants would be useful. But for now, El had no intention of using the Mini Mini Fruit's powers on any of the ordinary, unremarkable members of the Giant Warrior Pirates.
"Haha, that's true. If there's no one suitable in the village, we can always search in the giant towns!" Hajrudin laughed, baring his teeth.
"If we're talking about giants..." Streusen raised his hand and addressed El. "I have a suggestion, El-sama!"
"You've met the Ancient Giants?" El's gaze sharpened, instantly discerning Streusen's thoughts. He was surprised to realize that Streusen had encountered the rare Ancient Giants during his adventures.
"You guessed that?" Streusen's eyes widened in disbelief. After a brief pause, he eagerly nodded. "A few years ago, I came across two giant humanoid creatures on an island in the New World—much larger than ordinary giants and with horns on their heads. At the time, I was so scared my legs almost gave out. It was only later that I learned they were Ancient Giants!"
"What?"
"Ancient Giants?" Gerd and Hajrudin exclaimed in shock. As giants themselves, they had heard of the Ancient Giants, a race much larger than modern giants. However, it was also said that Ancient Giants were not very intelligent and were extremely violent.
"Huh? Ancient Giants?" Linlin tilted her head in confusion. "Aren't Gerd and Hajrudin giants?"
"Ancient Giants are a special race whose bodies are far larger than the giants we typically see—several times bigger, in fact," El explained, patting Linlin's head with a smile.
Streusen, unaware that El wasn't guessing but rather reading his thoughts, remained oblivious. El's enhanced Observation Haki was one of his secret trump cards. It not only allowed him to foresee his enemies' moves but also discern the loyalty and intentions of those around him, preventing disloyal individuals from infiltrating his crew. Of course, he wasn't about to advertise this ability, nor would he confirm it even if others figured it out.
"They're even bigger than the giants?" Linlin asked, wide-eyed in astonishment.
"Although the Ancient Giants are powerful, I believe with your strength, El-sama, you should have no trouble subduing them!" Streusen said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "I even have a Vivre Card for that island. Shall we go and try?"
"Of course," El readily agreed. This was an unexpected surprise. If he could recruit an Ancient Giant, his grand ambition of creating a country that included all races would be one step closer to reality.
Furthermore, the Mini Mini Fruit's powers were unique. Even though it shrunk the user's body, it didn't affect their strength, appetite, or combat ability. Theoretically, the skin, muscles, and organs of an Ancient Giant would compress to an extreme degree. If such a massive creature were reduced to the size of a normal human or even smaller, and mastered the Six Powers and Haki, their combat power would be extraordinary.
If this plan succeeded, El would likely gain yet another unstoppable, immensely powerful monster in his ranks.
Without delay, El enlarged Zeus the Thundercloud and loaded the treasure aboard. The group quickly departed from Barbarick Island, setting sail once again on the *Lucifer*, heading toward the island where Streusen had encountered the Ancient Giants.
...
Two days passed swiftly.
El's bounty remained unchanged. The news that Steelbone Kong's fleet, under the command of the G-11 branch, had suffered heavy losses in an attack by the Fallen Angel El had not spread.
"Whoosh..."
In an unknown sea, the *Lucifer* sailed forward, carried by the massive waves created by the Sea Homie.
"Streusen, are you sure this is the place?" Hajrudin shouted, surveying the endless sea and the occasional giant Sea Kings that surfaced. "There are quite a few Sea Kings around here—we must be close to the Calm Belt's edge, right?"
"There's no doubt about it, my lords!" Streusen shouted back, looking at the yellowed, weathered Vivre Card in his hand. "We should be very close now!"
"El-sama, we've arrived..." Streusen's sharp eyes suddenly caught sight of a distant, faintly visible island. He pointed ahead and called out.
"We've arrived?"
Linlin, Gerd, and Hajrudin's eyes lit up with anticipation. None of them had ever seen a real Ancient Giant before.
"Footprints... And they're huge..."
Before long, with the Umibōzu pushing the *Lucifer* forward, they reached the shoreline, where they immediately spotted several enormous footprints in the sand.
"Roar..."
At that moment, a massive Sea King suddenly emerged from the water. Its vicious, gaping maw full of sharp teeth lunged toward them.
"Hmm?"
Standing at the bow, ready to disembark, El's eyes narrowed.
"Clang!!"
In a flash of cold light, his sword was drawn from his waist and slashed through the air.
"Slash—" The atmosphere seemed to tear apart as a massive, pale blue energy wave shot through the air, instantly slicing through the several-hundred-meter-long Sea King's head, decapitating it in a flash.
"Whoosh..."
The giant, monstrous head tumbled down, and its massive body crashed into the sea, sending waves and blood surging across the surface, quickly staining the ocean red.
"Wow! That was amazing..." Linlin's eyes sparkled with admiration.
"El, you've become even more powerful..." Gerd and Hajrudin, filled with awe, added, "You can casually unleash a flying slash now!"
"Such terrifying talent..."
Streusen looked at the towering figure of El, wings spread and flames blazing behind his head. He was under ten years old, yet already an intimidating presence. With heartfelt admiration, Streusen remarked, "El-sama, I believe you will soon become the world's greatest swordsman!"
"Alright, enough with the flattery... I'm still far from becoming the true world's greatest swordsman," El laughed.
He was self-aware. For now, his strength came largely from his raw power—he could be considered a capable swordsman, but far from a true swordmaster. He was still a long way off from becoming the world's greatest, and he knew it.