Defeat meant death.
But for Dorry, death was not what he feared most.
What terrified him was losing to a human who had mastered Hakoku.
"This must be... the curse of Elbaf..."
Dorry lowered his head, his expression dark as he stared at the shattered remains of his longsword.
Thud—!
The broken upper half of the blade fell to the ground with a dull crash, stirring up clouds of dust.
The faith and pride of this former "Blue Ogre" of the Giant Warrior Pirates—an idol to countless young giants—had shattered just like his sword.
Gone was the confidence and vigor that once adorned his face.
In its place was a look of despair, utterly devoid of fighting spirit.
The moment Dorry's sword broke, the outcome of the battle became painfully clear.
Maude looked at the ashen-faced Dorry and once again assumed the stance for Hakoku.
At this point, he had at least three different ways to defeat Dorry.
Yet he chose to use Hakoku again.
Even if it meant exhausting himself, it didn't matter.
What he wanted to see was not a giant who had given up.
"So, just because your sword broke, you're ready to surrender? Is that all an Elbaf warrior amounts to?"
!!!
Dorry snapped his head up, his gaze locking onto Maude, eyes sharpening with renewed determination.
How could he disgrace the name of a warrior…?
Even in defeat, he would stand and fight to the end!
In an instant, the ferocity that had momentarily faded reignited like an unquenchable fire, radiating from Dorry's massive frame once more.
Seeing the shift in Dorry's gaze, Maude said no more. His muscles tensed, his arm swelling with power, ready to unleash Hakoku at any moment.
That's more like it...
Maude thought to himself.
Noticing Maude's poised stance, Dorry sensed his intent—to settle this duel with one final clash of Hakoku.
"This human..."
Dorry's thoughts stalled for a moment.
But there was no time for contemplation.
No matter how this battle ended, he would fight with every last ounce of strength!
"Half a blade... is enough!"
Dorry swung his arm, positioning the broken sword horizontally across his shoulder, instantly assuming the stance for Hakoku.
Hakoku!!!
No words were needed. Almost simultaneously, Maude and Dorry unleashed their devastating, cylindrical shockwaves.
Another head-on collision!
The two shockwaves clashed in an instant.
Lightning crackled, brilliant light erupted.
The explosive shockwaves surged outward like tidal waves.
The earth-shattering impact of their Hakoku duel sent every creature on the island into a frenzy, as if the world itself was ending.
At the shoreline.
The people who had retreated there watched in terror as the battle raged at the island's center.
The sky,
The land,
Even the sea—
Everything was affected by the clash between Maude and Dorry.
A monster... nothing else could describe them.
Most of the onlookers trembled in fear, unable to fathom how these two warriors could unleash such destructive force.
"With a fight this intense... what if—"
While some quaked in terror, others harbored different thoughts.
Such an intense battle… perhaps it would end in mutual destruction?
At the very least, one might die while the other is left gravely wounded.
This possibility sparked greed in a portion of those who had fled to the shoreline.
They could wait until the battle reached its climax and then move in to assess the situation.
If the outcome matched their expectations, they would seize their opportunity.
If not, they would simply retreat—so long as they maintained a safe distance, they wouldn't be in danger.
Emboldened by the lure of potential gains, they cautiously crept toward the battlefield at the island's center.
Back at the battlefield.
As the aftershocks of the Hakoku clash dissipated, Dorry's face paled, blood trickling from the corners of his mouth.
The wounds inflicted by Maude's first Hakoku had worsened with each clash, pushing him closer to the brink.
But more concerning than his injuries was his weapon—his broken longsword was now riddled with deep cracks, so fragile that a mere touch might shatter it completely.
Yet, this time, there was no hesitation in Dorry's eyes. Raising his fractured weapon once more, he assumed the Hakoku stance again.
Even now, he couldn't comprehend how Maude had learned Hakoku on the spot…
Or how he had mastered it so quickly.
Perhaps… this was what the elders of Elbaf had once spoken of—a true monster.
But none of that mattered anymore.
Let this battle decide the victor!
Determined, Dorry steeled himself.
Maude mirrored his stance, preparing for another Hakoku.
A battle like this… would likely never happen again.
In the next instant, Maude and Dorry unleashed Hakoku once more.
The island trembled under the impact of their attacks.
The repeated exchanges continued until, finally, Dorry's half-broken sword could endure no more.
With a crisp snap, it shattered, leaving only the hilt in his grasp.
"This is the end."
Dorry silently watched as his weapon fell to the ground.
His injuries were worsening, his vision darkening, yet he could still clearly see Maude assuming the Hakoku stance one final time.
"To die under Hakoku…"
A complicated mix of emotions surged within Dorry.
Regret… and relief.
To fall beneath the strongest spear of Elbaf's warriors…
Was not the worst fate.
In his final moments, Dorry gazed at Maude, as if witnessing the birth of a true monster.
Maude sensed this but paid it no mind.
"This will be the last one."
Pouring the last of his strength and Haki into his blade, he declared:
"Let your power... become part of my future!"
With one final slash, a colossal shockwave surged forward, engulfing Dorry in radiant destruction.
Moments later, the light faded.
Dorry lay motionless on the ground, his face covered in blood, his lifeless eyes devoid of light.
That last Hakoku had taken his life.
Maude panted heavily, reversing his grip to plant his sword into the ground for support.
Though he had drained every ounce of his strength and Haki, he felt an inexplicable satisfaction.
"Hah..."
He exhaled deeply.
In the next instant, the benefits of slaying Dorry surged through his body in warm waves, slightly restoring his stamina and Haki.
The battle was over.
Gaya and the others rushed over from outside the battlefield.
"Maude, are you hurt?"
"Are you alright?"
Philo and Gaya each voiced their concern.
Maude smiled. "I'm fine. Just exhausted. I need a bit of rest."
Cavendish scrutinized Maude, then muttered in awe, "A monster."
Maude glanced at him, recalling Dorry's final gaze, and said nothing.
Seeing Maude's silent acknowledgment, Cavendish scoffed under his breath. "Hmph, narcissist."
"..."
Maude was speechless.
If anyone here is a narcissist, it's definitely you.
Suddenly, Maude's eyes narrowed as he sensed hostility from the distant forest.
Gaya noticed it too, gripping her axe.
"Maude, your meal prep will have to wait."
"Heh..."
Maude understood and responded with a soft smile, "Just drive them away."
As his rank increased, weaker opponents could no longer provide him with any real benefits.
So unless necessary, he wasn't inclined to waste his energy dealing with these opportunists trying to take advantage of the situation.
Besides, sparing their lives would allow them to spread the word about him, helping him build a reputation.
Hearing Maude's words, Gaya gave a slight nod.
Meanwhile, Cavendish and Philo looked somewhat puzzled.
But they quickly noticed the figures emerging from the edge of the forest—and in that moment, everything became clear.
"Perfect timing."
Cavendish, who had been holding in his frustration, suddenly brightened.
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