One piece: I,Akaino will not die easily

The battle had yet to cease. Choosing to abandon evasion and engage in a frontal clash meant enduring even more concentrated and ferocious attacks.

The jungle had never been quiet. The chirping of insects, the gentle rustling of trees swayed by the wind, and the low growls of unknown beasts filled the air.

Yet at this moment, all those noisy sounds in the area were completely drowned out by continuous roars and thunderous explosions.

Beasts and dinosaurs alike fled toward the edges of the island, seeking to escape the brutal duel taking place in the island's center between two monstrous beings.

The blue ogre, Dorry, casually uprooted a bothersome tree in front of him and sent it flying with a powerful kick, intending to smash his opponent against the distant mountainside.

Despite the enormous difference in size, Sakazuki neither dodged nor yielded. He maintained his Armament Haki hardening, driving his elbow directly into the oncoming war boot.

With a deafening impact, the Vice Admiral was sent skidding dozens of meters backward before he managed to stop his momentum.

But the giant didn't fare much better. Losing his balance, his colossal body toppled backward, crushing a large stretch of trees under his immense weight and kicking up clouds of dust.

Sakazuki was inwardly shaken. He prided himself on being a powerhouse and was highly proficient in both the Rokushiki technique Tekkai (Iron Body) and advanced-level Armament Haki. Yet, after nearly an hour of direct clashes, he hadn't gained the upper hand in the slightest.

However, he had no idea that the giant was even more astounded.

In this kind of battle—a contest of raw strength, endurance, and resilience—Dorry, an elite warrior of the Giant race, had never fought a human for this long.

Even back in Elbaf Village, when he wrestled and brawled with his kin, a few heavy punches were usually enough to make even fellow giants struggle to endure.

Yet the Marine before him hadn't dodged a single attack, taking each blow head-on.

A punch for a punch. A kick for a kick. He didn't back down, using his elbow to counter each incoming strike.

So far, Dorry felt that he hadn't managed to land a truly damaging hit. Every time their blows clashed, it felt as though he were striking steel or a solid mountain.

And he hadn't forgotten—the Marine Vice Admiral before him was a Logia Devil Fruit user.

Dorry swiftly got back to his feet. He extended his left hand forward while pulling his right hand back, gathering strength and adopting a combat stance.

By this point, the giant's expression had grown more serious. His eyes locked onto the torn-up ground where Sakazuki had skidded earlier.

So in other words, this guy was fighting him on equal footing using only physical techniques and Haki?

"What a joke!" A sudden, inexplicable anger surged within Dorry.

How could he have the face to compete with Brogy for the title of the strongest warrior now?

He had been hoping to learn the latest news about Elbaf and the specifics of the agreement with the World Government from his opponent.

But as that Marine had said:

"The weak have no need to know."

"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

The giant warrior roared, charging toward Sakazuki with thunderous steps.

His heavy and rapid footfalls pounded the ground like an intense drumbeat—fast-paced and exhilarating.

"Sakazuki Vice Admiral…"

From atop a distant treetop, Lindemann, who had been observing the battle, revealed a trace of concern.

Why wasn't the Vice Admiral using his Logia abilities?

Why was he relying solely on Haki and physical combat, engaging in this brutal slugfest with the giant?

Wasn't the original plan, as agreed with the Fleet Admiral, to communicate with the giants and persuade them to surrender?

Sakazuki met the rampaging giant head-on.

Launching himself into the air, he gathered all his strength into his body, reinforcing it with the Tekkai technique in his arms.

Then, he threw a devastating punch, aiming straight for Dorry's face.

At the same time, the giant, fueled by battle fervor and anger, struck with his own fist, crashing into Sakazuki with full force.

Dorry's sturdy helmet shattered upon impact.

The left side of his face was deformed by the immense force, his cheek muscles violently compressed inward.

His massive head was driven deep into the soft earth.

But he had no time to check on the damage his own punch had caused.

A loud ringing filled Dorry's ears, his vision blurring, struggling to focus.

The giant attempted to push himself up, but his consciousness was still reeling. His hands weakened, and he collapsed back onto the ground.

As Sakazuki struck the giant, he had been mid-air.

He had already assessed Dorry's strength earlier, but he had completely underestimated how much stronger the giant became in his berserk state.

Caught off guard, he had little time to react.

But years of battlefield experience honed his instincts.

He instantly reinforced his Haki to its maximum capacity, tightened his muscles to the hardest possible state with Tekkai, and braced for impact.

And then—he was sent flying.

He crashed headfirst into the volcanic mountainside, the very one they had been gradually demolishing throughout their battle.

Sakazuki's body, now in elemental form, slipped out from the cracks in the rock.

For the first time, he felt like his bones had been rattled all over.

Tekkai and Haki had absorbed most of the damage, but the sheer impact had still managed to shake him.

Reacting on instinct, he had fully transitioned into magma to minimize secondary damage from the collision.

Dorry staggered to his feet.

Casually, he removed his now-tattered helmet and threw it to the ground.

The shattered pieces of the war helm sliced his forehead, fresh blood trickling down his face.

He vigorously wiped the blood from the corner of his eyes to prevent it from obstructing his vision.

The leader of the Giant Warrior Pirates still felt his vision swimming.

That punch…

It was on par with the blows delivered by Elbaf's elders, Jarul and Jorul, when they were enraged.

He looked at Sakazuki, who was once again approaching through the air using Geppo (Moonwalk).

Dizzy as he was, Dorry still raised his fists and took a battle stance.

Then, he burst into laughter.

"Well fought!"

The stern-faced Marine Vice Admiral stopped mid-air.

Sakazuki shoved his hands into his pockets, shaking his head slightly.

"I didn't win. Let's call it a draw for now?"

"Our Navy's supply fleet has arrived. How about we have a drink tonight?"

"Alright! Once we've rested up, we'll go for another round!"

Dorry agreed heartily.

"It's been far too long since I've tasted good alcohol! Hahahahaha!"

To the giants, anyone willing to fight them head-on was a true warrior.

And anyone willing to sit down and share a drink afterward was a good friend.

Their logic was simple and straightforward.

Sakazuki quietly exhaled in relief.

Back in the day, whether it was Mount & Blade or The Elder Scrolls, he had encountered plenty of Nord barbarians.

As long as you didn't kill their chickens, these muscle-headed brutes weren't too difficult to deal with.

On top of that, he had conducted thorough research on Norse pirate culture.

Only then had he dared to make a solemn promise before Sengoku, staking his military reputation on this mission.

Understanding the nature of giants and Elbaf's warrior culture, Sakazuki had devised the perfect approach.

Defeating Dorry outright would have disgraced the giant.

Losing himself would have been an even worse outcome.

A temporary draw was the best possible result.

The most challenging part—the physical persuasion—had now been resolved.

Over the next few months, Sakazuki was confident he could make these giants submit willingly.

"Lindemann, inform the crew—we're having a bonfire feast tonight!"

The Vice Admiral waved at his comrades watching from afar.