One Piece: The Deadly

The Thousand Sunny sailed through the foggy seas, drawing closer to the land of the giants—Elbaf. The towering cliffs came into view, their peaks brushing the clouds. The air was crisp and filled with the distant sound of booming laughter and clashing weapons.

Luffy stood at the helm, grinning ear to ear. "Elbaf! We're finally here!"

"Keep your excitement in check," Nami scolded, holding onto the railing. "This isn't just any island. The giants don't exactly welcome strangers."

Robin, flipping through one of her books, nodded. "Elbaf has a strong warrior culture. We should tread carefully."

Meanwhile, Kikidori stood silently at the edge of the deck, his gaze fixed on the approaching island. Something about it stirred a faint, unexplainable feeling in his chest.

"Kikidori?" Ere'ana asked, walking up beside him. "Are you okay?"

He blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. "Yeah… I guess. It just feels… familiar somehow. Like I've been here before."

Ere'ana tilted her head, her voice gentle. "You were born here, right?"

"I think so," Kikidori replied, scratching the back of his head. "But I don't remember much. Just little flashes—big shadows and loud noises. That's all."

As the Sunny docked, the crew disembarked, stepping onto the vast, grassy plains of Elbaf. The island was breathtaking, with massive trees, rolling hills, and rivers wide enough to fit entire ships.

"Whoa!" Luffy exclaimed, his eyes sparkling. "Everything's so huge!"

"It's Elbaf, what did you expect?" Zoro said, adjusting his swords.

"Bigger portions of food, I hope," Sanji muttered, glancing around.

Suddenly, a shadow loomed over the crew. A giant, clad in armor and wielding an axe the size of the Sunny, stepped into view. His booming voice echoed across the plains. "Who dares trespass on the land of Elbaf?"

Kikidori froze. His eyes widened as he took in the sheer size of the giant. Without thinking, he scrambled behind Raiko and clung to him.

"Hold me, you fat monkey!" Kikidori shouted, his voice trembling.

Raiko groaned, shoving Kikidori off. "Get off me, noodle king!"

"HEY!" Kikidori yelled, recovering his composure. "Says the one that doesn't even have a bounty!"

The crew collectively sighed, already bracing for the bickering to spiral.

Raiko smirked, crossing his arms. "Says the one that doesn't have parents."

A heavy silence fell over the group. Ere'ana gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "Raiko!" she whispered harshly.

Kikidori blinked, then shrugged nonchalantly. "Eh. They died when I was two. I don't even remember them, so who cares?"

The Straw Hats exchanged uneasy glances, unsure whether to intervene or let it slide.

"Still," Zoro muttered, "that's a low blow."

Before the tension could escalate, the giant warrior crouched down, studying the group with sharp eyes. "You… aren't ordinary humans, are you?"

Luffy stepped forward, his grin unfaltering. "Nope! We're the Straw Hat Pirates!"

The giant's expression softened, and a booming laugh erupted from his chest. "Straw Hat Pirates! I've heard of you. The stories of your bravery have reached even Elbaf!"

The crew relaxed slightly, though Nami and Usopp stayed on edge.

The giant introduced himself as Brogar, a veteran warrior of Elbaf. He gestured for the crew to follow him deeper into the island.

As they walked, Kikidori found himself looking around, his heart racing. The sights and sounds felt eerily familiar, like a dream he couldn't quite remember.

Ere'ana noticed his distant expression. "Kiki-san? Are you sure you're okay?"

"I… I think I remember something," he said quietly.

Robin, overhearing, glanced at him thoughtfully. "Sometimes, returning to a place of significance can unlock memories. Take your time."

But Kikidori wasn't sure he wanted to remember. Something about the flashes in his mind—the shadows, the screams—made his chest tighten.

As they approached a village, Kikidori spotted a monument carved from stone. It depicted a giant shielding two small figures from a monstrous creature. His breath hitched.

"Why does this feel… familiar?" he whispered to himself.

The crew watched as Kikidori stepped closer to the monument, his eyes wide with a mix of awe and confusion.

"What's wrong?" Luffy asked, tilting his head.

Kikidori shook his head, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know… but I think I've seen this before."

And as the memories began to surface, Kikidori couldn't shake the feeling that his time on Elbaf would reveal more about his past than he was ready to face.

End of Chapter 38