"Just a mere human—bold, I'll give you that. But you'll still have to pay the price."
Dorry glared down at the human before him who had dared to draw a sword at him. A flicker of admiration passed through his eyes—after all, not everyone had the guts to stand against a giant. But that trace of respect was quickly consumed by rage. That was a pet he had raised for over a year—true, it had only been out of boredom, but even a year with an insect could create some attachment. Giants, known for being straightforward and stubborn to a fault, were not ones to forget such bonds. Dorry had raised that triceratops bit by bit, and it was especially affectionate toward him. It had only slipped out while he was napping—and just when he found it again, Sean had killed it. The fury in his heart now boiled over.
Sean looked at Dorry and knew he was at fault—who would have thought a giant lived here? And worse yet, he'd just happened to kill the giant's pet. Judging by the look on Dory's face, this wasn't something that would end peacefully. So, Sean raised his sword, Bloodchaser, and pointed it at Dorry.
"Tch. So much talk. If you want to fight—then fight."
Dorry was instantly enraged by Sean's arrogance. He raised his massive sword and swung it down with a force so great it stirred the very air around them.
This time, Sean didn't dodge. Earlier, he'd evaded because he hadn't been able to counterattack—but that didn't mean he couldn't fight. Although killing the pet was unintentional, Dorry's previous strike had truly been a lethalone. That, combined with Sean's simmering rage, meant he wasn't holding back anymore.
As he prepared to strike, black mist began to creep up his blade. It was a backlashforce from training with Causal Energy. Yet instead of harming Sean, the force had taken root in his body and could now be wielded. However, this black energy carried a corrosive nature, so Sean rarely used it. The only move he developed using this power was—Ghost Blade.
The black mist slowly coated Bloodchaser like an ominous version of Armament Haki, with a strange blood-red sheen to it. It made Sean look downright demonic. This power enhanced him but carried a dangerous flaw: it could erode one's will, even devour the user's consciousness. Still, facing an enemy like Dorry, there was no room for caution. Sean believed in his own will—he had fought tooth and nail to get where he was. He wouldn't lose control.
"When cause contradicts effect, when effect comes without cause, it creates chaos—an unworkable paradox. In all realms, there exist violations of the natural order. To those I bring judgment.
I am the executor of divine punishment.
Take this—Ghost Blade!"
As Sean's aura grew increasingly intense, Dorry felt an unfamiliar sense of danger and unease. But pride in the Giant race meant he wouldn't back down. With a thunderous roar, he swung his sword with full force.
Sean raised Bloodchaser, now sheathed in black mist, and charged. Their blades clashed.
Black. White. Blood-red.
The elements collided in a furious explosion of force, ripping trees from the ground and gouging craters into the earth.
At the moment of impact, Sean felt it—a monstrous strength, like being hit by a charging mammoth. Gritting his teeth, he roared and pressed forward with all his might.
But Dorry was even more shocked. Aside from Brogy, no one had taken one of his full-power strikes in years. Yet this tiny human had blocked it head-on. The eerie, blood-black aura on Sean's blade even started to corrode his massive sword. Though the damage was minimal, it was enough to ignite Dorry's fighting spirit.
The clash intensified. Both men pushed their bodies to the limit, veins bulging, eyes bloodshot. Eventually, Dorry let out a deafening yell and smashed Sean away. Sean flew through the forest, crashing through over a dozen trees, and carving a long trench in the ground. The gap in raw strength was just too great. Despite all his efforts, Sean couldn't match a giant's raw power.
Blood dripped from Sean's lips. He staggered to his feet, bruised but not seriously injured, thanks to his strong physique. Still, his eyes burned with unwillingness.
"So, I really can't beat you in raw power…"
Dorry, breathing slightly heavier but otherwise fine, still gripped his sword, his eyes blazing withbattle-lust—like many giants, he lived for combat.
Sean exhaled deeply, raising his sword.
"I haven't gotten my revenge yet. My crewmates are waiting for me. You're just one Giant—how could I back down now?! If it's a fight you want—then you'll get one. And today—you'll lose!"
With that, he vanished in a blur and charged Dorry again.
Dorry, laughing with excitement, also charged.
Bladetheblademet, and scars crisscrossed the battlefield.
"Causal Blade Domain!"
With a shout, blood-gold sword energy erupted around Sean. Dorry froze for an instant—justlong enough. The energy slashed into him like a thousand blades, carving bloody lines across his body. Blood spilled across the land, painting the earth red.
When the onslaught ended, Sean was drenched in sweat, gasping for breath. The move had consumed most of his stamina, but it had worked—Dorry lay on the ground, bloodied and unmoving.
But just as Sean thought it was over, Dorry suddenly let out a laugh.
"Hahaha! Not bad, kid."
Sean watched in shock as Dorry stoodup, stretching. The horrific wounds had already scabbedover. Not only was he not dead—he wasn't even seriously hurt.
Sean's pupils contracted.
"What the hell is this guy… a monster?"
Dorry smiled.
"Hahaha! I acknowledge your strength. Take one more of my moves, and I'll let bygones be bygones. You're not weak. You've earned my respect."
Giants respected strength above all. They had no time for the weak. Since Sean had earned that respect, Dorry no longer cared about the pet. After all, what's a pet compared to a good fight?
Sean gave a bitter smile. There was no way out now.
"Fine. One more move? Even then, I'll take them."
Dorry laughed heartily.
"Hahaha! Good! I like you, kid. Let's do this."
A powerful white aura swirled around Dorry's blade, releasing a crushing pressure over half the island, whipping up violent winds.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the island, another giant with a horned helmet, long beard, and massive axe—Brogy—looked up.
"What's going on? Dorry's using that move? Who is he fighting?"
Elsewhere, Vexi and the others, still exploring, felt the overwhelming pressure. Dinosaurs and other beasts fled in panic. Alarmed, the crew immediately rushed toward their rendezvous point.
Back with Sean, the terrifying force in front of him nearly crushed his spirit. His mind wavered.
Can I withstand this…?
"No. I can't die. My revenge isn't complete. My crew is still waiting for me.
I need to live! I need to stop this move! I still have to sail with my crew!
The power inside me—awaken! Burn!
I WILL BLOCK HIM!"
Fueled by his will, the backlash energy erupted. Thick black mist burst from his body, radiating a dark, ominous, chaotic aura. His power surged.
In Sean's mind, Sword Qi, Causality, and Backlash intertwined—forming a terrifying technique.
Inside the sword Bloodchaser, Xie Dao was stunned. The dark energy even altered his system information:
Name: Xie Dao
Age: 19
Gender: Male
Identity: Traveller
TransmigrationRole: One of the Supreme Grade Blades – Bloodchaser
(Currently Enhanced by Causal Backlash Power)
Skills:
Skill Reservoir
Self-Control
Mental Communication
Sever Cause & Disrupt Effect
Causal Slash
Iaido Slash
Blade Dance
Ghost Blade
Intermediate Swordsmanship (732/1000)
Causal Blade Domain
Evil Slash
Flesh Collection: 36.4%
Hardness: S+79 → SS+46 (enhanced)
Sharpness: SS+39.5 → SS+193 (enhanced)
Main Quest: Become the World's Fastest Blade
Reward: Return home with skills upon completion
Side Quests: None
"This boost… it's insane," Xie Dao murmured. "This first master of mine is full of surprises…"
Yet Sean hadn't lost himself. His will remained strong.
"Causality governs all. Where there's light, there's dark; where there's the cause, there's the effect.
Backlash is the shadow of all things—the evil of all life.
I wield the force of the heavens to forge a weapon of all evil—this is Backlash."
As Sean's aura grew calm yet terrifying, Dorry's power reached a crescendo.
They both opened their eyes. Battle lust filled them.
"Evil Slash!"
"Hakoku Sovereignty!"
Black blade energy and white swordenergy collided, engulfing a vast swath of the island in light and destruction. The explosion rocked the entire land. Beasts trembled and cowered, abandoning all hope of escape.
The battlefield vanished under a cloud of dust and smoke.
Moments later, the ground trembled. A massive figure—Brogy—charged into the clearing. He froze at the sight: a hundreds-meter-wide crater, with two bodies—one giant, one human—collapsed inside.
"Dorry?! What happened?! Who were you fighting?"
Brogy rushed to his comrade, helping the gasping Dorry to sit up.
"Hahaha… it's fine. Just fought with that little guy. First time in ages I've fought anyone other than you. Felt great, hahaha!"
"Hahahahaha! Sorry, you're a mess! Your weapon's nearly broken! That human… must be strong."
They both looked at the unconscious Sean. Neither tried to take advantage. To the Giants, true strength deserves respect. To strike a man when he's down would be a disgrace to Elbaf's honor.
At that moment, four small figures appeared at the crater's edge and rushed to Sean's side. Three men formed a defensive stance, while Vexi ran to Sean and held him in her arms, her face full of panic and tears.
"Captain! Captain, wake up! Are you okay?!"
Dorry laughed heartily again.
"Hahaha, don't worry, he's just unconscious. We were sparring—nothing fatal."
Still wary, the crew didn't let their guard down. Once they confirmed that Sean had only fainted from exhaustion and had no serious wounds, they finally relaxed and carried him away.
After all, their captain was down, and they couldn't just take the Giants' word. That battle looked way too brutal to be "just a spar." So, they returned to the ship to wait for Sean to recover.
Dorry and Brogy said nothing more. They understood—this was the Grand Line, after all. Everyone had their battles to fight. Dorry himself was worn out and needed to rest.
And so, both sides took their comrades and retreated, leaving behind only the devastated crater and shattered forest as evidence of the epic clash that had just taken place.