215 Elbaf, Warm Welcome

Hilda looked at Burton with a pained expression.

"Please let Uncle Burton go," she said softly. 

"Even though he often bullies me, when he's around, at least some people still talk to me. Without him, no one would even bother to say a word to me."

Burton's body trembled. For the first time, his gaze toward Hilda showed a mix of reflection and regret.

Despite how cruel the world had been to her, this little girl still chose to face it with kindness and grace.

"Alright, it's up to you" Lynch said with a sigh. 

He raised his hand and knocked Burton unconscious with a swift motion. Turning to Tom, he added, "Take him back to the ship."

In the system's appraisal, Burton was worth 10 points—a fair evaluation. 

With his giant strength and size, he'd be a good asset against weaker enemies.

A person with Rear Admiral-level strength would be crushed by a blow from a giant like Burton, with their bones breaking and blood pouring from their mouth. 

If Lynch captured 34 giants like Burton, the points needed to summon Jerry would be more than enough.

"Let's go to the Giant Village and visit your parents' graves."

"Uh-huh."

Hilda smiled brightly as she caught up with Lynch and took his hand. Her mood today was completely different from yesterday. Today, she had someone willing to help her.

Mom, do you see? Hilda now has a friend she can trust.

As they neared the Giant Village, the giants around them immediately started shouting insults.

"Get out of here, kid!"

"Don't spread the devil's curse to us!"

"If you come any closer, I'll throw stones at you!"

Elbar disease appeared among the giants thousands of years ago. Even if those with the disease survive, they are smaller in size and rarely live past 18.

Back then, in an era of limited knowledge, Elbar disease was believed to be a curse from the devil. 

Anyone who suffered from it was expelled from the village to fend for themselves.

The belief in the devil's curse has persisted, and Elbar disease is still incurable today. The incidence rate has increased dramatically over the years.

Trying to explain the disease to these giants, with their short tempers and muscle-bound minds, is like expecting pigs to climb trees.

If the giants had more intelligence and less muscle, they wouldn't make so many stupid decisions.

The giant in the Enies Lobby, easily deceived by the World Government's lies, are about to sign a contract of betrayal. It's likely that the contract's end will be their death.

This isn't the first time the giants have been tricked. In the past, the nuns at the former Lamb's House worked with the World Government to deceive them.

The two leaders of the tribe even left to duel, abandoning the safety of their people. This shows just how little foresight the giant tribe has.

It's fine if you want to duel, but at least leave a letter behind so the giants aren't misled by the World Government.

"Huh? Why is there still a human here?"

"You're the one who convinced Hilda to return to the village, aren't you?"

"Get out! You're not welcome in Elbaf!"

Despite the constant abuse, Lynch smiled calmly.

Why couldn't there be more gentle giants like Jaguar. D Saul among them?

Among the giants, Jaguar. D Saul is practically an angel.

The giant clan has many branches, most of which are known for their roughness. The people in this village are definitely not the gentle type; they have notoriously bad tempers.

"Pa~"

When a stone was thrown at him, Lynch caught it with one hand and threw it back, striking the person who threw it and causing blood to spill.

"Ah! Cunning human, how dare you fight back!"

"Humans are bullying us giants!"

"Kill him! Beat him to death!"

Lynch's actions were like disturbing a hornet's nest. A group of giants, armed with stones, sticks, and machetes, quickly surrounded him.

The giants may have their flaws, but unity is one of their strengths.

"Lynch... let's get out of here." Hilda nervously grabbed the corner of Lynch's clothes, worried that there were too many giants for him to defeat.

"Don't worry, I've got this," Lynch reassured her, patting her small hand.

To take Hilda to her parents' graves in the village, it wouldn't be enough to just talk. He would need to fight the giants.

"Ha!" The giant shouted violently, and the seven-meter-long machete slashed down on him.

"Alright!" The surrounding giants cheered for this giant's skill.

The broadsword struck Lynch with full force, but it felt like hitting a piece of ancient cold iron. Sparks flew everywhere.

Click~

Lynch remained unscathed, while the giant's palms went numb from the shock, and a chip appeared on his broadsword.

The giants stood frozen, stunned by what had just happened.

"This human is no ordinary fighter, let's all attack together!"

"Elbaf Spear•Hakoku!"

More than a dozen adult giants charged at Lynch, half of them using Armament Haki. This showed why Elbaf, the giants' homeland, had such a strong reputation.

Even a small village among the giants could easily produce hundreds of Vice Admiral-level fighters, as any giant who reaches adulthood has the strength of a Vice Admiral.

Although this Vice Admiral might be seen as somewhat of an outsider, they are still a Vice Admiral combat strenght.

No wonder Big Mom had the confidence to say, "If I can conquer the giants, I can easily defeat Red-Haired Shanks."

"Clang! Clang!"

Lynch used his agility to dodge every weapon strike, weaving through the barrage of blades without a scratch.

As the weapons fell to the ground, Lynch had already disappeared.

A "whoosh" echoed, followed by the sound of a fierce wind. 

Lynch stood on one foot atop all the fallen weapons, hands behind his back. He spoke calmly, "Have you ever experienced the feeling of death?"

"Boom!"

With a powerful stomp, Lynch crushed the weapons into pieces. A massive three-meter-wide crater formed in the ground as Lynch leapt into the air.

"A strong man like you shouldn't be a nobody! Who are you?!"

"Human, tell me your name!"

The weapons were destroyed, but the giants quickly regained their fighting spirit and charged at Lynch, swinging fists as large as water tanks.

Unfortunately for them, Lynch's punches were faster.

"Bang!"

Lynch's fist landed on one giant's cheek, and the flesh rippled like waves, as though struck by a heavy truck.

The giant's body was sent crashing back, his head tilting unnaturally, blood and teeth flying from his mouth.

With a heavy thud, the giant collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

In just one punch, Lynch had taken down a Vice Admiral-level giant.

Lynch let out a sigh of relief. That had been close.

He had barely managed to survive the beating, and it had nearly cost him his life.

"Ola, Ola, Ola~"

"Big wood, big wood, big wood!"

Behind him, giant fists rained down like meteors.

Even without their weapons, the giants were still incredibly strong. The ground shook with every punch.

They surrounded Lynch and unleashed a flurry of powerful strikes, sending sonic booms through the air and kicking up huge clouds of dust.

.

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TO BE CONTINUED

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