In the end, Magnus chose to take both medicine and meat!

The medicine helped heal his wounds faster, and the meat replenished his strength — and for Zoan-type users, restoring stamina was the same as speeding up recovery.

As Magnus ate, Ripley chattered on about everything that had happened over the past year. To him it had been an instant, but to them it was a full year lived out in earnest.

"…At first, the Marines and CP0 launched a few offensives against us. But we giants had plenty of food stored underground, and once we hid completely, not even the admirals could find us."

"Later, when the Marines couldn't do anything to us, they started chopping down Adam Trees like mad. It made Grandpa Jorl and Grandpa Yarulu curse them to hell. A lot of giants wanted to counterattack, but His Majesty Harald stopped them."

"So we spent the first month training underground."

What followed was constant harassment of Marines and CP0 personnel, until they were finally forced to withdraw from Elbaf early.

"I awakened my Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) when I fought those Marine vice admirals. Now, they're no match for me anymore."

"Rocks awakened his Kenbunshoku half a year ago too. He's getting stronger and stronger — I feel like I can barely beat him now."

"Newgate listens better than Rocks. He still hasn't mastered all the Rokushiki (Six Powers), but his talent for Haki is even better than Rocks'. He learned Kenbunshoku just a few days ago."

"Everyone's getting stronger."

While he chewed his food, Magnus started to feel something was off. He turned to see Ripley sniffling, her tears falling like raindrops.

"Captain… I missed you so much!"

To a giant — whose lifespan was many times that of a human — one year should've felt like the blink of an eye.

But Ripley couldn't help it.

Every night she spent missing him stretched on and on.

Ten years ago, it was just admiration.

Ten years later, she realized her feelings had changed.

If she were still a full-sized giant…

She might still admire Magnus, but those feelings would never have soured into anything else.

But Magnus had given her the Mini Mini no Mi.

Many say that meeting someone too dazzling when you're young leaves an unforgettable mark on your life.

Magnus represented her longing for the sea.

He embodied her dreams of adventure, her refusal to spend her life in the giant kingdom in quiet mediocrity.

She chose to set sail.

Magnus took her out to sea.

And when her homeland fell into crisis, he didn't turn away.

He stood up.

From that moment, her feelings for him completely changed.

"Alright, alright, stop crying now."

Magnus reached out and ruffled her hair.

"I like it better when you're smiling."

"Hee~"

Ripley giggled through her tears.

"Captain, you're the one who disappeared for a whole year!"

"I couldn't help it — even I can't escape three of the World Government's top fighters alone."

Magnus shrugged — and winced as pain shot through his shoulder.

"Captain, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Just a scratch."

He winced again. That punch from Kong had been meant to kill him outright. If he hadn't hardened his body with Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki) at the last second, it might have shattered his heart.

"Now that I'm back, we can finally move forward with the plan."

"You mean… go to Wano?"

"That's right."

Magnus glanced at Toki, who had been standing silently nearby. He smiled.

"If not for Miss Toki, I'd have come back in pieces. We owe her one—"

Before he could finish, Toki interrupted him.

"There's really no need to rush!"

Seeing his startled expression, she almost wished she could crawl into a hole, but still stammered out: "I… I originally planned to go to Wano fifty years in the future. So even if we take our time… it's fine. There's still plenty of time until then."

Though she hadn't delivered her prophecy to Wano, she'd instead — by chance — helped save another country.

During Magnus's coma, she'd experienced the giants treating her as a savior. It left her flustered but also a little happy.

Wasn't this why she traveled through time? To save the innocent?

So in these two days, she'd helped Ripley care for Magnus and listened to the giants' stories… and almost forgot her original mission.

Now, hearing Magnus say he'd take her to Wano, she suddenly felt reluctant. Wano didn't seem so urgent anymore.

Toki found herself a little envious of Ripley.

Because Ripley didn't have to agonize over staying or leaving. Even though Elbaf still needed rebuilding, Ripley had no intention of staying behind.

"Rebuilding the country is the job of the giants who stay on this island. I'm a member of the White Wolf Pirates. Of course I'll stay by my captain's side!"

After all — she'd fought to protect Elbaf for a year already. Now that it was safe, no one was going to stop her from doing what she wanted!

"If Miss Toki isn't in a hurry… then I'd like to make a quick trip back to Sphinx. After disappearing for a year, I should at least show my face."

Magnus was certain the Marines wouldn't bother Sphinx lightly. But pirates were another story. In the New World, there was no shortage of brash young fools looking to take down an old legend.

Roya and Lily might not be able to hold the fort.

"I don't mind!"

Tok's face lit up when she heard that.

Then she caught herself, worrying she'd seemed too happy.

'Will Magnus think I'm… flighty?'

On this sea, the instinct to admire strength was universal.

She couldn't think of anyone stronger than Magnus.

Maybe those legendary names could match him…

But she didn't know those people.

So much so that she found herself thinking:

"Maybe… staying by Magnus's side wouldn't be so bad. After all, there's still fifty-some years until the prophecy happens. Even without time travel, I'll still be alive when it comes to pass."

Her thoughts aside —

For men of the sea, as long as they hadn't chosen to settle on any island forever, their journey would always continue.

The story of Elbaf had come to an end.

With the year of time travel added, the ship Magnus had commissioned from the giants was finally complete.

(End of Chapter)

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