New World – Sky Island: Ballon Island.
What was once a quiet floating isle had now become the vibrant beating heart of Brook's empire in the sky.
The floating Ballon Island had fused with O'Hara Island, bringing together the brilliant scholars of O'Hara and the nimble-bodied dwarves in one unified stronghold. The population swelled, and with it came innovation, organization—and influence.
At the center of it all was Moore Thomas, who had firmly planted the headquarters of the World Economic News Agency on the island. But Moore was more than just a news mogul—he was a visionary.
He'd begun hiring O'Hara's scholars as columnists, launching serialized fiction, comic strips, and even scientific travel journals. The legendary tale of Navy Hero Kong vs. the Evil Army of the North Sea—found new life under Moore's pen. It gathered massive traction, especially among pirates from the North Blue.
He also partnered dwarves with reporters as field operatives. Their agility, speed, and strength made them excellent scouts. Still, Brook imposed a restriction—only a limited number of dwarves could work in media.
Why?
Because Brook had other plans.
Dwarves would eventually be vital in cultivating artificial Devil Fruits. Their contribution to the future of power was far more valuable than information gathering alone.
---
Below the skies, on the island of Doragonzo Island, Brook's influence had turned the once-obscure port into a flourishing pirate hub. The surge of incoming pirates shifted the economic center from Bristol Island to Doragonzo, which officially became the Hell Pirates' open-sea headquarters.
Bristol Island itself was entrusted to Brook's first affiliate, the Ewald Pirates. Once their original base, it now served as a proving ground for rising forces.
Teach Angel dispatched a few veteran officers to guard Bristol, while she and the fearsome Bull—both with bounties over 500 million—held down Doragonzo. Angel occasionally returned to Sky Island for training… and other reasons.
With the seas relatively calm and power evenly distributed among the three overlords, Brook launched the Second May Training Plan.
A five-month elite program focused on Haki mastery and combat evolution.
The original "First May Training" was launched back in Wano Country during Brook's mastery of Ryuo (Flowing Haki). Now, with Conqueror's Haki Entanglement becoming widespread knowledge among his crew, every Devil Fruit user trained under Brook's guidance. No more guesswork. No more trial and error.
To the crew, Captain Brook knew everything.
Even the famed Dr. Vegapunk often sought Brook's insight. The mad genius had practically claimed Golden Island as his laboratory, using it to advance a next-generation flight system for Sky Island logistics.
Thanks to O'Hara Island's compatibility with Sky Island clouds—like those under Shandora in the Grand Line—Brook and Golden Lion Shiki no longer needed to expend as much ability to maintain lift.
Inspired, Shiki planned to retrieve another floating island to further expand Sky Island territory.
Brook suddenly remembered something—Charlotte Linlin's 18th birthday was approaching.
So, he asked Shiki to relocate Lamb Island, a place Linlin had once dreamed of visiting. As a birthday present, it was perfect. Fulfilling her dream without spending a single coin—classic Brook.
The result?
+10 affection points from Linlin.
Shiki, of course, received a well-earned reward: a silk banner for "Outstanding Cadre"... and a bonus of 2 million berries.
That might've been a joke to most people, but not to Little Rich Lady Shakky, who couldn't bear the sight of such a measly sum.
With a dismissive wave, she upped the bonus to 200 kilograms of gold.
Shiki, on the other hand, couldn't care less about the gold.
"What use is money when I take whatever I want?" he said, proudly hanging Brook's silk banner in the golden ship's war room, right where Redfield and Newgate could see it.
The fallout from the Battle of Baimu Island still rippled.
Only Whitebeard Newgate had achieved a clean solo victory, defeating the 900-million-berry pirate, Salmon. As a result, Newgate's bounty surged to 950 million.
Golden Lion Shiki, meanwhile, had fought both Jack and Scorpion Dragon, each with a bounty of 1.1 billion.
But without a clear win, the Navy concluded he had "overestimated himself."
Still, survival meant something. Shiki received a symbolic increase of 50 million, bringing him to 850 million—not that it made him feel any better.
He side-eyed Newgate with murderous intent.
"Should've gone after someone easier…"
The biggest surprise was Kaido.
In a blind rage, the young Oni-boy had bludgeoned a pirate with a bounty over 100 million using his alloy mace.
Granted, the enemy had been wounded—but Kaido, barely nine years old, still earned his first bounty: 70 million berries.
The image of his blood-red eyes and monstrous transformation shocked the world. He was dubbed:
"Evil Beast Kaido."
Standing beside him, Fisher Tiger couldn't help but sulk. He didn't even have a nickname.
And his bounty? Just 30 million.
Half of Kaido's.
Despite being fellow trainees, Tiger was being left behind. Worse, during the Baimu battle, he lost his head in combat and had to be rescued by Tom.
It stung. Deeply.
"Is this the monster genius Captain Brook personally recruited?"
Even more gut-wrenching: Tiger had only boarded the ship through Tom's connections.
Meanwhile, the rest of the crew saw rapid growth.
Everyone was now aligned with the bounty thresholds of the Overlord Pirates.
Sniper Hiruba: 300 million — after sniping several pirates with bounties over 200 million.
Mythical Zoan Vampire Shakky: 350 million.
Siren Stussy: 320 million.
Shipwright Tom: 200 million.
Poison Doctor Crocus & Tia (Poison Duo): Combined 580 million.
Hammerhead Shark Scaredo: 260 million.
Streusen: 100 million.
Swordsman Ashura Doji: 300 million.
Mount Kirin Lion: 50 million.
Memory Seahorse (master of Haki and Rokushiki): 60 million.
Even the mounts and assistants were pulling in bounties now.
Only Fisher Tiger remained at the bottom.
But he understood. This battle was no ordinary skirmish—it was against the elite crew of the Rocks, flagship of the Rocks Pirates.
Nearly everyone they fought had bounties, and now, so did the Hell Pirates.
--------------------------
Although Brook, Redfield, and Charlotte Linlin hadn't participated directly in any recent battles, their bounties each received a symbolic 10 million increase. They didn't mind. They joined the celebration party just the same, while Fisher Tiger quietly doubled his training in the shadows.
The Battle for Normandy Island—initially hyped as the next great war of overlords—ended up being more farce than war. The Hell Pirates had retreated strategically, then struck Rocks' rear territory with surgical precision. Yet, since no major figures were killed, no dramatic bounty increases followed.
Except for one.
Brook's decision to ally with Diger and confront Rocks directly shook the balance of power. His bounty skyrocketed to 2.21 billion berries, surpassing Saracha's 2.2 billion, firmly placing him as one of the Three Overlords of the New World.
Redfield, who fought the martial monk Scorpion Dragon to a draw, had his bounty rise to 1.06 billion, making him the undisputed second-in-command of the Hell Pirates.
This left Golden Lion Shiki in a bit of a spiral. He'd been outpaced. Overshadowed. He had no glorious win, and now even Newgate stood above him.
Still, Brook never wavered in his trust. He praised Shiki in front of the crew, encouraged him behind the scenes, and even gave him responsibility for a new frontier.
But the pecking order was now crystal clear.
And everyone on the crew knew what they had to aim for.
---
When Charlotte Linlin spotted the floating Lamb Island drifting above Sky Island, she squealed with joy. Instantly, she transformed an entire forest into Homies, singing and dancing with glee.
Following Brook's advice, she renamed it Cake Island, turning it into her own fairytale kingdom.
With renewed determination, she began refining her Soul-Soul Fruit powers, transforming the land into a dessert-filled paradise. She might be the weakest among the four main fighters, but Linlin didn't care about bounty rankings.
Her heart was set on celebrating her 18th birthday on this island—her dreamland. A place where all races could live in harmony. A kingdom of sweets, music, and laughter... ruled beside her big brother Brook.
She'd even started planning for a child.
"Brother Brook said I can have a baby at 18... I wonder what kind of dessert he'd name it…"
But lately, something bothered her.
She often saw Stussy and Angel vanishing suddenly, always saying they were going to play poker. They'd return looking... satisfied. Their cheeks pink, lips red, and always with a mysterious smile.
"Did they eat something spicy?" Linlin thought, concerned. "I don't like spicy food… I like desserts."
"I hope Brother Brook has something sweet for me too… maybe ice cream or a giant popsicle…"
For now, she poured her energy into building Cake Island into the fantasy kingdom she always dreamed of. A land of frosting, candy canes, and celebration.
Everything was going her way.
---
Meanwhile, Golden Lion Shiki had gone full battle maniac mode.
Day after day, he challenged Redfield and Newgate, refusing to believe he was weaker. All of them had awakened Conqueror's Haki, trained in Ryuo, and wielded top-tier Devil Fruits.
"So why are they stronger than me!?"
After relentless reflection, he came to a single conclusion: they must be training in secret, sacrificing their sleep to get ahead.
"They're rolling harder than me! Fine! Let's all roll together!!"
So, Shiki sacrificed sleep too. Trained harder. Sparred longer. He would claw his way back to the top by sheer grit.
---
As for Brook, he had quietly achieved a breakthrough with his Revive-Revive Fruit.
He could now independently generate high-grade Underworld and Ghost Energy, no longer needing to channel it directly from Fruit. While not yet equal to the true underworld's quality, it was more than enough to sustain his army of ghost generals.
And what an army it was.
David Kyons, Beaver, Calypso, Dalma—all former pirates with bounties over 500 million, now resurrected specters, slowly regaining their former strength.
The more Brook developed his Fruit, the more his ghost generals could recover their original powers. Eventually, they'd be able to launch full-force physical attacks—restored monsters loyal only to him.
Just like Kurome's "March of the Dead: Yatsufusa" from Akame ga Kill...
Unlike Kurome, however, Brook had no limit to the number of ghosts he could command. He didn't feel any mental drain or weakening body symptoms. His undead army only grew stronger.
Next in line were Salmon and the Kurozumi siblings, their Devil Fruits ripe for harvest.
With Vegapunk working on the Seastone Devil Fruit Recovery Chamber, they were close to a working method of safely extracting and reincarnating Devil Fruits.
To be fair, the Kurozumi siblings were never loyal to Rocks. They had joined the Rocks Pirates for power or protection—not for ideals. Brook was certain that if they knew their lives were in danger, they'd offer to surrender immediately.
But Brook didn't need their loyalty. He needed their Devil Fruits.
They were aging, dangerous, and unpredictable. Better to extract the powers and pass them to younger, more controllable crew members.
Salmon, on the other hand, was genuinely powerful. Brook would've liked to recruit him—but a man who betrayed Rocks could just as easily betray Brook. Even if the Memory Seahorse consumed his memories, someone as notorious as Salmon would be too easy to corrupt from outside intel.
So far, only Stussy, Parrot, and Streusen had their memories altered. The first two were unknowns with no public reputation, and Streusen... well, he was just happy to be alive.
He'd even read his own bounty posters and laughed, realizing he used to run with Charlotte Linlin—just as he was doing again. Nothing much had changed.
Brook decided to abandon the use of forced memory erasure going forward.
It was no longer necessary.
The Hell Pirates were established now.
Unless he obtained the Memory-Memory Fruit itself, this method was off the table.
If you notice the new Fanfic are gone i'll give the new link
This is the new link for my new Fanfic because i repost it
Killing People is Kinda Scientific Right?
https://www.webnovel.com/book/killing-people-is-kinda-scientific-right_33392445700696205
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