The Homies crafted from Charlotte Linlin's soul held only a faint spark of power—not nearly enough to restore Brook's depleted soul energy or sustain his spectral generals. He needed a slaughter, a feast of living souls to recharge his strength.
"Shakky, find me a beast island nearby. I need to replenish my soul!" Brook ordered, his voice tinged with urgency. "Then we head back to Sky Island!"
This weakened state left him vulnerable, a feeling he despised. He had to regain his full power fast. If he were a touch more ruthless, he might've razed a town for souls, but for now, beasts would do.
"Got it, Captain!"
Shakky unfurled a nautical chart, scanning for nearby islands. Many lacked permanent Log Pose pointers, making them tricky to locate.
"Brook, there's Little Garden, the ancient beast haven in the Grand Line; Melville Island, crawling with predators; Rusukaina, the 48-season island in the Calm Belt; and Precious Beast Island, home of the Qilin Lion," Shakky said. "Moltomas has permanent pointers for the first three. Precious Beast Island's a bit out of the way. Why don't we head to Sky Island first, rest up, grab the pointers, and then go hunting?"
Shakky's suggestion made sense. Little Garden was perfect—on the way back to Sky Island, they could loop through Reverse Mountain and into the West Blue.
The Golden Island lacked a robust propulsion system, so crossing the Calm Belt was out of the question unless they parked it on Sky Island and used the Golden ship to slip through. But the Golden Island housed a Seastone chamber, essential for reclaiming the Castle-Castle Fruit and storing the vast library from Ohara, the Island of Scholars. The Golden Ark couldn't handle both the Seastone chamber and Ohara's books.
Ohara's collection was staggering. Even Capone Bege, at the peak of his Castle-Castle Fruit powers with an 80-meter fortress, couldn't contain it. The island had amassed books from across the world for over a millennium, including ancient texts.
Nico Robin, impoverished at eight, had studied there for free, mastering archaeology, ancient scripts, and earning a doctorate. Ohara's legacy was unmatched.
...
"Alright, Sky Island it is!" Brook decided after hearing Shakky's plan. His soul's weakness gnawed at him, though. "Linlin, whip up a few more Homies!"
Brook wasn't above mooching off Linlin's soul reserves. She complied without hesitation, pouring slivers of her lifespan into new Homies. Brook devoured them, his spirit revitalizing with each bite.
On the island, Kaido scampered about, curiosity driving him. Soon, Fisher Tiger, a fellow apprentice crewmate, challenged him. Their brawl erupted but was swiftly quelled by Fishman Tom's iron grip.
At eight years old, Kaido's strength was worth maybe 20-30 million Belly in bounty terms. By ten, as his kingdom's strongest soldier, he'd hit 50 million. At 13 or 14, evading the Marines, he'd earned 70 million.
Now, Tiger, honed by the Hell Pirates' training, matched Kaido blow for blow. That was a brag he'd carry for life.
Kaido, scraping by in his kingdom's underbelly, had no mentors, ate plain food, and faced weak foes—none of it sparked his potential. Under the Hell Pirates' care, though, he could soar far beyond his original path.
...
On Iron Shield Island, Admiral Kong gritted his teeth against the soul-deep pain, staggering back to his warship. His iron will dulled the agony over time, but it still sapped his combat strength.
"Admiral Kong, you okay?"
Rear Admiral Sengoku eyed Kong's pallid face with concern, guilt gnawing at him. He'd lost to Whitebeard Newgate—a humiliating defeat.
At 28, Sengoku had a plan: Vice Admiral by 30, Admiral by 40, and Marine Marshal in his 50s. Under his lead, the Marines would rule the seas, his Conqueror's Haki fueling that dream.
But today, he'd met his match. Newgate, younger than him, edged him out in Haki and Devil Fruit mastery.
"I'm fine," Kong growled, frustration lacing his voice. "You, on the other hand—snap out of it! Victory and defeat are part of war. Don't let one loss drag you down. Believe in justice—it'll drive us forward, make us stronger!"
Kong's words stung, but they lit a fire in Sengoku. He couldn't let this seedling of talent wither.
"Understood, Admiral!" Sengoku's eyes blazed with resolve. "Next time, I'll crush Edward Newgate and redeem myself!"
He vowed to double his training. Brains weren't enough—raw power had to back them up. No pirate would ever beat him head-on again.
"We underestimated the Hell Pirates," Kong said gravely. "Their strength is unreal. No Vice Admiral can take them on alone, and even Admirals need to tread carefully."
With that, Kong and Sengoku sailed back to Marine Headquarters to recover. Kong hoped the scientists there had a fix for soul damage.
The Marines' departure left Iron Shield Island in ruins. Without their interference, Shakky might've just looted a few rich merchants. Now, the whole island was wrecked.
What would Earl Iron Shield think? The Marines and World Government wouldn't compensate Valorant Kingdom's losses, yet the Heavenly Tribute still had to be paid.
Such was the fate of the weak in this world—no right to demand reparations from the strong.
...
The Golden Island soared toward Gaya Island's sky, bound for Sky Island. In Shandora, many angelic Skypieans had joined the World Economic News Agency, sorting and printing news.
Mortomas found the Skypieans reliable, obedient, and quick to train—perfect for the job. The agency's headquarters now relied on them for grunt work, while elite staff designed layouts and reporters scoured the seas for scoops.
Sorting, printing, and even raising news seagulls fell to the Skypieans, who tackled their tasks with diligence and pride.
As the Golden Island docked in Sky Island, Mortomas led a throng of crew to greet Brook. Two-year-old Morgans, already toddling, peered curiously from his mother Monis's arms at the unfamiliar faces.
"Brook! It's damn good to see you again!" Mortomas rushed forward, wrapping Brook in a bear hug.
"Over a year apart, and now you're a world-famous pirate overlord!"
The Morgans family had hitched their wagon to a true titan. With Brook's backing, they were thriving in the underworld.
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+240 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg