Aboard the Golden Ark, Antonio, Parrot, and Bra Kara watched the battle spill toward the town. Sniper Silva fired up the ship's engines, steering it closer to pick off enemies from above.
Seeing the port nearly deserted, Antonio—self-admitted weakling—decided he couldn't just sit idle. He and Bra Kara slipped into Parrot's castle, and Parrot flew them to the Rocks Pirates' flagship.
Inside the ship's hold, glittering piles of treasure greeted them. Without a second thought, Antonio, Bra Kara, and Parrot began looting, busting open room after room. The haul was massive, and even weakling Antonio was exhausted from hauling it all.
"If only Shiki were here," Antonio muttered. "He'd float the whole ship and treasures with him—quick and easy. What a misstep!"
...
Meanwhile, Shiki, battered from a thrashing by Skal, burned with the need for revenge. Seeing Brook land a single blow that bloodied Skal's fist made Shiki's jaw drop. The gap between him and Brook had grown that wide? Unbelievable!
Fueled by pride, Shiki was determined to steal Skal back from Brook and prove himself. Skal's right fist was already injured—perfect. Beating him would be Shiki's ticket to glory, and he'd make sure Skal's bounty counted toward his own. Surpassing Redfield was within reach, and he'd owe Brook for the assist!
Popping a few of Crocus's Dandelions, Shiki shook off his wounds and roared back to life, diving into the fray.
...
The Rocks Pirates rampaged through the town, smashing houses and dragging out residents to use as human shields. They sneered as the Hell Pirates hesitated, then gleefully slaughtered the civilians, tossing corpses at their foes in a taunting display.
Seizing the moment, the Rocks Pirates' elite struck, wounding Fishman Tom and Shakky. Their arrogance soared.
That was the last straw for Brook.
The Hell Pirates' kindness wasn't something these despicable pirates could exploit!
He'd planned to take on Skal himself, but seeing Shiki itching to steal the fight, Brook relinquished the monk. Instead, he transformed into a towering Soul Reaper and dove into the chaos, abandoning all pretense of dignity. His sword reaped the souls of the Rocks Pirates' elite, each swing drawing a terrified scream from the damned.
Charlotte Linlin watched, tempted to ditch her own foes and join Brook in harvesting the souls of these elites.
Brook's rampage broke all rules of engagement, igniting a primal bloodlust in his crew. It was as if a switch had flipped.
Shakky, the vampire, snapped. After downing a Dandelion, her eyes gleamed with cruelty. She snatched elite pirates into the air, drained them dry, and hurled their desiccated corpses from the sky, cackling with a chilling infrasound that screamed villain.
Linlin, too, abandoned her duel. Her massive frame charged through the battlefield, grabbing elite pirates one by one. She ripped out their soul lifespans, draining them to death as their eyes bulged in horror. Laughing maniacally, she moved to the next, her glee bordering on tyranny. Even Stussy shivered, fearing Linlin had lost all reason and might slaughter indiscriminately.
The Hell Pirates, sparked by Brook's fury, unleashed their inner beasts. For the first time, they embraced their pirate nature, diving into a brutal slaughterfest.
Shiki shed all restraint. His sword aura tore through the town, leveling buildings. Even as residents screamed within, he flung the debris at Skal, their cries and shouts echoing through the chaos.
...
Seeing his crew unleash their fury, Redfield flashed a wicked, cruel smile. His respect was reserved for Brook alone, and with Brook enraged, it was time to rain divine wrath upon the world.
He unleashed his full power, lightning storms ravaging the battlefield. Thunderbolts scorched everything in their path, leaving Grimm Vane and Sax Vey defenseless and charring any living thing caught in the blast.
Normally, Brook's moral compass kept the crew's savage pirate instincts in check. But with Brook leading the charge, they let loose. Shiki had always hidden his brutality to align with Brook's ideals. Linlin had suppressed her craving for human souls. Now, both reveled in the carnage—Linlin's tyrannical laughter sent chills down Stussy's spine.
Kaido, infected by his seniors' savagery, transformed into a berserker. Nostrils flaring, eyes bloodshot, veins bulging, he tore through the Rocks Pirates' elite, clubbing bounties worth over 100 million Belly with terrifying ease. Even Tiger gaped in horror at Kaido's rampage.
He also caught Scarlet, usually a jovial giant, biting a pirate clean in half with his shark jaws—a far cry from the goofy, dependable senior Tiger knew.
Lost in shock, Tiger nearly took a hit from a sneaking pirate, but Fishman Tom blocked it, roaring,
"Don't zone out in a fight, idiot!"
Only Whitebeard Newgate watched his crew's descent with unease. He knew the Rocks Pirates' cruelty had provoked Brook's wrath, but the collateral damage to innocent civilians stirred memories of his ravaged hometown.
He wanted to speak up, to calm his crew, but as a pirate himself, he struggled to find the words. Instead, he channeled his anger into his fight with Sandy.
The Rocks Pirates' brutality had awakened his crew's darkest sides. Under Brook's leadership, they'd always fought for ideals, never showing this savage face. It was the Rocks Pirates' fault!
Fury surged in Newgate. He had to end this battle quickly, to bring his crew back to their senses.
The kindness of his nakama—his nakama—would be protected by Whitebeard Newgate!
BOOM!
A newfound strength surged through him. Protect! Protect! Protect! That was his everything!
His Conqueror's Haki erupted, transforming into something more—a qualitative leap. His quaking fist, now wreathed in black-red lightning, swelled with power. A single punch sent Sandy flying, shattering the air like glass.
"RAAAAH!"
Newgate's roar echoed, his Conqueror's Haki rippling outward in waves. Even Brook, lost in the thrill of slaughter, snapped to attention.
...
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