The World Pirates, hunted by Rocks, fled back to the first half of the New World. By sheer chance, they stumbled across a Celestial Dragon merchant convoy. Never one to pass up a score, Byrnndi World pounced, looting the caravan despite fierce resistance. But the victory came at a steep cost—naval forces swooped in, their relentless firepower tearing the World Pirates' ship to shreds and claiming several crew members.
Though they made off with a haul of treasures, World led his battered crew into Hell Pirates territory to lick their wounds and regroup.
...
World surveyed his remaining officers. Fishman giant Sebastian had sworn off eating a Devil Fruit, and ship doctor Nightin showed no interest in one. That left shipwright Gairam as the best candidate for the prize they'd paid so dearly for.
"Gairam, this Devil Fruit's yours. Train hard and boost your strength—make it worth the blood we spilled!"
World handed over the cube-shaped fruit, a hard-won trophy from the Celestial Dragon heist, secured only after a brutal chase by two Navy Rear Admirals leading an advanced fleet.
Had they not escaped into Brook's domain, their ship would've been blasted to splinters. World hadn't expected such ferocious Rear Admirals—stronger than some Vice Admirals, even. Their Armament Haki was unreal, shrugging off his hundredfold-enhanced cannonballs without a scratch.
He seethed at the memory of that dog-masked Rear Admiral and the purple-haired one. One day, he'd make them pay.
"I won't let you down, Captain World!"
Gairam, trembling with excitement, took the Cube-Cube Fruit. Just as he raised it to take a bite, a suffocating wave of Conqueror's Haki crashed over the crew, freezing them in place.
A golden island roared into view, riding a tempest. The World Pirates snapped into battle stances, fear etched on their faces.
The Hell Pirates had come for them?
A few low-ranking pirates—secretly CP agents planted by the World Government to infiltrate World's crew—paled even further. Their mission was to bide their time and dismantle this lawless band from within. They hadn't anticipated stumbling onto a Celestial Dragon convoy two days ago, nor had they managed to report it in time.
Strangely, World seemed to have a knack for sniffing out these secretive transports, like he was blessed with uncanny luck.
Never one to back down, World drew his pistol and fired at the golden island. The More-More Fruit amplified the bullet, transforming it into a one-meter-wide projectile that rocketed forward at a hundred times its normal speed, hurtling toward Brook like a meteor.
Not stopping there, World kicked a cannon into position, aimed at the island, and fired. The 20-centimeter cannonball swelled to a 20-meter explosive juggernaut, screaming toward the golden island as if to shatter it in one shot.
"Talk about a hothead!"
Two slashes of sword aura whistled through the air, obliterating the oversized bullet and explosive in mid-flight. The sword energy didn't stop, slicing toward the World Pirates. They scrambled, diving and rolling to escape the deadly arcs.
"It's Brook himself!"
World's voice was grim. He hadn't expected the Hell Pirates' intelligence network to be this sharp. They'd only rested on this island for one night, and Brook was already knocking.
This intel was leagues beyond even Rocks' network. The Hell Pirates boasted three air-suppression fleets: Golden Lion Shiki's airship armada, Redfield and Whitebeard's golden airship, and Brook's personal golden island, backed by top officers like Charlotte Linlin.
These fleets, paired with an omnipresent spy network, crushed rebellious pirates without mercy. Submit or die—only the sharpest and luckiest crews slipped back to the New World's first half.
Worst of all was Brook, the Hell Pirates' captain. His Yomi Yomi no Mi could enslave the souls of fallen enemies, turning them into eternal soldiers in his ghostly army. The thought alone made pirates quake, terrified of joining his spectral ranks.
"Yohohoho! Byrnndi World, first time meeting you! How about hopping aboard my ship? We could have some fun taking down a few Celestial Dragons together!"
Brook floated down on his Cloud Hera, Charlotte Linlin at his side. He'd tried to keep the pregnant Linlin from charging into battle, but the fierce woman was unstoppable—pregnancy barely slowed her down.
His casual talk of killing Celestial Dragons sent shivers through the CP spies in World's crew. This guy was exactly the kind of pirate the Celestial Dragons wanted dead.
"What, like Rocks? Join or die, is that it?"
World snorted. A captain through and through, he'd never bow to anyone. Freedom was a pirate's lifeblood.
"Let's not say 'Join or die.' I'm inviting you to join the Hell Pirates. What do you say? Worth considering?"
Brook's tone was light, offering a supernova like World a touch of respect. But if World didn't bite, Brook wasn't above swinging the stick. He didn't coddle those who spat on his goodwill.
At worst, he'd claim a shiny new supernova soul and recycle that Devil Fruit.
"If it's an invitation, I'll pass. Let us go, and we'll clear out of your turf right now."
World eyed Brook warily, muscles tensed, ready to strike back at any moment.
"Pass? Then let's talk about that little stunt you just pulled, shooting at my golden island. Should I take that as a declaration of war against the Hell Pirates?"
Brook slowly drew his Shichiseiken, its icy aura washing over the World Pirates, thick with the threat of death.
World froze, unable to respond. The air grew heavy, teetering on the edge of violence.
Brook relished these moments—outmatching his opponent in strength and reason. He'd grown fond of standing on the moral high ground, pointing fingers at reckless hotheads like World.
"Hmph! You wanna fight? Then fight! Enough talk!"
World's temper flared. He wasn't one to bow to threats. As a pirate, he'd long accepted death as part of the deal. He barked orders, rallying his crew for a desperate stand.
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