The Hell Pirates' Golden Lion Shiki and Whitebeard Newgate were itching to take on bigger prey, and that didn't sit well with the other Rocks Pirates officers. Low-bounty pirates challenging high-bounty legends? That was their tradition in the Rocks Pirates!
By all rights, it should've been Grimm Vane, with a 710-million-Belly bounty, and Sax Vey, at 700 million, taking on Shiki and Newgate, both boasting 800-million-Belly bounties.
Grimm Vane and Sax Vey charged forward, eager to reclaim their rightful opponents.
Redfield, quick as lightning, swooped down to intercept them.
"Not so fast!" he roared, taking on both at once. His electrified strike sent them flying, carving out a new battlefield in the distance.
Charlotte Linlin wasn't about to be outdone. She squared off against Rocket Jonas (600 million Belly) and the giantess warrior Jennifer (550 million), refusing to look weak by fighting fewer than two foes.
Fishman Tom and Ashura Jakun targeted the Rocks Pirates' rising stars, the Kainz Brothers, now known as the Divine Generals for their fearsome reputation. Meanwhile, another supernova, the Great Heretic Monk Urudi, had already fallen before he could shine.
Shakky and Stussy, both wielding Mythical Zoan Devil Fruits, led their apprentices Tiger and Kaido into the fray, tearing into the Rocks Pirates' elite.
From the deck of the Golden Ark, sniper Silva picked off pirates with bounties over 100 million. Ship doctor Crocus, alongside his "sweetheart" Tia, tested his latest poisons, combining them with Tia's venomous insects to wreak havoc across the battlefield.
Qilin Lion, clad in Seastone armor, rampaged through the enemy ranks. Scarlet, transformed into a double-bunned shark-man, fought with ferocious intensity.
Bolstered by dual Haki and his Devil Fruit, Scarlet held his own against several Rocks officers with bounties in the 200–300 million range. Once Shiki's right-hand man, his brutal fighting style matched the Rocks Pirates' reckless desperation.
Even the head chef Streusen and Memory Seahorse dove into the grunts, showing off with flashy knife work and Armament Haki-infused flying kicks. They weren't about to let anyone underestimate them!
Only intelligence officer Antonio and warehouse keepers Parrot and Bra Kara stayed aboard the Golden Ark, watching the chaos unfold and snapping photos for the record. They even started a live feed, streaming straight to the Economic News Agency headquarters on Baron Island for Mortomas and his reporters to witness.
...
Meanwhile, Angelie and Bull were rampaging through Saracha's territory, planting Hell Pirates flags on islands previously looted by Miss Bukkin. Their conquest pushed toward Hundred Trees Island, expanding Brook's domain.
Back on the battlefield, Shiki was taking a beating—another classic "get-wrecked" moment for the guy. Stubborn as ever, but you had to admire his guts.
Brook turned his gaze to his true target: "Rocks," still shielded by Kurozumi Semimaru. "Still clinging to denial, huh? Not ready to face reality?"
"Kurozumi Higurashi and Kurozumi Semimaru," Brook said coolly, addressing the siblings. "As people of Wano, you should've stayed quiet overseas. Why join the Rocks Pirates?
"Here's my offer: abandon the darkness and join us. Reform, or I'll hunt down every last Kurozumi clinging to life in Hakumai, slaughter you two, and wipe your clan from existence!"
Brook's tone dripped with mockery, his eyes glinting with mischief. He knew the Kurozumi's dream was to reclaim Wano and restore their clan. If their bloodline was eradicated, their schemes would collapse.
"You know about Hakumai in Wano?!"
Kurozumi Higurashi reverted to her true form, stunned. Wano's isolation, guarded by towering cliffs, made it nearly impossible for pirates to infiltrate. But then she remembered the Hell Pirates' Golden Ark—a ship that could soar over any barrier.
"I don't just know Wano," Brook sneered. "Kuri Province is already mine, and Wano's falling under my control, piece by piece. Join me, and I'll let the Kurozumi rise as a vassal clan, like the Fukujinryu or Hattori families. You could be a great house in Kuri, no longer scraping by in the shadows!"
Brook laid out the opportunity plain and simple. If the siblings didn't take it, death was their only path.
"You? Rule Wano?!"
Higurashi's jaw dropped. The Kurozumi's ambition was to become Wano's shogun, ruling the entire country. Now Brook was saying he had his sights on it? What hope did they have?
No way. They had to kill him!
But Brook's strength was monstrous—only Rocks could take him down!
Yes, that was it! If they held out until Rocks crushed Brook, the Kurozumi would still have a shot!
Becoming a vassal under Brook? Slaving away like cattle? Never. The Kurozumi's ambition burned eternal, their wolfish hunger undying. A Kurozumi who didn't aim for shogun wasn't a true Kurozumi!
"Hmph. I can see it in your eyes—you're not thrilled about my offer," Brook said, his voice icy.
True to their Wano roots, the Kurozumi were as cunning and ambitious as ever. Fine, then. They'd be erased from this world!
Sensing Brook's killing intent, Higurashi opened her mouth to feign surrender—but she was too late. A torrent of sword aura surged toward them.
Barrier Wall
A translucent hemispherical barrier snapped into place, shielding the siblings. Brook's sword aura crashed against it, but the barrier held firm, unscathed.
"Heh! Brook, you can't break the Barrier's defense!" Higurashi taunted. "We'll hold out until Captain Rocks comes back to crush you!"
Compared to Brook, Higurashi believed Rocks was the true titan of this era—his overwhelming presence was something Brook could never match. Their hope rested on Rocks to defeat this Wano-coveting upstart.
"Oh? Is there a barrier underground too?"
Brook plunged his Shichiseiken into the ground. A flood of Revive-Revive Fruit Aura surged toward the barrier, creeping like a malevolent fog.
Semimaru adjusted his fingers' cross, and a new barrier formed beneath their feet, encasing them fully in a transparent spherical shield.
"Hihaha! Like I said, Brook, we'll hold out until Captain Rocks arrives!" Higurashi cackled.
Semimaru, stone-faced, began strumming a biwa-shaped instrument, his smugness practically radiating through the barrier.
Brook just grinned. Trapped in a stationary shield? How cocky. He had plenty of ways to deal with that!
...
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