Dawei and Calypso, both wielding Mythical Zoan Devil Fruits, joined forces, their combined presence a towering threat. But Brook and his four elite fighters—Newgate, Shiki, Redfield, and Linlin—swooped in, blocking their path to prevent them from disrupting the other Hell Pirates' battles.
"Brook, I underestimated you!" Dawei roared, his massive octopus-siren form glaring down with icy eyes.
"You're not just Conqueror's Haki wielders—you've mastered Armament Haki emission in record time!"
His crew was nearly wiped out. Even if he took down Brook's gang, returning to the Rocks Pirates would likely mean disbanding the Sea Siren Pirates. Worse, he wasn't confident he could kill Brook's crew while ensuring Calypso's safety.
Sacrificing Calypso and Dalma for victory? Unacceptable.
But with Calypso boosting him, they might cripple a few enemies. Dalma's quick defeat and capture by the Hell Pirates, though, tied his hands.
"Brook, release Dalma and my crew," Dawei growled. "I'll let this slide, call a truce, and let you walk away."
"Yohohoho! Do you take me for a fool?" Brook's skeletal grin widened. "Let them go so they can regroup and come after us again?
And why do you think we waited for you on Puso Island? Because Shiki was too tired to sail us out? You didn't seriously believe we've been dodging you all this time because we couldn't win, did you?"
Brook's mocking laugh echoed. His plan was clear: gang up on Dawei and crush him. If they couldn't kill him, they'd at least leave him like Moria—crewless and broken.
"Jahaha! Such ambition!" Dawei sneered, sensing Brook's killing intent. "You think five New World rookies can take me down?"
It was clear saving Dalma and the others was a long shot. Fine—time for him and Calypso to teach these brats a lesson.
"Calypso, get ready. Let's show them our combo move!"
Atop the colossal octopus-siren, Calypso transformed into her Mythical Zoan form: a Siren, not the fanged mermaid of legend but a bird-bodied woman with a human head and wings.
She raised a mystical flute and began to play. The melody's enchanting power, stronger than her singing, lured humans toward them, defenseless.
The samurai swordsmen, Seastone archers, and gunners—even Tiger and Tom—fell under the spell, shambling toward the deadly Dawei.
Redfield, Newgate, Shiki, and Linlin, fortified by their awakened Conqueror's Haki and robust souls, resisted the charm. But the music still distracted them, giving Dawei an edge to wound or kill.
"Playing music? I'm no slouch myself!" Brook scoffed. "You dare show off in front of me? Behold my Guitar!"
Brook whipped out a sleek, dark skull-themed guitar. His Soul Reaper loomed larger, and a torrent of soul-infused, frenzied music drowned out Calypso's flute, shattering her enchantment.
The samurai, archers, and gunners snapped awake. Dawei, poised to slaughter them, froze in disbelief—Calypso's trump card, broken so quickly?
...
As the enemy surged forward, Redfield reacted first, unleashing a pillar of lightning. Free from the Siren's flute, Newgate, Shiki, and Linlin followed with a barrage of attacks.
"Yohohoho! Your flute cuts off your singing—your power's halved!" Brook taunted. "But I can strum my soul guitar and sing at the same time!"
What have I wrought? With simple rock, I've crafted wonders grand.
Listen well, mortals, as I read from my cookbook of the damned.
I'll tear your flesh apart, set your very soul ablaze.
Your song of life will end beneath my unrelenting gaze.
So many souls await, their fates within my grasp.
Got time to chat with Death before your final gasp?
I'm scribing all your names within my blackened tome.
Your death will bring you pain—no peace, no gentle home.
Death is everywhere, its shadow ever near.
Gaze upon me now, and drown in hopeless fear!
The trembling echoes ring—now hear their fatal chime!
Brook's Dirge of Death reverberated, wrenching the souls of Calypso and the three or four remaining Siren officers from their bodies. Even Dawei's soul quivered, his eight attacking tentacles freezing mid-strike.
The song's power was so intense that Redfield, Linlin, and even Shakky in the distance clutched their ears.
Damn, Brook's hitting his own crew too!
Thankfully, the effect wasn't as brutal on allies, sparing them the nauseating, helpless sensation of a soul being ripped out.
"Man, I'm numb—Brook's soul music's gotten way stronger!"
Newgate shuddered, recalling when Brook used him as a guinea pig for this move. Even untargeted, the song's impact was leagues above its early days.
"Go, my generals!"
Brook unleashed his ghostly army, charging straight at Calypso atop the octopus-siren. Redfield and the others snapped to action, hammering Dawei with attacks.
Lightning spears, quake waves, mudstone lions, giant earthen fists, thunder and fire, and torrents of sword aura slammed into the octopus-siren, severing three or four tentacles in a spray of blood!
...
Elsewhere, Shakky, with her Mythical Zoan Vampire Fruit, reacted swiftly. While the three or four 100-million-Belly officers were stunned by Brook's soul song, she pounced, sinking her fangs into their necks.
They aged visibly, vitality drained. When their souls snapped back, their weakened bodies couldn't resist. The Hell Pirates slapped Seastone cuffs on them, adding more captives to the tally.
Ashura Jakun, Crocus, and Silva chased the fleeing Witch Tia, determined to nab that plump golden silkworm of a woman.
Tom and Fisher Tiger, the Fishman duo, followed, ensuring Tia couldn't escape by ship. A 300-400-meter Sea King, recently tamed by Dawei, lurked offshore, but as Fishmen from Fishman Island, they had experience handling Sea Kings and could lend a hand.
"ROAR!"
Dawei, jolted by searing pain, bellowed. His terrifying regeneration regrew the severed tentacles in seconds, his body barely showing damage.
But Calypso's piercing wail of agony sent a pang of panic through Dawei. He could tank attacks and heal, but his beloved couldn't!
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+188 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg