Aboard the Golden Ark, Silva stood at the helm, her sharp eyes tracking the horizon. The Rocks Pirates had finally cleared out of the Hell Pirates' territory, heading toward Saracha's domain. With the coast clear, the golden ship soared toward Ohara-Golden Island at breakneck speed.
Silva also caught sight of Vesper's crew tailing them, slipping away like shadows. The immediate threats were gone, and the crew pushed the ship even faster, eager to reach their destination.
"Ugh, what kind of trash Devil Fruits are these?!"
Shakky flipped through a tattered Devil Fruit encyclopedia, scowling at the three fruits they'd extorted from Vesper's crew.
"Zoan-type Bird-Bird Fruit: Gallic Black Rooster Model, Bird-Bird Fruit: Foot-Basin Chicken Model, and Fish-Fish Fruit: Arctic Cod Model!"
Brook's skeletal face darkened—well, as much as a skeleton's could. Seriously? The rooster and chicken models couldn't even fly! And the cod model? Useless in water, with stubby fins too short for anything. What kind of attack was that supposed to be? Smacking foes with a fish stick?
"Forget it," Brook muttered, tossing the fruits aside. "We'll hand these over to Vegapunk for his Devil Fruit experiments."
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. That sly old fox Vesper! Brook had been too soft, letting him off easy. Selling off Shirokiri and Orion would've fetched a better price than these pathetic fruits!
Vesper had the gall to scam them like this? Brook swore on his afro he'd make that old crook pay!
"Silva!" Brook called, snapping out of his fury. "Any sign of where Rocks is slaughtering now? Has he taken out Saracha or Wilank yet?"
He leaned toward the sniper at the ship's prow, who was peering into the distance with her Glare-Glare Fruit-enhanced vision. If Rocks had crushed those two big-shot pirates, Vesper would be in even deeper trouble.
"Hoo boy, that's a view!"
Silva licked his lips, a trickle of blood dripping from his nose as he grinned mischievously. Brook's fist clenched, his nonexistent eyes narrowing. He'd asked her to track Rocks, and here he was, ogling something else entirely?
WHACK!
Brook delivered a sharp knuckle to his head.
"Was giving you the Glare-Glare Fruit a mistake? You used to be a decent kid! Now you're wasting your talent on this?!"
He lamented the fall of a promising young sniper. If anyone deserved to suffer nosebleeds from peeking, it should be him, not Silva! Early on, he'd banned him from using his fruit's powers to snoop on their own crew. When activated, his eyes glowed with a faint purple aura, and any sneaky glances earned him a swift beating.
So far, he'd only peeked into Tiger and Kaido's minds, and Brook had thumped him twice for it. Now, he was secretly scoping out strangers in the distance—during a mission to track Rocks, no less! This kid needed a serious lesson!
"I asked you about Rocks! Have you checked Demon Horn Island and Winter Snow Island yet?"
Brook's hand crackled with a chilling aura, ready to teach her about Soul Freeze if she didn't shape up.
"Captain Brook, hold off! I'm checking, I swear! If you hit me, who's gonna scout?" Silva pleaded, instantly focusing. His eyes widened, scanning toward Demon Horn Island with laser precision.
"Bad news, Captain!" he reported. "Demon Horn Island's a bloodbath—bodies everywhere, but no sign of survivors or Rocks' crew."
He pivoted his gaze to Winter Snow Island. Nothing yet, but then he spotted a pirate ship speeding toward the island. At its prow stood a figure with a savage grin that sent chills down his spine—Rocks himself.
"Captain, I found him! Rocks is about to land on Winter Snow Island, and Wilank's there!"
Silva's voice trembled. He'd screwed up. If he'd scouted earlier, they could've warned Wilank to flee. Now, with Rocks closing in, could Wilank escape his clutches?
Brook shot him a withering glare. He didn't have Wilank's Den Den Mushi number, so he dialed Vesper, who was on his way home.
"Listen up, Vesper," Brook barked into the Den Den Mushi. "Demon Horn Island's been wiped out, and Rocks is hitting Winter Snow Island right now. Wilank's in deep trouble. Handle it!"
With that, he hung up. Wilank's fate was out of his hands—distant water can't put out a nearby fire. But this gave Brook an idea. With the Butcher Pirates and Ice Demon Pirates' territories up for grabs, the Hell Pirates could swoop in and claim some land!
Rocks couldn't swallow all that territory alone. It was time for the Hell Pirates to play dirty, seize islands, and recruit some rogue crews.
Brook rallied Redfield and Linlin, urging the Golden Ark to speed toward Ohara-Golden Island. They needed to regroup and prepare for a land grab. Whether Saracha was dead or alive, his territory was right next to theirs—too tempting to pass up!
"Hell yeah, the real war's kicking off!"
Golden Lion Shiki cackled, his excitement infectious. Chaos bred opportunity, and this was their chance to rise as true pirate legends.
The Golden Ark rocketed back to Ohara-Golden Island. Shiki, grinning ear to ear, used his Float-Float Fruit to lift the island back to Skypiea, ditching the Ohara baggage for now.
Brook began rallying every pirate in the Bristol Sea, gearing up for a massive territory grab. Saracha's fate was uncertain, but that wouldn't stop Brook from snatching his land!
...
On Winter Snow Island, the battle raged like a blizzard gone mad. Massive Elbaf giants fell like elephants swatted by ants, powerless against their foes.
Ochoku's 100-meter sword slashes carved through giants like butter. Silver Axe and John mowed down their opponents with ease. Rocks, meanwhile, pummeled Wilank without mercy, not even giving him a chance to beg.
The smarter Elbaf giants dove into the sea, fleeing for their lives. But the Snowstorm giants, fearless and loyal, charged Rocks, desperate to save their leader and captain.
"Wilank, you gonna surrender or what?"
Rocks grinned, eager to recruit these war machines. But he was stunned to see the Elbaf giants abandoning ship. Was Wilank's leadership that weak?
Had his recent losses exposed him as a fraud, driving his own crew to desert the Ice Demon Pirates?
"Fine, I surrender! What more do you want?!"
Wilank glared at the fleeing Elbaf giants, fury burning in his chest. Those traitors sold him out faster than a cheap bounty!
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