Luke mourned toward the cabin, bowed his head in salute, and bid farewell to these companions on Brook's behalf.
Luke scavenged the last bit of food and fresh water on the ship, as well as any valuable treasures and Berries, and picked up Brook's cane sword. Although it didn't quite fit Luke's aesthetic, after merging with Brook's memories, it was now his strongest swordsmanship asset.
He performed a few sword flourishes, then thrust at the railing, creating a hole covered in frost. This kind of rapier was more suitable for thrusting, but Luke preferred chopping and slashing. It seemed he would have to replace it when he had the chance.
Luke continued to try out the moves from Brook's memory, testing them all to avoid being helpless in a real fight.
It was amazing. He had come from an ordinary world to this high-martial fantasy world. The sword energy he unleashed, the cold Demon spirit energy—everything was new and captivating, making him unable to stop, practicing until his body grew tired.
After regaining mastery over Brook's original techniques, he tried combining Yellow Springs Ghost Qi to unleash various attacks, while also testing the strength of his current body. Had he, like Brook, gained an immortal body?
Luke cut his arm, and the Yellow Springs Ghost Qi covered it, restoring it completely. It was incredible—though it consumed a lot of energy, making him feel drained and requiring rest to recover.
How is it so similar to Marco's Phoenix Devil Fruit's blue flame regeneration?
This would be his greatest life-saving skill. He didn't know if, like Brook, he could reattach his head if it was cut off—but Luke didn't dare try. A mistake might lead to permanent death.
The Rumbar Pirates' ship was far too large for Luke to operate alone, so he could only give up and lower a small lifeboat—a common landing craft.
Luke left the ship without hesitation. Although he didn't know why Brook in the original story was unwilling to leave alone, it was probably due to heartbreak and an inability to accept the truth—or perhaps it was the deep bond with his fallen comrades. But none of that mattered to Luke now.
From this point forward, in the world of One Piece, there would only be Brook. Luke would remain hidden deep within him.
Brook looked at the Log Pose on his wrist and rowed the small boat in the direction the pointer indicated. He had searched the entire ship but couldn't find a single Eternal Pose. It could only be said that the Rumbar Pirates were too unprepared—no wonder they hadn't even entered the New World.
This was an ordinary Log Pose. It only had one pointer, which would align in one direction after accumulating enough magnetic force. In contrast, the New World Log Pose had three pointers. The most stable one pointed to the safest island, while the more erratic ones indicated islands with unstable and dangerous magnetic fields.
Although Brook could survive without eating, this was in a standby state—he could move, but with difficulty, and he couldn't grow stronger.
Only by constantly obtaining energy from high-quality food could he continue to cultivate and improve. This was also why Brook had made no progress during his thirty years in the Devil's Triangle.
According to Brook's age, he was already thirty-eight years old this year—a proper middle-aged uncle. Luke, in his previous life, had been in his twenties. Besides work and editing videos, he spent all day watching anime and thus had a good understanding of the One Piece world.
It was the year 1470 of the Sea Calendar. At this time, Charlotte Linlin was just a sixteen-year-old pirate, wandering the New World with Streusen, still searching for Carmel, who may or may not have survived.
After destroying Elbaf's giant village as a child, Linlin's first bounty had already reached fifty million Berries. By now, her bounty had likely soared past five hundred million.
Gol D. Roger was twenty-five years old—still a rising name in the Grand Line, obsessed with Poneglyphs and adventure.
Edward Newgate was only twenty-two years old, likely still sailing under another crew, and may or may not have obtained the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.
The legendary pirate Rocks D. Xebec had begun to recruit and expand aggressively, clashing with other rising pirate crews in the New World, entering a period of fierce rivalry.
Newcomers like Golden Lion Shiki, Silver Axe, Captain John, Byrnndi World, and others were starting to make names for themselves—some of whom would later be absorbed by Rocks.
Brook kept rowing in a single direction, vigilantly watching beneath the sea's surface, afraid that a Sea King would suddenly leap out and swallow his tiny boat.
In fact, there were fewer sea creatures in the Devil's Triangle due to the lack of sunlight. With no algae, the food chain had collapsed, creating a harsh environment.
Furthermore, the cold Demon spirit energy leaking from Brook repelled underwater life, masking his presence.
"When will this end!" Brook had been rowing for a full day and night without seeing a single ray of sunlight. This dark place was enough to drive anyone mad.
Even as a recluse, he needed things like a computer, a phone, and internet.
Now, he was far stronger than Brook from the original story, thanks to actively fusing so much Yomi Underworld energy and Yellow Springs Ghost Qi.
If it weren't for the lack of food and energy, Brook would have already started experimenting with the wild ideas he'd come up with while rowing.
Brook continued onward, and finally, he noticed that the thick fog was thinning and the sky growing brighter.
He was finally escaping the Devil's Triangle. The excitement made him paddle faster, chasing the sunlight. One Piece World, here I come.
Breaking out of the fog, seeing the vast blue ocean and basking in the warm sunlight, Brook's hands trembled with excitement as he rowed. But soon, he fell back into the boredom of endless paddling.
The sea was still the sea—just clearer now instead of foggy. Still endless, still exhausting.
Splash
A splash in the distance startled Brook. A small Sea King had leaped from the water to hunt, making him tense. The Grand Line was never short of danger.
Brook had already drawn his cane sword, Yellow Springs Ghost Qi swirling coldly around it, ready to strike. But after a while with no further movement, he cautiously resumed rowing, following the Log Pose's direction.
After several more hours, Brook suddenly saw a column of smoke in the distance—and soon after, the sound of cannon fire echoed across the sea. Had he finally found humans?
Whether it was Marines fighting pirates or pirates attacking one another, Brook had to check it out.
As he approached, the two ships became clear. One flew a black skull pirate flag, while the other bore an artistic seagull emblem—likely a merchant vessel.
End of the Chapter.
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