On the other side of the battlefield, Redfield held the 400-million-Belly bounty pirate Anman by the scruff of his neck. Anman was charred black, wisps of smoke still rising from his body, but miraculously alive.
Redfield knew better than to finish off a high-value officer like this. The Hell Pirates' "demon capitalists" would want to squeeze every last drop of worth from him.
Whitebeard Newgate, uninterested in the slaughter, patrolled the island's perimeter, cutting off any enemy trying to flee. He might not have realized that killing pirates in the chaos of battle was one thing, but crushing their hopes at the shoreline after a glimpse of escape? That bred a deeper kind of resentment.
Shakky and Charlotte Linlin zeroed in on Redfield's captive, Anman, their eyes glinting with interest. He'd make a fine prize, but they'd wait for Brook to return before digging in.
...
The aerial chase ended swiftly. Brook unleashed his Soul Slash, a devastating attack that even Kong's Armament Haki emission couldn't block. Using it on Orion was a mark of respect for the Wind Fruit user. Orion clutched his head in agony, plummeting from the sky toward the sea.
Golden Lion Shiki, quick as ever, snatched Orion before he hit the water, saving him from a salty grave.
Shiki gaped at Brook, stunned. The captain's Soul Slash wasn't just external now—it showed no signs of the exhaustion it caused when used against Kong. Brook's power had grown terrifyingly.
That Soul Slash was a death sentence for anyone without mid-to-high-level Conqueror's Haki. Without awakened Conqueror's, you were nothing but a weakling before Captain Brook!
As Brook's strength and mastery of the Fruit deepened, its soul-rending power seemed to threaten all living beings. It suppressed Linlin's Homies with ease and even instilled fear in the souls of the living.
Sometimes, even Shiki felt like Brook was becoming a true reaper, radiating the oppressive aura of a higher lifeform!
"Brook, are we sure about taking Orion? Aren't we picking a fight with the Vesper Pirates?"
Shiki was eager to topple the Vesper Pirates and claim their spot, but the Hell Pirates' foundation wasn't quite ready. Even if they seized Vesper's forty-plus islands, they lacked the crew to manage and defend them.
It was like the Rocks Pirates' dilemma—grabbing too much territory only to face endless challenges from rising supernovas and veteran pirates vying for a piece of the pie. Rocks was recruiting officers left and right, but top-tier cadres with bounties over 300 million were scarce, and guarding ninety islands was a stretch.
Every year, new supernovas emerged with bounties of 300 to 500 million, and even the lesser ones hit the New World with 200 million or more.
"With Orion's Wind-Wind Fruit, we can build the Hell Pirates' air fleet," Brook declared. "Our flight speed will be unmatched. The entire New World will kneel before us—even Rocks won't stand a chance!"
Brook understood the value of air superiority. The Wind-Wind Fruit would patch the weaknesses of Shiki's Float-Float Fruit, making their air fleet unstoppable. The Four Seas and the Grand Line would become the Hell Pirates' playground, ripe with talent, Devil Fruits, and rare resources. Whatever they wanted, they'd take.
That's why, even if it meant crossing Vesper, Brook had to secure Orion's fruit. Last time, he'd held off to learn Conqueror's Haki Coiling, but now? Orion's fruit was his.
"Jahaha! Hell yeah, Brook! I've been itching to rebuild the air fleet. Once we're back, we start recruiting and shipbuilding!"
Shiki was all in for reviving the air fleet's glory. This time, he'd only take elites—no more half-baked recruits. Only pirates with bounties could board his ships!
If Antonio heard Shiki's plan, he'd probably cut off all Den Den Mushi channels in a huff. Was it his fault he didn't have a bounty?
...
Brook soared back to the island on his Cloud Hera, with Shiki hauling the unconscious Orion close behind, ready to wrap up the day's fight.
This operation was a double win. Not only did they crush the Worldcom Shipping Syndicate for the Umi Family, but they also bagged Orion and his Wind-Wind Fruit, plus a handful of Vesper Pirates' support crew.
Vesper had sent three officers: Orion, Anman and Wilanyu. Three of the Ten Kings' rulers fell in one swoop—a crippling blow to Vesper's crew.
Vesper himself might cough up blood when he hears this. These were veteran, loyal officers, battle-tested and true. Losing three—nearly a third of his core—was a gut punch.
Orion was the linchpin of Vesper's high-mobility strategy. Without his Wind-Wind Fruit, their ability to lock down their territories would take a serious hit.
Siboshe had already been taken out by Umide before Brook's return. Umide, ever ruthless, didn't want Brook recruiting Siboshe and splitting his power, risking a messy balance of authority.
Umide was a big shot in his own right and no stranger to power plays. Strong lieutenants could be a threat—plenty of New World pirates had ditched their crews to go solo.
...
Umide, flanked by his second-in-command Umile, hurried to meet Brook. Their third brother, Umina, was absent. As a major family, the Umi clan never put all their leaders in one place, whether facing enemies, allies, or friends.
It was a survival tactic—never let the family's succession line get wiped out in one go.
When Brook arrived, Umide and Umile were waiting respectfully, ready to hear his next orders.
-----------
+300 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg