Redfield used Moonwalk to propel himself toward the Kirin Lion, thrusting his sword forward, but the beast swiftly deflected it with its razor-sharp claws.
"Humans, you truly are invaders! We will drive you out of O-Kan Island!"
The parrot screeched. Lacking real combat strength, it immediately retreated to the safety of the rare beasts and issued an attack command. In an instant, countless rare beasts charged toward Brook and the crew.
"Captain Brook! There are too many of them! Hurry up and use your ability to scare the Beasts away!!"
Even the usually fearless Shakky looked uneasy as thousands of rare beasts stormed their way.
Brook wasted no time. He stepped forward, raising his aura, and unleashed a chilling surge of energy—an overwhelming wave of underworld power burst from his body.
Hades Will: Death's Gaze
The dark energy swept over the battlefield like a deathly storm. The rare beasts froze in place, their bodies stiffening as if confronted by their natural predator. Many collapsed mid-charge, tumbling across the ground in a heap. Some were so terrified that they lost control of their bowels, adding to the chaotic mess.
The stampede came to an abrupt halt. Those in the rear trampled over the fallen, and the battlefield spiraled into disarray. The commanding parrot, Wuzhu, lost all control.
With the Kirin Lion locked in battle against Redfield, it had no way to rally the frightened creatures. The more timid species had already bolted, fleeing in sheer panic.
"Captain Brook, that was badass! Holding the line all on your own, like a one-man army! Damn, that was insane!"
Even Shakky and the others were in awe. The Kirin Lion and Redfield, still locked in combat, couldn't help but feel the effects of Brook's eerie death aura. Seeing his fellow beasts scatter, the Kirin Lion let out a deafening roar, desperate to restore their morale.
But it was too late. The damage had been done. The rare beasts weren't coming back. Seizing the moment, Redfield intensified his assault, determined to bring down the Kirin Lion King.
Shakky led Fishman Tom into the fray, charging at the remaining rare beasts, while Hiruba perched from a distance, picking off the stronger ones with his sniper rifle.
Watching Brook's dominance, Antonio felt a surge of admiration. He clenched his fists. He couldn't just remain the crew's logistics guy, running away when things got serious. He needed to get stronger.
Meanwhile, Brook kept his eyes locked on the Kirin Lion and Redfield's battle. The Kirin Lion had an aerial advantage, soaring effortlessly. Once its golden horns turned red, its strength multiplied several times over. With a single swipe, it could carve out a crater over ten meters wide and two meters deep. Its power was undeniable.
As the lion's horns glowed red again, its claws radiated intense heat. Each slash sent out three scorching wind blades, forcing Redfield to dodge repeatedly.
The Kirin Lion King roared, unleashing a shockwave that rippled through the battlefield. The physical force of the sound waves caused Antonio to wince and cover his ears.
In Brook's eyes, the beast seemed to grow even larger. What was once a three-to-four-meter-tall lion had now swelled to over ten meters. Its true power had been unleashed.
The massive creature soared through the air, its claws slicing furiously, launching wave after wave of burning wind blades toward Redfield and Brook.
Brook drew the Seven-Star Sword. With a single swing, a curse energy slash erupted, slicing through the incoming wind blades with ease. The Kirin Lion roared in frustration, then lunged at Redfield.
But Redfield was too fast. In an instant, he vanished from sight, leaving the lion to slam into the ground, creating a deep crater. Dirt and debris exploded into the air.
Had that hit landed, even Brook might've been flattened. But Redfield was no ordinary pirate—his natural talent and battle instincts had earned him a place among the world's most feared figures. He exploited his speed, darting around the battlefield, carving wound after wound into the Kirin Lion's massive body.
The lion was growing frantic. Its movements became more aggressive, its attacks more reckless. The presence of Brook, another powerful fighter, only added to its frustration.
Meanwhile, Shakky and Tom had taken down several of the other rare beast elders. Unlike the Beast King, which had inherited its powerful horns and served as the island's guardian, the rest of the rare beasts were weak. Having abandoned carnivorous diets for a peaceful vegetarian lifestyle, they had lost their fighting instincts. They were nothing more than docile, plant-eating creatures.
The talking parrot Wuzhu flailed as it was struck in the wing by Hiruba's sniper round. It spiraled to the ground, where Shakky caught it. She frowned.
"How the hell did a parrot learn to speak on an island with no humans?"
Under her fierce glare, the injured Wuzhu finally confessed. Long ago, humans had lived here in harmony with the rare beasts. Before leaving, they had left behind books, which the parrot tribe, gifted in mimicry, had learned from and passed down over generations.
Meanwhile, the Kirin Lion King was still going berserk, forcing Redfield to retreat momentarily.
Brook took his chance. With ruthless precision, he slashed the lion's abdomen, leaving a deep, gaping wound.
The strange energy of the Seven-Star Sword seeped into the Kirin Lion King's body, mixing with the chilling underworld aura. Its limbs stiffened, its movements slowed.
Redfield sighed. He could feel his captain's power widening the gap between them. "Guess I still have a long way to go…" he muttered. He resolved to push himself harder. If he wanted to stand alongside Brook, he needed to grow stronger.
"Don't hurt our king!!"
Despite its wounds, Wuzhu broke free from Shakky's grasp and threw itself in front of the Kirin Lion King, shielding it from further attacks.
The Kirin Lion King's enormous body began to shrink, returning to its original size of two or three meters. Its breath was weak. Dozens of wounds covered its body, with Brook's sword strike to the abdomen being the worst.
Brook stepped forward, admiring the majestic creature. "You've got guts. What do you say? Want to sail the seas with us?"
The only response he got was a hostile growl.
"Captain, it doesn't look like it's gonna surrender easily. Should we rough it up a little more?" Redfield cracked his knuckles, itching for another round. The weakened lion wouldn't stand a chance.
"Please, let our king go! He's the only one protecting this island!" Wuzhu pleaded, still bleeding from its wounded wing.
Brook scoffed. "A beast as rare and powerful as this, forced to live off plants? That's not how nature works. The world is about survival of the fittest. These rare beasts have grown soft, losing their instincts. Without the Kirin Lion King keeping them in check, they'll be forced to fight for dominance. A new Beast King will rise."
His reasoning was completely self-serving, but it didn't matter. He had already set his sights on the Kirin Lion, and one way or another, he was going to tame it—no matter who stood in his way!
---
Seeing that the Kirin Lion still had no intention of yielding, Redfield stepped forward again, swiftly defeating it.
"Look at these precious animals you protected. They all ran away, not a single one came back to protect you—except for this parrot! What do you think? Come out to sea with me and experience the wonders of the world!"
Despite being seriously injured, the Kirin Lion turned its head away, ignoring Brook.
"There's nothing else I can do, Redfield. I'll have to start over! Memory Seahorse, devour its memories for me!"
Wuzhu, standing by, tried to stop him but was knocked unconscious by Brook.
"Memory Seahorse, take the parrot's memories too, but make sure it keeps its ability to speak. It'll be our ship's translator and lookout from now on."
The Memory Seahorse eagerly absorbed their memories, savoring the feast. Following Brook's instructions, it erased their memories of the later parts of their lives.
"Captain Brook, are you sure about this?"
Tom, the fish-man, seemed reluctant. Their kind detested oppression and deception.
"We didn't take their lives. From now on, they'll be our reliable crewmates!"
The Memory Seahorse finished its task and let out a burp, while Shakky and Antonio immediately tended to the Kirin Lion and the parrot's wounds, stopping the bleeding and wrapping them in bandages.
"Don't worry, Tom. The waterfall clouds here will continue to protect this island. I'm sure a new Beast King will be born soon!"
Tom might not have known, but the title of Beast King on O-Kan Island was inherited through the Beast Horns. Though Redfield didn't particularly like Brook's method of recruiting crewmates, he understood the reasoning behind it.
Brook, having once experienced the destruction of his pirate crew, was desperate to find strong allies. Redfield knew that if he wanted to help Brook achieve his dreams, he had to grow stronger as well—to make his own dream a reality.
They moved the Kirin Lion and the parrot onto the ship and set sail. The rare animals, seeing their king taken away, cried out in sorrow, no longer running like they had before.
After returning to the Voyager and taking a short rest, Brook used the Waterfall Cloud and continued toward Drum Island.
Half a day later, the Kirin Lion and the parrot woke up, looking around in confusion. Redfield and Brook immediately began training them.
With its erased memories, the Kirin Lion was now just a powerful lion beast before the fusion of the Beast Horns, and the parrot was like a newly-learned talker.
Under Brook's relentless brainwashing, they were finally convinced that the captain had saved them, and they accepted their new roles as crew members.
The Kirin Lion became Brook's mount, training its abilities daily with the parrot acting as its translator. Over time, even Tom and Redfield accepted these two once-wild, now-clueless creatures.
··
"Captain Brook, I see a snowy island ahead!"
The lookout, Parrot Assistant, swooped down from the mast to report. Shakky, the navigator, quickly checked the nautical chart and the Eternal Pose—it was indeed Drum Island.
Tom, the fish-man helmsman, adjusted the course slightly. Redfield, having just finished sparring with Brook, helped turn the sails.
Inside the cabin, sniper Hiruba was busy modifying his bullets, while intelligence officer Antonio listened in on intercepted transmissions via Den Den Mushi.
Soon, they spotted three towering, snow-covered mountains shaped like drums. Drum Island was well-known in the Grand Line—an infamous winter island and a major medical hub.
"By the way, does everyone have warm clothes?"
Having been resurrected, Brook constantly emanated an eerie, underworld chill, making him immune to the cold.
Shakky immediately went to change into a stylish winter outfit. Hiruba and Antonio also layered up, while Tom, being a sturdy fish-man, dismissed the need for extra clothing.
Redfield noticed Brook didn't put on any winter gear, so he refused to wear any himself. This was part of his training!
Brook sighed at the stubbornness but ultimately let it slide. He wasn't immune because of training—just a side effect of his existence. He told Antonio to keep a spare coat ready just in case.
Since Drum Island was under the jurisdiction of the World Government, the Voyager couldn't dock at any official ports. Otherwise, they'd be immediately targeted.
Pirates had to operate like this—unless they were in pirate-friendly territories, they had to find a secluded spot to land. It was an unspoken rule that protected their ships.
Brook's main reason for coming to Drum Island wasn't just to recruit a skilled doctor—he also wanted a medical evaluation to see if he had any chance of fathering children.
If it turned out to be impossible, he'd give up the idea entirely and focus on becoming the strongest, living forever!
Brook sat atop the Kirin Lion, while Shakky shamelessly jumped on as well, making herself comfortable.
Drum Island's current king was likely Wapol's grandfather. His policies were excellent, attracting medical talents from all over. With constant advancements in medicine and treatment, his reign had earned a stellar reputation.
Rumor had it that the doctors here could even reattach severed heads—proof of their advanced medical expertise. Some even spoke of cutting-edge, borderline supernatural treatments.
"Alright, everyone—split up and find what you need!"
The Hell Pirates entered the town, each member given a few million berries to use freely.
Antonio, having no particular goal, chose to follow Brook, while Shakky, driven by her information-gathering instincts, went off to collect intel.
Tom sought out floating materials for ship repairs, Hiruba went in search of special medicines for his bullets, and Redfield wandered off, hoping to find a worthy opponent for a one-on-one fight.
The Memory Seahorse and Parrot Assistant perched atop the Kirin Lion. Seeing Antonio's disappointment at having no role, they invited him to ride along. His presence, combined with the majestic lion, quickly drew the attention of onlookers.
The Kirin Lion was a sight to behold—golden horns, noble wings—making wealthy merchants and nobles drool with envy and greed.
If any Celestial Dragons were here, they'd have tried to seize it immediately. Such a magnificent beast was a mount worthy of the so-called gods.
Brook approached a passerby and asked about Dr. Kureha's whereabouts. The man flinched, visibly shaken by Brook's presence.
"Are you looking for that old witch? She's got a strange personality and charges ridiculous fees. I'd advise against it—there are plenty of other top-class doctors here!"
Brook's face darkened. His cold aura alone made the man panic. Quickly pointing in the direction of Kureha's location, the man ran off without another word.
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