One Piece: Hell Pirates

Beaver's death sent a chill down Xiao Feng's spine. If he didn't get Jack out of here fast, they were both going to die. Once Brook and Linlin joined the battle, what chance would he or Jack have?

"Jack! Run! Head for the coast!" Xiao Feng shouted.

He no longer cared about himself or Jack's crew. This wasn't a retreat anymore—this was a full-blown escape. Activating the full power of his Wind Control Fruit, Xiao Feng whipped up a violent storm, hoping to buy time.

He rushed to Jack's side. His Wind Control powers had a natural edge over Shiki's Float-Float Fruit, and together, they managed to barely suppress Redfield and Shiki.

Jack had no choice. Gritting his teeth, he abandoned the crew who'd followed him through thick and thin. Brook's brutal execution of Beaver had shaken him. He never imagined Brook would be so merciless—killing Beaver without a word.

Now, Jack didn't dare get close to Brook again. What if he didn't even get the chance to speak before Brook cut him down too?

The two of them fought while retreating, making a mad dash for the pirate ship anchored on the coast. If they could just make it to sea, they'd have a speed advantage. With Xiao Feng's wind powers, they might even shake off the golden ship.

"Linlin! Let's go!" Brook shouted. "No way we're letting them escape. They trespassed in our territory and nearly killed one of our own. We're not done here!"

Brook flew forward atop Hera, the Somersault Cloud, while Linlin charged ahead on Zeus, her thundercloud. Flames engulfed Jack's ship as Linlin set it ablaze, cutting off their only retreat.

Suddenly, Jack and Xiao Feng found themselves under siege from four top-tier fighters. With their flagship Queen and Jack's Bad Girl both on fire, Xiao Feng felt panic clawing at him.

Captain Diger, where the hell are you?! he thought, desperate for reinforcements.

"Brook! Stop, stop, stop! This is my fault! I screwed up, okay?! I'm sorry! I'll compensate you, I swear! Can we just stop fighting already?!"

Jack had just taken two slashes of Brook's sword, and instantly realized—Brook's strength now completely eclipsed his own. He wasn't the half-baked "Overlord" the Navy had hyped up with a bounty. He had earned it.

"Yohoho~ Jack," Brook laughed. "You and Xiao Feng surrender now, and I promise I won't kill you. I still need to settle some business with Diger!"

Brook wasn't about to forget how humiliated he'd felt when the loot was split on Longwater Island. Now was the time to collect. And after what Jack's crew did to Angel—beating her nearly to death—he wasn't going to just let this go. If it hadn't been for the Healing Fruit from the Dwarves, Angel would've died.

"Fine, Brook, but you better stick to your word," Jack growled. "If Xiao Feng and I die here, my old man will go berserk. You'd just be handing everything over to the Rocks Pirates."

Jack was stalling for time. Once Diger arrived, the tables would turn. And Brook wouldn't want to sever ties with the Diger Pirates entirely—that wouldn't benefit anyone.

"I'm a man of my word," Brook replied. "But your father better show some damn sincerity for the damage you caused. Angel nearly died—don't act like this is some small matter."

Jack could feel the walls closing in. Brook wasn't letting up. The pressure was suffocating.

"Okay, okay! I surrender! Xiao Feng, just do it—surrender!"

Jack finally gave in. If this kept going, someone was going to die. He glanced at Xiao Feng, who looked ridiculous with his clothes blown off from being electrocuted by both Redfield and Linlin.

Xiao Feng didn't want to, but he followed the young master's lead. They dropped their weapons and raised their hands.

In a flash, the four attackers surrounded them. Tiger and Kaido sprinted in with Seastone handcuffs, cheering as they slapped the cuffs onto each pirate like they'd just captured Rocks himself.

They were way too excited—posing like they were the ones who took down two Overlords.

Brook rolled his eyes.

Shakky ran over, starry-eyed, holding the Memory Seahorse tight, practically drooling over the chance to peek into the minds of two high-profile pirate captives.

"Move aside! These two are off-limits!" Brook snapped. He picked up Shakky and the Memory Seahorse and tossed them aside like stray puppies. Now was not the time to poke around in those memories—no telling what Diger would do if pushed too far.

Tiger and Kaido strutted around proudly, each dragging a top pirate prisoner, begging Antonio to take the "coolest photo possible" for their wanted posters or bounty board.

Jack and Xiao Feng were so pissed they nearly kicked the two rookies across the beach. They were being treated like common criminals!

Meanwhile, all of Jack and Xiao Feng's crew were being tied up. Beaver's men—who used to sail with the Ewaldd Pirates before defecting—were now groveling at Angel's feet.

But Angel had no interest in taking in such unreliable pirates again. She turned them over to Brook, who had them thrown into Parrot Castle's fruit. He'd decide later if they were useful.

Crocus saw Shakky being embarrassed in front of Brook but kept silent. He leaned in and whispered something to Brook.

Brook nodded in approval.

A few minutes later, a blood donation table had been set up right there on the beach. Jack, Xiao Feng, and their men were all dragged over and hooked up like donors at a Red Cross clinic. Crocus looked gleeful.

Shakky practically vibrated with excitement. Two full tubes of blood from Jack and Xiao Feng lit up her eyes like it was Christmas.

"Brook!! I protest! This is a violation of prisoner rights!" Jack shouted, pale-faced.

Xiao Feng, furious, shut his eyes tightly. The humiliation was unbearable. The Diger Pirates had never suffered this kind of disgrace since rising to Overlord status.

"Hush, Jack," Brook said calmly, as if he were offering advice. "If my doctor hears you yelling, he might come over and give you a little extra shot. Wouldn't want that, would you?"

Brook almost sounded like a friend… if you ignored the sarcasm.

To Brook, Jack was just a fool who came into the Hell Pirates' territory trying to fish out the biggest catch from Brook's personal pond—Angel.

Brook turned and quietly told Crocus to give Jack another shot anyway.

He was ready for what came next. Whether it was the Diger Pirates or the Rocks Pirates—he'd fight them both if he had to. But would this fake Rocks group even dare come near?

Brook started plotting his next move, thinking three steps ahead, just like he'd always done since childhood chess games.

---------------

Before the Diger Pirates' fleet could arrive at Squid Island, Brook had already gotten Diger's Den Den Mushi number from Jack and Xiao Feng. Still, instead of using his own, Brook used Jack's Den Den Mushi to call—partly as a power move, partly to get Diger on edge.

He returned to the golden ship, gathered his thoughts, and carefully chose his words. Today, he had to get the method for training Conqueror's Haki Entanglement—no excuses.

"Purururu~ Click."

"Jack! Once you've caught Angel, retreat with Xiao Feng immediately. Brook will be back soon!"

The Den Den Mushi's mimicry voice sounded a bit rushed. Maybe it hadn't had time to change forms yet, or maybe the caller was too anxious to wait.

"Yohoho~ Diger, it's me. You can probably guess what's going on, right?"

Brook chuckled. Your fleet can't catch up with my golden ship. No matter how powerful you are, now you've gotta speak to me with respect.

"Brook!! What the hell did you do to Jack and Xiao Feng?"

Diger's tone dropped dangerously. He realized the thing he feared most had actually happened—he'd been outplayed.

"Relax. They're alive. Let's get down to business."

Brook's voice turned serious. "By the way, the Rocks Pirates are headed for my territory too. So think carefully before you say another word!"

Now, Brook sounded like a seasoned merchant waiting to squeeze a customer dry. He wanted to pressure Diger into revealing everything.

"What do you want?" Diger asked grimly. "An island? Gold? A Devil Fruit?"

He wasn't bluffing. The presence of the Rocks Pirates, combined with the Hell Pirates' position, could decide his fate. If Brook left Jack to Rocks and chose to stay neutral, the Diger Pirates could be decimated.

In short, if he wanted to survive, he had to bleed today. All this because of that bastard Jack. He's really draining my soul.

"Yohoho~ Captain Diger," Brook replied with a sinister smile. "You know we've got the Golden Island and a golden ship. To us, a hundred million berries is like loose change. I've never touched money. Hell, I don't even have a place to spend it."

"As for islands or Devil Fruits... that depends on your sincerity. But what I really want today is your method for training Conqueror's Haki Entanglement."

Brook's voice sharpened like a blade. "If you can't give me that—there's no point in meeting again. What do you think, Diger Sparrow?"

Brook had shown his fangs. Everything now rested on how much Jack and Xiao Feng were worth to Diger. And if the Hell Pirates went against Diger—or even stayed out of it—the Diger Pirates wouldn't stand a chance.

Faced with the dual threat of the Rocks and the Hell Pirates, Diger couldn't afford to act tough. He gritted his teeth, his Haki flaring through the Den Den Mushi, making it tremble and sweat like it was alive.

Conqueror's Haki Entanglement wasn't just a power—it was his foundation. If Brook mastered it, and if the Hell Pirates had a crew full of Haki users…

Diger's face aged ten years in a heartbeat. He had to choose between his son and his status.

So be it... Let the new era belong to Rocks and Brook. This old man's reign is over.

"Fine. I'll give you the Conqueror's Haki Entanglement method."

Diger's voice cracked with the weight of defeat. "And I'll throw in five islands and three Devil Fruits. But I have one condition: Jack must marry Angel. That's the only way I'll agree to an alliance between our pirate crews."

Diger wasn't done yet. He still hoped the Diger Pirates could develop while the Hell Pirates rose. Maybe Jack or Barbosa could eventually take the lead.

If Jack can have a kid... even if I step down, I can train my grandchildren and wait for a new age.

"Sorry." Brook's tone was cold. "Angel isn't a bargaining chip. Since you're being generous, I'll give up the five islands—but we can still form an alliance."

Brook had no interest in islands—those would come later. What he needed now was for Diger to stand in front of Rocks. Might as well use him as a shield while I grow stronger.

"Fine." Diger sighed heavily. "But if the Rocks Pirates attack, you fight them with me."

There was no room left to negotiate. Brook held all the cards. Jack didn't get Angel. And when they returned to Ten Kings Island, Diger was already planning to feed Jack aphrodisiacs daily until he produced a child. Right now, Diger just wanted to beat him senseless.

"Yohoho~ Alliance confirmed!" Brook laughed. "Captain Diger, prepare the training method properly. Don't try to trick me—or you'll regret it."

Satisfied with the outcome, Brook had Antonio swap in some fake Den Den Mushi identical to Jack's and Xiao Feng's. Whether they could fool Diger would depend on the acting skills of these spy snails.

Standing on the bow of the golden ship, Brook raised his hands, eyes closed. He felt like his life had reached its peak.

Once the Hell Pirates mastered Conqueror's Haki Entanglement, they'd evolve completely. Soon, they would rise on the corpses of the Diger Pirates and challenge the Rocks Pirates for the throne.

Who would truly rule the New World?

"Let's find out... Rocks D. Xebec."

---

Meanwhile, Jack, Xiao Feng, and their crew had their blood drawn by the ship's doctor, Crocus, before being locked in Parrot's castle Fruit. Brook wasn't taking any chances.

In the pirate world, Devil Fruit powers were unpredictable. Who knew if a door might suddenly appear and Diger would come barging in to rescue them? Brook wasn't confident he could beat Diger yet.

Or worse—some mass teleportation power might show up.

Until the Conqueror's Haki Infusion was in his hands, those prisoners were staying exactly where they were.