One Piece: Hell Pirates

As the New World stabilized under two dominant powers, survival became harder for independent pirates. Unless they joined one of the top factions, the only option left was to stake their claim in the border territories of the New World.

Thankfully, the Hell Pirates introduced a semi-open Pirate Guild system. Pirate crews unwilling to formally serve under Captain Brook could still gain protection and operate freely by registering through a paid membership. While the cost was steep, the benefits were worth it.

Guild members could navigate Hell Pirate territory without harassment, take on high-reward missions, fetch rare items, purchase essential supplies, and even get access to classified bounties.

Among the newcomers, the Roger Pirates had finally returned to the sea—only to discover a completely changed world. They'd spent over half a year clashing with the Saracha pirates

on Briden Island, eventually seizing the treasure of the infamous Overlord Ingran.

Roger's haul included a manuscript on Advanced Conqueror's Haki Infusion, a historical Poneglyph, and a mountain of treasure. But their victory came at a cost—they'd fully enraged Saracha. What followed was a brutal campaign of vengeance. Saracha pursued them relentlessly, seeking both revenge and the manuscript.

The Roger Pirates fought back fiercely. Despite losing several crewmates, the trio known as Gold, Silver, and Bronze—Roger, Rayleigh, and Gaban—grew exponentially stronger under pressure. Roger's Conqueror's Haki, especially, progressed at a monstrous pace—like the universe itself was force-feeding him power.

Eventually, the three joined forces and brought Saracha down. The tyrant was shackled in Seastone handcuffs, a gift from Brook himself, and Roger planned to deliver him straight to the Hell Pirates.

"Unbelievable! Brook and Rocks actually split the New World in two?" Rayleigh muttered as he scanned the newspaper, still processing the headlines. "When did Brook's crew become this dominant?"

"This is bad," Gaban added darkly. "If we wander into their waters uninvited, we might get hunted. Let's register with Brook's Pirate Guild and turn Saracha in. Might as well get something for that bastard."

Gaban delivered a sharp kick to the bound and unconscious Saracha, his expression grim. Saracha's rampage had killed eight of their original 28-man crew. Even though they had dismantled the Butcher Pirates, the weight of those deaths lingered.

Now only twenty remained. Still, Roger had no intention of giving up. They would recruit new blood, live freely, and carry on the dreams of their fallen comrades.

"Let's meet Brook first," Roger decided. "Hand over Saracha, join the guild, and maybe they'll help us translate that Poneglyph."

The recent losses had changed Roger. He was more grounded now, no longer seeing strength as a guarantee of safety. Sometimes, even your best efforts couldn't stop the storm.

As they approached Doragonzo Island—the Hell Pirates' main base—they were intercepted by patrol ships. Tensions rose immediately, but Roger calmed the situation by dialing Brook's personal Den Den Mushi.

To their surprise, Brook himself answered from Sky Island.

"What a surprise! Roger actually did it!" Brook laughed. "You remembered our deal and brought Saracha to me?"

Brook couldn't hide his astonishment. The two had lost contact for months. To think Roger not only survived but took down a pseudo-overlord—it was a testament to fate itself.

But the Hell Pirates weren't idle either. They had recently taken out David Kyons, the most powerful of the pseudo-overlords. It seemed both Brook and Roger were destined for greatness.

"The Corruption-Corruption Fruit, huh?" Brook mused, reviewing Saracha's abilities. "It's a hyper-advanced version of the Rust-Rust Fruit. Almost nothing resists its decay. This fruit fits right into the Hell Pirates' arsenal."

He grinned. Roger's return wasn't just dramatic—it was lucrative.

"If I can fully tame Saracha and pair him with the Seven-Star Demon Sword... then overtaking Rocks won't even take a decade," Brook whispered to himself, eyes gleaming.

Two days later, the Roger Pirates entered the core waters of Hell Pirate territory—and were stunned.

They passed Thunder God Island, Mist Island, Beast Island, Carnival Island, and the recently recaptured Ten Kings Islands.

Yes, recaptured—Golden Lion Shiki had seized all ten islands back in a single, devastating campaign. Now, more than ten fortified islands surrounded Doragonzo Island, connected by prosperous waterways.

"Is that the Baron of Stomach Island?" Rayleigh blinked. Two new plant islands rose from the sea nearby, overflowing with fruits, sweets, and exotic dishes.

"They're still small," Spencer said, sword slung over his shoulder as he flashed a cocky smile. "Looks like Shiki built their underwater foundations early. It'll take time, but they'll grow into giants."

"Hahaha! Brook really is a genius!" Roger laughed loudly, feeling some of his sorrow lift. Even in a world this dangerous, there was still wonder, still adventure.

They took the riskiest waterway—between Thunder God Island and Beast Island. Lightning danced through the skies, and monstrous beasts roared from the cliffs. Occasionally, lightning bolts crashed dangerously close to their ship.

Finally, they reached Doragonzo, where Brook descended from the skies to greet them personally.

"Roger, my man!" Brook exclaimed, handing him a sleek Diamond-grade Den Den Mushi and a high-tier Pirate Guild badge. "Welcome back. You're now a Diamond Pirate in my guild."

Roger whistled. "A diamond phone and a 70% discount card? You're spoiling us. What if we bankrupt your whole economy, huh? Hahaha!"

"Yohoho! As long as you catch me a Navy Admiral, you can eat and drink for free—forever!" Brook chuckled.

Roger waved him off. "Nah, I'm just here for the adventure. I'm not picking a fight with the Navy yet. Not with the New World like this. I can roam your seas safely, but Rocks' territory? That's a death sentence."

In Brook's waters, a pirate could thrive. But in Rocks' domain, it was simple—join or die. And unless Rocks deemed you completely worthless, he'd eventually come knocking.

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But as a member of the D. Clan, how could they not stir up trouble?

At worst, Roger figured they could just slip quietly into Rocks' territory. After all, nothing could stop him from exploring the world—not even Rocks himself!

Maybe one day, he'd even defeat Rocks.

That ruthless overlord had long interfered with the pirates' right to roam free. At least Brook, unlike Rocks, offered a system—pirate guild ranks, discounts, and a shot at survival. It might've been a little organized, but it wasn't tyranny.

Roger still didn't fully understand Brook's intentions behind building a pirate guild, but hey—if there were perks, it couldn't be all bad. It sure beat getting stomped under Rocks' iron boot.

"Roger, why don't you stay here for a while and catch up with everyone? They're very curious about your Conqueror's Haki infusion technique. Might be good for them to relax and exchange pointers," Brook said with a warm smile.

Of course, he wasn't about to let a prime training dummy like Roger slip away. Redfield, Newgate, and the others had all been refining their Haki infusion skills—but Roger had clearly pulled ahead. This was the perfect opportunity to test their limits.

If they didn't take advantage of Roger now, when would they? A man of destiny like that? You squeezed out every last drop of value when you had the chance.

Roger chuckled. "Haha~ I was thinking the same thing. Oh, and Brother Brook, could you ask the scholars from O'Hara to help translate these Poneglyph rubbings?"

He handed Brook the copies he'd made of the ancient text found on Bredin Island. Brook had used similar texts as rewards in the past, so Roger knew his crew had experts in deciphering them.

"No problem," Brook replied. "Did you bring the actual stone with you? Or just the rubbings?"

"Just rubbings," Roger shrugged. "The real thing's too heavy to lug around. I left it in the Emperor Ingran's treasure room on Bredin Island. If you want it, I'll draw you a map."

He pulled out a scrap of parchment and sketched a crude layout of the island's vault. The Roger Pirates had taken all the valuables—but the stone tablet remained untouched.

"Perfect. I'll send someone to haul it back. In the meantime, stay a few extra days. I'll have the historians work on your rubbings. And don't forget to enjoy yourself—Newgate and Shiki are itching to spar with you."

Brook was thoroughly impressed by Roger's carefree generosity. First Saracha, now the Poneglyph? What a treasure trove of gifts.

Should I ask if he's got a spare Devil Fruit lying around too?

"Great! I've been missing Newgate's wine anyway. I'll make myself at home, then! Haha~"

Roger happily passed the time while the historians worked, enjoying drinks and duels with Newgate, Shiki, and the others. Meanwhile, Rayleigh quietly searched for a familiar silhouette—someone who hadn't shown herself yet.

"Hooray! Finally, we can eat, drink, and party again!!"

Roger's crew had been practically driven mad by Saracha back on Bredin Island. Now they were free, flush with treasure, and more than ready to blow off steam.

Thanks to Roger's diamond-tier discount card, they could indulge in food, drink, and entertainment for cheap. Equipment and weapons still cost full price, but that didn't matter. With gold in hand, they were on a "buy, buy, buy!" spree.

Seeing Roger's crew enjoying themselves, Brook assigned Golden Lion Shiki to host them, while he returned to Skypiea with the Poneglyph rubbings for the ravenous scholars of O'Hara.

But there was still one more matter to handle—Saracha.

This so-called pseudo-overlord had given even Roger's elite team trouble. A wielder of all three types of Haki and the user of the Corruption-Corruption Fruit, Saracha was a beast. It had taken the combined exhaustion tactics of Roger's gold-silver-bronze trio just to capture him.

In the vast laboratory on Golden Island, Brook faced his new prisoner.

"Tch. Even the Seven-Star Sword can't erode this guy?" Brook muttered in frustration.

Saracha stood tall, barely fazed by the blade's corruptive aura. His Conqueror's Haki alone was enough to resist it.

"Brook! You trying to control me now? We're allies! Let me go!" Saracha barked, shackled in seastone cuffs.

Having escaped Roger's crew only to land in Brook's domain, he was rattled—and dehydrated. He hadn't eaten or drunk anything in days.

"Saracha, let me ask you plainly," Brook said in a cool tone. "Will you join us?"

The moment Brook realized the Seven-Star Sword couldn't subdue Saracha, he'd already made up his mind. He'd kill him, harvest his soul, and recycle the Corruption-Corruption Fruit. There was no time to waste trying to tame someone like this.

Besides, he had already promised Roger he wouldn't let the man go.

If the sword had worked, maybe Saracha could've joined the Black Cloak Assassins. But now? That option was off the table.

"Join you?! Are you insane?" Saracha spat. "I'm the captain of a dominant pirate crew! I don't bow to anyone!"

What Saracha didn't know was that his information was outdated—stuck in the past, when he had fled from Rocks and clashed with Roger's crew on Bredin.

Brook smirked. "You're already finished, Saracha. I've taken all your territory. Old Diger? He's dead. His lands are mine too. Right now, it's just me and Rocks ruling the New World."

Saracha stared at him like he was talking lunacy.

"You? You took my territories? And Diger's? What dreamland are you living in?! The Hell Pirates can barely field a fleet, and you think you're running the New World? You've only just arrived!"

He laughed in disbelief. The idea of the Hell Pirates challenging Rocks was absurd. How long had Brook even been in the New World? A few years?

It was impossible.

Brook stepped forward, raising the Seven-Star Sword for the killing blow.

But just then—crash!

Charlotte Linlin stormed in, followed closely by Crocus.

"Hold it!! Brother Brook, I haven't harvested his soul-life yet!" Big Mom growled.

"Wait! Spare him, Captain Brook!" Crocus added quickly. "I need the blood of a powerful warrior for my experiment! You promised me last time!"

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