One Piece: Hell Pirates

Brook had developed a series of Techniques inspired by Charlotte Daifuku's Puff-Puff Fruit, giving him the ability to summon the Ghost General at will. Much like Daifuku's genie, Brook's summoned entities possessed a degree of autonomous combat awareness.

Once he gave a command, these ghost generals could fight independently. Their effectiveness in battle—and how long they could fight—depended on the amount of Ghost Energy and Fruits Power Brook provided them.

Among them, the Ghost General Diger was a personal project of Brook's. He poured an immense amount of high-grade energy into enhancing Diger's strength. He didn't need Diger to reach the level of Diger Sparrow, but he did expect him to achieve at least eighty to ninety percent of Brook's own combat power. That way, Diger could provide substantial support when needed.

"Keep pushing yourself! Don't stop, Roger. You've only rested for a minute," Brook said, waving dismissively. "Even the donkeys pulling carts for noble families in the kingdoms get less rest than you! Move it, Newgate's itching to fight you next!"

Roger scowled as he took a swig of wine. He had just finished fighting Shiki and Redfield, and now Brook wanted him to take on Whitebeard?

Even if he was willing to fight again, he needed a short break—some food, a drink—before stepping back into the ring. Every pirate here was a monster. They weren't just dangerous—they were terrifyingly strong. While Roger had an edge in Conqueror's Haki mastery, that advantage wouldn't last long against Devil Fruit users of this caliber.

Brook's top officers didn't just possess all three forms of Haki—they were also high-tier Devil Fruit wielders. Roger knew full well that a series of one-on-one fights would end with him exhausted and possibly defeated. He doubted he could even take down Shiki in the air.

"Brother Brook, even noble donkeys need rest! Common donkeys too!" Roger protested, raising his hand dramatically.

Brook blinked, pretending to reconsider. "Really? Then I must've misremembered. Maybe it's the capitalist donkeys who don't need rest. Fine, rest like a regular donkey then."

That got a laugh out of everyone. The tension in the air evaporated instantly.

"Donkey Roger! Come over here! I've got wine and roasted meat for you~!" Shiki called out between guffaws.

Rayleigh couldn't hold back his laughter either, clapping Roger on the back as the captain grumbled and marched over to join them. Still, he wasn't offended. He laughed along with everyone else, grabbing the food and drink eagerly.

Truthfully, his back-to-back battles with Shiki and Redfield had drained a lot out of him. He needed to recover his stamina and replenish his Haki reserves. Conqueror's Haki Entanglement was incredibly taxing. Even Roger, as gifted as he was, needed to recharge.

At Brook's signal, a spontaneous banquet began. The Hell Pirates and Roger Pirates relaxed for a brief moment of levity amid their intense training sessions.

But not all minds were at ease.

"Brother Brook," Roger said between bites of meat, "you mentioned it in the news—and again just now—about the D Clan being the natural enemy of the Celestial Dragons. Is that true?"

Brook, sipping from a dark bottle of wine, looked thoughtful.

"Yohoho... It seems to be true. The Celestial Dragons fear your D Clan quite a bit."

"Why are they afraid?" Roger asked, curiosity sparkling in his eyes.

Brook paused, locking eyes with Roger. "You sure you want to know? The truth is dangerous, and knowing it might put a target on your back."

Roger nodded firmly, eyes serious. His crew, and even some members of Brook's own, leaned in to listen.

"Alright then," Brook said, his voice calm. "The Blank Century, 800 years ago, was actually a hundred-year war—between the Great Kingdom and the Twenty Kings who later formed the World Government. The ancestors of the Celestial Dragons."

Roger's brows furrowed. Brook continued.

"The D Clan are likely the descendants of the ruling class of that Great Kingdom. That's why the Celestial Dragons fear them. Your bloodline represents the ghosts of their past—the only real threat to their dominion."

Brook admitted he didn't know exactly how many surnames existed within the D Clan. Just like the Twenty Kings came from different nations, the rulers of the Great Kingdom might have hailed from various races.

Among those carrying the Will of D that he knew: Rocks D. Xebec, Gol D. Roger, Marshall D. Teach, Trafalgar D. Law, Monkey D. Luffy, and even the giant Haguar D. Sauro. It was possible the giants once had rulers among the Great Kingdom as well.

"The D Clan must be more than just inherited will," Brook added. "They're all incredibly gifted. That kind of talent points to powerful genetics."

He gave the Celestial Dragons as an example—useless as they were now, many of them carried the potential for greatness. Donquixote Doflamingo and Figarland Shanks were both testaments to that. Once they broke free from the chains of comfort, they each awakened terrifying strength and masterful Haki.

"The Donquixote family in particular produced... colorful people," Brook said with a small chuckle.

He recalled Donquixote Homing, who gave up his status as a Celestial Dragon and lived among commoners—leading to Doflamingo's descent into madness. And Donquixote Mjosgard, who after being saved by Queen Otohime, genuinely tried to help Fishman Island.

"Mjosgard even dismissed all his slaves, got ostracized by the other Celestial Dragons, and beat the hell out of Saint Charlos in Mary Geoise. He rescued Princess Shirahoshi and was even put on trial by the Knights of God. That's no small feat."

"A Great Kingdom..." Roger muttered.

This was the first time most of his crew had ever heard the term. Redfield, who had once worked with historians from the Tree of Knowledge, looked more solemn. They understood the gravity of what Brook was implying.

"Hah! So you're telling me Roger's a Prince of the Great Kingdom now?" Rayleigh joked. "Then what? Rocks is his cousin?"

"Prince Roger of the D Kingdom! I like the sound of that," Gaban added with a laugh.

"Wake up, you fools," Shiki snorted. "Even if it's true, that kingdom was wiped out eight hundred years ago. You're pirates now. What royal family?"

Still, the implications were staggering. If Rocks had knowledge of this past, it would explain his obsession with attacking World Government ships and Celestial Dragon convoys.

"I don't care whether it's true or not," Roger said at last, clenching his fist. "I'll find out for myself. I'll gather all the Poneglyphs, uncover the original history, and learn the truth about the Great Kingdom. That's my mission."

Brook let out a soft laugh.

"Yohoho~, wonderful. Since you're full now, let's channel that conviction into combat! We still need you for Haki entanglement training!"

Roger's face dropped. "Wait, can't we translate a Poneglyph first—?!"

"Nope!"

The rest of the crew burst into laughter again.

Training would resume soon.

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

For several consecutive days, the Conqueror's Haki users trained relentlessly, honing the advanced technique of Conqueror's Haki Entanglement. The results were impressive. Roger, however, grew restless. He was eager to leave the island and continue his journey in search of the Poneglyphs.

After a brief delay, Brook finally handed over the translated Poneglyph to Roger and let him go. He knew the Roger Pirates couldn't be controlled—but friendship could be a valuable card. There was no loss in that.

Besides, Brook could use Roger, the so-called child of destiny, as a tool to deal with Rocks. That wouldn't break his alliance with Rocks either. Two birds, one Poneglyph.

Now, it was time to bring another legendary "D" into the picture—Monkey D. Garp. With these three children of fate clashing, things were bound to get interesting.

Fate truly has a twisted sense of humor. The D clan, scattered across rival forces, inherited a will no one could define. Unity? Nonexistent. They clashed more often than they collaborated.

Even before Imu or the World Government made a move, Roger and Garp had already taken down Rocks. Roger, sick and near death, surrendered himself to Garp.

The D clan—so powerful yet so disorganized. Each one a monster in their own right, but completely incompatible with one another. They fought first, talked never.

Ambitious Ds like Rocks and Blackbeard were always getting smacked down by destiny's golden children—Roger and Luffy. Only Dragon seemed to be staying out of trouble, quietly building up the Revolutionary Army.

As Roger's ship disappeared over the horizon, Brook mulled over his next move. He ordered Redfield and the others to begin a major operation: eradicate the remnants of the Diger Pirates in one clean sweep. He was tired of treating them like an itch that wouldn't go away.

To bait them out, Brook released Amber and along with her son, Depp Sparrow. He hoped to lure out Jack Sparrow and his crew, pulling them into Brook's domain.

Meanwhile, reports arrived that Rocks was nearing the edge of the New World, targeting several strategic locations. The Navy Headquarters dispatched Admiral Hoss to reinforce Admiral Coss Davo in suppressing the chaos in the New World.

At Marineford, Kong—a staunch World Government loyalist—remained stationed, guarding both the Holy Land and the Celestial Dragons of Sabaody. He was heavily trusted by the Five Elders.

But the New World was changing. With Rocks rising again, the navy began pulling its forces back to safer waters. The pirates were too many, too wild. The defense line was drawn, and they didn't dare push beyond it.

Only one lunatic broke ranks.

A rookie vice admiral had charged straight into the buffer zone between two overlord territories—Rocks and Brook. It was a haven for rookie overlord and infamous pirates, each seeking the next chance to flip the chessboard.

"Garp! You rabid mutt! Why are you always chasing us?!" roared Chinjao, fuming.

After getting thrashed in Rocks' territory, then slammed by Golden Lion Shiki's air fleet in Brook's waters, his Happo Navy was nearly decimated.

And now this? Hounded across the seas by the infamous Mad Dog Vice Admiral?!

His ship couldn't match the navy's in firepower, speed, or durability. Every skirmish was a one-sided beatdown. Even he couldn't hold a candle to this lunatic Garp. It was maddening!

"Hahaha! I heard your cone head's supposed to be tougher than steel. Let's find out if it's tougher than my fist!" Garp bellowed, grinning like a man possessed.

These days, Garp lived for battle. He was climbing rapidly in strength, and the ongoing navy purge campaigns came with plenty of merit and rewards. Word had it, allied nations were even offering extra "protection fees" and "consolation bonuses."

"Back off! If you keep chasing us, we'll enter the territories of Rocks or Brook! Do you really have the guts to trespass into an overlord's turf, you navy mongrel?!" Chinjao snapped.

He had no interest in fighting Garp—not now. He needed time to rebuild the Happo Navy. Engaging the navy only drained his forces with zero payoff. At least with pirates, you could rob them or take their turf. Navy warships? Just broke soldiers and basic rations.

"Tch! If HQ didn't tie my hands, I would've stormed in already to see how tough those so-called overlords really are!" Garp shouted, his fists trembling with anticipation. He could blow apart a mountain now and had nowhere to vent.

"You coward! Just admit you're scared and stop blaming orders!"

Chinjao had enough. He barked at his crew, ordering full speed into Brook's territory. Worst case? Register with the Hell Pirates and survive.

If he didn't? Rocks might crush him. Garp might capture him. Or he'd end up a washed-up gang boss in the West Blue.

He'd heard tales—how Naguri and Eric Dane were also hunted down like dogs. But Woonan, the Golden Pirate, was thriving in Brook's domain, treasure-hunting like a king. Even Roger's crew had crushed the former overlord Saracha and sold him off to Brook, earning the elite rank of Diamond Pirate—a guest of honor to the Hell Pirates.

Their bounties soared. They were now hailed as the third overlord pirate group, despite having no territory and no desire for conquest. All they wanted was freedom and adventure.

"Hmph! I'm gonna turn that cone of yours into a flathead today!" Garp shouted, steam practically rising off his fists.

Without another thought, he ordered his ships to give chase—right into Hell Pirates territory.

Three navy warships pursued five pirate vessels across Brook's waters, cannon fire echoing across the waves for an entire day.

They were lucky. Brook's main force was off purging what remained of the Diger Pirates, too busy to intervene.

But fate has a funny way of arranging things.

A ship appeared on the horizon—its flag bearing a familiar emblem: a skull with majestic nose hair.

It was the Roger Pirates, sailing through Brook's territory after leaving Doragonzo Island.

And what did they find?

A lunatic vice admiral blasting his way through Hell Pirate waters.

"Roger, look! That dog-headed warship! I think it's that mad dog Vice Admiral who chased us back in the day!" Rayleigh said, eyes narrowing.

He remembered that beatdown all too well. Only after buying time with "advanced Haki training on credit" did they finally shake him off.

Now those devil fruit debts had been passed on to Brook. And Brook, of course, didn't want their money—just the fruits themselves.

What a ruthless bonehead.

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