The port of Gunner's Island.
A thin mist lingered over the sea in the early morning as the sun slowly rose above the horizon. The salty ocean breeze carried a faint fishy scent, rousing those who inhaled it. Seagulls cried out eagerly, welcoming the start of a new day.
For once, Brook had woken up early. Instead of sharing stale bread with the rest of the crew, he had prepared a pot of meat porridge for himself.
"Roger, wake up! Brook and the others have already set sail!"
Rayleigh's voice boomed, jolting Roger awake. He rubbed his drowsy eyes and caught a glimpse of the Yellow Springs departing in the distance. A glimmer of certainty flashed across his gaze.
"The first, huh? I wonder what kind of 'first' that will be... Hahaha!"
Roger chuckled to himself as he ran a hand through his hair. He had always been captivated by the voices that echoed from the Poneglyphs. Would they truly lead him to the first?
...
"Captain Brook, are we really in such a hurry? What's the rush? Don't you know a girl needs her beauty sleep?"
Shakky puffed up her cheeks, glaring at Brook with obvious displeasure as she leaned against the ship's railing.
"There's no time to waste. The future is unpredictable—we can't afford delays."
Brook was determined to enter the New World within a year. After all, Charlotte Linlin had given birth to her first child, Perospero, just a month after turning eighteen. Which meant... she had been pregnant before she was even of age.
With that kind of monstrous potential, a future Yonko like her would be a valuable addition to the crew—if he could recruit her early. Now that he had a Den Den Mushi, it was the perfect time to deceive the still-naïve Charlotte Linlin into joining him.
As for Kaido... that seven or eight-year-old brat was probably still somewhere in the Vodka Kingdom. Had he enlisted in the army yet? By the time he was ten, Kaido had already been the strongest soldier in their military. At thirteen, he was sold to the Marines by the Vodka Kingdom's king, only to repeatedly escape and rack up a bounty of seventy million Belly. By fifteen, he had made his way to Hachinosu, where Whitebeard personally recruited him into the Rocks Pirates.
Intercepting him before Rocks got his hands on him... now that was an interesting possibility. The last surviving Oni race warrior—what a powerful asset.
...
Seeing Brook's serious expression, Shakky also grew more focused. She made a swift decision to alter their plans—scrapping any unnecessary stops and heading straight for the legendary Asuka Island to retrieve what the captain sought.
With the addition of sniper Silva to the crew, they had another pair of hands to help manage the sails, meaning Brook no longer had to handle everything himself.
After more than a week of continuous sailing, the Hell Pirates finally arrived at Asuka Island, a thriving commercial hub. To their surprise, a Marine base was stationed here—proof of the island's strategic value.
Choosing not to risk docking at the official port, they instead maneuvered toward a secluded shore to make landfall.
...
Legends whispered through the streets of Asuka Island.
Thousands of years ago, the island's people had lived in terror of the crimson full moon. To dispel their fears, the gods gifted their king a sacred shield and a blade known as the Cursed Holy Sword. But it was said that if the Cursed Holy Sword and the crimson moon ever appeared together again, darkness would once more engulf the world.
These tales, along with rough maps of the island, had been prepared for Brook's crew by Morgans' news agency. Thanks to that, they had saved a great deal of time.
"Captain Brook, according to the intel, the ruins we're looking for should be located in a primitive tribe deep within this island chain. With this crude map, we should be able to find it!"
Shakky scribbled notes onto the map, quickly identifying the terrain and general direction. As expected of someone with an intelligence-gathering background.
"Let's retrieve the Cursed Holy Sword before the Marines catch wind of us."
If the legend was true, the Cursed Holy Sword was currently sealed within the tribe's sacred altar, under the protection of the village priestess and its people.
Navigating through the winding forest paths with a map in hand, Shakki finally caught sight of a primitive village. The villagers' attire was ancient yet well-preserved, untouched by the bustling towns on Aska Island.
As the strangers approached, a group of burly, dark-skinned men standing guard at the village entrance raised their spears and stepped forward.
"Who are you people? What business do you have here?!"
Seeing that these village guards were only slightly stronger than the average Marine soldier, Silva had no intention of drawing his gun and simply ignored them.
"We're here to pay our respects at the altar. Would that be possible?" Shakki asked smoothly, her silver tongue quickly fabricating a reasonable excuse. If someone was willing to guide them, it would save a lot of time.
"Another group of thieves trying to steal the cursed blade! Leave immediately, or we'll notify the Marines!" the captain of the guards warned. Anyone attempting to approach the cursed sword was undoubtedly up to no good.
"Well, no helping it then. Captain Brook, let's wrap this up quickly."
Shakki casually stepped back, making no attempt at diplomacy. She wasn't the saintly type, nor did she have any intention of getting her hands dirty—this kind of trouble was best left to the captain.
In a flash, Brook and his memory seahorse appeared behind the guards. Frost crept up their legs, quickly spreading to their knees and waists, sealing them in place. The biting cold robbed them of their voices, leaving them utterly immobilized.
"Let's go~"
Shakki playfully stuck out her tongue at the frozen guards before skipping after Brook. Silva followed without hesitation.
Meanwhile, Fishman Tom and Antonio had opted to visit the bustling markets of Aska Island, searching for special floating materials and Den Den Mushi.
Tom, a horned fishman, was incredibly strong—his powerful physique allowed him to lift a ship with a single hand. With him around, Antonio's safety was practically guaranteed.
...
The altar stood atop the tallest mountain in the village, visible even from below. There was no need for a guide.
As Brook, Shakki, and Silva made their way up, the villagers took notice. Whispers spread—strangers had entered their land, but where were the guards?
"Where are you going?! Leave at once, or I'll report you to the Marine base on the island! Trespassing here will put you on the Navy's wanted list!"
A young shrine maiden, dressed in elaborate ceremonial robes, spread her arms wide to block their path, shouting in defiance.
"What a beautiful shrine maiden, Captain Brook. Looks like it's your turn to shine," Shakki teased, lighting a slim lady's cigarette with a smirk. She didn't take the girl seriously in the slightest.
"Keep moving."
Brook paid no attention to the shrine maiden and simply stepped past her. As he did, the chilling aura surrounding him sent shivers down her spine, freezing her in place with fear.
"Elensa! What's wrong?! Snap out of it!"
A middle-aged woman rushed over, shaking the stunned shrine maiden desperately.
"Quick! Call the Marines! That man is a demon!!!"
Elensa's terrified scream rang through the village, triggering a wave of panic. Some villagers sprinted toward the Marine base, while others grabbed whatever weapons they could—hoes, pitchforks, hatchets—before storming up the mountain toward the altar...
-----------
+100 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg