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Within the pages of the manga, vivid moments accumulated one after another, all converging toward the reunion of the long-awaited crew—the very crew that had been forced to separate two years ago on the same island due to their weakened strength.
Readers from around the world reveled in these precious moments that paved the way for the crew's reunion after such a long absence.
Some readers even felt that the fake Straw Hat crew had been utilized in this setting with impeccable precision to amplify the appearance of the real crew—whose long-awaited arrival had stirred even greater longing.
Among those readers, even the fake Luffy couldn't help but participate.
At this very moment on Mirror Ball Island, Demalo Black observed the unfolding events of Chapter 600 with a curious yet somber intrigue.
"How in the hell did all these fierce pirates gather because of my counterpart?"
"Just the Straw Hat name is enough… they didn't even need any visible confirmation…"
"Oh… and there are even some renowned names among the pirates… Caribou? Who is that? His bounty is sky-high…"
"But he seems rather sinister…"
Witnessing the ruthlessness of the pirate known as Caribou sent shivers down Demalo Black's spine. How would his counterpart ever manage to control such an extraordinary subordinate?
— — — — — — — — — — — —
Chapter's Events:
— — — — — — — — — — — —
[Grove 46: The Straw Hats Meeting Point]
"This is Grove 46. A large number of rookies, believed to have joined the Straw Hat Pirates on this island, have made their appearance. We have identified four captains: Heavy Wounds Albion with a bounty of 92,000,000 Beli; Lip Service Dhoti with 88,000,000 Beli; and the super rookie brothers, Wet-hair Caribou and Blood Spattered Coribou…!!!"
The hidden marine reporter continued his dispatch, still unaware of the peril looming behind him.
"If all these men were to join forces with Straw Hat Luffy, it could become a very serious situation…"
At that very moment, the reporter's transmission was abruptly cut off.
[[Hey!! What's wrong?!]]
"This is bad!! Hurry up and call for backup!"
…
"Oi, Oi, Oiiiiiiiii!!! I hope I didn't just catch you reporting in to your little military friends, now, did I?" The man who had grabbed the marine reporter was none other than Caribou.
"I…!! I haven't reported in yet!! I was just about to contact them!" the marine reporter instantly denied.
"Because we certainly couldn't have you doing that, now could we?! Kehehehehe!"
"After all, this entire place would end up stained bright red—with the blood of your marine friends, wouldn't it, Coribou?"
The marine reporter took advantage of Caribou's momentary lapse and attempted to draw his pistol, only to have the tables quickly turned against him.
"Oh God, I beg your forgiveness!!!"
"Forgive this fool of a marine who was foolish enough to reach for his weapon and try to kill me!!!"
"I'm truly sorry!! Big God, dude!! I'm really sorry!!" Caribou then turned to his brother and commanded, "Bury him, Coribou!! Bury this filthy, sinning marine alive!"
"W… Wait… Please…! Please, you can't… bury me alive…!! I haven't alerted anyone…I swear…!!" As the second man among Caribou's pirates began to dig, the injured reporter's terror grew, and he started pleading for mercy—after all, he was still alive.
"…That's enough of that, Caribou!!!" At that moment, the fake Luffy cried out.
— — — — — — — — — — — —
Demalo Black immersed himself in reading the unfolding events without uttering a word… Yet, the moment he saw that the two members of his crew—who symbolized both Zoro and Sanji—had drawn the real Luffy to him, the "reader" inside him was overcome with an urge to rush forward and crush these fools!
"It seems that this marks the end of my foolish counterpart…"
Demalo Black sighed wearily, knowing deep within his heart that the repercussions of his counterpart's actions would not be trivial.
It was sheer stupidity to assume that an incredible crew like the Straw Hats could simply be mimicked, gathering power at random under their illustrious name. Firstly, the Marines would never allow such a farce; secondly, this counterfeit façade could not last long. Not all Marines are fools—inevitably, Sentoumaru or someone else would discern the difference between the impostors and the true crew.
...
"I truly despise this vile breed of pirates…"
Back in Marineford, where the naval forces were gathering, Fleet Admiral Sengoku addressed the scene after witnessing Caribou's brutal treatment of the marine reporter, who was being tortured and forced to be buried alive.
"His bounty is 210 million, and he is still in the first half of the Grand Line. This is a genuine Serprnova…" remarked Tsuru.
"Perhaps he earned that number not from his strength but from his slaughter of countless civilians. I see his type all too clearly," added Zephyr.
"It seems that the Marines have grown truly weak in this post-Summit War era. Even these pathetic insects can thrive in the first half of the Grand Line!"
Sakazuki seethed with anger upon witnessing what Caribou and his brother had attempted…
"Burying a marine soldier alive… it's terrifying… They must have done this many times."
Even Borsalino felt an uncontrollable urge to rip the face off the infuriating Caribou.
…
"New World…"
In Ohara, the manga reading session continued here as well, and Brook was undoubtedly the most affected by that moment.
"Yohohoho! It seems my counterpart is having a good time, isn't it, Laboon?"
Brook laughed heartily. Of course, Laboon was perched on his shoulder at that very moment. Brook could never visit the art store to read the manga without his closest friend by his side; after all, Rob had provided every means necessary to make the impossible bow to reality.
The cheerful sounds emanating from the little whale on his shoulder only made Brook laugh even more.
Even though he was merely a skeletal figure, Brook could see the genuine happiness radiating from that "skull" as he sang with all his might.
"I've always dreamed of singing for such an enormous audience…"
"Even the Marines won't be able to interrupt your final concert as a global star, right, Brook?"
"That's right. This concert isn't over yet… My music will not cease until I decide so. Now, let me treat you to the opening song of the New World."
At nearly the same moment, the art store transformed into a grand venue, much like the setting where Brook was staging his final musical performance in the archipelago. The music began to emanate at a perfectly balanced rhythm—neither too high nor too low. Brook took out his guitar and began to sing his song, New World, with boundless enthusiasm.
"This time, no one is going to interrupt this song, so keep being amazing, Brook."
Brook continued singing inside the art store, surpassing the performance of his counterpart in the manga and delighting the readers, who were now completely engrossed in the events. Concurrently, in the manga, Brook—whose true identity as a pirate affiliated with the Straw Hats had now been revealed—had finished his career as the global sensation, the Soul King. Yet, that did not stop him from giving one final performance, even though he was currently cornered.
'My music has grown powerful…'
His words during the song echoed in perfect synchrony with those of his counterpart.
'That means my soul has grown stronger… Yohohoho!'
Brook brought the microphone ever closer to his mouth, and his singing voice grew even more powerful. Inside the art store, his cheerful face mirrored exactly the visage depicted on the wanted poster issued by the Marines in the manga.
In the eyes of the audience gathered in the art store, Brook had become the brightest star of the moment. Lost in his own performance as he sang, this memory would be forever etched in their hearts.
"There is no better way to inaugurate the events of the New World, isn't there?"
Olivia smiled as she commented, clearly enjoying Brook's song.
"Unbelievable, now Brook seems to know this song as if he has performed it a thousand times," remarked Bell-mère in astonishment.
"It's not that strange; it isn't the first time he's done something like this," added Gloriosa without surprise.
…
"The Pirate Straw Hat Luffy is alive…"
"Fufu~ there is no better place than here to announce such news, isn't that right?"
Doflamingo laughed, completely absorbed by the manga's events and thankful for Brook's ongoing song.
"That man will one day be King of the Seas…!!"
"It appears that Brook is extremely excited about the crew's reunion~"
Rosinante, too, savored the immersive experience of the unfolding events, feeling as though he were part of the concert audience listening to the eloquent skeletal performer. In truth, this was simply the effect of Brook's genuine performance taking place at the art store.
"How could his embarkation on this new journey possibly be a quiet affair?!!! Oh, baby~!!!"
« Listen, my friends!!! To this final soul melody!!! YEAH!!! »
« NEW WORLD »
At that very moment, the impact of Brook's performance was magnified by the simultaneous chorus of his song in the manga and at the art store, transcending even the boundaries of time.
Readers and listeners alike felt their spirits dance with excitement as Brook's music filled the air.
"Music truly is his greatest ally…"
Even Rob stood there, utterly stunned in front of Brook's astonishing performance.
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Upcoming chapter titles (spoilers):
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Chapter 887: Franky's Complete Cyborg Body!
Chapter 888: What Are the Limits of Haki in This World?
Chapter 889: You Might One Day Say "I am Rob!"
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