-Real World-
The death of Fleet Admiral Sengoku at Marineford and the unexpected appointment of the unaffiliated Artoria as acting commander paled in comparison to the Sky Screen's more devastating revelations.
The complete destruction of Revolutionary Army headquarters, the annihilation of Red-Haired Shanks' Yonko crew, and the expansion of Marine Admirals to twelve officers—this future represented every pirate's worst nightmare made manifest. For the first time, criminal organizations across the world understood what "Justice Reigns Over the World" truly meant in practice.
Admiral Sakazuki's hands would be stained with even more blood in the years to come. Marine Headquarters' execution grounds had become his favored destination, where countless pirates met their end—along with their innocent family members. Without the overwhelming military backing of twelve Admirals, such systematic brutality would have been impossible to sustain.
Admiral Sakazuki alone exemplified how domineering and oppressive the future Marines would become. With unlimited funding and unprecedented combat power, they could eliminate Yonko crews at will. This military juggernaut had grown suffocating in its scope, even causing dissatisfaction within the World Government itself.
Originally, the Five Elders had believed that controlling Marine military expenditures would keep this violent organization firmly under their thumb. They had never anticipated such a dramatic shift in the balance of power. Where had Artoria acquired the vast wealth necessary to fund such expansion?
Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan retained their Admiral positions 5 years in the future. Excluding Smoker's legitimate promotion, where had the remaining eight Admirals originated? Had they all been recruited by the acting Fleet Admiral's initiative? With such overwhelming force at their disposal, the future Marines possessed genuine strength to challenge the World Government and reject orders from their supposed superiors.
Most of the Admiral-level figures in the Sky Screen's projection appeared as shadowy silhouettes, but careful observers could discern certain details within these outlines. Sharp-eyed residents of Fish-Man Island noticed that one Marine Admiral possessed distinctive gill-like organs along his jawline.
"Among the twelve future Admirals, one is actually a fishman!" an excited merman exclaimed. "His build doesn't match Boss Jinbe, though."
"When did our people produce another powerhouse like this?" another wondered aloud.
"With Marlin joining the Straw Hat Pirates and this future Admiral, Fish-Man Island finally has hope for protection!"
If the underwater residents could recognize the distinctive features, other intelligent observers would certainly reach similar conclusions. The future acting Fleet Admiral's willingness to accept fishmen into the highest ranks truly embodied her philosophical principles.
King Neptune immediately issued new orders throughout Dragon Palace: search Fish-Man Island thoroughly to identify the future Marine Admiral based on the Sky Screen's silhouette. Anyone capable of standing equal to the three legendary Admirals possessed undeniable strength. Establishing positive relations before his rise to power could prove invaluable.
With Marlin—inheritor of Sea God legacy—harboring negative feelings toward Fish-Man Island, their hopes rested on this unknown future Admiral's potential assistance. Neptune had grown quite familiar with placing the fate of his kingdom in external hands.
-Broadcast-
The Sky Screen's glimpse into the year 1525 of the Sea Circle Calendar concluded, shifting perspective back to the Thousand Sunny sailing peacefully across blue waters. Admiral Gin's visit had done nothing to dampen the Straw Hat Pirates' characteristic cheerfulness.
After an excellent meal accompanied by generous portions of alcohol, the crew gathered around Brook to enjoy his musical performances. Luffy and the others appeared genuinely enchanted by the beautiful violin melodies, though their own desires to participate were hampered by complete ignorance of music theory.
"It would be amazing if we could play instruments too," Luffy mused, a drink prepared by the okama Sanji dangling from around his neck. "Then we could accompany Brook and create even more beautiful music together. Learning an instrument can't be that hard—maybe just one song would be enough."
The captain had noticed Brook performing alone and sensed a subtle loneliness in the skeleton's demeanor. Such minor emotional shifts among his crew members never escaped Luffy's attention.
"Luffy, I don't have any musical talent whatsoever," Nami called down from above, floating through the air on a white cloud alongside her battle companion Arashi. Her words effectively extinguished the captain's unrealistic ambitions. "You should be content having a professional musician as your crewmate on these seas."
"The musical ability Brook displays truly ranks among the finest in the world," Robin added thoughtfully from her position on deck. "Many musicians never live long enough to accumulate the experience this gentleman possesses. Every piece Brook performs tells a story built from decades of practice and memory." Her praise for the perverted skeleton musician came from genuine appreciation. Despite his questionable habits, Brook had proven himself both entertaining company and a reliable ally in critical situations.
"Luffy, I can fulfill your wish," Brook declared, setting down his violin and drawing his blade. "Just before we reach Dressrosa, I, Brook, will present a grand performance for my beloved friends. However, this requires my old companions to make an appearance."
The skeleton inserted his Soul Solid cane-sword into the deck with ceremonial precision. Green light emanating from the soul realm spread outward in rippling waves. "As the Lord of Souls, I command thee! Yomi, open your gates! All members of the Rumbar Pirates—awaken! Rise once more!"
At the call of the Yomi Yomi no Mi user, a massive gateway materialized behind Brook's skeletal form. The portal's surface bore intricate carvings depicting scenes from the underworld, with eighteen concentric circles representing the eighteen layers of hell. The Gate of Yomi pulsed with malevolent life, and faint wails of the damned could be heard echoing from within.
Responding to the King of Souls' summons, the hellish gateway cracked open just slightly. Bone-chilling winds escaped from the realm of the dead, carrying with them the essence of departed spirits. Through Brook's evolved Devil Fruit power, souls of the deceased returned from the underworld to walk among the living once more.
Every member of Brook's former crew, the Rumbar Pirates, had been accomplished musicians during their lifetimes. As they manifested in spectral form, each undead spirit held their preferred instrument in translucent hands. These ghostly figures arranged themselves in a circle around their former crewmate, awaiting his direction with the same discipline they had shown in life.
Despite displaying such terrifying supernatural abilities, Brook's hollow skull somehow managed to express profound emotion. Tears that shouldn't have been possible streamed down his bony cheeks as he struggled to contain his overwhelming sadness. He was determined to present the finest performance possible for Straw Hat Luffy.
"Captain, please enjoy Binks' Sake," Brook announced, his voice carrying both joy and sorrow.
The Rumbar Pirates appeared in their spiritual forms, having lost their physical bodies to the passage of time and tragedy. Yet even death couldn't erase their musical instincts. Under their companion Brook's direction, the familiar opening notes of their signature song began to resonate across the ocean. Years of collaboration had created an unbreakable bond—not even the boundary between life and death could diminish their perfect harmony.
"Yo-ho-ho-ho, yo-ho-ho-ho..."
"Yo-ho-ho-ho, yo-ho-ho-ho..."
"Gather up all of the crew, it's time to ship out Binks' sake! Sea wind blows, to where, who knows? The waves will be our guide! O'er across the ocean's tide, rays of sunshine far and wide! Birds they sing, of cheerful things, in circles passing by!"
Brook and his spectral companions performed in perfect synchronization, transforming into a one-man orchestra of extraordinary caliber. The beloved song of Binks' Sake echoed across the waves once more, carrying with it the dreams and memories of pirates long since passed into legend.
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