Sparring

Sabaody Archipelago, outside a bar in the Lawless Zone.

Golden Lion Shiki boldly invited Humming Brook to join him as a partner, hoping to recruit the experienced battle musician into his crew.

"Shiki, Rocks Pirates, the newly risen overlords of the New World, will be the one and only pirate overlords of the next era. You might suffer a loss to Rocks. You might even be defeated by him, forced into submission, or even end up serving him."

Brook looked at the young Golden Lion and couldn't help wanting to provoke him a little. He wanted to plant some doubts about Rocks, so Shiki wouldn't join the Rocks Pirates so readily in the future.

"What? I would submit? I'm Golden Lion Shiki!"

Golden Lion Shiki flew into a rage, deeply displeased by Brook's prediction.

"Humming Brook, if you don't want to join, fine. But you dare look down on our captain like that? I'll see what you can do!"

The combat captain, Bloody Fist Scaledo, boldly attacked Brook. The knuckles he wore gleamed with a cold metallic light as he swung furiously at his enemy, unleashing a relentless barrage of punches.

Bloody Fist: Knuckle Strike

"I was only trying to give you a friendly warning!"

Brook quickly raised his Cane Sword in front of him and blocked Scaledo's charged knuckle punch. The blow didn't affect him in the slightest; he didn't budge an inch.

"How is this possible?! Captain Scaledo's full-power punch was blocked so easily by Humming Brook—with one hand!"

The lackeys nearby stared in disbelief. Captain Scaledo had earned his Bloody Fist reputation by punching his way through pirates and Marines alike.

"I don't believe someone with a lower bounty than mine can block my attacks so easily!"

Bloody Fist: Iron Elbow Strike

Bloody Fist: Steel Knee Strike

Captain Scaledo launched one attack after another, but Brook blocked every one. Meanwhile, Brook's Underworld Ghost Qi seeped into Scaledo's fists and limbs, coating them in white frost. His attacks grew slower and slower!

"That's enough, Scaledo. You're no match for him!"

Golden Lion Shiki called off the combat captain, who was still eager to keep fighting, and looked at Brook, whose expression remained cold.

"Brook, you're quite strong. If the Rumbar Pirates hadn't been wiped out, you could've been one of this year's Supernovas. Since you don't want to set out for the New World, I won't force you. Let's have a good fight instead!"

Golden Lion had suddenly gotten the urge to fight. As this year's strongest Supernova, how could he not show off his strength in front of his new underlings?

"I can't beat you right now!"

Brook was still wary of the famed pirate Golden Lion Shiki. If he could avoid fighting for now, he would. Otherwise, he would've cut down Bloody Fist Scaledo just moments ago. He hadn't drawn his sword only because the Golden Lion was there.

"Don't worry. I won't go all out. If you change your mind in the future, you can still come aboard my ship and be my musician-swordsman!"

Golden Lion was brimming with confidence, still hoping to win Brook over.

"Then I accept. I want to see just how strong I've become!"

The two decided to duel on the shore in the Lawless Zone. Shakky and a group of pirates followed them to the seaside to watch the excitement, more than happy to see a fight break out.

Golden Lion Shiki watched Brook, who stood ready for battle, with an easygoing expression. Though Shiki was younger, he somehow seemed like he was about to instruct the older Brook.

"Gyahahaha! This is fun!"

Golden Lion Shiki drew two swords. Brook hadn't expected him to have already obtained the famous swords Oto and Kogarashi.

"Captain Shiki, please go easy on me!"

Whoosh!

Brook vanished from where he stood, leaving a frosty trail behind. His Cane Sword was already drawn, and he thrust it hard against the crossed blades of Golden Lion Shiki.

"You're fast. I almost couldn't block that."

A bead of cold sweat trickled down Shiki's forehead. His relaxed expression was gone, and he even clenched his cigar between his teeth as he immediately grew serious!

He'd nearly suffered a humiliating defeat through carelessness. He'd almost let his guard down and lost.

Lion: Hundred-Valley Cut

Shiki knocked Brook's sharp Cane Sword aside and unleashed dozens, then hundreds, of golden slashes. The dense barrage covered every possible escape route.

Underworld Ghost Qi: Disarm

Brook shattered the slashes before him, then rushed forward and caught Oto and Kogarashi as they swung. He thrust straight at Shiki's wrists, trying to disarm him.

Lion: Slash Wave

A gigantic slash burst forth, sending Brook hurtling away.

"I'm not just good with a sword. Take a good look at my strength!" Golden Lion Shiki said with a laugh, a cigar clenched between his teeth.

Lion's Might: Palace Sand Swirl

Shiki used his Float-Float Fruit powers to control the sand along the shore, turning it into a sand lion more than ten meters tall. It lunged at Brook, jaws snapping.

Underworld Ghost Qi: Aurora Thrust

A flash of cold light streaked by. Brook appeared in the air behind the giant sand lion, which had been cleaved in two by the slash. It crumbled into fine sand and fell onto the beach.

"Gyahahaha! Not bad! How about a few more?"

As Golden Lion Shiki laughed, four more giant sand lions appeared along the shore. They attacked Brook from all sides, snapping at him like lions pouncing on a rabbit. Watching Brook dodge from one direction to another, Shiki smiled with satisfaction.

Underworld Ghost Qi: Soul Sword of Mourning

Brook sheathed his Cane Sword and immediately took up a stance, gathering strength for an iaido strike. His foot stamped a huge crater into the beach. As his blade flashed, all four sand lions were torn apart in an instant and frozen by the cold Underworld Ghost Qi.

Rumble!

The frozen sand lions crashed down, scattering countless grains of sand into the air like smoke and making it hard for everyone to keep their eyes open.

"Humming Brook, you've got some skill!"

Golden Lion Shiki was surprised to see that his sand lions had lost control. It seemed that another kind of energy had dispersed the power from his Float-Float Fruit.

"I can't fight anymore, Shiki!"

Brook was panting heavily. After using his ultimate move, he felt utterly exhausted.

"That's all you've got? I haven't had enough yet!"

Golden Lion was about to attack again when Brook said he no longer had the strength to fight. Shiki had no choice but to sheathe Oto and Kogarashi.

"Sorry to disappoint you, Head of the Supernovas!"

"Gyahahaha! Head of the Supernovas—that's a fine title! Of course I'm a pirate who stands above the world. How could some little pirate like you defeat me?"

Golden Lion Shiki laughed. He'd only meant to put Brook in his place; he didn't take him seriously at all.

"Captain Shiki, to thank you for holding back, I've decided to give you a great opportunity!"

Brook was now standing in front of Golden Lion Shiki. He spoke softly.

"What is it? A treasure map?" Shiki asked, looking a little intrigued.