One Piece: Hell Pirates Chapter 23: Discovering Birka Island

Moore Thomas looked at the now-stable World Economic News Agency and felt an overwhelming sense of security. He never expected that Brook not only took over Sky Island but sohow beca its ruler! It was like having the ultimate backing, and with all the gold here, funding would never be an issue again. He had to make sure Morgans t his adoptive father!

Previously, due to pressure from the World Governnt, the World Economic News Agency had been forced to relocate and had gone weeks without publishing newspapers. The World Peace Dove News Agency assud they had shut down, and most people thought this new, innovative paper was done for.

Since they still had a base on Jaya Island, the World Economic News Agency began gathering news again through special correspondents stationed across the world. They reorganized, edited, and started publishing papers once more. This ti, the seagulls delivering the news were equipped with small oxygen tanks and tubes, allowing them to fly up and down from Sky Island multiple tis, refilling their oxygen as needed.

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World Peace Dove News

"How the hell did this happen?! Moore Thomas vanished for more than half a month, and now he's back selling newspapers?! Have you found out where they moved to?!" President White Peizhen slamd his fist on the desk, glaring at the agent in front of him.

"According to reports, they first moved to Jaya Island in the Grand Line, but then relocated again. Since then, there's been no trace of them!"

Agents were dispatched to investigate Jaya Island, confirming that the World Economic News Agency had indeed been there before moving again. However, they couldn't determine their new location.

"Could they have returned to the Four Seas?"

White Peizhen had considered copying Moore Thomas’ newspaper model, but as an organization under the World Governnt, they couldn’t report on pirates’ adventures, navy scandals, or noble corruption. Their role was to glorify the World Governnt, highlight the navy’s justice, slander pirates, and exaggerate their terror.

For now, all he could do was order his agents to continue searching for the World Economic News Agency and shut them down once more.

---

Sky Kingdom's Growth

With Brook’s massive financial backing, Moore Thomas used his past connections to hire elite reporters, sending them across the Four Seas, the Grand Line, and even the New World to gather intel. This allowed the news agency to quickly rise again, dominate the market, and take control of public opinion.

anwhile, the Hell Pirates underwent specialized training, upgrading their equipnt with Sky Shells to enhance their strength. Even the news agency's reporters were ard with Image Shells, turning them into state-of-the-art recording devices alongside Cara Den Den Mushi.

Fishman Tom, Hiruba, and Crocus worked on secondary inventions, modifying Sky Shells into new weapons:

Flash Shell Guns

Paralysis Shells

Storm Water Shells

Brook and Redfield engaged in high-intensity training battles, both relying on their lightning-fast swordsmanship. Their relentless duels rapidly sharpened their skills.

"Lord Brook! We've located Birka Island! Our Wind Shell Ship can reach it!"

Gan Fomo rushed over to report. The Waver had been modified into a small sailboat with additional Wind Shells and Jet Shells, significantly boosting its speed.

"Good! Let's head out!" Brook wasted no ti, eager to uncover Birka’s secrets.

Their ship, the Voyager, had been outfitted with nurous Sky Shells by Fishman Tom, increasing both its speed and firepower. It could now fly short distances using hundreds of Wind Shells and was ard with a variety of weapons, including:

Fire Shells

Water Shells

Light Shells (for illumination)

Even with guidance from Angel navigators, it still took several days for the Voyager to reach the mysterious Birka Island.

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Arrival at Birka Island

Upon arrival, Brook and his crew imdiately noticed the differences between Birka Island and Angel Island. The people here had unique hairstyles and clothing, unlike the uniform appearance of Angel Island’s residents.

According to their guide, the island had a population of around 10,000, and its highest leader was known as "God." The guards here wielded powerful Thunder Shells and Slash Shells, significantly stronger than the Repel Shells used on Angel Island.

As Brook and his crew landed, Birka Island’s guards swiftly erged, brandishing their Thunder Shells and Slash Shells. It was clear Brook and his crew were outsiders—none of them had the wing ornants native to Sky Island’s people.

A towering man, with two magatama drums on his waist and shell-covered arms, stepped forward. His eyes narrowed at the strangers.

"Who are you, and why have you co to our island? If you’re here to buy Thunder Shells or Slash Shells, turn back! We barely have enough for ourselves!"

This was Peng, the so-called "God" of Birka Island. His tone was filled with suspicion. In the past, Angel Island dwellers had attempted to buy Sky Shells from them, which they had fiercely rejected.

Thunder rumbled in the distance, streaks of lightning flashing across the sky. Brook smirked, intrigued.

"My lord is the King of the Sky Kingdom! We have co to ask you to join us!"

The Angel guide stepped forward, speaking with admiration. He respected Brook and his crew for swiftly ending the centuries-long war between the Sky Island Angels and the Shandia Tribe.

"I don’t care who your Sky Kingdom is! Birka Island will always serve the Thunder God!"

Peng rejected them outright, slamming one of his magatama drums against his waist, sending sparks of electricity surging through his body. His eyes were filled with defiance.

Brook let out a chuckle.

"Captain Brook, let handle this!"

Redfield stepped forward, his cane sword gleaming under the light. He carried himself with an air of elegance, yet his gaze was filled with arrogance. He had little interest in the crew and often ignored them, a habit that frustrated Shakky, who frequently complained about his aloofness.

"You wanna fight us? We don’t fear you! Guards, surround them!"

As the strongest Sky Island in the region, Birka Island was known as the Island of the Thunder God. Frequent lightning storms and the legendary Thunder Berries made it a formidable land. Their warriors were trained in Slash Berries, boosting their already deadly attack power.

Had they not adhered to their ancestral teachings, staying isolated on the Thunder God's Island, they could have expanded their influence long ago.

"Thunder God Taiko—Thunder Python!"

Peng clapped his magatama drums, releasing a massive electric current the size of his thigh, which shot toward Redfield like a coiling serpent.

The other guards raised their Thunder Berries and Slash Berries, unleashing bolts of lightning and slashes of energy over a ter wide at Brook’s crew!

"Shit—get moving!" Shakky shouted as she and the others dodged the attacks.

Hiruba leapt into a tree, steadied his sniper rifle, and fired three precise shots—taking down three guards instantly.

anwhile, Crocus tossed a special shell into the fray, releasing a cloud of white smoke.

The guards inhaled the faintly sweet fragrance—and suddenly felt their bodies grow weak.

----

Redfield dodged Peng’s Thunder Python with lightning-fast reflexes, closing the distance between them before slashing with his sword.

Peng reacted quickly, raising his arm and releasing a massive slash of sword energy, forcing Redfield back. Without hesitation, he struck both drums on his shoulders.

"Thunder God Drum: Twin Dragon Wrath!"

From each drum, a thick bolt of lightning shot out, twisting together like twin thunder dragons as they struck Redfield head-on!

Armant Haki: Hardening.

Redfield raised his cane sword to block, his wrists turning jet black as he barely managed to cover his arms with Haki. However, his mastery wasn’t perfect—the hardening wavered as if it could dissipate at any mont.

"How?! How could anyone survive the wrath of the Thunder God? Impossible!"

"Thunder God Drum: Divine Punishnt!"

Peng slamd his drums at an insane speed, sweat rolling down his forehead. The drums crackled with a blinding glow before releasing a massive lightning pillar, thick as a warship mast, straight at Redfield!

"Wind, fire, water, and thunder... I cut through them all! Sword of Thunder Severance!"

Redfield surged forward, his blade slicing through the massive lightning pillar like it was nothing. In a blink, he appeared behind Peng.

The defeated man looked down in disbelief—across his chest, a thin red line appeared before blood sprayed out. With that, he collapsed to the ground.

---

anwhile, Fishman Tom ripped a tree from the ground and swung it like a club, sending guards flying in every direction. Shakky and Antonio made quick work of the remaining enemies, while Crocus left many dazed and disoriented.

At the sa ti, the Kirin Lion charged through the battlefield, trampling enemies and picking up Slash Shells and Thunder Shells before tossing them into the air. Its body was covered in burn marks and gashes, but it showed no sign of pain—its defense was impressive, making ordinary slashes and lightning attacks useless.

The mory Seahorse feasted happily on the chaos, while the Parrot Assistant simply hovered in the air, observing the battle. Brook, on the other hand, stood idly, watching his crew perform.

"This is how a captain should be—let the crew do the work," he mused. "But if I were weak, I’d never be able to control them."

Shakky wasted no ti stripping Peng of his spoils—she took the two Thunder God Drums from his body and the massive Slash Shells strapped to his arms. Twice the size of normal ones, they were true top-grade treasures.

Satisfied with their haul, the crew rounded up a local from Birka Island and forced them to lead the way to the sacred Thunder God Altar.

Of course, they didn’t need directions—the loud crashes of thunder made it obvious. Under the threat of Brook’s crew, they soon arrived at the foot of Birka’s highest mountain.

Dark clouds permanently blanketed the peak, and lightning constantly struck its summit. At the very top stood a grand altar, crackling with electricity. Without hesitation, Brook led the way up.

As they climbed, the people of Birka Island cautiously erged from their hos. Seeing their fallen "god" being dragged away, they rushed to retrieve his injured body for treatnt.

---

At the summit, the crew stood before a massive, ancient altar. At each of its four corners stood tall tal lightning rods—an eerie fusion of ancient craftsmanship and advanced technology.

Brook’s eyes locked onto sothing in the center of the altar—a Devil Fruit.

Covered in elegant lightning-like patterns, it pulsed with power. His silent heart trembled with excitent.

He rushed forward and picked it up, admiration shining in his eyes. If he hadn’t already eaten the Revive-Revive Fruit, he would’ve devoured this one without hesitation.

The strongest Logia—Thunder Fruit. Supre speed and power in one.

"Damn, I want to eat this so bad!"

Nearby, Fishman Tom examined the murals on the altar walls. His eyes widened as he recognized the depictions—Moon People? The Endless Earth? The Blue Sea? Sky Islands? The murals told a complex tale.

Their guide hesitated before explaining the legend:

"A long ti ago, people from the moon—known as the Endless Earth—ca here in search of energy. Their holand was dying, its energy reserves nearly exhausted. When they arrived, they found Birka Island, a land constantly struck by lightning. They built machines here to harvest electricity, returning periodically to collect it."

"But then... sothing happened on the moon. A massive catastrophe. All contact was lost, and the Moon People never returned. Over ti, the islanders began to worship this place as a sacred land of miracles."

"One day, during a festival, a golden fruit with lightning patterns appeared among the offerings. They believed it was a divine blessing. From then on, they worshipped it as the sacred Thunder Fruit, which miraculously never rotted."

---

Fishman Tom’s voice suddenly rang out in excitent.

"Captain Brook! There are spaceship blueprints here!!"

The crew turned as Tom pulled a stack of ancient docunts from a high-tech-looking drawer. His hands trembled as he flipped through them.

"These are the ships the Moon People used to travel between the sky and the moon! They run entirely on electricity!"

Brook’s eyes sparkled.

"Hell yeah! We’re building a spaceship before heading to the New World!"

The crew cheered at the idea.

"Gold is the best conductor, right? Let’s build a golden spaceship, hahaha!"

"Captain, we’ll be the most luxurious pirate crew in history!"

"That’s not all," another crew mber added. "There’s a massive energy storage device beneath the altar. If we install it in our ship, it’ll be even stronger!"

Brook grinned.

"This island belongs to Sky Kingdom now!"

Excited, he turned back to the fruit in his hand.

Now ca the real question—who would eat the Thunder Fruit?

His eyes landed on Redfield and Shakky.

Redfield was naturally gifted, with Observation Haki that perfectly complented the Thunder Fruit. anwhile, Shakky’s eyes burned with desire—but she would respect the captain’s decision. If she had to wait for a Mythical Zoan later, she would.

Redfield noticed her expression but remained silent. If Brook had specifically called on him, it ant he was the captain’s choice.

While he had always thought Devil Fruits had a fatal weakness—taking away the ability to swim—this fruit was different. With its power, he could move at lightning speed, making the ocean’s danger irrelevant.

He took a deep breath and dropped to one knee.

"Captain Brook, you are the only man I will ever follow."

With determination, Redfield took the Thunder Fruit and sank his teeth into it.

The mont he swallowed, lightning cracked across the sky. Thunder bood as Redfield grimaced at the disgusting taste, forcing himself to eat every last bite.

Power surged through his veins. Electricity danced at his fingertips.

He had beco lightning itself.

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