Chapter 198: Sprinting in the Morning Light! The Eighth Companion and the Feast on the thousand sunny
Tatsuya utilized the violent collision of Water Release and Fire Release to create a massive area of high-temperature steam and thick fog.
Under this pitch-black cover where one couldn't see their own hand in front of them...
...no one in the Straw Hat Pirates dared to pause for even a single second.
Only the whistling wind and the heavy breathing of companions echoed in their ears.
Just as everyone was about to burst out of the edge of this dark forest...
...a tall and strange figure appeared in the morning light ahead.
It was the skeleton gentleman who had previously run off alone to reclaim his shadow—Brook.
At this moment, Brook was standing quietly in the morning light filtering through the canopy.
He lowered his head, staring fixedly at the black shadow that had reappeared beneath his feet.
Although he was nothing but a skeleton, invisible tears seemed to be flowing from those hollow eye sockets.
As a victim who had lost his shadow for five long years...
...the moment his shadow returned, he felt it clearly.
Gecko Moria, the Shichibukai who had once brought him endless despair, had been completely defeated.
Hearing the hurried footsteps from the forest...
...Brook looked up and saw the Straw Hat running toward him.
He gripped the purple cane in his hand and stepped forward to meet them.
Before the group could even speak as they reached him...
...this lonely skeleton, who had wandered the sea alone for fifty years, suddenly bent his legs and knelt on one knee with great solemnity on the muddy ground.
He laid his cane-sword, disguised as a walking stick, flat beside him and lowered his head deeply.
"Everyone... just now, my shadow... has finally returned."
Brook's shoulders shook slightly, carrying an indescribable hope and plea:
"If... if the invitation you made on the Ghost Ship still counts now...
"Please, by all means, let me join your crew!
"Even if... even if it's just to play the violin for everyone on the deck!"
Zoro, running at the front of the group, didn't slow down in the slightest.
Carrying the unconscious Luffy on his shoulder, he sprinted past Brook.
A wild smile of recognition spread across his face as he shouted:
"Then hurry up and follow us! Bones!
"We're setting sail!"
Hearing these words, Brook's hollow eye sockets widened.
Then, he let out his signature laugh, grabbed his cane, and strode with his long legs to keep up with the group's pace:
"Yohohoho! Understood!"
With a final burst of energy, everyone finally broke through the last thin layer of fog.
Their vision suddenly cleared.
The brilliant and warm morning sunlight spilled unreservedly onto the shimmering blue sea, reflecting thousands of golden rays.
And in the midst of this light...
...the thousand sunny, anchored at the shore, stood against the sea breeze, quietly waiting for its masters' return.
Seeing the massive lion-head figurehead of the thousand sunny...
...an irrepressible sense of security and belonging welled up in everyone's hearts.
That was their home.
"We're here!! It's the thousand sunny!!"
Usopp's tears flowed with excitement as he cheered loudly.
One after another, everyone leaped onto the familiar deck via the lowered drawbridge.
When their feet touched the vibrant green grass...
...the nerves that had been stretched to the breaking point finally relaxed completely.
"Thump, thump..."
After several dull thuds, except for the few who were barely standing...
...almost everyone collapsed onto the soft grassy deck without regard for their appearance.
They lay sprawled out, breathing in the salty, fresh sea breeze in large gulps, as if to empty all the stale air from their lungs.
Tatsuya stopped and, with a gentle exert of his arms, set Nami down very softly.
However, as soon as her feet touched the ground, Nami showed no intention of letting go.
The immense joy of survival mixed with lingering fear made her emotional.
She suddenly took a step forward and hugged Tatsuya tightly around the waist.
Burying her face in his chest, which smelled of gunpowder and blood, her tears instantly soaked his shirt.
Tatsuya was slightly stunned at first, but then his gaze became exceptionally soft.
He reached out and gently stroked Nami's long orange hair, soothing her emotions.
Then, he led Nami to the mainmast, and they sat down together, leaning against the thick wooden pillar.
On the grass not far away, Usopp lay in a standard "star" shape.
He stared blankly at the cloudless blue sky above, letting out a long breath and a soulful sigh:
"Ah... we survived...
"We actually... really survived against that kind of unreasonable monster..."
"Hahahaha!"
Just as everyone was soaking in this hard-won peace and enjoying the comfort of the breeze and sunlight...
"Grumble, grumble—"
A loud stomach growl, like rolling thunder, abruptly shattered the warm atmosphere.
Luffy, who had been tossed onto the middle of the grass by Zoro, suddenly sat bolt upright like a spring.
The Captain, who had just awakened from a deep coma, hadn't even fully opened his eyes before his hands began rubbing his completely empty stomach.
His brow furrowed, his face scrunched up, and he complained loudly with all his might:
"How strange!
"Why is my stomach so empty!
"It feels like I haven't eaten for three days!
"I'm so hungry!! I want meat—!!!"
Hearing this heartless shout...
...the group on the deck, who had just been moved to tears, instantly went berserk.
"Swish, swish, swish!"
Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, and Franky instantly transformed into demonic forms with sharp "shark teeth."
They roared madly at his bewildered face, spit flying everywhere:
"You lawless idiot Captain!! What kind of insensitive nonsense are you talking about!!"
"Do you have any idea how long that blue monster form of yours, stuffed with a hundred shadows, kept us on edge!!"
"And that giant demon with the exact same personality as you, do you know how much trouble he caused us, you bastard!
"Your stomach is empty because you squandered all your energy!!!"
Even the usually gentle Chopper stood up, angrily waving his little hooves in agreement:
"That's right! Luffy, you were way too reckless!
"We almost lost our lives just now, waaaah..."
Facing the overwhelming barrage of his companions' spit...
...Luffy was stunned by the scolding at first.
Then, he slowly opened his eyes.
His gaze swept over his partners, who were covered in dust and blood but still had lively eyes.
The corners of his mouth gradually turned up, finally breaking into that heartless yet incredibly sincere smile.
He reached out, pressed down on the precious Straw Hat on his head, and laughed without any sincerity:
"Hee hee hee... is that so?
"Then my bad, my bad."
Just as Luffy was apologizing...
...his peripheral vision inadvertently caught the other side of the deck.
There, Brook was holding a cup of black tea he'd found from somewhere, quietly watching the rowdy pirates.
Luffy's eyes instantly turned into two sparkling stars.
He excitedly pushed aside the four people in front of him and pointed at Brook, shouting:
"Ah! It's the skeleton!! You finally came!"
Luffy leaned in expectantly: "You got your shadow back, right? Then are you joining us! Hee hee hee!"
Looking at the young man who had changed his destiny...
...Brook slowly set down his teacup and gracefully took off the tattered black top hat from his head.
He bowed deeply to Luffy and to everyone on the deck.
"Ah, yes.
"Thanks to everyone's desperate fighting, my shadow has finally returned to my side."
Brook straightened up, his hollow eye sockets watching Luffy as he solemnly declared:
"From now on, I entrust the life of these old bones to the Captain.
"I am willing to become your companion and sail with everyone to the ends of the sea!
"Yohohoho!"
Receiving this affirmative answer, Luffy was so excited he leaped directly from the deck, performing a somersault in mid-air.
He landed steadily on the ship's railing, hands on his hips, one foot on the guardrail, and announced loudly against the morning sun:
"Oh!!! Listen up, everyone!"
"I declare—to warmly welcome our new companion, the musician Brook, aboard!
"And to celebrate our great victory on Ghost Island..."
Luffy raised his hands high: "The grandest banquet! Starts now!!!"
"Ohhhhh!!!"
Usopp and Chopper immediately raised their hands in enthusiastic response.
Hearing the word "banquet," Sanji, who had been leaning against the railing on the other side smoking, exhaled a puff of smoke irritably.
He stepped forward and gave Luffy's butt a light kick with his leather shoe, complaining:
"Hey, don't just use your mouth, you bastards who only know how to eat."
Although he was grumbling and complaining about the workload...
...the corner of Sanji's mouth, which always carried a bit of tsundere, couldn't help but curl into a gentle smile.
He stubbed out the burnt cigarette in his hand and flicked it; the butt traced an arc in the air before falling into the sea.
Then, he turned around and walked with light steps toward the spacious and bright kitchen of the thousand sunny.
"Robin-chan Nami-san"
Sanji's voice instantly became incredibly flirtatious.
"Please wait a moment, beautiful ladies. Special recovery desserts and fresh-squeezed juice will be served shortly~"
Then, his tone instantly turned cold:
"As for you smelly men, just wait obediently on the deck to eat some roasted meat!"
As the crisp sound of a kitchen knife hitting the cutting board came from the kitchen...
...the daily clamor on the thousand sunny finally returned completely.
Tatsuya leaned quietly against the mainmast, enjoying this moment of peace.
He tilted his head slightly, listening to the commotion in the center of the deck.
Luffy and Usopp were already arm-in-arm, pulling the newly boarded Brook along, dancing a hilarious celebratory dance to the sound of "Yohohoho."
Chopper was excitedly clapping his little hooves to the beat nearby.
As for Zoro, he simply closed his one eye and leaned against the railing.
Three seconds later, steady snoring sounds emerged.
The sails of the Thousand Sunny were already raised high.
This warship carrying everyone's dreams braved the wind and waves toward the rising sun.
It gradually sailed away from this Florian Triangle area shrouded in mist and gloom.
Tatsuya leaned on the railing, looking out at the sea.
[Ding! Detected that the host has successfully left the "Thriller Bark" waters. The major plot event, the Ghost Island Battle, has officially concluded!]
[Ding! Comprehensive Evaluation: S-rank!]
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining the battle clearance reward: Ninja Points +5000]
Hearing the 5000 points credited, a very comfortable smile finally appeared on Tatsuya's lips.
Previously, to urgently exchange for the Mangekyo Sharingan and Susanoo, he had almost emptied his savings.
This huge sum was simply timely help, making his confidence swell once again.
However, the system's reward prompts were not over.
[Ding! Detected that the host has had deep contact with the energy operation of the "Shadow-Shadow Fruit" during this battle, triggering a special reward]
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining a rare reward: Kekkei Genkai: Shadow Animation]
[Shadow Animation: The host can use Chakra to give their own shadow a true "entity" and "vitality," allowing it to cut physical targets like a sharp blade, transform into a shield for defense, and even briefly dive into others' shadows for binding and strangulation.]
Tatsuya's eyes widened. This was a huge surprise!]
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