Once More

A massive battle rages around a burning town on a snowy island. Pirate ships bombard the settlement as explosions rock the buildings. A voice shouts "DON'T GIVE UP!!" while another cries "...OUR ONLY SHOT AT SURVIVAL!!" In close combat, a swordsman clashes with an opponent as someone yells "WINNING INDEPENDENCE IS..." A close-up reveals a bloodied man with an afro and a scar, wide-eyed in shock as he gasps "WHA-?" Nearby, a blonde woman and a bearded man with goggles react with alarm amid the chaos. On the ships, text notes "BROOK'S PAST: THE WORLD GOVERNMENT VS ESPERIA!?"

Inside a grand burning hall, a fallen horned warrior lies injured on the floor while others shout "HANG IN THERE, BIG BRO!! PLEASE, YOU'VE GOTTA!!" "BIG BRO!!" "THE KING IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION!!" and "WE NEED A MEDIC, QUICK!" A tall figure with wings stands nearby. In a flashback panel, a bandaged man with an afro grins wildly and declares "DON'T CALL ME MISTER!!" while being called "BIG BRO!!" Multiple characters react with shock and laughter, including a curly-haired person exclaiming "BIG BRO...!!" and another saying "I SUPPOSE I'LL JUST CALL YOU BIG BRO!!" The final panel shows a devastated town with the caption "YOHO HO, WELL..."

The injured horned warrior desperately calls out "WHERE'S THAT DAMN MEDIC?!?" and "BIG BROOO!!!" while clutching his chest. A large door slams shut with a "SLAM!" as someone notes "THIS SUDDEN INTRUSION..." In the hall, a cloaked figure with a scythe stands over the fallen warrior. A flashback shows a young girl named Shuri being protected as a voice explains "YOU SEE... I'VE WATCHED OVER SHURI SINCE SHE WAS A BABY!! SHE'S TOTALLY INCAPABLE OF THIS!!" A blonde horned woman identified as Princess Shuri glares and says "YOU...!! WHO ARE YOU?! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO PRINCESS SHURI?!" while Brook remarks "BROOK... YOU KNOW THAT GUY IS DEAD ALREADY, RIGHT?"

In the grand hall, the young man with the afro hair stands facing the winged woman. He shouts, 'THIS GUY WASN'T MY REAL FATHER. DID YOU KNOW THAT?' The woman responds with shock, '!?'. He continues, '...A CELESTIAL DRAGON? ...THAT I'M...' and demands, 'DID YOU KNOW... THEN TELL ME, BROOK...' Someone protests, 'DON'T CALL HIM "THIS GUY"!!' and another voice questions, 'HUH...?' The young man rages, 'IT ISN'T! THIS IS LIFE CHANGING NEWS! I SHOULD HAVE BEEN RAISED AS A CELESTIAL DRAGON. THESE PAST 16 YEARS WERE A COMPLETE WASTE!! DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND HOW ANGRY THAT MAKES ME?!' The winged woman replies, 'THAT'S IRRELEVANT WHEN IT COMES TO THE BOND BETWEEN A PARENT AND CHILD!!!' He yells, 'CAN YOU PROVE THAT? YOU ARE THE CHILD OF KING LEUVEN!! THAT'S A FACT!! WHAT ARE YOU EVEN SAYING?!' The young woman with horns steps forward, declaring, 'THIS GUY WAS A GOOD FOR NOTHING KING WHO POINTLESSLY LED HIS PEOPLE TO THEIR DOOM!! STOP CALLING HIM THAT!! THIS GUY JUST DIDN'T WANT TO HAND ME OVER!! AND THAT DEMAND FOR 1000 SLAVES? IT ISN'T TRUE.'

The confrontation continues in the ruined hall. The young man with the afro stands with sword drawn beside the winged woman as debris and smoke fill the air. A voice states, 'THAT IS NO LONGER MY CONCERN.' Another adds, 'BUT DEFEAT WILL MAKE OUR NATION A LAWLESS LAND!!' The winged woman says, 'WITH THE KING DEAD, THIS WAR CAN END.' The young man replies, 'THAT'S WHY I MADE HIM TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.' In the foreground, St. Manmayer Groh sits with legs crossed, adjusting his gloves. He recalls, '...AMONG CANDELLE'S ATTENDANTS. THERE WAS A KID WITH AN AFRO... I REMEMBER YOU NOW...' The young man looks up at him and says, 'YOU WEREN'T ALLOWED TO COME NEAR ME.' A nameplate identifies the seated figure as 'KNIGHT OF GOD ST. MANMAYER GROH'.

St. Manmayer Groh continues speaking while the young man with the afro sits on the ground in shock. Groh explains, '...AND THE GREAT ONE DESIRES THEM. BEING BORN WITH THAT TRAIT IS TRULY RARE... THIS KID POSSESSES THOSE MISMATCHED EYES. ...TO RETRIEVE A SINGLE BRAT, BUT... WE WOULDN'T NORMALLY COME ALL THE WAY TO A BACKWATER COUNTRY LIKE THIS...' The young man mutters, 'I DIDN'T AWAKEN IT MYSELF, BUT...' Reactions ripple through the group: 'HUH...', 'HEY, SHURI...', 'OH, FORGIVE ME, GREAT ONE...', 'THOU HAST SAID TOO MUCH, GROH.', and 'SHE MIGHT...'. The young man stares in disbelief as Groh stands amid the flames and rubble.

The young man with the afro cries out, 'I KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU, PRINCESS!! I USED TO CHANGE YOUR DIAPERS...!!' Princess Shuri stands silently as he continues, 'THIS IS JUST A DREAM, RIGHT?!' She attacks with her sword, motion lines and impact effects filling the panel. He pleads, 'NO, WAIT...' The young man insists, '...I WON'T NEED YOU ANYMORE. IF I GO TO THE HOLY LAND NOW... I DESERVE STRONGER PROTECTION...' Princess Shuri retorts, 'SHEDDING TEARS LIKE THAT IS BEYOND PATHETIC... YOU'RE SO PATRONIZING...!!' In a series of close-ups, the young man weeps and smiles through tears, recalling, 'I COULDN'T PROTECT BIG BRO... THE MAN WHO SAVED MY LIFE...!!' He shouts, 'GAVOTTE...' as Princess Shuri leaps into action. The final panel shows a young child with horns smiling peacefully.

Brook leaps forward with his sword drawn, striking a dramatic pose as he sings. "OF THE DEAD YOU'LL FIND, ONLY BONES GET LEFT BEHIND!" A musical note floats beside him. "FROM FROGS TO CATTLE, FROM KINGS TO CHATTEL!" he continues. "BOND EN AVANT!" he shouts in a large speech bubble. A massive impact effect erupts as his blade swings. In the lower panels, a grand hall appears with a cloaked figure standing amid debris and a winged figure soaring through the air. "THAT'S JUST THE WAY THE STORY GOES!" Brook sings. "BONES ALONE!! AS EVERYONE KNOWS!" The cloaked figure and the winged one move through the ruined cathedral-like space filled with arches and stained glass.

Soldiers and crew members crowd around the awakening Brook. "HE'S AWAKE!!" one yells. "IT'S A MIRACLE!!" another exclaims. "COMMANDER BROOK!!" they shout repeatedly. In the medical tent, Brook lies bandaged while others discuss his survival. "THE BRAIN ITSELF-" "IT'S A MIRACLE IT MISSED YOUR MAJOR BLOOD VESSELS AND THE BRAINSTEM!!" "...AND YOU SURVIVED!!" "I'M SHOCKED! A SWORD WENT THROUGH YOUR HEAD..." Brook, now sitting up with a headband and eye patch, asks "WHAT ABOUT THE KING...?" Outside, the ruined town burns. "WE FAILED..." "...THE KING IS DEAD..." Brook clutches his head. "WE SHOULDN'T GIVE YOU TOO MUCH OF A SHOCK, COMMANDER..." "I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH YOU REMEMBER, COMMANDER..." "UGH..." "NO... I WANT YOU TO TELL ME..."

Brook continues listening as reports come in. "IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE THEY GO NOW, THEY'LL BE REFUGEES NOW." "MOST CITIZENS HAVE ALREADY FLED THE COUNTRY..." "...BOARDING A GOVERNMENT SHIP" "AN EYEWITNESS SAW PRINCESS SHURI..." A blonde woman reacts with shock. "AAAH!!" Brook's eyes widen in the next panel. Suddenly Brook cries out in agony as his wound reopens. "COMMANDER!!" "OH NO, HIS WOUND REOPENED NOW!" "COMMANDER!! STAY WITH US!!" His scream echoes across the landscape. "WAAAAH!!!" Multiple voices call "COMMANDER!!" as Brook collapses, blood pouring from his head while crew members desperately try to hold him.

In the present, Brook reflects. "I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT A DEVIL FRUIT WAS..." A skeletal Brook appears in the background. "BACK THEN..." The scene shifts to a chaotic battlefield with smoke and ruins. A blonde woman and a horned warrior stand together. "HEY, YOU GUYS..." "BUT I ALWAYS THOUGHT I WAS HALLUCINATING..." "IT WAS CHILLING...!! SHE LOOKED JUST LIKE A DEMON...!!" "THE PRINCESS SEEMED SO DIFFERENT AFTER THE KING'S MURDER...!!" "IF THAT WAS ACTUALLY REAL THOUGH...!!" The townsfolk react with horror. "...PUT MY FAITH IN PRINCESS SHURI ONCE MORE?!" one cries with tears. "DO YOU THINK IT'S OKAY IF I..." Brook's skeletal face appears in shadow with a determined expression.

Brook races across the landscape carrying Princess Shuri while a horned creature tumbles through the air amid impact lines. A voice urges, "RUN... BROOK!!" In the next panel Brook glances back as another voice declares, "IF SHE IS A VICTIM THEN..." The scene shifts to a close-up of Brook's skull face, tears streaming, shouting "PRINCESS SHURI...!!! I WANT TO SAVE HER!!!" Princess Shuri watches with a concerned expression, asking, "IS THAT JUST 'CAUSE I'M THEIR DAUGHTER?" From the side a massive furry figure and several round black creatures stand ready as Brook cries out, "LEND ME YOUR STRENGTH!!!" and "PLEASE, EVERYONE..." A large sound effect "がばっ!!" erupts in the center.

A chef-hatted giant roars, "...IS OUR BEST BET!!! A RADICAL BEAM..." while a woman with light hair declares, "I WONDER IF LIGHTNING WILL DO THE TRICK!!" and a large horned warrior growls, "LET'S HURRY AND SMASH THAT ICE!! NO NEED TO BE SO FORMAL!!" The chef adds, "IT SEEMS LIKE EXPLOSIVES DON'T WORK, WHAT SHOULD I DO?!" Brook's skull face appears in shock with "WHOA!!!" as a cloaked swordsman dashes forward in a flurry of motion lines, someone shouting "HEY, BROOK, WAIT UP!!" Nearby a sign reads "WALRUS SCHOOL CAFETERIA" while a giant complains, "HUFF... HUFF... THEN... THAT CRAZY NEW GUY IS ELBAF'S ENEMY, RIGHT?!" and another figure yells "I'M STUFFED!!!" amid "AWWAAAH!!!"

Monkey D. Luffy appears with a fierce grin, declaring "HE'S MY ENEMY TOO!!! I'M OVERFLOWING WITH POWER!!" while an explosion erupts nearby. A long-haired figure questions, "THOU ART IGNORANT OF THE REASON THEN?" as Luffy retorts amid debris. The long-haired figure continues, "THE WORLD GOVERNMENT SURE PLAYS DIRTY...!!" and "HUFF... HUFF... TARGETING KIDS...!!" while offering, "SHALL I ENLIGHTEN THEE...?" In a close-up the long-haired figure states, "...WERE DEFEATED IN A BID TO RESCUE THEIR CHILDREN. 800 YEARS AGO, THE GIANT RACE..."

Luffy and the long-haired figure argue heatedly, with Luffy yelling "HEY, DUMBASS...!!!" and the other retorting "YOU PRICK! WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY?!" A massive impact "バチンズ" shakes the panel as Luffy shouts "GET OFF OF ELBAF!!!" The long-haired figure explains, "A FEW CENTURIES IS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH TO CHANGE THE NATURE OF A RACE!!" and "800 YEARS AGO! WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?!" while scenes show children being taken and giants kneeling. The figure concludes, "...WHEN THINE OFFSPRING ARE TAKEN. WITHOUT FAIL, THINE PEOPLE INEVITABLY BEND THE KNEE..." and "IGNORANCE OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WHAT IS OCCURRING IS IRRELEVANT. HISTORY ALWAYS REPEATS ITSELF. 'TIS ALREADY TOO LATE. THOU ART ALL SLAVES OF MU!!" The page ends with "ONE STRIKE!!" and the chapter close.