The natural system started off strong, but the navy finally reached its peak!

Those eyes, which usually shone with determination or fighting spirit, now seemed somewhat unfocused, and his lips were chapped.

His gaze seemed to take some effort to focus on Gern.

Then, he opened his mouth, his voice hoarse and weak, yet filled with an almost instinctive longing, uttering a few words intermittently.

"Meat...give...me...to...eat meat..."

It was not a declaration of war, not a warning of the enemy, and it didn't even inquire about Gern's identity or purpose.

It was just the most primal and direct demand of a boy who was starving to the extreme and exhausted to the limit.

Gern stood still, neither approaching immediately nor responding.

He simply stared at the frail and weak "Fifth Emperor" before him, who seemed as if a gust of wind could blow him over, his mind churning with thoughts.

Has it been a defeat?

But it doesn't seem like it! If Luffy had lost, Blackbeard wouldn't be Blackbeard if he let him stay here!

However, judging from this, even if they haven't "lost," they have definitely lost the ability to continue fighting.

The side effects of the fifth level were greater than expected.

But what is the current situation of the battle in other areas of Egghead Island?

Have the Kizaru, Enel, and Mihawk that I brought with me managed to bring the situation under control?

Did Sengoku and his companions succeed in "rescuing" Garp on Beehive Island?

Countless thoughts flashed through Gern's mind.

But in the end, his gaze returned to Lu Fei's face, which was etched with hunger and exhaustion.

After a moment of silence

Then, Gern left and returned a minute later.

He slowly pulled something out of his pocket.

It's a weapon, not a Den Den Mushi (snail phone).

It was a huge steak wrapped tightly in oil paper and still warm.

This is a high-energy emergency ration specially made by the Navy. The taste may be so-so, but the nutrition and calories are definitely sufficient.

Gern walked up to Luffy, squatted down, and handed him the oil paper package.

"Eat." Gren's voice remained flat, revealing no emotion.

"I need to eat so I'll have the strength... to deal with the trouble ahead."

He didn't say "the next battle," but rather "trouble."

"I need to know now, what became of Blackbeard and you..."

Chapter 671 Brook

Just as Gern handed food to the weakened Luffy, waiting for him to regain his strength...

And when I learned from him the detailed outcome of his battle with Blackbeard...

A familiar, soul-freezing aura silently crept in from behind Gern's blind spot!

This chill wasn't the pure freezing sensation of Kuzan, nor was it ordinary low temperature.

It was a unique chilling aura, a deathly stillness imbued with the spirit of the underworld!

Almost instantly, Gern's eyebrows furrowed as soon as he sensed the aura!

This feeling... seems so familiar!

Where have you encountered this before?

No time to think about it!

A clear, melodious sound, accompanied by the silent yet incredibly fast sound of sword energy piercing the air, suddenly erupted from behind Gern!

"Nose Song Three-Strike - Arrow Tail Slash!!"

Before he could finish speaking, a slender sword aura, with only a point of eerie blue light at its tip, appeared silently on Gern's back!

It's not the swordsman's unique power and momentum in his strikes, but a rapier that combines speed and stealth to the extreme!

The key lies in the fact that those struck are often completely unaware of what is happening.

The extreme cold and impact contained in the sword energy had already invaded his body. By the time he realized it, it was too late!

So, Gern hasn't turned around yet.

The tear at the back of the shirt was instantly covered with a layer of glistening frost.

The frost spread rapidly, carrying the biting chill of the underworld, attempting to erode into the body.

But Gunn's body surface was protected by Armament Haki!

"I didn't expect you to find out."

At the same time, a tall, thin, skeletal figure appeared in an almost "flash" manner.

Silently slipping out of the shadows beside Gern.

He appeared directly between Guern and Luffy.

With his back to Gern, he faced the weakened Luffy!

The Straw Hat Pirates' musician

Brook, the "King of Souls"!

He also wore a technological protective suit, and eerie blue flames flickered in his empty eye sockets.

He held a slender sword within a staff in his hand, the tip of which still retained a trace of cold air.

And after learning that his exquisite "arrow tail slash" had failed to take down Gern...

Instead of immediately turning around to give chase, he immediately stood in front of Captain Luffy to protect him.

"Your strength is really weird!" Gern remarked.

"Sorry." Brooke didn't turn around, but slowly moved the cane-sword in her hand to in front of her.

He performed a standard sheathing motion, his voice calm.

"I can't let you hurt Mr. Luffy."

Gern slowly turned around, glanced down at the peculiar frost, and felt the chill it contained.

A knowing smile appeared on his face.

"The chill of the underworld?" Gern muttered to himself, touching the frost on his chest. The cold, deathly feeling confirmed his judgment.

“No wonder…it felt so familiar.” Gern raised his eyes and looked at Brooke.

"So, it turns out that the 'First Generation Kitetsu' of that bald guy Nasujuro..."

The accompanying 'cold aura of the underworld' is from the same source."

Brooke seemed oblivious to Gern's "comments," or rather, all his attention was focused on the upcoming attack.

His sole objective was to protect the captain and repel the powerful enemy.

"Now, please take a good look at this next move as well."

"Because the song of the soul has not yet ended."

Brook remained in a sheathed stance, the flames of his soul burning fiercely in his eye sockets.

A more concentrated and chilling aura of the Yellow Springs began to condense on the sword in the staff than before!

"Song of Grabbing: Blowing Snow Slash!"

Brooke shouted, and his cane-sword was suddenly drawn from its sheath with a speed that was almost imperceptible to the naked eye, and he thrust horizontally!

This move combines the speed and stealth of "Nose Song Three Ding" with the freezing and corrosive effects of "Yellow Spring Cold Qi".

It is one of Brook's ultimate techniques, combining swordsmanship and Devil Fruit abilities to the extreme!

Its power far surpasses the previous "arrow tail slash"!

The speed of the thrust was unbelievable; it had already passed Gern's location almost the instant it was drawn!

"Snap!!!"

The sound of rapid freezing echoed!

Gern's figure was paused the instant the stabbing wave swept past.

He remained slightly turned, looking at Brooke, his expression still seemingly lingering on a smile.

In the blink of an eye, his entire body, along with the space several meters around him, was completely sealed in ice!

"Success?!"

Brooke remained in the position after the stab, his cane and sword pointing diagonally at the ground, breathing slightly heavily.

The two ultimate techniques, "Arrow Tail Slash" and "Snowstorm Slash," were used in succession.

The latter, in particular, greatly depletes his soul power (spiritual power) and physical strength.

(Devil Fruit abilities actually consume a lot of the user's stamina.)

But now is not the time to rest.

Brook quickly turned around, crouched down, and checked on Luffy's condition.

"Luffy! How are you? Can you still move? We have to get out of here right now!" Brook said anxiously, trying to help Luffy up.

He knew that although those two moves were unexpected, he had no confidence that they could really trap or seriously injure the legendary "Tianzhen" Marshal.

Therefore, we must take Luffy away now!

But Luffy, with his enormous appetite, wolfed down his food without even pausing to speak, only managing a few mumbled "hmm" sounds.

Brooke's heart sank; he knew the captain's condition was worse than it appeared.

Just as he was about to forcibly carry Luffy away...

A very faint cracking sound came from behind.

"Crack..."

Brook's skeleton body jolted and turned around!

On the ice surface that sealed Gern, a tiny crack was quietly spreading from the inside.

Then came the second, the third...

The cracks spread and intertwined rapidly!

Inside the ice, Gern's frozen figure seemed to... stir slightly.

His eyes slowly... opened!

"A pleasant chill..."

Gurn's voice pierced through the thick ice and rang clearly in Brooke's "ear".

"Unfortunately, the heat wasn't quite right..."

"It's still a long way off."

The moment the words fell

"boom!!!!!"

The entire ice coffin containing the soul shattered with a deafening roar!

Gern stepped out from within, completely unharmed!

“Your determination to protect the captain is commendable,” Gern said, his voice returning to its usual calm. “The combination of swordsmanship and Devil Fruit power is also quite ingenious.”

"but......"

He paused, then took a step forward.

"Based on this level alone..."