The clear moonlight cascaded like water over the Udon quarry, coating this desolate land in a silver sheen. Shimotsuki Munechika and the Ugetsu Elder, leading several hundred elite samurai, quietly advanced toward the quarry's outer perimeter. The samurai wore light armor, the swords at their waists gleaming coldly under the moon. Their orderly footsteps were particularly distinct in the silent night.
"According to our intelligence, Kazuki Hidehiro should be engaging Hyogoro and his forces right now," Shimotsuki Munechika said, looking up at the high-hanging moon. His voice was low and strong, exceptionally clear in the quiet darkness.
The Ugetsu Elder stroked his graying beard and nodded slightly. "Given Lord Kazuki's strength, they should resolve the battle and join us soon. We must make the most of our time. Right now is when the quarry's guard is at its most lax."
With Shimotsuki Munechika's command, the samurai surged into the quarry like a tide. Yet, contrary to everyone's expectations, they met almost no significant resistance. Within the vast quarry, only the urgent footsteps of the samurai echoed in the empty pits, creating an eerie atmosphere.
"Something's wrong!" Shimotsuki Munechika suddenly halted, his brow furrowing. A veteran of many battles, he keenly sensed the dangerous aura permeating the air. His right hand unconsciously tightened on the hilt of his sword.
The Ugetsu Elder also looked around warily, lowering his voice. "Indeed, it's suspicious. No matter how lax the guard, we've already penetrated this deep, yet the Beasts Pirates officer Moriah has yet to appear. This is not normal."
It was at that moment a sinister laugh suddenly echoed above the quarry. "Yeehihihihi! Isn't it a little too late to realize that now?" The laughter was like the cry of a screech-owl, sending shivers down one's spine.
Shimotsuki Munechika and the Ugetsu Elder exchanged a glance, both realizing simultaneously they had fallen into a trap. They swiftly turned to see the tall figure of Moriah, surrounded by a group of shadows, blocking their retreat under the moonlight. Moriah's grotesque face looked especially terrifying in the moonlight, his sharp fangs glinting coldly.
"Rebels," Moriah cackled, a mocking tone in his voice. "If you kneel and beg for mercy now, I might still spare your lives."
"You bastard!" Shimotsuki Munechika bristled with rage, drawing his sword and pointing it straight at Moriah. "Don't you dare look down on a samurai's pride!" His voice boomed like thunder, echoing within the quarry.
The Ugetsu Elder also immediately shouted, "Samurai! For our pride and honor, follow me and carve a path through!" Though his voice was aged, it was full of power.
"Attack!" The several hundred samurai roared in unison, their voices shaking the heavens. This mighty cry seemed ready to pierce the clouds, displaying the samurai's resolve to fight to the death.
Moriah smirked and snapped his fingers. "Zombie Army, attack!" At his command, a swarm of bizarre shadows poured forth from the darkness. As these monsters drew closer, the samurai realized in horror that their enemies were not living humans—their bodies were covered in stitch marks, and some, despite missing limbs, still moved freely.
"Wh-what kind of monsters are these?" a young samurai asked, his voice trembling, his face pale in the moonlight.
"Dammit! Why won't they die?" another samurai cried, desperately cleaving a zombie's chest, only to find it continued swinging its blade undeterred. A flash of despair crossed his eyes.
Seeing this, Shimotsuki Munechika immediately shouted orders. "Don't panic! Aim for their heads!" He led by example, lunging forward. His long sword traced a graceful arc, cleanly severing a zombie's head. Only then did the headless body collapse, kicking up a cloud of dust. The Ugetsu Elder also quickly organized the samurai into a defensive formation. "Stand back-to-back! Don't let them scatter you!" His voice was steady and forceful, giving the panicked samurai a focal point.
Instantly, the quarry was filled with flashing blades and clanging steel, the sounds of battle rising and falling. Though the samurai fought valiantly, facing an army of zombies that felt no pain and feared no death, they gradually found themselves in a desperate struggle. Under the moonlight, this life-and-death battle between man and undead monster intensified. The samurai's armor clattered crisply in the fight, and sword blades sparked brilliantly where they met.
In the midst of the chaos, Shimotsuki Munechika noticed the zombies' numbers seemed endless. Fighting while thinking of a countermeasure, sweat dripped from his brow. The Ugetsu Elder fought fiercely as well; though advanced in years, the blade in his hand was as sharp as ever.
"We can't go on like this!" Shimotsuki Munechika shouted to the Ugetsu Elder. "We must find the one controlling these zombies!"
The Ugetsu Elder and Shimotsuki Munechika exchanged a look, a shared understanding passing between them. They nodded in unison. "To catch the bandits, first catch the king!" The two charged with a tacit understanding toward the spot where Moriah stood. Seeing this, the surrounding samurai also followed their leaders, attempting to break through the encirclement of the Zombie Army.
"Yeehihihihi, just in time! Shadow Spears!" Moriah cackled, suddenly swinging his arms toward the two charging men. The shadows at his feet instantly transformed into two sharp spears, shooting up from the ground with incredible speed. Shimotsuki Munechika and the Ugetsu Elder, with agile reflexes, swiftly dodged the sudden attack.
In that split second, Moriah suddenly bent his knees and then exploded forward with force. His massive frame flashed forward with astonishing speed, appearing right in front of Shimotsuki Munechika. "What?!" Shimotsuki Munechika barely had time to react before he saw Moriah swinging a gigantic blade down toward him. Caught off guard, he could only barely harden his chest with Busoshoku Haki. With a thunderous boom, the tremendous impact sent Shimotsuki Munechika flying backward, crashing heavily into a distant pile of rubble.
"Munechika!" Seeing this, the Ugetsu Elder roared in fury and immediately swung his sword at Moriah. However, Moriah merely raised a hand casually, easily parrying the fierce strike.
"You old geezer, you've got some skill," Moriah said, looking at the old man who had blocked his attack with slight surprise.
"Bastard, don't underestimate the samurai of Wano Country!" Before the Ugetsu Elder's words faded, a sharp pain erupted in his chest.
Looking down, he saw a black shadow spear had already pierced through his chest. Blood gushed forth. He tried to speak, but could only manage a faint gasp.
Shimotsuki Munechika, who had just struggled to his feet from the rubble, witnessed this scene. Ignoring the broken bones in his chest, his eyes nearly burst with fury as he screamed, "Elder!"
Moriah laughed triumphantly. "Yeehihihihi! Old fool, that's what you get for overestimating yourself!"
Gritting his teeth against the pain, Shimotsuki Munechika tightly gripped his katana, his eyes burning with vengeful fire. "Moriah, I will make you pay in blood!"
"With just you?" Moriah scoffed, curling his lip disdainfully. "Take a look at your comrades. They can't even save themselves now."
***
Dive deeper into the story with 30+ advance chapters, available now on Patreon!patreon.com/CNBLUE
If you're enjoying the novel, please consider leaving a review. Your support is crucial and helps the story grow immensely. Thank you!