Chapter 241: The Depressed Straw Hat and Zombie Skirmish"They keep dancing, and their numbers are increasing! How interesting!"Luffy saw this and, instead of being afraid, became even more excited.Without a word, he grabbed a landing net and swung it over the head of the nearest ghost."I'm going to catch you all and keep you as pets! The ship will definitely be livelier then!"However, this was destined to be in vain.The semi-transparent ghost easily passed through the mesh the moment it made contact with the net, continuing to flutter about happily without a scratch.Luffy was surprised at first, but then, unwilling to give up, he changed his angle and force, yet the result remained the same—The ghosts giggled as they wove through his net."These are completely spiritual bodies! It seems physical methods are ineffective!"Franky widened his eyes, observed for a moment, and reached a conclusion.He took a deep breath, "Then let me try! Purifying Flame!!""Whoosh—Boom!!!"A blazing, dazzling pillar of fire erupted from Franky's mouth like a dragon's breath, instantly engulfing the few ghosts in front of him!The raging flames illuminated the forest's thick fog and twisted trees in red, the high temperature causing the very air to distort.However, before the flames had even died down, those ghosts merely paused for a brief moment,and then floated out of the inferno completely unscathed, not even changing the tune they were humming, continuing their eerie dance:"De~pressed~ de~pressed~ de~pressed~~""It's no good! High-temperature flames have no effect either!" Franky frowned, looking troubled.Just as he was contemplating a countermeasure, a ghost nimbly changed direction and floated straight toward Franky.Before he could react, the ghost, like a phantom, passed through his steel chest without any resistance—entering from his abdomen and exiting through his back!"Ugh!" Franky's whole body stiffened violently.The next second, this cyborg, who was usually so Super confident and full of energy, seemed as if all his spirit had been drained away.His tall frame instantly stooped, his arms hung limply, and his head buried deep, almost touching his chest."I'm... I'm so useless..."His voice was low and hoarse, filled with unprecedented depression and self-denial."I... I'm truly Super useless this week... I can't do anything right..."He fell to his knees with a thud, hands planted in the dirt, his whole person shrouded in a cloud of gloom."The whole world... must be laughing at this hunk of scrap metal... boo hoo..." In the end, he actually let out choking sobs, his massive mechanical body trembling slightly."Hey! Franky! How long are you going to stay depressed?"Sanji hadn't fully realized the severity of the situation, loudly retorting at Franky's abnormal behavior, thinking he was up to some sort of performance art again."Damn it!" Seeing this, Luffy's anger surged. He tossed aside the useless net and gritted his teeth."Alright! Watch me!""Ha!"He kicked off the ground with his legs, leapt high into the air, and opened his arms, attempting to scoop all the circling ghosts into his embrace!The result was exactly the same as before. The ghosts, like immaterial phantoms, easily passed through his rubber body.After landing, Luffy's posture was exactly the same as Franky's; he fell to his knees with a thud, hands supporting him on the ground, his head hanging low."I'm sorry..."He muttered in a tearful voice filled with unprecedented self-loathing,"If there is an afterlife... I would only want to be a seashell hiding in the sand... I just want to find a crack in the ground and crawl into it, never to come out again..."The despair and depression in his voice made him a completely different person from the fearless, forever-optimistic Luffy."So, what kind of trick are you two idiots playing?"Sanji, not understanding the situation, looked at his kneeling crewmates and got a bit angry.Robin, however, knitted her brows tightly. She looked up at the ghosts that were still floating happily and humming their "negative" tune, calmly analyzing:"Could it be that... touching these ghosts makes people become extremely 'negative'? Losing their fighting spirit and confidence.""How is that possible! Such an absurd thing..." Sanjilooked disdainful and was just about to retort when Zoro interrupted him."It's truly too embarrassing, Luffy!"Zoro crossed his arms, looking at his Captain and the cyborg kneeling on the ground, wallowing in self-pity, with a look of disgust.He lectured them in a tone of disappointment,"How could you say such spineless words! This isn't like you at all.It must be because your training has been lax and your will isn't firm enough that you're being toyed with by mere ghosts! Weaklings!"No sooner had he finished speaking than a ghost, as if it had heard his "brave words," silently floated up from behind him,and likewise passed through his back without any resistance, exiting through his chest."Ugh..."Zoro's body instantly stiffened. The next second—"Thud!"He also fell to his knees in the standard pose, hands supporting him on the ground, his head hanging so low it was almost buried in the dirt.His face, usually unyielding and sharp, was now filled with deep shame and self-doubt, his voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz:"I'm sorry... I don't even deserve to exist in this world.""Enough!!!"Sanji finally roared, unable to endure it any longer, but then his expression became extremely grave.He looked at the three main powerhouses kneeling on the ground before him, then at the ghosts still floating happily in the air, and had to accept the reality."It seems Miss Robin was right... These ghosts not only lack a physical form, but touching them also makes people fall into an extremely negative state...If this is an ability controlled by an enemy, then it's quite troublesome!"Merry clenched her small fists, slid down from the back of the three-headed dog, and vigilantly scanned the increasing number of ghosts all around."Um... where is Mark?" She suddenly realized there was one person missing from the group."Huh? Where did that guy run off to?"Sanji also turned his head, his sharp gaze scanning the surroundings. Soon, his line of sight locked onto the canopy of an exceptionally tall ancient tree by the roadside."Hey! You bastard, secretly filming is not a good thing to do!""Haha... have I been discovered?"Mark's somewhat embarrassed voice drifted down from the dense canopy.He pushed aside the branches and leaves, revealing half his body, and in his hand, he was actually holding a transponder snail that was flashing with a red recording light!"Click!"He pressed the stop button, leapt nimbly from the tree, and upon landing, pretended to be composed while brushing off non-existent leaves from his body."Um, I mean... my stuff accidentally fell into the canopy, do you believe me?"Mark looked at Sanji's darkening expression and tried to explain with the most serious look he could muster."Mm-hmm, I believe you."Sanji nodded, took a deep drag of his cigarette, then slowly exhaled, saying in a terrifyingly calm tone,"What you dropped... was your 'integrity,' right?""Boo-hoo! You guy, how can you say that about me? Do you know you're stifling a great artist!" Markpouted and guiltily looked away.Sanji ignored his sophistry, turned his head, and discovered that the ghosts had started singing and dancing as they circled and ascended,eventually vanishing quietly into the depths of the thick fog, like mist melting into the night.A moment later.Luffy's eyes were rolling back, and two thick puffs of white steam sprayed from his nostrils like an angry bull.He jumped up, gnashing his teeth, and swung his fists at the empty air in front of him:"Those stinking ghosts! Next time I run into them, I'll definitely make them pay! I've decided—no more keeping them as pets! I'm going to beat them all away!""Click-clack-click-clack!!!"Franky had also recovered. He clenched his steel fists, his mechanical joints emitting a "creaking" friction sound. His entire face was flushed red, and white steam was even puffing out of his ears."Unforgivable! They must have a weakness! I'm going to find them all... and destroy them!""Pfft—Hahaha!!"Sanji, Robin, and Mark, who had just come down from the tree, were now sitting side by side on the broad back of the three-headed dog.The four of them huddled together, heads touching. Mark's transponder snail was turned on again, projecting the "precious footage" he had just recorded onto a piece of white cloth temporarily spread out on the three-headed dog's back."Hahaha! Mark!"Sanji laughed wildly while vigorously patting Mark's shoulder, tears almost streaming down his face from laughter."I wronged you just now! Thank you! Thank you for letting me see something so interesting! Hahahaha!""Sh-shut up!!"Zoro's entire face was bright red with embarrassment at this moment. He turned his head in a fit of rage, his hand already on the hilt of his sword, eyes overflowing with killing intent."Do you believe I'll cut you down, you bastard? Don't laugh!""Haha! Sorry, sorry! I couldn't help myself!"Sanji waved his hand at Zoro, signaling him to calm down, but the next second, he immediately switched to an even more punchable, cheeky tone, pinching his voice to imitate him:" 'I'm sorry... someone like me...' Pfft, hahaha! I can't hold it in!!" He lay straight back on the dog's back, legs flailing in the air, laughing until he was out of breath."Ya-ya-ya-ya—!! You bastard cook!! I'll kill you!!"Zoro was so angry his hair stood on end, and he drew his sword and charged over.Eventually, thanks to Zoro's "physical persuasion" (mostly), that transponder snail, which had recorded the unbearable scene, along with the stored footage inside, was precisely sliced into fine dust by wado ichimonji and scattered in the wind."Damn ghosts... I'll cut them down every time I see them!"Zoro sheathed his sword, still walking in the lead, huffing and puffing, his eyes scanning the fog-filled surroundings like searchlights, looking for any target to vent his anger on.Even an earthworm that happened to poke its head out and pass by innocently was precisely sliced in two by him, on the grounds that it was "not sleeping in the middle of the night and disturbing the order of the forest."In this peculiar atmosphere of bickering, mixed with laughter and roars, the Straw Hat crew advanced a bit further.After the commotion, their reason gradually returned, and they began to discuss serious matters.Robin spoke first, sorting through the clues: "As it stands, the strange creatures with numbers and stitching marks can be classified as one group, likely stemming from the same technique or ability. But those ghosts from just now are clearly on a different level, with completely different characteristics."Sanji exhaled a ring of smoke, his eyes sharp: "Those ghosts first appeared on our thousand sunny. And..." He paused, listening intently as if feeling something, "My Observation Haki can vaguely sense that they seem to be flickering around us all the time, as if they are monitoring us.""Compared to being monitored, the 'controller' behind the ghosts is what we need to be careful of."Merry clenched her fists, her small face full of determination, "We must find their weaknesses as soon as possible. I don't want to end up like just now, kneeling on the ground saying depressing things like 'my life is less meaningful than a dung beetle'!"Upon hearing this, except for Zoro, who was still sulking, the other crew members couldn't help but have a drop of cold sweat slide down their faces, recalling the unbearable "negative moment" from earlier, still feeling a lingering fear.Before they knew it, they had passed through a particularly dense and eerie forest, and the view suddenly opened up—a vast, enormous graveyard filled with tombstones and overgrown with weeds appeared before them.The bleak Moonlight barely pierced through the fog, illuminating the crooked crosses and tombstones, adding to the eerie and sinister atmosphere."Wow! What a spacious graveyard! It really has atmosphere!"Luffy's eyes lit up, instantly casting aside the previous unpleasantness, and he turned to look at everyone with anticipation, "Let's eat here! Sanji! Bento! Bento!""Idiot! Eating in a godforsaken place like this would make even the best food hard to swallow!" Sanjiimmediately retorted."No!" Luffy wrinkled his nose, stubborn in his opinion, "I want to eat here!" He then added righteously, "Besides, I've never thought food was 'bad'!""That's just you, you idiot!"Sanji covered his forehead and lowered his head, wearing a helpless expression that said, "This guy is hopeless."Just then— "Roar...!" A low, garbled roar suddenly came from under the soil deep in the graveyard."Hmm?" Luffy turned his head in confusion, looking toward the source of the sound.He saw that near a half-collapsed grave not far away, the soil suddenly loosened and arched!An arm wrapped in dirty bandages, with skin as dry and shriveled as dead wood, suddenly burst out from the ground, its five fingers clawing menacingly at the air!Immediately after, a mummified head with empty eye sockets and a dislocated jaw struggled to emerge from the dirt!Accompanied by a clearer roar, this "mummy" used its other hand to dig away the soil, its upper body fully emerging. Its rotten face seemed to carry a certain "excitement" as it waved its arms at the direction of Luffy and his group, issuing a threat.Silence—everyone in the Straw Hat crew stopped what they were doing, their gazes focused in unison on this suddenly appeared "uninvited guest."There was no fear in their eyes, but rather a certain... curiosity and exploration, as if they had discovered something novel.Luffy's mouth was slightly open, maintaining an expression of surprise, and then he threw away the net in his hand without hesitation, walking toward the mummy without taking his eyes off it.Under the mummy's seemingly confused gaze, Luffysaid nothing, reached out his hands, and firmly pressed them onto the mummy's withered, bandage-wrapped shoulders."Eh?" The mummy let out a garbled syllable from its throat."Click!" Luffy exerted strength in his arms and easily pushed the mummy, which had just crawled halfway out, back into the grave pit! The action was clean and neat, as if he were burying something that shouldn't have appeared."Click! Click!" He wasn't even satisfied, using his hand to firmly press down on the raised mound a few times to ensure it was "level."However, the mummy was like a spring compressed to the limit, having accumulated even greater force, and with a "bang," it burst out of the ground again with even greater momentum!This time, even its lower body came out. It waved its arms and let out an angry roar at Luffy, who was close at hand: "Roar—! You guy, what the hell are you doing?"Luffy pursed his lips, a drop of cold sweat appearing on his forehead, but his eyes were unusually firm, even carrying a hint of "concern"!He then said with utmost seriousness: "Hmm! It's an injured old man...""That's a zombie no matter how you look at it—!!!" Sanji, Robin, Franky, Merry, and Zoro behind him all made the precise retort in almost perfect unison."How dare you look down on zombies—!!!" The "injured old man" in front of Luffy was thoroughly enraged. With this roar, the soil all around the graveyard began to churn on a large scale!"Roar roar!" "Yo ho!" "Click click! Kill them!"One, two, ten, a hundred... dense swarms of zombies crawled out one after another from under tombstones of all ages and styles!Some wore tattered ancient armor, some were draped in ragged noble attire, and some were simply wrapped in burial shrouds. The common point was their rotting skin, empty eyes, stiff movements, but consistent goal.They let out garbled roars, surging toward Luffy and his group like a tide from all directions, their numbers exceeding hundreds in the blink of an eye!The Straw Hat crew remained calm where they stood, though their gazes shifted from curiosity to a slightly bored scrutiny."Zombies... are they actually this 'energetic'?" Sanjimuttered, speechless, with a cigarette in his mouth."Oh? If I'm not mistaken, those charred marks on the zombies..." Franky narrowed his mechanical eyes, his sharp gaze sweeping over the zombie horde, "They are burn marks from electric shocks. And the marks are very fresh.""That means our route is completely correct." Merry's eyes lit up, pointing to the distance of the graveyard, "Nami should be not far ahead!""What about these scumbags right in front of us?" Zoro held his sword, glancing at the approaching sea of zombies that looked quite imposing."Need you ask?" Luffy clenched his fists, making a "click" sound of bones rubbing, a smile of eagerness on his face.In the zombie horde, the few rushing to the front seemed a bit confused: "Why do they... not look scared at all?""Idiot! They're obviously scared stupid by us..." The words weren't even out.Luffy's figure shot out like a rubber slingshot! Zoro's sword light flashed like a crescent moon! Sanji's kicks brought up fiery afterimages! Franky's iron fists crashed down! Robin's blooming arms blossomed like tombstones! Merry's petite figure brought up a gust of wind! Even Mark joined in!There was no earth-shattering collision, no long shouts of technique names. Fast. So fast that the eye could barely capture it.All that could be seen was the large group of zombies rushing to the front, like wheat stalks harvested by an invisible sickle, or like dead leaves caught in a giant blender, in an instant—dismembered, shattered, and sent flying!Tattered bandages, decaying bone fragments, withered flesh, rags of clothing... as if a pause button had been pressed, they floated eerily in mid-air, forming a static, bizarre picture full of violent aesthetics.They hadn't even had time to let out a complete scream; only some short, forcibly interrupted "ho...", "uh..." sounds echoed faintly in the graveyard that had gone silent for a moment.Then, gravity returned. "Pitter-patter..." The remains of the zombies fell like rain, scattering back into the graves they had crawled out of, or falling between the cold tombstones.The graveyard returned to silence once again. It was as if the roar and charge of the hundreds of zombies just now were merely an illusion.The Straw Hat crew retracted their respective techniques and continued walking forward, their footsteps not pausing for even a fraction of a second due to this "skirmish."The three-headed dog cautiously bypassed the "remains" on the ground, its three drooping heads seemingly numb to this scene."Let's go," Luffy brushed the non-existent dust off his hands, as if he had just casually cleaned up some trash by the roadside, and pointed enthusiastically toward the depths of the graveyard, "Let's go find Nami and the others, and our musician!"
Chapter 242: Eavesdropping in the Lab and the Gravely Injured Old ManWhile Luffy and his group were carving a path through the thick fog and graveyard, gradually approaching the eerie mansion, the cowardly trio who had snuck in ahead of them followed the strange sounds and arrived at their "adventure" destination."Fosh, fosh, fosh—!" Hogback's unique, shrill, and uncontrollably excited laughter echoed continuously through the thick stone walls and deep corridors."It's Doctor Hogback's voice!" Chopper's ears immediately perked up, and his large eyes shone in the dim light, a mixture of admiration for his idol and intense curiosity about the unknown secrets.Usopp and Nami exchanged a wary glance.The three of them tiptoed toward the only crack in the door ahead that emitted light.Nami signaled for silence and was the first to turn sideways, carefully aiming her eye at the crack in the door; Usopp and Chopper also held their breath, squeezing in on either side, their three heads stacked together in a comical yet tense posture, peering inside.An indescribably complex odor poured out from the crack in the door first—the pungent smell of antiseptic, a faint scent of blood, and a kind of... sweet, heavy stench peculiar to slowly decaying flesh."What is this place? It's... it's so stinky!" Namiwrinkled her nose, suppressing her discomfort, and complained in a low voice."It's a research lab!" Chopper, however, did not seem unfamiliar with this kind of smell. As a doctor, it actually detected the characteristics of a "laboratory" from this scent, and the corners of its mouth curled up slightly at being close to the "truth.""Fosh, fosh, fosh—! Soon, it will be finished soon!" Inside the door, Hogback's voice was clearer, "Look, these lines, the direction of these muscles... What an excellent 'work' this will be! A perfect combat puppet!"Through the crack, one could see Hogback standing with his back to the door in front of a brightly lit operating table.He was wearing purple plaid clothes and holding a scalpel that glinted coldly in his hand.He waved his arms excitedly, then tilted his head back and let out even more exaggerated laughter."Did you see that! Miss Sindry!" He suddenly turned to the figure standing quietly to the side, his voice becoming rapid and sharp, "This is art! This is the art of God, transcending the boundaries of life and death, something only a genius like me can master! Fosh, fosh, fosh!"Standing in the shadows was the maid, Sindry.She was still wearing that neat maid outfit, her face devoid of any expression, her pink eyes staring hollowly ahead, showing no reaction to Hogback's fanatical declaration.She responded in a cold, flat, and monotonous voice: "I hope you fail at the very last step; that would be wonderful.""Eh—?!" Hogback exaggeratedly elongated his jaw, his entire upper body slamming against the edge of the operating table with a "thud," his voice rising even higher, "What are you saying! Sindry!"His tone immediately softened, carrying an almost doting helplessness: "Really... I'm almost scared to death by your sudden'sharp tongue' every time, my little Sindry.""I made a midnight snack." Sindry seemed not to have heard his complaints, stating this in a completely mechanical tone while holding up a heavy-looking insulated bag with both hands."Is that so? What are we having tonight?" Hogbackwas immediately distracted, excitedly putting down the scalpel and rubbing his hands together, drool almost flowing out."Italian noodle soup." After saying this, Sindryturned sideways expressionlessly and aimed the opening of the insulated bag at—the workbench in front of Hogback!Then, with a flick of her wrist, the thick, steaming Italian noodles and broth from the bag poured out with a "splash," dumping entirely onto the workbench!"Ah—!! The soup! The soup, the soup spilled out, Sindry!!" Hogback bent over in a panic, letting out shrill screams while scrambling in confusion.Sindry maintained the posture of having just poured the noodles, repeating her eternal "obsession" in an emotionless voice: "Plates and such... it would be better if they all disappeared from the world."Hogback looked at the mess on the workbench, stunned for a few seconds, and finally just sighed helplessly, even with a hint of doting: "I know, I know... but why did you have to choose 'noodle soup'! You could have chosen stir-fried udon, or rice balls or something..."Outside the crack in the door, the three of Namiwere dumbfounded."Sindry... is she really that deceased genius actress from the reports?" Nami's doubts deepened.The mechanical, cold, and bizarrely behaving maid before her was like two completely different entities from Victoria Cindry, the bright-smiling, spirited stage star in her scrapbook.Apart from a vague resemblance in appearance, there was no common ground in temperament at all."Look, what's lying on the operating table... what is that thing?" Usopp nudged the antlers on Chopper's head with his elbow, his voice kept extremely low.Chopper's gaze had long been focused on that "work." As a doctor, it looked more closely and felt even more horrified."Judging from the color of the skin and the state of the incisions... that is a human corpse. And," its little hoof unconsciously gripped the door frame, "the time of death... shouldn't be short.""Eh?" Chopper suddenly widened its eyes, noticing a clear black number branded on the corpse's pale arm— "741"."Just like those animals in the forest and the zombies in the graveyard... there's a number!""He said'soon it will be finished'..." Nami stared at the precise yet eerie sutured wounds on the corpse, as well as the various strangely shaped "parts" and needles and thread on the tray nearby, the clues in her mind quickly connecting, "It's already certain, that is a zombie being 'made.' All the zombies on this island, just as we guessed, are 'resurrected' or rather 'manufactured' by Hogback."She took a deep breath and concluded in a very low but certain voice, "That is the only explanation."Chopper questioned in a low voice: "But... medical science can only save patients who still have signs of life. No matter how much you strengthen or modify a dead body, even using the most advanced bionic technology, it's impossible to truly 'bring the dead back to life'! This violates the most basic laws of life...""Shh—!" Usopp hurriedly raised a finger to his lips, signaling the two to be quiet, his eyes nervously glancing inside the door, then back at the dim corridor, "Let's not alert the enemy first! Let's just watch secretly here, maybe we'll soon be able to see the secret of his 'resurrection' with our own eyes! This is definitely a world-shocking discovery!"The three reached a consensus, nodded, held their breath, and prepared to continue this thrilling "peeping."Curiosity temporarily overcame fear; they pressed tightly against the door, wishing they could open their eyes even wider.Just at this moment of intense concentration— "Da... da... da..."A clear, steady sound of wooden clogs tapping on the stone floor came without warning from the depths of the dark, long corridor behind them, unhurried, approaching from afar."What?" The three were as if struck by lightning, their hair standing on end, and they turned around abruptly!In the shadows at the end of the corridor, a tall, thin figure slowly walked out.He was dressed in traditional Japanese hakama and a white haori, wearing wooden clogs, with a long sword with a graceful curve and elegant decoration at his waist.Most chilling was his face—hollow eye sockets and a grinning mouth that seemed to carry a sinister smile in the dim light.The night wind blew through the corridor, fluttering his white robes, like an undead samurai from an ancient tomb.He stopped a few steps away from the three and nodded slightly."Good evening."Immediately after, he let out a laugh that made the souls of Nami and the others tremble: "Yo! Ho ho ho—!""This... this 'Yo ho ho ho' is...?" Usopp was dumbfounded, pointing at the other, his tongue tied."This laugh is..." Chopper's eyes went round, filled with disbelief."Br-Brook?" Nami gasped out the name.This iconic laugh, who else could it be but that afro-haired skeleton musician?The samurai wearing a skull mask—Ryuma, seemed amused by the three's reaction.His figure flickered, as if teleporting, and he silently closed in to a position just two steps away from Nami, bowing slightly, and said in that voice with a peculiar rhythm: "A few eavesdropping guests, if you want to listen, why not just go in and listen openly? Yo ho ho ho ho!"He paused, "Do you need... me to 'open the door' for you?"Meanwhile, outside the eerie and magnificent front door of the mansion.Luffy casually slung his huge landing net over his shoulder, narrowed his eyes, and looked back at the vast graveyard that they had just "cleared" and which had now returned to deathly silence, a smile on his face."But having said that... those guys just now, they had no backbone." He scratched his cheek and commented."Ah! That kind of fight doesn't even count as a warm-up!" Franky carried his beloved bazooka, complaining with a displeased look."However, we still can't let our guard down."Zoro walked with his hands in his pockets, looking seemingly casual, but his eyes were sharply scanning the silhouette of the mansion shrouded in thick fog and the dark forest ahead, "There's more on this island than just those small-fry zombies. The ghosts from just now, and things that might be hidden deeper...""Hey, hey, hey! Know fear now? Are you the 'Octopus Swordsman' who regrets being born into this world?" Sanji immediately seized the opportunity, using a cheeky tone and exaggerated expressions to imitate the "famous quote" Zoro used when he was negative just now, delivering a precise strike."Shut up! You squid cook! Don't compare me to a pervert like you!"A vein popped on Zoro's forehead, and he turned his head abruptly, thrusting his face toward Sanjiangrily."What did you say? You lost-cause moss-head!"Sanji didn't back down either, baring his teeth and pushing his face back, the two handsome faces squashed together and distorted, like two bulls locking horns."Want to fight? You perverted kappa!""Just what I wanted! You blockhead swordsman!"Seeing that a familiar internal conflict on the ship was about to unfold at the entrance of the enemy's lair—"Wait... wait a moment! Please... please wait!"An old, dry, panting voice that sounded like a leaking bellows suddenly rang out from behind the group."Hm?" The group stopped and turned to look in unison.A figure was seen trembling and shuffling out from behind a half-collapsed ancient tombstone.He was dressed in rags, the original color of the fabric almost unrecognizable, his body withered and hunched like a withered branch in autumn, wearing a purple pointed hat with several holes in it.In one hand, he leaned on a crooked branch, and in the other, he carried an old oil lamp with a cracked glass cover and flickering light, struggling to move toward them, out of breath."J-just now... I... I saw it all..."He walked up close, stopped, and panted heavily while supporting his knees, having to stop for breath every few words, as if he might fall apart at any moment.He took a few deep breaths before barely recovering, "You... you really are terrifyingly strong."He asked earnestly: "Can you... can you listen to me for a few words?"He suddenly raised his head and held up the dim oil lamp in his hand, letting the flickering firelight illuminate his deeply lined, gray-skinned, sunken-eyed face."Oh~"Luffy widened his eyes, carefully examining this "person" in front of him, a drop of cold sweat even seeping from his forehead, and then came to his unshakeable conclusion: "It's a gravely injured old man!""We already told you it's a zombie—!!!" Sanji, Zoro, and Franky could no longer bear it, veins popping on their foreheads, and they shouted in unison to retort."No! I am a gravely injured old man!" The old man puffed out his chest, which was wrapped in dirty bandages, and tried to stand up a little straighter."Don't confuse the concepts, you bastard! Just being a zombie is enough! Really..."The three retorted in unison again, feeling incredibly exhausted by this guy who was 100% a zombie in both appearance and aura, yet insisted on the identity of a "wounded old man."Luffy walked forward a few steps, crossed his arms, and looked down at the "injured old man" who only reached his waist, showing a serious expression: "Hey! What do you want to say?"Just then, the "injured old man" suddenly knelt on both knees with a thud, placed the oil lamp aside, supported himself with his hands on the ground, and used all his strength to lift his head.His gray, decayed face revealed an expression mixed with despair, pleading, and a last glimmer of hope, and he rasped: "I want to ask you... to defeat someone!"He took a deep breath, using the last strength of his soul to plead: "If it's you guys... you can definitely do it! Please!"
Although... it might be extremely difficult, and might even cost us our lives," the old man bowed his hunched body even lower, his forehead almost touching the cold soil, his voice raspy yet filled with determination, "but once we succeed... it won't just be me; everyone trapped in this hell, everyone like me, will be saved!"He paused, using all his strength to lift his head, his cloudy eyes flickering with a final light as he stared fixedly at Luffy: "As long as we can take back our shadows... I will reward you however you wish!...""Shadows?" The cigarette dangling from Sanji's mouth trembled slightly, his tone laced with surprise. This word immediately brought to mind the confession of that afro-wearing skeleton from a little while ago."What's this? Did your shadow get stolen by that 'man' too?" Franky lowered his bazooka and crouched down, his mechanical eye carefully scrutinizing the zombie in front of him who called himself an "injured old man.""Shadows, huh..." Luffy curiously squatted down as well, his gaze falling on the ground where the old man's withered palm cast its shadow—under the dim, oblique light of the oil lamp, the shadow that should have been behind the old man's hand was empty, with only the shadows of a few dead leaves swaying by in the wind."It really is..." Luffy blinked, confirming he hadn't misseen, "Old man, you don't have a shadow either, just like Brook!""What exactly is..." Zoro held his swords, his brows locked in a frown, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes as he asked the most critical question, "Who did this? That mastermind... are they on this island right now?""Mo... Moriah..." Hearing the name, the old man seemed to be triggered by his deepest fear and hatred. His fingers, withered like chicken claws, clenched violently, digging deeply into the soft soil of the graveyard and carving out five clear furrows.The hatred in his eyes was like volcanic lava about to erupt, flashing briefly under the flickering light of the oil lamp, but it was immediately drowned out by a deeper, colder dread and fear. His figure hunched even further, as if the name itself carried the weight of a thousand jin, pressing down on him until he could barely breathe.He slowly lifted his head but instinctively used his tattered hat brim to shield his terrified eyes, his voice trembling uncontrollably: "It's... it's a man called 'Moriah'...""Moriah?" Hearing this, a glimmer of realization flashed in Robin's beautiful eyes. She stepped forward, her high heels clicking clearly in the silent graveyard, and as she walked, she confirmed with her distinct, calm, and insightful voice, "Do you mean... 'Gekko Moriah'?""Y-Yes... that's the one! 'Gekko Moriah'!" The old man's voice carried a sob; it was a bone-deep fear. Even after all these years, and even after having become this half-human, half-ghost creature, mentioning the name still made him tremble uncontrollably."Robin, you know this guy?" Luffy stood up and turned to look at the archaeologist, his eyes filled with curiosity and eager inquiry."The name... is quite 'familiar'." A cold drop of sweat slid down Robin's temple, trailing down her smooth cheek. Although her voice remained steady, a keen listener could detect a trace of subtle gravity and wariness."His 'original' bounty... was extremely high." " 'Original'...?" Sanji immediately caught the keyword and looked at Robin, waiting for her confirmation."That's right." Robin nodded with a serious tone, her gaze sweeping over every crewmate present, "'Gekko Moriah'... is one of the 'Seven Warlords of the Sea'.""Shichibukai—?" Except for Mark and Robin, everyone else gasped in unison! They knew all too well the weight that this term carried. Crocodile, the Sand Crocodile of Alabasta... that Greatest Swordsman they had once looked up to. Every Shichibukai represented absolute power and influence capable of affecting an entire sea area."Is that true, Robin?" Luffy's expression became urgent, his eyes beneath his Straw Hat sharp as knives. The other crewmates also instantly shed their previous lightness, their expressions turning grave. If the opponent was of that caliber, any underestimation could be fatal."Yes, it's true." Robin's expression softened slightly, but she remained cautious, "'Gekko Moriah'... is a man full of mysteries. There isn't much public information regarding his specific abilities or his style of operation. We only know that he has lived in seclusion for years, and his movements are mysterious.""Actually, there's no need to be so nervous," Markstepped forward, shrugging his shoulders with a casual tone, "He's just a loser who was defeated by Kaido.""Kaido? Isn't that one of the 'Four Emperors'?" Sanjilooked at Mark in surprise, "Just because he lost to him... doesn't really mean much, does it?" The Four Emperors stood at the pinnacle of the three great powers of the sea, alongside Marineford and the Shichibukai. Losing to one of the Four Emperors was nothing to be ashamed of; in a way, it even proved the heights the opponent had once reached."Twenty-three years ago, Moriah fought a full-scale war against 'Beasts' Kaido in the New World," Markadded, the information seeming like common knowledge to him, "The result was a crushing defeat; he lost all his crewmates and his fleet, then vanished, fleeing to the West Blue. Judging by his current condition and mindset, his strength probably doesn't exceed the level of 'Tokikake' from Marineford.""In that case, it lines up with the information Brookprovided." Zoro said, lost in thought, "He must have obtained this 'Thriller Bark' in the West Blue and then converted it into a mobile fortress.""But why did that guy have to run all the way to the 'Florian Triangle' in the first half of the Grand Line?" Franky crossed his arms, not showing much panic. He had started by declaring war on the World Government, so the title of Shichibukai had limited deterrent power for him."I... I don't know why he came here either." The old man on the ground replied in a trembling voice, "I only know that there are many, many people, just like me, who have had their shadows stolen and can only hide in the forest like rats, afraid of the zombies that appear at any moment..."He paused and pointed at Luffy and the others, "Since you were 'lured' here, it means Moriah... he's been targeting you for a long time!""Lured?" Everyone turned their gaze toward Luffy in unison. "Why are you looking at me?" Luffy said, picking his nose with an innocent face."Forget it..." Everyone sighed, pressing their hands to their foreheads, already numb to their Captain's "trouble-magnet" nature and his tendency to "jump into pits voluntarily." They turned their gaze back to the tearful old man.The old man's tears dripped pitter-patter onto the back of his withered, liver-spotted hands."Either... like now, living in constant fear in the forest, avoiding those zombies crawling about; or... we have no choice but to risk going out to sea. But without a shadow, the moment we are touched by sunlight, we will turn to ash... Living becomes nothing more than the act of avoiding the sun. Sooner or later... we will vanish completely in a moment of carelessness."The despair in his voice was practically overflowing, "In my current physical condition... I don't have long to live."He suddenly used his last bit of strength to crawl on his knees to Luffy's feet, lifting his tear-streaked, pleading face, and begged with all the power of his soul: "At least... at least before this husk of mine completely rots away... give me a chance! One chance... to take back my shadow!"His withered hands gripped Luffy's pant leg tightly, as if clutching the last straw of hope: "I want... to walk under the sun once more!!"After saying this, the old man seemed to have exhausted all his strength and vitality, collapsing completely to the ground."Clang—" The old, tattered pumpkin oil lamp in his hand also rolled to the ground, spinning in an arc on the uneven graveyard, its dim, flickering light illuminating the surroundings intermittently.The light from the oil lamp cast the long shadows of the Straw Hat crew onto the tombstones and ground behind them. These were the most ordinary shadows, the "accessories" that everyone possessed and wouldn't even glance at on a daily basis. Yet at this moment, in this land of despair where shadows had been stolen, these ordinary shadows were the "right under the sun" that this "old man" and countless others like him wanted to reclaim with the rest of their lives, gambling everything they had.Luffy silently squatted down, reached out, and gently pressed down on the still-rolling oil lamp. The flame stabilized, illuminating the half of his face obscured by the shadow of his Straw Hat."Waaaahhhh—!!!" Franky suddenly let out an exaggerated wail, one of his steel hands supporting his cheek, tears pouring down like a waterfall, "Is that so?! Is that really it?! You guys are so pathetic! Fine... fine! I'll help you! Don't worry, you idiot! Damn it, I'm not crying!!"He shouted incoherently while crying until his whole body shook."What's the deal with this guy?" Zoro glanced at Franky, who was crying like a fountain, with disdain."He probably accidentally swapped the wires for his 'brain' and 'tear ducts' when he was being modified." Sanji chimed in with a sharp tongue, then pointed at the collapsed old man on the ground and said viciously, "Hey! Old man, using tears to garner sympathy... that's a privilege reserved for ladies! You blubbering like that makes you not worth a shred of sympathy!!""Sanji is right." Beneath the shadow of his Straw Hat, only Luffy's mouth could be seen moving, his voice unusually calm, "Sympathy, tears... those alone aren't enough for me to bet the lives of everyone on the entire crew.""Since when did Luffy... grow a brain?" Sanjimuttered in surprise, as this didn't fit the Captainstyle he was familiar with."But..." Luffy changed his tone, the corners of his mouth slowly curling up into a familiar, confident, and fearless smile. He stood up slowly, his eyes beneath the Straw Hat shining brightly in the shadows."We were going to find the culprit who stole the shadows anyway, to take back Brook's shadow." He flexed his rubbery wrists, making a "crack" sound, his smile widening: "Since that guy has been targeting us for a while... then let's just take him out while we're at it!"He looked down at the "old man" on the ground, who seemed to have regained a glimmer of vitality, his tone light yet carrying an unquestionable power: "That way, old man, you, and the others, will all be saved."At this moment, in the eyes of the old man and all the victims watching from the shadows, Luffy's smile seemed even more dazzling and warmer than that oil lamp, the pale Moonlight piercing through the thick fog, or any sunrise they could remember."R-Really... I am eternally grateful!" The old man struggled, using a tree branch and the hand Luffyextended to wobble back to his feet, his expression overwhelmed with emotion, "Whether it's 'while you're at it' or whatever... in any case, there's hope! There's really hope!""Please!" "Go for it!" "Take down Moriah!" Following the old man's words, more figures appeared in the shadows behind the surrounding tombstones, in the bushes, and in the darkness. There were men and women, old and young, wearing tattered clothes from various eras; their commonality was their pale complexions and the same fire of hatred and hope burning in their eyes. They were all victims who had been stripped of their shadows and trapped in this living hell."Tch... quite a few eavesdroppers, are they all 'victims'?" Sanji clicked his tongue, scanning the faces hidden in the darkness."That's right, young man! Really sorry we couldn't earn your'sympathy'!" A man's voice came from the shadows."Shut up! Mind your own business!" Sanji shouted angrily toward the direction of the voice."Hahaha..." Seeing Sanji get shut down, his crewmates couldn't help but laugh, and the heavy atmosphere in the graveyard eased slightly.However, this brief moment of levity was quickly broken by a disturbance coming from the direction of the mansion.At the entrance to the underground laboratory of the mansion. The moment Nami's voice faded, Ryuma's figure moved!There was no warning, no buildup, and one couldn't even see the motion of him drawing his sword! A blade of light, cold as Moonlight and so fast only an afterimage remained, suddenly flared up, tearing through the air, silently yet with peerless sharpness, slashing toward Nami at the entrance!The sword light pierced precisely through Nami's body—or rather, through the lightning afterimage she left behind after elementalizing. The fierce sword energy, its momentum undiminished, struck directly against the heavy wooden door behind the three of them!"Boom—!!" The wooden door, along with part of the door frame, instantly shattered into countless fragments like building blocks struck by a giant hammer, scattering everywhere! Dust and smoke filled the air."Ehh—!!" Usopp and Chopper looked on in horror at the doorway that had instantly turned into ruins behind them, as well as the slash mark deeply embedded in the stone wall behind it; cold sweat instantly soaked their backs. If that sword strike just now had connected..."How are you people here—!!" Hogback inside the laboratory screamed in fright at the sudden loud noise and the intruders, nearly dropping the scalpel in his hand.Nami's body re-formed not far away, lightning dancing at the tips of her hair; her Logiaelementalization had made her immune to the physical slash, but the speed and killing intent of that sword strike still left her shaken.The coward trio had no time to pay attention to Hogback's questioning; seizing this opportunity, they quickly jumped backward, fully entering the interior of the laboratory, and backed against the wall, assuming a defensive stance with vigilance."That 'Yohohoho' just now... is it really not Brook?" Nami stared fixedly at the dust and smoke gradually dissipating at the entrance, trying to see the true face of that skull-masked samurai."B-But he... he's not a skeleton! He has skin, he has flesh!" Chopper gritted its teeth nervously, the shockwave from that sword strike just now having nearly grazed its ears."Not only that, but his attire is completely different too. Wooden sandals, and that sword... he's a samurai!"Usopp had already pulled back his slingshot and loaded a Gunpowder Star. Although his hands were still shaking, his gaze was locked firmly on the doorway."Come to think of it... the attire is indeed completely different." Nami nodded, forcing herself to stay calm as she analyzed, but the doubts and unease in her heart did not diminish. That iconic laughter... it was too similar."I said—!!!!" Hogback's roar interrupted their whispering. The veins on his forehead were bulging, and his eyes behind his round glasses were wide open. "You guys! Are you even listening to me?""Eh?! We-we've been discovered!" The three of them only then realized belatedly that their "peeping mission" had failed completely, and they were now trapped like turtles in a jar."What, what did you see?" Hogback said with a gloomy face, stepping forward. His thin, long legs made him look like an angry, grotesque flea. "Didn't I warn you—absolutely do not think about peeping into my laboratory?!""No, no, no! We didn't see anything!" Usopp waved his hands hurriedly, shaking his head like a rattle-drum."Same here! We just walked to the door, and it exploded on its own!" Chopper and Nami also hurriedly chimed in "sincerely," trying to bluff their way through."Is that so..." Hogback first nodded, feigning calmness, then suddenly exploded, shrieking, "Do you take me for a three-year-old child!!!!"But unexpectedly, his anger came and went quickly. He turned and walked to Sindry, who remained expressionless, pushed up his glasses, and his tone suddenly became cold and resolute: "However, never mind..."He looked up at a strange-looking clock on the wall with its hands moving slowly, a smile mixed with cruelty and anticipation appearing on his skeletal face: "Because, in a few more minutes... the 'Night Raid' will begin."His voice echoed eerily in the laboratory filled with the smell of preservatives, as if announcing a more terrifying and chaotic feast about to unfold.In the thick fog outside the door, more rustling, unsettling sounds could be vaguely heard.The Zombie Camp—or rather, the former camp—was dead silent at this moment.The Moonlight struggled to pierce through the fog of the eternal night, illuminating the graveyard that looked as if it had been ravaged by a hurricane: broken tombstones, overturned soil, and... the remains of zombies in various poses, completely devoid of life, scattered all over the ground.Severed arms, shattered bones, and charred cloth silently told the story of the short yet thorough "cleanup" that had occurred not long ago.Right in the midst of this mess, a fresh footprint appeared abruptly on the soft soil. Then came the second, the third... The footprints circled the central area of the camp messily, eventually stopping at the place where the remains were most dense. The owner of the footprints seemed to have fallen into great confusion, lingering in place for a long time."The Night Raid... the Night Raid is about to begin! Wh-what exactly is going on here?" Absalom's low roar, suppressing anger and disbelief, echoed in the empty camp.He maintained his transparent state, eyes wide as he scanned the scene that could be called a "slaughterhouse." His zombie army, which he had worked so hard to assemble, number, and deploy in the graveyard as the first line of defense and "welcoming party"... had actually been completely wiped out? Looking at the traces of destruction and the efficiency, it was as if they had been crushed by some prehistoric beast!He took a deep breath, suppressing the unease and fury in his heart, and leaped, jumping onto the top of a tombstone that was still relatively intact.As he deactivated his ability, his tall, burly, beast-like figure slowly manifested in the Moonlight—wild, golden hair like a lion's mane, sharp slit pupils and fangs like a leopard, yet comically topped with a white, spherical Captain's hat, and a newly attached elephant-trunk right arm gleaming with a cold, hard luster in the dim light."Roar—!!" He let out a low, beastly growl mixed with anger and intimidation, attempting to wake any subordinates who might still be "alive." "Get up, everyone! Those of you who aren't dead, get out here and report immediately!!"The roar echoed in the silent graveyard. A moment later. "Rustle, rustle..." In front of the tombstones closest to him, the soil loosened. One hand, two hands... very slowly, even somewhat hesitantly, they clawed through the soil, and then, two zombies crawled out of the grave at a speed bordering on "crawling," extremely "reluctantly."They stood up straight, turning stiffly toward Absalom. The Moonlight illuminated their dull, bewildered faces that seemed like they never woke up. The two zombies even looked at each other, then looked in unison at Absalom on top of the tombstone, their faces filled with pure confusion: "Who am I? Where am I? What are you trying to do?"The reason was simple—all the active zombies that were quick, looked slightly "smarter," and had a desire to attack had already rushed out at the first opportunity, and then... had become the "spare parts" scattered all over the ground. The few remaining ones belonged to the "inferior products" and "failures" who were slow to react, lacked intelligence, and could even sleep through the "wake-up command."Looking at these three "Sleeping Dragons and Fledgling Phoenixes" in front of him, who looked as if they had just woken up from sleepwalking, covered in mud and rotten leaves, and whose combined IQ probably couldn't add up to a single complete neural circuit, the veins on Absalom's forehead throbbed uncontrollably. He felt his new arm itching, wanting to smash these idiots in front of him along with the tombstones below!"My zombie army..." His voice seemed to be squeezed out from between gritted teeth, carrying suppressed, extreme anger and a sense of absurdity. "Don't tell me... the only ones left are you two... no, three 'masterpieces'?"As if to respond to his "praise," the zombie standing in the middle suddenly raised its hands, grabbed its own head, and then—with a soft "click!"—it actually twisted its head off its neck and held it in its arms like a basketball! It skillfully lifted its own cranium, reached inside to rummage around, seemingly trying to find something, failed, and then reattached its head as if nothing happened, shaking it from side to side to make sure it was secure. Then, it continued to stare at Absalom with those blank, wide eyes without blinking.Absalom: "..." He silently closed his eyes, took a deep breath of the night air, and forced himself to calm down. Cannot get angry, cannot get upset with these brainless mass-produced goods... although they really were brainless."Forget it..." He opened his eyes, the corners of his mouth twitching twice, trying hard to restore his usual wild and uninhibited demeanor. "The number... cough, although it's a bit streamlined, the necessary momentum cannot be lost! We still need to build up the atmosphere!"He spread his arms, as if facing thousands of troops, and asked loudly with a bewitching voice: "Come on! Tell me, who am I—Lord Absalom, to you?!""..." Dead silence. Only the night wind moaned as it blew past the tombstones. The three zombies touched their bald or sparsely haired heads, blinking their large eyes, as if struggling to process this complex question. After several seconds, one of them tentatively asked in a hoarse, intermittent, and uncertain tone: "Lead... er...?""Exactly—!!!" Absalom immediately seized upon this answer, raising his voice, trying to create an enthusiastic response. "Cheer! For your great and invincible leader!! Let the entire Thriller Bark hear your...""Pervert... pervert... pervert..." Another zombie suddenly interrupted him, staring at Absalom with a flat, emotionless tone, repeating this word over and over, not knowing if it was a programming error or if the remaining fragments of "memory" were at play.The impassioned expression on Absalom's face froze. "...Shut, shut up!!! Shut your mouths! Form up! Prepare to move out!!" he roared, furious from embarrassment, giving up on the plan to build atmosphere.Meanwhile, in the center of the island, deep within the highest and most sinister main castle. In a room decorated with extraordinary luxury, filled with various cute dolls and lace, completely out of place with the external gothic horror style, a petite figure was kneeling on a princess bed covered with layers of soft cushions.Inside the room, semi-transparent white ghosts were swiftly converging from all directions—walls, ceilings, and even the floor—like homing pigeons, silently merging into the girl's body."Welcome back, Lady Perona...s." A bear-shaped doll—Kumacy—topped with a blue and white striped ball, its body stitched together from various fabrics, with threads showing at the joints, waved its somewhat clumsy hands excitedly, speaking in a voice that was deliberately lowered but still couldn't hide its raspy tone."Ah—!!" The girl's angry and impatient voice came from the princess bed. "Shut up! Kumacy! You are not allowed to speak! Why are you so cute, but your voice is so ugly? It's really infuriating!"As the last ghost completely merged, the girl—Ghost Princess Perona—slowly stood up. She elegantly flicked one of the two pink braided pigtails hanging over her chest backward, her movements full of arrogance.Kumacy, who had been waiting respectfully on the side, immediately held up with both hands a small red parasol decorated with exquisite lace edges and cute bat patterns, handing it to her. Perona took the umbrella, opened it with a "whoosh," and held it over her shoulder.Beneath the umbrella, a cute face was revealed, wearing a small golden crown, with exquisite makeup and large, blinking eyes. However, from that cherry mouth came a lovely voice: "If you're not cute enough, you're not worthy of serving me~! Horohoro horohoro~!"She let out a string of her signature laughter, mixed with triumph and mischief, and holding the red umbrella, she drifted to the ground, like a willful and powerful little queen preparing to patrol her territory.The most core and secretive location of the main castle. At the end of a heavy stone corridor, behind an incomparably huge door, came bursts of snoring like thunder, enough to make the ground tremble slightly."Hurry! Hurry!" "It's about to start! It's about to start!" "The time for the Night Raid—it's almost midnight!!" Three little guys with short statures, wearing strange ninja outfits but clearly also of zombie construction, were running desperately on the stone corridor leading to that giant door. One was completely red, one was deep blue, and one was earthy yellow, all with urgent expressions on their faces."Master! It's time to wake up!! You can't sleep anymore!" The three dwarf zombies shouted in unison while running, but their shouts were completely drowned out by the earth-shaking snoring.The red dwarf zombie had sharp eyes, pointing to a giant snot bubble at the end of the corridor, almost blocking half the hallway, which was constantly expanding and contracting, emitting a faint blue light—that was the "sleep bubble" unconsciously created by the master while sleeping, and also the biggest obstacle to waking him up."Nin! Hurry!" the blue zombie shouted. "Alright! Watch me—!" The red zombie "Nin" stopped instantly, pulled out a mini short bow and an arrow, drew the bow and nocked the arrow, the movements done in one smooth motion. "Swish—!" The arrow accurately hit that huge blue bubble."Pop—!!!!!" A loud noise, a hundred times louder than a balloon bursting, erupted suddenly! The shockwave of the bubble bursting, carrying cold blue energy, swept through the corridor like a small storm!"Ah—!!" The three dwarf zombies were caught off guard and blown away directly by the shockwave, like three rag dolls, "bang, bang, bang," hitting the distant stone wall one after another, then sliding down limply, seeing stars."Mas... Master..." The red zombie "Nin" raised its head stubbornly, looking towards the giant door. He saw that a crack had appeared in the center of the giant door at some point. Behind the crack was not a room, but deeper darkness. And in that darkness, a pair of eyes, as huge as lanterns, scarlet as blood, filled with gloom and chaotic energy, slowly opened!"Mmm... ZZZ..." The earth-shaking snoring stopped, replaced by a high-pitched, dragging voice that sounded like it had just woken up and still carried a heavy nasal tone, "I had a... nightmare..."The owner of the voice seemed to be still reminiscing, with a trace of displeasure: "Dreamed... I was covered by a giant Straw Hat... couldn't breathe..."The three dwarf zombies, who had been thrown into a daze, hurriedly helped each other up upon hearing this. The blue zombie immediately interjected respectfully, its tone full of flattery: "That is... truly great, Master! This must be an excellent omen! Predicting that the 'Straw Hat' crew will eventually become the most interesting 'playthings' in your palm! Their shadows will surely add the most powerful and interesting new members to your great 'Thousand Shadows Army'!""Hee... hee hee hee hee..." From deep within the darkness came a chilling, owl-like low laughter. Through the faint light coming from the crack in the door, two rows of teeth like huge serrated saws could be vaguely seen, curving upward, grinning into an exaggerated crescent-shaped arc full of greed and pleasure.
Chapter 244: Moriah Awakens"Drip!"A heavy raindrop fell from the gloomy sky, landing squarely on the brim of Luffy's Straw Hat, splashing into a fleeting, transparent water blossom."Is it raining?"Luffy tilted his head back, and the rain instantly dampened his cheeks.The grey clouds hung low, and in the blink of an eye, the drizzle turned into streaks, shrouding everything in a pitter-patter downpour."Looks like it's coming down harder!" Zoro clicked his tongue and raised a hand to shield his forehead, the rainwater sliding down his sturdy arm.Merry nimbly pulled her little yellow raincoat over her head, her small frame diving beneath Franky's towering figure.Franky grinned and struck a Super pose: "Yo, Super! You're right to hide beside this genius!"Mark retrieved a plain white umbrella from his personal storage space and handed it to the Robinbeside him."Thank you." Robin took it with a smile. With a light twist of her wrist and a "snap," the umbrella opened, blooming like a quiet water lily in the rain.She naturally stepped forward, sheltering Markwithin this rainless sanctuary as well."I'm——so——jealous——!"Sanji turned his head and saw Mark sharing the umbrella with Robin, his eyes instantly igniting with blazing jealousy, his teeth grinding together with a rattling sound."Hey, Mark, got another umbrella?" Zoro glanced at the increasingly dense rain and asked casually."Just this one, and I 'picked' it up on that nameless island last time." Mark shook his head, looking somewhat helpless."It wouldn't happen to be... Aokiji's, would it?" Robintilted her head slightly, lowering her voice to offer a bold guess."Haha, wouldn't that be perfect to water your Marimo head! Maybe mushrooms will even grow out of it—poi-son-ous mush-rooms!"Sanji immediately seized the opportunity to mock Zoro with a sarcastic tone."Oh? Wouldn't those poisonous mushrooms be just the thing to poison you, swirl-brow?" Zoro curled his lip, retorting without any hesitation."Hmph!"Two visible streams of hot steam puffed from Sanji's nostrils.His footwork shifted, and he spun over to Robin's side with elegant ballet steps. He knelt on one knee and performed a standard knightly salute: "Miss Robin! Your knight who shields you from the wind and rain has arrived, please do not worry!"Before the words had even faded, he appeared beside Mark as if teleporting and stuck his butt out—"Damn it!" Mark stumbled, pushed out from under the umbrella.Sanji elegantly extended his index finger, pointing toward the sky, and declared loudly: "Hot Bubble!"The air at his fingertip twisted slightly, and a pale red bubble rapidly formed, stretched, and shaped itself... In the blink of an eye, it transformed into the shape of a steaming umbrella, hovering steadily above Robin's head.Meanwhile, the white umbrella that originally belonged to Robin was sent back into Mark's hand with a deft force.Sanji held the "umbrella" made of hot air and beamed an extremely infatuated smile at Robin.Robin looked at the "umbrella" radiating waves of heat above her head. A bead of cold sweat, mixed with rainwater, slid quietly down her cheek—she wasn't sure if she was speechless or just simply hot."I misjudged you, Sanji!"Mark opened his white umbrella and roared indignantly at the sky,"You have such an amazing ability, and you use it to pick up girls! Where is the justice! Let a bolt of lightning strike this bastard dead!""Hahaha! That's too funny!" Luffy clutched his stomach, laughing until he was rocking back and forth.Merry hopped onto Mark's shoulder, wrinkled her little nose, and suddenly looked into the distance.The rain seemed to have eased slightly, but the sky remained a chaotic mess, stirred by thicker fog and curtains of rain."Hmm?"Luffy also stopped laughing. Imitating Merry, he shielded his eyes with his hand and peered intently at the hazy, massive shadow behind the mansion."Behind the castle... it looks like there's something huge! The shape is a bit weird... is it some kind of emblem?""Emblem?" Hearing this, Zoro stepped forward, his eyes sharpening."The fog is clearing a bit... is that... a flag?""No!"Franky narrowed his modified eyes and stared intently for a moment before suddenly blurting out an astonishing answer,"Isn't that a sail?""A sail?!" Everyone exclaimed in unison, unable to believe it."This scale... it feels much larger than the 'Gates of Justice' at Marineford..." Robin compared them calmly, her tone carrying a hint of gravity."That's right!" An old, trembling voice sounded from behind them. The old man carrying the jack-o'-lantern had caught up again without them noticing."You're still following us?" Zoro and Franky turned around simultaneously and retorted in unison.Luffy turned curiously to the old man: "That's right? What's right?"The old man raised the jack-o'-lantern, its faint glow barely illuminating his terrified face.He said with a trembling voice: "Just as that mechanical young man said... it is a sail. Because it is so vast and obscured by fog, it is difficult to see it in its entirety."He took a deep breath, his voice suddenly rising, filled with indescribable fear and awe,"This Thriller Bark... is the largest pirate ship in the world!"Zoro: "The largest in the world?"Sanji: "A pirate ship?""So awesome——!"Little stars instantly appeared in Luffy's eyes, his excitement evident.However, no sooner had he tilted his head up than Franky's large hand pressed it back down."I see!"Franky said in a deep voice, his demeanor suddenly turning serious,"Incorporating an entire island into the ship's hull—that is truly an incredible feat."He changed the subject, his mouth curling into a confident arc,"However, compared to the thousand sunny that I poured my heart and soul into, it's still far behind in terms of artistry!"He glanced sideways at Luffy, whose head he was pressing down, his voice carrying an undisguised "threat,""Right, Captain?""The thousand sunny is the best!" Luffy immediately answered loudly, his voice muffled by being pressed down. Only then did Franky release him with satisfaction.Luffy quickly pinched his nose and let out a "Puh-ha!" with a forceful exhale, blowing his flattened head back into a round shape.The old man's trembling finger pointed toward the massive shadow looming into the clouds behind the mansion:"Behind the mansion... is the main mast... Gekko Moriah is at the top."As if to confirm his words—"Dong——!"A heavy, distant bell toll, as if coming from the underworld, suddenly pierced through the rain curtain and the forest, echoing over the entire giant ship, tolling one after another, striking at everyone's heart.On the balcony high above the gloomy castle."So, the clock has struck midnight..."Perona opened her small, lace-trimmed umbrella and floated lightly to the edge of the balcony.A few translucent Negative Hollows circled her happily.Her ink-black, oversized eyes peered through the rain at the deep, dark forest in the distance, a naive yet eerie smile curling at the corner of her lips,"We should also... give it our all."She lowered her head and looked down at the plaza below.There, the area was packed with "creatures" of all shapes and sizes—rhinoceros heads attached to sturdy human bodies, giant crocodile jaws embedded in samurai torsos, brown bear claws growing on soldiers' arms... Countless "zombies," crudely stitched together from animal heads and human bodies, were letting out low, excited roars.Perona spoke slowly, her voice carrying across the plaza: "Are you ready? Zombies.""Yeah! OH! Lady Perona——!!"The fanatical cheers were like a tsunami, wave after wave, almost overturning this gloomy night sky.Meanwhile, in the deepest part of the castle."Thud... thud... thud..."Heavy, sticky, and unique footsteps approached from afar. The entire castle trembled slightly, as if under an unbearable burden.Under the gaze of three terrified, short zombies, a massive figure slowly sat up from the shadows.Gekko Moriah had officially awakened from his long slumber.He extended his withered, sharp claws toward the empty air, whispering in a sharp, low voice like a demon:"This is... the land of the dead, Thriller Bark."In the darkness, only his squinted eyes and jagged mouth emitted an ominous, pinkish-purple glow, rendering the atmosphere of terror and power to the extreme."The nightmare... begins now."Just as the zombie army and the officers were ready and the terrifying feast was about to begin—"Creak..."On the ground floor of the castle, a heavy, rusted iron door was easily pushed open by a rubber arm."Hee-hee!"Luffy shook the accumulated rainwater off his Straw Hat and placed it firmly back on his head.He lifted his head, his gaze piercing directly toward the unfathomable, dark top of the castle, his face blooming with extreme excitement."Let's... go!"His voice was clear and loud, piercing through the curtain of rain."To that monster's mansion, hee-hee!"
Chapter 245 Nami vs. Ryuma"Rustle... rustle... Roar..."Countless low, dragging footsteps mingled with suppressed roars.The dark forest was surging; it was a dense army of zombies, dragging their rigid bodies as they slowly pushed forward, the scent of decay silently permeating the air.Meanwhile, inside Hogback's eerie laboratory.Nami, Usopp, and Chopper stood back-to-back, brows furrowed, cold sweat beading on their foreheads."A night raid? Hey, big guy, that's not a word you can just say lightly!"Usopp's hand pulling the slingshot strap was trembling slightly."It means a night attack, right? Are they going to ambush us? Where are they coming from?"He was as nervous as a startled rabbit, looking around constantly, and finally looked up at the ceiling abruptly."The left? Or the right? Is... is it from above?"He had just looked up— "Splat!"A black bat hanging upside down from the beam, without missing, "dropped" a blob of sticky, black, unidentified substance precisely onto Usopp's prized long nose."Aaaaaah—!!!"Every hair on Usopp's body stood on end, and he started jumping around frantically on the spot."Help! Nami! Chopper! I'm not clean anymore!"He lunged toward Nami with tears and snot streaming down his face, only to be mercilessly kicked away by her."Bang!"Usopp crashed into an old faucet by the wall, and cold water poured down instantly, soaking him from head to toe and washing away the filth on his nose."Should... should I thank you... Nami..." Usoppmuttered weakly, lying on the ground like a dehydrated salted fish.Nami had no time to pay attention to him right now.She gripped her clima-tact tightly, her angry gaze fixed on Hogback, and raised her voice:"What zombie research... let alone investigation! All these 'living dead' wandering this entire island are all your 'creations', right!""Posh Posh Posh—!"Hogback threw his head back and burst into his signature shrill laughter.Then he lowered his head, his eyes behind his glasses glinting with cold, fanatical light as he swept his gaze over Nami and Chopper."At this point, whatever you choose to suspect is your freedom."He spread his hands dramatically, his voice deliberately pitched high, carrying a tone of hypocritical grievance:"Where is the evidence? Don't talk nonsense without proof. I am... the revered surgical genius, Doctor Hogback!""Evidence?"Nami took a deep breath and pointed to the maid standing quietly to the side like a doll."Victoria Sindry! We found the report about her death!"She turned to the expressionless Sindry and said loudly,"Sindry! You died ten years ago!""You... went into that room?"Hogback's voice dropped sharply, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, and a cold killing intent permeated the air; the temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees."Eek—!" Usopp, who had just climbed up, shuddered in fright, his neck shrinking into his collar."Answer me!" Hogback demanded sternly.Nami gripped her clima-tact tightly. Chopper also entered battle mode, staring vigilantly at the opponent."It wasn't enough to peek at my laboratory... you even went into 'that room'..."Hogback turned to the side and called out in an extremely gentle tone,"Sindry-chan~"The next second, his voice suddenly turned wild and violent."And you—Samurai Ryuma!"His sharp finger pointed abruptly at the three of them:"Throw these three... into the'Shadow World' for me immediately!""As you command."Sindry responded in a flat voice, turned mechanically, and produced a stack of porcelain plates from somewhere."Clack, clack, clack..."Meanwhile, the crisp and rhythmic sound of geta sandals approached from the corridor outside the door.A lazy and unique voice sounded:"Have you seen enough of the laboratory? Yohohoho~"The door was pushed open, and Ryuma, wearing a sword at his waist and a kimono, with skin as shriveled as a mummy, walked in slowly.His gaze landed on Nami and paused for a moment:"Oh my, oh my? Looking closely, what a beautiful young lady! Beautiful!""No, no, not at all..."Nami responded with modesty almost reflexively, but the next second, the scene of the first time she met a certain skeleton musician on the sea flashed through her mind."Wait, wait... this sense of déjà vu... you're kidding, right!"Ryuma's next words completely confirmed her ominous premonition:"I easily get infatuated whenever I see a beautiful woman, even though I'm a mummy and have no eyes... Yohohoho!"He suddenly stood at attention in front of Nami and requested in an extremely respectful tone:"May I, perhaps, have a look at your panties?""Are you an idiot?"Nami retorted in an instant, furious, but her brows immediately furrowed tightly."The personality, the way of speaking... it's exactly like that guy Brook!""Posh Posh Posh!"Hogback laughed triumphantly,"He is not on the same level as those small-fry zombies you encountered before.He is a Zombie General possessing a special 'corpse'... the dragon-slaying legend from 'Wano Country'—Ryuma!""Click."Ryuma's scabbard tapped lightly on the floor.He ignored Hogback's words and just moved slowly, step by step, closing in on Nami. The silent pressure was far more heart-stopping than any roar."I don't know if the legend is true or false... but it is said that he is a samurai who once slew a dragon in the sky."Hogback's voice, introducing him like a narrator, drifted eerily from behind Nami and the others."Clang—!"A clear, dragon-like sound of a blade being drawn!Ryuma drew his sword.The blade was not bright white, but a dark, gloomy black, wrapped in strange, dark-red circular patterns. Just by looking at it, one could feel a ferocity and ominousness that had been accumulating for hundreds of years.One of the 21 O Wazamono grade swords—the famous blade Shusui!"Crap! It might be a Black Blade!"Nami's combat alertness instantly reached its peak.After possessing the ability of the "Thunder-Thunder Fruit", her perception of danger and "quality" was far beyond that of ordinary people.She waved her hand backward without hesitation and shouted sternly: "Retreat quickly! Usopp! Chopper!"Before she could finish speaking!A barely perceptible wind brushed gently past Nami's hair.The next second, Ryuma, who had been several steps away, already had Shusui casually resting on his shoulder, his back to them, appearing on the other side of the room as if he had never moved."Clack, clack, clack..."He walked in his geta sandals to Sindry, his tone as casual as if he were ordering a meal:"Could you open the 'passageway' over there for me, Sindry-chan? Also... I'm a bit hungry for a late-night snack.""Eh?" Usopp opened his eyes in confusion and hurriedly checked his body,"Phew..." He let out a long sigh of relief and wiped away cold sweat,"I... I thought I was a goner...""That scared the hell out of me!"Chopper also turned his head, still shaken, looking at Ryuma's back in terror."No..."Nami's expression, however, instantly turned extremely grave. Possessing dual abilities of "extreme speed" and "thunder", she perceived it clearly!She had been slashed.The speed of that slash was extreme, even exceeding the speed of neural reaction!If she hadn't instinctively performed "elementalization" the moment she sensed the killing intent, turning her body into lightning, she would probably be injured by now.But, Usopp and Chopper... they didn't have that ability!"You two! Run away!!"Nami shouted sternly at the still-bewildered Usoppand Chopper!"Eek!! Un-understood! We're going to find Luffy and the others right now!"The two woke up as if from a dream, turned, and ran frantically toward the laboratory door."Hehe..."Hogback's mouth spread, revealing a cruel and joyful smile, as if he were enjoying a carefully choreographed play.Just as Usopp and Chopper's hands were about to touch the doorknob—"Pfft!" "Pfft!"Both their bodies stiffened simultaneously, their eyes rolled back, and blood spilled from the corners of their mouths.Their faces still held the urgency of running and a glimmer of hope for rescue, but their bodies were already out of control, falling backward stiffly and hitting the ground with a heavy thud."What?" Nami's pupils shrank, looking at her fallen companions in disbelief,"Usopp! Chopper!""Beautiful!" Hogback laughed, his shoulders shaking violently. "Posh Posh Posh!Legend has it that those slashed by a supreme master might even hum a little tune and walk three steps before realizing they have been cut..."Ryuma held Shusui horizontally in front of him, the blade sliding slowly into the scabbard.The metal rubbed against the inner wall of the scabbard, making a faint "Swish—swish—swish—" sound, as if the Grim Reaper were slowly chewing on its prey."Humming Three-Verse..."He chanted in a low voice.When only the last ten centimeters of Shusui remained exposed, his voice suddenly became clear."Arrow Notch Slash.""Clang—!"The crisp clatter of the blade fully entering the scabbard was almost perfectly synchronized with the dull thud of Chopper and Usopp's bodies hitting the ground.A silent, yet incredibly sharp strike had concluded."Usopp! Chopper!" Nami rushed over, kneeling beside them, her fingers trembling as she reached for their carotid arteries, while faint electric arcs sparked in her palm, attempting to stimulate their hearts.Her voice trembled with extreme anger and worry, but soon, this trembling was replaced by a bone-chilling coldness.She stood up slowly, very slowly.Fine blue electric snakes began to dance on the black surface of the clima-tact.Her hair ends moved without wind, and between the strands of her long golden hair, even more dazzling lightning light was coursing.Deep within her pupils, a thunder symbol seemed to flash by."A renowned doctor, or a dragon-slaying samurai..."Nami's voice was low, yet contained the terrifying calm before a storm,"Daring to hurt my companions like this..."She raised her head, her gaze locked onto Ryuma and Hogback; the lightning around her body suddenly flared, crackling and illuminating the dim laboratory in blue and white!"You... have successfully pissed me off!!"Just as Nami's thunderous rage was about to erupt—Usopp, who was "unconscious" on the ground, quietly opened one eye, peeked at the tense atmosphere on the scene, and quickly closed it again.(Inner monologue: I'm just playing dead... is it easy for me! Nami, your aura is way too scary!)While everyone's attention was drawn to Nami, who seemed like a Thunder God descended,he even secretly moved his numb arm and, very stealthily... scratched his buttock that had been itching a little.Meanwhile, at the main building of the mansion.Luffy and his group passed through the eerie and long corridor and finally arrived in front of the mansion's thick, tall main gate.The door was carved with twisted, grotesque patterns, appearing especially eerie under the flickering light of the wall lamps."Moshi moshi—! Is anyone home—?"Luffy grabbed the cold metal door knocker on the main gate and shook it hard a few times, but the gate didn't budge. He frowned,"The door seems to be locked."The next instant—"Pfft!"A rubber fist covered in jet-black Armament Hakipierced through the thick solid wood door panel without any resistance, like a hot knife through butter.Luffy reached in, fumbled around, and with a "click" sound, unlatched the deadbolt on the inside.Then he pushed the door and entered, his movements fluid, as natural as returning to his own home."Ah! It opened, it opened!" Luffy stepped happily into the dim hall.The companions behind him were collectively silent for a second."This..." Zoro's mouth twitched uncontrollably."Should we say he's polite, or that he's just missing the brain cell called 'common sense'..." Sanji covered his forehead and shook his head helplessly."In summary, our Captain has some morals, but not many."Mark pushed the two of them forward,"Don't just stand there like idiots, hurry up and follow him inside to keep an eye on him, don't let him tear the house down... although it looks pretty dilapidated already.""Gekko Moriah—!! Get out here—!!"As soon as Luffy entered the room, he cupped his hands to his mouth and shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice echoing in the vast hall."What kind of room is this?"Franky stood with his hands on his hips, his modified nose twitching as he analyzed the particles in the air,"There are burn marks everywhere... and,"He suddenly trembled with excitement, his voice becoming sharp and high-pitched,"I really want to fix it up!!""Hey—! Is anyone there—!!" Luffy continued his "polite" calling."Swish! Swish! Swish!"Zoro suddenly swung his three swords swiftly at several oil paintings on the wall depicting terrified zombie faces.The blade light flashed, and the oil paintings, along with the wall behind them, were neatly cut into several pieces and fell down with a clatter."Zoro, what are you doing?" Mark asked in confusion."Looking for booze."Zoro replied indifferently, sheathing his sword expressionlessly."What normal person would think there's booze hidden in the wall! Marimo!" Sanji retorted immediately."Eek—!!"A faint, terrified exclamation came from behind a shield decoration on the ground."Hm?"Luffy stopped, bent down, and picked up a... specimen of a shield with a pig's head on it from the debris?"A pig... growing on a shield?"Luffy's eyes stared intently at the lifelike pig's head, and suddenly, a large amount of saliva flowed uncontrollably, dripping onto the surface of the shield.He looked up, his eyes shining as he looked at Sanji:"Hey! Sanji! Shield-roasted pig... must be super delicious!!!""Yaaaaaaaah—!!! Don't eat me!! Lord Moriah!! Save me—!!!"The "pig-head shield" instantly came to life, emitting a shrill, miserable scream, the expression on the pig's face twisting into a look of terror worthy of a world-famous painting."(Wishing all friends a happy Winter Solstice!)