Revealing of Thriller Bark's Shadowy Master
After beating up the zombies and forcing them to sit down, Luffy and the others decided to question them to see if they could give them any information about Nami and the boys who are with her.
"Alright, zombies, you better start answering any questions we have and we better like what we heard or else you'll find your remaining flesh extra crispy." Shirone threatened with a fireball in her hand.
"We promise!" The zombies nodded rapidly in fear.
"Just ask them what we want to know, Captain Luffy." Shirone advised.
"Okay." Luffy nodded and leans his head down a little for his eyes to be covered by the shadow of his hate.
"Did a man with a long nose, a woman with orange hair, a reindeer that looks like a raccoon dog, and a boy who dress up like a girl come through here?" Luffy asked.
"Oh, yeah. Right, right, right, we may have seen them, but we're not supposed to…" One zombie looked at his friends, all shaking their heads for no.
"Yeah, we can't say." One zombie with a helmet said.
"Yeah, we're all under specific orders not to share any information about stuff like that with anyone." A one-eyed zombie explained.
"Sorry about thaAAAAAAAAAHHHHH?!" The one-eyed zombie screamed in fear because Shirone made her fireball slightly bigger than her own head.
"I think you're lying." Shirone said with the lighting of her blue fireball is making her face look extra scary.
"I-I mean, yes! We've seen them!" The zombie confessed, trying to save themselves from being burned alive.
"These zombies are wimps." Zoro disappointed in these zombies that they can be scared that easily by a little girl.
"Wow." Franky surprised.
"Those guys are part of my crew. Listen up, you didn't do anything to them, did you?" Luffy asked with a stern look.
"Wait, they're part of your crew?" One zombie shocked as he pops his head off.
"No! We didn't! Right?" Another zombie with weird horn shape horns on his head.
"Are you sure you didn't take a bite out of them, including my King?" Shirone demanded with her blue flame looking a little fiercer.
This definitely got most of the zombies scared and one of them spoke on the impulse of fear.
"This guy did something." The weird horn zombie pointed at the pop-head zombie.
"Hey! Shut up! Tattle tale! And anyway, you're the one that bit 'em!" The pop-head zombie ratted him out.
"Actually, we all did." The helmet zombie confessed.
"Idiot! Shut up!" The zombies shouted at the one zombie.
"I see, now I feel like giving you some punishment." Shirone angered as she held her fireball over her head.
"Allow me to handle this." Shirone said and threw her fireball toward the crowd of zombies and the flames exploded and spread forward consuming all the zombies, burning them down.
"Hey, wait, we didn't ask where they went!" Franky shocked.
"No need, that mansion looks like the other place those guys could go after getting out of the graveyard." Shirone pointed at the mansion.
"Glad to know that they're alright, but I'm not sure about Brook." Luffy worried about the skeleton man.
"I'm sure he's fine." Sanji assured.
"Let's go find the others." Zoro said.
As they leave the graveyard, there appears to be a person within the graveyard walking past with the panicking zombies as they try to put out the fire to keep themselves from burning and are shown to be carrying a lantern.
"Oh man, how lame! Those zombies were a bunch of weaklings." Luffy mocked with a smile.
"Pounding their sorry faces in doesn't even count as a warmup!" Franky agreed.
"Still, this is no time to let your guard down. You never know when someone a lot stronger than those guys is gonna pop up." Zoro advised to be ready for anything.
"Whoa, wait. You're not getting scared, are you, buddy? Gonna cry" Sanji asked with a teasing grin.
"Up yours! I'm not scared! A swordsman is never afraid of the dark!" Zoro angered at the damn cook.
"We'll see, when I knock your lights out!" Sanji threatened.
"Come on! You wanna piece of me?" Zoro asked, feeling like ready to fight.
"At least we know you two will be the first of us to die during this big adventure." Shirone deadpanned, earning a shout "Hey!" from Zoro and Sanji.
"Wait! Stop! Hold on a minute!" A male's voice called out to them.
The crew turns around seeing what appeared to be a person running up to them and exhaling from all that running.
"I saw you fight those zombies. All of you have such unbelievable strength!" The exhausted man complimented while trying to control his breathing.
"There's something I'd like to talk to you about. Would you please listen?" The man asked, holding the lantern up to let the light reveal his face.
"Old man with serious injuries!" Luffy gasped.
"Idiot! We told you! They're zombies!" The three grown men of the Straw Hats yelled at their captain.
"No, this time, he really is an old man with serious injuries." Shirone said as she looks at the old man closely.
"Yup, both of them are right on the money." The old man nodded.
The old man is short with gray, wrinkled skin. He has a large jaw, elongated nose, a scar on the right side of his forehead over his eye, and a dark ring around the other eye. His chest has a long scar on it, and he is extremely skinny and has no muscle mass, causing him to look like a zombie. He has a worn-out green trench coat-like jacket that he wears open, tan slacks with a black belt, and a worn-out brown hat. He also wears white bandages on his chest due to previously contracted injuries.
"That's too confusing?! Can't you just be a zombie? Jeez!" The three men gasped in shock and confusion.
"Alright, what is it you wanna tell us?" Luffy asked.
"There's an evil man who must be brought down! And I think you youngsters are strong enough to do it!" The old man believed as he fell on his knees.
"He's left a trail of victims in his wake. If you defeat him, they'll all be rescued! If you'd help me get my shadow back, I'd be ever so grateful!" The old man begged.
"Your shadow?" Sanji surprised to hear this.
"Hold on, did we just find another guy who had his shadow taken away?" Franky asked.
"That's right, I don't see his shadow being casted by the light of the lantern." Shirone looked down at his hand.
"Whoa! That's just like Brook!" Luffy shocked.
"Okay, so we know the user of the shadow Devil Fruit has been taking other people's shadows left and right." Shirone said.
"So, is the guy here on this island?" Zoro asked.
The old man went silence for a moment as he tries to speak the man of the terrifying man who stole his shadow and clutches his hands onto the ground until he finally spoke.
"Mor… Moria." The old man said the name.
Robin gasp upon hearing that name.
"His name is Moria, and he's terrifying." The old man revealed the name of the name again.
"Moria? You don't mean… Gecko Moria, by any chance?" Robin asked, wanting to be sure that is the same name.
"That's right. Yes, that's him." The old man confirmed.
"Robin, do you know this guy?" Luffy asked.
"Yes, but only by name. And if I remember him correctly, his former bounty was even higher than yours, Luffy." Robin answered, looking a bit scared.
"Wait, "Former"? So that means—" Sanji started to see where this is going.
"Yes, Gecko Moria is one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea." Robin revealed the man is a Warlord, making him just like Crocodile when Luffy fought him back in Alabasta.
"Are you really sure?" Luffy asked shock as the others are.
"Yeah, I heard of him too. Not much is known about Gecko Moria's past, but he has been known to be a powerful man with an army that is rumored to be invincible and unnatural, but I think the zombies might also be his doing though I'm not sure how." Shirone mentioned.
"So, this dump of an island is like his main stronghold?" Franky asked.
"I'm not sure exactly. What I can tell you is that he's left behind many victims, most of which are wandering around lost in this very forest." The old man said.
"Just how many is "many"?" Zoro asked.
"Who knows? The fact that you were all invited here as well means that Moria is out to get you too! No doubt about it." The old man alerted the Straw Hat pirates.
"Invite? We weren't—" Zoro stopped himself and remembered that barrel the crew found at sea and then the ghost that appeared on the Sunny earlier. "I see." Zoro started to understand this now.
And the injured old man started to cry hard with tears coming down from his eyes.
"We hide in this dark forest, scared of the zombies and all the other creatures here. We can't head out to see because we'll be exposed to the sun!" The old man pointed out the saddens of the victims.
"With this body weakened the way it is, it's hard to find the will to keep on living." The old man stated his own weakness.
"Once… Just once before I die, I want to walk under the sun! To feel its warmth on my skin! Just one more time!" The old man begged and caused the lantern to spin around.
All the Straw Hat crew became silent for a moment upon hearing the old man's story and how Moria is the one causing so much suffering that is even worse than death, then Luffy finally stop the lantern which got the old man's attention.
And Franky started to snot crying.
"That's awful! How touching! You've been through so much! Such a gut-wrenching story! But I'm not crying! Jerk! You won't make me cry!" Franky proclaimed and crying really badly.
"Oh, come on, you big crybaby. You're way too compassionate about this kind of stuff." Zoro stated.
"Enough of this." Sanji said and pointed his fingers at the old man.
"Hey, creepy grandpa! Only ladies get to persuade people with their tears! Show a little backbone, will ya!" Sanji scolded, and immediately got punched in the stomach by Shirone then fall on his knees.
"You should be ashamed of yourself. Whether it's a male or female, it doesn't matter who shred some tears because as long as those tears are real then you can't help yourself but want to help those in need." Shirone stated strongly.
"Very good speech." Robin complimented.
"Thanks, it was Gasper's mother who taught us those very words." Shirone explained.
"Did she also teach you to punch an asshole in the stomach because I'm game." Zoro smirked.
"Anyway, we were already on board with getting a friend's shadow back." Shirone said to the old man.
"That's right. If he's coming after us, then that just makes things easier. I'm gonna kick his ass, and if that saves you while we're at it, it's fine by me. Okay!" Luffy showed his smile that seem to have put the old man at ease.
"Oh! That's very kind of you! Thank you! Thank you! You've given me new hope!" The old man gasped of a newfound hope within him.
"We can't thank you enough!" One victim hiding behind a broken wall thanked.
"We're counting on you!" Another victim hiding behind a tree thanked.
"Yeah! Tear Moria a new one!" More victims begged.
"So, the other victims were here all along. I thought I sense some more presence." Shirone looked around, using her Haki to sense the people.
"Hey, it's not polite to eavesdrop!" Sani scolded.
"Oh! Sorry about that, Mister Freaky Curly Eyebrows Guy!"
"That's a crappy way to apologize!" Sanji angered.
Shirone can already tell that this is bigger than she thought as this Moria guy seems to have a big idea with capturing these people and taking their shadows for his army. Whatever Moria is up to, she knows her King, Gasper isn't going to let this slide as this is more than just Brook's shadow, he promised to help get it back.
(Hogback's Mansion, Laboratory)
"Everyone, get behind me!" Xenovia shouted as she readied herself with her sword.
The bodyguard zombie charges at the group and swings his sword that she manages to block, but she could only withstand this zombie's strength for over ten seconds until she was thrown back along with the others as they crash right through the door.
"Oh! What the Hell!" Hogback gasped of the noise.
"Is everybody okay?" Gasper asked, groaning in pain.
"You four! Why are you here—And oh no, is that troublemaking woman!" Hogback shocked of seeing his "guests" and Xenovia here in his lab.
"That guy… Well, I could have sworn it was Brook back there!" Nami said.
"Yeah, I know, but he wasn't a skeleton. He had skin, like a mummy!" Chopper pointed out the difference.
"Trust me, this is more than acting like your friend." Xenovia said.
"Wait, did you say your friend is a skeleton?" Xenovia asked, surprise of this being a talking skeleton.
"Hey! Listen to me when I'm talking to you!" Hogback yelled, hated being annoyed like this.
But suddenly Xenovia is holding her sword right up to Hogback's nose causing the man to jump in fear and felt chills from the glare of the young man.
"I see you're still up to your evil tricks, Dr. Hogback." Xenovia said.
"Xenovia, my dear. So, you're still alive and it's a surprise you avoid getting your shadow taken. Very admirable." Hogback complimented as he backs away a few feet.
"Words will not save you of the punishment I'm about to inflict upon you!" Xenovia glared harder.
"Oh, I'm sure you want to do that. But you might get to do that when the Night Hunt begins in a few short minutes." Hogback looked at the clock.
"The Night Hunt?" Gasper confused.
"I'm afraid it's something not good." Xenovia said.
"Woe onto those foolish enough to wander this island after dark. No intruder shall survive the Night Hunt!" Hogback declared with an evil smirk.
"Not unless I cut off your head!" Xenovia threatened.
"Wait, Xenovia! What about the swordsman zombie who knocked us in here?" Gasper asked pointing at the broken door.
"Damn it, that is also a big problem." Xenovia cursed.
(Graveyard)
Strong sounds of footsteps are making its way toward the graveyard, and those footsteps are none other than the invisible man Absalom who has just arrived at the graveyard seeing the zombies are panting hard and laying on the ground exhausted like normal people being forced to run a full-day marathon.
"You can't properly start the Night Hunt if you guys are just going to look so damn pathetic like that, can you?" Absalom asked sarcastically.
"Huh, who said that?" One zombie asked.
"I did, not get up!" Absalom ordered and kicked the zombie who groans in pain.
"What are you doing? You can't be hurt! There's no pain! It's all in your imagination! You guys are all dead, get it?" Absalom reminded these idiots.
"Oh yeah, sorry about that." The zombie apologized.
"Sorry, we got hit by fire and it really scared us." One zombie with a long neck informed.
"That explains the burn marks." Absalom noticed that now.
"But now it's not the time to worry about fire! Rise, Zombie Soldiers!" Absalom ordered and all the zombies started standing back up already forgetting about the pain and the fire.
"No matter how many times you fall, you get back up and attack again! That's what makes a zombie so terrifying!" Absalom reminded them of their unique strength.
"Yeah, we know…" The zombies sighed causing Absalom to gasp of that reaction.
"Don't be like that! Stop lacking off!" Absalom yelled.
"Get a grip on yourselves, zombies! Now which one of you wants to tell me who I am?" Absalom asked.
"I know! The Leader!" One zombie said.
"Our glorious Leader! Absalom!" The taller zombie said.
Then all the zombies started chanting "Leader" to Absalom making him feel absolute with these zombies under his arms, being leader of such an undead army makes him feel glad that he let out a roar and his body slowly becomes visible for all to see.
"Who likes to peek at girls!" The zombies said which causes Absalom to flinch.
"Leader! Pervert! Pervert! Pervert!"
"Shut up!" Absalom shouted in rage.
KO a new chapter is done and hope you all enjoy it!
The night is becoming even darker than it already is as the clock is ticking all the way to midnight for the evil event known as the Night Hunt to begin, and it looks like this is a hunt that our heroes may not be able to get themselves out of.
KO comment, favorite, and follow through of how this story will go!
