Chapter 1
31st October 1521
(Luffy's departure from Foosha Village is at the beginning of February 1522 in canon)
Thriller Bark
The room was eerily still. Tall, narrow windows lined the walls, allowing slivers of moonlight to cast elongated shadows. Flickering torches mounted on wrought iron sconces provided a dim, wavering light that barely reached the dark corners of the room. Gecko Moria sat on his throne, his eyes fixed intently on the screen floating in the air before him.
[System finalization]
You used [Shadow Absorption] on 423 shadows
You used [Shadow Raising] on 645 shadows
Moria felt a surge of energy coursing through him, both physical and mental, a sensation he hadn't experienced in over a decade. Normally, he was apathetic and devoid of will, but now, while he hadn't yet regained the full strength of his former self, he felt... invigorated. A newfound sense of purpose pulsed through his veins.
[Gecko Moria]
Class: Night Lord
Job: Warlord of the Seas
Fruit : Kage Kage no Mi
Dourikis: 3,818
Potential: A
Fate: B
Physique: 1,458
Will: 462
Soul: 1,898
Named Shadow : 1/2
The numbers and classifications on the screen were starting to make sense, though they still weren't entirely intuitive. Physique was straightforward, and Will likely related to haki. But Soul… His Devil Fruit powers felt stronger, and he suspected Soul had something to do with that. He had absorbed a little more than a third of the souls, and it had already made him immensely stronger. These souls were mostly from Paradise pirates, and he realized just how much more he could grow. What if he could collect souls from pirates in the New World? The thought filled him with excitement. With his newfound strength, he was about to begin imagining a future where he was much stronger—perhaps even stronger than Kaido. He saw himself standing before Kaido's corpse and… He quickly reined in his thoughts, wary of projecting too far ahead. Fear still lingered, haunting him with memories of past failures. He shook his head. For now, he needed to focus on the present, taking one step at a time.
To the right of his throne laid three corpses, void of their shadows, three of his former zombies. The link he once felt with them was severed, having reclaimed all of their souls. He hoped none of his lieutenants would panic at the sudden collapsing of every of his zombies.
Gecko Moria looked ahead. A predatory grin spread across Moria's face as he watched his new subordinates, stretching unnaturally wide to reveal rows of sharp, jagged teeth. His lips curled back in a way that seemed to defy the limits of human anatomy, the corners of his mouth nearly touching his ears. His eyes, set deep in their sockets, reflected the dim torchlight in a way that made them seem to burn with an inner fire.
Before him stood the sight that made him smile : about three dozen Shadow Knights. Clad in pitch-black armor that devoured all light, they appeared to be forged from the very essence of shadows. Each knight's armor was a masterpiece, adorned with jagged edges and menacing spikes. Their eyes glowed with a ghostly blue or purple light, stark against their shadowy forms, casting an unholy aura that made. They stood immobile, silent, and waiting for their orders.
[Shadow Knight]
Class: Warrior
Dourikis: 798
Merge shadows to enhance
[Shadow Knight]
Class: Warrior
Dourikis: 854
Merge shadows to enhance
[Shadow Knight]
Class: Warrior
Dourikis: 789
Merge shadows to enhance
He had combined the shadows of approximately three hundred pirates. Though he lacked precise measurements, he estimated that the shadows he used ranged from those of weaker pirates with Dourikis around two hundred, to the more formidable shadows of his stronger general zombies, which likely ranged from one thousand to one thousand five hundred Dourikis, for the daughter of Big Mom. Based on the combination of these shadows, he deduced that the average level of a Shadow Knight fell between seven hundred and nine hundred Dourikis. He lost a lot in the process, but...Moria focused, summoning them back into his own shadow.
Instantly, they disappeared, merging seamlessly within his own shadow. Then, with a deliberate gesture, he called them forth again. The Shadow Knights re-emerged from his shadow, forming perfect lines in front of him, waiting silently for his command. Unsheathing one of his two blades, Moria approached one of his soldiers. Without hesitation, he swung the sword and severed the knight's arm. He felt a small but sharp pang in his Soul. Before his eyes, the knight's arm began to regenerate, shadows swirling and solidifying into a new limb. His Soul stat should directly correlate with their ability to regenerate. The stronger his Soul, the faster and more efficiently his Shadow Knights could recover from injuries.
The realization filled him with a sense of satisfaction. With such power at his disposal, he knew he was on the path to becoming truly formidable once again. They were weak, yes, but only for the moment. If he had more shadows…
He looked at his masterpiece. The Shadow Warrior that was not like the others. The one that took more than three hundred of the souls he raised. The one made from the weak, very small sliver of soul that resided not in the shadows but in the corpse of one of his stronger shadow generals.
His black hair, now darker than ever, was tied back in a traditional topknot, and he wore a simple but elegant samurai gi formed from swirling shadows. He was dressed in the traditional attire of a samurai, complete with a blue stomach band featuring a swirling pattern, and his feet were clad in geta, the wooden sandals that added to his formidable presence. The eerie glow of his single, ghostly blue eye attracted attention, the other concealed beneath a scar that ran across his left eye. The Shusui, his legendary sword, was strapped to his right hip, its outline glowing faintly with an ethereal light, hinting at the deadly power it held. Even in undeath, he had not abandoned his sword.
[Ryuma]
Class: Named Shadow
Job : Samurai
Dourikis: 1 765
Rank : SS
Merge shadows to enhance
Then, the samurai glanced behind him and, without a word, left the room, his geta cracking sharply against the stone floor as he began to run. Moria was surprised but not worried. He could feel the perfect obedience of his shadows. No... Why did Ryuma leave? Did he feel something? Could he... Could he still have some small measure of Observation Haki? Moria cackled at the thought. It would be incredible.
31st October 1521
Thriller Bark
Perona was filled with anxiety. All her zombie servants had suddenly collapsed on the floor, their shadows escaping through the keyhole or under the door. She would have thrown a tantrum—all her toys were gone!—were it not for the gravity of the situation. The girl may have been immature, but she was far from stupid. She knew that shadows only left zombies when one of two things happened. Either Moria had used his ultimate technique and summoned all the shadows to consume them, or... or the shadows had naturally freed themselves from the zombies. Which meant... either Moria was fighting a formidable opponent—one strong enough to require his ultimate technique—or... he was already dead.
So Perona found herself floating down the corridor of Thriller Bark Palace, surrounded by ghosts... and certainly not heading for the throne room where Moria resided. As if she wanted to face the person who was either on the same level as her captain... or had already killed him. She glided along the cold, gray corridors with their empty paintings, determined to get out of this quagmire, to get to one of the evacuation boats and escape. Moria was her captain, of course, almost like a father or big brother to her, taking her in… but she had been following him for comfort's sake. There was no way she was going to risk her life!
Perona decided to make a quick detour towards the treasure room. If she was going to leave, she might as well take some money for her journey. Her ghostly form slipped through walls and doors with ease, her eyes sharp and focused. Reaching the treasure room, she quickly grabbed as many valuables as she could carry. With her loot secured, she resumed her path towards the evacuation boats.
She turned into one of the last corridors before the exit and came face to face with that pervert, Absalom. He looked unusually serious. Damn it! He'd probably deduced the same thing she had from the fact that shadows left their bonds of flesh... and knew that she was running away, from the direction she was going. Unlike her or Hogback—who was only there for the resources Moria gave him, the possibility to do abominable experiments, and the chance to interact with the shadow of his late Victoria Cindry—Absalom was Moria's loyal first mate.
She saw him bare his teeth, and—when he opened his mouth to speak—she didn't hesitate to act. Two ghosts rushed at him, sending him into a strong bout of depression. Despite her dislike for the artificial Beastman, she knew that his will was strong and that he wouldn't be crippled by her ability for long. Changing her path to avoid Absalom, she fled and... stopped dead in her tracks. A mysterious figure stood before her.
Made of pure, strangely shimmering shadows that were hard to distinguish from the rest, so fluid were its contours, a silhouette blocked her path. Clad in the tattered remnants of a samurai's garb, it bore the unmistakable outline of a katana strapped to its side. Crimson orbs glowed like embers in place of its eyes.
She gulped as she recognized, in a strange, creepy, shadowy-but-solid form, Ryuma, the strongest of the zombie generals. She had no time! With a wave of her hand, a ghost lunged at the figure... and was sliced—sliced! A ghost, sliced—cleanly—by the shadow's katana. She gulped in fear. Behind her, she heard Absalom running, coming to her level—and stopping dead in his tracks as he, too, recognized the form before him.
"What's... what's..."
As if Ryuma was no longer capable of speech—which wasn't so strange for a shadow, as he no longer had vocal cords—the samurai gestured with his hand as if to indicate that they should follow him, and he began to walk towards the throne room. Perona, caught between the super-creepy shadow and Absalom, who, even if he didn't understand what was going on, had deduced that the shadow was probably acting on Moria's orders, had no choice but to follow into the dark corridors of the gothic castle.
31st October 1521
Thriller Bark
Moria turned back his attention to his new servants. Beside the knights were a dozen maids, butlers, and workers, their figures entirely sculpted from shifting shadows. The maids had voluptuous forms, their curves accentuated by the fluidity of the shadows that composed them. Their attire, crafted from the same darkness, mimicked traditional maid uniforms with flowing skirts and delicate aprons. The shadows seemed to cling to their bodies, moving with an almost hypnotic grace. The butlers exuded a sense of refined elegance and professionalism. Their sharp, tailored shadow uniforms emphasized their strong, chiseled figures. The workers, clad in dark work overalls were big and muscular. Their shadowy uniforms, rugged and practical, highlighted their robust frames.
[Shadow Butler]
Class: Attendant
Dourikis: 44
Merge shadows to enhance
[Shadow Builder]
Class: Worker
Dourikis: 22
Merge shadows to enhance
[Shadow Maid]
Class: Attendant
Dourikis: 35
Merge shadows to enhance
Elite attendant available
Elite attendant…available?
As soon as he thought that, a table appeared in front of him.
Melee Distance Support
Knight Archers Mage
Assassin-[Locked] Snipers-[Locked] Healers-[Locked]
Servant Workers Seamen
Attendant Builders Sailors
Estate manager Engineers-[Locked] Quartermasters-[Locked]
Estate manager unlocked by absorbing Victoria Cindry
Moria tried to merge the shadows of two of his attendants. From the darkness, a new shadow maid emerged, distinct and unlike any of the others. Her form was crafted from the deepest shadows, yet remarkably detailed. She wore glasses, the frames a subtle contrast against her ghostly and ethereal visage. Her curves were pronounced, the shadows clinging to her voluptuous form in a way that highlighted every contour. Her chest was full and perfectly shaped. Her waist was narrow, flaring out into generous hips. Despite her seductive figure, her demeanor was stern and commanding. Her eyes, behind those shadowy glasses, were sharp and focused, exuding an air of authority and discipline. She stood tall and poised, her posture perfect, radiating a sense of control and confidence that set her apart from the other shadow attendants.
[Shadow Head Maid]
Class: Estate Manager
Dourikis: 75
Merge shadows to enhance
But Moria was less interested in her than in what her existence meant. Examining the floating table, he saw that he could also raise Mages, Archers, and Sailors. Intrigued, he felt an urge to experiment further, but he had exhausted his supply of available shadows. As he glanced back at the table, something new caught his eye: he could also raise other Elite Shadows like assassins, though not yet. The option for Head Maid had appeared only after absorbing Cindy. Did this mean he needed to absorb the shadows of a great assassin to unlock that option? Moria pondered this. He would need to experiment later, testing his theories and pushing the boundaries of his new abilities even further.
"Shadow attendants," Moria's voice resonated through the mental link, clear and imperious, "begin cleaning the castle. Every corner must be immaculate. Some of you, prepare a meal that befits our stature. The workers will handle the repairs."
The shadows bowed in unison, their forms flickering before they dispersed to carry out his orders.
Turning his attention to the knights assembled before him, Moria's gaze was piercing. "Knights, heed my command," he intoned, his voice a low growl. "Half of you will patrol Thriller Bark. With the zombies gone, we are vulnerable. Keep your eyes sharp and your swords ready."
The chosen knights nodded, their armor rustling as they departed to their assigned posts.
Moria continued, his voice unwavering, "Of those who remain, half will guard the castle and its gates. The rest of you will stay here, by my side."
Satisfied, Moria allowed himself a moment of contemplation. The castle's defenses were secure, but a nagging thought pulled at him. He remembered the awakening rewards: a [Blessed Box] and a [Cursed Box].
As he pondered, the boxes materialized on his lap, seemingly from thin air. "Uh? Where did they come from?" he muttered, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. Another mystery to solve in due time. He examined the boxes. The Blessed Box was a serene blue, radiating a soothing energy, while the Cursed Box was a foreboding red, pulsating with an ominous glow. He read their descriptions: the Blessed Box offered something he wanted, the Cursed Box something he needed. The question lingered—why was it called cursed?
[Blessed Box]
It contains something you want. Be careful, for even blessings can carry hidden costs.
[Cursed Box]
It contains something you need, though you may not want it.
Ignoring the unease, he opened the Blessed Box first. His desire was clear: more shadows, stronger and more powerful. As the lid lifted, the box vanished, leaving behind a small piece of paper. Disappointment washed over him as he unfolded it and read the coordinates:
Coordinates: West Blue, Shadowmire Island, Duskport City, Latitude 18.1234, Longitude -73.5678
Date: 4th January 1522, 23:31
He slipped the paper into his pocket, resolving to investigate later. Next, he turned to the Cursed Box, hoping for a more immediate boon, or something better than a piece of paper. It glowed a menacing red as he opened it, only to reveal another piece of paper. Frustration surged within him as he read:
Coordinates: East Blue, Yotsuba Island, Shells Town, Latitude 32.7890, Longitude -64.2345
Date: 3rd of February 1522, 12:45. Wait three days. Set sail. Syrup. Orange. Two days pause. Baratie. Conomi.
Just as he was about to curse his luck, he heard footsteps approaching. He tucked the paper into his pocket.
31st October 1521
Thriller Bark
Perona and Absalom followed the shadow of Ryuma through the park of the castle. It loomed ahead, a gothic masterpiece. Tall, spindly towers reached into the sky, their peaks lost in the swirling mists. Dark stone walls were adorned with grotesque gargoyles, their stony eyes seeming to watch their every move. As they approached the main door of the castle, Perona's heart raced. The massive wooden doors, reinforced with iron bands and decorated with intricate carvings, were flanked by two imposing shadow knights. Their armor glistened with an otherworldly sheen, and their crimson eyes glowed with a menacing light. Perona gulped, feeling a rare sense of intimidation. Even Absalom, usually so sure of himself, appeared wary.
Before they could speak, a familiar, panicked voice called out behind them. Hogback, the corpulent doctor, came running up the path, his face slick with sweat. He wheezed as he reached them, his eyes wide with fear. "What is happening?" he panted. "All the zombies collapsed, and I saw strange shadows everywhere!"
Absalom shook his head, his expression grim. "We don't know," he replied. "We're following Ryuma. Moria's orders." He had a moment of hesitation, before adding : "Well, I think."
The shadow samurai led the way through the grand entrance. The three lieutenants entered the castle, passing through the towering doors that seemed to swing open on their own. Inside, shadow maids were busy cleaning every inch of the castle, their movements silent and efficient. They walked through the hallways. The castle was a maze of dark corridors and high-vaulted ceilings, each corner more ominous than the last. Finally, they arrived at the throne room, its massive doors guarded by another pair of shadow knights.
As the doors pivoted open, the throne room was revealed. The room was vast, with high ceilings adorned with dark chandeliers that cast a ghostly light over the space. Tall windows, draped with heavy, dark cardinal red curtains, lined the walls, and an ornate carpet led to the raised dais where Moria's throne stood.
Moria loomed upon his throne, an imposing silhouette cast in eldritch shadows. His smile, a grotesque contortion of joy and dread, stretched unnaturally across his visage, revealing rows of sharp, glistening teeth.
"Welcome, my friends" Moria intoned, his voice echoing through the chamber. "I see you've all noticed the changes. Good. We have much to discuss."
Author Note :
Hey everyone!
I'm thrilled to announce the launch of my exclusive Patre on page, created following demands on this forum and other (notably QQ) to offer early access and exclusive content for "Solo Pirating" and more.
Here's what you can look forward to:
Crew Member :
Join as a Crew Member and enjoy:
- All chapters already published on QQ (right now, chapters 37 to 46)
- Early access to 5 chapters of "Solo Pirating" before they're published on QQ. (right now, 46 to 51, but it will progress with time)
- Exclusive character pictures, both SFW and NSFW.
First Mate :
Step up to First Mate and unlock:
- All chapters already published on QQ (right now, chapters 37 to 46)
- Early access to 10 chapters of "Solo Pirating" ahead of QQ.
- Exclusive SFW and NSFW character pictures.
- Access to additional exclusive NSFW content.
Captain :
For the ultimate insider experience, become a Captain and receive:
- All chapters already published on QQ (right now, chapters 37 to 46)
- Early access to 15 chapters of "Solo Pirating" before anyone else on QQ.
- Exclusive access to SFW and NSFW character pictures.
- Special access to additional NSFW content.
- The power to choose which characters appear in the pictures.
- The ability to decide which character will be the focus of the exclusive NSFW content.
Important Note: Since I'm cross-posting the story on FFnet and have only published up to chapter 36 there, I need to get FFnet up to speed. This will take about ten days if I post one chapter a day. After that, I'll continue posting on QQ. Don't worry if you can't join —the chapters will still be posted on QQ, and ffnet, just (a lot) later. If you have any question, feel free to ask!
Currently, the first 5 chapters, covering the "Impel Down Arc", are already available on . Throughout the day, chapters up to 61 will be posted.
Looking ahead, supporters will also get early access to chapters of my other stories, including "It's Me, Dio!" and "I'm Albus Fucking Dumbledore" in the future.
I'm excited to share this journey with you and can't wait to see you aboard! Check out the page for more details and join the crew!
Link (take out the space): Patreo n. com (slash) LaChenille
Fair winds !