Chapter 2
31st October 1521
Thriller Bark
Absalom's eyes widened in disbelief as he stepped into the throne room. The first thing that shocked him was the light in Moria's eyes. Normally, Moria's smile never reached his eyes, leaving them dull and apathetic. But now, those eyes sparkled with genuine happiness, brimming with an energy Absalom hadn't seen in years. It was as if the shadows themselves had breathed new life into the warlord.
Without thinking, Absalom found himself bowing slightly, an action so spontaneous it surprised even him. Something nobody normally did. "Captain Moria," he said, his voice carrying a hint of reverence.
Perona and Hogback, who had entered the room behind him, exchanged puzzled glances, surprised. Perona, her face pale and tense from the fear of having betrayed her captain, quickly followed suit, bowing and murmuring, "Captain Moria."
Hogback hesitated, his brows furrowing as he grumbled something under his breath. But the pressure of the moment and the behavior of his peers compelled him to bow as well, albeit reluctantly. "Captain," he muttered.
The atmosphere in the room shifted. The panic that had gripped Absalom and Hogback began to ebb away. Moria was not dead, nor was he engaged in some desperate battle. He sat on his throne, alive and seemingly stronger than ever. But the question that hung heavily in the air was unavoidable: why were the zombies dead, and what were these new, ominous shadows that seemed to pulse with dark energy?
Hogback was the first to voice their collective curiosity. "Captain Moria," he began, his tone a mix of confusion and apprehension, "the zombies... why are they dead? Well, dead… And what are these shadows?"
Moria's smile widened, revealing sharp, glistening teeth that sent a shiver down Absalom's spine. "Ah, Doctor Hogback," he said, his voice resonating with a newfound vigor. "The zombies have served their purpose. What you see before you are the fruits of their sacrifice. Shadows more powerful and loyal than any zombie could ever be."
He gestured to the dark, knightly figures standing silently around the room, their armor gleaming with an otherworldly sheen. "These are my Shadow Knights," Moria continued, his eyes gleaming with pride. "They are forged from the very essence of the shadows, stronger and more formidable than anything we've had before."
Absalom felt a chill run down his spine, but it was not from fear. It was excitement. For the first time in a long while, he felt a glimmer of hope, a sense that their captain was truly invincible. He exchanged a glance with Perona, who did not look very happy with this new development. She had made a very big mistake.
Hogback, however, still looked puzzled. "But, Captain," he pressed, "how did this happen? What have you done?"
Moria's smile took on a more sinister edge. "I have awakened my devil fruit."
Perona and Absalom exchanged confused glances. The term was foreign to them. But Hogback's reaction was immediate and intense. His eyes widened with a mix of shock and excitement.
"Awakened your devil fruit?" Hogback repeated, his voice almost trembling. "That's incredible, Captain! Do you realize the magnitude of this power? It's amazing"
Moria nodded, his malevolent grin growing wider. "Indeed, Doctor. Indeed".
Hogback's excitement took on an ominous edge as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, the lenses reflecting the light of the torches. "What does this mean for Cindry and our... little accord, Captain?"
As if summoned by his words, a maid made of shadows entered the room. She was breathtakingly beautiful, with the face of Cindry, and moved with an otherworldly grace. Her curves were pronounced, the shadows clinging to her. Her chest was full and perfectly shaped, her waist narrow, flaring out into generous hips. Her attire, crafted from the same darkness, mimicked a traditional maid uniform but with a sensual twist—delicate lace trimming and a skirt that accentuated her long, shadowy legs.
Absalom, ever the pervert, felt a nosebleed starting and quickly wiped it away, trying to maintain his composure. He sensed this was not the time for his usual antics. The shadow maid silently served them tea, her movements smooth and elegant. She placed the tray with a graceful bow before gliding back out of the room, leaving an air of dark allure in her wake.
Hogback was about to ask something, but the moment was interrupted as Absalom cleared his throat.
"Captain Moria, there's something else you need to know," he began, his voice steady. "I discovered Perona trying to flee the island with the treasure."
Perona's eyes blazed with fury as she glared at Absalom, her lips curling into a snarl. "I thought Captain was already dead!" she snapped, her voice sharp and defensive.
Moria's gaze shifted to Perona, his eyes cold and calculating. "Is that so?" he murmured, his tone devoid of emotion. "You thought me dead and decided to abandon ship?"
Perona floated in the air, her ghostly form trembling slightly as she hovered a few feet above the ground. Her long, bubblegum-pink hair cascaded down her back in voluminous waves, adorned with a small black crown perched atop her head, adding a touch of regal defiance to her appearance. Her large, round eyes, usually filled with a mischievous sparkle, were now wide with genuine fear, shimmering with unshed tears that threatened to spill over at any moment.
"Captain, I swear, it wasn't betrayal," she pleaded, her voice trembling and wavering. "I just... I panicked."
She wore a Gothic dress, a contrast of dark and frilly elegance. The bodice was tight, accentuating her slender waist, and flared out into a full, knee-length skirt adorned with intricate lace and ribbon details. Her arms were covered in long, black gloves, and her legs in thigh-high striped stockings that ended in chunky, black platform shoes. Her petite frame seemed even more delicate as she floated, her movements slow and hesitant. The soft glow of her ethereal form cast faint shadows on the walls. Her hands were clasped together, fingers nervously twisting the hem of her skirt as she spoke.
"Captain, please believe me," Perona continued, her voice cracking. "I thought you were already dead! I didn't know what else to do."
Her eyes darted nervously around the room, unable to meet Moria's intense gaze for more than a few seconds. "All the zombies collapsed... I assumed the worst. I just wanted to survive," she added, her words coming out in a rush as if trying to convince herself as much as Moria. The desperation in her voice was palpable, her fear evident in every quiver and shake of her body.
31st October 1521
Thriller Bark
Gecko Moria sighed and looked at his three human subordinates.
[Doctor Hogback]
Class: Genius Surgeon
Job: Thriller Bark Pirates' doctor
Dourikis: 13
Potential: E
Fate: C
[Lily Perona]
Class: Ghost Princess
Job: Thriller Bark Pirate
Fruit : Horo Horo no Mi
Dourikis: 1 212
Potential: B
Fate: C
[Absalom]
Class: Master of the Graveyard
Job: Thriller Bark Pirates' first mate
Fruit : Suke Suke no Mi
Dourikis: 844
Potential: C
Fate: C
Of the three, not only was Perona the most powerful, but she also had the greatest potential. Absalom, though fiercely loyal, was a different story. Moria couldn't ignore the truth: Absalom was weak. Against the pirates of Paradise, those without Observation Haki, he could ambush and surprise with his invisibility fruit. In such circumstances, he was among the top tier, capable even of defeating pirates much stronger than himself. But in the New World? He would be torn apart and killed in less than a second.
Moria's new powers… They signaled a change. He might not always remain hidden in the mists of Paradise. The landscape was shifting, and he needed strong subordinates more than ever. Especially since some of the shadows he had absorbed had devil fruits, and none of his shadow soldiers seemed to possess even a trace of their former abilities. No, he felt it intuitively: none of his shadows could retain the devil fruit powers they had in life. Why was that? He didn't know. One thing was certain: if he wanted more power, if he wanted a powerful crew as insurance—if he ever dared to entertain the thought of killing an emperor—he needed human subordinates. He needed Perona, and he couldn't just turn her into a shadow.
He turned to Perona, his eyes cold and piercing. She squirmed under his gaze, knowing that she was entirely at his mercy. The silence stretched on, heavy and oppressive, as Moria considered the years they had spent together.
"Perona…"
"Yes?" she answered hesitantly, her voice barely more than a whisper.
Moria's voice was calm but carried a sinister undertone. "You have a choice. You can either leave Thriller Bark, wander the world alone, with monsters and people more capable than you. Or you can stay with the Moria Pirates. But if you stay, you will have to take an active role, train to become stronger, and be monitored by Shadow Soldiers and Ryuma."
Perona didn't even hesitate. Of course, she'd stay. The outside world? Alone? She would just stay here, wait for Moria's anger to dissipate in a few weeks, and then return to her lazy, carefree existence.
"Of course, Moria! I mean, Captain! I'll stay"
Moria's grin widened, revealing sharp, gleaming teeth, and he began to speak, his voice a dark symphony of menace and charisma. "My dear comrades," he intoned, his voice low and crawling like a shadow creeping across the floor. "The days of hiding in the shadows are over. With this new power, we will rise again. We will conquer the seas, carve our names into history, and have our revenge. Kishishishi!" His laughter echoed through the chamber, a chilling sound that sent shivers down their spines.
"We will become stronger, much stronger than ever before. This is not just a new chapter for us, but a whole new beginning. We will train, we will fight, and we will emerge victorious. Imagine the fear in our enemies' eyes, the tremble in their voices as they speak our names! The path to becoming the Pirate King is fraught with danger, but with our new strength, nothing will stand in our way. Kishishishi!"
Moria's laughter continued, a creepy, joyful cacophony that filled the room with both dread and exhilaration. Absalom felt a renewed sense of purpose, his spirit ignited by their captain's inspiring words. This was their time, their moment to seize destiny by the throat and claim the power that was rightfully theirs!
3rd December 1521
Thriller Bark
Perona sat on one of the castle balcony, delicately sipping her tea. Behind her stood silently the constant, creepy presence of a Shadow Knight. It had been a month since the Change, and the atmosphere of Thriller Bark had transformed dramatically. She gazed down at the courtyard below her, her eyes tracing the figures moving with relentless determination. She couldn't help but be impressed.
Her eyes fell on Absalom, his torso bare and glistening with sweat. He was fighting against two Shadow Knights simultaneously, and losing badly. The knights moved with an impressive speed and precision, their strikes landing relentlessly on Absalom, who struggled to keep up.
Perona's gaze shifted, and her amazement deepened as she observed Moria himself. Since that day, he had been…training! The warlord who once spent his days lazing around had undergone a transformation. He was fit again. Every morning, he began with one thousand push-ups, one thousand sit-ups, and one thousand squats, followed by running a hundred kilometers.
And then, he trained his dual swordsmanship with Ryuma. The sight of their sparring was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Moria, towering at seven meters tall, moved with a speed and agility that seemed impossible for someone of his size. His dual blades danced through the air, clashing with Ryuma's katana in a symphony of steel. Each strike showed his strength, his now visible muscles rippling with effort. Ryuma, more skilled but less strong, met every attack with precision, his single ghostly blue eye glowing with intensity.
The fight was a mesmerizing blend of brute force and refined technique. Moria's powerful swings and Ryuma's swift, calculated movements created a spectacle that left Perona spellbound. She watched as Moria's blades arced through the air, only to be parried by Ryuma's expertly timed counters. The ground beneath them seemed to tremble with the force of their blows.
Suddenly, a shadow soldier emerged from the ground beside Moria. Both Moria and Ryuma stopped their sparring, and Perona saw a rare smile spread across Moria's face. He called out to her, his voice echoing through the courtyard.
3rd December 1521
Thriller Bark
Moria cursed in his head. He should be a lot stronger than the samurai, but Ryuma's technique was so good, his moves so precise. Every clash of their blades reminded Moria of his own limitations. Despite his size and power, the finesse and expertise of Ryuma's swordsmanship were daunting. He glanced at the quests displayed before him.
[Class Upgrade Quest]
To upgrade your Class from [Night Lord] to [Baron of Eventide]
Subquests :
1 - Have a Fate of at least B: 1/1
2 - Have a Potential of at least B: 1/1
3 - Main Quest: The Preparation To Become Powerful - Daily training for 30 days: 32/30
4 - Hidden Quest: ? - 0/1
[The Preparation To Become Powerful]
Daily Quest
Push-ups: 1 000/1 000 repetitions
Sit-ups: 1 000/1 000 repetitions
Squats: 1 000/1 000 repetitions
Running : : 100/100 kilometers
Swordsmanship sparring with Ryuma : 4/3 hours
The Daily Quest had been useful in improving his physical stat.
[Gecko Moria]
Class: Night Lord
Job: Warlord of the Seas
Fruit : Kage Kage no Mi
Dourikis: 4 000/4000 (Limit reached for A potential)
Potential: A
Fate: B
Physique: 1,658
Will: 462
Soul: 1,898
Named Shadow : 1/2
Just as he was contemplating his next move, a shadow soldier emerged from the ground. The dark figure communicated with him by sending images directly into his mind. Moria saw a boat of pirates approaching Thriller Bark. Eagerness surged through him. This was the perfect opportunity to test his new powers and the strength of his shadow army.
"Perona!" he called, his voice cutting through the air. "Absalom, stop!"
He watched as Absalom ceased his futile struggle against the Shadow Knights, panting heavily. Perona floated down from the balcony, her curiosity evident. Moria's smile widened, revealing his sharp, jagged teeth.
"A ship of pirates is approaching," Moria announced, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Prepare yourselves. We will greet our guests properly."
The shadow soldier that had delivered the message melded back into the ground, disappearing as silently as it had appeared.