Chapter 24

24th of February 1522
Thriller Bark

Vivi had been confined within the luxurious room for five interminable days. Initially, panic had gripped her heart, squeezing tighter with each passing hour. Now, fear lingered but it had dulled into a heavy, oppressive boredom that pressed down on her with equal weight.

Her only distraction came twice a day when the shadow maid arrived. These visits, mechanical in their regularity, were the sole interruptions in an otherwise unbroken monotony. The maid would bring trays of sumptuous food, fruits glistening with morning dew, delicacies she once might have savored when she was still in the palace. Then, the maid would wash her, a task that seemed more ritualistic than hygienic, it reminded her of her life as a Princess, where she had attendants to cater to her every need. But the shadow maid's touch was cold, impersonal, devoid of any comfort.

Dressing herself was a minor ordeal, a task she was unaccustomed to. The babydoll, delicate and almost transparent, was her only garment, washed daily by the silent maid. Vivi slipped it on with growing ease, its familiar fabric a small comfort in the strange surroundings. Brushing her hair, she found, became a meditative act, the rhythmic strokes offering a brief respite from her thoughts.

Facing the mirror one afternoon, she stared at her reflection. The room around her, bathed in the rich hues of crimson and gold, seemed to accentuate her own ethereal appearance. Her long blue hair, usually vibrant, appeared muted, as if drained of its usual vitality. She ran the brush through it, watching the waves fall softly around her shoulders. The act of brushing soothed her, the monotony a small anchor in the sea of uncertainty. She did not notice, as she had not the previous days, the subtle strangeness of her reflection. Her hair, almost imperceptibly, seemed tinged with white. Her reflection's eyes, a deep red, watched her with an intensity that should have been unnerving, but Vivi, lost in her thoughts, did not see. She sighed, setting the brush down. Her mind wandered to the outside world, to her mission, to the country she had been torn from. What was happening beyond these walls? The silence, the waiting, gnawed at her.

24th of February 1522
Thriller Bark

Isabella stared through the one-way mirror, her eyes fixed on the blue-haired girl brushing her hair. The girl's movements were slow, deliberate. Her hair was already perfect; she did it routinely to alleviate her boredom. Isabella's red eyes gleamed with curiosity. Why had Moria tasked her with hypnotizing this seemingly insignificant agent from Baroque Works? Why the need for such subtlety? He had simply killed Mister 9 and absorbed his shadow.

Unwillingly, her mind flickered back to her humiliating defeat at the hands of the Straw-Man rookie. That encounter had bruised more than just her pride; it had shattered her confidence and shaken her position in Moria's crew. The fear of becoming irrelevant gnawed at her, keeping her awake at night. She needed to prove herself to Moria, to show that she was indispensable. One of her Devil Fruit powers, a form of mind-altering seductive hypnosis, was her greatest asset. Though she did not fully understand its depths, she discovered new ways to wield it with every passing day. It was the perfect tool to reclaim her standing and demonstrate her worth to Moria.

She walked through the corridors of Thriller Bark, the echo of her footsteps the only sound accompanying her thoughts. As she turned a corner, she found herself face-to-face with Selena.

"Hey, Isabella," Selena said, her voice rough and mocking. "Still licking your wounds from that rookie brat? Or are you busy playing mind games with weaklings?"

Isabella's scowl was immediate and venomous. "And what would you know about importance, Selena? You're nothing more than a blunt instrument. I, on the other hand, have been entrusted with critical tasks, like ensuring people from Water Seven or the Blues give contradictory testimony. I'm useful in guiding the Marines away from our Boss. You? You're only good at fighting - and he already has his Shadows for that."

Selena snorted, her smile widening into a sneer. "You think your fancy talk and little spells are more valuable than real strength? Moria needs fighters, not just a pretty face who whispers in people's ears."

Isabella's fingers twitched. She wanted to attack Selena, to end her barbs, but she knew better. Such a move would only confirm her rival's taunts of weakness.

"Believe what you want, brute," Isabella snapped. "But remember, it is I who bends wills and turns enemies into allies. Your crude strength could never achieve that."

Selena's eyes narrowed, but before she could retort, a shadow appeared behind them. A summon from Moria, destined for Selena. The Wolf-Girl straightened, a triumphant smirk spreading across her face.

"Master calls," she said, her voice almost sing-song. "Try not to screw up again, Isabella."

Selena strutted through the labyrinthine corridors of Thriller Bark, her every step echoing against the ancient stone. Her heart soared—she had been called, and Isabella hadn't!

The massive doors to the throne room creaked open, revealing Moria in his towering, seven-meter-tall form. He sat regally, his eyes gleaming like twin embers in the dim light, his grin a sharp, gleaming arc.

"Selena…"

She approached, stopping before the throne. "I seek a champion," Moria declared. "Someone whose strength surpasses three thousands dourikis. You are currently the strongest, with over two thousands dourikis."

Pride surged within Selena. Her hard-won power had not gone unnoticed.

"You must train harder, grow even stronger," Moria said, extending a massive finger and gently scratching behind her ear. She leaned into his touch, a purr escaping her lips as she instinctively tilted her head, baring her neck. A shiver of pleasure coursed through her, her tail swishing with contentment.

Moria's eyes bore into hers, his voice softening, "Can I trust you, Selena? I need you to get stronger"

She met his gaze without hesitation, her eyes gleaming with fierce loyalty. "With my life, Master. I will not disappoint you." She pressed her head against his hand, a low, satisfied growl rumbling from her throat, her animalistic instincts fully embracing the moment.

But the door creaked open, shattering the intimate moment. Irritation flared in Selena's chest, her hackles rising instinctively. Who dared to interrupt her precious time with the Master? An unfamiliar scent filled the room. It was the new girl, Nami. The one who felt wrong. Her orange hair cascaded in loose waves, framing a face painted with exaggerated, garish red lips. Her outfit was an audacious mockery of a witch's attire, almost parodically erotic: a skimpy black corset dress that barely contained her ample curves, with a scandalously high slit revealing long, fishnet-clad legs ending in towering stiletto heels. A miniature witch's hat perched jauntily on her head. Was she mocking them? Mocking Moria?

Nami sauntered into the room, her voice a high-pitched, manic giggle. "Heehee, look who's here! It's me, Nami!" She twirled a lock of hair around her finger. Selena's heart pounded with a mix of fury and disbelief. How could this garish interloper dare to intrude upon her sacred moment with Moria?

Moria greeted her. "Nami," he greeted, a smile curling his lips. "Have you finished exploring the possibilities of your devil fruit?"

Nami's grin widened into a creepy smile that sent chills down Selena's spine. "Oh yes, Mor-Mor. It's a perfect match for me. More than perfect," she practically purred.

Moria laughed, his voice echoing through the chamber.

"Kishishishishi!"

Nami leaned closer to Moria, her voice dripping with malicious glee. "You don't need Selena, Master. In just a few weeks, I'll surpass three thousand Dourikis. I'll be your champion."

Selena's vision blurred with rage. Her claws extended, fangs bared in a snarl. Every fiber of her being screamed to leap at Nami, to wrap her hands around that slender neck and silence her forever. How dare she speak so insolently in front of Moria? But she held back, her body trembling with restraint. Attacking now would only show Moria that she felt threatened, insecure. No, she would prove herself the better way. She would surpass three thousand Dourikis faster than this insolent newcomer. She was not weak. She was Moria's chosen.

Turning back to Moria, Selena dropped to one knee, her voice a fierce growl of determination. "I swear to you, Master, I will not disappoint you. I will be your champion."

Moria's smile broadened. "I know you won't, Selena. I hope you won't."

Rising to her feet, Selena locked eyes with Nami. This clownish upstart with a new Devil Fruit would not take her place.

25th of February 1522
Thriller Bark

Moria strolled through the rose gardens of Thriller Bark, his seven-meter form casting elongated shadows over the cobblestone path. Behind him trailed Isabella, Bege, and Absalom, his three subordinates most adept in political machinations and logistical organization. He had not started speaking yet, and they were waiting for him to break the silence. As he walked, Moria paused to hum at a rose. Its petals were a deep, pulsating black with veins of iridescent purple. It exuded a dangerously sweet fragrance, a blend of jasmine and the metallic tang of blood.

Moria was thinking about his newest skill, Shadow Implantation. The power to hide Shadow Soldiers within the shadows of others had already proven invaluable. It was a game-changer. Without a word, two assassin Shadow Soldiers slipped discreetly into the shadows of Isabella and Bege. Though loyal - for the moment, both were guided by self-interest. Now, with his silent sentinels embedded within their shadows, Moria could monitor their every move, and ambush them in their sleep should they ever need to be eliminated. Soon, he would do the same for every member of his crew and key figures like Vivi or Igaram. This newfound surveillance came at a cost, however, significantly increasing his consumption of shadows. He needed more shadows.

"Absalom," Moria commanded, "Prepare Thriller Bark for movement. We are leaving the Florian Triangle. We're going up Paradise."

Absalom nodded, quickly setting off to relay the command. With Selena and Absalom training under Lucci to become stronger, Moria no longer had ships patrolling the seas for pirate prey and shadows. Zoro? No, according to Ryuma, the swordsman was not ready yet.

"Bege," Moria continued, his gaze locking onto the mafioso, "prepare two vessels. Dark, discreet but bearing my colors and flag. I'll outfit them with twenty Shadow Knights, five Archers, three Snipers, three Mages, a handful of hidden Assassins, and a Healer each. One of them will have Sanji, the other Killer". Their mission was obvious: to harvest the shadows of Pirates. What if he showed his Shadows to the world? He had skulked in the shadows for too long; and, if everything went well, they would leave to witness to speak of them.

Bege bowed slightly.

"And you two," Moria addressed both Bege and Isabella, "spread a rumor that Thriller Bark harbors a majestic treasure. Make sure the most notorious pirates hear of it."

A sinister smile played on Moria's lips as he envisioned the swarm of greedy pirates lured to their doom. Isabella and Bege bowed respectfully and departed. Moria stood alone, the silence of the rose garden enveloping him. The rose he had admired earlier still held his gaze. As he walked deeper into the garden, Moria's eyes fell upon the new additions planted by Nami just days ago. These plants had grown at an unnatural rate, no doubt fueled by her devil fruit abilities. Twisted trees with bark as black as obsidian towered over the path, their leaves a sickly, luminescent green that seemed to pulse with a life of their own. Among them were trees with thorny vines, the thorns dripping a viscous, crimson sap that looked disturbingly like blood. These vines coiled around the trunks, creating a labyrinth of potential death traps for the unwary. Interspersed were flowers with petals resembling shards of glass, their edges sharp enough to slice through flesh. Some plants bore fruit that resembled dark, swollen hearts, pulsating rhythmically as if beating with a life of their own. One particularly grotesque plant had tendrils that moved of their own accord, reaching out to grasp anything that came too close.

"Missions", he said, breaking the silence.

[Class Upgrade Quest]

To upgrade your Class from [Marquis of Dusk] to [Duke of Twilight]

Subquests:

1. Have a Fate of at least S: 1/1
2. Have a Potential of at least S: 1/1
3. Main Quest 1 : A King without a Crown - 0/1
4. Main Quest 2 : A Court, a Country and a Champion : 0/3
5. Hidden Quest 1 : ? - 0/3
6. Hidden Quest 2 : ? - 0/3

The hidden Quests… There were two, now. To become Baron of Eventide, he had needed to engage in brutal combat. The title of Marquis of Dusk had required him to commit ignoble acts of piracy. These quests seemed to be conceptually linked with his ultimate ambition of becoming Pirate King, but their specific requirements remained enigmatic. What new acts could be the basis for these quests? He pondered the possibilities, speculating on the kinds of deeds that might advance his standing. Perhaps it would involve further treachery, subterfuge, or even more heinous acts of piracy : pillage, burning countries, killing marines…Whatever. He would not try to guess now. He would just proceed with his usual ruthlessness and observe if the counter rose by itself, and try to guess from there.

Main Quest 1

[A King without a Crown]

How can you be a Pirate King if you are not even a King?
Take control of the Kingdom of Alabasta

Main Quest 2

[A Court, a Kingdom and a Champion]

Even the Pirate King needs the Kingly attributes

Have 10 subordinates with more than 1,000 Dourikis - 4/10

A Kingdom : Take control of Three other Territories under a B-ranked or higher Fate Leader - 1/3

A Champion : Have a living subordinates with more than 3,000 Dourikis - 0/1

The requirements of Main Quest 2, [A Court, a Kingdom, and a Champion], were mostly straightforward. The Champion part seemed within reach. Selena had been training intensely with Lucci, pushing her limits every day. Perhaps, if her growth continued at this pace, she would surpass the three thousands Dourikis threshold. Then there was Nami, whose recent endeavors with her devil fruit abilities had shown remarkable potential. Even Zoro, spurred on by the competitive atmosphere, had doubled his efforts. He had already passed the thousand Dourikis mark and was growing unnaturally fast. Who knew what heights he might reach?

The Court requirement was also straightforward yet challenging. Only Zoro, Selena, Perona, and Absalom had surpassed a thousand Dourikis so far. If their training continued unabated, Bege, Isabella, and Nami could join their ranks in a few weeks to months. However, finding three more trusted subordinates who could achieve such power was no small task.

The most complex requirement was the Kingdom quest. Moria guessed that the 1/3 mark was due to his conquest of Little Garden. With his shadows as the only sentient beings on the island, he had technically taken control, and the giants there had indeed been B-Fated. However…He had attempted to take Water Seven in a more covert manner. A few nights ago, he and Isabella had infiltrated the city. Isabella had hypnotized the mayor, Iceberg, a B-rank Fate, while Moria's Shadow Assassins discreetly "cleaned" any problematic witnesses of his encounter with the CP9 (he had even found Cipher Pol agents lurking around, and discreetly 'deleted' them) or obstacle to the mayor's rule. Yet, this had not counted toward the quest. Was it because his dominion would have remained secret? Did the conquest need to be more overt, more visible, or through direct control rather than a puppet? Was it because he had not defeated Iceberg?

And as for the [A King without a Crown] quest, he had sent a few shadows a few days ago to understand the situation better at Alabasta, and…