Moria's massive form moved, transforming into a swarm of shadow bats and descending to a secret crypt beneath the castle.
Inside were several coffins of different shapes, each radiating powerful auras.
"Rise from your graves! My zombie generals!"
Moria spread his arms, his voice filled with fervor. "Go defeat those intruders and bring me all their shadows!"
Rumble.
One by one, the coffin lids were pushed open. Six figures, radiating ominous and powerful auras, stepped out.
Among them was a swordsman holding a blade, emanating a terrifying presence.
A knight in full medieval armor, only two red glows visible through the helmet.
A lean gunman with four arms, each holding a flintlock pistol, his eyes sharp.
"Kishishi! No matter how famous you were as pirates in life—legendary swordsmen or otherwise—now you all obey me, Gecko Moria!"
Looking at these powerful zombie generals, Moria felt a twisted sense of satisfaction.
Controlling the strong was always simpler and safer than nurturing companions!
Among these zombie generals, one stood out.
He had slightly greasy purple hair, wore a rather captain-like outfit that looked somewhat tattered. He leaned lazily against his coffin, holding a bottle of alcohol, drinking without a care for those around him.
Most eye-catching were the blades on his body—not hanging at his side, but actually impaled.
Two swords on each side.
The mark of betraying one's comrades.
He was Captain John—a legendary pirate who once belonged to that terrifying organization, the Rocks Pirates.
Unfortunately, his shadow wasn't very strong.
If Moria could get the shadow of the current Magnet-Magnet Fruit user, this former wielder of the same fruit could unleash far greater power.
After acquiring his Shadow-Shadow Fruit abilities and becoming the "Grave Robber King," Moria had set his sights on the crew of the Rocks Pirates.
To him, the corpses of those powerful pirates were treasures.
The only notable one he'd found was Captain John—aside from those still alive, he hadn't even found Rocks' body.
One of the direct causes of his earlier conflict with Kaido was Moria's grand search for the corpses of the Rocks Pirates.
Who knew the pirate world had someone as principled as Kaido?
"Go, my generals! Bring back all the prey!" Moria waved his hand grandly, brimming with confidence.
The zombie generals silently accepted the order, marching out with heavy or swift steps. Only Captain John remained behind, still drinking at his own pace.
Seeing this, Moria urged impatiently: "Captain John. You were at least an officer of the Rocks Pirates. Show me some real strength!"
"Even if you say that… well, orders are orders."
Captain John let out a belch and a low, meaningless chuckle, still ambling along unhurriedly. His murky eyes shifted as he thought to himself: I'll definitely pick the weakest opponent. Fighting is such a pain.
He couldn't resist the ability user's commands, otherwise Captain John wouldn't want to fight at all. Wasn't collecting treasure better?
—
"Finally, some worthy opponents are coming out."
Zoro cut down an advancing zombie and looked toward the approaching zombie generals.
His group had fought their way to the castle's outer perimeter.
The ones blocking their path so far had been small fry—nothing to get excited about.
"Yohohoho! Salt is the best weapon against zombies. Make sure to put salt in their mouths, everyone."
Brook knew these zombies' weakness. Otherwise, zombies would just keep reviving—far too troublesome.
Soon, in the relatively open, rubble-strewn plaza outside the castle, Sanji, Zoro, Nika, and the new addition Brook—this peculiar four-person group—were surrounded by zombie generals led by Ryuma and Captain John.
Combat was imminent.
"Don't take him. That swordsman is mine."
Zoro's three blades were already drawn, his gaze locked onto the zombie with an ancient long sword at his waist.
General Zombie: Swordsman Ryuma.
"He's not on the same level as the zombies you've seen before!" a nearby zombie called out. "He's a zombie general with a special body—a man from Wano Country in the New World!"
"The legendary samurai who cut down a flying dragon!"
"Heh. Looks like a formidable swordsman." Zoro licked his lips, his fighting spirit rising.
"I sense the same, sir. You are also a swordsman."
Ryuma's rigid face showed no expression, but his hand on his sword was steady. "Unfortunately, you are not a beautiful female swordsman."
Zoro's hand trembled on his sword. Huh?
This swordsman isn't serious.
"State your name." Ryuma drew his blade.
"Roronoa Zoro. The future world's greatest swordsman!" Zoro announced, his body suddenly surging forward. "Oni Giri!"
Three fierce slashes crossed!
Ryuma's red eyes flashed. His famous blade "Shusui" partially left its sheath, its tsuba precisely blocking Zoro's attack!
Clang!
Sparks flew!
They crossed.
"Speed is acceptable. Lacks power."
Ryuma's voice was flat. With a flick of his wrist, Shusui fully emerged, arcing in a black slash toward Zoro's chest. "Revolutionary Dance: Advancing Melody!"
Zoro's pupils shrank. He quickly crossed Wado Ichimonji and Sandai Kitetsu before his chest.
A powerful impact sent him sliding back several meters, his feet carving two shallow grooves.
"Damn. You're strong."
Zoro shook his numb arms, his eyes burning brighter. "This is what makes it fun!"
—
On the other side, Sanji, while drawing attention, saw a slovenly, alcohol-drenched figure approaching.
"Hey, drunkard. Move aside. I have no interest in drunken men." Sanji lit a cigarette, frowning.
"Fuhehehe, young man, don't be so hot-tempered." Captain John took another swig, looking at Sanji through bleary eyes. "Fighting is so dull. How about a drink?"
"I don't have time to waste on you!"
Sanji's gaze turned cold. His body vanished, reappearing beside Captain John as he kicked. "Neck Meat!"
His right foot, carrying a sharp wind, struck toward Captain John's neck.
Yet Captain John, seemingly drunk, reacted with surprising speed! He casually sidestepped, Sanji's kick grazing his clothes.
Simultaneously, the blade impaled in his shoulder blade partially ejected on its own, the cold edge slicing toward Sanji's calf.
Huh?
Startled, Sanji quickly pulled back his leg and retreated, narrowly avoiding the cut.
"Fuhehe, good reflexes, kid."
Captain John chuckled, pulling out the blade from his waist and casually twirling it. "Looks like I have to stretch a bit. But I really hate fighting."
He talked about hating fighting, but his hands showed no mercy.
Sanji's expression darkened. "Dealing with two drunks on the ship every day is annoying enough."
Captain John sighed helplessly: "Sorry. I picked who looked like the weakest to fight."
Those words made Sanji's back seem to blaze with fury.
What did he mean by "looked like the weakest"?
—
Wanting to slack off wasn't unique to Captain John.
Watching the growing number of zombies and the few zombie generals radiating powerful auras, Nika—who had just wanted to laze about and drink—grew impatient, picking at her ear.
"Ugh. You guys just don't know when to quit!"
She gulped down the remaining sake in her gourd, then tossed the empty container aside.
Boom!
The next moment, a strange, immense aura erupted from her small body.
Her form inflated like a balloon, white fur growing thicker. In seconds, she transformed into a colossal white tanuki, dozens of meters tall, wreathed in white steam clouds like flame clouds.
"So noisy."
"Hic~ I'll squash you flat!" Nika hiccupped, her voice like rolling thunder, and stomped down.
CRASH!
The ground shook, affecting both Sanji and Zoro's battlefields.
They leaped back and saw the giant.
"Hey, hey. No need to go into that form." Sanji sighed.
Zoro was speechless. "How much did she drink?"
"Yohohoho. How terrifying."
Brook hadn't expected the small Nika—who had been clutching that gourd the whole time—to transform into something like that.
"What is that?!"
"A monster! Another monster!"
The surviving zombies shrieked in terror at the sudden giant.
Wasn't that kind of giant supposed to be Moria's specialty?
Nika didn't care. She used one of Luffy's classic moves.
Gomu gomu no—Tank!
Her massive white body rolled forward like a steamroller, crushing low buildings flat. Taller structures she punched and kicked with her giant claws, reducing them to rubble.
Flying debris. Clouds of dust.
Zombies screamed as they were thrown from their hiding places or crushed beneath the ruins.
"Heh. See how strong I am? The one who doesn't fight is the strongest—get it?"
Nika snorted a puff of hot air from her nose.
Her principle regarding zombies in buildings was simple:
If they stayed down, she let them be.
If they tried to crawl out or attack—one more stomp.
Against absolute power and size, numerical advantage was a joke.
"Kishihihihi!"
Moria, hidden in the shadows, watched Nika's terrifying destructive power and massive size. Instead of fear, he danced with excitement.
"That's it! That's it! What a powerful shadow! What a perfect specimen! If I could stuff that shadow into that special zombie… kishihi, I could create the world's strongest zombie warrior!"
***
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