The dining hall was a mess of splintered wood, shattered plates, and unconscious zombies slumped in defeat. Hildon lay sprawled, his eyes forming cross signs. The Strawhats stood around them, barely catching their breath but their weapons still at the ready.
Luffy casually dangled his feet from where he was sitting on the dining table. "Okay, that's done! Now we need salt to beat more zombies and get Brook's shadow back. Kitchen's gotta have tons of it!"
Usopp wiped sweat from his brow, still clutching his small salt pouch. "Yeah, I brought some myself, but this little bag won't last against an army of undead! We need sacks of the stuff. But... where's the kitchen in this creepy place?"
Chopper nodded, his hooves shaking a bit. "I smelled food earlier, but everything's so confusing here. This mansion is huge! And I'm not gonna try to smell for it either, this place stinks of rotten flesh."
Nami crossed her arms, still glaring at the unconscious Hildon. "Great job knocking out our only guide, Luffy. Now we're lost in this creepy zombie central with no map."
Luffy grinned sheepishly. "Shishishi! Sorry. But he was lying and I could feel it. Anyway, let's just look for the kitchen ourselves!"
Sanji blew out a puff of smoke. "Easy for you to say, captain. This place is a maze. Doors and corridors everywhere, and half of them probably lead to more traps."
Zoro sheathed his swords. "We could split up. Cover more ground that way."
Luffy's eyes lit up. "Yeah! Good idea, Zoro! Everyone go on your own and search. First one to find the kitchen wins!"
The scaredy trio exploded immediately.
"NO WAY!" Nami shouted, waving her Clima-Tact. "Are you insane? This is horror island! Splitting up alone is how people die first in scary stories!"
Usopp nodded frantically, his garlic necklace clinking along with him. "Exactly! And you'd be the first to go, Luffy! You'd wander off, punch a wall, and end up in some bottomless pit or eaten by a giant spider zombie!"
Chopper clung to Usopp's leg. "Yeah! I don't wanna be alone! What if a ghost grabs me? Or worse, a zombie doctor experiments on me?"
Franky laughed, flexing his arms. "Ha! The little guys got a point. SUPER bad idea to go solo in a place like this."
Robin smiled calmly. "Splitting up isn't entirely unwise, though. In groups, we could search efficiently with minimal risk. We've done it before."
Brook tilted his skull. "Yohohoho! True. And time is of the essence since Moria might already know we're here."
Sanji rubbed his chin. "Groups, huh? Fine by me, as long as Nami-san's and Robin-chan's safe."
Nami sighed in relief. "Okay, groups sound better. But how do we decide who goes with who? I don't want to end up with that directionless idiot." She shot Zoro a pointed look.
Zoro growled. "Oi! Watch it, witch."
Usopp snapped his fingers. "Hey, remember how we decided who went on the ghost ship? The stick draw! Long sticks and short sticks. Fair and random."
Chopper perked up. "Yeah! That worked well last time!"
Luffy pumped his fist. "Yosh! Stick draw it is! Let's do it quickly."
Franky grinned and pulled out some spare wood scraps from his pocket arsenal. "SUPER! I'll make the sticks. Five short, four long–wait, there are nine of us, so... uh, let's say we draw for two groups of... four and five?"
Robin nodded. "Group of five and group of four. The larger one can handle more trouble."
Sanji lit another cigarette. "As long as I'm not stuck with marimo."
Zoro smirked. "Feeling's mutual, curly-brow."
Brook chuckled. "Yohohoho! This should be interesting."
Franky quickly whittled nine sticks–five long ones and four short ones–shuffled them and held them in his massive fist so only the tops showed. "Alright, draw time! No peeking."
The crew gathered around. Luffy went first, grabbing one with a grin. "Short!"
Usopp drew next, groaning. "Short... oh no, with Luffy? We're doomed to follow trouble!"
Sanji pulled without any hesitation. "Long, that works for me."
Chopper trembled but pulled. "Short! At least I'm with you guys..."
Zoro rolled his eyes and pulled, groaning when he realised which team he'll be in. "Long.." He could feel Sanji's annoyance radiating off him, he didn't even need to look to know what expression he had on.
Robin drew elegantly. "Short."
Franky pulled last for the shorts. "Short! SUPER team assembled!"
That left the ones who pulled the rest of the long ones, that is, Nami and Brook.
Nami blinked. "Wait, so Group 1 is Luffy, Usopp, Chopper, Robin, Franky? And Group 2 is me, Sanji, Zoro, Brook?"
Sanji's eyes turned to hearts. "Nami-san! What luck! I'll protect you from every zombie in this dump!"
Zoro rolled his eyes. "Great. I am stuck with the love-cook."
Brook bowed. "Yohohoho! A fine group. With my knowledge of the island, we'll find the kitchen in no time."
Usopp slumped. "Why do I always end up with the chaos magnets?"
Chopper hugged Robin's leg. "At least Robin's smart. She'll keep us safe."
Luffy laughed. "This is perfect! My group, let's go left! I smell meat that way! Kitchen's gotta be close!"
Nami facepalmed. "Luffy, wait! We should plan a meeting spot or something!"
But Luffy was already bounding down a hallway, Usopp and Chopper scrambling after him yelling "Wait up!" Robin followed with a chuckle, Franky pumping his fists. "SUPER search starts now!"
The second group watched them go.
"Idiots." Sanji sighed. "Anyways, Nami-san, which way?"
Nami pointed right. "Opposite of them. Less chance of running into whatever disaster Luffy causes."
"Sounds good." Zoro nodded and then proceeded to go left.
"Wrong way, you directionless moron!" Sanji shouted, grabbing Zoro's collar and yanking him back toward the right hallway.
Zoro snarled, twisting free with a shove. "Oi! Let go, curly-brow! I know where I'm going!"
Sanji's eye twitched. "You couldn't find your way out of a paper bag! The kitchen's this way, Nami-san said so!"
Brook watched the scuffle, his bony shoulders shaking with laughter. "Yohohoho! This will be fun."
.
Meanwhile, down the left hallway, Group 1 charged ahead on Luffy's lead. The corridor was dim, lit by flickering green lanterns that cast eerie shadows on the peeling wallpaper. Cobwebs hung from the ceiling like party streamers for the dead, and the air smelled musty, like old books mixed with something rotten. The smell was only half of what was wrong with the air, it was also so dusty and dry, that your own throat would feel parched after a few minutes.
Luffy bounced along cheerfully, his red cloak swishing. "This way! I can smell meat! Shishishi, kitchen's gotta be close. My nose never lies about food!"
Usopp trailed behind, his Kabuto at the ready and eyes darting everywhere. "Your nose? In a zombie mansion? What if it's zombie meat? Or worse, a trap? Luffy, slow down!"
Chopper nodded vigorously, still in his small form, hooves clicking nervously. "Yeah! What if we run into more of those surprise zombies? I don't wanna be a snack!"
Robin walked calmly beside them, an extra eye sprouting on the wall ahead to scout. "Captain's instincts have served us well before. Though I must admit, the decor is... interesting. These patterns look like ancient burial rites."
Franky struck a pose, his massive frame barely fitting the hall. "Ha! If anything jumps out, I'll SUPER blast it! This place ain't got nothing on Enies Lobby."
As if on cue, a door creaked open ahead, and three zombies shuffled out, three of them looking like stitched-up corpses with glowing eyes and in ragged clothes. One groaned, "Braaains..." and lunged at Luffy, the other two looked at the first like it was an idiot, but joined in anyway.
Luffy didn't even break stride. He stretched his arm back casually while chatting. "Hey, Robin, you think Hogback made these guys? They're kinda slow." His fist snapped forward in a quick Gum-Gum Pistol, smashing the zombie into the wall without looking. Then immediately stuffing it's face with salt, causing it to be purified.
Robin nodded, sprouting arms from the floor to trip the second one. "Likely. His work is crude but effective." The arms twisted, flipping the offended looking zombie over her shoulder, letting it crash onto the wall smashed zombie.
Franky laughed, firing a quick Weapons Left at the third. The air bullet punched through its chest, sending it flying. "SUPER easy! Like swatting flies. What's next, zombie butlers?"
Usopp and Chopper, at the rear, weren't so nonchalant when another zombie popped from a side vent, snarling at them.
"KYAAA! ZOMBIE!" Usopp shrieked, fumbling his Kabuto. "Take this–! Salt Star!" He fired a pellet straight into its mouth. The zombie gurgled, shadows bursting out as it collapsed, purified.
Chopper transformed mid-scream, growing into his bulky heavy point. "Heavy Point! Raaaah!" He threw a wild punch, his massive fist connecting with another zombie's jaw, sending it spinning. "Did I get it? Is it down?"
Usopp high-fived him. Shooting some more salt into the other downed zombies. "Yeah! But there's m-m-m-morreee!!! B-behind you!"
Two more zombies shambled from the shadows. Chopper swung again, his punch like a hammer. "Don't come closer!" Usopp followed up with another salt shot. "Purify! We got 'em!"
Luffy glanced back, grinning. "Nice job, you guys! See? It's fun!"
"IT'S NOT!" Chopper and Usopp shrieked at once, leading to the other three to laugh out loud.
The group pushed on, dispatching a few more stragglers the same way, with the heavy hitters casually clearing the path while chatting about Hogback's creepy experiments, and Usopp and Chopper handling the leftovers with panicked precision.
After a few twists and turns, Luffy stopped at a heavy door. "Here! Meat smell's strongest!" He kicked it open, revealing the kitchen: a vast room with long counters, bubbling pots, and shelves lined with jars. dangerous to consume labeled sacks of salt sat in the corner, next to hanging slabs of mystery meat.
"Jackpot!" Franky whooped, rushing to the salt. "SUPER stock-up time!"
Usopp grabbed pouches from a drawer, filling them frantically. "Yes! Now we can purify a whole zombie army!"
Chopper helped, still in Heavy Point for extra reach. "This much salt should last us forever!"
Robin examined a jar labeled "Spices?" but set it down. "Efficient. Though I wonder whose shadows powered these cooks."
Luffy, meanwhile, zeroed in on the meat roasting on a spit. "Food! I'm starving!" He tore off a chunk and chomped down. "Mmm! Tasty!"
The others paused, staring.
Usopp's face paled. "Luffy! Don't eat that! What if it's... you know... not normal meat?"
Chopper sniffed it. "It smells okay, but... in a zombie kitchen?"
Robin smiled mischievously. "Who knows? Hogback's a surgeon. It could be human flesh. Or worse… stitched together from various... donors."
Usopp gagged. "Ew! No way! I'm not touching it!"
Chopper shrank back to small form. "Me neither! What if it turns us into zombies?"
Franky laughed but decidedly avoided the meat. "Yeah, pass. I'll stick to cola."
Luffy shrugged, mouthful. "Tastes like sea king to me! More for me I guess! Shishishi!"
.
On the other side, Group 2 was venturing down the right hallway. The corridors almost seemed like they were twisting with faded portraits lining the walls, their painted eyes seemed to follow the group's every step. Dust motes danced in the dim light from cracked sconces, and the floorboards creaked underfoot.
Nami led the way, Clima-Tact gripped tightly. "Keep your eyes open. This place is full of tricks. The kitchen can't be far.. It has to be probably near the dining hall we were in earlier."
Sanji walked close behind her, cigarette glowing. "Don't worry, Nami-san. If anything jumps out, I'll handle it. You just stay safe."
Zoro grunted, hand on his swords. "Yeah, right. Like you handled that plate lady. Just don't get hearts in your eyes again."
Sanji whirled. "Shut up, marimo! At least I appreciate ladies. You'd probably cut down a door and get us lost."
Brook clacked along cheerfully. "Yohohoho! Save the fighting for zombies. We're a team, after all."
They passed several doors, peeking into empty rooms filled with cobwebs and broken furniture. One had a dusty lab table with strange tools, but no kitchen. Nami sighed. "This is taking forever. Luffy's group probably found it already and ate everything."
Sanji smiled. "If they did, I'll cook you something better once we're out."
Zoro rolled his eyes. "Suck-up."
After another turn, they came to a door marked with a faded plaque: "Cindry." Nami paused. "That's the plate-throwing zombie's name, right? Maybe there's a clue inside. Or treasure! Hogback's a famous doctor, he might have valuables."
Brook nodded. "Cindry-chan's room? It could hold answers about Hogback's work. But let's be careful."
Sanji kicked the door open gently. "Ladies first, Nami-san."
Inside was a small bedroom seemingly frozen in time, with a canopy bed with tattered curtains, a vanity mirror cracked down the middle, and shelves lined with old scripts and photos. Dust covered everything, and a faint smell of rancid perfume lingered.
Nami rifled through the vanity drawers. "Look at these makeup, jewelry boxes. She was fancy."
Zoro leaned against the wall. "Doesn't look like there's much here and it's not a kitchen. Let's move."
Brook picked up a book from the nightstand: "Victoria Cindry: A Life on Stage." He flipped through yellowed pages. "This is a biography. It says she was a renowned actress, famous for dramatic roles. But... she died ten years ago. Fell during a performance and broke her neck on stage. Tragic."
Sanji frowned. "Ten years? But we saw her earlier. Hogback really brought her back from the dead?"
Nami shuddered. "That's creepy. So she's a zombie for real? No wonder she was so… off."
While they discussed, Nami spotted a large wooden chest at the foot of the bed engraved with gold filigree. Her eyes instantly lit up with berry signs. "Guys, look! This has to be a treasure chest! Hogback probably stashed his riches here! It could be loaded!"
Zoro raised an eyebrow. "In a zombie maid's room? Doubt it."
Sanji's hearts appeared. "If Nami-san thinks it's a treasure, it has to be! Let's open it! I'll protect you."
Brook cautioned. "It might be a trap. Thriller Bark loves surprises."
Nami ignored them, kneeling down. "Come on, what's the harm? We're pirates!" She flipped the latch and lifted the lid.
BOING!
A massive zombie jack-in-the-box exploded out, its stitched face grinning with jagged teeth, springs uncoiling as it swung its clawed hands. "Surpriiiise!"
"KYAAAAAAAA!" Nami screamed, scrambling back on all fours, tears flying. She bolted for the door, crashing into the hallway. "ZOMBIE! RUN!"
The zombie laughed maniacally, its body unfolding to full height. It was even taller than Franky, his coiled arms lashing out.
Sanji reacted first. "Get away from Nami-san!" He leaped in, his left leg igniting. "Collier Shoot!" His flaming kick slammed into the zombie's chest, sending it staggering back into the room. The impact bought precious seconds, the zombie's springs compressing from the force.
Zoro drew Wado Ichimonji and Shandai Kitetsu. "My turn." He dashed forward, blades flashing. "Two Sword Style: Hawk Wave!" The slashes cut deep into the zombie's torso, fabric and stitches ripping.
Brook unsheathed his cane sword in a blur. "And mine! Song of the Binks, Prelude: Au Revoir!" His blade pierced the zombie's chest, twisting to cause as much damage as possible. The thing howled, flailing wildly.
Together, Zoro struck the final blow by slicing the spring. The jack-in-the-box zombie collapsed in a tangled heap of broken springs, torn fabric, and twitching limbs, its maniacal grin frozen as it finally went still.
Sanji panted lightly, his leg flame dying down as he straightened his suit. "Bastard. Thought it could scare Nami-san."
Zoro sheathed his swords with a sharp click. "Trap, like I said. Waste of time."
Brook withdrew his blade, wiping it clean on the zombie's remains. "Yohohoho! Hogback's creativity truly knows no bounds. A jack-in-the-box zombie… how delightfully twisted."
.
In the kitchen, Luffy was mid-bite into another chunk of roasted meat when a sharp, piercing scream cut through the mansion walls.
"KYAAAAAAAA!"
The sound was unmistakable since it was none other than Nami's voice, which was high-pitched and full of terror.
Luffy's head snapped up, the meat in his hands forgotten. "Nami?!"
Usopp dropped his salt pouch. "That was Nami-san! She's in trouble!"
Chopper's eyes widened in panic. "We have to help! We need to go!"
Robin was already moving, extra arms blooming to push open the door. "This way, the scream came from the right side."
Franky slammed his fist into his palm. "SUPER rescue time! Let's go!"
The group bolted out of the kitchen, Luffy leading the charge down the hallway opposite to where they'd come. The corridors twisted, portraits on the walls suddenly becoming animated as they passed with them leaping out with clawing hands and snarling faces painted in grotesque detail.
One portrait zombie lunged at Franky, its frame cracking as it tried to grab him. "Intrudersss!"
Franky didn't slow. "Outta my way!" He fired a quick Strong Right, the punch blasting the zombie back into the painting it came from. "Keep moving!"
More roaming zombies shuffled from side rooms with general undead with stitched limbs and glowing eyes. Luffy stretched an arm casually while running, snagging one by the neck and flinging it overhead. "No time! Gotta get to Nami!"
Robin sprouted hands from the floor, tripping a pack of three and stuffing salt down their throats. "They're endless. We need to hurry."
Usopp fired salt pellets over his shoulder. "Salt Star! Purify, you creeps!" The shots hit, shadows bursting out as zombies collapsed.
Chopper, in Heavy Point, barreled through another. "Don't get in our way!"
But the mansion was a maze. Screams echoed again, fainter now, bouncing off walls. They turned corners, fought off more painting zombies that slashed with framed edges, and roaming undead that groaned and grabbed. Soon, the direction of Nami's voice was lost in the chaos.
"Now where? Which direction were Nami's screams coming from?" Chopper questioned as he could no longer hear the navigator's voice.
Luffy skidded to a stop, closing his eyes. "Wait... I can find her."
His Observation Haki flared subtly, the air warming around him. He sensed presences–dozens of enemy consciousnesses flickering like candles in the dark halls. Stronger ones deeper in, but closer...
"There!" Luffy pointed. "Nami's that way, but Usopp's moving fast up?" his fingers moving towards the ceiling.
Usopp blinked. "Me? I'm right–"
A muffled yelp cut him off. Thick, sticky webbing from the ceiling had wrapped around Usopp without anyone noticing. He was yanked upward, gagged and bound, disappearing into the shadows above.
"Usopp!" Chopper shouted.
Luffy's eyes sharpened. He stretched both arms high, swinging like ropes toward the ceiling. "Got him!"
His hands grabbed Usopp's webbed form just as a massive shape dropped down. It was a horse-sized spider monkey zombie, its fur matted, eight legs tipped with claws, fangs dripping. It chittered angrily, more webs shooting from its spinnerets.
"You let go of my sniper!" Luffy roared. He with difficulty retracted his salt covered hand from the web, using it to attack, impacting like a cannonball into it's mouth, purifying it in one go.. "Gum-Gum Pistol!" The spider monkey flew backward, crashing through a wall and landing shadowless in a heap of rubble.
But it wasn't alone.
More chittering echoed. Dozens of spider monkeys dropped from ceilings and vents, webs flying in sticky strands. One wrapped Franky's leg, yanking him off balance.
"What the–! It's SUPER sticky!" Franky yelped.
Robin sprouted arms to block, but webs tangled them. "It's reinforced and hard to break!"
Chopper swung wildly. "Get off!" But strands caught his arms, binding him.
Luffy moved to free Usopp, but webs latched onto his own legs and cloak. The material was tough and sticky, making him unable to stretch.
The spider monkeys swarmed, more webs coating the group, wrapping them tighter. The sticky threads hardened fast, extremely difficult to tear or force through.
"They're tying us up!" Chopper yelled, struggling in the remnants of his cocoon.
Luffy growled, golden flickers in his eyes. "Not for long!"
But the webs held firm, and the horde was closing in.
.
The three stepped out of the room, closing the door behind them with a creak. The hallway was dim and quiet again, but not empty.
Nami was there, backed against the opposite wall, her face pale as paper. Tears were streaming down her cheeks in steady rivers, her hands clutched over her mouth since she last let out one, piercing scream that echoed through the corridor. Her eyes were wide with terror, her body shaking and clearly still lost in the panic of the zombie bursting out.
Sanji's cigarette nearly fell. "Nami-san!"
Zoro raised an eyebrow. "Oi, witch, calm down. It's dead.. Well, more dead than it was before."
Brook tilted his skull. "Nami-san, are you all right?"
The moment Nami registered them–Sanji brushing off his sleeve, Zoro seeming to be annoyed but unharmed, Brook standing tall and intact–her scream cut off abruptly. She blinked rapidly, wiping her face with trembling hands, the tears slowing as relief washed over her.
"Y-you guys... you're okay?" she stammered, voice hoarse from screaming. "I thought... that thing was huge! It popped out and I ran, and then I heard fighting, and–"
Sanji was at her side in an instant, offering a gentle hand. "We're fine, Nami-san. That toy zombie didn't stand a chance. I kicked it first and then gave these two time to finish it off. No need to worry."
Nami sniffled, taking a shaky breath. "Thanks... I just–ugh, no treasure, and then that? This place is the worst. Sorry for running.."
Zoro snorted. "Told you it was a trap. Next time, listen to me."
Brook chuckled softly. "Yohohoho! At least we're all unharmed. And we've learned a valuable lesson: avoid suspicious chests in zombie bedrooms."
Nami managed a weak laugh, pushing off the wall. "Yeah, no more chests. At least for now. Let's just find the stupid kitchen already. We need salt."
The group pressed on, the hallway stretching endlessly ahead with flickering lanterns casting long shadows. Nami stayed close to Sanji, who kept glancing at her protectively, while Zoro brought up the rear and Brook walked beside him, humming a quiet tune to ease the tension.
They turned a corner, passing more dusty rooms–labs with broken beakers, libraries with moldy books–but none of them was the kitchen.
Nami groaned. "How big is this stupid mansion? We should have found it by now."
Sanji patted her shoulder gently. "We'll get there, Nami-san. Just stay strong."
Zoro scanned the walls. "This place is built like a fortress. It has too many turns."
Brook nodded. "Thriller Bark hides many secrets. The kitchen is likely near the main dining areas, but Hogback's experiments with the layout of the mansion, so who knows."
After another few minutes of walking, they spotted a heavy looking door at the end of the corridor. It gleamed under the dim light, solid and metallic, with no handle, but just a reinforced panel that looked unbreakable.
Zoro stopped, eyeing it. "This has to be the kitchen. Looks tough enough to keep out idiots who raid fridges at night." He glanced at Sanji with a smirk. "Like how you always threatened to install a metal door back on the Merry to stop Luffy and the rest of us from eating everything."
Sanji's cigarette flared as he whipped around. "What was that, marimo? You calling me out? You're just as bad, chugging all the booze like it's water! If anyone's a problem like Luffy, it's you! I should lock the liquor cabinet too!"
Zoro stepped closer, hand on his sword hilt. "Say that again, cook. At least I don't waste food on fancy crap nobody eats."
"Oh, like your 'training' doesn't burn through supplies faster than Luffy's stomach? You're a walking disaster!"
Nami pinched the bridge of her nose. "Guys, not now–"
Brook raised a hand. "Yohohoho! Perhaps we can–"
SLASH!
A blinding sword arc cut through the air from the shadows behind them. The group scattered instinctively with Nami diving left, Sanji kicking off the wall, Zoro drawing blades and Brook leaping back.
The slash hit the "metal" door dead center. Wood splintered explosively, revealing silver paint over ordinary timber. The door shattered inward, and chunks flew as a tall figure stepped from the darkness.
Shimotsuki Ryuma's zombie corpse, with white hair flowing, eyes seemingly hollow, his head wrapped in bandages, while his haramaki carried his legendary sword Shusui, which gleamed in its grip. The samurai zombie stood silent, his aura heavy with ancient power.
Nami's eyes widened. She bolted through the ruined doorway into the room beyond. Sanji was right behind her, leg still smoking from his dodge. "Nami-san! Stay close, I'll keep you safe! Nothing's touching you while I'm here!"
Zoro landed in a crouch, blades already crossed and ready, Sandai Kitetsu and Wado Ichimonji in his hands. Brook stood beside him, his cane sword drawn, bony fingers tight on the grip, ribs visibly trembling with a mix of fear and determination.
"That's... my shadow," Brook said quietly, though his voice was thick. "In the body of the legendary Ryuma. The dragon-slaying swordsman from Wano's tales."
Ryuma regarded them silently for a moment, then spoke in a deep, resonant rumble. "Do you know what giving up means?"
Brook stepped forward half a pace, placing himself slightly ahead of Zoro. "Zoro... please. Let me face him alone. This corpse moves because of my shadow. Reclaiming it.. it's my burden. My promise to Laboon, to my old crew, depends on it. I need to do this myself."
Zoro glanced at the skeleton, reading the quiet resolve in his empty sockets. He understood immediately, the pride of a swordsman, the weight of fifty lost years. Zoro nodded once, sharp and respectful. "Got it. He's yours."
Without another word, Zoro sheathed his blades and dashed through the ruined doorway after Nami and Sanji. From inside came Hogback's shrill, panicked voice: "Intruders in my lab! How dare you! Get out! or I'll have you turned into specimens!"
Brook turned fully to Ryuma, stance widening, sword cane raised in guard. The hallway fell silent save for the distant clatter from the lab.
Ryuma lifted Shusui higher, the black blade catching the lantern light. "I am Shimotsuki Ryuma, legendary dragon slayer. We stand on different levels."
Brook's jaw tightened, his voice steady and unwavering. "No. You are my shadow, nothing more. I will take you back... and place you right where you belong." He tapped one foot against the floorboards. "Under my feet."
Ryuma's red eyes narrowed, the faintest hint of approval or challenge flickering in their depths. He shifted into a perfect iaijutsu stance, the air growing heavier with killing intent.
Brook mirrored it, the two swordsmen facing each other across the splintered doorway, steel poised to sing.
In the lab, Zoro burst in just as Hogback backed away from Nami and Sanji, cowering behind a barrel. The real fights were only beginning.
.
Meanwhile, group 1 was dealing with their own problems.
The spider monkeys were wasting no time. With eerie coordination, they hoisted the webbed bundles high, skittering along the ceiling beams like oversized insects in a nightmare. Group 1 dangled helplessly, swaying as the creatures carried them deeper into the mansion's upper corridors. The air grew colder, the chittering louder, echoing off stone walls.
Franky thrashed against his bindings first, his massive frame testing the sticky strands. "These things ain't SUPER tough enough to hold me!" He flexed, metal joints whirring. "Strong Right!" His fist shot out, but the web stretched and snapped back, absorbing the impact. "Tch–! No good!"
He tried again. "Weapons Left!" His arm got clogged up with webs, in turn making him useless. "Come on!"
Usopp whimpered from his bundle. "Franky, hurry! They're taking us to their nest or something! I don't wanna be spider food!"
Chopper, muffled in his webbing, squeaked. "It's too tight! I can't transform!"
Robin remained calm, extra eyes sprouting where possible. "The material is organic like reinforced silk. Physical force alone isn't working."
Luffy strained, muscles bulging. "Grr… I can't seem to move!" He tried to stretch an arm, trying to snap free, but the web coiled tighter the more he struggled.
Franky refused to give up. "Fresh Fire!" His mouth opened, cannon prepping, but the webs muffled it. He switched tactics. "Franky... Fireball!"
A burst of flame erupted from his mouth, hot and red. The webs around his face sizzled, blackening and crumbling. "Yes! Finally! Fire works! Guys, the stuff burns!"
The spider monkeys chittered angrily, speeding up, but Frankycontinued to breath fire, a if he was part dragon, freeing his arms. "Hang on! I'll get you out!"
Luffy's hair bled white, the air humming with distant drums. "Good job, Franky... but I got this!"
Steam hissed from his skin. His body ignited in white light, hair bursting into wild, flaming white clouds that knocked back his hood and strawhat (the hat caught on a strand, dangling comically from his neck). His clothes shifted to pure white, cloak billowing like a living flame. Luffy was back to his Nika form, liberated from his earthly weaknesses.
The spider monkeys faltered, sensing the sudden heat.
Luffy laughed, the sound free and joyous. "Shishishishi! Time to burn!"
His flaming hair waved like a bonfire. He tilted his head comically. "Hey, maybe I can use my hair like a torch!" He swung his head like a blowtorch, flames licking the webs, but they were too slow.
Then he noticed, fine white hair covered his skin in this form, like downy flames. "Oh! Hair everywhere!" The miniature fires ignited across his body, tiny blazes dancing on arms, legs, chest.
The webs smoked and burned instantly, strands crumbling to ash.
"Perfect!" Luffy cheered. He grabbed a salt pouch from Usopp's nearby bundle, stretching his arm towards the lead spider monkey, the one that had webbed him first. "Open wide!"
He shoved salt straight into its gaping mouth. The creature shrieked, convulsing as black shadow erupted from its body, ascending like smoke. It plummeted, unconscious.
The others didn't wait. They dashed faster along the ceiling, chittering in panic, bundles swinging wildly.
Luffy catapulted himself upward, body cartoonishly elongating. "No escaping!" He yanked the nearest spider monkey down by its leg, slamming it onto the floor. His bare hands touched its fur, leading to the Sun God's faint light disintegrating it in a puff of ash, and freeing the shadows entrapped.
One by one, he grabbed them, stretching, bouncing, laughing as each touch reduced them to nothing with the shadows rising free.
Finally, all clear. Luffy landed, still burning white, and stretched his neck comically long like a hosepipe, head weaving like a snake to burn the remaining webs off his crew with precision.
Usopp tumbled free first. "Freedom! Thanks, Luffy!"
Robin dropped gracefully. "Efficient. Thank you captain"
Franky posed dramatically. "SUPER!"
Chopper was last, webs muffling his cries until Luffy burned them away.
The moment Chopper's mouth was free, he stared up at Luffy in pure panic. "Luffy! Turn back! Right now! That form, it's hurting you! I can tell! Please!"
Luffy pouted, flames flickering like a sulking campfire. "Aw... but it's fun... and we won..."
Chopper's eyes teared up. "No! Transform back! Doctor's orders!"
Luffy grumbled like a scolded child. "Fiiiine..." The white receded, hair darkening, body shrinking to normal. His cloak settled, ending the transformation with him plopping his straw hat back on his head.
He smiled wide, rubbing his head. "See? All good!" But he didn't mention the throbbing headache, the wave of dizziness that made the hall spin for a second. He just grinned, hiding it behind excitement. There's no time to worry about such small things, his crew is in danger. "Shishishi! Now let's find the others! Nami screamed, we gotta help!"
The group nodded. Usopp passed everyone a salt pouch, before charging deeper into the mansion, toward their friends, shadows, and whatever horrors waited next.
.
Meanwhile, near the jagged coast of Thriller Bark, where the fog met the black water in a perpetual shroud, a shambling group of zombies finally stumbled upon their missing commander.
The barrel lay half-buried in gravel, rocking slightly with muffled grunts from inside. The zombies and the wild Frankensteined animals gathered around, poking it with spears and claws.
One particularly burly bear-zombie growled. "Boss smell... inside."
They pried the lid off with brute force. Absalom tumbled out in a heap, ropes tangled around his lion mane, top hat askew. He sprang up immediately, invisibility flickering in anger as he dusted himself off.
"You idiots!" he roared, voice echoing over the waves. "What took you so long? I've been trapped for hours! Do you know who I am? The great Absalom, the commander of the soldiers and general zombies! One of the Mysterious Four!"
The zombies cowered, murmuring apologies. "Sorry, boss... fog thick... hard to find..."
Absalom paced, clutching his head dramatically. His eyes glazed over with a dreamy, delusional gleam. "No matter. The beautiful bride, my destined wife, Nami... she played hard to get, but it's all part of the romance. That fiery spirit! That scream of passion when I held her! She wants me, she just doesn't know it yet. We must marry at once! A grand ceremony in the mansion!"
The zombies exchanged confused glances but nodded vigorously. "Yes, boss... bride... pretty..."
Absalom struck a villainous pose, cape flaring despite the damp. "Prepare everything! Flowers from the graveyard, music from the ghosts, Perona can handle that. And the raid! Midnight approaches."
A dog-zombie tilted its head. "Boss... it's already 11 p.m."
Absalom threw his head back and laughed, a deep, theatrical cackle that rolled across the coast like thunder. "Perfect! Eleven o'clock! The witching hour draws near! At midnight, we launch the full raid! Capture the Strawhats, especially my beloved Bride! Bring them alive! The ceremony will be legendary!"
The zombies cheered in guttural roars, raising weapons.
Absalom spun on his heel, marching inland with purpose. "To the generals' quarters! Wake the others, tell them the groom demands action!"
The horde followed, chittering excitedly as they vanished into the fog, leaving the empty barrel behind.
.
Deep within Thriller Bark's towering mast castle, Gecko Moria lounged in his massive throne room, shadows writhing across the walls like living tapestries. Perona floated nearby, humming as her ghosts drifted lazily.
A wild zombie burst in, panting. "Master Moria! The attempts to kidnap the Strawhats failed! The captain, Strawhat Luffy and his group escaped the spider monkeys! They're still loose in the mansion!"
Moria's enormous body jolted upright, eyes bulging in outrage. "WHAT?! Failed again?! Those useless–!"
He slammed a fist down, cracking the floor. Shadows flared wildly around him. "How many times now? First Absalom bungles it, then the surprises, the paintings, fucking damn everything! And that Strawhat brat, he is a fucking brat yet his bounty is enormous. This is ridiculous!"
Perona giggled nervously. "Horo-horo... maybe they're stronger than we thought?"
Moria seethed for a moment, steam practically rising from his pale skin. Then, slowly, he leaned back, a wide, toothy grin splitting his face. The anger melted into amused calm.
"Kishishishi... no, no. I'm not surprised. Not really." He tapped his fingers together. "That Monkey D. Luffy is Cyra, his bounty isn't just for show. He defeated countless before even starting his pirate career, and then defeated Crocodile, stormed Enies Lobby, escaped a Buster Call in the chaos. He is a monster in human skin. Of course my minions couldn't handle him easily."
Perona floated closer. "So... what now, Master?"
Moria's eyes gleamed with dark excitement. "I'll do it myself. Capture that boy personally. Just imagine, his shadow in my greatest zombie! With power like that... Oars would be unstoppable! Kishishishi!"