"Let's keep going," Alvida commanded as the group charged up the winding staircase.
"Where did Zoro and Sanji go?" Usopp asked as he looked around.
"I heard Sanji muttering something like 'Not Ben… not him, '" Honey replied.
"There were flames on him," Conis added.
"I saw Zoro running in the opposite direction," Robin added calmly.
"He's lost again," Usopp groaned.
"Zoro does get lost," Vivi said with a sigh.
"All the time," Zala confirmed as she ran up the stairs.
"But what did Sanji mean by 'not Ben'?" Porche asked.
Mikita smirked. "We know exactly what he meant," she said.
"Poor guy," Maya said.
Alvida rolled her eyes. *"He's a man. He'll learn what it means to lose eventually," Alvida responded.
Usopp blinked. "What are you all talking about?" he muttered.
They reached the top of the stairs and burst through a set of broken doors, revealing a long, narrow bridge.
"They should be up there," Usopp said as he pointed towards a tower in the distance.
"I think Luffy went that way," Vivi added.
"I'm worried about the skeleton," Franky said. "Brook's fighting that samurai alone," he added.
Everyone nodded and dashed across the bridge.
Suddenly, a massive leg crashed down from above and shattered the bridge with a thunderous impact.
"Watch out," Alvida shouted as she dived out of the way.
The group split instinctively, leaping in opposite directions as the bridge collapsed beneath them.
They landed in two separate clusters. On one side there was Kalifa, Honey, Alvida, Mikita and Franky. To the other side was Vivi, Maya, Conis, Zala, Raki, Robin, Usopp and Porche.
"Everyone okay?" Vivi called out as she helped Maya to her feet.
"We're good," Mikita replied as she brushed the dust off her shoulder.
They looked up and saw a towering red mass blocking them.
"What is that?" Raki asked as she looked at it.
"A wall?" Franky guessed as he squinted through the fog.
Usopp's face went pale. "No… it's Oars," he shouted.
The colossal zombie turned slowly. "MEAT," he roared as his voice shook the entire structure.
"He's gigantic," Conis whispered.
"Is he taller than the Beam Stork?" Raki muttered.
"Moria's been hiding his experiments," Kalifa said as she adjusted her glasses.
"I can see Luffy's shadow inside him," Vivi murmured as she watched the giant's movements.
Alvida narrowed her eyes. "He hasn't noticed us yet. Let's regroup in the center," she said.
"Got it," Vivi shouted. Maya, Conis, Zala, Raki, Robin, Usopp, and Porche nodded and sprinted forward.
"We should go too," Alvida said.
"Yes." Honey replied as she nodded.
"Why does something that big have to be in our way?" Mikita sighed.
"There are always obstacles," Alvida said calmly.
"I know," she responded. "Never easy with us," Mikita giggled.
"Some of them are just… absurdly large," Kalifa added.
"That is not the only thing large," Alvida said.
Then the group descended into an open hall. It was dark, cracked, and lined with broken statues. At that moment, a squad of armored zombies emerged. They carried swords and shields raised.
"Who are they?" Honey asked.
John drank his bottle down and laughed.
"They are those tough ones which gave us trouble before," Franky said grimly.
"They look tougher than the ones we fought before," Mikita added as she cracked her knuckles.
The zombies charged.
"Liquid Bullet Barrage," Honey shouted as she made the shape of a gun with her hands. She fired a stream of purple liquid bullets. They struck several zombies and knocked them off balance.
"Storm Leg," Mikita shouted as she launched a high-speed kick. A compressed blade of wind shot forward and sliced through a zombie's chest who was holding a sword. It sent him flying back into the wall.
"Kanabo Swing," Alvida roared as she gripped her iron mace and delivered a crushing blow to a zombie's helmet which fell off his head. It clattered across the floor.
"Compression Finger Pistol Whip," Kalifa said as she pulled her arm back and snapped it forward like a whip. Her strike landed squarely on a zombie's jaw. She forced its mouth open.
Alvida tossed a cube of salt into his mouth. The zombie gagged, then convulsed as its shadow tore free and vanished.
Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from the floor above.
Zoro flew backward and slammed into a pillar and slid down. There was blood trickling from his forehead.
"Zoro," Honey said as she looked up.
"He's not having a good time," Mikita muttered.
"Yohohoho…" Ryuma's voice echoed from above.
"You can't beat us," Jigoro added as he held his sword.
"Two against one?" Kalifa said.
That's Zoro's zombie, isn't it?" Honey asked.
"Yes it is," Franky confirmed.
"Alvida, you got to go help him," Mikita urged.
"Already on it," Alvida said as she sprinted towards the stairs.
John lunged at her with his sword raised.
Kalifa reacted instantly. "Lovethorn," she shouted as she lashed her whip and knocked the blade aside.
"You want me?" John grinned as he took another drink.
Gill Bastar raised his gun. Honey saw this. "Liquid Air Blast," Honey said as she launched a torrent of purple liquid that slammed into him. He was sent skidding across the floor.
Ganzui raised his weapon. "Gravity Stomp!" Mikita shouted as she leapt into the air and increased her weight to boulder-level mass. She came down hard. Her foot connected with Ganzui's chest. The impact sent a shockwave through the hall. It rattled the floor and knocked several zombies off their feet. "You will face us," she said.
At that moment, Alvida reached the upper level.
Zoro was standing. He was panting and blood dripping from his brow. "You're late," he muttered.
Alvida jumped and swung her mace at Jigoro, who blocked the attack with his blade.
"I've got him," Alvida said as she looked at him.
Zoro turned to Ryuma. He held his swords. "No more interference," he said.
"No more," Ryuma replied as he held his sword. It was a dark blade.
"That is a nice sword you have," Zoro said as he held his two swords.