OPTC Chapter 203 Oars
Perona's spirit form drifted cautiously through the air, peeking around walls as she floated along.
Moria had gone to open the cold storage chamber. Reviving a special zombie required some time, so he had instructed her to keep watch nearby and at least stall any intruders until he was done.
But Perona was terrified. As she scouted, she prayed over and over not to run into the one with the gong.
That very same "gong-beater" was now searching Hogback's quarters. The room was covered in portraits of Sindori, the kind taken before she ever became a zombie, free of stitches or scars.
Every table was laid with spotless white tablecloths—clearly so that even if Cindolly spilled food across the surface, Hogback could still eat with peace of mind.
The bookshelf was neatly filled with newspapers covering Cindolly's past, carefully preserved.
Walking a slow circle around the room, Ye Yan muttered, "So this guy's basically a crazed fan? Because his favorite idol had an accident, he turned her corpse into a zombie to keep her by his side? Not sure whether to call that enviable or just pathetic."
Finding no one inside, Ye Yan released his flag spirits. "Go search. The target is someone with ghost powers. According to the info, she's a little pink-haired girl."
"Yes, master."
The flag spirits drifted out in mist form, floating like specters while chattering among themselves.
"So master's finally going after an underage girl?"
"He's lived with Granny Sanxian for so long without confessing, but now in another world he suddenly grows bold."
"Wait, isn't Granny Sanxian technically underage too?"
"Shut up!" Ye Yan flushed red and hurled his Soul Hammer. He was still just a 15-year-old high school student—stuff like that embarrassed him to death.
The flag spirits scattered with a laugh. Joking was one thing, but they still carried out their orders seriously.
Before long, one spirit returned with news. "Master, we found a strange egg-shaped man in an operating room, stitching corpses together."
"That must be the guy who modifies animals and humans to help make zombies. Let's take a look."
Led by the spirit, Ye Yan arrived at the surgical chamber.
"Hohhohhoh! Perfect body! With that swordsman's shadow, this will become my greatest masterpiece yet!" Hogback crooned, oblivious to the chaos outside. With the good soundproofing, he still assumed Moria would handle everything smoothly.
Ye Yan gestured for a spirit to push the door open. He slipped in quietly, swung the hammer, and knocked Hogback unconscious. "Man, this guy really does look like an egg with arms and legs."
He had no interest in the corpses on the operating table. Confirming that Perona wasn't here, he turned to leave.
"Master, this sword looks decent." A flag spirit presented a katana that had been resting beside a corpse.
"I don't use swords… but fine, bring it. Maybe one of the others will like it." Ye Yan didn't know much about weapons from this world—no matter how good the sword, for him it was just a prop.
He continued his search. In an empty corridor, voices suddenly rose.
"Look, flying flags! And a gong!"
"How strange. Could it be Lord Absalom?"
"No way. He's still outside fighting, and he never carried stuff like that."
Ye Yan looked closer. The walls were lined with paintings, stuffed animal heads, even bear rugs across the floor—all of them zombies.
They couldn't see the invisible Ye Yan, but they could see his glowing flags and the Soul Gong. One curious zombie was already reaching for a flag.
"Too many. Troublesome." Ye Yan struck the gong with a clang.
In an instant, every zombie froze where they stood, locked in the exact posture they'd been holding when the sound rang out.
Ye Yan strolled away leisurely. With this level of zombie, unless he lifted the control, they weren't moving again tonight.
Meanwhile, at the turn of the corridor, Perona's spirit body was caught mid-drift. Half of her was stuck outside the wall, half inside, frozen stiff.
"It's… it's the gong-beater!" she screamed in terror. Being immobilized didn't stop her from speaking, and the sound of the gong had frightened her enough to cry out by accident.
"You're the one calling me a gong-beater!" Ye Yan bristled at the insult. He shot forward, Soul Hammer raised to strike.
"Eek!" Perona shrieked. All she could see was a floating hammer about to smash her skull. She tried to flee but couldn't move. "Lord Moria! Help!"
The hammer came down on her head. But Ye Yan held back—she looked like she was only around ten years old. He hadn't meant to kill, only to teach her a lesson.
The blow was swift and heavy. Though she was in spirit form, it still struck true. Pain shot through her head, and she fainted—not from the strike itself, but from sheer terror.
"…She fainted that easily? I was going to ask where her real body was." Ye Yan shook his head. "With nerves this weak, how does she even live on such a creepy island?"
He had no time to ponder. The ground rumbled beneath his feet. Outside the castle, a colossal roar thundered. "Raaagh! Damn shark monster!"
Then, in the same voice, came a confused murmur. "Huh? Why did I curse a shark monster?"
Ye Yan rushed to a window. From this angle, he could clearly see a massive red-skinned giant—about seventy meters tall, with two horns sprouting from his head, long golden hair trailing down his back, and fangs bared in a vicious snarl as he glanced around in puzzlement.
Zhang Da Ye and Shark Chili also saw the giant, but neither panicked. They had already met the eighty-meter bald sea giant back in fishman island. Compared to that, this one wasn't as big.
Still, Zhang Da Ye nudged Shark Chili with his elbow. "That shark monster he cursed—wasn't he talking about you?"
"Eh… I don't have any grudge with this kind of monster. Wait—oh no!" Shark Chili suddenly shrank back to his normal form. "The time limit on my super transformation's up—why now, of all times? I can't use the full power of Shark Giant like this!"
"I'd advise against summoning the Shark Giant anyway," Zhang Da Ye said, pointing at the two zombies Shark Chili had knocked out earlier. "This guy's shadow probably came from one of them. If you summon the Shark Giant, he'll take revenge."
Shark Chili: …
Well, my current form already looks kinda like a shark giant. Maybe I should just leave?
"Eeheeheeheehee~" Moria stood atop the nearest rooftop, staring up at the towering giant. "You're finally awake, Oars! I am your master. Obey my orders—defeat my enemies, and help me become the Pirate King!"
This was the demon giant Oars, known as the "Nation-Puller." In life, he loved nothing more than conquering kingdoms and hauling entire islands back to his homeland.
[Please give powerstones if you're enjoying the story.
500 stones = 1 extra chapter
patreon com/GuessMyName33 for up to 40 chapters ahead]