Franky and Porche stared down Tararan who had a twisted grin.
"You took them," Porche said. She thought he was behind all the kidnappings.
"Monkey monkey," Tararan cackled. "You'll suffer the same fate. No one escapes the web of Thriller Bark," he added. "Invulnerable zombies are closing in from both sides. You're surrounded. Give up," he added.
Franky narrowed his eyes. "That massive spiderweb that trapped Sunny when we landed… that was your doing?" he asked.
"Of course," Tararan replied proudly. *All part of Perona-sama's ghost network we know everything," he added.
Just then, a number of zombie knights emerged behind them.
"We are surrounded," Porche said. "We need to act fast," she added.
"Act fast is what I do," Franky responded. "Coup de Vent," Franky shouted as slammed his hands together. A small cannon appeared in between his palms. Then Franky blasted of compressed air erupted beneath them, shattering the bridge.
The bridge gave way, and they all began to fall.
"Well, that's one way to escape," Porche muttered.
"We're falling." Franky shouted.
Porche quickly pulled a rope from her bag and hurled it toward a nearby ledge. She grabbed Franky mid-drop and swung them both across.
"Nice thinking," Franky said as they soared. However the angle was off. Franky slammed face-first into the ledge and onto the platform.
Porche landed hard on her backside. "Ow…" she winced.
As they caught their breath, Porche heard something from the sky. She pointed up. "What's that?" she asked
"Is someone falling?" Franky asked.
They saw a skeletal figure plummeting from the sky. He crash-landed onto the ground, kicking up a massive cloud of dust.
Tararan reeled back. His eyes were wide. He thought what was that. He shrugged his shoulders and looked up. He saw Franky and Porche across the path.
"You're not getting away," Tararan snarled as he unleashed spider webs in every direction. In seconds, he had spun a network of threads and climbed. "That interruption was annoying but you're mine now," he added.
Franky pulled out a pair of massive knuckle-chucks. "Porche, hold him off for a second," he said as he walked into the building.
"Okay, I will try," Porche replied as she stood up. Her legs were wobbling.
"Where do you think you're going?" Tararan growled. "Spider Sticky Net," he said as he raised his palm and fired a web toward Porche.
Porche dodged the attack. She barely avoided the sticky strands that splattered against the ground.
"Too slow," Tararan sneered. "Spider Sticky Net," he said once again as he shot another web out. Porche rolled to the side as she dodged again. She was panting.
Then, Franky reappeared. He swung the massive knuckle-chucks which had pillars on each end. "I found your nice pillars," he said. "They are perfect for a monster like you," he added.
"What?" Tararan said.
"Heavy Knuckle-Chuck," Franky said as slammed one of the pillars into Tararan's face.
Tararan was too slow to react. The blow sent him crashing into his own web. There was blood spraying from his mouth.
Franky then leapt into the air and brought the second pillar down hard. He hit his head. Tararan's eyes bulged as the impact rattled his skull.
Then, Franky followed up with a lef hit to the face and then right hit to the face. Tararan's body swung like a ragdoll.
"Stop it," Tararan roared as he raised his palm. "Sticky Spider Net," he added as webs shot out and tangled around Franky's weapons. They were yanked to the ground.
Franky gritted his teeth. "Weapons Left," he said as his arm opened. He launched a missile straight into Tararan's face.
The missile hit his face and a cloud of smoke erupted as Tararan was blasted backward.
"Franky," Porche screamed.
Franky turned and he saw Porche was tangled in a spider web. Her body was bound tightly. Tiny spiders crawled around her.
"What are those things?" Franky asked.
"Mouse," they hissed in unison.
"I am coming," Franky said as he charged towards her. However, Tararan fired another web, pinning Franky to the ground.
"Damn it," Franky growled as he struggled against the sticky threads.
Tararan rose up once more. He started to laugh. "Monkey monkey. Those are my subordinates, the Spider Mice," he said. "There are over 500 of them on Thriller Bark. We wait in silence, in shadows, in webs, to take them away," he laughed. "Our threads are modified so no human can break them," he added.
At that moment, they heard a voice which echoed through the air. "Yohohoho… Yoohoo."
"Who's there?" Tararan snapped as he looked around.
"Going to deliver Bink's Sake," Brook sang as he stepped into view with his sword drawn. "It's time to end this battle," he added.
"Three-Pace Hum Notch Slash," Brook said as he put his sword back.
Tararan froze, then blood erupted from the center of his body. Tararan collapsed to the cobwebs once more.
"It's not over," Franky warned. "He's a zombie. He'll get back up," he added as he struggled to get free.
Porche watched as Brook took the spider down.
Tararan staggered. "You… wait. I've seen you before," he said.
"Worry not," Brook said calmly. "I've finished him off," he added as he stood still.
"Finished him off?" Franky asked.
"Yes. These zombies have a weakness," Brook explained.
"A weakness?" Porche echoed.
Tararan's mouth opened wide as a black shadow emerged. It rose into the air.
Franky and Porche looked surprised. "What is that?" Porche asked.
"That's the soul leaving the body," Brook said. "He's been purified," he added.
Tararan's body collapsed onto the webs. He was lifeless.
"Commander Tararan," the Spider Mice cried in unison. They all looked shocked.
"What did you do?" Porche asked.
"Purification," Brook replied. "All it takes is salt, thrown into their mouths," he added.
"And the webs?" Franky asked.
"Strong against physical force but fire melts them," Brook responded.
Franky blew flames from his mouth. The webs dissolved instantly. "You were right," Franky said. Franky blew the flames from his mouth and helped free Porche.
"Thank you," Porche responded. She looked at the tower. "We need to go after Luffy and the others," Porche said.
"If their shadows were taken," Brook said. "They should've been safely escorted back to your shp," he said.
"Then let's head there," Porche said.
Franky nodded. "We need to regroup," he said. "Are you coming with us?" Franky asked.
"I have one thing to do," Brook replied.