On the coast!
On the Sunny!
Luffy gazed at the castle on the island and said to everyone,
"The person who stole Brook's shadow should be in that castle ahead!"
"Let's go straight there!"
As soon as Luffy finished speaking, Nami frowned and said,
"There are so many strange auras on this island!"
"And in the forest ahead, it seems like someone is secretly observing us."
Nami looked a little puzzled.
This island wasn't big, and her Observation Haki, like Luffy's, could cover the entire island.
But what puzzled her was that she sensed many strange auras from this island, feeling like they weren't human.
Luffy, of course, knew what was going on with Nami's confusion.
Those strange auras were all zombies modified by Moriah.
As for the people in the forest, they were all people whose shadows had been taken by Moriah, with nowhere to go, forced to live in hiding there.
Luffy said with a calm expression,
"Can't you hear their voices through your Observation Haki combined with the power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit?"
"Listen, maybe you can find some useful information!"
Under normal circumstances, Observation Haki couldn't hear people talking.
However, due to the special nature of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, it allowed the user to hear others' voices by using electrical signals in conjunction with Observation Haki.
Eneru had mastered this ability at the time, which allowed him to hear all the sounds on Sky Island.
And Luffy later used his heaven-defying comprehension to help Nami learn this ability as well.
Hearing Luffy's reminder, Nami suddenly realized.
"That's right! How could I forget this ability!"
Actually, it wasn't Nami's fault for not remembering; she had only recently mastered this ability and hadn't used it much normally.
So she hadn't thought of this ability for a while.
Now, upon hearing Luffy's reminder, she immediately combined her Observation Haki with her Devil Fruit ability and began listening to the sounds on the island.
...
Deep in the forest.
A group of people gathered, secretly observing a pirate ship on the coast.
After staring at the ship for a while, one of them finally spoke.
"There's no mistake! That flag! They are the Straw Hat crew, whose name has recently resounded throughout the world!"
"Why are they here? Do they have some connection with Moriah?"
"How could that be? Moriah is a Shichibukai, a member of the World Government. The newspapers say the Straw Hat crew has declared war on the World Government, so how could they have any connection with Moriah?!"
"That's right! They must have stumbled in here unintentionally during their normal voyage!"
"Do you think… if we asked them to help us defeat Moriah and get our shadows back, would it be possible?"
Someone said this, and everyone around them immediately looked over.
They saw a person who looked like a zombie, gazing longingly towards the shore.
This group of people called themselves the Victims' Protection Association.
And the person who spoke these words was the association's president.
When the president said such a thing, exclamations immediately rang out around them.
"What are you saying, President? They are the Straw Hat crew! How could such important figures listen to our request?!"
"That's right! And I heard their Captain is one of the Worst Generation. Such a villain could get angry and kill at any moment!"
"That kind of guy is too terrifying, let's think of other ways!"
Everyone held no hope for asking Luffy's crew to help.
But at this moment, another voice suddenly rang out.
"I'll go ask them!"
Hearing this, everyone looked over.
"Captain Laura?!"
"You can't go, Captain Laura! Going to see those kinds of people could mean death!"
"That's right! That crew is too dangerous!"
Facing everyone's dissuasion, Laura remained completely unmoved and said with a resolute expression,
"We've been waiting here for years!"
"Now that we finally have hope of getting our shadows back, how can we just give up like this?"
"Always hiding and living in this dark forest, what's the difference between us and being dead?"
"Even if they kill me, I have to try!"
"I can't wait any longer!"
"You all stay here, I'll go out alone and ask them."
"I will offer all our treasures and ask them to help."
"If I am killed by them, then you all think of other ways to get your shadows back."
...
On the Sunny!
Nami was listening to the sounds on the island when her eyes suddenly turned into the shape of Berries, looking excited and thrilled.
Seeing this, everyone immediately asked in confusion,
"What's wrong, Nami? Did you hear any useful information?"
"What's with your eyes?"
Nami blinked her Berries-shaped eyes and said,
"I already know who our opponent is."
"He is Gekko Moriah, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!"
"It looks like he's the one who stole Brook's and the islanders' shadows."
"Those people are currently discussing coming to ask us for help to defeat Moriah and retrieve their shadows!"
After explaining to everyone, Nami immediately turned to Luffy and said with a determined expression,
"Luffy! We must help them get their shadows back! They are too pitiful!"
Luffy looked at Nami's Berries-shaped eyes, truly speechless.
He knew without a doubt what Nami had heard.
Usopp couldn't help but complain.
"Are you sure you're really doing it because you feel sorry for them?"
However, even though Nami's motives weren't pure, they were already going to help Brook get his shadow back, so helping them was just a bonus.
After knowing their opponent and deciding on their goal, everyone set off together, heading towards the central castle.
...
On a path leading to the castle.
Brook walked quickly, humming a cheerful tune.
As he continued forward, he also cut down every zombie he encountered, liberating their shadows.
As he liberated more and more shadows, someone in the zombie horde quickly recognized him as the "Soul King" who had caused a huge commotion on this island a few years ago, turning it upside down!
After recognizing Brook, all the zombies panicked and fled, with some going to report to the strange executives.
Brook's side.
He was running on the path to the castle, feeling cheerful and light-hearted.
"Today is truly my lucky day!"
"Not only did I meet such good people like Luffy and the others, but I also returned to this island."
"For this moment, I've been training desperately all these years!"
"I'm not the same person I was before!"
"This time…"
"I will definitely defeat that samurai and get my shadow back!"
Brook thought to himself, the figure of a samurai appearing in his mind.
His shadow was inside that samurai.
Last time, he was easily defeated by this samurai and forced to flee the island.
And now, he was going to find this samurai and get his shadow back.
After a brief review of his goal in his mind, Brook looked at the approaching castle, his mood also becoming excited.
"Finally, almost there!"
"Next is to find…"
Brook's words trailed off mid-sentence, and he suddenly froze.
He stared blankly ahead, his heart filled with shock and confusion.
Right in front of him, a large group of people, forming a massive, formidable procession, was walking along the path, heading directly towards him.
And what shocked him the most was that the incredibly tall man leading the group was none other than the man who had cut off his shadow back then.
He was also the existence he feared the most, Gekko Moriah, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!
His gaze quickly swept over everyone around Moriah.
When he had caused a ruckus here before, he had a good understanding of the personnel on this island.
And after recognizing the identities of these people, Brook became even more shocked.
"The Shichibukai, the three strange executives, and hundreds of Zombie Generals are all mobilized…"
Brook clasped his head with both hands, incredibly shocked, and exclaimed in disbelief,
"What on earth is going on?"
Brook racked his brain but couldn't understand this dream-like scene.
When he had caused a commotion on this island before, he hadn't seen Moriah personally intervene.
What major event had happened this time that caused Moriah and all the executives and elite zombies on this island to mobilize?
Just as Brook was wondering, he suddenly saw a figure in the approaching crowd that he would never forget.
"That is…"
Brook exclaimed, his heart trembling.
That figure was precisely the samurai he had just been recalling.
Brook stood rooted to the spot, staring at the approaching figure, even forgetting his earlier shock and fear.
While he was dazed, Absalom suddenly asked Moriah.
"Master! A subordinate just reported that this 'Soul King' has released quite a few more shadows. Should we drive him out first?"
Moriah replied without thinking.
"Don't ask me about such trivial matters, handle it yourself!"
"My current target is only the Straw Hat!"
Hearing Moriah's words, Absalom nodded and prepared to find someone to deal with Brook's problem.
But before he could speak, the samurai Ryuma suddenly offered.
"Leave that guy to me!"
Absalom looked over upon hearing this, and when he saw that it was Ryuma volunteering, his eyes lit up, then he smiled strangely and said.
"Oh?! If it's you, then there's definitely no problem."
"After all, you are the zombie who knows 'Soul King' best!"
"Then... he's yours!"
While looking for someone to deal with Brook, Moriah and his group continued to advance.
After Absalom agreed to let Ryuma fight, they had already reached Brook's side, about to pass him directly.
But at this moment, Brook suddenly flashed and blocked Moriah and the others.
"Wait!"
At this sight, Moriah and his group stopped immediately, looking at Brook in confusion.
Brook continued to speak.
"You just said you were going to find the Straw Hat?"
Brook's voice sounded a bit low.
During the time he spent with Luffy and the others, he already knew that Luffy and his crew were the Straw Hat.
And now, hearing Moriah say he was going to find the Straw Hat, he immediately couldn't just stand by and watch.
How good Luffy and his crew had been to him no longer needed to be said.
He also felt deep gratitude for it.
Therefore, he couldn't just stand by and watch Moriah and his group go trouble the Straw Hat.
Hearing Brook's question, Moriah said.
"That's right!"
"I plan to use the Straw Hat's shadows to create the strongest zombie army!"
"So hurry up and move, don't block my way."
As for Brook, Moriah stated his purpose without any hesitation.
He didn't even put one Brook in his eyes.
And he also believed that Brook must know the difference in strength between them, and would obediently make way after hearing his words.
However, to Moriah's surprise, after Brook heard his words.
Not only did he not make way, but he also drew his sword.
Brook said in a firm, low voice.
"Sorry!"
"If your target is Mr. Luffy and his crew..."
"Then I must stop you here!"
"They have taken great care of me, I cannot let you harm them!"
Hearing Brook's words, Moriah burst into laughter.
"Geh-hee-hee-hee-hee..."
"Do you think you can defeat us?"
Brook didn't hesitate.
"No!"
This answer actually stumped Moriah.
He immediately stopped smiling and looked at Brook in confusion, saying.
"You already know you're no match for us!"
"And you still want to stop us?"
Brook nodded resolutely.
"Yes!"
...0....
"I will stop you, even if it costs me my bones!"
No sooner had Brook finished speaking than he suddenly felt a killing intent approach.
He quickly raised his sword to block.
Clang!
A sound of short weapons clashing rang out.
Ryuma advanced with his sword, repelling Brook.
After repelling Brook, Ryuma said faintly to Moriah and the others behind him.
"This guy is mine!"
"Master, you go ahead!"
Moriah chuckled and led the others to continue forward.
But Brook still didn't give up.
He even temporarily gave up on reclaiming his shadow, and flashed again, blocking Moriah and his crew.
"I won't let you pass!"
However, no sooner had he finished speaking than Ryuma's figure attacked again.
The two sides quickly engaged in a fierce battle.
But it wasn't long.
Moriah and his group had only advanced a short distance when Brook's scarred figure once again blocked their path.
After this repeated several times, Absalom finally couldn't hold back and said angrily.
"Master, let's kill this annoying guy!"
...
Luffy's side!
After they landed on this island, they hadn't walked far before their path was suddenly blocked by a figure that rushed out of the forest.
Luffy recognized at a glance that this person was Laura, one of Big Mom's daughters.
Laura stood with her arms spread, blocking Luffy and his crew.
As if prepared to die, she said with a determined expression.
"Wait! Straw Hat!"
"I have something I need your help with!"
No sooner had Laura finished speaking, and before she could even say what it was.
Nami suddenly rushed over, intimately embracing her and saying with a grin.
"We are willing to help you!"
Nami's action immediately flustered Laura!
She looked at Nami in confusion, her eyes full of bewilderment.
Nami, seeing Laura's expression, also realized and explained with a smile.
"Oh! I just heard your conversation in the forest."
Saying that, Nami spoke towards a few trees nearby where people were hiding.
"You don't need to hide, we found you a long time ago!"
Hearing Nami's words, Laura and everyone behind the trees were extremely shocked.
The people behind the trees came out one after another, shocked at how Nami had discovered them when they hadn't even shown themselves.
Laura, on the other hand, was shocked by what Nami said, that their conversation had been heard.
She looked at Nami in confusion and asked.
"You must have used Observation Haki to find us!"
"But how did you hear us talking?"
Nami smiled upon hearing this and explained.
"I ate a Devil Fruit, and I can use the power of the Devil Fruit to hear others speak."
"Like this..."
Nami even demonstrated it specifically for Laura.
She used Observation Haki to search for nearby targets.
Suddenly, her lips couldn't help but curve upwards, her expression brightened, and she said to Luffy and the others with a smile.
"I've detected Brook's presence."
"He's surrounded by many people."
"Let me listen and see if they're saying anything?"
Nami said, then began to listen to Brook and the sounds around him.
However, after only listening for a moment, her brows couldn't help but furrow, becoming tighter and tighter.
Suddenly, upon hearing something, Nami abruptly looked up in alarm and shouted at Luffy.
"Luffy! This is bad!"
"Brook is about to be killed!" Mountain.