Jerry was right. The figures hiding in the woods were indeed people, not zombies. But as they stepped out from behind the gnarled trees, a deeply unsettling detail became apparent: in the dim, filtered light of the forest, none of them cast a shadow. They were a motley crew of pirates and sailors, all bearing the same haunted, sun-starved look. They were victims.
As Jerry's gaze settled on their hiding spot, a hushed, frantic conversation erupted from the darkness.
"Big Sis, I think he spotted us."
"Then we should go out and greet them."
"Wait a moment! That afro skeleton… it's moving and talking! How bizarre!"
"Who cares about that? The man next to him is gorgeous! I'm going to propose!"
Before the others could react, a large woman with wild pink hair and a surprisingly hopeful expression burst from behind a tree. She marched directly toward Jerry, her eyes sparkling with determination. Jerry felt a flicker of vague recognition, a fuzzy memory from his knowledge of the future, but he couldn't place her just yet. She was followed by a group of men dressed in a variety of mismatched pirate attire.
"Ah, they're really human! What a relief," Brook sighed, patting his bony chest. His relief was short-lived, however, as he caught sight of a staggering, shriveled old man at the front of the crowd. With a terrified yelp, the skeleton spun around to flee, only to be grabbed firmly by the collar by Jerry.
"Look closer, Brook," Jerry said calmly. "That's not a zombie. It's an old man who's been badly injured."
"Ahem, yes, that's right, young man," the withered elder rasped, clearly impressed by Jerry's sharp observation. He then glared at the trembling skeleton. "And besides, you, a walking pile of bones, are far scarier to look at than I am!"
Hearing the voice, Brook, who was still trying desperately to run while being held in place, finally stopped and turned back. "How is anyone supposed totell the difference? You look more like a zombie than an actual zombie! You scared me to death—again!"
Ignoring the bizarre argument between the two men who looked anything but normal, Jerry addressed the rest of the group. "Who are you people? What are you doing out here?"
Before anyone else could answer, the large woman stepped forward, her hands clasped over her heart as she beamed at Jerry. "I've fallen completely in love with you! Please, marry me!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Jerry crossed his arms in an 'X'. "No."
"Ah, Captain, you've been rejected again," one of two shorter, nearly identical men beside the woman sighed. "Is this the 4,000th time now?"
The other man ignored his captain's romantic failure and addressed Jerry politely. "Hello. We are the Victims' Alliance, a group of people who have had their shadows stolen by Gecko Moria. We've been forced to hide here in this forest ever since."
He pointed first to the tall, lovelorn woman. "This is our leader, Captain Lola of the Rolling Pirates." Then he gestured to the zombie-like old man. "And this is Spoil, the honorary chairman of our alliance."
It all clicked for Jerry. Captain Lola. One of Big Mom's daughters. His foreknowledge had served him well. "I see," he said. "What is it you want with us?"
One of the shorter men, who introduced themselves as the Risky Brothers, pointed at Brook's feet. "It's like this. We saw that you still have your shadow, but your skeletal friend here does not. We figured you must be headed for the mansion."
"As victims, we've lived without seeing the sun for over a year," the other brother continued, his voice grim. "We desperately want this nightmare to end, but we also can't stand by and watch more innocent people walk into a trap. So, if you don't know what you're up against, or if you lack the strength to face one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, we urge you to turn back now."
Despite their strange appearances, their intentions seemed genuine. They were kindly warning him. Jerry scratched his head, doing a quick mental calculation. "You landed here more than a year ago, you said? That explains it."
"Explains what?" Lola asked, tilting her head.
A year ago, I was just starting out, Jerry thought to himself. I was still a complete nobody. No wonder they don't recognize me. While he wasn't yet a household name across the world, he had certainly made a reputation for himself on the Grand Line since then. He decided not to dwell on it, lest he come off as narcissistic.
"I know all about Moria," Jerry announced, his voice ringing with confidence. "And I'm on my way to defeat him and get my friend's shadow back."
His declaration stunned the entire alliance. They glanced from Jerry's confident face to Brook's feet, confirming again that there was indeed no shadow there. A spark of hope ignited in their eyes.
"Wait, really? Brother, do you need our help?" one of them asked eagerly.
"We haven't been idle this whole time!" another added. "We've gathered a lot of intelligence on Moria and this island!"
Even with his own knowledge, Jerry wasn't one to dismiss valuable, on-the-ground intelligence. "Is that so? I know a fair bit myself, but I'm willing to listen. Tell me everything you know."
The alliance members exchanged wary glances. Though impressed by Jerry's confidence, they needed to be sure. They couldn't afford to pin their hopes on a man who was all talk.
"Alright," one of the Risky Brothers said, stepping forward with his twin. "But first, you have to prove you have the strength to back up those words. You have to defeat us. Otherwise, we still have to advise you to leave."
"Fine by me," Jerry said with a nod, tucking his thumbs into his pockets.
His casual, almost bored demeanor seemed to irk the two pirates. "We are the Risky Brothers of the Rolling Pirates! Don't you dare underestimate us!" they shouted in unison.
"Here we come! Hah!"
They charged forward, their forms practiced but lacking any real power. Jerry didn't even bother to reach for the fishing rod on his back. As the first brother closed in, Jerry casually lifted a leg and sent him flying with a single, precise kick. The second brother met the exact same fate a second later.
The outcome was decided in an instant. The Risky Brothers climbed to their feet, groaning in pain as the rest of the alliance stared in shock.
"Haha! As expected of the man I've chosen!" Lola cheered.
Jerry immediately put some distance between them. "Let's not get carried away. To be honest, you are not my type."
"Ooh! Mr. Jerry, does that mean you prefer men?" Brook chimed in, ever the instigator.
Jerry shot him an annoyed look. "Don't be ridiculous. Why don't you ask her if you can see her panties instead?"
Brook glanced at Lola, who was blinking in confusion. His non-existent throat made a gulping sound. For a moment, the sheer presence of Captain Lola had almost cured him of his lifelong habit.
"It seems even the skeleton has rejected you, Captain Lola," the Risky Brothers snickered, earning them a sharp glare from their captain that silenced them instantly. Lola turned back to Jerry.
"Alright, you've proven yourself. I'll tell you what we know."
After they finished their detailed explanation of Moria's Shadow-Shadow Fruit abilities—how he created zombies and how living people could temporarily absorb shadows to gain power—Jerry stroked his chin thoughtfully. Their information matched what he already knew.
"I see. Thanks for the intel," he said with an appreciative wave.
"Wait, that's it?" one of the Risky Brothers asked, startled. "Aren't you going to try it? Stuffing a few shadows into your body? It gives you a massive power boost! Most people can only handle two or three, but it makes you much stronger for about ten minutes."
They explained that a living person infused with a shadow would temporarily gain the original owner's fighting skills and physical strength.
Jerry shook his head firmly, a wry smile on his face. "Thanks, but no thanks. I'd rather rely on my own strength than borrow power from someone else." He patted the fishing rod on his back. "Besides, I have a strict policy about not letting other people's things inside my body."
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