Chapter 158: Hollow-Hollow Fruit, Shadow's Asgard
In the ruins of the Guest Hall.
"Is my head still there?"
Brook, landing safely supported by a gust of wind, looked at the ruins around him.
"Oh! Still there, scared me to death—oh wait, I'm already dead... yo..."
After frantically rubbing his skull to confirm he was 'alive', and just about to make another skull joke, Brook heard laughter nearby.
"Yohohoho!"
Looking up, he saw an ice block that had fallen with him.
Inside the ice block, the zombie swordsman holding a black blade was laughing exactly like him.
At this moment, the 'Salt Snow' from the sky was still falling.
Naturally, some snow fell into the other's mouth.
"!!!"
Brook's eyes widened incredulously.
He knew what this meant.
"You succeeded."
But now, the zombie named 'Ryuma' spoke unexpectedly calmly.
Brook's shadow was leaving his mouth.
"However, may I ask... what is the name of the person above?"
His voice became deep and sharp, like a tempered sword, carrying the sound of metal just by speaking.
Faintly, Brook realized.
Speaking to him now wasn't his shadow.
But the remaining consciousness of the body's original owner.
The world's greatest swordsman of his time—'Shimotsuki Ryuma'.
"I don't know the details either—but as far as I know, his name is Ryuji."
Brook answered softly.
"Ryuji..."
Shimotsuki Ryuma murmured. "Are there many guys like him on the sea?"
"I'm not sure about that, but—"
Brook, having stayed in the Florian Triangle for years, wasn't sure about the outside world.
But recalling the news from the lost News Coo and the whispers of zombies...
"A powerhouse like Ryuji-dono, there are likely twelve in his organization. There should be more on the sea, right?"
Brook guessed.
"Is that so?"
Ryuma smiled. "Are there so many strong ones worth cutting in this era?"
His words carried fighting spirit and loneliness.
He didn't seem to mind Moria desecrating his corpse—or rather, he was happy about it.
Being able to wield a sword again was enough for a swordsman.
"Pity, your shadow is too weak."
"Ah, sorry."
As the words fell, Brook saw the shadow fly out of Ryuma's mouth completely, landing at his feet.
"Re... returned!"
Seeing his shadow return after years almost made Brook cry—oh wait, he had no tears.
He hopped around excitedly to confirm his shadow mimicked his movements and wouldn't attack him, finally settling down.
Then...
"But Moria's ability hasn't been canceled... means he's not dead yet?"
Brook realized this.
He looked up.
There, against the backdrop of gales and thunder, Ryuji, surrounded by Flame Clouds with a tail like a blade, hovered in the sky.
"Mm, looks like Ryuji-dono doesn't need my help."
Brook confirmed.
So...
"That person didn't destroy his corpse, there must be a reason..."
Brook looked at Ryuma's corpse and thought of what he could do. "In that case, I'll watch over the corpse for him."
Just then...
"Though power regressed, vitality is tenacious."
Ryuji, hovering in the sky, scanned below.
He sensed Moria wasn't dead.
Just then...
"Brick Bat!"
From the ruins below, a swarm of bats formed from shadow fragments flew toward Ryuji.
Ryuji didn't move.
BOOM!
Thunder struck before him, dispersing the bat swarm instantly.
But upon dispersal, the bats turned into black fog spreading abruptly.
Clearly—they weren't meant to harm Ryuji, but to block his vision.
And it worked.
"Haha..."
Inside the ruins.
Moria, with a caved-in chest and a hole in it, coughing blood.
Most of his massive body was wrapped in shadows to hide his tracks; his hand trembled as he supported himself on rocks, moving forward.
"Monster... monster... must escape... I... I can't die here..."
Clearly, Moria had no will to fight left.
The zombie army he prepared for nearly a decade was annihilated instantly.
Just one strike, and he was heavily injured.
Pain and fear of death replaced his rage completely.
"I can't die... I must survive... no matter what... cough..."
Though his vision blurred and consciousness faded, he persisted.
He had to escape, no matter what.
But then...
BOOM!
Thunder exploded in the sky.
Moria, struggling to walk, saw through the flash of lightning—above his massive shadow, the reflection of a half-dragon, half-human shadow.
"..."
Moria looked up instinctively.
He saw the figure looking down at him with vertical pupils through the mist.
The immense pressure almost suffocated Moria.
"Going... to die?"
He thought.
Just then...
"Lord Moria—you monster, stay away from Lord Moria!"
A shrill voice came.
Next moment, Moria saw ghosts flying toward Ryuji and exploding.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Strong shockwaves came, then a figure appeared before him.
"Lord Moria!"
A girl flying in the air, wearing a crown, pigtails, holding an umbrella.
"Perona..."
Life returned to Moria's dim eyes.
"Lord Moria, your injuries..."
'Ghost Princess' Perona covered her mouth seeing Moria's hideous wounds.
She didn't know what happened—she was sleeping but woke up due to the storm and tremors.
Checking the surroundings with her ability, she found Thriller Bark unrecognizable.
Massive lightning craters everywhere, all zombies killed by salt snow, traces of ice and magma everywhere.
Only now, seeing Moria's state, did she understand vaguely.
"That guy... I remember seeing in the paper, 'The Zodiac' Ryuji?"
Perona took a deep breath.
"Lord Moria..."
Her voice trembled but remained firm. "You go first... I... I'll hold him off."
Without waiting for Moria's answer, she turned decisively toward Ryuji.
[Devil Fruit User 'Perona' Discovered]
[Confirmed Devil Fruit: 'Paramecia · Hollow-Hollow Fruit' (Horo Horo no Mi), analyzing...]
[Fruit Ability: Summon spirits (hollows), affect emotions, create shockwaves.]
[Effects by Level]
[LV3: Gain full fruit effect. Summon incorporeal spirits sharing vision with user. Spirits cannot touch biological or physical matter, only other 'soul creations'. Spirits can induce 'Negative Emotions'. Requires 400 Million Berries for Unlock.]
[LV4: Deep-Dive Development. Enhance spirit energy. Explode spirits to create shockwaves. Project own soul as a clone. Control size of created spirits. Requires 1.2 Billion Berries for Unlock.]
[LV5: Fruit Awakening · Soul Shock. Create more spirits in the environment. Spirits can move further from user. User's attacks directly affect opponent's emotions and soul, causing 'Soul Confusion'. Requires 5.5 Billion Berries for Unlock.]
[Analysis Progress: 0%]
Hearing the Fruit Encyclopedia, Ryuji looked at the girl calmly.
"Ho, not running away but approaching me instead?"
He looked at Perona. "You will die."
"Shut... shut up!"
Perona trembled all over.
She knew who was in front of her—a monster with a bounty of over 2 billion, a Top Executive of The Zodiac.
In fact, when receiving the World Government's 'Special Order', she advised Moria not to provoke The Zodiac—too dangerous.
But clearly...
Now, she had no choice.
"Not allowed to chase Lord Moria—Negative Hollow... Ah, what's with this wind?"
Seeing this, Ryuji waited for the analysis while feeling somewhat moved.
Though Moria had many problems, his subordinates' loyalty was rare in the pirate world.
Or rather—Moria was one of the members present at Roger's execution in Loguetown.
Despite his current state, perhaps he still had some unique charisma.
Just then...
"Perona..."
Looking at Perona trying to attack Ryuji but almost blown away by the wind.
Moria's outstretched hand trembled.
But finally, he gritted his teeth, turning to leave.
His steps staggered, thoughts becoming more blurred.
Faintly...
Splash!
He seemed to hear the sound of the sea.
And some familiar yet strange words.
"Samurai of Ringo, follow Lord Moria—repel the Beast Pirates, protect our home!"
"Lord Moria, defeat Kaido!"
"Don't worry, we are the 'Gecko Pirates', Captain Moria will become the Pirate King!"
"Kishishishi, don't judge me by appearance, I'm technically part of the 'Kozuki Clan', just grew up overseas!"
"Of course we believe you! You know the Kozuki Clan's ancient texts, stonemason skills, and legends—that's why we follow you!"
"Hey, let's have a banquet after winning this, invite the Oirans!"
Before Moria's eyes, sword lights flashed.
CLANG!
The sound of the mace 'Hassaikai' colliding with the Odachi 'Moonlight'.
And finally...
CRACK!
The crisp sound of a breaking blade.
"Lord Moria! Run!"
"I'll hold him off, Lord Moria!"
"You must live, Lord Moria!"
"Only you can defeat Kaido, please leave us and run!"
Yes.
After that crushing defeat, there was no 'Kozuki Moria', only 'Gecko Moria'.
Everyone thought the hero of the overseas Kozuki Clan who fought Kaido died in that battle.
But no one knew.
At the end of that battle, the defeated hero chose to run under his comrades' cover.
Comrades died before his eyes to protect him.
Memories painful just to recall.
But...
"What is this..."
Moria muttered.
Memories seemed to merge with reality.
Like in the past, comrades he thought he wouldn't lose were easily lost before him.
Like in the past, comrades bought him time to escape.
"Boring fantasies created to escape reality... did you start believing them?"
Ryuji's words earlier slapped his face heavily.
He felt his mind clear instantly.
Yes.
Zombie army, Pirate King, Warlord—just fantasies to escape reality.
Thinking about it...
"Nothing has changed, has it?"
Moria stopped, turning around.
He saw scattered rocks, countless ugly corpses, the desolate island, and the perpetual fog outside.
He suddenly realized how dark and rotten this place was.
When he saw that man executed in Loguetown and decided to set sail... he never imagined he would end up in such a place.
Moments later.
"Hm?"
[Successfully Analyzed 'Hollow-Hollow Fruit', Current Level LV1]
Hearing this, Ryuji used the wind to grab Perona casually.
He sensed a change below.
Then...
THUD! THUD!
With heavy footsteps, blood-soaked Moria walked out.
"Hey—Ryuji, I'm here."
He looked up at Ryuji.
"Lord... Lord Moria, didn't I tell you to run? Your body..."
Perona shouted, seeing Moria's hideous wounds.
"Shut up, Perona!"
Moria roared, interrupting her. "This is an enemy I attracted; of course, I should deal with him!"
Then, Moria looked at Ryuji again. "The Captain of the Gecko Pirates is still here... don't think about attacking my subordinate."
Hearing Moria, Ryuji looked at him with surprise.
Then he saw...
Moria's body was still fat, movements still slow.
But a faint spirit seemed to emanate from him.
And his eyes had become extremely sharp.
That was the look of 'Resolve'.
VMMM!
From beneath Moria, the black shadow 'Doppelman' rose.
But this time, it didn't guard Moria or attack Ryuji.
On the contrary.
It turned into a shadow ball slowly, then...
Moria picked it up and put it in his mouth under Ryuji's surprised gaze.
CRUNCH!
He bit it and swallowed.
[Paramecia · Shadow-Shadow Fruit]
[LV5: Fruit Awakening · Shadow's Asgard - Can swallow all shadows in the nearby area, gaining immense power, physique, and corresponding combat skills. However, more shadows require greater mental control, or the ability goes out of control.]
[Can also choose to swallow one's own shadow, gaining power equal to 200 shadows. Since it's one's own shadow, it won't go out of control; instead, perfect control and shaping of shadow power is achieved. But losing the shadow makes one fear sunlight.]
Seeing this, Ryuji wasn't too surprised.
He knew Moria had awakened his fruit long ago—not surprising for a top pirate who fought Kaido.
Even after falling, he was still a Warlord.
What surprised him was... In the original story, Moria swallowed 1000 shadows, gaining power to shatter an island but lost due to lack of control.
But now... he swallowed his Own Shadow.
The meaning was clear.
He finally chose to believe in his own power, not fighting through others.
"This looks a bit better."
Ryuji nodded, commenting.
The next moment, he landed slowly.
Amidst the pouring 'White Snow', they faced each other.
VMMM!
Moria raised his hand gently. A black shadow katana appeared slowly.
[Shadow · Moonlight]
Holding the katana, Moria's long-lost Haki wrapped around it slowly.
VMMM!
VMMM!
The blade hummed like a dragon's roar.
"My swordsmanship is named 'Moonlight Style'—created to slay dragons."
Moria took a deep breath, gripping the massive katana tightly.
"What a coincidence—my codename is Dragon."
Ryuji smiled.
He raised his hand gently too.
BOOM!
Roaring thunder landed in his hand, forming a spear.
On the spear... frost, magma, gale, smoke flowed and changed constantly.
"However, I don't think you can cut me."
"Try and see!"
As words fell, both figures rushed toward each other.
"Moonlight Style · Dragon Slayer Slash!"
"Red Dragon · Spear of Heaven!"
☆☆☆
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