Devil's Triangle, Fog-Shrouded Sea
Thriller Bark, the Ghost Ship and Central Castle
"Ge hee hee… hee… hee…"
A massive shadow loomed within the darkened hall of the castle.
Its round belly swayed gently, its long pointed head hidden in the shifting shadows as it gazed down upon three grotesque figures kneeling below.
"They have arrived… finally."
The deep, distorted laughter echoed through the chamber.
"This makes me so happy. If I obtain that man's shadow, I will become truly invincible."
Greed burned fiercely within the triangular eyes of the giant figure.
"Power that rivals the Four Emperors. A bounty worth five billion Berries. With that shadow, I will become the Pirate King."
A face flashed through his memory.
A nightmare carved into his very soul.
Kaido.
"Ge hee hee… hee… hee…"
The laughter twisted with hatred.
"This time… I will return every tragedy that was forced upon me. Exactly as it happened. Damn you, Kaido!"
The three figures below him bowed with excitement.
"Congratulations, Moria sama!"
The colossal shadow was none other than Gekko Moria, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
After a few more chilling bursts of laughter, Moria turned his gaze to the floating girl holding a pink parasol.
Smoky makeup framed her eyes as several tiny spirits drifted lazily beside her.
Perona.
The Ghost Princess.
User of the Hollow-Hollow Fruit.
"Perona, your power is the key to our victory," Moria said slowly.
"Even the strongest warriors can repel your negative hollows using Haki. But if you strike from the shadows, even Kaido himself would be dragged into despair for a brief moment. That instant is all I need."
A vicious grin spread across his face.
"When that monster loses the will to resist, Absalom, you take Hogback and approach while invisible. Hogback will bind him using Sea Prism Stone chains."
His voice trembled with madness.
"Then I will carve out his shadow using the power of the Shadow-Shadow Fruit, and implant it into Number 900."
His breathing turned ragged.
"Do you understand what that means? The legendary body from five hundred years ago, Oz the Demon, combined with the shadow of the Fifth Emperor."
"The Pirate King… will be me!"
Perona clutched her parasol tightly, eyes brimming with excitement.
"Moria sama… that sounds amazing!"
Dr. Hogback revealed jagged teeth as he laughed.
"You endured everything until this moment. At last, you can return to the New World with pride and take revenge on that cursed Emperor Kaido."
Absalom clenched his altered beast-like fists, eyes burning.
"We will stand at the pinnacle of the world, Master! And I will become the king of all graveyards! Roar!"
"Ge hee hee… hee… hee…"
Moria's laughter filled the chamber once more.
"Heh."
Suddenly, a calm voice drifted in from above.
"Your plan is impressive. But have you considered what happens if your target refuses to follow your script?"
"Who's there?!"
The four figures snapped their heads toward the high window.
There was no one there.
Dr. Hogback stiffened.
"Was that… an illusion?"
Moria slowly rose to his feet.
His smile vanished completely.
His Observation Haki flared outward.
"No. Someone is here."
Cold sweat rolled down his face.
Ever since his defeat in the New World, his strength had greatly declined.
His instincts had dulled.
Yet now, a sharp sense of death pressed against his spine.
"Show yourself, you bastard!"
Absalom scanned the room nervously.
"Master, there's no one here. It's just us."
Perona released several ghosts that swept across the hall.
"I found nothing. It is like the intruder is completely invisible, just like Absalom."
"Invisible…"
Moria's heart jolted violently.
Only one person fit that possibility.
"Shirogai!"
His gaze shot upward as panic surged into his voice.
"It's you! You stole Absalom's Clear-Clear Fruit ability, didn't you?!"
The three subordinates froze in horror.
"The Fifth Emperor is here?"
Fear spread instantly.
The man with the five-billion-Berries bounty.
The one rumored to have defeated Kaido and Big Mom.
The monster the Marines secretly called their strongest weapon.
They had planned to hunt him.
Yet now, he had walked into their trap alone.
"You noticed quickly."
A figure slowly materialized in front of them.
A tall man clad in a tailored black suit.
His silver-white eyes reflected the torchlight with quiet authority.
Shirogai Yamikuro.
Moria staggered backward.
"It really is you… Shirogai!"
His lips twisted into a manic grin.
"Arrogant Emperor. You actually dared to come here alone!"
Shirogai's expression remained calm, almost amused.
"I'm already here. Are you not going to proceed with your grand plan?"
Absalom moved instantly.
"Invisible Barrage!"
Mounted launchers embedded into his arms fired simultaneously.
The cannon shells were unseen, tearing through the air and slamming directly into Shirogai's body.
A violent explosion swallowed him in roaring flames.
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