Inside Dr. Hogback's mansion.
"Huh? Why are these unkillable guys all lying here like statues?"
Luffy stood on his tiptoes, pointing at the portrait zombies hanging crookedly on the walls. Just moments ago, they had attacked him with twisted grins. Now, they were completely motionless.
"Hey! Hey! Wake up already! Don't play dead!"
"This place is way too terrifying!"
Usopp shuddered as he hid behind a thick stone pillar. His eyes darted fearfully across the walls that should have held elegant paintings, but instead displayed grotesque, lifeless corpses.
"Is this some kind of hell?!"
"…"
Nami, clad in striking golden armor that shimmered faintly in the candlelight, used her gilded Climate Baton to poke the carpet where Kuma's bear-shaped body was curled up.
Her brows lifted in shock.
"What kind of cursed place is this? Even the bearskin carpet is actually a living monster."
"Whoa!!!"
Sanji spun around her in excitement, eyes sparkling.
"Nami-swaaaan in sexy golden armor, you look even more beautiful than ever!"
…
"Oh no!"
Perona suddenly snapped back into her body. Her eyes flew open as she cried out in panic.
"Moriah took back a huge number of shadows from the zombies and gathered them into himself, but he still lost!"
"As expected…"
Dr. Hogback stroked his heavily modified chin and let out a slow sigh.
"Moriah is still a step behind a true Emperors level monster. Should we use these two as bargaining chips to trade for Moriah's safety?"
"Damn it!"
Absalom kicked Zoro, who was tied tightly to the ground, and snarled:
"You little swordsman brat, if our master dies because of that monster, I will personally take your life!"
"Heh."
Zoro sneered coldly, completely dismissing the threat.
"You villains better release us right now, otherwise I will make Shirogai teach you all a proper lesson…"
Chopper was bound like a pig ready for slaughter, all four limbs tied tightly. He twisted and struggled on the floor in frustration.
"Quiet down, little raccoon dog."
Perona casually pinched Chopper's cheek, smiling wickedly.
"You are so cute. You would be perfect as my personal doll."
"Who are you calling a raccoon dog?! Bastard!! I am a reindeer, you know!"
Chopper puffed up in anger, shaking his head as he tried to escape her grip.
"I will turn us invisible. Gag these two. Then we will take them as hostages and trade them for our master."
Absalom said after a moment of thought.
Boom!!!!!
In the next instant, the entire mansion trembled violently.
Everyone froze in place as a frightening pressure surged through the air.
"What… what kind of presence is this?!"
Cold sweat poured down Absalom's body, and even breathing became difficult.
"Among these pressures, there is Moriah's presence, but the other ones are even stronger…"
Perona struggled to keep hold of her parasol, her voice unsteady.
"Hoo, hoo… I cannot breathe properly…"
Dr. Hogback, the weakest among them, had already collapsed to the floor, panting heavily.
"I… I think we should wait… It is far too dangerous to go out now…"
"…"
Zoro's eyes widened as he stared toward the distant sky.
Among those overwhelming presences, besides the familiar presence of Shirogai, there was another sharp and strangely familiar one.
That cutting, solitary pressure…
Could it be Hawkeye's?
Has the World's Greatest Swordsman, Dracule Mihawk, come to this island?
Why would he appear here? Could his objective be Shirogai?
…
Under the pale moonlight, the terrifying atmosphere of Thriller Bark was completely suppressed by the overwhelming pressure of four top-tier powerhouses.
"Hmph? Hawkeye, Kuma, you two are truly rare guests."
Gekko Moriah stood tall, his massive frame tense as he stared at the two figures in the distance with his triangular eyes.
"Why would you step into my territory? Do you still harbor thoughts of dealing with me? Is this your own plan, or the World Government's?"
Swish!
A massive shadow surged up from beneath Moriah's feet as Shadow's Asgard emerged once more. The shadow bared its fangs with a ferocious grin.
"If you want to fight, I will gladly accept!"
Although Moriah had been heavily injured by Shirogai, he still forced himself to stand tall. His internal injuries were severe, but as a seasoned pirate, he knew that showing weakness was a luxury he could not afford.
The Shichibukai had never been true allies. They were merely pirates bound by the world government, temporarily cooperating with the World Government.
Once someone showed weakness, they would be devoured without mercy.
Especially when the Tyrant, Bartholomew Kuma, stood among them.
The only Shichibukai completely loyal to the World Government.
If the World Government learned that Moriah's strength had declined, they would not hesitate to act against him.
Moriah knew far too well what those so-called agents of "justice" did to fallen Shichibukai.
If he were captured and turned into a laboratory specimen for human experiments, then death would be a far kinder fate.
"…"
Mihawk glanced calmly at Moriah, whose body was now riddled with wounds.
He is forcing himself to look strong.
His strength has already declined too much.
Mihawk's sharp golden eyes soon shifted away from Moriah and locked firmly onto Shirogai.
Is this the man rumored to have defeated Kaido?
A peerless powerhouse.
Worthy of a proper duel.
"We are not here for you, Moriah."
Kuma spoke without any visible emotion.
"We are acting under the World Government's orders. Our target is Navy Chief Instructor, Vice Admiral Shirogai."
"Vice Admiral Shirogai…"
Moriah turned his head in disbelief and looked at Shirogai, who stood calmly beside him as if they were old companions. He then turned back toward the two visitors with hesitation.
"What do you want with him? Are you seeking a fight? I suggest you do not provoke this man…"
He swallowed the rest of his words in silence.
This man was even more terrifying than Kaido.
Saying such a thing out loud might offend the monster standing beside him.
"Heh."
Shirogai smiled faintly as he looked at the two.
"Kuma the Tyrant, what does the World Government want with me?"
Kuma slowly raised his palm. Resting in it was a small Den Den Mushi.
"This is an item the World Government entrusted me to personally deliver to you."
With a casual flick of his wrist, he tossed it toward Shirogai.
Shirogai caught the Den Den Mushi with ease and glanced at the two with a light smile.
"Sending two Shichibukai just to deliver a Den Den Mushi. The World Government is putting on quite the show."
"The World Government hopes that Navy Chief Instructor, Vice Admiral Shirogai will not intervene in certain upcoming matters."
Kuma's voice remained steady and mechanical.
"For specific instructions, you may contact the person connected to the Den Den Mushi now."
…
"Burururu, burururu… Burururu, burururu…"
The Den Den Mushi began to ring.
A steady hand lifted the receiver.
A calm yet commanding voice echoed through the night.
"Has it finally arrived?"
"I am the World Government's Commander-in-Chief of the Entire Military, Kong."