บท 184: Chapter 184: Waking Up Alone.

Main Mast Mansion,

"Master, master, something terrible has happened!!"

Three small zombies carrying swords, bows, and hammers rushed into a huge room. Inside was a mountain of flesh rising and falling with each breath!

This was a genuine giant, seven meters tall and with a waist circumference of seven meters! As the arrow zombie shot the bubble on the flesh mountain's nose, the 'flesh mountain' woke up and slowly sat up.

"I had a nightmare..."

In the dream, the loyal, strong, and wise subordinates of the giant figure fell one by one at his feet, their faces unrecognizable no matter how wide he opened his eyes!

Endless fear made him keep running away! Behind him was a demon with an iron club and horns that he could never escape.

"Master! Now is not the time to talk about dreams..."

Hmm?

"A group of pirates has broken in outside!"

Facing the three panicked small zombies, the tall figure waved his hand.

"Send Absalom to deal with them—"

"Lord Absalom has already been captured by them!"

"My zombie army..."

"Has been completely wiped out! Including the zombie generals!"

"And Perona..."

"Lady Perona has also fainted!"

...

"Hee hee hee~~~"

The sound of angry laughter echoed in the room, dark killing intent spreading like black mist!

"Very well, very well—"

"How dare they challenge the dignity of me, Gecko-Moria, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea?"

Gecko's face, full of malice, was illuminated in the room.

"Unforgivable!"

——————

In the corridor of the Main Mast Mansion,

"Hmm, when facing all sorts of strange abilities, it's best to use Observation Haki to dodge in advance..."

Roman touched his chin, summarizing his experience. Earlier, he couldn't dodge in the corridor environment, and he was also stubbornly trying to see if he could withstand it with full concentration.

As it turned out, just like Tekkai, relying on Armament Haki to withstand the attack...

Even the 'black and hard' Vergo was cut in half, so it was normal for Roman's basic Haki to fail.

"But it's okay..."

Roman had already instructed Nami to activate the book's lightning screen in case of emergency! After all, the Straw Hat crew was tough... and there were two 'White Knights' with preset triggers patrolling nearby, ensuring everything was foolproof.

But those were just backup plans. Usopp easily dealing with Perona was, of course, the best outcome.

"This time, it's all thanks to Usopp."

Roman's affirmation made the others nod in agreement,

"That's right, if it weren't for Usopp..."

"I have to admit, being negative is also a talent?"

"Hehehe, of course, Usopp is our companion!"

"Don't praise me like that, hahaha~~" Watching Usopp squirm, everyone's eyes instinctively drifted to Chopper.

"...Your looks are very rude, why are you looking at me like that?!"

"It's nothing, nothing," facing the furious Chopper, Robin squatted down and patted his antlers.

"Maybe it's because our little ship doctor is too cute."

"You jerks, don't praise me like that, hahaha~"

"Was I just like that?" Usopp asked, looking at Chopper thoughtfully, and everyone nodded repeatedly.

"Alright, that's enough atmosphere adjustment—"

As soon as Roman finished speaking, a 'black' streak suddenly tore through the corridor beside them, attacking the Straw Hat crew! At the same time, an exasperated voice shouted:

"Shadow Horn Thrust!"

"Dodge—"

Whoosh,

Boom!

The black 'light' flashed by, silently cutting through half of the massive main mast mansion! Then, under the force of gravity, it crashed down, revealing a smooth cut and:

The Straw Hat crew leaping out!

"Who on earth—"

Following closely behind the Straw Hat crew was a huge, round figure! The two-story-tall body landed with a thud, causing the ground to shake violently.

"Destroyed my army for the Pirate King throne?!"

...

"Are you still asleep?"

Roman couldn't help but mock, "With your zombie army, any officer from the Four Emperors could wipe them out in minutes, right?"

And you still want to rely on 'them' to compete for the Pirate King's throne? You might as well go back to sleep...

Roman's words made the newly arrived Moria pause. The 'Four Emperors' mentioned by the other party were his lifelong nightmare! And the way the other party mentioned the Four Emperors so familiarly didn't seem like an inexperienced pirate... Could he be a junior from one of the emperors?

For a moment, the already disheartened Moria hesitated. — Although he had indeed hit the mark by accident.

"Why did you... break into my home and injure my soldiers and subordinates?"

"Don't you know I'm Gecko-Moria of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!"

"Today, you must give me an explanation...

Although the tall Moria still tried to maintain the image of a 'master,' his increasingly weak words exposed his fragile heart! If these young people in front of him were indeed juniors of the Four Emperors, then he, Moria, could generously let them go...

"Eh, is that so?"

Luffy rubbed his head, "So we're the bad guys!"

Realizing this, Luffy seriously bowed his head and apologized to Moria.

"Sorry for injuring your subordinates."

...

"Hey, Luffy."

Seeing the other Straw Hat crew members speechless, Roman had to rub his temples and step forward.

Due to Roman 'skipping the plot,' it now seemed like they had barged into the demon king's house and started smashing things without a word, but:

"Don't forget, it was this guy's giant island ship that trapped us here."

Roman pointed at Moria.

"And his goal is to take our shadows and turn us into soldiers under his control."

"Think about Brook, and that 'seriously injured old man' before..."

"Ah! So you're the bad guy!"

Facing Luffy's roar to the sky, Moria couldn't continue to be humble. After all, he was still a 'Seven Warlords of the Sea'!

Even if he was the weakest among them.

"Hey hee hee hee~~~"

"Let me show you what kind of existence you've provoked!"

The two-story-tall Moria spread his arms wide and, facing the Straw Hat crew's provocation, suddenly pulled upwards.

"Shadow Maze!"

The moonlight shone through the mist, illuminating the island's forest and buildings. Shadows intertwined, creating a bizarre picture of light and dark.

Now, these shadows suddenly turned from flat to three-dimensional, rising like black curtains and walls! They divided the space, forming a rapidly expanding giant three-dimensional shadow maze, abruptly separating everyone present!

"Watch your step—"

"Hey, everyone..."

"What is this!?"

Trapped in the shadow maze, the Straw Hat crew felt a sudden darkness before their eyes.

Except for Nami, who was pulled over by Roman, everyone else instantly felt isolated, unable to sense their nearby companions. All around them were layers of surging black tides, deep as an abyss, with vague monsters and eerie figures hidden within; behind the sinister darkness, it seemed any place could turn into an attack at any moment!

The shadow maze's range instantly covered the entire area around the main mast mansion for hundreds of meters! It continued to spread in all directions, seemingly encompassing all nearby buildings! Wherever it reached, all colors dimmed, turning into black and white like an ink painting, with the black growing darker, as if it would overflow the scene, spreading and polluting everything with thick ink.

"Hmm, interesting."

As expected, no matter how decadent, a Seven Warlords of the Sea wouldn't be so weak as to be nearly killed by Robin in one move. Based on 'original' Moria's performance, Kuma could kill him with one slap without any pressure!

Now it seemed Moria's fruit ability development was quite impressive. Unfortunately:

"A1 flashbang incoming!"

With Roman's shout, a piece of ammunition suddenly flew out from the shadow-separated area and shot into the sky! As it exploded, the blinding light illuminated the entire battlefield, momentarily halting the spreading shadows.

Taking advantage of the light, the Straw Hat crew saw each other's positions and the shocked Moria.

"Good,"

Usopp fired the flare, and next—

"Gear Second!"

Zoom!!

As the undisputed main tank of the Straw Hat crew, Luffy activated Gear Second, instantly appearing in front of Moria, and then:

"Gomu Gomu no Jet Bullet!"

Thud!

With a dull thud, Moria's huge belly suddenly caved in, leaving his gaze fixed on the steam-emitting Luffy.

"Brat!! I won't forgive you—"

"Great,"

The main tank had 'pulled' the boss's aggro, next:

"Against this Marine dog, there's no need for sea rules! Everyone, charge—"

With Roman, clad in White Knight armor, leading the charge, Zoro, Sanji, and others followed. However:

"...It Feels like we're ganging up on him..."

Facing Sanji's complaint, Roman, who slashed Moria and dodged his 'Shadow Horn Gun', didn't look back.

"Be confident—"

"Get rid of that feeling!"

Facing the boss and taking turns to attack? That's not being a pirate, that's playing house! Losing for the sake of some vague 'face,' and then regretting it when facing the corpses of your comrades?

That's not happening, so:

"Everyone, attack him!!"

——————