Chapter 185: Chaotic Shadow Battle, Kuma Arrives.

On the terrifying Thriller Bark,

Explosions roared, and sword energy flew everywhere!

Illumination flares kept rising, lighting up the battlefield.

There, a group of people surrounded a tall, round figure, fighting fiercely, and the one at a disadvantage was:

The master of this place, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Gecko-Moria!

"Captain Lola, are you really going?"

"Of course!"

In the nearby forest, a stout woman with pink twin braids and full lips drew the twin swords from her back.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! After all, I am... that person's daughter."

Although this woman named Lola was only of 'mid-low' strength among her many sisters, she was still quite capable. Moreover:

"Bring me the swordsmanship shadow."

?

"Captain, that thing is a burden on the body..."

"You call me captain, don't you?" The stout woman with twin swords waved her hand, "Less talk, —I don't have the habit of sitting back and enjoying the fruits of others' labor."

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"Hee hee hee~~"

Wielding a large pair of scissors to fend off the Straw Hat crew's attacks, Moria's face was smiling, but inside he was cursing!

What he thought would be as simple as a tiger pouncing on sheep turned out to be a pack of wolves devouring a tiger, leaving Moria both angry and bewildered.

The anger was understandable. Anyone would be furious if they woke up to find their 'kingdom' in flames and ruins. 

The bewilderment was also normal. Typically, the trapped prey would have to fight through many obstacles, be worn down by his subordinates, and then he would easily take their shadow...

But who told him to encounter Roman? Completely ignoring the 'script,' Roman charged forward, and before Moria even got up, he was left with nothing.

Why?!

Swoosh—

A pure white figure flashed past Moria, interrupting his thoughts and causing pain in his right arm! Roman had slashed him, drawing a line of blood.

'Distracted in battle, foolish!'

Although Roman didn't speak, his gaze as he passed by clearly conveyed this message, making Moria both ashamed and angry!

"Good, good, good!!"

With three angry cries like a night owl or a wolf's howl, Moria's face turned completely cold! The pride and battle experience of someone who once dared to challenge 'Emperor' Kaido finally resurfaced.

"Scattering Bats!"

He transformed his shadow into countless small bats, flying and attacking, forcing everyone to defend! Although Roman, relying on the White Knight's defense, continued to charge and attack, it bought some time. Then:

"Shadow Demon Blade Forest—!"

As Moria, holding the large scissors with one hand, was forced back by Roman, he reached out with his other hand, and shadows from the defeated zombies shot along the ground towards him!

When Moria's zombies are defeated and destroyed, if the owner of the shadow is nearby, the shadow will return to its owner's feet.

If the owner of the shadow is too far away, or if the zombie remains mostly intact, the shadow will still lurk within the zombie's body.

Now, with Moria's command, these shadows separated from the zombies and gathered here—

Upon arriving at the battlefield, these shadows, as lively as shadow puppets, suddenly 'stood' up and, with a wave of their arms, charged at the Straw Hat crew! Their bodies, thin as cicada wings, floated sideways as if they faced no air resistance at all, disappearing in a flash, moving at extreme speed.

"Be careful,"

Clang!

Clang—!

Following the flickering paths of these shadows, Zoro, Sanji, Franky, and Brook quickly dodged or swung their weapons to block! Only Luffy, in his 'Gear Second' state, and Roman could swiftly evade the shadows' pursuit.

As these shadows joined the battlefield, eerie shadows darted everywhere, slicing through trees and rocks like tofu! A nearby building was sliced through by several shadows, causing it to collapse into a pile of rubble with a thunderous crash!

Most of the shadows, transformed into 'blades,' entangled the four fighters of the Straw Hat crew, while the remaining shadows attacked the 'ranged personnel' at the rear.

"Nami!"

With Roman's shout, Nami immediately understood and opened the book in her hand. A flurry of white paper flew out, surrounding the remaining members of the Straw Hat crew: Robin, Usopp, and Chopper.

"Usopp,"

Nami created circles of white paper on the ground, and Usopp immediately used 'Firebird Star' to ignite the surrounding paper! The blazing flames spread like a 'wall of fire,' encircling them and keeping the approaching shadows at bay...

But that was only effective against ordinary shadows!

The shadows of the zombie generals were 'swordsman' level experts, and fire and light had limited effect on them. — Three shadow swordsmen leaped through the flames and charged at Nami and the others! Chopper immediately transformed to block one, but the remaining ones...

In the midst of the battle, Roman's body began to transform into flying sheets of white paper. Just as Roman was about to 'elementalize' and use the 'Thieves' Ultimate Skill' to teleport over, a tall figure suddenly rushed over and stood in front of Nami and the others!

Clang!!

Two swords blocked the attacks of the two shadow swordsmen! The woman, with pink twin braids, a sturdy build, and bulging muscles, turned to look at Nami:

"I don't know why, but I feel like you're my friend... never mind—"

"Hey, good men up front!!"

The sturdy woman opened her thick lips and shouted to Roman and the others fighting ahead.

"Can you marry me... no, leave this to me! You focus on Moria!"

Is she Big Mom's daughter, Lola?

Roman frowned for a moment, then relaxed.

In any case, having her help was good. They didn't have to worry about the 'support' personnel at the rear, so:

"Luffy, let's go!!"

"Okay!"

The two high-speed figures charged again, making the already scarred Moria's face change...

——————

On the outskirts of the battlefield,

A pink twin-tailed girl peeked out,

"Master Moria... how could this happen? So many experts..."

Perona had only been mentally shocked and quickly woke up with the shaking of the zombie animals. However, when she arrived at the battlefield:

Her father figure, Moria, was being besieged and in a precarious situation, but Perona was at a loss: not to mention the long-nosed sniper, her nemesis, on the outskirts.

---

In such an open space, those two figures, one pink and one pure white, were so fast that even their afterimages couldn't be seen. It wouldn't be difficult for them to bypass her ghosts and kill her...

"Damn, I can only prepare the ship to escape!"

As long as there's life, there's hope. Perona had no intention of fighting to the death. Her only concern was:

"Although I can use negative ghosts to create an opportunity for Master Moria, how can I escape with him?"

"It's all that idiot Absalom's fault. If he were here—"

"Excuse me,"

A calm voice sounded behind her, startling Perona!

"Are you Moria's subordinate?"

When—

Perona turned abruptly and saw who was standing behind her, cold sweat instantly trickling down her delicate face.

"How... how are you here?"

"One of the Shichibukai, 'Tyrant' Bartholomew Kuma!"

Behind the twin-tailed girl stood a burly man, nearly seven meters tall, with a bear-like appearance. He held a book with 'BIBLE' written on the cover, wearing black clothes with white circles.

"You—"

The tall man glanced at the wary Perona.

"Are you Moria's subordinate?"

After speaking, he looked up at the round figure being beaten by the Straw Hat crew.

"Aren't you going to help your master?"

"Hmph, none of your business!" Perona, now calm, summoned ghosts around her. "I need to find a way to help Master Moria escape, move aside—"

"If you want to travel," the bear-like man asked calmly, "where would you like to go?"

?

"Why are you asking this?"

"I heard Kraigana Island is nice," Perona was easily distracted, "with dark, damp castles and ghostly moats..."

One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Kuma, silently removed his gloves and gently clapped.

Pop,

Perona and her ghosts instantly disappeared!

"Have a pleasant journey,"

Next—

After 'dealing' with Perona, the bear-like man slowly walked towards the battlefield.

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