Chapter 12: Oars The End

The crew had finally reached the passageway, with Nami sighing in relief. "Ahh, finally, we got here."

Ussop, looking slightly shaken, agreed. "Yeah, I was so scared."

Chopper, always eager to join in, nodded. "Yeah, it was pretty scary."

Luffy, however, was still buzzing with excitement. "Wow, that was fun! Hihihi!"

Sanji lit a cigarette, exhaling the smoke as he commented, "More like a pain in the ass."

Zoro, ever the pragmatist, pointed ahead. "Yeah, I see a way forward."

Itachi studied the path, noting how much darker it had become. "It's darker here," he observed.

Robin, standing beside him, agreed. "Yes, I can barely see anything."

Brook said "Yohohoho! I guess you could say I'm... eyeless! Get it? Eyeless? Because I don't have eyes! Yohohoho!"

Itachi sweatdrops and all begin to laugh.

Chopper, always trying to be helpful, piped up. "Don't worry! I can see in the dark. I'm a reindeer, after all. Animals are good at night vision."

Itachi gave him an encouraging nod. "That's great, Chopper."

Chopper, thrilled by the praise, started dancing around. "You don't have to embarrass me, you bastard!"

Itachi sweatdropped at the response, while Robin giggled softly.

Zoro smirked. "Alright then, show me the way, Chopper."

Before they could continue, Itachi raised a hand. "Wait a minute."

Everyone turned their attention to Itachi as he noticed a torch mounted on the wall. He pulled it down and with a small, controlled fireball, lit it. The flickering flame cast a warm light, illuminating their path.

"Now we're ready," Itachi said, holding the torch aloft.

Luffy's eyes lit up with admiration. "Wow, that's cool!"

They all began moving forward again, the flickering torchlight guiding their steps. Itachi walked beside Zoro and Robin, and couldn't resist teasing Zoro. "Stay with us, Zoro. We don't want you getting lost here."

Zoro's temper flared. "Shut up!"

As they continued down the passage, they reached a point where the path split into three different directions. Itachi stopped and thought for a moment. "I think we should split up from here. What do you say?"

Luffy, always eager for adventure, immediately agreed. "Yeah! I'm done with sticking together. Let's explore!"

Nami nodded, looking more focused now. "Okay, Itachi."

Itachi glanced around, assessing the situation. "Luffy, Nami, Ussop, and Sanji will take the first path. Zoro, Brook, and Chopper will take the second. Robin, Franky, and I will take the third. What do you all think?"

The crew nodded in agreement, ready for the next phase of their journey. Each group took their designated path, the atmosphere tense with the anticipation of what lay ahead.

WITH LUFFY,NAMI,USSOP AND SANJI

As they continued down the path, Nami and Ussop lagged behind, their fear evident in every step. Sanji and Luffy walked ahead, with Luffy brimming with excitement.

"This is going to be fun!" Luffy declared, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Sanji, ever the voice of reason when not distracted by women, added, "You're right, but still, be careful." He glanced over his shoulder, noticing Nami and Ussop trailing behind. With hearts in his eyes, he called out, "Dear Nami, we'll stay together, okay?"

Nami, uninterested in his flirtations, ignored Sanji and looked ahead. "Look, Luffy, there's a light up ahead."

Luffy's grin widened. "Yeah, let's go!"

As they moved forward, they found themselves in a large hall with a grand staircase leading upward. Nami observed the scene, her eyes narrowing in thought. "I think this is the way to the main place, Luffy."

Luffy, as always, was eager. "Let's go!"

As they approached the stairs, they were suddenly swarmed by zombies emerging from hidden chambers. Sanji smirked, ready for a fight. "Now this will be fun."

Luffy cracked his knuckles, a determined look on his face. "Yeah!"

Ussop, though scared, steeled himself and readied his slingshot, while Nami gripped her Clima-Tact, electricity crackling around it. The battle began, with Luffy launching his Gum-Gum Pistol, striking multiple targets at once. Sanji delivered powerful kicks with his Parage Shoot, sending zombies flying. Nami unleashed electric shocks from her Clima-Tact, frying the zombies as they approached.

Despite their efforts, the zombies kept coming. Luffy frowned, realizing the endless wave of enemies. "They're not stopping!"

Sanji, kicking another zombie in the face, agreed. "Yeah, they're coming from all directions!"

Suddenly, Nami was yanked off her feet by an unseen force. She screamed, terrified, as she struggled against the invisible assailant. She tried to use her Clima-Tact to strike back, but her attacks hit nothing. Luffy and Sanji immediately tried to help, but their attacks missed as well.

The invisible attacker dropped Nami, sending her crashing into the wall. As he became visible again, the crew saw the lion-faced man from before. Luffy's anger flared as he recognized him. "You! You're the one who tried to kidnap Nami!"

The lion-faced man, now revealed as Absalom, smirked with a sinister grin. "Yeah, that's because I will marry her!"

Nami's face twisted in disgust. "With you? Not a chance!"

Sanji's fury erupted. "You bastard! You'll pay for this!"

Absalom laughed darkly, his confidence unwavering. "Ahaha! Let's see about that. I am Absalom, and I will marry her whether you like it or not!"

Sanji, focused and determined, turned to Luffy and said, "Luffy, I'll take care of him. You move forward and deal with Gecko Moria."

Luffy nodded, trusting his crewmate. "Kick his ass!" he shouted, leaping over the zombies and disappearing down the corridor in search of Gecko Moria.

Sanji faced Absalom, his eyes burning with resolve. "You're going to have to get through me first."

Absalom smirked confidently. "I'm glad," he sneered before shouting, "Deadly Hands!" He fired off a barrage of invisible bullets, but Sanji deftly dodged them, his agility unmatched. In an instant, Sanji closed the distance, delivering a powerful kick to Absalom's face, sending him crashing into the wall.

Absalom, shocked by the force of the attack, staggered to his feet. "What was that kick...?"

He attempted the Deadly Hands attack again, but Sanji was quicker. With both legs, Sanji blocked the bullets, deflecting them effortlessly. He then unleashed a flurry of kicks, each one landing with precision and power, driving Absalom deeper into the wall. Sanji's eyes blazed with anger as he spat, "Marriage my ass!"

Absalom, now desperate, whispered a chant and turned invisible. But Sanji was quick to think. He called out, "Nami, use the white balls!" Nami, catching on, quickly threw white balls around the area. One of the balls struck something invisible, and Sanji seized the moment, delivering a crushing kick to Absalom's face.

"You stole my dream!" Sanji exclaimed, his voice filled with anger. "You ate the Clear-Clear Fruit before I could get my hands on it, and if I had it, I would be able to sink to girls' bathrooms!"

Absalom, trying to regain his composure, retorted, "You're the perv!" But before he could do anything else, Nami struck him from behind with her Clima-Tact, knocking him to the ground.

"You pervert!" Nami shouted, glaring at the Sanji.

Despite his enhanced body, which had been upgraded by Hogback with gorilla and bear muscle, elephant skin, and lion jaws, Absalom was no match for Sanji's fury. Sanji slammed him against the wall once more, victorious.

In the heat of the moment, Sanji's mind wandered into a fantasy. He imagined Nami running toward him, embracing him tightly, and saying, "Wow, Sanji, thank you for helping me! I love you, Sanji!"

Sanji's eyes sparkled with stars, but before he could savor the moment, Nami hit him on the head, snapping him out of his daydream. "What are you thinking about, you idiot?" she scolded.

Sanji, breaking from his thoughts, grinned sheepishly. "Ah, sorry, Nami."

Nami sighed, but her expression softened as she said, "Thank you, Sanji."

Sanji's heart eyes returned as he replied, "Anything for you, Nami darling!" Meanwhile, Ussop sweatdropped at Sanji's antics, wondering how the cook could quickly switch between serious and silly.

WITH THE ZORO BROOK AND CHOPPER

As Zoro led the way, Brook and Chopper followed closely behind. The atmosphere was tense as they ventured deeper into the eerie, shadowy halls. Brook, ever vigilant, noticed a figure ahead and froze in his tracks. His voice quivered as he pointed, "It's him... He's the one who has my shadow!"

Zoro's eyes narrowed as he looked at the figure. The man held a sword, and a smirk formed on Zoro's face. "Now this will be fun," he muttered, his blood pumping at the thought of a worthy opponent.

Chopper, sensing the tension, urged, "Let's go!" They all charged toward the figure, with Brook leading the way. As they approached, Brook called out, "Ryuma!"

The figure, hearing the footsteps, turned to face them. It was Ryuma, the legendary samurai. Upon seeing Brook, he sneered, "You've come again to lose, have you?"

Brook, determined, replied, "This time, I will win, Ryuma!" Ryuma's gaze shifted to Zoro, who was ready with his swords drawn. Seeing the resolve in Zoro's eyes, Ryuma smirked. "This will be fun," he said, his anticipation growing.

Zoro, with his three swords at the ready, declared, "Let's do it!" The two swordsmen clashed with a fury that echoed throughout the chamber. The sound of steel rang out as their swords collided, each strike more powerful than the last.

Zoro fought with all his might, using his Three-Sword Style to push Ryuma back. However, Ryuma, now growing frustrated, decided to end the duel quickly. He stepped back, gathering his energy, and shouted, "Now, I will end this! Prelude Au Fer!" He unleashed a powerful attack, but Zoro was ready. He blocked the strike and countered with his own shout, "Demon Magma Bear!"

Their swords clashed with such force that the ground beneath them began to crumble, and the walls around them shook violently. Chopper and Brook watched in awe and fear as the room seemed to collapse around them. Brook, astounded by the sheer power of the battle, whispered, "They're both incredibly strong."

As Zoro and Ryuma continued to exchange blows, the intensity of their battle reached its peak. The walls shook, and debris began to fall. Chopper and Brook scrambled to the sides to avoid getting caught in the chaos.

"What is going on?" Chopper exclaimed, his eyes wide with fear. "How are we even at this height?"

Zoro and Ryuma, now airborne, continued their duel in mid-air. Ryuma, seeing an opening, launched his next attack. "Notch Slash!" he roared, aiming to end the fight. But Zoro, determined to win, countered with a final, powerful shout, "Blaze!"

The two attacks collided in a spectacular display of power. Zoro and Ryuma fell back to the ground, the impact shaking the chamber. As the dust settled, Ryuma landed first, followed by Zoro. Ryuma, breathing heavily, looked at Zoro and said, "I have lost."

As Ryuma admitted defeat, his shadow began to fade away. He released his grip on his sword, Shusui, one of the 21 O Wazamono Grade Swords, and it fell from his hand. Zoro caught it mid-air, his eyes gleaming as he admired the blade.

Ryuma, his voice fading along with his shadow, said, "Shusui... It's yours now."

Zoro, holding the sword, replied with respect, "I'll make good use of it." As Ryuma's shadow returned to Brook, restoring him to his full strength, Zoro stood tall, his new sword in hand, ready to continue their journey.

WITH ITACHI ROBIN AND FRANKY

As Itachi, Robin, and Franky walked side by side, they soon approached a giant gate that loomed before them. Franky pointed it out, "Look, it's a giant gate. I think that's the way."

Itachi nodded in agreement. "I think so too."

Robin glanced around, her instincts tingling. "There's something strange about this place... I can feel it."

Itachi nodded again, understanding her concern. "I know what you mean. This place... it feels off."

As they continued forward, a massive spider suddenly descended from above, landing in front of them. Their eyes widened in surprise, and Itachi shouted, "Dodge!" They all jumped to the side, narrowly avoiding the spider's attack.

The spider stood menacingly before them, and Franky muttered, "Now that's troublesome."

Itachi analyzed the situation and nodded. "Yeah."

Robin, thinking quickly, asked, "Can you use your Sharingan on him, like an illusion?"

Itachi looked at the spider, then back at Robin. "I have a better option." Concentrating his chakra, Itachi focused on the spider and activated his Mangekyo Sharingan. "Amaterasu," he whispered, and black flames engulfed the spider, which screeched in agony. The intense flames consumed the creature completely, leaving not even ashes behind.

Itachi's eyes began to bleed from the strain, and Robin, noticing this, quickly pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped the blood from his eyes. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice full of concern.

Itachi smiled softly at her. "Yes, I'm fine. I mentioned before that my eyes bleed when I use this power."

The two were standing very close, and Robin's heart started racing. Franky, noticing their closeness, couldn't help but tease, "Look at you two, getting all cozy when we're supposed to be on a mission."

Robin quickly stepped back, her face flushed with embarrassment. She mentally scolded herself, trying to regain control of her emotions. She sighed, and Itachi, clearing his throat, turned to Franky and said, "Right. Let's go inside."

They opened the gate and stepped into a large hall, where they found Sanji, Nami, and Usopp waiting. Nami waved at them, "Hello, guys! Great timing!"

Itachi nodded, then noticed Sanji looking a bit worn out. "You look exhausted," he observed.

Usopp quickly explained, "He just fought with that lion-faced guy, that's why."

Sanji, still fuming, added, "That bastard wanted to marry my darling Nami!"

Itachi deadpanned, "Right..." He turned to Usopp. "So, where's Luffy?"

"He went to find Gecko Moria," Usopp replied.

Itachi nodded. "Let's keep moving then."

Just then, Zoro, Brook, and Chopper arrived from the other side. Sanji, relieved, remarked, "Glad you didn't get lost, Zoro."

Brook, in his usual cheerful manner, exclaimed, "Yohohoho! I found my shadow, guys!"

Robin smiled, "That's great!"

Franky, ever the enthusiast, added, "That's super, my friend!"

Brook, ever the jokester, chuckled, "Yohohoho! I once tried to blush, but I realized I don't have cheeks to turn red! What a bony predicament!"

Everyone deadpanned at the joke, but then they heard a small puff sound. They all turned to see Itachi trying to suppress a laugh, quickly clearing his throat to cover it up.

Zoro, noticing, smirked, "It's okay to laugh, you know."

Itachi, still trying to maintain his composure, replied, "That wasn't a funny joke, by the way."

Robin, smiling, teased, "But you laughed, didn't you?"

Itachi turned away slightly, his cheeks tinged with pink. Robin noticed and added playfully, "You don't have to be embarrassed about it."

Sanji, with a grin, chimed in, "I didn't know you had a sense of humor like that, Itachi."

Nami, with a smirk, joined in, "Now, now, guys, don't tease him too much. It's okay to laugh, Itachi."

Itachi finally smiled, "Yeah, you're right." Then, eager to move on, he added, "Can we go now?"

They all shared a light-hearted laugh, and Chopper said, "Let's go and find Luffy!"

As they prepared to move forward, Chopper glanced at Zoro, relieved. "That's good. He's with us, Zoro, you—" But before he could finish, he was startled by something and quickly hid behind Usopp's head, causing everyone to burst out laughing again.

As they continued on their way, their spirits high after the recent encounter, Itachi suddenly halted, his senses alert. "Guys, it's here," he said, his voice steady. "Get ready to dodge."

With swift movements, Itachi threw a kunai down the path, and they heard a shrill scream. The spirit that had been tailing them came to an abrupt stop. Itachi, Zoro, and Robin observed the situation carefully.

Robin spoke up first, "I think she's the one controlling it."

Itachi nodded, agreeing with her assessment. "I think so too."

Nami added, "It's probably her Devil Fruit power."

They all tensed as the sound of footsteps echoed in the distance. A girl with pink hair emerged, her laughter eerily echoing around them. "Purupurupuru!" she cackled.

Itachi sweatdropped at the bizarre sound. "Is that how you laugh?" he asked, his tone more puzzled than mocking.

The girl's expression turned angry. "Is there a problem with my laugh?"

Itachi shook his head. "No, nothing at all."

Zoro, with his swords ready, demanded, "What do you want?"

The pink-haired girl introduced herself, "I am Perona, and I have the power of the Hollow-Hollow Fruit. This is Kumashi, my pet. Isn't he cute?" She gestured to a large, bear-like figure beside her.

When Kumashi opened his mouth to speak, Perona cut him off. "Did I allow you to speak?" she snapped, and Kumashi quickly apologized, looking downtrodden.

Itachi, still focused, asked calmly, "What do you want?"

Perona's eerie laughter filled the air again as she fixed her gaze on Itachi. "Oh, what do we have here? The famous Demon-eyes. Such beautiful eyes. I want them."

Robin's eyes narrowed, her anger simmering. "Stay away from him."

Nami joined in, her tone fierce, "Yeah, she's right!"

Zoro, with his swords at the ready, warned, "Don't even try."

Chopper, in his beast form, growled menacingly, while Usopp, still visibly nervous, aimed his slingshot, and Franky and Brook took their battle stances.

Perona giggled again, her focus on Itachi. "I like beautiful things, and those eyes... they're just perfect for my collection."

Itachi's expression remained calm but determined. "My eyes are not for decoration, and neither am I."

Perona floated closer, her smile widening. "We'll see about that. But first, let's have a little fun."

Itachi, now smirking, glanced at Usopp, and an idea formed in his mind. "I think we have a better opponent for you," he said.

The others quickly caught on, and Zoro nodded. "Yeah, he's perfect, isn't he?"

Chopper chimed in, "Yeah, I know Usopp will beat her!"

Sanji, igniting his leg with a fiery passion, encouraged, "Go, but don't hit her too hard, okay?"

Nami, noticing Usopp's nervous expression, teased, "Go on, Usopp. You've got this!"

Usopp, clearly scared, reluctantly stepped forward, wondering how he had ended up in this situation. Perona sneered at him, "This long-nose will stop me?"

She sent her ghosts toward him, but they passed right through him without any effect. Perona's eyes widened in shock. "How is this possible?"

Usopp, despite his fear, stood tall and, with a mix of pride and trembling, declared, "Because I am the great Lord Usopp... who has low self-esteem!"

Perona was stunned. "What? How is that possible?"

Usopp, now gaining confidence, used his slingshot to fire a bomb ball toward her, but she dodged it. She sent more spirits his way, but again, nothing happened. Now panicking, Perona backed away as Usopp, with newfound courage, used a sticky bomb that attached to her hand, pinning her to a wall.

Seeing cockroaches near her, Perona's fear took over, and she screamed in terror, begging, "Please, free me! I beg you!"

The rest of the crew watched in disbelief, sweating nervously at the bizarre turn of events.

Nami, piecing it together, remarked, "She's afraid of cockroaches?"

Robin sighed, understanding the odd situation. "It seems that way."

Zoro, unimpressed, muttered, "That was lame."

Sanji, however, was furious. "She's a lady, you bastard!"

Itachi, ever pragmatic, shrugged. "Whatever it is, it works in our favor."

Franky nodded in agreement. "Yeah, he's right. Her fear can be useful for getting information."

As the crew was about to question Perona, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the hall, making everyone turn. They were greeted by the sight of a towering figure standing behind them, holding a book. All of them were shocked, their faces reflecting the sudden fear that gripped them.

Robin's eyes widened in terror as she whispered, "He's Bartholomew Kuma... one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."

The crew's reaction was immediate—everyone's eyes widened in disbelief, and Itachi narrowed his eyes, preparing to fight if necessary. Kuma's presence was overwhelming, and the tension in the air was palpable.

Kuma spoke in a calm, almost robotic voice, "I came to meet Gecko Moria, that's all." His words hung in the air, heavy with meaning.

Without any further confrontation, Kuma walked over to Perona, who was still pinned against the wall, and effortlessly freed her. He then turned and left, his massive form vanishing into the shadows as quickly as he had appeared.

Itachi, still on guard, observed Kuma's retreating figure. "So, that's Kuma," he murmured.

Robin nodded, still visibly shaken. "Yes, and it's a relief he didn't choose to fight us."

Zoro, with his hand still on his sword, added, "But why didn't he fight us?"

Sanji, exhaling in relief, responded, "It's good that he didn't. We're not ready for that kind of fight right now."

Nami, her voice steady but tense, agreed, "We need to find Luffy and focus on our main goal."

The crew turned back to Perona, who was visibly shaken herself. "I don't know anything about him," she stammered, her earlier bravado completely gone.

Suddenly, the ground beneath them began to tremble violently. A massive red monster erupted from the floor, its roar shaking the entire hall. The creature was immense, and its appearance was terrifying. Luffy's voice echoed from within the monster as he shouted, "Gum-Gum Pistol!" But as his punch connected with the monster, it didn't seem to have any effect.

Itachi quickly activated the rib cage of his Susanoo, enveloping the entire crew in its protective barrier. The debris from the collapsing ceiling was effortlessly deflected, ensuring everyone's safety. "Is everyone okay?" Itachi asked, his voice calm but firm.

The crew nodded in unison, visibly relieved.

Zoro, impressed by the Susanoo's defensive capabilities, commented, "Yeah, that's some useful jutsu, Itachi."

Sanji, equally impressed, added, "I have to admit, this is incredibly handy."

Chopper, wide-eyed with admiration, exclaimed, "So cool! This is what it feels like inside Susanoo? Wow!"

Usopp, trying to mask his own fear, said, "Yeah, I've fought creatures like this before... and defeated them too!" Itachi couldn't help but deadpan at Usopp's exaggeration. "Yeah, sure you did," he replied dryly.

Robin, standing close to Itachi, noticed the strain on his eyes. "Don't stress your eyes too much, Itachi," she said with concern.

Itachi gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, I'm fine."

Brook, ever the comedian, added with a laugh, "Yohohoho! A rib cage, just like me!"

Itachi deactivated his Susanoo, the glowing ribs fading away. He then turned his attention to the massive red creature in the room, his expression serious. "That's Luffy," he said, recognizing his crewmate despite the monstrous form.

Zoro, with a determined look, nodded. "Yeah, he must have found Gecko Moria and somehow got his shadow taken."

Sanji, always quick to assess the situation, agreed. "I think so too. We need to help him get his shadow back before it's too late."

Before this incident

As Luffy raced through the dark corridors of Thriller Bark, his excitement was palpable. He burst into a large chamber and immediately noticed a set of gleaming golden armor displayed on a stand. His eyes lit up with childlike glee. "Whoa, this looks so cool!" he exclaimed, wasting no time in donning the armor. Fully suited, he admired himself for a moment before breaking into a run, eager to find Gecko Moria.

As Luffy made his way through the twisting hallways, he stumbled into a vast battle arena. Before him stood a group of armored knights, each one towering and imposing. But Luffy's excitement only grew. Cracking his knuckles, he grinned widely. "Now this is fun!"

Without hesitation, Luffy launched himself into battle. "Gum-Gum Pistol!" he shouted, his fist stretching out to slam into one of the knights, followed quickly by a "Gum-Gum Bazooka!" The force of his attacks sent the knights flying, but to his surprise, they all got back up as if nothing had happened.

Luffy, undeterred, continued his assault. "Gum-Gum Giant Slam! Gum-Gum Giant Fist!" He pounded the knights relentlessly, but they seemed impervious to his attacks. No matter how much damage he dealt, they kept rising, their armor unscathed.

Frustrated, Luffy dodged swords and countered with his rubber powers, determined to defeat them. But the relentless knights eventually caught him off guard, trapping him in a large metal cage. Luffy thrashed around, shouting, "Hey! Let me out of here! I'll kick your asses right now, you hear me?!"

The knights ignored his demands, securing the cage to a massive crane. With a loud creak, the crane lifted the cage, carrying Luffy away. He was hoisted through the maze of corridors until he found himself face-to-face with the mastermind behind Thriller Bark, Gecko Moria.

Luffy glared at the grotesque figure before him. Moria was an abnormally large humanoid with two horns protruding from his forehead, stitches running down his face and neck, and a long, thick neck that contrasted with his stubby body. His pointed ears and sharp teeth added to his monstrous appearance.

"So, you're Gecko Moria," Luffy said, his voice dripping with disdain.

Moria let out his signature eerie laugh, "Geshishishishi! That's right! I'm one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!"

Luffy, ever defiant, shouted back, "Get me out of here, you bastard! I'll kick your ass!"

Moria continued to laugh as he approached the cage. "Geshishishishi! You won't be doing any kicking, Straw Hat."

Before Luffy could react, Moria reached into the cage and with a swift motion, pulled out Luffy's shadow. Luffy's eyes widened in shock. "That's my shadow!" he yelled, but his voice weakened as his consciousness began to fade. Moria severed the shadow from its owner, and Luffy slumped, unconscious.

Moria held up the shadow, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Three hundred million berries worth of shadow... Geshishishishi! You'll be a fine addition to my army."

With Luffy's shadow in hand, Moria ordered his three personal zombies to open the doors to a large freezer. The zombies obeyed, revealing the massive form of Zombie 900, a monstrous red creature lying dormant within the icy chamber. Moria approached the monster and with a sinister smile, infused Luffy's shadow into it.

As the shadow merged with the creature, it slowly began to stir. Its eyes opened, and it let out a low, guttural growl. The monster looked around, confused. "What am I doing here?" it rumbled.

Moria, pleased with his work, replied, "I've brought you back to life with my Shadow-Shadow Fruit power. From now on, your name is Oars."

Oars, still disoriented, accepted the name. "Okay, Captain. But I'm hungry... I need meat."

Moria signaled to his personal zombies, who scrambled to bring a massive feast of meat. Oars devoured it all in seconds, but his hunger remained unsatisfied. "I'm still hungry! I need more!"

The zombies, now panicking, stammered, "We don't have much food left... Our stocks are running low!"

Moria, unfazed, assured the giant, "We'll provide more later. For now, you have other duties."

Oars, disappointed but obedient, lumbered out of the freezer, causing destruction with every step. The ground shook as he made his way outside, his massive frame tearing through the walls of Thriller Bark.

Moria watched with a sadistic grin as Oars left. "Take Straw Hat to his ship," he ordered his zombies.

The zombies quickly obeyed, taking the unconscious Luffy and carrying him away. Moria chuckled to himself. "Now, this will be fun," he said, his laughter echoing through the dark halls as his twisted plan began to unfold.

BACK TO STRAWHAT CREW

The crew stood in awe as they faced the towering monster, Oars, who was once Luffy but now a mindless giant under Gecko Moria's control. Chopper, his voice tinged with worry, asked, "What should we do?"

Brook, always quick with a plan, suggested from behind, "I think we should give him salt. If we can get it into his mouth, it might free him from Moria's control!"

Sanji nodded in agreement but added, "Yeah, but he's way too high up. It won't be easy."

As they debated, Oars suddenly lunged at the crew, his massive fist aimed directly at Nami, Chopper, and Usopp. In a flash, Robin reacted, using her Flower-Flower Fruit powers to sprout hands from the ground and push them aside, saving them from the crushing blow. Nami, catching her breath, looked up at Robin and exclaimed, "Thank you, Robin!"

Robin smiled gently, but before they could regroup, Nami shouted up at the monstrous Oars, "Hey, Luffy, you idiot! We're your crewmates, you hear me?!"

Oars, however, remained unfazed, his voice booming, "I don't know you!" He unleashed another "Gum-Gum Pistol," the force of the attack sending shockwaves through the area. The crew barely managed to dodge in time.

Sanji, clearly frustrated, muttered, "This is such a pain in the ass."

Zoro, determination etched on his face, stepped forward and said, "We have to flip him over. If we can get his head upside down, we might have a chance." Without hesitation, he charged at Oars, preparing for the fight.

Franky, always one for elaborate tactics, called out, "Let's use Tactics Fifteen!" He quickly positioned himself, standing on Zoro and Sanji's shoulders while holding Usopp in his right hand and placing Chopper on top of his head.

Itachi, watching this bizarre formation with a sweatdrop, couldn't help but ask, "What are you doing?"

Franky, unfazed, called out to him, "Join us, Itachi!"

Itachi, with a flat expression, refused, "I'm sorry, but no."

Sanji glanced over at Robin, noticing her reluctance. "You're not joining either?" he asked.

Robin shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "It's too embarrassing."

Oars, who had been eagerly anticipating their move, felt betrayed. His massive form shook with disappointment as he roared, sending Franky, Usopp, and Chopper flying with a single swipe of his arm. As they crashed to the ground, Itachi calmly advised, "Never do that again."

The crew regrouped, realizing they needed to work together if they had any hope of taking down Oars. After a series of coordinated attacks and intense teamwork, they managed to flip Oars over, his massive horns getting stuck in the ground. With Oars immobilized, the crew took the opportunity to unleash a barrage of attacks, thoroughly engaging him.

But Oars was far from defeated. With a mighty heave, he freed himself, his strength unyielding. The crew responded with everything they had, even managing to break his knees, but Oars simply flicked them away, standing tall once again, his rampage causing even more destruction to Thriller Bark.

Zoro, his eyes narrowing in determination, decided to unleash a powerful attack. "This ends now," he declared, drawing his blade. With precise focus, he unleashed his "Hyakuhachi Pound Ho," the attack amplified by his new sword, Shusui, which seemed to have a temper of its own. But Oars, despite his size, managed to dodge the attack, the power of the blow carving a deep scar into the ground where he had stood.

The situation grew more dire as Thriller Bark began to shake violently, the fog lifting to reveal that the massive ship had drifted out of the Florian Triangle, thanks to Oars tampering with the rudder. The crew, realizing the stakes, knew they had to act fast.

"We need to get Luffy's shadow back before dawn!" Zoro shouted, urgency in his voice. "If we run out of time, Luffy won't be able to fight anymore!"

Gecko Moria and Kuma:

Kuma finally located Gecko Moria, who was lounging in his dark, eerie chamber filled with shadows. Kuma, with his towering presence and stoic expression, informed Moria, "The successor to Crocodile has been chosen. His name is Marshall D. Teach, also known as Blackbeard. He had a former bounty of zero."

Moria initially reacted with indifference, not particularly interested in the news. However, Kuma's next words struck a nerve. "The government is afraid another Warlord might fall to the Straw Hats."

This infuriated Moria. His eyes flared with anger as he snapped, "Sit back and watch, Kuma! I'll defeat the Straw Hats myself and show the world that I'm not someone to be trifled with!"

Back to Luffy:

Meanwhile, Luffy, unconscious from the battle, was being carried by Moria's personal zombies through the eerie halls of Thriller Bark. They brought him to their captain, "Proposal" Lola, who had a rather peculiar habit. Despite having been rejected 4,443 times before, she immediately proposed to the unconscious Luffy.

When Luffy finally regained consciousness, he found himself facing Lola. She eagerly asked, "Will you marry me?"

Luffy, still groggy, quickly rejected her, making it her 4,444th rejection. Lola, undeterred, continued to cheerfully chat with him.

The zombies informed Luffy of the dire situation. "Gecko Moria is now inside Oars' stomach," they explained, "and the only way to defeat Moria is to first defeat Oars."

Despite the overwhelming odds, Luffy's determination never wavered. But the zombies had a plan. They began to place a shadow into Luffy, explaining, "Once purified, shadows are easy to capture. Are you good with a sword?"

Luffy, holding a sword awkwardly, admitted, "No, I'm not," but then suddenly demonstrated amazing swordsmanship, swinging the blade with incredible skill and precision.

The zombies further explained, "If a shadow is placed in a body that already has its own soul, it augments their power with the shadow's skill. But it will only last about ten minutes before the shadow returns to its owner."

They continued to add more shadows into Luffy, one after another, until he had absorbed 100 shadows. With each shadow, Luffy's body transformed, his muscles bulging and his aura growing more menacing. The zombies, witnessing the transformation, dubbed him "Nightmare Luffy."

Luffy, now in his Nightmare form, clenched his fists and looked at the towering Oars in the distance. With newfound strength and determination, he was ready to face the monstrous foe and save his crew from the clutches of Gecko Moria. The final battle was about to begin.

Back to Oars and the Straw Hats:

The crew was locked in an intense battle with Oars, who was now using his new stretching ability to keep them on the defensive. "This is bad," Nami said, her voice tense. "How can he stretch like that?"

Moria's voice boomed as he manipulated Oars. "I've reversed the roles! Now the shadow controls the body! I can make Oars do whatever I want!"

"We need to take him down before he crushes us!" Zoro said, gripping his swords tightly.

Brook, Nami, Usopp, and Robin quickly came up with a plan. "Let's go!" Nami shouted as they launched a combo attack, causing Oars to lose his balance. Zoro saw his chance and moved in for a powerful strike.

Itachi, who had been watching Zoro's tactics, activated his Susanoo. The massive, ethereal warrior formed around him, catching everyone's attention

Oars, equally surprised, attacked with a Gomu Gomu no Ono, but Susanoo's shield deflected the blow, sending a shockwave that shook the ground. Debris rained down, and a large chunk headed straight for Usopp.

"Look out!" Sanji yelled as he kicked the rock away, saving Usopp just in time.

Moria, now feeling the pressure, snarled, "No more playing around!" He manipulated Oars to steal Robin's shadow. Itachi acted fast, using Susanoo to pull Robin to safety just as she lost her grip on Moria.

Robin, a bit shaken, looked at Itachi with gratitude. "Thank you," she said softly.

Sanji, now enraged, ignited his leg with his Diable Jambe. "You mess with my Robin-chan, you mess with me!" He deflected a Gomu Gomu no Bazooka that was aimed at Robin inside Susanoo.

Meanwhile, Chopper was analyzing the situation. "Guys, I've figured it out! Oars died from freezing because he didn't have clothes. His weak point might be related to that!"

Sanji and Chopper teamed up to attack Oars' right arm, but Oars retaliated with a brutal Gomu Gomu no Gatling, knocking them both down.

"Itachi!" Usopp called out, his voice trembling but determined. Itachi's Susanoo extended a hand toward Usopp. "Get on," Itachi said calmly.

Usopp, still a bit nervous, nodded and climbed onto Susanoo's hand. "What are you planning?" he asked, his voice shaky.

Robin, standing beside Susanoo, smirked. "I'll help maneuver you," she said, used her Flower-Flower Fruit powers to create additional arms on Susanoo, grabbing Usopp and maneuvering him closer to Oars' mouth. Usopp, though terrified, knew what he had to do. Usopp threw the salt directly into Oars' mouth, but instead of Luffy's shadow being expelled, Moria's shadow emerged and spat the salt back at Usopp.

Itachi began moving toward Oars. "Zoro, create an opening!" he shouted.

Zoro, understanding immediately, slashed at Oars, creating a momentary gap. Usopp took a deep breath. "Here goes nothing!" he said Oars attacked him with his fist then Itachi unleashed a Fireball Jutsu, setting Oars' hand on fire and preventing him from stopping Usopp's attack. Usopp threw the salt directly into Oars' mouth, but instead of Luffy's shadow being expelled, Moria's shadow emerged and spat the salt back at Usopp.

"Damn it!" Usopp cursed. "He's not going down!"

Moria sneered. "Oars, crush them!"

Oars raised his foot, ready to stomp on Nami and Brook. "No!" Nami screamed, but just then, Luffy, now in his Nightmare form, arrived.

"Luffy-san!" Brook shouted, relieved.

Oars attacked with a Gomu Gomu no Rifle, but Luffy stopped it with one hand. "You think you can beat me? Think again!" Luffy said, sending Oars flying into Thriller Bark's forest with a powerful blow.

The Rolling Pirates rushed in, tending to the wounded Straw Hats. Nightmare Luffy unleashed a devastating series of attacks on both Oars and Moria. Luffy slashed through Oars with a sword, struck Moria with a powerful Gomu Gomu no Pistol, and seemingly finished them off with a massive Gomu Gomu no Storm. As the shadows that had been empowering Luffy left his body, he collapsed, unconscious, while the victims of Moria's power cheered at the apparent defeat of Thriller Bark. "Is it over?" Nami asked, her voice filled with hope.

But as the dust settled, Oars began to rise again. "No way," Sanji muttered, disbelief in his voice.

"Luffy!" Itachi called out. "Get ready!"

Luffy looked up at Itachi's full Susanoo form, grinning. "Wow, that's awesome! What's the plan?"

"I'll throw you at him," Itachi said, his voice steady. "Let's finish this."

Luffy, always up for a challenge, laughed. "Alright, let's do it!"

He stretched his arm, latching onto Susanoo's shoulder. "This is gonna be fun!" he said, excitement in his voice.

Chopper, now fully understanding the situation, shouted, "Luffy, aim for his spine! If it's straightened out, Oars will take way more damage!"

Luffy nodded. "Got it!" He descended from Susanoo, activating Gear 3. "Gomu Gomu no Gigant Bazooka!" he shouted, delivering a massive blow directly to Oars' face, shattering his spine and finally bringing the giant down for good.

Then, a wave of relief washed over them. "We did it!" Nami exclaimed, her voice breaking the silence. She turned to the others with a huge smile. "We actually did it!"

Usopp, still trembling a bit from the intense battle, let out a long breath. "I can't believe we're still alive," he muttered, but then his face broke into a wide grin. "We beat that giant!"

Sanji, grinning, lit up a cigarette. "Took a lot of teamwork, but yeah, we pulled it off," he said, giving Zoro a nod of respect.

Zoro sheathed his swords, a satisfied smirk on his face. "It was a tough fight, but in the end, we showed them what the Straw Hats are made of."

Chopper jumped up in excitement. "We did it! We really did it!" he cheered, his small form bouncing around happily.

Robin, smiling softly, looked around at her crewmates. "It was a close call, but we managed to stick together. That's what made the difference."

Luffy, still catching his breath from his intense fight as Nightmare Luffy, looked around at his crew, pride swelling in his chest. "You guys were amazing!" he shouted, his grin wider than ever.

Franky flexed his muscles, striking a pose. "That's how the Straw Hats roll! Super victory!"

Brook, who had been quiet for a while, suddenly burst into a song, his skeleton form dancing joyfully. "Binks' Sake, let's bring it on!~" he sang, lifting everyone's spirits even higher.

Itachi, standing a bit apart from the group, allowed a small smile to cross his lips as he watched the crew celebrate. Seeing them so happy and united after such a fierce battle reminded him of the bonds he had with his own comrades back in his world.

Luffy ran over to Itachi, throwing an arm around his shoulder. "Thanks, Itachi! That Susanoo thing of yours is awesome! We couldn't have done it without you!"

Itachi nodded, still smiling. "You all fought well. I'm just glad we made it through."

Robin walked over, her usual calm demeanor softened with warmth. "Thank you for saving me," she said to Itachi, her eyes filled with gratitude.

"It was nothing," Itachi replied, but there was a hint of color on his cheeks.

As they all gathered together, the Straw Hats raised their arms in triumph, shouting in unison, "Victory!"

But before anyone could celebrate, a low, menacing laugh echoed through the clearing.

"What was that?" Sanji asked, his eyes narrowing as he looked around.

From the wreckage of Oars' fallen body, a shadowy figure began to rise. The air grew colder as the figure emerged, stepping out from within Oars' chest. It was Moria, grinning wickedly, his massive form towering over the exhausted crew.

"You fools," Moria sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "Did you really think it would be that easy? Oars was just a puppet… and now, I'll finish what he started."

The Straw Hats' eyes widened in horror as they realized the battle wasn't over. Luffy clenched his fists, his body still aching from the fight. "Moria…" he muttered, his voice filled with determination.

Itachi, his Sharingan eyes focused intently on him, declared, "We will finish you right here, right now."

Moria raised his hands, shadows swirling around him like a dark storm. "Your victory was nothing but a fleeting moment. Now, Straw Hats… it's time for you to fall."

Feel free to leave your thoughts and feedback in the reviews. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and as always, thank you for reading! Stay tuned for more adventures. Don't forget to like and follow!