Chapter 142: Ryuma Gets a New Shadow
Several minutes ago—
"Kishishishishi!!"
"The shadow of a Haki user! Rare, truly rare!"
The chilly moonlight shone upon the ancient castle. In a dim room in the rearmost building, sinister laughter echoed continuously.
A bizarrely large figure was slumped over. He had an onion-shaped head with two short horns, pointed teeth, and pointed ears like a demon. His obese body, however, had disproportionately small limbs.
"As expected of a powerhouse who can fight so many Zombie Generals at once!"
Looking at the struggling black shadow in his hand, Moria couldn't stop grinning, revealing his snow-white, sharp teeth.
"Although many high-quality corpses were destroyed, it was worth it. And this is just a crew member with a bounty of only 160 million Berries!"
"If I could get the shadows of those two with bounties over five hundred million, I can't even imagine how powerful I'd become. Kishishishishi!!"
"Lord Moria! Lord Moria!"
Two excited shouts came from the doorway. Looking towards the sound, it was the Squirrel Brothers rushing over, carrying a coffin.
"Woah! Another catch?!"
"Yes, yes!"
"It's Roronoa Zoro of the Straw Hat Pirates!"
"Kishishishi! Who managed this!"
Moria was overjoyed upon hearing this, and couldn't help but crane his fat neck curiously, "Weren't the Zombie Generals and the Mysterious Three all sent to deal with Straw Hat Luffy and Black Snake Reiner just now?"
"Reporting, Master! We don't know either!"
The Squirrel Brothers opened the coffin, pointing at the bound and unconscious Zoro inside, and shouted:
"The traps and mechanisms in the castle were somehow triggered. We found Roronoa knocked out by sleeping gas inside, so we tied him up!"
"Is that so? I was thinking of promoting whoever did it. Oh well, never mind."
Moria looked excited, reaching out and picking up Zoro by the ropes binding him.
A large lamp nearby was turned on, and a strong beam of light shone on Zoro, casting his shadow onto the ground.
Moria reached out towards the shadow in the circle of light. His sharp five fingers touched the black shadow, and the next moment, the shadow was peeled off like paper stuck to the ground.
The intense light made Zoro's eyelids twitch. As his consciousness gradually returned, he opened his eyes.
In his blurry vision, a captured black shadow struggled in front of him. Looking closely, the elongated black shadow was actually connected to his own feet!
"Hey! What's going on!"
Zoro exclaimed, about to react, when he realized he was suspended in mid-air, his entire body tightly bound by tough threads. He subconsciously glanced at his waist; his three swords were also gone.
The next moment.
Bang!
Moria's hand loosened. Zoro, who was being held up, felt a sense of weightlessness and slammed heavily onto the ground.
At this moment, he had no mind for anything else. He jerked his head up and looked at his own shadow. He clearly remembered that there was a Warlord on this island who could steal people's shadows!
"Roronoa, bounty two hundred million Berries."
The figure let out a sinister laugh, holding the shadow in one hand and a giant pair of scissors in the other. The two sharp blades glinted coldly. Before Zoro's shocked eyes, his shadow was cleanly cut off.
"Your shadow, I'll gladly take it. Kishishishi!!"
Zoro's pupils instantly constricted. Amidst the sinister, crazed laughter, he lost consciousness and fainted once more.
"A swordsman who uses Haki... perhaps he can bring out his power even better."
Moria bared his snow-white, sharp teeth, staring intently at the struggling shadow in his hand for a moment. He then turned to look at the three small zombies at his feet.
"Such a good shadow cannot be wasted. You three, make a trip and find Absalom. Bring me Ryuma the Swordsman and Jigorou of the Wind."
"Understood, Master!"
"As you command, Lord Moria!"
"We'll go right away!"
The three small zombies shouted, then scurried out the door on their short legs.
"You two, you must stay alive."
Moria grinned ferociously and reached out. Zoro and Sanji's bodies were placed back into the coffin.
Time returns to the present, in the front hall of the ancient castle, Hogback's laboratory.
A potbellied man with slender legs, shaped like a wine glass, was busy standing by an operating bed.
Sweat dripped from Hogback's forehead, sliding down his round, chubby face.
"Cindry, wipe my sweat."
"I hate plates."
A cold voice came from the side. He inexplicably showed a flustered expression, turned his head, and waved his hand sheepishly, saying:
"No! I know that. I just said wipe my sweat!"
A moment later, the light above the operating table was turned off.
"Phew~~, saved another one."
Hogback let out a long sigh and took off his mask.
He turned to look at a beast-like man sitting on the sofa behind him and instantly flared up, baring his teeth and yelling at him:
"Damn it! Do you know how rare the corpses of these Zombie Generals are? How much effort did I put into modifying them!"
As he spoke, he pointed to a corner where nearly ten immobile zombies were piled up, and said angrily:
"And yet they ended up damaged like this! So many zombies are completely shattered and can no longer be used. The loss is too great! This is all my painstaking work!"
"Don't be angry, Hogback. It couldn't be helped."
Absalom crossed his arms in front of him, leaning against the sofa and said faintly:
"Those guys were much stronger than I thought, especially Black Leg Sanji and Roronoa. If Perona hadn't arrived in time, I'm afraid all the Zombie Generals I brought would have been wiped out."
"At least we managed to capture Black Leg Sanji's shadow. Lord Moria said it's a very strong shadow. These losses are worth it."
"Foss! Foss! Foss!"
Hogback threw his head back and laughed loudly, "I wonder which of my masterpieces he'll be put into. I'm really looking forward to it!"
"Don't get too happy too soon. Those people outside have already entered the castle."
Absalom's expression was grave as he said in a low voice:
"Black Snake Reiner, that guy is definitely not easy to deal with. Although I haven't seen him fight, his bounty is there for all to see. It's even higher than Lord Moria's."
"That may be true, but Lord Moria's bounty was from before he became a Warlord. And this time, with Ryuma and several powerful Zombie Generals..."
Hogback spoke weakly. He knew nothing about fighting and couldn't judge much.
"Lord Absalom! Lord Hogback!"
At this moment, several shouts came from the corridor outside the door. The two turned to look and saw the three small zombies who served Moria rushing in.
"What's with all the panic?" Absalom asked faintly.
A small zombie carrying a bow and arrow stepped forward and said:
"Lord Absalom, Master said to bring Ryuma the Swordsman over, and also Jigorou of the Wind. Roronoa has been captured!"
"Oh? How did you manage that?"
Absalom couldn't help but be puzzled. After all, capturing just one Black Leg Sanji had cost him so many Zombie Generals. He had immediately returned with the zombies after receiving Hogback's call for help. Who captured Roronoa?
"Never mind, as long as he's caught. I'll have him go with you."
"Wait, wait!"
Hogback hurriedly shouted, "Jigorou of the Wind is fine! But Ryuma is my bodyguard! If he's called away, who will protect me!"
"Hey, don't forget, I'm the one who commands the Zombie Generals."
Absalom stood up, "There are still so many Zombie Generals here, what are you afraid of? I'll stay behind to help too. After all..."
As he spoke, he turned and walked out the door, "I've already chosen my bride. I'm definitely going to marry her!"
Before long, the three small zombies left, carrying a corpse. Following behind them was a man in tattered samurai clothes.
(End of chapter)
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