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  More zombies started to rise from the surrounding graves, their rotting bodies lurg toward the crew with swift movements. Coby, still grinning, reached into his pocket and casually flicked a handful of salt toward one of the zombies’ mouths. The moment the salt touched their tohe zombies let out a pained groan and shadows leaving their bodies.

  “Salt works just like Brook said,” Coby remarked, tossing another pinto a nearby zombie’s mouth, watg as it too fall to the ground, lifeless.

  Usopp, already panig at the sight of the zombies, quickly pulled out his Kabuto and aimed. “I’ll back you up, Coby!” he shouted, ung a salt pellet straight into a zombie’s open mouth. The creature fell instantly, and Usopp pumped his fist in victory. “Bullseye!”

  More and more zombies started crawling out of the graves, their moaning and groaning filling the air. Franky cracked his knuckles, ready to join the fight. “Alright, let’s clear these freaks out! Franky Invincible Punch!” He sent one of the zombies flying with a single punch then pced salt to their mouths.

  As the crew made quick work of the zombies, the rest of the crew follow to flick salt into the mouths of any they could find.

  After clearing the graveyard of zombies, the crew was stopped by anure carrying a mp. The old man looked worn and ragged, his body covered in bandages. Luffy, with his usual ck of hesitation, poi him and decred, “An old man with serious injuries!”

  Franky, Zoro, and Sanji retorted immediately, exasperation clear in their voices. “We told you, he’s a zombie!”

  But the old man corrected them. “No, I am an old man with serious injuries.”

  The trio looked between the old man and each other, clearly fused. “You look like a zombie! It’s really fusing!” they shouted in unison.

  The old man, ign their fusion, expihe situation about Moria and the shadows. “Georia stole my shadow and many others. I’ve been forced to hide in the shadows ever since. If I step into the sunlight, I’ll be buro nothing. Please, you must defeat him and free us all!”

  Luffy, already grinning with excitement, didn’t need much ving. “We were already gon him up!” he said with a ugh. “Just wait here, old man. We’ll take care of it!”

  The crew nodded in agreement, and the old man stepped aside, watg as they tiheir jouroward the massive castle in the distance.

  Arriving at the entrance of the castle, the Straw Hat crew came face to face with a Samurai Zombie standing guard. His figure was tall, imposing, and covered in a tattered samurai gi. His skull-like face artially ed in bandages, and his sword, Shusui, hung at his side. The air around him was thick with the st of decay, but his movements were sharp, trolled—like he was more than just another mindless corpse.

  “Yohohoho,” the Samurai Zombie chuckled, his voice eerily simir to Brook’s. “You’ve e back for your shadow, skeleton? It’s been a while since I’ve had a proper duel.”

  Brook’s eyes narrowed, and his grip tightened on his e sword. “Indeed... this time, I’ll take back what you stole,” he said, stepping forward.

  Zoro’s eyes were locked on Shusui, the legendary bck bde at Ryuma’s hip. “That sword... it is not bad,” Zoro muttered, his hand instinctively moving toward his own swords.

  Coby, standio Zoro, noticed the fire in his crewmate’s eyes. He knew Zoro was itg for a fight, but this was Brook’s moment. He pced a hand on Zoro’s shoulder, stopping him before he could step forward.

  “Let Brook hahis,” Coby said firmly. “He deserves the first shot. But when he’s dohat zombie is mine.”

  Z Coby, his eyes narrowing in mild irritation. “Are you sure? I really want to fight with him. Something is calling me,” Zoro said, his voice low. Coby knew Zoro’s instincts were driving him—the pull of his lihe honor that came with freeing his aor’s defiled body. Zoro’s blood practically demahat he be the oo end this fight and free the legendary warrior from the curse of being a zombie. Even more so because of the e through blood and sword. The bck bde Shusui was calling out to Zoro.

  Coby locked eyes with Zoro, notig the hunger in his gaze, but this was one fight Coby wasn’t going to back down from. “Zoro, this one’s mine,” Coby said firmly. “You’ve got your three swords, including the one I saved. Shusui’s mine," he then called in his mind, 'and maybe Hiyori too,' smirking slightly.

  Zrumbled but stepped back. “Fine. Don’t die, or I’ll have to take it bayway,” he said, crossing his arms, though the iy in his eyes never faded.

  Brook moved forward first, his e sword drawn as he faced off against the zombie version of Ryuma. The air between them crackled. This ersonal. Brook’s body, though light and agile, cked the muscle and strength it once had. Ryuma, oher hand, was a human zombie, his rotting body now empowered with enharength.

  Without a word, Brook lunged forward, striking with precision. "Hanauta Sancho: Yahazu Giri!" he announced, his e sword slig through the air with a haunting hum.

  Ryuma moved at the exact same time, his own body mirr Brook’s movements. "Hanauta Sancho: Yahazu Giri!" The two swordsmen cshed mid-air, their bdes colliding with a burst of sparks. The impact sent Brook skidding back, his bony form rattling from the force.

  “Yohohoho! I fot how strong you were!” Brook ughed, though it was clear he was struggling to keep up. Ryuma’s strikes were heavier, more powerful. Each swing of Shusui carried the weight of both the legendary sword and the zombie’s unnatural strength.

  Coby watched closely from the sidelines, his trideing in his hand, he too was itg for a fight. He could see Brook’s teique was fwless, but his body just couldn’t match the raw power of Ryuma. “Brook, tag me in when you’re ready,” Coby called out.

  Brook nodded, dodging another of Ryuma’s powerful sshes. "Thank you, Coby-san!" he said, knowing he couldn’t keep up much longer.

  Ryuma pressed the attack, his movements fluid yet terrifyingly strong. "You’re nothing but a shadow of your former self, skeleton," Ryuma taunted, his voice hollow aionless. He raised Shusui high, preparing for a devastating overhead strike.

  Brook was about to dodge Ryuma’s powerful downward ssh, but paused when he realized the strike would cut his afro. Gritting his teeth, he took the hit head-oing the bde graze his body as he skidded back across the ground. "That was a bad pun," he muttered, his tone deadpun.

  Ryuma’s voice was cold as he responded, "You still foolishly protect that afro. Every time we fight, you take damage, but always save that ridiculous hair."

  Brook straightened up, his bony fingers brushing his afro lightly. His face was serious. "It is a promise!" he decred.

  Despite his best efforts, Brook realized he couldn’t win. Ryuma knew all his moves—he was stronger, faster, and his zombie body didn’t tire like Brook’s skeleton form. Slowly, Brook stepped back, his eyes shifting to Coby. "Please, Coby-san," he said, uanding his limits.

  Coby stepped forward, patting Brook’s shoulder. "Leave it to me," he replied simply.

  [Skill S initiated on 'Swordsmanship (Medium Level)' from Brook. Analysis in progress… Brook's Medium-Level Swordsmanship, which focuses on agile and precise strikes, bined with quick-draw teiques and enhanced speed due to Brook’s lightweight skeletal body. This level of swordsmanship emphasizes agility and finesse over raw strength, making it ideal for swift, calcuted attacks in battle. Estimated cost for acquisition: 20,000 SP. Please firm if you wish to proceed with the Skill S and acquisition.]

  [Skill S initiated on 'Advanced Swordsmanship' from Ryuma's Zombie. Analysis in progress Advanced Swordsmanship from Ryuma’s Zombie, which focuses on powerful, masterful teiques. This level of swordsmanship incorporates a profound uanding of the bde, precision in both attad defense, and mastery over multiple styles, including one-handed and dual-wielding teiques. Ryuma’s zombie also demonstrates a deadly bination of speed, teique, and strength, particurly ihal finishing moves. Estimated cost for acquisition: 90,000 SP. Please firm if you wish to proceed with the Skill S and acquisition.]

  Ryuma’s hollow eyes focused on Coby as he approached. Holding his golden trident, Coby spoke, "The legendary samurai, Shimotsuki Ryuma. I’ll honor your spirit by freeing your body. Iurn, I want the legendary sword, Shusui."

  Ryuma didn’t respond with words. Instead, he shifted his stance, gripping Shusui tightly, preparing for battle.

  Coby didn’t waste time. With a fsh of speed, he disappeared from sight, using Shadow Step to close the distaween them in an instant. Ryuma’s eyes widened for a split sed, but he reacted quickly, swinging Shusui in a deadly arc. Coby blocked with his trident, the etal ringing through the air.

  The force of the impact sent a shockwave rippling through the ground. Coby grinned, impressed by Ryuma’s strength. "Not bad," he muttered, pushing back against the samurai zombie.

  Ryuma slid back slightly but recovered quickly. "A warrior’s strength doesn’t fade with death," he stated coldly.

  Coby unched forward, trident in hand, moving with blinding speed. Ryuma stepped back, his eyes locked on Coby, then swung Shusui in a sharp arc. Their ons cshed, the force creating a shockwave that shook the grouh them.

  Coby smirked, pushing against the bde with his trident, sending Ryuma sliding back slightly. The zombie samurai regained his stance quickly, swinging Shusui in another powerful strike. Coby vanished with Shadow Step, reappearing behind Ryuma in an instant. He thrust his trident toward the zombie's back, but Ryuma twisted, parrying the attack with ease. The ons ged as they collided again, both fighters refusing to give an inch.

  Ryuma's movements were swift and precise, each swing of his legendary sword filled with the skill of a true samurai. He stepped in closer, aiming for a cut across Coby's torso. Coby blocked with his trident, sparks flying as their ons ected, her side relenting.

  Coby spun to the left, his trident twirling in his hands as he deflected a rapid succession of Ryuma's strikes. Shusui whistled through the air, its bck bde cutting deep into the ground when it missed. Ryuma’s geta sandals barely made a sound as he shifted, swinging the sword horizontally. Coby leapt into the air, flipping over Ryuma's attad nding behind him once more.

  Before Ryuma could react, Coby luhrusting the trident toward his chest. The zombie samurai deflected the blow, using the ft of Shusui to redirect the strike. Ryuma immediately tered with a downward ssh, aiming to split Coby in two. Coby dodged, darting to the side as Shusui smmed into the ground with a deafening thud.

  “Your speed is impressive, but it won’t be enough to defeat me,” Ryuma said as he raised Shusui once more.

  Coby didn’t respond, simply grinning as he charged fain. His trident moved like lightning, stabbing and sshing with incredible speed. Ryuma met every strike, blog and parrying as if he could predict Coby's every move. The etal echoed through the garden, the force of their battle causing dust to fall from the ceiling.

  Ryuma swung Shusui with terrifying power, aiming for Coby's legs. Coby leapt into the air, avoiding the attack by a hair's breadth. He twisted midair and brought his trident down in a powerful strike, aiming for Ryuma's head. Ryuma raised his sword just in time, the trident’s sharp tips g against the legendary bde.

  Both fighters pressed against each other, ons locked. Ryuma’s skeletal face cracked into a smile beh his scarf, his empty eye sockets gazing into Coby’s eyes. “You’re strong for someone so young,” he said, his voice low. “But it won’t be enough.”

  With a surge of strength, Ryuma pushed Coby back, sending him skidding across the ground. Coby quickly regained his footing, using Shadow Step to vanish from sight. Ryuma’s head so the left, predig Coby’s movement. He swung Shusui in a wide arc, f Coby to block just in time.

  Coby nded a few feet away, wiping a small trickle of sweat from his brow. “You’re not bad, old man,” Coby remarked with a grin, shifting his grip orident. Ryuma chuckled, raising his sword in a traditional samurai stance.

  The two fighters stared each other down for a moment. Then, without warning, they cshed again, their ons moving so fast that it was hard for the others to follow.

  Coby aimed low, thrusting his trident toward Ryuma’s legs. Ryuma jumped, flipping over Coby and sshing downward. Coby ducked, the bde slig through the air just above his head. He retaliated with a powerful upward strike, the trident narrowly missing Ryuma’s chest.

  Ryuma didn’t waste a sed. He swung Shusui in a precise diagonal cut, f Coby to leap back. The sword’s bde whistled as it sliced through the space where Coby had been standing. Coby responded with a quick thrust, aiming for Ryuma’s exposed side. But the zombie samurai twisted his body, defleg the trident with the ft of his sword.

  Coby vanished again, using Shadow Step to appear directly in front of Ryuma. He thrust his trident forward with incredible force, aiming for Ryuma’s heart. But Ryuma was ready. He brought Shusui up just in time, catg the trideween the sword’s edge and his shoulder. The impact sent both fighters sliding back, but her backed down.

  The two cshed again and again, their oing with a thunderous sound. Each strike was stronger, faster, more precise tha. Coby’s trident whirled through the air, defleg and parrying Ryuma’s strikes, while Ryuma’s sword danced with the grace of a warrior who had lived and died by the bde.

  Coby ducked under another ssh, spinning and aiming a low sweep with his trident. Ryuma jumped once more, nding behind Coby with perfect bance, immediately swinging Shusui toward Coby’s back. Coby tur the st sed, catg the bde with his trident’s shaft.

  The force of the impact sent a tremor through Coby’s arms, but he held firm. He grinned, pushing Ryuma back with a swift kick to the chest. Ryuma staggered, but quickly recovered, swinging Shusui in a wide arce more.

  Coby’s movements were swift and fluid, using Shadow Step to dodge Ryuma’s strikes. He reappeared behind the samurai, thrusting his trident with incredible speed. Ryuma spun, blog the attad immediately tering with a downward ssh. Coby sidestepped, the bde barely missing him as it struck the ground with a loud crash.

  “You move well for a zombie,” Coby remarked, his trident spinning in his hands.

  Ryuma chuckled, his hollow voice eg through the castle. “And you fight well for a child,” he replied, raising Shusui once more.

  Coby ehe battle, his grin widening as he blocked another ssh from Ryuma. The zombie samurai’s strength was impressive, and each csh of their o sparks flying into the air. Coby pushed forward, swinging his trident in a powerful arc. Ryuma parried with Shusui, their ons log as the force of the blow shook the grouh them.

  Ryuma shifted, ung a precise horizontal ssh aimed at Coby’s side. Coby stepped back, dodging the strike, but the tip of Shusui grazed his arm, leaving a shallow cut. Blood dripped down his sleeve, but Coby barely flinched. Instead, he took advantage of the moment, twisting his body and driving the trident forward with a burst of speed.

  The sharp prongs of Coby’s trident pierced Ryuma’s stomach, sinking deep into the zombie’s decayed flesh. Ryuma’s body shuddered as he staggered backward, his grip on Shusui loosening.

  Ryuma’s hollow voice echoed through the air as he looked down at the trident embedded in his torso. “You’ve bested me,” he muttered, his voice casual despite the damage. “But this body... it was never mio begin with. I didn’t do justice to this legendary warrior.” He sheathed Shusui and threw the sword toward Coby, who caught it smoothly.

  With sheer willpower, Ryuma began to force Brook’s shadow out of his body, refusing Moria’s power any lohe shadow trembled, pulling free from the zombie’s body aurning to Brook, who was standing nearby, his skeletal face filled with awe.

  Coby stood beside Ryuma’s now lifeless form, holding Shusui in one hand, the bck bde gleaming faintly in the dim light. “I accept this legendary sword,” Coby said firmly, his eyes on the fallen samurai. “And I promise to honor it by returning it to your homend.”

  Zoro, watg from a distaepped forward as Coby called him over. “e o’s pay our respects,” Coby said. Zoro didn’t fully uand why, but he nodded and walked over, standio Coby in silence.

  The two stood over Ryuma’s body for a moment, then Coby raised his hand, fmes beginning to dance around his fist. “Hiken!” he called out, unleashing a wave of fire that engulfed the corpse. The fmes roared to life, burning Ryuma’s body to ash, the heat carrying away the remnants of his cursed existence.

  Zoro, arms crossed, watched the fire with a quiet respect. “You did the right thing,” he said simply, though his eyes lingered on Shusui in Coby’s hand. The sword called to him, but he remained silent.

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