"Everyone, take this."
Usopp pulled out several small pouches from his pocket and tossed them to his companions.
He had found the salt in the kitchen earlier, ground it up, and packed it into small bags.
Luckily, the zombies were afraid of this stuff—otherwise, he really wouldn't have known where to get salt from.
"What's this?"
"Salt."
"So that's what you were grinding earlier," Nico Robin said with interest. "You really thought this through."
With these, purifying zombies might become much easier.
"I won't need it," Jin said, tossing the salt back. "That Oars is way too big. This little bit won't mean anything."
In Oars's eyes, that amount of salt wouldn't even be as big as an ant.
It would be far more effective to just dump seawater on him.
Usopp froze for a moment, then nodded.
That massive body really couldn't be purified with such a small amount of salt—it was wishful thinking.
"Let's confirm our objectives."
"I'll go with Franky to find the legendary samurai," Zoro said. "First, we get Brook's shadow back."
As he spoke, his hand tightened around the hilt at his waist, his gaze sharp and focused.
"No problem!"
Franky struck his signature pose again and laughed loudly. "Super!!"
"The rest of us will look for everyone else's shadows," Nami said.
This time, not only Zoro's and Sanji's shadows—but also Lola and the others'—were part of their objective.
"Wouldn't it be enough if I just beat Moria?" Luffy asked.
"You can't think like that, Luffy," Usopp said seriously. "We're still inside this fog, but there's no guarantee sunlight won't break through."
"If the fight drags into daytime, you guys will be in real danger."
He didn't want Luffy and the others turning to ash mid-fight—that would be a disaster.
"Is it really that dangerous…?"
"Long Nose isn't wrong," Lola said. "When strong fighters clash, battles can last an entire day."
Especially monsters with monstrous stamina—those fights were often measured in days.
This time, their enemy was a Shichibukai. No one knew how long the battle would last.
Being cautious wasn't wrong.
"Then we'll focus on getting the shadows back first," Nami said.
As she spoke, she glanced up at the sky.
Though thick fog still covered everything, this was the Grand Line—weather could change at any moment.
"Let's go, Zoro," Usopp called.
"Hm?"
"You're coming with us?" Zoro asked in surprise.
Their enemy was just that one samurai. Usopp would be more useful staying with Nami's group.
"I'm worried we'll run into that ghost girl," Usopp explained. "Her ability doesn't work on me."
"With me there, we won't get wiped out by her powers."
"What?!"
Franky stared at him in shock. "You're immune to her ability?!"
"How?!"
"Well…" Usopp thought for a moment. "Maybe because I'm already extremely negative by nature."
Franky: …
What kind of reason was that?
"Why does that somehow sound reliable?" Sanji muttered.
"Believe it or not," Usopp added, "Nami isn't afraid of her either."
"Eh?!!"
Everyone stared at Nami in shock.
Why wasn't she affected either?
Was she also extremely negative?!
"If that bitch wants me to be a poor person in my next life, there's no way I'd accept that!" Nami snapped.
"If we run into her, I'm beating her up for sure!"
Once she knew the woman wasn't a real ghost, Nami wasn't afraid at all—in fact, she wanted to punch her.
"So their side is fine too," Usopp concluded.
"Then let's move," Jin said. "I'll deal with Luffy's shadow. The rest is up to you."
"Yeah!!"
...
At the highest structure on the island, Moria lay in his room, staring at the distant sky with complicated eyes.
"Just wait… it won't be long before I avenge you all…"
"Moria-sama!!"
"Oh? Perona," Moria said, glancing at the little ghost floating in. "What is it?"
"The three pirates who fainted have already woken up!" Perona said anxiously. "They're heading this way right now!"
"I see…"
Moria frowned and stood up.
"They woke up that fast?"
"It must be because they ran into that skeleton. He knows what happens after shadows are stolen."
"Tch… that's troublesome."
Oars still hadn't fully settled down.
Commanding him to wipe out the pirates right now wasn't realistic.
In the end… would he have to act personally?
Thinking of that troublesome ninja brat made Moria's head ache. He didn't like fighting that type of opponent.
"Perona, take my orders. Have the remaining General Zombies stop them."
"But that ninja—"
"If you run into the ninja, let him come through," Moria said. "I'll handle him myself."
Until Oars was completely under control, he'd have to deal with that brat personally.
At least with experience from their earlier fight, he wouldn't be completely at a disadvantage.
"Yes, understood," Perona said. "With the General Zombies involved, even if my ability doesn't work, we won't lose too badly."
"Your ability doesn't work?" Moria stared at her. "What do you mean?"
"Yes."
"There are two people among the Straw Hats—one money-obsessed woman, and one long-nosed man. Neither of them is affected by my Negative Hollows."
There was also that ninja who could attack her mentally—but at least her power still worked somewhat.
At the very least, the clone he created couldn't withstand her Negative Hollows.
"Such a thing exists…?"
Moria was stunned.
Even he couldn't resist Perona's ability.
And they could?
Wait—
Don't tell me they'd mastered Haki?
If their Haki was strong enough, it might resist her power—but in the Grand Line, were such people really that common?
"One loves money too much. The other is naturally pessimistic."
Moria: …
So it was because of their personalities?!
He could understand negativity—but what did loving money have to do with anything?!
For a moment, Moria's expression became indescribably strange.
"Fine, I understand. Capture them quickly," Moria waved. "And send a few zombies to guard Hogback."
"Understood."
"Haraharaharaha~"
With her orders received, Perona floated away.
Soon, under Moria's command, a group of General Zombies—led by Perona—arrived in the corridor.
"Stop those enemies down there, understood?!" Perona ordered.
She could already see figures approaching.
"Yes!"
"Leave it to us, Perona-sama! Just a bunch of pirates, hahaha!"
"That's right!"
Seeing how confident the General Zombies were, Perona relaxed a little.
As long as that ninja wasn't here, then—
"Hm?"
"Ninja?!!"
Seeing Jin appear at the staircase, Perona shrieked and immediately hid behind a General Zombie.
"Yo, it's you again, little miss," Jin grinned. "Not scared of me anymore?"
"You pirate! Don't get cocky!"
"With us here, you think you can scare Perona-sama?!"
The General Zombies instantly bristled.
How dare this guy frighten Perona-sama right in front of them?!
Jin ignored them and looked straight at Perona.
"Let me ask you something. Where did Oars go?"
Earlier, he had stood atop the outer wall and hadn't seen that giant.
He'd planned to head toward Moria first to check if Oars was with him—but since the ghost girl was here, he might as well ask.
"So your target is Oars?" Perona relaxed and replied smugly.
"He's at the highest point of the island!!"
Moria-sama had said Oars was incomparably powerful—no one could possibly defeat him.
If this ninja wanted to walk straight into his own death, she didn't mind helping.
"The highest point, huh…"
Jin walked to the window and narrowed his eyes toward the ship's mast area.
If it was there, it made sense he hadn't seen him earlier.
"You're ignoring us?!"
"Bastard, don't get so arrogant!"
"Kill him!!"
The General Zombies roared in fury.
Being ignored enraged them instantly.
With a shout, they charged downward.
But Luffy rushed out even faster!
"Get out of my way!!"
"Gum-Gum Gatling!!"
BOOM!!
A storm of fists smashed into the zombies, sending them flying and crashing violently into the corridor walls.
"Boom!!"
"What's with this guy?!"
The General Zombies stared in disbelief.
Earlier, Luffy hadn't shown this level of explosive power—why did his punches feel so heavy now?!
As Luffy attacked, Sanji and the others immediately followed, clashing head-on with the zombies.
In just one exchange, the Straw Hats gained the upper hand.
But since their enemies were zombies, defeating them quickly wasn't easy.
"Use the salt!" Robin called out.
As she spoke, she used her Devil Fruit power to instantly purify one of the General Zombies.
Watching the shadow fly away, she smiled.
This tactic worked.
As the battle continued, positions gradually shifted.
The General Zombies were forced down the stairs, while the Straw Hats pushed upward.
"Moria!!" Luffy roared. "Get your ass out here!!"
After shouting once, he immediately ran off ahead.
Clearly, he had no interest in wasting time on zombies.
Jin scanned the area, noticed Perona had already fled, and said calmly,
"There's no point getting tangled up with them. I'll just burn them."
If Luffy hadn't already rushed into the crowd earlier, he would've used Fire Style from the start.
Now that some distance had opened—
"Fire Style: Great—"
Before the technique could form, a massive shadow crashed down from above.
BOOM!!!
The corridor was completely smashed to pieces by the impact.
"Ahhh!!"
The General Zombies below were struck head-on and fell together with the rubble toward the ground.
Everyone froze in shock.
"…Cough."
Jin swallowed the half-formed jutsu and coughed lightly.
"What the hell was that?!" Sanji exclaimed.
A gigantic figure had just fallen from above and obliterated the corridor.
If they hadn't just moved upward—
Their fate wouldn't have been any better than the zombies'.
"If I'm not mistaken," Jin said, "what just fell… is Luffy's shadow zombie."
He walked to the broken edge and looked down.
Below stood the enormous figure of Oars.
"So it really is this guy…"
"…He's huge," Sanji muttered, his cigarette dropping from his mouth.
The pressure from that colossal body was overwhelming.
How was Jin supposed to fight something like that?
"Hey, Jin," Lola said in shock, "you're really going to fight that thing?"
Its size reminded her of the giant prince who had proposed to her—Loki.
That man's strength was terrifying.
And this thing was comparable in size.
Could Jin really handle it?
"Yeah. He's mine."
"But how are you supposed to fight something like that…?"
"I have my ways," Jin grinned. "You all go do what you need to do."
"…Alright."
Though they had no idea how Jin planned to battle such a monster, since he said so, they chose to believe him.
That was trust among comrades.
Seeing Lola hesitate, Robin stepped forward and gently pulled her away.
"Trust Jin," she said softly. "He never acts without confidence."
When he gives his word—he keeps it.
Lola opened her mouth, then finally said nothing.
She chose to believe him and left with the others.
After watching his companions depart, Jin jumped from the second-floor corridor down to the lower level.
This corridor, dozens of meters above the ground, only reached Oars's chest.
That alone showed how massive he was.
"Ow, ow, ow…"
On the broken corridor, Franky rubbed his head. "What just happened?"
They'd been about to cross when the entire thing suddenly collapsed.
What kind of monster could do that?!
"Obviously something fell."
"And that something is—"
"It's Luffy's zombie!!" Usopp cried, staring at the gigantic figure, his body trembling.
That thing's finger was bigger than his entire body!
What kind of terrifying enemy was this?!
Click.
Jin landed steadily on the ground and grinned.
"That's right. This is Luffy's shadow zombie."
"A perfect punching bag that delivered itself."
He'd wanted to beat Luffy up for a long time.
Now a substitute had conveniently arrived.
How could he not be excited?
Franky stared at Jin.
For some reason, it felt like he wasn't really talking about the zombie…
"That's Luffy's zombie, huh… it really is massive…"
Even having seen giants before, the shock was overwhelming.
At that moment, Oars finally moved.
He looked around, quickly spotted something he wanted on the corridor, and reached out with his enormous hand.
"Ah!!"
"He's attacking!!"
"No—he's not," Jin said, his Sharingan spinning.
"He's not trying to attack. He's trying to… pick something up."
Pick something up?
Before they could react, Oars grabbed a triangular stone slab and placed it on his head like a hat.
The pose looked exactly like a pirate finding his straw hat.
"Hahahaha!"
"Now this feels right~!"
"Alright~!"
"I'm definitely gonna be the Pirate King!!"
Oars stood with his hands on his hips, laughing loudly.
The sound alone made their ears hurt.
Watching him wander off, Usopp winced.
"Is… is he playing pirate?"
"Obviously," Jin said.
"His shadow comes from Luffy—so his personality is basically the same."
In short—
He was an idiot.
Jin even suspected that if he showed off ninjutsu, this guy might walk right into the attack himself.
His expression turned strange.
"Tch… the corridor got smashed because of this idiot," Franky muttered. "I'll have to fix it."
Shaking his head, Franky pulled out his tools and began working immediately.
"Hey, Jin," Usopp said nervously. "How are you planning to fight him? One punch from him could destroy a building."
To Oars, Jin was no bigger than an ant.
"Relax," Jin said calmly. "More importantly—do you want me to send you guys across? This corridor is—"
"Huh?!"
Before he could finish, a wooden bridge had somehow appeared, neatly connecting the broken corridor.
Everyone froze.
"Eh?!"
Seeing Franky crouched on the bridge, examining its decoration, Jin gaped.
"You built a bridge in that short time?!"
That speed was insane.
Where did the wood and stone even come from?!
"Hmm… I'm not satisfied with the decoration," Franky muttered.
"It's just a temporary bridge—do you really need to worry about details?!"
"Of course I do!" Franky stood proudly. "Do you think I'm the kind of man who cuts corners?!"
"Even with scraps of wood and stone, I'll build it properly!"
For him, something like this was no problem.
Besides, Jin could've used Water Style to send them across—but that would drain his stamina.
If it affected the upcoming fight with Oars, that would be bad.
Usopp wiped away a bead of sweat.
As expected of their shipwright—this craftsmanship was unreal.
"Since there's a bridge now, go on ahead," Jin said, stepping aside and looking toward Oars.
"I'm going to beat him up."
With that, he leapt straight off the bridge.
"Hey!! That's dozens of meters down!!" Usopp screamed.
You'd die from that fall!!
But the next second, something even more shocking happened.
"Super · Enlargement Technique!!"
BOOM!!!
Jin's body expanded rapidly midair.
In the blink of an eye, he grew into a gigantic figure—matching Oars in size!
"Wha—?!!!"
Usopp and the others stared in disbelief, their eyes bulging, snot flying from their noses.
The Jin who had been their size… had instantly become as huge as Oars?!
"H-How did he do that?!"
"Hey, Jin! Are you a giant?!" Zoro shouted.
"A giant?" Jin glanced back at them and grinned.
"Nope. I'm not a giant. This is just my ninjutsu."
"Now hurry and do what you need to do."
"I'll take care of the big guy."
With that, Jin strode toward Oars.
Each massive step made the ground tremble violently.
"…Now he really can fight that thing," Franky muttered, swallowing hard.
Just what kind of ninjutsu could make someone grow that large in an instant?
"Let's go. We have our own jobs to do," Zoro said, regaining his composure.
"There'll be time to ask about that technique later."
Their time was limited—they couldn't afford to waste it.
"Yeah!"
The three quickly left the area.
Jin, meanwhile, stopped not far from Oars and shouted:
"Hey!"
"You big idiot!"
"Let's see what you've got!"
His booming voice instantly drew attention.
The zombies stared in terror.
"W-What is that thing?!"
"Why is there another giant?!"
One was already too much.
And now another had appeared?!
What in the world was going on today?!
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