"A sailboat this big? If you hadn't told me, I would've thought it was a small island!"
As soon as Ash and his group flew over the giant wall and landed, Youki stared at the massive ship in disbelief.
"Technically, it is an island," Ash said while casually surveying the surroundings. "Thriller Bark was once part of a large island in the West Blue. An earthquake split it from the mainland and later, Gecko Moria modified it into the colossal vessel it is now."
Brook laughed nervously. "So Moria was from the West Blue too? Yohohoho! Just like me!"
"That's right," Ash nodded. "He's a pirate from the West Blue. After discovering that you were still alive, he sent shadows near the Baron to confirm your position. Moria likely recognized you, an established pirate from the same sea."
"Oh right," Brook said with a soft grin, "your nickname used to be Humming Brook, right? What was your bounty over forty years ago?"
Brook answered, "Humming Brook... that really takes me back. I think it was around thirty-three million Berries."
Ash laughed. "A bounty of thirty-three million definitely puts you above those nameless pirates. To Moria, your shadow is excellent material."
Youki nodded. "Ash, from your explanations earlier, the Shadow-Shadow Devil Fruit is really powerful."
Ash didn't deny it. Paramecia types can become frightening after development, and maybe even after Awakening — who knows? Perhaps it could rival Mythical Zoan levels.
"But power means nothing if he lacks fighting spirit," Youki continued. "From what you've said, this Moria now is just a broken wreck."
Since they had already heard about Moria's downfall during their journey, none of them were surprised by Ash's assessment.
Even chosen Shichibukai who lost their standing in the New World shouldn't be pushovers. True pirates can still be terrifyingly strong, even if they've retired through defeat.
Youki shrugged. "Whatever. He's just another pirate."
Brook remained silent.
Suddenly, Tsuki exclaimed with excitement, "Bro Ash , Bro Youki check this out! Is this a moat!?"
"Why would a sea vessel need a moat? What has Moria done now?" Youki asked.
Tsuki craned his neck and peered down. "How deep… seven or eight meters?"
"About that… wait? What's down there?"
Youki waved away the lingering fog with a gust of wind, and the group collectively froze.
"So… so many skeletons!" Tsuki whispered, wide‑eyed.
Nearby, Brook let out a shriek. "Eek! How terrifying!"
Startled, Tsuki turned and kicked Brook lightly. "Why are you screaming like a ghost? You are basically a skeleton!"
Brook froze for a moment, then apologized awkwardly, "Oh, right, sorry. I forgot for a second."
Ash looked into the bone‑filled moat and laughed coldly. "A true pirate's legacy. This idiot has probably spent only two or three years in the Demon Sea and already accumulated this many bones. But most of them weren't disciplined fighters — ninety‑nine percent were just ordinary pirates."
Brook hesitated. "Um… why are you so hostile toward pirates?"
Youki scoffed. "What else? Should we welcome them with open arms?"
"Brook," Ash said, eyes narrowing slightly, "you should understand: not all pirates are like the Rumbar Pirates. Adventurers seeking treasure, singing songs and holding feasts. Most true pirates raid islands, slaughter innocents, burn villages, and then celebrate with stolen goods."
Pointing to the skeletons, Ash continued, "Each of these bones belonged to someone who was harmed before they even set sail."
"The only reason I didn't kill you earlier, aside from Crocus's request, is because I know your history: former guard captain of a kingdom in the West Blue, later joining the Rumbar Pirates where music is the bond. You've fought pirates, but you've never hurt innocent civilians."
"In my eyes, you're not pirates so much as adventurers."
Brook was silent a moment, then said softly, "I… apologize. I didn't expect you, Young Man, to know so much about us. Crocus probably doesn't even know this much."
Ash smiled confidently. "Of course. We Cathay people know a great deal about everything, past and present, the heavens and the earth."
Tsuki muttered under his breath, "But you still can't sail a ship…"
Ash stiffened at that, eyes narrowing.
"I'm going to teach you idiots how to be smarter today," he said proudly. "We Cathay have a saying: Knowledge and action are one. Understanding something and applying it are inseparable. Knowledge is knowing, and action is doing."
Ash paused, then added with a shrug, "I have the knowledge of sailing — I'm just in the storage phase."
Tsuki pointed toward the moat where a dark form slowly approached. "Um… Bro… what is that…?"
Ash looked down casually. "Oh, that? A three‑headed dog."
Tsuki's jaw dropped. "It's really Cerberus!"
Everyone gasped.
Brook screamed again, "Ahh! The Three‑Headed Dog of the Underworld!"
Ash said calmly, "Just one of Moria's doctor's experiments. Look closely — doesn't it have a number?"
"Twenty‑one!" Tsuki cried. "It's real!"
Youki laughed. "Look closely — the leftmost head really does look like a fox!"
Cerberus growled and barked, "Grr woof! Ruff! Raaaah!"
Youki laughed louder. "He sure seems angry."
Ash's brows tightened as he observed the sea of bones at the bottom of the moat. Seven years before Monkey D. Luffy arrived, Thriller Bark already swarmed with zombies and skeletons far more than expected.
They had just landed, yet ahead lay a long path: the Spooky Forest, the Zombie Graveyard, Doctor Hogback's Mansion, Perona's Courtyard, and Moria's Castle Mast. How many zombies would they have to face?
It wasn't that Ash found it troublesome — he just didn't like the environmental destruction. After all, this was the vessel he had long been targeting.
"Let's move," Ash ordered and stepped across the moat first.
Simultaneously, a ball of flame dropped from Ash's palm into the bone‑filled pit. The Zombie Cerberus turned to ash before it could bark, leaving Brook shivering, recalling that Ash had earlier claimed he wouldn't kill him.
Not far past the moat, the group entered the Spooky Forest. Though fog still clung to the trees, they could make out grotesque stitched‑together zombies, each bearing a number. The sight made everyone uneasy.
Ash was about to grant them relief when something in a nearby tree caught his eyes — a figure hanging upside down like a bat.
Youki frowned. "Ash Bro, should I blow away this fog?"
Sali hurriedly stopped him, "No! We can see enough disgusting things already. If you clear the fog entirely, I'll throw up on the spot."
Brook hugged himself, trembling. "Zombies everywhere, so scary!"
Tsuki snapped, "You're much scarier than any zombie!"
While they were bickering, Ash remained still, focused on the figure above.
Suddenly, the upside‑down person spoke. "Oh? Have I been spotted? Hello, I am Hilton."
Hilton the Bat Zombie continued, "I saw you hesitate and thought you might be in danger, so I came to offer assistance."
Kirk pointed out, "He has a number too — twenty‑one. That's a pretty low one!"
"I know," Ash said calmly, then looked back at Hilton. "Continue. How do you intend to help us?"
Hilton said, "Night is coming soon, and once it falls, this forest becomes terrifying. If you don't mind, please take my carriage to Doctor Hogback's mansion."
Ash smiled faintly. "Very well. Thank you."
===
Look up "_Zeph" on Patreon to get access to chapters in advance.