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As the Endless Dream sailed deeper, the surrounding fog thickened, and darkness enveloped them on all sides. In this situation, their eyes were practically useless, and only the sound of the waves crashing against the ship could be heard, eerily amplified by the silent environment.
Especially with the occasional "Yohohoho" laugh emanating from the sea restaurant, it added a haunting touch that made the pirates trailing behind shiver with fear, uncertain of the fate awaiting them.
Occasionally, barrels that seemed to contain treasure appeared floating by. Aqua and Meowth, eager to "treasure hunt," were promptly stopped by Zyhark. These were clearly traps meant to lure them into the clutches of Thriller Bark, unworthy of their attention.
Moments earlier, Zyhark had already pinpointed Thriller Bark's location using his electric feedback.
As they approached, a gigantic ship with an outer gate resembling a terrifying open mouth loomed before them. Compared to this ship, which was almost the size of an island, the Endless Dream looked like an insignificant leaf.
Whether due to an automated mechanism or their presence being detected, the gate's teeth opened wide. The current propelled the Endless Dream and the four trailing pirate ships into an inner harbor.
"This is Thriller Bark, the pirate ship of Gecko Moria!" A pirate exclaimed, recognizing the legend.
"The sea restaurant's destination is a Warlord of the Sea?!"
"That's a fearsome pirate! Damn the restaurant owner; is he planning to sell us all out?" The pirates began to panic, understanding the dire fate that awaited them at the hands of a Warlord.
Their worry turned to terror until several bolts of lightning from the sky struck, rendering them docile once more. The leading rebellious pirates were charred to a crisp, showing Zyhark's brutal message: disobedience would not be tolerated.
With quiet restored, the ships continued towards the inner harbor until a towering wall halted their progress, prompting them to anchor.
"Is this our destination? I can sense an unpleasant aura," Aqua remarked, gazing at the dark land, forest, enormous sails, and eerie castle.
"Yes, I have some matters to discuss with the owner here," Zyhark responded, studying the colossal pirate ship.
Experiencing Thriller Bark firsthand was vastly different from seeing it on a screen; its sheer scale was awe-inspiring.
"The owner, a Warlord of the Sea, meow?" Meowth asked, recalling their encounter with Bartholomew Kuma, another Warlord, days before.
"Yes, though he's likely a weakling," Zyhark replied.
"Then no worries," Meowth said, his concern dissipating.
"By the way, Meowth, what's that around your neck?" Zyhark asked, noticing the garlic necklace and crucifix Meowth was wearing.
"They're garlic and crosses I prepared for everyone. Supposedly, they work wonders against zombies and vampires, yohohoho," Brook answered, satisfied with his crucifix.
Though Brook feared monsters, his expertise in the supernatural was evident. However, the sight of a skeleton holding a crucifix was comically absurd. In contrast, Kanna, who was nibbling on a garlic sprout, looked endearing.
"Huh? With the almighty goddess here, you still need such trivial items?" Aqua scoffed, sticking an Axis Church pamphlet on Brook's forehead. "This is more useful!"
As ridiculous as it looked, a flimsy pamphlet had no real exorcism power. Zyhark held back a laugh, mentally noting the absurdity.
"Indeed, there's no need for these. The zombies are more afraid of salt," Zyhark added.
"Salt? Got it," Brook sighed in relief, about to put down the crucifix when he froze, realizing the implication. "Wait, there are real zombies here?!"
...
Ultimately, the timid Brook and King stayed aboard the Endless Dream, tasked with guarding the ship and the captive pirates. Zyhark, Aqua, Meowth, and Kanna formed an exploration team to venture into Thriller Bark.
Leaving King behind ensured someone capable was there to handle the unpredictable zombies, who attacked anyone they saw, unlike the pirates who were intimidated by the King's presence. The Endless Dream was equipped with Meowth's mechanisms, making it a stronghold for King to defend.
With Brook assisting, there was no cause for concern. In the worst-case scenario, Zyhark could use his lightning abilities to assist. Now, he could execute precise lightning strikes over a small area.
Passing through the narrow walls, the group encountered a wide, dark gorge. Using Aqua's goddess robes as a parachute, they easily reached the bottom.
The ground was littered with various skeletal remains, both human and animal, creating a terrifying atmosphere. This was the first barrier of Thriller Bark; those who stumbled here either died from fear or...
A growl echoed through the gorge. Shortly after, a large zombie dog blocked their path, its body stitched together with a fox head in the middle.
"Three heads? Is this a Dodrio? No, wait, why are two heads dogs and one a fox? So ugly, meow..." Meowth remarked, critiquing its appearance.
Zyhark glanced at Meowth, wondering how he managed to compare it to a Dodrio. Despite having three heads that argued, they were clearly different species.
"No, it's a Cerberus, a low-intelligence demon that likes to pee everywhere," Aqua laughed, pointing and mocking the fox-headed Cerberus.
"Kanna doesn't want to eat that dog," Kanna observed, concluding it would cause stomach issues.
The Cerberus, trying to appear fierce, was thrown off by their remarks. It expected to terrify humans, not be mocked.
Enraged, the Cerberus charged at them, but Aqua confidently stepped forward.
"Such an ill-mannered monster," she said, preparing her signature attack. "Holy Purification!"
The holy light struck the Cerberus, causing it to halt. As the light faded, the dog heads blinked in confusion, the fox head shook, and nothing seemed amiss.
Just as they were about to laugh, Aqua pointed at the middle head. The two heads looked and saw the lifeless middle head, its shadow gone.
"It actually worked?" Zyhark said, surprised.
"Of course it worked! That's the Water Goddess's Holy Purification!" Aqua protested, shaking Zyhark's shirt.
Ignoring Aqua's outburst, Zyhark pondered. Aqua's purification could erase Devil Fruit curses, so it wasn't surprising it affected the shadow zombies.
If Aqua unleashed a massive flood on Thriller Bark, Moria's efforts would be instantly destroyed. A true counter...
But this secret couldn't be revealed to the goddess, or her ego would soar, leading to their collective misery.
The Cerberus, now a two-headed dog, roared with tears in its eyes, seeking revenge. However, against the Water Goddess, it stood no chance.
With two more Holy Purifications, Aqua dispatched it, basking in admiration from Meowth and Kanna.
"Look at me, Zyhark! This is my domain!" Aqua boasted.
Zyhark remained expressionless, observing her antics. He noted that Aqua's purification affected only one target at a time.
Considering the numerous zombies ahead, he anticipated some "brilliant" performances from the goddess.
After defeating the Cerberus, they continued through the gorge, eventually finding a wide staircase. Ascending, they reached a dark, ominous forest.
Chilled winds and strange sounds surrounded them, seemingly with intent. Meowth's fur stood on end, and despite his bravery, he felt uneasy.
Nevertheless, he protected Kanna, though she appeared unfazed.
Zyhark, following behind, scanned the area, detecting hidden creatures like spider mice and bat demons. These creatures, vivid in his electromagnetic field, were left to relay their findings to Moria.
Aqua, oblivious, continued confidently, likely mistaking the creatures for ordinary animals.
The group maintained their formation, walking along the path toward the central castle. All was quiet until they encountered a floating white ghost.
"Holy Purification!" Aqua attacked, but the spell had no effect on the non-corporeal ghost. It swiftly passed through her, leaving her stunned.
Reemerging, the ghost seemed infected, scratching its head in confusion, mirroring Aqua's clueless expression.
(End of Chapter)
