Above the terrifying Thriller Bark Ship...
Ryuma's body was completely spent. After sustaining critical injuries from the Thunder's Susanoo, only his head remained, floating in midair with blue flames still burning at his neck.
The armor of Susanoo faded away, revealing—
The figure of the humanoid lightning contracted and shifted, transforming back into Kaito.
Kaito stood in silence, staring at Ryuma. That feeling of watching a once-great hero fade into twilight... it didn't sit well.
Ryuma could see what Kaito was thinking. A serene smile appeared on his face.
"Your power is truly astonishing. To be able to fight you at the very end... it was my honor."
Kaito gave a silent nod.
"Do you have any last words?"
Ryuma's head lowered slightly as he floated there. After thinking for a moment, he opened his mouth.
"If I had to say... I'd like to know how my descendants are doing. Did any of them take up the sword?"
"Descendants?"
Kaito was slightly taken aback. The image of Zoro from the anime flashed in his mind.
Judging by what Ryuma looked like when he was alive, Zoro was probably one of the descendants he was talking about—though how many generations apart, who could say?
He couldn't be entirely sure, but Kaito still wanted to grant Ryuma this final wish.
"Your descendant has great talent in swordsmanship. He might even surpass you one day."
"Is that so? You've met him?"
"You could say that."
"Hahaha! Then I truly have no regrets left. I hope he does surpass me!"
As Ryuma finished speaking, his body disintegrated into a sky full of glowing blue particles. Below, the blade Shusui seemed to sense its master's passing and let out a mournful cry.
Just before Ryuma's body vanished completely, a black spiritual entity burst forth and shot off in a specific direction. Kaito didn't stop it—he knew that was Brook's shadow, finally returning to its owner.
Kaito stared at the spot where Ryuma had disappeared, silently taking it in, then slowly began descending to the ground.
...
Back on the surface, Kaito noticed Shusui stabbed into the ground. He stepped forward and pulled the blade free, only to find that less than one-fifth of the sword remained.
This meant Zoro would no longer be able to wield this black blade.
Still, as one of the main characters in One Piece, Zoro would surely come across another famous sword to take its place. Which one? That would be up to fate.
As for this broken Shusui, Kaito thought it best to let it rest alongside its master.
With that thought in mind, Kaito slammed one hand onto the ground and said solemnly,
"Earth Release: Earth Core Surge."
Crack!
A half-dome of earth rose up from the ground, with a rectangular stone tablet in front of it carved with the words:
"Tomb of Shimotsuki Ryuma."
Once it was finished, Kaito planted the broken black blade Shusui into the mound.
Then he vanished in a crackle of lightning.
...
Inside the hall, Moria had his ten fingers anxiously interlocked as he stared toward the broken wall.
The familiar sound of thunder echoed, and Kaito reappeared in the hall.
Seeing him, Moria rushed forward, frantically trying to explain himself.
"Admiral Shikiryū, please let me explain! That zombie was different—he seemed to regain his consciousness from when he was alive! I swear I wasn't controlling him to fight you!"
During the entire battle between Kaito and Ryuma, Moria had listened to the chaos outside like he was counting every second in fear.
He was terrified that once Kaito defeated Ryuma, he'd come after the one who had raised that zombie—him.
Absalom and Hogback, to their credit, hadn't abandoned him even though they were trembling all over.
Perona also stayed. She didn't care much about all the scheming. She was just worried about Kaito.
Seeing that Kaito had returned completely unharmed, she breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
But then she immediately cupped her face and mumbled,
"Ugh, so annoying! Why do I even care about that guy?!"
Of course, Kaito hadn't returned to settle scores with Moria. He knew far better than Moria what Ryuma's situation was.
He was here for one simple reason.
"Moria, Ryuma's body has completely faded away. I made him a grave. Keep your zombies away from it."
Moria froze for a moment.
This Shikiryū is surprisingly kind. He even made a grave for the guy he just killed. If I die at his hands someday, would he make a grave for me too...?
The image of his own tombstone flashed through his mind, and Moria shuddered.
Ptui, ptui, ptui! That's bad luck!
Kaito frowned slightly as he noticed Moria had yet to respond.
"What? Is that too difficult for you?"
Seeing Kaito's displeasure, Moria turned pale with fear and shouted immediately,
"Got it! I'll take good care of Ryuma's grave!"
After shouting, Moria let out a bitter smile. It wasn't really a difficult request. He didn't even have to mobilize many zombies.
Most of his zombie army had already been wiped out in the sunlight, and the ones left were barely hanging on. None of them would dare go mess with a grave.
Kaito had no interest in continuing the conversation. His business here was done. It was time to leave.
Crackling purple lightning arcs began sparking around his body—he was ready to claim the Revive-Revive Fruit.
Moria noticed Kaito was about to leave and was overjoyed—but he didn't dare show it. He forced a reluctant expression and said,
"Admiral Shikiryū, you're leaving so soon? I haven't even properly entertained you. How about staying for a meal?"
Despite what he said, Moria was internally screaming,
Go! Go already! I'm gonna die from the stress here!
Kaito ignored the guy. He could easily tell Moria was desperate for him to leave—just look at how jittery his feet were.
But just as Kaito was about to vanish in a bolt of lightning, a low, deep voice rang out.
"Admiral Shikiryū, if you would wait a moment—I have something to discuss with you."
"Hm?"
Kaito paused his elemental transformation and turned toward the source of the voice.
"Nani?!"
Moria shrieked in shock, whipping his head around to see which fool had just spoken.
But once he saw who it was, his expression froze.
A towering figure had appeared in the hall without anyone noticing. He wore a long black coat and held a thick book in one hand.
Most striking of all—there was a pair of gently twitching bear ears on his head.
Kaito narrowed his eyes and said slowly,
"Bartholomew Kuma."
The enormous paw-shaped weapon in Kuma's hand quietly slid down, embedding itself deep into the ground.